Sunday, December 31, 2006

Rolling Victory Fast 2007



I guess I'm fasting for all of our troops, near & far, American & our coalition forces. The families who are without their loved ones as well as those who are able to be with their loved ones (YankeeMom :) ) Thanks to you all. As I end all of my letters to my heroes....Don't forget that there is someone in California thinking of you.
And I'm also fasting for all of you fasting before me as well as after me. From Code Pinko's web site "We plan to continue with a rolling fast until September 21" All of them, wimps.
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Thursday, December 28, 2006

Valentines Day is coming

This is from Kat. Visit her blog here. OK, Christmas is over... so here we go again with Operation: Valentine! All the info is below... anything you can do to help get the word out about this will be MOST appreciated! I also have a pretty, printable Word flyer I can email you if you wish. (e-mail LoveFromHome@gmail.com)
OPERATION: VALENTINE

Valentine's Day Card Drive for Troops

Let's show our troops we love and support them! Starting NOW, I will be collecting Valentine's cards to send to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. If you wish to participate, please send light-hearted, silly, cheerful (and un-sealed) cards to this address:

Mrs. Kat Orr
Operation Valentine
P.O. Box 1660
Loganville, GA 30052

I am also collecting "Hershey's Kisses" and "Hershey's Hugs" candy, and any other silly Valentine's candy you'd like to send – lollipops, candy hearts, etc. It's cold over there now, so we can, for the moment, get away with sending CHOCOLATE!

You may also send a e-mail of support to the following email address: LoveFromHome@gmail.com . Any e-mail received to this e-mail account will be printed and mailed, together with the Valentine's cards.

The cards can be handmade or store-bought... for that matter, they don't even have to be cards; a hand -written letter is just as wonderful! Let's all band together and overwhelm our heroes with support and chase away those "after Christmas blues!"

ALL CARDS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007

Thank you so much for having a heart for our heroes !

If you have any questions about this campaign, please e-mail me at LoveFromHome@gmail.com. Also, you might wish join my Yahoo Group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveFromHome in order to receive updates about the progress of this and other card drives.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: This is not a "dating service" of any type. Please do not send suggestive or otherwise inappropriate cards or pictures. I will be reading and screening every Card received to ensure that the above guidelines are adhered to (please don't seal the envelopes, by the way ~ that will make it much easier on me)! Any card deemed inappropriate will not be sent! Remember: This is strictly to let the troops know that we love them, we are proud of them and that we HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN them!
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Wednesday Hero 12-27-06

Every once and awhile I'll do a Wednesday Hero that doesn't profile a single soldier. Sometimes it's been two or three from the same unit, sometimes it's been an entire group of soldiers like the Navajo Code Talkers. I even did an organization once, Operation Iraqi Children. This weeks Wednesday Hero is one of those sometimes. This weeks Wednesday Heroes are the parents of soldiers.

These people sacrifice just as much, if not more, than the soldiers themselves. They, in many cases, are having their babies leave home for the first time in their lives. While most parents only have to adjust to them moving a few miles away or going off to college, these Blue Star Parents have to watch their children go off to a very dangerous situation and can only hope and pray that everything will turn out okay. I don't have children of my own, so I can't even imagine what that is like. We have a few Blue Star Parents in the blogroll, so to them, and every parent of a Hero, I tell you we all stand with and support you and your family.
There's a site that everyone should check out if they haven't already. Blue Star Mothers Of America.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Wednesday Hero 12-20-06

Sgt. Roy A. Wood
Sgt. Roy A. Wood
47 years old from Alva, Florida
ODA 2092, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
January 26, 2005



Sgt. Roy A. Wood, a Special Forces medical sergeant, was fatally injured when the vehicle he was riding in was involved in a traffic accident near Kabul, Afghanistan, during a return convoy from Qalat to Bagram Air Base.

His 24-year military career with the Army Reserve and Army National Guard was distinguished and unique. After receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in 1979, he was first assigned to the Army Reserve’s 421st Quartermaster Company (Light Airdrop Supply).

While assigned to the 421st, he received training as a quartermaster officer, a parachute rigger, and participated in both basic airborne and jumpmaster courses.

In January 1982, he left the 421st to begin an association with U.S. Army Special Forces that would last until, and beyond, his death.

His first SF assignment was to the Army Reserve's 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Meade, Md., where he served in the 3rd Battalion’s Company A as the detachment executive officer for Operational Detachment-A 1175.

In May 1983, he became Detachment Commander for ODA 1175 after returning from the Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course.

In October 1984, he left ODA 1175 to become the Company Logistics Officer.

He served in a variety of positions at the 11th SFG over the next 11 years, including operations officer and support company commander.

After four years at USSOCOM, he served a year with the Army Reserve’s 73rd Field Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., before switching from the Reserve to the Army National Guard and renewing his association with Special Forces.

He was assigned to 3rd Bn., 20th SFG in December 2001, where he served for a year as the Battalion Surgeon, supervising medical coverage of three Special Forces companies and one support company.

In December 2002, he resigned his commission to become a Special Forces medical sergeant on Operational Detachment-A 2092, Co. C, 3rd Bn., 20th SFG.

He, with ODA 2092, was mobilized in July 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

At the time of his death, he was pending appointment as a Special Forces warrant officer, a position in which he would have served his team as an assistant detachment commander.

During his service, he received the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Reserve Achievement Medal with Silver Hourglass device, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Basic Parachutist badge, the Parachute Rigger badge, the Ranger tab and the Special Forces tab.

Sgt. Roy Wood leaves behind a wife and two children.


These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Blogs Partcipating In Wednesday Hero

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Monday, December 18, 2006

Holy CR@P

Hubby hit a deer in my car :( My car is crunched. I saw it and gasped Joe looked at me to see what was wrong. By the time he looked back at the road it was too late. I've driven many country roads, I never expected that I would hit a deer in the city of L.A. (actually the Hollywood Hills, but not more than about 3-4 miles from Universal Studios) About another 6" or so & it probably would have been through the windshield. It's kind of scary to think what could've happened. I think Someone was by my side....

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006

All I want for Christmas

Anyone who knows me knows I support our troops 110% Each year I get asked what I want for Christmas. I never have an answer. I always say something smart like world peace (through superior fire power of course) :)- Well here's my list. I received an email with these 2 requests. So if anyone wants to know what to get me for Christmas, here it is. Please help out something very dear to me-Our Troops.... Thank you VERY much.

PART 1

As seen on Tanker Brothers
Help Our Soldiers- The Michigan National Guard 1-182FA needs community donations to get our soldiers home from Ft. Dix, New Jersey for Christmas. These brave men are back in the country for the holiday season before they head back to Iraq in January. They are looking for donations. These Donations will be used to pay for bus transportation from and to Ft. Dix. Donations can be sent to:

Peoples Trust Credit Union
24333 Lahser Road
Southfield, MI 48033

Mark your donations: "A-BTRY 1-182FA SECFOR FRG"

FOR ANY ADDITIONAL INFO PLEASE CONTACT: 182FRG@COMCAST.NET

Brat's email to the Govenor of Michigan:
I was shocked to be told that OUR troops cannot even afford to make it to their families for Christmas. These heroes have already served their country in Iraq, and will return in January to Iraq. Yet they cannot find affordable transportation home. Doesn’t that strike you as inappropriate treatment of America’s finest?

I am asking YOU as Governor of Michigan WHY these heroes are not being taken home to their families at State expense. They serve America, and yet they are reduced to begging for donations? Does this sound appropriate to you? I may be Canadian, but it surely doesn’t sound right to ME.

I did some research of my own, and it seems to me that the State of Michigan could easily hire a few Greyhound busses to get these brave heroes home. I understand Greyhound would love the business.

I really hope you will be able to tell me that you, personally, have taken care of this matter in a timely fashion. Christmas IS just around the corner. These fine heroes have made it to American soil from the depths of the war zone of Iraq. They are now so close to their families, but can’t afford the final leg of their journey.

Upon receiving YOUR assurances that you, personally, will see these heroes home, before they redeploy in January, I will be happy to post that on our milblog too.

May you have a blessed Christmas, knowing that you have done the right thing by America’s heroes.
Thank you.

(Brat)

PART 2

...need help.
I have heard that there are young families at Ft Hood who are in desperate need
for 'stuff' by Christmas. As of today, at least 3 young families need 'luxury'
items like toys for very young children, 'sleepers' for 6 month old, baby car
seat, silly putty, gift cards etc... etc etc.It is a long list I have for these
families on base. Too long to post here.

Please send an email to: Tankerbrosbrat @ gmail.com (remove spaces before & after @) if you can help. Thanks
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Wednesday Hero 12-13-06

Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood
Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood
26 years old from Surrency, Georgia
Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward)
July 21, 2005


Elmer "Mo" Youngblood wasn't sure why his sailor son wanted to leave relatively safe duty aboard a ship to be a combat medic in Iraq.

"For some reason or another, he wanted to be a corpsman," Youngblood said of his son, Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis Levy Youngblood.

He was a medic with a Marine unit in the Iraqi town of Hit when he was hit by an IED.

"I was tickled to death with him being in the Navy," Elmer Youngblood, a former Navy man, said from his home in Surrency, in southeast Georgia. "I wasn’t too happy when he basically volunteered to go over there, but it was his choice."

Travis Youngblood grew up mostly in Virginia. He attended Appling County High School after his father moved there in the 1990s. Surrency is listed as his hometown on his Navy enlistment papers and he and his father enjoyed fishing and hunting together there.

His wife, Laura, also served in the Navy. She left the service and lives in Long Beach, N.Y.

The couple has a four-year-old, now five, son, Hunter Youngblood, and Laura Youngblood was pregnant with the couple's second child at the time of his death.


These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Blogs Partcipating In Wednesday Hero

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Tuesday, December 12, 2006

L.'s surgery

My 15 year old daughter had knee surgery today. I tried to take pictures but she wouldn't let me.
That is until she was drugged up :)
Then look at her smiling
The Dr's Intials so they didn't do the wrong knee I guess. She's very sleepy now & a little queasy. But she's doing well.
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Rolling Victory Fast


YAY! I am honored today to join in with the Tanker Brother's Rolling Victory Fast. What? Don't know what it is? Go here to read all about it. Then send Tracy an email, email addie is on the above Tanker Brothers post, to join us in supporting my favorite Tanker Brothers :)

I'm fasting today as an angel. I'm fasting for my newest soldier, PFC Steven. I haven't heard from him yet, but from the rank I'm assuming he's a young one. So for ALL of the young guys spending their first Christmas far from home this fast is for you. Stay safe and come home soon. Merry Christmas :)
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Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Wednesday Hero 12-6-06 SFC. Paul Ray Smith

SFC. Paul Ray Smith
SFC. Paul Ray Smith
33 years old from Tampa, Florida
Bravo Company, 11th Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

April 4, 2003

When you think of the word Hero, SFC. Paul Smith is the person you think about.

On April 4, 2003, Smith was setting up a temporary enemy prisoner of war holding area during the seizure of Saddam International Airport when his unit came under attack.

Smith kept his soldiers focused during the fight while engaging the Iraqi force of around 100 men with his M16, a hand grenade and an AT4 anti-armor weapon.

Smith tossed a grenade over a wall then he climbed atop the armored vehicle. Disregarding personal danger, he sprayed the attacking troops with .50-caliber machine gun fire. According to the Army, he told a soldier who accompanied him to "feed me ammunition whenever you hear the gun get quiet." He fired more than 300 rounds at the enemy before being mortally wounded himself.

For his action on that day, SFC. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor by President Bush,

becoming only the 3,459 serviceman to be awarded the honor since the Civil War.

His "conspicuous gallantry, above and beyond the call of duty," according to his citation, protected the soldiers in his platoon as well as other troops at an aid station nearby.


These brave men and women have given their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Have Every Right To Dream Heroic Dreams.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. If you would like to participate in honoring the brave men and women who serve this great country, you can find out how by clicking here.

Blogs Partcipating In Wednesday Hero

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Saturday, December 02, 2006

The Online Chaplain's blog

From here~The Online Chaplain. He has some interesting thoughts on his blog. Check him out please :) Thanks
In this era, I have a suspicion people pick and choose values, like faithfulness, much like they shop at WalMart. Pick up what you need, when you need it, and when you are done with it – throw it away. I see this “way of life” every time I turn on the TV and it stands in stark contrast to the life of the soldier. I know full well many people stereotype soldiers. In most people’s eyes soldiers are “young republicans” with guns. They are right wing banditos of the Bush administration wreaking havoc across the planet. Truth is aggression and political ideology is not our common denominator. We are a collage of political views and values. And I will say again, “Nobody hates aggression more than a soldier.” NOBODY.

For You
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American Soldier.
One died for your soul;
the other for your freedom.
Just a reminder for us to all live a life worthy of the sacrifice.
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Friday, December 01, 2006

My thanks to our military

My Dad loaded bombs onto B-17's during WW2 in England. He's the reason I get goosebumps and tear up during the National Anthem. The reason I am sooo patriotic. He taught me many thing before he died when I was 11. The most important lesson was love for my country. Thanks Dad....

My brother USAF EOD retired after 28 years (notice the ponytail & big mustache and note the retired part :)) and his son active duty National Guard, soon to be active duty Regular Army. Also gonna explode bombs.

I am so proud of our military, past, present & future. Thanks so much to you all.
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