16 April 2007

Not News Unless It's About Us

The instructor tells the soldier, "You are in the Bronx. A black van is stopping in front of you. Three African-Americans are getting out and they are insulting your mother in the worst ways ... Act."

The soldier fires his machine gun several times and yells an obscenity several times (...). The instructor then tells the soldier to curse even louder.

No, it's not what - or should I say who - you think:

German army in new racism row

A video showing a German army instructor telling one of his soldiers to envision African-Americans in the Bronx while firing his machine gun was broadcast Saturday on national television.

The video, coming after scandals involving photos of German soldiers posing with skulls in Afghanistan and the abuse of recruits by instructors, seemed likely to raise more questions about training practices in Germany's conscript army.

Found at Davids Medienkritik, who adds:

Hmm... It's a bit early to evaluate the extent of the German media's reporting on the story. I wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't make much of splash.

Wrong ingredients, you know.

Let's try a change of venue.

U.S. army in new racism row

A video showing a U.S. army instructor telling one of his soldiers to envision Arabs in Baghdad while firing his machine gun was broadcast Saturday on national television.

The video, coming after scandals involving photos of U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison and in Guantanamo, seemed likely to raise more questions about training practices in America's all-volunteer army.

Now - HERE we have a story!!!


So many aspects to this story aside from the obvious lack of media attention on either side of the pond unless it's about America or American Soldiers.

For example, is the German military instructor racist, or anti-American? Why else would he be using the image of Americans, black or otherwise, to fire up his soldiers?

Or is that simply the result of the misguided impression many Europeans have that American cities are seething with racial tension and swarming with gun-toting criminals?

Another interesting aspect, to which David alludes, is CNN's apparently contradictory opinions about conscript vs. volunteer armies. Not sure how often we've heard their derogatory coverage about our all-vounteer armed forces, but in this piece they make a pointed reference to Germany's conscript army.

I suppose you would be safe in assuming that CNN and the rest of the US and German MSM aren't big fans of armies at all. But their abolishment would sure be hell on ratings, now wouldn't it?

13 April 2007

Update on DJ Emery

Leslie and DJ

DJ sat up in a chair for a little while the other day, and he and Leslie have received a surprise gift. Matt at Blackfive has the latest (good) news.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for DJ and his family.

Cards and letters of support can be sent to:

CPL David Emery
c/o National Naval Medical Center
Intensive Care Unit
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Md 20889



Click to read more stories about DJ here at SAG.

12 April 2007

"The Soldiers' Angels are an Army within the Army"

Email from a Soldier who recently spent time at the Kleber Medical Hold here in Germany while undergoing treatment.

She has since returned to Iraq, and after exchanging a few emails we realized we had seen each other while she was here.

Wanted to pass along her thanks to all of you who make this possible.

I want to thank you for all of the support/love that you are giving to us. I was just overwhelmed with Soldiers' Angels while I was in Germany. Thanks.

A portable closet was in the hall downstairs and I got a pair of grey sweats and top to go to the gym. I was so happy that I did not have to wear my PFU, first time in civvies since last fall.

The blankets (especially the fleece ones) touched my heart.

MaryAnn, all of the females there got along so good (Thank God) we all sprawled out on the sofas and chairs and watched the Lion King and Tina Turner life story.

I love those fleece blankets. There is one made in the design of the American Flag that we all wanted to take but agreed to leave in order that the next group could enjoy. The knitted and crocheted ones were lovely too.

I am writing the CSM of the Army and the Wounded Warriors a letter about my experience there and how the Soldiers' Angels are an Army within the Army.

Thanks soooooooooo much.

Much Love,

S.

It may not look like much, but here is the "portable closet" for which this Soldier was so grateful.


See this post for information about outpatient support, and this one for information about blankets.

10 April 2007

Hell Hath No Fury



Watch a group of 11 military family members and Vietnam Veterans tear U.S. Rep. Hodes (D-NH) a new one at a roundtable discussion with constituants. Lots of straight talk from this angry group, including one not in the video but quoted here .

"I think there are no good options," Hodes said of America's future role in Iraq.

"I think winning is," said Natalie Healy, whose son, Dan, was killed in Afghanistan in June 2005.

Found this in a post by McQ at QandO on the Veteran vote which is a must-read, as is Cassandra's post which discusses the anger felt by Veterans and military families at Congress.

07 April 2007

Happy Easter!

From Germany, where Jessica prepares baskets for the patients at Landstuhl.





A small Army of rabbits guards the finished baskets for the patients in the Medical Hold.


From Sara's living room (yes, that's a couch under there), where over 100 Easter baskets were ready for shipment downrange a couple of weeks ago...

And from Iraq.

04 April 2007

DJ Emery: Someone You Should Know at Pundit Review Radio

Leslie and DJ


Listen here.

Corporal David "DJ" Emery Jr. of 2/4 Marines was severly wounded in a terrorist suicide attack on February 7. He was sent here to Germany and then on to Bethesda Naval Medical Center on Februrary 18. Since then, he has been fighting for his life despite a series of very serious complications.

Although he was on vacation last week, Matt of Blackfive posted this about DJ. He also spread the word among the blogging community and asked Kevin and Gregg of Pundit Review Radio to broadcast DJ's story.

Thank you, Matt.

And thanks to all of you for your continued prayers for DJ and his family.

Cards and letters of support can be sent to:

CPL David Emery
c/o National Naval Medical Center
Intensive Care Unit
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Md 20889



Click to read more stories about DJ here at SAG.

03 April 2007

All Worked Up

First a friend in the States who's having a bad day sends me the link to this video.

Then I read Jules Crittenden's post on Michael Ware, The Newsman More Terrorists Trust, and his follow up rant called Morons Triumphant!

It's Miller Time in my part of the world and I was settling in for a nice cozy evening but now I'm all worked up. Thanks, guys.

However, being a team player and all, I thought I'd make a contribution: "Steve Emerson Talks to Two Morons About Radical Muslims" (with apologies to Chuck Norris who does, in fact, sound like a moron here).

02 April 2007

"Why you sad, American soldier?" - Part 2


"After talking and crying with the mother of the young girl who once wore this sandal."


Previously:
As I lifted the tiny blankets, I became numb; one infant had its tiny head missing. Others were disfigured and their bodies broken and mangled. I could not believe what I was looking at.

There was no semblance or the perception of a rough American soldier. I dropped to my knees and started to cry uncontrollably. ( ... )

One of the [Iraqi] men came to me and said, in a voice totally filled with compassion and caring, "Why you sad, American soldier?"

I looked up at him, and I could not say anything.

01 April 2007

An American Family

Newsweek is featuring MAJ Mike Mundell in a special this week called Voices of the Fallen. MSNBC.com has video of Mike's wife Audrey and their children Erica, Ryan, Zach, and Dale reading letters Mike sent to them from Iraq before his death.

Please take a moment to view the video and meet this American family and their Hero. I don't know where they found the strength to do this, but I'm grateful they did.

Mike wasn't a hero, he was better then a hero... Mike was a professional. Mike took his job seriously and the lives of everyone on the team seriously. His Iraqi counterparts paid him the highest complement; they called him... Brother.

I will miss him every day.

From a previous post, a "little note about my friend Mike", sent by MAJ Todd Fredette.

Soldiers' Angels Mourns Sgt Michael C. Peek


From Renee of the Soldiers' Angels Living Legends Team:

We have a fallen Hero from Soldiers' Angels, Sgt. Michael C Peek.

Sgt. Peek, 23, of Chesapeake, Virginia, died on March 3 in Baghdad along with two other soldiers, Sgt. Brandon A. Parr and Sgt. Ashly L. Moyer, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle.

They were all assigned to the 630th Military Police Company, Bamberg, Germany.

Michael is survived by his fiancee, Melanie Link of Wurzburg, Germany, his mother, Katharin L. Jordan, and stepfather, Steve Jordan, of Smithfield, Virginia, his brother, Justin M. Peek, and his father, Floyd Peek of Boise, Idaho.

Renee

"He just gave himself all to whatever he did," said John Hudak, Peek's uncle.

Peek was excited by school and swimming.

"He was always the first one out of the locker room. He was ready to practice. 'Coach, coach, coach!' I said, 'Mike, calm down buddy,'" former swim coach Scott Evans said.

Peek fought for his country.

"He wanted to make sure we would all never lose our freedom. That was very important to him," said Hudak.

He loved the people that meant most to him.

"I want to thank you baby, for showing me what true love is and means," said Mel.

Peek's enthusiasm spilled into every area of his life. His love filled the hearts of everyone who knew him, even if it was only for a short while.

"You raise them and they go into the service and never, until now, do you realize how many lives they touch in such a short time," his mother Kathy Jordan said.

Army Sergeant Michael C. Peek was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on the last day of winter, less than a week before his wedding date.

Source: Arlington National Cemetery Website.

The Patriot Guard Riders are riding for Sgt. Micheal Peek .


Remember our Heroes.