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Welcome to the Dawn Patrol, our daily roundup of information on the War on Terror and other topics - from the MilBlogs and various sources around the world. If you're a blogger, you can join the conversation. If you link to any of these stories, add a link to the Dawn Patrol too and your trackback will be added to the list. Hat Tips to the Dawn Patrol are greatly appreciated.Refresh for updates.
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID -- [FOX News]
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID, A Milwaukee Army reservist's military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked him for his service after finding the ID.
Serving those who have served us well -- [The Statesman]
Patti Patton-Bader's living room is filled nearly to the ceiling with cardboard boxes containing packages for wounded soldiers. Soon, they will make their way from her Bastrop home to hospitals and bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, where soldiers will find clothing with fabric-fastener flaps to replace flimsy paper hospital gowns, as well as phone cards to call home once they reach Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and a "blanket of hope" -- a personalized quilt handmade by a Soldiers' Angels volunteer.
Patton-Bader, the grandniece of Gen. George S. Patton, started the group shortly after her son Brandon deployed to Iraq in 2003.
Standing Tall in Harm's Way -- [Washington Post - David Ignatius]
...This picture of a traumatized military is misleading. Certainly, the Army and the other services are stressed by the demands of combat. But what's striking to me this Veterans Day is how healthy the military is, given all the weight it has been carrying for the country these past eight years.
Vietnam Myths Haunt Afghanistan -- [Washington Times]
Adm. Jeremiah A. Denton Jr. is a true American hero. The former senator, retired admiral and naval aviator spent almost eight years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, half of that time in solitary confinement. When forced by his captors to do a television interview in 1966, he blinked the word "torture" in Morse code. He's the kind of man Washington leaders might want to listen to more carefully than the average purveyor of foreign-policy wisdom. Adm. Denton's classic account of his experiences, "When Hell Was in Session," is being re-released today, updated with a new epilogue. In part, Adm. Denton seeks to "correct some of the mythology of the Vietnam War." The version of the war that has come down through pop culture, the media and history books is fatally flawed - and those flaws may well be informing critical decisions at the White House.
Veterans Day - Part II - It's About The Living -- [BlackFive]
Pearl Harbor survivor Houston James of Dallas embraces Marine Staff Sgt. Mark Graunke Jr. during a Veterans Day commemoration in Dallas. Graunke lost a hand, a leg and and eye when he was injured by a bomb...
Ripley At The Bridge -- [The Anti-Chomskyan Redoubt]
This article, written by Jeremias Wells, tells of one of the most harrowing and heroic stories of the war in Vietnam.
Ripley's American adviser contact continued to give him bad news. Practically all resistance north of the bridge had been wiped out, which was probably the source of the ARVN deserters clogging the road along with the refugees. Then came the final blow: "We finally got a spotter plane in the air. They have tanks and armored personnel carriers stretched along Highway 1 for miles. Must be at least two hundred."
Ripley shouted back, "We can't stop that many. We have to blow the bridge at Dong Ha."
...Ripley worked his way over to the downstream side and repeated the process and then hand-walked back to the fence. He realized that he had exceeded all normal human endurance, so again turned to God and His Mother: "Jesus and Mary, get me there! Jesus and Mary, get me there..." He climbed back through the razor wire once more and fell to the ground near the abutment in a bloody heap. He was so tired that he could hardly lift his arm. The major tapped him on the back. "Look what I found. But you won't need them now." He pointed to a box of electrical detonators. Ripley looked at the caps and realized that he had to go through the ordeal under the bridge once again. He had always been taught to rig up a backup charge if one was available, At this point, the substance of a man takes over.
Veteran's Day 2009 -- [John of Argghhh!!!]
Today is my day. Today is SWWBO's day. Today is Dusty's day. Today is Bill's day. Neffi's, Bloodspite's, Sanger's, Jim B's, Mike L's, Jim C's, John S', V29's, Sergeant B's, 1SG Keith's, Oldloadr's, 74's, CAPT H's, a certain Canadian Gunner who shall remain nameless, a certain Redleg Captain who shall remain nameless, RetRsvMike's, the 'Phibian's, Lex's, Matty's, Chuck's, Fishmugger, John(NTA), Heartless Libertarian's, Kevin's, Grumpy's, Grimmy's, the list is endless, and I know I didn't list everybody - feel free to add yourself in the comments. That would be a nice touch, actually.
How I will spend this Veterans Day -- [Burn Pit - MOTHAX]
...I almost never venture forth from my bloggers lair on Veterans Day. I have a face made for radio as the saying is, and I don't really like crowds. So it is the one time a year when I play the "Veterans prerogative" and simply stay home and don't do much of anything. A few years ago I got to spend a Veterans Day with all the folks at the White House and other veterans groups, and that was nice, but again, I prefer to spend the day alone. I generally call some of my friends and wish them a happy Veterans Day, but conversely when they call me to wish the same, I feel kinda silly. It's almost like Veterans Day doesn't apply to me. It applies to WWII vets, Korean War vets, the guys and gals who fought in Viet Nam, but not to me. Part of my feeling is that my war isn't over. Everyone can thank us when it is done, but for now, there is a lot more to do.
Marines of the Day: SSgt. Theodore "Sam" Holder and LCpl. Kyle Burns -- [Villainous Company]
Veterans' Day is for the living. Memorial Day is for the fallen.
That said, for those in 1st LAR, Veterans' Day 2004 is when the unit lost Holder and Burns in the second battle of Fallujah. Today is the 5th anniversary of their deaths.
Veterans Day -- [Neptunus Lex]
...In this land we are graced with a vibrant political culture, but it was Washington's guns and musketeers who gave it to us. We enjoy the remote fastness of our island home, but it was Decatur, Farragut and Porter who scoured the seas to defend our ocean ramparts. We have human freedom and increasing dignity here at home, but not before three million boys in blue and butternut contended the terms of that freedom. We have liberal democracies here and abroad, but not before millions more marched forth asking for nothing but a patch of earth to be buried in, should it come to that.
There are many blessings in this land, but although we tend to treat them as birthrights, transferable to our heirs in perpetuity, the reality is that all of them have been fought over. Perhaps the greatest blessing of all is that in each generation there have been those who answered their country's call when it came and said, "I'll go. I'll do it. Pick me."
They are the veterans, and this is our day to thank them.
I'm the one they call Doc -- [ROK Drop]
Many brave Marines wouldn't be alive today without the aid of the hospital corpsman who labored hard and often bravely to keep their fellow men alive. Did you know 22 of us have won the Medal of Honor? I used to be able to roll off the names by memory, but I'm getting old and my memory isn't as good. Did a spot check this morning and remembered 17 of them. The US Marines rely on specially trained HM aka battlefield corpsmen to go into harm's way in order to treat and save men who fall in battle.Why did I say us earlier? I was a Hospital Corpsman from 1980 to 1989.
On Veteran's Day -- [Foreign Object Damage]
On the 11th Hour of the 11th Day of the 11th Month, a salute to America's Veterans. Also a salute to the wives and husbands of those who served. While we were out flying, riding, or walking somewhere, they held down the home front. And worried.
Years later my wife told me of how her heart would sink if ...
Veteran's Day 2009 -- [Miserable Donuts]
Veteran's Day. Growing up it usually meant a day off from school. And as I got older, I started to learn what it meant to the Veteran most involved in my life...
Dad, home on leave, from the Navy in 1945. Later I learned what it meant to an uncle...
MICHELLE OBAMA AND JILL BIDEN JOIN SERVICENATION ON VETERANS DAY TO LAUNCH MISSION SERVE: FORGING A CONTINUUM OF SERVICE -- [Service Nation]
Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Alma J. Powell, three of the nation's most inspiring advocates of service, will join ServiceNation today to launch MISSION SERVE: Forging a Continuum of Service. The initiative gets underway by partnering more than 50 civilian and military service organizations in 36 programs designed to more closely integrate service to country with service to community, helping grow the service movement that is critical to America's future success.
The First Lady and Dr. Biden will join hundreds of active-duty service members, veterans, military families, and volunteers representing service organizations at a ceremony on Veterans Day at George Washington University. Also speaking at the event will be Undersecretary of the Army Dr. Joseph W. Westphal and Major General Steven R. Abt, Deputy Commander, US Army Accessions Command, which has been a leader in partnering with ServiceNation.
In Afghanistan, Taliban Surpasses al-Qaeda -- [Washington Post]
As violence rises in Afghanistan, the power balance between insurgent groups has shifted, with a weakened al-Qaeda relying increasingly on the emboldened Taliban for protection and the manpower to carry out deadly attacks, according to US military and intelligence officials. The ascendancy of the Taliban and the relative decline of al-Qaeda have broad implications for the Obama administration as it seeks to define its enemy in Afghanistan and debates deploying tens of thousands of additional troops.
Bringing Him Home -- [The Military Observer]
Kandahar, Afghanistan. They call it a "Dignified Transfer," which is Pentagon-ese for bringing home the body of one of our young men.
Two days ago I flew here from Camp Bastion on a cargo flight. The plane was virtually empty; five passengers and me, the small Air Force crew, and covered by an American flag, the remains of one of our troops killed in Helmand Province. The military's goal is to bring our dead back home within 48 hours, and this was the first leg of such a journey.
Obama Receives New Afghan Option -- [Wall Street Journal]
'Hybrid' Compromise Would Combine Troops, Trainers to Hold Back Taliban and Boost Local Military
President Barack Obama on Wednesday will consider a new compromise plan for adding troops to Afghanistan that would deploy 30,000 to 35,000 new forces, including as many as 10,000 military trainers, over the next year or more.
Obama Aides Accuse Pentagon of Pressuring President Over Afghanistan -- [Daily Telegraph]
Aides to Barack Obama have complained that the Pentagon is trying to force the president into committing large numbers of reinforcements to Afghanistan through leaks to the media. Tensions between the White House and senior members of the US armed forces are rising over the toughest decision the president has faced in his first year. Senior military officials and Republicans have accused him of dithering over the troop request from Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US and NATO commander in Afghanistan.
Taliban expands control of Nuristan -- [Al Jazeera]
Taliban fighters are expanding their control of Afghanistan's Nuristan province, an area they claim to have recaptured from US troops.
A video obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera purports to show Taliban fighters in the Kamdesh district.
For the Night of 10 November 2009 -- [NightWatch]
An Afghan Taliban spokesman described follow-on activities in Kamdesh District, Konar Province, after NATO and Coalition forces abandoned their operating bases and retreated. The area is currently under the control of Taliban, who walk freely in the district, according to al Jazeera.
...The significance of the report is that it exposes as false the idea that the presence of Coalition forces creates instability and that their withdrawal would restore quiet normality. On the contrary, in the absence of Coalition forces, the Taliban moved in to establish their own administration.
Britain to Train 10,000 More Afghan Troops to Speed Up Withdrawal -- [The Times]
Britain is to help to train 10,000 extra Afghan soldiers to serve in Helmand to bring forward the date when British troops can be withdrawn from parts of the province and replaced by Afghanistan's national army. Under an Afghan-surge plan being discussed between Washington and London, British and American troops in Helmand would split the responsibility 50-50, taking part in an accelerated programme to boost the number of Afghan soldiers and police in the province to more than 17,000.
Neutics -- [Hermeneutics: Afghanistan - in Afghanistan]
...Trying to understand why God has placed me in such a desolate place and how He will use me here. To ascertain the purpose of my position when I am not doing the job I was trained for. Most of all how the distance between Jocelyn and I will once again work for good in our marriage. Essentially this is a format to record my thoughts and hopes in lieu of a written journal. Someday this experience will be a foggy memory and I want to be able to recognize the role this year played in my formation and future decisions.
A SAT dish of the wrong proportions, swarms of flies and dust -- [The Kitchen Dispatch]
Since the beginning of October, The Hubs and the FST have been trying to move into a different building. Progress was hindered by several things. Lack of a sink, an electrical generator blow up, and no Satellite for either TV or internet. This caused a delay, which resulted in a pissing contest with the arrival of another unit who had expected to move into the old buildings. Finally, after getting things somewhat squared away, they are in. "We are completely moved. It is big and,roomy, but we have swarms of flies due to the presence of goats and cows. We are going to get double outside screen doors and miles of flypaper. Also, we are engulfed in clouds of Afghan moon dust every few minutes when the winds or swirls of planes pass by.
Another >GAG< Trip To Bagram -- [Afghan Quest - in Afghanistan]
...There are Soldiers and Marines all over this country who get squat... even water... while Bagram has "Karaoke Nite" and "Salsa Nite." Then the spoiled wonders there even have the temerity to rant out loud about not getting beef with their pepperoni for their Pizza Hut pizza (delivered, no less). Now, I can't fault them for making their lives as comfortable as possible, but there is silly and then there is ridiculous. Salsa Nite is silly.
Housing the warriors who normally live in Spartan conditions that the fobbits at Bagram would riot over in those pathetic "transient tents" is ridiculous. You do not see field grade officers spending the night in those wretched holes called "transient tents."
A Wild Ride on a Stallion -- [Doc H's International Adventure - in Afghanistan]
All I can say is that today's ride made this entire Afghanistan trip worth the price of admission.
The day started slowly, with cold rain, mud, and a still uneasy queasy feeling after battling a persistent case of moderate GI illness.
On the road again -- [There's sand in my... -- heading out of Afghanistan]
So far the WTP, Warrior Transition Program, has been surprisingly well coordinated, hard to believe being run by the Navy and everything. Haha. After the Marine run we come back and turn in our 2 seabags of gear that was never used, that will be a load off of our minds, literally. After the turn in I'll be down to a 2/3 full seabag and a carry on, traveling light will be a welcome change. I'm at the point now that I throw away a pair of socks, underwear and t-shirt after each use, since everything has a wonderful light brown tint to it from the laundry in Kandahar. I'm under the impression that our decompression classes start on Wednesday, and continue through Thursday and then we're outta here. I love the feeling you get when the wheels leave the ground for the last time, it's incredible.
NATO, Afghan Forces Seize 250 Tons of Bomb Material (Update1) -- [Bloomberg]
The Afghan National Police and NATO- led forces seized 250 tons (225,000 kilograms) of bomb-making material in an operation in the southern province of Kandahar, the alliance said.
Marines Provide Clean Water to Afghans, Keep Area Safe -- [ISAF - in Afghanistan]
HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Marines with 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, recently funded a well construction project to provide clean water for local Afghans.
The project, funded by 1/5's civil affairs Marines, also created jobs in the community, as local Afghan workers were contracted to dig three wells.
"Having these wells built is something that people have been asking us to do for a while now," said Cpl. Leland Van Leer, an amphibious assault vehicle operator with 1/5. "Now that we were able to get them dug, they see that we can help them."
Bomb Rocks Northwestern Pakistan -- [Voice of America]
A suicide car bomb attack in northwestern Pakistan has killed at least 30 people, including some children. Investigators say the bomb exploded Tuesday on a busy street near a market in the city of Charsadda, some 40 kilometers north of Peshawar. The blast wounded dozens of people and destroyed several buildings. It was the third bombing in the area in three days.
Veterans at Work on Veterans Day -- [Outside the Wire - JD Johannes - in Iraq]
Sala ad Dihn Province, Iraq -- In the US many Americans barely notice Veterans Day. The banks and post offices are closed. Federal Employees have the day off. Some states and local governments may be closed.
There are ceremonies and memorial services. But here in Iraq it is another day at work in a combat zone.
The Soldiers of the 1-28 Infantry, the Black Lions, went about their work.
As We Stand Down, Can They Stand Up? -- [Weekly Standard - Max Boot]
One way to chart the recent course of Iraq's history is by the vehicles that American soldiers drive. When I first came here in the summer of 2003, I remember riding around in open-top, unarmored Humvees. By 2004, a spate of IEDs had made it necessary to move to up-armored Humvees, followed a few years later by heavier MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles that look as if they wandered off the set of a Star Wars movie. When last here in 2008, I went everywhere in a hulking MRAP. Imagine my surprise, then, to find myself being driven in late October from Camp Victory, the main US base on the outskirts of Baghdad, into the center of town along Route Irish, once notorious as the world's most dangerous road, in a lightly armored Chevrolet Suburban that could not withstand a roadside bomb.
Efforts Focus on Iraq's Election, US Commander Says -- [Defense Link]
A US commander in Baghdad today said all efforts are focused on helping Iraqi forces provide security for upcoming national elections in Iraq. Army Col. Gregory Lusk, commander of the North Carolina National Guard's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, joined a chorus of US officials praising the Iraqi Parliament's passage this week of key legislation that paves the way for balloting in January. "With the recent passing of the election law, Iraq has indeed reached an important milestone," he said by satellite in a Pentagon news conference. "All of our efforts since our day of arrival have been dedicated towards accomplishing this goal and setting the conditions and supporting the Iraqi desires for holding these important elections."
Kuwait -- [Sorority Soldier - leaving Iraq]
I can't describe the happiness that's overtaking me. I'm in Kuwait. Away from Iraq forever. Elation.
Soldiers, Family Come Together To Grieve at Fort Hood -- [Voice of America]
President Obama spoke at a memorial ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, Tuesday for the 13 people who died there last week when a gunman opened fire at the large military base. The alleged attacker, who was wounded by police, is an army psychiatrist. The attack on a domestic base, allegedly by a fellow soldier has saddened and shocked many servicemen and their families. The signs of grief are not hard to miss at Fort Hood. Flowers and messages are displayed around the sign at the main entrance and there is a subdued tone on base. But the soldiers carry on and the military family pulls together.
North, South Korean Ships Exchange Gunfire -- [Washington Post]
A brief naval skirmish erupted Tuesday between North and South Korea, raising tension in Northeast Asia as President Obama prepares this week for a visit to the region. The North and the South blamed each other for the exchange of gunfire - the first such clash in seven years. South Korean officials said a badly damaged North Korean patrol ship retreated in flames after crossing into South Korean waters. It was not clear whether there were any injuries or deaths aboard the North Korean vessel. North Korea issued a statement that blamed the South for "grave armed provocation," saying that ships from South Korea crossed into the North's territory.
North Korean Ship "Wrapped in Flames" After Battle; No South Korean Sailors Hurt -- [One Free Korea]
Most people have already forgotten that in May of this year, North Korea unilaterally declared an end to the 1953 armistice. We've forgotten because Kim Jong Il has few military options against the South that wouldn't inevitably result in either a military embarrassment or more escalation than he's prepared for.
If Yonhap's "wrapped in flames" report is accurate, this could have the makings of a military embarrassment and serious harm to morale within the North Korean navy. That's why it's essential for the regime's domestic propaganda machinery to report an alternative reality. That also illustrates why breaking down the information blockade and saturating North Korea with alternative sources of information can help preserve peace in the region.
Is Russia Playing Both Sides on Iran Nukes? -- [Christian Science Monitor]
Iran's failure to respond to an international offer to enrich much of its uranium stockpile outside the country - for use in a Tehran medical research facility - is again raising the prospect of tougher sanctions. Much of the focus of the sanctions debate is falling on Russia, which has blown hot and cold on additional punitive measures on Iran over its nuclear program - but which is sounding open to the idea once again. The attention is reviving lingering questions about Russian assistance - either official or unauthorized - to Iran's nuclear program and weapons research.
China Ready to Welcome President Obama -- [Voice of America]
Sino-American relations are likely to get a boost when President Barack Obama comes to China later this month. The potential to work together to combat climate change is expected to overshadow more contentious issues, such as trade, military relations and human rights. From tentative beginnings in the 1970's, Sino-American ties have grown into what is often described as one of the most important relationships in the world. China was one highlight of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first trip abroad. "The inter-dependent world in which we live requires us to find new ways to collaborate and cooperate in the face of unprecedented global challenges and untapped global opportunities," she stated.
Military Not Told About Ft. Hood Suspect's E-mails -- [Los Angeles Times]
Two high-profile anti-terrorism task forces did not inform the Defense Department about contacts between a radical Islamic cleric and the Army psychiatrist accused of killing 13 people in last week's rampage at Ft. Hood, a senior Defense official said Tuesday. On the day of a memorial service for those killed at the Texas military base, the revelation compounded questions about whether the government had known enough in advance to stop the gunman. The FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces investigated e-mails that Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan sent over the last year to Anwar al Awlaki, an imam in Yemen who espouses a radical Islamist ideology and who has ties to militants. However, officials said, task force members concluded that the communications posed no threat and had been undertaken as part of Hasan's research on Muslims, the military and post-traumatic stress disorders. Defense officials said Tuesday that the department did not learn about Hasan's contacts with Awlaki until after the Ft. Hood shootings.
Taliban: Fort Hood Killer a "Hero", Warn of Further Attacks -- [Jawa Report]
What, you thought the Taliban would condemn the attack? Note, also, that the Taliban dismiss the notion that Hasan was motivated by a psychological breakdown:
Two Sides, Same Coin -- [Baldilocks]
Lots of things going on today, but two of them seem to demonstrate one of my convictions that there is no such thing as a coincidence.
John Allen Muhammad--the lead Beltway Sniper--is scheduled to be executed today at 6PM 9PM EST in Virginia.
Justice and Guantanamo Bay -- [Wall Street Journal]
This past Sunday, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the administration will decide by Nov. 16 which Guantanamo detainees will be tried in military commissions trials, and which of them will stand trial in federal courts. But a decision to use both legal settings is a mistake. It will establish a dangerous legal double standard that gives some detainees superior rights and protections, and relegates others to the inferior rights and protections of military commissions. This will only perpetuate the perception that Guantanamo and justice are mutually exclusive. President George W. Bush authorized military commissions in November 2001, and President Barack Obama ordered them stopped in January 2009.
Qaeda militant incites Sunnis against Shiites, Iran -- [AFP Global Edition]
A commander of an Al-Qaeda-linked group warned Islam's majority Sunnis that the Shiites and Iran pose a greater "danger" to their religion than Jews or Christians, a US monitoring group said on Tuesday.
"We call on the nation ... to stand by (Sunnis) with whatever means they can against the danger of Iran and those who follow (the Shiite) faith in the region," Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Rashid of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said in an audio recording carried by SITE Intelligence group
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID -- [FOX News]
Muggers Return Wallet After Seeing Army ID, A Milwaukee Army reservist's military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked him for his service after finding the ID.
Vets Offered Free Meal this Veteran's Day at Applebee's -- [ROK Drop]
Just a reminder to everyone that Applebee's once again has their promotion of a free meal for veterans
Applebee's, Golden Corral, M&S salute vets with free food -- [USA Today]
Three major casual-dining chains --Applebee's, McCormick & Schmick's and Golden Corral-- are offering free food to veterans and, in most cases, active-duty military personnel in observance of Veterans Day.
WELCOME BACK VETERANS.org -- [Soldier's Mom]
I know you'll be celebrating Veteran's Day this Thursday. But if you are looking for an extra way to honor our Veterans, this might be up your alley.
Major League Baseball and Welcome Back Veterans are asking people to share their message of thanks to American veterans: http://www.welcomebackveterans.org/thanks
War hero's family calls book a 'dishonor' -- [HometownAnnapolis]
On this, the 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps, a new book about Annapolis - and national - hero Col. John Ripley is coming under fire from the late Marine's family.
Ripley's daughter, Annapolis resident Mary Ripley, called Fulkerson's picture of her father "a dishonor" to his memory.
Standing Tall in Harm's Way -- [Washington Post]
In the aftermath of the Fort Hood shootings, some commentaries have examined the damage to the US Army from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few have spoken about the alleged shooter, Maj. Nidal M. Hasan, as an extreme version of what can happen with an overstressed force. This picture of a traumatized military is misleading. Certainly, the Army and the other services are stressed by the demands of combat. But what's striking to me this Veterans Day is how healthy the military is, given all the weight it has been carrying for the country these past eight years. Facing a new and disorienting kind of warfare, the military has learned and adapted. Rather than complain about their problems, soldiers have figured out ways to solve them. In truth, the US military may be the most resilient part of American society right now.
Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier... -- [Bouhammer]
Well today is the it, my very last day in the Army. I can't believe this day is here. Over 22 1/2 years in the Army ends today. In reality it is really 40+ years in the Army. I was born at Ft. Bragg, NC and have been holding either a dependent or active duty ID card ever since. I mean I will have a retired ID card later this week, which looks like the dependent ones today, but the time of serving as a soldier is ending. My time of being a leader of men, a caregiver to the soul of the young and confused, a motivator to those that are un-motivated is ending. It probably ended back in July when I turned over my last company and took off the diamond for the first time since getting it put on me over seven years ago. That was a painful day to remove the one rank that I always sought, but I can't be greedy.
Choosing Between Family and the Military -- [Center For American Progress]
Approximately 70 immigrant soldiers in the US military from 35 countries pledge their allegiance to the United States during a welcome home naturalization
Soldier Gets Surprise Welcome Home -- [WNEP-TV]
A family gathered Tuesday night to welcome home a soldier from Iraq. He's on a break from his fourth tour in that war-torn country.
At Fort Hood, day of mourning ends with celebration -- [CNN]
Teary wives and girlfriends and moms and dads hold the hands of children bearing signs like Zachariah Wolf's: "Welcome home bestest daddy.
How the New York Times does Veterans Day -- [Blackfive]
I know you're not surprised. I guess I still expect more from "professionals". For posterity, here's a screen shot of the NYTimes Veterans Day Section (archive):
CBS's Smith: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars to Blame for Ft. Hood Shooting -- [NewsBusters]
Interviewing Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on Wednesday's CBS Early Show, co-host Harry Smith cited a cause of the shooting at Ft. Hood: "...the Iraq war, the escalation in number of cases of post traumatic stress disorder...the more people go back to these fields, these theaters of war, either in Iraq or Afghanistan, it multiplies the incidence of these kinds of things occurring."
Obama, World Leaders Honor Veterans on Anniversary of End WWI -- [Voice of America]
U.S. President Barack Obama will mark the first Veterans Day observance of his presidency Wednesday with a traditional wreath-laying ceremony and speech at Arlington National Cemetery near Washington.
The Potemkin Color Guard -- [CDR Salamander]
You have worked long and hard to reach a high profile position, as those who came before you had. You did everything that was asked of you, and more. You believed in a system that told you all you had to do was work hard, pay attention to detail, excel in your efforts, show exceptional dedication, and demonstrate professionalism better than those around you. Do that, you were told, and you will be rewarded.
The day prior to the event you are told that those in power decided to remove you and a friend from the position you worked so long and hard for. You wonder, "What did we do? Why?"
...The reason is rather simple; those in positions of authority did not like your race and gender. Nothing that you did - no - not that. Nothing personal - just business, you know.
Simply by being born, you have been found wanting, and unworthy.
On 29 OCT, the USNA Color Guard made an appearance at the World Series. The day prior to their appearance, two Midshipmen were removed from the Color Guard by senior Commissioned Officers in leadership positions at Annapolis for one simple reason; they were white males. That isn't a guess on their part - that is what they were told.
In Congress, injured vets signing on for duty -- [Washington Post]
Fellowship program helps steer returning wounded to jobs on the Hill
... Lasko confronted the existential question faced by thousands of veterans too injured for active service: What now?
"Anybody coming back, any young veterans coming out, you're saying, 'What next?' " says Lasko, 26. It's not easy getting established in the civilian world. "You did your time in the military. In our cases, we're injured, so we're at another disadvantage."
Lasko found his way to one of the more unusual internship programs on Capitol Hill.
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