Tag: France

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Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels are more than just lucky hits

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Military news…

Soldier who ran into burning helicopter in Vietnam War honored with street name

Sgt. Gary McKiddy was a member of the 1st Squadron, 9th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division, when he was killed in action May 6, 1970, at age 20 in Cambodia after pulling fellow soldier Spc. Jim Skaggs from a burning helicopter.

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The Navy is unprepared to fight in two conflicts at once with current fleet size, the service’s top officer tells senators
The current fleet of about 298 ships “is not sized to handle two simultaneous conflicts,” Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, said during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels are more than just lucky hits

The destruction of at least eight Russian vessels in recent weeks points to an emerging strategic effort to break a Black Sea blockade that is strangling the Ukrainian economy.

North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, South’s military says

North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast on Thursday, according to South Korean military officials.

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Finland will apply to join NATO in decision welcomed by US and allies

Finland’s announcement of its intent to join NATO, prompted by Russia’s war on Ukraine, reverses Finland’s quasi-neutral status, which dates to the Cold War.

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US intelligence officials warn of prolonged war in Ukraine as Russia expands territorial goals
Fighting in Ukraine will be “significant” in the coming months as Russian President Vladimir Putin sets his sights beyond conquering the eastern Donbas region to building a land bridge across the entire Ukrainian Black Sea coast, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Here is another “interview” with WWII veteran. I sat down to interview him, and after the first question, he never stopped talking.

I sat down with WWII veteran Bob Kosta, who is still alive at 97 years old recently, and had a very pleasant surprise. After I asked him one question, he talked for an hour about his experiences:

What rank did you have?

CPL.

I was sent to France to fight in the war with Germany. On the way there our ship’s propellers broke down, and we were dead in the water. There were German subs in the area. We were very lucky to get the propellers fixed before we were spotted. (Near death experience # 1)

Once we landed we pushed our way into the center of France.

While we were maneuvering we came across a cave full of Russian lady’s, who were hiding from the Germans. If they would have been found, they all would have been killed. We got them to safety.

Then at another spot we were pinned down by enemy fire. A buddy and I could only find one spot to hunker down. It was in a furrow. Whereas trenches are over six feet deep. a furrow is only about 12 inches deep, so some of your body was still sticking up. My buddy and I figured we were goners at that time.

Then we heard some equipment making noise behind us. It was two tanks. They came over the top of both of us and they opened the hatch and pulled us in. (Near Death Experience # 2.)

Then we came to some concentration camps. One was full of military people. We set them free. We also came to another centration camp full of Jews. We set them free too.

At another time our vehicle was lost. We tried to find our convoy, and saw one up ahead that we got in behind a followed. After a while we realized it was a German convoy, and exited left. (Near death experience # 3)

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Talk about a wild ride! Bob is a hero in my book. A true greatest generation person. Come back often, because I have at least two other WWII interviews. The both had near death experiences as well. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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This Military Appreciation Month, I hope you will take an extra minute to recognize the sacrifices made by our Nation’s service members.

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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 14,700 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.

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.

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An Incredible Interview With a VA Nurse With Forty Years of Service.

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Military news…

Legally Blind U.S. Army Veteran Sets Personal Best at Boston Marathon

Rob Sanchas, 54, ran the entire 26.2 miles with the assistance of his guide, Jeremy Howard.

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U.S. Soldiers Took Her Birthday Cake in 1945. They Finally Replaced It.

As Meri Mion prepared to celebrate her 90th birthday, U.S. soldiers based in Italy “returned” the birthday cake that was taken from her windowsill in 1945.

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Air Force Wants Big Increase for 2023 Budget to Improve On-Base Housing for Military Families

Funds to improve the dwellings provided by privatized housing companies doubled in the budget request, with around $110 million requested in 2022.

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Military Veteran Receives New Rank at 101 Years Old

More than 55 years after he retired, Chief Warrant Officer Thomas Adams Jr. is now Major Adams. 

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The Navy’s First Medical Ship In 35 Years Will Be Unlike Any Before It

While not a one-to-one replacement for either of the Navy’s huge medical ships, the new vessels will go places they can’t.

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Ukrainian military confirms ‘The Ghost of Kyiv’ is made up

“The Ghost of Kyiv is alive and embodies a collective image,” a Ukrainian military spokesman said.

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NATO fighter jets scrambled ‘multiple times’ this week in response to Russian aircraft

It’s not the first time pilots had to intercept Russian planes.

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Here is another interview for my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. A VA Nurse.

VA Nurse

Thank you so much for allowing me to interview you. How long were you a nurse?

Nurse: I worked 40 years with the last six as a VA nurse.

Did you like working for the VA?

I loved it much more than the regular nursing. I was able to make my own decisions.

I had to understand that they were not going to get well. I helped a man who was a double amputee. It was very rewarding.

How did you know what to do with each patient?

Had to find out what they needed through texting other nurses, and what their doctor shared as far as their basic needs. In other words; VA was “live.”

You said the work was rewarding. Can you explain that a little more?

My heart grew with each patient.

Tell me about some of the patients?

I had on patient that had wounds all over his body. He was tortured by testing his skin with different bacteria.

Another patient was traumatized. Yet another committed suicide.

That must have been hard. Are there other stories you can share?

There was another tortured veteran. They put rats in his mouth. They did waterboarding on him. They kept him awake with blaring music. They played the same songs over and over again. This made him sleep deprived.

These stories had to affect you. Did some veterans share with you how they felt when coming home from Vietnam?

Taxis wouldn’t even pick them up if they knew they were veterans. There were people waiting at the airport for the veterans to land, and they screamed at them as they came through their lines.

Were most of your veterans Vietnam veterans?

No one veteran was only thirty years old. He had PTSD and TBI (Traumatic brain injury.) His wife now has to take care of him and his mental wounds. He was shot in the head.

I am not sure how you could do this day after day.

I wouldn’t have done nursing for 40years if I didn’t think it was rewarding.

I have heard there are some sexual harassment, and sexual abuse in the military. Have you had to deal with that?

There was a female soldier who was raped and got pregnant. She is now raising the child.

Another woman was raped and got military compensation. She has PTSD and cannot function.

Yet another woman from WWII was raped. She got syphilis and died from it.

(If you or anyone you know have faced sexual harassment, or sexual abuse in the military, there is now a number you can call for help: 1-800-692-966… You can get help and even compensation.)

MST (Military sexual trauma) even has a course that is six weeks long that can help people.

Any other interesting stories you can share?

I took a trip to Normandy Beach, France. I walked the beach to see all the graves around the towns. They showed us where to boats came in. We saw the trenches and the fox holes. I went to a WWII museum. They had bombers.

This is an amazing story of your life as a nurse. Do you have any feel good stories to wrap this up? 

A Vietnam veteran adopted a child from Vietnam, because they came home without their parents.

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Incredible interview! I have more to share in future posts so keep coming back. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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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 14,572 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.

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.

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One of The hardest Things to do in the Military is to Keep Marriages Working Smoothly

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Military news…

US special operations presses on in Ukraine amid threat of Russian invasion
U.S. special operators are continuing with a mission to build up an elite fighting force in Ukraine, military officials said, even as Russia threatens invasion.

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US forces in Germany contend with soaring COVID numbers as country reaches new pandemic record

In the Kaiserslautern area, 68 new infections among U.S. forces were confirmed last week, which is believed to be the highest on record, according to a report.

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Celebrated Tuskegee Airman Charles McGee dies at 102

Charles McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who flew 409 fighter combat missions over three wars and later helped to bring attention to the Black pilots who had battled racism at home to fight for freedom abroad, died Sunday.

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France gives its highest honor to 100-year-old WWII paratrooper from Florida who fought on D-Day

France officially thanked Earl Mills at his farm in Live Oak, Fla., almost 78 years after he parachuted from a U.S. Army plane over Normandy, part of a wave of Allied soldiers determined to liberate the country and the rest of Europe from the threat of the Nazi regime.

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Amid Labor Shortage, Army Offers Largest Enlistment Bonus Ever

The Army offered $50,000 enlistments bonuses to incentivize recruits to join amid the labor shortage aggravated by the pandemic.

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U.S. Considers Backing an Insurgency if Russia Invades Ukraine

Senior Biden administration officials warned that the United States could throw assets, including offensive weapons, intelligence, and cyber behind a Ukrainian insurgency if Russia invades Ukraine.

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Milley, Berger, Test Positive For COVID-19

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. David Berger, tested positive for COVID-19 and were experiencing mild symptoms.

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Here is another excerpt from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

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Marriage is not a Four Letter Word

Sometimes the military life has its low moments and one of them is how a marriage is in danger whenever a soldier is deployed. It seems that the spouse that has been left behind seeks companionship, or feels alone too much. Even the soldier deployed seems distant and has their minds on other things instead of connections with family.

This is not the fault of either party. In the military people are separated many times. It takes a strong commitment on the part of both people involved to make the marriage last.

This certainly isn’t a perfect marriage. There is the saying, “A ‘perfect marriage,’ is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.”

It takes a lot of sacrifice from both people to keep the, “home fires burning.”

If you are in the same boat as many soldiers or veterans are, try to check out your priorities. Is your marriage important to you? Do you feel that your spouse is worth the effort to learn how to compromise?

Most of you say a quick yes, because your spouse is the father/mother of your children, if you have any. Think of the children. They need both parents. The rate of divorces in this world is alarming.

When I retired from teaching I had classes where over 50% of the children in my classes where from broken homes.

Yes, it is hard when you are separated from your family. I have a son who was a career soldier, and he was separated from his wife for two tours of Iraq, and many other missions while he was in the army. He is still very happily married to his wife, and they are closer now then they have ever been.

It isn’t easy to go through separations, but if you really want your marriage to remain solid, it has to start with you. You have to go the extra mile to reach out to your loved one. They will try as well if you show real commitment to them each and every day.

Don’t give up on your marriage. Work hard at keeping it going. Seek counseling, or take steps to show your spouse that they are the most important person in your world. They will believe you and return the love.

IWILL

There are times when we feel that it just may not be worth it to try something. We feel that it is too much work, and may be better to just move on. Marriage is not one of those things. It should be a lifelong commitment. You made the vows, “Until death do us part.” Those aren’t said for a joke. They mean your marriage is forever. You need to find ways to make it work. You will be much happier if you do.

Think about this

Isn’t it sad how so many people just seem to throw away their marriage over a simple argument, or event?

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Come back often to see other excerpts. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do lal future posts will go directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you…How are you doing? Are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 13,660 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If you are battling mentally, because of your love for others, but it isn’t working, 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 no 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.