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"News
from THE ADJUTANT General's DEPARTMENT."
Some Thoughts.
Pictures
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Pictures
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Read the story. You'll
understand the gesture
Look at the newspaper
picture below closely before reading the story. It's a good story about a
real hero.
The Marine Corps
Gunnery Sergeant in the picture is Michael Burghard, part of the Explosive
Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team that is supporting 2nd Brigade 28th Infantry
Division (Pennsylvania Army National Guard) in Iraq.
The story:
Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or
just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in
Iraq.
He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze
Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during
his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at
a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four
US
soldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't
react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So,
protected by just a helmet and standard-issue flak jacket, he began what
bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5
ft. deep,8 ft. wide crater.
The earth shifted
slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He
cut the wire and used his 7 inch knife to probe the ground. "I found a
piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew
I was screwed."
Realizing he had been
sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At
that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a
button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the
sergeant's feet. "A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb
exploded," he recalls. "As I was in the air I remember thinking, 'I don't
believe they got me.' I was just ticked off they were able to do it. Then
I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down."
His colleagues cut off
his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were
still there. "My dad's a
Vietnam
vet who's paralyzed from the waist down," says Sgt Burghardt. "I was lying
there thinking I didn't want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for
him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a
real sharp pain and blood trickling down.
Then I wiggled my toes
and I thought, 'Good, I'm in business.' "As a stretcher was brought over,
adrenaline and anger kicked in.
"I decided to walk to
the helicopter. I wasn't going to let my team-mates see me being carried
away on a stretcher." He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up
a one-fingered salute. "I flipped them one. It was like, 'Okay, I lost
that round but I'll be back next week'."
Copies of a photograph
depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald,
adorn the walls of homes across
America
and that of Colonel John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has
hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit. Sgt Burghardt's
injuries - burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks - kept him off duty for
nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his
father - who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being
wounded in action in
Vietnam
- he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are
forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans.
This statue currently stands outside the Iraqi palace,
now home to the 4th Infantry division.
It will eventually be shipped home
and put in the memorial museum in
Fort Hood, Texas.
The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat,
who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of
bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.
Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country;
he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam
and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers
and their fallen warriors.
Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months.
To the left of the kneeling soldier is a small Iraqi girl giving the soldier
comfort as he mourns the loss of his comrade in arms.
Do you know why we don't hear about this in the news?
Because it is heart warming and praise worthy.
The media avoids it because it does not have the shock effect
That a flashed breast or controversy of politics does.
The following pictures were forwarded to us by another
Boozefighter Rep in Iraq...`GRAZZ' an Army Capt.
Links to Support
Our Troops
TAKE A LOOK FROM IRAQ
AAFES Gift Certificates
http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm
The Army and Air Force Exchange Services is where most servicemen and women
do their shopping. You can purchase gift certificates for those in Iraq and
those hospitalized.
Adopt a Platoon
http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/
Adopt a Platoon has several ongoing projects to ensure that every soldier
overseas does not walk away from mail call empty-handed.
AnySoldier
http://www.anysoldier.us/index.cfm
Any Soldier is a non-profit organization that helps people send care
packages to members of the armed services in Iraq.
AOLbyPhone
aol://4344:3449.abpSPLSH.16722104.784567724/
AOL users can record up to a 3-minute voice mail and send it to military
personnel who are in their Address Book. The recipient will receive the
message as an e-mail attachment and can listen from their computer. This is
free through January 15.
Appreciate Our Troops
http://www.appreciateourtroops.org/
Purchase a Support Our Troops mug and a free personalized mug will be given
to a current or former service member.
Blue Star Mothers
http://www.bluestarmothers.org/
The Blue Star Mothers was founded by service members' moms during World War
II. Any mother with a son or daughter in the military can join.
Books For Soldiers
http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/
Help the troops escape boredom by donating some books. You can also donate
DVDs and CDs requested by soldiers.
Camp Doha
http://www.campdoha.org/
Camp Doha provides valuable information for those about to deploy, their
friends and families and anyone who wants to support the troops.
Cell Phones for Soldiers
http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/pages/1/index.htm
Donated cell phones are recycled and turned into cash. The cash is used to
purchase calling cards for soldiers in Iraq.
Defend America
http://www.defendamerica.mil/nmam.html
Thank any service member stationed throughout the U.S. and the world with an
e-mail.
Fisher House
http://www.fisherhouse.org/
The Fisher House Foundation donates comfort homes, built on the grounds of
major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to
be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an unexpected illness,
disease, or injury.
Freedom Calls
http://www.freedomcalls.org/
The Freedom Calls Foundation is helping families videoconference with their
loved ones in Iraq. You can donate money to help keep this project going.
Groceries for Families
http://www.commissaries.com/certificheck/
The men and women who lay down their lives for us are terribly underpaid.
Help a family by purchasing gift certificates to the commissary.
Homes for Our Troops
http://www.homesforourtroops.org/
Homes for Our Troops assists injured veterans and their immediate families
by building new or adapting existing homes with handicapped accessibility.
Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/foundation_heroesfund.html
The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund provides grants to the families of
servicemen and women who died in Iraq. You can donate online, through mail
or by calling a toll-free number.
Military Moms
http://www.militarymoms.net/index.html
This site provides support to all of the moms out there who has a son or
daughter in the military.
Operation: A Bit of Home
http://www.operationabitofhome.com/
Operation: A Bit of Home supports over 150 different soldiers per day by
providing necessary and hard-to-get toiletries.
Operation Air Conditioner
http://www.operationac.com/
Operation Air Conditioner provides not only air conditioners but space
heaters (the desert is cold in the winter) for soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Operation Call Home
http://www.platoonphone.com/
Operation Call Home's mission is to provide each platoon with their own
satellite phone.
Operation Dear Abby
http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/
The U.S. Navy and Dear Abby have teamed up. Their site allows you to send
e-mail messages of support to service members.
Operation Give
http://www.operationgive.org/
Operation Give provides toys, clothing and school supplies primarily to the
children of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Operation Hero Miles
http://www.heromiles.org/
You can donate your unused frequent flier miles to help soldiers travel on
emergency leave. They are also used to help families fly to hospitalized
soldiers.
Operation Interdependence
http://www.oidelivers.org/
Operation Interdependence supplies care packages to deployed soldiers. You
can help out by providing goods, coordinating efforts or donating funds.
Operation Iraqi Children
http://www.operationiraqichildren.org/
Many soldiers are rebuilding schools in Iraq and scrounging around for
school supplies. Help by donating a school supplies kit.
Operation Military Pride
http://operationmilitarypride.org/
Operation Military Pride is a volunteer organization that sends cards
letters and care packages to troops.
Operation Uplink
http://www.operationuplink.org/
Donate money to Operation Uplink. The money is used to purchase phone cards
so servicemen and women can call home.
Soldiers' Angels
http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/index.php
Become some soldier's angel by adopting a service member.
Treats for Troops
http://www.treatsfortroops.com/
Treats for Troops helps get you provide packages to your loved ones
overseas. If you don't know anyone, the Foster-A-Soldier Program matches you
with a registered soldier by branch of service, home state, gender, or
birthday - or you can choose to sponsor a group of soldiers.
USO Cares
http://www.usocares.org/
You can sponsor care packages provided by the USO with a $25 donation.
Voice from Home
http://voicesfromhome.org/home.html
Voices From Home allows military members and their families and friends to
send and receive immediate voice e-mail messages in remote locations around
the world.
IN MEMORY OF FRIENDS LOST.
It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God.
Therefore I have a very
hard time understanding why there is such a mess about having "In God We
Trust" on our money and having God in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Why
don't we
just tell the 14% to Sit Down and SHUT UP!!!
Prayer wheel for our military... please don't break it.
Please send this
on after a short prayer.
Prayer Wheel
"Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they
protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform
for
us in our time of need. Amen."
Prayer : When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a
prayer for our ground troops in Afghanistan, sailors on ships, and airmen in
the air, and for those in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere else on foreign
soil. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful....... Of all
the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Coastguardsman, Marine or
Airman, prayer is the best.
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Brotherhood
Support Our
Troops Links
"News
from THE ADJUTANT General's DEPARTMENT."
Some Thoughts.
Pictures
1
Pictures
2
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If
any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps were played;
this brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every American should know. Until I read this, I didn't
know, but I checked it out and it's true:
We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps". It's the
song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be
interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army
Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in
Virginia.
The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of
land.
During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay
severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate
soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man
back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the
gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him
toward
his encampment.
When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was
actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb
with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was
his own son.
The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without
telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy
status. His request was only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members
play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him
one musician.
The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series
of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead
youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was
born.
The words are ...
Day is done .. Gone the sun ... From the lakes
...From the hills
From the sky .. All is well . Safely rest ..God is
nigh
...
Fading light .. Dims the sight .. And a star ...
Gems the sky ...
Gleaming bright ... From afar .. Drawing nigh Falls the night
...
Thanks and praise ... For our days .. Neath the sun ... Neath the stars...Neath
the sky ... As we go . This we know .. God is nigh
...
I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never
seen
all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more
than one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I
didn't know if you had either so I thought I'd pass it along.
I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. Perhaps with a
short prayer.
And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces..
NOW READ THE
TRUE STORY.
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