'Stories of Courage' with Robin Meade focus on our wounded troops

Robin Meade has done some fantastic work sharing stories of our veterans for a long time. She is one of the few motivated by caring about them first and getting their stories second. Last night I watched this show. If you want a feel good story of just how wonderful our troops are, make sure you watch the next time it is on or go to the links below and watch online.

Saturday on HLN: 'Stories of Courage'
By HLNtv.com Staff
July 04, 2012
Robin Meade hosts hour-long special
Encore presentations Saturday & Sunday, July 7 & 8 at 2pm

This weekend on HLN, a special that's been over a year in the making: "Stories of Courage," hosted by Morning Express' Robin Meade. They're incredible, powerful stories that show a real side of military life.

Here is a preview of just some of the stories you'll see:

Burned Vet Inspired by his Son's Love After getting burned in an IED attack, Air Force Tech Sgt. Israel Del Toro was terrified his son wouldn't recognize him. But when the little boy saw his dad, it was nothing but smiles.

The Walk Back Home: A solider's toughest mission When he lost his legs to a roadside bomb, U.S. Army Sg. First Class Aaron Causey promised he would make it home. Even more, he promised he would walk through his parent's door, no matter what. It is an unforgettable reunion.

Former Marine wins an archery medal with one arm An RPG took out Marine Cpl. Mark O'Brien's Humvee in 2004, he thought he was going to die. Today, he has learned to reclaim his life, including his childhood passion of archery.
read more here

Wounded vets share inspiring stories with HLN By Dianna Hill
June 28, 2012

Robin Meade sat down with the injured troops at the Warrior Games

Editor's Note: More than 200 wounded servicemen and women descended on Colorado Springs in May to participate in the third annual Warrior Games. Each branch of the military sent a team of inspiring athletes to vie for gold and bragging rights. But every athlete also has an incredible story of perseverance. HLN's Robin Meade sat down with five of them.

Army Corporal Brian Miller, Air Force Tech Sergeant Israel Del Toro (DT), Marine Corporal Kionte Storey, Marine Sergeant Than Naing and Navy Mineman 2nd Class Linda Simpson.
read their stories here

Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords

Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords


Posted: Mar 17, 2011 1:54 PM

Web Producer: Layla Tang

TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A veteran wounded while fighting in Iraq has given his Purple Heart to U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head January 8 in an assassination attempt.

Al Lee, a Sierra Vista resident, was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in Fallujah, Iraq, in September 2003.
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Wounded veteran gives Purple Heart to Giffords

Ronell Bradley, Wounded Iraq Veteran, Gets New Home

Ronell Bradley, Wounded Iraq Veteran, Gets New Home
Written by
Nate Stewart
Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Ronell Bradley lost his legs in Iraq. Now hundreds of volunteers are working to build a new home that will meet his needs.

On Peninsula Drive in Northeast Columbia Friday, it looked more like an episode of "Extreme Home Makeover" than a construction site. From professional contractors to your average Joe volunteer, cars lined the street to build a home for Bradley, who in 2005 was hit by a roadside bomb in Iraq.

"It actually pierced the vehicle, blew off both legs and kept going out the other side," said Bradley.

Bradley and his wife soon after applied for help with Homes for Troops, a non-profit that builds specially adapted homes for wounded veterans free of charge.
read more here
Wounded Iraq Veteran Gets New Home

For wounded Iraq war veteran, new, accessible home in Fort Worth is 'a blessing'

For wounded Iraq war veteran, new, accessible home in Fort Worth is 'a blessing'
12:00 AM CST on Thursday, November 25, 2010

Angela K. Brown,
FORT WORTH – Marine Cpl. Zach Briseno jokes that he's taller since returning from Iraq – although he's most grateful that the prosthetic legs that add several inches to his height allow him to chase after his 5-year-old son.

Although he'd never complain, it has taken time for Briseno to get used to life after losing his legs in an explosion, and it's not easy for him to move around his apartment in his wheelchair. That's why a nonprofit organization is providing him with a home that will have wider doors, lower counters, a special shower and other safety features.

"It's truly a blessing for me and my family," Briseno said this week as relatives and friends surrounded him on the lot where the home is to be built by next spring.

HelpingaHero.org, a Houston-based nonprofit, has provided nearly two dozen new homes for veterans severely wounded in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each project is a partnership with a developer and builder and supported by individual donations from the community, said Meredith Iler, the organization's chairwoman.
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For wounded Iraq war veteran, new, accessible home

Three Tour Iraq Vet needs your help

Sent from Veterans for Change

From time to time we come to you and ask for your assistance to help a Veteran in need as we have done in the past.

We now have one veteran in need of our assistance therefore I now come to you to ask again for your help.

This veteran served three tours in Iraq and was honorably discharged, was shot twice and deals with PTSD, was working a good job, and had to take time off due to flashbacks.

Spc. Stephen Lewis has exhausted his vacation and medical leave from work so he came to ask if we’d be able to help him on his utility and telephone which is a total of $188.50.

I have spoke to both of Stephen’s utilities and put off till tomorrow for a firm answer and transfer of funds.

In the mean time his VSO (Veteran Service Officer) is working on getting him a better VA Rating to have his benefits increased.

So I come to you and ask if we have a few good people out there who are willing to donate $25-$50 each to help this veteran.

If you’re able to contribute $25-$50 to help these Veterans, who like many of you have fought for this great Country of ours please click HERE to be taken direct to the PayPal site which is very safe and secure.

Wounded soldier heals with comedy

Wounded soldier heals with comedy
By Scott Huddleston - Express-News
It's open-mike night, when anyone with the guts to go on stage can try to be funny for five minutes.

Army Staff Sgt. Bobby Henline steps under the spotlights. Everyone can see his amputated arm, disfigured face and some of the burns that cover 38 percent of his body.

“Go Bobby!” a couple of his fans shout in the crowd at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club. Henline starts his shtick by explaining his injuries — a source of curiosity for many in the audience.

“I went to Iraq four times. The last time was a real blast,” he deadpans.

On stage, he's the polar opposite of the soulful war vet who gives motivational talks to burn survivors and anyone who'll listen. As a comedian, his job is to make you laugh, and there are few boundaries.
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Wounded soldier heals with comedy

Soldier healing after Iraq explosion

Soldier healing after Iraq explosion
By KIM SCHMIDT Hub Staff Writer
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Jeff Burton was a career soldier.

He enlisted with the U.S. Army in 2000 shortly after graduating from Norton, Kan., Community High School. He served in Afghanistan, Egypt and Iraq twice. In 2002, he had a six-month stint providing security at the Pentagon.

He joined the Nebraska National Guard in 2007, and joined Kearney’s 1195th Transportation Company. When he wasn’t training, Burton, 27, worked as a security officer at the Norton Correctional Facility.

When his National Guard commitment ends in October, Burton planned to re-enlist as a full-time soldier.

But Feb. 18 changed all that.

At 2 a.m. that day in Baghdad, the military vehicle Burton and three other 1195th soldiers were heading out on a convoy in was hit by an explosively formed penetrator in northeast Baghdad. EFPs are made of copper heated up to 2,000 degrees and move at about 2,000 feet per second.
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Soldier healing after Iraq explosion

TV role's all too real to Iraq war vet J.R. Martinez

TV role's all too real to Iraq war vet
New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
BY STEPHANIE GASKELL
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sunday, January 11th 2009, 4:45 AM
Some people say their life is a soap opera. J.R. Martinez can say it - and mean it.

The Iraq war veteran is starring in ABC's "All My Children," playing Brot Monroe, a veteran who was badly injured in Iraq.

It's a story line that Martinez, 25, knows all too well. Just two months after deploying to Iraq with the Army's 101st Airborne Division in 2003, Martinez was driving a Humvee when it hit a land mine. He suffered serious burns over 40% of his body.

After undergoing 32 operations and spending nearly three years in the hospital, Martinez garnered the strength to move on with his life. He became the spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes and traveled the country as a motivational speaker.

Now the Louisiana native spends his days in front of a camera in the role of his life.

"I feel like this is where I need to be," Martinez told the Daily News. "I love a challenge."

He has millions of fans, but Martinez is humble about his newfound fame. And he doesn't want sympathy.