The Airmen of the 86th CASF at Ramstein

A major player in providing critical care to wounded warriors, the Ramstein CASF is scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement in late October 2009. The facility receives patients who are medically evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan for treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Video follow up to this story. Thanks to the Airmen of the 86th CASF at Ramstein for taking such good care of our guys!

'The lives of 18 other guys was worth it'

“I think Dickison’s sacrifice and my sacrifice are what led to 18 other guys being alive. I went back to Fort Riley and got to see some of the soldiers who were near the explosive that day. One of my soldiers that I knew very well, his wife just had a baby. I think to myself, 'Well, what would have happened if we didn’t find that device and disabled it? Then he wouldn’t be here.' If I have to go through life without legs, it was worth it."

- Former Army Staff Sgt. Joe Beimfohr

Former Army Staff Sgt. Joe Beimfohr used the example of other wounded warriors to re-adapt after losing his legs in an explosion in Iraq. Now he's helping others with disabilities. Photo courtesy of U.S. Army.

This story takes me back. It began when I was asked to check on Tony, one of the Soldiers from Joe's unit medevaced to Germany in the Fall of 2005. When I asked about the KIA bracelet he wore, he told me about the events of July 5, 2005 in which SPC Christopher Dickison was killed and SSG Joe Beimfohr was hurt. Then he pulled out his laptop and showed me a tribute he'd created for Christopher. When the tribute came to an end, our eyes met and I remember wondering how it was possible for someone's eyes to be so completely filled with tears without spilling over. I remember it like it was yesterday.

Through Tony, I later met Joe in Washington, DC. When he picked me up at my hotel it was the first time I rode as a passenger in a vehicle driven by someone without legs. And it didn't help when Joe nonchalantly told me he had just gotten the car outfitted with hand controls and wasn't too familiar with it yet...

The quote above says just about everything about Joe you need to know. Although we only spent a couple of hours together, I remember him telling me he'd thought a lot about what happened. And had come to peace with the conclusion that it was a good tradeoff - his sacrifice and Christopher's against the lives of 18 other men.

So I was very happy today to see that Joe has been featured in DefenseLink's Wounded Warrior Diaries. Because now I can share the reason I think about Christopher, Joe, and Tony every July 5th. And now you can think of them, too.

In January 2005, Joe was was deployed to Baqouba, Iraq with the 1st Infantry Division’s 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment out of Fort Riley, KS.

Beimfohr’s 25-vehicle convoy had stopped to investigate a possible IED, and he led a team to inspect the site. The team found and cut a wire that led to the road, disabling the IED. But terrorists were watching, and detonated another IED.

Army Spc. Christopher W. Dickison was killed instantly. Beimfohr lost both his legs, fractured his pelvis and right hand, and suffered abdominal injuries. His team’s sacrifice in disabling the first IED directly contributed to saving the lives of other soldiers in the convoy.

Beimfohr was transported from Balad to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, and eventually to Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, where he spent nearly a year in recovery. He became involved in many sports-related activities, from mastering martial arts to excelling in hand-cycle marathons.

Beimfohr says he’s stubborn by birth, and that he believes his internal drive to persevere and overcome helped him to move past his injuries.

“When I woke up and I was alive, that is what changed everything -- that was the last thing I asked God,” he said. “When I woke up and realized I was alive, everything else didn’t matter, because I was alive.”

...
“We are a unique club -- we are a unique band of brothers,” he said. “Our experiences are one-of-a-kind, and especially with this generation, with the media and the Internet, and a population that supports what we do. They want to learn more about us, and that brings us together.”

Wounded warriors have choices during their recovery, Beimfohr said. “You can sit in your hospital bed and complain about your injuries,” he said, “or you can accept what happened to you and move forward in a positive direction.”

...
Beimfohr said he doesn’t believe he is a hero, but rather servicemembers killed in battle are the true heroes.

“The heroes are the guys like Specialist Dickison -- the guys who didn’t come back who sacrificed their lives for their units, for their comrades, for their soldiers,” he said.

Please take a moment to read the rest of Joe's story.

Yummm.... puppies!

And Marines don't spit them up afterwards, either. (You'll have to click on that link to get the joke.)

It's Day 2 of the Soldiers' Angels Valour-IT fundraising competition and so far over $20,000 has been raised for this worthy cause. We're neck-and-neck with the Army so keep spreading the word and donate to Valour-IT via the MARINE TEAM.

Go Valour-IT MARINE TEAM!!

UPDATE: The father of our MARINE TEAM co-captain Cassandra is matching $100 donations up to $2000!!! This allows you to effectively double your donation to Valour-IT. Details here.

Air Force and Navy over Afghanistan

An F/A-18F Super Hornet flies in front of two F/A-18C Hornets, one of which, center, is re-fueling with the assistance of a U.S. Air Force KC-10 Extender over Afghanistan, Oct. 13, 2009. The F/A-18s are part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group, which is on a routine deployment to the region. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. j.g. Kyle Terwilliger.

Just giving these services a little love, seeing as their blogging teams are soooo far behind in the Valour-IT fundraising competition ;-)

Ramstein CASF to reach 100,000 patient transfers in October

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Laura Small, 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility medical technician, unloads gurneys at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. The gurneys will be used to transport wound warriors to an aircraft taking them to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for further medical treatment. U.S. Air Force photo: Senior Airman Nathan Lipscomb.

Another part of the incredible chain of life-saving logistics required to move our Wounded Warriors out of theater and on to higher levels of medical care.

CASF to reach major milestone in warrior care

By Senior Airman Amanda Dick, 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

10/19/2009 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago.

A major player in providing critical care to wounded warriors, the facility is scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime between now and late October, fitting as November is Warrior Care Month.

According to Maj. Rebecca Dols, CASF health services administrator, the number of patient movements was at 99,837 as of Oct. 13.

The one hundred members of the CASF provide support and medical care to servicemembers injured during Overseas Contingency Operations as they await transit back to the United States. They also transport patients from Ramstein's flightline to Landstuhl Regional Medical Facility, Germany.

"The mission is basically to provide ground support for patients that are coming into and out of Ramstein on their way to definitive care," said. Maj. Mark Knitz, 86th CASF flight commander. "The kind of support we provide is ground transport, en route medical care and staging and preparation at the CASF."

The facility operates around-the-clock and consists of a joint-force staff of active duty, guard and reservists, including one Soldier, one Marine and one Canadian military liaison.

"I think it's been a great honor, working here," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Cynthia Shepard, CASF Army liaison. "Currently not being deployed downrange, this is the next level of being there -- making patients feel comfortable when they get back and letting them know someone is here for them in their time of need. We make patients feel at home."

...
The facility began taking patients in 2003 from Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, and was set up to provide care for those who couldn't receive treatment at Aeromedical Staging Facilities and Mobile ASFs during those operations.

One of the gurneys delivered by the CASF personnel stands ready to transport a patient to the following morning's US-bound medevac flight in front of a showcase with a Soldiers’ Angels backpack on one of the medical/surgical wards at Landstuhl hospital. At 2200 the night before a medevac mission, Air Force personnel pick up "baggage" and park a gurney for each outgoing patient in the hallway of their ward.

Soldiers' Angels to receive The Spirit of Hope award

Soldiers' Angels humbly announces the impending receipt of the prestigious Spirit of Hope Award, to be presented by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trustee Richard M. John and Operations Manager Toby Nunn will be in Washington, DC tomorrow to receive the award in the form of a unique bronze medallion, which is being bestowed in recognition of the many troop support activities of Soldiers' Angels in 2008. Past recipients include U.S. Military service members, senators and congressmen, and everyday Americans.

The Spirit of Hope Award originated with the USO, inspired by the efforts of Bob Hope to support and raise the morale of American military servicemen and women. It is now handled by The Wiegand Foundation, and each of the five military branches as well as the Office of the Secretary of Defense have the option to honor up to two people or organizations each year with a bronze or silver medallion, for a total of twelve honorees. All twelve medallions have never be bestowed in the same year, and the Secretary of Defense has bestowed only two medallions since 2003.

Receipt of the Spirit of Hope Award is a tribute to all the Angels who make Soldiers' Angels such a powerful organization--the individuals, families, companies who work together as a team of Angels to make sure no Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, Marine or Guardsman goes unloved!

Stay tuned for more on this tremendous honor...

'New Media' Effort Fuels Laptops and More for Wounded Troops

Soldiers' Angels Conducts 4th Annual Online Valour-IT Fundraising Competition

PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Divided among four "virtual teams," a wide variety of bloggers and other New Media mavens are competing on the Internet to see who can inspire the most donations to help wounded troops. Part of the Soldiers' Angels fifth annual online Valour-IT Veterans Day fundraising competition that runs through Veterans Day (November 11), the effort helps ensure America's wounded soldiers have access to voice-controlled laptops and other technology that supports their physical and psychological recovery.

In just over four years, Project Valour-IT has given 4,100 voice-controlled laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and has supplied additional items that may be a surprising fit in a recovery regimen -- Wii game systems and handheld GPS devices.

"This project changes lives," says Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader. "Wounded heroes say that being able to use a laptop helps them feel whole again. Physical therapists are actually designing therapy sessions around Wii Sports! And something as normal as a handheld GPS reduces stress and helps a hero cope. It's just amazing what this project does!"

Each of the devices Valour-IT supplies helps restore confidence and independence. Voice-activated laptops reconnect the wounded with the world and develop self-confidence by showing soldiers they can continue to be engaged and productive despite their injuries. Wounded servicemembers also use the laptops for education about their medical care or preparation for a post-military career. Physical therapists report Wii Sports and similar programs are extremely motivational and beneficial when used in physical therapy settings, though they are not standard equipment in military hospitals. And wounded personnel with short-term memory loss due to TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and severe PTSD use GPS systems to keep from getting lost or disoriented when they move on to more independent living.

Donations for Valour-IT may be made online at Soldiers' Angels, or by sending checks or money orders to Soldiers' Angels, Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104. Details of the current fundraising competition are available at www.soldiersangels.org.

Established in 2003, Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-based 501(c)(3) non-profit providing aid and comfort to members of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families. For more information, see www.soldiersangels.org or call 623-570-3903. Tax ID# 20-0583415 CFC #25131

Landstuhl Photo Essay

If you're on Facebook head over to the new photo album at the Soldiers' Angels Germany Fan Page to view a photo essay of patients, staff, and angels at Landstuhl hospital. (And become a fan of SA Germany while you're there.)

God bless our Wounded Warriors and all who take care of them at Landstuhl hospital.

Off to a great start!!

As of the time of this post, the MARINE TEAM is leading the next-closest team in donations by over 2 to 1.

Update: Curses! The Doggies have pulled ahead!
Update: We've retaken the lead!

Let's keep it up, people! And remember, we don't accept applications - only commitments.

2009 Valour-IT Fundraising Competition Starts Today!

Today marks the start of the 2009 Valour-IT Blogging Fundraiser Competition, which will continue until Veteran's Day. As always, the "competition" is between blogging teams representing the 4 service branches, Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines to raise funds for Valour-IT. All donations go into one fund and will of course be used for members of all service branches.

Readers of this blog are familiar with Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT, which provides laptop computers and other electronic devices to wounded service members recovering at major military medical centers in the United States. And as you can imagine, this project is very close to our hearts. We see our guys as they arrive in Germany directly from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan on a daily basis. And as we watch them leave for the U.S. three times each week, we take comfort in the belief that their fellow Americans back home will take care of them and make sure their sacrifices have not been forgotten.

Your contribution will help keep them connected to the world as they heal. It will remind them they are NOT alone - that they still have something to contribute, they are still a vital part of this nation, and even though they may have lost parts of themselves they can never recover, though they may temporarily be feeling hopeless, helpless, even alone, they aren't.




Soldiers' Angels Germany is proud once again to be a member Marine Valour-IT blogging team, this year headed up by Cassandra and Carrie of Villainous Company (thanks, ladies!)

You can donate using your credit card or electronic check by clicking on the Valour-IT widget in the right-hand sidebar, or by sending a check to:

Soldiers Angels Project Valour-IT
MARINE CORPS TEAM
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104

Please note "Marine Corps Team" on your check so we get credit for your donation, because we want to WIN this thing!

You can also help by spreading the word about Valour-IT:

* Blog and email your friends about Valour-IT and the competition
* Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT
* Challenge your co-workers or employer to match donations
* Consider involving clubs, churches, or charitable organizations you are involved with. Maybe your church would designate all or part of a Sunday collection. How about Scouts or your favorite civic organization?
* If you have any contacts in the media (local or national newspapers, radio, TV, PLEASE spread the word! Point them to the Project Valour-IT site.
* No matter which way you decide to get involved, remind everyone to specify the MARINE TEAM!

Thank you and Semper Fi!

About Valour-IT
Project Valour-IT provides technology to service members recovering from serious injuries. Technology supplied includes:
- Voice-controlled and other adaptive Laptops allow wounded service members to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.
- Wii Video Game Systems which are used as part of physcial therapy program, and
- Personal GPS, to build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.