United We Roll at Stardust Radio

Welcome Stardust Listeners and thank you for joining us on this last Tuesday of June 2009. This date may go down in history as our troops in Iraq continue and/or complete the “Draw Down” – moving out of the cities and giving security and control in those areas over to the Iraqi Army and police forces.

For those of you who were with us here on United We Roll on May 26th, the Tuesday after the Memorial Day observance, you may remember the words of SSG Jason Kendrick when he said “Their Success Will Bring Us Home”. Let us all pray that the Iraqi government and people are able to stand as one, keeping their new found freedom together against those who would try to tear it apart. And let us pray for the safety of our men & women and the Coalition Forces as they now stand down from a leadership role to one of support.

We would also like to take time to honor a great Hero with a final salute. Amid the news of celebrity passings over the past days, it may have escaped your notice – as it did with so many – that the most decorated Marine aviator in history also passed away. Colonel Kenneth L Reusser made his last takeoff on June 20, 2009, at age 89. Col Reusser was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, a man with 363 combat missions, and 59 medals – including two Navy Crosses, four Purple Hearts, five Distinguished Flying Crosses, and 19 Air Medals. This one time Black Sheep leader was shot down in all three wars for a total of five times – after the first four, he kept going. It is unfortunate that not one government official was available to send this Hero off with a final salute. But it is very heartening to see the responses in the military community and across the internet with posts in blogs and social media that recognize the incredible service rendered by this American. In the slang of the movie buffs, the story of Col Kenneth L Reusser “is the stuff from which movies are made”. Our hearts are with the Reusser family as we say Thank You & God Speed to an American Hero.

Please, folks, make the opportunity today and everyday to thank a military member and a first responder – law enforcement, firefighter or paramedic – all those who put their lives on the line and their family time on hold to protect us and our families.

Speaking of thanking our troops, if you were able to join us last Saturday here on Stardust Radio, you heard three stars from the TV Star Trek show – Uhura, Checkov and Sulu – all say thanks to a deployed unit in Iraq along with many other folks who were attending the 25th Annual Trek Fest in Riverside, Iowa. We will be playing a taped copy soon for those of you who missed it.

Now, on to today’s show. The volunteers from United We Roll and Stardust Radio are very proud to bring you fresh new interviews with deployed US military members who will share information about their missions, their military experiences and their beliefs as to why they do what they do and what it means to them. Although we will have four visits for you this afternoon, we will actually be talking with a total of eight deployed members, so get comfy and once again be prepared to learn, to be inspired and to enjoy their company.

Our first visit will be with two Air Force members from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing and one Army member from the 484th Movement Control Battalion all of whom are stationed at Manas Air Base. Joining us from the Air Force are SSG Larry Fortner and MSG Timothy Miller and from the Army is SPC Mike Breshears, who, though they may be from different services, are all involved in the same mission which is to handle the movement of all persons, US, foreign, military and civilian who go into and out of Afghanistan on deployment or assignment. As you can imagine, this is no small task.

Our next two guests are currently deployed with the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. Capt Adam J Kornitzer is not only a pilot of the KC-135 Stratotanker who flies with a crew existing of a co-pilot and boom operator, he is also a pilot instructor. Joining Capt Kornitzer in this visit with us is A1C Steven Felger, who is a Boom Operator on the KC-135. Now, Ladies & Gentlemen, I have to tell you that Capt Kornitzer and A1C Felger are providing us with the best description of what goes on during an in-flight refueling and what it takes on the part of these crew members to bring fuel to a variety of planes on a variety of missions. You will feel like you have been in the air with them.

Our third visit today brings us two Air Force officers from Joint Base Balad whose missions also take them out into the surrounding areas. Capt Matthew Albers of the 732nd ECES Construction Team 6 is on his third deployment to Iraq among others and has been busy building up Army outposts outside of the cities to allow for the Draw Down, in addition to other construction assignments. Capt Rachel Ramos, who is deployed with the 732nd ELRS (Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron)/Det1/TF586, travels around the area with a team to various installations where they identify excess materials that can be sent on to other locations where they will be used. As you will hear, this is for more than one reason. Both of these Captains have had several deployments and some unforgettable experiences that they will share with us today.

Our final guest for this afternoon is EMT SrA Alex Murray, who is currently deployed to a base in Afghanistan with the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight. With his thorough training, experience and dedication to those whom he is helping and the experienced team with which he flies, it is understandable that reports show that wounded troops survive injuries today which may not have been survivable in the not too distant past. This is a wonderful visit and we appreciate the time that SrA Murray was able to spend with us.

We want to thank TSgt Phyllis Hanson, Maj Bill Pierce, MSgt Canfield, Capt Johnston, and Lt Noelle Caldwell for your assistance and behind the scenes work in helping us to setup these wonderful visits.

As always, we are extremely honored to bring you these visits with our deployed military members. And, we are honored to have you, our listeners, join us each week.

Don’t forget in addition to listening to our live show on stardustradio.com, you can go to our archive site and download tapes of our shows on MP3 format at www.stardustradio.info and you can check our blog through the United We Roll page at www.stardustradio.com .

Thank you to all of our Heroes of Freedom wherever you may be stationed and thanks to all of our military families, Veterans, first responders & your families.

Keep your flags flying. Happy Fourth of July!

May God Bless You All & May God Bless America!

As the “Draw Down” is here and the time has come for our troops to pull out of Iraqi urban areas, the words that SSG Jason Kendrick shared with us on Memorial Day during our United We Roll show are ever present in my mind. “Their Success Will Bring Us Home”.

We will soon see how the recently formed Iraqi Army units, police and security forces are able to stand on their own. We will soon see how the Iraqi government and people are able to stand together as one, holding their new found freedom together against those who would try to tear it apart for no other purpose than for manipulation and control. Terrorism. Of course, they are not totally on their own, as many US and Coalition troops are still close by in a supportive role.

Let us all pray for the success of the Iraqi people and for the safety of the Iraqi people. Think of the pictures we have seen over the past 6 years – pictures of frightened children standing shoeless in the streets that have changed to smiling children going to and from school. Empty streets that have been filled with marketplaces once again full of vendors, products and shoppers – people who have money to shop because jobs and income have become available. Medical centers have opened bringing health care within the reach of the citizens. The streets are safer at night due to the lights that now shine with the electricity that has been provided for all, not just for a special few. And on and on. Let us recognize the strength and resilience of the Iraqi people as they have come through so much and, hopefully, have a future of promises rather than one of despair.

And let us pray for the safety of our troops and the Coalition Forces as they now pull out of the more populated areas. Let us pray in appreciation for all of our military and civilian people who have made these changes happen – some at the ultimate cost. Let us pray for those who serve our country and who continue to support freedom, wherever they may be stationed. Let us pray for the families of these Heroes of Freedom as they, too, contribute to our freedom in so many ways. An incredible group of people are these who step forward for the duty to stand guard over our country and freedom.

“Their Success Will Bring Us Home” – The stronger the Iraqi forces, government and people are … As soon as they are able to stand on their own …. Their success will bring our men and women home.

SSG Kendrick – Thank you for your most appropriate words and for your service.

During our live Trek Fest remote on Stardust Radio this morning, we heard some beautiful messages from folks here at home to all of you who are serving on deployment. We will be putting these on the air so military members, families and Veterans can enjoy them. We would like to add one more.

As time for the "draw down" arrives, please know that our prayers for the safety of our men & women on deployment everywhere and for the success of the Iraqi people are as strong as ever. Our eyes and ears are alert for every bit of news. Our hearts are bursting with pride and appreciation for every one of you who stand guard over freedom and for your families. We are with you 24/7.

May God bless and watch over you all.

Judi & Jeff - on behalf of millions of your fellow Americans

Many of our listeners may recall that we recently had a great interview with a team of K-9 members, including Handlers on Patrol, Kennel Master and Trainer. It was a very interesting visit as we learned a lot about these great four legged troops as they serve beside and often protect our men and women in uniform. Following is a great article about one of these K-9’s needing help from his human counterparts as the heat was a bit too much to handle.

“DAWG” Medic Earns Nickname

By Sgt Mary Phillips MND-B

http://www.centcom.mil/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1593&pop=1&page=0&Itemid=231&lang=en

BAGHDAD (June 22, 2009) – Army Sgt. Laurence Cameron was given the radio call sign “Dawg Medic” by other soldiers during this deployment, but it wasn’t until a recent mission that the Rock Hill, S.C., native actually lived up to the nickname.
Cameron, a combat medic with the North Carolina National Guard’s B “Dawg” Battery, 113th Field Artillery, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, was on patrol with two military working dogs June 20, when one of the dogs became overheated.

Army Sgt. James Harrington, a military dog handler with the 1st Calvary Division’s provost marshal’s office, called for Cameron.
“The handlers are all trained in dog first aid, but I show the medics how to do it, too,” Harrington said. “That way, they can take care of the dogs if one of the handlers goes down.”

Cameron immediately got to work on giving intravenous fluids to the dog, named Ryky. “The dog handler explained how to do it, and I went about doing the procedure,” Cameron said. “When it comes to an IV, there is not that much difference between a dog and a human.”
Although Cameron did not expect to give an IV to a dog, he said, he knew it was a possibility.

“When I was at training in Wisconsin, I had a drill sergeant that had been a dog handler, and he taught us a little bit about working with the dogs,” Cameron said. “It was interesting to actually get to do it.”

This was only the third IV the “Dawg Medic” had given to anyone -- or anything -- for overheating since the beginning of this deployment. Overheating is a problem in Iraq because of high temperatures, and soldiers, even the furry kind, must be wary of it.

“We monitor the dogs’ temperature throughout the patrol,” explained Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Jasper, one of the other dog handlers on patrol. “Once their temperature gets over 102 degrees, we have to start looking at ways to cool them down, and once it gets to 103 or 104, we have to get them an IV.”

Because of his call sign, some of Cameron’s fellow soldiers also refer to him as “the Veterinarian.”

“Everyone thought it was funny that I actually worked on a dog because of me being called ‘Dawg Medic’ and ‘Veterinarian,’” he said.
Cameron was happy to be able to help what he called “a fellow soldier.”

“It was cool to be able to help out a dog that is there to help us by detecting explosives,” he said. “It’s part of the Army’s battle buddy system. They are soldiers like us; they just have four legs.”

This story – which is very true, by the way – is a lesson that should be taught in all schools ... from Kindergarten through College. We salute Ms Cothren and all teachers who make sure our children understand that the freedom they enjoy came at a price and that we all have a responsibility to properly receive and pass on this gift.

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten.. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom.

When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks.

'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades..'

'No,' she said..

'Maybe it's our behavior.'

She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom, Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.' At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

Again, this is a true story.

Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans.