Many Soldiers Had Near Death Experiences While Serving Their Country.

+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.

________________________________________________________________

Military news…

USS George Washington suicides raise alarm on Capitol Hill as defense secretary admits problem with sailor housing
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a subpanel of the House Appropriations Committee that the Pentagon is awaiting the results of two investigations into the George Washington and figuring out how to lodge sailors in the future after three of the ship’s crew members died in less than one week in April.

_____________________

First US Navy cruiser to pass through Taiwan Strait in 2 years ‘troubles’ China

The guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal steamed through the 110-mile-wide waterway separating China from Taiwan as part of a “routine transit,” U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Mark Langford said in a Wednesday news

_____________________

North Korea to continue developing nuclear and missile programs in 2022, intelligence chief says

North Korea will “continue its nuclear, missile, and military modernization efforts” throughout the year and “leverage” its capabilities during potential negotiations with the United States, intelligence officials testified to lawmakers on Tuesday.

_____________________

Russia pounds vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

Russian troops pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, apparently as part of efforts to disrupt the supply lines and weapons shipments that have been critical to Kyiv’s defense.

_____________________

Finland, Sweden move closer to seeking NATO membership
The Finnish Parliament is expected to endorse the decision in the coming days. A formal membership application will then be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely at some point next week.

_____________________

Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentum

Ukraine said it held off Russian offensives Sunday in the east, and Western military officials said the campaign Moscow launched there after its forces failed to seize the capital of Kyiv has slowed to a snail’s pace.

____________________

Russia actually isn’t as good at information warfare as everyone thought

Russian memes are working about as well as Russian tanks.

_______________________________________________________________

Here is another interview with a WWII veteran. Ira Friedman fought in WWII and Korea. His story has two near death experiences:

I sat with Ira Friedman for a short interview that was loaded with drama:

Tell me of some of your moments that you faced death.

I was getting ready to head to Korea to help fight the war. We were in a hanger in formation, when I saw an old friend from WWII. I wanted to be on the same plane leaving as he was. I raised me hand and requested to be moved from plane one to plane two and the sergeant barked out, NO!

I looked around the hanger and saw a man that looked like he was in charge. He was a captain. I asked him the same question and he refused at first, but I persisted. He shouted, “Get on the damn second plane and get out of my hair.”

I was excited and even sat next to by buddy. About half way to our destination we heard from the pilot that the first plane had crashed killing everyone on board. I was suppose to be on that plane. (Near death experience # 1)

I asked him if there was another time he felt he faced death.

He said that when he was at a briefing in Korea, a Lt. said there was need to have seven men go on a reconnaissance mission. He pointed at me and said, “You are one of them.” I quickly told him none of the men had ever been on reconnaissance. He shouted as he broke his point stick. “That is an order!

Seven of us went on that mission and only three of us came back alive. (Near death experience # 2)

I asked him how he got in two wars

I had just gotten out of the military after WWII when the Korean conflict erupted. They drafted me again because of my experience.

_______________________________________________________________

Come back often to read more amazing interviews with veterans . Many had near death experiences. Better yet, click on the Subscribe tab at the top of this page. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

_______________________________________________________________

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

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,710 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.

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+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.

Interesting Stories From the Military Trenches

+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 for the site, please let them know about it. Your comments will not be seen by other people, just me, and I will connect with you to see if you are OK to share it.

I was thinking back to my military days. Some days were OK, but others not as much. Today I am going to share some of the times I had while enlisted. I am not sure how much I will share, because some are pretty intense.

_________________________________________

While in basic, There was a scary, but good outcome that happened. We had a Native American who was drafted into the Army. He was not a happy camper, and let everyone know about it including our drill sergeant.

Finally our drill sergeant told him to stop whining. He told our drill sergeant to &%#! off. Sergeant McDonald told him to give him ten pushups for saying that. The soldier wouldn’t do it. So Sergeant McDonald told him to come into his room at the head of the barracks.

We all assumed there was going to be a fight. We were right. The native American was strong looking, and SGT MacDonald was only about 5′ 8. We all thought the native American would win. WRONG!!

We heard crashing and groaning. More crashing and groaning. Then it got very quiet. The door opened and SGT Macdonald came staggering out. He looked like he had been hit by a truck. We assumed he had lost.

Then we looked in into his room and the native American was out cold. Our drill SGT won the battle!! SGT MacDonald won all our praise. Even the native American liked him after their fight.

_________________________________________

While in South Korea we had what was called R&R (Rest and recuperation. ) It was me and another buddy’s turn to go. It was a full week, All paid by the military including air fare and a hotel room in Tokyo, Japan. We were pretty excited. We knew we earned it so we didn’t feel bad about doing it.

We we got there, we did a lot of sight seeing. The pagodas, beautiful gardens, and incredible food.

About half way through we decided to visit a disco bar. We got there and we were drinking pretty heavy. I was feeling no pain, when a belly dancer came out on to the floor. They announced that who ever held onto her sequenced skirt the longest would get a prize.

She started around the edge of the floor near the tables. Several other soldiers tried to hold on to her while she shimmied. One or two could do it for a while, but let loose when their hands started hurting.

She came near our table, and I couldn’t resist. I held onto her hips while she wiggled. I kept holding on after she went faster. I still was holding on when she stopped. She was too tired to keep going.

I looked at my hands and they were a bloody mess.

The announcer said that I was the winner, and the prize was free drinks for the rest of the night. Just what I needed right? That was about the last thing I remember from that night.

__________________________________________

Both of these stories are in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of he Trenches of Life.

There are many pages of similar type of stories. All of them have a personal story like above and then they relate to how we all can benefit from it. This is done on purpose to try to reach out those those veterans who may be suffering from PTSD, TBI, Depression, war wounds, etc.

__________________________________________

Time to check on you. How are you doing? Have the rough times we are going through right now caught up to you? Would you like the world to stop and let you off?

You are not alone. There are over 9,800 fellow veterans here who have your back.

However, if it is just too much right now, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there for you who will never hang up until they know you are OK.

!-800-273-8255 ) Option # 1

___________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

____________________________________________

+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 for the site, please let them know about it. Your comments will not be seen by other people, just me, and I will connect with you to see if you are OK to share it.

This WWII Soldier Should Have Died

+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 for the site, please let them know about it. You may be saving a life. Your comments will not be seen by other people, just me, and I will connect with you to see if you are OK to share it.

________________________________________

It is hump day. The rest is down hill for the week.

I have decided to share with you the story of Don Malarkey. He was a WWII veterans who servid in Easy Company for the 101st Airborne division. (The Screamin Eagles)

Why am I sharing his story? He is from my home town of Salem, Oregon.

His company was written in a book called, “The Band of brothers.” He was one of the main caharcters. The book was later made into a mini series with the same name. He was a main charcter in that as well, and played by Scott Grimes.

He was 96 when he passed.

________________________________________

Don was dreafted out of University of Oregon.

Something that wouldn’t happen today. He decided to become a paratrooper. Within months he was assigned to the 101st Airborne division.

During the early hours on D-Day June 6th, 1944, Malarkey parachuted behind enemy lines in support of the allied invasion. Later that day, in a pitched battle, he helped knock out four German 105 mm artillery battery, in action now called the Bre’court Manor Assault. This is still studied at West Point as a classic example of small-unit attack tactics and leadership in overcoming a large enemy force.

Marlarkey was award, among other awards, the Bronze star, the Purple Heart, and in 2009 the Legion of Honor Medal, the highest honor awarded by the French Government.

Back to the “Band of Brothers,” book and mini series. Mararkey appeared on several of the introductory segments that were incorporated into the show.

After the mini series, Malarkey and his Band of Brothers counterparts practically became household names. Malarkey spoke often to college students, and other groups of his experiences. He also traveled with the USO to Army Posts and hospitals in the United States and Europe.

He wa asked how he felt about telling all the experiences he had. he said he was humbled and even a lttle bit embarrassed by the attention he and his fellow Easy Company members had received.

Then he said, “But, then I remember that I owed it to the guys who did not return, as I tell of their courage, trauma and accomplishments.”

It was still a little overwhelming for him , but he was grateful for the letters from people who wanted to say thank you, ask questions, and wanted pictures autographed.

I have another story coming up about another Band of Brothers, who also lived in Oregon. He just passed away last week.

________________________________________

I have been able to interview several WWII veterans.I will tell you about one veteran, and you have to read the book, “Sign of Hope for the Military: In and out of the Trenches of life.,” to see the interview.

Ira Feldman was at the end of WWIl, and was actaully honorabley discharged. Then the Korean war was started, and they drafted him again, because of his knowledge. The following story is about this part of his military carreer:

When he got to the airport to be sent to Korea he happened to see a buudy of his from WWII. They met and told many strores. Then they were separted. In the hanger they were waiting in to fly, a Sargent was calling out names of who was flying on one of the two planes leaving. Ira figured out that his buddy wasn’t going to be on the same plane with him. He went up to the sargent and asked if he could change planes to be with his buddy. The sargent barked and told him no!

Ira was trying to figure out what to do, when he saw an officer along the edge of the hanger looking like he was in cahrge of the whole operation. Ira got brave and walked up to him and asked him the same question. The office got irritated and told him to get back with his men. Ira didn’t budge. He knew this was his last change to fly with his buddy. He explained again to the officer how important it was to be with his friend. The officer finally yelled, “Get out of my face and get on the other plane with your buddy!”

So he was with his buddy and they even sat together. The two planes took off at the same time. Things were going great until he heard from the cockpit that the other plane had crashed. Everyone was killed, and he was suppose to be on that plane!!

There is a trmemneous interview with him on his feelings about the crash and what happened while he was fighting in Korea.

___________________________________________

BTW… I just got exciting news about my up coming book, “Signs of Hope for the military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.” I have a publisher who is very interested. We are in the negotiation stage, and I think we will be working together. More news on this later.

___________________________________________

This is a pretty long post, but I really enjoyed sharing it with you.

How are you doing?

Do the days seem hard and long. Are there days you wish you could forget? You certainly are not alone my friend. There are over 9,600 fellow veterans here who have your back. Reach out to them if you need help.

If it is just too overwhelming right now, GET HELP!

Here is a 24/7mtoll free number for you to call. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you. They will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8225 Option #1

_________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never ever, give up!

+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 for the site, please let them know about it. You may be saving a life. Your comments will not be seen by other people, just me, and I will connect with you to see if you are OK to share it.