HOME OF THE BRAVE

Walk For The Wounded

2008-06-29T18:58:00.000-07:00

As the Director of Special Projects for Operation First Response (OFR), I travel from Connecticut to Washington, D.C. often and write about my trips. At times, my travel takes me to other places such as Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Massachusetts, etc. I offered to share my travels on this blog so others may enjoy my adventures and may share the blog link.

I figured it was best to start with the most current and a very successful event. I do plan to add a few flashbacks starting with a trip in November and roll forward until I catch up. If that’s even possible.

The first annual Walk For The Wounded was on June 15, 2008 in Media, PA. The weekend starts with Friday, which means I have to start with Friday and make my way through the weekend. Okay, I don’t have to, but that hasn’t stopped me before.

Friday June 13, 2008: Windsor, CT: I know quite a few local bands and on this particular evening, I was at a place called Alberts Riverside to see the band ShovelHead perform. Connecticut musician and Air Force Veteran Lonesome Dave O’Hagan at the start of ShovelHead’s second set presented a check to OFR from the Kaman Aerospace Corporation to kick-off the OFR Motorcycle Poker Run on July 13. What a cool way to start the weekend, music on a deck overlooking the Connecticut River. Sweet!

Pictured left to right: Mark Sadler and Lonesome Dave O'Hagan of ShovelHead with Bob O'Donoghue (OFR)

Saturday I dragged myself out of bed after a, um, late night out. I drove to New Jersey to meet two friends for lunch in Newark, NJ at the Adega Grill. I enjoyed awesome food with good friends and setting good vibes for what lies ahead. Except the part where I was wearing jeans since it was cool in Connecticut and hot, hot, hot when I arrived in New Jersey. After lunch, I continued on my way to Pennsylvania. I stopped at one of the rest areas off the NJ Turnpike to call the mother of a wounded Hero to discuss arrangements for her trip to Washington, D.C. and I needed an ice coffee to continue the trip. Needed being the key word since I only started drinking coffee a few years ago to the surprise of my friends.

I arrived at Heather’s house in Warminster, PA. Heather is the Secretary for OFR and was having a graduation party for her oldest child, er, oldest young adult. Carolyn Crossley, OFR Vice President, had arrived earlier that day. Peggy Baker, President/Founder of OFR, and her family had gone straight to their lodging. My visit at Heather’s house was short, as I took Carolyn to check in at her lodging and then we visited with Peggy and crew. It started to rain in Media and OFR Senior Advisor, Nick Constantino, arrived with his family and food, lots of food. One more trip to Heather’s house to pick up CPL Wesley Leon and his wife; then drive to Glen Mills – as we were staying at the same hotel. The drive back to Heather’s house was interesting as lightning filled the sky vertically and at least one bolt going horizontal. I knew the rain would clear out for the walk, had that feeling.

Sunday, Carolyn, Peggy and family joined some of us, including Wes Schubert (a wounded Hero) and his wife at the hotel for breakfast. We then formed a caravan and headed for Rose Tree Park in Media, PA for the walk. Nick spearheaded the Walk and with the help of many appreciated volunteers, the set up was well underway by the time we arrived. For the first walk, things were going very smoothly that morning. As the staff of OFR set up a table and vendors were setting up, walkers were arriving. It was a gorgeous day for a walk. The catch phrase of the morning, heck most of the day was “Where’s Nick?”

Folks were encouraged to gather by the gazebo for the starting ceremonies before the walk started. We had an impressive color guard

and several speakers including; Tracy Davidson of NBC 10 out of Philadelphia and Peggy Baker led by Tore Fiore. CPL Carl Duda gave an emotional, personal account of how OFR made a difference to him. There were others and I’ll apologize for not listing everyone. I didn’t take notes, simply going by memory. We had approximately 1500 walkers at Rose Tree Hill Park and lots of excitement.

Just prior to the evening’s music portion by the Fabulous Grease Band, the crowd had already been claiming their lawn seats in front of the amphitheater and awaiting something special. In the distance you could hear the police sirens approaching. The police and the Patriot Guard Riders escorted PFC Justin Gindhart (a local Hero), who has just returned to the U.S.A. from Iraq, to Media, PA for this event. Justin rode on the back of one of the motorcycles making a grand entrance.

Heather introduced Justin to the crowd and told them how Justin saved CPL Wesley Leon when Wesley was injured in Iraq. Wesley lost both his legs, broke his back and his jaw. Heather then asked Justin what he would say to Wesley if he were present today. Justin spoke a few words when Heather interrupted him and asked him to turn to his right and tell Wesley directly. This was the FIRST time they had seen each other since Wesley was injured. With his prosthetics, Wesley had walked onto the stage for this emotional reunion.

PFC Justin Gindhart meets CPL Wesley Leon for the first time since Justin saved Wesley's life in Iraq.

The walk raised approximately $70,000 as well as the awareness that our wounded Heroes must NOT be forgotten. Support from their families and the community goes a long way to helping them focus on recovery. OFR relies on donations from individuals, families, businesses and fundraisers all across America. We are only able to assist our wounded Heroes through the generosity of others as one big family.

Pictured: Heather (OFR) with Justin and his family along with Wesley and his wife.

I’ve had several people ask what I will do once the war ends. I tell them our wounded Heroes do not go away when the war ends. They will still have needs and OFR and our supporters will be there for them so they are not forgotten.

Very Respectfully,
Bob O'Donoghue
Director of Special Projects
Operation First Response (OFR)

Danny Dudek's Story...

2008-03-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

MAJ Dudek south of Hussainiyah in a Joint Security Station

"I truly didn’t expect anything to happen to me. As an Army Major, I studied the Counter Insurgency (COIN) Fight in Iraq in great detail. At COIN workshops, prior to our deployment, our Brigade’s senior leadership listened to Battalion Commander’s and civilian experts fresh from a year in Iraq’s most dangerous cities. As the Brigade Fire Support Officer in the newly generated Fourth Stryker Brigade Combat Team, I knew I was with the most proficient soldiers on the battlefield fielded with the latest equipment, automated systems and weapons including new wheeled armored vehicle called the Stryker. Nothing was going to happen to me. Anyways, I was on Brigade Staff and we rarely left the Forward Operating Base (FOB).

Well, on July 19th, 2007, I did leave the FOB and that was the last time for me. When we left our FOB in Taji, Iraq I was in the lead Stryker Vehicle in the back left hatch in a convoy of five Strykers that made up the Brigade Commander’s Personal Security Detachment (PSD). I rarely went out with the Colonel and this was the first time in the lead vehicle. I usually rode with the Brigade Operations Officer, about three vehicles back, whose vehicle internal intercom was a little more entertaining. My job that day was to call in artillery, based out of Taji, on dirt patches near locations that had a high frequency of Improved Explosive Device (IED) attacks. We called that type of artillery missions “terrain denial”.

Near the northwest corner of a large Shi’a town called Hussainiyah I called in the first fire mission and waited to hear the words “shot” come over the radio, meaning the guns at Taji fired the rounds and I should expect to see the rounds impact about a kilometer from the stretch of road we slowly moved along. I was facing to the left from my left side hatch with only head and shoulder exposed out of the vehicle waiting for my rounds to come...BOOM!

I really don’t remember hearing it, the new Bose headset fit tightly around and under my helmet cut out the loud noise, but I remember the smell and seeing the smoke and laying flat on the inside of the Stryker. I was relaxed, not much pain at all expect for the needle like sensations from the inside of both my legs. I was listening to M4’s and 50cal main guns firing when I realized I couldn’t move my legs. I told the vehicle commander and waited knowing soon there would be someone to help me.Within the next hour, I’d been on a casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) bird back to Balad, talked to my wife on a phone and had surgery to address the fractures to my lumbar vertebrae (L3 and L4) and sacrum and to stop the swelling of my spinal cord. The IED was an explosively formed projectile (EFP) that came from the right side of the vehicle killing the soldier next to me with molten pieces of copper hitting my back armored plate and lower back below the plate.

Six months later, after a month at Walter Reed Medical Center and four months in the VA Hospital in Seattle, I would still not have sensation in my feet and ankles and muscle strength in my legs was far less than what I need to walk on my own. The care I received was incredible and the support I received from friends, family, the family readiness groups and the unit still in Iraq was even greater. I left the hospital walking with my new crutches with my wife wheeling my new wheelchair. In retrospect, I still see myself as lucky.

By February 2008, I was back in uniform and working with my units Read Detachment back on Fort Lewis. I’m still using my wheelchair to get around and crutches help me with short distances, but I feel I’m getting better every day. It remains my goal to stay in the active Army through my retirement eligibility in 2012. It may not be as an active artilleryman but there are many roles I can fill. There’s been nothing but positive support from friends and fellow soldiers on post. I still love serving in the military.">

MAJ Danny DudekField Artillery4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division

First Female Since WWII To Receive Silver Star Is A Texas Teen

2008-03-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

Monica - We thank you for your bravery and your service to our country! You go girl!

CAMP SALERNO, Afghanistan
A 19-year-old medic from Texas will become the first woman in Afghanistan and only the second female soldier since World War II to receive the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest medal for valor.
Army Spc. Monica Lin Brown saved the lives of fellow soldiers after a roadside bomb tore through a convoy of Humvees in the eastern Paktia province in April 2007, the military said.
After the explosion, which wounded five soldiers in her unit, Brown ran through insurgent gunfire and used her body to shield wounded comrades, as mortars fell less than 100 yards away, the military said.
“I did not really think about anything except for getting the guys to a safer location and getting them taken care of and getting them out of there,” Brown told The Associated Press at a U.S. base in the eastern province of Khost.
Brown, from Lake Jackson, Texas, is scheduled to receive the Silver Star later in March. She was part of a four-vehicle convoy patrolling near Jani Kheil in Paktia on April 25, 2007, when a bomb hit one of the Humvees.
We stopped the convoy. I opened up my door and grabbed my aid bag,” Brown said.
Brown, of the 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, said ammunition going off inside the burning Humvee was sending shrapnel in all directions. She said they were sitting in a dangerous spot.
She started running toward the burning vehicle as insurgents opened fire. All five wounded soldiers had scrambled out
“So we dragged them for 100 or 200 meters, got them away from the Humvee a little bit,” she said. “I was in a kind of a robot mode, did not think about much but getting the guys taken care of.”
For Brown, who knew all five wounded soldiers, it became a race to get them to a safer location. Eventually, they moved the wounded about 500 yards away and treated them on-site before putting them on a helicopter for eva

Amazing stories of the selfless heroes of Afghanistan

2008-03-07T17:08:00.000-08:00

Amazing stories of the selfless heroes of AfghanistanBy MATTHEW HICKLEY and PAUL HARRIS -

Private Luke Cole: Awarded the Military CrossThey all made a pact before they went to war.
Whatever happened to them in Afghanistan no one - dead or alive - would be left behind.
One night in Helmand Province, that pledge was put to the test.
In a terrifying split second, the close-knit group from one of the Army's most battle-scarred units came under fire from a hail of Taliban bullets and rocket-powered grenades.
Four men were hit and several others temporarily blinded by phosphorus. Their screams of pain cut through the darkness as the ambushed platoon was pinned down by gunfire from two sides.
But the men of 2nd Battalion the Mercian Regiment knew precisely what they had to do.
And today the extraordinary heroism which allowed the young soldiers to keep to their pledge at any cost can be revealed as they are awarded some of the highest military honours.
The men repeatedly braved enemy fire to rescue their injured and fatally wounded comrades from the hands of the Taliban.
Private Luke Cole, 22, carried on fighting after half his thigh bone was blown away.
When another bullet ripped open his stomach, he simply tucked his shirt in tighter "to hold everything in" - and carried on keeping the enemy at bay until back-up arrived.
Sergeant Craig Brelsford, 25, continued to command his men long after he was critically wounded - and right up to the moment he died.
In a singularly selfless act, he ran to put his body between the enemy and his wounded comrades.
It protected them from Taliban gunfire, but cost him his life.
And the 25-year-old platoon commander, Lieutenant Simon Cupples, led a rescue party into the killing zone to carry the injured to safety and recover the dead - again and again and again.
Their astonishing courage - and that of scores of other British servicemen and women serving in Afghanistan and Iraq - is marked today with a raft of 184 awards.
They include the biggest batch of medals since fighting began in Afghanistan nearly seven years ago - a reflection not just of the ferocity of the conflict, but of the conspicuous bravery of British troops.
The ambush near the frontline town of Garmsir underlined the extreme danger that troops face daily in what has turned into a bloody and difficult war.
It played out into a six-hour pitched battle as both sides poured in reinforcements. But true to the pact, Lt Cupples and his men refused to withdraw until the bodies of two fallen comrades were recovered.
Telling their families back home that no one knew what happened to them, he decided, was "simply not an option".
His valour and dedication is recognised with the award of a Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - the highest bravery medal after the Victoria Cross.
Yesterday he told the remarkable story of that night last September.

The young officer, now a captain, recalled how his men were advancing under cover of darkness when they came under devastating fire from a Taliban trench just 20 yards away, and then from other enemy positions.
"I could tell we had taken serious casualties." he said. "There was screaming from the men around me. Because we were so close to the enemy it was very difficult to withdraw and regroup, but we couldn't leave the casualties.
"It was asking a lot for the blokes to run forward into enemy fire like that.
"But they did it because their mates were out there. When you live and serve with your men like that it creates a very special bond. You would do anything for those guys. That's what drove the soldiers forward."
Captain Cupples, from Derbyshire, who married his sweetheart, Louise, shortly before deploying to Afghanistan, is due to return with his unit next year.
Also involved in the September firefight was Private Cole, from Wolverhampton, who is awarded the Military Cross.

A Taliban bullet smashed into his right thigh in the first few seconds of the battle, shattering five inches of bone. As he tried to crawl to safety he was shot through the stomach and left hip.
Not realising how badly hurt he was, he managed to drag himself to a badly-wounded friend and give first aid - saving his life - before grabbing his rifle and firing almost 200 rounds at enemy positions to help cover the withdrawal.
"The pain didn't hit me at the time," he said. "I thought it was a flesh wound. But I looked down and it was a mess, to be honest. I knew it was serious but I thought, 'This can't be the way I go out'. So I carried on.
"I could see muzzle flashes of the enemy weapons in a ditch behind some trees so I kept shooting and gave my mate first aid when I could.
"Then I got shot again. I looked at my stomach and it was cut open, so I tucked my shirt in to keep it together and kept on firing until more lads from the platoon arrived.
"I only realised how bad it was when they finally dragged me off into cover."
Medics dug out the bullet from his thigh and he now keeps it in his bedroom at home. Sergeant Brelsford, from Nottingham, who was only days away from his 26th birthday when he died, is also remembered with a posthumous Military Cross.
He was described as "an extremely professional soldier" who demonstrated calm leadership under pressure and "incredible bravery in the face of the enemy".
He was killed as he led his men through heavy fire in a successful operation to bring back the body of Private Johan Botha.
General David Richards, formerly Britain's top commander in Afghanistan, congratulated the decorated soldiers at a ceremony yesterday.
"It doesn't surprise me that there is such a haul of medals," he said. "It is the toughest fighting we have seen since Korea half a century ago ... a reflection of the tenacity of our soldiers, and of the enemy.
"All these men fully deserve their recognition, but we should remember it is always representative of many others who also showed immense bravery."

Staff Sergeant James Wadsworth
Staff Sergeant James Wadsworth of the Royal Logistics Corps successfully defused the largest roadside bomb ever found in southern Iraq - while his fellow-soldiers fought a gun battle against local insurgents trying to overrun the site.
He is today awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his 'extraordinary, selfless courage.'
The massive bomb containing around 120lb of explosives was spotted buried beneath a pavement opposite a hospital in the centre of Basra last July, ready to flatten the area and cause untold carnage when a British convoy passed.
Staff Sgt Wadsworth, 29, from Cambridge, said: "Normally you would spend three or four hours dealing with a device like that but we were under fire in the city centre. The greatest danger is spending time on the ground.
"I made it safe in 27 minutes. We only realised how big it was when we came to move it.
"I remember it was 55 degrees in the shade. Our unit was so busy we hadn't slept for days.
"I haven't really told my wife about what I did. You just get on with the job."

Lance Corporal Donald Campbell
Lance Corporal Donald Campbell, of the Royal Corps of Engineers is awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for driving an unarmoured and unprotected vehicle into an enemy killing zone "whilst under very intense, accurate fire for a considerable amount of time" - to help bridge a water-filled ditch which was holding up an advance in Helmand Province.
The 26-year-old from the Scottish island of Benbecula, moved his 'front loader' vehicle towards the enemy, offering a huge and vulnerable target, then climbed out of the cab to undo straps so that he could drop a 'fascine' - a huge bundle of pipes - into the ditch allowing armoured vehicles to cross.
He refused to seek cover even when bullets, rocket propelled grenades and mortar fire shattered the windows of the cab and badly damaged the vehicle, missing him by inches.
He said: "My folks are really happy about the award, but I don't think they quite appreciate what the medal means yet."

Private Paul Willmott
Private Paul Willmott, 21, receives the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for taking command of his unit during a battle when his sergeant was shot dead in Afghanistan last year.
The young private from the Mercian Regiment watched as a Taliban sniper killed Lance Corporal Paul Sandford near the town of Gereshk, leaving the unit leaderless.
Although other soldiers were more senior he assumed command, laying down suppressing fire as they withdrew, and then stayed to drag his fallen comrade's body to safety.
Two weeks later he suffered severe head injuries from a rocket propelled grenade, but insisted on returning to his unit after a week of treatment rather than flying home to Britain.
"We were undermanned," he said. "We were down to 13 blokes in our platoon and needed every soldier available, so I asked to go back."

Captain Ruth Earl

Captain Ruth Earl is awarded an MBE for her dogged determination to keep British troops' vehicles and equipment fit for battle, commanding a dusty workshop in the deserts of Afghanistan.
The 34-year-old Cambridge science graduate, who was a part-time TA reservist before joining up as a regular officer in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, spent six months working 18-hour days in the 'brutal summer heat' of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, according to her citation.
She commanded 150 men tasked with keeping essential weapons and combat vehicles in working order in the punishing surroundings of the Afghan desert.
"Despite her junior years and experience, she sustained operations in this theatre in a way that few others could match," the citation reads.
Yesterday married officer from Stoke-on-Trent said she was left 'speechless' by news of her award.

Wounded Hero has Valentine's Day Wedding

2008-02-16T18:50:00.001-08:00

Congratulations Wesley!!! You are our Hero! We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness together!

War Hero Honored For Bravery

2008-02-10T15:37:00.000-08:00

I'm honored to know this brave HERO! SFC Bennett...we are so proud of you! Thank you for your sacrifice and service to our great country!

FORT RICHARDSON, Alaska -- It takes a presidential order to award a U.S. soldier the Silver Star, the Army's third-highest honor, which is only given to troops who excel under fire.
Friday, one Fort Richardson soldier received the award, although he says he would gladly trade it in order to have his five brothers-in-arms that lost their lives on a late January day more than a year ago returned to him.
U.S. Army Alaska Commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Layfield said it was a very difficult day.
"It was a tough day," Layfield said. "It was a tough day for the Army. It was a tough day for everybody."
On Jan. 20, 2007, in Karbala, Iraq, five soldiers were resting and relaxing inside a provincial coordination center.
Sgt. 1st Class Sean Bennett is a member of the 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment.
"One soldier just had gotten off duty, one soldier was on duty and one of my (non-commissioned officers) was racked out because he had been on for about 19 hours straight," Bennett said.
Between 20 and 30 highly-trained insurgents wearing U.S. uniforms and speaking English drove through an Iraq police checkpoint and assaulted the compound where Bennett and others were staying, according to military officials.
"The gunshots that were coming through the room -- we were in a concrete room and they were just bouncing off everything," Bennett said.
Bennett was wounded. A bullet ricocheted and tore up his arm.
"Just lost that pretty little muscle that is no longer there," Bennett said.
The events of that day more than one year ago were played out Friday before hundreds on post who came to Bennett's Silver Star award ceremony.
Cpt. Daniel Mainor is a member of the 4th Brigade Airborne, 25th Infantry Division.
"While fighting to keep the door closed, the enemy tossed a hand grenade into the room and sprayed AK-47 gunfire through a small opening in the door, killing one and wounding three soldiers including Sgt. Bennett," Mainor said.
One of the men in that room, Staff Sgt. David Wallace said Bennett saved his life by keeping the Iraqi's out of the room.
"He's a hero," Wallace said. "We consider each other family, so it would be like me grabbing my kid out from the front of a car or something. Sgt. Bennett thinks of us as family. We think of him as family. It's just like saving your family."
Bennett and others were able to drive the attackers away but not before they abducted and later killed four troops who were overtaken in another room.
"When you lose one or two of them, three, four, five, it takes you a while to get back," Bennett said. "You earn things or presented things, sometimes you don't even know what you are doing as you are getting it or how it's going to be looked at by other people. It's more of a conversation piece now and I'd rather just put it behind me now."
Bennett said earning the Silver Star is likely to be a lot easier than wearing it. He is only the third soldier ever from the 4th Brigade, 25th Infantry Division to receive the award.
The others are Master Sgt. Thomas Ballard for his actions in an attack in Najaf, Iraq and Pfc. Jonathon Millican, who was killed in the same attack that injured Sgt. Bennett.

One of Michael Yon's "Photo's of The Year"

2008-02-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite pictures that Michael Yon has captured. To see and read more of his work got to http://www.michaelyon-online.com/

Thanks and Praise: I photographed men and women, both Christians and Muslims, placing a cross atop the St. John’s Church in Baghdad. They had taken the cross from storage and a man washed it before carrying it up to the dome.

Wounded Marine Prepares to Return to Iraq

2008-02-05T18:45:00.000-08:00

Face of Defense: Wounded Marine Prepares to Return to IraqBy Pfc. Casey Jones, USMCSpecial to American Forces Press Service
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C., Feb. 5, 2008 – Marine Corps Sgt. Jeremy F. Boutwell, 23, knows a thing or two about honor, courage and commitment.

An intelligence specialist with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Boutwell is planning for an upcoming deployment to Iraq after recovering from severe injuries suffered during an attack in Iraq’s Anbar province on March 14, 2004.

Boutwell was an MK-19 machine gunner with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, when the attack occurred during a routine patrol. “We were going on a patrol about to cross the Euphrates River, a spot we crossed about every day, and for some reason we stopped,” Boutwell explained. “I looked to the left, and I heard a loud noise like an explosion, and everything went black after that.” The thunderous explosion caused Boutwell to lose consciousness, but he was able to regain awareness moments later. “It felt kind of weird, but everything came crashing down to reality after a while,” said Boutwell, who was a lance corporal at the time of the attack. “I could feel myself being pulled out of the truck, and I could hear my buddies yelling. I could hear and feel everything; I just couldn’t see anything. The last thing I remember was the wind from the chopper. When I woke up a few days later, I was (at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center) in Germany.” Boutwell said he was transferred from Germany to the National Naval Medical Center, in Bethesda, Md., then to Brooke Army Medical Center, in San Antonio, where he stayed for two years and underwent 18 surgeries.

But despite his physical injuries, Boutwell depicted the pain of no longer being “in the fight” with his Marine brethren as one of the toughest things to overcome in his life. “Honestly, leaving Iraq was the worst time of my life,” he said. “It was nice being around home for about the first month, because I got to see my family and friends, but then it tore me up inside knowing my buddies were still heavily engaged at the time (in Iraq).” Boutwell said he never lost his desire to be a Marine during the surgeries and his ensuing recovery, but quickly found himself in another battle: the fight to re-enlist. “I didn’t want to get out of the Marine Corps, and I wanted to go back to Iraq,” Boutwell said. “Headquarters tried to retire me from the Corps when I was stuck down in Texas for my surgeries. But I didn’t want to get out, so I fought the decision, and they finally let me lateral move to a different (military occupational specialty) and re-enlist.

You just really got to believe in being a Marine and believe in what you’re doing, and that’ll carry you as far as you want to go.” Boutwell is now preparing for a second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. “I feel good about going back to Iraq,” Boutwell said. “I’ve been trying to go back for almost four years.” Boutwell said he is excited about seeing the positive changes between his last deployment and his upcoming deployment. “I’m going to be happy to see the differences from the way it was (in 2004),” he said. “The last time I was there, we were in the middle of a firefight every day, and now it’s a lot calmer. I know just from my experience from being over there the first time -- we definitely made a difference over there.” With the battalion’s deployment approaching, Boutwell has set a few personal goals to accomplish while in country. “I want to come home without a scratch, try to learn a lot while I am there, go out on patrols and get to see and talk to the (Iraqi people) -- you know, do something interesting,” he said. (Marine Corps Pfc. Casey Jones serves with 2nd Marine Division.)

Remember Fallujah?

2008-01-30T14:54:00.000-08:00

The deadliest city in Iraq is now not so much. Michael J. Totten has an outstanding piece painting a vivid picture of what once was has now become.

School girls walk home by themselves in Fallujah today. Not long ago, no children were out on the streets and schools were not even open.

FALLUJAH – At the end of 2006 there were 3,000 Marines in Fallujah. Despite what you might expect during a surge of troops to Iraq, that number has been reduced by 90 percent. All Iraqi Army soldiers have likewise redeployed from the city. A skeleton crew of a mere 250 Marines is all that remains as the United States wraps up its final mission in what was once Iraq's most violent city.
“The Iraqi Police could almost take over now,” Second Lieutenant Gary Laughlin told me. “Most logistics problems are slowly being resolved. My platoon will probably be the last one out here in the Jolan neighborhood.”
“The Iraqi Police in Jolan are very good,” Second Lieutenant Mike Barefoot added. “Elsewhere in Fallujah they're not as far along yet. Theoretically we could leave the area now and they would be okay, except they would run out of money.”

Read the rest of the article here http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/2008/01/the-final-missi.php - It's worth it!

2 Ft. Lewis soldiers getting Silver Stars Today

2008-01-30T10:12:00.000-08:00

2 Lewis soldiers getting Silver Stars today
By Michelle Tan - Staff writerPosted : Wednesday Jan 30, 2008 12:59:14 EST

Two soldiers will receive the Silver Star, the nation’s third-highest award for valor, during a ceremony today at Fort Lewis, Wash.
Sgt. 1st Class Ismael Iban and Staff Sgt. Jon Hilliard belong to the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. The soldiers returned from Iraq in September.
The ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Pacific time at Sheridan Gym on post.
Iban, a platoon sergeant in 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, will be recognized for his actions from Feb. 19, 2007.
On that day, the Tarmiya Joint Security Station near Taji, Iraq, was destroyed by a suicide car bomber, according to the narrative that accompanies the award. Iban and his platoon were on patrol about six miles away when they were called to assist at the JSS.
Iban ordered his platoon to respond, and as the soldiers entered the outskirts of Tarmiya, they immediately were attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades from nearby alleys and rooftops, according to the narrative. The soldiers pressed on, and as they approached the badly damaged JSS, they saw that it was engulfed in flames and smoke. A huge pile of debris from the explosion blocked the road, so Iban and four of his soldiers got out of their Stryker and moved more than 250 feet while under constant enemy fire to get to the JSS.
When they arrived, Iban established command and control, and he and his men began to prepare for the medical evacuation of 21 wounded American soldiers. While those inside the JSS continued to work, the rest of the platoon worked under enemy fire to clear a path in the road so that they could create a defensive perimeter.
Iban eventually loaded the more seriously wounded soldiers into his Stryker and began moving them to the nearest helicopter landing zone. When they arrived at the landing zone, the soldiers were hit by a complex attack. The enemy fired seven RPGs and multiple machine guns from nearby buildings and a wood line about 985 feet away. Iban ordered his men to establish a perimeter and engage the enemy while he dismounted his Stryker and provided additional suppressive fire as four medevac helicopters approached the landing zone, according to the narrative. Moving under intense fire, the litter teams ran about 330 feet from behind the cover of the Strykers into the open area to load nine critically wounded soldiers onto the helicopters. Enemy rounds impacted within feet of the soldiers.
Iban and his soldiers repeated their actions until all 21 wounded soldiers were safely on the helicopters.
“SFC Iban’s steadfast leadership and dauntless presence was instrumental in leading his 12-man platoon to overcome incredible odds presented by the enemy,” according to the narrative. “With absolute decisiveness, calmness under pressure and personal courage, SFC Iban’s performance on 19 February 2007 directly contributed to saving his fellow soldiers’ lives in Tarmiya, Iraq.”
On March 24, 2007, Hilliard and his soldiers from 3rd Platoon, B Company, 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, were traveling to a clearance operation in a volatile neighborhood in Baqubah when their Stryker was hit by a buried improvised explosive device.
The explosion set the back of the Stryker on fire, disabled the vehicle and wounded seven soldiers.
Hilliard, who was riding in the rear right air guard hatch, was ejected onto the top of the vehicle and he suffered multiple injuries to his left leg, according to the narrative accompanying his award.
However, Hilliard, a squad leader, immediately focused on his soldiers. He looked down and saw the ramp door was blown off and smoke had filled the troop compartment. As other soldiers arrived to help, they came under “sustained volleys of accurate and deadly” machine gun fire, according to the narrative. The explosion had left Hilliard without his weapon, but as he got ready to climb off the Stryker, he saw a M240B machine gun tangled in the sniper camouflage netting. Hilliard used his knife to cut the weapon loose and grabbed the nearest box of ammunition.
“Single handedly, he exposed himself on top of the burning Stryker while under accurate machine gun fire for approximately three minutes while the platoon maneuvered to establish a defensive position for the [casualty evacuation],” according to the narrative.
Hilliard suppressed multiple enemy machine gun positions and provided covering fire while the wounded soldiers were evacuated.
After the platoon established a defensive perimeter, Hilliard climbed off the Stryker to gain control of what was left of his squad and retrieve his weapon, which had blown off the vehicle in the blast. After he fired his M203 at two more enemy positions, he realized the M204B he had been using was now with 1st Platoon.
Hilliard ran 165 feet across an open area to retrieve the machine gun, coming under small-arms fire and an RPG. When he got the machine gun, Hilliard tried to return to his platoon, but he collapsed from his wounds and was no longer able to walk. He was medically evacuated to Forward Operation Base Warhorse for his injuries.
“SSG Hilliard’s bravery in the face of fire, tireless efforts and selfless service were instrumental in the successful recovery and evacuation of men, weapons and equipment, as well as the destruction of numerous [anti-Iraqi forces],” according to the narrative. “His actions and his demeanor were truly inspirational to those present throughout these actions.”

BUSH URGES PROGRAMS to BENEFIT MILITARY FAMILIES, WOUNDED TROOPS

2008-01-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

Hopefully Congress steps up to the plate with this! Our Troops and their families deserve this!!

Bush Urges Programs to Benefit Military Families, Wounded TroopsBy Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28, 2008 – President Bush called on Congress tonight to reward the contributions servicemembers and their families make every day through better services and laws that let them share unused education benefits and give military spouses hiring preference for federal jobs. (Video)

Addressing both houses of Congress during his seventh annual State of the Union address, the president also urged passage of Dole-Shalala Commission recommendations to ensure wounded warriors receive the services they deserve. The president acknowledged the great sacrifices military families make as their loved ones serve, and announced new proposals to show appreciation. “Our military families also sacrifice for America. They endure sleepless nights and the daily struggle of providing for children while a loved one is serving far from home,” Bush said. “We have a responsibility to provide for them. So I ask you to join me in expanding their access to child care, creating new hiring preferences for military spouses across the federal government, and allowing our troops to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouses or children.”

Bush urged Congress to approve legislation that allows servicemembers to transfer unused Montgomery G.I. Bill benefits to their spouses and children. The G.I. Bill provides up to 36 months of education benefits to eligible veterans for college, technical or vocational courses and other job training. Currently, the Army is the only service that allows its members to transfer those benefits to their children. The president said he wants all veterans to be able to transfer benefits they have earned to their spouses and children.

Bush also asked Congress to pass a bill creating new hiring preferences across the federal government for military spouses. Under current law, only veterans themselves are entitled to preferences over others in competitive hiring for federal government jobs. “Our military families serve our nation, they inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them,” he said. The United States owes that same honor to its veterans, Bush said, particularly those wounded in the war on terror. He urged Congress to enact reforms recommended by the President’s Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors to ensure they are able to “build lives of hope, promise and dignity.” The president created the commission in March to conduct a comprehensive review of the services returning wounded warriors receive. The commission, co-chaired by former Sen. Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala -- both of whom attended tonight’s address -- released its findings in July. Some of the commission’s recommendations have been put into effect already, but others require legislative action. Measures already taken or in the works include: -- Hiring of the first federal recovery coordinators to help guide wounded servicemembers through their recuperation; -- Establishment of a pilot program establishing a single comprehensive disability exam to replace separate exams in the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs; -- Creation of a new National Center of Excellence for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury in the Washington, D.C., area; -- Efforts to create a single Web portal so wounded servicemembers and veterans can track their medical and recovery records, get information and apply for benefits and services; -- Proposed regulations to update the disability schedule for traumatic brain injury and burns; and -- Use of special authorities to retain the best health professionals working at Walter Reed Army Medical Center until it closes.

The president said he remains committed to the well-being of America’s men and women in uniform and is keeping his commitment to provide for veterans. “America is a force for hope in the world because we are a compassionate people, and some of the most compassionate Americans are those who have stepped forward to protect us,” he said. “We must keep faith with all who have risked life and limb so that we might live in freedom and peace.”

OPERATION AMINA

2008-01-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

God Bless Our Troops! I pray that this precious little girl recovers quickly!

Operation Amina
Marine Corps News LCpl. Shawn Coolman January 25, 2008HADITHA CITY, Iraq - Three-year-old Amina Al'a Thabit has one chance at life.
On a routine meet-and-greet patrol through the city streets of Haditha, Marines with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 5 noticed something wasn't quite right with little Amina.

"The first day we saw her, we thought she was the cutest girl," said Sgt. Bryan C. Velasquez, 23, a Company L squad leader from Houston. "We just fell in love with her."
Amina has a congenital heart condition, known as Complex Cyanotic Heart Disease that can't be treated with the current facilities in Iraq.

"She is unable to oxygenate her blood properly," said Navy Capt. John H. Nadeau, the battalion surgeon. "She unfortunately has a number of birth defects; the blood bypasses her lungs and gets pumped around her body without sufficient oxygen."

The battalion raised approximately $30,000 for her safe travel to the U.S. and to have open heart surgery. If not treated, her life expectancy would be dire.
"We needed about $30,000 to fly a U.S. medical team to Jordon and fly Amina and her mom back to the U.S.," said Maj. John K. Jarrard, 35, commanding officer, Company L, who is from Gainesville, Ga. "This is a huge effort; folks back home, private donations, everyone came together to make this happen."

The effort to get Amina and her mother clearance to enter the U.S. was facilitated by the battalion's communications officer, Maj. Jake J. Falcone, through the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, with whom he is a civilian contractor.
"By word of mouth we hope this act will spread the message that we're not the devil or here for oil," said Falcone.

Amina arrived in the U.S. Wednesday and is now at the Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens' Hospital at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., awaiting her surgery.
"Amina is in the hands of the best surgeons in the America," said Jarrard.
While not with her daughter at the hospital, Amina's mother is staying at a local home of an Iraqi family that Jarrards' wife and aunt found through the hospital.

The future for the Haditha City Hospital looks promising.
Amina was diagnosed with her condition here, but there are not sufficient facilities or equipment to perform these kinds of operations, said Jarrard.
"The doctors can diagnose it now to some degree, but with a year-long 7.5 million dollar upgrade to the hospital starting in March, they will," said Jarrard. "Iraqi doctors are exceptional; it's just a matter of providing them with the facilities and equipment."

The Iraqi government backed the Marines effort with their unconditional support.
"We couldn't have done this without the full support of the Iraqi government from the local to the national level," said Jarrard. "We're making progress to take care of these kinds of problems right here in Iraq," said Jarrard.
"We have done everything we can - all we can do is pray for a successful surgery and rapid recovery," said Jarrard.

One of OPERATION FIRST RESPONSE'S Wounded Heroes Attends State Of The Union

2008-01-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Looking handsome as ever! We are so proud of you Brian!!

State of The Union

2008-01-28T19:19:00.001-08:00

Thank you Mr. President

Patriotism Not Quite Dead In The Public Schools

2008-01-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Battle Hymn Of The Republic sung by elementary school choirs along with high school choirs. Follow the link provided. Sit back and relax and enjoy this arrangement by school kids. Very moving indeed! http://www.trdaniel.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm

Joint Staff Ops Directer Cites Value of "America Supports You"

2008-01-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Joint Staff Ops Director Cites Value of ‘America Supports You’By Donna MilesAmerican Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2008 – The Joint Staff’s operations director told participants in the third annual America Supports You National Summit here today it would be impossible to put a price tag on what they give the country’s men and women in uniform.
Army Lt. Gen. Carter F. Ham told more than 180 representatives of 122 troop-support groups at the Pentagon for the all-day summit that the work they do and the support of the American people provide “the center of gravity for our operations.” Troops rely on equipment, supplies, food and other resources to carry out their mission. But just as important, he said, is knowing the country stands solidly behind them and appreciates the sacrifices they and their families make. “And that’s what you do,” Ham told the group. America Supports You organizations provide “a gentle reminder that somebody cares about them,” he said. “What you do signals to them that we care (and) your country is supportive of you. The message you send is, ‘Thank you, soldiers; thank you, sailors; thank you, airmen; and thank you, Marines; and thank you to your families for what you’re doing.’” Ham recalled his first exposure to the America Supports You program, when he was working as the Joint Staff’s deputy director for regional operations shortly after the Defense Department unveiled the program in November 2004. “I don’t think any of us who saw this at the start thought that America Supports You would turn into what it’s become,” he told the group. “What you do truly does make a difference,” he said. “I don’t know what it would be like if you weren’t here, doing what you do day in and day out. But I do know that it wouldn’t be as good as it is.” Traveling frequently between the Pentagon and forward locations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Ham said, he’s witnessed firsthand the program’s impact on deployed servicemembers. He said he watched troops return to their operating base after a mission, pausing to pick up and read a letter from a stack of thank-yous sent by an America Supports You group. “It’s not uncommon to see them sit down and write a note back to somebody they have no idea who they are, just to say, ‘Thank you for thinking of us. Thank you for thinking of me and my buddies,’” he said. Ham said he’s also seen servicemembers -- particularly those who aren’t married or have no immediate family -- respond to a care package or card expressing appreciation. “You can almost physically see their reaction when their commander or sergeant hands them a little bag or one of the mailings,” he said. “These are tough folks that have been in combat, and they’re moved by that. “So if you ever wonder if what you’re doing matters, if folks appreciate it, let me give you an unequivocal ‘yes,’” Ham told the group. “You see it so many different ways.” Ham said the impact of the America Supports You program expands far beyond each individual care package, letter to the troops or other single show of support. “Collectively, the power you bring to our servicemembers around the world, especially to those who are in harm’s way, simply can’t be overstated,” he said. “It is a little touch of home. It is a little, gentle remember that somebody cares about them. … You can’t put a price tag on that.”

Injured Iraq Veteran Lands Trophy Bull

2008-01-27T10:04:00.000-08:00

Injured Iraq veteran lands trophy bull
By Landon Johnston - Cortez JournalPosted : Saturday Jan 26, 2008 14:14:02 EST

MANCOS, Colo. — It was a day filled with numbers, tears and triumph for retired Army Sgt. Mark Ecker on a recent Saturday at Mesa Verde Elk Ranch.
Twenty-three years old. Two prosthetic legs. Minus 10 degrees.
Telling numbers in themselves, those are not the ones Ecker, an Iraq War veteran who lost both his legs during combat in February, will remember from his first elk hunt. In his words, those would be: A Weatherby .270 rifle; four shots; and a 6-by-6-point, 800-pound bull elk.
“That was cool,” Ecker said after bringing down the trophy bull donated by the 225-acre elk ranch, located off U.S. 160 east of Mancos. “Now, I’m ready to go hunting!”
The hunt was Ecker’s first.
“First elk; first time elk hunting; first time hunting period,” he said before the expedition. “It feels pretty exciting.”
Ecker, who lives in Pueblo, was joined by his former platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Farnsworth. The men served together in Iraq until Ecker was wounded in a firefight in Ramadi. While attempting to spread out his four-person fire team, Ecker was hit by a wall-mounted, improvised explosive device on Feb. 24, 2007. He lost both legs in the blast.
One could hardly tell the fire-team leader sustained such serious injuries as he glided around on two prosthetic legs. With temperatures dipping below zero, Ecker rejected all attempts to help him navigate through the knee-deep snow.
“You’re just as stubborn as you always were,” Farnsworth joked as Ecker strapped on a pair of snowshoes. “God, it’s good to see you up here.”
About a dozen people — spotters, friends, community members, and media members — braved the frigid temperatures to support Ecker. Like a watchful father, Farnsworth instructed Ecker how to use his brand-new rifle as the group gathered near the lodge. The National Rifle Association donated the gun for Ecker’s hunt.
Jay Kibel, of Outdoor Connection, loaded Ecker into a custom ATV built for deep snow. After being transported to the shooting area, Ecker sighted-in his rifle from the tailgate of Kibel’s ride. Then, it became a waiting game as several volunteers attempted to push a herd of about 45 elk in his direction.
The hunt was tricky because several animals, like the 15-year-old bull called Braveheart, were off-limits. Some of the bulls also had fractured racks after battling with each other over the past few months. Ranch manager Stacy Hess joined the spotters to ensure Ecker targeted the right one.
The group spotted several large bulls near Ecker’s position around 10 a.m. Finally, he received word to shoot. Once the bull was singled out, he took aim as the group held its breath.
Farnsworth, a seasoned hunter who lives in Canon City, had a hard time containing his excitement.
“Fifteen months in Iraq is all a blur right now,” he whispered with a smile. “This is what it’s all about.”
Ecker’s first shot missed, but the second found its mark, nailing the bull in the midsection. Ecker again hopped in Kibel’s ATV to go inspect his work. The elk, a 6-year-old male, was worth an estimated $5,500, according to Hess. Ecker and his group of spotters had originally been looking for a black-tag bull, one not quite as big as the one he eventually shot.
“He’s a big boy, probably about 800 pounds or so,” Hess said as Ecker posed with his kill. “It’s not quite what we were looking for, but I gave the OK when we spotted him. The look on his face was well worth it.”
Ecker asked Farnsworth to join him as the two sat atop the elk and smiled for photographers.
“That’s my boy, right here,” Farnsworth praised, the emotion apparent on his face. Following several minutes of congratulations, the elder soldier stepped in to show Ecker “the true essence of hunting.”
With Ecker looking on, Farnsworth wielded a hunting knife and began attacking the elk’s carcass. Soon, both were intently working on cleaning and dressing the animal. Ecker later raised the heart and graciously declined the invitation to take a bite.
“That’s something they do to greenhorns,” Farnsworth warned. “Don’t let them talk you into it!”
The day’s events were highlighted by a special open-house dinner at Bob and Terri Lunas’ Dolores hunting lodge. The Lunas, of Colorado Hunting Expeditions, housed Ecker, Farnsworth and four other Iraq veterans for the weekend. The soldiers’ families also attended on the Lunas’ dime.
Food for the event, which attracted more than 100 people, was paid for in part by the Four Corners Chapter of Safari Club International, the American Legion Ute Mountain Post No. 75 and Coca-Cola. Several other local groups also contributed.
After watching a video of Ecker’s hunt — the elk’s head was appropriately placed on the Lunas’ front porch — everyone gathered in the main seating room. It was there that Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Bergmann, of Fort Carson, addressed the crowd.
He thanked the Lunas and the numerous people involved for allowing them to come down. Bergmann, who said he’s lost 32 soldiers under his command, then touched on what an infantry battalion is and what they are tasked to do.
“We clear the bad guys every day. You talk about combat and you’re talking about an infantry battalion,” he said). “It’s crazy over there. We don’t play any games. We just go out and take care of business.”
After several gifts were presented to the soldiers, Bergmann invited those present to visit with them. In addition to Bergmann, Ecker and Farnsworth, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Digby, 1st Sgt. Scott Davis and Sgt. Darren Irwin hunted over the weekend of Jan. 19-20.
Cow-elk hunting was made available for all the soldiers on Game Management Unit 72 — between Cortez and Dove Creek on the west side of U.S. 491 — through the Colorado Division of Wildlife and landowner Richard McClellan. Colorado Hunting Expedition guides donated time and vehicles to guide the hunts.
Friday, Jan. 18, marked presentation night at the Luna lodge, with the NRA offering Ecker his rifle and the soldiers presenting the Lunas with a commemorative flag that flew in Iraq.
Steve Blackwell of Safari Club International told Ecker, “Losing your legs doesn’t make you a hero. Getting back up does.”

Gates Thanks Troop-Support Groups at Summit

2008-01-27T09:44:00.000-08:00

Gates Thanks Troop-Support Groups at SummitBy Samantha L. QuigleyAmerican Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2008 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today recognized the volunteers who selflessly support the nation’s servicemembers with care packages and letters, scholarships and myriad other gestures.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanks the nearly 200 representatives of 113 troop-support groups gathered at the Pentagon on Jan. 25, 2008, for the third annual America Support You Summit. Gates fielded questions from the audience before concluding his appearance. Defense Dept. photo by Samantha L. Quigley (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.“For those whose lives you have touched, every gesture, no matter how small, has a tangible impact,” Gates said during the third annual America Supports You National Summit at the Pentagon. “Your work plays a vital role in uplifting sprits in the face of dangers and stresses on the battlefield and at home.”America Supports You is a Defense Department program that connects citizens, groups and companies with troops and their families serving at home and abroad. The program is affiliated with almost 350 troop-support groups.Gates acknowledged that the nearly 113 troop-support groups represented at the summit don’t do what they do for recognition or the opportunities their efforts may garner them. “You do it because you feel, like I do, a deep pride in a new generation of Americans who, when faced with extraordinary challenges, have answered a call to duty, honor, and country,” Gates said. The defense secretary recounted some of his experiences since he assumed his position in December 2007, including the opportunities he’s had to travel the world to meet with men and women in uniform. From privates to four-star generals and family members, Gates said he’s both honored to serve alongside them and humbled by their “extraordinary sense of duty.” Gates said America owes these men and women a great debt of gratitude, and he feels the nation’s citizens have stepped forward to support their troops, which did not always happen in the past during controversial conflicts. From simple verbal appreciation to standing ovations in airport terminals, the gratitude is heartfelt and bridges any political divide. “While we are all united in our admiration of those who have volunteered to serve our nation during these challenging times, it takes a special kind of person to devote part of their life to actively making the lives of our troops better, both during their deployments and when they get back,” Gates said. “So from the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of all our men and women in uniform and their families, thank you for everything you have done and will continue to do in the future.”

Operation First Response

2008-01-27T09:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Operation First Response Blog! So many of us born to this country do not even know that there are certain things expected of us as American citizens, that we have a responsibility to defend this country's constitution and it's people. We give the responsibility to our military to take up arms and defend our homeland. When they have given all they can, isn't it then that our responsibilities kick in and we embrace them? Isn't it our job to give them hope and security, the same security that they enlisted to be in harms way for us? Our sacrifices in giving them hope and a chance for a promising future is so small in comparison to their sacrifices. It should be so easy for us to care for our Heroes. If each of us gave a small gesture of kindness to them imagine the difference we could make. When our wounded say to us "What will I do now?" Please join us in saying "Take my hand and we will get through this together and give hope to all that need it."The Operation First Response Team

Our Mission:

The Mission of Operation First Response, Inc (OFR) is to support our nation's wounded Heroes and their families with personal and financial needs.What that means to the staff of OFR has grown and changed to expand to the needs of our families. OFR staff members consider it an honor and a privilege to be able to lighten the load of our wounded and their families. We have seen devotion beyond words from family members to their loved ones. Mothers, Fathers, spouses and extended family and friends who have spent endless hours at the bedside of their loved one, because of the severity of many of the injuries this journey can last for several months and for others...several years.For many of our families the financial hardship begins quickly and for others it is after the domino effect of extra costs and lost wages. At whatever stage they are in when they contact OFR we are committed to doing all we can to support these families because it is our responsibility as American citizens, the heart of OFR is exactly what makes Amercia great... we know that our Freedoms are not free and we are committed to those who make those Freedoms possible.There are different ways that a wounded Hero may enter into the OFR family:Some beginning at a combat support hospital in Iraq or Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany where a wounded or injured service member may receive an OFR backpack filled with a new set of clothing, travel size hygiene products, a handmade blanket and a phone card to ensure they have needed items until they return stateside.Many wounded service members were informed of OFR through our Vice President, Carolyn Crossley, who was a nurse at LRMC. She gave out OFR information and ensured our wounded Heroes that there was help waiting for them and their families stateside. At that time many service members contacted OFR or gave their family the information as to how to contact OFR. After three years of devotion to our wounded, Carolyn has returned stateside with her family and they are stationed at Fort Bragg, NC, where Carolyn has continued to devote endless hours to OFR and our Nation's wounded Heroes. She left Germany with strong bonds for OFR to continue their services to the wounded through Marine and Army liaisons. We will be forever grateful to her for her devotion to our special Heroes and giving them the sense of having a "Mom" there with them in a time of need.Several unit Family Readiness Groups (FRG) from bases across the United States have heard of the services provided by OFR and they contact us directly to obtain help for their wounded.Families search for help via the internet after their family member is wounded. Upon finding our website, families have the option of requesting our services via email or telephone.Many wounded service members who have received OFR services refer fellow comrades to us for help.Wounded service members and their families learn of OFR services through government organizations that provide resource information to the wounded.OFR's President, Peggy Baker makes frequent visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), this enables OFR to assist the families in a one on one interaction.Whatever way any of our wounded and their families come into our path they soon learn that they are part of the OFR family. We will always try to be a voice and ready to help in the needs of those we assist.The staff members of OFR have worked together with our wounded and their families with compassion and understanding to provide an answer to their needs. Taking the time needed to hear their concerns and find appropriate answers and resources to fulfill those needs. We have become seasoned with compassion and understanding in what our families will need to overcome the long road ahead. Realizing that a very large part of what we do is listening and gathering valuable resources ro help them with the multitude of issues that arise.OFR financial aid varies as each case is based on individual needs ranging from :1) Rent/mortgage payments2) payment of over due utilities3) vehicle payments and repairs4) groceries5) clothing6) air transportation7) ground transportation which includes taxi rides to and from DC area airports, dollars given to purchase gas for traveling by car to medical facilities and train tickets8) personal requested items by service members and their familiesMost importantly OFR keeps in mind that families will continue to present new issues that will broaden the scope of services provided by OFR.OFR staff members are honored to have become a very important part of the recovery of so many wounded service members, we are thought of as family and do not take that responsibility lightly. Our families know they are respected and their privacy is of the utmost importance to us. If their need is out of our financial abilities or scope we will spend as much time as possible on finding other resources that can meet that need.It is our sincerest hope to educate Americans across the nation to the needs our wounded are facing, we believe with all our hearts that by giving them the respect and honor rightfully due them we will be able to give them the hope of a promising future.In doing this we will ensure that all that have worn the "Uniform" will be an instant reminder to all Americans that a Hero stands before us...one of courage, strength and love for their country and whether their injuries are visible or not...We will never forget... all gave some and some gave all!