Ed Smith, would-be loner and World War II veteran, dies at 92 Star Tribune By Emma Nelson AUGUST 11, 2018 Those who knew him describe a man whose life was colored by tragedy from the beginning, but punctuated until the end by moments of grace.
Smith was able to bring Puffy when he spent the night at St. Stephen’s. Later, with help from the organization and Novatney, he moved into an apartment. When Puffy died, Smith asked that the dog be cremated and the ashes tucked inside a stuffed animal that he could hold as he slept.
The RV stood in the same downtown Minneapolis parking lot, day in and day out, never moving.
Don Novatney could see it from the building where he worked and wondered if someone was living inside. He hoped not — it was deep winter and frigid cold.
Then, one Sunday, he read a newspaper story about a World War II veteran living in an unheated RV.
“I drove over there and knocked on his door and asked him if he was the person in that article,” Novatney recalled. “And he said yes.”
Shortly after, the man, Ed Smith, also caught the attention of the VA. He soon started receiving enough benefits to move out of the RV, and he lived the rest of his life in an apartment building for seniors in Minneapolis.
Smith died July 25 at age 92. Those who knew him describe a man whose life was colored by tragedy from the beginning, but punctuated until the end by moments of grace.
“He didn’t really have anybody most of his life,” Novatney said. “He just wanted somebody to know his story.” read more here
Why are NATO Defense leaders making our jobs impossible? After decades of endless hours working to get them to overcome the stigma of PTSD, advocates have been showing them how much hope there is in healing, veterans continue to be dumped after duty! We tell them to ask for help in this battle the same way they asked for help to do their duties in combat. We tell them the same people who would have died for them in combat, will listen to them now. We tell them everything they need to hear but cannot say their government will be there for them too! Mum who found dead body of soldier son who served in Afghanistan says Army “can’t be bothered” to help men like him The Mirror UK Sean Rayment August 11, 2108
Kevin Holt, a former member of the 2nd Battalion, was discovered dead by his mother Shirley – who said the Army “can’t be bothered” to help men like him
Shirley Parker Holt with the shrine to the son she buried last Friday (Image: John Gladwin/Sunday Mirror)
The regiment with the highest Afghan war casualty toll is still suffering losses as its heroes battle demons in civilian life.
The Rifles lost 55 dead and 252 wounded serving on the front line but its mentally traumatised veterans continue to die young.
A fortnight ago Kevin Holt, a former member of the 2nd Battalion who had always dreamed of being a soldier, was discovered dead at 29 by his mum Shirley – who said the Army “can’t be bothered” to help men like him.
Kevin’s death a fortnight ago, after nearly a decade of struggling with post traumatic stress disorder, remains a mystery.
But this year alone at least six men who served in the Rifles have taken their own lives, including one in the past week.
Cleaner Shirley, who found Kevin’s body in the caravan he used as his home, said he never got over what he had witnessed in Afghanistan.
Shirley insisted aftercare had been totally lacking, saying: “It was like the Army couldn’t wait to get rid of him. As soon as he was diagnosed everything stopped and he was told he was going to be discharged.
“That was it – no help, no counseling, nothing. He even had to wait four years for a pension. read more here
They say that they are not disrespecting the flag when they take a knee during the National Anthem. They say they are not disrespecting the troops when they use their rights, obtained and retained, by those who risk their lives for this country. NFL players say a lot of things, but just because they say it, that does not mean it is true. The National Anthem was written after the War of 1812, so it is about the flag and those who risked their lives. If you are in any doubt what the flag means to those who serve this country, this is a video the NFL protestors will not want you to see!
WHEN A HORRIBLE STORM RIPPED A GUN RANGE FLAGPOLE DOWN — TWO ARMY SOLDERS WENT RUNNINGDaily CallerBenny Johnson | Reporter At LargeAugust 8, 2018
Taylor, Michigan was experiencing a pounding summer storm. Gail-force winds and rain hammered homes and businesses thought the city. A local gun range and community landmark, Top Gun Shooting Sports, was hit particularly hard. The patriotic shop saw structural damage from the storm and also lost one of their most notable features: A flagpole out front. Security footage shows the flagpole getting bent and eventually ripped down by the winds and rain tearing down the street. Luckily, Top Gun was playing host to ‘Patriot Week’ during the storm. Top Gun owner Michael Barbour tells The Daily Caller, “We were having our Patriot week and the Army was here doing a recruiting table along with multiple other special events. Just coincidental that they were standing by the door when the storm hit.” Security camera footage shows the solders running out into the storm mere seconds after the American flag hit the ground. The soldiers, Sgt. Jared Ferguson of the 1st Infantry Division (the “Big Red One”) and Sgt. Eric Buckhorn of the 101st Airborne Div., pick up the flag off the wet concrete immediately and bring it inside. Further footage shows the soldiers indoors, folding the fallen flag properly.read more here
Army Recruiters Rescue Fallen Flag In Taylor, Michigan What players keep missing is the fact, that while they claim to have the right to do as they will, while in their football uniforms, the troops do their duties in theirs. While football players miss the fact their job is to play football, and that is what the fans paid money to see, their fans do not disrespect the players by pulling their own stunts against them. Free speech is not the same as being paid to do a job and then using the people who paid to be there. They also want to dismiss the anger from fans as something tied to POTUS but it only goes to show how little they actually know about patriotism! UPDATE
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter and Iraq War veteran Tim Kennedy said NFL players have a right to protest, but during the national anthem is "not the right time."
Marines helping Marines: Wausau trio return retired colonel's sword, stolen 53 years ago Wausau Daily Herald Keith Uhlig Aug. 9, 2018
"I'm still amazed, that after all this time, that it would show up. And that somebody would take the time and effort to track me down." Retired Marine Colonel Kenneth Russom
Retired Marine Colonel Kenneth Russom displays the sword he bought as he was finishing up Officer Candidates School in 1964. The sword disappeared while Russom shipped it to his first post at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina. Above Russom is the sword he bought later, to replace the original.
(Photo: Courtesy of Kenneth Russom)
WAUSAU - Retired Marine Col. Kenneth Russom never dreamed he'd see the sword again.
It disappeared more than 53 years ago in early 1965. The sword was almost certainly stolen after he shipped it along with other gear from Quantico, Virginia, to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Russom was preparing for his first post as second lieutenant with the Eighth Marines. He bought the sword a few months earlier as he neared completion of Officers Candidate School in Quantico because it is a required part of every Marine officer's dress uniform.
Russom, now 76 and living in St. Augustine, Florida, remembers wrapping and taping the sword up and placing it in a box with uniforms and other personal effects for the move. And he remembers his thoughts when opened the box in North Carolina only to discover the sword was gone.
"First thing was, 'Oh my god, I don't have a sword'," Russom said. "Marine Corps regulations call for every officer to have a personal sword. ... I wasn't panicked, but I was concerned that there would be a uniform inspection (with a commanding officer) and I would be, 'Oh, and by the way, I don't have a sword.'" read more here
Marine vet with arm transplant throws ceremonial first pitch at NY baseball game American Military News Cheryl Hinneburg August 10, 2018
On June 30, Marine veteran John Peck, who lost both legs and arms in Afghanistan, was able to throw the ceremonial first pitch at the Rockland Boulders game, thanks to a double arm transplant.
Peck received the double arm transplant just two years ago after losing all of his limbs in 2010 when he stepped on an improvised explosive device, Lohud News reported.
32-year-old Peck said: “Throwing the first pitch is kind of cool for me, I’ve never done that before.”
Prior to the transplant, Peck relied upon prosthetic limbs, but he went on a waiting list to receive the transplant.
Two years ago this month, he was the second wounded veteran to receive an arm transplant. read more here
