The Afghan War May Be Over, But its Scars Will Last Forever

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Military news….

The last U.S. military aircraft has left Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, marking the final moment of America’s longest war. The conflict left thousands of American troops and Afghan citizens dead and injured and shaped an entire generation of American service members.

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As the ground war in Afghanistan comes to an end, the military’s mission elsewhere continues, like in California, where Air Force Tactical Air Control Party members are helping firefighters battle wildfires. But they are not calling in airstrikes like they would in a combat zone. Instead, they are doing something much more useful.

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Sometimes good news comes in the strangest forms, like when a Navy challenge coin saved the life of an Oklahoma police officer by stopping the bullet that would have hit his femoral artery.

Even if Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss knew he would die in Kabul, he still would have deployed there, said his wife Alena, who survived Knauss after the Special Forces soldier was killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan last week. The 23-year-old was a remarkable man.

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My view…

Yes, the Afghan war is over, but its scars last for ever.

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Another reminder is that I have slowed down my sharing of excerpts from my upcoming book. Signs of Hope for the Military: In an Out of the trenches of Life.

Speaking of trenches, one of my sections of the book is called, Voices from the Trenches.

These will be actual interviews from soldiers who have been deployed to a foreign land. Many of the interviews were very hard for me to do. They talk about death. They talk about lost buddies.

They talk about near death experiences. Some are even funny.

Stay with me on this. Please go to the top of this page and click on “Subscribe.” When you do, all future post will come directly to your inbox.

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Is your world controlled by nightmares? Are there things you try to forget, but can’t?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 12,900 fellow veterans here who have your back.

If the nightmares are overcoming you, GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. There are Highly qualified counselors there to help you. They ill 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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There Could be Big Trouble at the Inauguration. Troops Are There to protect

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This is the last post before the inauguration on Wednesday. I hope there will not be any bad news from that day. I live in Salem, Oregon, which is the state capital of Oregon. Protesters are already starting to show up and they are carrying weapons.

They are peaceful at the moment, but I am afraid they will have plans for Wednesday.

The Capital is well fortified this week. Hopefully the show of force will cause the protesters to stay peaceful.

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In our nation’s capital 25,000 National Guard troops have been called up to protect the capital. That is five times more troops than there are in Afghanistan, and Iraq combined.

High fences have been put up. Windows covered. The congress men and women have been put on alert.

The actual inauguration site is also well fortified. They are only allowing a few people to come, and they will be spaced apart correctly.

This is be the most unusual inauguration in the history of our country.

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I heard a person say, “If they need that many troops there, it must be the wrong person becoming president.”

I ungently ask you not to go to any capitals and protest. There will be clashes, and people hurt.

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I had a great experience with the Oregon National Guard on Thursday. They are doing vaccine shots for the COVID virus at our State fairgrounds, which is in my home city of Salem.

My wife and I went to try to get a dose. There were thousands trying to get into the parking lots. There were directors moving cars in the right direction.

We parked our car and saw people running to a building. We knew that was where they were giving the shots.

We got to the end of the line and I had my walker, because it was going to be a long wait, and could sit down.

I did set down, because the race to get to the building, exhausted me. I also had my Army hat on.

Then out of no where a PFC National Guardsman came through the crowd and told me and my wife to follow him. He took us to a side door and escorted us to a side area where they were giving shots for those who may have handicaps.

We sat down, and five minutes later we got our shots. There were hundreds of people waiting for the shots, and we were done in less than an hour.

Did the walker cause this soldier to feel pity, or was it the Army hat he could see in the mob of people?

I think it was both. It was a brother helping another brother.

When we left there were still people in line outside that were in the line when we were there.

Maybe it was not fair to get moved up in front of so many people. Some of you may think so, but there was a caring trooper that made it all possible.

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How are you doing? Have been able to get your shot? I hope so.

Are you holding up under all this chaos? Does the scene seem to scary right now?

Not to worry, my friend there are over 10,970 fellow veterans here and they all have your back.

If the road is too long and rough GET HELP!

Here is a toll free number to call 24/7. It has highly qualified counselors there to help, and it is all free.

Do not take on this crazy world alone!

1-800-273-8255 Option # 1

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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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God Saved me from Committing Suicide

Thank you to those who have been signing up for the RSS feed to this site. It helps us move up on the Google Search Rankings. I will be starting a book give away, starting today, just for you who sign-up in the future. Here is how it will work:

  • Sign-up for the RSS feed to his site. You click on the icon right after the title to do that.
  • When you sign-up, you will be placed on a list of subscribers who are eligible for a drawing for a free book.
  • There has to be a minimum of 10 people who sign-up before there is a drawing. When that or a deadline is reached, a random drawing will be taken from that list and they will be notified of their winning a book.
  • The first give away will start today and run through April 30th.

The first book to be given away is a real winner. It is called: “A Positive Life: Living with HIV as a Pastor, Husband, and Father.” By Shane Stanford

Here is an endorsement by one of the top Christian authors on the planet:

” The HIV/AIDS pandemic doesn’t just affect millions; it affects them one at a time. Shane’s story will stay in your mind and more in your heart.”

John Ortberg

You could own this book for free just by signing up for the RSS feed to this site.

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You can own a book that is full of hope, and inspiring words today, but ordering, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.” from the bookstore on this site. It is on sale right now. It is selling for $19.99 in the bookstore, but on this site, it is only $15.99. The shipping has been cut in half as well. Just click on the “Bookstore,” tab at the top of this page to check it out.

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I can remember what it was like before I became a Christian. Talk about struggling in the muck and mire! I felt lost. I was full of fear, and didn’t want to face the world. I had an over whelming fear of failure. I even got to the point of feeling hopelessness, and was on the brink of committing suicide.

That is when God grabbed up in His arms and stopped me. It was like He was saying. “Come back to Me, I have always been here for you. Let Me carry you the rest of the way.”

I found that, “God Allows U-Turns.” (One of the chapter titles from my book, “Signs of Hope: Ways to Survive in an Unfriendly World.”)

He never gives up on us. We give up on Him. If you feel alone even though you know God is there somewhere, guess who walked away.

Turn back to God and He will be waiting with open arms.

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

Above all: Never, ever, give up!