Soldier made famous in Super Bowl ad visits Fort McCoy
Ocala Star Banner
By Andy Fillmore
Correspondent
Published: Friday, February 21, 2014
FORT MCCOY — U.S. Army 1st Lt. Chuck Nadd visited the Veterans of Foreign Wars Veterans Retirement Village in Fort McCoy on Thursday.
Nadd, the pilot of a Blackhawk helicopter on at least 240 hours of missions in Afghanistan, gained notoriety during the Super Bowl when Budweiser aired its “A Hero’s Welcome” commercial featuring him and his fiancée Shannon Cantwell and most of residents of his hometown of Winter Park.
The commercial came out of a VFW program to honor one returning serviceman representing many. Cantwell, a native of Mobile, Ala., and a staff member with Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama, entered Nadd’s name in the drawing.
After his name was drawn, the VFW became involved with the company that produced the 60-second commercial as well a 5-minute documentary that included VFW members sharing their homecoming experiences. Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Al Lugo, director of the village, and members of the staff there, along with other local VFW personnel, were involved in the project.
For the two productions, Cantwell started a campaign to get Nadd’s friends and former classmates at Trinity Preparatory School of Winter Park assembled, along with his mother and hundreds of town residents.
read more here
This is the video I shot from right in the middle of the huge crowd.
This is from Budweiser
Showing posts with label Fort McCoy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fort McCoy. Show all posts
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Colorado homeless veterans get kicked back to the streets
State closing down local facility for homeless veterans
November 30, 2012
MONROE CO. (WEAU)- In 30-days, the state will close down a local facility that takes in homeless veterans.
The 10 veterans living in the Veteran Assistance Center located in Fort McCoy have until December 30th to find another place to live.
Up until a month ago 20-year-old veteran Jacob Fisher had no place to call his own. That's why he found this home at Fort McCoy to be his safe haven.
"I just got this job, full time factory work. It's the best opportunity I have had in a long time and now for it to be stripped from it before I even got it going I have a lot of mixed feelings,” said Fisher.
But on Tuesday Fisher found out the center will be closed down. It's a cold time of year, and now he's afraid he'll be back out on the street.
"I don't want to go back to running around looking for food, running around to find a shelter, and I don't want to sleep in random places anymore," said Fisher.
read more here
November 30, 2012
MONROE CO. (WEAU)- In 30-days, the state will close down a local facility that takes in homeless veterans.
The 10 veterans living in the Veteran Assistance Center located in Fort McCoy have until December 30th to find another place to live.
Up until a month ago 20-year-old veteran Jacob Fisher had no place to call his own. That's why he found this home at Fort McCoy to be his safe haven.
"I just got this job, full time factory work. It's the best opportunity I have had in a long time and now for it to be stripped from it before I even got it going I have a lot of mixed feelings,” said Fisher.
But on Tuesday Fisher found out the center will be closed down. It's a cold time of year, and now he's afraid he'll be back out on the street.
"I don't want to go back to running around looking for food, running around to find a shelter, and I don't want to sleep in random places anymore," said Fisher.
read more here
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Fort McCoy Addressing Mental Health Problems with Soldiers
Fort McCoy Addressing Mental Health Problems with Soldiers
Fort McCoy is taking a proactive approach to helping soldiers deal with mental health issues.
Posted: 5:28 PM Oct 17, 2011
Reporter: WSAW Staff
read more here
Fort McCoy is taking a proactive approach to helping soldiers deal with mental health issues.
Posted: 5:28 PM Oct 17, 2011
Reporter: WSAW Staff
read more here
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Officials identify soldier found dead at Fort McCoy
Officials identify soldier found dead at Fort McCoy
FORT MCCOY (WKOW) -- Fort McCoy's public affairs office says Capt. Felicity Binnier, 40, of East Stroudsburg, Pa. died Saturday morning at Fort McCoy.
The public affairs office says Binnier was there for a training and was assigned to the 78th Training Division, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, NJ.
read more here
Officials identify soldier found dead at Fort McCoy
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Wisconsin National Guard mom prepares to send 3 sons to Iraq
Wis. mom prepares to send 3 sons to Iraq
By Bryan Horwath - Chippewa (Wis.) Herald via AP
Posted : Saturday Mar 6, 2010 12:06:26 EST
MENOMONIE, Wis. — Most mothers would be stressed enough sending a son or daughter to fight for their country overseas.
For one mother, you can take that feeling — and multiply it by three.
In a few short weeks, Eau Galle resident Mary Lemke will help send sons Lance Lemke, 19; Greg Lemke Jr.; 21, and Curtis Anderson, 27, to Operation Iraqi Freedom, half a world away.
The brothers — Curtis has a different father than his younger brothers — are members of Company A, 724th Engineer Battalion, of the Wisconsin National Guard, based in Chippewa Falls. Curtis is with the headquarters unit in Chippewa Falls. Lance is a member of the 950th Engineer Company, based in Spooner, and Greg is with the 273rd Engineer Company of Medford.
The three men are part of nearly 400 Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers who are set to be deployed this spring. The soldiers will train at Fort McCoy before shipping off for a one year tour of active duty.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/ap_army_3_at_war_030610/
By Bryan Horwath - Chippewa (Wis.) Herald via AP
Posted : Saturday Mar 6, 2010 12:06:26 EST
MENOMONIE, Wis. — Most mothers would be stressed enough sending a son or daughter to fight for their country overseas.
For one mother, you can take that feeling — and multiply it by three.
In a few short weeks, Eau Galle resident Mary Lemke will help send sons Lance Lemke, 19; Greg Lemke Jr.; 21, and Curtis Anderson, 27, to Operation Iraqi Freedom, half a world away.
The brothers — Curtis has a different father than his younger brothers — are members of Company A, 724th Engineer Battalion, of the Wisconsin National Guard, based in Chippewa Falls. Curtis is with the headquarters unit in Chippewa Falls. Lance is a member of the 950th Engineer Company, based in Spooner, and Greg is with the 273rd Engineer Company of Medford.
The three men are part of nearly 400 Wisconsin Army National Guard soldiers who are set to be deployed this spring. The soldiers will train at Fort McCoy before shipping off for a one year tour of active duty.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/03/ap_army_3_at_war_030610/
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Part VII: Homecoming brings joy, new struggles
Part VII: Homecoming brings joy, new struggles
By Sharon Cohen - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Aug 10, 2008 17:09:42 EDT
The chartered plane loaded with soldiers descended slowly in the summer sky as Sgt. John Kriesel watched eagerly on the tarmac, clutching a walking cane. He had been waiting for this reunion for more than seven months.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Homecoming at last, with troops and families reunited, though struggles remain. Conclusion of a seven-part series on the longest deployment of the Iraq war.
Kriesel hadn’t seen his “guys” since he lost his legs in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Now, finally, on this bright July day at Volk Field in Wisconsin, the soldiers who served with him — several of whom he had known since high school — were home after a 22-month tour of duty, including 16 months in Iraq.
And he was there to welcome them.
Wearing shorts, sunglasses and bright yellow running shoes and standing firmly with his prosthetic legs, Kriesel beamed as a long line of soldiers formed, snaking from the plane’s steps across the tarmac.
One by one, Kriesel greeted them with hugs, hand shakes, smiles and jokes.
One soldier carried his battered M-4 weapon that survived the IED attack. “Is that my rifle?” Kriesel exclaimed, touching it again.
“You look good!” another friend said. “You look better than me.”
“No, I don’t,” Kriesel replied. “YOU look good. You got legs, bro.”
Staff Sgt. Tim Nelson, who was Kriesel’s roommate in Iraq and squad leader, jumped ahead in line and the two men embraced, holding each other tightly. Nelson was in the Humvee seat behind him when it ran over an IED.
Nelson flew with Kriesel to the military hospital in Balad, Iraq, and held his hand when Kriesel’s survival was in doubt.
By Sharon Cohen - The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Aug 10, 2008 17:09:42 EDT
The chartered plane loaded with soldiers descended slowly in the summer sky as Sgt. John Kriesel watched eagerly on the tarmac, clutching a walking cane. He had been waiting for this reunion for more than seven months.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Homecoming at last, with troops and families reunited, though struggles remain. Conclusion of a seven-part series on the longest deployment of the Iraq war.
Kriesel hadn’t seen his “guys” since he lost his legs in a roadside bombing in Iraq. Now, finally, on this bright July day at Volk Field in Wisconsin, the soldiers who served with him — several of whom he had known since high school — were home after a 22-month tour of duty, including 16 months in Iraq.
And he was there to welcome them.
Wearing shorts, sunglasses and bright yellow running shoes and standing firmly with his prosthetic legs, Kriesel beamed as a long line of soldiers formed, snaking from the plane’s steps across the tarmac.
One by one, Kriesel greeted them with hugs, hand shakes, smiles and jokes.
One soldier carried his battered M-4 weapon that survived the IED attack. “Is that my rifle?” Kriesel exclaimed, touching it again.
“You look good!” another friend said. “You look better than me.”
“No, I don’t,” Kriesel replied. “YOU look good. You got legs, bro.”
Staff Sgt. Tim Nelson, who was Kriesel’s roommate in Iraq and squad leader, jumped ahead in line and the two men embraced, holding each other tightly. Nelson was in the Humvee seat behind him when it ran over an IED.
Nelson flew with Kriesel to the military hospital in Balad, Iraq, and held his hand when Kriesel’s survival was in doubt.
The next day, as Kriesel watched the soldiers’ formation at Fort McCoy, they surprised him by shouting, whistling, waving — and pointing to the place he had always stood.
Kriesel walked over and took his regular spot at the formation, and his battalion commander pinned the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Bronze Star on his chest.
go here for more
In case you missed any of the links for the others in the series, here they are
Related reading:
Part I — Unit prepares to deploy
Part II — Guardsmen arrive in Iraq
Part III — Milestones made and missed
Part IV — Devastating injuries
Part V — Joy and tears
Part VI — An ambush produces a hero
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Army barracks "better than sleeping in the woods"
Report: Thousands living in shoddy barracks
By Kristin M. Hall - The Associated PressPosted : Thursday May 8, 2008 12:08:47 EDT
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Spc. Kaila Colvin is looking forward to getting married for the usual reasons, and for one more particular to a soldier: not having to live in Fort Campbell’s decrepit barracks anymore.
Spc. Loren Dauterman, who trained at Fort McCoy last month with the Wisconsin National Guard, found something good to say about the falling-apart floors and ceilings in his quarters. Barely.
“It is better than sleeping out in the woods,” Dauterman said last week, “but not a whole lot better.”
Thousands of soldiers are assigned to barracks built for the GIs who fought World War II and the Korean War. The buildings are showing their age, and the soldiers are getting fed up.
After a soldier’s father posted a video on YouTube last month showing the dilapidated barracks for paratroopers at Fort Bragg, N.C., Defense Secretary Robert Gates called those conditions appalling and ordered base commanders to ensure their troops have proper quarters.
The commanders have their work cut out for them.
A spot check by Associated Press reporters over the past week found many barracks plagued by recurring problems with mold, mildew and their plumbing and wiring.
Read:
• Barracks at Ga. posts in adequate condition
• Fort Lewis fixing up old barracks
• Fort Riley barracks undergoing changes
• Jackson barracks undergoing $1B in upgrades
• Knox working to improve housing conditions
• Meade barracks in need of repair
In many cases, the wooden, cramped and outdated housing units were scheduled for destruction, but the space and economic constraints from the war in Iraq have again filled the old barracks with soldiers. Major installations like Fort Campbell and Fort Stewart, Ga., report pumping more than $100 million into barracks improvements in recent years to make room for the flood of recruits and brigades.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_shoddybarracks_050808/
By Kristin M. Hall - The Associated PressPosted : Thursday May 8, 2008 12:08:47 EDT
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — Spc. Kaila Colvin is looking forward to getting married for the usual reasons, and for one more particular to a soldier: not having to live in Fort Campbell’s decrepit barracks anymore.
Spc. Loren Dauterman, who trained at Fort McCoy last month with the Wisconsin National Guard, found something good to say about the falling-apart floors and ceilings in his quarters. Barely.
“It is better than sleeping out in the woods,” Dauterman said last week, “but not a whole lot better.”
Thousands of soldiers are assigned to barracks built for the GIs who fought World War II and the Korean War. The buildings are showing their age, and the soldiers are getting fed up.
After a soldier’s father posted a video on YouTube last month showing the dilapidated barracks for paratroopers at Fort Bragg, N.C., Defense Secretary Robert Gates called those conditions appalling and ordered base commanders to ensure their troops have proper quarters.
The commanders have their work cut out for them.
A spot check by Associated Press reporters over the past week found many barracks plagued by recurring problems with mold, mildew and their plumbing and wiring.
Read:
• Barracks at Ga. posts in adequate condition
• Fort Lewis fixing up old barracks
• Fort Riley barracks undergoing changes
• Jackson barracks undergoing $1B in upgrades
• Knox working to improve housing conditions
• Meade barracks in need of repair
In many cases, the wooden, cramped and outdated housing units were scheduled for destruction, but the space and economic constraints from the war in Iraq have again filled the old barracks with soldiers. Major installations like Fort Campbell and Fort Stewart, Ga., report pumping more than $100 million into barracks improvements in recent years to make room for the flood of recruits and brigades.
go here for more
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_shoddybarracks_050808/
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