Back in the Saddle Again

Military News….

US, British strike at least 60 targets, 28 locations in Yemen
The Houthis have vowed to retaliate for the strikes.

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US Military Can’t Sustain Arctic Operations, ‘Let Alone Dominate,’ Experts Say


US airstrike kills Iranian-backed militia leader in Baghdad
Iranian proxies wage war on land and at sea.
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It has been over three months since I last posted. I doing some whining and move on.

Back in October, I went to sleep on a Sunday night. I woke the next morning screaming in pain. My wife didn’t know what to do to help me so she called 911.

The ambulance took me to the ER. They checked me out and sent me to the hospital.

I was in the hospital for six days. On the fourth day. I had a near death experience. I was laying on my bed, and the nurse left me check the main monitor in the other room. She left instantly and came back with three doctors and several nurses.

They all were checking my blood pressure monitor. What happened was that my blood pressure dropped from a normal 125/65 in less that five minutes to 80/50. They did some things, and my blood pressure went back to normal eventually.

I was told later that I was going to die if it kept dropping.

Two days later I was sent to a rehab facility. There I learned to walk again with a walker. It was slow and painful. I progressed a little each day. I was working with PT and OT specialists. They did a wonderful job helping me.

I got out of rehab 30 days later, and was sent home. That was a total of one month!

I have done a lot of progress since then. This is my first time at the computer in three months.

I thank all the people who worked with me to get me back to a living person.

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I was close this now, as I am having trouble sitting in chairs for very long.

I will post again on Monday.

A Very Important Book For Veterans, About PTSD is Available at Amazon

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Military news…

Army Gen. Cavoli tells senators that NATO expansion could force Russia to move troops in the Baltic region
Gen. Christopher Cavoli, the nominee to be the next commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Europe, said adding Finland and Sweden would give NATO a footprint over almost the entire Baltic Sea coastline.

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Air Force squadron throws itself birthday bash in German skies

It was a sight rarely seen over Ramstein: Nine C-130J Super Hercules airplanes flying in formation and dropping 90 paratroopers onto a grassy landing zone between two runways.

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Marine Corps now has 2 fully operational F-35B stealth fighter squadrons in Japan

A second squadron of F-35B Lightning IIs is fully operational at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, bringing the total number of stealth fighters there to 32.

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Alabama Army base may be renamed to decorated veteran Michael Novosel Sr

An Alabama military base, one of many in the South named for Confederate leaders, is slated to be renamed for a Medal of Honor winner from Etna who served as a fearless combat pilot in three wars spanning 30 years.

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Russia test-fires its latest hypersonic Zircon missile

The Russian navy on Saturday conducted another test of a prospective hypersonic missile, a demonstration of the military’s long-range strike capability amid the fighting in Ukraine.

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Korean War vets group dwindling but still active and proud of service in the ‘forgotten war’

On Memorial Day 31 years ago, Korean War veteran Ed Stevens of Kennedy saw a Washington politician on TV giving a speech and invoking World War I, World War II and Vietnam. “But he never said a word about Korea,” Mr. Stevens recalled.

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Russia claims capture of key transport hub, as Zelensky remains defiant

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Saturday its forces now control Lyman, a key transport hub providing access to bridges over the Siversky Donets river, and the British Defense Ministry said most of the town has probably fallen into Russian hands. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sounded a defiant note on Friday, saying: “If the occupiers think that Lyman or Severodonetsk will be theirs, they are wrong.”


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I know a good friend who has written a book just for those who have veterans who are fighting PTSD. It is a wonderful book and I highly recommend you check it out. Here is her closing poem in the book. Get your hankys out:

I Loved Someone With PTSD BY Welby O’brien

I loved someone with PTSD…

Had no clue how hard it would be.

Was I the only one who knew

What PTSD could put you through?

If only just what to say,

or just tried harder to make his day.

Was it me or was it him/

What was the darkness that stole him away?

I cry alone. It hurts so much.

He cannot seem to feel my touch.

Where does he go behind that wall,

or in that cave so dark and small?

His pain is abysmal, locked deep inside.

All he knows is how to hide.

The horrors of war forever torment

This man I love, and won’t relent.

i’m all alone, afraid and torn,

Feel so tired, weary worn.

Please, God, show me what to do

To help us both make it through!

I’m NOT alone, it came to me.

Faith and love can set me free.

Prayers of help, and people who know,

My lifelines of hope to help me grow.

It isn’t him. It isn’t me

It’s only the cruel PTSD.

Though always there, we don’t have to numb,

It just take one day at a time.

I love someone with PTSD,

And I am sure that he loves me.

The pain and struggles we’ll fight each day,

My love for him is here to stay.

I love someone with PTSD,

And I’m so glad he is here with me.

Although it is not always fun

It’s the best thing I have ever done.

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Her book is called, Love Our Vets: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD. You should be able to find it on Amazon. I did.

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Keep coming back to see more excerpts from my own upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on subscribe. When you do all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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Reminder that today is Memorial Day. Honor all those who gave their all for our country, and the millions of veterans who could be your neighbors.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,941 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

One of the Biggest Battles That A Soldier Faces is Fear

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Military news…

The Pentagon is now calling Russia an ‘acute threat’


‘Russia poses acute threats, as illustrated by its brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.’

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Ukraine crisis aside, China remains the ‘primary challenge’ for the US, experts say

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is the immediate concern for global leaders, but the U.S. will continue to focus on China and the Indo-Pacific as its most important competitive arena, international relations experts said.

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NATO steps up defenses over concerns Russia may use chemical attacks
NATO is activating nuclear, biological and chemical defenses in response to concerns that Russia may be preparing a chemical attack on Ukraine, a potential action that the alliance’s top official said Thursday could put neighboring nations at risk.

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North Korea’s latest launch may be a ‘new type’ of intercontinental missile

South Korea answered its northern neighbor’s latest intercontinental ballistic missile test Thursday with a volley of its own as a show of force, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Review of suicide among troops to focus on Army bases in Alaska, South Korea

An independent review ordered this week by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will seek out ideas to stem the increasing number of suicides among soldiers stationed in Alaska and South Korea, as well as some stateside installations.

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US general: Ukraine resistance highlights need to prepare

Ukraine’s stiff resistance to the Russian invasion, which has turned Moscow’s advance into a grinding war of attrition, has underscored the importance to American allies of the need to be prepared for any eventuality, the top U.S. Army commander in the Pacific said Friday.

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Biden on Russia’s Putin: `This man cannot remain in power’
President Joe Biden on Saturday dramatically escalated his rhetoric against Vladimir Putin, calling for the Russian leader to be removed because of his brutal invasion of Ukraine.

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Sitting on a Military Plane Ready to Fly to the Bay of Pigs

I know of some of the fears you face or have faced as a soldier. I have had my share of scary times while in uniform for my country.

I had put in three years of active duty, and was very near to my discharge date while at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. As a matter of fact the discharge date was just days away.

It seemed like a normal day of “putting in your time,” but then there came a sound that I never want to hear again. It was the intercom in our section of the company I was stationed with saying, “This is an alert.” This is not a drill, all personnel report to headquarters for a briefing right away.”

I couldn’t think of why there would be any problems that serious happening, and still thought it was a drill as I ran towards the headquarters building.

When we all assembled, the commander went to the podium and spoke.

“I am here to inform you that all leaves and weekend passes are concealed. We have received a message from the commanding General of the Army to stand by for a possible mission to the Bay of Pigs. This is a very serious mission, which will put you in combat and in harm’s way. Our unit is being deployed, to help monitor the security of the communications while there. We will serve in the field headquarters of the mission. You have about two hours to go home to pack your full field clothes and equipment. Dismissed!”

That was it. No more explanations or chances to ask questions.

I drove home quickly, packed all my gear in a duffel bag.

I got back to the headquarters, and it looked like pandemonium and chaos had sat in, with soldiers running everywhere.  

A few minutes later everyone had made it there and we were all in formation. The commander then told us to come to attention.

We all headed to buses that were waiting to take us to the military airport on base. When we got there, we unloaded and marched to the area of several planes. They had us board the planes with full gear and field uniforms on. The pilot came on to tell us that we will be in a combat area when we land at the Bay of Pigs.

I sat down in my area, and was holding my weapon (M-1 rifle) between my legs. I was numb with fear and anxiety. I had never thought I would actually be in a conflict where I could die.

The plane started its engines. The plane shook as the engines roared to get up to the speed they needed to get off the ground. It taxied to the runway and stopped.

Then we waited for the pilot to push the throttle. We sat there for what seemed like hours. I could see the fear, in the eyes in the soldiers around me. I was only about twenty years old then, and began to see my life unfold before me. I had thoughts of not coming back. I had thoughts of my loved ones I would never see again.

The plane was shaking from the vibrations of the motors. I said a prayer because it looked like we were going to take off. The plane was moving. However, it was not going done the runway. It was heading back to the area where we boarded.

The pilot came on the intercom and said that the mission had been aborted, and we were going back to our companies.

I felt such relief along with men and women around me who were yelling for joy. We were safe and heading back to our homes.

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I only shared this story because I know some of you have gone through the same thing. You also have been sent into combat, and faced the fear of not coming back. I was very lucky, but many of you actually left the ground in your plane, and headed into harm’s way.

Fear is something that is hard to control. Even the most-brave face it. We all have been there in some capacity.

It could be the doctor’s appointment that has information on your health. It also could be the times when you have to leave your loved ones for any mission. It may be the crises of your marriage when your spouse is tired of going through the pain of wondering if you will come back alive.

Did you know that Jesus faced fear? He even asked God to take away the fear by relieving Him of the cup of the responsibility God had placed on Him. He sweated blood during that prayer. God heard the prayer, but let Jesus go through the fear, pain and agony of going to the cross and dying for you and me. 

I am not making it sound like we shouldn’t be afraid. I know we are quite often. I am not saying you are a bad person if you are afraid of something. We all have our spots where we fear the unknown.

I think that is the key. It is the “unknown.” It’s not knowing what will happen next.

What I have learned from so many times of facing fear is that 99% of what we fear never happens. We just need to give the other 01% over to God.

Is it that simple? I can honestly tell you that it is. God has big shoulders. He wants to take the burdens of our day away from us. We just need to depend on Him to keep His promises and know that He will never put us in a situation that we can’t handle with His help.

IWILL

Facing the unknown in life can be very hard. We aren’t built to take on such scary things at times. We just need to rely on God to see us through the dark clouds we face. He knows which way we need to go to avoid harm.

Think on this

Isn’t it interesting that having fear is what we really need to fear?   

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Did you face some fears while in the military?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,200 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.