United We Roll at Stardust Radio

We will begin our show on this date by welcoming home two Heroes of Freedom who served our country over 40 years ago in VietNam and are only now returning to their families and to their honored places of rest. We salute Marine Lance Corporal Kurt E. LaPlant and Air Force Lt Col Earl P Hopper. Our hearts and our prayers will eternally be with you and your families. Let’s take a moment of silence as we remember these Fallen Heroes and all who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country and our freedom.

April is the month of the Military Child. I would encourage our listeners to go to the Americasupportsyou.mil site to see the organizations who do so many things to help the children of our Fallen Heroes, active duty members, wounded and Veterans. From the scholarship fund provided by the Special Operations Warrior Fund to Operation Purple Camp and many others, there are a lot of ways that you can support these efforts with a donation of cash or time.

Now on with our show for this week – We have some very interesting visits for you all again this week, as once again, 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. We will have three great visits from Heroes of Freedom today who managed to make time from their extremely busy schedules so they could let us know what is happening where they are – real news from those who are making the news.

Joining us today first will be members of the MABOS – Manas Base Outreach Programs - that are run through the Wings of Hope Chapel. Now folks, you are going to hear about some incredible visits and projects that our deployed troops from this base do on their own time off as they go to local orphanages, children’s medical care centers such as the Cancer Center and the Heart Ward with supplies and to spend some time with these youngsters. Many of these are children rarely see visitors, other than parents if they have them. The surgeon at the Heart Ward will perform cardiac surgeries on these children for only $100, waiving all other fees – and our troops have been responsible for raising money among themselves, family members and others to have several hundred life saving surgeries already performed. The outreach does not stop there – they also go to schools and support the elderly in such an incredible way. This story should be on the front page of every newspaper and on every major news show. Join us as we hear from Chaplain (Capt) Piotr Gajda, SSG Freddie Jones, MSgt Royd Chambers, SrAirman Elizabeth Berryhill and TSgt Phyllis Hanson. We will be posting links in our blog with articles so you can see even more information on these incredible projects of the heart.

Next we will visit with SSG Scotty Duncan, who is currently deployed with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group. SSG Duncan is charged with the duties of Chaplain’s Assistant, which as you will hear, involves much more than helping to set up services and classes. The Chaplain Assistants are the “eyes and ears” for the Chaplains and often are the confidential ear that enlisted members will seek out to discuss concerns and problems. SSG Duncan began his career in flight maintenance, which has given him an even deeper insight into the needs of his fellow service members and to the duties with which he is now charged.

Our third interview will be Maj Robert Seal who is deployed with Charlie Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, Multi National Division – Baghdad. As the company commander for a communications unit of a couple hundred soldiers and citizens, Maj Seal is involved in every facet of communications for the Multi Nat’l Division in Baghdad from radios to world wide networks. On this, his 4th deployment and second time in Baghdad, Maj Seal has seen and experienced so much that he shares with us today. Maj Seal has run into his brother on deployment and hopes to see his daughter when she deploys in a few months, among other nephews and family members who serve. This is an absolute must be heard visit. As this Hero of Freedom said it so well … “God Bless America is not a cliché. It is a prayer”.

As always, we are extremely honored to bring you these visits with our Heroes of Freedom. And, we are very honored to have you, our listeners, join us each week. We will not have time for music breaks today, as these three visits will fill our two hours of air time.

LTC Debra Lee joined us on our United We Roll show March 31st to talk about the arrival, unpacking and flight of a brand new Predator to Joint Base Balad in Iraq. We also discussed the incredible technology behind these aircraft and the benefits that are received not only in strategic planning, but also in saving lives. These unmanned planes cut down on pilots flying into harm's way and have incredible "sight" to scope out IED's and other problems, helping to save lives of our US troops, Coalition and friendly forces who are on duty on the ground. To many, it may sound like science fiction, but it is very real. We have a deep gratitude for those who developed this high tech aircraft and those who both maintain and fly it.

You can read more about LTC Lee and this new Predator below:
http://www.balad.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123135660

New Predator takes flight in Iraq
by Maj. Stan Paregien
332nd AEW Public Affairs

2/17/2009 - JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing received a new MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial aircraft and immediately put it into action here Feb. 13.

"As far as getting a new aircraft, it's not very often in the Predator community you are launching a brand-new plane that's never been flown operationally before," said Lt. Col. Debra Lee, 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron commander. "The one we received today only had four hours on it, which includes testing time back in the United States."

After arriving here disassembled and packed in a crate, the remotely piloted plane used for reconnaissance and strike missions (if needed) was reassembled within two days and up and flying its perfect first trip into blue Iraqi skies on "Friday the Thirteenth."

"Normally on a daily basis, we are launching aircraft with at least hundreds, if not thousands of hours on them," added the squadron commander, deployed here from Creech Air Force Base, Nev. "It is great to get a new aircraft."

The commander and pilot went on to point out that her squadron can't accomplish its mission without the maintainers who put it together, and the squadron can't fly missions without the work of other aviators -- both in Iraq and back in the U.S.

"The maintenance team we have here is very professional," Lee said, who's from Carroll, Iowa. "They get our aircraft crated up and then unpacked over here in a very short time and are working around the clock."

At 5 p.m. local, the plane went through a series of checks and the engine started. After another series of power and brake checks, maintainers pulled away the chocks (pieces of heavy wood holding the tires in place) and, a few seconds later, the Predator carefully taxied out to the runway -- which is also used by fighter, cargo and civilian aircraft.

Twenty minutes before sundown, the MQ-1 aircraft launched from the desert base without a hitch, rising high into the light blue sky to help provide overwatch and security for U.S. and coalition forces and Iraqis alike. Back in the control booth, Lee and sensor operator Senior Airman Charlie Cui were busy talking to controllers and each other while working a multitude of buttons, controls and radios.

"This first day we'll fly it just a couple of hours," said Lee. "After this first sortie is over, it will be full-up and ready like the rest of our aircraft and it will be able to do everything we need it to with longer missions."

Day in and day out, the Predator mission continues at Balad.

"One of the pilots will go out and preflight the plane, which includes getting all the numbers on the aircraft that we need to launch it, and come into one of our ground-control stations and we'll set it up locally and enter all the significant data we need to control it locally," Lee added. "Once we get that initial information then we'll get in touch with our launch and maintenance personnel to do a series of checks to make sure the airplane is airworthy and all the systems are good to go before taking off."

Smiling when he walked out to see the new Predator, Maj. Morgan Andrews is one such pilot.

"It is great anytime you get a new airplane, just like getting a brand new car is nice," said the major, who is also deployed here from Creech AFB and a native of Elk, Wa. "Being part of Operation Iraqi Freedom has been a good deployment for me to be over here and be involved on this side with a new Predator."

The Predator teams make sure all the systems are good to go from minute to minute, and it takes both the sensor operator and crew chiefs to make it work. So far, so good for the new "baby" Predator.

"This was the maiden voyage and all things went well with the launch, even on Friday the Thirteenth, and we don't expect to have any problems with this airplane," said Lee.

"While we flew this first mission completely local as we ran patrol around the base, on other missions we will hand the aircraft back home through our satellite system and let our other crews back in the States control it," she continued.

Also deployed here from Creech AFB, Cui said he is proud of his work alongside the pilots.

"What is nice and unique out here is that we work with security forces locally to help with security for both our base and the Iraqis. We set the Predator up to launch its first flight in Iraq.

"It's quite involved in setting up computer systems and, on my side in sensor operations, I'm responsible for the camera," continued the Daly City, Calif., native. "Good communications between the pilot and I are important so you know what both the pilot and the plane are doing. You have to keep the overall mission in mind."

Overall, the entire system is made up of: the ground-control system, a satellite link, personnel and the aircraft itself.

"It is a lifetime opportunity; you are responsible for a lot of people on the ground helping them as their eye in the sky," said Cui, smiling as he watched the plane's sensors on his monitor. "I have a great chance to help people down below the plane, especially security forces. Overall, it's a pretty cool mission."

During our show on March 31st, we talked with LTC Michael Thomas of the 91st MP Battalion, 8th MP Brigade. LTC Thomas provided us with a lot of information on the missions that his unit, "The Guardians", are involved with during deployment. The members of the 8th MP's are also involved in many other efforts to help those around them - some that occur in off duty time and reach out to the children such as Operation Iraq Tomorrow described in the following article written by Maj Jeff Parker of the 8th MP Brigade:

By Maj. Jeff Parker
8th MP Bde. PAO, MND-B

BAGHDAD — More than 500 students at Al Tadhia Primary School watched as boxes of donated school supplies were distributed at their school Feb. 25, by local Iraqi Police and Soldiers from the 340th Military Police Company, Task Force 91 MP, 8th Military Police “Watchdog” Brigade, Multi-National Division-Baghdad.

The IPs distributed basic school supplies, clothing and sporting equipment to the students to further develop the positive relationships between the IPs and their New Baghdad muhalla, or neighborhood.

“It’s something we’ve always talked about, wanting to do something for the kids in the area that we patrol,” said, Sgt. Peter Farley, 340th MP Co. Police Transition Team member, and fourth-grade teacher at Hancock Elementary School, in Brockton, Mass.

The collaborative effort amongst IPs and Soldiers from the 2nd platoon, 340th MP Co., began state side as a result of a Veteran’s Day recognition effort called ‘Take a Vet to School Day’. Farley, a native of Middleboro, Mass., called attention to the needs of the children instead of him. With a common desire amongst other 340th MPs to give, Farley said, “I told them to focus more on donating things to the Iraqi children; notebooks, paper, pens, and crayons.”

Through the help of his wife, also an elementary school teacher, along with Family and friends of other Soldiers from the 340th MP Co., several boxes of donated supplies began arriving.

“The collection of donated goods was the easy part. Hardest thing about the whole operation was to afford mailing the boxes,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Sidney Glanz, the platoon sergeant for 2nd Platoon, 340th MP Co., and native of Beacon Falls, Conn. After receiving more than 50 boxes of donations, coordination and school selection was made by Lt. Col. Jawad Zubeidi, commander, New Baghdad Patrol Station.

The event named by Farley, Operation Iraq Tomorrow, began with the IPs and MPs meeting at the New Baghdad Patrol Station. Large boxes of supplies, often splitting on the sides from its travels, were transferred by the IP and MPs onto IP vehicles. Many of the 500 plus students were found sitting along raised walkways within the school’s courtyard. Remaining students were in their class room.

“This is known to be one of the poorest schools in the area. The New Baghdad city councilmen were very thankful that the Al Tadhia Primary School was chosen,” said Zubeidi. The children were frequently heard thanking the IPs in their native language for the supplies they received. “They were most appreciative of the simple things we often take for granted back home, like a simple pack of pencils, or notebook,” Farley said, “the smiles on their faces showed it all.”

Highlighting the positive changes he had noticed since the beginning of his current deployment, Glanz continued, “When we first got here, the majority of the streets were barren. There were about half as many people as we saw today. People are definitely more comfortable with the IPs, comfortable in their homes now, comfortable on the streets and that wasn’t so when we first got here.” Glanz said it was usual for an IP station or local citizens to be attacked at least once a week, when they first arrived. “Now, it’s a rarity. The IPs and the people are making it happen.”

“Today was definitely a team building experience as well as showing the people that we are working together to help them,” said Farley, “The teachers, the faculty, the IPs, everybody worked together and today was just a great positive experience for all involved including us and the Iraqi Police,”

“Hopefully we’ve made a positive impact, too, I feel pretty confident that we did,” Farley said.

The 340th MP Co. is scheduled to redeploy by early spring and resume Army Reserve status from their home base Fort Totten, in Jamaica, N.Y.

Wow – can you all believe that this is already the last day of March 2009? Not only that, it is the Eve of April Fool’s Day – the day when we can pull all the practical jokes we like and blame the doing of it on the date.

According to Wikipedia ….
April Fools' Day or All Fools' Day, although not a holiday in its own right, is a notable day celebrated in many countries on April 1. The day is marked by the commission of hoaxes and other practical jokes of varying sophistication on friends, family members, enemies, and neighbors, or sending them on fool's errand, the aim of which is to embarrass the gullible.

Traditionally, in some countries, the jokes only last until noon: like UK, Australia, New Zealand And Canada, someone who plays a trick after noon is called an "April Fool".[1] Elsewhere, such as in Ireland, France, and the USA, the jokes last all day. Another origin is that April 1 was counted the first day of the year in France. When King Charles IX changed that to January 1, some people stayed with April 1. Those who did were called "April Fools" and were taunted by their neighbors.

Water on Mars: In 2005 a news story was posted on the official NASA website purporting to have pictures of water on Mars. The picture actually was just a picture of a glass of water on a Mars Candy Bar.[41]

www.howstuffworks.com does an annual bogus article. In 2006, it was "How Animated Tattoos Work"; ….. in 2008, "How the Air Force One Hybrid Works"

Perhaps an older one, but still one of my favorites …. Left Handed Whoppers: In 1998, Burger King ran an ad in USA Today, saying that people could get a Whopper for left-handed people whose condiments were designed to drip out of the right side.[7] Not only did customers order the new burgers, but some specifically requested the "old", right-handed burger

Check out Wikipedia for a much longer list of some of the pracitical jokes that have been pulled by a variety of sources. And, find out if your location allows jokes after noon, make your list - then go have some fun.

Now on with our show for this week - Once again, 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. We will have four visits from Heroes of Freedom today who made time in their long duty days so they could let us know what is happening where they are – real news from those who are making the news.

Don’t forget that, 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 .

Joining us today first will be SPC Nicole Willson, who is deployed with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne. SPC Willson has a background as a medic and will share with us not only some of her military experiences but also her love of our country that brought her to serve as a protector of our freedom.

Next we will visit with two guests who were able to take some time out to join us. First will be LTC Deb Lee and then we will talk with SMSgt Mark Onken. Lt. Col. Debra Lee is the Commander of the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron which handles the insight landings and takeoffs of the Predator before handing it off to pilots and sensors based elsewhere. LTC Lee will lead us through a fascinating tour of the Predator, an incredible unmanned air vehicle that saves lives in many ways. Check our blog for a link to an article with more information on this guest and the Predator.

In this same time spot, we will hear from SMSgt Mark Onken who is the Flight Chief, Readiness & Emergency Management Flight. This team that SMSgt Onken heads up, is called in when there is a possibility of a hazardous material that is found on base or that may appear to be in a package through the postal service and so on. Their job is critical to the safety of those around them and they must be totally focused on their mission, with frequent training and preparations. We have some photos in our blog of these brave Heroes of Freedom at work.

Our third interview will be SSG Jamie Powell, who is deployed with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing/Force Protection. SSG Powell has a background in computers, but volunteered for this deployment where she is involved in the security for the base and of those with whom she serves. She also that opportunity to interact with members of the local community on a daily basis. Jamie, who is also married to an Air Force member, brings us a wonderful visit.

Our fourth guest today with be LTC Michael Thomas of the 91st Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade. The 91st MP’s are known as the “Guardians” and after hearing the information that LTC Thomas has to share with us today, you will certainly understand why. This historic battalion was first formed in June 1945 and has served our country with distinction and honor. We did have some phone difficulties and did lose the connection at the very end, but LTC Thomas sent us a message he would like for me to share with you all and we will do that after we hear his visit.

There is another service of Heroes that we do not hear enough from – the US Coast Guard. If you go to their website at http://www.uscg.mil/ you will see that they are sending in the Pararescue swimmers who are jumping from helicopters into the swollen flood waters in N Dakota to help save the lives of our water trapped neighbors to the north. The Coast Guard does so much in and out of our country to protect us, our families and our homes. We thank you, members and families of the US Coast Guard – and we will have more on this fine service to come.

As always, we are extremely honored to bring you these visits with our Heroes of Freedom. And, we are very honored to have you, our listeners, join us each week as we receive these incredible stories and news while it is being made.