Saturday, August 4, 2012

Last deed lives on as hero Jonathan Blunk laid to rest

Last deed lives on as hero Jonathan Blunk laid to rest
by Chaplain Kathie
Wounded Times Blog
August 4, 2012


The gunman did something in Colorado that will not be forgotten after he decided that others should die for what he wanted to do.

Jonathan Blunk will be remembered because he decided he would do something because others should live.

Keeping my promise to not give the mass murderer publicity, his evil act will not be forgotten but as with most, his name will be forgotten when the jail cell closes. This we know by others who came before him after the headlines contained their names.

The pain they left behind was replaced by memories of their victims. Do we really remember the names of the people that decided they should crash planes into the Twin Towers to kill as many people as possible or the other mass murderers killing people in the Pentagon or in the murderers killed in field in Shanksville Pennsylvania because heroes took action? We can look them up online and find their names but no one really wants to. Instead there are now three ships named for the places the murderers caused so much pain, USS Somerset, USS New York and USS Arlington will sail the seas bearing the memories of the victims and not the murderers.

As with most murderers, this report about Jonathan Blunk has the accused murderer mentioned far below his name. Pretty much the way it should be.


Friends: Family has been told that slain Navy veteran tried to stop shooter in Colo. theater
By Associated Press
Published: August 3
Washington Post

RENO, Nev. — A Navy veteran who died after throwing himself in front of a friend during the Colorado movie theater shooting was remembered Friday for his fearlessness and optimism.

Some mourners at the funeral for 26-year-old Jonathan Blunk also said they’ve been told by officials that there are indications he may have tried to stand up to the heavily armed gunman and stop him during the July 20 attack in Aurora, Colo.

“Law enforcement is leaning toward he was trying to get the (suspect’s) gun to save people’s lives,” said Roland Lackey, an Air Force veteran who officiated the service. “He was a hero, and I salute him.”

FBI spokesman Dave Joly in Denver said Friday that a court gag-order prevented him from commenting on the case. Officials have not yet indicated publicly whether anyone inside the Aurora theater confronted suspected gunman James Holmes during the shooting spree that left 12 people dead and dozens wounded.

Among the 500 mourners who packed a mortuary in the Nevada city where Blunk was raised were his wife, Chantel; daughter, Hailey, 4; son, Maximus, 2; and dozens of service members.

Blunk, who served three tours in the Middle East from 2004 to 2009, was credited for saving his friend’s life when the heavily armed gunman burst into the midnight showing of the Batman film “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Kyle Dawson, his shipmate in the Navy, said authorities told Blunk’s widow that her husband also matched the description of a man who went after the suspect.
red more here

First Marine flight to be commemorated in Marblehead

First Marine flight to be commemorated in Marblehead Aug. 3-4
Posted by Liam O'Kennedy
Boston.com
August 3, 2012

By Liam O'Kennedy, Globe Correspondent

Marine aviation's beginnings will be celebrated in Marblehead Aug. 3-4.

Local Marines and the Marine Corps Aviation Association will commemorate the centennial of the first Marine Corps' flight, taken from Marblehead Harbor by Alfred A. Cunningham in 1912, with two days of aircraft displays and flyovers, and a Saturday morning parade.

On Friday and Saturday, a fleet of Marine Humvees, helicopters, and planes from throughout the Corps' history will be on display at the Marblehead Village School, and their pilots will be on hand to answer questions. A collection of art showing the history of Marine Corps aviation also be on exhibit.
read more here

Friday, August 3, 2012

Soldiers Share 'Wounded Warrior' Experience with Adaptive Sports

This is not "Wounded Warrior Project" it is Warrior Transition Unit and there is Warrior Transition Battalion

U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) and the Air Force also has one at Air Force Wounded Warrior Do not get confused.

Soldiers Share 'Wounded Warrior' Experience with Adaptive Sports
Adaptive Sports Scramble lets soldiers support wounded warriors
August 2, 2012

WIESBADEN, Germany -- Members of the Warrior Transition Unit-Europe had no shortage of takers on an offer to play wheelchair basketball and seated volleyball with them at the Wiesbaden Fitness Center July 6.

"You are certainly an inspiration to me and for anyone who wears a uniform," said Col. David Carstens, commander of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, at the kickoff of an Adaptive Sports Scramble and barbecue with members of the WTU-Europe. Carstens, along with several other Wiesbaden soldiers and civilians, joined in the games.

Among those who also joined in the game of wheelchair basketball was teenager Derek Williams, who participated in the event with his brothers Darren, 16, Daniel, 14 and David, 12, and their friend Andrew Murray, 16.

"I wanted to support wounded warriors," Williams said. "I wanted to experience not using my legs. It makes me appreciate my legs more."
read more here

Combat PTSD harder on the spouse than most people know

Wife of alumnus veteran suffers with husband battling PTSD
Posted: Friday, August 3, 2012
By CHRISTY HUNTER
Summer Editor


Editor’s Note: Names have been changed to protect the identities of the persons in this story.

In 2007, Claire Scott filled a black envelope with the funeral arrangements she had made in case of her husband’s death.

She had gathered the numbers of friends and relatives who she knew would need to be called. She had already gone to the funeral home, shopped for caskets and selected the service details she thought would be best.

She knew that if her newly-wed husband, Dan, a Purdue alumnus, did actually die serving in Iraq, these rational decisions would not come as easily. So she pinned the envelope to a board by the front door and told her best friend Chris he was in charge if anything happened. After that, there was nothing left to do but wait, and hope.

Flash forward six years and Dan has been home for five of them. They have OK jobs and three boxer dogs. Alumna Claire Scott, however, hasn’t done much else since then but waiting and hoping. This is because Dan’s body technically made it home all right – he was injured, though not severely – but his mind did not.
read more here

Home Depot Foundation helps even more homeless veterans

The Home Depot Foundation Awards Swords to Plowshares $545,540 to Rehab Housing for Homeless Veterans
PRWeb

Grant Supports Unprecedented Permanent Supportive Housing Projects

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) August 02, 2012

Swords to Plowshares, a San Francisco-based veteran service agency, is one of many community-based organizations nationwide to receive a grant from The Home Depot Foundation to repair and rehab properties serving veterans and their families.

“We are thrilled to have the support of The Home Depot Foundation to help us provide safe, adequate and affordable housing to homeless veterans and their families,” said Michael Blecker, Executive Director of Swords to Plowshares and Vietnam veteran.

“Corporate donors like The Home Depot Foundation, who have given generously to support veterans and their families, enable us to fulfill our mission and bring the nation closer to our goal of eliminating veteran homelessness.”

The grant supports rehab costs for two unique and much-needed housing facilities in San Francisco. One housing site, which opened January 2012, provides affordable 2-bedroom apartments to twelve formerly homeless veteran families. The second housing site, which will be ready for occupancy in late October 2012, is an unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of San Francisco, Chinatown Community Development Corporation and Swords to Plowshares. The landmark building, currently under renovation, was donated by the City of San Francisco and will consist of 75 studio apartments for chronically homeless veterans with disabilities.
Read more