Interviews for a Upcoming Book Shares the Horrors of War

+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…

Army to expand recruiting programs, investment to fill ranks
The Army plans to increase its investment in marketing and is expected to expand a new program for struggling recruits, but leaders Monday offered few new details on how they’ll fill the ranks after falling far short of recruiting goals this year.

_____________________

As suicides rise, US military seeks to address mental health

As the Pentagon seeks to confront spiraling suicide rates in the military ranks, Dionne Williamson’s experiences shine a light on the realities for service members seeking mental health help. For most, simply acknowledging their difficulties can be intimidating. And what comes next can be frustrating and dispiriting.

_____________________

What will the US do if Putin goes nuclear on Ukraine? Threats give question growing urgency
If Russia drops a nuclear bomb of any size on Ukraine, the dilemma facing the U.S. will be imposing costs severe enough to meet the magnitude of the moment while averting the kind of nuclear showdown feared during the Cold War.

_____________________

More than half of Ukraine’s tank fleet now reportedly consists of captured Russian armor.

_____________________

We salute the sailors who spent an entire day picking up a literal ton of trash on a remote island
“If the Navy can collect an average of four-thousand pounds of trash on California’s most remote island, it tells us there is too much trash in the ocean.”

_______________________________________________________________

I am going to share the highlights of the many interviews I conducted for my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the trenches of Life.

  1. A Staff sergeant had to watch two of his buddies die in a vehicle that caught on fire.
  2. A Vietnam soldier shared a funny story about a monkey.
  3. A sniper shared his experiences during his deployment to Afghanistan.
  4. A Vietnam veteran describe the traps that were put in to try to kill them.
  5. A Vietnam veteran describes how he got wounded three separate times.
  6. A Vietnam veteran describe how his buddy died in a helicopter.
  7. A WWII veteran describes how he ended up in 8 different hospitals.
  8. A WWII veteran shares how he should have died, but didn’t.
  9. A WWII veteran shares how he was pinned down by enemy fire and was able to escape.

There are many more. This book covers many lives and that will cause you to cringe, cry and laugh.

Be sure to come back to read other developments. 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.

_______________________________________________________________

Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you fighting back memories?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 15,219 Veterans on this site who have your back.

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.

+Now there is an easier way to get help. Just dial 988, and you will have help ready for you.

_______________________________________________________________

+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.

Met Some New Veterans by accident. We were Instant Buddies.

+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 about it.

___________________________________

Latest military news

The Marine Corps is eyeing a long-range robot boat that can nail targets with kamikaze drones.

9 Fort Bliss soldiers released from the hospital after ingesting antifreeze.

Russian fighter jet buzzes USS Donald Cook in the Black Sea.

The Army just got its hands on its most advanced Apache helicopter yet
The Army’s first contingent of AH-64E version 6 (V6) Apaches has joined 1-229th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion.
.

VA has capacity to administer 600,000 vaccine doses a week

VA is delivering vaccines at more than 215 sites across the country, with plans to expand to additional sites as vaccine supplies increase.

RallyPoint members pay tribute to Veterans during the pandemic

More than 370 RallyPoint members visited gravesites for fellow Veterans and their families and posted photos on the military network site, allowing a virtual visit for those unable to travel in person. 

The Army is evaluating a brand new anti-tank missile for its arsenal.

__________________________________

Many interesting bits of news today. Now I am going to be talking directly to you.

I was able to get my second COVID-19 shot today. It was smooth and quick. I saw many veterans inside getting their shots. To top that, the National Guard is running it.

I am feeling OK so far. They say the second day is the real test.

___________________________________

Yesterday, I got my haircut in Waldport, Oregon.

It is a nice getaway for my wife and I at the Oregon Coast.

I was waiting my turn when my hair lady let me know that the guy she just finished with was the guy I called for an interview several months ago.

I was in shock. I had never met him in person. I went up to him and explained who I was, and he was excited to meet me.

He has a great story and it will be in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

He is a vietnam veteran, and has a very funny story as part of his interview. I will give you a clue. It deals with a monkey.

Also, while I was there, my hair lady told me there was another veteran in the place. She pointed him out and I went to him to greet him.

He is a Coast Guard veteran. We do not give them the credit they are due.

I told him when I was in, and he said he was in 61-65. I was in from 59-62, so we over lapped. He got a little excited and said he was on alert for the Bay of Pigs endeavor. I told came him I was too. We became instant buddies.

He has agreed to do an interview with me and he will be in the book as well.

___________________________________

My next post will talk about the fear and hardships of troops on the front lines. I will sharing about WWII veterans and Afghanistan soldiers. I hope their stories will get your interest. They all will be in the book as well.

___________________________________

Time to do bed check. How are you making it in this not so friendly world? Getting too overwhelming?

Not to worry my friend, there are over 11,300 fellow veterans here who have your back.

However, if it is pulling you down like a huge magnate, GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. It has highly qualified counselors there to help you, and it is all free. They will not hang up until they know you are OK.

DO NOT FACE THIS WORLD ALONE!

1-800-273-8255 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 from this site, please let them know about it.

The Time Spent Deployed, Can be Frightening. Here’s a Story That Isn’t

+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. I want to reach out to as many veterans as possible.

___________________________________

What a week I have had.

My back went belly up on me last Saturday, and I have been suffering ever since. I am taking Tylenol to help.

Today I went to have a blood test done. I turned to go into the parking lot, and I was amazed to see at least a hundred cars lined up to get tested for the virus. There is panic here. In my county there have been many people coming down with the virus. The blood test came out great, and I got out of there as fast as I could.

There are other problems, but I am through whining for now.

___________________________________

Did you take advantage of all the free things for Veteran’s Day?

I hope you did. You certainly deserve it. I told you in a previous post that my Veteran’s Day day was being at the Oregon Coast. I was pleasantly surprised to see that the little town I went to was having a Veteran’s Day event. They were right across the street where I was getting a haircut.

I so wanted to join them. I could see all the American Legion hats, and they were hugging and really enjoying themselves. My haircut took too long and the event was over. However, it felt good to see such a small town gathering to honor our veterans.

___________________________________

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

I have chosen one about a Vietnam veteran that is from the same town that I got my heair cut at. It is the town of Waldport, Oregon.

He shared with me a story that was very positive and hard to find from soldiers of the ERA.

He said:

” I was sitting on the ground with a buddy, when I looked up into the trees. There were a bunch of monkeys up there playing around. I told him I would love to have one of those monkeys as a pet. ” His buddy said he would take care of that. He cut a hole in a coconut, drained all the milk out of it, and place a quarter inside it.

The Veteran then told me, “My buddy put the coconut out in the middle of an opening with a string attached to it. Sure enough the monkey’s saw the glittering of the quarter on the inside of the coconut and soon there were several nearing the coconut. One monkey reached inside to try to get the quarter out and my buddy yanked on the string catching the monkey with his arm stuck in to coconut. He pulled the monkey next to me and I got ahold of him..”

That started a long friendship with the monkey. The veteran even made a home for him to live in. It had a grass bed, food and drink there for him, and things were going great. The monkey really bonded with him to the point that he could let the monkey out and sit with him. He didn’t run away.

Well, some odd things started happening.

The other men were complaining that things had been stolen from their personal stash of food. Yes, it was the monkey. One soldier threatened to get rid of the monkey if he didn’t keep control of it. The monkey kept stealing food.

Then the other soldier had enough. He grabbed the money. He made a miniature parachute for him and threw him over a cliff.

The veteran was very upset that this had happened. He became depressed.

It was a couple days later, and as the whole group was gathered, this brave little monkey came strolling into the camp with the parachute still attached to him.

The veteran was ecstatic.

He had gotten his monkey back. I couldn’t get much more out of this brave veteran. This rest of his story was too sad for him to tell. I did find out that he was severely wounded, and received the Purple Heart. He ended up with a drinking problem, but overcame that with the help of his wife.

____________________________________

Checking in..

How are your doing my friend? The times are difficult at best. The pandemic, and rioting. Not knowing who will be our next president, and much more.

The days like we have been having can drag you down . It can push you to the edge. I know, I was on the edge way back in 2001. I was ready to check out of this hotel called earth. I came to my senses and got help. I am still here to be able to write to you.

If you are overwhelmed, GET HELP!!

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

1-800-273-8255 Option # 1

Please call if you need it.

______________________________________

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. I want to reach out to as many veterans as possible.