From America Supports You:

By Jamie Findlater
Special to American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2008 - Support from their fellow citizens is vital to the success of servicemembers fighting the war on terror, a soldier who earned the Bronze Star Medal in Iraq said today.

“Support means everything,” Army Staff Sgt. John Aughtman saidin an interview on the “ASY Live” program on BlogTalkRadio. “A letter, a care package, a telephone call, a visit, a blanket -- anything means everything.”

“ASY Live” is part of the Defense Department’s America Supports You program, which connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
As a squad leader, Aughtman earned the Bronze Star Medal for his leadership after an attack in Tikrit. He cared for his soldiers and led them to safety before taking care of his own injuries. He has served three combat deployments, and plans to go back.

“I’ve had some good times and bad times, and I can’t wait to get back in,” he said.

Aughtman talked about his time being deployed before his injury, and emphasized the importance of support organizations that helped to keep him connected to what was going on back home.

“The home-front groups go above and beyond, doing great things for us,” he said. “It may not be a lot, but it is something when they are far away from home.”

In particular, Aughtman said, care packages, letters from people around the country and notes from elementary school children really warmed his heart. “They would send care packages and movies around the holidays – it kind of warms you up when you get something like that and have been deployed for awhile,” he said.

On April 22 2007, the day he was injured, Aughtman was on a routine patrol returning to his forward operating base when his vehicle was struck by a grenade. He was knocked unconscious for about a minute and a half.

“When I woke up,” he said, “I started testing the other soldiers for injuries, and I found that one soldier had shrapnel wounds to about 90 percent of his right leg and one soldier had internal injuries.” Without hesitation, Aughtman treated the soldier with the shrapnel wounds and kept the other soldier conscious before deciding to get back to the forward operating base on a “self-medevac” to get attention for his own injuries.

Although many would agree that Aughtman is a hero, he doesn’t view himself that way. “I am just doing my job and doing what I am supposed to do. … The men to your left and right are going to do anything and everything to help you out as long as you do the same,” he said. “I lost a friend in Iraq. “He paid the ultimate sacrifice and is a true hero.”

While recovering from his injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, Aughtman received a wide variety of care and support that he credits with assisting in his speedy recovery.

“I received blankets clothes, money, letters everything you think you would need while you are in the hospital,” he explained. “One group gave us a credit card to buy clothes, because we didn’t have any when we had to self-medevac. Another group gave me a handmade quilt that is very nice and warm.

“The thing that stands out the most,” he continued, “were the people at Walter Reed. They came around every day to check on me and talk to me and see how I was doing. They were just there to talk and make the experience a little better.”

To support groups that work tirelessly to provide for servicemembers, Aughtman had words of encouragement to offer. “Continue your support, and don’t forget about us,” he said.

(Jamie Findlater, host of “ASY Live,” works in the New Media directorate of the Defense Media Activity.)

Labels: America Supports You, Supporting Our Heroes

LT. DAN BAND - Oscar-nominated actor and director Gary Sinise, right, and his "Lt. Dan Band" perform a concert in the Pentagon Courtyard at the 4th Annual America Supports you concert as part of Military Appreciation Month at the Pentagon, Friday, May 16, 2008. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jerry Morrison

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Labels: America Supports You, Gary Sinise, Lt. Dan Band, Military Appreciation Month, Supporting the troops, Tonal Troop Support

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2007 – A nonprofit group is using a treasure hunt to get people interested in helping military families.

“We hope treasure hunters, individuals and corporations will generously donate to the scholarship fund for the families of our brave men and women in uniform who protect our freedoms each and every day,” said Gayle Osterberg, a spokeswoman for the group, ThanksUSA. “More than 1,300 scholarships have been awarded to the kids and spouses of active-duty military personnel in all branches of the service, … including those in the Guard and reserves.”

ThanksUSA is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with military personnel and their families serving at home and abroad.

Last year, the hunt’s theme focused on the “Pillars of Democracy.” This year it’s “Treasure our Troops,” a truly appropriate theme considering the organization works to provide need-based educational scholarships to military spouses and children.

“(It’s) once again based on state history, but this year we also included the history about two military branches; the Coast Guard and the Navy,” Osterberg said. “The ThanksUSA American history online treasure hunt excites Americans of all ages to learn about America's history, culture and values, which the troops defend each and every day, while also raising donations for scholarships for the families of the troops.

“This is an educational double play which says thank you to the men and women in uniform serving our country,” she added.

The hunt is open to anyone, though players must register at the ThanksUSA Web site. One winner per chapter will be randomly selected from the pool of participants who answered all the chapter questions correctly.

The drawings through May, however, will be for schools and youth groups only. After that, it’s anyone’s game, and the prizes should be incentive to play, Osterberg said.

“(Prizes) include bookstore gift certificates, iPods, and computers,” she said, adding that the grand prize will be on announced Memorial Day. “The grand prize in the previous two years has included a treasure chest abounding with jewels and precious metals, … but you’ll have to wait until Memorial Day to find out what the grand prize will be for Treasure Hunt Three.”

The treasure hunt, which includes more than 300 questions, will conclude on Aug. 15, and is free to play.

Scholarships the group has awarded to date total nearly $4 million for post-secondary educational pursuits. The organization plans another round of awards this year, Osterberg said.

ThanksUSA was created in 2005 when Rachel Okun and her sister, Kelsi, were just 10 and 8, respectively. Looking for a way to thank the troops, they were inspired by a book they’d read on summer vacation, Michael Stadther’s “A Treasure's Trove,” which revealed clues to real “treasure” hidden around the country.

The online treasure hunt is the result of the girls’ combining their interest in treasure hunts with a desire to thank the troops.

“The spirit of ThanksUSA is to thank the troops who defend our freedoms by awarding scholarships to their families,” the girls said. “The gift of education is the best way we know how to say, ‘Thank you.’”

Related Sites:
Thanks USA
America Supports You

Labels: America Supports You, Supporting the troops, ThanksUSA