Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band Launch 'Letters for Lyrics' National Letter-Writing Campaign to U.S. Soldiers

/PRNewswire/ -- -- Write a letter and receive a "Breaking Southern Ground" CD featuring
three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band

-- Goal to deliver 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across
the world
-- All U.S. Ram Truck dealerships will serve as collection points and
provide letter-writing stations
-- Letters to be collected at Zac Brown Band Concerts
-- Soldiers' Angels to deliver letters to U.S. Troops on behalf of the
Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band
-- Exclusive documentary-style footage of Zac Brown Band's USO tour
directed by Darren Doane to debut on RAM Truck Brand's Letter for
Lyrics site


The Ram Truck Brand, in partnership with Zac Brown Band, kicks off "Letters for Lyrics," a national letter-writing campaign targeted to U.S. soldiers. The goal for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band is to send 1 million letters to U.S. troops deployed around the world.

In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier, participants will receive a special compilation CD titled, "Breaking Southern Ground." This exclusive CD features three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown's label, Southern Ground Records - Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.

"The Ram Truck Brand is grateful for the commitment and courage that U.S. soldiers give to this country each day," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO - Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our company has been steadfast in its support of America's armed services; we know these letters will help brighten a soldier's day. We encourage our employees, suppliers and our customers to visit a local Ram Truck dealership to write or drop off a letter for these soldiers who protect our right to freedom."

"We've had several opportunities to perform for the troops over the past year and each time we were deeply inspired by their positive attitudes and dedication to protecting our country and preserving our way of life," said Zac Brown. "We were so moved that we knew we needed to recognize their efforts in a big way. Our hope is that by combining our experience overseas, our music, and the good people at Ram Truck Brand, we will be able to rally a movement of support for our brave service members abroad."

Darren Doane, the CMT nominated director of Zac Brown Band's live 'Pass the Jar' DVD (Southern Ground/Atlantic) and their music video for the #1 hit "Toes," traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience - capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting individually with the men and women in uniform. Bringing the experience home, Doane has constructed several mini-documentary style videos which will be posted to RamTrucks.com starting today and updated throughout the coming weeks.

"This unique endeavor is derived from respect and admiration, from both the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band, for the men and women in the military," said Marissa Hunter, Head of Ram Truck Brand Communications, Chrysler Group LLC. "It is our hope that these letters serve as a source of appreciation and comfort."

Letters will be collected at Zac Brown Band concerts and all U.S. Ram Truck dealerships. People interested in writing a letter can visit any Ram Truck dealership where special "Letters for Lyrics" stationery will be provided.

Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.

"By standing wingtip to wingtip, the Ram Truck Brand, Zac Brown Band and Soldiers' Angels will be able to help build morale to heroes in combat zones one million fold," said Soldiers' Angels founder and president, Patti Patton-Bader. "We are truly grateful to the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band for their help in ensuring that our heroes know they are loved and appreciated."

The "Letters for Lyrics" campaign is part of an integrated marketing campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty and is supported with broadcast, print, digital and social media efforts that will run concurrently.

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Sweet Treats for Troops

Boxes filled with 65 pounds of M &M chocolate candies are on the way to troops of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion at Frank D. Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, GA.

Bus drivers of the Fayette County Public School System in Georgia donated the chocolate in the hopes of making the holidays a little brighter and sweeter for military personnel who will not be able to make it home for family gatherings and celebrations. This marks the seventh year the bus drivers have sent chocolate to troops stationed both in the United States and overseas.

“We are grateful for what these brave men and women are doing to protect our freedom and this is just a small token of our appreciation for their sacrifices,” says bus driver Linda Mosley who organizes the drive each year.

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Ryan Klesko Highlights Arbor Day Celebration

Baseball great Ryan Klesko will make a special appearance at Georgia’s official 2009 National Arbor Day Ceremony on Friday, April 24, in Milledgeville. Klesko will be the keynote speaker at the annual event which is co-hosted by the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and Department of Veterans Service at Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery. The public is urged to attend the observance, which begins at 11:00 a.m., and features a commemorative tree planting in honor of all veterans.

“National Arbor Day is an opportunity to acknowledge two valuable American resources,” said Robert Farris, Director of the GFC. “We salute our veterans, who have provided protection to our great country. And, with Georgia tree farmer and baseball hero Ryan Klesko’s support, we recognize the importance of trees, which provide clean air, clean water, and abundant products for every American.”

Ryan Klesko and his fellow Major League baseball colleague, John Smoltz, co-own 1600 acres of Georgia forest land, known as “Big K Farm.” In 2008, the property became the first location to be accepted in the new Georgia Carbon Registry, which provides landowners with official carbon storage and accumulation records that may be used in the emerging market for the sale of carbon offset credits. Trees remove and store an estimated 62 million tons of carbon dioxide annually from Georgia’s atmosphere.

In addition to comments by Klesko and Farris, the ceremony will include a performance by the Georgia Military Band and free GFC tree seedlings will be distributed, while they last.
Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery is located in Milledgeville on Highway 112 (Vinson Highway). For detailed directions and further information about the ceremony and about services of the GFC, visit GaTrees.org. For more information about Georgia’s Carbon Sequestration Registry, visit gacarbon.org.
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Coalition Forces' Word Builds Solid Foundation at Iraqi School

School officials and students took part in a ceremony at Michal al-Hurria, a small school in the Abu Ghraib district in Baghdad , to honor the hard work of coalition forces who were instrumental in renovating the school.

"The building was constructed in 1970 and has not received any repairs or upgrades since its opening," a spokesman for the school principal said.

The pipes were leaky and the wires were frayed, the spokesman said, but hopes for the renovation remained.

"Teachers have tried for many years to get the school repaired, and many have made promises, but none have kept their word but the [coalition forces]," the spokesman said.

Standing in front of the school, the principal's spokesman thanked the coalition forces and said they demonstrated dedication and put it into action. The school's needs were tremendous, he added, and the coalition forces delivered.

"The school was in pretty bad shape," said Army Capt. Jackie Manton, a native of Baton Rouge, La., and officer in charge of the 225th Engineer Brigade's Task Force Iron Paxton. "Some of the things replaced were sewer pipes, broken windows, water pumps, water coolers, electrical sockets and switches. Generators and window-type air conditioners were also added."

The principal's spokesman said the school never had witnessed a renovation program. The renovation has made the staff and students very happy, he added, and they owe their deepest gratitude to all those involved in the process.

"The renovation of the school has motivated us and given us the confidence to keep it up," one teacher said.

Although a majority of the renovations have been completed, a few things still need to be done, such as adding a playground for the kids. "When the 225th Engineer Brigade's name is put on something," Manton said, "we want to make sure it is done right."

(author Army Staff Sgt. Peter Ford serves in the Multinational Division Baghdad public affairs office.)
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Medics Turn Aid Station Into Afghan Emergency Room

Outside Forward Operating Base Blessing here, combat medics serving with 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, spend every morning combing through a crowd of sick or injured Afghans desperate for medical attention.

"This is their [emergency room]," Army Spc. Danielle Lafoille of Manistique, Mich., said. "If something happens, this is where they are going to come."

Since arriving at Blessing in July, the 1st Infantry Division soldiers have treated more than 4,000 Afghans, some walking as long as two days for treatment.

Although they've mostly handled minor ailments such as cuts and runny noses, the aid station soldiers have seen their fair share of major injuries.

"We see burns, lacerations; we do get gunshot wounds, major bone breaks. Just a huge variety of things [like] you see in the local U.S. trauma room," said Army Spc. Timothy Lickiss, a combat medic from Chester, Calif.

They also see ailments that are unusual in the United States.

"Right now we're treating two patients who had hot tar spilled on them during an industrial accident," said Army Spc. Jeremy Shepler, combat medic.

"He was only wearing sandals," one of the station's two physicians said of one of the patients. "If this was the U.S., he would have been required to wear rubber boots and gloves. Now he's just lucky he's going to keep his feet."

Because of occupational safety regulations and vaccinations in the United States, Shepler said, medics here see many ailments they don't see at home. "If they had a higher standard of hygiene or health care, a lot of these illnesses would be removed," he said.

Although U.S. servicemembers have been working with Afghan physicians since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, many clinics in Konar province still do not have the knowledge to properly treat these types of injuries, causing many villagers to turn to the Americans for help.

"[The local clinics] are great at some things, but then they'll miss some simple things," Shepler said. "They may have the technology to do X-rays, but they end up applying bandages like tourniquets."

With only one surgeon and one physician's assistant, the aid station is not always able to provide higher levels of care. If necessary, the soldiers will evacuate the injured Afghans to other bases with better facilities.

As the end of their deployment nears, the soldiers know they have made a difference among the Afghan people.

"They come to us knowing that we have the knowledge and experience to make sure that they get better," Shepler said.

(author Army Sgt. Matthew C. Moeller serves with the 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.)
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Bataan Memorial Death March Honors World War II Soldiers

The resounding boom of cannon fire broke the sound of thousands of participants talking as they waited in anticipation March 29 for the start of the 2009 Bataan Memorial Death March.

This year, the 26.2-mile event at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., included more than 5,300 participants from 50 states and eight countries, including the Philippines, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom.

While individuals marched for their own reasons, they all came together for the same purpose: to honor the soldiers, who were part of the Bataan Death March during World War II.

The Bataan Death March occurred in 1942 after the Japanese attacked the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines, where American and Filipino soldiers were stationed. After three months of fighting the Japanese with insufficient weapons and dwindling supplies, the American and Filipino soldiers were ordered to surrender April 9, 1942.

The Japanese forced the soldiers to march more than 60 miles with nearly no food or water. The prisoners were subjected to heinous acts of torture and many were killed or perished while marching. Some of the soldiers who survived the march spent the next three years in Japanese prisoner of war camps until freed in 1945.

The opening ceremony for the march included a roll call of the New Mexico National Guard survivors, who were members of the 200th and 515th Coast Artillery units.

One by one, the names of those living and deceased were called out as a reminder of what's called America's "Greatest Generation."

Some of the Bataan survivors lined up along the starting line and shook hands with the racers as a show of gratitude to those who were marching in their honor.

Young and old marched side by side on the rugged terrain with runners, military personnel carrying rucksacks weighing at least 35 pounds, and wounded warriors marching on prosthetic limbs.

Each participant was determined to finish the march and could be heard inspiring others no matter how much their body ached and feet hurt.

Tabitha Baker recalled the moment she crossed the finish line. "The proudest moment was ... seeing the survivors waiting there to commemorate the participants for completing the march. As I shook the survivor's hand I said, 'It is an honor to meet you.' He looked at me, held my hand and answered, 'No, it is an honor to meet you.'

"It is amazing to see these men ... have so much pride and admiration for the soldiers of today."

As each year passes, there are fewer living Bataan veterans, but the responsibility to keep the memory alive will never perish.

(author Army Staff Sgt. Anna Doo serves with the New Mexico National Guard.)

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Shooter Aims for 2012 Paralympics

An infantryman for most of his Army career, Army Staff Sgt. Josh Olson never dreamed he would someday become an internationally ranked shooter with the Army's World Class Athlete Program.

But everything changed for Olson after losing his right leg in an attack during a deployment to Iraq in 2003.

"I was going to get out of the military," Olson said. "I was an infantryman, and I knew I couldn't do that anymore, so I just wanted to get out. Then this opportunity came up and it gave me a renewed sense of duty and honor."

That opportunity was a call from U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit recruiters to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where Olson was undergoing physical therapy. Olson had been participating in a program that provides hunting, fishing and outdoor sports events to recovering soldiers. When medical center officials asked if any soldiers were interested in an AMU recruiting trip here, Olson jumped at the chance.

"When I found out I could do this, I was like, 'Yeah, absolutely, let's do it!'" he said. "You can't be in the fight, but you have the opportunity to help soldiers who are going to fight. So I'm still contributing, just in a different way."

Since joining the AMU international rifle shooting team in 2005, Olson has risen rapidly through the world of shooting. He competed in the 2006 International Paralympics Committee World Championships and the 2007 Oceanic Games, and earned a spot as an alternate on the 2008 Paralympics team. Today, he's aiming for a spot on the U.S. shooting team at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

"As far as he's come in such a short period of time is amazing," Army Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker, Olson's AMU teammate, said. "He came to us with no international shooting experience and in three years' time, he was an alternate. We expect him to be up on the medal podium in another three years."

To qualify for the Paralympics, Olson will need to shoot at least three qualifying scores in international matches over the next four years. He expects to have shot at least two by the end of this year.

Olson's dedication and positive attitude have set an example for the entire unit, Parker said.

"He's always had a positive attitude," Parker said. "That's one of the great things about him. You look at him and sometimes you can see that he's not feeling great, but he's out there putting out 100 percent. He's a great motivator. He's contributed to our mission in every possible way."

Olson said that knowing his AMU teammates are counting on him helps keep him motivated during tough times.

"On days I don't want to get up and come to training and I'm kind of feeling sorry for myself, I think, 'Hey look, there are people counting on you, so you need to get out there and work your butt off,'" he said.

He credits his injury with allowing him to serve and represent his country in new ways.

"Without me getting injured, I would have never gotten the opportunity to come here and shoot," he said. "Being wounded might have closed some doors, but it opened others in other places. And this is one of the places it opened up -- for me to be able to compete, shoot and train troops and still be contributing to the war effort.

"Being a disabled veteran, to go out and wear U.S.A. on your jacket and to hear them announce you -- 'Now shooting for the U.S., Josh Olson' -- that's a pretty big deal. I can't represent the U.S. as a deployed soldier, but now I represent them on a whole new battlefield -- the athletic field."

Photo: Army Staff Sgt. Josh Olson trains with a .22-caliber rifle at Fort Benning, Ga. Olson, a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit's international rifle team, spends about 15 hours training each week and participates in between 10 and 15 national and international matches each year. Olson is the only wounded warrior in the AMU. Courtesy photo

(Author Caroline Gotler works at the Fort Benning public affairs office.)

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Annual Fundraiser Supports Local Troops

Helen Denton, former secretary to General Dwight D. Eisenhower, (left) takes a break from the fun to pose with Linda Mosley, bus driver and organizer of the cookout.

The smell of hotdogs roasting on the grill and displays of red, white and blue in the bus shop could only mean one thing. It was time for the annual Cookout for the Troops hosted by the Fayette County School System’s Transportation Department.

Seven years and counting, the department has hosted the fundraiser to generate funds to purchase gift cards for the county’s men and women serving in the U.S. military. Approximately, 300 people attended this year’s event that netted $2,500. All proceeds collected will enable the transportation department to send gift cards to deployed troops throughout the year as well as provide Christmas gifts.

Fayette residents who have a friend or loved one serving in the military can request to have a gift card sent to their solider by mailing his or her name and address to: The Troops, 210 Stonewall Avenue, Fayetteville, GA 30214. Please include a local contact and telephone number.

Each March, the county’s school bus drivers and monitors work countless hours organizing the cookout, going door to door to Fayette businesses soliciting prizes for drawings and monetary donations. The drivers also provide the food and desserts that are enjoyed by those who attend.

Businesses throughout the county generously supported this year’s cookout by donating prizes that included handmade quilts, rugs, jewelry, gift certificates and artwork. Those supporting the event were Autera Health Clinic, Classic Landscaping, Trinity Air, Clearly Fun Soap, Bella Bronze Tanning, Mary Kay, Permanent Beauty Solution, Images by Rainey, Publix 799, Andy’s Nursery, Petro Flame, J&J Grading, ACE Hardware, Brooks Hair Boutique, Braelinn Village Family Dentistry, Restored, Play It Again Sports, Second Hand Sam, Odds & Ends Carpentry, Margaret Sullivan (flower pen lady), Juice+, Queen’s Jewels, Kedron Merle Norman, Allan Vigil Ford, Clarks Pressure Washing and Painting, Images Gallery and Studio, Wags to Whiskers, The Way of the Horse, Camm Inspections, Hudson Produce, Pearl Lady, Pinson Trucking, Red Neck Gourmet, Big Daddy’s Oyster Bar, Stevie B’s Pizza and Jafra Cosmetics.

Students in Fayette Middle's after school art class helped promote the fundraiser by designing posters that were used to advertise the cookout. The transportation department gave lollipops to the students as a token of appreciation for their efforts.

As the years go by, more people are learning about the fundraiser and are becoming involved. This year veterans from the Riverdale VFW Post 3650 were in attendance along with a very special member of their post, Helen Denton. Denton, who joined the Army in 1943 at the age of 21, played a major role in the history of the United States. Serving as General Dwight D Eisenhower’s secretary, she typed the plans for the liberation of Europe, better known as D-Day.

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I’m A Relic

From 1948 to 1973, young men were required to register for the draft when they reached the age of 18 years of age, during both peacetime and times of conflict. The idea was that these men would be drafted into the military, to fill the positions that couldn’t be filled through voluntary enlistment. In 1973, the draft ended and the registration requirement was suspended in April 1975. Men who were drafted into the military during that time period, saw combat in several combat situations that our country was involved in. In 1980, the registration requirement was reinstated by President Carter and it continues today. However, since the draft ended in 1973, no men have been called to duty through the system... (click below to continue reading, it will take you to A Soldier's Mind blog)

We highly recommend this blog to our readers:
http://soldiersmind.com/2009/02/11/im-a-relic/
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Our Soldiers are Impressive!

I have been wandering around the "Multi-National Force - Iraq" (MNF) website reading a few of the stories. I continue to be astounded by the goodness of our military.

Gen. Jack Wheeler started sending the MNF newsletter to me a while back. I was so impressed with the content, I tracked down an address and asked for permission to reprint the stories. Turns out the guy who responded to my request in the affirmative was none other than our very own Fred Wellman! He no longer lives in Peachtree City, of course, but many of you will probably remember him. He is a great example of all that makes our military so impressive in so many ways.

The world just gets smaller and smaller.

If you aren't reading about the great things happening in Iraq I'd encourage you to do so. We (Fayette Front Page and Georgia Front Page) try to share some of the good articles and info we receive in our daily update from American Forces Press Service and other sources. If we thought you'd read it, we'd include every bit of positive info that's sent our way. Truthfully, there's so much good news we'd probably have to hire additional staff to post it all.

If you'd like to keep up with Fred Wellman (LTC Frederick P. Wellman, Chief of Public Affairs, Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq), here's a link to his blog, "Armed and Curious, Home of the Heavily Armed Tourist" (great title!): http://armedandcurious.blogspot.com/

Here's a link to a page with a list of current articles on MNF: http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=1&id=1&Itemid=224

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Hero of Hudson River Crash Landing Got Start in Air Force

The pilot who crash-landed a crippled airliner in New York's Hudson River this afternoon, saving 155 lives on board, is an Air Force Academy graduate who received his pilot training in the Air Force.

Chelsey B. "Sully" Sullenberger steered US Airways Flight 1549 toward the river when both engines failed less than five minutes after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport. All 150 passengers and five crew members survived the incident.

Sullenberger is an Air Force Academy graduate who served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1980, according to his resume posted on the homepage of his company, Safety Reliability Methods, Inc.

He was an U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom II fighter pilot who served as a flight leader and training officer in Europe and the Pacific. He was also the Blue Force mission commander during Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

President George W. Bush and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg were among the first to publicly laud Sullenberger for quick thinking and heroism that averted a catastrophe.

Bloomberg noted during an early evening news conference that Sullenberger did not leave the aircraft as it floated in the river until he had confirmed that every passenger had been safely evacuated.

"It would appear the pilot did a masterful job of landing in the river and making sure everybody got out," Bloomberg said. "I had a long conversation with the pilot. He walked the plane twice and made sure that everybody was out."

Bush, in a statement released by the White House, said his adminstration is coordinating with state and local officials to respond to the incident as it monitors the situation.

"Laura and I are inspired by the skill and heroism of the flight crew as well as the dedication and selflessness of the emergency responders and volunteers who rescued passengers from the icy waters of the Hudson," he said. "We send our thoughts and prayers to all involved in the accident."
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
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Future Airman Loses 160 Pounds, Gains Confidence

Note: We debated on whether to add this to Military Matters or this blog, Salute Our Military. Obviously, we decided to include it here since this gentleman deserves a huge salute along with the military for being his ultimate goal!

For the past 15 months, Leo Knight-Inglesby has pushed himself beyond the limits he and his loved ones ever thought possible.

The 22-year-old Silver Spring, Md., native shed more than 160 pounds to meet the physical standard of Air Force enlistment, amazing his recruiter, family and friends.

"No one believed I would do it till I showed them the [enlistment] papers," Knight-Inglesby said. "My life has completely changed. Not only am I stronger, physically, I am mentally stronger and more confident."

Today, the former 351-pound college freshman noshes only on healthy food, limits his daily caloric intake and exercises at least five days a week. Although he maintains the same smile, he looks like a different person at about 190 pounds, his recruiter, Air Force Staff Sgt. Ty Lopez, said.

"He's well on his way to making his goal of 185 pounds before heading to basic military training," Lopez said.

Knight-Inglesby is scheduled to enter basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in March, but said he hopes to attend earlier if a spot becomes available.

The 317th Recruiting Squadron recruiter caught Knight-Inglesby's attention in the summer of 2007 while speaking about Air Force opportunities to a group of people near a local community college.

"I wasn't getting much interest out of anyone except an obviously overweight guy in the back of the group," Lopez recalled. "He asked me questions that I gladly answered in hopes that the other guys in the group would become interested. At the end of our conversation, Leo said he wanted to join."

The recruiter told the young man he looked heavier than the maximum allowable weight to enlist, and that at his height he needed to weigh under 202 pounds to join. A week later, Knight-Inglesby visited Lopez, tipping the recruiting office scale at 347 pounds and leading the future airman to a serious evaluation of his life.

"My uncle was overweight and had a massive heart attack, and I didn't want that to happen to me" he said. "I knew I had to get my life on track, and I wanted the benefits the Air Force offers."

The potential to travel overseas, especially to Germany, remains a powerful motivator for Knight-Inglesby, as does his father's encouragement to serve in the military. Both his grandfathers and father served in the Army, and his brother serves in the Navy.

The only issue that kept Knight-Inglesby from becoming an airman earlier was his girth, he said.

Lopez said Knight-Inglesby's weight loss gave him insight on the power of personal determination. When Knight-Inglesby proved he was serious about making the standard, Lopez joined him at the gym and helped the future airman continue when he reached a plateau in his weight loss at 220 pounds.

"We worked hard and he would never give up," Lopez said. "No matter how hard I worked him or how tired he got, he would keep going and ask for more.

"As a recruiter, we get hung up on time management," he continued. "I have 28 high schools and colleges to visit every month in addition to scheduled appointments. Applicants 15 to 20 pounds overweight say they want to join and that they'll lose the weight, then I never hear from them again. But based on Leo's case, now I'll think twice about not taking them seriously."
By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
Special to American Forces Press Service
(Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey serves in the Air Force Recruiting Service public affairs office.)
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Troops Spend Christmas Eve Donating Supplies to Afghan Village School

While people around the world made their final Christmas preparations, members of the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team, and Chaparhar Police Mentor Team, visited a school in the Terelay Village, of the Chaparhar district, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, Dec. 24, 2008, to distribute clothes and school supplies.

The teams first met with several elders from the village allowing the elders to discuss the current conditions in Terelay, the surrounding villages and the district.

"One of the PRT's goals is to bolster education and healthcare within the Nangarhar province," said Army Maj. Gary Knoer, Nangarhar PRT, Civil Affairs team leader. "Our visit today helped us assess the village, school and the needs of the students. By building a school facility that can accommodate the students indoors instead of their current outdoor classrooms, children will be able to attend regardless of weather."

Knoer said improving the conditions in which Afghan children receive a quality education is vital to the long-term stability of the area.

"The education of this generation is very important for the future of the country," he said. "The elders in every village I have visited have expressed this need."

If the project is approved for funding, the PRT hopes to build more classroom facilities and a security wall for the existing school.

Following the meeting, the teams donated several boxes of school supplies, clothes and radios to the elders and school's administrators. The troops also visited a few of the outdoor classes in session to personally hand out some of the supplies.

"These missions have a profound impact on the overall operation here," Knoer said. "The people here are like parents anywhere in the world; they have one priority and that is the needs of their children. When we show them that we care for their children, the same as we would our own, it means more to them than any other thing we could give them."

Knoer said that conducting this mission during the holiday season made it that much more special for the teams.

"There is an extra special feeling doing things this time of year, because it's the time of year we are supposed to be giving," said Knoer, who spent last Christmas serving in Iraq. "I am sure that all of us here would rather be home with our families on Christmas. However, when we look back at our lives in 20-30 years, this will probably be the Christmas that will come to mind before all others."

The Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team is responsible for assisting the provincial, district and local governments in Nangarhar Province with their governance, security and reconstruction efforts. The team is currently working on approximately 60 projects worth more than $75.3 million in the province.

(Author Air Force Capt. Dustin Hart serves with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division PAO, Nangarhar PRT)
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Patriotic Light Display in Fayette County

A special thank you to all of our men and women who proudly serve our country.

Editor's Note:

This light display is part of the Gaddy gift to Fayette County, Georgia, each year. For a number of years, the Gaddy family gears up in October to decorate their yard with lights galore. Tis their gift to the county. Their light show is much loved by young and old alike. It's a great way to get into the spirit of the holidays.

Thank you.

Photo by Fayette Front Page Staff

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B 98.5 Wants Help Saying Merry Christmas to Soldiers

http://b985.com/steveandvikki/operationhohohope.html

Steve and Vikki want to make sure none of our servicemen and women are forgotten around the holidays. You’ll find a list of names below of Georgia Soldiers at a camp in Iraq. We’re asking our great B 98.5 FM listeners to buy a holiday card, pick a solider from the list below, and write a personal message of "hope" to them. Then, send the card to us, and we will forward all of them at once.

Instructions:
1.Pick a soldier's name below.
2.Buy or make a holiday card.
3.Write message of hope inside the card.
4.Address the card with soldier's name first, then under that write:
Operation Ho Ho Hope
C/O Steve and Vikki Show
B98.5FM RADIO
1601. W. Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Ga 30309 5.

Put a stamp on it and send it to us! If your class wants to help as well, the class with the most letters will win a Chic-Fil-A breakfast at their school! Let's get everyone involved in spreading hope to our Soldiers! All cards must be delivered to B98.5FM by 11:59am, Tuesday, December 2nd!
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VA Secretary: America Keeps Lincoln's Promise to Veterans

As he prepares to observe his first Veterans Day as Veterans Affairs secretary, Dr. James B. Peake said he believes the United States is living up to Abraham Lincoln's pledge to care for "him who has borne the battle, and his widow and his orphan."

Those words from Lincoln's second inaugural address are inscribed at the entrance to the Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters here. They serve as a mantra for a VA workforce that provides healthcare to more than 7.5 million veterans and benefits to more than 3.5 million veterans.

Peake said the VA is taking advantage of technology and medical breakthroughs in ways Lincoln would never have dreamed possible . "I think he would be pretty proud," Peake told American Forces Press Service. "He'd say, 'You're fulfilling the promise."

A retired Army lieutenant general, Peake understands the significance of that promise in a way most Americans couldn't. He was wounded twice in battle as an infantry officer during the Vietnam War. His acceptance letter to Cornell University Medical College arrived as he was in the hospital recovering from his wounds.

Following the footsteps laid by his parents -- his father, a medical services officer and his mother -- an Army nurse, Peake attended medical school on an Army scholarship, returned to the Army for his medical internships and residencies and built his career in Army medicine. Ultimately, Peake became the 40th Army surgeon general.

Now Veterans Affairs secretary, Peake said he's gratified by continued support that ensures the VA can continue providing first-class care and benefits for veterans, including those returning from combat.

"Since 2001, the president and Congress have provided the Department of Veterans Affairs with a 98 percent increase in funding, and with the guidance and support to enable VA to honor America's debt to the men and women whose patriotic service and sacrifice have kept our nation free and prosperous," Peake said in his Veterans Day message. Health-care funding alone doubled during the past seven years, he said.

This funding has enabled the VA to reach out to more veterans and provide better, more effective services, he said, listing just a few of many new initiatives. VA hired more new mental-health professionals and expanded its community-based outreach. It opened more Vet Centers and laid plans for more to come. It began putting a fleet of motor coaches into service to take counseling services closer to the veterans who need it.

"We are trying to appropriately leverage technology and the tools to provide access to veterans, no matter where they are," Peake said. "That way, it is not your address that decides whether or not you get your benefits."

Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move authorized by the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 signed into law last month, the VA began offering VA-guaranteed home loans to veterans with more expensive and risky subprime mortgages.

Much of the VA's focus has been on care for the 850,000 newest veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VA hired transition patient advocates to help severely wounded troops and their families work their way through the transition process and federal recovery coordinators to ensure life-long medical and rehabilitative care services and other benefits for families. More claims processors are on boar d to reduce the backlog in processing disability claims.

Peake called these examples an indication that the VA is on the right track in providing care for what we called "the best educated, best trained, best selected military we have ever had coming back, reentering society...to become the next greatest generation."

He praised the commitment of his staff – 31 percent of them veterans themselves – and called them the spirit that makes every day Veterans Day at the VA. "You see that celebrated when you go to our VA," he said. There's a special level of dedication and commitment here."

Tomorrow, as he attends observances at Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam Memorial, then sits down to dinner with patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Peake said he'll feel gratified to see the United States observe the commemoration President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919.

He urged all Americans to recognize Veterans Day, either at the 33 major national observances taking place across the country, or in simpler, more private ways that honor veterans and their service. "Participation in Veterans Day can be as simple as putting out the porch flag or reminding youngsters of the story of a relative who served in the military," he said.

Veterans Day is as important today as ever, perhaps even more so, Peake said. With just 1 percent of the U.S. population serving in uniform to protect liberties for the other 99 percent, Veterans Day offers a time to reflect and remember, he said.

"It's important for everybody to realize the debt that we owe those who serve this nation," Peake said. "Without the service of our veterans, we wouldn't have the freedoms we enjoy today...Their bravery, their resourcefulness and their patriotism mark them as our nation's finest citizens."
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Coalition Has Entered 'Endgame' in Iraq, Gates Says

Amid an 80-percent drop in violence and with further withdrawals of U.S. forces in sight, the coalition in Iraq has reached the "endgame," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today.

"I believe we have now entered that endgame – and our decisions today and in the months ahead will be critical to regional stability and our national security interests for years to come," he told the Senate Armed Service Committee during a hearing on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Highlighting success in Iraq are reductions in U.S. casualties and overall violence, and the handover of Anbar province this month to Iraqi authority. Anbar, the 11th of 18 provinces now under Iraqi control, once was a hotbed of the Sunni insurgency and the scene of some of the war's most contentious fighting.

In testimony the secretary submitted to lawmakers, he cited other measures of progress, including "incremental but significant" progress by the Iraqi parliament and -- with the exception of Iran -- an increased willingness on the part of Iraq's neighboring countries to engage with Baghdad and help to stabilize the country.

But Gates tempered his analysis, saying serious challenges remain, including the failure of Iraq's parliament to pass an election law, which likely will delay a planned election until December and could increase the possibility of politically motivated violence.

"Our military commanders do not yet believe our gains are necessarily enduring, and they believe that there are still many challenges and the potential for reversals in the future," he said.

The secretary characterized the situation in Iraq as fragile, but said current conditions mark vast improvements since early 2007, when Gates became Pentagon chief.

"When I entered office, the main concern was to halt and reverse the spiraling violence in order to prevent a strategic calamity for the United States and allow the Iraqis to make progress on the political, economic and security fronts," he said. "Although we all have criticisms of the Iraqi government, there can be no doubt that the situation is much different – and far better – than it was in early 2007."

The secretary credited Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the former commander in Iraq who oversaw a 33,000-troop surge and the ensuing drop in violence there, with a "brilliant performance" during his nearly 20-month tenure. Petraeus last week relinquished command of Multinational Force Iraq to Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno and will take charge of U.S. Central Command in October.

Further, Gates called the relationship between Petraeus and U.S. Ambasador to Iraq Ryan C. Crocker a superb model of military-civilian partnership.

"Beyond their own brilliant individual performances, the Petraeus-Crocker team ... [is] one that should be studied and emulated for years to come," the secretary said.

Earlier this month, Gates accepted recommendations on the way forward in Iraq from Petraeus and from Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. David D. McKiernan, commander of NATO's International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, Army Lt. Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, acting CentCom commander, and the service chiefs.

"Although each viewed the challenges from a different perspective, weighing different factors, all once again arrived at similar recommendations," Gates said.

After receiving recommendations from the Defense Department, President Bush this month announced that some 8,000 U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Iraq by February without being replaced. This announcement comes after the drawdown of the five Army brigade combat teams, two Marine battalions and the Marine expeditionary unit that were sent to Iraq as part of the surge.

Meanwhile, withdrawal of 3,400 noncombat forces – including aviation personnel, explosive ordnance teams, combat and construction engineers, military police, and logistics support teams – began this month, will continue through the fall and will be completed in January, Gates said. In addition, a Marine battalion stationed in Anbar will return in November, and another Army brigade combat team will return by early February.

"The bottom-line point is that the drawdowns associated with the president's announcements do not wait until January or February, but in fact have begun," Gates said, calling the planned reductions an "acceptable risk today" that preserves a broad range of options for the next president. He added that the withdrawals "also provide for unforeseen circumstances in the future."

Gates said the continuing drawdowns are possible because of the success in reducing violence and building Iraqi security capacity. "Even with fewer U.S. troops in Iraq, the positive trends of the last year have held – and in some cases steadily continued in the right direction," he said.

The secretary urged that American leaders implement "cautious and flexible" strategies, and to expect to be involved in Iraq for years to come, albeit in changing and increasingly limited ways.

"As we proceed deeper into the endgame, I would urge our nation's leaders to implement strategies that, while steadily reducing our presence in Iraq, are cautious and flexible and take into account the advice of our senior commanders and military leaders," he said.
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Face of Defense: Soldier Leads by Being Part of Team

During a World War II battle in Holtzwihr, France, a wounded U.S. soldier climbed into a burning tank, took a spot behind a .50-caliber machine gun and fired until the enemy was vanquished.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Oberst watches the soldiers in his platoon conduct vehicle inspections northwest of Baghdad. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. J.B. Jaso III, Multinational Division Baghdad
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

At the age of 19, Audie Murphy was awarded the Medal of Honor, and to this day, he inspires military leaders and soldiers – especially Army Sgt. 1st Class Ernest Oberst.

"As a kid, I used to watch the Audie Murphy biography 'To Hell and Back' on TV, and I wanted to be a soldier. He was my hero," Oberst said.

Oberst joined the Army three months after graduating from high school in Gladstone, Mich.

Now a platoon sergeant in Multinational Division Baghdad with 1st Platoon, Company B, 52nd Infantry Regiment, attached to the 25th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Oberst is responsible for the 33 soldiers in his platoon. He takes care of administrative paperwork, leads patrols, makes sure each soldier has the right equipment and takes care of any issues that may arise, whether personal or work related.

"I do anything a mom or dad does," he said jokingly.

Oberst has served in the Army for 14 years, and said he believes the best way to lead his soldiers is by setting an example for them and sharing the load.

"You can't just supervise; you have to be a part of the team," he said. "If my soldiers are out digging for caches, you won't find me sitting in the truck. I'm an able body that can work, and I'll be out there digging with them."

His soldiers describe him as a well-rounded leader who maintains discipline and has the ability of doing the right thing at the right time, every time.

"No matter what the mission is, Oberst is the first one on the ground and the last one back in the vehicle. That's just his style," Army Cpl. Zachary Manuel said. Sgt. Lucas Collins said Oberst will give any soldier a chance to succeed.

"When I came into this unit, I had two blown-out knees," said Collins, a team leader. "In the infantry, you are looked at as done. I was going to be chaptered out, but he gave me the chance to get better."

Three years later, Collins is awaiting promotion to staff sergeant and said a great amount of what he's learned is attributable to Oberst.

"He has shown me that taking care of my soldiers is No. 1," he said. "And if something needs to be done, make sure it gets done." Oberst not only makes sure the job gets done, but also ensures the job gets done right the first time, Collins added.

"He requires the best out of his men and expects nothing less," Manuel said. "For that reason, he gets the best."

Author Army Pfc. Lyndsey Dransfield serves in Multinational Division Baghdad with the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office.
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