A week ago, at lunchtime, my phone rang. It was my personal cell phone, and I was at work. Didn't recognize the area code, so I didn't answer. I did, however look up the area code.

'Waco, Texas?' I thought. 'Who the hell do I know in Waco, Texas?'

I travel for work, but I haven't been in Texas in a while (and I've never been to Waco), so I didn't think that was it.

Only one other option I could think of - a Soldier.

It rang again. Same number. Though I had to leave in a few moments for a business meeting, I picked it up.

The caller had a mischievous tone in his voice as he asked me how I was doing, and whether I was in CT or travelling that day. 'OK, I'll play,' I thought. There were only a couple of people this could be. Not too many people had this number.

He asked me about my dogs, my work, my family.

And then he asked about the squirrels - an inside joke that only one person outside of my house knew about.

It was my first Soldiers' Angels adoptee - the one who calls me Big Sis, and who I call alternately SuperSarge, Li'l Bro, or my favorite Cav. Scout.

I'd never talked to him in person before. And unbelievably, after a minute, I had to say,

"You're not going to believe this, but I have to go. Can I call you back?"

When I did, it turned into a two-hour conversation. The last time I'd heard from him, he was feeling pretty low. Medevac'd out of Iraq his last tour, he'd been going through a pretty tough time, with treatments, evaluations, and the fact that his future military career was in question due to his medical issues.

He'd told me then that at his lowest, he'd re-read a book I sent him - a book full of thank yous and other messages. He said the book kept him focused on the fact that a lot of people were pulling for him, and he couldn't let them down.

This day, he sounded good - cheery, a bit of a smart@$$ - exactly the way I figured he'd sound based on letters, emails, and instant message conversations.

At one point, he expressed amazement at the fact that I'd known him for four years now. He said I was one of very few people who had seen him at his best and his worst. I told him what I've told him a number of times before - that I would be there anytime he needed me.

He told me that thanks to some great people, he was making progress - getting treatment that was working. He said that the place he was at was awesome, and not enough people knew about them.

He also mentioned that he was working to arrange a ski trip for him and some buddies - they had a ski place that was donating equipment and tickets, but they still didn't have ski jackets, pants, etc. In fact, he wasn't even sure what the heck they needed - "I'm from Louisiana!"

He wondered if I knew of any place that might be willing to donate ski jackets, pants, etc.

I didn't, but I did know where to get help. I immediately (with him on the phone) emailed Patti about the trip, what they needed, etc.

Within a few days, they were all set and ready to purchase jackets, pants, etc. - all the cold weather clothing they needed.

When the folks at the clinic asked my Li'l Bro how the heck he'd pulled that off, he reported that he'd said:

"You know how I say I'm the Hand of God on the battlefield? Well, God never goes anywhere without his Angels."

HOOAH to that.

Patti didn't hesitate when I asked. Not one second. Her response was "we'd be honored to help."

And that's the response I - and so many others - always get when Soldiers' Angels is asked for help. SA never looks for what can't be done, but always for what CAN be done. When hurricanes damage barracks, when fires damage FOBs, when it's hot as heck in Iraq, when wounded heroes need ski gear - it's "What can we do to help?"

What mattered most in the world to me and to one wounded Hero on that Friday afternoon was getting some warm weather clothing so that six Heroes could go skiing. And again, it was "what can we do to help."

In the aftermath of a political campaign based on the catch phrase "Yes we can," SA shows what that really means, but goes further. SA isn't just "Yes we can" - it's "Yes we will."

Unfortunately, as things stand now, the reality of charities / non-profits is that donations are drying up. Whether the economic slowdown / recession / whatever you want to call it has actually hit or not, people perceive that things are rough, and they're tightening their belts. Unfortunately, one of the things they're giving up is donations to groups like Soldiers' Angels.

What that means is that more than 500 Heroes are currently waiting for Angels.

And SA is looking at escalating action in Afghanistan, and continuing efforts in Iraq, and saying, "Yes, we can - but we need your help to do it."

I've seen SA get family members tickets to see wounded heroes, provide voice-activated laptops to wounded heroes, ensure that wounded troops in Germany don't feel alone, and bring the holidays to tens of thousands of deployed Heroes.

It doesn't take much to be a part of it.

$5.00 sends a cool scarf to a Hero, to alleviate the misery of the desert heat.

$13.00 sends a 150-minute phone card.

$29.00 buys a kit to make a Blanket of Hope that you can send to comfort a wounded Hero.

$32.00 helps send a Welcome Home pack to a Hero.

$45.00 - $55.00 provides a welcome thank you to a veteran, or provides much-needed necessities to our Heroes, who often arrive at the hospital with nothing.

Or why not adopt a Hero? A letter a week / a package a month is all it takes. The USPS provides free mailing supplies to those who are sending to deployed troops, and they've got flat-rate priority mail shipping. My average package from the East Coast to an APO starting with 09 is about $6.00 - $8.00 to ship. Homemade treats, goofy gifts to bring a laugh, books, magazines - the contents don't have to be remarkable. The recipients, though, certainly are.

Without my involvement in SA, I would never have met my friend the SuperSarge, who I've talked to on the phone several times since, and who is one of the finest people it has ever been my privilege to know (seriously, Li'l Bro - you rock). Without SA, I would never have blogged. I would never have been to Walter Reed and had the chance to meet some incredible Heroes. Five minutes to sign up online changed my life, put me in the company of Heroes, and made me a better person. And my Li'l Bro would never have gotten a message book that provided a lift in one of his lowest moments. That's what SA does; what it means.

It means that Heroes half a world away, or right here at home, know we care.

How much is it worth to have the chance to thank a Hero? One less latte at Starbucks? A night at the movies? That jar of pennies?

It really doesn't take much - but it might mean everything.

Labels: Soldiers' Angels, Supporting Our Heroes, Supporting the troops

December 11, 2008

I desperately need your help!

Thanks to the support of loyal friends like you, Soldiers' Angels has sent out thousands of WRAPPED IN HOLIDAY SPIRIT care packages to our soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or recovering from injuries in a hospital far from home.

But now we have an urgent situation on our hands...

We have run out of funds to pay for the postage to ship out the remaining 40,000 care packages!

It is absolutely critical that we raise $150,000 in the next three days to send out the remaining 40,000 care packages for our soldiers so they arrive in time for Christmas!

Each of these packages has been lovingly packed by our caring volunteer "Angels," but without your immediate help they will not get into the hands of one of our heroes in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Along with a handmade blanket, each care package includes snacks, hot chocolate, a stainless steel travel mug, socks and a handwritten holiday card.

I can't bear the thought of thousands of our wonderful soldiers being left out and ignored this Christmas. And as a loyal friend to Soldiers' Angels, I'm sure you agree that we can't let our brave men and women down. No soldier should go unloved... especially during the holiday season.

Worse yet, the wounded will be recovering from their injuries at military hospitals... feeling homesick and very alone. Please, can I count on your support so that we can show each and every soldier how much we care for them?

Your generous support at this time would be a Godsend.

To donate now please click here.

The only way Soldiers' Angels can complete a job of this magnitude is to enlist the help of patriotic, caring Americans like you who support our troops.

That's why it's so critical that our most loyal friends respond today to this urgent request.

Thousands of our brave men and women are depending on us.

Please, we must raise $150,000 in the next 3 days to send the remaining 40,000 WRAPPED IN HOLIDAY SPIRIT care packages.

I hope I can count on your critical support once more.

I know our troops will love the WRAPPED IN HOLIDAY SPIRIT care packages you will help send.

Please help now in any way you can.

Sincerely,

Patti Patton-Bader

Labels: holidays, Soldiers' Angels, Supporting Our Heroes

This year Soldiers' Angels is offering people tremendous opportunities to do their Holiday shopping or planning, and support the troops at the same time!

The easiest way to do this is shop online at all your favorite stores. If you stop by GoodShop and Shop to Earn before you start shopping, you can visit all your favorite online stores, purchase anything you want at the usual great prices, and a portion of what you spend will be donated to Soldiers' Angels--at no extra cost to you! On GoodShop, be sure you select Soldiers' Angels as the charity you are "GoodShopping for."

Another great way to do your Holiday gift giving while supporting the troops is to make a donation to Soldiers' Angels in honor of friends or family. This can take the form of a general honorary donation, or a care package donation. Simply follow the directions and you can receive a beautiful commemorative certificate to present as a gift.

Two great companies--SunNight Solar and Bake Me a Wish--have teamed up with Soldiers' Angels to allow customers to double-up their purchases in a "Buy One, Give One" format. Through the SunNight Solar BOGO program, customers can buy a solar-powered flashlight for themselves or as a gift and have another flashlight sent to a soldier in Afghanistant and iraq. Bake Me a Wish donates a cake for a deployed soldier through its special Freedom Cake program everytime you purchase a cake.

There are also a number of companies who donate a percentage of their sales to Soldiers' Angels. Check out the SA Discounts page for more information. Items for sale include great gift ideas such as clothes, books, gourmet food, jewelry and music (look closely at each company listed--some merely offer discounts, while others donate a percentage of sales).

Purchasing anything from the Angel Store as a holiday gift is also a great option. All "profits" from the sale of jewelry, clothing, office items and other great products at the Angel store go right back into all the wonderful Soldiers' Angels programs that support the troops.
So this year, shop for the troops and check off your Christmas list at the same time!

Labels: holidays, Soldiers' Angels, Supporting Our Heroes

Operation WiA Tunes gives music gift cards to wounded soldiers
by Meghan Tierney, Staff Writer, Gazette.net

Like a lot of teenagers, Cat Calantonio loves music and knows classmates who are joining the Army after high school graduation. The two merged this fall when she launched a project to collect music gift cards for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Medical Center.

Calantonio, 17, of Poolesville came up with the idea after she attended a fundraiser for soldiers who were recuperating at the Washington, D.C., medical center's campus.

"I really didn't know what to expect," Calantonio, a self-described "music junkie" who listens to country and indie rock, said of meeting wounded veterans at the event. "I was nervous, I thought they were going to be these banged up guys who were a lot older than me, but they were all 21, about my age. …These guys just inspired me as soon as soon as I [left]."

Calantonio's mother, Marci Calantonio, told her that mothers of soldiers said they loved iTunes gift cards, which can be used to download music online, because they can be used from anywhere in the world. The idea for Operation WiA Tunes — short for Wounded in Action — was born.

"When I told her these guys wanted iTunes, her eyes got big as saucers and she said, ‘I can do that,'" Marci Calantonio said.

Donations to the project, formed under the umbrella of the Poolesville-based nonprofit America's Wounded Heroes, are used to buy gift cards for wounded soldiers recovering at Walter Reed and eventually at U.S. military hospitals across the world. Cat Calantonio discussed her ideas with soldiers, one of whom came up with the project's name, garnered support from charities and is reaching out to corporate sponsors, publicizing the project and making arrangements to do fundraising at schools.

"I've blown off my homework a few times, but to me this is more worthwhile," Calantonio, a senior at Poolesville High School, said with a laugh.

The hope is that the music will boost the soldiers' morale and provide an emotional outlet during recovery, Calantonio said. The project dovetails with an initiative by the nonprofit Soldiers' Angels, which distributes iPods to injured veterans at Walter Reed, her mother said.

"Cat's project is a really cool project that will be a big help to the wounded soldiers. They don't have a lot to do in the hospital and they all love music," said Lynn Fullerton, treasurer of America's Wounded Heroes, the nonprofit that hosted the September fundraiser that sparked Calantonio's idea.

Ten gift cards had been donated to the project as of last week, and two corporations said they would discuss donating, Calantonio said.

"You can't help but fall in love. [The soldiers are] such great people," Calantonio said. "...On paper it sounds impressive, but I'm really not that cool. I'm just trying to help."

Labels: Good News, Operation WiA Tunes, Soldiers' Angels, Supporting Our Heroes

Army Capt. James Barclay IV bonds with his hunting dog, Bryant. A Williamsburg, Va., trainer donated his services to train Bryant for Barclay, who was wounded in an Afghanistan roadside-bomb attack. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joe Laws


By Army Spc. Andrew Orillion
Special to American Forces Press Service


WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 27, 2008 – On Aug. 19, 2006, the life of Army Capt. James Barclay IV changed forever.

He was in the lead vehicle of a convoy in a remote area of Afghanistan when a roadside bomb tore through his vehicle. Barclay survived, but suffered burns over 40 percent of his body.

Barclay’s life changed again June 24, but this time for the better.

Marc Illman, owner of The Pet Resort at Greensprings here, reunited Barclay with Bryant, a chocolate Labrador retriever specially trained for hunting. Illman spent the last three months training the dog while Barclay underwent treatment for his injuries.

Bryant and Barclay’s story began shortly after Barclay started his recovery at the Wounded Warrior Center at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. A long-time outdoorsman, Barclay was eager to return to hunting, his favorite pastime. He adopted Bryant in August, but soon found that his injuries prevented him from properly caring for the pooch.

“I had him for about three weeks,” he said. “Due to the surgeries, I wasn’t going to able to do what I wanted to do with him, and spend as much time as I should with him, so I sent him to my dad’s house.”

In March, Barclay’s father, Army Brig. Gen. James Barclay III, former director of U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Joint Center for Operational Analysis, brought Bryant and another pet to Illman for boarding. When Illman found out about the situation, he volunteered to help train Bryant free of charge.

“I’m thrilled to do this, and I hope the dog works out for him and his family,” Illman said. “These young men in the armed services really don’t have a choice. They’re where they’re told to go, when they’re told to go there, and no matter what your political ideals are, they’re committed to serve the armed services, and it’s important they know that when they come home, as opposed to other wars we’ve had, that they have some support.”

Bryant’s training began with basic obedience training and socialization. Illman then moved on to more hunting and outdoor-specific training such as running through deep undergrowth and proper reaction to gunfire. He specifically trained the pup to hunt both water fowl and upland birds such as quail and pheasant. Illman said Bryant took easily to the training.

“What makes him really special is that, sometimes you have a dog that’s great around people [and] becomes a great house dog. We call them ‘couch potatoes,’ Illman said. “But he also has the ability to switch that off and become a great field-trial hunting dog.”

The elder Barclay, who recently left JFCom to become commanding general at Fort Rucker, Ala., said he’s grateful not only for Illman’s help, but also for everyone who reaches out to wounded servicemembers in need.

“It’s great to have Americans who support our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and he is prime example of that kind of support that is willing to give and do things for these kids,” the general said. “We’ve got great Americans out there that show their support in different ways for our kids. I think it’s wonderful, and folks like that need recognition.”

As Barclay reunited with his old friend, the two recognized each other right away and were inseparable from the moment they were reunited.

“It really means a lot to see that people here support me and the soldiers out here,” Barclay said. “Hopefully, [Bryant will] be my right-hand man.”

In addition to Bryant, Barclay received a free one-year supply of dog food and a weekend hunting trip at a resort in Montana.

With Bryant in tow, Barclay will head back to San Antonio to continue his recovery. He said he hopes to be better in time for the bird-hunting season in the fall.

“Once I get back, I’ll start working with him right away to try and create that bond you need in a hunting dog,” Barclay said.

(Army Spc. Andrew Orillion serves in the U.S. Joint Forces Command Public Affairs Office.)

Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.


Related Sites:
America Supports You

Labels: Afghanistan, Supporting Our Heroes, US Army, Wounded Heroes

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

From DefenseLink:


Kursten Byrne, holding a photo of her husband, Marine Capt. Patrick Byrne, and their four children use “Websites for Heroes” as a way to stay in touch. Captain Byrne is deployed in Iraq. Photo courtesy of Websites for Heroes


American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2008 – For deployed servicemembers and their loved ones, maintaining close family ties takes more than the occasional phone call or e-mail.

It happens through a free, personalized and password-protected Web site.

“Deployments are hard on families. When you’re away and you’re in harm’s way, … it’s a lonely place,” said Terry Gniffke, who founded “Websites for Heroes” with Mike Sawtell. “You miss home, and the greatest thing is to be connected in some way. ‘Websites for Heroes’ allows that to happen.”

Each site allows for unlimited photo uploads and can support two hours of streaming video so parents can see what the family is doing back home. Among other features, it also provides a message board and kids’ calendar, which helps Mom or Dad stay actively involved in their child’s life.

“They can be proactive in communicating, ‘Hey, how was your English test?’” Gniffke said.

“[That way], their son or daughter feels like Dad’s still connected or Mom’s still connected to their life.

“You’ve got all these elements that make for a great interactive social network for the family to communicate,” he added.

Websites for Heroes keeps military families connected, whether they’re deployed overseas or across the country, and it does so at no cost to the family. Each personalized, password-protected family Web site -- there are currently 1,200 -- is sponsored at a cost of $99 a year. The individual sites Websites for Heroes offers military families are sponsored by individuals and, in some cases, by corporations, including Gateway.

While the sponsorships are one-time donations, Gniffke said, he hopes donors will realize the benefit to the families and make it an ongoing part of their support for the troops.

“This is a mission for me,” he said. “This is near and dear to my heart.”

Gniffke knows from experience just how important something like Websites for Heroes can be. The former Marine served in Vietnam, and he said he remembers waiting up to three weeks for a single letter from home. As tough as that was on him, he said, it was tougher on his family when his base got hit and the letter he wrote to let them know he was all right hadn’t arrived before there was another attack.

“It’s tough on the home front, and it’s tough on the other side,” he said. “What a difference [Websites for Heroes] would have made.”

Gniffke didn’t have that luxury in Vietnam, but he and Mike Sawtell are going to make sure the gap between home and the front lines is much smaller for this generation of servicemembers.

Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals, groups and organizations that are helping support the troops, visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America Supports You directly connects military members to the support of the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their quest to find meaningful ways to support the military community.

Related Sites:
Websites for Heroes

Labels: military families, Supporting Our Heroes, Websites for Heroes

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2008 – With growing recognition of the toll post-traumatic stress disorder has taken on U.S. forces, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said the Defense Department may consider awarding Purple Heart medals to combat veterans afflicted with it.
“It’s an interesting idea,” Gates said when asked about the concept during a May 2 media availability at Red River Army Depot, Texas. “I think it is clearly something that needs to be looked at.”

Gates’ comment followed his visit the previous day to Fort Bliss, Texas, where he toured the post’s Recovery and Resilience Center, which is using a holistic approach to treating troops with PTSD.

John E. Fortunato, who conceived of and runs the center, told reporters that awarding the Purple Heart to PTSD sufferers would go a long way toward chipping away at prejudices surrounding the disease. Because PTSD affects structures in the brain, it’s a physical disorder, “no different from shrapnel,” Fortunato said. “This is an injury.”

The Army classifies PTSD as an illness, not an injury, so troops with PTSD don’t qualify for the Purple Heart. That distinction is limited to troops killed or wounded in a conflict.

“I would love to see that changed, because these guys have paid at least as high a price, some of them, as anybody with a traumatic brain injury, as anybody with a shrapnel wound,” Fortunato said.

Not recognizing those with PTSD with a Purple Heart “says that this is the wound that isn’t worthy,” Fortunato said. “And it is.”

Fortunato said he’d also like to see a regulation prohibiting harassment of troops with PTSD, similar to regulations banning racial or sexual harassment. “Until there are sanctions that make a superior pay a price for harassing a soldier with mental health problems, I don’t know that it will change that much.”

Soldiers still get laughed at for seeking mental-health services or told that it will ruin their careers, he said. Some in the force view people with PTSD as weak, believing that if those with the disease “just sucked it up and soldiered on, [they would] could get over this,” Fortunato said.

“The Army is making a lot of strides toward changing that, but it’s a slow go, because it has to happen at the grassroots level,” he said. “Like any other prejudice, it’s hard to die.”

During his visit to Fort Bliss, Gates announced a new policy in which combat veterans no longer have to acknowledge on their federal security clearance forms that they have received mental health care for combat stress. Gates said he hoped the policy would eliminate troops’ concerns that seeking mentalhealth care can cause them to be denied a security clearance and threaten their careers. He also expressed hope it would take the stigma away from seeking treatment.

Gates called on senior noncommissioned officers to encourage their soldiers who need it to get care, and to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength, not weakness.

“All of you have a special role in encouraging troops to seek help for the unseen scars of war -- to let them know that doing so is a sign of strength and maturity,” Gates told soldiers attending the Army Sergeants Major Academy, at Fort Bliss. “I urge you all to talk with those below you to find out where we can continue to improve.

“Those who have sacrificed for our nation deserve the best care they can get,” he continued. “As I have said before, there is no higher priority for the Department of Defense, after the war itself, than caring for our wounded warriors.”


Biographies:
Robert M. Gates


Related Articles:
Gates Asks Senior NCOs to Encourage Troops to Seek Mental Health Care
Special Report: Question 21

Labels: PTSD, Supporting Our Heroes, Wounded Heroes