General helping Florida recover had donated kidney in his spare time?

How a 2-star Army general took charge of a broken city

Associated Press
By: Tamara Lush
October 28, 2018

"There was a gentleman who needed a kidney," he says casually.

That's right. In the last four months, McQueen has retired from the military, started a new job, helped coordinate one of the largest hurricane responses since Katrina, and donated a kidney. To a stranger.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Mark McQueen’s sand-colored combat boots have walked the ground during many disasters.

Afghanistan.

Iraq.

Florida's Panama City.

Then-Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, commanding general, 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), takes a moment to praise the soldiers of the Special Troops Battalion, 304th Sustainment Brigade, for their 12 months of serving as CRC Cycle 4 at the Conus Replacement Center on Jan. 13, 2017, after their transfer of authority ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas. (DVIDS)

The two-star general had no sooner retired from the Army and started his job as city manager for this Gulf Coast community when it was slammed by a category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Michael became the most devastating hurricane to hit Florida in decades. Almost all of Panama City's water, sewer, electric and cell services were wiped out.

Despite McQueen having no municipal experience and having been on the job only two weeks, city leaders say he's exactly the man they need for the long recovery ahead.

"I believe the Lord sent him," said Panama City Commissioner Billy Rader. "God knew this was going to happen before we did."
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Panama City Florida Homeless Veterans Treated Like Part of Community

Community reaches out to help local homeless veterans
WJHG ABC 7 News
September 27, 2018

PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - Dozens of community groups, including CareerSource Gulf Coast, held a Stand Down Thursday in downtown Panama City.

"This is our 11th one that we've done and we've brought together maybe 50 or so organizations, state agencies, private businesses in the community," Director of Workforce Services for CareerSource Gulf Coast Lee Ellzey said.

It helps our local homeless veterans get back on their feet.

"They're giving out toiletries," Ellzey explained. "They're giving out clothes. They're giving out housing vouchers."

The Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs reported 2,789 homeless vets in Florida last year, and it hits close to home for Andrea Kennedy, a local homeless veteran.

"It's overwhelming in a good way and I'm blessed," she said.
read more here
From Panama City news Herald

Panama City College Students Sickening Behavior

UPDATE
Univ. of Florida suspends frat over abuse of wounded vets

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida suspended one of its fraternities on Friday after allegations that its members hurled drunken insults and spat at a group of disabled military veterans at a Panama City Beach resort.

The school said on Friday that it is charging the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity with obscene behavior, public intoxication, theft, causing physical or other harm, and damage to property.

The suspension came after the fraternity had already suspended operations itself and expelled three of its members after finding they had behaved inappropriately.

"I am personally offended and disappointed by the behavior that has been described to me," Dave Kratzer, the school's student affairs vice president and retired U.S. Army major general, said in a statement.

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While this was reported to be committed by a small group of college students disrespecting veterans it shows the stark difference between members of the same generation.

The students are so self-absorbed they thought it was all about them. You know the type. "Look at me! I'm so tough I can piss on a piece of cloth in public." Ya, right they're so tough they went after disabled veterans, a service dog and wives. All that proved was they are not really worth all the attention. After all, bullies always want the spotlight as if they just won something and deserved the attention.

Again, it was a small group of pathetic students and too bad the college their parents are paying for never educated them on what that flag they pissed on actually means any more than they informed them of how attacking unselfish members of their own generation proved the disgrace belongs to them.

The other side risked their lives to retain the freedom these bogus knowledge seekers enjoy.

The right to decide for themselves what they want to become is protected by the troops even though these fools decided they wanted to be lowlife bullies.

The right to piss on and even burn the flag, again, protected by the troops even though they know they may end up in a flag draped casket at any time.

The right to say whatever they want, yet again, protected by the troops even though they have to give up their own rights while wearing the uniform to say and do whatever they want.

Had it not been for the men and women standing ready to meet any nation or threat to freedom, these students would have no right to prove to the entire nation they are complete, total idiots.

The really good part of this story in the simple fact the community is not ready to stand for any of this and stood up for the veterans.

College Students Disrespect Veterans at the Warrior Beach Retreat
WJGH News 7
By: Kelly Baumgarten
Apr 23, 2015

PANAMA CITY BEACH

Emory University released this statement Thursday morning by email:

"Emory University was appalled to learn of acts of disrespect and harassment that were directed at attendees of the Warrior Beach Retreat in Florida this past weekend.

Our brave veterans who have sacrificed much for our country deserve the utmost respect and appreciation for their service.

The disrespectful behavior exhibited by students toward our veterans is not acceptable and will not be tolerated by members of the Emory community.

When Emory received complaints that students from one of our fraternities might be involved, Campus Life administrators immediately began an investigation.

To date, no evidence has been found to implicate Emory students in these reported incidents. If any members of our community are identified as being responsible, they will be held accountable for their actions by the university.
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If you are not aware of how Vietnam veterans were treated, listen to what happened to MOH Sammy Davis when he came home. As you listen to how he was treated after saving lives and being wounded, his citation is being read.

Vietnam veterans honored on 40th anniversary of Paris Peace Accords

Vietnam veterans honored
By Zack McDonald
The News Herald
January 27, 2013

PANAMA CITY — Several Vietnam veteran groups stood in silence, heads bowed, eyes closed, as a bell tolled far off in the distance after each name of a deceased Vietnam veteran echoed through Oaks by the Bay Park Sunday.

The scene Sunday afternoon coincided with the 40th Anniversary of the Paris Peace Accord signing, which formally brought the Vietnam War to an end. It was intentionally reminiscent of an earlier event in Bay County. Four years ago The Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., was at Oaks by the Bay Park to mark the state of efforts to place a permanent dedication to fallen soldiers.
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Paris Peace Accords

Officials: F-15s collide over Gulf of Mexico

Officials: F-15s collide over Gulf of Mexico
Story Highlights
Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard crews searching the Gulf for the pilots

F15Cs collided during training exercise, officials say

Planes were part of the 33rd Fighter Wing based at Eglin Air Force Base

Crash happened at 3 p.m. ET, about 50 miles south of Panama City, Florida

(CNN) -- A pair of F-15C fighter jets collided during a training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, according to Air Force officials.


Two F-15 fighter jets, like the one pictured, collided over the Gulf of Mexico, the Air Force says.

Air Force search and rescue and U.S. Coast Guard crews were searching the Gulf for the pilots Wednesday afternoon. The planes were part of the 33rd Fighter Wing, a combat-flying unit based at Eglin Air Force Base.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. ET and about 50 miles south of Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida.

The Pentagon said it was not immediately known how many crew members were missing -- although F-15Cs are single-seat jets.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/20/jetcrash/index.html

Keep them and their families in your prayers