MEPS ceremony room named for fallen paratrooper

Bill and Suzane Ayers pull back the cover blanketing the shadow box honoring their son, Cpl. Jonathan Ayers, May 20 during a dedication ceremony held at the Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) on Fort Gillem. The Atlanta MEPS dedicated the room used to swear in new applicants to Ayres May 20 to honor his sacrifice. In addition to the shadow box, the room’s main door is adorned with a plaque bearing Ayers’ name. Photo: Kevin Stabinsky.

The legacy of Cpl. Jonathan Ayers will live on with military recruits taking the oath of enlistment at the Atlanta Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) on Fort Gillem in the ceremony room which now bears his name.

Ayers took his own oath in this very room in April 2006, and served in Afghanistan with the "Chosen Few" of 2-503, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team during 2007/2008. On July 13, 2008, Ayers was killed in the battle of Wanat along with eight of his brothers.

Witnesses describe Ayers’ actions like something out of a Hollywood movie. Taking withering RPG and small arms fire on his position, Ayers stood his ground and stayed on his M-240 Bravo heavy machine gun until he was killed.

"It was some of the bravest stuff I’ve ever seen in my life, and I will never see it again because those guys... well, normal humans wouldn’t do that. You’re not supposed to do that — getting up and firing back when everything around you is popping and whizzing and trees, branches coming down and sandbags exploding and RPGs coming in over your head... "
- SPC Tyler Stafford, survivor of the Battle of Wanat

Cpl. Ayers was posthumously awarded the Silver Star, the third highest military honor for valor, for his actions during that battle.

Col. Barrye Price, commander of the Eastern Sector of the U.S. Military Entrance Processing Command, enlists three recruits May 20 into the Army in the Cpl. Jonathan Ayers Ceremony Room at the MEPS. Ayers, a Silver Star recipient, enlisted at the same MEPS in April 2006. Photo: Kevin Stabinsky.

With Bill and Suzane Ayers still present, three new recruits were sworn in immediately after the dedication ceremony. By having recruits enlist in a room bearing his son’s name, Bill said he hopes those enlisting gain a deeper appreciation for what they are doing and the sacrifices they are making.


Thanks to JarHeadDad for sending the story.

Flag Day 2009

She's a grand old flag, she's a high-flyin' flag!

Harvard professor serves in Afghanistan

Here's a nice story for the Army's birthday: A Harvard professor who is serving his second deployment in Afghanistan.

Major Kit Parker had been thinking about getting out of the US Army Reserve after many years, but then the attacks of September 11 happened.

As smoke and ashes rose from the ruins of the World Trade Center buildings in New York, Parker put aside his love for biomedical engineering and applied physics for a gun and uniform. About the same time, Harvard offered him a job as professor.

"That was an interesting day," Parker says with a hearty laugh. "I had to go and tell my dean, 'I know I am supposed to start the position but can you wait a year while I go and fight?'"

For Venkatesh Naryanamurti, then the dean of Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, that was a unique moment. No other professor in his faculty had ever asked for leave to go and fight a war.

Parker deployed with the 82nd Airborne into southern Afghanistan. After almost being blown up by an IED, he became interested in traumatic brain injury.

While visiting a friend who had lost his arm at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he saw the neurological unit.

"You need to walk past there only once to realize that you got to do something if you can," Parker says. "I could not stand by."

So on top of dealing with cardiac tissue engineering and some nanotechnology, his team at the lab started looking into the molecular mechanisms of traumatic brain injury — what happens when blast waves penetrate the skull and go to the brain. An agency called the Defense Advance Research Project Agency funded the research. His war had found the way into his lab.

He rented an apartment 150 yards away from his lab and worked from 5 a.m. until midnight.

Now back in Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division, Parker - ever the professor - dreams of ways to turn the counterinsurgency fight into a science. Great story, definately worth a read.

Happy Birthday, US Army

Insurgent tactics: Population intimidation

From one of the medics SA supports in Afghanistan. Many of the patients our medics treat are local children.

"Please, thank [the members of Soldiers' Angels], but I would not like to start collecting toys, in fear that someone will try to "sneak" one to a child... "

Why is this medic worried about giving Afghan children toys? Find out here.

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund celebrates 5th anniversary

Shamelessly stolen from my friend SemperFi Wife.

May marked the 5th anniversary of the creation of the Injured Marine Semper Fi fund. Five years of supporting Marines, Sailors and their families as they go through recovery and rehabilitation. I've been a volunteer with the fund since June of 2006 and wrote this post awhile back.

In those five years, this is what the fund has accomplished.....

From the May Newsletter:
1. 13,500 grants issued, totaling more than $29 million.
2. 3,800 grants issued FY09 - to date, totaling more than $5.5 million.
3. 4,400 grants issued in FY08, totaling more than $10 million.
4. Programs, our mission averaged over 92% of total expenses.
5. More than 3000 servicemembers assisted.
6. 86% of grants were for servicemembers E-6 and below.
7. More than 100 regular volunteers across the globe.
8. IMSFF processes on average 25-30 grants each work day.

In addition to the accomplishments listed above, the fund commissioned the video "Cover Me" which talks about combat operational stress. It's a wonderful video with commentary from the Commandant, Gen. Mattis, Dr. Heidi Kraft, Sgt. Major Kent and many others. Check it out!!

Congratulations and thank you to founder Karen Guenther and all of the volunteers and supporters of this wonderful organization.

President visits Landstuhl patients

Corporal Steven Baker, left, 24 years old from Corinth, Mississippi, and Sgt. Matt Berth, right, 27 years old from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, talk to the press about their impressions after the visit of US President Barack Obama in the USO warrior center in Landstuhl, Germany, Friday, June 5, 2009. Berth and Baker received the purple heart medal for getting injured in battle. (AP Photo/Roberto Pfeil)

How exciting for these guys! I bet they were thrilled.

Obama meets wounded US troops in Germany

LANDSTUHL, Germany (AP) — Last week, U.S. Army Cpl. Steven Baker was wounded while on patrol in Afghanistan's Wardak province. Friday night in Germany, President Barack Obama pinned a Purple Heart medal on his chest.

"I couldn't stop smiling," Baker said after Obama's two-hour visit at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where many soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are taken for treatment. ...

Baker, 24, was riding as a gunner in an MRAP armored vehicle on May 30 with two other soldiers when it was hit with a roadside bomb. The Corinth, Mississippi, native was taken to a medical facility in Bagram, Afghanistan, for treatment, and then flown to Landstuhl — and learned of Obama's visit just yesterday.

"I thought they were kidding," Baker said.

He was one of six soldiers to whom Obama presented the Purple Heart in recognition of his injuries, and one of dozens the president met as he toured hospital wards and a recreation center for recovering troops.

Baker, a member of the Fort Drum, New York-based 10th Mountain Division, said he hoped to re-enlist after recovering at Landstuhl, and that he was looking forward to visiting his wife and family, first.

Sgt. Matt Berth, 26, of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, an Army engineer [with the Wisconsin Army National Guard], was recently injured in an explosion that struck his vehicle as he was driving on a highway near Kandahar. He had been at Landstuhl for a week when Obama came to give him a Purple Heart.

Members of the press never accompany DVs ("Dignified Visitors") during their visits with patients. However, reporters were given access to some of the soldiers after the President's visit, which I think is a really cool opportunity for them to share their excitement. This passage from Stars & Stripes' account of the visit was particularly poignant:

Unable to walk without crutches due to balance issues, Berth made a point of standing with assistance from Cpl. Steven Baker while Obama pinned a Purple Heart on his uniform.

“He’s my commander-in-chief and I did want to give him respect,” he said.

Just look at those smiles! When the guys are happy, I'm happy :-)

D-Day: The Prayer

For more coverage of the Longest Day's 65th Anniversary, make sure to check today and tomorrow at John Donovan's, Blackfive, and the Mudville Gazette.

Spirit

A KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a B-2 Spirit over the Pacific Ocean near Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, May 12, 2009. More than 100 airmen and four KC-135s assigned to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing on March Air Reserve Base, Calif., arrived on Andersen at the end of April for deployment. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Bush.

Wow. That doesn't even look real. Click on the photo for full effect.

Bayer, DeCA, and AAFES team up to support Soldiers' Angels

Bayer Healthcare + Defense Commissary Agency + AAFES = Soldiers’ Angels Support

Bayer Healthcare has teamed up with the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Army Air Force Exchanges (AAFES) to support Soldiers’ Angels, a volunteer-based non-profit organization that supports all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces through special projects, dedicated teams and individuals caring for our troops. Whether sending care packages, helping families at home, or assisting the wounded, Soldiers’ Angels makes a visible difference in the lives of our service members.

During the month of June, Bayer Healthcare will donate $0.05 for every $1.00 spent on participating Bayer products (Bayer Aspirin, Aleve, Alka-Seltzer, One A Day, and Citracal) to Soldiers’ Angels Adopt a Soldier program, at military commissaries and exchanges, up to a maximum of $20,000.

Bayer, DeCA and AAFES are supporting the promotion with in-store advertising and displays. Banner ads supporting the program will also be running the entire month of June on www.military.com.

Consumers will have the ability to send well wishes to the troops via www.bayercare.com. Well wishes will be compiled and sent to troops by Soldiers’ Angels starting in August.


About Bayer Consumer Care

The Consumer Care Division of Bayer HealthCare LLC, is headquartered in Morristown, N.J. Bayer’s Consumer Care Division is among the largest marketers of over-the-counter medications and nutritional supplements in the world. Some of the most trusted and recognizable brands in the world today come from the Bayer portfolio of products. These include Bayer® Aspirin, Aleve®, Alka-Seltzer Plus®, Bactine®, Citracal®, RID®, Phillips’® Milk of Magnesia, Midol®, Alka-Seltzer®, One A Day®, One A Day® Prenatal and Flintstones™ vitamins.


About the Defense Commissary Agency

The Defense Commissary Agency with headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia, operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Authorized patrons purchase items at cost plus a 5–percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. Shoppers save an average of more than 30 percent on their purchases compared to commercial prices—savings worth about $3,400 annually for a family of four. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America's military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

Sounds like a great time to stock up on Bayer products at your local commissary or PX.