U.S. Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division recite the oath of enlistment during the unit's largest re-enlistment ceremony of the year, located at the crossed saber monument in the International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq, on April 23, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
GODSPEED!!!
U.S. Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division recite the oath of enlistment during the unit's largest re-enlistment ceremony of the year, located at the crossed saber monument in the International Zone, Baghdad, Iraq, on April 23, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday Hero 05/06/2009
24 years old from Clarksville, Tennessee
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
November 12, 2006
Cerrone's men said in written statements of remembrance that he put their safety and welfare first. He lead from the front and all of the paratroopers would "unquestionably" follow him into battle.
His platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Ronald H. Berryhill, said Cerrone was more than a leader, but a friend and "little brother."
He remembers the first day Cerrone got to the unit. At the time, he was shy and quiet. But after a few months, he became more outspoken.
"I am truly blessed to have known him and to serve under his leadership," Berryhill wrote. "He will never be forgotten. I will carry him with me always and I will always watch over his platoon. We will make him proud of his boys."
Sgt. Cerrone was killed when a suicide bomber detonated the bomb he had strapped to himself in Samarra, Iraq. Also killed in the attack was Specialist Harry "Buck" Winkler. You can read more at BLACKFIVE.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived
This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Military Working Dogs
Military working dog handlers and military working dogs with the 332nd Security Forces Group wait for instructions to return to the aircraft from a helicopter crew chief during training April 21 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The training teaches the handlers and military working dogs how to safely and properly enter and exit aircraft, and prepares them for future air-assault missions.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Elizabeth Rissmiller)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Baseball and the USO
I don't believe I have shared how much I enjoy America's favorite past-time, BASEBALL!
I. LOVE. BASEBALL.
I'm an Oriole Fan.
I am a fan of the American League. (except for the NY Yankees; no offence,NY Readers)
John and I sat in Camden Yards when Cal Ripken, Jr. played his final game at the yard.
Hubster and I sat in Safeco Field in Seattle, when Rafael Palmeiro hit his 3000th hit(yep... a couple weeks later he met trouble named, Steroids!)
I own a BJ Surhoff baseball jersey and wear it to every game I attend (in every city).
My "Bucket List" includes watching the O's play in every AL stadium across the country. (side note, that is THE only item on my Bucket List)
Next month, Hubster and I will watch the O's squash the Phillies in their brand new stadium, sitting in seats a few rows back from home plate. (I may be in trouble on this one, since Hubster is from Philly and his brother is hosting us)
Have I mentioned.... I. Love. Baseball.
OK...back on track. This is not a post solely of my absolute and undying love of baseball, it is also regarding the USO. I learned that Tommy Lasorda visited our Troops on a recent trip with the USO. When I think of Tommy Lasorda, I think Baseball. Now granted, Mr. Lasorda met his fame by way of the National League...I can forgive him, since he did serve our country in the United States Armed Forces in 1946-1947. Please read his story here.
Mr. Lasorda, I thank you for visiting our troops!
As long as I am typing of Baseball and heroes, allow me to share the story of a gentleman by the name of Jack Lohrke. On April 29th, Mr. Lohrke passed away following a stroke. This man appeared to have escaped death at least six times by the age of 22, he became known as Lucky Lohrke.
"As a member of the 35th Infantry Division, he fought in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. On four occasions, soldiers on both sides of him were killed in combat yet he emerged unscathed.
On his way home from the war in 1945, he was bumped from a military transport plane in Ohio to make room "for some big-shot," Lohrke told The Times in 1990.
The plane crashed 45 minutes later, killing all on board.
In 1946, he was traveling with his minor-league teammates, the Spokane Indians, when he received orders during a restaurant stop to report immediately to the San Diego Padres, then a minor-league club.
Soon afterward, the bus careened off a cliff in the Cascade Mountains, killing nine of the 15 players aboard."
Mr. Lohrke, I thank you for your service. May God Bless you!
I. LOVE. BASEBALL.
I'm an Oriole Fan.
I am a fan of the American League. (except for the NY Yankees; no offence,NY Readers)
John and I sat in Camden Yards when Cal Ripken, Jr. played his final game at the yard.
Hubster and I sat in Safeco Field in Seattle, when Rafael Palmeiro hit his 3000th hit(yep... a couple weeks later he met trouble named, Steroids!)
I own a BJ Surhoff baseball jersey and wear it to every game I attend (in every city).
My "Bucket List" includes watching the O's play in every AL stadium across the country. (side note, that is THE only item on my Bucket List)
Next month, Hubster and I will watch the O's squash the Phillies in their brand new stadium, sitting in seats a few rows back from home plate. (I may be in trouble on this one, since Hubster is from Philly and his brother is hosting us)
Have I mentioned.... I. Love. Baseball.
OK...back on track. This is not a post solely of my absolute and undying love of baseball, it is also regarding the USO. I learned that Tommy Lasorda visited our Troops on a recent trip with the USO. When I think of Tommy Lasorda, I think Baseball. Now granted, Mr. Lasorda met his fame by way of the National League...I can forgive him, since he did serve our country in the United States Armed Forces in 1946-1947. Please read his story here.
Mr. Lasorda, I thank you for visiting our troops!
As long as I am typing of Baseball and heroes, allow me to share the story of a gentleman by the name of Jack Lohrke. On April 29th, Mr. Lohrke passed away following a stroke. This man appeared to have escaped death at least six times by the age of 22, he became known as Lucky Lohrke.
"As a member of the 35th Infantry Division, he fought in the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. On four occasions, soldiers on both sides of him were killed in combat yet he emerged unscathed.
On his way home from the war in 1945, he was bumped from a military transport plane in Ohio to make room "for some big-shot," Lohrke told The Times in 1990.
The plane crashed 45 minutes later, killing all on board.
In 1946, he was traveling with his minor-league teammates, the Spokane Indians, when he received orders during a restaurant stop to report immediately to the San Diego Padres, then a minor-league club.
Soon afterward, the bus careened off a cliff in the Cascade Mountains, killing nine of the 15 players aboard."
Mr. Lohrke, I thank you for your service. May God Bless you!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
VERY Exciting News!!!!
My oldest daughter, the wife of an amazing man and the mother of my two oldest grandgirls, learned on Thursday......God has given her the gift of another daughter! We will meet my fourth grandgirl in September!
Kel aksed me if I had thought of what Christmas Day will be like 13 years from now, with 4 teenage girls! I asked her if she had thought of how much fun our Black Fridays will be? Imagine the seven of us girls, hitting the Outlets at midnight!
Please lift your prayers for this beautiful family! Pray for my daughter, as she carries her daughter. Please pray for my newest grandgirl, the she is whole in body and mind.
God is Good!!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
AirmanMom's MOST Favorite Month of the Year!!!!
May is Military Appreciation Month!
I encourage all who read this blog to visit the site, 11th Annual Military Appreciation Month. It has outstanding ideas how to participate in this important month of showing thanks to our troops.
If you live close enough to an airport which welcomes our troops home, please take the time to attend such an event at least once.
Write a letter to a soldier!
Send a package to a soldier!
Talk about our military in a respectful and grateful manner!
Pray for each and every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine. Pray for their families who love and miss them so. Pray for our leaders. Pray for our country!
Take Two Aspirin and Call Me in the Morning-NOT ANYMORE!!!
Health Officials Discourage Aspirin Use by Troops in Combat Zones
WASHINGTON, April 30, 2009 – The Defense Department is directing servicemembers and government civilians deployed in overseas war zones to refrain from taking aspirin unless under a doctor’s orders, a senior military physician said here today.
“Aspirin use for reasons other than medical indications is discouraged,” said Army Col. (Dr.) Tony Carter, director for operational medicine and medical force readiness under the deputy assistant secretary of defense for force health protection, a component of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs.
Military medical authorities also advise that troops slated for deployment to combat zones should cease taking aspirin at least 10 days before departure, Carter told Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service reporters.
Aspirin is “a platelet-inhibitor,” Carter explained. Platelets are small cells floating in the blood that induce hemostasis -- the process that causes bleeding to stop through the forming of blood clots. Low amounts of blood platelets can lead to excessive bleeding.
“Those platelets serve an important role in stopping bleeding once it occurs,” Carter said.
Then-Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. S. Ward Casscells III signed a March 12 memorandum that noted aspirin use by troops deployed in contingency areas could contribute to excessive bleeding in the event of wounding or injury.
Blood loss is the most common cause of preventable death associated with combat injuries, the memorandum said.
Carter recalled Casscells asking his staff if the military was discouraging aspirin use by people deploying to combat zones where they stood risk of injury. The answer at the time was no, Carter said.
The subsequent memorandum, Carter said, also directed the cessation of “over-the-counter access” to aspirin through Army and Air Force Exchange Service outlets or morale, welfare and recreation activities in war zones. AAFES has jurisdiction over Army post exchanges and Air Force base exchanges.
AAFES is complying with the Health Affairs-issued memorandum, noting in a news release that its “operations in contingency locations are removing all products containing aspirin from their shelves.”
The intent of the new policy, Carter said, is to “discourage the inadvertent use of aspirin” in combat zones. People who routinely take small doses of aspirin per doctor’s orders to maintain vascular health should be all right, he said, but they should consult their physician.
Servicemembers and civilians could substitute over-the-counter, non-aspirin-based medications – such as Tylenol or Motrin -- for treatment of colds, fever, muscle aches and other maladies, Carter said.
“I think we should take every measure possible to make sure that we minimize blood loss,” Carter said. “And, not taking aspirin, unless you need to take it, is one of those mechanisms that we want to use.”
By Gerry J. Gilmore
American Forces Press Service
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