An Email and a Challenge
I received an email this morning from a soldier in Iraq, and this soldier humbles me with his dedication and generousity. This soldier was searching the internet, looking for information to contact one of his injured soldiers now at the Landstuhl hospital in Germany. In his internet search he found my book website, and out of curiousity started to read. He says, "I think what you are doing is great, for the soldiers and for the families.
I read the first few pages you have posted and was hooked..."

He read about the Reaching From Here To There program, and said this - "I'm currently in Iraq and would like a copy of your book. What I would like is an autographed copy from you. I'll give you $100 to help cover the costs for my book and the balance for books to other soldiers who are over here on the waiting list.

Thank you for your support of all the service members here in Iraq."

Now, here's my challenge to you...

This soldier has earned a copy of the book as a gift, earned it with his hard work and sacrifice. They all have, which is why this program is in place. These soldiers are requesting the book for something positive and encouraging to read, and they feel it's so worthwhile they want to pay to provide a copy of the book to fellow soldiers. I'm challenging my readers to donate the $100 that this soldier wants to give, to purchase this soldier's book and the books this soldier wants to provide for his fellow soldiers.

You can see how important this is to this soldier, how he's willing to give, instead of receive. For him it isn't just something to request for free, it's something to invest in for others. This soldier and the many like him are why we call them heroes. It is why we support them and are honored to do so. Let's honor his generousity with our own, and let him know we'd like to provide the book as a gift so that he doesn't have to.

You can purchase the book for a soldier on the waiting list here.


I purchased one this morning

From Fox News:

Former Yugoslav dictator dies in prison cell at The Hague

Check out this thank you letter that Soldiers' Angels received from Major General Thomas R. Turner of the 101st Airborne:




It reads:

"Dear Soldiers' Angels,
On behalf of the Soldiers and families of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), I would personally like to thank you for your tremendous generosity. The laptop computers you donated for our Soldiers and their families to use have made a tremendous impact. It is the selfless actions of people like you that make serving our great country such an honor."


HOOAH, Angels!!

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman (right), commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, listens to an Iraqi citizen in Zafarenia, located in eastern Baghdad, while conducting a patrol with U.S. soldiers assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, March 1, 2006. Thurman and Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling the area, visiting with the local residents and viewing progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman (left), commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, shakes hands with Iraqi Col. Hussain, commander, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi army, March 1, 2006. Thurman, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, made several stops throughout the day in eastern Baghdad to meet with local residents and view progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman (right), commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, shares an embrace with Iraqi Maj. Gen. Jawad, commander, 2nd Brigade, 6th Iraqi Army, March 1, 2006. Thurman, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, made several stops throughout the day in eastern Baghdad to meet with local residents and view progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling (right), Multinational Division-Baghdad, talks with U.S. Army Maj. Johnnie Davis, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, while conducting a patrol with the brigade’s soldiers, March 1, 2006. Rilinig accompanied U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, on a tour of eastern Baghdad to meet with the local residents and view progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman (center), commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, listens to Iraqi citizens in Zafarenia, located in eastern Baghdad, while conducting a patrol with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, March 1, 2006. Thurman, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, made several stops throughout the day to meet with local residents and view progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling (center), Multinational Division–Baghdad, talks with Command Sgt. Maj. Charles Lakin (right), 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, while conducting a patrol with the brigade’s soldiers, March 1, 2006. Rilinig accompanied U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman, commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, on a tour of eastern Baghdad to meet with the local residents and view progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe


U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Bertolini (right), commander, 3rd Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, shows the layout of an Iraqi police checkpoint to U.S. Army Maj. Gen. J.D. Thurman (center), commanding general, Multinational Division–Baghdad, on the front deck of an M1 Abrams tank on a main thoroughfare of east Baghdad, March 1, 2006, as U.S. Army Lt. Col. Christopher Hall, commander, 4th Brigade Troops Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, observes. Thurman also visited with the local residents and viewed progress of projects in their neighborhoods. U.S. Army photo by Capt. James Lowe

DANGER UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE — A Polish army soldier assigned to Multinational Division-Central South, Camp Echo, Diwaniyah, Iraq, warns his team members to stay back as he opens a weapons cache in Al Hamzah, Iraq, March 8, 2006. The Polish explosive ordnance disposal team found and destroyed 13 mortar rounds and one launcher. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jason T. Bailey

ON THE GROUND
Division Commander Visits Baghdad Residents - Story
Ceremony Transfers Base Control to Iraqi Army - Story
USS Ardent Aids Stranded Iraqi-Owned Vessel - Story

IN IRAQ
Troops Deliver Essentials, Toys to Iraqi Orphans
Iraqi Troops Ride Recon Off the Beaten Path
Lifesaver Course Designed for Combat in Iraq
Iraqi Air Force Spreads Wings, Secures Future

IN AFGHANISTAN
'Muleskinners' Assume Joint Logistics Mission
Medical Assistance Visit Aids Bamian Residents
Civil Affairs Mission Helps Afghan Villagers
New Zealanders Deliver Roof Beams to Camp

FACE OF DEFENSE
Assistant District Attorney Helps Troops in Iraq - Story

AMERICA SUPPORTS YOU
ASY Groups Meet President Bush - Story
Marine, JROTC Unit Push VFW Effort
Dallas Gives Heroes Warm Welcome

TOP NEWS
IRAQ
Iraq Fed Up With Insurgency Video
No Immediate Plans to Close Prison
2 Marines Killed in Anbar Province
Casey: Iraqis Resist Terrorists' Lure
U.S. Soldiers Discover Bodies
IED-Making Site Destroyed
Iraqis Graduate From Training
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq (pdf)
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report (pdf)
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Jones Sees Demise of Terrorists
Bush Pleased with Afghan Progress
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Bush Signs Patriot Act Extension
Democracy Promotes Human Rights
Special Ops: 'Leading Role' in Fight
African Issues Affect U.S. Security
NATO 'Reinventing' Itself
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: War on Terror
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
U.S. Forces Train Nigerien Troops
Rumsfeld, Rice Urge Budget Action
Photos: Rumsfeld, Rice Testify
Pace Details Funding Needs
Abizaid Stresses Need for Funds
EUCOM: Funds Needed
N. Korea, Iran Pose Missile Threat
Exercise Tests Force Protection
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Marine Casualties - Story

Weather
Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Gitmo

Today in History
0417 - Zosimus becomes bishop of Rome
0537 - Goths lay siege to Rome
0843 - Icon worship officially re-instated in Aya Sofia, Constantinople
1302 - Romeo & Juliet's wedding day, according to Shakespeare
1502 - Tebriz shah Ismail I of Persia crowned
1513 - Giovanni de' Medici chosen Pope Leo X
1563 - League of High Nobles' second protest against King Philip II
1567 - Geuzen army leaves Walcheren to return to Oosterweel
1597 - Land guardian Albrecht occupies Amiens on France
1649 - Treaty of Rueil destroys 1st Fronde-uprising
1669 - Volcano Etna in Italy erupts, killing 15,000
1779 - US Army Corps of Engineers established (1st time)
1789 - Benjamin Banneker and L'Enfant begin to lay out Washington, DC
1791 - Samuel Mulliken, Philadelphia PA, is 1st to obtain more than 1 US patent
1795 - Battle at Kurdla India: Mahratten beat Mogols
1812 - Citizenship granted to Prussian Jews
1824 - US War Department creates the Bureau of Indian Affairs
1835 - HMS Beagle anchors off Valparaiso, Chile
1861 - Confederate convention in Montgomery, adopts constitution
1862 - General Stonewall Jackson evacuates Winchester, Virginia; Lincoln removes McClellen as general-in-chief & makes him head of Army of the Potomac. Gen Henry Halleck is named general-in-chief
1864 - Skirmish at Calfkiller Creek (Sparta), Tennessee
1865 - General Sherman's Union forces occupy Fayetteville, NC
1867 - Great Mauna Loa eruption (Hawaii)
1888 - Great blizzard of '88 strikes northeast US
1895 - Spanish cruiser Reina Regenta sinks at Gibraltar, 400 killed
1917 - British troops occupy Baghdad
1918 - Moscow becomes capital of revolutionary Russia
1919 - General strike in Germany, crushed
1926 - Eamon da Valera ends leadership of Sinn Fein
1927 - 1st armored commercial car hold-up in US, Pittsburgh
1930 - President & Chief Justice William Taft buried in Arlington
1935 - Hermann Goering officially creates German Air Force, the Luftwaffe
1938 - Artur Seyss-Inquart replaces Kurt von Schuschnigg as Chancellor of Austria; German troops enter Austria
1941 - FDR signs Lend-Lease Bill (lend money to Britain)
1942 - 1st deportation train leaves Paris France for Auschewitz Concentration Camp; General MacArthur leaves Corregidor (Bataan) for Australia; Japanese troop land on North-Sumatra
1943 - Nazi Militia forms in Netherlands
1944 - Dutch resistance fighter Joop Westerweel arrested
1945 - 1,000 allied bombers harass Essen, 4,662 ton bombs; Flemish Nazi collaborator Maria Huygens sentenced to death
1948 - Jewish Agency of Jerusalem bombed
1953 - 1st woman army doctor commissioned (FM Adams); An American B-47 accidentally drops a nuclear bomb on South Carolina, the bomb doesn't go off due to 6 safety catches
1954 - US Army charges Senator Joseph McCarthy used undue pressure tactics
1960 - Pioneer 5 launched into solar orbit between Earth & Venus
1963 - Somalia drops diplomatic relations with Great Britain
1966 - Military coup led by Indonesian General Suharto breaks out
1970 - Iraq Ba'th Party recognizes Kurd nation
1974 - Mount Etna in Sicily erupts
1975 - Portugal military coup under General Spinola fails
1977 - 34 Israelis killed by Palestinians on the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway; Muslims hold 130 hostages in Washington, DC
1978 - Terrorists attack mail truck at Tel Aviv, 45 killed
1981 - Chile constitution takes effect, Augusto Pinochet 2nd term begins
1982 - Failed military coup under Rambocus/Hawker in Suriname; Harrison Williams (Senator-NJ) resigns rather than face expulsion; Menachem Begin & Anwar Sadat sign peace treaty in Washington, DC
1985 - Mikhail S. Gorbachev replaces Konstantin Chernenko as Soviet leader
1986 - 1 million days since traditional foundation of Rome, 4/21/753 BC; Japanese probe Sakigake flies by Halley's Comet at 6.8 millionkm
1988 - £ note ceases to be legal tender, replaced by £ coin
1990 - Lithuania declares its independence
1994 - Eduardo Frei succeeds Patricio Aylwin as President of Chile
1995 - President Nazarbajev disbands Kazakhstan parliament; Sinn Fein party leader, Gerry Adams, arrives in US
1997 - Ashes of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry are launched into space; Beatle Paul McCartney knighted Sir Paul by Queen Elizabeth II

Birthdays
1731 - Robert Treat Paine, judge, signer of Declaration of Independence
1811 - Marsena Rudolph Patrick, Union Brevet Major General; Urbain Jean Joseph le Verrier, co-discovered Neptune
1812 - James Speed, Union Attorney General; Pieter Blussé van Oud-Alblas Dutch liberal minister of Finance
1818 - John Wilkins Whitfield, Confederate Brigadier General
1822 - Allison Nelson, Confederate Brigadier General
1832 - Franz Melde, German physicist (Melde test); William Ruffin Cox, Confederate Brigadier General (2nd North Carolina Infantry)
1840 - Edmund Kirby, Jr., Union Brigadier General
1876 - David Wijnkoop, Dutch revolutionary socialist
1879 - Niels Bjerrum, Danish chemist (ph tests)
1892 - Wladyslaw Anders, Polish General (WWI, WWII)
1899 - Frederick IX, King of Denmark (1947-72)
1904 - Cornelis Jan Bakker, Dutch/US nuclear physicist
1907 - Helmuth J. von Moltke, German politician (July 20th plot)
1907 - Margaret Herbison, British minister (Lab)
1910 - Robert H G Havemann, German chemist
1911 - Fitzroy Maclean, British diplomat, soldier politician/historian
1916 - Sir [James] Harold Wilson, British Prime Minister (1964-70, 1974-76)
1922 - Abdul Razak bin Hussain premier of Malaysia (1970-77)
1926 - Ralph Abernathy, civil rights leader (Southern Christian Leadership)
1934 - Keith Speed British, MP
1934 - Sam Donaldson, ABC White House correspondent (Prime Time)
1936 - Antonin Scalia, 105th Supreme Court Justice
1938 - Malcolm Keith Speed, British high court judge
1956 - Curtis L. Brown, Jr., Major USAF/astronaut (STS 47, STS 66, 77, 85, 95)
1966 - Pavel Petrovich Mukhortov, Russian cosmonaut

Passings
0222 - Varius A. Bassianus, Syrian emperor of Rome (218-22), murdered at 18?
0638 - Sophronius of Jerusalem saint/patriarch of Jerusalem, dies
1907 - Nikola Petkow, premier (Bulgaria), murdered
1921 - Sherburne W. Burnham, US astronomer (binary stars), dies at 83
1949 - Henri-Honoré Giraud, French General/MP, dies at 70
1955 - Alexander Fleming, English bacteriologist (penicillin), dies at 73
1965 - James Reeb, US vicar/civil rights activist, murdered
1992 - Heinz Kühn, Prime Minister (Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany), dies at 80

Reported Missing in Action
1965
Smith, Richard D., USAF (KS); B57 shot down - remains ID'd September, 1994

1967
Greene, Charles E., USAF (NY); F105D shot down released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Hiteshew, James E., USAF (WV); F105D shot down - released by DRV March, 1973 - retired as a Colonel - alive and well as of 1998

Karins, Joseph J., Jr., USAF (NY); F105D shot down - remains returend April, 1988

Moore, Ernest M., USN (CA); A4E shot down, released by March, 1973 - alive and well as of 1998

The following USAF personnel lost in an attack on Lima 85, Phao Pha Thi, Laos:
Blanton, Clarence F., (OK); KIA, body not recovered

Calfee, Hames Henry, (TX); KIA, body not recovered

Davis, James Woodrow, (MS); KIA, body not recovered

Gish, Henry G., (PA); KIA, body not recovered

Holland, Melvin A., (WA); KIA, body not recovered

Hall, Willis Roselle (NE); KIA, body not recovered

Kirk, Herbert A., (PA); KIA, body not recovered

Price, David Stanley (WA); KIA, body not recovered

Shannon, Patrick Lee (OK); KIA, body not recovered

Sprinsteadah, Donald K. (NJ); KIA, body not recovered

Worley, Don F. (AR); KIA, body not recovered

The following also reported MIA this day in 1968:
Bond, Ronald Dale, USAF (ND); A37A shot down, KIA, body not recovered

Calloway, Porter E., US Army (LA); captured wounded, died

McMillan, Isiah, US Army (FL); released by PRG March, 1973 - retired as a Master Sergeant - alive as of 1998

Olds, Ernest A., USAF (MD); F4D shot down (w/Rodriguez) - remains ID'd August, 1996

Rodriguez, Albert E., USAF (NY); F4D shot down (w/Olds) - remains returned December, 1988 - ID'd July, 1989

Davis, Thomas, J., US Army (AL); released by PRG March, 1973 - retired as a CSM - alive as of 1998