Col. Drinkwine appointed his wife to lead the brigade's official support organization, known as a Family Readiness Group, or FRG.
Colonel’s Wife Accused of Harassing Soldiers June 11, 2010 Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer
The commander of Fort Bragg has barred the wife of an 82nd Airborne Division colonel from nearly all interaction with her husband's brigade and the unit's families after an investigation found her influence "detrimental to the morale and well-being of both."
Sworn statements from the investigation, ordered in January by Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, accuse Col. Brian Drinkwine's wife, Leslie Drinkwine, of using her husband's position as leverage to repeatedly harass and threaten Soldiers and their families.
The statements say the harassment and threats began almost as soon as Col. Drinkwine took command of the 4th Brigade Combat Team in 2008.
A follow-up to Helmick's investigation has reached the highest levels of leadership in Afghanistan. That investigation is exploring whether animosity between the Drinkwines and Col. Drinkwine's battalion commanders and their spouses ever unfairly damaged the officers' careers. read more here
Tornadoes Strike the 16th District Saturday June 6th Tornadoes struck in the towns of Elmwood and Magnolia, Illinois in the 16th District. Sr Vice Commander Larry Stimeling and Department Membership Chairman Denise Fields went to Elmwood on Monday. We spoke with Commander Kim Davis and were happy to hear that no Legionaires had any major damage due to the storms. On Tuesday Comrade Fields went on to Magnolia where the news was just as good. No legionaires' property damaged. Sr. Vice Stimeling went back to Elmwood and attended their regular Monthly meeting. It was there that he learned that the Veterans' Memorial in Elmwood was toppled and the flagpoless and lighting fo the memorial were destroyed. The Elmwood Post is in need of our help to repair the Monument and replace the flag poles.
Since most of the businesses in Elmwood have been effected by the storm which litterally wiped out the business district in town (see above), the ability of Post 638 to locally raise funds is greatly diminished. If everyone reading this would send a donation to the Post in Elmwood, They would be well on their way to fixing the Veteran's Memorial. Our Preamble states one of the reasons we associate together is "To consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness." Now is the time to practice what we recite every month. Please send your individual or post donation to American Legion % Farmers State Bank Elmwood Illinois 61529
Frasier actor conned by fake fallen soldier from Fife Lauren Chalmers struck up a friendship with Kelsey Grammer on Twitter, but then pretended to have been killed in Afghanistan. By Jennifer Crichton
10 June 2010 10:26 GMT A young Fife woman who struck up an online friendship with Frasier actor Kelsey Grammer has been forced to apologise to him after she pretended to have died on active service in Afghanistan.
Lauren Chalmers began conversing with the comedian on Twitter last month and told him she was a soldier about to be posted to Afghanistan. She then pretended to be her own mother, posting a message to him saying she had been killed by an improvised explosive device.
The devastated actor, who had posted signed photos to her parents Kirkcaldy home as a homecoming surprise, used his own site to pay tribute to her bravery and even set up an armed forces tribute site.
If you are in the military and think you are forgotten or not appreciated enough by the American people, here's a reminder of exactly how much you are loved. One creep stole from a soldier and his family but a lot more people showed up to help simply because he was loved and appreciated. UPDATE to this story
Donor replaces soldier's stolen laptop By CHARLES WEBSTER • STAFF WRITER • June 11, 2010
HOWELL — A U.S. Army soldier heading back to Afghanistan after a stay in Howell during a family emergency, who had his laptop computer stolen on Tuesday, has a brand new replacement today thanks to the generosity of a hometown retired military man and his wife, police say. Friday morning, the retired military man's wife arrived at Howell Police headquarters with the brand new Dell Inspiron laptop computer, according to police.
"There has been a huge outpouring - it's been incredible," Detective Nancy Carroll said. "We've gotten a lot of phone calls from people offering to help."
In addition to replacing the stolen laptop, another anonymous donor is replacing the daughter's cash, Carroll said. read the rest here Donor replaces soldiers stolen laptop
Howell police seek return of soldier's laptop By CHARLES WEBSTER • STAFF WRITER • June 10, 2010
HOWELL — A soldier heading back to Afghanistan after a trip here for a family emergency had the laptop computer he uses to communicate with his wife and children stolen, according to police.
The soldier and his immediate family are former Howell residents but now live in Italy where the serviceman is stationed. The soldier is currently serving with the Army in Afghanistan.
The serviceman came here on a seven-day emergency leave and took up residence at His Mercy House, a food pantry on West Farms Road in Howell, while attending to the personal matter, police said. read more here Howell police seek return of soldier laptop
They managed to raise a son who wanted to join the military. This same son, most parents would feel grateful to have come home still alive, ended up being used to provide them with financial gain, according to the charges. Is there a word in the English language strong enough to describe such a despicable act?
Injured Soldier's Parents Charged With Stealing Son's Recovery Fund Investigators: Lori and Michael Nault Gambled Money Meant to Pay for Son's Care By SARAH NETTER June 10, 2010
A Wisconsin couple who have pleaded for help in caring for their son after he was severely injured while serving in Iraq have been charged with stealing more than $100,000 meant to finance his care and rehabilitation.
Lori and Michael Nault are accused of using at least $167,000 of their 23-year-old son's money to heavily gamble at casinos in three states and fund their own household expenses, a new truck and thousands of dollars in jewelry.
Army Specialist Shane Nault, who cannot speak and requires 24-hour care, suffered catastrophic brain injuries after an IED explosion in Iraq in May 2007. Just 23 years old, he is blind and suffered strokes.
According to court documents supporting felony theft charges for both Lori and Michael Nault, they tried to cover their tracks by listing their son's assets as $35,218 when there had actually been $254,191 deposited into nine bank accounts, many of them in Shane's name. read more here Parents Charged With Stealing Sons Recovery Fund
(For those who are unaware: At all military base theaters, the National Anthem is played before the movie begins.)
This is written from a Chaplain in Iraq:
I recently attended a showing of 'Superman 3' here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom at all military bases, we stood to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going well until three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem, the music stopped.
Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States ? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments, and everyone would sit down and yell for the movie to begin. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place.
Here in Iraq, 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again and the Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. But again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect 1000 Soldiers standing at attention to do ?? Frankly, I expected some laughter, and everyone would eventually sit down and wait for the movie to start.
But No !!... You could have heard a pin drop, while every Soldier continued to stand at attention.
Suddenly,there was a lone voice from the front of the auditorium, then a dozen voices, and soon the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs
bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave."
It was the most inspiring moment I have had in Iraq and I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you.
Remember them as they fight for us !
Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad.
Many have already paid the ultimate price.
Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Baghdad.
Please share only if you are so inclined.
God Bless America and all of our troops serving through out the world.
Cantonrep.com / File Scott Warner, father of fallen soldier, Heath Warner, holds a poster commemorating his son who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Arlington probe surprises dad of Marine buried there
By Anonymous CantonRep.com staff report Posted Jun 10, 2010 @ 09:16 PM Last update Jun 10, 2010 @ 09:23 PM CANTON — Scott Warner, a Gold Star parent from Canton, heard last summer of an investigation into problems at Arlington National Cemetery but said he was still surprised by Thursday’s announcement.
The Army said at least 200 remains in Arlington may have been misidentified or misplaced, casting a shadow over what has been called America’s “sacred ground.”
Warner’s son, Marine Corps Pvt. Heath Warner, was killed in Iraq in 2006 and is buried at Arlington.
Warner said he has heard there was a problem with one grave in the section where his son is buried.
The name on that grave hasn’t been released, but Warner said he has been told that it isn’t his son’s grave.
Arlington is the most honorable place to have a loved one buried, said Warner, who visited the cemetery on Memorial Day and has plans to return soon. The fallen and their families are treated with dignity and respect. read more here
Arlington National Cemetery's top supervisors ousted in mismanagement case The move comes after an Army inspector's general report detailing misidentified graves, poor record-keeping and improper handling of service members' remains.
About 330,000 bodies are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
By Julian E. Barnes, Tribune Washington Bureau
June 11, 2010
Reporting from Washington — The Army ousted top supervisors of Arlington National Cemetery in the wake of a blistering report that found some graves had been mismarked and that raised questions about the Virginia burial ground's management, officials announced Thursday.
Army Secretary John McHugh said the Army inspector general's report raised questions about 211 gravesites and found unmarked graves, burial sites with the wrong headstones and improper handling of cremated remains.
Anger and grief over Arlington Cemetery disaster By Leo Shane III Published: June 11, 2010
Army 1st Sgt. Shelly Jenkins, with the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment known as The Old Guard, places flags on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in preparation for Memorial Day. Jacquelyn Martin/APVeterans groups reacted quickly and harshly to news yesterday that the remains of more than 200 veterans were misplaced or lost by workers at Arlington National Cemetery, demanding immediate improvements to Amry records systems and a change in the "culture of complacency" at the hallowed site.
Shortly after the Pentagon press conference yesterday House Armed Services Committee leaders announced plans to hold hearings on the problems at Arlington. Chairman Ike Skelton, D-Mo., noted the staff's conduct "is disgraceful and cannot be tolerated." Ranking member Buck McKeon, R-Calif., said "families demand, and most importantly, deserve to know that their loved ones are being treated with the utmost respect and decorum." read more of this here
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer Posted : Friday Jun 11, 2010 16:07:39 EDT
At least 211 graves at Arlington National Cemetery — including two in the section where fallen troops from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are buried — were mismarked, missing headstones or burial cards, or were not recorded at all, according to a new internal investigation.
The investigation of operations at the nation’s most hallowed military burial ground found no criminal misconduct, but much evidence of “improper internment, trans-internment of remains — including the loss of accountability of remains — remains in graves listed as empty, unmarked gravesites, improperly marked graves and improper handling of cremains,” Army Secretary John McHugh told reporters at the Pentagon on Thursday.
The Army Inspector General also concluded in its seven-month investigation that “mistakes continue to be made.”
The IG also found that rank-and-file employees, who handle an average of 27 funerals daily, were burdened in their day-to-day work by “dysfunctional management, lack of established policy and procedures, and an overall unhealthy organizational climate.” read more here
House majority whip questions background, wonders ‘where did he come from’ By Meg Kinnard - The Associated Press Posted : Thursday Jun 10, 2010 15:02:19 EDT
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The No. 3 Democrat in the U.S. House called on federal authorities Thursday to investigate how an unemployed South Carolina military veteran won the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate.
“Here is Alvin Greene, unemployed, he goes into the Democratic headquarters and pays $10,000. That’s no little bit of money for an unemployed person,” House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., said. “This guy, who is he? Where did he come from?”
Greene, 32, stunned the Democratic Party establishment Tuesday night when he handily defeated Vic Rawl, a four-term state lawmaker and former judge, for the party’s nomination. Rawl, who had campaigned little but already raised $186,000, was forced to scrap a fundraiser planned for Thursday night.
Greene has not reported any fundraising, run any ads, or put up signs or a website in his challenge of Republican U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint. He had been considered such a long shot that neither his opponent nor the media bothered to check his background, which includes a November arrest on a charge of felony obscenity. go here for more Vet’s upset win in SC primary scrutinized
By Rob Ryser, Richard Liebson and Brian Howard - (Westchester, N.Y.) Journal News Posted : Thursday Jun 10, 2010 15:23:56 EDT
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. — The mother of Army Pvt. Elizabeth Lynch-Gonzalez, who jumped from the Tappan Zee Bridge early Thursday, said her daughter was upset that her deployment to a Texas military base had been moved up to today.
The mother said her daughter, who was 19 and 2009 graduate of Lakeland High School, was greatly upset when she found out Wednesday that her deployment order for Fort Hood had been moved up to today.
The comments of the mother, Mary Ellen Lynch, came moments before police confirmed that a body found in the Hudson River a few miles south of the bridge was her daughter’s.
The body washed ashore in Dobbs Ferry shortly after noon Thursday, 10 hours after the young woman jumped from the middle of the Tappan Zee Bridge up river in Tarrytown. read more here Army pvt. bound for Hood jumps from NY bridge
"Through many dangers, toils and snares" is one part of this song that gets me every time. It makes me look back at other times in my life when I just didn't think I'd ever overcome what I was going through. It makes me remember when everything seemed just too hopeless and I, I was not worthy of being helped by anyone, especially God. God however graced my life and saved me despite myself. I have made such a mess out of my life so many times it is beyond reason I am still here. You'd think that after facing death so many times, not from combat but from illness, accidents and violence, I would be thankful for each day upon this earth, but so many times I wished for the end of the struggle, longed for the end of the pain in my soul and tears that fell far too many nights. I was too focused on what I lacked, what I could not do and how other people treated me or judged me unfairly without knowing what was inside of me.
I fell into every trap, was cut on every snare, fell prey to every person hoping to take advantage of me and I knew what it was like to hate, to want revenge and to rejoice over the grief of someone else that hurt me. It was in one of my darkest moments that I handed my life over to God knowing full well that He knew all of me. The good and the bad could not be hidden from Him any more than I could hide pain behind anger. Little by little, He worked on my, softened my temper, opened my eyes and let me see what I had been missing all along. This lifelong Greek Orthodox woman with faith once as much a part of my life as breathing was, was finally seeing God through the eyes of love the way Christ came to confirm it.
Did He take away all of my burdens? Take away all my tears? Remove all my fears? No. He did however give me what I needed to get through all the bad life has to offer as well as rejoice with all it provides.
Listen to the words of Amazing Grace sung by Judy Collins. Then read on.
The lyrics to Amazing Grace change depending on the singer but the meaning of this song never changes.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures. He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
Maybe it's because I've felt so much pain in my own life and have lived with the pain in my husband all these years, I am able to understand the pain felt by the men and women in the military who become our veterans. I am not one of them. I do not know what it is like to be willing to willingly place myself into the position where I know I may have to lay down my life as well as take a life in order to save others. That is a burden few understand but we can understand what it is like to be a human wanting to do what we are called to do and the struggles we face in order to do it.
This is our link to them. This is our chance to understand the price they pay after and it is our calling to help them heal.
The dangers and toils and snares, they have already come. They were saved by the grace of God and we cannot explain why He allows some to live on while He embraces the others home. We can only know the men and women who survive, survived for a reason only Heaven knows. Coming home is the hardest part for them because their danger days are supposed to be over. No longer are they subjected to bullets and bombs or witnessing the worst that man can do to man. No longer are they trying to save the lives of their friends or mourning the loss of others but they are left to question every day of their deployment, every action, every deed and every word they muttered from anger and fear. It is the part of war that came home with them that they need to fear the most.
What part of them escaped the horrors of combat? What part of them is still sweet, loving, kind, humble and sensitive? What part of them is still strong and beyond regret? What other parts of them are frozen behind the wall terror built? What will it take to bring that wall down so they can heal?
It all begins with forgiveness. Forgiving themselves for all they felt they lacked and all they believe they did that was wrong. No matter how many times you try to convince them that they did what they had to do, they will always be blaming themselves for having done it. They will blame everyone else for all that went wrong and they will blame the enemy. All understandable and all human reactions to what they went through but not very helpful at all when they are trying to recover the best parts of their nature. They were not allowed to feel because of where they were and what was happening so it all comes rushing in on them.
They need to know there is nothing they cannot be forgiven for and suggesting to them they did nothing wrong is dismissing that pain. Remind them Christ forgave from the cross and then tell them there is nothing God cannot forgive them for. Forgiveness is between them and God so get out of their way. Help them to forgive others and let go of what they have no control over. Forgive them for what they do while trapped in pain and then hold them accountable as they heal but only after you become aware of where it is all coming from. And then, then forgive yourself for the time in your life when you just didn't know any better but did what you could with what you knew in that moment.
All of the "person" they were before is still in there but just as the rest of us humans arise on the other side of life with yesterday tagging along, they have combat tagging along inside of them. If you look at your own life honestly, then you will see how each day has played a part in the person you are today. Then you will understand how they have become the way they are as well. None of this is hopeless for them any more than life is hopeless for the rest of us. Begin today to believe that God's grace will help the person you love come home all the way to you and they can heal.
PTSD lives off of everything negative and eats away everything positive in their lives. This is why addressing the spiritual part of their lives matters enough to predict the outcome of any kind of therapy. The negative energy needs to be defeated. This is a painful process because as every negative emotion is reduced, the painful ones gain power and releasing them feels as if they are getting worse until they understand that pain is rushing out instead of being trapped inside. That release is freeing their soul so they can build in more good emotions to rejoice with and sing a song of Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like them just as it saved one like me.
