Once you take that first step, it's a huge relief

Todd witnessed his friends' death while they were deployed together. When he finally came home, he was a different person. It seemed he had less in common with his new wife than either of them remembered, and he was often impatient with everyone and everything. Getting help at VA was the first step toward reclaiming his life.
LINK: Youtube

Soldiers Perform Amazing Military Version Of ‘The Wave’

‘The Wave’ is the fun social phenomenon often seen at sporting events when rows of fans pick up their arms for a moment in a domino-style to create a wave effect for on-lookers. The soldiers of the Belarus army performed a very unique military version of ‘The Wave’ at a recent military parade that puts baseball fans to shame.
Their precision is truly magnificent, prompting the video to be featured on BuzzFeed and VideoSift. LINK, Via: Youtube

RIP Florence Green, the Very Last World War I Veteran

In the past year, we brought you the obituaries of Frank Buckles, the last U.S. veteran of World War I and Claude Choules, the last surviving combat veteran of that war. Yesterday, the very last member of the military from the War to End All Wars passed away. Florence Green was only 17 years old when she signed up for the Women’s Royal Air Force in 1918. She worked at the military airfields in Norfolk. Mrs Green spent her war days working ”all hours” serving officers breakfast, lunch and dinner and would often spend time wandering the base simply ”admiring the pilots”. Before her death she said: ”I enjoyed my time in the WRAF. There were plenty of people at the airfields where I worked and they were all very good company. ”I would work every hour God sent but I had dozens of friends on the base and we had a great deal of fun in our spare time. In many ways I had the time of my life. ”I met dozens of pilots and would go on dates. I had the opportunity to go up in one of the planes but I was scared of flying. ”It was a lovely experience and I’m very proud.” Mrs. Green was a couple weeks short of 111 years old. Link, Via: reddit | Via: Neatorama

Service Members Sing the Star Spangled Banner for July 4th

Montage of over 150 U.S. military service members singing the United States National Anthem. Each note is represented by at least one service member. Produced by Staff Sgt. Joash Buenavista. Provided by American Forces Network Iraq. LINK: Youtube

A Soldier's Last Letter

A Merle Haggard song with pictures of us Military. aka: a Soldier's Letter. LINK: Youtube

Most Heavily Decorated Soldier

You want to meet a hero? Watch this film about Bob Howard who was nominated for the Medal of Honor 3 times. You can only receive it once in a lifetime. He was not a simple man. He had two masters degrees, but he also served us all for 50 years in the uniform of the U.S. Army. Rest in Peace, Bob Howard. LINK, Via: Youtube

Dog collapses and dies after army handler is killed

Colleagues said army dog handler Liam Tasker was inseparable from his spaniel, Theo, and so it was to the end. When Lance Corporal Tasker was shot dead in southern Afghanistan, his dog survived the shooting only to suffer a fatal heart attack when it returned to the British base at Camp Bastion.

Tasker, 26, was on patrol north of Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand province on Tuesday with the spaniel, which was trained to search for arms and explosives, when they were caught in gunfire. He died from his injuries. He was described as having a "natural empathy with dogs". His successful operations "undoubtedly saved many lives", the Ministry of Defence said
Born in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Tasker joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps after starting his career as a vehicle mechanic. A member of 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, he was attached to 1st Battalion Irish Guards in Afghanistan.

Major Alexander Turner, officer commanding 2 Company, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, said: "He used to joke that Theo was impossible to restrain but I would say the same about Lance Corporal Tasker. At the most hazardous phase of an advance, he would be at the point of the spear, badgering to get even further forward and work his dog. He met his fate in just such a situation – leading the way that we might be safe." LINK

Minn. town rallies around family of injured soldier

CLEVELAND, Minn. -- Cleveland, Minnesota wears its patriotism on its main drag. Friday night, its heart was on Fifth Street.

A good share of the town's 700 people lit candles for Army Pfc. Jack Zimmerman, who lost both legs Wednesday in an IED explosion in Afghanistan and now lies in a medically induced coma at a military hospital in Germany.

"It was very shocking, we're a small community," said Rachel Manser, who helped plan the get-together.

Rev. Shelly Olson, pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran, Jack's home church, told the crowd that Jack will need the people around him to be strong. "There is a saying I'd rather light a candle than curse the darkness and that's what we are doing tonight," she said.

And then they walked, from Jack's old high school to his parent's house - classmates, friends and people Jack barely knew.

"Just the unity of the community and the support I think goes a long way," said Ruby Hefner, who moved to Cleveland just a few months ago.

Jack's father Mark and mother Lori were waiting to in the driveway to greet and exchange hugs with their visitors, along with Jack's younger brother Andrew, a soldier himself who flew home from Fort Hood Thursday night.

A few feet away Megan Wolfe clung to a friend. She accepted Jack's marriage proposal just three weeks ago.

"It's overwhelming the amount of people that came out and I'm willing to bet I know most of them," said Jack's dad.

Jack's mother thanked the visitors for helping the family get through a difficult night. "When everybody leaves tonight the tears will start in again, and tomorrow morning when we wake up the tears will start in again, then we'll get tough and look for our flight to get Jacdak."

On Friday night, the best part of America was standing in a driveway in Cleveland. LINK

G.I. Joe & Lillie - The Oak Ridge Boys

I am NOT a part of youtubes partner program.
All advertisement you see on this channel are embedded by Google which now owns Youtube - LINK: Youtube

This video was uploaded to honor GI Joe & Lillie & our military... and help promote the Oak Ridge Boys music.
http://www.youtube.com/user/oakridgeboys

Letters Home from the Garden of Stone

A song about the personal struggle of ALL soldiers. LINK: Youtube

I have posted this before, but I Love this Video and the meaning behind it. God be with all our Military and may they come home safe.

Gene Simmons "Military Tribute"

Honor our Troops, Honor our Veterans. A handshake and a "Thank You for serving"
makes a world of difference. LINK: Youtube

Iowa Soldier to Receive Medal of Honor

President Obama is about to award the nation's highest military honor for bravery to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, an Iowa soldier who was serving as a rifle team leader in Afghanistan when his platoon came under attack in 2007. (Nov. 15). LINK: Youtube

SOME GAVE ALL

Dedicated to all of those who have served our great country and who have given their all! LINK: Youtube

Wikileaks releases nearly 400,000 new secret Iraq docs, with help from news orgs

IMAGE: Each death noted in the Iraq war logs released today by Wikileaks is mapped with Google Maps, by the Guardian.


Wikileaks has just published The Iraq War Logs, described as "the largest classified military leak in history."

The 391,832 reports document the war and occupation in Iraq, from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2009 (except for the months of May 2004 and March 2009) as told by soldiers in the United States Army. Each is a 'SIGACT' or Significant Action in the war. They detail events as seen and heard by the US military troops on the ground in Iraq and are the first real glimpse into the secret history of the war that the United States government has been privy to throughout. The reports detail 109,032 deaths in Iraq, comprised of 66,081 'civilians'; 23,984 'enemy' (those labeled as insurgents); 15,196 'host nation' (Iraqi government forces) and 3,771 'friendly' (coalition forces). The majority of the deaths (66,000, over 60%) of these are civilian deaths.That is 31 civilians dying every day during the six year period.

The Guardian is among the first news orgs to publish analysis, and leads with the statement that the files show how the US turned a blind eye to torture in Iraq, and "expose serial abuse of detainees, 15,000 previously unknown deaths, and a full toll of Iraq's five years of carnage." LINK: Boingboing

Also more on this at the link above.

Audie Murphy Video Tribute

Audie Leon Murphy (1925-1971)
America's Most Decorated Soldier of WWII

The video displays through still images Murphy's role as a National icon and legend.

Medal of Honor Citation:
"Second Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy, 01692509, 15th Infantry, Army of the United States, on 26 January 1945, near Holtzwihr, France, commanded Company B, which was attacked by six tanks and waves of infantry. Lieutenant Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to a prepared position in a woods while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him to his right one of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. Lieutenant Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, Lieutenant Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer which was in danger of blowing up any instant and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to the German fire from three sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate Lieutenant Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he personally killed or wounded about 50. Lieutenant Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective." More at the LINK: Youtube

Tank Skateboard

DTV Shredder from bpgwerks: The Shredder moves with up to 30 mph and is thought also for military purposes, search and rescue, patrols. LINK: LiveLeak

Fallen Art

Dir: Tomek Baginski / Poland / 2005

In an old forgotten military base far from civilization, a group of deranged military officers nurture their insanity. LINK: Youtube

Here's to the Heroes: A Military Tribute

This is dedicated to all the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms. Thank you!!! LINK: Youtube

Labrador Retriever Awarded Britain's Highest Military Honor

Treo, a nine-year old Black Labrador Retriever who served in the British Army, was awarded the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross. He’s repeatedly saved the lives of his comrades in Afghanistan:

Now he is being rewarded with the Dickin Medal – the animal equivalent of a Victoria Cross – the highest accolade for a military animal.[...]

Treo is the 63rd animal to receive the Dickin Medal – introduced in 1943 to honor the work of animals in war – and the 27th dog to receive the honor.

Since its introduction it has also been presented to 32 World War II messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat.

That one cat was Able Seacat Simon of the Royal Navy.

Link, Via: The Corner, Via: Neatorama

Sade - Soldier of Love

British soul band Sade—yep, “Smooth Operator” Sade is a band—is back from a ten-year hiatus with the video for “Soldier of Love,” the first single from their upcoming album of the same name. What has lead singer Sade Adu been doing for the last decade? Perhaps traveling coast-to-coast, L.A. to Chicago on foot? Who knows, but as you can see from the moody video below, she hasn’t lost any of her enigmatic aura.



“Soldier of Love” is a laid-back R&B jam dolled up with some Ennio Morricone flourishes, and appropriately enough the video is set in the desert, or as she calls it here, “the hinterland of my devotion.” Dressed like Trinity from The Matrix and doing some lasso work George Bailey would be jealous of, Sade performs against a backdrop of barren red desert and menacingly cloudy skies. (Maybe she’s a fan of Dune, too.) Accompanying her is a troupe of backup dancers doing things desert soldiers want to do, like military-march-styled dance moves and synchronized push-ups. LINK, Via: Vimeo