We've lost our legend: Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid killed in Afghanistan
By Chris Hughes 3/11/2009
He saved countless lives as he defused 64 Afghan bombs. He died doing the job he loved.. days before he was due home
A crack bomb expert who saved scores of lives as he defused 64 Taliban devices was killed as he tried to dismantle yet another.
Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid, 30, paid the ultimate sacrifice just a week before he was due home on leave.
Yesterday, he was hailed as "a legend" as senior officers paid tribute to the nerveless courage that had prevented casualties on countless occasions.
His CO, Lt Col Robert Thomson of 2 Rifles Battle Group, said: "He saved lives in 2 Rifles time after time and for that he will retain a very special place in every heart of every rifleman in our Battle Group. Superlatives do not do the man justice. Better than the best."
read more here
Tributes for hero bomb expert Staff Sgt Olaf Schmid
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
UK "Rambo" pulled out bullet and kept on fighting Taliban
Hero Afghanistan soldier: I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm... and carried on fighting
By Rod Chaytor 4/11/2009
His extraordinary heroics sound like something out of a Rambo movie.
When Grenadier Guardsman Lewis Coulbert, 22, was shot in the left arm during a Taliban firefight he refused to quit the battlefield.
Bloodied and in agony, he poked around the wound with his fingers before plucking out the bullet.
He then applied a bandage, resumed his position and started shooting at the insurgents again.
What makes Guardsman Coulbert's actions even more amazing is that it was his first gun battle and tour of duty in Afghanistan.
read more here
I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
By Rod Chaytor 4/11/2009
His extraordinary heroics sound like something out of a Rambo movie.
When Grenadier Guardsman Lewis Coulbert, 22, was shot in the left arm during a Taliban firefight he refused to quit the battlefield.
Bloodied and in agony, he poked around the wound with his fingers before plucking out the bullet.
He then applied a bandage, resumed his position and started shooting at the insurgents again.
What makes Guardsman Coulbert's actions even more amazing is that it was his first gun battle and tour of duty in Afghanistan.
read more here
I dug Taliban bullet out of my arm
linked from
http://www.icasualties.org/OEF/index.aspx
Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page
Shinseki Announces Veterans' Stories Posted on VA's Web Page
Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov- featuring the oral
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."
Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.
As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.
VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.
The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets
Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov
or the toll-free message line at (888)
371-5848.
Countdown to Veterans Day with Library of Congress
WASHINGTON (Nov. 4, 2009) - Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K.
Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will join
with the Library of Congress to host a "Veterans History Countdown" on
the VA Web site - www.va.gov
histories of Veterans from every state and U.S. territory.
"VA has partnered with the Library of Congress to honor our Veterans,
preserve their histories and ensure that their service, sacrifice and
heroism will never be forgotten," said Secretary Shinseki. "We want to
encourage Americans to record the oral histories of Veterans for future
generations."
Each day, beginning Nov.1, VA's Web feature will introduce new personal
histories, culminating on Veterans Day when a Veteran's history from
each state and U.S. territory will be available simply by clicking on
the U.S. map in the display.
As Veterans Day approaches, the VA Web display will urge Americans to
"Honor our Veterans. Record their Histories!" The display will link to
the library's Veterans History Project Web site -- www.loc.gov/vets --
which provides background about the program, a guide for volunteers to
follow in recording and submitting Veterans' oral histories and to
access the project's extensive digital archive.
VA has collaborated with the Veterans History Project since its
implementing legislation was signed into law on Oct. 27, 2000. VA
Voluntary Service has made oral history recording part of its program.
VA offers Veterans the opportunity to record their histories at its
facilities and special events. These collections of first-hand accounts
are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
"We hope the Veterans History Countdown will serve as a call to action
for volunteers to record the first-hand stories of the Veterans they
know-relatives, neighbors, friends," said Bob Patrick, director of the
Veterans History Project.
The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of
American war Veterans and civilian workers who supported them.
The recordings make accessible the first-hand remembrances of American
wartime Veterans from World War I through the current conflicts in Iraq
and Afghanistan so that future generations may hear directly from
Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Approximately
65,000 individual stories comprise the collection of the Veterans
History Project.
The project relies on volunteers to record Veterans' remembrances using
guidelines accessible at www.loc.gov/vets
Volunteer interviewers may request information at vohp@loc.gov
371-5848.
Soldiers look to ATV rides to beat stress of returning
Soldiers look to ATV rides to beat stress of returning
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last week, they used the same type of four-wheeled motorcycles to blow off steam after returning home.
Hohenfels Outdoor Recreation recently purchased 20 ATVs, helmets, body protection, gloves and goggles with a $150,000 seed grant to set up a riding program at the sprawling training facility in southern Germany, said Outdoor Recreation ATV instructor Brian Witty.
The daylong safety course and trail ride is part of Warrior Adventure Quest — a program that aims to help soldiers beat post-deployment stress through adventure sports.
One of the Company B soldiers riding an ATV last week was Pfc. Christopher Gist, 20, of Union, S.C. Gist said he and his buddies just returned from Forward Operating Base Baylough, a platoon-size outpost high in the mountains of Zabul province, Afghanistan.
read more here
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65836
By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last week, they used the same type of four-wheeled motorcycles to blow off steam after returning home.
Hohenfels Outdoor Recreation recently purchased 20 ATVs, helmets, body protection, gloves and goggles with a $150,000 seed grant to set up a riding program at the sprawling training facility in southern Germany, said Outdoor Recreation ATV instructor Brian Witty.
The daylong safety course and trail ride is part of Warrior Adventure Quest — a program that aims to help soldiers beat post-deployment stress through adventure sports.
One of the Company B soldiers riding an ATV last week was Pfc. Christopher Gist, 20, of Union, S.C. Gist said he and his buddies just returned from Forward Operating Base Baylough, a platoon-size outpost high in the mountains of Zabul province, Afghanistan.
read more here
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=65836
White River's VA hospital grows for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
White River's VA hospital grows for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
By Gregory Trotter
Valley News of Lebanon
Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — The White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center is expanding and evolving to help a new generation of soldiers returning from war.
The first physical proof is the metal frame of the new office building, visible from Route 5, which will eventually house the Executive Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
After its slated March 2010 completion, the PTSD center will provide evidence-based research and expert access for VA hospital administrators and regional directors trying to stay abreast of the most effective ways to help soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The center will also inform the care at the White River facility, as more young men and women in military uniform begin to populate the campus.
“This is about meeting the needs of patients like this young man,” said Andy LaCasse, spokesman for the VA Medical Center, nodding toward a young soldier in full dress bustling past. “Until two years ago, the majority of our patients were World War II veterans but we’re going to start seeing more young people like him.”
There are about 4,000 veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom in Vermont, according to a PTSD center news release. That number stands to increase after the National Guardsmen and others return. Vermont and New Hampshire will each have approximately 1,800 young men and women deploying by the end of the year.
read more here
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2009/11/04/features/health_fitness/free/id_377694.txt
By Gregory Trotter
Valley News of Lebanon
Published: Wednesday, November 04, 2009
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt. — The White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center is expanding and evolving to help a new generation of soldiers returning from war.
The first physical proof is the metal frame of the new office building, visible from Route 5, which will eventually house the Executive Division of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
After its slated March 2010 completion, the PTSD center will provide evidence-based research and expert access for VA hospital administrators and regional directors trying to stay abreast of the most effective ways to help soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The center will also inform the care at the White River facility, as more young men and women in military uniform begin to populate the campus.
“This is about meeting the needs of patients like this young man,” said Andy LaCasse, spokesman for the VA Medical Center, nodding toward a young soldier in full dress bustling past. “Until two years ago, the majority of our patients were World War II veterans but we’re going to start seeing more young people like him.”
There are about 4,000 veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraq Freedom in Vermont, according to a PTSD center news release. That number stands to increase after the National Guardsmen and others return. Vermont and New Hampshire will each have approximately 1,800 young men and women deploying by the end of the year.
read more here
http://sentinelsource.com/articles/2009/11/04/features/health_fitness/free/id_377694.txt
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