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Happy Veterans Day to all who have served!
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Happy Veterans Day to all soldiers, past and present. Thank you, and may peace be with you!
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Happy Veteran's Day to everyone who has served in the military!!!
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Thank you all, past, present and future
https://scontent-a-mia.xx.fbcdn.net/...49&oe=54F02154 The UFW & Chavez family pay tribute to veterans everywhere Among countless Latinos who defended their country in the Armed Services were two of Cesar Chavez’s cousins, Rudolph G. Rico and Lawrence Horta, with whom Cesar grew up in the North Gila River Valley outside Yuma Arizona. They died fighting with the U.S. Army against the Nazi tyranny in Europe during World War II. Cesar’s brother-in-law, Guillermo Fabela, helped launch the Normandy Invasion by parachuting behind German lines with the famed 101st Airborne Division on D-Day and fought through the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. Cesar served for two years with the U.S. Navy, including in the western Pacific, just after the end of the war. When Guillermo Fabela returned to Delano, Calif. after the war he and other Latino veterans organized the petition campaign that resulted in ending segregation at the Delano Theater where Cesar, while on leave from the U.S. Navy, had been arrested earlier for sitting in the whites-only section. The Navy named its latest 689-foot long Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez. She was launched on May 5, 2012, and is deployed to strategic locations worldwide. USNS Cesar Chavez recently joined an international task force led by the Australian Defense Force searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 off the west coast of Australia. source - www.ufw.org/ |
Thank you to the men and women who serve and have served in the military.
Happy Veteran's Day! |
Happy Veteran's Day to all our veterans and their families who served with them!
Our son, Army Infrantry, is in Germany right now for training. It is nice that he is getting to experience living in another country, even if his time there isn't all about play. I assume he has the weekends off, as he did here. We have only heard from him once, so I suppose he is doing just fine! |
Lest we forget.
Remembering all those who served and are serving http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...g?t=1415753708 |
Saw this this morning and thought it a nice tribute to all Women who have served. :bunchflowers: Semper Fi, ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
I hope everyone is having a good and safe holiday weekend. Please don't forget to take a second and remember those who fell while defending our country. Semper Fi. :wwii-veterans: ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
Thank you veterans and those we have lost. Big respect here!! :army:
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This is interesting.....and a great way to honor Veterans. :heartbeat: ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
I had a small reunion with a group of friends from the 75th Air Evac wing group Friday evening and earlier today. It was very nice to see them as I haven't seen many of them in 40 yrs. We shared our memories of our time in Viet Nam, celebrated the good memories and mourned our comrades who fell there, or have since passed.
One of my children put the reunion together and though I resisted the idea at first I am very grateful that she talked me into it. I have reconnected with some friends, some of whom live in the PNW, and we will be getting together regularly now. You never know what the weekend will bring. lol |
Inexcusable......completely. There is NO EXCUSE for this!!!!!! :rant: CNN Report on Legionnaires' Outbreak at Pittsburgh VA Medical Facility Semper Fi. ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
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This is really horrifying Theo. They basically allowed 22 deaths to occur and how many Vets were ill that survived the illness? When I was a nurse manager in acute care hospitals, we constantly were improving our infection control processes. I know that you also worked in acute care. It made me wonder if the VA actually has Joint Commission surveys or from Department of Health Services inspections in each state. The most recent survey from Joint Commission I could find online was published in 2016. Infection control was one of the areas surveyed and that required improvement. It made no mention, that I could find, of legionella in the water systems at the facility in the CNN investigation and I don't know if it was even one of the 139 reviewed: .................. The Joint Commission Releases Results of VA Health Care Surveys to VA August 4, 2016, 04:05:00 PM The Joint Commission Releases Results of VA Health Care Surveys to VA Surveys Note Challenges and Improvements Note: This release was updated on August 5 and now contains a link to the report. WASHINGTON - The Joint Commission today provided the results of its Special Focused Surveys of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare facilities to VA leadership. The special focused surveys, prompted by reported allegations of scheduling improprieties, delays in patient care and other quality-of-care concerns, were conducted October 2014 to September 2015 and focused on measuring the progress VA has made to improve access to care and barriers that might stand in the way of providing timely care to Veterans. “One of my top five priorities is to seek best practices in research, education, and management. We invited The Joint Commission in to conduct these unannounced focused surveys at 139 medical facilities and 47 community based outpatient clinics (CBOC) across the country, to give a better understanding of areas for improvement and areas where the processes are worth replicating,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David Shulkin. The Joint Commission assessed the following: >>Processes related to timely access to care; >>Processes that may potentially indicate delays in care and diagnosis; >>Processes related to patient flow and coordination of care; >>Infection prevention and control >>The environment of care; and >>Organizational leadership and culture. VA provided The Joint Commission with organization-specific data addressing performance in the key areas targeted for review. This data allowed surveyors to focus on areas of greatest risk for each organization and to validate whether the VA-provided data reflected observed practice. The Focused Survey project provided an opportunity to see patterns across the organization, to make an assessment about the system in general and most importantly, to identify solutions to system-wide issues that are best addressed through internal processes. “We commend VA for being proactive by requesting The Joint Commission to conduct unannounced site visits at all their medical centers to review and evaluate their efforts to improve access and quality of care. VA was the first system ever to request an assessment with an important focus on access so that deficiencies could be identified and rapidly addressed,” said Mark Chassin, MD, FACP, MPP, MPH, president and CEO of The Joint Commission. Chassin also noted, “The Joint Commission will track and report on the extent to which improvements occurred, when the same facilities undergo their triennial accreditation surveys. To date, results from 57 hospitals that have undergone full accreditation are promising. We are pleased with VA’s ongoing commitment to quality improvement and patient safety.” The full report, with findings and recommendations can be found at: http://www.va.gov/opa/docs/Joint-Com...n-May-2016.pdf https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pres...se.cfm?id=2808 |
First woman enlists to become a Navy SEAL
By Nancy Coleman, CNN Updated 1:02 AM ET, Sat July 22, 2017 (CNN)A woman will train with other potential officers this summer in hopes of becoming the first female Navy SEAL. The candidate, a midshipman, and another woman have enlisted as the first female candidates seeking to join the Navy's special operations teams. The latter is training for the Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman program, or SWCC. These women have already made history, but they still face a long road ahead of training and tests before they officially make the cut. Women weren't allowed to serve in combat roles, including special operation forces such as the SEALs and SWCC, until January 2016. But there were no female applicants in the 18 months since that historic change until now. The candidates' identities and training progress are confidential to protect their personal security and "career viability as future special operator," Lt. Cmdr. Mark Walton, a spokesman for Naval Special Warfare Command, told CNN. Eight SEAL and seven SWCC classes -- all entirely male -- have graduated since March 2016, according to a Naval Special Warfare Center briefing last month for the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services. The SWCC candidate will undergo months of Navy training and screening evaluations, Walton said. The SEAL hopeful will be evaluated for three weeks at a SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection process in California as a prerequisite to SEAL training before moving on to a SEAL Officer Selection Panel in September. Aspiring SEALs and SWCC candidates also go through rigorous Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, or BUD/S. The training comes in physically and mentally challenging stages, beginning with two months of intense physical training in Illinois. Candidates must pass a physical screening test at the end of the first stage or face being kicked out. The next stages include basic conditioning, combat diving and land warfare training. One week during basic conditioning is known as Hell Week -- "the ultimate test of a man's will," according to the SEALs website. The training is "designed to weed out the weak," as the Navy special operations training website warns. It's an accurate description, considering most candidates don't make it: Seventy-three percent of aspiring SEALs and 63% of SWCC candidates fail to make the cut, according to the Naval Special Warfare Center briefing in June. There are about 1,000 SEAL candidates who start training every year, Walton said. Usually only about 200 to 250 candidates make it all the way through training. http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/21/us/fir...rnd/index.html |
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OOORAHHH!!!!! ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
I couldn't be prouder to be a Marine....... :cheer:
"The Marines have landed and the situation is well in hand." -- Richard Harding Davis, American journalist, in a cablegram announcing the Marines' 1935 landing in Panama. Retired Marine General, John Kelly, now President Trump's White House Chief of Staff, was instrumental in the firing of asshat Steve Brannon's dismissal as a senior executive advisor to Trump. General Kelly needs to now plant the sole of his boot on the asses of a few others in the WH. ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
I love this! I wish my Marine dad was still alive to read this!
US Marines get first female infantry officer
26 September 2017 A female US Marine has made history by becoming the first woman to complete the Corps' famously gruelling infantry officer training. The lieutenant, who wants to keep her identity private, graduated in Quantico, Virginia, on Monday. She will soon be assigned to lead a 40-strong platoon. Marine Corps commandant Gen. Robert Neller tweeted a picture of the woman, saying he was "proud of this officer & her fellow leaders". There are almost 1.4 million active duty troops in the US armed forces, and about 15% are female. In March 2016, then-President Barack Obama opened all military positions to women, including combat units. The 13-week officer training course started in July with 131 Marines, and 88 ultimately graduated. The Corps says it educates would-be officers in "the leadership, infantry skills, and character required to serve as infantry platoon commanders". Traditionally around a quarter of all applicants miss the mark, 10% of them on the first day. In an opinion piece for the New York Times, former Marine captain Teresa Fazio said the female officer would be a major asset in Afghanistan. "Female troops are invaluable for searching houses and communicating with local women, gaining access to spaces and information that, because of local custom, male troops cannot get," she wrote. The Marine Corps tweeted a video showing the female officer engaged in exercises in the mountains alongside her male counterparts. She will now be sent to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, for her first assignment. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41394646 |
Veteran's Day
Wishing all fellow Veterans on bfp a good day, today, tomorrow, and always.
I now that sounds weird, but have been thinking of all my friends, some alive, more not, and how proud I feel to have served with them all. Sgt. P...still wear the St. Christopher's medal, thank you for everything! RIP (f) Greco |
Thank you for your service! I appreciate your sacrifice!
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Veteran's Day
dee, I thought long and hard about what I'm about to say.
Yes, I served and proudly, but, no ma'am I made no sacrifice. I've had my 20's, 30's,40's, 50's, and now my 60's, but generations of young men and women did not get the chance to have these years, they sacrificed. My best buds are heavy on my mind this afternoon. dee, don't take this personally, I know you meant no harm. I certainly do appreciate your sentiments. Greco Quote:
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Veteran's Day/Rolling Thunder POW's Memorial Day
Rolling Thunder Demonstration: Soldier's 4 Hour Salute Greco |
sacrifice?
When I was in the Air Force I was identified as a female...
I served during the viet nam era. Not a very fun time to say the least. We were not allowed to wear uniforms off base, as the civilians would harass, threaten and in some cased throw thing, eggs, bottles, etc. Words did not was off and being called baby killer was a bit much. When i eventually left the usaf, i never really talked about my years in service till over 20 years later, I got used to not mentioning it so i wiould not have to hear how horrible viet nam was by people who could not find it on the map. I got tired of being looked at and treated like a monster because i joined during that time period. Many folks who did not go overseass in a battle zone feel they did not sacrifice,,,let explain a few sacrifices we did make. 1. we joined while the war mongers did not. 2. stateside provides the support to our brothers and sisters in arms all over the world. 3. We all sacrificed our lives, by willingly becomeing military property for the number of years we served. We were not free to quit, take a vacation, leave, curse out a boss and quit, and in some cases say no. 4. Any biological female in the military is/was/continues to be subjected to sexual harrasment and intimidation; is at a greater risk for rape, and other forms of violence from her own,,,"friendly forces" than in some cases the onew we are at "war" with. Those are a few of the sacrifices, to say nothing of women with children, whom have been called to active duty and must leave their little ones with freinds and family, etc etc When we enlisted in the military, we made a decision to make sacrifices in service to our country, as well as our willingness to make the ultimate sacrifiec, death in service to our country. What no woman in the military agreed to was the sacrifice of her body, her identity, her self to be sexually, physically, psychologically, molested, harassed, or raped by anyone especially members of her own unit, branch or country. sacrifice? yes, i wllingly sacrificed much. i also unwillingly sacrificed, my youth, my dignity, my body, my mind, and almost 50 years later, i can say i survived the friendly fire..... with traumatic brain injury, ptsd, non functional parts, and a few replacements... and at last i say im a vet, and i hear the words..thank you for your service.... I still can only nod....cause i am not sure if i had it to do over i would opt to serve, and be willing to sacrifice my life, for a country of war mongers that sent my friends to die in a country for the sake of...oil? precious metals? elements? not democracy, not honor, not to save civilian lives....but for oil, vendettas, corporate profits, boron, and other rare earth metals, no thanks, i woud opt out and not buy the batteries, ipads, laptops, etc...if i knew then it would keep my friends and neighbors and classmates that had no choice but were drafted and were sacrificed in viet nam, the gulf, afghanistan, iraq, DRC, etc. ALIVE... Darn right, those computer goods have to high of a price,,and not willing to sacrifice this generation or the next for more toys! |
VA Hospital, WASHINGTON D.C.
VA knew for years about dangerous conditions at Washington, D.C., hospital
Donovan Slack, USA TODAY Published 10:00 a.m. ET March 7, 2018 | Updated 12:46 p.m. ET March 7, 2018 WASHINGTON — Department of Veterans Affairs officials at nearly every level knew for years about sterilization lapses and equipment shortfalls at the Washington, D.C., VA Medical Center, but they were either unwilling or unable to fix the problems, an inspector general's investigation found. The failures put patients at risk and squandered taxpayer dollars. Local, regional and national officials had been informed of the issues repeatedly since 2013, but investigators concluded “a culture of complacency and a sense of futility pervaded offices at multiple levels.” “In interviews, leaders frequently abrogated individual responsibility and deflected blame to others,” the investigation report says. “Despite the many warnings and ongoing indicators of serious problems, leaders failed to engage in meaningful interventions of effective remediation.” The probe found clinicians put patients under anesthesia before realizing they didn’t have equipment to perform scheduled procedures. In some cases, they canceled and redid surgeries later. In others, they ran across the street to a private-sector hospital to borrow supplies during procedures. Investigators also found more than 1,000 boxes of unsecured documents that contained veterans’ personal information — including medical records — in storage facilities, the basement and a dumpster. The hospital paid exorbitant amounts for supplies and equipment, including $300 per speculum that could have been purchased for $122 each, and $900 for a special needle that was available for $250. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ion/396914002/ |
My Alma Mater reaching out,
https://www.hayspost.com/2018/03/02/...an-vet-center/
We have a local VA health center with limited abilities. My own mental health agency does receive referrals for medication services which we do provide. The VA will not however: pay for urgent/emergent therapy services in my western Kansas area. This choice will hopefully assist our area vets for their unneeded travel to Wichita or Topeka VA for therapy. Kansas is a large state with limited affordable transportation. ks- |
Wow, have things ever changed in the past 39 years since I trained at Parris Island MCRD and earned my Title (U.S. Marine). Watching this, I'm filled with pride, yet I feel a bit jealous, too. I'm extremely proud that Women Marines have made these giant steps of equality, and a large part of that is the fact that that accomplishment is largely due to the courage and commitment of not only my generation, but of millions of others who came before. On the other hand, I'm jealous that my generation didn't get the opportunity to meet the challenges that this new generation has.
To understand my perspective here, let me say that my boot camp series (each "series"/company consists of 2 platoons), back in the Spring of 1979, was only the second series to be issued the camouflage utility uniform (aka "BDU's" or Battle Dress Uniform) and leather combat boots. Prior to that, the female utility uniform consisted of a pair of blue trousers/slacks and a light blue blouse. Back then, we didn't get training with the M16 rifle in boot camp, nor did we receive any instruction with hand to hand combat. Instead, we had classes on makeup and military bearing. :| Still, I am pretty proud to have served as a Woman Marine. Nowdays, I just call myself a Marine. It's what I am and will always be. Semper Fi. :winky: ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
Happy Birthday, Marines!!! OOOOO RAH!!!
Today marks the 242nd Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. On this day, every man and woman who has ever earned that precious Title with his/her blood, sweat and tears, shares a common birthday. It is a part of us, a piece of us that will never leave our hearts and souls. We are a unique club. I have witnessed this nearly my entire adult life, in so many places, even those I did not expect. I found it in my 20 years working in the VA system, stretching across the generations, in the smiles and nods of other Marines who proudly sport caps, pins, shirts, jackets, bumper stickers.....nearly anything that proudly identifies us to others. I found it in firm handshakes and the quiet (and sometimes not so quiet!!) utterances of those precious two words, "Semper Fi", that Marines say to each other that bond us as one. Today, we Marines celebrate our common birthday. It was on this day, back in 1775, that the Second Continental Congress authorized the raising of two battalions of Marines with these words: "That two battalions of Marines be raised consisting of one Colonel, two lieutenant-colonels, two majors and other officers, as usual in other regiments; that they consist of an equal number of privates as with other battalions, that particular care be taken that no persons be appointed to offices, or enlisted into said battalions, but such as are good seamen, or so acquainted with maritime affairs as to be able to serve for and during the present war with Great Britain and the Colonies; unless dismissed by Congress; that they be distinguished by the names of the First and Second Battalions of Marines." So, happy 242nd birthday to my fellow Marines. Here's this year's message from our Commandant, Gen. Robert B. Neller: Semper Fidelis, always. :winky::thumbsup: ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
Posting this as a tribute to the Armistice of 1918. One hundred years ago, on this date, World War I, the "Great War" and "War to End All Wars", ended with the signing of the Armistice. So began the journey home for hundreds of thousands of war weary Veterans. Many would find war torn landscapes, families devastated by death and loss, but also the promise of peace and rejuvenation....and also opportunity and a responsibility to rebuild that which was destroyed. They would also do what Veterans, the world over, have always done. They would rebuild their lives and families the best way they could. They would "march on". This is for them, and all Veterans on this Armistice Day, now celebrated as Veterans Day for all of us who served. Semper Fi, ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
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Attention. To All Vets Fort McClellan, Alabama
Found out about this today and am sharing with all of you Vets, and lovers of Vets past and present who completed basic training and/or AIT at Fort McClellan, Alabama WAC or US Army no matter the year.
https://fmvets.org "THE STORIES & PORTRAITS OF U.S. VETERANS EXPERIENCING A RANGE OF DEBILITATING & LIFE THREATENING HEALTH ISSUES THAT THEY BELIEVE ARE CONNECTED TO NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL HAZARDS THEY WERE EXPOSED TO WHILE STATIONED AT FORT MCCLELLAN - A U.S. ARMY INSTALLATION IN NORTHEASTERN ALABAMA CLOSED IN 1999. THEIR EXPOSURES HAVE NOT BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION. READ & LISTEN TO THEIR STORIES..." Pass this on your social media as well, thank you. We Stand Strong Always, Greco |
I have to share this beautiful story about a lovely Lady who served in the U.S. Army during WWII. In these days of the darkness of political corruption, it's kind of nice, every once in awhile, to see a story like this. Enjoy!!!! :winky::heartbeat: A WAC's Journey to Find Her Husband In the Middle of WWII Semper Fi... :winky: ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
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Thank you for sharing Theo! |
I just want to drop this in here and wish my United States Marine Corps a very happy and proud 244th Birthday. I am so very proud to have served my Corps as a Woman Marine in those years following the Vietnam war. It wasn't easy. They say that "the hardest steel is formed by the hottest fire", and this is how we were made into U.S. Marines at Parris Island, SC. I still have my original U.S Marine Corps collar emblems, along with my weapons (rifle and pistol "Expert") badges in a small wooden box. I will one day be buried with them. So my most sincere and heartfelt Birthday greetings go out to my Sister Marines, as well as all other Marines who have worn the uniform, earned The Title and still carry that Marine espirit de corps and camaraderie in their hearts. Happy Birthday to us all!!!! OOOOOOOOO RAH!!!! :cheer: Semper Fi, ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
Thank you for your service to our Country!
You’ve helped to make this world a better place with your courage, sacrifice, and dedication to our country. No words could ever express how much that means.
ks- |
I know it’s a little late in the day, but I do want to take a moment to wish my fellow U.S. Marine Corps brothers and sisters a very happy 248th birthday!!!
Semper Fidelis to all Marines, past and present!!!! May we always stand the watch with honor, courage and commitment. 😉👍 ~Theo~ :bouquet: |
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