News Articles - Related To Volunteer Activities-09MAR10:
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"THE GOAT LOCKERThe US Navy is the one service where in a enlisted Sailor will change uniforms when he advances from the pay grade of E-6 to E-7. Because that ismore than a mere advancement - it is an elevation. But to speak of pay grades to a Chief is to dishonor him - that is not who he is, it is how his pay is accounted. He is not a pay stub. He is a Chief.
My father told me when I was a young midshipman that if I was ever invited into the Chief’s mess aboard a ship, that I should accept, drink my coffee, speak not at all. I should listen. The old man was a pretty smart guy. I have been on a few occasions so invited and I listened respectfully at a table of several Chiefs, to a hundred years of accumulated naval experience.
Most officers go to college for four years, and then are commissioned. A Chief will work hard for 10 or 15 years, and then earn his anchors. The Chief will call him “sir.” If he’s smart, the officer will call him “Chief,” but think “sir.” Because you can never call a Chief “sir,”and if you do, he’ll remind you that he works for a living and if you listen to him carefully, he will teach you everything you ever need to know about Sailors, and your job, and getting that job done.
Officers may have grand ideas, formulate strategy, think tactics. But without a Chief to carry the water for him, to take the rubber to the road, to see the tactics through to execution, everything he thinks or says or writes is so much finger-painting, so much vaporing, so much ephemera. With the Chief’s mess on you side, all things are possible. If they turn against you, because you can’t live up to their expectations of an officer (theseare, thankfully, much less stringent than their expectations forthemselves), you will fail. It is exactly that simple.
You will fail, but the mission will not - they will not allow it to. They will “mushroom” you - keep you in the dark, and feed you sh**, because they will not allow an incompetent officer to get in the way of fulfillingthe mission. They will not allow an uncaring officer to neglect the fates and fortunes of his Sailors.
They don’t coddle the Sailors, because they know that leadership is not a popularity contest. They will do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. They are truly, the back bone of the fleet.
The finest leader I’ve ever met was a Master Chief Petty Officer who was my Departmental Leading Chief aboard the aircraft carrier. Perhaps a hundred and thirty pounds, 5?6? of twisted steel and immense dignity. A man who no longer had to stand a watch, but insisted upon doing so. A man who could not see a flaw, whether it was in his gear, or those who maintained it, without correcting it instantly. For whom the “path of least resistance” held noallure. For whom the care and advancement of his people only took a backseat to the accomplishment of the mission. Unlimited professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication. He was the kind of leader I wish I could be.
He was a member of the CPO’s Mess."
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This was taken at the Road to Recovery Conference, Orlando Fl Compliments of Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. Marines never give up. Semper Fi
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-Hazel:Thanks very much for sharing your Thanksgiving wish with us here in Richmond. I have sent this toPaulette Beasley at the VA ward 2B and also Janet Langhorne the volunteer coordinator at the VA. Additionally I sent a copy to the top management here at DSCR for RADML Heinrich and COL. Franklin. I wanted to say that I remember Veterans Day 2005 was the first time I visited the ward at the hospital and met Justin, he really impressed me as a young man that was determined to overcome all those injuries. He told me that day that the staff said he would be at the hospital at least 2 months but he was going to walk in less than a month. That determination was remarkable and when we saw him walk at RADML Heinrich’s frocking ceremony, it was nothing short of a miracle. I hope you and your family are doing well and we all wish the best for you. The RAT 3 has been back to the ward every month for a pizza lunch and we will continue to support the patients and their families as long as we exist as an association. Thank Justin for us for being the bravest Marine that we have ever met.Charlie York
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-My THANKSgiving Wish for 2006I am Truly Thankful for Justin to have the opportunity to serve this great nation stepped up to the plate to keep America the Land of the FREE.I am Truly Thankful to all the Men and Women and their family’s for their greatest Sacrificed to this Nation.I am Truly Thankful to all the Doctors, Nurses and Medics in theater, at National Naval, at McGuire VA and those in Georgia, their training and dedication have return such a precious gift that Thank you does not seem to cover it.I am Thankful to those who have given so much to ensure I was able to be at my Sons side. I can’t express the gratitude from this family to Marines, Semper Fi Fund, Trinity Church Members,Salute America’s Hero’s, IBM my Employer.I am Truly Thankful to all of America who has kept Justin and this family in their daily Prayers. I may have forgotten many but that does not mean you have not been a big part of my life and Justin’s recovery.God Bless AmericaThank You,Hazel, Justin & Nicholas
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-Please share this.Marty WrightAviation Airframes Branch 2Airframe IST 4Supporting our Combat Troops-----Original Message-----From: Press Service [mailto:afisnews_sender@DTIC.MIL]Sent: Thursday, September 21, 2006 11:22 AMTo: DEFENSE-PRESS-SERVICE-L@DTIC.MILSubject: Pace Honors Servicemembers for HeroismBy Sgt. Sara Wood, USAAmerican Forces Press ServiceWASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2006 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recognized five service members here last night for their contributions to the war on terror, calling them the hope for a peaceful future."The fight for freedom has been and always will be continual," Marine Gen. Peter Pace said at the annual Keeper of the Flame dinner at Union Station. "What makes me feel so good about the future of our country is the five individuals standing behind me tonight, because they truly are the future of our country."The five service members -- one from each branch of the military -- were honored at the end of the dinner, which is hosted by the Center for Security Policy.Honored were:-- Army Sgt. Micheaux Sanders, of Goldsboro, N.C. On April 4, 2004, at 19, then-Spc. Sanders responded with his tank crew to aid a patrol caught in an ambush by insurgents in Iraq. Despite being low on ammunition, Sanders repeatedly exposed himself to danger, firing whatever he could find and eventually throwing rocks at the enemy, all the while ignoring a bullet wound in his arm. For his actions, Sanders was awarded the Silver Star.-- Marine Capt. Brian Chontosh, of Rochester, N.Y. While serving as a platoon commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 25, 2003, Chontosh and his platoon encountered a coordinated ambush in a blocked road. Chontosh single-handedly cleared more than 200 meters of an enemy trench, using his own weapons and discarded enemy weapons to kill more than 20 enemy soldiers and disable many more. For his actions, Chontosh was awarded the Navy Cross.-- Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Luis Fonseca, of Fayetteville, N.C. During a March 23, 2003, battle in Nasiriyah, Iraq, Fonseca, a hospital corpsman, raced through mortar, rocket-propelled-grenade and small-arms fire, tending to wounded Marines, even carrying a 200-pound injured Marine on his back for more than 200 yards to safety. Fonseca flagged down a vehicle to evacuate his patients and then returned to the fight after briefing battalion aid station personnel. For his actions, Fonseca was awarded the Navy Cross.-- Air Force Tech. Sgt. Stephen Achey, of Sumter, S.C. While serving as a terminal attack commander and control specialist with an Army infantry unit during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, Achey's team was ambushed by enemy fire. In the attack, Achey's radio was damaged by a mortar blast. To salvage this vital piece of equipment, Achey ran across the fully exposed battlefield and retrieved the gear amid a hail of enemy fire. Using the radio, Achey was able to coordinate a gunship and fighter attack that destroyed numerous enemy positions and facilitated the evacuation of his wounded comrades. For his actions, Achey was awarded the Silver Star.-- Coast Guard Lt. j.g Bradley Middleton, of Davidsonville, Md. In June 2005, Middleton assumed the duties of executive officer for the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Maui, deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Over the course of his one-year tour, Middleton spent more than 5,000 hours under way in Iraqi waters and completed more than 100 vessel boardings to ensure the safety of coalition forces off the coast of Iraq. For his service, Middleton was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal with Operational Distinguishing Device.Speaking earlier at the dinner, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said America is fortunate to have servicemembers like those honored, who volunteer to go into harm's way and defend the country."It's a wonderful thing that you serve our country, and it's a wonderful thing that you could be here this evening," Rumsfeld said to the awardees. "You'll feel the respect ... the people in this audience feel for you and your colleagues."Last night's Keeper of the Flame Award recipient was California Rep. Duncan Hunter, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The Keeper of the Flame award was created in 1990 by the Center for Security Policy to recognize those who devote their public careers to strengthening the nation's security, propagating democracy, and respecting individual rights throughout the world.[Web Version: http://www.defenselink.mil/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=1079]
-Healing Hero
Saturday, February 25, 2006 3:11 AM EST
By Katie Fallon
Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
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KENNESAW - As 24-year-old Justin Kinnee arrives at WellStar Outpatient Rehabilitation, he walks slowly, but methodically; he has a purpose.The Marine lance corporal is less than five months removed from near fatal injuries sustained while on foot patrol with his infantry unit in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He was awarded the Purple Heart.
Kinnee, a Kennesaw native, was injured Oct. 8, a mere 20 days after he left for Iraq on Sept. 18. His unit fell under small arms fire after an improvised explosive device blew up. He sustained shrapnel wounds to his legs, chest and neck. As a result of his injuries, he also suffered a stroke.
While the service classified him as very seriously injured with little chance of survival, doctors have said the Harrison High School graduate has made remarkable strides in his recovery.
Kinnee visits the WellStar facility three times every week for three hours at a time. His mother, Hazel, a 10-year resident of Kennesaw, always tags along.
She vividly remembers the day she got word that her son might not make it.
Ms. Kinnee said notification was delayed because the Marine Corps had only her home phone number on file as an emergency contact and not her cell phone number. Because of her work schedule, she turns her home phone off in the day to sleep while her son is at school. The younger Izzo is a senior JROTC cadet at Kennesaw Mountain High School.
Because her older son's unit could not reach her by phone, the Marine Corps called a third time before they sent a recruiter from North Carolina's Camp LeJeune, where Kinnee was stationed before he left for Iraq.
"I was prepared for the knock on my door, but I wasn't prepared for the phone call," Ms. Kinnee said. "When I got the phone call, it was on a Friday and I happened to be at home cleaning the house."
After being briefed on her son's condition, Ms. Kinnee arrived at his bedside at the Veterans Affairs hospital in Bethesda, Md., just one day after her son Oct. 13. She said nothing could have prepared her to see him with so many tubes and drains sticking out of him, despite her acceptance long ago of the risks he would take as a Marine.
"He knew why he was going," Ms. Kinnee said. "He joined the Corps knowing he would go to war."
Indeed, Kinnee said if he had the chance to do it all over again, he would. Joining the Corps is something he said he was committed to. Though he didn't join right after high school, Kinnee said it remained on his mind even as he thought of becoming a police officer.
"I just really always wanted to, but waited to do a couple things before," said Kinnee. "I went to school for two years and after Sept. 11, I just decided it was time."
After joining the Cobb County Sheriff's Department, Kinnee's role in his infantry unit was much like his civilian career goal.
"We did patrols and were on post," said Kinnee. "It is like the police."
As he heals at home, Kinnee said he still looks ahead to his future. He said he hopes to get a medical retirement instead of remaining in the Corps for the last two years of his active duty tour. While he is very proud of his service to his country, Kinnee said he would like to continue on with his life and eventually have a house and family of his own.
Meanwhile, Kinnee and company focus on his continued recovery.
Ms. Kinnee said her son has remained positive throughout his rehabilitation and has never asked "Why me?"
"Rehab is good," said Kinnee. "It is not the rehab, but more or less the healing that is taking a long time. I do have a little bit of movement, but it took a long time for that to get there."
The mere fact that Kinnee walks is something his mother said doctors never expected. Because of his stroke, he still has limited mobility in his left arm and has only recently been able to walk while putting pressure on both knees. The stroke also forced doctors to remove a portion of Kinnee's skull to relieve pressure. Though the procedure distorted the shape of Kinnee's head, he will return to Bethesda in April for surgery to implant a hard, plastic material to close his skull and restore the contour of his head.
Kinnee said he remembers everything from his ordeal from the moment he fell under attack to his time in the hospital when he was in a medically induced coma. Kinnee, though, is not the only one who remembers his service.
Gunnery Sgt. Lyndon Smith leads the JROTC Kinnee's younger brother belongs to at Kennesaw Mountain High. Although Smith did not know the older Kinnee until he returned to the states, he felt it was important to recognize him.
"Upon his return from Iraq, I felt compelled to initially thank him, but also to get him warranted recognition from the community for his sacrifice," Smith said. "We have a great debt owed to the veterans of this country who have given their life in this war on terror."
Smith took a specific occasion to recognize Kinnee. The JROTC instructor is a member of the National Wild Turkey Federation, a group that holds a fund-raising banquet every year to provide money to help the wild turkey population flourish across the country.
"We recognize vets each year and this year, we felt compelled to invite Justin as our guest of honor," said Smith. "He wore his Marine dress blues and was well received by those in attendance."
Ms. Kinnee said the support Justin has received, not only from the Veterans Affairs and the Marine Corps, but also from community members like Smith, has helped him recover. Smith, for instance, even takes time to check in on Kinnee during hunting trips. Smith said he tries to be on the forefront of veteran recognition in particular because of the negative response Vietnam veterans received upon their return to the U.S.
Kinnee said while media coverage and public opinion of the Iraq war is not entirely positive he has seen progress. His own infantry unit has captured five Al Qaida members.
"The military is making a difference over there," Kinnee said.
"Freedom has a taste that the protected will never know"
-Defense Supply Center Richmond - DSCR Headlines
DSCR people provide food, support to injured service members
By Will Daniel, DSCR Public Affairs
The Richmond Area Top 3 organization once again visited McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond Aug. 15 to provide a pizza lunch and ice cream to severely injured veterans and service members. RAT 3 consists of military members in the top three enlisted grades, most of whom are DSCR employees. The group includes active duty members, retirees and those serving part time in the National Guard or Reserve.
In addition to approximately 15 RAT 3 members, several DSCR leaders turned out to talk with the injured veterans. Air Force Brig. Gen. Andy Busch, DSCR commander, toured the polytrauma unit and met with several patients to wish them a speedy recovery and thank them for their service.
Army Sgt. Juan Roldan, one of the patients the general met with one-on-one, suffered multiple injuries in a roadside attack Dec. 29 in Iraq. Roldan lost both legs above the knee, and suffered traumatic brain injury and nerve damage in his spinal cord.
McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s polytrauma unit is one of only four in the Department of Veterans Affairs system. Also, the Richmond center houses the largest spinal cord injury center in the VA system. Military treatment facilities send badly injured battlefield casualties to Richmond for specialized treatment and therapy.
Patient turnout was light for the Aug. 15 event. “Patient turnout is always an uncertain thing,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Brian Kovach, RAT 3 president. “Sometimes they get delayed in therapy and don't make it up right away. That is what happened (Aug. 15); the trickle was slow and ongoing. As some would finish and leave one or two would walk in. You also have those patients that stay in their room or cannot eat.”
Busch met with one such patient, an Army sergeant who suffers from severe headaches resulting from a battlefield injury. The sergeant told Busch that his doctors don’t want to release him because of concerns about post-traumatic stress disorder. He told Busch he was having a bad day because he had just learned that he lost three more soldiers the previous weekend.
Many of the patients were in physical therapy and some are not able to eat solid food, said Patricia Rudd, admissions clinical case manager for the polytrauma unit.
Rudd introduced Busch to Air Force Senior Airman Anthony Corroa, an intelligence apprentice from Pope Air Force Base, N.C. Corroa had been injured in Afghanistan, and may have afterward suffered a post traumatic stress event that caused an accident resulting in serious injuries, including blunt force trauma to the head.
“Anthony has no memory of the accident but can recall his deployment,” said Kovach. “He is in good spirits and working on regaining control of his motor functions before returning home.”
Busch praised RAT 3 for the group’s work with the VA staff. “I think it’s a neat tradition and a small way that we can thank those who’ve served and continue to serve,” Busch said. “I think Sgt. Kovach does an excellent job.”
The polytrauma unit currently houses 11 patients, most of whom were injured in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom, Kovach said. RAT 3 members also volunteer to transport family members of the patients between the medical center and their nearby hotels. Medical officials have said family presence is a large contributor to patient recovery.
Also visiting the patients were Air Force Cols. Vic Wager, director of Aviation Customer Operations, and Chris Karls, chief of the Air Force Customer Facing Division.
Click here for more information about RAT 3 or call Kovach at ext. 3961.
Don Beichner (right) and Army 1st Sgt. Michael Gunther of the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center staff give an overview of the facility Aug. 15 to Air Force Brig. Gen. Andy Busch and Navy Lt. Abdul Ceville. Busch, (left) DSCR commander, visited injured service members and veterans being treated at the facility's polytrauma unit for head and spine injuries. (Photo by Will Daniel)-
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