Air Waves

Images courtesy: Tech Sgt. Matt Hecht

When seven American troops were killed by enemy bombs and bullets in a five-day period earlier this month, the national media barely noticed. When a heroic American soldier became one of the latest in a long line of brave U.S. troops to lose limbs in combat, the press left it to others to tell his incredible story.

When Pakistan alleged that 24 of its soldiers were killed in an unprovoked NATO airstrike, however, the claims spurred dramatic lead stories on newscasts and sensational headlines on news websites. Several reports have taken all of Pakistan's claims as fact, while treating NATO's sensible approach of waiting for the results of a full investigation as propaganda. But in the most offensive cases, some stories have actually relied on quotes from our enemies, while putting the safety of brave U.S. troops on the backburner.

What irks me about this CNN report is the inclusion of a phone interview with a "Pakistan Taliban spokesman" named Ihsanullah Ihsan. To any objective person, his statement is pure propaganda, as Ihsan claimed that "America will infringe on Pakistan's sovereignty," while also making terroristic threats.

The Taliban buries bombs near schools. The Taliban systematically enslaves and rapes women. The Taliban murders American troops. How CNN can give one of its "spokesmen" a platform to make threats in a time of war, especially while neglecting to include perspective from U.S. troops -- the people affected most by Pakistan's decision to shut off a critical supply route -- is inexcusable.

Another media narrative, as seen in this New York Times report, is that America is somehow at fault for "a relationship that took a sharp turn for the worse after a Navy Seal commando raid killed Osama bin Laden near Islamabad in May, and that has deteriorated since then."

It only took six months for many to forget that the world's most wanted terrorist lived the last years of his life in relative comfort -- just miles from a critical Pakistani military installation -- before Navy SEALs intervened. "The boys of Abbottabad" risked their lives to bring Osama bin Laden to justice, doing a noble service for America and the entire world.

As thousands of Pakistanis riot in the streets, burning President Obama in effigy and incinerating American flags, it is Americans who should be outraged by still unanswered questions about how one of the most prolific mass murderers in modern history managed to hide in plain sight.

In the eyes of some news executives, reporters, and producers, footage of burning flags or quotes from terrorists are more compelling than the real story, which is Pakistan's despicable decision to cut off supply routes to our men and women in uniform fighting in Afghanistan. As valiant U.S. forces fight and die to secure a volatile region, Pakistan's efforts to landlock our troops is an international disgrace.

This is not a political blog. It is, however, a site that puts America, and those who protect her, first. As U.S. troops make great sacrifices to preserve our way of life, including freedom of the press, it's long overdue for journalists to take notice, and stop giving legitimacy to al Qaeda and the Taliban.

If given the chance, terrorists would bomb every building in America, including those that house newsrooms. Thank God for the thousands of men and women who volunteer to stop them.

Inside the Envelope

Images courtesy: Facebook

Ten days after losing his left arm and both legs in Afghanistan's treacherous Arghandab River valley, Sgt. Rusty Dunagan lay in a Washington, D.C., hospital bed. After being too choked up to say much to his wife by phone from his previous hospital bed in Germany, he was about to see Angie for the first time since the explosion.

"I was so drugged up," Sgt. Dunagan told The Unknown Soldiers. "But I was calm, and (my wife and mother) were calm because they didn't want to scare me."

Shortly after the emotional reunion, a soldier brought an envelope into Dunagan's room, explaining that it contained some of the wounded warrior's personal effects. Given the violent, unforgettable chaos of the explosion, the delivery was a surprise.

Suddenly without a left hand, Dunagan asked his wife to open the envelope. What happened next may have been the most important moment of his life.

Dunagan, a native of Guthrie, Okla., said he joined the Army on Sept. 21, 2006, four years and one day before the explosion. He had spent the days since 9/11 working at Walmart, where he felt a sharp pull toward serving his country.

"My job in retail was interesting," Dunagan, 31, said. "But I wanted something more."

Though Rusty was still single when he went to Iraq in March 2008, being away from his family and friends was difficult. But as bullets flew, the deployed warrior had no choice but to adjust after deploying from Texas' Fort Hood.

"I made a lot of really good friends there, especially in infantry, because it's like a band of brothers," he said. "I missed my friends and family, but when you're (deployed), you really don't have time to think about it."

Even though the sergeant returned home safely from Iraq, he thought every day about the dozen soldiers from his unit killed during the deployment. It wasn't until his brigade relocated to Colorado's Fort Carson that Dunagan had something to smile about.

"When I met my wife, she knew I was in the military," he recalled. "I told her, you know, we are leaving within a year."

Undaunted by the unknown, they got married. Still, the newlyweds spoke frankly about the challenges Rusty's unit would face during its upcoming Afghanistan mission.

"We knew it was going to be a tough deployment," the soldier said. "I always tried to stay upbeat and keep her positive."

On Sept. 22, 2010, Dunagan set out for the day's fourth combat patrol to help fellow soldiers establish a battlefield position. From his latest hospital bed in San Antonio, where the attack's other wounded survivors are also recovering, the triple-amputee recounted the horror that followed a minesweeper's signal that something was wrong.

"There was a pause," Dunagan said. "I was on one knee, and my buddy behind me, a guy I was bringing out there, was talking to me."

"As soon as he got up is when he hit the landmine," the soldier continued. "Forty-five pounds of homemade explosives went off and blew me into the creek."

Dunagan said he remembers being lifted out of the water and bleeding profusely all the way to the hospital.

"I was conscious until I got to Kandahar Air Field," he recounted. "Then I woke up a week later in Germany."

Days later, he looked into Angie's tearful eyes at Walter Reed as she opened the envelope.

"That's when my wedding ring came out," Dunagan said. "It was really surprising to me, because it was my left arm that was blown off."

Inspired by an extraordinary moment, which the wounded warrior and his wife viewed as a new beginning, Rusty is focused on being a husband, father, and soldier. But as he trains with prosthetic legs, he still has one more battle to conquer.

"At 6'3", 225 pounds, I was my kids' protector, and now I'm in a wheelchair," Dunagan said. "I want to get up and walk with both legs."

He firmly believes that momentous day is coming. Yet when shadows of doubt inevitably loom, all Sgt. Rusty Dunagan has to do is look down at his wedding ring. He wears it tightly on the only hand he has left.

Thank You

Images courtesy: Cpl. Reece Lodder

Last month, The Unknown Soldiers introduced you to Cpl. Reece Lodder, a Marine who, after having an early Thanksgiving with his loved ones, was preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. Cpl. Lodder, who took the picture above of a recent feast, is now deployed to the war zone, apart from his wife and family.

The combat correspondent checked in via e-mail on Nov. 15.

"I'm doing well out here," he wrote. "Busy as ever, working past 10 every night. Putting out quality stories and imagery though, which is my purpose for being here."

Lodder is too humble to mention that he's risking his life to bring stories like this one home. But to understand the dangers our troops still face in Afghanistan, one should simply read articles like the one he filed from Garmsir, a district in the volatile Helmand province.

"The threat of improvised explosive devices still looms over the district, but the pervasive insurgency of two years ago has almost completely disappeared," the Marine wrote.

Even though the Marine reporter just arrived in Afghanistan, Lodder knows what is being sacrificed there. Since Wednesday of last week, at least seven American troops have been lost in battle.

Cpl. Zachary Reiff, 22, Preston, Iowa
Pvt. Jackie Diener II, 20, Boyne City, Michigan
Lance Cpl. Joshua Corral, 19, Danville, California
Pfc. Adam Dobereiner, 21, Moline, Illinois
Spc. Sean Walsh, 21, San Jose, California
Spc. James Burnett Jr., 21, Wichita, Kansas
Pfc. Matthew Colin, 22, Navarre, Florida

None of these seven American heroes reached their 23rd birthday.

As we enjoy the company of our loved ones around the holidays, let's pause to think about the Reiff, Diener, Corral, Dobereiner, Walsh, Burnett, and Colin families. Not only are there empty spots at their dinner tables, but in just the past few days, they've been forced to confront the incomprehensible reality that their loved ones have been killed in action.

If you're looking for something to be thankful for, look no further than America's newest Gold Star families. They have sacrificed more for this country than we could every repay, and our thoughts and prayers are with them.

While exchanging e-mails with Cpl. Lodder, I asked him if he needed a care package.

"I would love to receive a care package of any kind," he responded. "We don't have any kind of store or anything out here, so anything is welcomed!"

Despite the advice of misguided Massachusetts law professor, who scolded Suffolk University students for holding a care package drive, many helpful items are already on the way to Lodder and his fellow Marines in Afghanistan. And don't worry, Prof. Michael Avery, your care package, which contains photos of fallen troops you dishonored with your despicable e-mail rant, will be on its way shortly.

Every day, I worry about the safety of brave service members like Cpl. Lodder, who put their lives on the line in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the world for our freedom and security. But what I go through is nothing compared to their relatives and friends, like this Marine's wife, who spend nearly every waking moment waiting, wondering, and worrying about their loved ones.

When I mailed Cpl. Reece Lodder's care package, I also sent a Christmas card to his wife. While troops overseas need our constant support, it's critical for all of us to remember that their families fight these wars too. Mrs. Lodder, your husband is doing extremely important work, and on this Thanksgiving holiday, I know God is watching over him.

Hopefully, all of our deployed troops will have enough time, as well as enough food and utensils, to eat a nice Thanksgiving dinner. Perhaps they'll even have the luxury of calling or Skyping their loved ones back home. When dinner is over, though, it will be back to war, and all the sacrifices that go with it.

To every active duty warrior, veteran, and loved one: Happy Thanksgiving. As thousands of military families spend holidays apart in a time of war, we thank these patriots for keeping our families together in a land of relative peace.

In the Name of Love

Image courtesy: Facebook

Anybody who has heard the song "Bad," from U2's smash-hit album "The Unforgettable Fire," instantly recognizes the rock anthem's inspiring chorus.

I'm wide awake!
I'm wide awake!
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping, oh no, no, no

Bono screaming "I'm wide awake!" was in my head immediately after reading this wonderful Facebook status update from the family of badly wounded Army 2nd Lt. Nick Vogt, who lost his legs in Afghanistan ten days ago.

"What a way to start the day!!!........Great news! Through the night Nick 'fully' woke up. He looks great. Everyone is very excited. He can't speak due to the trake but he understands what is being said to him. He acknowledges commands and has even given a 'thumbs up.' He is a very popular guy this morning. We are off to Walter Reed. Give thanks to God for He is good!"

Even in the harrowing moments after 2nd Lt. Vogt reportedly stepped on an improvised explosive device, when his heart momentarily stopped before doctors revived the brave soldier, the Vogt family never lost faith.

"We are hearing about all of the wonderful things that people are doing for Nick and our family," the family posted in an earlier update. "We love you all!"

While the national media has continued its neverending focus on political bickering and celebrity fluff, the tenacity of Vogt and his family has captivated much of the military community. And as the words of the West Point graduate's family prove, the thoughts and prayers are making a huge difference.

"Please just keep praying for more miracles, folks," the family wrote. "He's had so many aleady, but please continue to ask God to send more for Nick's healing and comfort and to guide the hands of the doctors and medical staff that are caring for him."

When this soldier returns to the country he fought for, he will begin a new journey. Adjusting to life as an amputee will be unimaginably difficult for this tough, proud patriot, but today and every day moving forward, let us all continue to surround him with love.

As another classic song on the same U2 album goes, Pride (In The Name of Love), love is the most powerful human emotion. It's something that evil men, like those who waste their lives fighting for the Taliban and al Qaeda, can never conquer.

With our love and support, 2nd Lt. Nick Vogt will win this battle.

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love...

The Last Day

Image courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class John Laughter

At this hour, American troops are still in danger in Iraq. Sadly, many journalists and politicians decided this war was over a long time ago, and no longer pay attention to the daily sacrifices being made by thousands of brave men and women in uniform still stationed there.

As the vast majority of patriotic Americans know, the war in Iraq is not over until the conflict's very last day. That's exactly how Spc. David Hickman, a soldier with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division, was approaching his last days inside the country, where U.S. troops have fought since 2003.

"He stood out," Lt. Col. David Doyle, the soldier's battalion commander, reportedly said. "He proved himself."

Spc. Hickman, 23, was looking forward to coming home to Greensboro, North Carolina, sometime in December. But according to Drew Brooks of The Fayetteville Observer, a fine newspaper that runs the The Unknown Soldiers weekly syndicated column, soldiers from the 82nd Airborne, some of whom are pictured above, maintained laser focus on their dangerous mission in Iraq.

"The closer we get to the time of our departure, the more they want to get after us," Lt. Col. Doyle told the newspaper. "A loss is just as hard at the start of a war. It hurts no matter when it happens."

On Nov. 14, Spc. David Hickman was killed in Baghdad when, according to the Pentagon, he suffered injuries after encountering an improvised explosive device. The departed warrior was assigned to the 82nd Airborne's 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

Half a world from the streets of Iraq, Hickman's family and friends are devastated. Mike Kernels of the News & Record in Greensboro attended an emotional memorial event held at the Northeast Guilford High School football stadium, where Hickman once patrolled the field as a tough linebacker.

"Everyone has a David story," former classmate Ashleigh Harrison told the reporter. "He was our big brother. His priority — besides protecting our freedom — was his family and friends."

War coverage by the national media has been dwindling for years. CNN, for example, recently shut down a blog devoted to the Afghanistan conflict. But the network, to its credit, did notice Hickman's ultimate sacrifice, and reminded readers that danger still exists for troops in Iraq, most of whom will leave the country before Christmas.

If only reports like these could be more consistent at the national level. Outside of the CNN online report, there has been next to nothing reported by national media outlets about the bravery displayed by Hickman in Iraq. Last night's American Music Awards received far more media coverage than any recent sacrifice made by a U.S. service member in Afghanistan or Iraq.

Of course, the irresponsible behavior of some journalists takes nothing away from the heroism of selfless soldiers like Spc. Hickman. On the day of his death, he knew the Iraq war was about six weeks from being over. Yet instead of doing the easy thing and watching the clock, the former high school football star played his heart out until the very last whistle.

Our valiant men and women in uniform are still doing incredible things in Iraq. We owe them our constant thoughts, prayers, and gratitude, until the last day of the war has come and gone.

The Unknown Soldiers blog sends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and fellow troops of Spc. David Hickman. Thank you, valiant soldier, for fighting so hard to keep us free.

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

All Down the Line

On a gray, windy fall afternoon just south of Atlanta, 16 American soldiers lined up to tell ordinary people about an extraordinary man.

Pfc. Jeremy Faulkner, 23, and five fellow 101st Airborne Division heroes were killed in Afghanistan's rugged Kunar Province during a chaotic Mar. 29 firefight. Despite heavy casualties, American forces ultimately won the battle, and this long line of proud "Screaming Eagles" served as living proof.

"We survived it," Pfc. Faulkner's company commander said, emphasizing the heroism of all his soldiers. "When it's all said and done, Jeremy's actions speak louder than (anything) we can do here."

Many of these soldiers returned from Afghanistan just weeks after the bloody battle. Nearly eight months later, as they check up on wounded buddies and miss their fallen friends, the Fort Campbell-based paratroopers flew by helicopter to Griffin, Ga., to present Pfc. Faulkner's family with the soldier's posthumous Bronze Star for Valor.

During the emotional ceremony, their minds must have wandered back to eastern Afghanistan's hellish mountains, where explosions and gunfire filled dark, treacherous valleys.

"I try not to think about that day so much," one soldier said, as Faulkner's family sat just a few feet in front of him. "I just think of the days before that."

While saluting Faulkner's bravery on the battlefield, remembering the good times is important to this tight-knit group.

"I miss Faulkner a lot ... he was a good friend of mine," another soldier said. "There was never a dull moment with him."

While laughing isn't easy, especially after seeing close friends killed and wounded, several Task Force No Slack troops, who spoke despite enormous grief and pressure, tried to lighten the mood.

"Jeremy was one of the smartest soldiers I met," a fellow paratrooper said. "He was always trying to learn and know his job.

"But he was always the first to get yelled at," the soldier added, prompting laughter.

Still, tears began to flow when one tall, strong warrior, who looked like he could singlehandedly destroy a terror cell, could barely speak through his grief.

"I really can't say too much or I'm going to get choked up," he said.

One Army specialist, who appeared older than the troops standing to his left and right, touched the audience with his candor.

"I miss him," the soldier said before a painful pause. "And I loved him very much."

Nobody loved Jeremy more than his mother, Judy Berry. We spoke two days after the Nov. 10 ceremony.

"It made me real proud," Berry said. "But no matter how many medals or stripes — whatever your soldier gets — you'd much rather have him."

Jeremy's mom feels a close bond to her son's brothers in arms, who approached telling his story with the same fearless dedication they showed on the battlefield.

"I didn't realize how many lives he had saved until I got a call from Afghanistan," she said. "Those boys are like my boys now."

While Berry had spoken with several soldiers by phone, the mom was overwhelmed by seeing them recount her son's final moments.

"(I have to) forget about myself and try to lift them up," Berry said. "I didn't really understand that a lot of them were hurting the way they were."

She wants Jeremy's friends to know that her son's death was not their fault.

"It's very emotional for all of them," she said. "I know a lot of them feel like they should have been out there instead of him."

While Nov. 11 was Veterans Day, the raw, dignified emotion inside the Georgia National Guard Armory showed that for some, every day is Veterans Day. Combat veterans live with emotions that few can comprehend, and concern for their well-being must be paramount.

After the last soldier spoke, the audience paused to admire this remarkable line of heroes, who stood together in silence before the moving ceremony's conclusion. It was then that I reached a conclusion of my own.

While survivors of the Mar. 29 firefight are still being challenged, they have already won another battle since returning home. They have succeeded in keeping Pfc. Jeremy Faulkner's spirit alive.

"We know where you are," a brother in arms said. "And we'll see you again."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Why We Pray

Images courtesy: Facebook

When a Gold Star mother sends me an e-mail or gives me a call, I drop everything to read or listen. Tuesday afternoon, the proud mom of both a fallen hero and an active duty soldier sent me a story that I am compelled to share.

Second Lt. Nicholas Vogt, pictured to the left, reportedly suffered catastrophic wounds on Saturday when the soldier stepped on an improvised explosive device. According to The Mansfield News Journal, 2nd Lt. Vogt, while still Army strong at this hour, lost both of his legs in the tragic terrorist attack.

This news is both incomprehensible and heartbreaking. However, when reading the Facebook page of the soldier's mother, who is politely asking everyone to pray for her son, it's impossible not to come away inspired.

"The phone call finally came this morning at 5:30. It was our German Angel, (name removed for family's privacy)," the Army mom wrote on Wednesday. "He said, 'Mr & Mrs. Vogt, I'm here with Nicholas right now. I'm going to put the phone up to his ear so you can talk to him.' It was the most amazing minute of our lives."

There had been some uncertainty over whether the 24-year-old wounded warrior could survive a flight from Afghanistan to the hospital in Germany. Considering that the soldier's heart briefly stopped after the explosion, according to the aforementioned article, Wednesday's development is being viewed by many as nothing short of miraculous.

The newspaper reported that on Monday night, hundreds of concerned citizens poured into a Shelby, Ohio, church to pray for the soldier and his family, who hail from nearby Crestline. The community came together for the service despite heavy rain.

"The rain inspires us to raise our prayers to heaven," the Rev. Michael Geiger said.

Less than 48 hours later, it's clear that the prayers of these good people are being heard.

As an American soldier fights for his life, let the prayers of northern Ohio stretch across the entire nation, and echo so loudly that they are heard not only in heaven, but inside a hospital in Germany and inside the unit where this warrior so bravely served in Afghanistan. Even though he's left the war zone, this soldier is still fighting, and we should all be fighting for him.

"Nick is still the same good lookin son we all know and love," his mom posted. "Keep praying, people. Nick still has such a long way to go for recovery that we can't stop yet. Our prayers (and his strong will) have gotten him this far and they will carry him even further, we know it."

Later this afternoon, by coincidence, I will be speaking on the phone with a combat veteran who lost both legs and an arm while fighting in southwest Asia. I plan to tell him about 2nd Lt. Vogt and the soldier's family, who shine brightly even during one of their family's darkest hours. I won't need to ask this valiant veteran to pray, because he already knows how many people prayed for him after he was badly injured.

Despite dozens of surgeries, the wounded warrior I will speak with later today survived. Through the strength of 2nd Lt. Nicholas Vogt, the skill of his doctors, the devotion of his family and caregivers, and the graciousness of God, we all pray that this selfless patriot will too.

Brave soldier: as you heal thousands of miles from our gentle shores of freedom, America is with you.

Talk Is Cheap

Image courtesy: Cpl. Reece Lodder

It's easy to sit on a college campus and make derogatory statements about men and women who volunteer to protect your life. Sadly, a law school professor at Suffolk University has reportedly done just that.

Responding to a care package drive at the school where he educates aspiring lawyers and constitutional scholars, The Suffolk Voice reports that Prof. Michael Avery wrote this:

"I think it is shameful that it is perceived as legitimate to solicit in an academic institution for support for men and women who have gone overseas to kill other human beings," Avery reportedly wrote. "I understand that there is a residual sympathy for service members, perhaps engendered by support for troops in World War II, or perhaps from when there was a draft and people with few resources to resist were involuntarily sent to battle. That sympathy is not particularly rational in today's world, however."

The professor's shocking statement isn't rational anywhere, except maybe on some college campuses or inside a few newsrooms. To be fair to Suffolk University, though, public backlash against Avery's comments on and around the Massachusetts campus has been swift and severe. While the vast majority of students, parents, and observers are outraged by the professor's remarks, the university has declined to discipline its employee, citing freedom of speech. I wonder who fought to give Avery, who is purportedly an expert on the Constitution, the constitutional right that now protects his job.

While the idea that there's something wrong with sending a care package to men and women serving is of course preposterous to any clear-thinking American, there are also several other misconceptions in the professor's e-mail rant that must be confronted. Before doing that, however, let's remind the professor what's been going on in the world while he's been busy getting offended by a care package drive.

On the ground in Afghanistan, where many care packages are sent, at least four American troops have been killed in action during the past week.

Spc. Calvin Pereda, 21, Fayetteville, North Carolina
Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan McCain, 38, Apache Junction, Arizona
Pfc. Theodore Rushing, 25, Longwood, Florida
Pfc. Cody Norris, 20, Houston, Texas

It's easy to run your mouth while others die for your right to speak.

While I don't know this for sure, it would not surprise me if some of the last joyful moments in the lives of these Soldiers and Marines came from receiving a letter or package in the mail. Countless troops who've served in Afghanistan and Iraq have told me how much getting a care package means to them.

As I type this story, I am thinking of two fallen U.S. soldiers -- 1st Lt. Brian Bradshaw and 1st Lt. Tyler Parten, who would take items they received in care packages, like candy or toys, and hand them out to Afghan kids. This isn't theory, as many professors specialize in, these are real-life examples of brave service members helping innocent children caught in the hellish crossfire of a war America didn't start.

But according to Prof. Avery, American troops are only in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries to "kill." The problem with that statement is that it simply isn't true. Our troops are there to save lives, like a brave soldier named Sgt. Jason Cartwright spent months doing in Afghanistan with his combat dog, Isaac. Sgt. Cartwright and his hero dog risked their lives to find bombs, some of which were intentionally buried by terrorists near Afghan schools. Did Jason and Isaac not deserve as many care packages full of human and canine treats as we could possibly send?

The offensive notion suggested by Avery -- that the post-9/11 generation of U.S. troops does not deserve the same level of support as World War II-era service members due to the absence of a draft -- is simply ridiculous. I challenge Prof. Avery to produce a single World War II veteran who will publicly endorse his insane rhetoric. Every World War II veteran I've met, including both my grandfathers, have nothing but the utmost respect for today's all-volunteer military.

I thought long and hard about using this blog's space to give any attention to Prof. Avery, despite my constitutional right to do so. But if spotlighting this professor's disgraceful comments get more Americans thinking about sacrifices being made by aforementioned heroes like Spc. Calvin Pereda, Sgt. 1st Class Johnathan McCain, Pfc. Theodore Rushing, and Pfc. Cody Norris, it is worth it. Our hearts go out to these grieving military families.

This weekend, I plan to put together a care package for Prof. Michael Avery. It will contain pictures of these four fallen heroes, along with articles from their hometown newspapers. These volunteer warriors died protecting a professor's right to free speech during the same week he abused that privilege to disgrace their memory. I hope he at least takes the time to read about these four valiant men.

"Talk is cheap...shut up and dance," begins a 1993 song by the legendary Massachusetts rock band Aerosmith. Unless the esteemed professor has realized the error of his ways and is currently packing boxes bound for remote forward operating bases in Afghanistan, where thousands of brave and men and women in uniform are in need of care packages at this hour, I strongly suggest he follows the lyric.

'Last Kiss'

Images courtesy: Monica Velez

In the middle of a grueling 26.2-mile Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 30, Monica Velez felt her calves tighten, prompting her to gasp amid the uncharacteristically frigid fall air.

"I just kept reminding myself of something," Velez told The Unknown Soldiers. "This isn't really pain."

Real pain, she said, is losing both your brothers on post-9/11 battlefields in less than two years.

"When my body hurt, I reminded myself that they didn't get to slow down," she said. "There was no time-out."

While time has often stood still for Monica, 32, over the past seven years, rarely does a day go by when she doesn't remember the good times she had with Cpl. Jose "Freddy" Velez and Spc. Andrew Velez while the siblings were being raised by a hard-working single father in Lubbock, Texas.

"My fondest memory was that we had a band when we were kids," Monica said. "I would be the singer because I'm the oldest. Andrew was the drummer and Freddy would play guitar."

Their favorite song to perform was Wayne Cochran's "Last Kiss," which was memorably covered by Pearl Jam in 1998.

Oh where, oh where, can my baby be?
The Lord took her away from me
She's gone to heaven, so I've got to be good
So I can see my baby when I leave this world

"That song will always have a lot of meaning," Monica said.

Freddy joined the Army first.

"It was a peaceful time," Monica said of the year 2000. "But I'm old enough to remember Iraq the first time."

Freddy was in boot camp on Sept. 11, 2001. As America went to war, the soldier wanted to fight.

"He said, 'I'll be fine. I'm an American soldier, and nobody's going to hurt me,'" Monica recalled.

Andrew decided to join the Army in 2002, following in his brother's footsteps and helping provide for his family. Monica was worried.

Freddy deployed to Iraq in February 2004. Andrew left for Iraq about a month later. All of a sudden, both of Monica's brothers were at war.

"I spent more than half my days on my knees, crying," she recalled. "I would see the casualties coming home, and I prayed and prayed that God wouldn't do that to me because I don't know who I am without Freddy and Andrew."

On Nov. 11, 2004 — Veterans Day — Cpl. Jose "Freddy" Velez, 23, was killed while clearing an enemy stronghold in Fallujah. While his date of death is listed as Nov. 13, Monica said her family later learned Freddy died two days earlier.

Amid the chaotic confusion of war, a hysterical Andrew called home.

"He started screaming," she said. "It was non-stop and it felt like forever."

The screaming wouldn't stop until July 25, 2006, in Sharona, Afghanistan. Overwhelmed by the unrelenting hurt of his brother's death and a crumbling marriage, Spc. Andrew Velez, 22, killed himself.

Monica, who said she had raised concerns about her deployed brother's emotional state just before his suicide, broke down while discussing her family's second crushing loss.

"There's nothing I can do to change it," she said, in tears. "But maybe I can change it for somebody else."

While Freddy and Andrew's deaths divided Monica's family, the bond with her father, a retired police officer who spent his entire adult life providing for his kids, grew stronger.

"(He) tries to increase awareness," she said. "He also advocates for Andrew's death to be recognized by our community."

When Monica Velez crossed the marathon's finish line, Roy Velez was there to greet her, thanks to a grant from the Travis Manion Foundation.

"I ran back through all of our memories throughout the course," she said. "My dad always instilled a great sense of pride for our country."

While the pain in her legs would subside, the ache in this grieving sister's heart remains. But like "Last Kiss," she knows that someday, she'll sing with her brothers again. Monica Velez also believes her family's pain can help heal a nation at war.

"I tried to enjoy every moment of my run, because at the same moment, someone is fighting for me," she said. "And they wear the same uniform my brothers wore."

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Happy Birthday

Image courtesy: Sgt. Ray Lewis

For several months, Marine Sgt. Ray Lewis, 29, has been known as the guy who asked "Golden Girls" actress Betty White to the Marine Corps Ball, only to be turned down because of a scheduling conflict and asked instead by "Terminator" star Linda Hamilton.

As I'm sure Hamilton, who is instantly recognizable for her legendary film portrayals of "Sarah Connor," would agree, Sgt. Lewis is much more than a man asking a lady to dance. He's a brave United States Marine.

Sgt. Lewis was working his way through college when he first heard about the United States Marine Corps. One of his instructors had served in the Marines, and Lewis never forgot the values he espoused.

"His attention to detail and his professionalism...it's always going to stay with me," Sgt. Lewis told The Unknown Soldiers. "It's something I'm always going to remember."

After graduation, Lewis struggled to find a new job in his hometown of Oceanside, California, even with a college degree. The Taco Bell employee made several visits to the local Marine Corps recruiting office, asking how he could serve his country while also pursuing a career related to the spoken word. As an aspiring rapper, Lewis loved telling a story, and he hoped he put that to use as a Marine.

"I didn't go because of 9/11," he explained, "But I thought, 'hey I'm definitely going to war.'"

That's exactly where he went. After heavy training, Lewis deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a combat correspondent. While travelling Iraq's dangerous roads and photographing the war, he said one particular incident, involving children he encountered during a patrol, changed his life.

"This time, instead of asking for candy or pencils, the Iraqi kids, they asked for water," the Marine said. "It was around holiday time, and I have little brothers and they have friends...and they're asking for X-Boxes and toys.

"On the flip side, on the other side of the world, in Iraq, they're asking for water," Lewis continued. "Just drinkable water, because the river was contaminated."

When the Marine later deployed to Afghanistan, his life-altering experience was still in the front of his mind. To the combat correspondent, who took his responsibility to tell the story of war very seriously, the conflicts were about people.

"A lot of (Americans) go by what they see in the media and on the news, and they don't realize that there are people out there that need help," the Marine said. "A lot of them live out in tents in the desert, very primitively, but they're people like you and me."

With a new perspective on life after deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Lewis, now stationed in Fort Worth, Texas, with the 8th Marine District, decided to have some fun. After Marine Sgt. Scott Moore invited actress Mila Kunis to a Marine Corps Ball from Afghanistan -- an invitation she accepted -- Lewis decided to have some fun and invite actress Betty White.

The video quickly went viral:



White responded with regret, saying a scheduling conflict made attending the Ball impossible. Lewis said he actually breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the media blitz that accompanied his viral video would finally calm down. Then, out of nowhere, Hamilton posted this YouTube video:



The next thing the Marine knew, he was picking up Hamilton from the airport. He didn't know what to expect. Was she the tough, hard-nosed woman she portrayed in "T2?"

"A lot of our conversations after she got to Texas were just like a regular person, real down to earth," Lewis said.

One of the most fun aspects of a "surreal" experience was seeing the reactions of his fellow Marines at the Oct. 29 Westlake, Texas, Marine Corps Ball.

"A lot of them were like 'hey...is that Sarah Connor?'" he said. "Or some people would come up to me, and say 'hey...Linda Hamilton's right there, she's in the hotel!"

For Sgt. Lewis, though, the Marine Corps Ball was not about him, nor the Hollywood celebrity who accompanied him there. It was about celebrating the 236th birthday of the Marine Corps, which falls on Nov. 10, and thinking about Marines who are risking their lives, as he once did.

"While we speak right now, there are Marines out there patrolling, just to make sure...we set an example and set a standard so (enemies) don't come over here and attack us," the Marine said. "When I start to take things for granted, I think about them."

Too often, Hollywood and the national media unfairly brand Marines on the battlefield as soulless killing machines. Lewis, who served soft drinks to thousands of Americans at Taco Bell before a desperate Iraqi child pleaded with him for water, proves that ugly stereotype false. Like thousands and thousands of fellow Marines, Sgt. Ray Lewis serves his country because he cares about people.

In the final scene of "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," Linda Hamilton's solemn voice closed a blockbuster film that almost every American remembers.

"The unknown future rolls toward us. I face it for the first time with a sense of hope," she said. "Because if a machine -- a terminator -- can learn the value of human life, maybe we can too."

Marines, while trained to kill on the battlefield if necessary, are not terminators. They are among the very best people to populate and protect the greatest country on earth.

Happy birthday, United States Marine Corps.

When Warriors Cry

Images courtesy: Sgt. 1st Class Eric Pahon/U.S. Army

It's hard to imagine losing one of your closest friends. While I've never been through such a painful experience, I've spoken with many people who have. Sadly, almost all of them have served in the military.

Staff Sgt. Robert "Brian" Cowdrey was on his fourth combat deployment while performing medical evacuation operations in Afghanistan's mountainous Kunar province on Oct. 13. As terrorists despicably fired in the medic's vicinity, the military said Staff Sgt. Cowdrey suffered a fatal injury.

The 39-year-old soldier's death has devastated many paratroopers in the Army's legendary 82nd Airborne Division, especially those who were serving with the seasoned combat veteran in Afghanistan.

"He had chances to go other places, but he was dedicated to his unit," Maj. Graham Bundy said at Cowdrey's memorial service in Afghanistan. "He was hand-picked to serve in a difficult environment, which says a lot about his expertise and his character."

Cowdrey's platoon sergeant was most struck by the soldier's ability to make difficult decisions under extraordinary pressure, even if those choices weren't initially well-liked.

"Staff Sgt. Cowdrey had a reputation as a leader who took the hard right over the easy wrong," Sgt. 1st Class Lottie Weidle said. "That doesn’t make you popular, but that didn’t matter to him. The welfare and success of his soldiers did. His tough leadership earned him respect and some lasting friends."

At the memorial service, which was held on an undisclosed forward operating base, Cowdrey's many friends stood at attention to salute their fellow soldier one last time in a war zone.

One harsh reality of war, which is overlooked by some of us and certainly by most journalists in the national media, is how unimaginably difficult it must be to carry on after losing a friend in battle. As if it's not already hard enough risking your life in a faraway land, all while wondering if your family is content at home, U.S. troops must often fight while mourning a fallen brother or sister.

I recently asked a Marine veteran who served in Iraq how he coped with tragedy while deployed. "That's just what we do," he replied.

Of course, nobody feels more grief than a fallen service member's family. According to this report from WRAL-TV, Cowdrey leaves behind a wife and three sons in Sanford, North Carolina. According to the article, his oldest son, Justin Cowdrey, also serves in the U.S. Army. We thank this brave young soldier for his service, while sending our deepest, most heartfelt condolences to his entire family.

It's almost impossible to grasp what Staff Sgt. Robert "Brian" Cowdrey's immediate family, and his U.S. Army family, is going through at this hour, less than a month after the soldier's tragic passing. Yet knowing the strength of America's military families, combined with our volunteer military's incredible will to fight, they are almost certainly soldiering on, in the spirit of a Bronze Star recipient who set such a fine example for those around him.

As we salute our nation's veterans on Friday, let us also remember an exceptional American who fought three times in Afghanistan and once in Iraq. While being proud of all the patriots who served, and also thinking about all our nation has lost during these conflicts, it's okay to shed a tear.

Urgent

Image courtesy: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

The death of an American soldier in Iraq used to be considered a big deal by the national press.

Today, as some journalists accept the narrative that the Iraq war is basically over and U.S. troops are no longer in danger, a young American hero's ultimate sacrifice is taking a back seat to the latest incarceration of a fake tabloid hero: Lindsay Lohan. It's an injustice that must be spotlighted.

When I searched the CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC websites, I found one story on MSNBC, cut and pasted from the NBC affiliate in Dallas, about 1st Lt. Dustin Vincent, who was killed in Iraq on Nov. 3.

When I searched the same sites for stories about Lindsay Lohan, I found hundreds of articles and photos, including this, this, and this, all of which were updated within the last 12 hours. Apparently Lohan was released from yet another jail stint, and journalists consider that urgent news.

In what is becoming a normal trend, the only place you can usually get solid information about a fallen hero's life is from news outlets in his or her hometown. First Lt. Vincent hailed from Mesquite, Texas, and reporters in the Dallas market are thankfully doing an admirable job covering this tragic story.

Monika Diaz of WFAA-TV spoke to Vincent's mother, Marty Vincent, who told the reporter that before her son left for Iraq six months ago, he gave her his military Bible, which the soldier had been carrying with him everywhere.

"I just wanted something that I can feel his presence with me," the grieving mother told Diaz.

According to the report, Vincent married his wife, Samantha, just two days before he left for Iraq. She is left behind to care for her young daughter, who was legally adopted by Vincent, according to Diaz's story.

The Pentagon said 1st Lt. Vincent, 25, died Thursday when terrorists attacked his unit with small arms fire. The soldier was serving with the Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based out of Fort Riley, Kansas.

When the casualty notification was sent out Friday night, I told the person I was with that a soldier was killed in action in Iraq. There was a reaction of surprise, not because the person isn't patriotic, but because much of the public has been conditioned by the media to think that the Iraq war is already over.

As this fine young soldier's tragic death shows us, this war is not over until the very last American service member leaves Iraq.

"I know this Bible has been sitting on a table since Dustin left," the soldier's mom told WFAA-TV. "And I know it has to be God that knew already that Dustin wasn't going to make it home to Texas."

At the beginning of Fox News' latest story about Lindsay Lohan, which appeared in its top story section as of 10:00 a.m. EDT, the writer summed up the media circus over the celebrity's latest jail stint.

"Talk about much ado about nothing."

I agree. What we should be talking about is 1st Lt. Dustin Vincent's ultimate sacrifice.

Image courtesy: U.S. Army

Earn It

Image courtesy: U.S. Marine Corps

I became an Ultimate Fighting Championship fan when I had the privilege of meeting a fighter named Brian Stann during the 2011 Marine Corps Marathon weekend in Washington.

Unlike many professional athletes who revel in gargantuan paychecks and being dubbed "warriors" by television announcers, Stann is the real deal. From his days as a child in the hard-working city of Scranton, Pa., this combat veteran has earned everything he has, including a Silver Star from President George W. Bush.

During a hellish week of fighting in early May 2005, Capt. Brian Stann, then a second lieutenant, spent several days battling terrorists while trying to seize a critically important bridge with fellow U.S. Marines near Karabilah, Iraq.

"At one point, the enemy massed on his platoon and fired over 30 rocket propelled grenades, machineguns, detonated two improvised explosive devices and attacked the unit with three suicide vehicle borne improvised explosive devices," Stann's Silver Star citation reads.

The incredible story doesn't end there.

"Inspired by his leadership and endurance, 2nd Lt. Stann's platoon held the battle position on the Euphrates River for six days, protecting the Task Force flank and isolating foreign fighters and insurgents north of the river," the citation continues.

Since receiving the prestigious military award, Stann, 31, has displayed a genuine brand of humility that's mostly absent from my generation.

"I just wanted the award that said 42 out of 42 men came home safely," the Marine veteran said on his website. "We all came home, so mission accomplished."

Two of Stann's best friends at the U.S. Naval Academy, Marine 1st Lt. Travis Manion, 26, and Navy SEAL Lt. Brendan Looney, 29, did not come home safely from final deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, respectively. Losing two buddies, as well as several other friends killed in combat, weighs heavily on the shoulders of this fierce competitor.

"I had some great times with Brendan and Travis," Stann told me at the Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, where he was promoting the honorable missions of Hire Heroes USA and the Travis Manion Foundation.

Stann, who wrote a book called "Heart for the Fight," revealed his warrior spirit while speaking at the Team Travis and Brendan pre-marathon dinner. The event honored the fallen and rallied a team of almost 250 runners before the Oct. 30 race.

"We need men like Brendan and Travis more than ever," Stann told a packed ballroom in Arlington, Va.

Two things struck me about the warrior's remarks. First, he didn't say a word about himself. Second, he didn't just memorialize his friends; he challenged a room full of service members, veterans, military families, and civilians to honor their sacrifices.

"It's like the scene in 'Saving Private Ryan'," the Marine said. "We need to earn it."

As Stann spoke, several families of fallen heroes, including a Gold Star father and sister sitting at my table, jumped up to applaud.

Very few of us have fought to take a bridge, charged toward the enemy or saved a child's life by disabling a roadside bomb. But in order to earn our freedom, Stann doesn't think all of us have to go to Afghanistan or Iraq. Instead, we can start by taking small steps to change our lives.

"We need to remember that we have families and we have these experiences because of men like Brendan and Travis," Stann said. "So we have to reflect upon and ask ourselves: Would these relationships make men like Brendan and Travis proud? Would we be earning it?"

On a frigid Sunday morning, 21,250 Marine Corps Marathon participants, including hundreds of wounded veterans, took those steps as the sun rose above the Iwo Jima Memorial. First Lt. Travis Manion and Lt. (SEAL) Brendan Looney would have been proud, especially as their loved ones crossed the finish line.

Are we earning the extraordinary freedoms given to us by valiant Americans who fought for our country? As our brothers and sisters continue to be killed, wounded, and emotionally devastated on post-9/11 battlefields, it's a question we are compelled to ask ourselves.

I am proud to be Brian Stann's newest fan. Now, it's time to embrace his challenge.

COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM

Image courtesy: BrianStann.com

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

Image courtesy: Sgt. Charles Crail

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark to see
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

As soon as reports of a terrorist attack in Kabul began circulating on Saturday morning, I e-mailed a friend who is currently deployed to the Afghan capital. The service member was most likely safe, I speculated, but I wanted to know for sure.

"Thanks Tom, I'm okay," the warrior replied about 36 hours later. "It happened very close to our base, and I was onsite doing extraction."

I can't imagine what this service member and fellow troops must have seen in the aftermath of this horrific attack, which according to Stars and Stripes, killed five U.S. troops, eight civilian NATO employees, and at least four Afghans.

"Rough day indeed, but our guys are all okay," the service member continued. "God bless those families."

E-mailing from the war zone, the volunteer warrior summed it up perfectly. There is relief knowing your friends are okay, but heartbreak while thinking about the devastation being experienced by families of those who fell.

Four American soldiers killed in the attack have been identified by the Department of Defense.

Lt. Col. David Cabrera, 41, Abilene, Texas
Staff Sgt. Christopher Newman, 26, Shelby, North Carolina
Sgt. James Darrough, 38, Austin, Texas
Sgt. Carlo Eugenio, 29, Rancho Cucamonga, California

The Pentagon has also identified three Soldiers and a Marine tragically killed in action in Afghanistan since Wednesday.

Spc. Christopher Gailey, 26, of Ochelata, Oklahoma
Pfc. Sarina Butcher, 19, Checotah, Oklahoma
Sgt. John Lyons, 26, Seaside Park, New Jersey
Staff Sgt. Stephen Dunning, 31, Milpitas, California

The reason Bob Dylan's "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is channeled in this blog post's headline is because of the unknown. During their last days in Afghanistan, did these valiant warriors feel like Dylan's deputy, who knows his days of enforcing the law are coming to a close? When was the last time they talked to their moms, dads, spouses, brothers, or sisters? How could these people be so brave?

All we can do is hope and pray for their families, friends, and fellow troops. Every single American, including those in the media industry, should be thinking about the enormous sacrifices being made by our troops and their families. There is no excuse to take these American treasures for granted.

For the remarkable American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice over the last several days: your job is done. You have done everything in your power to protect us from terrorists who want to murder as many U.S. troops and innocent Afghan civilians as possible.

To these American patriots: your faith in freedom, and our flag, is the stuff of legend. Now, it's time to rest in peace.

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Image courtesy: Staff Sgt. Brian Lautenslager

Note: This post was updated at 5:12 p.m. EDT to reflect new casualty information released by the Department of Defense.

Born to Run

Image courtesy: Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Chandler

The Marine Corps Marathon didn't just take place Sunday in Washington, D.C. The huge annual event also occurred in Afghanistan, Iraq, and even ships at sea.

I have never run a marathon, so I can't presume to know how difficult it is. But I think it's fair to say that running 26.2 miles in a war zone might be a little tougher than the paved, well-marked course of the nation's capital. Just read this account of the Marine Corps Marathon Forward race in Afghanistan's Helmand province, written by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard.

"Participants ran five dusty laps on roads along the perimeter of the base, which were often crowded with armored vehicles either going to or returning from supporting combat operations," Cpl. Nygaard wrote. "Machine gun fire was frequently heard on the course as service members conducted in-theatre training."

It amazed me that even amid the stressful, tiring demands of being deployed to war zones, hundreds of coalition service members would still want to embark on such a long, difficult run. But after spending this past weekend with service members, veterans, and military families at the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, it makes perfect sense. A marathon is just another way for those who serve us on the battlefield and the home front to challenge themselves.

The 2011 Marine Corps Marathon began on a frigid D.C. Sunday morning. As I stood along Virginia State Route 110, with Arlington National Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial in each runner's view, results from the Afghanistan races were being announced over the loudspeaker. It was a fitting way to begin such a special morning.

As I watched the race and rooted on about 250 "Team Travis and Brendan" runners of the marathon and 10K for the Travis Manion Foundation, where I work as community manager, I was in awe of the sheer determination of the runners. Think the famous jogging scene in "Rocky" combined with "Chariots of Fire." While the phrase "running with purpose" is overused, it truly fits what I saw on Sunday morning.

Several wheelchair participants rolled by tired marathon runners, who made sure to move out of the way. I saw dozens of combat veterans missing limbs on the track, undaunted by devastating injuries suffered in Iraq and Afghanistan. Repeatedly, I would also see signs and buttons on the backs of runners, noting that they were running in honor of a fallen loved one. This wasn't just a marathon; it was the definition of being personal.

The 2011 Marine Corps Marathon was won by 1st Lt. Charles Ware, 27, of Wheeling, Illinois. While the Army Ranger has earned our congratulations for the victory and deep gratitude for his service, I think the soldier would agree that more than 20,000 marathon runners in D.C. and hundreds of service members in Afghanistan, Iraq, and at sea also won on something on Sunday. They won a few hours of peace and solitude during a time of war and chaos.

By being able to attend this special event, thanks to the Travis Manion Foundation, I won a new perspective on our troops, veterans, and military families. From war zones to the home front, they approach their lives like a marathon. The beginning is hard, the middle is harder, and how the race will end is unknown.

What these fine people know for sure is that no matter the outcome, they'll always be ready to run.