Pay It Forward

Image courtesy: Spc. David Sharp

For Staff Sgt. Daniel Higgins, every day is a gift.

During a chaotic eastern Afghanistan firefight on May 26, 2008, Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry picked up an enemy grenade just as it was about to explode. The Army Ranger tossed it out of harm's way, losing his right hand in an act of heroism that spared Higgins and Pfc. Lucas Robinson. Petry was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama on July 12.

The day after he attended the emotional White House ceremony, I asked Higgins, who deployed three times each to Afghanistan and Iraq before leaving the Army, what it's like to walk around knowing someone saved your life.

"Robinson and I were actually talking about that (on the day of the ceremony)," the combat veteran replied. "We pretty much feel forever indebted to him, and that's not going to change. There's not going to be a hell of a lot of opportunity for us to pay him back," he added.

Sgt. 1st Class Jerod Staidle, a fellow Army Ranger who has deployed nine times to Afghanistan and thrice to Iraq, helped convey the enormity of what Petry, the second living Afghanistan war hero to receive the Medal of Honor, did for the men beside him.

"Staff Sgt. Higgins here, for instance, he went on to become a squad leader himself," Staidle said. "Just the impact that he made in the lives of his men below him is going to continue to echo throughout the platoon and the company.

"I'd like him to come back in the Army, but if he doesn't, whatever he does, he's going to continue to make an impact on people's lives," the battle-hardened warrior continued. "You just keep doing what you're doing, and that's how you pay it forward."

In his first news conference since the Medal of Honor ceremony, Petry, a 31-year-old wounded warrior with a wife and four children, displayed unflinching acceptance of the hand life has dealt him.

"At the end of the day, I didn't risk any more than any other service member over there," Petry said about his brothers and sisters in arms serving in Afghanistan. "There are people with bigger families and just as much in their lives, and they risk it every day."

One Army Ranger — 21-year-old Spc. Christopher Gathercole — made the ultimate sacrifice during the Paktia province battle. One of the most stirring moments of the White House ceremony honoring Petry, who has Gathercole's name engraved on a plaque bolted to his prosthetic hand, came when the commander in chief asked the fallen soldier's brother and grandma to stand.

"Gator — we called him Gator — meant everything to us," Higgins told The Unknown Soldiers. "When you spend as much time together as we all do, we were pretty much brothers, so losing him hurt like crazy."

In a bitterly divided nation's capital, Democrats and Republicans applauded Gathercole's relatives, providing a rare moment of genuine unity not seen since Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden.

"I really appreciated that the president did that," Staidle said. "I think I speak on behalf of everybody, from the people who knew (Gathercole) in that room ... who were probably holding back some tears, I'll be honest."

After an astonishing eight combat deployments and an act of bravery that will be remembered for generations, nobody would have blinked had Petry opted to retire from the Army. Yet in his most selfless act since tossing aside an exploding grenade, the wounded hero re-enlisted, pledging to use his higher profile to lend a hand to fellow troops and veterans.

"It represents those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and it gives me the opportunity to help those living today and still serving our great nation and those who have served before," Petry said.

As he attends college in South Carolina, Higgins often reflects on the gift he was given by his fellow Ranger.

"I think about Petry because I know that Robinson and I wouldn't be here if Sgt 1st Class Petry hadn't done what he did," he said. "But it doesn't surprise us that he did it. That's the kind of guy he is."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Family and Loyalty

Image courtesy: Spc. Brittany Gardner

I wish more Americans paid attention to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. While reading and watching news about these post-9/11 conflicts is sometimes painful and depressing, the bravery and dedication displayed on a daily basis by our men and women in uniform can turn almost any frown into a smile.

Two of the tens of thousands of brave American service members still risking their lives in Iraq are Cpl. Khai Tran and Cpl. Kelly Doyle, pictured above. According to an article by Spc. Brittany Gardner, the Army reservists, who serve with the 414th Civil Affairs Battalion, arrived in southern Iraq on a date that's easy to remember.

"We’ve been here since Christmas Eve," Cpl. Doyle told Spc. Gardner. "We’ve logged over around 300 missions, about 1,500 miles worth of missions, and we’ve been able to accomplish bringing visitors to the consulate general safe."

To put that in perspective, the distance these soldiers have traveled through a war zone is equal to driving from Boston to Miami.

While politicians have declared an end to the combat phase of the seven-year war, the July 15 death of Spc. Daniel Elliot, 21, who was killed by an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists in Basra, makes clear that Iraq is still a dangerous place. As they escort officials through the southern part of the war-torn country, Cpl. Tran, 19, and Cpl. Doyle, 21, are leaning on each other to get through their deployment.

"Tran and I are like brother and sister," Doyle said.

As Spc. Gardner notes at her article's conclusion, the brave tandem will likely head to Afghanistan in the near future.

At Camp Leatherneck, located in Afghanistan's volatile Helmand province, Cpl. Rashaun James introduces us to two valiant Marines who share a special bond. Sgt. Maj. Robert Allen and Lance Cpl. Robert Allen are father and son.

"My son’s got a tattoo on his arm that says, ‘Family and Loyalty,’ and it’s something we live by," Sgt. Maj. Allen told Cpl. James. "He’s finally seeing what I’ve (been) talking about for all these years, that while he and I are a family, the Marine Corps is our family, too."

The father and son both work at Camp Leatherneck, and recently went on what turned out to be an incredibly risky mission.

"My son and I went on a convoy together, and it was one of the worst convoys they’d had in a long time, with four improvised explosive devices hitting and three [medical evacuations]," Sgt. Maj. Allen said.

"This whole thing has driven my mother crazy," Lance Cpl. Allen, who is on his first combat deployment, said. "Growing up, my dad’s deployments really weren’t that bad because after a while we just got used to them, but this is all completely different with us both being here."

While I remain frustrated by the lack of attention paid by the national media to American heroes like the service members highlighted in these two articles, a quote from Sgt. Maj. Robert Allen, who has served in the Marine Corps for 26 years, reminded me that the world's greatest fighting force is comprised of volunteers seeking freedom and peace, not fortune and fame.

"It’s not about ribbons or medals out here, it’s about being a part of a team and doing the best job you can do," Sgt. Maj Allen said. "It’s not about the recognition."

While economic times are tough on the home front, we are all fortunate to live in a land where men and women volunteer to fight for us. To me, that's something to smile about.

Image courtesy: Cpl. Rashaun James

Debt of Gratitude

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass

As public officials bicker about the country's debt-ceiling, the media continues to use words like "battle" and even "war" to describe political posturing in the nation's capital. Once again, real battles and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are relegated to the back pages.

While the debt-ceiling debate is indisputably important, we ignore the sacrifices of men and women who give us the freedom to argue at our own peril. At this hour, American troops are risking their lives to clear improvised explosive devices that could kill or injure both service members and civilians. Terrorists are being captured and weapons are being seized.

Tragically, brave American warriors like Master Sgt. Benjamin Stevenson, 36, of Canyon Lake, Texas, who was hit by small arms fire on July 21 in Afghanistan's Paktika province, are still being killed in action. Even more of our heroes are being wounded, both physically and emotionally, every single day in Afghanistan and Iraq, no matter what's in the headlines at home.

For the past seven months, Marines with the Military Working Dog Platoon, Military Police Support Company, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group (Forward) put everything on the line in Afghanistan. According to an article by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Snodgrass, these valiant Marines and their highly-skilled dogs found 71 improvised explosive devices buried by terrorists beneath Afghanistan's perilous terrain.

"Four of our platoon members got purple hearts during this deployment," Master Sgt. Frank Ginn said. "But all our guys survived and have all their limbs. We’re extremely grateful for that."

One Marine is alive today due to the heroism of Staff Sgt. Charles Rotenberry and his battlefield teammates.

"I applied a tourniquet for an IED victim who had severe injuries to both legs," Staff Sgt. Rotenberry explained. "I aided a corpsman in stabilizing the victim and helped carry him to the medevac."

Sadly, two hero dogs were killed while locating roadside bombs in the volatile Helmand province.

"They died doing their job," Ginn said of the dogs, which will be dearly missed by the Marines who trained them and slept side-by-side with the animals in tents.

As the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks approaches, there is a debt this country can never repay. The men and women who have volunteered to serve our nation in a time of war are more valuable than dollar figures on a balance sheet, and more dedicated to preserving freedom than many beltway power brokers.

Our troops and veterans are owed gratitude, attention, compassion, and respect. After nearly a decade of non-stop war, it's time to pay the bill.

Voices Carry

Image courtesy: Samantha Bell

When I started a difficult phone conversation with the widow of Sgt. Christopher Bell, the voice of the couple's 1-year-old daughter, Lana, filled the background. While the child is too young to understand that her daddy was killed last month in Afghanistan, she senses that a bond has been broken.

"She can tell something's going on," Samantha Bell told The Unknown Soldiers.

When Sgt. Bell deployed overseas, his wife was left behind in Alaska, where the soldier was based, to care for their little girl. With most of their relatives residing far away in Alabama and Mississippi, Samantha needed her husband. But from the beginning, she knew his country needed him, too.

"It was hard," she said. "We tried to stay hooked in as much as we could."

While being separated by thousands of miles is incredibly difficult for any couple, nothing was more important to Samantha — or Christopher — than making sure the father could still hear his little girl's voice.

"I would keep Lana up real late at night so he could talk to her," Samantha told The Unknown Soldiers. "He didn't get to really talk to her as much as I would like, but when he did, it was something."

With a penchant for service, Christopher talked about joining the military or the police since the day he and Samantha met while working on a school project. When considering his options a few years later, joining the Army as a military police officer seemed like the perfect fit.

"He wanted to make a difference and make a change," Samantha, 25, said. "He was all about making a good life for himself and his family."

Bell threw himself into his job, exhaustively studying protocol and reciting Army manuals. Despite being a relatively young soldier at age 21, he quickly became the 793rd Military Police Battalion's "go-to guy" when it came to doing things by the book.

"He knew his job, and he did it well, and tried to be the best," the soldier's wife said. "If someone was in the wrong when it came to any kind of military violation, he would set him or her straight."

Bell's combat deployment to the treacherous mountains of northeast Afghanistan was going relatively well until an improvised explosive device detonated in front of his vehicle on April 4. The attack injured several soldiers and shook up his entire unit. While he was "never the same" after the attack, according to his wife, Bell took it upon himself to make sure his fellow troops pressed forward.

"His platoon sergeant told me that Chris motivated him to motivate the other guys," Samantha explained. "I've heard a lot of people say he was their inspiration to keep going."

On June 4, Bell was killed alongside Sgt. Joshua Powell, 28, Spc. Robert Voakes, 21, and Sgt. Devin Snyder, 20. Amid the whirlwind of pain brought home by the tragic explosion, Samantha cites the opportunity to meet loved ones of her husband's fallen brothers and sisters in arms, including Sgt. Snyder's mother, as one of her most important steps forward.

Dineen Snyder, who flew to Alaska from New York to meet other relatives of the fallen at Fort Richardson, said she was overwhelmed by Samantha's strength. But even as the death of her own daughter sunk in, the grieving mother expressed genuine compassion and concern for little Lana.

"She's going to grow up and not know her dad except through stories," Snyder painfully lamented.

I asked Samantha what she plans on telling Lana about her father. She paused, put down the phone and began to sob. As I waited in agony for her response, feeling guilty for asking the question, the young widow gave a remarkable answer.

"I'll sit her down and tell her that her daddy was a hero," Samantha said. "He accomplished what he wanted to so that we could be taken care of.

"He loved her more than anything," she poignantly added. "He was the best father and husband I could ask for."

Shortly before our conversation concluded, Lana's voice again filled the background. With a mother this strong, Sgt. Christopher Bell can rest peacefully, knowing that his little girl will be OK.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Lifeline

Images courtesy: Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores

The next time you're tempted to complain about the heat, imagine having to wear combat fatigues and carry heavy gear, all while trying to free a gigantic military vehicle from the desert sand.

Marines with the Motor Transport Platoon of Task Force Belleau Wood deal with combat's incomparable heat on a daily basis in Helmand province, where Wednesday's high temperature was 114 degrees. While I see stories like this one all over the place about how rough we have it in the United States, I see nothing from the national press about the treacherous weather in Afghanistan or Iraq, where more than 100,000 Americans are deployed.

While troops attempting to pull a truck out of the sand may not seem like big news, lives depend on Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles like the one these Marines freed from southern Afghanistan's unforgiving terrain. According to an article by Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores, the "Motor-T" platoon encounters three to five potential improvised explosive devices on any given mission. Enemy IEDs are by far the leading killer of American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"We make our own path out here," Lance Cpl. Gary Weisgerber said. "This is my first tour of duty, it’s a once in a lifetime experience."

Despite the valiant efforts of these patriots, along with dog handlers and explosive ordnance disposal technicians, it is impossible to find every bomb buried in the sand or hidden under trash by cowardly terrorists. Since Friday, July 15, the Pentagon has announced the combat deaths of 16 more American heroes in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Afghanistan:

Sgt. Omar Jones, 28, Crook, Colorado
Staff Sgt. James Christen, 29, Loomis, California
Sgt. Jacob Molina, 27, Houston, Texas
Cpl. Raphael Arruda, 21, Ogden, Utah
Staff Sgt. Kenneth Vangiesen, 30, Erie, Pennsylvania
Sgt. Edward Koehler, 47, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Sgt. Brian Mowery, 49, Halifax, Pennsylvania
Sgt. Jeremy Summers, 27, Mount Olivet, Kentucky
Staff Sgt. Wyatt Goldsmith, 28, Colville, Washington
Sgt. Lex Lewis, 40, Rapid City, South Dakota
Spc. Frank Gross, 25, Oldsmar, Florida
Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Elwell, 33, Holland, Pennsylvania
Pfc. Tyler Springman, 19, Hartland, Maine
Lance Cpl. Jabari Thompson, 22, Brooklyn, New York
Lance Cpl. Christopher Camero, 19, Kailua Kona, Hawaii

Iraq:

Spc. Daniel Elliott, 21, Youngsville, North Carolina

In a war zone made even more dangerous by the searing sun, Marines freed the crucial vehicle from the sand. While it's difficult to calculate how many lives were saved as a result of the bombs it subsequently helped find, it's clear that the actions of these Marines provided a lifeline to their brothers and sisters in arms.

I wrote this post from an air-conditioned room. More than 100,000 Americans risking their lives in combat zones do not have this luxury, which I'll remember the next time I am on the verge of complaining about hot weather outside my window.

Note: This post was updated on July 21 at 4:39 p.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

'You are the right man for this job'

Images courtesy: Master Sgt. Michael O'Connor

When I think about the leadership of Gen. David Petraeus, the first thing that comes to mind is his insistence on honoring the men and women under his command. To this general, troops were never pawns to move around on a map, but real people doing extraordinary, historic things.

Gen. Petraeus, who turned over command of NATO's International Security Assistance Force today in Kabul, did not simply write letters or make phone calls to honor heroes of the war in Afghanistan. Petraeus frequently journeyed to dangerous, isolated areas to present combat medals and speak to troops on the ground, who stood before him with dirt on their boots, and sometimes, tears in their eyes.

The general's April 11 visit to Forward Operating Base Joyce, a cold, remote makeshift military installation in eastern Afghanistan, came under the most emotional of circumstances. He presented Silver Star medals to Capt. Edward Bankston and Sgt. Joshua Bostic, two heroes who fought with incredible valor during a chaotic March 28 battle. While Task Force No Slack dealt a huge defeat to Taliban insurgents on that snowy day, six 101st Airborne Division paratroopers were tragically killed in the fighting.

Sgt. 1st Class Mark Burrell was at the ceremony, and told The Unknown Soldiers that while the close proximity of the general's visit to the bloody battle was difficult for the grieving soldiers, it meant a lot to see some of that unforgettable day's heroes saluted by Petraeus.

"It's really great for those soldiers to be recognized with such an award," Burrell told me from Afghanistan via Skype. "But I share with what Capt. Bankston said that day: he would trade all those awards -- the Silver Star -- just to get his guys back."

As he turned over command to U.S. Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen on Monday, Gen. Petraeus, who will take over as CIA director later this year, paid tribute to the men and women who sacrificed under his command.

"Foremost among the reflections has to be the acknowledgement that any acknowledgement for a commander can only be accepted on behalf of those who truly earned them," Petraeus said. "Those on patrol every day, under body armor and kevlar, those who take to the skies to support those on the ground, those who carry on the myriad of activities to sustain those outside the wire, and those who work with our Afghan security force partners and civilians to support the development of Afghan forces and insitutions."



In the farewell speech embedded above, Petraeus praised the new commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan.

"Gen. Allen, thank you for your willingness to lead the effort here," Petraeus said. "You are the right man for this job."

Like Petraeus, Allen is a hero of the Iraq war who helped lead the military during one of the most volatile periods of the entire conflict. After being intensely involved in the legendary battles of Al Anbar province, before and after the troop surge, Allen knows this is a critical juncture of the war in Afghanistan.

"There will be tough days ahead," Allen, who was promoted to the rank four-star general on the same day by Adm. Mike Mullen, said. "I have no illusions about the challenges we face -- challenges that we will face together."

Gen. John R. Allen, guided by the towering legacy of Gen. David Petraeus, is confident in the men and women he leads. Marines, soldiers, sailors, and airmen deployed around Afghanistan will depend on his leadership, and America will continue to depend on our military to protect us from terrorists in the country where the attacks of September 11, 2001, were planned.

On dusty, remote forward operating bases all around a country where our troops have fought with so much valor for the past decade, heroes do their jobs every single day without much notoriety back home. Thankfully, they are commanded by leaders who notice their sacrifices.

Because of the fearless dedication of American troops on the ground, commanders believe victory is within reach. When that inevitable day arrives, America will rejoice as returning heroes embrace their children, spouses, moms, and dads on the home front. Yet until that proud moment is upon us, it is our patriotic duty to appreciate, ponder, worry, and if you believe in a higher power, pray.

Our men and women deployed to Afghanistan are out of sight, but as a new leader takes command, they can never be out of mind.

The Never-Ending Day

Image courtesy: HN Samantha Paulson

Just before U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman Second Class Chris Paulson left for Afghanistan at the end of February, he had an unthinkable conversation with his new bride.

"If something happened, he wanted me to take care of everything," the sailor's wife told The Unknown Soldiers. "He wanted me to take care of his body."

As HM2 Paulson provides medical care for U.S. Marines, Afghan soldiers and civilian bystanders during the volatile Helmand province fighting season, his wife waits nervously on the home front for the chance, someday, to live with her husband for the first time. Yet while every military spouse faces challenges, Hospitalman Samantha Paulson is a warrior, too.

"There's a chance I could be turning around and going on a deployment when he gets back," said HN Paulson, who is stationed at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune. "But I can't sit here and say 'woe is me,' either, because this is what we signed up for."

The Dec. 27, 2010, marriage of Chris and Samantha Paulson can be attributed, in part, to a sprained ankle she suffered during training. After treating her injury, Samantha's future husband invited her to a barbeque. The rest is history.

"We were going to try to wait and have the big, fancy wedding," she said. "But shortly after we started dating, his deployment papers came up."

This is Chris Paulson's third deployment to a war zone, after previously serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to his wife, he's never seen anything like this year's fighting in Helmand province.

"I'm inspired by him every day, and I hope one day I can be as talented and skilled as he is," she said. "He's very dedicated to treating his Marines and tries to stay focused on the mission as much as possible."

Despite her military training, Samantha has to limit how much she thinks about day-to-day operations in Afghanistan.

"If I started letting it get to me, I don't think I would ever stop crying," the sailor admitted. "You can't prepare yourself for the idea that your spouse might die."

Samantha's husband and the Marines he treats spend almost every day out on foot patrols. The risks they face are very real.

"In addition to the improvised explosive devices buried underneath them, (terrorists) are now putting IEDs in trees so they can blow up over a vehicle," Samantha said. "The enemy had been sitting there angry all winter, and now they're ready to fight."

Samantha said Chris recently pulled a bullet out of a civilian's leg and has probably treated more Afghans than Americans during his current deployment. But the tragic June 27 combat death of a Marine in his care, Cpl. Michael Nolen, 22, will likely haunt her husband for the rest of his days.

"This isn't the first Marine they've lost, and it won't be the last, unfortunately," the sailor said, her voice trembling. "Out there, all you have is your job. It's just one never-ending day."

Taking advantage of the resources available to her as an active duty sailor and military spouse, Samantha frequently visits chaplains and family readiness groups.

"I've definitely used these things because there have been days when, of course, I'm worried about him," she said. "I'm just as worried about his fellow Marines. I jump every time my phone rings," Samantha added.

When her husband returns in the fall, the couple will have a few days together before Chris heads to Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County, Ill.

"We're going to try to spend as much time together as possible and meet up with some of the Marines he served with and their wives," Samantha said. "They're all hungry for real food, so I imagine a good steak is in order."

As HM2 Chris Paulson risks his life thousands of miles away, with even more time apart from his wife on the horizon, one would think HN Samantha Paulson would be full of despair. But like her husband, she took the Hospital Corpsman Pledge and won't let her country down.

"I'd do it all over again," she said. "This relationship and my job are that important to me."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

What It Takes

Image courtesy: Gage Skidmore

I am very happy that actress Mila Kunis accepted the unique invitation, embedded below, of Sgt. Scott Moore to the November 18 Marine Corps Ball in Greenville, North Carolina. The heartwarming story shows the power celebrities have to lift the spirits of deployed troops, while also shining a much-needed spotlight on continuing combat operations in Afghanistan.

"We all talk about what we are going to do when we get back, and this was my dream," Sgt. Moore said in a story released by the 2nd Marine Division. "I do feel bad for putting her on the spot, but it's not like I was going to bump into her on the streets of Musa Qal'eh between now and the ball."

What troubles me about all the attention this story has received from the national media is that it took big names like Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, who encouraged his movie co-star to accept the date, to get the war in Afghanistan back in the headlines. The crucial, dangerous work being performed by Sgt. Moore and his fellow troops in Afghanistan should be on front pages every single day.

On Thursday evening, the Pentagon announced that a Navy Hospital Corpsman attached to 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 8, which Sgt. Moore serves with, was killed in action on July 12.

Seaman Aaron Ullom, 20, died while conducting a dismounted patrol in the Now Zad district of Helmand province. At this hour, the sailor's family and friends in Midland, Michigan, grieve along with the Marines who depended on Seaman Ullom for medical care for in Afghanistan.

Over the past ten days, the Department of Defense has also announced the deaths of ten more warriors serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Joshua Throckmorton, 28, Battle Creek, Michigan
Spc. Jordan Schumann, 24, Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Spc. Preston Suter, 22, Sandy, Utah
Sgt. Nicanor Amper IV, 36, San Jose, California
Staff Sgt. Thomas Dodds Dudley, 29, Tega Cay, South Carolina
Sgt. 1st Class Terryl Pasker, 39, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Spc. Rafael Nieves Jr., 22, Albany, New York
Sgt. Christopher Soderlund, 23, Pineville, Louisiana
Lance Cpl. Norberto Mendez Hernandez, 22, Logan, Utah
Lance Cpl. Robert Greniger, 21, Greenfield, Minnesota

While journalists at national media outlets jumped to tell the uplifting story of Mila and the Marine, they were missing in action on the stories above. That needs to change, and quickly, as more Americans are in danger during Afghanistan's summer fighting season.

Sgt. Moore knows the risks of his deployment, and is grateful that Kunis has given him, and his fellow Marines serving in harm's way, something to look forward to.

"It can't get here soon enough," he said. "This ball will be special not only because of Mila, but also because we will have recently returned from our deployment to Afghanistan."

While we thank Sgt. Scott Moore for his service, we also express our gratitude for shining renewed light on America's post-9/11 struggle, which remains the most important story of the past decade.

I also hope more Hollywood celebrities follow the example of Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake, who reminded the world that America is still a nation at war. They also gave a Marine's family in Grove City, Pennsylvania, some much-needed happiness during a trying time.

"My family heard and have received a lot of attention back home," Sgt. Moore said. "They're really excited for me, and my dad said he can't wipe the smile off his face."

By paying closer attention to American warriors deployed overseas, we all have the power to put more smiles on the faces of their loved ones, who wait nervously on the home front.

Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry receives Medal of Honor

Image courtesy: The White House

Pfc. Lucas Robinson is alive today because a man risked everything — and lost his hand — to protect him on the battlefield.

"I worked for him and he saved my life," Pfc. Robinson told The Gaston Gazette in Gastonia, N.C.

Tuesday at the White House, Robinson, 22, witnessed President Barack Obama award the Medal of Honor to Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, 31. The wounded warrior is the second living Afghanistan war hero to receive the nation's highest military recognition from the commander-in-chief.

The heroism Sgt. 1st Class Petry displayed during a May 26, 2008 Paktia province firefight was the culmination of a remarkable journey through post-9/11 war zones. The Army Ranger is a veteran of an astonishing eight combat deployments: six times to Afghanistan, and twice to Iraq.

In the middle of an afternoon raid aimed at capturing a suspected terrorist, Petry and Robinson had already been wounded by insurgent gunfire when an enemy grenade landed near them. Without hesitation, Petry picked up the grenade and tossed it aside just before it exploded.

"I actually didn't think it was going to go off," Petry told the Army News Service about the grenade. "I didn't really feel much pain. I didn't know it had gone off and taken my hand until I sat back up and saw it was completely amputated at the wrist."

Petry knew the battle would not pause for his injuries, so the New Mexico-born Ranger's first concern was calming the stunned soldiers around him, who were still in great danger. They took shelter behind a chicken coop, watching blood pour from Petry's devastated arm.

Note: Click here to read the full story on the USO website



Note: The Medal of Honor ceremony has concluded. Thank you for watching the event live on The Unknown Soldiers blog.

A Self-Made Man

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

"Loving little boy, precocious teen, strong warrior."

So begins the obituary of Spc. Christopher Gathercole, 21, who lost his life during a fierce battle in Afghanistan's Paktia province on May 26, 2008.

As Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry receives the Medal of Honor Tuesday afternoon at the White House, it is clear that the Army Ranger, as well as other soldiers who were in the same battle, want to make sure Spc. Gathercole is remembered. The Unknown Soldiers is honored to help these heroes memorialize their fallen friend.

It was no accident that Gathercole became an elite Army Ranger. He earned the opportunity to serve beside a future Medal of Honor recipient through tough self-discipline, which is hardly a hallmark of 21st century youth. Nothing was handed to Gathercole as he bounced around Sonoma County, California, foster homes, facing challenges that are incredibly difficult for any child to experience. He had to live apart from his brother and best friend, Edward, before they finally reunited in 2002.

"He and his brother Edward were the inseparable pair," Gathercole's obituary, originally printed in The Press Democrat, reads. "Quick to laugh, oblivious to harm, and always looking for mischief."

Gathercole joined the military in 2005, and after intense training, including the famously challenging Ranger School, became an Army commando pursuing some of the world's most dangerous terrorists. That's exactly what Gathercole was doing the day he was killed. According to the lone interview granted by Sgt. 1st Class Petry before he received the Medal of Honor, the pace of operations for Company D, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan was frantic.

"You can see two missions in one night," Petry told the Army News Service. "That's how busy the ops tempo is. We go out and come back in and then -- hey, wait, there's something else, go back out. OK. Drive on."

May 26, 2008, marked a rare mid-afternoon mission to capture a wanted terrorist. As Gathercole, Petry, and fellow Rangers converged on a courtyard near a building where the enemy fighter was believed to be hiding, insurgents opened fire on the Rangers, wounding Petry and Pfc. Lucas Robinson. As American soldiers returned fire while using a chicken coop for cover, an enemy grenade landed near the men.

That's when Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry saved the lives of his fellow Rangers by picking up the Taliban grenade and throwing it out of harm's way. It exploded a split-second later, blowing off Petry's right hand. The Medal of Honor that President Obama places around the soldier's neck at the White House is well-deserved.

As the wounded warrior radioed for help, the Rangers Petry led, stunned by his catastrophic arm injury, had to press forward. It was then, according to accounts from other heroes of the Paktia province battle, that Gathercole made the ultimate sacrifice. As he returned fire at insurgents, the foster child who trained tirelessly to become a Ranger was struck by enemy bullets. Moments later, the terrorist who killed Gathercole was shot dead by Army Rangers.

As Pfc. Lucas Robinson watches Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry, who saved his life, receive the Medal of Honor, Spc. Christopher Gathercole will be foremost on his mind.

"We were all in the same squad; we were all pretty good friends," Robinson told The Gaston Gazette. "I don’t want it to be forgotten.”

A Ranger veteran who was close to Gathercole has similar sentiments about the ceremony. In an act of true patriotism, The Livingston County War Museum paid for Juan Ruiz to travel to Washington to see Petry receive the Medal of Honor for valor displayed in the same battle that took the life of his friend.

"Christopher was from my platoon and that is compelling me to go," Ruiz, who retired from the Army and now attends Illinois State University, told The Pontiac Daily Leader. "I am extremely privileged to witness someone honored in this way."

Gathercole's name echoing through White House halls still won't bring back a young man who endured so much to become a protector of freedom.

"I thought he'd be safe," the fallen soldier's grandmother, Maryanne Haines, told The Press Democrat shortly after his death. "He always told me he'd be coming home."

The fierce loyalty and dedication of Army Rangers, including America's newest Medal of Honor recipient, to keep Christopher Gathercole's name in the limelight ensures that his legacy of self-discipline will serve as an example to children who grow up with similar, difficult challenges.

"Chris embraced his newly found direction and committed to making his life worthy of the love and support he had received from others," his obituary continued. "That resolve motivated him to graduate from high school, join the Army, set higher goals, excel at all the challenges he faced, and ultimately emerge as a self-made man."

In America, which Spc. Christopher Gathercole died to protect, anything is possible.

Somebody to Love

Images courtesy: Facebook

Sgt. Devin Snyder could always make her friends laugh, even during long patrols in northeastern Afghanistan. A week into her first overseas deployment, the 20-year-old military police officer was still doing what she loved most.

"She was always the first to smile," Sgt. Jonathan Enlow said June 11 at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam. "She was someone who was always able to bring a smile out from everybody else, too."

A few days later, the laughter faded when several of Sgt. Snyder's fellow soldiers were wounded in a roadside bomb attack.

"She wasn't hurt, but I think it started making her see that it was truly dangerous," the soldier's mother, Dineen Snyder, told The Unknown Soldiers. "Knowing those people wouldn't come back to her platoon ... it brought her down."

While still agonizing for the friends injured in the April 4 attack, Snyder picked herself up. "A few days later, she was upbeat again and ready to do another mission," her mom recalled.

But things weren't the same. During the rest of her deployment, Snyder worried that the sacrifices being made by her unit were being overlooked. "She was worried that people weren't seeing how hard she worked," the soldier's mother said.

Snyder, who joined the military after graduating high school, spent a lifetime surrounded by service. Her father, Ed, is a retired Navy officer. Her sister, Natasha, currently serves in the Navy, while the youngest of her two brothers, Damien, recently joined the Army. Devin wanted to serve, and as she showed during her stellar high school track career in Cohocton, N.Y., nothing would prevent her from reaching the finish line.

"She was very strong-willed," Ed Snyder said. "She knew what she wanted."

The clash of what this radiant, fun-loving soldier ultimately wanted out of life is fascinating and reveals surprising similarities between Army fatigues and Snyder's favorite color: pink.

"She liked being a soldier," her mom said. "But she also loved being a girly-girl, wearing her heels and carrying her purses."

While admiring one of Snyder's pink handbags, you would undoubtedly notice the flowered tattoos covering the upper-half of her left arm.

Upon returning from Afghanistan, the soldier wanted to fill the rest of that arm and some of her right, before showing off her tattoos in magazines. At the same time, she would either stay in the Army and become a deception analyst, or head home to become a police officer.

"She was a go-getter all the time, even as a little kid," Snyder's mom said. "When she wanted something, she went after it."

On June 4, the dreams of Snyder and three brothers in arms, Sgt. Christopher Bell, 21, Sgt. Joshua Powell, 28, and Spc. Robert Voakes, 21, tragically ended. The Pentagon said the four soldiers, all of whom served with the 793rd Military Police Battalion, were killed by an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists in Laghman province. The military said a civilian contractor, Brett Benton, 37, also died in the attack.

"It was the worst day of our lives," Ed Snyder said.

"It was our worst nightmare. ... It really was," Dineen Snyder added.

As an unwanted chapter of unimaginable grief begins for five American families, something "huge" is comforting the Snyders. When thousands filled the streets of Cohocton to salute Devin, two grieving parents realized their daughter was loved by more people than they could have imagined. Indeed, she and her fellow soldiers were noticed.

"It's such a tribute to her," her mom said. "It makes me feel like she touched so many people, whether it was with her smile or a kind word."

A recent trip to Alaska's Fort Richardson, where Snyder's relatives spent time with loved ones of the soldiers she died alongside, also helped the family carry on.

"Everybody is just trying to get through and find the new normal," Dineen Snyder explained. "The four that were killed were a good team; they worked together and never had a bad word to say about each other."

Somewhere, Sgt. Devin Snyder is once again laughing with her friends. Hopefully, she knows how much she is loved by the country she died for.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

The Patriot

Images courtesy: Facebook

While America grilled hot dogs and watched Fourth of July fireworks, Staff Sgt. Michael Garcia was in eastern Afghanistan, doing one of the most dangerous jobs known to man.

The 27-year-old warrior disabled enemy bombs for a living, frequently risking his life alongside fellow soldiers with the Army's 63rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), 52nd Ordnance Group, 20th Support Command (CBRNE).

On the night of July 5, as talking heads filled network and cable airwaves to scream about the Casey Anthony trial verdict, Staff Sgt. Garcia's family and friends were trying to come to grips with unthinkable news that would permanently alter their lives. On Independence Day, their hero made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

"He was an amazing man with a heart of gold," Brittani Falgout posted on Facebook. "He will always be missed and never forgotten."

According to the Pentagon, Garcia's tragic July 4 death came at the hands of terrorists who attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device in Logar province. While losing this American hero is impossible to accept, Garcia wanted everyone to know that if the worst happened, he would die protecting his country and his fellow troops.

"He said in a letter not to be mad because he will die doing what he loved!" Cassie Cassario Eguia posted. "And there was not any other job on earth he wished that he had."

Garcia, who was stationed at Louisiana's Fort Polk, loved the Dallas Cowboys and TV shows like NCIS, House, Bones, Weeds, and most fittingly, Heroes. He was also a member of several Facebook groups memorializing fallen Explosive Ordnance Disposal warriors. No matter what Garcia did or where he went, his brothers in arms were always in his heart.

"It was an honor serving with you," Aaron Johnston posted, concisely and poignantly.

The Department of Defense sent out a casualty notification about the death of Staff Sgt. Michael Garcia at 8:33 p.m. eastern time Tuesday night. As of 11:00 a.m. eastern time Wednesday, the Casey Anthony verdict is still the top story on the CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, ABC News, and CBS News websites. The war in Afghanistan is barely mentioned in top headline sections of these "news" sites, and the death of an American hero on Independence Day has been, to this point, ignored by the national media.

The shameful, ratings-driven conduct of the American press does not subtract from the legacy of a brave soldier who put everything on the line to save the lives of others. During his military career, Garcia undoubtedly disabled devices that could have killed or wounded innocent children or fellow troops. His duty was noble, and he embraced it.

"In life we choose our paths, and Michael Garcia chose his to protect us," John Thomas wrote. "He loved his job, and could not ask for anything more. Michael Garcia was a good-hearted person and was good to his family."

The tribute page to Garcia, as well as his own Facebook page, both indicate that the soldier loved his mother dearly and was deeply affected by her passing. Today, they are back together.

On Independence Day, Staff Sgt. Michael Garcia fought to keep us free. His job is done, but between the stars and stripes he fought so valiantly to protect, his legacy will endure.

The Other War

File image courtesy: Sgt. Robert Baumgartner

On March 6, 2004, a TIME magazine cover dubbed Afghanistan "The Other War." More than seven years later, some Americans don't even realize our troops still face danger in Iraq.

As Staff Sgt. Ryan Hey serves his third deployment to the country, his mother has noticed a troubling misperception about the Iraq war, which is now officially called Operation New Dawn.

"People say, 'At least he's not in Afghanistan,'" Linda Reh told Rachel Weaver of The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "But his camp was just hit and they lost three guys."

Staff Sgt. Hey is stationed in Badrah, Iraq, which is just a few miles from the Iranian border. While Hey was not injured in the June 29 attack that his mom mentioned, three of his fellow soldiers from the Army's 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment were killed.

Capt. David VanCamp, 29, Wheeling, West Virginia

According to the The Intelligencer / Wheeling News Register, Capt. VanCamp served several times in Iraq, including a 2006 deployment during which he was wounded by a suicide bomb blast. The soldier received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Another article in the newspaper said the future soldier grew up playing sports in the street with his friends in the Elm Grove neighborhood of Wheeling, West Virginia.

"We all hung out together. We played kickball and had a good time," Amy Birch told the newspaper. "It tore me up when I heard."

Capt. David VanCamp leaves behind his wife and parents.

Capt. Matthew Nielson, 27, Jefferson, Iowa

Capt. Nielson wanted to serve his country since a young age. Whether working as produce manager at a local grocery store or finishing up his history degree at the University of Northern Iowa, Nielson always had his eye on something bigger.

He was living his dream in Iraq.

"Since Matt was a small boy he loved anything military, so he died during what he loved best," the Nielson family said in a statement printed in The Des Moines Register. "Serving others was of the utmost importance to him and how he wanted to spend his life."

Capt. Nielson was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The soldier is survived by his parents and seven siblings.

Spc. Robert Tenney Jr., 29, Warner Robins, Georgia

The public relations office at Fort Hood in Texas, where all three fallen soldiers were based, said Spc. Tenney joined the Army in 2006 as a cavalry scout. While I have not been able to find more specific information about the fallen hero's life, he is undoubtedly missed by his family, friends, and fellow troops.

After the indirect fire attack, which also wounded several soldiers, Staff Sgt. Ryan Hey posted a Facebook status message that his mom quickly noticed.

"He put a Facebook post that says, 'As you enjoy the Fourth of July with beer, hot dogs and music ... take a moment to remember the fallen.'"

Before I get frustrated the next time my air conditioner breaks or my car won't start, I'll try to keep in mind that I'm not waking up a few miles from the Iranian border, like Staff Sgt. Hey and his fellow troops do every single day.

While we all face challenges here at home, at least we're not in Iraq, where more American troops died in June 2011 than any month in the past three years. As cable news outlets go wall-to-wall for the Casey Anthony trial verdict this week, it is clear that the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts deserve more attention.

Because of brave men and women who volunteer to serve wherever they are ordered to deploy, Americans have the freedom to ignore their sacrifices. It's a freedom none of us should exercise.

File image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

Another Day

Images courtesy: Capt. Andrew Adcock

Monday is not just another day in the United States, as millions take the day off work to barbeque hot dogs and hamburgers, watch ballgames, and attend firework-filled festivities with their families. We do so amid very tight security, as evidence uncovered by the boys of Abbottabad at Osama bin Laden's compound shows al Qaeda's desire to attack American cities on our day of freedom.

In Afghanistan, July 4 is another day at war. While troops are indeed gathering around the war-torn country to mark Independence Day, dangerous patrols through mountains and deserts continue. NATO said at least one service member was killed on July 4 in the volatile east, where coalition troops continue to sacrifice so much on a daily basis. A July 4 NATO operational update reveals missions to capture terrorist leaders in Paktika and Khost provinces.

To the south in Kandahar, where the temperature reached 102 degrees on July 4 and is expected to soar to 108 later in the week, U.S. troops gathered for one of the most inspiring, consequential ceremonies held on Independence Day 2011. In one of his final acts as commanding general of the International Security Assistance Force, Gen. David Petraeus ordered 235 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines to raise their right hands.

The troops followed his order willingly and selflessly, as July 4 marks the day of their re-enlistment. Gen. Petraeus, who now heads to Langley, Virginia, to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, was overwhelmed by the exceptionalism of these volunteer warriors.

"There is nowhere in the world I would rather be this Fourth of July than right here with these service members," said Petraeus. "To all those who re-enlisted today and will enlist in the future, we express our heartfelt gratitude to each of you."

Just three days before their re-enlistment in Kandahar, an American soldier with the Army's 10th Mountain Division, Pfc. James Waters, 21, was killed by an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists in the same province. In Cloverdale, Indiana, where the Waters family spends a holiday in mourning, the stirring re-enlistment oath echoes from thousands of miles away. No matter how tough things get during this long, difficult war, members of our military will never quit on one another.

This Fourth of July, our thoughts are with American troops stationed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world. As they fight overseas, their families longingly gaze into the fireworks of the night sky, wondering what their loved ones are seeing at the very same moment. Even though many of our nation's military families spend years apart, their hearts still beat as one.

We are spending this holiday being protected by brave men and women who volunteer to enlist and re-enlist. Because of our military's skillful brilliance, the terrorist who yearned to attack us on this day has been vanquished. As Gen. David Petraeus gives one of his final salutes as a battlefield commander, we salute him, as well as the remarkable fighting force he led with such great distinction.

Maybe July 4, 2011, wasn't just another day in Afghanistan after all.

Faces of War

Image courtesy: Facebook

Three days after the tragic combat death of Pfc. Brian Backus in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, a Facebook tribute page was launched in the 21-year-old warrior's honor.

"I have never met this soldier," the page's unidentified creator wrote on June 21. "But I felt this page was needed for this fallen hero."

More than a thousand people have since "liked" the page, including many of the Harbor Beach, Mich., soldier's relatives, friends and fellow troops. People who hadn't seen Pfc. Backus in years have also been sharing fond memories.

"I used to babysit Brian and his brother," Lisa Bain posted on June 23. "We will always remember him as a smart, energetic boy who insisted on having his back scratched during bedtime."

The heartfelt messages of support are comforting the Backus family during a time of unrelenting grief.

"It means more to us than you can imagine," the fallen hero's grieving mother, Anne Backus, posted on June 22. "To see that our son, Brian, touched so many lives helps ease the pain of loss."

Facebook communities like this one harness the staggering toll of the ongoing Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. As the national media obsess over next year's presidential election and the Casey Anthony trial, these posts, filled with genuine compassion and raw emotion, remind us that we are still a nation at war.

Another 21-year-old fallen hero, Pfc. Josue Ibarra, made the ultimate sacrifice while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan's Helmand province on June 19. In the dark hours following the tragedy, a Facebook page was quickly, caringly created to celebrate the Marine's life.

"You wanted to protect us; you did protect us," Dennis Ly wrote on June 23. "There's no way we can thank you in person now, but what we can do is live out the rest of our lives to the fullest and to the most positive way we can for Josue.

"He will live on through us, the people he wants to protect," he continued. "We won't let you down."

After coordinating on Facebook, Pfc. Ibarra's community didn't let him down. When the Marine returned to Midland, Texas, in a flag-draped casket, city streets were lined with patriotic supporters.

When an American service member is killed in action, fellow troops are deeply affected. Facebook pages like the one memorializing Pfc. Eric Soufrine, 20, of Woodbridge, Conn., give grieving warriors a place to pour out their hearts.

"As a soldier also raised in Connecticut just returning from Afghanistan, I'd like to thank you for your service, and for making the ultimate sacrifice," Tara LaDore posted on June 17. "Though I've never met you, you are my brother in arms and you will never be forgotten."

Pfc. Soufrine, who died on June 14 in Afghanistan's Farah province when terrorists attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device, had a girlfriend who couldn't wait for him to come home. As war's harshest reality sinks in, the Facebook page is painful but also therapeutic for Paige Woodward.

"We were supposed to have such an amazing life together," she posted on June 16. "But I promise you, I will see you in heaven eventually, and we will pick up where we left off."

Pvt. Ryan Larson, 19, hailed from a tiny Wisconsin village called Friendship. Since his June 15 combat death in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, more than 2,000 people — nearly three times his town's population — have "liked" a Facebook page in tribute to their friend.

"To see men and women, old and young, rich and poor, all races, types, personalities, and positions in our community all as one yesterday for Ryan was so amazing," Izzy Jackson wrote on June 26. "God was shining his light down yesterday to welcome Ryan home."

During past conflicts, Americans could not instantly connect to wars being fought by our friends and neighbors, nor could families of the fallen visit virtual communities filled with memories of their loved ones. In the 21st century, through these interactive, invaluable tribute groups, parents can teach their children about the indelible sacrifices being made in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I never met these four fallen heroes. But today, thanks in part to four remarkable Facebook pages, they are dearly missed.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: U.S. Air Force/Roland Balik