Scars Can Show Veterans Where They’ve Been, But They Don’t Show Where They’re Going

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Military news…

Goodbye Bragg and Benning: These are the potential names for Army bases honoring Confederates

Make way for ‘Fort Eisenhower,’ ‘Fort Cavazos,’ and ‘Fort Barfoot.’

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US deal with Taliban panicked Afghan military and hastened collapse, investigation finds

A watchdog report outlines how US actions during the withdrawal from Afghanistan, often done without communication to Afghan allies, fueled mistrust and paranoia, which led to mass surrenders. 

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Addition of Finland and Sweden to NATO would strengthen Arctic security, improve US training, military officials say

Navy and Marine Corps officials said Wednesday that the potential inclusion of Finland and Sweden in the NATO alliance would boost U.S. military activity in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea.

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Pentagon spokesman John Kirby to switch podiums for White House job

Chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby is stepping down from his position to switch podiums for a senior communications job at the White House, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday.

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US, South Korea to discuss expanded joint military exercises Citing the threat posed by North Korea, Presidents Joe Biden and Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea agreed Saturday to reinforce their defensive posture on the Korean Peninsula.

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20 countries in US-led Ukraine Contact Group offer new military aid packages to help Ukrainians beat back invading Russians
Some 20 countries in the U.S.-led Ukraine Contact Group agreed to contribute new military aid packages to help Ukrainian troops fight off the Russian forces that have been attacking their country for the last three months, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Monday.

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On Asia trip, Biden says he would be willing to use force if China invades Taiwan

President Joe Biden signaled an apparent end to the US policy of strategic ambiguity by saying the United States would defend Taiwan against a Chinese invasion.

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Here is one of my best excerpts, according to readers, from my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the trenches of Life.

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Scars Can Show Where We’ve Been, But They Don’t Show Where We Are Going

One of the hardest things for us as veterans and current soldiers is dealing with the scars we have had from the past. It may be a physical scar, or it may be mental or emotional. We can’t keep living in the past. Much of it is too painful to relive again. Yes, the present isn’t exactly rosy sometimes either, but it is here, and we need to deal with it. The one-day-at-a-time thought works for me. I just do what I need to do to make it through each day, and I am thankful when I have made it.

The future is something we can’t always control, but we can help shape it by being eager to take it on and conquering it with our determination and guts.

I feel deeply of those of you who have physical scars. I also feel deeply for those of you who have mental and emotional scars. I have been to the mountain with these kinds of scars.

Strive to never give in to the dark side thought of doom and gloom. Look for the bright side, and share it with others around you who need it as well.

This reminds me of Kris Kyle the sniper who was famous for his accuracy, and how many lives he saved by eliminating the enemy who was about to kill our soldiers. He was a tough and no nonsense kind of guy, and yet he lost his live trying to help a fellow soldier who was battling his own demons. Kris was trying to help others even though he had his own dark times.

Never give up! There may be walls in your way, but you will overcome them with perseverance.

Let someone pile expectations on and then exceed them. Your biggest goals in life become your biggest achievements. If you have discipline and drive, you don’t lose. You cannot lose. New ideas are sometimes scary, but can end up something special. Walls: They separate, divide, and isolate. But walls can always fall.

What we have to remember is that we have to go through the pains of life to achieve the joys. Pains actually inspire growth. 

I saw those words recently and at first I thought, Easy for you to say! Most people don’t know what real pain is. My neighbor recently complained she had double abscessed teeth. Knowing how painful that is, since I have had abscessed teeth myself, I thought about those military servicemen and women have lost their legs, arms, or are going to be in a wheelchair the rest of their lives. The level of pain is relevant to only what you are really going through.

We must always remember: With God on Our Side, who can be against us? No one!

IWILL

It is hard enough to exist in this cruel world without adding pain and mental strain to our lives. We need to battle the elements that attack us with vigor and valor, just like we would on the front lines, in the trenches, as we face the enemy. Stand strong and be brave.

Think about this

Isn’t it interesting how it takes bravery to face this world, but it takes even more bravery to give it all up to God?

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,910 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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The Navy is eyeing a drone that can fly for a week without refueling

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Military news…

Why the US Army will be ‘vital’ in a fight against China

“Everything that happens, happens on the land … That’s where the problems exist.”

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The Navy is eyeing a drone that can fly for a week without refueling

What comes up can take its sweet time before coming down.

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Sailors are deserting the Navy at a ‘staggering’ rate

“It is much to the dismay of sailors that mental health awareness is such a low priority in today’s Navy.”

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US to send Ukraine more howitzers with new $100 million military aid package
With the additional $100 million, the U.S. has now sent Ukraine a total of $3.9 billion in military aid since Russia invaded the country on Feb. 24.

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Milley speaks with top Russian general days after post-Ukraine invasion call between Austin and Russian defense minister

Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, held a conversation that the Pentagon declined to further detail beyond acknowledging it had happened.

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Secret Service workers for Biden Asia trip sent home

An agent and an armed physical security specialist were involved in an alcohol-fueled incident that included a heated argument with a taxi driver and led to local law enforcement filing a police report.

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Going to pass on sharing another interview with a veteran, however, on Wednesday i will have one with a Vietnam veteran who has some “Straight,” talk on how it was like for him in the war. Don’t want to miss that, so keep coming back to read more. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,745 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

Many Soldiers Had Near Death Experiences While Serving Their Country.

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Military news…

USS George Washington suicides raise alarm on Capitol Hill as defense secretary admits problem with sailor housing
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a subpanel of the House Appropriations Committee that the Pentagon is awaiting the results of two investigations into the George Washington and figuring out how to lodge sailors in the future after three of the ship’s crew members died in less than one week in April.

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First US Navy cruiser to pass through Taiwan Strait in 2 years ‘troubles’ China

The guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal steamed through the 110-mile-wide waterway separating China from Taiwan as part of a “routine transit,” U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Mark Langford said in a Wednesday news

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North Korea to continue developing nuclear and missile programs in 2022, intelligence chief says

North Korea will “continue its nuclear, missile, and military modernization efforts” throughout the year and “leverage” its capabilities during potential negotiations with the United States, intelligence officials testified to lawmakers on Tuesday.

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Russia pounds vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

Russian troops pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, apparently as part of efforts to disrupt the supply lines and weapons shipments that have been critical to Kyiv’s defense.

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Finland, Sweden move closer to seeking NATO membership
The Finnish Parliament is expected to endorse the decision in the coming days. A formal membership application will then be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely at some point next week.

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Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentum

Ukraine said it held off Russian offensives Sunday in the east, and Western military officials said the campaign Moscow launched there after its forces failed to seize the capital of Kyiv has slowed to a snail’s pace.

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Russia actually isn’t as good at information warfare as everyone thought

Russian memes are working about as well as Russian tanks.

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Here is another interview with a WWII veteran. Ira Friedman fought in WWII and Korea. His story has two near death experiences:

I sat with Ira Friedman for a short interview that was loaded with drama:

Tell me of some of your moments that you faced death.

I was getting ready to head to Korea to help fight the war. We were in a hanger in formation, when I saw an old friend from WWII. I wanted to be on the same plane leaving as he was. I raised me hand and requested to be moved from plane one to plane two and the sergeant barked out, NO!

I looked around the hanger and saw a man that looked like he was in charge. He was a captain. I asked him the same question and he refused at first, but I persisted. He shouted, “Get on the damn second plane and get out of my hair.”

I was excited and even sat next to by buddy. About half way to our destination we heard from the pilot that the first plane had crashed killing everyone on board. I was suppose to be on that plane. (Near death experience # 1)

I asked him if there was another time he felt he faced death.

He said that when he was at a briefing in Korea, a Lt. said there was need to have seven men go on a reconnaissance mission. He pointed at me and said, “You are one of them.” I quickly told him none of the men had ever been on reconnaissance. He shouted as he broke his point stick. “That is an order!

Seven of us went on that mission and only three of us came back alive. (Near death experience # 2)

I asked him how he got in two wars

I had just gotten out of the military after WWII when the Korean conflict erupted. They drafted me again because of my experience.

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Come back often to read more amazing interviews with veterans . Many had near death experiences. Better yet, click on the Subscribe tab at the top of this page. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

_______________________________________________________________

Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,710 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.