United We Roll at Stardust Radio

This information comes from the House site at: http://veterans.house.gov/news/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=445

House Passes Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care in Veterans Funding Bill

Enactment of veterans’ funding bill will amount to a 58% increase in the past 2.5 years under Democratic leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2009

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement upon House passage of H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs spending bill:

“Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3028, a bill to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill provides $108.9 billion, the same as the President’s request and $14.5 billion above 2009, for veterans medical care, claims processors, and facility improvements. This is the third budget in a row that exceeds the request of the Independent Budget, which is formulated by a coalition of veterans’ organizations!

“Unlike any veterans funding bill before it, this legislation provides funding for medical-related accounts for the next fiscal year one year in advance. Responding to 19 late budgets over the course of the last 22 years, this bill delivers adequate and timely funding for veterans’ health care and offers a historic new approach to caring for our veterans.

“To be sure, great strides have been made to increase VA health care funding under the leadership of the New Democratic Congress - $17.7 billion provided over the last two years. Regardless of efforts to provide sufficient resources, veterans’ funding continues to get caught up in the political wrangling of the federal budget process. H.R. 3028 provides $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 for three medical accounts: medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities. This is an eight percent increase over Fiscal Year 2010 and will allow VA officials to plan spending levels for the coming year, meet the continuing wave of new patients, and maintain operations at VA facilities.

“As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I am committed to assisting the VA in its goal of becoming a model 21st Century organization. I want to thank Chairman Edwards for crafting bipartisan legislation and Chairman Obey for his leadership, as well as their Republican counterparts. The House of Representatives joins the Obama Administration’s commitment to improving health care for all veterans, increasing access to mental health services, addressing and preventing homelessness among veterans, and honoring the veterans of previous generations. President Obama has proven that veterans are a top priority by requesting a record veterans’ budget, and the New Direction Congress has answered.”

More Recent News: from http://veterans.house.gov/

Date Headline
7/10/2009 House Approves Filner Amendment to Support Paralympic Program for Injured Vets

7/10/2009 House Passes Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care in Veterans Funding Bill

6/26/2009 VA Set for Start of Post-9/11 GI Bill on August 1

6/25/2009 House Subcommittee Reviews Legislation to Provide Greater Support to Veterans and Survivors

As you all know, United We Roll at Stardust Radio is broadcast each Tuesday afternoon with fresh new interviews we have hosted with deployed members. Our report for the first half of 2009 is in. The report begins with Tuesday, January 6, 2009 and goes through Tuesday, June 30, 2009.

We are very pleased to report that the following number of interviews were completed and the following number of deployed members were spoken to during this time period (some interviews were with more than one member of a unit):
Number of Interviews - 89
Number of Members Interviewed - 154

We are extremely pleased that this volunteer broadcast effort, with the help of so many wonderful PA members who are themselves deployed, has been able to bring home the voices of so many fine men and women who serve our country and that they have been able to educate us and our listeners as to the many types of jobs that are being done, the tremendous accomlishments, and more, that we get to know the people who are inside the uniforms.

Thoughts From A Military Daughter & A Dedicated American
Part 1 – Thoughts That Wake You In The Night
Fallen Heroes Go Unnoticed

It is about 3am. I had intended to get a good 6 hours of sleep – we all know about good intentions. But I woke up with my eyes wide open and reviewing a news report that I had seen on ABC News this evening. An embedded reporter was with Charlie Co of the 1-4 ID in Afghanistan. They got pinned down under attack for about an hour, but came out okay. That was one part of the report as it went on to cover some other patrol difficulties when confronting Taliban insurgents and working with villagers. It was a good piece as it brought home some very real news. But, where have the embedded reporters been for the past few years when there has been more great news happening other than “bodies and bullets” (sorry – I hate that expression) in Iraq? And why have they not been covering Afghanistan sooner?

Where have they been as the US and Coalition Forces have helped the Iraqi people build their government, build schools, open markets, bring employment so people can make purchases in the markets, and so very much more? Where have the reports been about the incredible medical breakthroughs US medical teams have made in helping the infant death rate in Afghanistan decline with special foods, help with contaminated water and vaccinating stock to make them healthy again, too? Where have the reporters been when our troops have been using their own off time to deliver supplies to orphanages and children’s medical centers, helping to make repairs on these facilities, delivering school supplies, shoes and more to children? Where have our reporters been when our Fallen Heroes have come home, except to make notice of a funeral? Where are our reporters when there are so many stories about our wounded, many of whom take years to recover and/or to come home – and many who can’t come home because they need special equipment?

How do we know about these things? Because we have been talking with deployed units every week who are involved in all kinds of missions for years here on United We Roll at Stardust Radio. But the power of the press, or major media as many call it, can build something out of nothing and hide a mountain under a front door mat. As long as we allow it to do so.

These paragraphs that you have just read will lead to some other very strong lines of thought and each is deserving of its own title and attention. And those will more than likely lead to others. I will try to take these one by one, though I am not sure that whichever one is written first will have a higher priority over the next. Please bear with me as some of these thoughts come from the part of me that is the military daughter and the other from the part of me that is the American adult, who is deeply concerned for our military members & families, for our Veterans and for our country.

First, how is it that all of our news people were so tied up with the events around the death of Michael Jackson, that they totally missed the deaths of at least 29 American Heroes of Freedom in that same time frame – and a total of 44 in June and so far in July 2009? And what of the grieving families of these Fallen Heroes? And how many more were wounded – and how are their families managing the time and expenses to get to their injured loved one? Will they see their injured loved one in time? What is the power of the press doing to help our military members, families, wounded , ill and aging Veterans?

I did see on Fox & Friends where, after the fact and after an Aunt wrote a letter, they did talk with the Aunt of Lt Bradshaw, KIA June 25th, and over her grief, she spoke so eloquently to this very obvious omission that reoccurs within our major networks and cable news networks. Thank you, Fox & Friends, for the acknowledgement you gave to a grieving family member who represents so many others.

Now, please take a moment to pray for the families of these Fallen Heroes who received no notice from our major news people, though these Americans gave the ultimate sacrifice so we can all continue to live our lives here at home.

June 2009 casualties

June 01, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall, 28, of Huntsville, Ala.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden and Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson.

• Army Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson, 19, of Miller, Mo.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall.

• Army Pfc. Matthew D. Ogden, 33, of Corpus Christi, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Jeffrey A. Hall and Pfc. Matthew W. Wilson.

• Army Sgt. Jasper K. Obakrairur, 26, of Hilo, Hawaii; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 02, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Roberto A. Hernandez, 21, of Far Rockaway, N.Y.; assigned to the 549th MP Co, 385th MP Bn, 16th MP Bde (Abn), Fort Stewart, Ga.; died June 2 in Paktya, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his mounted patrol was attacked with an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire.

• Army Sgt. Justin J. Duffy, 31, of Cozad, Neb.; assigned the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.; died June 2 in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 03, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Jarrett P. Griemel, 20, of La Porte, Texas; assigned to the 425th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died June 3 at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered from a noncombat-related incident.

June 04, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Maj. Rocco M. Barnes, 50, of Los Angeles; a member of the Tactical Command Post, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard, assigned as an individual augmentee to the 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force; died June 4 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

• Army Sgt. Christopher M. Kurth, 23, of Alamogordo, N.M.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died June 4 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade.

• Army Spc. Charles ‘Dusty’ Parrish, 23, of Jasper, Ala.; assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion, 555th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; died June 4 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered earlier that day in Jalula, Iraq, when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade.

• Army Sgt. Jeffrey W. Jordan, 21, of Rome, Ga.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.; died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale and Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale, 39, of Riverdale, Ga.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.; died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette and Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan.

• Army Maj. Kevin M. Jenrette, 37, of Lula, Ga.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.; died June 4 near Kapisa, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device and small-arms fire. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class John C. Beale and Spc. Jeffrey W. Jordan.

June 05, 2009
________________________________________
• Marine Lance Cpl. Robert D. Ulmer, 22, of Landisville, Pa.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, II Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune N.C.; died June 5 as a result of a nonhostile incident in Taqaddum, Iraq.

June 06, 2009
________________________________________
• Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua R. Whittle, 20, of Downey, Calif.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; died June 6 while supporting combat operations in Now Zad, Afghanistan.

June 09, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Eduardo S. Silva, 25, of Greenland, Calif.; assigned to the 563rd Aviation Support Battalion, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died June 9 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of a non-combat-related incident.

June 10, 2009
________________________________________
• Marine Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ricky L. Richardson Jr., 33, of Franklin, Mo.; assigned to 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan; died June 10 while supporting combat operations in Delaram, Afghanistan.

June 13, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Staff Sgt. Edmond L. Lo, 23, of Salem, N.H.; assigned to the 797th Ordnance Company, 79th Ordnance Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas; died June 13 in Samarra City, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device that his explosive ordnance disposal team was acting to neutralize detonated.

June 15, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Jonathan C. O’Neill, 22, of Zephyr Hills, Fla.; assigned to the 549th Military Police Company, 385th Military Police Battalion, 16th Military Police Brigade (Airborne) at Fort Stewart, Ga.; died June 15 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds sustained June 2 in Paktya, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 16, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Sgt. Joshua W. Soto, 25, of San Angelo, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas; died June 16 in Iraq of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

• Army Capt. Kafele H. Sims, 32, of Los Angeles; assigned to the 18th Engineer Brigade, Schwetzingen, Germany; died June 16 in Mosul, Iraq, of a non-combat-related incident.

June 17, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin A. Dupont, 52, of Templeton, Mass.; assigned to the 79th Troop Command, Rehoboth, Mass.; died June 17 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, of wounds suffered March 8 in Kandau, Afghanistan, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 19, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Sgt. Paul G. Smith, 43, of Peoria, Ill.; assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, Aurora, Ill.; died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton.

• Army Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Melton, 26, of Carlyle, Ill.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment, Illinois National Guard, Marion, Ill.; died June 19 in Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device. Also killed was Sgt. Paul G. Smith.

• Army Spc. Chancellor A. Keesling, 25, of Indianapolis; assigned to the 961st Engineer Company, Sharonville, Ohio; died June 19 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat-related incident.

June 20, 2009
________________________________________
• Army 1st Sgt. John D. Blair, 38, of Calhoun, Ga.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Army National Guard, Lawrenceville, Ga.; died June 20 in Mado Zayi, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle.

• Navy Command Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey J. Garber, 43, of Hemingford, Neb.; assigned to the Dwight D. Eisenhower in the North Arabian Sea; died June 20 of non-hostile causes.

June 21, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Sgt. Ricky D. Jones, 26, of Plantersville, Ala.; assigned to the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Fort Polk, La.; died June 21 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked by indirect fire. Also killed was Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas.

• Army Spc. Rodrigo A. Munguia Rivas, 27, of Germantown, Md.; assigned to the 710th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 21 in Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked by indirect fire. Also killed was Sgt. Ricky D. Jones.

June 24, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Casey L. Hills, 23, of Salem, Illinois; assigned to the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, Pago Pago, American Samoa; died June 24 in Iraq of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

June 25, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Spc. Joshua L. Hazlewood, 22, of Manvel, Texas; assigned to the 614th Automated Cargo Documentation Detachment; died June 25 in Arifjan, Kuwait, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

• Army 1st Lt. Brian N. Bradshaw, 24, of Steilacoom, Wash.; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Airborne Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died June 25 in Kheyl, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 26, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Pfc. Peter K. Cross, 20, of Saginaw, Texas; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 26 at Combat Outpost Carwile, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained during a vehicle roll-over.

June 28, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Pvt. Steven T. Drees, 19, of Peshtigo, Wis; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.; died June 28 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, in Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained June 24 in Konar Province, Afghanistan, when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher.

• Army Sgt. Timothy A. David, 28, of Gladwin, Mich.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; died June 28 in Sadr City, Iraq, of wounds sustained earlier in Baghdad when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

June 29, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr., 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.; assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, Wilmington, N.C.; died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle June 29 in Baghdad. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh and Spc. Robert L. Bittiker.

• Army Spc. Robert L. Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville, N.C.; assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, Wilmington, N.C.; died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle June 29 in Baghdad. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh and Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr.

• Army Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, 39, of Wilmington, N.C.; assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, Wilmington, N.C.; died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle June 29 in Baghdad. Also killed were Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr., Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh and Spc. Robert L. Bittiker.

• Army Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30, of Newport, N.C.; assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion, North Carolina National Guard, Wilmington, N.C.; died from wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle June 29 in Baghdad. Also killed were Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr. and Spc. Robert L. Bittiker.

• Army Sgt. Terry J. Lynch, 22, of Shepherd, Mont.; assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.; died June 29 in Wardak Province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

July Fallen Heroes________________________________________
• Marine Lance Cpl. Charles S. Sharp, 20, of Adairsville, Ga.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; died July 2 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

July 04, 2009
________________________________________
• Army Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn, 20, of Aberdeen, Wash.; died July 4 at Combat Outpost Zerok, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked the outpost using small arms and indirect fires; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska. Also killed was Pfc. Justin A. Casillas.

• Army Pfc. Justin A. Casillas, 19, of Dunnigan, Calif.; assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, Fort Richardson, Alaska; died July 4 at Combat Outpost Zerok, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained when insurgents attacked the outpost using small arms and indirect fires. Also killed was Pfc. Aaron E. Fairbairn.

July 06, 2009
________________________________________
• Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Tony Michael Randolph, 22, of Henryetta, Okla.; assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eight, Sigonella, Italy, and was deployed with his platoon to Joint Task Force South conducting counter-improvised explosive device operations in support of Task Force Zabul in Afghanistan; died July 6 in an improvised explosive device attack on his convoy in northern Afghanistan.

Thank God for the everyday Americans who do care as is so obvious in the video on the way home for SSG John Beale posted at http://blip.tv/play/AYGJ5h6YgmE .

But even more, we all need to stand up and speak out on behalf of our military and Veterans. Stay aware of legislation that takes away land for Veteran facilities that already belongs to them, that impacts health care and so much more. Stand up and speak out so we may keep the America that these men and women have given their lives for.

I encourage everyone to make an everyday visit to http://www.militarycity.com/valor/honor.html so you can offer a prayer of thanks to our Fallen Heroes and one of comfort to their families.

Dad, I thank you for the values you gave to me. I wish you were here now – always my pilot.

God Bless You All – God Bless America!