Sad

Mohammed and Omar at Iraq the Model express their anger and disappointment over the reaction of certain elements in the Middle East and elsewhere to Zarqawi's death.

Some are sad just because we're happy.
Hamas's reaction to the death of Zarqawi caused the contempt of so many Iraqis. The printed and watched Iraqi media lashed out vigorously on Hamas, politicians and ordinary people on the streets are just equally angered by some Arabic official and media reactions which spoke of the criminal as if he were a hero.

It is totally unimaginable why someone would describe the head chopping, children murdering terrorist as a hero. It's disgusting and infuriating beyond words.

This wrongful description of evil is a major reason for misery in this region and it only contributes to justifying more unjustifiable death and violence. This makes one sometimes wishes that Iraq is somehow lifted away from these perverted sociopaths who surround us.

Iraq, Jordan send powerful messages to Zarqawi's lovers.
The anti-Zarqawi-lovers sentiment is getting stronger in the region, especially in Iraq and Jordan where Zarqawi and his gangs committed their worst crimes.
( ... )
Those who preach hatred and death represent one of the roots of the terrorist culture and the struggle against terror cannot succeed without bringing justice upon those evil men.

I wonder what will it take to see a strong public and official stand against terrorism and death-preaching in the rest of the Middle East and when are we going to see the people in Saudi Arabia or Egypt for example raise cases against Qaradawi and his likes?

I wonder, too.

CINC in Baghdad

Drudge Report:

President Bush left for Baghdad on an unannounced five-hour trip designed to boost the government of new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and allow the two leaders to get to know each other face-to-face.
( ... )
"The POTUS is on board!" Mr. Bush, wearing a navy blue baseball cap, dark pants and blue button down shirt, yelled to reporters as he climbed the rear steps of the plane. Air Force One - piloted by the same colonel who had flown Mr. Bush to Iraq on his first trip to Iraq in November 2003 -- was wheels-up at 9:07 PM Washington time Monday night. It landed at Baghdad International Airport at 4:08 PM Baghdad time Tuesday afternoon.

My favorite CINC quote from ABC News:

"I've come to not only look you in the eye," Bush told al-Maliki. "I also come to tell you that when America gives its word, it keeps its word."

Nothing but good news lately - Zarqawi dead, Iraq cabinet posts filled, Haditha "massacre" story unraveling, Iraqi PM al-Maliki cracking down in Baghdad, Rove walks, and now another bold move by our CINC.

Things are looking up.

In this morning's paper, a new USA TODAY/Gallup poll of Americans "found that 48% believe the United States probably or definitely will win the war, up from 39% in April. It also found that 47% believe things are going well in Iraq, up from 38% in March."

Zarqawi's End

The killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi by US forces in Iraq yesterday was a cause for joy and relief that "this violent man will never murder again", as President Bush stated.

It also is a cause for tremendous pride in and gratitude for the work of our military forces in Iraq.

One of my first thoughts upon hearing the news was of a photo I received early this year from a Marine deployed in Western Iraq. The photo, entitled "Too Many Dogtags", was of the memorial to the fallen Marines of that Regimental Combat Team who, "during this tour of duty gave their lives for their country and the nation of Iraq".

I thought of those Marines and their sacrifice. I thought of the suffering of their families. I thought of all of our Fallen, and their families. I thought of the pain of the wounded, and the sacrifices made by all who have served in the War on Terror.

And I thought to myself: I promise never to forget them.

Zarqawi's death is by no means the end of this war, or even of this battle. But together with the inauguration of Prime Minister Maliki's cabinet on May 20 and the appointment of the last 3 cabinet posts this week, it marks an important milestone and provides a significant morale boost to the new Iraqi nation.

Soldiers' Angels Mourns Capt. James A. Funkhauser

From one of our adopted soldiers in Iraq.

Dear Angels,

I apologize for not writing you guys sooner. However, this past week has been difficult for all of us. On Memorial Day we had a convoy that was attacked with a vehicle-borne explosive device while returning to camp.

I regret to inform you that our company commander is dead along with his Iraqi interpreter. Also there are six wounded in action. They are being transported to Germany and then back to the states.

There are many feelings that we are dealing with as we mourn the loss of Captain James Funkhouser. Among those, hatred toward the enemy, anger, sadness, depression and grief for the many families involved.

Captain Funkhouser is survived by his wife and two young daughters, ages 4 and 2.

We had a memorial service for Captain Funkhouser on 02 June 2006. It was very good. I think it opened up a lot of hearts and minds as to how to deal with these emotions. However, our work is not anywhere close to being over with.
( ... )

Finally Angels, I want to thank you all for your hard work and support. We love and miss you all very much. You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday.

You have my promise to you and before God: I will never quit, I will never accept defeat, I will never leave a fallen comrade. It may not be today, tomorrow, or next week. But EVERY SOLDIER WILL COME HOME!!!!

God Bless You All!

Respectfully yours,
soldiermedic

CBS News employees Paul Douglas and James Brolan were killed in the same attack, and CBS's Kimberly Dozier was critically injured. Dozier has since returned to the US via Germany.

Please take a moment to look at the story, photos, and video about Captain Funkhauser at keyetv.com here.

From CNN's interview with Captain Funkhauser's wife Jennifer and father James:

COSTELLO [CNN]: Funkhouser was third generation military. His father and grandfather before him, James Senior, spent 31 years in the service.

JAMES FUNKHOUSER SR: When you lose a child, it's always painful. And when you lose your only child, it is especially painful.

JENNIFER FUNKHOUSER: I just want his name out there, you know? He was wonderful. He was a great soldier, a great guy, a great father, a great husband.

COSTELLO: But the attention given to tragedy involving the CBS news crew and her husband is somehow bittersweet, because so many others die in relative anonymity.

JENNIFER FUNKHOUSER: All of these soldiers that are injured, my husband had a lot of soldiers that were injured with him. They all have names. They all have stories. They're people. They're not just a soldier. They have a life. They have a family, a family that mourns them, a family that hurts. Everyone needs to know.

The Patriot Guard Riders will be riding for Captain Funkhauser today.


Remember our Heroes.

The May Backpack Delivery to Landstuhl

Another month - another delivery of backpacks for the patients at Landstuhl hospital!

Everyone hates those drafty hospital gowns - especially soldiers! - so the backpacks contain a t-shirt and a pair of boxers. Just as important, each backpack contains a letter from home and a hand-made Blanket of Hope.


Passing the backpacks through the window of the Liaison offices. This is our trademarked (TM) way of saving steps around the building to the door.




Thank you for your support!

The Longest Day

Shortly after dawn on June 7, Lt. Horace Henderson of the Sixth Engineer Special Brigade landed on Omaha Beach.

Going in on his Higgens boat, "I noticed that nothing moved on the beach except one bulldozer. The beach was covered with debris, sunken craft and wrecked vehicles. We saw many bodies in the water...

We jumped into chest high water and waded ashore. Then we saw that the beach was literally covered with the bodies of American soldiers wearing the blue and grey patches of the 29th Infantry Division."

- From the opening pages of Stephen E. Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers.

Blackfive has a D-Day remembrance roundup here

A Function of Loyalty

Marine Lt. Gen. James F. Amos:

"When we send them off to do the nation's bidding in a place like Afghanistan or Iraq and they're wounded, we're not returning the same individual," Amos said. "When we send them back wounded there is a piece of me that says I haven't kept my bargain. What's left for me to do is to continue taking care of them."

It starts with a visit - to as many as he can.

"It's a function of loyalty," the 59-year-old general said. "In Marine speak, it means fidelity. It's a wonderful word not used very often - except in the Marine Corps. It means faithful. It implies faithful almost to a fault...

"I owe it to them."

Unlike the General, we are often asked by the soldiers at Kleber outpatient barracks who we are and why we are there. I usually reply that we're just volunteers. During a recent visit there with Mrs. G, one Soldier kept pressing us for a more complete answer.

I always find that question difficult to answer, because it seems so self explanatory to me. I'm just trying to do my part.

We are at war. Because the military is doing its job in taking the fight to the enemy, we don't experience the war at home. But make no mistake - the Global War on Terror is more than the political and academic debates with which we are ceaselessly confronted in the mainstream press.

This is a real war, with real enemies.

And everybody has a part to play, whether it's engaging friends and aquaintances who question our right to defend ourselves or sewing a blanket. Everybody can do something, everybody can make a difference.

Back to our Soldier. I finally decided to turn the tables on him and asked why *he* does what he does.

He just laughed and said, "I guess you could call me a volunteer, too".

Via FbL, who has an inspiring post on the subject.

Engage

We dare not rest as the most important front of the War on Terror and for the very survival of Western Civilization lies not upon the sands of distant shores, but in our own common discourse. The most important battlegrounds are around our dinner tables and in intelligent and persuasive common sense discussion among our peers, seeking the discomfort of battle and the very defense of defense rather than the comfort and unproductive endeavor of agreement among friends.

The line has been clearly drawn. Tire not. Engage.

- Steve Schippert, at Milblogs

Soldiers' Angels Mourns Spc. Brock L. Bucklin

From Donna of the Soldiers' Angels Living Legends Team:

We have a fallen SA hero, Brock Bucklin.

Spc. Brock L. Bucklin, 28, of Grand Rapids, Mich., died May 31, in Balad, Iraq, of a non-combat related cause.

Bucklin was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Brock is survived by his parents, Duane and Dawn and his twin brother, Brad, who is in the Army serving in Germany.

Thank you for supporting the families of our fallen heroes.

Donna

Brock's twin brother will be escorting him home:

Dawn Bucklin was on the phone with one of her sons, a soldier stationed in Germany, when two Army officers approached her home with tragic news about her other son: Army Cpl. Brock Bucklin had been killed in an equipment accident in Iraq.
( .. )

Brock Bucklin, 28, joined the Army in August 2004, about a year after his twin brother, Brad, did.

"Were they close? When one brother follows his brother into the Army a year later, I guess they are close," Duane Bucklin told The Grand Rapids Press.

Brock Bucklin, who graduated from Forest Hills Central High School in 1997, thrived in the Army, Duane Bucklin said.
( ... )

Brad Bucklin plans to escort his brother's remains home from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.

"He and Brock made a promise if anything ever happened, they would carry their brother off the plane," Dawn Bucklin said. "He did not want to break that promise."

Please take a moment to read the Army Specialist Brock L. Bucklin tribute at the Soldiers' Angels Fallen Heroes blog.

Remember our Heroes.

An Honor and a Privilege

I'm often asked what it's like to volunteer with Soldiers' Angels in Germany. Well, as with any non-profit, there is a lot of administrative work, planning, coordinating, and a lot of correspondence. There's a lot of schlepping, unpacking, and sorting of boxes of donations. There's a lot of late-night phone calls.

It's a lot of things, but above all it's an honor and a privilege to work with our soldiers, their families, and all who support them.

My experiences with our wounded and ill soldiers are personal, and not mine to share, but I can take you for a short tour through my inbox.

To: maryann
Subject: Looking for help with an injured Marine

Maryann,

I was referred your way via the Soldier’s Angels. I’m trying to find out information for a co-worker who’s nephew was injured in Iraq via an IED. We believe he has been moved to Landstuhl in the last day or so. I’m looking for any information I can give his family and to see if there is anything he wants or needs that we can help facilitate.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance and grateful for your service to our soldiers and their families…

Sincerly yours,

To: maryann
Subject: Important question

Dear Fine Folks,

My nephew was injured by an IED in Baghdad today. Xxx is the CO's driver. He and the CO were driving when hit by the IED. Xxx has [description of injuries removed].

His father just called to report that Xxx is in the hospital in the ICU in Baghdad in critical condition. If his condition improves he'll be delivered back to Germany.

So, I'm asking for two things.

#1. Prayers.
#2. Any thing you can do to help.

Faithfully,

And, because tragedy and kindness always exist together, there is the outpouring of love and support from perfect strangers who want to do something. Receiving each and every one of these emails brings me to tears.

To: maryann
Subject: next shipment

Maryann,

The Ladies are just so very excited about being able to give a little of themselves for those who are giving so very much of themselves for us.

Thanks again for letting us help.

Vi

The Bloomin' Loomers of Vancouver, WA.

The Bloomin' Loomers have sent over 200 hand/foot warmers, hats, and Blankets of Hope since March of this year.

To: maryann
Subject: request from robert ferrigno

Hi Maryann,

Greyhawk at Mudville Gazette suggested I might send some copies of my book Prayers for the Assassin to Landstuhl so the troops who are less critically injured have something to occupy them while they recover.

Robert

I told him that would be wonderful and gave him our address.

To: maryann
Subject: request from robert ferrigno

I deeply appreciate the opportunity to do some small favor to the men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep my children safe.

I've also contacted some other writers who are eager to help and they're passing the word on. You may get a LOT of books.

Robert

And we did.


Some of the books sent by Robert and fellow writers in the Soldiers' Angels Germany mail room.

So far we've received books from Robert and authors T. Jefferson Parker, Don Winslow, Brian M. Wiprud, Ben Rehder, and Bill Fitzhugh

To: maryann
Subject: box sent

I'm sending 7 warmers made with love and prayers for our brave soldiers. My contribution seems so small but the prayers are substantial.

Judy

To: maryann
Subject: Soldiers' Angels - DVD Player

MaryAnn,

I have a brand new 7" portable DVD player that I opened literally within an hour before reading the email saying you need some of them.

If you'll take it, please tell me where to send it.

Charles

To: maryann
Subject: Blankets of Hope

Maryann,

If you still need blankets, please send instructions. I'm a Soldier's Angel, and I send packages and so forth. I really feel so blessed to participate. I would like to help with the blankets if you need more.

Vicki

To: maryann
Subject: want to help

Mary Ann:
What can I do to help?
I can sew / crochet / quilt.

Carolyn

To: maryann
Subject: DVDs for wounded

Hi Mary Ann, It's me Cathy. I spoke to you a few months ago regarding the 7th grade class and their project to collect DVDs for the wounded. Well their project is complete and I went there yesterday to pick them up.

I cried the whole time they were presenting them to me. It was so touching. Those kids worked so hard. They have even written letters. I'm going to enclose them also.

The teacher was so happy that her students responded so well to doing this project. She thinks once she gets her next 7th graders in the fall she will see if they want to this all over again. Isn't that wonderful...

Have a happy and safe holiday... Cathy

To: maryann
Subject: items for wounded

We are so happy to help in anyway possible. I wish we could do more! What are your greatest needs?

Be safe and be well.

Mark

Wouldn't you feel honored and privileged?

God bless our troops and all who care about them. Everyone who does something makes a difference.

"These little ripples of kindness add up to oceans of greatness." - Patti Patton-Bader, Founder of Soldiers' Angels.

Cross posted at ArmyWifeToddlerMom