US Troops Denied Opportunities to Vote

From CJ:

Most U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan will not get a chance to vote this year because bureaucrats and politicians in Washington have done absolutely nothing to repair a systemic problem that literally stops most of our troops from voting.

Only 5.5 percent of U.S. troops serving overseas were able to vote and actually have their vote counted in 2006, according to the Federal Election Assistance Commission. We should be guaranteeing that EVERY SINGLE MILITARY MAN AND WOMAN will have their ballot counted.

The House and Senate are currently stalling on legislation that would improve troops' access to voting, voting instead to go on a 5-week vacation. A resolution for Congress to crack down on the Department of Defense to streamline the voting process for soldiers has been introduced by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO), but the proposal has been blocked by politicians in the House of Representatives. Blunt's resolution is now stuck in the House Armed Services subcommittee with no prospects of moving forward.

Voting deadlines are rapidly approaching in some states and the mail delivery times from Iraq and Afghanistan can be long. We must send voting registration cards now.

I am the voting assistance officer for my unit. No matter how a Soldier is going to vote, he/she deserves to have their voice heard. Our troops are responsible for Iraqis being able to vote for the first time in their lives, yet our votes aren't counted because of hiccups in the system. So, let's bypass the system.

Please pass the attached FPCA (Federal Post Card Application) to deployed Soldiers or their family members to ensure they have a chance. If they any questions about how to fill out the card, feel free to give them my email address and I will gladly help. I'm also including the postage paid envelope that the FPCA should be mailed in and here is the link to find the address to which they can mail the information:

http://www.fvap.gov/shortcuts/find-where-2-send-ballot-request/index.html

There is also a site that allows military members to use a new automated tool to register/request a ballot. They can go HERE and register if they have online access, which will facilitate their registration.

Thanks for your help.

--
CJ
A Soldier's Perspective
www.soldiersperspective.us
www.theyhavenames.com

An Unsolved Soldier's Death In Alabama

In a small county outside of Birmingham, Alabama; a soldier died in 2006. There, a family still mourns his death and still has unanswered questions. Meanwhile the common law widow has since moved on evident by having a baby by another man, but continues to receive DIC benefits from the VA for the death of the soldier.

The soldier is buried in a lonely graveyard (orchestrated by the widow) away from the family graveyard where he would have been buried with his ancestor's pre-dating the Civil War. (Military Ancestors) No one visits the soldier with the exception of his mom and his siblings. The cemetery is private, the plot is private, and the headstone is a "child's size." (there are photos to prove it)

Last year there was a restraining order against the mother of the soldier that limited her visitation to the grave to 15 minutes a week or less if the widow showed up. That has since been reversed, but it has taken over a year of court battling to do so.

All the family of the soldier wants is an autopsy of the soldier to determine if what the Coroner concluded within his 20 minute "look around" was true. It is hard to fathom that this brave soldier, a hero to many in his unit and many iraqi civilians, commited suicide. The evidence at the time suggests it can not possibly be. Yet the widow makes sure with her criminal attorneys' assistance, that this soldiers' death may never be fully examined.

As court appeals have heated up, and disclosure forms have been submitted by the soldiers' family, the widow increases her obstinacy towards anyone who doubts her validity on what happened that fateful day. She makes cruel remarks that suggest she is doing oddities unaware to others, and has gone so far as to post a message in French, suggesting she has ordered the soldier exhumed and cremated to dissolve all evidence....

And, there is much more. Go to Poison Pen here. Then you decide.

Every Day Heroes

As some of my regular readers know, Bratdog and I had a nose to nose encounter with a young skunk a few weeks back. For anyone keeping score: Skunks 1 Brats 0...lol

In what I like to think of as Divine Timing, I then found a post on Soldiers Angels' Germany about a hero among many heroes. Men who are heroes every day of the week. Reading this - and marvelling as always at the tenacity of our troops - somehow my broken ankle and torn up shin didn't seem like such a big deal after all. It IS all about perspective:

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Reunion on the Aviano flight line

Spc. Jesse A. Murphree, Destined Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Airborne), greets his 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team comrades returning from deployment in Afghanistan, on the flight line at Aviano Air Base, Italy, July 22. Murphree lost his legs in an improvised explosive device attack in the Korengal Valley, near Ali Abad, Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2007, and has been undergoing treatment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Photo: Dave Melancon.
The whole story is here.


Click here for more 173rd ABCT Afghanistan posts.

Every day, SAG has amazing stories on our heroes. If they are not part of your regular reading, go here to add them.

Thank YOU for your service, Spc. Murphree and ALL of your brothers in arms of the 173rd Airborne. You are all an inspiration to me.

Music and Me

Always remember...

...and honour.

SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG
DUTY HONOR COUNTRY

With respect, love and gratitude for ALL the Stokely family.

B*N*S*N1

August 14, 2008

Ramadi Citizens Gather for Soccer Field Reopening

Lance Cpl. Casey Jones, Regimental Combat Team 1

Mustafa, a 14-year-old Iraqi boy, couldn’t stand still during a recent soccer tournament at the grand reopening of the 17th Street Soccer field July 24.

Donning a David Beckham t-shirt, he jokingly taunted the opposing team and passionately cheered for his own. Halfway through the game, a Marine, surprised to see a Beckham shirt, walked up to Mustafa and said, “David Beckham—zien (Arabic for good).” Mustafa, without hesitation, replied, “Beckham—koule zien,” or very good, as he jumped out of his seat and raised both arms as his team scored a goal.

Soccer, often considered “the sport that brings the world together,” is a big part of every day life in Ramadi, leading the city’s officials, with the assistance of Civil Affairs Detachment 2, 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, to have the field renovated.

The tournament was sponsored by the North District Council of Ramadi, North Precinct Ramadi Police and 1st Battalion, 9th Marines.

Kareem Ali, the Ramadi North District Council chairman, said the entire city was looking forward to the reopening.

“The people are so glad they have this soccer field again,” Ali said through an interpreter. “Before the reopening, it seemed like everywhere I went somebody would always mention it to me and tell me how excited they were (about the reopening). Soccer brings everybody together regardless of their age.”...

'Nuff said! Go read the rest of tis B*N*S*N here.

B*N*S*N2

Private First Class Walton “Glenn” Eller III pictured here took home a gold medal Tuesday, while also setting a new Olympic record in Men's Double Trap. Photo by Courtesy photo


Forget Chinese "athletes" who are too young to be in the Beijing Olympics ( no matter what the Chinese say!) I found a whole slew of articles on Olympians who really ARE heroes. Surprise, they are our troops. In case you missed it, there are quite a number of our military who are proving on the world stage that they ARE more than rambos on steroids as the msm would have you believe....lol:

Soldiers striving for medals in Beijing

Aug 11, 2008
BY ARNEWS

BEIJING (Army News Service, Aug. 11, 2008) -- While Soldiers who have competed so far as part of Team USA in Beijing have fallen short of medal performances, a number of more opportunities are scheduled throughout the upcoming week.

In the Men's 10-Meter Air Rifle event over the weekend, two-time Olympian and U.S. Army Marksmanship member Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker placed 23rd with a total score of 591, while 19-year old West Point Cadet Stephen Scherer took the 27th spot with 590.

Parker will compete Sunday in the Men's 50-Meter Three Position Rifle, his second event of the 2008 Olympic Games. Sunday is the final day of the shooting competition....(source)

There are lots of great stories and bios, (including the history of our troops as competitors in previous Olympics,) and you can find them here.