Archive for Moment of Silence
Going silent for CJ
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Yes I know I’ve been pretty quiet lately and today will be another one of those days here at ArmyHousehold6. It’s not for the normal reasons of I”m busy, got “blogger’s block, too much to do ,etc.
The silence today is to show my support of a great American Hero, a friend and fellow military blogger – CJ Grisham.
(Read below)
Today — Wednesday 16 December 2009, many milblogs — including This Ain’t Hell, From My Position, Blackfive, Miss Ladybug, Boston Maggie, Grim’s Hall, and those participating in the Wednesday Hero program — are going silent for the day. Some are choosing to go silent for a longer period of time.
The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hositility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.
The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier’s Perspective (http://www.soldiersperspective.us/). C.J. has earned accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and sometimes blunt, discussion of issues — particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. Ultimately, C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.
An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times: http://www.armytimes.com/offduty/technology/offduty_blogger_120809/ While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.
One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.
On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.
Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December. The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.
A Partial List of Participating Blogs:
This Ain’t Hell http://thisainthell.us/blog/
Boston Maggie http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/
Blackfive http://www.blackfive.net/main/
Miss Ladybug http://miss-ladybug.blogspot.com
Drunken Wisdom http://beerbrains.com/
Grim’s Hall http://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/
Frommyposition http://frommyposition.com/
CDR Salamander http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com
Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893
Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option.
Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something
about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.
The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be
lost.
Additional blogs supporting CJ:
You Served http://www.youserved.com
Bouhammer http://www.bouhammer.com
Pepple Drops http://pebbledrops.blogspot.com
Chromed Curses http://www.chromedcurses.com
Homefront Six http://homefrontsix.blogspot.com
Fort Hood Tragedy
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image courtesy of FoxNews.com
My thoughts and prayers are with all of our military family at Fort Hood as well as those affected directly by this horrific act. If any of my readers at Hood need ANYTHING, please let me know and I’ll make sure to get you what you need!!!!
I just want to update real quick about what’s happening at Fort Hood.. these are the facts. I’m not going to speculate on ANYTHING (unlike certain members of the MSM)
- LTG Cone said all suspects were SOLDIERS!
- No kids were harmed .. they believe the situation is now under control. (at 3pm MT)
- The initial shooter (an Army major) died and the other 2 are now in custody.
Please remember – let’s not jump to conclusions on the speculations or rumors that we are hearing about. Let CID, MP’s and FBI do their job and research the backgrounds of these guys before we start jumping to conclusions about the who and the why!
Now – as far as Obama’s press conference about Ft Hood. I think it was severely mishandled but what can you expect with someone who doesn’t have much leadership experience.
UPDATE
LTG Cone stated that MAJ Hasan was the ONLY shooter and that he is in fact ALIVE. Also – 13 people (including 1 civilian) have died and 31 wounded.
According to Fox News –
Survivors of the rampage that killed 13 and wounded 30 said the suspect, Major Nidal Malik Hasan, shouted “Allahu Akbar!” — “God is great!” in Arabic — before opening fire, base commander Lt. Gen. Robert Cone said.
Military Monday – Moment of Silence
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When you were born, an angel smiled,
As you became a child, an angel sat on your shoulder.
When you became a teen, an angel held your hand.
As you went to war, an angel walked down the road with you,
And, when you died, another angel got their wings.
Please take time to reflect upon the names and the lives of these heroes. RIP– it is time to rest heroes.
Sgt. Aaron M. Smith, 25, of Manhattan, Kan. died Oct. 2 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.
Pfc. Brandon A. Owens, 21, of Memphis, Tenn. died Oct. 2 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, He was assigned to the 118th Military Police Company, 503rd Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade, XVIII Airborne Corps, Fort Bragg, N.C
Sgt. Thomas D. Rabjohn, 39, of Litchfield Park, Ariz., died Oct. 3 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated during an attempt to disarm it. He was assigned to the 363rd Explosive Ordnance Detachment, Coolidge, Ariz.
Spc. Paul E. Andersen, 49, of Dowagiac, Mich., died Oct. 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his camp using indirect fire. He was assigned to the 855th Quartermaster Company, South Bend, Ind.
Maj. Tad T. Hervas, 48, of Coon Rapids, Minn., died Oct. 6 at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Regiment, Rosemont, Minn.
Staff Sgt. Vernon W. Martin, 25 of Savannah, Ga. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Justin T. Gallegos, 27, of Tucson, Ariz. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Joshua M. Hardt, 24, of Applegate, Calif. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Joshua J. Kirk, 30, of South Portland, Maine. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. Michael P. Scusa, 22, of Villas, N.J. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Spc. Christopher T. Griffin, 24, of Kincheloe, Mich. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Spc. Stephan L. Mace, 21, of Lovettsville, Va. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Pfc. Kevin C. Thomson, 22, of Reno, Nev. died Oct. 3 in Kamdesh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked contingency outpost with small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and indirect fires. Assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.
Spc. Kevin O. Hill, 23, of Brooklyn, N.Y., died Oct. 4 at Contingency Outpost Dehanna, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit using small arms and indirect fires. He was assigned to the 576th Mobility Augmentation Company, Fort Carson, Colo.
Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth W. Westbrook, 41, of Shiprock, N.M., died Oct. 7 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., of wounds suffered Sept. 8 when insurgents attacked his unit in the Ganjigal Valley, Afghanistan, using small arms and indirect fire. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
