You Remember

Standing in an office at 565 Knox Boulevard, Radcliff Kentucky.

Every adult I have talked to in the last ten years knows exactly where they were when they learned or watched the horror of September 11, 2001.

For most of us, it was a visual horror, and we had a sense of disbelief. But for the citizens of the New York area, Washington DC and the victims on the aircrafts from all over the world, it was a first person experience. It changed millions of lives in the days and years that followed. We have sent nearly 2 million of our best young men and women into harm’s way, and what is now the longest war in our nation’s history. And the end is not in sight, just last week, on a bus in Frankfurt Germany, we were reminded of the vulnerability of a free citizen.

One man for me has come to symbolize this ten year period, and I only met his memory last September. I stood in the shadow of the new Freedom Tower at the site of the World Trade Center, and watched thousands of runners and walkers from across the nation and around the world retrace this remarkable young man, father of five, and a firefighter who gave his last full measure of life for people he didn’t know. I won’t tell his story, it is better read at www.tunneltotowersrun.org, but I will say that his footsteps will be an honor to follow this coming September.

Stephen Siller had a family who didn’t want his sacrifice to be forgotten, and that something good should come from his courage. For the last nine years, they have retraced his steps through the Battery Tunnel, ending at ground zero. In 2010, there were 25,000 who retraced his steps, many wearing full “turnout” gear, just like he did when he abandoned his vehicle and ran that route the first time. His fellow firefighters saved over 25,000 people that day, as they evacuated two of the tallest buildings in the world. 343 of those firefighters lost their lives, along with hundreds of police officers and port authority police, and other first responders.

This year, on the tenth anniversary, USA Cares has been given the opportunity to coordinate and authorize shadow runs across America, to that end, we have build a Guide Book and information at www.usacares.org/run. We are fortunate to partner with the Blue Star Mothers of America and their wonderful members, and as I write these words, we already have three cities who are creating events in their city, and intend to send a firefighter or representative to New York City on the 24^th of September and participate in the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Run – NYC, but two weeks before that, the same steps will be followed in Albuquerque, Orlando and Cromwell, with other cities preparing to apply too.

The funds that are generated by these events will be to help the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, USA Cares, Blue Star Mothers, or whatever local organization hosts the event to continue to do the good works that they do.

The Siller Foundation builds smart homes for severely wounded veterans, USA Cares marches toward granting $8 million to service members and veterans across the nation, and Blue Star Mothers continue to provide support to their sons and daughters and veterans across the nation.

As much as this about creating an opportunity to fund the good work they all do, it is also a method to remind all of us and those who watch, that we do remember that day, ten years ago, and the sacrifice and courage they displayed.

I intend to run the event in Los Angeles on the 11^th of September, and again in New York on the 25^th, join me, if you want to host a run/walk, contact me at run@usacares.org.

I know you remember right where you were on that day, so, tell me, where were you? Leave your answer below.

Roger

9-11, More Than Numbers: FF Stephen Siller's Footsteps

I wasn't prepared for the day. I, as almost all Americans over the age of 17 or so, remember exactly where they were on September 11, 2001.

I had just walked into my office when someone said in a loud voice, “Oh my God!” and I joined what is now estimated to be a third of the population of the planet in watching the tragic day through the eye of a camera.

What I equally wasn't ready for, was this past Saturday, when I heard the attack through Mike, Bobby and other’s eyes. We had flown into LaGuardia and picked up by these two retired New York Firemen in a SUV donated by actor Gary Sinise, the SUV helps NYFD families get around to appointments and other official events.

After a quick introduction, we headed into town, Bobby driving and Mike giving us the “down low” on all the things going on over the weekend, and how much they appreciated what USA Cares was doing for the troops.

They also told us about a Memorial that had been built honoring all the first responders that were lost that fateful day. And the more they talked about it, the more they decided we had to see it. “We had time” according to Mike, who appears to be the Grandfather of NYFD tackle football. We drove to the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball stadium on Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

There on the wall are 343 Fire Fighters, 23 Police Officers and 37 Port Authority Police Officers all appearing with their picture and their names. It wasn’t just about numbers. It was personal. Names, ranks, Ladder Companies, Squads, and them looking back at you.

The memorial also recognized the loss of 2,794 other Americans that day.

The first plaque I read was Stephen’s. The names and companies went on and on, and Bobby and Mike knew a story about almost everyone of them. We learned that as a rookie Fire Fighter joins the department, he works his way through different fire stations to learn different skills and techniques in the art of fighting fires, from one floor garages, to 110 floor sky scrapers. All part of the learning process, all part of building a brotherhood of thousands of fire fighters.

The other thing one can’t help but notice is that many of the names below the images are the same. Fathers, sons and cousins, all drawn to the same call: being a Fire Fighter…and many of them were drawn into the hell of that beautiful September morning.

Mike described Fire Fighters, one after another, not in terms of a courageous men, but of a fellow football player, a cousin, a friend, father and mentor. They talked about the first fireman to die, ironically killed when a “jumper” landed on him as he connected a hose to a hydrant. His fellow Fire Fighters were saved from being killed because they were moving him to a collection point when the first tower came down. They remembered the young Fire Fighter on his second fire, his first; a simple kitchen fire.

They talked about so many of these men as friends, still in the first person, and it became more and more obvious to me that without a doubt, they and the firemen I met over the next two days had all experienced a day that has no comparison, except maybe to those who fought through Pearl Harbor. It goes beyond words to describe their courage, imagining their dedication, as they were“Advancing to the the fire” above the 100^th floor. In both towers.

I was a policeman part of my life and worked around Fire Fighters as part of the job. We played baseball against them and complained about how they only worked two weeks a month, They seemed to have a good life. All that type of thinking has changed now for me. I wish I could go back in time and tell them how proud I was of them.

As we left the Memorial, they drove us on the same route that Stephen Siller had run with his “turnout” gear toward what was to become his last fire. I learned that if he had been a little farther down the road that day, he would have crossed the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and would not have been able to get back. However, Siller hadn’t made the turn yet. He heard the call, and when he found the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel blocked to traffic, he left his vehicle and ran the last three plus miles to join his company. This past Sunday, 25,000 runners followed his footsteps. An equal number or more cheered them on.

His brother George wrote in memory of his brother, words that I can’t do better.

By George Siller, in Memory of my brother Stephen Siller
November 15, 1966 - September. 11, 2001

It was a perfect day, so clear and so crisp.
Innocent workers entered the buildings, not knowing the risk.
This perfect day, full of sunlight and promise,
Became another holocaust, with days full of solace.
The terrorists aimed our own planes at the Towers.
My whole world stopped, in the ensuing hours.

My youngest brother Stephen had already finished his tour.
His three older brothers waited on the golf course, to make it four.
He heard the call, raced to the site, no more thoughts of the links,
Because that's just the way a fireman thinks!

No one really knows just how he got there.
I'm sure he never gave up, amidst all the despair.
We heard from a source, he ran through the tunnel on that fateful day.
He was just thinking of others, not worried about the price he would pay.
We all watched in horror as the Towers came down.
Please Dear God, we prayed, keep my brother safe and sound.
As the days moved on we came to accept
My brother Stephen was a hero, as were all the rest.
Such a perfect day had come and gone,
Now it's up to us, to carry on.
What to say to his five children and wife?
How do I try to explain what's ahead in their life?
I'll tell them their father was a saint and hero,
Who fought courageously, the battle at Ground Zero.

Yes, Stephen like many was too young and so brave.
When you're a fireman, you fear not the grave.
And now Squad 1 from Brooklyn knows, all eleven have died:
Not a single one of those brave souls was able to survive.

When will we smile again, when will we sleep?
The Lord has taken Stephen, his Soul to keep.
Such a perfect day has come and gone, And now it's up to us, to carry on.

Thank you Fire Fighter Siller, for your sacrifice and courage and the footsteps you showed us all.

Roger

PS. I want to also acknowledge Gary Sinise again, he and his wife were major supporters of this memorial that adorns the wall of the Cyclone Stadium, and if you have a chance, stop by 1902 Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224-2410 and spend a few minutes at the Memorial, you will be glad you did.

To Bobby and Mike, thanks for the time, the memories and the friendship, it was my honor to meet you.

Men like you don't just come along, they show up when you need them. I see that in the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coasties that we work with everyday. You were the first Warriors that day, you and your "Band of Brothers" fought the good fight.

I could hear the pride in your voice as you talked about your friends, thanks for sharing with us.

For more information visit Tunnel to Tower Run

They are on Facebook too at Tunnel To Towers Run

A Tale of Two Privates

I live in a small town outside an active duty army post. It could be any small town in America, and it could be any active duty installation of any of the services, but this is Radcliff, Kentucky, and the post is Fort Knox.

For those who don’t know all the details of how we were affected by the Base Realignment And Closure of 2005, Fort Knox was selected to house the 3^rd Brigade of the famed 1^st Infantry Division, perhaps better known as the “Big Red One”. Along with that privilege came a responsibility of our communities to honor the service of the young men and women who serve.

USA Cares headquarters sits about a mile and a half from one of the main gates of the installation, and right next to a super Walmart, so it is an understatement that we see a lot of traffic every day, but last week, we had a unique opportunity to see the best and the worst of some of those in the thousands of cars that pass by and to participate in our own way.

Two privates faced the same situation. They traveled here from other installations, both believing that there was available housing on post almost immediately. The truth of the matter is that there isn’t. It is perhaps as much as 3-6 months before you can be selected to move “on-post” and that depends on how many bedrooms you need and your rank.

Before I tell you about these two privates I have to stop and tell you about being a private. Privates are a special part of any Army family. They are our “interns” or our “apprentices” or just the “new guys” and while they have been taught all about how to act as a soldier, how to dress, how to assemble and disassemble a weapon or two, they can run long distances and are pretty self confident of themselves, what they are not, is experienced soldiers who know all about moving to a new location.

It is something you learn. And you usually learn it the hard way. As a career soldier of the nearly 30 years that I served, I moved my family at least 10 times. I know others who have moved a lot more times. It is part of a military life.

The situation that the privates faced, both whom were married, both with children (and one pregnant wife) and both showing up broke in Kentucky, was that living in a motel can get expensive very quickly. Landlords always want the same thing. Money. They want first and last month’s deposit, the charge for credit history reports, the utility companies want deposits and again, perhaps a credit report cost. Remember, I said they were broke and payday is still a week away.

Both showed up at Fort Knox already owing on a loan from Army Emergency Relief and were not eligible for more assistance. Both had tried the payday loan outfits, but they can’t loan money to soldiers anymore and neither had a local bank or the appropriate credit or the ability to open an account. When they found us either by referral or by accident, they were at the end of of their rope and their hope. They had one more night of paid up motel time and not sure where to go.

To rush to the end of the story, both of them were taken care of, provided a stable platform to find a suitable place to live, but there was a remarkable difference on how that happened.

The first private, after being assured that USA Cares would help them get going, found an apartment in nearby Elizabethtown. The landlord asked for the first month’s rent and deposit, and as we have done a thousand times, connected with them, told them who we were, and said we would provide the private with a check to cover the necessary cost of acquiring the rental unit. The very rude lady on the phone told our staff member that she had lived in Elizabethtown her whole life had never heard of us and that the soldier could not move in until the check had cleared the bank. She was asked, as we normally do, to just check out our website and they would see that we were capable of a month’s rent, to which she replied, “I’m too busy to check out some website” and hung up. The private was embarrassed, having filled out all the paperwork and felt like things were starting to go his way only to be treated to a very arrogant landlord who clearly didn't care about the soldier and his family, only if they were going to be paid or not.

What we saw was just plain old greed and ugliness, and sadly we see that more than we would like to when it comes to helping military families.

We sent this first private to several other property management companies, and I am happy to say they are moved in and getting on with being an Army family. Total cost to USA Cares? Less than $1,000.

The second private came to us five days later. Three kids, an expecting wife and just a little over a dollar left in the bank. He too, had one night of paid up motel bill, no refrigerator or place to fix meals and not sure what was coming next.

Our staff got a bit involved with this one, and immediately the assistance began to flow in ways other than money. One staff member called the local food bank (North Hardin Hope) and within an hour, several boxes of food were provided. A restaurant donated free meals and the family moved into an extended stay motel as they looked for the right place to live. A landlord had offered a fully furnished apartment for $1,500 a month. That isn't a good deal, not in central Kentucky.

In the meantime, a staffer sharing the story without names, with her family and friends, ignited a flurry of email messages about the young family, and again, offers of assistance, furniture, food, clothing, and money began to pour in, just to “help the soldier”. That is how I think it should be, all of us remembering the real value of the service these men and women are offering, and the freedoms we often times take for granted that they provide.

So to all those who assisted these young men and women, thank you from all of us at USA Cares, to those who didn’t, shame on you.

By the way, just in case you were wondering, because we are best known in Kentucky and that we started here, to date we have granted over $721,000 to 1,684 clients and saved 52 homes from eviction so far. Not bad for an organization that started in an “Army Town” just seven years ago.

Roger
USA Cares

Military Spouses Deserve Better

Last week I had to privilege to accompany two of my favorite Army Wives to Frankfort, Kentucky and appear along with our State Representative, Tim Moore before the Labor Committee of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Our purpose was to support through testimony the change in the unemployment compensation provided to military spouses who have to voluntarily leave their place of employment to follow their spouse to a new duty station. Specifically, if you are interested, to changes in the language of KRS 341.370 in Section 1.

Currently, if a spouse married to a soldier who is stationed at Fort Knox and is transferred to Fort Campbell, both of which are located in the Commonwealth, then she or he may be deemed ineligible for benefits.

One of our former Resource Coordinators, Kerri fell into this gap. Her soldier-husband received permanent change of station (PCS) orders from Fort Knox, Kentucky to Fort Campbell, Kentucky and after arriving, getting the house unpacked, (across the state line in Tennessee) she begin looking for work and after applying for unemployment benefits found out that she was ineligible.

The reason they gave her was that she had “voluntarily left her employment and had left the state, then later the state of Tennessee included in their denial the rationale that moving as part of a PCS did not constitute a valid reason for voluntarily leaving employment”. The current Kentucky statue will not support an unemployment claim in states that do not have similar statues. In other words, Kentucky will only provide unemployment benefits to spouses who move to a state that will reciprocate in kind.

Another Resource Coordinator, Christin, is facing the same issue, only her husband is being PCSed from Fort Knox to Fort Drum, New York where they don’t honor the unemployment benefits clause from Kentucky, so again, the military spouse is treated especially unfair.

During our testimony, I asked Christin where her husband was, the answer was Kandahar, Afghanistan, ending up his fourth combat tour. I asked the same question of Kerri, and her similar answer was that he was at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana, preparing for deployment to Afghanistan this summer, which will be his fourth combat tour.

During his testimony, Rep. Moore, a former Air Force Officer and C130 pilot with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan reminded the committee of the sacrifice that the families are already making, and that as a part of helping shape Kentucky to be a “military friendly” state that this was a gap in the law that should be addressed quickly. Earlier this year, the legislature had passed a bill that ended state income taxes from being withheld or paid from Kentucky citizens who are serving on active duty.

Rep Moore also brought to light that Kentucky is not the only state that doesn’t recognize the situation of spouses moving with their servicemembers and that Kentucky could help set the right example for other legislatures to do the right thing. I agree with him, hopefully some of you might call and ask your elected officials how military spouses are treated in similar situations.

Several of the committee members expressed their appreciation for the service of the families of the two Army Wives, and even went so far as to apologize for this obvious unintended effect of the current law.

The Chairman of the Committee came up to us after the session ended and was very emphatic that he would push to get the bill to the floor where he felt very confident that it would pass overwhelmingly and correct the situation in the favor of military families that serve in the Commonwealth.

I was very proud of the two ladies for standing up and telling their stories. I was also proud of our legislative process and our Representative for doing the research and taking the appropriate action to make the lives of our military families just a little bit better. Often when USA Cares is working a case there is an issue with one or both of the breadwinners being unemployed and not receiving benefits that they might or should be entitled to be receiving.

USA Cares does not lobby for any particular bill or party or any individual, but what we have done in the past is to highlight issues that should be reviewed and possibly acted on, and provide background information as requested to support changes in laws and attitudes. This opportunity was no different.

I would ask anyone that reads this blog to ask their State Representative about the Unemployment Benefits and Entitlements to military spouses for their states, and if it doesn’t seem fair, then ask “why not?”

I will post a note when we find out what happened here in the Commonwealth, and I would be very interested to find out what you have learned about your state’s attitude toward these very special families who serve our nation so proudly.

Roger Stradley
Radcliff, Kentucky

One Family At A Time...USA Does Care

In the USA Cares employee break room there is a poster that hangs on the wall that has several letters that have come to us in the mail. I thought I would share one that sums up what we do, and more important, you will see again, why we do what we do.

Dear USA Cares-

USA Cares helped me & my family in ways that amazed and impressed me. I found USA Cares through someone at my local VA Hospital.

When I contacted USA Cares, I was in a very tough spot. Behind on a lot of bills, and in danger of being evicted from my house.

USA Cares was very prompt in contacting me. Everyone I talked to was kind, caring and compassionate. USA Cares paid my rent and late fees for me, and paid my gas bill, and helped get the gas turned back on.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude. At a time in my life when I had no one else to turn to, nowhere else to go, USA Cares was there for me.

The people at USA Cares truly do God's work. I am so very thankful for them, and the kind hearted people who donate to the organization. The help I received from USA Cares has allowed me room to breathe again, and I am nearly on my feet again.

Thanks to USA Cares, myself and my young daughter continue to have a place to live and we have gas to heat our water and cook our food. We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts!!!!

Initially, I was contacted less than 5 days after I applied for assistance online. the woman I spoke with was very kind and considerate. She explained to me that I needed to fax in a few things. Such as copies of past due bills, and my DD214 from the Army. After I did this , it was maybe two days until I received a call from another woman named Karri. She explained to me that she was now my case worker and that USA Cares was going to help me. I was so very happy with the courtesy and professionalism of the USA Cares Staff.

Not only did Kerri notify me of everything along the way, she even made sure to ask if we needed food, and other basic things needed for our survival.

Again, I am still overwhelmed by the caring, compassion, and the friendliness I was shown.

Thank you all so very much, from Ryan and Ashlyn P.

-----End-----

As we approach $7 million in direct grants to families across our nation, we continue receiving daily reminders like these that this is a "Family Business" and that these people are real and not just a number or a statistic.

Of course we can't do any of this without the support of our donors and contributors and of course friends like you. Please feel free to pass this on, it is as easy as that.

Regards,

Roger

Brothers At War; A Must See

They are images that we have all come to know, and to think we understand. The young soldier sitting on top of his vehicle, armored vests on, pouches positioned all over his chest, helmet on with goggles and night vision device mounting frame and a steely eyed look far to distant for only being 19. The young carrier pilot, giving the snappy salute, thumbs up, then reaching to hang on as a catapult launches his jet down a very short runway off the end of the carrier and off to war.

These images are becoming almost a part of our lives, the war enters yet another year, and today, I listened to a young lady who was being recognized as “Student of the Month” at our local Chamber of Commerce, matter of a factly announce, “my dad is getting ready to go on his sevenths deployment”. She said it without hesitation, and without trepidation, it was just something she had grown up with. “My dad is going off to war…again”.

How could we possibly understand what these families are going through, how would we know, if we are like so many American families still untouched by this war on terror?

I would offer this recommendation. Buy the movie, “Brothers At War” DVD, it is in Walmart, Target, Barnes and Noble and Best Buy and on Amazon. Jake Rademacher, the Director and Producer does more than tell a story about one family, he tells the whole story about one family, but it becomes a family you belong too, and you begin to sense the connecting lines back from Iraq to home and back.

I am not a professional movie critic, but like most of us, I know what I like. I like this movie. The language is a bit rough in spots, but it is the language of soldiers, one that I heard for nearly thirty years that I served. The camaraderie that you sense, between brothers and brothers at arms tell the story about how much they care about each other, and how fiercely they will fight to protect their own.

A Marine Staff Sergeant is shown to be a tough son of a gun, while leading and training an Iraqi infantry platoon, but when in the middle of a firefight loses some of them, you can tell that it wasn’t just a “job”, it was one of his men. He is instantly the consoling and calm voice as medics work to save the man’s life. You don’t find out what happens to the young Iraq soldier, but you do see the pain in the tough Marine. It is more than a just a job. Jake does a great job in making that point clear, and he does it skillfully and poignantly.

As Jake peels back the connections within his own family and that of his two brothers who are both soldiers and have served in Iraq, you find out that the family has already lost a son. You become a part of a family that is caught between conflicting emotions, one of pride for the soldiers and one of pain for the brother lost.

Listening to the ladies in their lives you see that each of them finds themselves in love with a man who is yet changed again, by what they have experienced and what they have seen. Both women, along with a mom and dad, deal with the changes by doing what we all do, smile, cry and lots of hugs. But when you see the new dad, fresh off the plane from Iraq, patiently avoid hugging his own daughter; because he knows he will scare her, you are reminded of the hidden costs of their service.

There are lots of films out there, but none as good as this one. It is one family, through the eyes of a brother, a brother who knows that this war is not over.

Take the time, here is the supporting website, Brothers At War, and watch the movie. You will be better for it. The fact that Jake has offered to assist USA Cares makes it even better, but that isn’t why I wrote this blog. I met Jake last December in a restaurant near the Sana Monica pier, and the man you see in the movie, is the man that will sit and eat pizza with you. He is one of us.

So why am I writing this beside the obvious reasons? Because.

While watching the Super Bowl, along with millions of other Americans, I realized at the end, that while the football game was either really good, or really bad, depending on who your team was, I was saddened by the lack of appreciation that they showed for the reason they were allowed to play the game in the first place. With the exception of a brief image of young men standing at attention in Iraq or Afghanistan, a precision team who carried our nation’s colors and a glance at the four ship flight of fighters streaking across the night’s sky, it was if maybe our nation wasn’t at war on two fronts, and that just maybe if you ignore it, it might go away. It won’t.

Jake, thanks for making the film. Thanks for taking the risk and for the effort you took to tell the story of not only your family, but of all the families who serve. You have done a service to all of those to whom we are so indebted.

Just so you know, in just the first week of February, 2010, USA Cares spent over $31,000 on our Veterans and their families, all in grants and all for validated needs. Many were in support of those who struggle with PTSD, and because of us, are receiving life changing treatment as they work to gain a "new normal" in their lives.

The story Jake told is valid, and he did a great job. Get the film.

Roger Stradley
USA Cares

After Shocks In The Military Family

The events in Haiti are going to effect the military family in ways that few may understand.

The world is watching the tragedy unfold in Haiti, our President has promised a start of $100 million dollars in aid, and former President Clinton and H.W. Bush are going down to help lead the support to this poverty stricken country.

The USNS Comfort, a Navy floating hospital ship has departed from New York with a crew of 64 and a staff of 560 medical personnel, the USS Carl Vinson over 3,000 sailors and officers on board and carrying 19 helicopters, is off shore, providing tons of support and vital transportation assets, starting with helicopters. The 2^nd Brigade Combat Team of the vaulted 82^nd Airborne have already sent an advance party in who parachuted in, with the remainder of the brigade to come in behind the lead elements. US Marines have established security at the Port-au-Prince airport, and will undoubtedly add security to this fragile nation. They are being delivered by US Air Force C-17s.

Four US Coast Guard ships and a Navy Destroyer are off shore, offering assistance with supplies and more helicopters. Air Force C130s are bringing in tons of supplies including precious water. Two more Coast Guard Cutters were en route to add to the support effort, where news report states that there may be as many as 50,000 dead. The US Coast Guard Cutter FORWARD was on the scene arriving the morning of the 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

The Delaware National Guard are preparing to deploy with much needed medical and support units, just as they did in past natural disasters. Over 2,200 US Marines on three more ships with even more equipment and supplies are expected to arrive in the next three days.

Americans have come to depend on this kind of response from the most powerful nation in the world, with the most powerful military forces in the world. But it comes with a cost.

As you watch the news coming from Haiti, watch for the unit patch on the right sleeve of our Army. That tells you that the young man or women wearing that has served at least one tour in combat in Iraq or Afghanistan. The Pentagon announced that the 3,500 soldiers from the 82^nd would be performing rescue, recover and peace keeping missions and creating a “safe environment” for humanitarian aid as it arrives.

Why all this conversation about what they are doing? They are the same military families that are fighting a two front war in Iraq and Afghanistan and many have been on multiple rotations and will undoubtedly return with 12 to 24 months. This time nobody is shooting at them, but they are still absent from their homes and their families. Bad things still happen to good people, even if they are somewhere saving lives.

USA Cares continues to stand behind them and all that serve, we understand the challenges they face, many of us have worn the uniform and understand that this task is not a “combat” task and will not keep up from the next scheduled deployment into Iraq or Afghanistan. Other units may be moved up to fill a gap created by the additional demands of the 15,000 or so that are now focused on Haiti. That means families who were preparing for deployment later in the year, may see that moved up by four to six months, including all the preemptory training that is required before entering the war zone.

The USS Carl Vinson may very well have been scheduled to begin a float, now pulled to the Caribbean, and another Nimitz class carrier may be moved up to meet the operational needs that this 103 tons of combat airfield with its 3,200 crewmembers. All this effects Navy families around the world as deployment and training schedules are adjusted. The same is true with the Army and Marine units who stand in the deployment ready line.

Just thought you might see if from the military families’ eyes. USA Cares continues to see an average of 140 new cases a week. I suspect that will increase over the coming weeks. We continue to spend nearly $25,000 a week on these families. USA Cares has no greater purpose.

God Bless all of them, and thanks for your continued support of our mission.

Roger

Nothing “Sexy”

Entering our seventh year of assisting military families has given me the opportunity to see a lot of other organizations, many of which we work with, all focused on the same goal of helping them through the challenges of serving our nation.

What USA Cares doesn’t do is have the opportunities to cut the ribbon in front of a house we just bought for a veteran or family, we can’t show anyone pictures of families that we sent to Disneyland or on Vacation because we don’t do that. We just put food on the table and keep the lights on.

Not very sexy.

Last week, Mark Wills was in town and came over to the Fort Knox PX where a steady stream of fans stopped by to meet him. He was as always, charming and personable. He left this week for a USO Tour overseas. (that is all I can say at the moment).

This is Mark with me, Anne and John Flanagan, one of our very first volunteers with USA Cares. It was a great way to spend three or four hours with Mark and those who think he is a good guy.

This week, I had the privilege of briefing a senior army leader in the medical community who had just arrived at Fort Knox. As we entered the office the officer immediately started with, “I know who you guys are, and what USA Cares does for military families. What you did for our soldier who was terminally ill and his family was nothing short of amazing, and I know it made his passing easier. I am so thankful that you guys are here for them.” Now I would like to shout that from the rooftops, put the officer on YouTube and push it out to all our supporters and friends, but I can’t.

The Army, and all the services, are very nervous when it comes to “implied endorsement” of any non-profit organization and those who still wear the uniform can get in trouble for doing so as an official member of the military, so we never ask, and we go out of our way to protect their voluntary thanks and offers of help.

So we do it the hard way, one meeting at a time, looking for new friends who might know “the guy” and on and on. Grant research and building relationships, earning the trust of our donors and maintaining that trust. This has been a week like that.

This week has been very full and very eventful. Our Executive Director was in Houston at a Car Race with the owner of Tax Master, and they raised a nice sum of money for USA Cares, then on Tuesday, he was in DC with Fannie Mae, a CFC exhibition for Government Engineers and then with the makers of the video game Call of Duty who also wants to assist USA Cares.

That was a pretty good week all by itself, but then Dennis Miller and Bill O’Reilly really made things happen, when they got to talking about USA Cares on Wednesday and Bill announced that he was personally sending USA Cares $25,000! That night we received an additional $17,000 in donations on our website, a tribute to the trust that his viewers have in his judgment.

As we move forward, we now have programs for Veterans who are suffering from PTSD and its awful effects, we have a growing employment training and placement program and we are looking for our first disabled veteran to assist with a new home grant, if he or she wants to live here in the central Kentucky area.

Still nothing sexy, but we are happy with keeping the lights on, and food on the table. The fact that we have kept over 1,800 military kids from being evicted from their homes counts too, but not something you will see on the front page of newspaper.

One family at a time, and with their privacy and dignity protected. That is USA Cares. I hope it never changes.

Merry Christmas to all, and special thoughts to those in harm’s way,

Roger

Quite A Week In November

I’m often asked how this all happened, this thing called USA Cares, but last week was one of those weeks where I almost have to pinch myself and I still don't have a good answer.

Sunday, I saw somewhere over 22 square miles of beautiful homes, shops and golf courses, in a little place in central Florida called The Villages. I’ve see the commercials a hundred times, we flew into Leesburg and met some wonderful people were so encouraging about wanting to do something for USA Cares and listening to their story of running a small business and raising a handful of kids and now grandkids and want to thank those other “kids” who are standing tall in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The next evening, in Amway Coliseum, prior to a basketball game with the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats, I was nearly 40 young Americans standing tall in formation in center court. Both Marine and Army recruits stood in the full light and admirations of a growing crowd and watched them take the oath of enlistment from an Army Captain.

These young men and women joined the military of a nation at war. They volunteered to serve for anywhere from four to six years and undoubtedly will spend part of their tours in harm’s way. Words here cannot convey the emotions that Jim and I felt at that moment, and why for the past nearly seven years, USA Cares has been at the center of our lives. These “kids”, these young men and women deserve the very best that our nation can provide, both from the government and from citizens.

Monday was also another first for me personally, besides seeing my first NBA game (The Magic won the game) Jim and I also found ourselves at 2:28 p.m. looking to the east and seeing the streak of flame and white plumes as the space shuttle Atlantis hurtled toward the heavens. We both experienced the sense of pride that those Americans around us did and my only wish was that more of our citizens would have an opportunity to see the enormous power that our nation had on display.

Back to that evening at the game, we were fortunate to talk to hundreds of military members and their families, introducing USA Cares and hopefully setting the stage to provide assistance if they need it.

We flew back to Louisville the next morning and Wednesday evening I had the privilege for attending the monthly Fort Knox Chapter of MOAA. I learned that one of their long time chapter members, LTC (Retired) Bob Harman had passed away and that the family had designated USA Cares as one of two charities to be considered in lieu of flowers. This is perhaps the 15^th family over the past seven years to designate USA Cares in this fashion, and it is both humbling and moving to be honored in this fashion. On Friday, I attended his service at the Central Kentucky Veterans Cemetery and learned that LTC Harman was a Veteran of both World War II and Korea. I watched a young Major and a Staff Sergeant fold the flag and present it to his widow. What nobody in the audience missed was that both Soldiers had the combat service bars and accompanying personal medals that told us that they had both already served multiple tours.

While I was standing there after the services another retired Veteran who has been a wonderful supporter of USA Cares handed me an envelope and told me that I would save him 44 cents. I later learned that he had handed me an envelope with a $500 donation.

Along the way this week, a volunteer came in and catalogued over 50 new handmade Lapwraps that will be sent out the coming week. Some of them are going to Fort Hood and perhaps some of those wounded by the attack last week. Meanwhile the special fund set up for the Fort Hood Families continued to provide support to families within hours of receiving requests, one within an hour.

These Lapwraps keep coming in, almost daily from all over America, and there are always cards from the donor thanking our servicemen for their service and their sacrifice.

Very humbling, to say the least.

Thank you to the some 4,000 Lapwrap contributors, you are both amazing and inspiring.

We also received over 150 new requests for assistance and issued over $12,000 in support for the week.

Quite a week.

Roger

Medal Of Honor & Dennis Miller

Last Thursday, under a brilliant blue Chicago sky, I had the great fortune to sit behind home plate and up about ten rows at historic Wrigley Field. I was really there to see Dennis Miller throw out the first pitch. What I didn't know is that it was going to be even better than that.

On the field lining both the first and third base line were a number of men, most of them wearing a red short sleeve shirt with a logo that you couldn't read but clearly this was more than a senior gathering of older gentlemen. Dennis intermingled with them and then went out and sent in the first pitch, but along the way, the announcer introduced the men in red. All of them were Medal of Honor Awardees from seven different wars that our nation fought and were attending an association gathering in Chicago (http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/09-04-2009/0005088656&EDATE=) The announcer helped frame the requirements of being awarded this medal for courage, but the bottom line is that they had to risk their lives in combat, and clearly demonstrate beyond any measure of belief that this was a courageous act. My personal appreciation to both Boeing and TriWest for sponsoring the event.

So why do I mention that? Dennis commented later that evening to a gathering of supporters of USA Cares and prior to a show he did on our behalf, that while he was thinking about asking for a "do-over" for his first pitch, he realized that he was among genuine American heroes and that anything that would take away from that, and that would be wrong. He went on at the Park West Theater and gave a rendition of vintage Dennis Miller that left everybody happy and wanting more. His sense of humor might not be appreciated by everyone in our nation, but there is no one that has more compassion for those who server and protect our nation.

As for the benefit show, with wonderful support from AM Radio WIND, 650 on the dial and other sponsors, USA Cares will be the recipient of what we believe to be over $110,000 for the night. This support is a reflection of the dedication and trust of a group of men and women in the Chicago area who we have worked with over the past five years and who have become true friends.

So, for the windy city, on the 17^th of September, you shined bright, and when I looked down from the John Hancock Building, I realized just how wonderful our nation, this city and these people truly are. For those men and women who are out there today and tonight serving thanks, to my friend Nick, flying off the carrier into Afghanistan, stay safe and thanks.

The Champ & The Hero

Setting on the small commuter jet leaving Louisville and headed toward a connection in Atlanta, I was fortunate to sit next to an active duty Command Sergeant Major. Setting two rows ahead of me was another gentleman and his wife, who the world knew as Mrs. Mohammed Ali. The Champ looked good for all his challenges and while I was not a big fan of his politics I did appreciate that he was a Louisville icon and was doing good things for those less fortunate through his charity work.

Sitting two rolls behind me was somebody else I knew, the husband of a co-worker who was on his way back to Afghanistan where he was in the middle of a fourth tour in combat. Three tours in Iraq, where I knew he had survived several near-misses with Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) and had been treated for post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and seemed to be fine. His posture and composure was that of a solid performer, a soldier and a leader. I hope my son has a staff sergeant like that in the Marines.

The sergeant major and I quickly figured out that we had a number of common friends still serving, and we shared experiences and friendships that spanned the nearly forty year time span and lifetimes. He had been to Iraq twice and as an infantry soldier and leader and told me that he had some of his best times and his worst times that looking back were only seconds or minutes long, but were framed in his mind. So here I was, with two soldiers, who between them had six years of combat, both in the business of being directly involved in the business of war, and both clearly proud of what they were doing.

But what I remember most was a story that the sergeant major told me, and one that I wanted to share with you.

One of his units was tracking down a high value individual and knew he was in a particular three-story house. Because there was a real danger he was going to get away, the on the ground commander, a 1LT, sent teams into the building to secure the individual. Sgt Martinez led a four or five man squad into the dark building and following the rules of engagement, shouted out that they were Americans. The ten or so insurgents were not to be persuaded to surrender peacefully, but reacted with a hail of gunfire.

Advancing up the stairs, twenty-three year old Martinez leading, began a running gun battle. Firing up the stairway, the return fire was deafening, and the young men pressed themselves into the outside wall, and continued to fire back up the darkened stairwell. Somewhere between the first and second floor, a grenade bounced off of Martinez chest and rolled on the floor. “Grenade” he shouted and the squad instinctively curled away from the impending blast. The grenade went off, and Martinez received shrapnel wounds too as did some of the squad, but the whole team continued pressing up the stairs returning fire.

A bullet hit Martinez and bounced into his neck. American engineering saved his life again, the neck protector worked, deflecting the round. Martinez and his team continued to move up and ultimately all eight insurgents were killed rather than give up.

So why tell a “war story” that I didn’t see? Because we need to be constantly reminded that the young man or woman we see in the airport in uniform may very well be on their way back to Afghanistan, for a fourth time. Their courage is beyond remarkable, and their dedication to what is being attempted in these lands lost in time have to be remembered.

The war may be off the front pages of America’s newspapers, but it is not off the front page of the families who wait, who still proudly display the flag on their house and who wear a blue star on their lapel. We owe them our respect, and our continued admiration and support.

The other point is that these teams of soldiers were all volunteers, and every one of them joined the military knowing that America was at war, and that they would undoubtedly be asked to serve in harm’s way.

So in the front was an American icon in a former heavyweight champ of the world, my thoughts were with a young man named Martinez, who earned the Silver Star that day, and to the young engineer Staff Sergeant on his way to Afghanistan sitting two rows behind me.

We have more soldiers in combat right now than we had two years ago during the “surge” and recently several fellow non-profit organizations ended their run and sent their clients to USA Cares. Times are changing, but one thing is not, just like those who go up darkened stairways without knowing, USA Cares will continue to be here for those who serve and for those who wait, it isn’t about “how long” we will be here, it is “how long are we needed?”.

Roger Stradley
San Dimas, CA
10 Sep 09

A Voice for Those Who Care

Mark Wills continually pushes for Veterans and those serving. I received this video and wanted pass it along.

Roger

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_q997HjREQ

after you watch it, please pass it on and please post a comment that would be great!

thanks..

Warrior Treatment Today

I've been asked to explain our Warrior Treatment Today program with USA Cares. Our new website, due to be launched 1 August will have it there, but I can also put it here along with more information and our 1st Quarterly Report so you can see the extraordinary things we are doing for these Veterans.

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WARRIOR TREATMENT TODAY

Bridging Gaps to PTSD/TBI Treatment for Veterans

Warrior Treatment Today is a USA Cares program designed to bridge the gap between personal financial demands and the need to receive treatment. Specifically, our program seeks to remove the financial barrier that exists for many service members who suffer from PTSD and/or TBI, but cannot afford to leave their employment for treatment. National Guard and Reserve personnel are particularly vulnerable to this barrier as they resume their civilian lives upon return from deployment. Should they be referred for treatment of a significant duration, they have to not only keep their jobs, but also acquire the dollars necessary to continue to meet their financial obligations.

USA Cares will take on the responsibility for paying essential household bills (rent/mortgage/utilities/car payment) while the service member is attending residential type PTSD/TBI treatment. In so doing, USA Cares will facilitate attendance to mandated/recommended treatment programs by removing the financial obstacles many face today. The recent Rand study suggests over 300,000 suffer from PTSD/TBI, with fewer than half of these cases actually identified. Thus, the magnitude of the problem is significant. We believe any program that will help diagnosed service members attend necessary treatment is of great value and deserves our full support.

Due to the potential size of the PTSD/TBI treatment problem, no one sector can be expected to adequately cope with the problem. A public – private sector partnership is essential if this problem is to be resolved. Military treatment facilities, the VA hospitals and clinics, and respected civilian hospitals must all work together to even begin to make a dent in the caseload. USA Cares has teamed up with a Houston hospital, TIRR Memorial Herman, a leading rehabilitation facility, to provide care to TBI-type sufferers. A fellow member of the Coalition for Iraq-Afghanistan Veterans, TIRR Foundation collaborated with TIRR Memorial Hermann to create the Project Victory program. Project Victory provides treatment for military personnel, and veterans of recent military service, who served in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, and who have screened positively for, or have been diagnosed with, post concussive symptoms or traumatic brain injury while in combat or stateside. As good as the Project Victory program is, a financial barrier to an 8 to 10 week treatment program remains for many would-be attendees. University Behavioral Health of El Paso, Texas has also joined with USA Cares as a provider of PTSD/TBI treatment to the military. The basic structure of the Warrior Treatment Today Program is outlined below:

Stage 1: Identification and Verification

Scenario ONE: Service members seeking support will come to USA Cares in our traditional manner via the World Wide Web and complete a simple application that details how we can contact them, and the nature of the problem or issue. The client will be contacted by our Staff, who will discuss the requirements and needs of the family. Should the issue of PTSD/TBI be revealed by the client, the case will be passed to our Advocacy Center who will suggest screening (if it has not been done) and provide references to locate screening facilities. The goal is to not let the family plunge into financial crisis.

Scenario TWO: A service member is referred for residential PTSD/TBI treatment by competent medical authority (VA in the case of veterans, Title 32 Guard, and inactive Reserve). He may have gone for screening as a result of Scenario ONE, or any other number of ways. At the time of referral to residential treatment, the service member must be made aware of USA Cares and our program to help with finances while at treatment. (Lacking the ability to support the family due to absence from work for an extended period, the referral will likely not be accepted/executed). The service member applies to USA Cares under our Warrior Treatment Today program which includes the below general guidelines:

Qualifying Elements:

· Injury is connected to service in Iraq or Afghanistan

· Service member has been diagnosed by competent medical authorities, either military or civilian

· Employment and income loss is not covered by medical or unemployment insurance

· Family will be in danger of losing their home if they don’t receive assistance

· Service member has been accepted into qualifying treatment center for recovery and rehabilitation

Stage II: Determining Requirements & Gaining Approval

· USA Cares will assist in housing, food, utilities and transportation related costs as required

· USA Cares will require documentation that supports the need

· Food costs will be developed along the required amounts from the USDA, which an example says that a family of four requires about $518 a month

· Case will be reviewed and approved by a USA Cares Virtual Committee

Stage III: Implementation and Assistance

· Approved cases are moved to accounting where each month the approved amounts are paid directly to the provider

· Incremental assistance can be extended out over the period of treatment not to exceed 180 days.

· The Family Resource Coordinator will maintain contact with the client throughout the case length

In the future, USA Cares is working to involve other top flight civilian hospitals in the program. Working with our partner, Mercy Flights, we can transport an invisibly wounded warrior anywhere in the US at no cost to the service member. We envision a network of such hospitals all working to treat the enormous caseload that PTSD and TBI represent from today’s war. Bound together by information technology that can quickly handle referrals and locate treatment centers, this program is exportable to any state. We believe that a number of states will consider this opportunity to give their state’s military the treatment they deserve while not endangering their financial future. This program is being initiated in Texas using facilities in Houston, El Paso, and, hopefully, Dallas. The Texas program will serve as a model for other states. No American service member and their family should have to choose between paying the bills and getting treatment. USA Cares plans to see that they don’t.

Roger

1st Sgt. John Blair of Calhoun.

This past Wednesday, I was traveling north on Interstate 75 outside of Calhoun Georgia when we noticed that there was no traffic going south. A highway patrol car came over the hill lights flashing but still no other traffic.

Then the first Georgia State Patrol came over the hill, followed by another and another. I don't know how many law enforcement cars there were, perhaps a fifty or more, then there was a large contingent of motorcycle patrolmen, and then the Patriot Guard. I knew then, it was a soldier's funeral we were watching traveling south.

1st Sgt. John Blair was by all accounts a soldier's soldier. He was killed in Afghanistan last week by an RPG.

Traffic on our side of the road were pulling over, some just slowing not knowing what to do. I was proud of my nation, or at least the men and women that day that took the time to honor this man. I found this from the web, but it says a lot about this man.

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey issued a statement in in honor of Blair on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Text of Gingrey's remarks:

Madame Speaker, I rise to honor an American hero and patriot who gave his life in defense of our nation while serving with the Georgia National Guard in Afghanistan. First Sergeant John Blair from Calhoun, Georgia and my 11th Congressional District was killed in action on June 20, 2009, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle during an hour and a half long firefight with enemy forces after the convoy which he was leading was ambushed.

Eye-witness accounts from soldiers serving alongside Sergeant Blair credit his actions with saving the lives of many of his fellow soldiers during the ambush, and as a credit to his leadership, his men kept their cool and did their jobs, even after their commanding officer fell. Blair has been described as a true leader – both for the American troops who served with him, as well as for the 1st Brigade of the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps who he was in charge of mentoring. I want to quote a couple of lines that were written about Sergeant Blair in the military publication, Stars and Stripes: “Blair was their leader. He was tough, unrelenting. He cursed and reprimanded and gained not just their respect, but their fondness during the months of training for their deployment in Afghanistan. He could be harsh, but was fair and imparted to his men a sense of their potential.”

So, why do I rewrite this? USA Cares has been here for six years now, helping military families, and it is easy sometimes get caught up in the day to day work we do, but then when you see first hand the courage and the sacrifice, well I just thought it should be observed for what it is, a tribute to another fallen soldier.

Roger

If you would like to know more about the 1SG, visit this site: http://www.calhountimes.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Long+processional+follows+body+of+fallen+Calhoun+soldier+from+airport%20&id=2852958

3 JUN 09 5050

Good morning from rainy Radcliff Kentucky! We are all excited about lots of things, but at the same time, I am sad that tomorrow is the last day of 5050. 

We have much to  be thankful for when you consider others. I am corresponding or at least part of a Caringbridge for a wounded soldier who is fighting for his life. He has been in the hospital for months, and his wife keeps us posted on his progress which took a turn for the worst two days ago, to the point where the doctors asked her if she thought they should continue to keep up the fight. What a quesiton to be asked. My heart goes out to her and the family and my prayers are for "Kevin". 

To all of you, thanks again, and we will be in touch. I promise. 

Regards and see you tomorrow,

Roger 

2 JUN 09 5050

Two days to go, and then we are off on new adventures. As I said earlier, while frustrating, it is not dissappointing. We are learning about the potential of mobile giving and expanding our understanding of what happens. 

I would ask that each of you take a few seconds and send Jen Fox a note about things that worked and didn't work, and we can learn from that.

But it goes without saying that all your hard work and efforts are appreciated, and for the families that we are helping the payoff is knowing that we are leaving them better off than when they found us. With your help, we can keep doing the good work.

Thanks,

Roger 

1 JUN 09 5050

June 1st already, as you can see Illinois is really doing well. As I know we all did, we hoped that there would be a much better result at this point, but I think as "we" educate our fellow American's about mobile giving, and certainly raising $500,000 by Alicia Keys on American Idol showed us what was possible, I am still strenghtened by the fact that we do have four or five states where folks made an effort.

We have three more days and the campaign will be closed, and I would like to schedule a conference call with all of you and discuss lessons learned and what you found to work or not work. We will be sending out a scheduling email soon.

Thank you so much for your hard work,

Roger 

29 MAY 2009 5050

Good afternoon! And what a great Friday it is! We are preparing to announce another great program helping Veterans with homes and yesterday we gave a briefing that opened a door to $150,000 worth of grant support for Veteran homeowners! 

We now have 19 Veterans in our Warrior Treatment Today program, so your help is very much needed!

Thanks to all, Illinois is kicking the door down, almost to $200!

Great job! 

Roger 

26 MAY 2009 50/50

Good morning and upfront, my apologies. I found myself not only very sick, but also out of contact with the world for a week.

I am much better now, and came back to some great news! We received word that one of our 5050 folks has pledged $500 in support of our effort, so we are approaching $3,000 so far, with just a few days left. 

I also learned today at our start of the week meeting that we are now working with PTSD guys in six different states and are now hearing from the families that we are making a tremendous difference in the well-being of the family as they go through the rehabilitative effort. It is our goal to add a full circle of support to the family and the Veteran, beyond just paying bills, but also developing a frame work of care that extends to beyond coming home.

Thanks for all you do, and God Bless all our Veterans and their families.

Roger 

13 MAY 2009 5050

Good morning from rainy and warm Kentucky! Lots of really cool stuff getting ready to be released, and I am so fired up, knowing the impact that we are having with the folks we are helping. That includes a note from one of our clients that said we saved his life. Of course only he really knows that, but just the idea that he would think that is enough for me.

What does $5 do for USA Cares? More than you know. $5 is how much the yard sign cost that started us back in 2003. WAVE 3 TV and Kroger sold them, and ended up giving us $121,000 that was the prime that started the pump that to date has almost reached a total of $9 million! So $5 counts. It all counts.

Thanks to all of you that are trying to make a difference.

Roger