Operation Hero Miles

I know I have blasted the government in my previous posting about their lack of support for the troops. Though I still feel the government is not doing all it can do, I would like to acknowledge a Congress member who has supported the troops. The one person I admire is Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. If only other Congress members looked at him for a source of inspiration, maybe the troops would have more support.

Dutch Ruppersberger, a Congressman for California, created Operation Hero miles. Operation Hero miles is an organization where people can donate their frequent flyer miles to the servicemen and women in the military. This way soldiers who are in Iraq and need to take leave are able to because of this organization. This makes the possibility of going home a reality for the soldiers. In addition, Operation Hero miles, also allows spouses to use the fly to the hospitals where their wounded husbands are recovering.

In addition to Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger creation of this organization, I would also like to give attention to the ten airlines who participate in this program. These airlines include Airtran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Air Lines and US Airways. Hopefully the next time you are flying one of these airlines, and have extra flyer miles, you can donate in order to help a soldier.

The Troop’s Advocator

The Blog of War

I know I have recommended a few books on this blog, but this book captures everything I have written about. Actually, it is my blog. The book is titled The Blog of War. I accidentally came across this book a few weeks ago on Amazon when I was searching for new books. I bought this book on a gamble based on the title. I did not know anything about it, and there was little information online about the book. Today I received this book and I have not been able to put it down (that’s a lie because I am writing a posting now).

The Blog of War is a collection of blogs from soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was put together by Matthew Currier Burden who is a former Major in the U.S. Army. He has his own blog called, blackfive. I have done extensive research for my blog topic, and never thought to read the blogs of people in the military (It is embarrassing to admit). I have watched many YouTube clippings, read military families blogs and read books by soldiers instead.

The introduction of the book explains that military blogs are called milblogs. Miliblogs are written by the actual soldiers and Marines. Miliblogs not only informs their families, but to fill in the gaps that both the media and the military leave out. The author explains there are three kinds of combat reporting. “The combat correspondent (embedded with troops or not) reports direction from the area of conflict. Press release come from the Department of Defense highlighting what the DOD wants us to know from the combat zone. And finally, soldiers tell their own stories.”

I think it is fascinating what technology can offer us today. It used to be during the First and Second World War the letters sent home were censored by the government. Now the public gets to know the truth, and this is made possible by blogs. I know I am not a military wife or a Marine, so sometimes I worry if I am portraying what servicemen and families actually feel. This book helped me reinstate what I have written.

I would like to recommend this book to everyone who reads my blog. I believe by reading from the actual source will give you a better insight than I could ever write about. The men and women who blog, express how dedicated they are to serving their country and their love for their families and country. I also strongly urge the congressmen and women and other government officials to read this book. Perhaps by reading The Blog of War they will get a better understanding who these people in the military are—that they are not just action figures ready to be moved like chess pieces for political gain. They are humans that have families, friends, and lives and they need support in order to get their job done.

The Troop's Advocator

Veterans Day

The countdown begins. Three days until Veterans Day. When I four I used to think Veterans Day was for veterinarians. Silly, but what can you expect from a four year old. Now I am twenty-one and for the first time Veterans Day will have more meaning to me. Maybe it is because I am so passionate about this blog that I want to express how important Veterans Day is. Below is a clipping from YouTube about the history of Veterans Day. It beautifully illustrates how important this day is.


In simple terms Veterans Day is a day to celebrate the people who served in the armed forces and currently in the military. I believe Americans today forget what this day is really for. It used to be college campuses would close down to honor Veterans Day, but sadly most colleges do not shut down. How can we forget the people who fought for our freedom so we can carry on with our lives today?

If you do not know, which is alright, veterans play an important role in the support of troops. As embarrassing as it is, I forgot about veterans and how vital they are to make sure the troops are taken care of. In fact, there is a department in the United States government that is dedicated to veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs has advocated for the troops for decades. I can not tell you how important the veterans are to the current people serving in the military. I know in San Francisco there is a veteran’s hospital. The hospital has a warm welcoming feeling, and that is because the veterans volunteer everyday to make sure that the place is top of the line.

So on November 11th, remember that Veterans Day isn’t just an excuse to shut down banks, or schools, but rather remember to honor the veterans and the current people serving our country. I wish more people would acknowledge this day more than they do. Relating to my title of this blog, remember this is your time to lend a hand to the troops. On this day recognized the people who have served this country and thank them, thank them for the sacrifice they made for other people and remember the people who died for this country.

Happy Veterans Day!
The Troop’s Advocator

Cynical Towards the White House

As we all know from reading my postings, my number one enemy is the United States government. To reinstate what I have said, I believe the government is not doing a good enough job supporting our troops. Yesterday, I began to research what the government is currently doing for this topic. I went to the heart of the source, which is the White House Website. After reading the many articles I felt cynical to what was posted on their website.

First off, I began to read the “Fact Sheet: 2008 War Fund Request.” It stated President Bush wants to increase spending in order to support the troops and their families. This is a nice gesture, but then I read, “The President is committed to ensuring that servicemembers and their families receive the best possible care and support.” Yeah right! He may have the intentions, but nothing significantly has changed. Ask the mother who could not get an apointment through the military hospital for her daughter, or the soilder who had to buy his own equitment, the families who live on Camp Pendleton in house that have mold and aspestics, and even the underpaid soilders—ask them if they feel they are being supported. I bet you a million bucks if they were asked by the President they would say yes, but behind his back they would say no. Sometimes it is all about politics; and if the soilders were to go against the President it could damage their careers. We only hear what we want to, and most of the times it is not the truth.

The last part I wanted to share with you was a secion called “Ask the White House.” I looked at Kevin J. Bergener section and I felt like some of his answers were generic and insincere. One of the questions asked how can Americans support the troops. Here is what Kevin Bergner said, “Jenny, first let me say thank you for your support and that of so many others. Our service members and their families are indeed making a tremendous sacrifice every day. Our soldiers receive support from groups and individual citizens while they are deployed and at home. There are also organizations who are providing support to our wounded service members and their families. The www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil web site will give you "one-stop shopping" for ways you can support the troops. When soldiers are traveling to or from duty overseas, they are frequently stopped in the airport by strangers who simply want to express thanks for their service. A simple "thank you" means an awful lot and is probably the most personal way for our citizens to show their support.” Though “Ask the White House,” claims Kevin J. Berner actually writes his own responses, I can not help to think that he has an assistant writing for him. If I was him I would talk about writing to the Congress to get better pay for the men and women, the numerous funds that assist the troops, the events that people can attend to receive more information. Again, I think his response was just something that people want to hear, not the actual truth of what needs to be done.

Though I angered by the government and their lack of support for the troops, I sincerely hope that one day this will change. Anyone can “say” they support the troops, but do they “actually” take actions to support the troops?

The Troop’s Advocator

A lesson Learned at the Marine Corps Ball

This past weekend I flew home to go to a Marine Corps Ball. Usually I find parts of the ceremony dry and boring, but this time was different. What made this ball significantly different from other balls was that it was for the retired Marines. The event was very elegant and traditional. During the ceremonies there was a guest of honor who had a very powerful message that I want to share with you in this posting. The guest of honor was Major General J. Michael Myatt, a retired Marine. He had many stories to tell, but the one that stood out to me was regarding the spouses. Myatt acknowledged how hard Marines today serve their country, but he also said behind every great Marine there is a great spouse. Myatt claimed there is not enough support for the spouses and then he advocated for a fund called “The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.” This fund helps families of injured Marines. After Myatt’s speech I had a different perspective of how much injured Marines and their family need assistance.

Myatt told a story of a woman who received news that her husband was severely injured in Iraq and transported to a hospital in Germany. The wife who lived in San Diego faced a serious dilemma. Her significant other was thousands of miles away, and she knew she needed to be by his bedside. Being on a tight budget, she started to accumulate debt by buying plane tickets and staying in hotels in Germany in order to be with her husband. I have always thought of the emotional consequences for the families when a tragedy happens, but I never thought about it financially. Spouses of the Marines have to make hasty decisions to travel great distances at a moment’s notice; some loose their jobs because they choose to be with their husband and others fall behind on their mortgage. Myatt exclaimed this situation happens all the times and sometimes families are forced to choose between buying a plane ticket or paying their bills. This is why Myatt advocated so strongly for The Injured Marines Semper Fi Fund. These families need our help.

Since 2004 the fund has provided over seven million dollars in assistance to the wounded heroes. In addition, the fund has helped hundreds of families during their personal crisis. As the government fails to lend a hand to the families, funds like this assist families in their greatest hours of need.

The Troop’s Advocator

Shame on You, Westboro Baptist Church

This image above the posting should be disturbing to you. It makes me sick to my stomach and to many other people. In 2006 members of the Westboro Baptist Church started to protest at funerals of servicemen and women who died in Iraq. They held up signs saying “Thank God for Dead Soldiers.” I could not imagine the family members who had to encounter this. Imagine going to your son’s funeral, and seeing hateful protesters ruining the last honorable moments of your son.

To give some background information, the protestors are from the Westboro Baptist Church based in Topeka Kansas. They have been actively protesting military funerals since 2006 and have traveled to 22 states to reach their goal. Not only do they protest the military, but they protest people who are gay, bisexual, transgender people, Roman Catholics, Muslims and Jews. Their claim for protesting are for religious reasons, and that it is God’s message—that God is punishing the Americans for disobeying. Personally, I think this is why religion sometimes receives a bad reputation, because organizations like this take it to the extreme. They claim they are Baptist and Christian people, but this is not the Christian way. In fact they are considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Below I have included a clipping from Fox News that interviewed a woman who is a member of Westboro Baptist Church that justified her acts and of the church. I really think she is disturbed.



Many families who encountered the Westboro Baptist Church have tried to stop these protests from occurring. However, in defense, the church claims it would violate their First Amendment rights. After searching what justice has occurred, I found an article about a father who won his case in court against the church. His son who was a Marine died in Iraq. When the family had their funeral service, the protesters came shouting their slogans. The father was very disturbed and angry, so he created a lawsuit against the church. Today he won $2.9 million dollars in compensatory damages. Along with that, there are many congress members who are trying to get laws passed so that protesters have to be at least 500 feet away from the funerals.

I am glad to hear that some people are fighting against this church. I am so angry about the church, I can not even find the words that best expresses my anger. But, shame on your Westboro Baptist Church for disturbing the funerals of the honored. How dare you call yourself members of the church.

The Troop’s Advocator

Operation Homecoming

I hate being repetitive with my postings. I found an article about a documentary that captures my blog better than I could ever put in words. I have given book reports and media reports, but I have not done any documentaries. This documentary is based on an anthology of writings by service members who served in the current war. The documentary is titled, “Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience.” The documentary was inspired by the book, “Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afganistan, and the Home Front, in the Worlds of U.S. Troops and Their Families.” The article can be read here. The article captured exactly what I wanted to say from the start of when I first began to blog.

What makes this documentary different from the other war documentaries is it is produced by The Documentary Group, which is founded by the producer and director of the late ABC News anchor Peter Jennings. Again, I solute ABC for their dedication towards the troops. In addition, the information is collected by actual military members instead of politicians. The director, Richard Robbins, said the goal was “to make a film that focused on the human experience” of war. The film does not take on the politics of the war; it is purely focused on the servicemen. “Robbins and Bridges said they believe all Americans have a responsibility to listen to what the troops have to say, and that they hope their films will serve to enlighten their audiences as to their experiences…Robbins and Bridges both said they believe there is a disconnect between service members and the American public because the majority of Americans are not directly affected by the war in Iraq.”

If we could only take a moment of our time to listen to the servicemen and women, maybe then we would really understand what it meant to support the troops. This message can only come from the source, and that is the troops.

Below I have included the trailer for the documentary. It is one of the most intriguing trailers I have seen in a while.



The Troop’s Advocator