Showing posts with label Sanford FL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sanford FL. Show all posts

Monday, December 2, 2019

#MissingVeteranAlert Florida veteran with PTSD

update Daughter launching community search to help find missing veteran with PTSD


read it here

Police searching for missing Florida veteran who suffers from PTSD, depression


FOX 51 News
By Stephanie Buffamonte
December 1, 2019

SANFORD, Fla. - The Sanford Police Department says that 73-year-old Robert Ford is missing.
According to police, his daughter said that Ford was last seen overnight on Nov. 29, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. He left his residence while his daughter, Catherine Ford, was sleeping.

“It’s unreal. Every hour that goes by, I keep realizing that he’s still gone. I don’t have anyone to take care of right now,” Catherine said.

He was reportedly last seen wearing dark-colored shorts, a dark-colored shirt, and an unknown color jacket. Police say he has a small beard, hazel eyes, weighs about 160 pounds, and is about five-feet, seven-inches tall. His daughter says her father walked out without shoes, phone, or ID.
read it here

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

Sanford firefighter killed in boat crash escorted home

Firefighters escort body of comrade killed in boat crash
News4Jax
By Vic Micolucci - Reporter, anchor
June 05, 2018
Salber was a lieutenant paramedic for the Sanford Fire Department. Salber's girlfriend said he had four children: three sons and a daughter, ages 17, 18, 20 and 22.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The body of a veteran Central Florida firefighter who died Saturday afternoon in the collision of two racing boats on the St. Johns River was escorted home Tuesday by fellow firefighters from Sanford.

It was a somber and silent procession as fellow first responders moved of body of Lt. Mike Salber from the medical examiner's office in Jacksonville to Central Florida.

The caravan of colleagues and friends from Sanford did so with dignity and respect.

Firefighters and police officers from Sanford, along with Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department's honor guard and a Jacksonville Sheriff's Office motorcycle team, were at the Medical Examiner's Office as Salber's flag-draped coffin was loaded into a hearse for his final trip home.

A sheriff's deputy accompanied Salber's girlfriend, Melanie Jeanine, to and from Jacksonville. She said she had dated Salber for the past year and a half.
read more here

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Hundreds of bikers took over roads in Florida...on charity ride!

Today, hundreds of bikers got together to ride from Seminole Harley Davidson in Sanford Florida, to Ace Cafe in downtown Orlando.
The honorees of this year’s run are U.S. Marine Sgt. Steve Tovet and U.S. Navy Corpsman HM1 Kelly Smith.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Florida National Guardsman Family Get New Roof

On June 14th, Jasper Contractors partnered with Owens Corning and Support Our Troops to install a new roof for the Singrossi family. This husband and wife team serves our country both in the Army and at the Orlando police department all while raising a family. This was an awesome experience! 

Thank you to the Singrossi's and thank you to our partners for making this possible.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Sanford Disabled Veteran Dragged From Car By Armed Thieves

UPDATE
Teen arrested in armed carjacking of disabled veteran 17-year-old suspect is facing armed-carjacking charges after Sanford police say he and three others stole a car from a disabled man at gunpoint last week.
'I want your vehicle,' gunman told disabled veteran, Sanford cops say
Orlando Sentinel
Tiffany Walden
August 14, 2015
Surveillance video captured a gunman pulling a 72-year-old disabled veteran out of his vehicle, hopping into the vehicle and driving away Thursday night.

Sanford police found the stolen car but they are still searching for the two men seen in the video.

They got away with his wallet, cellphone, walker cane, oxygen tank and medication, police said.

"As a veteran, I am outraged by the conduct of the individuals in the surveillance video," Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. "We are asking for assistance from the community to bring these individuals to justice as soon as possible as this matter is of great important."

About 8 p.m. Thursday, the veteran was heading to the store to buy some bread when a man walked up to his car in the 100 block of Country Club Circle — near the Goldsboro Elementary Magnet School.

"I want your vehicle and I'm going to take it," the gunman said, according to police.
read more here

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Sandford Veteran's Home Ransacked

Wounded vet's donated home ransacked, burglarized in Sanford, police say No arrests made 
Wesh 2 News
By Adrian Whitsett
Published 10:29 PM EDT Jun 29, 2015
SANFORD, Fla. —A wounded combat veteran’s home was burglarized Sunday, according to the Sanford Police Department.

Jackie Irving said he went to church with his wife and kids and when they returned they found the home ransacked. The house was donated to the Irving family three months ago.

Police said the intruders were able to enter the home through an unlocked door and stole $6,000 worth of electronics and four guns, including an antique pistol.

“My Purple Heart was stepped on. It’s bad when a soldier thinks he’s over there defending his country and his country don’t give a God darn about him,” Irving said.

He said he is working with neighbors to provide the police with new leads.
read more here

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Sgt. 1st Class Jose Ramos Welcomed Home for 3rd Time

Dad home from Afghanistan, surprises daughter at Sanford school 
News 13 Orlando
David Bodden
May 8, 2015
Sgt. 1st Class Jose Ramos hugs Mia after surprising her during a
school assembly at Liberty Christian School in Sanford Friday.
SANFORD -- A 5-year-old girl got the surprise of her life Friday morning during an early school assembly in Sanford.

Her father, Sgt. 1st Class Jose Ramos, is home after spending the last 9 months in Afghanistan. According to his wife Mari, this is Sgt. Ramos’ third tour of duty in the Middle East.

On Friday, he surprised his daughter Mia at school. Mari said it is emotionally difficult on the family each time Jose has to leave. “This is his third tour," Mari Ramos said. "This time [Mia] was asking for her dad all the time." 

Sgt. Ramos said he would talk to his family via web cam, the last time being a few weeks prior to his homecoming.

The couple’s children, Alejandro, 11, and Mia had a hard time adjusting to dad being gone this time. 

“There are many experiences that you can’t experience with him like playing sports, going to the movies and doing many other things,” Alejandro said. read more here

Saturday, March 21, 2015

OEF OIF Veteran Has New Place to Call Home In Sanford Florida

Wounded veteran gets new, custom-built home in Sanford 
My FOX Orlando
By Gina Benitez, FOX 35 Reporter
Posted: Mar 20, 2015

SANFORD, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO)

Sanford's W. 25th St. was partially shut down on Friday afternoon and dozens welcomed Sgt. Jackie Irving home.

Irving hasn't just returned from a tour of duty, as he's already done his time overseas. He and his family are literally coming home to a brand new custom-built house. "My family is happy, my kids are in there somewhere right now going crazy. I'm happy, they're happy and I'm grateful for what's been done for us," Irving said.

Retired from the Army, Irving did tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan and in 2012, he suffered serious injuries from the blast of an improvised explosive device, including a brain injury.

He is also still dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
read more here

Monday, December 8, 2014

Florida: Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe Actions Worthy of Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor campaign continues for sergeant who saved troops in Iraq
Los Angeles Times
By David Zucchino
Published: December 7, 2014

Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe
COURTESY OF KASINAL CASHE WHITE
LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) — If he had known in 2005 what he knows today, Brig. Gen. Gary Brito would have nominated Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe for the Medal of Honor.

Brito knew in 2005 that Cashe, his uniform soaked with fuel, had plunged into a burning vehicle in Iraq on Oct. 17, 2005, to rescue soldiers who were on fire. But only months later did Brito, Cashe's battalion commander, learn the full details of Cashe's courage that day outside the city of Samarra.

Cashe rescued six badly burned soldiers while under enemy small-arms fire. His own uniform caught fire, engulfing him in flames. Even with second- and-third degree burns over three-fourths of his body, Cashe continue to pull soldiers out of a vehicle set ablaze when a roadside bomb ruptured a fuel tank.

Before all of those details emerged, Cashe was awarded a Silver Star, the military's third-highest award for valor, after Brito nominated him. But soon after learning more about Cashe's actions, Brito mounted an unusual Medal of Honor campaign that has continued for more than seven years.

If the latest batch of sworn statements submitted to the Army by Brito is successful, Cashe will become the first African American among 16 service members awarded the nation's highest medal for valor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Cashe, 35, died of his burns three weeks after the bomb attack. Seven of the 16 medals have been awarded posthumously.

"You don't often find truly selfless sacrifice where someone put his soldiers' welfare before his own," Brito said. "Sgt. Cashe was horribly wounded and continued to fight to save his men."
read more here

Article from Orlando Sentinel in July
Friends, family gather as Army names Reserve Center after fallen hero
By Susan Jacobson
Orlando Sentinel
Published: July 20, 2014

SANFORD, Fla. — Gary Mills owes his life to the late Army Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe.

Mills was one of half a dozen soldiers whom Cashe pulled from a burning Bradley Fighting Vehicle after a roadside bomb hit it in Iraq on Oct. 17, 2005.

Badly burned over most of his body, Cashe died Nov. 9, 2005.

But his name will live on in Sanford, where Mills joined dozens of Cashe's fellow soldiers, friends, family and dignitaries at a ceremony Saturday naming the new U.S. Army Reserve Center after the fallen hero.

"It's long overdue," Mills, 34, of Jacksonville said of the recognition.

On the lawn of the 31,030-square-foot training building near Orlando Sanford International Airport, speakers praised Cashe's bravery, selflessness and dedication and read proclamations from Gov. Rick Scott and Sanford Mayor Jeff Triplett recognizing Cashe's sacrifice.

Representatives of Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, also paid their respects.

Two of Cashe's brothers and a sister -- he comes from a blended family of 18 siblings -- spoke of his impeccable character and remembered his love of hunting and fishing.

Cashe joined the Army immediately after graduating from Oviedo High School in 1988. He had deployed to Iraq once before during Operation Iraqi Freedom and had previously served in Bosnia and the first Gulf War.

When he died at 35, Cashe left a wife and three children in addition to his mother, siblings and a large extended family.
read more here