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Sorrow for our PZ Family

ProudMom3 lost a grandchild this week. Please keep her, and her family, in your thoughts and prayers.  Julie – we all send our condolences and love.

LAW

Thanks for coming back to visit! If you would like to write for Parents Zone - please let LAW or TechMama know!

Mourning a fallen warrior, blogger, writer, son

Milblogging.com has the story of a young man who was killed in action in Afghanistan last week.  Sgt Christopher Abeyta – who also wrote a blog. In this story, I was so moved by Sgt. Abeyta’s mother’s actions:

“While deployed, he wrote entries in his ever-present journal, stories on two blogs and letters to his family. His mother held tightly Tuesday to one from November, which she read aloud on her back patio, demanding that his grandmother, Elvira Abeyta, and local veterans gathered around her know the man she raised.

“OK?” she said at the end. “That’s my son.”
A son who will be loved and missed, a son to be so proud of. This Gold Star Mom will be in my thoughts every day.

LAW

Call to Action : Marine Lance CPL Preach

x-posted at Help A ServiceMember Out.org

 I received this story from Jessica in San Antonio, TX. Let’s show Kevin how much his country honors his service and sacrifice.

Ten days ago, on Jan. 24, the Humvee in which Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin Preach (age 21) was a gunner was hit by an improvised explosive device and he was badly injured. He was transported to a medical site in Germany for surgery. He was stabilized and transferred to Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio, where he remains in a medically induced coma. “He is very seriously injured,” his mother said from the Texas medical complex. “He’s lost his legs. He’s lost a hand. He’s seriously burned. He’s very burned. It’s not even day-to-day, it’s really hour-to-hour.”

Kevin cannot receive anything inside his sterile room, but his mom will read him cards and letters that are mailed to him. Cards and letters can be sent to: Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin T. Preach, 3857 Roger Brook Drive, Room 4 South, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234.

If you would like to help Kevin in other ways, let me know or go sign up to be a team member at Help A ServiceMember Out.org

Thanks, 
Tammy

Staff Sgt. Atkins receives the Distinguished Service Cross

 On  Nov. 7 2008, Brig. Gen. Michael Harrison presented the Distinguished Service Cross to the family of Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins, squad leader, 2-14  Infantry Regiment, 2 Brigade Combat Team, 10^th Mountain Division; awarded posthumously for his actions June 1, 2007 in Abu Sarnak, Iraq.

 Staff Sgt. Atkins and his squad were part of the search for two other 10^th  Mountain Division Soldiers – Spc. Alex Jimenez and Private 1^st Class Byron Fouty — who were captured in an earlier attack south of Baghdad.  Staff Sgt. Atkins spotted four men approaching his vehicle and directed three of his Soldiers to stop and search them.  When one broke from the group to escape, Staff Sgt. Atkins pursued and tackled him to the ground.  A bitter fight ensued, during which Staff Sgt. Atkins realized the insurgent was struggling to detonate the suicide vest strapped to his chest.  He managed to pin the insurgent to the ground, shielding the three other Soldiers as the vest detonated.

 Staff Sgt. Atkins’ family requested to receive his award at Fort Drum, among the Soldiers with whom he served, and that Brig Gen. Harrison, who had rendered honors at the funeral, present it.

 For his gallantry in action, Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins is this week’s Warrior-Soldier.

 The Army Warrior Soldier of the Week is a weekly e-mail that highlights the bravery of a featured Army Soldier.

Alameda Blue Star Mom – Mamaw!

Our very own Mamaw has busted some butt here folks – Here is her new site.  This took work, dedication, love and passion.  (to get the link, please click on the title to open this post, it will then show the link)

For those of you in her area – you have a treasure.  For all of us in the rest of the country, I’m hoping this will motivate you to join Blue Star Moms (Dads are welcome too! and so is the rest of the family)

Congratulations, Mamaw!

LAW

A Military Family needs help

For those of you who don’t listen to or read National Public Radio – this you NEED to read.  One of us, the mother of a soldier, needed help and got it because of the good work on USA Together .  Help us spread the word.   This will also be on HASMO, and I’m hoping we can get this sent through our community.

USA Together is a website that puts veterans in need together with those that can help. I wish, and I think we all wish, that it wasn’t necessary.  But it is… and for now, this is the best way we can help.

LAW

Scrooge strikes a Soldier’s Angel

Hat/tip to Mamaw – who sent me this.   This just makes me so ANGRY! PZ readers – let’s get on this – we did a great job with PFC Levine – Soldier’s Angels is one of the best groups/supporters of the military that I know.   I’m a very proud Angel myself, as is Mamaw, Tech Mama, SemperFiWife, Some Soldier’s Mom and so many other friends. (click on the title of the post to open)

Blankets of Hope for the troops stolen: Please help!

By Michelle Malkin  •  December 5, 2008 09:08 AM

Photo via Soldier’s Angels Germany

This story has me cursing in my coffee this morning: Linda Ferrara, a California mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan with three other sons in the military, organizes charity blanket drives for the troops. She and other volunteers hand-sewed patriotic blankets and other items worth an estimated $8,000. Ferrara had stored them in her RV while preparing to send them off. Over the weekend, some asshole(s) (pardon my language) broke into the vehicle and stole all the goods.

The story is here at Soldier’s Angels and at the Daily Breeze.

After her son died fighting country, Linda Ferrara wanted to do something for soldiers like him who sacrifice their safety for others.

So in the year since Army Capt. Matthew Ferrara was killed in Afghanistan, his mother has dedicated hours collecting clothes and crafting handmade blankets for wounded soldiers overseas. The Torrance resident had planned to ship the goods Wednesday to an Army hospital in Germany. Instead, she’s despondent over the weekend theft of hundreds of socks, sweat shirts, pajama pants, boxers, blankets and other items. “I don’t want to let them down,” Ferrara said. “This wasn’t just stuff, this was going to wounded soldiers.”

…Soldiers’ Angels is an organization through which people can send care packages to soldiers overseas. In Germany, Phillips supports wounded and sick troops undergoing treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Many of them are transferred there directly from the front lines and have nothing more than the clothes on their backs, Ferrara said.

Already involved with the West Point Parents Club of Orange County, Ferrara recruited support from other parents and volunteers to collect items for the wounded soldiers.

Her RV was packed with boxes, and the Parents Club had printed thank-you letters to the “wounded warriors” to be distributed with the clothes.. On Sunday morning, Ferrara first realized something was amiss when she found empty boxes outside the RV and her inventory lists on the ground. Inside, she discovered almost all the collected items missing. Also, some of the letters were torn to shreds.

Compton sheriff’s deputies took a report and fingerprints, she said.

Her insurance company has told her not to expect help. Because she planned to give the items away, they technically didn’t belong to her and aren’t covered by her policy.

You can help:

Anyone who is interested in donating items for wounded soldiers can email Linda Ferrara at or visit the West Point Parent Club of Orange County web site.

Ferrara says the organization can accept cash donations or brand new items because the Military hospital does not allow used goods.

While we rush around – Remember Rob Yllescas

You all may remember that our own TechMama Tammy has started another site to help coordinate and organize those who want to contribute or help the wounded or those in need of assistance.  She has been following Dena Yllescas blog while her husband, Captain Rob Yllescas fought to recover from his very severe wounds.

Tammy called me from “on the road” in Colorado yesterday with the very sad news that Rob lost that final battle.  While we prepare for family and search for that perfect gift, please take a minute and remember this family, who are starting on a very long and hard journey.  Dena is a strong woman, of deep faith and love – and I hope it will help her to know that she has the love and support of all the readers of ParentsZone.

LAW

Update on PFC Levine – 10/24

It’s been an intense, crazy-busy couple of days around here but in a good way! We are so proud of our readers for jumping into action when it counted! Your cards, letters of encouragement,etc are definitely doing the trick and lifting Hunter’s spirits.!

We are extra proud of our PZ Tech Mama – Tammy for jumping in and helping out the point of contact for this endeavor! She responded to  all the emails and phone calls to make sure that Hunter got letters of encourgment, cards,etc. and that the right information was being sent out! Tammy will continue to be working on this directly with Hunter, his Foundation, Hearts for Hunter as well as Blake Meaux, long time freind of Hunter and foundation executor. So,  check out her blog for more information about that.

The biggest HAT TIP goes to 1SG Brian Disque! Brian made sure that one of his soldiers got the help and support that he needed by letting the blogosphere know about Hunter. Brian certainly is a shining example of what a 1SG should be!

I AM A FIRST SERGEANT
My job is people — Every One is My Business.
I dedicate my time and energy to their needs;
their health, morale, discipline, and welfare.
I grow in strength by strengthening my people.
My job is done in faith; my people build faith.
My job is people –EVERY ONE IS MY BUSINESS.

- US Army First Sergeant (1SG) Creed

We also want to acknowledge the sites that first posted about Hunter : The Veterans Voice & Email Our Military for first publishing 1SG Levine’s story.

Kudos to Matt at BlackFive, Milblogs, Michelle Malkin, Some Soldiers Mom, Liberal Army Wife, Army Household6, Mark Levinfan.com, Calistalee , Jihad Gene, NiceDoggie.net, and Greyhawk and many many more! Also a big thank you to everyone who emailed others to let them know about it!  You guys picked up  Hunter’s story as ran with it!  We’re so proud to be part of this awesome blogging community!

Hunter’s friend Blake are working on the details for Hunter’s Foundation,  Hearts for Hunter. The website currently is under construction but  will be up & ready to go by Monday October 27th.

Also, Tammy recently started a list called HASMO (Help a Service Member Out). It is an email list comprised of Rapid Response Team Members to be able to help out soldiers like Hunter and many others. It will also be available to help out service member’s immediate families as well. You can sign up for it on Tammy’s site and its a free service!

So, thanks again and now back to our regular programming..

Update on PFC Hunter Levine

Well I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who emailed/commented over the last 24 hours about PFC Levine. If I haven’t responded to you yet.. don’t worry I will tonight/tomorrow. There has been an outpouring of support so we are trying to filter it all and get Hunter what he needs. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at tammy.munson@gmail.com.

I am currently working with the executor of Hunter’s foundation to get a list of what Hunter may need and to setup a fundraiser for him.

Also we’re working on setting up a email list of rapid responders when we hear of things like this if you’d like to be included, please sign up at http://www.armyhousehold6.com (left side of page)

To read Hunter’s story click here

I received this email from Julie  with BlueStarMoms who visited with Hunter on Saturday .. so I wanted to pass it along..

Well, we already went today and just got back actually but we wouldn’t mind going again.  When I say we, I took my daughter-in-law and granddaughters too.  One of the staff did go in ahead and asked Hunter if he minded us coming in.  That was Hunters request to be notified ahead of time.

I figured that if he did not want visitors today that we would just leave what we had brought for him there for him to have and I understood his request. He let us come in because I told the nurse about my son serving in Iraq.  That seemed to make Hunter feel better.

We just stopped in for a minute and took a card, a box of See’s lollipops, some other candy and a small fimo clay frog wind chime. (FROG=Freely Rely On God) That made him sorta laugh, the wind chime. He said he didn’t know where to put it so we suggested over the a/c unit or hang it on the window that way he could know if the a/c was working or not.

I figured that he could use the practice in getting his other senses a little sharper while his eyesight was getting some work. The room was pretty warm though, and there was a soldier visiting him as well so I didn’t want to take up too much of his time.  I will call Stephanie later this week and see if he wouldn’t mind having us visit again, without the girls though. I would love to have you come with or meet me there.  I have a map now and it is pretty easy to get to.

He has a DVD player and an i-pod and told me he has all the music he needs, he is still pretty angry inside.  I know that later in life he will look back and think about us going there, it will be just a random thought but I hope it will be a good one.

Also, my granddaughters class is going to make a mobile for his room, that should help him with some eye coordination exercises without him knowing that he is actually doing them.

I did see that he had the DVD Gladiator (great movie!) so he has some vision.  He also had a watch on with a magnifier on it.  Also, the lollipops will help with the muscles in his neck which will in turn help with the face restructuring.

In fact, I am thinking that getting some crossword puzzle books and other items like that as well as some cards for other soldiers who are there would be worthwhile.  There were a couple who had no visitors and looked like they could use someone to visit with.

Thanks,
Household6

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