Saturday, June 30, 2012

Semper Fidelis July 4th cookout at the Orlando VA

Semper Fidelis went out to the Orlando VA Community Living Center for their annual July 4th Cookout with heroes.
Good food, great fun and awesome entertainment!

It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice in Florida

Heather Town, Florida Mom, Dies Shielding 3-Year-Old Daughter In Tornado
(How You Can Help)
The Huffington Post
By Allie Compton
Posted: 06/28/2012

It was a mother's ultimate sacrifice.

A tornado spawned by Tropical Storm Debby ripped through the oak trees and barbed-wire fence near Heather Town's mobile home in Venus, Fla. In what must have been a moment of instinct, she grabbed her 3-year-old daughter and clutched the child in her arms, Bay News 9 reports.

Moments later, Town's home was thrown 200 feet into the woods by the powerful storm, according to Fox 13.

Two neighbors heard a child crying and tracked down the source of the sound, eventually finding Town cradling her daughter.

Once help arrived, Town was pronounced dead on the scene, according to Fox 13. The child is recovering from broken bones, including broken ribs, perhaps a result of her mother's tight, protective grip, WPTV reports.

"Anyone that can hold on to their baby like that, I mean, she was brave. To cling to her child, to keep her baby safe," Crystal Walker, Town's sister, told Bay News 9.
read more here

Wounded Times wants to know what you think

So far the results are in and Wounded Times needed to change so that it loaded faster. No, that wasn't a poll question. That was from emails and my own frustration when I tried to view the blog checking on how it looks.

There are now pages to replace my older videos on YouTube and Great Americans, my Bio and poll results located on the tabs at the top. I hope it clears up the problem. If not, I'll keep trying until I get it right.

There is a new poll question to rate veterans charities. I didn't want to single any charity out because that would appear to be bias. I do really want to know what you think about the charity you have encountered so please leave a comment on this post so all of us can know what you think. Too many reports have come out stating most of the charities out there are not doing what they claim and too often really good ones don't have the money for publicity. Here's your chance to share your thoughts and stories with others.

Families need help to visit wounded at Walter Reed

If you support any of the organizations out there, ask them why they aren't taking care of this? Wounded Warrior Project? Red Cross? IAVA? What about the hundreds of other groups out there taking your donations "for the troops" but these families have to go to the press so they can be able to go and see their wounded sons? This is horrible, has been horrible and will keep being horrible until we all make sure the organizations we support are actually doing what they say.

Family of Injured Soldier in Need of Financial Assistance
WTMA
WALLACE, S.C.

Sgt Devin Davis, a Military Policeman from the 133 Military Police Company of Timmonsville is fighting for his life after being injured in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. His family is hoping to raise enough money so they can visit him at Walter Reed Army Hospital, ABC affiliate WCIV Charleston reports.

They have set up a fund to solicit donations to cover those travel expenses. read more here



Fund established for family of wounded Seneca soldier
Ray Chandler
Special to Independent Mail
Posted June 29, 2012


SENECA — Family friends of A. J. Durham, a wounded National Guard soldier, want to make sure he has his family with him on his road to recovery.

“We want them to have the piece of mind to be able to go see him,” said Clemson businessman Rusty Senn, one of the organizers of a fund to ensure some travel expenses and other costs of family members going to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

“His mother works at Milliken and his father is a truck driver,” said Senn. “This is going to be a long haul and means are limited.”

Specialist Durham, a combat medic, was one of eight South Carolina National Guardsmen of the 133rd Military Police Company who were casualties of a June 20 ambush by suicide bombers in Khowst, Afghanistan. Three were killed and five seriously wounded.

Gov. Nikki Haley has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff in honor of Sgt. 1st. Class Brad Thomas of Easley, 1st. Lt. Ryan Davis Rawl of Lexington and Sgt. John David Meador II of Columbia.

Durham suffered a broken femur and shrapnel wounds. After field treatment he was flown to Germany for further treatment and on Wednesday flown to the Walter Reed hospital.
read more here

President Obama visits Alabama soldier in hospital

President Obama visits AL soldier in hospital
Posted: June 29, 2012

President Barack Obama visited SPC Josh Wetzel, a Glencoe native and Army paratrooper, at Walter Reed hospital on Thursday. Photo released by family.


WASHINGTON
President Barack Obama visited wounded Alabama soldier Josh Wetzel in the hospital where he's recovering from losing both legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.

President Obama stopped by to visit Wetzel and his wife, Paige, while making the rounds to meet wounded service members at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Family members said at one point, the president took Wetzel's hand and they prayed together. In one photograph from the visit, President Obama is shown shaking Wetzel's hand while his wife, Paige, looks on, smiling. Wetzel wore an Auburn shirt during his meeting with the president.
read more here