Korean War vet survived behind enemy lines

Saturday's Veterans Day parade in downtown Staunton, Va, saw many families lining the streets to wave American flags and cheer as floats passed by filled with local veterans. The community honored past and present military members including many who vividly remember the details of war.
One of those local veterans is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, slightly stooped with graying hair.

Until last year, few people knew that he had suffered life-threatening injuries during the Korean War.

Now in his 70s, Tom LaBarge (pronounced La-BARGE) does not like to bring attention to himself. That was very evident as he reluctantly gave in to my persistent prodding to talk about his military service after a surprise presentation in 2009 of war-time medals that had been long overdue. Four of his seven grown children had flown from Minnesota to Virginia for the event, and I had been invited by his wife Millicent to join them.... (continue reading here)

Army Ranger Josh Hargis' 'salute seen around the world' ... this is what a hero looks like

 

This is a photo taken by Josh Hargis' wife, originally published in the Cincinnati Enquirer

Army Ranger Josh Hargis was severely wounded by multiple IUDs during a mission in Afghanistan. During the ceremony to award him the Purple Heart prior to his medevac to Germany, though medical staff said he was unconscious, Ranger Hargis rendered honors to his Commander as the citation was read. A GENUINE AMERICAN HERO.

... as the Purple Heart presentation began, Josh Hargis struggled to move his right hand and lift it into a saluting position. Military protocol calls for a soldier to salute when he receives the Purple Heart.

Freedom is not free....

USA Today: Soldier delivers 'salute seen around the world'

H/T to Bill Janis

Richmond area soldier, 2 others killed in Afghanistan over weekend

This morning comes sad news that three U.S. soldiers, including one from the Richmond area, killed over the weekend in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Spc. Kyle P. Stoeckli, 21, of Moseley, Virginia, was killed in Maiwand, Afghanistan, on Saturday, June 1, from an improvised explosive device (IED). He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, based out of Fort Bliss, Texas.

Spc. Ray A. Ramirez, 20, of Sacramento, Calif., died Saturday in Wardak Province when his unit was attacked by an IED. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, Ga.

Pfc. Mariano M. Raymundo, 21, of Houston, Texas, died Saturday in Sharan. The Department of Defense said the incident is under investigation. Raymundo was assigned to the 210th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, based out of Fort Drum, N.Y.

The deadly weekend for our Armed Forces is a reminder that our military men and women are still at war far away from home. These young men made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Our prayers go out to their families and friends. Freedom is not free.

Memorial Day: The uncle I never knew

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on our military men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in protecting our country. For my family, that includes an uncle who was killed in the closing days of World War II, an uncle I never knew, my mother's older brother.

Mom was a student at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, Virginia, when her brother Clarence, the oldest of nine siblings, died. She still remembers her mother's reaction that fateful day when the official government car drove up the driveway of their farm many decades ago, and how her mother's knees buckled as she realized the presence of that car meant her son had been killed. Mom says her mother, who lived into her 80s, never completely got over the loss.

After retiring, my mother spent hours researching to discover what exactly happened to her brother and eventually found Clarence's lieutenant living in Texas. She traveled there to talk with him and hear about her brother's final hours, something she documented for our family.

In 2012, Mom wrote:

My brother, Clarence, would be 94 years old August 1st ... and it has now been a little more than 67 years since he was killed in Germany during World War II, only six weeks before Germany surrendered and the war in Europe ended.

Clarence was a 'foot soldier' and had fought for 15 months, from southern Italy to the liberation of Rome, then from the Riviera of Southern France all the way up to Germany's Siegfried Line, liberating the people of those two countries who had been prisoners of the Germans for several years.

Clarence was killed as they were crossing through the Siegfried Line from France into Germany. I think of him often and think about the fact that if we had not won World War II, there would no longer be a United States of America because Germany would have taken control of our country and our lives.

There was nothing romantic or glorious about how he died. His unit had encountered the almost impossible difficulties of fighting in mud, the freezing conditions of snow and ice. There was no time to mourn when a buddy died ... they had to move on, and returned later to recover their dead.

His name is carved into the granite walls of the Virginia War Memorial that overlooks downtown Richmond and the James River. Today we remember his sacrifice along with that of other fallen heroes who have fought for our country ... another reminder that freedom is not free.

Gov. McDonnell: Flag Day and Army's anniversary

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell issued the following statement today in recognition of June 14 as Flag Day, and as the 236th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army. The governor has also issued a proclamation for the U.S. Army anniversary, which can be found at http://governor.virginia.gov/OurCommonwealth/Proclamations/2011/236thBirthday.cfm.

“When the Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes banner designed by Betsy Ross as our young nation’s flag in 1777, it provided an enduring symbol representing the ideals upon which our nation was born. While our founding fathers dreamed of a country built on liberty, personal freedom, and opportunity for all of its citizens, surely even they could not envision the world leader and bastion of hope that the United States flag has evolved to represent today.

“President Woodrow Wilson first formally established a day to recognize the adoption of our nation’s flag in 1916 when soldiers from around the globe were battling tyranny in a conflict that would become known as World War I. Today, our flag flies above soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq, and throughout the world who are fighting to protect those same freedoms from agents of tyranny, oppression and evil.

“June 14 is also the 236th anniversary of when Congress adopted ‘the American continental army,’ America’s first standing military organization. As our soldiers celebrate the Army’s birthday on bases at home and abroad and as Americans fly their U.S. flags around the globe in recognition of their patriotism, let us pause and reflect on the ideals our flag represents, and thank those past and present who have sacrificed to protect the freedoms for which it stands.”

6 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan ... 101st Airborne

Freedom is not free.

This is extremely sad news coming out of Afghanistan:

Maj. Gen. John F. Campbell, Commander of the 101st Airborne Division, announced Thursday the deaths of six 1st Brigade Combat Team soldiers killed March 29 during a battalion-sized operation in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
...
The names of two soldiers were released Wednesday — Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess, 29, of Cleburne, Texas, and Pfc. Dustin J. Feldhaus, 20, of Glendale, Ariz.

On Thursday, the Department of Defense released the names of the other four — Sergeant 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga, 28, of Hialeah, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Frank E. Adamski, 26, of Moosup, Conn.; Specialist Jameson L. Lindskog, 23, of Pleasanton, Calif.; and Private Jeremy P. Faulkner, 23, of Griffin, Ga.

All six were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to the families of these American heroes. Freedom is not free.

Augusta County's "Speedy" Hite, U.S. Army veteran of 3 wars -- Happy Birthday!

Mr. Speedy Hite (second from left), a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Thank you for your service, Mr. Hite.
Happy Birthday!

D.E. Hite, affectionately known as "Speedy" and by me as Mr. Hite, is one year older today. He is well known in the area, meeting many mornings with his regular coffee group at Kathy's Restaurant in Staunton, attending monthly SWAC Conservative Breakfasts, standing at attention at Support the Troops rallies, and showing up just about anywhere at anytime.

Mr. Hite was career U.S. Army, serving in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam before retiring and returning home to Augusta County. He is my neighbor and friend, and we are fortunate to have men like him who were willing to sacrifice to protect the freedoms we enjoy.

Happy "90-something" Birthday, Mr. Hite ... and may you be blessed with many more.

Photo by SWAC Girl
Lynn Mitchell
March 2010

Kilo: "ODBA blogger in Army now"

Carl Kilo at Spark It Up!!! reminds us that ODBA blogger Roci is fighting for freedom. Roci blogs about his Army training preparing for deployment.

Roci writes:

"Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Ok. Everything so far has been preliminary. I have been in the Army for 45 days and I am just now starting my training for my mission. That training will take 60 days before I deploy. Then I will get another 30 days of training in theater (Kuwait and Iraq) before I start DOING my mission."

It is interesting to read the entries in his blog journal ... a reminder of how far the military has come.

Thanks, Roci, for what you're doing....

Republican Roundup ... the soldier

His name is Jeff Farmer ... and he just returned home from his second deployment to Iraq. He attended Saturday's Republican Roundup to lead the Pledge of Allegiance ... and he thanked the crowd for their support of the military at this time of war.

I met him afterwards and thanked him for his service to our country ... and told him about our Support the Troops and Win the War rallies in the SWAC area. He gave me his business card and said to contact him ... and I will.

Our military ... keeping the peace. We are grateful ... thank you.

Photo by SWAC Girl
October 13, 2007

Pfc Thomas R. Wilson ... in memory of a fallen hero from Shenandoah County....

Pfc Thomas R. Wilson, 21, U.S. Army
1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment
173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
From Shenandoah County, Virginia
KIA in Afghanistan - August 27, 2007

Updated funeral arrangements

Thomas Wilson, a young man from Shenandoah County, died Monday from wounds suffered in an ambush while on patrol in Afghanistan. He was 10 days away from returning home from combat duty. After graduating from Central High School in Woodstock in 2004, where he was active on the track team, he attended West Virginia University before joining the Army.

Our prayers and thoughts are with Pfc. Wilson's family at this difficult time. A grateful nation thanks them for their sacrifice.

Update: Funeral services are tentatively planned for Monday at Central High School in Woodstock.

More at the Richmond Times Dispatch and PilotOnline.com.

Active military member one of "Win the War" supporters....

Holly leans her head on boyfriend Josh's shoulder while readying to rally against Cindy Sheehan in Charlottesville on July 20th.

Cindy Sheehan had an active enlistment soldier in her audience last week ... someone who stood with the "Win the War" supporters ... someone who will be leaving soon headed for the Middle East.

His name is Josh, 21, U.S. Army, a member of Dog Company 2-2 SCR. He leaves in two weeks for Kuwait and then a week later will be sent to Iraq, stationed north of Bagdad, for 15 months. His girlfriend is 18 and will begin at Liberty University this fall. They both attended the rally last week in Charlottesville with her mom, an active Augusta County Republican. They were there to support the troops.

While Josh is in Iraq, he will know there are many of us who are supporting him and the other troops, and that we are not afraid to publicly show that support against people like Cindy Sheehan ... he will know the troops are not alone ... he will know we will not let them be forgotten in this war on terrorism.

God bless Josh and all the others like him. God bless Holly and her mom as they continue to support the troops, both in a personal and public way....

Photo by SWAC Girl