This is a package going to a Soldier on his third deployment to Afghanistan (second deployment for me to send him a little love) who will be getting out of the Army to go to college.  HOOAH!

I figured the last box should have something a little special on it.  And I'm sure he'll get some razzing but probably not as much as he got when I sent him this.  Interestingly (or disturbing) enough I get requests for this now.  Is that a good reputation to have?

UPDATED with additional photo and information

Forgive me for taking so long to write this post.  Your response was HUGE and SWIFT.  Great Americans - ALL of you.

The photo is from my friend Donna of Defenders of Freedom based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.  Donna, like many of you, learned about one of the Soldiers emailing home that they felt like no one back here "gives a shit" about them.  Well, they'll soon know (if they don't already) that just isn't so!  Along with the above photo, Donna and many other groups and individuals around the DFW area are sending photos much like the one above inside care packages to the 3-61 CAV Soldiers.  HOOAH Donna!

UPDATE:  The above photo was submitted by (and will have several copies printed and mailed to the Soldiers) the employees of n-Space.  For all of you gamers out there you should go check out their website!  I've been speaking with a lady in their HR department and I think they are going to help out in a big way on a project mentioned at the bottom of this post.  Stay tuned!  In case you can't read what they are holding up they are signs with the American flag that say either "n-Space Gives A Shit" or "We Give a Shit".  HOOAH to n-Space!

Working together you all donated more than the Soldiers needed to get back on their feet.  HOOAH to you all!  Bob Connolly is in direct contact with the 1SG, CPT and CSM of 3-61 CAV.  He has shipped all of the items they have requested and is holding on to a few "extra" items (mostly socks and toiletries which they will be able to use with so much time left in their deployment) until he gets the "go ahead" from them to ship.  They are very limited on space and man power right now so they requested that the extra items be held for a few weeks. 

I also want to thank all of you who shipped direct for letting us know what you were sending.  That allowed us to make sure the men were covered but that it wasn't excessive - again due to space and manpower over there.  I have completed a spreadsheet that I will forward to the unit leaders in Afghanistan as well as to their Rear Detachment showing all of the great Americans that came forward to work with us on this project.  I know there were many others who worked through other channels or as individuals.  There is no doubt those Soldiers are already feeling the love and will continue to feel it for some time.

I want to send a very special thank you out to the Gold Star and Blue Star families and to the Wounded and Active Duty personnel AROUND THE GLOBE who emailed wanting to know how they could help.  I was more than touched by the emails each of you sent.  There just aren't words enough to express how much all of you mean to me and to this nation.

Now I'll share a few emails with you from various members of the 3-61 CAV family:

From emails received from the Brigade Commander's wife:

I wish there were other words I could use to express our deep gratitude.  I'll have to just keep saying THANK YOU!

Thank you!  I have searched for stronger words to express our gratefulness, but I can’t seem to find any.  Suffice it to say, we are overwhelmed by your support of our Soldiers and truly humbled as we realize how many strong Americans have rallied around the boys when they needed it most. 

Thank you.  Thank you.

From The Squadron/Brigade Commander's wife:

I am writing to say thank you for everything you have organized in the past week.  I am truly awestruck by the scope of what you have accomplished along with Bob Connolly, and I guess I just wanted to say "thank you" on behalf of the families of those soldiers of Black Knight troop to all of those who have joined in your project.  While the soldiers get the care packages, the families get to see that their husbands/sons/brothers are not forgotton and enjoy huge support for what they do.

From an email to Bob Connolly from B Troop's 1SG:

I thank you all for the support and for those who are going out of their way to donate  God bless you and let everyone there know that we appreciate everything.

Bob and I want to add our "Thank You" to all of you who came together so quickly and so generously to make this happen.  There wasn't one item on our "wish" list that wasn't filled thanks to those of you who either donated actual items or made cash donations for the items we needed to purchase.

I will be adding a couple of photos to this once I find them.

And don't forget to check out the American Legion's blog The Burn Pit (be sure to scroll down) to see the incredible things they are doing as well.  Click here to get the most recent update but I'm told there will be an even more up to date post in the next day or two.

There is one more project I want to assist with for the Brigade.  I'll be posting about that in the near future.  It is very near and dear to my heart.

 

A few weeks ago I was invited to be a judge at the Arkansas Blues and Heritage Festival BBQ Contest in Helena, AR.

NO BRAINER.  So I called up Uncle Jimbo knowing he'd be on board to judge too.  Alas...as much as it pained him to turn me down he spent the day frolicking all over DC and the surrounding area making videos.  I know who he was frolicking with and don't blame him for staying in his AO.  Besides, it was his birthday weekend. 

Don't get me wrong.  I tortured him ALL DAY with calls about all of the whole hog, pork shoulder and ribs I was HAVING to sample along with the Bloody Marys and free beer, water and cokes available to the judges.  By the end of the day he was EXTREMELY annoyed with me.  Oh well.  SUCKER!!!  Gonna be here next year are ya?

The competition began around 1030 hours with the Blood Mary Competition.  Sampling 8 or so bloody marys wasn't a bad start to the day for the judges.  Not to worry - the samples were divided between two teams of judges.

 

Next we moved on to the BBQ sauce division.  I tasted 5 difference sauces.  A couple were really good.  One absolutely sucked.  They were numbered, as this was a "blind" taste test,so I have no idea which team won.  I left before the awards were announced.

My next "task" was to be a judge in the blind taste testing in the whole hog division. 

Obviously the whole hog above was cooked via the rotating spit methods.  Other teams will butterfly the hog for cooking.  Either way it's quite a feat to cook a whole hog properly.  During both the on-site and the blind judging the team is required to provide samples of from the ham, shoulder and tenderloin area.  It's not easy to have the heat properly adjusted under each of those areas of the hog so, for example,  that the less fatty ham cooks as tender and evenly as the more fatty shoulder.

As a judge in the "blind" taste test for the whole hog I had to sample and score the ham, loin and shoulder from three teams.  Here's a picture of one team's sample

My next task as a judge was to go out, on site, with 2 other judges to judge the pork shoulder category.  We were assigned to the VoodooQ team.  They don't have a website so if you google for VooDooQ and find a website it's for a restaurant in New Orleans - not affiliated with this team.  The members of this team are all volunteers for the Memphis in May International Festival and do participate in that festival's World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest along with their festival volunteer duties.  I didn't get a picture of their product.  Judging is a very serious business for these teams.  They spend A LOT of time and money and expect the judges to be serious about it, too.  Fair enough.  However, after the judging time was over I did as if we could snap a quick photo,

Next assignment was on site judging of ribs.  PORK people.  PORK.  This is REAL BBQ.  I didn't get any photos of the pork on site judging but was assigned to judge the ribs of the team "Two Fat Drunks". 

Back to the judge's tent for more liquid refreshments, funnel cake and deep fried twinkie to cleanse the pallet.  Deep fried Twinkies suck!

The preliminary scores were tallied.  Now it was time to send out on site judging teams to the top three teams in shoulders and ribs.  As an aside, presentation counts for part of the score

My team of judges was sent to team Crispy Critters for the final judging on shoulder.  I didn't find a link for the Crispy Critters but the link provided gives great info and a photo of the team.

Last assignment was to judge Team Central BBQ's ribs.  God love 'em.  They served both wet AND dry ribs.  It's an absolute fact that on the BBQ competition circuit sauce is a must.  Rare that a team will win with a dry rubbed product.  But I do love dry rubbed, smoked pork. As a judge it is my duty to "go with the flow" on the sauce.  And I do.  As I mentioned before, these teams spend a HUGE amount of money and time to compete.  Judges owe it to them to be fair.

I turned in my last score card.  Said my "thank yous" and "goodbyes", took a stroll through the main street (Cherry street) and headed home - full as a tick and ready for next year's competiton.

Many thanks to Leslie and Jay for all the hard work they do to put on the competition and for including me as a judge this year. 

 

The following photo is for Seavey - yeah, I gave him hell about not eating the corn properly!

   

DVIDs has a five part interview with 1LT Cason Shrode, SGT Jayson Souter, CWO Ross Lewallen (Apache Pilot) and CWO Chad Bardwell, Apache Gunner.  1LT Shrode and SGT Souter were in the TOC at COP Keating.  CWOs Lewallen and Bardwell were in the first Apache to reach COP Keating.

I have been more than fortunate to meet many incredible members of our service branches.  I can only hope that one day I will have the privilege to meet these honorable men and all those who worked with them during the Battle of COP Keating. 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE as of 11 OCTOBER 2009 - the American Legion will be accepting donations for their projects for the survivor's of the Battle of COP Keating through Wednesday 14 October 2009.  If you still want to help out PLEASE GO TO THEIR SITE BY CLICKING HERE to help them finish up the great work they are doing.

I will have a new post on my blog (not a part of this one) in the coming days to report all that was donated and is on the way.  Check back later in the week to see what an incredible job you've all done.  What a fantastic team of great Americans!

The American Legion has taken on a different "part" of the project to get the Soldiers who lost everything back on their feet.  Please go to their website HERE to help them with their goal.

You have all been MORE than generous.  Those guys will have NO question that they are loved and appreciated and, more importantly right now, thought of.  Give yourself all a huge pat on the back!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!! - Please read to the end of this update  (7 OCT 2009 1930 hrs)

We are "mission accomplished" for the replacement of personal articles for the Soldiers from COP Keating.  I still have a few emails to respond to but our list is 95% complete.  HOWEVER there is still an opportunity to help them via a great project with the American Legion.  Please visit their site and help them out.

Bob and I cannot begin to thank all of you for your generosity.  We have enjoyed every one of your emails, messages and calls.  Simply amazing that so many have come together in little over 36 hours to do so much.  HOOAH!  If we have corresponded and are still working though details and/or logistics bear with me and we'll get everything tied up.

UPDATE as of 7 OCT 1430 hrs

We do NOT need fleece blankets, wash clothes or towels.  Still need everything else on the list below

UPDATE as of 7 OCT 09 1300 hrs

STILL NEED

Winter Wool Hiking Socks - mostly size 9-12 but a few 13+

ACU tshirts - Need 50 size large

Boxer briefs - have received none.  Need 6 small, 60 medium, 42 large and 4 XLarge

Towels and wash clothes - Need 40 sets of each, darker colors preferred

Fleece throw size blankets - Need 30

Donations towards the purchase of both winter and summer PT clothes

Donations towards the replacement of name tapes, unit patches, etc. for their new uniforms.

DO NOT NEED

Athletic shoes

Gloves

White socks

Toiletries

Shower Shoes

UPDATE as of 6 OCT 09 2130 hrs

I'm still working through a list of emails from so many of you.  THANK YOU.  And thank you for your patience.  I don't have the speadsheet update in full yet but I do know that we are mostly still in need of:

ACU tshirts - see original post for sizes and quanitities

Waterproof winter gloves (dark colors)

Balaclavas

Socks - white and winter wool for hiking

12 pairs of shower shoes

Pillows

Towels and wash clothes

PT clothes - winter and summer

Cash donations towards the purchase of athlectic shoes for PT

Shaving cream

WE DO NOT NEED any more

Toiletries - Razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste

Thank you all so much for the great response.  I will do my best to get some solid numbers to you by end of day tomorrow.

UPDATE AS OF 6 OCT 09 1400 hrs

All winter knit hats have been donated

10 sets of twin sheets have been donated

30 pairs of shower shoes have been donated

2 pairs of size Medium ACUs have been donated (even though we weren't asking for those but HOOAH)

$325.00 in cash has been committed

About 20 individuals and organizations have contacted me and are going to donate but I don't have specific items or amounts yet.  Hope to have more info by end of day or tomorrow.

A couple of people have inquired as to why we need to know what and how many items they are donating.  The reason is because we want to keep up with the items to make sure we cover all they need and don't have excess in some areas and not enough in others.  I will continue to update here as I get firm committments about what is being donated.  Most of all we appreciate ALL of you for pitching in and working on this as a team with us.  We will be "briefing" the CSM via email tonight.  I will post his reply here (assuming he has time to respond).

Like so many of you my heart has been heavy since the news of the attacks on our posts in Afghanistan on Saturday.  The families of the Fallen are first and foremost in my thoughts and prayers.  May God give them strength and comfort as they prepare to lay their loved ones to rest and may they always know that there are many of us out here who will ALWAYS remember their sons, brothers, fathers and husbands.

On another note, my great friend and troop support partner, Bob Connolly and I have been in direct contact with the unit's CSM after learning that the base was destroyed and the men lost all of their belongs except the clothes on their backs.  The Army is working to replace uniforms for the men.  But they need assistance with other personal items.  And they NEED TO KNOW that we are thinking about them over here, too. 

Please contact me IMMEDIATELY to help fill their "needs" list below.

Socks (both white socks and winter wool hiking socks)

MED - 24
LG - 22
XL - 10

Underwear (boxers and boxer briefs

SM - 3
MED - 30
LG - 21
XL - 2

tshirts (must be Army ACU tshirts - Army will issue for immediate need but extras are always helpful)

SM - 3
MED - 30
LG - 21
XL - 2

PT shorts (or long pants) and shirts

SM - 3
MED - 30
LG - 21
XL - 2

Shower shoes

MED - 24
LG - 22
XL - 10

Towels, wash clothes, twin sheet sets, pillows, blankets (fleece)- Need 56 sets 

Razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shaving cream - Need enough for 56 men

Running shoes - we are awaiting specific sizes

The above items are the "immediate" needs.

Other suggestions are:

balaclavas, knit caps to fit under helmets (dark colors), winter gloves (dark colors and preferably water proof)

iPods, DVDs, MP3 players and movies, batteries, digital cameras.

Please contact me ASAP via emial tankerbabelc@gmail.com.  We want to work to assure every Soldier is covered with basics first so it is important that we track the donated items.  If you prefer to make a monetary donation I can give you information to do so.

Bob is getting some goodie boxes out to them today just to let the know we are behind them.  We need to get these other items in route ASAP.

Many thanks! 

 

The last Sunday in September is designated as Gold Star Mother's Day.  While it is not an "official" holiday in the United States it is a day we should all stop to remember the fallen from our wars and give support to the mothers (and other family members) of our Fallen Heroes.

From Army.mil

"Mothers of fallen service members began calling themselves “Gold Star Mothers” during the First World War, but the sorrowful bond they share reaches back to every woman who has lost a son or daughter in uniform since our nation’s revolution. The Army cherishes the mothers of its Soldiers as bedrocks of support and comfort, and honors the mothers of its fallen as resilient legacies of their children’s service. The United States began observing Gold Star Mothers Day on the last Sunday of September in 1936. This year, the Army joins the nation on September 27th in recognizing the sacrifice and strength of its Gold Star Mothers."

You can read a brief history of Gold Star Mothers here. 

I encourage you to visit the link at Army.mil to listen to audio from the President of the Gold Star mothers, Ruth Stonesifer, whose son, Kris, was an Army Ranger who died in Afghanistan.  There are additional stories at the site.  And I also encourage you to read Mrs. Stonesifer's message at the Gold Star Mother's website.

We can never do enough or say enough to show our respect, appreciation and gratefulness to those who have given their lives for our nation in any war or to their families.  Please take a minute today, and every day, to remember those who have given their lives so that we may continue to be free.

Proclaimation from the Army commemorating 2009 Gold Star Mother's Day

Welcome Home Raiders!

In the wee hours of Friday morning 26 June 2009 the last group of 6-4 Cavalry landed at Fort Hood.  This group had the Squadron Commander and the colors making it official that the deployment was done.  WELL DONE and WELCOME HOME Soldiers!

The families were waiting:

Here they come!

 

Bringing in the Colors

Preparing to Uncase the Colors

Uncasing the Colors

Colors presented

Time to celebrate!

 Mission Accomplished!

SSG Sean Samaroo served with the 173rd, 2-503 during their recent 15 month deployment to Afghanistan.  He is now serving with the 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jackson, SC.  SSG Samaroo was recently awarded the Silver Star for his actions at the Battle of Wanat.  He also participated in the ceremony to rename one of the ranges at Fort Jackson to the Wanat Range.

After he was wounded, Samaroo said goodbye to his wife and son aloud, according to a first-person account read during the ceremony by Lt. Col. Richard McDermott, 4th Bn., 10th Inf. Reg., commander.

"That's when I said, 'Man, this is it. You're gone,'" Samaroo said. "I really thought I was, but I just clicked like that and started focusing back on what I had to do."

From www.army.mil

Fort Jackson Soldier earns Silver Star

Jun 18, 2009

By By SUSANNE KAPPLER, Fort Jackson Leader

FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Staff Sgt. Sean Samaroo, 4th Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in Afghanistan in a ceremony June 11.

The ceremony took place at the newly designated Wanat Range, formerly known as Camden Range.

Samaroo received the award, the nation's third highest military decoration, for his part in the Battle of Wanat, which took place 2008 in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan. Samaroo is also a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient.

"There were a lot of heroes out there," Samaroo said. "Some maybe didn't get recognized as much as me. I'm pretty thankful and honored."

On the morning of July 13, 14 months into Samaroo's deployment, an estimated 200 enemy fighters launched a coordinated assault on a small vehicle patrol base manned by approximately 50 American and coalition troops.

As the battle began, Samaroo - then with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade - and his squad were manning a traffic control point near the base. Samaroo's squad successfully defended the traffic control point before reinforcing an observation point, which was under threat to be overrun by the attackers.

On his way to the observation point - an uphill climb through exposed terrain - Samaroo encountered three wounded Soldiers, whom he and his squad brought to safety.

Samaroo himself was wounded by shrapnel and was bleeding from the head and legs, but refused to leave his position until reinforcements arrived.

Nine American Soldiers were killed in the attack; 27 Americans and four Afghan soldiers were wounded.

Samaroo credited his training and instinct with helping him through the situation.

"There was a time that I did not want to go up that hill," he admitted. "I thought that it was too early. There's such a thing as tactical patience. You have to let the battle evolve.

Because of that, I believe we saved a (few) more lives that way."

After he was wounded, Samaroo said goodbye to his wife and son aloud, according to a first-person account read during the ceremony by Lt. Col. Richard McDermott, 4th Bn., 10th Inf. Reg., commander.

"That's when I said, 'Man, this is it. You're gone,'" Samaroo said. "I really thought I was, but I just clicked like that and started focusing back on what I had to do."

Samaroo admitted that the incident changed his life.

"Any time you have a near-death experience ... it changes you. It does. You think about the small things in life," he said.

Samaroo, who has been in the Army for nine years, came to Fort Jackson in January as a cadre instructor at Camden Range. The range, which has been undergoing extensive upgrades, was renamed "Wanat Mounted Convoy Live Fire Range" in honor of the Soldiers who died during the Battle of Wanat.

Brig. Gen. Bradley May, Fort Jackson commanding general, called the renaming a fitting tribute as the range will be used to train "skills that will allow (Soldiers) to thrive in combat, just as Staff Sgt. Samaroo did."

Samaroo said he hopes to pass on those skills and ultimately intends to become a drill sergeant.

"That's always been a dream of mine, being a drill sergeant," he said. "I want to be able to share what I learned as a combat Soldier."

Welcome Home Raiders

 

Today, June 14th, is also Flag Day.  In 1777 the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution to adopt the U S Flag.  In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed June 14th officially as Flag Day.  And in August 1949 Flag Day was officially established by an Act of Congress.

Today is also the Army's 234th Birthday.  HOOAH!

 

The Army has designated 2009 as the Year of the NCO.  I think it appropriate that we hear from the top NCO of the Army, Sergeant Major Kenneth O Preston.  Sergeant Major Preston is the 13th Sergeant Major of the Army.