Face of Defense: Detroit Native Draws on Experience

What a great article about another Marine considering his troops, his family. He is always there for the younger troops. In the article it states: "A lot of Marines know I'll do whatever I can for them and believe in them. If they are going to fail, it doesn't matter," he said. "I just want them to put forth whatever they can, give them the benefit of the doubt as much as I can. A lot of times, doubt is the only thing keeping the Marine from doing it. I mean we all got here somehow, trying to be the best." His understanding and patience don't go unnoticed. Many of the Marines in the platoon look up to Marchioni as a leader. "He is more like a father figure," said Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Andrew Nelson, a gunner and squad member. "With the kind of personality he has, before he chews you out, he'll talk to you about what you did wrong, instead of making you feel stupid. It's just the way he is, and it just works." 01/23/2012 08:24 AM CST Face of Defense: Detroit Native Draws on Experience By Marine Corps Cpl. Meredith Brown 2nd Marine Logistics Group CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2012 - Nicholas Marchioni enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2000 as an infantryman. Like many others, he completed his four-year contract and headed back home to start a new chapter in his life.

Face of Defense: Father, Daughter Bring Past to Life

Face of Defense: Father, Daughter Bring Past to Life By Air Force Senior Airman Rae Perry 4th Fighter Wing SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C., Jan. 18, 2012 – For Air Force Master Sgt. Marty Stanton, 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management superintendent, and his daughter, Alicia, restoring pieces of the past is something they both enjoy. Air Force Master Sgt. Marty Stanton and his daughter Alicia, 12, pose for a photo in front of their 1977 Toyota Celica GT at their home in Goldsboro, N.C. Alicia has helped her father in the garage since she was 3 years old and enjoys working and hanging out with him. Stanton is a 4th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management superintendent. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Rae Perry (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Stanton said he has loved working on cars since he was in high school. Unable to afford the equipment for welding class, he settled on body shop. From there, he added, shaping and bending metal to fix cars became a passion. "I really liked fixing something, so no one could tell what was done," Stanton said. "It's like bringing a car or truck back to life. I just can't get enough." When Alicia was 3 years old, she became curious about what her dad was doing in the garage, so she put on her mother's black boots to check it out. "She said, 'Daddy, I want to help you today.' I mean, what can you say?" Stanton said with a chuckle. "It sounded like a great idea." During their first project together, Stanton taught Alicia how to remove the chrome rings on his 1967 Corvette Stingray. "I went over grabbed a small pry spoon and showed her how to take the hub caps and beauty rings off of my Corvette," he said. "She took the pry bar, put it under the ring and pushed on it. The beauty ring came off [and] rolled around on the floor. She started jumping up and down, waving the pry bar around, just celebrating." From there, Alicia has helped her dad with the family business. "My favorite part is hanging out with my dad and working on cars," Alicia said. "It's kind of like a family thing." Even though she is only 12, she already has her first car, which she and her father plan on restoring for her 16th birthday. "I was excited about getting the Celica," Alicia said. "I just wondered if I was too young, but my dad's thinking was that it would take a couple years to get it fixed up." The 1977 Toyota Celica GT fastback, five-speed with a 2.2 liter motor, is heavily styled off older Ford Mustangs. Many Japanese car clubs have given the car the nickname “Tokyo Pony.” "Since Alicia is part Japanese, and it's a Japanese muscle car, I figured that was a perfect fit," Stanton said. "I'm not going to give my beautiful, young, 16-year-old daughter a Mustang to drive around town in, but it looks just like a Mustang, except it's cooler, because it is Japanese." "I'm looking forward to doing the paint job," Alicia said. "It's going to be Dodge Viper blue with white racing stripes." The car has a standard transmission, but Alicia is not afraid of learning how to drive it. "My mom is actually really good at driving stick shifts, so I'm going to learn from both my mom and dad," she said. Although the car is far from being able to be driven on the road, the father-daughter duo looks forward to fixing it up. "I'm just really happy that my daughter and I are going to get to restore her Celica together," the proud father said. Stanton said he plans on fixing cars, not only for the Air Force, but until he can no longer do it. "I cannot get enough of it," he said. "I'll probably be doing this until I'm in a wheelchair, then I'll get Alicia or one of her sisters to push me around. I'll just keep sanding or doing stuff with my hands until I can't anymore."

Military Families Take Care of Each Other

Mrs. Dempsey: Military Families Take Care of Each Other By Cheryl Pellerin American Forces Press Service DURHAM, N.C., Jan. 18, 2012 – Caring about military families comes naturally to the wife of the nation’s top military officer. She’s been an Army spouse for nearly 36 years, and their three children have served in the Army. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deanie, enjoy a USO show with service members at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 16, 2011. Through social media and contacts with service members and families, Deanie Dempsey discusses issues that include programs for military families overseas, jobs for military spouses, military family health, and her travels with the chairman. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cody Ramirez (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Since Oct. 1, when Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey became the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Deanie Dempsey’s full-time job has been to communicate in every way she can with military families about topics that affect them. “Wounded warriors have always been near and dear to my heart, but [I’m interested in] pretty much any of the family issues,” Dempsey told American Forces Press Service during a trip here with the chairman Jan. 13. “We’ve done a lot with spouse employment and post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said, “and making sure we take care of [military families] and not break faith” with them in a time of defense budgetary constraints. Through accounts on the social media websites Twitter and Facebook, through contacts with service members as she travels with the chairman, and even through personal notes to military spouses, Dempsey discusses everything from programs for military families overseas and jobs for military spouses to military family health and her travels with the chairman. In December, she joined her husband on his first USO holiday tour as chairman, a fast-paced trip through five countries in six days. In Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Germany, they hosted four celebrities and brought holiday gifts to troops that included hockey equipment, soccer equipment, holiday cards from schoolchildren in the United States, and 10,000 cupcakes donated by DC Cupcakes in Washington. “I thought [the USO tour] was absolutely amazing, and I was really impressed with the stars,” she said. The celebrities were recording artist Jordin Sparks, actress and model Minka Kelly, seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry and comedian Thomas "Nephew Tommy" Miles. “They were good people who really were thrilled at the prospect of going to see troops,” Dempsey said. “If they smiled for one picture, they smiled for a million, and they were working on as little sleep as we were.” On the last night of the tour, she and the chairman had a small ceremony with the celebrities. “Marty got up and said some things about each one of them, and they were all in tears by the end,” she said. “They got that the week was about the soldiers, not about them, and the joy that they brought to all those service members for that week.” On the stop in Iraq, the Dempseys joined Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and other U.S. and Iraqi military officials at the closing ceremony for U.S. Forces Iraq. “Today I attended the casing of the colors in Baghdad and it was pretty emotional,” she wrote in a Facebook post Dec. 15. “As I sat there listening, I couldn't help but think of my family members (husband, son, daughter) who all were a part of this effort,” Dempsey wrote. “I felt like I was representing all spouses and mothers who couldn't be here. I also thought of all those who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. We will never forget you.” Dempsey calls being a military spouse, especially as the wife of the nation’s top military officer, a full-time job. “All through Marty’s career, we’ve always taken that command-team philosophy seriously, so I support him,” she said. When the chairman travels stateside, Dempsey said, his hosts at the military facilities he visits “always want to show the general everything that’s perfect and good.” “Then I go and talk with spouses and … find out there is a lot of good, but there also may be something that’s not so good, and they’re not afraid to tell me,” she said. “I think that’s the benefit of having somebody else there -- another set of ears.” As Dempsey supports the general in his hectic schedule of work and travel and communicates with military families to share her strength and experience, she continues an ancient tradition among military families to look out for each other. “It is unlike any other occupation,” she said. “I used to tell people I could get in the car on the East Coast and drive to the West Coast and never spend a night in a hotel. “It might be that I haven’t seen you in 15 years, but if I’m driving on I-70 through Kansas and you’re at Fort Riley … you’re telling me to come over, because there is that close-knit family atmosphere where you want to take care of everybody because you’ve been there,” she added. “It’s what we do.”

From the Soldiers' Angels Warehouse facebook page: Angels it is time to RESTOCK THE SA WAREHOUSE: BEEF JERKY TUNA POUCHES PEANUTS PEANUT BUTTER AND CRACKER SNACKS RAMEN NOODLES TOOTHBRUSHES TOOTH PASTE RAZOR SHAVE CREAM TRIAL SIZE SHAMPOO TRIAL SIZE CONDITIONER TRIAL SIZE DEODORANT TRAIL SIZE BODY WASH WE CAN DO THIS ANGELS!!

Six Marines KIA on Jan 19, 2011

PLease keep the six Marines that were KIA on January 19, 2012 and their families in your thoughts. Capt. Daniel B. Bartle, 27, of Ferndale, Wash. Capt. Nathan R. McHone, 29, of Crystal Lake, Ill. ... MSgt. Travis W. Riddick, 40, of Centerville, Iowa. Cpl. Jesse W. Stites, 23, of North Beach, Md. Cpl. Kevin J. Reinhard, 25, of Colonia, N.J. Cpl. Joseph D. Logan, 22, of Willis, Texas. These Marines died January 19, 2012 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. They were assigned toMarine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 363, Marine Aircraft Group 24, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

Soldiers' Angels Germany: 'God wanted me alive for a reason'

Soldiers' Angels Germany: 'God wanted me alive for a reason': Great interview with Marine Corporal Juan Dominguez by KGTV News in San Diego . (Make sure to watch the video at the link.) "I woke up wi...

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Fundraising for Soldiers’ Angels Germany

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Fundraising for Soldiers’ Angels Germany: Thank you for wishing to support our wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center! This information applies

Soldiers' Angels Germany: All Sewing / Knitting Projects

Soldiers' Angels Germany: All Sewing / Knitting Projects: Blankets of Hope . Blankets (no lap robes or knitted items, please) are always needed both in Germany and at the Combat Support Hospitals. ...

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Blankets of Hope

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Blankets of Hope: The Soldiers' Angels have adopted the Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq and all the Military hospitals worldwide. Soldiers’ Angels Germa...

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Phone Cards for Wounded Warriors

Soldiers' Angels Germany: Phone Cards for Wounded Warriors: The Soldiers' Angels have adopted the Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all the Military hospitals worldwide. Soldiers’ ...

Family: Thieves took medals earned by fallen GI - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Family: Thieves took medals earned by fallen GI - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/01/marine-6-killed-in-helicopter-crash-identified-012112w/

http://www.militarytimes.com/news/2012/01/marine-6-killed-in-helicopter-crash-identified-012112w/

U.S. Military Women Exposed to More Combat Than Ever Before Female soldiers have the same rate of post-traumatic stress disorder as males, study finds

U.S. Military Women Exposed to More Combat Than Ever Before Female soldiers have the same rate of post-traumatic stress disorder as males, study finds HealthDay ON Jan 19, 2012 at 2:00PM chime in now Add save! THURSDAY, Jan. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Female American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been involved in more combat than in prior wars and have the same post-traumatic stress disorder rate as men, a new study has found. For the study, researchers looked at over 7,000 active-duty soldiers who served in the war zones and found that 4 percent of female soldiers reported killing, 9 percent reported witnessing killing, 31 percent reported exposure to death and 7 percent suffered a combat-related injury. In comparison, 1 percent of female soldiers involved in the 1990-1991 Gulf War reported killing, 14 percent witnessed a death and 2 percent suffered a combat-related injury, the investigators found. For most categories of combat stress, the mental health effects on male and female soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan were the same. Both had the same rate (18 percent) of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but women injured in combat were more likely to have PTSD than injured men. Women were somewhat more likely to report depression symptoms, while men were somewhat more likely to have a post-deployment drinking problem, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) researchers found. Military sexual trauma -- defined as sexual assault or repeated sexual harassment -- was reported by 12 percent of women and 1 percent of men. Military sexual trauma was strongly associated with PTSD and depression in both women and men, according to the report released online in advance of publication in a print issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research. The findings have important implications for the Veterans Affairs health care system, according to lead study author Shira Maguen, an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCSF and a clinical psychologist at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. "If women are indeed being exposed to combat stressors at a higher rate than in prior eras, we have to be prepared to provide the services they need, and take into account the impact that these stressors can have on their mental health functioning," she said in a university news release. "We also need to take a closer look at physical injury and its potential impact on women's psychological health," Maguen added. More information The Office on Women's Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more about women veterans and mental health.

Reprehensible Behavior Is a Risk of Combat, Experts Say

Reprehensible Behavior Is a Risk of Combat, Experts Say Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press By JAMES DAO Published: January 13, 2012 Talk to almost anyone who has fought in combat, and chances are they can tick off a string of reasons why the YouTube video showing four Marines urinating on the bodies of dead enemy fighters in southern Afghanistan is horrible. Horrible for America’s image around the world. Horrible for its strategy of winning support from the Afghan people. Horrible for a professional military that believes its troops behave with the utmost decorum, even in the heat of battle. .And yet, their outrage often also comes with a caveat. Reprehensible behavior, combat veterans and military experts say, is an ever-present risk when troops in their teens and early 20s are thrown into nerve-racking battle for months at a time. And if there are weaknesses in their leadership or breakdowns in discipline, that behavior can easily spill over into acts that might be considered war crimes. “The degree to which a squad or platoon in combat becomes calloused toward the enemy that they are facing is almost always high,” said Andrew M. Exum, a former Army officer who did combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and is now senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington policy group. “There is always, always, always the temptation to abuse a detainee or pose for a picture with some dead fighter. And that’s why noncommissioned officers and commissioned officers have to be extra vigilant.” Military officials said they had identified all four Marines in the video, though they have not released their names. The Marines are thought to be members of a scout sniper team that was deployed last year to northern Helmand Province — one of Afghanistan’s most violent precincts. The actions depicted in the video represent the modern unit commander’s worst nightmare: crude behavior over dead or captured enemies that is broadcast across the globe with the push of a cellphone button, as happened with the photographs from Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Yet the act of desecrating an enemy’s body is as old as war, perhaps most famously described by Homer in “The Iliad,” when Achilles drags Hector’s lifeless body behind his chariot before the eyes of a shocked and despairing Troy. Nancy Sherman, a professor of philosophy at Georgetown University who has written a book about the moral implications of war on troops, “The Untold War,” said dehumanizing the enemy can be a psychological defense mechanism for the troops whose job is to kill that enemy. “Desecrating bodies is not routine, nor is it expected or condoned,” Ms. Sherman said. “But you can understand it, in complicated ways. Because war requires a very complicated moral psyche.” Mr. Exum said black humor is another coping mechanism for young troops trying to act tough beyond their years. “I remember being a young officer in Afghanistan in 2002 and standing over the body of this partially decapitated Taliban and cracking jokes,” he said. “Humor is how we cope with pretty horrific stuff. It’s almost dangerous to be too sensitive.” Alex Lemons, a Marine scout sniper during the fierce fighting in the Iraqi city of Falluja in 2004, said that on several occasions he encountered American troops who either urinated on insurgent bodies or manipulated them for photographs, like putting them in ridiculous poses. While he called such behavior disgusting, he also said it could be cathartic. “I’ve never spat on a dead body or urinated on one, but I’ve certainly screamed at a dead body because they’ve taken a friend’s life,” said Mr. Lemons, who left the Marine Corps in 2008. Snipers in both the Army and the Marine Corps are elite teams highly trained in marksmanship, surveillance and camouflage who can operate independently from larger units. They often patrol dangerous areas and get more kills, and are sometimes viewed as cowboys by regular infantry troops as a result. But Mr. Lemons and other officers said scout snipers tend to be more mature and disciplined, precisely because they are expected to face greater danger. “In sniper school, we were taught not to relish in killing,” Mr. Lemons said. “We’re professional gunmen. That’s what the other side does, not us.” Though some military blogs have been filled with reader comments supporting the Marines in the video, some of the harshest criticism against them has come from other Marines who feel that the corps, and even the entire American military, have been disgraced. “There is no excuse for what they did,” said Timothy Kudo, who served with a Marine unit in northern Helmand Province and now works for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. “It goes against everything you’ve been trained to do as a Marine.” Michael Newton, a former Army prosecutor who now teaches at Vanderbilt Law School, said the international laws of war and the American code of military justice are intended to instill discipline in troops and set boundaries for what is acceptable in combat. Prosecuting war crimes is necessary to ensure that crossing those boundaries does not become the norm, he said. “Some people will look at this and say all Marines are animals,” he said. “But that’s not true. That instance was undisciplined and unprofessional. And that’s why it’s a war crime. The law exists to instill professionalism. But it is also there to create a humanitarian imperative, even in conflict.” Beyond court-martial or prison, the desecration of an enemy’s body could also leave psychological scars on the perpetrators, in the form of guilt, Mr. Lemons said. “Even though there are all these consequences on an international level that these guys didn’t comprehend, the worst effects are the ones they will have to come to terms with later in life,” he said. “Every memory gets stored in you. Even if it was something that just took two seconds, you’ll have revisit it at some point.”

Our community, friends, family lost three young souls last weekend. Their bodies were cremated, buried, I know not what. Their spirits were remembered. I feel like I should yell at them. To get up, to come downstairs to help me. It's snowing, the dogs are coming in and out. I should put another rug down by the door. More wood needs to go on the fire. Who is ready for breakfast? Or should I just let them sleep. Who knows when they came in? Who knows when they went to sleep? I want a hug. It has been too long without one of their hugs. I miss my boys, all of them. I miss Bobby and Derick and all their friends. So many became one of mine in that first trip into the house. They called me Mom. I got on to them about something, they would hug me, say I know, I'm sorry, and give me a hug. Actually my two never did that because they knew it would not work, but the others did. I talked to Micah on facebook in December, about a month ago. My last words to him was you are a survivor, you will live to a hundred. In some ways he will. In fifty years, someone will be saying, do remember Micah, do you remember....And the same with Favio and I am sure the same with Ethan. For some of my young men, the path is not the military. For Shawn it was. He has been back on his base for a month. He would have been at that party. It was for Jordan's 21st birthday. In March it will be Micah's 22nd and Derick's 21st. Oh, how will the party happen without Micah and Favio there? It will be quieter, it will be fewer illegals hopefully, they will all be safe that night I pray. Hugs to all. For those who read this for information about the veterans than you for your "cooperation" while I grieve. God bless.

Veterans without Family Funerals

Jan. 4, 2012 Veterans Without Family http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QTd8mmL93g Men and women gather together to honor our Veterans without families. We know nothing about these Vets except that fact that they did serve thier country hon...

Medical Colleges Pledge to care for Troops, Families

Medical Colleges Pledge to Care for Troops, Families By Lisa Daniel American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2012 - First Lady Michelle Obama today announced a commitment from the nation's medical colleges to better train civilian health-care providers in caring for war veterans and their families and to push for more research in the wounds of war. Obama's announcement at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond marked the latest endeavor of her "Joining Forces" campaign with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, to rally nationwide support for military families. Today, the first lady announced that the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, with 105 and 25 schools, respectively, have committed to leveraging their missions in education, research and clinical care "to meet the unique health-care needs" of the military and veterans communities. "Today the nation's medical colleges are committing to create a new generation of doctors, medical schools and research facilities to make sure our heroes receive the care worthy of their military service," she said. As part of the initiative, the associations pledged to: -- Train their medical students as well as their current physicians, faculty and staff to better diagnose and treat veterans and military families; -- Develop new research and clinical trials on traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder; -- Share their information and best practices with each other through a collaborative Web forum; and -- Coordinate with the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. Many of the medical colleges already are making strides, Obama said, including VCU's project to ease veterans' transition from war to home, the University of South Florida's first-of-its-kind Center for Veterans Reintegration and the University of Pittsburgh's creation of an imaging tool to see the wiring of the brain in vivid high-definition. The idea behind Joining Forces is very simple, Obama said. "In a time of war, when our troops and their families are sacrificing so much, we all should be doing everything we can to serve them as well as they are serving this country," she added. "It's an obligation that extends to every single American. And, it's an obligation that does not end when a war ends and troops return home. In many ways, that's when it begins." The first lady said she became aware of this when she and President Barack Obama welcomed home the final troops from Iraq last month. "I couldn't shake the feeling that even though we were marking the end of the war, this was not an ending for them. ... For our troops, the end of war marks the beginning of a very long period of transition," she said. Sometimes the transitions from war to home "bring the hardest moments our troops and their families will ever face," she added. Obama said she wanted to emphasize that most war veterans return home with no mental health issues at all. But for many, she added, "the emotional wounds come flooding back," leading to sleepless nights, rage, substance abuse and subsequent family problems. An estimated one in six Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans return home with post-traumatic stress or depression, and at least 4,000 have had at least a moderate-grade brain injury, the first lady said, noting that many don't seek help because of a perceived stigma. "I want to be very clear today: these mental health challenges are not a sign of weakness," she said. "They should never again be a source of shame. They are a natural reaction to the challenges of war, and it has been that way throughout the ages." Half of post-9/11 veterans seek help outside DOD and VA, and many of them are not connected to a base, Obama said. "We have to meet our veterans where they live," she added. "I want to emphasize the power of your chosen profession," the first lady told medical students in the audience. "You will be there for some of your patients' most powerful life moments. It is the essence of true service. You will have a unique opportunity and responsibility to make an impact on their lives. You will singlehandedly be able show these heroes that their country is there for them, no matter what they are going through. "You will make a world of difference on these issues," she continued. "You will change these heroes' lives for the better, forever. You will uphold our nation's sacred trust to its heroes and their families." Obama also had a message for service members. "No matter where you are, no matter what you are going through, please know America will be there for you and your family," she said. Asking for support is a sign of strength that will help not just those in the military, but for all Americans struggling with mental health problems, the first lady said. Jerome Strauss, dean of the VCU School of Medicine, recalled being in medical school during the Vietnam War 40 years ago and getting no formal training in how to treat returning veterans. "I remember the uncertainty and anxiety of caring for these patients whose lives were changed by their war experiences," he said. "Now, we have a far better understanding of [traumatic brain injury]," he added, as well as a basis for curriculum and research in areas such as pain management and spinal cord injuries. John Prescott, director of academic affairs for the Association of American Medical Colleges, said medical schools are "uniquely positioned to have a tremendous impact on servicemembers and their families," and contain the best in research, clinical practices and education. The association's collaboration with Joining Forces, he said, shows "There is no time like the present to make sure those who have sacrificed so much get the care they need now and into the future." Prescott, a former Army officer whose son is in the military, said he has high hopes for the effort. "We want to let all the troops and veterans here know that our nation's medical schools are proud of your service and we only hope we can live up to the high standards you set," he said.

More stuff that I Forgot

In addition to my other titles or labels, I am the Hudson Valley Soldiers' Angels Veteran (VA) Coordinator or as it has changed to the Hudson Valley Soldiers' Angels Veterans Community Leader, I think....if I remember right. Soldiers' Angels is a wonderful organization which recruits volunteers to adopt soldiers who are deployed in another country. There are also other wonderful groups and projects that fall under the umbrella of Soldiers' Angels. If you have a talent or desire to support soldiers, veterans, and/or their families, please contact Soldiers' Angels on the internet at soldiersangels.org. They also have a facebook page, many pages for projects, state groups, and activities. They have twitter, squido, and blogs. So, just give someone a "hollar", a note, a post, or an email and they will give you more information. As a veteran, I belong to the Air Force Sergeants Association, and I did belong to my local American Legion. As that disabled person in today's economy, I no longer can pay my dues to the American Legion, so I no longer belong.... If you know of a veteran or someone who needs a place to live, we plan to rent out our upstairs or half of our house. It does need some remodeling, so we can make a "deal" with that. Take care and have a good day.

Patty's Wandering Thoughts

Our Soldiers' Angels Chief of Blogging, says we are to write the posts. We are to report on what our area is doing. Well, I don't know what our area is doing as Soldiers' Angels. I barely know what I am doing some days, and if you ask me what I did five minutes ago, or five hours ago, I probably will not know. That is part of my disability. And it is not a direct link to getting thrown across a room, but...if you want to know, you can read the next paragraph. I worked at ....with kids with mental health issues and behavior issues. I worked with my heart instead of my brain and I let myself get in negative situations where the kids would not listen to me, the staff would not help me (since I had the bright idea that with all my qualifications and experience I would make a great house manager), we were short staffed, and the list can go on. But back on topic, I was threw across a room and hit a table. That herinated four disks in my lower back, and who knows what to my hip. After a month of administrative assignments that left me hurting more each day, I went back to the house. I was kicked in the face and neck helping another staff with a "bahavior issue". --We were to use positive reinforcement each time there was a problem.-- But I ended up with more herinated disks in my neck. Resulting injuries include more herinated disks over the five years, arthritis, spinal canal stenosis, fibromylgia, and blah, blah, blah, workers comp and social security since my limitations will never allow me to work again, to have a "normal" life again, and so on. Oh, fibromylgia causes memory loss and the changes the way your brain functions. One of the possibilities of causes is trauma to the body. At the risk of sounding like a depressed, isolated, victim, I do have other labels in my life. I am a mother of two grown sons, a wife of a wonderful husband who drives a big truck for a living. I am a veteran of the Air Force, I was a Army and Air Guard member while we lived in Georgia. I am proud of my Southern roots, I was born in Mississippi. At one time I was the military spouse of a Gulf War Soldier, we later divorced. Oh, on being proud of my Southern heritage, maybe the only thing I got out of it is pride. If nothing else your pride keeps you moving each day and going forward. Of course, family, animals, and God is a big part of that too. But if you are from the backwoods in the South, I am sure you know what I mean. Since you know of the some of the ways I put food on the table, had a career, a job....I care for veterans, kids, and animals. Now how does the animals fit into all this. Here in New York, on this beautiful land out in the country, we have cared for rabbits, guina pigs, mice, and now dogs and cats. Now some of these animals have a story attached, but that is not a part of this story. After I was disabled....my life changed...I became a survivor...I said I was going to support two causes (that did evolve) besides caring and loving for my family and the family that became a part of our lives by just walking through our door. These two causes are our military and animals, specifically dogs. With my new life, each day the animals showed they needed me. Grown males in your family do not always show that in a positive supportive way. I had to get out of bed, get out of the recliner, to take care of the animals. And my family has supported me with the animals and the "support" I give to veterans. I have collected items to donate to veterans at the Pine Plains VA Clinic and at Castle Point VA Center. Most of the collections have come from Carolyn D. who belongs to the (ahhh, here comes the memory issue).....something Christian Womens Club which incorporates the Columbia and Greene County Christian Ladies. Carolyn is a wonderful person who can talk to people and they will clean their closets out, go buy food, and gather up donations to give to our veterans. I also spend an enourmous amount of time on the computer and internet reading and researching issues regarding our New York Soldliers and their families and our veterans. I try to post this information here, on my facebook page, and on the Soldiers Angels New York facebook page. And as each day goes by, I realize how much my family and our animals support me. My family and I have adopted nine dogs in the past year. We have lost two dogs to their prior abuse. And we have three cats that have adopted us and our house. So in these wandering thoughts you know that I support soldiers and veterans and their families and dogs. And guess what??? Veterans, especially those with PTSD and TBI, need dogs. They may need a dog for a friend, for psycological issues, or for physical issues. And the last dog we adopted, we said we wanted to give him to a veteran who needs love and support from a dog who needs love and support. Make sense???? All our animals are rescues, many have been abused, other neglected in horriblle ways. Our dogs have from shelters and from our vet's office in Pine Plains. If you know someone who needs a dog, please let us know. Shadow still needs a lot of work and socialization. He is very timid and shy and thin. Now, it is another of those times, to get up out of my recliner to let the dogs back in. So I hope you have a wonderful day, even a blessed day, while I continue with my day.

New Knee Helps Amputees Return to Front Lines

New Knee Helps Amputees Return to Front Lines By Terri Moon Cronk American Forces Press Service BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 10, 2012 - A sophisticated prosthetic knee with a newly designed microprocessor is giving many wounded warriors with above-the-knee amputations the chance to return to active duty, military medical officials here reported. Wounded warriors who had such severe limb loss in the early days of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were fitted with a prosthetic, rehabilitated and medically retired in most cases, amputee services officials at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center said. That was before 2004, when the Defense Department contracted with a prosthetics company to design a "military grade" microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee to return these skilled veterans to duty when possible, officials said. As a result, troops who have returned to duty wearing the Genium X2 prosthetic knee during the past three years include members of the Navy's SEALS, the Army's Golden Knights parachute team and infantrymen on the front lines, said David Laufer, chief of orthotics and prosthetics services. "We wanted to enable any wounded soldier who has the willingness and ability to go back on active duty," he said. "We're not trying to force soldiers, Marines or sailors to go back on active duty after an amputation. We want to give them the opportunity to stay on active duty, and not be limited by their prostheses." The impact of these service members returning to the combat theater is more far-reaching than the extensive skills and experience they bring with them, clinic staff members said, noting that other service members can gain a new perspective on wounded warriors when they fight side-by-side with those wearing the newly designed prosthetic knee. "They see them bring forward what they already know and realize they can do the jobs they were doing before they were injured," said Charles Scoville, chief of amputee services in the medical center's orthopedics and rehabilitation department. "They learn to respect [those wearing the prosthetic knee], and realize, 'He's not going to hold us back or get us killed,'" he said. "It also shows them if they are injured, they will be taken care of." Laufer said the new devices are on back order, because the company that manufacturers them can't keep up with growing demand. One, the X2, was an instant hit when the first few patients got the opportunity to try it out as a prototype three years ago, Scoville said. At the time, the next-generation knee, the X3 that is scheduled to debut this summer, was still in the design phase. "We were so impressed by the X2 prototype," Scoville said. "We told the company, 'We need these now.'" At first considered "impossible" to design, the X2 has provided a new way of life for above-the-knee amputees, Scoville said. The new microprocessor has five sensors, compared with the original C-Leg, which had two, said Zachary Harvey, a certified prosthetic orthotist. A combination of gyroscopes, accelerators and hydraulics form the knee's greater stability, mobility and its versatility by "recognizing" actions, Harvey said. Multiple sensors recognize when the wearer wants to sit down or go up and down ramps and stairs, he explained, all without being preset with a remote device, as required by former technology. Harvey said the X2 is intuitive to learn. "It feels natural to walk on, in comparison to some other knees," he said. The X2 also enables wearers to rapidly switch from a walk mode into a run without changing settings, he said. "The X2 knee picks up on the change, kicks in and swings out a little faster into a run," he explained. In addition, the X2 features a protective cover in the event of falls and other minor accidents. "It's a qualitative and quantitative leap," Laufer said, comparing it to the two-sensor unit on the C-Leg. Marine Corps 1st Lt. James Byler, a 26-year-old infantryman who was wounded in Afghanistan more than a year ago, said he got used to the X2 almost immediately. A double amputee above the knees, Byler was fitted with a C-Leg for several months before receiving an X2 for one leg and a power knee on the other leg for his own comparison. Unlike the X2, the power knee propelled him forward and was complicated because he had to focus on the knee, which was hard to do while walking, he said. When Byler went to the X2 model on both knees, "the feeling was pretty immediate," he said. "I don't think there's any knee that compares to the X2," Byler added. "It feels more natural than the others." The effect on his rehabilitation, Byler said, has been dramatic. "It was only recently that guys like me with the really high amputations [realized] we could walk at all," he said. "It took a lot of time and effort just to get up and walk." Byler said he's decided to retire from the military, because as a double above-the-knee amputee, he doesn't want to be a liability. But that doesn't stop him and some of his fellow patients from putting on their X2 knees prostheses to visit newly injured patients who are bedbound. He and his friends tell the new patients it's the X2 they want to get, and not anything else. "I can walk on the X2 and not even think about it," Byler said. "That's the goal."

Obama Vows to Keep Faith With Famillies

Family Matters Blog: Obama Vows to 'Keep Faith' With Families By Elaine Sanchez American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 6, 2012 - Senior leaders yesterday underscored their commitment to caring for troops, veterans and their families, and the programs that support them, in a briefing that laid the groundwork for future defense spending. President Barack Obama joined Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to unveil the defense strategic guidance that will shape the Defense Department's budget decisions for the years ahead. The department will cut its budget by $487 over the next 10 years. The nation will "keep faith with those who serve," Obama said, "by making sure our troops have the equipment and capabilities they need to succeed, and by prioritizing efforts that focus on wounded warriors, mental health and the well-being of our military families." The president pledged his ongoing support to veterans. "We'll keep working to give our veterans the care, the benefits and job opportunities that they deserve and that they have earned," he said. Panetta acknowledged service members' concerns regarding budget cuts and what they'll mean for their families, and promised to continue to look out for them as the budget takes shape. "You have put your lives on the line, and fought to make our country safer and stronger," he said. "I believe this strategic guidance honors your sacrifices and strengthens the country by building a force equipped for the future. "I have no higher responsibility than fighting to protect you and your families, just as you have fought and bled to protect our country," he said.

Officer Makes Difference in Afghanistan

Face of Defense: Officer Makes Difference in Afghanistan By Natela Cutter American Forces Press Service KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 11, 2012 - When Army Lt. Col. Rob Rabb joined the Afghanistan/Pakistan Hands program, he never dreamed that he would become a speech writer or that his letters would land on the desk of Afghan President Hamid Karzai for signature. Army Lt. Col. Robert Rabb conducts business via his mobile phone while waiting for transportation from Camp Julien to the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in downtown Kabul, Afghanistan. Rabb works uses his Dari language skills on a daily basis as he helps Afghan government ministries to connect with the Afghan people. DOD photo by Natela Cutter (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. "You can imagine my surprise when I realized that my proposal for a project was diverted from the minister, for whom I thought I was writing it, to the president of Afghanistan," Rabb said at Camp Julien here, the home of the Counter-Insurgency Training Academy, attended by coalition forces and Afghan National Army soldiers. As a mechanical engineer, Rabb brings a special skill set to the AfPak Hands program by working in a cluster of business ministries called the agriculture, reconstruction and development cluster. "We have embedded partners [in the Afghan ministries], and our job is to go over there and not get stuck in their battle rhythm, but really to work at the higher level to integrate the ministries, have them work better internally and externally," Rabb explained, referring to effective communication between the Afghan government and external partners such as international aid agencies, nongovernment agencies and coalition forces. "For example, there is a plan for a large scale hydroelectric project that will require quadrupling the capacity of the facility," he said, adding that the power generated would be run down to one of the major cities. "This is a huge effort," Rabb said, noting that electricity in many places in Afghanistan is generated by diesel fuel. The project is important because the cost of running the diesel generators would be unsustainable once coalition forces leave Afghanistan, Rabb said. With his engineering skills and his ability to speak conversational Dari, coupled with the knowledge of Afghan customs and traditions, Rabb is able to advise the Afghan ministers on how to plan and prioritize to successfully construct the hydroelectric plant in a remote area with a strong insurgent foothold. "For instance," he said, "recently I have been asked to look at the national priority program energy plan for the next three years,. ... I am looking at that program with their engineers to lay out their priorities, their funding, and their plans." Rabb said he tries to relay information back to the international community, helping the Afghans to seek additional funding based on their priorities. A typical working day for Rabb consists of departing the International Security Assistance Force headquarters early in the morning, driving down "Ministry Row," where most of the important governmental buildings are located, and beginning his day with a series of meetings. He moves from office to office, drinking tea and chatting with people in Dari, conducting business Afghan style until about 4 p.m. "I normally come back to ISAF and continue my working day, which consists of reading and responding to emails until late in the evening," he said. One of the projects that Rabb is particularly proud of is the ministerial travel program, which involves getting the deputy Afghan ministers out to the provinces and districts to talk with local government and tribal leaders. "Getting the ministers out there where they can talk to the local people and connect the local government to the higher government in Kabul, I think, is important," said Rabb, explaining that communicating to the wider public is challenging because of Afghanistan's lack of media and the scarcity of resources for people to purchase electronics to remain informed. "[The travel] gives some credibility to the Afghan government, because right now in lots of places it is very disconnected with the local villages," Rabb said. "What we are really looking at is connecting with the local leadership who have tribal affiliations and talking about resources and ways to help them. And the Afghan government has resources. "We do have far-reaching abilities and can influence a few things," he added. "We do have strategic effects."

Kingston Soldiers Honored for Hurricane Response

Kingston Soldiers Honored for Hurricane Response Media Advisoryby New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs Related Media Soldiers of the 1156th Engineer Company traversed flooded areas to rescue some of the town of Windham's residents. Windham, N.Y. suffered flooding in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Capt. Dan Colomb plans operations for the 1156th Engineer Company in the Greene County, NY Emergency Operations Center. full size KINGSTON, N.Y. (01/06/2012)(readMedia)-- Greene County Legislative Chairman Wayne Speenburgh visits with New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1156th Engineer Company this weekend to present a county proclamation thanking the troops for their response during the devastating floods following Hurricane Irene in 2011. WHAT: Presentation of the Greene County Proclamation of Honors to Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard. WHO: Legislative Chair Wayne Speenburgh, Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy, The Adjutant General of the New York National Guard, Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, commander of the 53rd Troop Command, Lt. Col. James Freehart, commander of the 204th Engineer Battalion and the leaders, NCOs and approx. 160 Soldiers of the 1156th Engineer Company. WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. The ceremony begins promptly at 11 a.m. WHERE: New York State Armory, 25 Kiersted Avenue, Kingston, N.Y. 12401 Media Opportunity Visual imagery of the presentation of the Greene County Proclamation with troops in formation. Interviews with leaders and Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 1156th Engineer Company. For access to this secure facility and the presentation ceremony, news media should contact Capt. Daniel Colomb, commander of the 1156th Engineer Company, 845-340-7154 or 845-591-2200. Background Hurricane Irene Response by the 1156th Engineer Company About 120 Soldiers from the 1156th Engineers staged with other New York National Guard troops prior to the landfall of Hurricane Irene August 26, 2011 at Camp Smith and Kingston, N.Y. When flooding occurred in Windham and other communities, Soldiers were sent to aid civil authorities. Just getting to the Emergency Operations Center near Windham proved a challenge to the troops. The company tried two or three times, using trial and error, to find an un-flooded route, said Capt. Daniel Colomb, company commander of 1156th Engineer Company. The devastation was incredible, he recalled. The main street of Windham was virtually a river, and the floodwaters were strong enough to carry away cars and trailer homes, he said. "I've never seen anything of this magnitude before," he said. Assigned to rescue trapped civilians in Windham, the Soldiers had to get out of their vehicles, lock arms, enter the sometimes waist-deep water, and use baby steps to find safe fording sites free of drop-offs or other hazards, Colomb said. He described the delicate operation as "searching with our feet," and "hands across the river." Once across these areas, the soldiers began to search for residents. They were guided by local authorities and some citizens, who pointed out where people were trapped, Colomb said. For more information and imagery regarding the 1156th during Hurricane Irene, visit www.army.mil/article/64823/New_York_Army_National_Guard_Engineer_Soldiers_Walk_Through_the_Flood_to_Rescue_Residents/ 1156th Engineer Company The 1156th Engineer Company, which is based in Kingston and Camp Smith, specializes in vertical engineering; the construction of buildings and other basic facilities. The engineers also train to conduct urban search and extraction missions as part of the New York National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or High Explosive (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package. The CERFP is a team of 350 New York Army and Air Guard men and women, along with members of the New York Guard, the state's volunteer defense force. The CERFP is designed to relieve civilian first responders and sustain emergency rescue operations after an attack. In addition to the unit's response to regional flooding this fall, the engineers also conducted demolition in downtown Kingston this past fall to prepare a training site for the November disaster response exercise.

Jan. 9, 2012 We lost more heroes

You are subscribed to News Releases for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. DOD Identifies Army Casualties 01/09/2012 11:42 AM CST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 014-12 January 09, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Identifies Army Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of four Soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 6 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enermy forces attacked their vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Jonathan M. Metzger, 32, of Indianapolis, Ind. Spc. Robert J. Tauteris Jr., 44, of Hamlet, Ind. Spc. Christopher A. Patterson, 20, of Aurora, Ill. Spc. Brian J. Leonhardt, 21, of Merrillville, Ind. They were assigned to the 81st Troop Command, Indiana National Guard, Indianapolis, Ind. For more information media should contact the Indiana National Guard public affairs office, Maj. Shawn Gardner at 317-247-3222 (office)/ 317-407-7065 (cell), or Staff Sgt. Les Newport at 317-247-3222 (office)/ 317-538-8414 (cell). U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs) Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Jan. 10, 2012 We lost a Hero

You are subscribed to News Releases for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. DOD Identifies Army Casualty 01/10/2012 10:28 AM CST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 016-12 January 10, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Identifies Army Casualty The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Pfc. Dustin P. Napier, 20, of London, Ky., died Jan. 8 in Zabul province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained from enemy small-arms fire. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. For more information please contact the U.S. Army Alaska public affairs office at 907-384-2072. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

Jan. 7, 2012 We lost 3 heroes

You are subscribed to News Releases for U.S. Department of Defense. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. DOD Identifies Air Force Casualties 01/07/2012 07:13 AM CST -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 013-12 January 07, 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOD Identifies Air Force Casualties The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of three airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Jan. 5 in Shir ghazi, Helmand province, Afghanistan, when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device. Killed were: Senior Airman Bryan R. Bell, 23, of Erie, Pa. He was assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base, La. For more information media may contact the Air Force 2nd Bomb Wing public affairs office at 318-456-3309. Tech. Sgt. Matthew S. Schwartz, 34, of Traverse City, Mich. He was assigned to the 90th Civil Engineer Squadron, FE Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. For more information media may contact the Air Force 90th Missile Wing public affairs office at 307-630-3908. Airman 1st Class Matthew R. Seidler, 24, of Westminster, Md. He was assigned to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. For more information media may contact the Air Force 21st Space Wing public affairs office at 719-556-5185. Updates from the U.S. Department of Defense

And So It Begins: Defense Spending Cuts

SpouseBUZZ.com And so it Begins: Defense Spending Cuts January 10, 2012, in Military Life, Spouse & Family News by Amy 8 This story out of the D.C. area crossed my path in December – pretty innocuous stuff, in a way, except that it was among the first I saw notifying families that activities on base are going to start costing more. The subtext here is clear: brace yourself, the budget cuts are coming to a base gym, childcare center, commissary, kennel, playground, housing office or recreation site near you. One of the things I used to struggle with as a reporter was over how to give federal budget drama a face. The powers that be on Capitol Hill yammer on about cutting this and cutting that, and it can be hard know exactly who, if anyone, such things will impact. But defense cuts are a little different. It’s easy to see how this drama impacts military families and our day-to-day lives. Now, suddenly paying $3 at the gym for a class that was once free probably isn’t going to break the bank once or twice. But if it’s something that you regularly participate in and have never had to budget for personally, it could have an impact. And if things like that start costing more all over the place, you’re going to have to make some choices about what activities you can keep doing and those for which you’ll have to find free alternatives. I’ve not noticed any price hikes like this one here at the Army’s Fort Campbell – but we are living off post at the moment and I don’t frequent very many of the facilities. Maybe I’ve just missed them. Have you noticed any price increases where you are? Read more: http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2012/01/so-begins-defense-cuts.html#ixzz1jAOcSoVm SpouseBUZZ.com

Military’s Groundbreaking Vaccine Targets Breast Cancer

Military’s Groundbreaking Vaccine Targets Breast Cancer
By Elaine Sanchez
American Forces Press Service

SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 6, 2012 – Military researchers here have developed a cutting-edge cancer vaccine that’s slashing breast cancer recurrence rates and giving some survivors a better shot at a cancer-free future.


Army Col. (Dr.) George E. Peoples explains how cancer vaccines help to combat breast cancer during an interview at San Antonio Military Medical Center. Peoples, director and principal investigator for the Cancer Vaccine Development Program, has helped to develop a vaccine that’s offering breast cancer survivors hope for a cancer-free future. DOD photo by Linda Hosek
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

After more than a decade of research and testing, the cancer vaccine, dubbed E-75, soon will move on to its final phase of testing to earn Food and Drug Administration approval, said Army Col. (Dr.) George E. Peoples, director and principal investigator for the Cancer Vaccine Development Program at San Antonio Military Medical Center here.

The team has high hopes for this vaccine and its lifesaving potential for breast cancer survivors, particularly since breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer seen among military beneficiaries in the hospital here, said Peoples, who also serves as the deputy director of the U.S. Military Cancer Institute and the medical center’s chief of surgical oncology.

“We’ve made a commitment to take care of active-duty personnel, spouses and retirees,” the colonel said. “And cancer is a notable problem among beneficiaries.”

The vaccine, Peoples explained, targets a protein commonly over-expressed in breast cancer cells called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, or HER2/neu.

Cancer vaccines typically target some protein or antigen expressed on cancer cells, he noted. “The idea is to train the immune system to recognize that protein or piece of protein that’s highly expressed on cancer cells, but not on normal cells,” he said. “That way the immune system can differentiate what’s abnormal and normal. If the immune system can recognize it, it marks it for death, basically.”

The cancer vaccine concept has been around for a long time, Peoples noted, but the team here has adopted a different approach to test their effectiveness. The vast majority of vaccines in the past were tested on end-stage cancer patients, he explained. However, a vaccine is meant to stimulate the immune system, and a healthy immune system isn’t typically seen in someone in the last stages of cancer.

As a result, “a lot of early cancer vaccines tested … in end-stage patients were found not to be helpful,” Peoples said. “No real surprise there.”

To more appropriately gauge the vaccine’s effectiveness, Peoples’ team decided to test it among patients who have a healthy immune system -- cancer survivors who are disease-free but at risk for recurrence. Experts can predict recurrence based on several factors including family history, age, size of tumor and the presence of involved lymph nodes, among other indicators.

The researchers targeted the HER2/neu protein, which is expressed at varying levels in women with breast cancer, then honed in on the 60 percent of women who express the protein at low to intermediate levels. The vaccine is a mix of the E-75 peptide of the HER2 protein and an immune system stimulant.

They started with a 200-patient trial in 2001 and followed each woman for five years. Half of the women received the vaccine -- one injection a month for six months -- and the other half was the control group.

The outcome was very promising, Peoples noted. The recurrence rate among the women in the control group was 20 percent, and 10 percent among the women who received the vaccine. “We cut recurrence in half,” he said.

This success led to the next phase of testing, the colonel said, which will begin early this year and involve 700 to 1,000 patients.

Unlike the earlier phases, however, this step will be undertaken by a commercial company, Galena Biopharma, which has the resources and manpower to undertake such a large-scale test. The company will seek FDA approval and, if received, release the vaccine for public use.

This phase will take about five years to complete -- two years to enroll, then a three-year observation period, Peoples said.
“The end point is the recurrence rate after three years,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Peoples and his team will turn their attention to a multitude of other projects, many based on the same concept that made the E-75 vaccine so successful -- using the body’s own immune system to destroy cancer cells.

They’ve already taken the same vaccine and completed a trial with prostate cancer survivors. As with ovarian and lung cancer, prostate cancer also expresses the HER2 protein.

Peoples said he’s also intrigued by a successful trial they conducted on breast cancer survivors who express the HER2 protein at the highest levels, rather than the low to intermediate levels they focused on before. In this study, they combined their vaccine with the drug Herceptin.

They conducted a small trial with 60 women, Peoples said, and when they administered the vaccine and Herceptin together, the recurrence rate dropped to zero. “The preliminary data is very exciting,” he said. “But we need to wait and do larger trials.”

Word has spread of the cancer vaccine program’s successes and intriguing results. Military and civilian experts have approached Peoples wanting to take part in research that has such a potentially widespread impact. The idea of active, specific immunotherapy -- engaging the body’s immune system to do the work of fighting the cancer -- is an exciting and rapidly evolving area, Peoples explained.

Garnering this interest, Peoples has steadily built a worldwide network of military and civilian hospitals that can assist with clinical trials and research. The network includes just about every major military hospital alongside a civilian hospital in cities across the nation and overseas.

The partnership has reached Athens, Greece, and is about to extend into Malaysia. “We’re about to circle the globe,” he said.

Peoples attributed much of the program’s successes to this military-civilian network. “We’re very fortunate to have great partners,” he said.

He also praised the military men and women willing to take part in the trials. They enter into them knowing they may be part of the control group that doesn’t receive a potentially lifesaving vaccine. Despite that fact, he hasn’t seen a shortage of willing participants, Peoples said.

“The military is an ideal setting for clinical trials,” he said.
Service members, retirees and family members have a strong sense of service, he noted. “They want to be involved and contribute to the research,” he added.

While they’re focusing on secondary cancer prevention, the ultimate goal, Peoples noted, is primary prevention, meaning cancer prevention among people with a predicted risk of cancer based on family history and genetic markers.

“Hopefully, sometime in my lifetime we’ll figure that out,” he said.

From Greta: Memories Linger Forever (God Bless)

Memories Linger On Forever by Greta on January 9, 2012 For the past 6 months, I, along with my loving husband and 3 wonderful children, had the honor of caring for my father, Sherman Marcus on the final leg of his life journey. Alzheimer’s Disease is difficult, but we all made the best of it each and every day, spending quality time with him, smiling and keeping a positive attitude. Dad was surrounded by much love and given the dignity he deserved until his last breath at 12:30 AM on January 8th in my home. He died peacefully having said good-bye, in his own way, to each and every one of us before he passed. The Hospice Chaplain told me most patients somehow pulled through the holidays as they felt the excitement in the air. Dad did that as well as wait for my brother and mother to arrive to say their good-byes before parting from this life as we know it. Caring for someone as they are approaching the end of their life, naturally, is a lot of work, but work worth doing. My husband, children, friends, dad’s sitters (R.I.P. Dora), healthcare workers, along with the the Hospice team all contributed and showed my father true kindness, never forgetting that he was a person that demanded their respect until the end. It was gift, a gift to all of us as he warmed our hearts and touched our souls with his smile, charismatic personality and good-nature. Life goes on for all whose lives my Dad has touched…with the wonderful memories he allowed us to make with him along his journey through life. He will live on in all our hearts and minds as memories linger on forever. Thank you Dad for the final gift you bestowed upon my family. We were truly honored to be able to spend this time with you and have all become better people because of you! Final details: A service will take place at the Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 475 Washington St, Canton, MA on Wednesday Jan. 11th at 10 AM. Expressions of sympathy in his memory may be donated to the Hilltop Humane Society, POB 553, Randolph, MA, 02368 (dad was a huge cat lover and spent a lot of time there). I will attend and represent my family and those in Louisiana whose lives he touched. My children are planning their own service here to honor his memory in their own creative way and will give me pebbles to place along his grave as is a Jewish custom. Thank you all who have followed along and for all your thoughts and prayers along the way and for those who allowed Dad into your life. It truly gave me more strength than you will ever know! I am truly blessed. Please do not feel sorry for my loss as I have only gained!

Mail Call!Supporting the Troops: Thoughts and Prayers with Greta and her Family

Mail Call!Supporting the Troops: Thoughts and Prayers with Greta and her Family: My friend Greta is the 'head honcho' at the group milblog  Hooah Wife and friends   (where I cross-post at times) and also she has been blo...