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Total entries in this category: Published On: May 27, 2006 09:27 AM |
Tue - January 17, 2006This pretty much says it all -Front page, Mercer County Chronicle, January
5
Caption reads: Love was in the air as Angie Haines was reunited with Sgt. Geoff Lee,who had been stationed in Iraq after being mobilized on November 11,2004. Sgt. Lee, a part of St. Marys Armory's Alpha Company 612th Engineer Battalion returned home on December 30. Posted at 11:57 PM | Sat - December 31, 2005Homecoming!Homecoming
From Staff Reports ST. MARYS — Although the official homecoming ceremony isn't until Jan. 8, approximately 300 people braved cold weather and the threat of rain to welcome the men and women of Alpha Company, 612 Battalion, Friday. Jennifer Schmidt, from St. Marys, stood outside the armory with a group of friends that included Lauren Keith, who had welcomed her father, Sgt. 1st Class Preston Keith, home earlier. Schmidt was waiting for Sgt. Amanda Fortman from Fort Loramie. "She's my best friend," she said. She explained that Fortman had graduated from Wright State University with a degree in nursing. A crew of friends waved a large sign as they waited to greet Sgt. Geoff Lee, who graduated from Memorial High School in 2001. The arrival of Sgt. Chad Spencer, from Spencerville, was anticipated by Amanda Spencer and daughters, Mikayla, 3, and Cadence, 1 1/2, along with parents Clyde and Cindy Spencer and brother-in-law Levi Burkholder, 9. "I'm going to give him a big old hug and a big old kiss and not let him go for a couple hours. Then, I'm not going to let him out of my sight for a long time," Amanda said. Sgt. Steve Human, from Mansfield, was able to obtain a four-day leave when his daughter, Malleah, was born Jan. 6, 2005, explained his wife, Teallina. Mother and baby daughter waited with Human's son, Philip, 4.  Terry and Sue Halko "I'm very excited, very nervous," said Teallina as she waited for the buses to arrive. She added that the family had delayed Christmas for Steve's homecoming and planned to open their gifts upon returning home to Mansfield. Terri Chialastri, the mother of Combat Engineer Eric Reed, 26, traveled from Cincinnati with Eric's sister, Danielle Johnson, 13, to welcome him home. "I'm just so excited, I can't stand it," Chialastri said. Spc. Dan Barhorst married his fiancee, Megan, in July while he was home on leave. Three days after they were married, he returned to Iraq, she said. She traveled from their home in Sidney to await his arrival. Steve Wade of Celina and his daughter, Haley, 12, were waiting for "all of 'em," he said. He explained that he used to be the first sergeant of the company before retiring. "I wouldn't miss it for the world. I spent a lot of time with these guys," he said. Linn and Cindy Sawmiller, St. Marys, awaited the return of their sons, Dan and Jake Sawmiller. "We're just glad to have them home," said Todd and Callie about the upcoming return of the 612th and their son, Spc. Doug Fleagle. They waited with Doug's aunt, Marscia Fleagle. Lorn and Pam Smith, of Loveland, waited with new friend Kent Swisher for their sons, Spc. Trevor Smith and Second Lt. David K. Swisher. "We live in the same neighborhood, but we didn't know each other until our sons went over to Iraq," Swisher said. "We helped each other through," said Pam Smith. "I am so impressed at the people here in St. Marys and the Family Readiness Group," she added. Representatives from St. Marys VFW Post #9289, Celina VFW Post #5713, American Legion Post #330 and the district VFW Ladies' Auxiliary provided a color guard, lining the walkway into the Armory. Ballard Chaffing, a member of the Celina VFW, passed through the crowd, handing out American flags. Screams of excitement erupted from the crowd and the St. Marys Pep Band assembled as the buses came into sight, escorted by police cars and fire trucks. The band played for the troops as they disembarked from the buses at around 10 a.m. The soldiers, dressed in camouflage and bearing duffel bags, quickly searched out their families among the crowd. Kisses, hugs, tears and screams of joy greeted them from their families and friends. Parents Donald and Susan Henline and sister Stephanie, all from St. Marys, brought along Spc. Josh Henline's "special project," as his mom called it — his tricked-out black pick-up. Donald, Susan explained, recruited most of the soldiers in the 612th. After greeting his family, Henline made a beeline for the truck. "I haven't been home in nine months. I'm going to work when I get back," he said, adding that he didn't plan to return to work immediately. Spc. Dave Oberlin from Oak Harbor, was welcomed home by his parents, Steve and Audrey Axe. The couple drove 2 1/2 hours from their home in Oak Harbor. "I just want to get home and relax ... just be a family," he said. The 22-year-old plans to return to Bowling Green State University, where he had been studying for two years before being called up. Wife Shelly; children Alexis, 1, Ryan, 5, and Derek, 12; and parents Jim and Marlene Meggitt, all from Bellevue, greeted Sgt. 1st Class Mike Meggitt. When asked what they planned to do after the 2 1/2-hour drive back to Bellevue, Derek chimed in, "Dinner." "Have a nice dinner," Mike concurred. "Then, I plan to sit down and spend time with my daughter (and the rest of my family)." Explained his wife, "She was only two months when he left." Spc. Johnny Colegrove, 20, from Lima, was greeted by his mother, Mary Mcanally. "I'm not letting him go again," she said. "He has to stay home now." Their short-term plans involved a big party the day after, followed by a return to college. Michelle Mantor greeted her husband, Staff Sgt. Brian Mantor, from underneath a bevy of balloons. The Piqua couple, which has four children, planned to eat pizza for their next meal, Michelle said. Among the folks in uniform greeting their loved ones was Air Force Staff Sgt. Carrie Parsons Dobney. She traveled with Jonathan, 13, and Robert, 8, from Wright Patterson Air Force Base to greet Lt. Glenn Dobney. Glenn Dobney is from Michigan, and he was active duty when they met in Bosnia, his wife explained. Later, he earned a bachelor's degree in engineering. Dobney went into the National Guard because "he had a family. He didn't want to lose his family. But he still has a sense of pride in his country," his wife said. "I'm very much glad to be home. The first thing I'll do is play with my kids." said Lt. Dobney, adding that he "missed my family" the most during his tour in Iraq. Some people in the crowd took the time to make sure each soldier had been greeted with a "Welcome home." Celina Staff Sgt. Chet Hone was greeted by his wife, Julie, and their three children, Tyler, 11, Lucas, 7, and Lauren, 8, as well as other members of the family. Hone said the family's plans included celebrating Christmas that very day. Brenda Mohler from Saint Marys quickly found her daughter, Spc. Candice Wilges from Columbus, who had married just before she left. "I'm not home yet," said Wilges before walking into the Armory. Once inside the Armory, the soldiers were given some advice. "Make sure you communicate with everyone around you ... Communicate your expectations. Make sure there are no surprises ... Use common sense and be safe," advised Chaplain Robert Lewis. He gave the soldiers and their families phone numbers for them to call if they needed to talk or were experiencing any kind of difficulty. The soldiers were then told to report back to the Armory Jan. 4 for a return to Camp Atterbury in Indiana before their official homecoming Jan. 8. Todd Fleagle, who welcomed back his son, said, "We want people to attend the January 8 community homecoming. These are our heroes." http://www.theeveningleader.com/articles/2005/12/31/news/news.01.txt Posted at 08:21 PM Read More | Sun - December 25, 2005It's Christmas -And we THINK Geoff is FINALLY on a plane out of
the desert. Who knew the last few days of waiting would be this
tough?
Posted at 10:11 PM Read More | Wed - December 21, 2005I can't stand it.....Airline reservations were made 3 days ago, on a
rumor, and now need to be changed based on information I was to get over an hour
ago. Argh. I NEED to get the seats changed and BOOKED. NOW, while there are
still some flights
available!
UPDATE: we now have dates that are 99% (okay its an Army 99%) certain and flight arrangements have been changed for a small fortune. I am feeling a teeny bit better, and won't be missing any school. Less than 2 weeks now - and he is out of combat (we think). Posted at 09:52 AM | Mon - December 19, 2005Geoff is COMING HOME!!!!!!The TOA is done, his battalion has turned over
their work to their replacements, and Sgt. Geoff is COMING HOME! Not in time
for Christmas, or maybe even for New Years, but he is COMING HOME.
I spoke with Angie today. She said that taking him to the airport to go back for these last few months was the hardest thing she has ever done. She told of people coming up to him in the airport to shake his hand and to thank him; and she told how proud she was of him. Geoff, you have been my hero since the day you were born. You are the smartest, strongest, most good person that I know. My heart goes out to those who are still there; to those yet to deploy, and to all the families. My thanks go to each and every man and woman in uniform. Posted at 08:34 PM | Tue - November 22, 2005Message From A Soldier November 18,
2005
Message From A Soldier SGT. HOOK received this letter via another soldier's mom. This soldier wants the following message to get out. Gladly, soldier. Mom, Be my voice. I want this message heard. It is mine and my platoon's to the country. A man I know lost his legs the other night. He is in another company in our battalion. I can no longer be silent after watching the sacrifices made by Iraqis and Americans everyday. Send it to a congressman if you have to. Send it to FOX news if you have to. Let this message be heard please... My fellow Americans, I have a task for those with the courage and fortitude to take it. I have a message that needs not fall on deaf ears. A vision the blind need to see. I am not a political man nor one with great wisdom. I am just a soldier who finds himself helping rebuild a country that he helped liberate a couple years ago. I have watched on television how the American public questions why their mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters are fighting and dying in a country 9000 miles away from their own soil. Take the word of a soldier, for that is all I am, that our cause is a noble one. The reason we are here is one worth fighting for. A cause that has been the most costly and sought after cause in our small span of existence on our little planet. Bought in blood and paid for by those brave enough to give the ultimate sacrifice to obtain it. A right that is given to every man, woman, and child I believe by God. I am talking of freedom. Freedom. One word but yet countless words could never capture it's true meaning or power. "For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know.” I read that once and it couldn’t be more true. It’s not the average American’s fault that he or she is "blind and deaf" to the taste of freedom. Most Americans are born into their God given right so it is all they ever know. I was once one of them. I would even dare to say that it isn't surprising that they take for granted what they have had all their life. My experiences in the military however opened my eyes to the truth. Ironically you will find the biggest outcries of opposition to our cause from those who have had no military experience and haven't had to fight for freedom. I challenge all of those who are daring enough to question such a noble cause to come here for just a month and see it first hand. I have a feeling that many voices would be silenced. I watched Cindy Sheehan sit on the President's lawn and say that America isn't worth dying for. Later she corrected herself and said Iraq isn't worth dying for. She badmouthed all that her son had fought and died for. I bet he is rolling over in his grave. Ladies and gentleman I ask you this. What if you lived in a country that wasn't free? What if someone told you when you could have heat, electricity, and water? What if you had no sewage systems so human waste flowed into the streets? What if someone would kill you for bad-mouthing your government? What if you weren’t allowed to watch TV, connect to the internet, or have cell phones unless under extreme censorship? What if you couldn't put shoes on your child’s feet? You need not to have a great understanding of the world but rather common sense to realize that it is our duty as HUMAN BEINGS to free the oppressed. If you lived that way would you not want someone to help you???? The Iraqis pour into the streets to wave at us and when we liberated the cities during the war they gathered in the thousands to cheer, hug and kiss us. It was what the soldiers in WW2 experienced, yet no one questioned their cause!! Saddam was no better than Hitler! He tortured and killed thousands of innocent people. We are heroes over here, yet Americans badmouth our President for having us here. Every police station here has a dozen or more memorials for officers that were murdered trying to ensure that their people live free. These are husbands, fathers, and sons killed every day. What if it were your country? What would your choice be? Everything we fight for is worth the blood that may be shed. The media never reports the true HEROISM I witness everyday in the Iraqis. Yes, there are bad ones here, but I assure you they are a minuscule percent. Yet they are a number big enough to cause worry in this country's future. I have watched brave souls give their all and lose their lives and limbs for this cause. I will no longer stand silent and let the "deaf and blind" be the only voice shouting. Stonewall Jackson once said, "All that I have, all that I am is at the service of the country." For these brave souls who gave the ultimate sacrifice, including your son, Cindy Sheehan, I will shout 'til I can no longer. These men and women are heroes. Their spirit lives on in their military and they will never be forgotten. They did not die in vain but rather for a cause that is larger than all of us. My fellow countrymen and women, we are not overseas for our country alone but also another. We are here to spread democracy and freedom to those who KNOW the true taste of it because they fight for it everyday. You can see the desire in their eyes and I am honored to fight alongside them as an Infantryman in the 101st Airborne. Freedom is not free, but yet it is everyone's right to have. Ironic isn't it? That is why we are here. Though you will always have the skeptics, I know that most of our military will agree with this message. Please, at the request of this soldier spread this message to all you know. We are in Operation Iraqi Freedom and that is our goal. It is a cause that I and thousands of others stand ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for because, Cindy Sheehan, freedom is worth dying for, no matter what country it is! And after the world is free only then can we hope to have peace. SGT XXX and 1st Platoon 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) I love the line, "And after the world is free, only then can we hope to have peace." Thank you, Sergeant. Melinda at Most Certainly Not tells us that this Sgt. received permission to be identified along with his platoon. He is SGT Walter J. Rausch . Posted at 08:54 PM | Sun - November 13, 2005Kevin Sites, revisitedIf you don't remember, Kevin Sites is the
journalist who filmed and got publicized the death of an insurgent fighter. The
insurgent was laying in a mosque and an American marine, believing the insurgent
had a bomb, grenade, or other means of destroying the Marines, fired on him and
killed him. The Marine suffered a trial and more anguish than shooting the
insurgent, just for doing his job, all because Kevin SItes lacked and common
sense in reporting. Idiot. THe man wears the dog tags of one of Saddam's
soldiers as a good luck charm, for God's sakes.
So Sites is reporting from Iraq again. Have a look. This time, he found something good to say. I hope he suffered for the damage he did to the Marines. http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/20051110/hz_iraq_1005/blogs1444 Geoff is registered for his spring semester classes and seems confident that he will be home in time to attend. Posted at 01:29 PM | Fri - November 11, 2005Veterans DayWe saw little evidence of veterans day anywhere.
I emailed Geoff, thanking him for being a hero. He's always been my hero, from the time he was small and had such an uncanny sense of right and wrong and a drive to protect it. Kids don't come any better than Geoff, and we are very blessed to have him in our lives.  I saw this quote today: Honoring all of our Veterans. We may not always agree with why they are sent to put their lives on the line, but we can still honor the fact that they did. The original day was called Armistice Day and was a day to celebrate Peace. Today, many of us pray each day for Peace in our world and a time when our young people will not be ordered to place their lives on the line. May it soon be so. Is it possible that this statement can honor a soldier? Geoff is able to shrug these statements off, saying that he is proud to support the freedom of even those who work in opposition to his efforts to do so. So, thank you, Veterans of wars past, present, and future. Although we would pray for world peace, we thank you for protection when peace is not the case. We thank you for searching out those who choose to kill and for destroying them.  
Posted at 09:45 AM | Fri - October 28, 2005U.S. Armed Forces Code of ConductU.S. Armed Forces Code
of Conduct
I
I am an American, fighting in the
forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life
in their defense.
II I will never surrender of my own
free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while
they still have the means to resist.
III
If I am captured I will continue to
resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and to aid
others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the
enemy.
IV
If I become a prisoner of war, I
will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take
part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will
take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me
and will back them up in every way.
V
When questioned, should I become a
prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of
birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I
will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or
harmful to their cause.
VI
I will never forget that I am an
American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the
principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United
States of America.
****************************************
Core
Values
Posted at 04:36 AM | Thu - October 20, 2005Why are we here?Geoff reports that he has helped open 5 schools
for children who have never been before, helped with the installation of
electricity, water (CLEAN), and sewers to a whole business district with living
quarters above that never had any of the above, and has received thanks from the
Iraqi people wherever he went.
He also reports that we haven't a living clue about terrorism if we listen only to the media. We can't begin to know how many attacks worldwide have been thwarted because of the terrorist breeding grounds that have been decimated, both in Afghanistan AND in Iraq. He told of a convoy they ran to an area near the Syrian border where one such camp had been wiped out. I didn't remember seeing reports of this incident on the news, and Geoff said, "Well, of course you won't see this on the news. It's not public information and there weren't any journalists there. They are all telling lies from Baghdad and Mosul." He also said the IED and mortar attack on them in July is under investigation. They were carrying two embedded US journalists (he won't tell me names) who interestingly enough managed to get spectacular footage of the whole explosion, including footage of Geoff giving aid to a wounded soldier in his command. The journalists were removed from duty following a brief interrogation. Apparently the journalists had word of the planned attack and did not share this information with Geoff, the convoy security chief. I am watching for word of journalists being tried on treason charges. Two more months, for him, in battle. And a few weeks more til he is back in the US. Posted at 11:39 AM | Thu - October 13, 2005Back to IraqSoldiers Creed I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier. 
Posted at 07:49 PM | Wed - October 12, 2005DoD Identifies Army Casualty U.S.
Department of DefenseOffice of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) News Release DoD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Spc. Jeremy M. Hodge, 20, of Ridgeway, Ohio, died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 10, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Hodge was assigned to the Army National Guard's 612th Engineer Battalion, Tiffin, Ohio. Posted at 06:33 PM | Mon - August 29, 2005Still more buffaloAugust 29,
2005
Nation/Politics Buffalo roams the battlefield to protect soldiers from mines By W. Thomas Smith Jr. SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES August 29, 2005 COLUMBIA, S.C. -- When U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Keith Kempke returns to Iraq to find and destroy land mines and improvised explosive devices, he'll be supported by a growing fleet of new armored vehicles such as the Buffalo and the Cougar. He's already seen them in action. "I saw the Buffalo going down Iraq's Highway 1, which is normally where IEDs are planted," said Sgt. Kempke, who has been training soldiers for bomb-disposal work at Camp Dawson, W.Va., since returning from Iraq last year. "That giant armored beast is no doubt saving lives." Indeed, what has been referred to as a "Humvee on steroids," the Buffalo is a 24-ton mine-protective, countermine/IED vehicle with a long grappling arm that faces down bombs, removes them and withstands terrific blasts without harm to its passengers. "It's done so perhaps thousands of times," said Mike Aldrich, vice president of sales and marketing for Ladson, S.C.-based Force Protection Inc., which manufactures the big Buffalo and its little brother, the 13- to 19-ton (depending on its individual configuration) Cougar. "We've only had one broken wrist in two years." Force Protection is under a $91 million contract to build its mine-protected vehicles for the Defense Department. About 100 Buffalos and Cougars are already overseas. That number is slated to double by February 2006. "By the end of the first quarter of 2006, we will be producing two Cougars a day. Once we hit that number, we can quickly move to four if we have the orders," Mr. Aldrich said. What makes these vehicles "mine-protected" is the V-shaped hull design, similar to that of a boat. "The force of a mine blast is diverted away from the vehicle, basically splitting that energy to the right or the left rather than having the vehicle absorb the blast, being lifted off the ground and killing the passengers," said Force Protection spokesman Jeff Child. Force Protection is not the only manufacturer of mine-protected vehicles, but it is the only American-based company producing them in the U.S. and shipping them to Iraq and Afghanistan. Other companies include General Dynamics, which manufactures the RG-31 in South Africa, and Textron Systems, which produces the German-made Dingo 2. The generation of armored vehicles developed by Force Protection and its competitors are based on the design of the older South African mine-protected vehicles such as the RG-31 and the Casspir, still in use, but also a symbol of that nation's apartheid struggle. Many Americans have questioned why U.S. forces did not have adequate armor going into Iraq. Mr. Aldrich said the answer may be found in the post-Cold War military's moving toward a faster, more flexible, strike force. "I believe the Army thought that increased armor conflicted with that objective," he said. "It was believed that up-armored Humvees would be sufficient to handle land mines and IEDs. "But there is no way a flat-bottomed, 6-ton, up-armored Humvee is going to stay on the ground and protect people adequately against the current threat," he said. The new vehicles are both heavily armored and fast. "They can sprint 60 to 65 miles per hour," Mr. Aldrich said. "They can go for hours at 55 miles per hour. They are as mobile as anything else in the current [operating] environment. And they provide much greater protection for our troops." So why weren't the vehicles put on the fast track once it was realized how great the IED threat was? "I'm not sure that is an accurate assessment," said Lawrence J. Nee, chief of the countermine division of the Army's Close Combat Systems. "We've been in production and procurement of the Buffalo since 2002." Despite their protective capabilities, the Buffalo and the Cougar are not designed to replace the "up-armored" Humvee. They can and have supplemented Humvees in urban operations, but the new vehicles' sizes don't afford them the same off-road capabilities of the Humvee. Force Protection is developing a Humvee replacement, yet to be officially announced. Its prototype is known as the Lion. It could hit the ground in early 2007. Force Protection also is involved in blast-protection research and development, as are various Defense agencies. The Office of Naval Research (ONR), for instance, is developing an Ultra Armored Patrol vehicle (with similar hull-design characteristics) for testing purposes. "It is not being built as a Humvee replacement, but as a concept vehicle to test out various technologies," said Daniel S. Dayton, director of corporate communications at the ONR. "One of the project's goals is to develop a prototype vehicle that demonstrates improved ballistic and mine protection technologies," he said. "An innovative survivable crew capsule, which utilizes new armor recipes, is mounted on a commercial truck chassis. Faceted crew capsule geometries are being tested as well." http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20050829-122510-4535r.htm Posted at 07:23 AM | Sun - August 21, 2005Mon - August 15, 2005Today's email from GeoffIn response to a link I sent him to a news
article that I thought might have been something he did:
" ok googler no that was not us. you can do all the searches you want and save the info. ill tell you about everything when i get home. i love you too geoff" Gotta love that boy. Posted at 08:52 PM | |
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