tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45016349454463060812024-03-13T06:44:23.199+03:00A World AwayBy and for Wisconsin military men and women, and their familiesA World Away: Dispatches from Wisconsin military men and womenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03440468486289211995noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-88115813864412113072015-07-24T18:26:00.000+03:002015-07-24T18:26:07.111+03:00Wisconsin WWII veterans featured in Memorial clipsFriends of the World War II Memorial are posting video clips of veterans interviewed at the memorial site.<br />
<a href="http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/voices-of-wwii/profile/1362" target="_blank">Here is an interview with Huns Nass of Cecil, Wisconsin.</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.wwiimemorialfriends.org/voices-of-wwii/profile/1362" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-YsyLtG1BTPhNzaOg9Mv9i2oUw0bd26k_b5m5gkBbaHuYHKJsTW0DNN2wwwzzCxEfj_0bFSUrFUIMLpm2fEFoujXTz15DB2p3wF7JW1eSTZUNk-Q_wQR-LRqf1o6ll_FPcZ5i8CSaVA/s640/Capture.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-17804706606601672362015-01-15T22:44:00.003+03:002015-01-15T22:44:36.690+03:00Graphic novel reading group | Wisconsin Veterans Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq0QXKXn90toIfntntI3D_ndA-VzkcBlMlTKAwyVEMKtLXnkJGQwO5AHhXQw7jMzN0W4wBdEbpakjGVKAif6GqMPDjPJcNINykwzuzHJpRtSotdbZ2J1z7Z79WXoG8tFn8d-wwsid7dw/s1600/Maus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq0QXKXn90toIfntntI3D_ndA-VzkcBlMlTKAwyVEMKtLXnkJGQwO5AHhXQw7jMzN0W4wBdEbpakjGVKAif6GqMPDjPJcNINykwzuzHJpRtSotdbZ2J1z7Z79WXoG8tFn8d-wwsid7dw/s1600/Maus.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></div>
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From the <a href="https://sna.etapestry.com/prod/viewEmailAsPage.do?databaseId=WisconsinVeteransMuseums&mailingId=29318060&personaRef=110.0.51833969&jobRef=1368.0.42118265&memberId=833607570&erRef=110.0.51833968&key=d5c82d99f0edb85fc94ffa424146aad" target="_blank">Wisconsin Veterans Museum</a>:<br />
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The Wisconsin Veterans Museum, in partnership with Jessica Gross, a Public Humanities Exchange Scholar with the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities, is launching a graphic novel reading group for veterans. Participants will meet twice a month (evenings) in downtown Madison to discuss readings from war-themed graphic novels.<br />
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Through both true-to-life and fictional stories of combat, Jessica hopes to open up a dialogue on war and power among veterans. All veterans are welcome to participate, but combat veterans and those with recent service in Iraq and Afghanistan are encouraged to attend. All books will be provided by a grant received from the UW-Madison Center for the Humanities.<br />
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If you are interested in participating, please contact Curator of Education Jennifer Kollath at <a href="mailto:Jennifer.kollath@dva.wisconsin.gov" target="_blank">Jennifer.kollath@dva.wisconsin.gov</a>.<br />
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-24329122720687535902014-12-31T22:52:00.000+03:002014-12-31T22:53:59.356+03:00Vietnam Virtual Wall<a href="http://www.virtualwall.org/istate/istatwi.htm" target="_blank">The Virtual Wall Vietnam Memorial listings for Wisconsin veterans</a> is an amazing resource that allows you to look up Vietnam casualties by name or official home of record. I've provided the link for Wisconsin. <a href="http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm" target="_blank">The Virtual Wall</a> covers the rest of the states as well.<br />
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<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-50954892244838354732014-06-06T22:25:00.001+03:002014-06-06T22:28:04.123+03:00D-Day | Wisconsin soldiers fought through blood, chaos<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenneth Schumacher of Madison landed at Normandy 70 years ago.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pfc. Schumacher, right, with his anti-aircraft gun crew in Europe.</td></tr>
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From the Wisconsin State Journal:<br />
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Seventy years ago, 21-year-old Kenneth Schumacher of Madison was floating in a landing ship off Omaha Beach.<br />
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As far as he could see to either side, boats were idling or maneuvering as German shells exploded in the water and on the beach, taking a terrible, bloody toll.<br />
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Trucks for gun crews like Schumacher’s were being blown up as they drove off the ships, through shallow water toward the beach.<br />
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“A direct hit and you’d see the doors fly open and you knew everyone was killed,” Schumacher said Thursday as sunlight bathed his face in a quiet library space in his nursing home on Madison’s East Side.<br />
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<a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/wisconsin-soldiers-survived-d-day-horrors-to-fight-nazi-forces/article_db41777d-a2bd-53fe-ac60-46dea8051544.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here</a>.StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-54953330650990767972014-05-28T01:26:00.000+03:002014-05-28T01:26:27.671+03:00Sapper Stakes | Wisconsin-based team claims second place<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuy18gIyOY7cCka1yyfN6dQa64lAUgLIeO0Sgg9S1Ielw5-5he3UFs696HxC8FVCoq6kJiMSg1Q1ds5UnfW5kcmtCV69D1xfnw9hqKi_NkAeuMAhDG2JX67KHgJCW1ksdOZZ_M7S4cp4/s1600/53840b73038ec.preview-620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMuy18gIyOY7cCka1yyfN6dQa64lAUgLIeO0Sgg9S1Ielw5-5he3UFs696HxC8FVCoq6kJiMSg1Q1ds5UnfW5kcmtCV69D1xfnw9hqKi_NkAeuMAhDG2JX67KHgJCW1ksdOZZ_M7S4cp4/s1600/53840b73038ec.preview-620.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Staff Sgt. Daniel Clark, a Reedsburg resident who is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, participates in the National Sapper Stakes Competition May 5 -8 at Fort McCoy. Since the competition, Clark has been promoted to sergeant first class.</span></td></tr>
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From the <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/wisconsin-reservists-participate-in-land-mine-competition/article_f86ca510-658a-54c8-b863-d538a75196ee.html" target="_blank">Wisconsin State Journal</a>: A Wisconsin-based team earlier this month took second place in a national competition to test skills at locating land mines and working with explosives.<br />
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The first National Sapper Stakes Competition took place May 5–8 at Fort McCoy near Sparta. Reedsburg native Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Clark, a member of the U.S. Army Reserve for 18 years, was among the participants.<br />
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-2209761799780206102014-05-28T00:40:00.000+03:002014-05-28T00:46:25.414+03:00DOD outflanked | Middleton man to bring "missing" WWII soldier's remains home<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6lAcvx4tPYc5gNcpRXO8Pvae2hD6Di6xMjRWNjwPWZJ1yT9ZQnl8IJYC201So47_gloBkDvTJZ_r-E6YuGN-hsKsy2HCF12qzyS_51qmO_fn7fEBFQ8WUmh4dl-vkfljzL6rb4r99iE/s1600/jed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH6lAcvx4tPYc5gNcpRXO8Pvae2hD6Di6xMjRWNjwPWZJ1yT9ZQnl8IJYC201So47_gloBkDvTJZ_r-E6YuGN-hsKsy2HCF12qzyS_51qmO_fn7fEBFQ8WUmh4dl-vkfljzL6rb4r99iE/s1600/jed.jpg" height="200" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Journalist and filmaker<br />
Jed Henry of Middleton, <br />
Wisconsin, worked for<br />
two years to force the<br />
military to accept its errors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJyj7CVSG-9yrOrP_l5JLYtHbvC3tO4kWcZ3pggJJrKwes4dA-7fGC6ZmugwHDsBml9ejlghQ0uthcaK-u5vR40qvdTxsDhqBStvNOgvDIV_ZZVPOwCNVQ0kr_zUw_Xo8kQ1PjTTiYrA/s1600/pfc+53813f0ae5d74.preview-620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJyj7CVSG-9yrOrP_l5JLYtHbvC3tO4kWcZ3pggJJrKwes4dA-7fGC6ZmugwHDsBml9ejlghQ0uthcaK-u5vR40qvdTxsDhqBStvNOgvDIV_ZZVPOwCNVQ0kr_zUw_Xo8kQ1PjTTiYrA/s1600/pfc+53813f0ae5d74.preview-620.jpg" height="400" title="" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pfc. Lawrence S. Gordon, KIA 8/13/44</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBLl_Tn-eyCt-F0ZZx7xRfOGWIrelI3LihTxR5FwnkSKa6qjZiNsfWg1bpC-5IfVDFJQYgXwmO-_XlJwUv0yWC-QmxTS5eWDIJx-WXsT7IYBTd80rf-WafaeNnzJmv31TerY9bJw1LCA/s1600/wallet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBLl_Tn-eyCt-F0ZZx7xRfOGWIrelI3LihTxR5FwnkSKa6qjZiNsfWg1bpC-5IfVDFJQYgXwmO-_XlJwUv0yWC-QmxTS5eWDIJx-WXsT7IYBTd80rf-WafaeNnzJmv31TerY9bJw1LCA/s1600/wallet.jpg" height="320" width="135" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pfc. Gordon's charred wallet<br />
was returned to his family,<br />
but the military said<br />
it didn't know where <br />
his remains were buried.</td></tr>
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From the <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/middleton-man-s-tireless-effort-outflanks-military-to-bring-army/article_a13818fd-3fe3-558a-a9f3-03f967373716.html" target="_blank">Wisconsin State Journal</a>:<br />
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A Middleton man has finally outflanked the U.S. military in his determined two-year campaign to bring home the remains of a World War II veteran who had served with his grandfather.<br />
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Along the way, Jed Henry enlisted the help of the Madison Police Department, UW-Madison’s DNA Sequencing Facility, members of the state’s congressional delegation and two Madison-based forensic scientists.<br />
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“The people of Wisconsin really got this done for the Gordon family,” said Henry, a freelance journalist and filmmaker.<br />
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Henry was researching his grandfather’s Army reconnaissance company for a documentary when he stumbled across the strange case of Pfc. Lawrence S. Gordon — the only member of the unit who was killed in action but never got a proper burial.<br />
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After butting heads with the Department of Defense Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command and the Defense POW-MIA Office since 2012, Henry said, he wasn’t surprised by the announcement in March that the agencies would be reorganized because of complaints about their performance in the recovery and identification of war dead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZkhCA0ZG4RH0MWj35dXq6oXVdcNI1APvXOcK0Mt6NO-FCzTBZlZbUaEgiU1gA4c-Uct2HpMuTtNp0dQXbfEoaXPFN1CtCwCpsW3zjsaBpPofc7gbTctVzZuGBVqYQK9HaXzxmTObNTE/s1600/Gorron+Cemetery.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtZkhCA0ZG4RH0MWj35dXq6oXVdcNI1APvXOcK0Mt6NO-FCzTBZlZbUaEgiU1gA4c-Uct2HpMuTtNp0dQXbfEoaXPFN1CtCwCpsW3zjsaBpPofc7gbTctVzZuGBVqYQK9HaXzxmTObNTE/s1600/Gorron+Cemetery.png" height="183" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temporary cemetery near Gorron, France, where<br />
Pfc. Gordon's remains were buried first, on Aug. 15, 1944,<br />
as an unknown American soldier, then months later <br />
reburied as an unknown German soldier.</td></tr>
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“It highlights the other 83,000 who are missing and won’t get help and won’t have the luxury of the French government helping them out,” Henry said. “We all feel that if you go and you fight and you die, you ought to be able to go home.”<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW8905WtERlAsGT21HOJ92qbaBozPM6jjaQpGZrW3Ob9MkVBEcvCRAVE70TzKViWtwhHp71yQaV5lH0w-HmsitRdaRWp_Oirv6IQO6DsTuKsFp5bXFenlEwa6JsaiSePSa1rTXXrBND4/s1600/Mont+du+Huisnes+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiW8905WtERlAsGT21HOJ92qbaBozPM6jjaQpGZrW3Ob9MkVBEcvCRAVE70TzKViWtwhHp71yQaV5lH0w-HmsitRdaRWp_Oirv6IQO6DsTuKsFp5bXFenlEwa6JsaiSePSa1rTXXrBND4/s1600/Mont+du+Huisnes+outside.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cemetery for German soldiers where Pfc. Gordon's<br />
remains were buried in 1961.</td></tr>
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Working with Gordon family members and several military historians, Henry’s detective work led him to conclude that Gordon’s remains had been misplaced in a cemetery for German soldiers in France. The U.S. military repeatedly refused to perform DNA tests. And when the French government did the tests and identified the remains as Gordon’s, the military refused to accept the results.<br />
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In March, after Henry arranged for further testing at UW-Madison and <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU6tApZLl7ChOy8cR1N3tOLoj7mDKfcr3U2F4zG-LC3Md3cnFHd0smCfEdk3nocRRCgjgsHRWVP21RY1Y1yVuvmEgt3LzJGhiHU_zH2DcdFDbC1irJynHqSPviB9VHjc8HZPsC6SIAQk/s1600/xxx+Lawrence+R.+Gordon+looking+at+PFC+Gordon%2527s+Grave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU6tApZLl7ChOy8cR1N3tOLoj7mDKfcr3U2F4zG-LC3Md3cnFHd0smCfEdk3nocRRCgjgsHRWVP21RY1Y1yVuvmEgt3LzJGhiHU_zH2DcdFDbC1irJynHqSPviB9VHjc8HZPsC6SIAQk/s1600/xxx+Lawrence+R.+Gordon+looking+at+PFC+Gordon%2527s+Grave.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pfc. Gordon's nephew in the funeral vault in France where his<br />
uncles remains were exhumed on Sept. 13, 2013.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
another laboratory, the Pentagon signaled that it would relent. He said the key was news coverage in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, along with pressure from Congress.<br />
<br />
Last week, hundreds of veterans mounted motorcycles and headed for Washington, D.C., dedicating their 26th annual Run for the Wall rally to Gordon.<br />
<br />
Henry and members of Gordon’s family plan to travel to France next month to take custody of the remains. They refused the military’s offer of military transport to the usual reception point for war dead, Dover Air Base in Delaware.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/middleton-man-s-tireless-effort-outflanks-military-to-bring-army/article_a13818fd-3fe3-558a-a9f3-03f967373716.html" target="_blank">Read the full story here.</a>StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-28316425141248650002014-05-19T22:16:00.000+03:002014-05-19T22:50:54.812+03:00Fallen | Rhinelander street named for Sgt. Ryan Adams<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvcmmSbLOEbBKqphjxMf-NumEzZ3-vKZX8L2Ors__DfusNfP6-45JnQlPhqgf93y7ro62HlJQijpRvvdGVeLtQWvHnROEBofBRWZmnf2rFXMPhRX9OL7-_PJzoqghQwLd0CfiobcNyU/s1600/20874a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPvcmmSbLOEbBKqphjxMf-NumEzZ3-vKZX8L2Ors__DfusNfP6-45JnQlPhqgf93y7ro62HlJQijpRvvdGVeLtQWvHnROEBofBRWZmnf2rFXMPhRX9OL7-_PJzoqghQwLd0CfiobcNyU/s1600/20874a.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>From the <a href="http://www.lakelandtimes.com/" target="_blank">The Lakeland Times</a></b>: Armed Forces Day 2014 provided the appropriate backdrop for a brief ceremony Saturday afternoon in Rhinelander.<br />
The name of the street in front of the Wisconsin Army National Guard armory, Military Road, was formally renamed Adams Way, in honor of Rhinelander resident <a href="http://wismilblogs.blogspot.com/search/label/ryan%20adams" target="_blank">Ryan Adams</a>, who had been a member of the <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_d707b914-d5fc-11de-acad-001cc4c002e0.html" target="_blank">Wisconsin Army Guard's 951st Engineer Company (Sappers)</a> when he was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct. 2, 2009.<br />
It was his second deployment, the first being to Iraq in 2003.<br />
<br />
<b>Photo: </b>The parents of Ryan Adams, Pete (left) and Jalane Adams, at Saturday's ceremony. (By Brian Jopek, The Lakeland Times)<br />
<br />
<b>For an update on veterans of the 951st</b>: <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/esprit-still-strong-among-soldiers-battered-in-afghanistan/article_9fe13db4-12fa-5a1a-900b-7e14270cdc87.html" target="_blank">Esprit still strong among soldiers battered in Afghanistan</a><br />
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-7059840522443589562014-05-19T21:55:00.002+03:002014-05-19T21:58:18.048+03:00Veterans | Walker or Burke best on issues?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlabPMsr9oV-kmg2mLAC6NgIfukKM60uJ2KfboAdtEOV7-LF5hX5hpsHX4yDCGC7xlV8Z5dBUlgh1zwUUlvPY3xsJgkyLWWeYYBPI9b6kr3KEYBR2wyM39NBR01uOOLdK3USsyn0xEas/s1600/BURKE_2_5994147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlabPMsr9oV-kmg2mLAC6NgIfukKM60uJ2KfboAdtEOV7-LF5hX5hpsHX4yDCGC7xlV8Z5dBUlgh1zwUUlvPY3xsJgkyLWWeYYBPI9b6kr3KEYBR2wyM39NBR01uOOLdK3USsyn0xEas/s1600/BURKE_2_5994147.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStnXTY4rW-8mO-iuBCeaEOj0XAUHGaqbKida3gwNoSenAwJbMDv8VMxsBqhvgXtGl1CHor7HwbksQswcvukqWXV6F8YVWpGoyWhp543l-rSCDETMJCI_wHffvTgdBS0bWBUNARLAl5do/s1600/WALKER_AMERICAN_ROLLER_SA_1_6003523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStnXTY4rW-8mO-iuBCeaEOj0XAUHGaqbKida3gwNoSenAwJbMDv8VMxsBqhvgXtGl1CHor7HwbksQswcvukqWXV6F8YVWpGoyWhp543l-rSCDETMJCI_wHffvTgdBS0bWBUNARLAl5do/s1600/WALKER_AMERICAN_ROLLER_SA_1_6003523.JPG" height="160" width="200" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://host.madison.com/news/state-and-regional/veterans-see-cancer-bill-as-black-mark-on-walker/article_c373863c-7742-5f5d-83a9-d212db6c19c5.html#ixzz32BlQD5am" target="_blank">From the Wisconsin State Journal</a></b>: Gov. Scott Walker touts all he has done for Wisconsin's veterans since taking office more than three years ago, making it a focus of his re-election efforts as he frequents events around the state with service members.<br />
<br />
But some veterans say <a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/dozens-including-veterans-and-republicans-urge-scott-walker-to-issue/article_274891eb-b079-52a7-b5d6-83de39c1193a.html" target="_blank">Walker's refusal to pardon a decorated Iraqi war veteran </a>and support for legislation they oppose show he doesn't have their true interests in mind, an argument that could tarnish the image he presents to patriotic conservatives.<br />
<br />
Jason Johns, an Iraqi combat veteran, Republican lobbyist for veterans groups and a former deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs under Walker, said veterans who previously wouldn't think twice about voting for Walker now aren't so sure.<br />
<br />
"It's causing people to pause and really look at it," Johns said. "Before it was really easy to say he's nothing but positive for veterans."<br />
<br />
Walker's expected Democratic opponent, Mary Burke, has tried to exploit Walker's record on veterans' issues.<br />
<br />
"It just seems to me like Walker is far too willing to make decisions that adversely impact the brave men and women who've served our country," Burke said in a statement.<br />
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-3375290749276625322014-05-19T19:56:00.001+03:002014-05-19T20:09:54.794+03:00Kosovo | Long arm of Reedsburg High support-the-troops effort<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreL-Cls2UHKCzll3EAOZDqPxkQMEJHX9o5Ijh-l2_c_E3T0HVLO_SahWhAbJr1rZoiznErKSuT4-2syL1AkkNMZ85VOMENtHu9Rv9qfjxJ1fwpL90jMAWRx-P9uGtEtePd-iCVCc9mVE/s1600/1351785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreL-Cls2UHKCzll3EAOZDqPxkQMEJHX9o5Ijh-l2_c_E3T0HVLO_SahWhAbJr1rZoiznErKSuT4-2syL1AkkNMZ85VOMENtHu9Rv9qfjxJ1fwpL90jMAWRx-P9uGtEtePd-iCVCc9mVE/s1600/1351785.jpg" height="400" width="297" /></a><b>From the Army Capt. Kevin Sandell in Kosovo:</b> </div>
<div class="MsoPlainText">
<i>I’m the commander of
the Army’s 11th Public Affairs Detachment, currently deployed to Camp
Bondsteel, Kosovo. One of our print journalists recently completed a story
about Jolee Mockler, an art teacher at Reedsburg Area HS, who has sponsored
care packages, letters and even her own “Wall of Heroes” for U.S. service members
around the world. ... I am actually from Cedarburg, Wisconsin, so this story means a lot knowing that Wisconsinites are avid supporters of the U.S. military. </i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>ABOVE:</b> Reedsburg High School art teacher Jolee Mockler in front of her ‘Wall of Heroes,’ which showcases service members who send her photos. The wall started in 2006 after some of her former students joined the military after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.</div>
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<b>LEFT:</b> Capt. Steven Northrop, battle captain for Kosovo Force's Multinational Battle Group-East and a native of Gulfport, Miss., holds a card, May 2, sent from Jolee Mockler’s class. Northrop found the card pinned to a board while he was cleaning an office after arriving at Camp Bondsteel, and kept it because it reminded him of his family.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.dvidshub.net/news/130238/army-captain-teacher-form-bond-through-art#.U3o1Q_ldXRA" target="_blank">The story</a> from Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System: </b>CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – When deployed, the simplest of things can make a service member feel at home and, for one Soldier, a two-year-old card was all he needed.<br />
U.S. Army Capt. Steven Northrop, battle captain for Kosovo Force's Multinational Battle Group-East, found a "butterfly" card pinned to a board while he was cleaning an office after arriving at Camp Bondsteel last February.<br />
He kept it from being thrown away because it reminded him of home.<br />
“The drawing on it reminded me of something that my daughter would draw,” said the Gulfport, Miss., native. “Since we just arrived here, I didn’t have anything to decorate my workspace or my room to remind me of my family so I pulled the card from the board.”<br />
Opening the card, Northrop found out the card was sent from a student at Reedsburg Area High School in Reedsburg, Wis., saying thank you to service members for the sacrifices they make.<br />
Northrop wanted to return the favor.<br />
“I always like it when people take a moment out of their time to just say a simple thank you or an appreciation for what we do,” said Northrop. “On the back was an address, so I sent [the listed teacher’s name] an email telling her I found this card from her students and I would like to say thank you for the recognition that you and your students are giving our men and women in uniform.”<br />
Soon thereafter, he received a response from Jolee Mockler, an art teacher at RAHS, who has sent cards and care packages to deployed troops since 2006.<br />
“It's my mission to give our students the opportunity to tell the troops ‘thank you’ and I've never had a student stay no to making cards,” said Mockler.<br />
Her selfless service doesn’t end there, however, as she also coordinates with local schools in the district to also make cards and collect goods for the troops.<br />
“Every holiday, I send out a district-wide email requesting cards and items,” said Mockler. “The items and cards are sent to me at the high school and we pack and send the care packages to deployed troops.”<br />
Mockler added her drive to keep doing what she does, comes from the responses she gets back from service members around the world.<br />
“We receive so much love and appreciation for the simple act of sending cookies and making cards,” said Mockler.<br />
Many times, photos from the troops accompany their letters, which she puts on a dedicated wall called, ‘Mockler's Wall of Heroes.’<br />
“[The wall] started after Sept. 11, 2001, when some of my former students joined the military,” said Mockler. “I asked them for their military graduation picture and started the wall and it has grown and grown.”<br />
The passion she feels for honoring the troops has become contagious among the students and school staff, and Mockler said she feels it is important to keep supporting service members throughout the world.<br />
“We wouldn't have all the freedoms we do in this great country of ours, if not for our troops, who are willing to sacrifice so much for us,” said Mockler. “We must never forget all that our troops do selflessly for the rest of us back home.”<br />
Both Northrop and Mockler have kept in touch since the initial thank you note was discovered, and Mockler has sent additional letters and boxes to soldiers in the current Kosovo Force rotation. With each deployed unit, she receives new photos and her continued support is there for all to see as her wall of heroes gets bigger and bigger.StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-69672556489805330732014-04-30T19:32:00.001+03:002014-05-19T19:33:57.279+03:005 years after | Wisconsin Guard mobilization to Iraq<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErrhv2JsmECpXEj7OS_SwQo50mSYh60uYhajkOjdWMoi8bKWK8jO9yWjdv56nTZRQs_w3LONtdThcnQoVbRb-cRW0xkmY32CEdgNKqYezNs9zCMNMUz7-aTjV1Y2D2S9Ok5g6suV9BWU/s1600/535c75506661f.preview-620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErrhv2JsmECpXEj7OS_SwQo50mSYh60uYhajkOjdWMoi8bKWK8jO9yWjdv56nTZRQs_w3LONtdThcnQoVbRb-cRW0xkmY32CEdgNKqYezNs9zCMNMUz7-aTjV1Y2D2S9Ok5g6suV9BWU/s1600/535c75506661f.preview-620.jpg" height="232" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
In case you missed it. <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/citizen-soldiers-took-divergent-paths-after-iraq-tour-that-held/article_6aa394d0-8cd8-53c0-9b8c-7f0a0cd60c47.html" target="_blank">Five years later: Wisconsin National Guard deployment to Iraq.</a><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span><span style="font-size: large;">ive </span>years ago, thousands of Wisconsin factory workers, farmers, students, hamburger cooks and accountants were far from their homes, crossing the desert frontier between Kuwait and Iraq on a historic mission to help bring an unpopular war to a close.</h3>
<br />
When the Wisconsin National Guard’s largest deployment to a combat zone since World War II ended about eight months later, 3,200 men and women returned with vivid memories of desert heat, blinding sandstorms, extended separation from families and friends, interaction with a foreign culture, and duties that ranged from tedious to harrowing.<br />
<br />
They arrived back in Wisconsin amid one of the worst economic downturns in U.S. history. Many encountered rough patches reuniting with families. More than a few struggled to slow down to the speed of civilian life after missions that required constant vigilance.<br />
<br />
And many brought home new confidence and fresh perspectives after overcoming difficult circumstances overseas, said Lt. Col. Ryan Brown, executive officer for the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which accounted for most of the roughly 4,000 state Guard members on full-time active duty overseas during 2009.<br />
<br />
“Deployments change lives,” said Brown, who spent 2009 — his third military deployment — as defense operations chief for the cluster of military bases in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone. “For the most part, people come back more prepared to deal with the rest of their lives rather than less prepared. Some will say ‘this is making my life harder,’ but the vast majority are better equipped to deal with life in general.”<br />
<br />
Despite the well-documented stress of lengthy mobilizations, the state Guard’s turnover rate stayed at about 15 to 16 percent as deployments grew more frequent during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Brown said.<br />
<br />
“Retention is high because we paid some attention to it,” said Col. Tim Lawson, commander of the 32nd IBCT. “We went out of our way to work with employers and families.”<br />
<br />
Since 2009, the state Guard’s Madison-based Service Member Support Division has grown, making it able to deliver more assistance to soldiers and families before, during and after deployments, Lawson said.<br />
<br />
The division added a job placement service in 2012 when unemployment was running at 10 percent in the 32nd.<br />
<br />
Military officials say men and women with experience like overseas deployments are great hires because they have been trained as disciplined leaders and problem solvers.StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-34272925516681405242014-04-18T19:26:00.001+03:002014-04-18T19:31:09.496+03:00Top rangers | Wisconsin's 1st Lt. Nicholas Plochar helps team to highest finish yet<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO1afZWuYhmpGnF_v5BpqdHtiPSxlvQFK3JnCSfPmltRBMyP5o0o-n9LH2_rQTKJKjF-4oyEbYpxERFiWBQywqpHivcthGZo7dlaV1mCmTL2jD3fCopY9GKTphcP67IFG746KaBDkoE8/s1600/1255957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO1afZWuYhmpGnF_v5BpqdHtiPSxlvQFK3JnCSfPmltRBMyP5o0o-n9LH2_rQTKJKjF-4oyEbYpxERFiWBQywqpHivcthGZo7dlaV1mCmTL2jD3fCopY9GKTphcP67IFG746KaBDkoE8/s1600/1255957.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;">First Lt. Nicholas Plocar of the Wisconsin Army National Guard navigates a balance beam obstacle over Victory Pond, Fort Benning, Ga., April 11, 2014, during the 31st annual Best Ranger Competition. (Army photo by Sgt. Austin Berner)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 16px;"></td></tr>
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<br />
From Vaughn Larson, Wisconsin National Guard PAO:<br />
<br />
FORT BENNING, Ga. - "Ladies and gentlemen, in second place, Team 32 — Capt. Robert Killian, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Colorado Army National Guard, and 1st Lt. Nicholas Plocar, 127th Infantry, Wisconsin Army National Guard."<br />
<br />
And with those words from Col. Kyle Lear, commander of the Ranger Training Brigade, the Army National Guard secured its highest finish in the annual Best Ranger Competition.<br />
<br />
Of the 50 teams to start the competition April 13 at Fort Benning, Ga., four belonged to the National Guard, and two teams included Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers. Besides Team 32, Team 34 included 1st Lt. Jose Moreno of the Rhode Island Army National Guard and Staff Sgt. William Kocken, also of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry.<br />
<br />
Team 34 finished 19th out of the 26 teams to complete the competition. The other two National Guard teams — 35 and 33 — finished in 17th and 11th place, respectively.<br />
<br />
"Less than 1 percent of our Soldiers are Ranger qualified," Lear said to open the awards ceremony following the grueling three-day event. "The 26 teams you will see lined up tonight represent the absolute best of that one percent."<br />
<br />
This was the third consecutive best Ranger Competition for Plocar, and the experience showed. Team 32 led the competition from the opening event, surrendering the lead only after the Spot Drop event on day three. Plocar and Killian — who were teammates in 2012 — finished strong in the competition's final event, taking the lead in the Buddy Run about one minute into the run and building a considerable lead en route to their first-place finish. But that was not enough to reclaim the lead from the team of second lieutenants from the 25th Infantry Division.<br />
<br />
"It's a bittersweet feeling," Plocar acknowledged. "We did so well over the first two days in so many events. To come up short on one event is tough. But it's still a good result, and good for the National Guard."<br />
<br />
According to the Best Ranger Competition website, the "average" competitor is 28 years old, 5-foot 10-inches, 165 pounds, Airborne Ranger qualified, a decathlon-caliber athlete, and ranges in age from specialist to major. Just over one in four have competed in the event before.<br />
<br />
This was the first Best Ranger Competition for Kocken, who just earned his Ranger tab last year.<br />
<br />
"1st Lt. Plocar and I work out together," Kocken said. "He suggested I ask battalion to see if I could take the Best Ranger assessment."<br />
<br />
That assessment gauges Soldiers' physical fitness and skill competence, and serves as an audition of sorts to determine who can compete.<br />
<br />
"One way to find out how good you are is to go up against the best guys on the planet," Kocken said.<br />
<br />
Events each competitor must conquer over the course of 60 hours include a foot march of at least 20 miles while wearing a 60-pound rucksack; a grenade course; the Darby Queen obstacle course; rope climb and rappelling; spot jump; a helocast and swim; a water confidence test slide for life and rope drop; and military skills such as marksmanship, land navigation and communication.<br />
<br />
Kocken had mixed feelings over his team's overall finish.<br />
<br />
"After Day One we were in second place," he said. "We went into day land navigation and got a little flustered — we ended up getting disqualified from that event, and it was too hard to make up the points. Make one or two small mistakes and it really hurts you."<br />
<br />
Plocar noted that few National Guard Soldiers get the opportunity to conduct spot jumps as part of their regular training.<br />
<br />
"We were in the top five, top 10 in every event but one," he said. "But it wasn't enough to get first place."<br />
<br />
Kocken said the National Guard made a statement at this year's competition.<br />
<br />
"A few years ago the National Guard wasn't making it past the second day [of the Best Ranger Competition]," Kocken said. "Now we've got four teams in the top 20 — that says a lot about how far the Guard has come."<br />
<br />
Plocar agreed.<br />
<br />
"Our Soldiers are top of the line," he said. "They can do the job as good as any Soldier in the Army."<br />
<br />
Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson, deputy adjutant general for Army, shared that sentiment.<br />
<br />
"We are unbelievably proud of both 1st Lt. Plocar and Staff Sgt. Kocken in the manner that they represented not only themselves but the Wisconsin Army National Guard as a whole," Anderson said. "This competition is the premier event for Rangers, and to have two Soldiers not only compete in all events but finish so strong is a tremendous reflection of their dedication as Soldiers."<br />
<br />
Plocar said that not fulfilling his goal of winning the Best Ranger Competition has kept drawing him back. Kocken, noting the three-month time commitment required to train up and participate in the competition, suggested that this might be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him.<br />
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"I would love to go back," he said, "but I need to train with my squad, too."<br />
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Plocar and Kocken thanked the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry for supporting them over the past three months, as well as the National Guard and their families.<br />
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"Without their support … none of this would have been possible," Plocar said. "It's a very special three days that not a lot of people get to see."<br />
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"It's a great experience," Kocken added. "But we covered at least 43 miles on Day One — I'm still finding blisters all over."StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-3296170653279600712014-04-17T21:25:00.002+03:002014-05-19T21:56:49.569+03:00Hasty Craters | Dodgeville Army unit to compete in Sapper Stakes at Fort McCoyFrom the 416th Theater Engineer Command Public Affairs Office just south of the (Wisconsin-Illinois) border:<br />
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Seven Army Reserve combat engineers belonging to the 469th Engineer Company, headquartered in Dodgeville, Wis., will compete in the first ever theater-level Sapper Stakes competition in May.<br />
Sapper Stakes will take place at Fort McCoy, Wis., from May 5-8 to select the three best combat engineer teams in the Army Reserve.<br />
Sapper Stakes events have been held before, but never of this size and at this command level in the Reserve.<br />
The 416th Theater Engineer Command, headquartered in Darien, Ill., and the 412th TEC, headquartered in Vicksburg, Miss., are responsible for all of the engineer Soldiers in the Army Reserve, and a combined total of 26,000 Soldiers of various job specialties across the continental U.S.<br />
Approximately 26 teams are expected, with five to seven members each, representing six brigades.<br />
The participating Soldiers are assigned to mobility augmentation companies, route clearance companies, area clearance platoons and engineer battalion headquarters. Sapper Stakes focuses on team cohesion while testing mental and physical stamina of each team member, as well as their tactical and technical skills.<br />
The goal is to include National Guard and Active Duty teams in the future and run the competition annually.<br />
Each team will be tested in the area of physical fitness, ruck marching, knot tying, demolition, hasty road crater, landing zone, in-stride breaching, improvised explosive investigation, reconnaissance, weapon assembly, casualty evacuation, Army warrior skills and rifle marksmanship.<br />
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StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-8757800669419395812014-03-24T19:09:00.000+03:002014-05-19T21:57:37.536+03:00UW grad | Derek Adametz of McFarland, Wi, takes Fighting Tigers helm<br />
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From Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Clay M. Whaley:<br />
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BAHRAIN -- Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 and Commander Task Group (CTG) 57.2 and 47.1, will conduct a Change of Command in Bahrain on April 1. Cmdr. Derek Adametz, will relieve Cmdr. Todd Libby, as the 66th Commanding Officer of VP-8.<br />
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Cmdr. Adametz earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in May 1996, and was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1998.<br />
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Cmdr. Adametz’ previous squadrons include the ‘Pelicans’ of VP-45 and the ‘Mad Foxes’ of VP-5, both located at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, FL, and the ‘Grey Knights’ of VP-46 located at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA. He was also assigned to the Naval Historical Center at the Washington Navy Yard, USS NIMITZ (CVN 68), and the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, CA where he earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, with Distinction, and a minor in Applied Physics.<br />
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Before reporting to Patrol Squadron 8, Cmdr. Adametz was the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs where he assisted in policy development and execution in the areas of countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy, DoD Cyber Security and Space. Cmdr. Adametz will be the 66th Commanding Officer of Patrol Squadron 8.<br />
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VP-8 is currently deployed to the United States Navy’s FOURTH and FIFTH Fleet Areas of Responsibility conducting Maritime Security Operations, supporting Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and Countering Transnational Organized Crime.<br />
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The event will mark the end of Cmdr. Libby’s second tour as a “Fighting Tiger,” where he previously served as Legal, Readiness and Naval Flight Officer (NFO) Training Officer from 1997 to 2000. As Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Libby successfully led the “Fighting Tigers” through a challenging Inter-Deployment Readiness Cycle while preparing for a multi-site deployment to Bahrain and El Salvador and various detachment sites. During his tenure as the Commanding Officer, the “Fighting Tigers” have flown 432 sorties and 3,336 mishap-free flight hours. Following the Change of Command, Cmdr. Libby will transfer to the United States Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado. <br />
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For more information about VP-8’s mission, history and biographies, visit our official homepage at: http://www.public.navy.mil/airfor/vp8/Pages/default.aspx<br />
To stay up to date with VP-8, follow our Facebook page at:<br />
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Patrol-Squadron-EIGHT-VP-8/335177721864?ref=hl<br />
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StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-11531680404313864902013-11-18T19:52:00.000+03:002013-11-18T19:52:26.476+03:00Paper dolls tell military tales <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x53TGI9bNmh2zUhtasxF7Dw_sp8iVkAi-H4DVCRlil6AALv_ihg6pZOxZBs0vZebfGgMN8qzOT0UX9lJIFUANzq4Rg90n-RxMFbNJn6f7StdGgak0csdlvtOmpTVjs_6SZZUandASAo/s1600/NYT+military+paper+dolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x53TGI9bNmh2zUhtasxF7Dw_sp8iVkAi-H4DVCRlil6AALv_ihg6pZOxZBs0vZebfGgMN8qzOT0UX9lJIFUANzq4Rg90n-RxMFbNJn6f7StdGgak0csdlvtOmpTVjs_6SZZUandASAo/s400/NYT+military+paper+dolls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
This is not a follow-up to the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4501634945446306081#editor/target=post;postID=3649791425562863380;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=postname" target="_blank">previous post on the Cruise-Wahlberg dispute</a>.<br />
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Thanks to the <a href="http://thepapercollector.blogspot.com/2013/11/paper-dolls-with-military-stories-to.html" target="_blank">The Paper Collector</a> for pointing out this illustration from Thursday's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/fashion/paper-dolls-help-women-in-the-military-tell-their-stories.html?_r=0" target="_blank">New York Times</a>; You can read the Times story <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/14/fashion/paper-dolls-help-women-in-the-military-tell-their-stories.html?_r=0" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-36497914255628633802013-11-18T19:40:00.000+03:002013-11-18T19:40:33.336+03:00Celluloid warriors sound off: Wahlberg slams Cruise over military comments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA0Ygo96u8ztQga89SXeITaYjOPpfTuslv4DuATP7rGsJFlLQxrnFDHeFwrOHy5_CPVZJycGpvX3UakSSHI5qUVL3pQPTC24YuEa1g9R9cZpvdZiNS7Mf7k3WlGnPGypmquuzjG3ehK8/s1600/tom-cruise-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA0Ygo96u8ztQga89SXeITaYjOPpfTuslv4DuATP7rGsJFlLQxrnFDHeFwrOHy5_CPVZJycGpvX3UakSSHI5qUVL3pQPTC24YuEa1g9R9cZpvdZiNS7Mf7k3WlGnPGypmquuzjG3ehK8/s320/tom-cruise-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHAPHbuX2svXP76D6jpP6hA9TDX9lgB-rO0m526tdPRNOZWAEEegk_B9Zzve1mE8kWnbTxhCPzwv4LfK2SnAQWHTpb2vAgSwS3zTAmtqk462VE_VN7Tf7F0IPlE9D36Qv1OjCvPrLuFo/s1600/mark-wahlberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHAPHbuX2svXP76D6jpP6hA9TDX9lgB-rO0m526tdPRNOZWAEEegk_B9Zzve1mE8kWnbTxhCPzwv4LfK2SnAQWHTpb2vAgSwS3zTAmtqk462VE_VN7Tf7F0IPlE9D36Qv1OjCvPrLuFo/s320/mark-wahlberg.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
MILblogging.com reports:<br />
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Tom Cruise is not going to get off easy after comments he made about the military were revealed last week, provoking a social media frenzy.</blockquote>
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TMZ had reported that the Hollywood actor claimed his job as a professional actor was as grueling as fighting the war in Afghanistan.</blockquote>
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How appropriate…</blockquote>
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Well, the timing couldn't have been worse for Cruise --- not only were the comments insulting to the men and women serving overseas, but Veterans Day was right around the corner.</blockquote>
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Critics chimed in on social media. Mark Wahlberg, who stars as Marcus Luttrell in the action drama war film Lone Survivor, chimed in publicly.</blockquote>
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During the premier of Lone Survivor on Tuesday night, Wahlberg had something to say to Hollywood.</blockquote>
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Here’s a transcript of what was said on stage via Entertainment Weekly: </blockquote>
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<b>“For actors to sit there and talk about ‘oh I went to SEAL training’? I don’t give a ...</b></blockquote>
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<a href="http://wahlberg%20slams%20cruise%20over%20military%20comments/" target="_blank">Read more.</a>StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-55312959598838798252013-06-03T22:00:00.001+03:002013-06-03T22:03:40.408+03:00Soldier song and dance at Fort McCoy<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5AzMXnxUlCXi-iBiBikSL155Mz0DKTn7VmHSxMcdt-5MFMLFhD2u2Jp1ZBHbDbFP6JYd8rYcxqs4ziaynvB6UZeQ__TFEkarXJhJUEw56XY1kLPr4ay6qZQ7cVTZSAXfMLEDhgtsBGU/s1600/2013+U.S.+Army+Soldier+Show.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg5AzMXnxUlCXi-iBiBikSL155Mz0DKTn7VmHSxMcdt-5MFMLFhD2u2Jp1ZBHbDbFP6JYd8rYcxqs4ziaynvB6UZeQ__TFEkarXJhJUEw56XY1kLPr4ay6qZQ7cVTZSAXfMLEDhgtsBGU/s400/2013+U.S.+Army+Soldier+Show.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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From Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office: The stage will be set for 22 soldiers from across the country to entertain the public at Fort McCoy with a 75-minute song and dance production themed "Ready and Resilient." <br />
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The free performance is July 11 at 6 p.m. at the Rumpel Fitness Center. Doors open an hour before the show, and seating is on a first-come basis. Please be prepared to show a photo ID when at the main gate.<br />
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"Ready and Resilient" is a high-energy live musical production that showcases the talents of active-duty Soldiers selected by audition from throughout the Army. Soldiers first, they are artists who have a passion for music, dance and performing, with specialties ranging from information technology to combat medicine. The show is assembled and rehearsed five weeks for a four-month tour of military installations across the nation. <br />
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"Every American, military-affiliated or not, will be able to see themselves in the show," said Army Soldier Show Artistic Director Victor Hurtado. "The fact that the show is entertaining someone is already taking them away (from their mindset), but the messaging is going to inspire. We know they are coming to be entertained, but further, the content in the show is designed to hopefully be a time-released pool of inspiration." <br />
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For more information about the show, please call 877-864-4969 or visit www.mccoymwr.com.<br />
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PHOTO CAPTION: A performance scene from the 2013 U.S. Army Soldier Show (U.S. Army photograph) StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-65900723463288143592013-04-24T22:31:00.002+03:002013-04-24T22:33:40.985+03:00Facelifts OK'd for 15 Wis Guard armories<br />
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From the governor's office: The State of Wisconsin Building Commission today approved several key projects across the state including renovations to the Department of Military Affairs armory locations in<br />
<ul>
<li>Abbotsford</li>
<li>Antigo</li>
<li>Beloit</li>
<li>Clintonville</li>
<li>Fond du Lac</li>
<li>Fort Atkinson</li>
<li>Janesville</li>
<li>Merrill</li>
<li>Neillsville</li>
<li>New Richmond</li>
<li>Tomah</li>
<li>Watertown</li>
<li>Waupaca</li>
<li>Kenosha and </li>
<li>Sussex</li>
</ul>
StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-88269726852605306502013-04-23T20:03:00.000+03:002013-04-23T20:05:25.304+03:00Guard soldiers named best in Wisconsin <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQmOg9v4OLmrQRCSjIAZftrjAP3mRJ4uc4_aJEbWoY7W1o8avVsVv715BCTAtO060jbGvnOwWO_u_QLgbeVtrZonl8_r-NlmLMtzkjSGU6VDUrYTTBLdWlTW7LFZVZcZg5JvNPVGUQls/s1600/450x299_q75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiQmOg9v4OLmrQRCSjIAZftrjAP3mRJ4uc4_aJEbWoY7W1o8avVsVv715BCTAtO060jbGvnOwWO_u_QLgbeVtrZonl8_r-NlmLMtzkjSGU6VDUrYTTBLdWlTW7LFZVZcZg5JvNPVGUQls/s320/450x299_q75.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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From the 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment:<br />
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After a tiring three-day competition, the Wisconsin Army National Guard announced its 2013 State Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, April 21. <br />
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Spc. Brandon Byrne of Oak Creek, with Company B, 257th Brigade Support Battalion, won State Soldier of the Year and Sgt. Edward Schmitt of Lake Mills, Wis., with the 54th Civil Support Team, 64th Troop Command, won State Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Both soldiers will move on to represent Wisconsin May 13-16 in Marseilles, Ill., for the regional competition. <br />
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"It was an intense competition, and everyone did really well," Schmitt said. "I found it surprising that even though we're competing, everyone still looks out for each other. For example, I didn't have a lamp for one event, but then another soldier gave me an extra one they had, which just shows that even though we're competing, we're still all in this together."<br />
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<a href="http://www.dvidshub.net/news/105624/wisconsin-army-national-guard-soldier-nco-year-advance-regionals#.UXa90lI6CSp" target="_blank">Read more by clicking here. </a><br />
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About the photo: Spc. Brandon Byrne of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry fires at pop-up targets with a M9 pistol during sidearm qualifications of the 2013 State Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition at Fort McCoy, April 19. Five soldiers and eight noncommissioned officers from the Wisconsin Army National Guard are competing for the honor to serve as a state representative at the regional competition in May. (112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment photo by Sgt. Megan Burnham)StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-10234946240883176572013-04-19T00:09:00.001+03:002013-04-19T00:09:49.095+03:00New Dane CVSO named<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From the Dane County Executive's office:<br />
<br />Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced today that he has named <u><b>Dan Connery</b></u> as his new Dane County Veterans Service Officer (VSO). Connery is a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and has extensive experience working with the veterans community. Connery is currently serving as Interim Veterans Service Officer for Dane County. <br /><br />“Dan’s extensive experience with the Dane County Veterans Service Office and our veterans community make him an ideal candidate for our new VSO,” said Parisi. “I look forward to working with Dan as we continue to assist and serve those who have given so much for our country.” <br /> <br />A Madison native and East High School graduate, Dan Connery joined the United States Army out of high school and served from July 1988 to July 1991. After basic training and advanced individual training (AIT), he was stationed in South Korea (Camp Ames) for one year before heading to Fort Knox, Kentucky. Working in support of the 1st Calvary Division out of Fort Hood, Texas, Dan spent six months in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. <br /><br />Joining the Dane County Veterans Service Office in May 2006, Dan has years of direct experience with advocating for and assisting veterans in obtaining the benefits they have earned by serving our nation. Connery’s roles in the Veterans Service Office have included Assistant Veterans Service Officer, Deputy Veterans Service Director, and Interim Veterans Service Director. <br /><br />During his time in the Veterans Service Office, Connery has helped increase access to benefits and services to Dane County Veterans population through the innovative use of technology and social media. <br /><br />“Helping men and women who wore the uniform to support our nation is an absolute honor,” said Connery. “I am extremely proud of the work we do for our veterans and I am grateful for the ongoing support of County Executive Parisi and his staff. Dane County is committed to supporting veterans and veterans issues.” <br /><br />Connery is a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a BS in Psychology. He lives in Oregon with his wife, Melinda, and their sons, Bailey, Kieran, and Riley. <br /><br />Pending final approval by the Dane County Board, Connery’s start date as VSO will be June 3rd, and his starting salary $72,820. <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /> StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-55482859767148676132013-04-12T18:29:00.000+03:002013-04-12T18:31:52.780+03:00Free camping for military on Armed Forces DayFrom the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs:<br />
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Free camping is being offered to any veteran or service member at selected private campgrounds, in recognition of Armed Forces Day, May 18, 2013, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO), and participating member campgrounds.<br />
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For a list of participating campgrounds go to <a href="http://www.wisconsincampgrounds.com/">www.wisconsincampgrounds.com</a> and look under "promotions."<br />
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According to the WDVA press release: <br />
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Simply present your military ID or proof of being a Veteran when checking in and the participating campgrounds will allow you & your immediate family to camp at no charge. <br />
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“We wanted to recognize the men and women of our Armed Forces who defend our liberties on a daily basis,” said Lori Severson, executive director of WACO. “Offering free camping to active members and veterans of the Armed Forces as a token of our appreciation for everything they do. “We were thrilled to receive recognition from John Scocos of the Department of Veterans Affairs. His presentation inspired even more campground owners to get involved.” <br />
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“Camping creates wonderful memories and experiences for families. I still remember how much I enjoyed camping and we are happy to join with you and pass along this opportunity to our military families.” said John Scocos, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, at WACO’s recent 50 year convention, held in Steven’s Point, Wisconsin. <br />
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This is the 8th year that the campgrounds have offered veterans and servicemembers free camping. Many of the campground owners in Wisconsin are also excited about offering discounts up to and including free camping to other Wisconsin heroes, such as Firemen, Police officers, and hospital personnel. <br />
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For a list of participating campgrounds and more information, visit the WACO campground site at <a href="http://www.wisconsincampgrounds.com/">http://www.wisconsincampgrounds.com/promotions</a>. Each campground will also have special activities through out the two days dedicated to Armed Forces Day. These will include fireworks, floating lights memorials, kid’s games & activities, and celebrity visits. <br />
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WACO is working through local organizations such as the VFW, Kiwanis, Rotary, and the American Legion to promote this exciting event. <br />
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The Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners is a nonprofit organization of private campgrounds in Wisconsin formed to help campers select a private campground in Wisconsin that lives up to the highest standards of quality camping. It has over 208 member campgrounds & distributes over 315,000 directories to campers all over the US. Participating members strive to improve the family camping experience by making it a pleasant, relaxing, and rewarding outdoor experience at all of their campgrounds. Campground Owners who would like more information on joining WACO can call the office at 800-843-1821. </blockquote>
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<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-87506390359388791862013-01-24T02:26:00.000+03:002013-01-24T02:33:35.025+03:00Pentagon lifts ban on women in combat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAsCsPAtrXAAMg2mSW-NyNNws6ApNjY7fFfrX8Bou7Qp5b3yLqRdEApwyyoWkNX-62GbIC2gjfNU_Y1tyFFA29axUlLZn12RlU7-PadPer5wGMbpnp4my1z0bVbo1lVxnu0NX6SkiIYc/s1600/24military3_337-articleLarge-v2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOAsCsPAtrXAAMg2mSW-NyNNws6ApNjY7fFfrX8Bou7Qp5b3yLqRdEApwyyoWkNX-62GbIC2gjfNU_Y1tyFFA29axUlLZn12RlU7-PadPer5wGMbpnp4my1z0bVbo1lVxnu0NX6SkiIYc/s320/24military3_337-articleLarge-v2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta is lifting the military’s ban on women
in combat, which will open up hundreds of thousands of additional
front-line jobs to them, senior defense officials said on Wednesday.<br />
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Read the New York Times article <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/us/pentagon-says-it-is-lifting-ban-on-women-in-combat.html?_r=0" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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Photo: <a href="http://www.lynseyaddario.com/" target="_blank">Lynsey Addario</a> for <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/24/us/pentagon-says-it-is-lifting-ban-on-women-in-combat.html?_r=0" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>. Capt. Emily Naslund on patrol in Marja, Afghanistan, in 2010.<br />
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Read about a Wisconsin woman who saw some harrowing combat <a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/wisconsin-woman-hurt-in-afghanistan-gets-top-air-force-honor/article_7646ad80-c53f-11e1-853f-001a4bcf887a.html" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIafYGnn_pFXZ8LJHV2KWj886CUvnnPReC8nBuv5_UpwrdjZTT5s6farjJHWFgBP8T6PFO7CNpxFgBLqCzPfzDJ8ne-EUNa2dqxsLl76QRMNecZCozcdlNHqdlQOOILJd680I8-NgeVG0/s1600/120622-F-ZZ000-001_5937857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIafYGnn_pFXZ8LJHV2KWj886CUvnnPReC8nBuv5_UpwrdjZTT5s6farjJHWFgBP8T6PFO7CNpxFgBLqCzPfzDJ8ne-EUNa2dqxsLl76QRMNecZCozcdlNHqdlQOOILJd680I8-NgeVG0/s320/120622-F-ZZ000-001_5937857.JPG" width="231" /></a></div>
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<span itemid="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2013/01/24/us/24military3_337/24military3_337-articleLarge-v2.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"></span> StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-53552323894426117602013-01-24T02:19:00.001+03:002013-01-24T02:19:15.068+03:00Dane VSO leaving job at month's end<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol7MJeDAFtDTTPh8zUgJ0AYc3TXliJ4COZddnjwG0AD0JzVkrFC6k_GXLwj3BmB32mpyjImy5MFZtXQPUlYmhxDW7GxRjOB7bX_ZoHkfi0xbCVdGLVP-NIKMBa66PFaASuk0Pem_kQDU/s1600/VETERANS_OFFICE_2_5929656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjol7MJeDAFtDTTPh8zUgJ0AYc3TXliJ4COZddnjwG0AD0JzVkrFC6k_GXLwj3BmB32mpyjImy5MFZtXQPUlYmhxDW7GxRjOB7bX_ZoHkfi0xbCVdGLVP-NIKMBa66PFaASuk0Pem_kQDU/s320/VETERANS_OFFICE_2_5929656.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /> The Dane County veterans service officer is leaving his job at the
end of the month to work for a nonprofit group that helps military
members and their families.<br />
Sgt. B.J. Ganem has been the county's veterans service officer since October 2011.<br />
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Click<a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/dane-county-veterans-service-officer-leaving-job/article_392baa50-6593-11e2-b3c3-0019bb2963f4.html" target="_blank"> here for the story. </a>StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-14710064202870302192013-01-24T02:08:00.000+03:002013-01-24T02:10:34.238+03:00UW health effort for OEF/OIF combat vetsUW-Madison is looking for a few good men (and women) who served in Iraq
and Afghanistan to help other soldiers cope with mental health issues.<br />
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Click<a href="http://host.madison.com/news/local/education/university/uw-wellness-study-aims-to-help-combat-affected-veterans/article_a67f5a6a-6599-11e2-9475-0019bb2963f4.html" target="_blank"> here.</a>StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-80674797652474525302013-01-08T18:30:00.000+03:002013-01-08T18:31:13.319+03:00Wisconsin vet's journey back to VietnamClick <a href="http://mindfuljourneys.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a> to read the blog.<br />
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<br />StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501634945446306081.post-66412634810250922462013-01-05T00:54:00.001+03:002013-01-05T01:03:54.777+03:00Faces of Freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_osBNxXHVgKBALIKVtzkkA5GuB5ZS6vX_Kd8kzAffqj0WtMt6wMfUsQtXFZr7AZBwe-Xn6DvoMjdmXwk22ni4oZOlQ-s_qEZHxnY5M3DqwlopD2BxvAvuKKlhbnegszjk4bakqgARUE/s1600/VET025_FaceOfFreedom_8-5x11_Evite_FINAL_TMC_150dpi%2520%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_osBNxXHVgKBALIKVtzkkA5GuB5ZS6vX_Kd8kzAffqj0WtMt6wMfUsQtXFZr7AZBwe-Xn6DvoMjdmXwk22ni4oZOlQ-s_qEZHxnY5M3DqwlopD2BxvAvuKKlhbnegszjk4bakqgARUE/s640/VET025_FaceOfFreedom_8-5x11_Evite_FINAL_TMC_150dpi%2520%25284%2529.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.wvmfoundation.com/fundraising-events.php/" target="_blank">For more information click here.</a>StVerburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13368577509757531707noreply@blogger.com