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V-mail and Gmail

Filed under DoD News by glenn.selby on May 18, 2012 at 7:51 am {no comments}

Story by Isaac Lamberth

Auschwitz II - Birkenau - Entrance gate and main track. ( Photo by C.Puisney)

On April 28, 1941 – 71 years ago today as I write this – Leo Morgenstern, my great grandfather, wrote a letter from Nazi-occupied France to his son in America, asking for bribe money to facilitate his escape. The letter arrived in January, 1944, having been held up by a British censor due to concerns over its origins behind enemy lines. If only he could have sent an e-mail, he might not have perished at Auschwitz.

Not being an American GI, though his son was, he could not have taken advantage of V-mail. V-mail (V for Victory) was an ingenious system that converted letters into microfilm, shrinking over a ton of mail down to a mere 45 pounds for shipping. The letters were reprinted on the receiving end.

V-mail may have saved precious cargo space but it’s impact on delivery time was limited since it was still shipped by boat, to say nothing of the privacy issues involved in having one’s letters read and photographed by strangers.

Today the majority of U.S. troops in Afghanistan have daily access to the Internet (albeit slow and clunky), including Skype, Facebook and e-mail.

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Hard Work Is The Price For Gas In Afghanistan

Filed under DoD News by jtozer on May 18, 2012 at 7:42 am {no comments}

Spc. Lishan Watson (left), a petroleum supply specialist, rotates her arm in a circular motion with her finger pointed, the signal for Sgt. Rodney Frazier(right), a native of Fayetteville, N.C., section chief for the distribution platoon to start pumping fuel in order to cold-fuel a CH-47F Chinook helicopter. (Photo by Sgt. Richard Wrigley)

Just as blood is the liquid that keeps your body up and moving, so is fuel the liquid that keeps an aviation task force in the air and completing the mission.

You would think that this means that those who are in charge of dispensing the fuel would be hot-shots, always in the lime-light and loved by all for performing their indispensable job.

The reality though is quite different.

“We’re in an aviation unit and the majority of the soldiers are therefore aviation personnel. We’re support guys and they appreciate us, but we can sometimes get lost in the mix,” said 1st Sgt. Eteru Ane, a native of Pago Pago, American Samoa, senior enlisted adviser for Company E, Task Force Spearhead, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division.

These soldiers though are finally receiving the recognition they deserve.

The soldiers of E Company’s distribution platoon have pumped more than three million gallons of fuel during their deployment to western Afghanistan. The important role they play in the task force’s day to day operations simply cannot be overstated.

No generator, Humvee, UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, or CH-47 Chinook helicopter would work without the platoon’s soldiers who provide the fuel that keep these machines operational, said Sgt. Rodney Frazier, a native of Fayetteville, N.C., section chief for the Distribution Platoon.

The soldiers have provided constant support to both the ground and air fleet by taking initiative and displaying a hunger to excel, Frazier continued.

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LIVE Stream: Hall of Heroes Induction Ceremony for U.S. Army Specialist Leslie Sabo

Filed under DoD News by Bradley Cantor on May 17, 2012 at 1:05 pm {no comments}

Join us today at 13:00 EST for a live stream of the Hall of Heroes induction ceremony at the Pentagon for Army Specialist Leslie Sabo. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Secretary of the Army John McHugh and Army Chief of Staff GEN Ray Odierno deliver remarks at the induction ceremony.

Pentagon Channel

Spouses Take Action to Learn Self Defense and Rape Prevention

Filed under DoD News, Spouse Spotlight by jtozer on May 17, 2012 at 7:31 am {no comments}

While Marine spouses Karen J. Riles and Jennifer J. Rosen refine a technique derived from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program for a rape prevention and self defense class, Cpl. Christopher A. Terrell, the assistant family readiness officer for Marine Forces Europe and Africa, helps guide them through the proper steps to improve their proficiency in case it ever needs to be used in a real-world situation. (Photo by Cpl. Tatum Vayavananda)

Concerning threats to individual safety and security, anyone can be a victim. But the Family Readiness Office of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa is trying to help even those odds by offering Marine spouses a rape prevention and self-defense class at MARFOREUR headquarters last week.

Along with Marine Corps Martial Arts Program techniques, that have been modified specifically for the course, the class emphasized situational awareness, planning ahead, and minimizing risk in real-world situations, such as in a parking lot or leaving a hotel alone.

“Women can’t fight like men and Marines can teach MCMAP all day but that doesn’t mean we will be able to execute it and remember it in [scary] situations,” said Katherine L. Nelson, family readiness officer, MARFOREUR and MARFORAF, who also took the class.

“Every woman should know a few basic things to help themselves be more aware when they are alone,” said Nelson. “We find ourselves leaving the post exchange, commissary or school functions alone a lot. We are in a foreign country; things can happen to anyone,” added the Marshall, Texas, native.

The course was instructed by Master Sgt. James A. Hall, the intelligence chief for MARFOREUR, and certified rape-prevention instructor through Talon Self Defense Systems, Denver, Colo. The Dallas, Texas, native has practiced martial arts since he was six-years-old, has been a martial-arts instructor since the age of 15, and, along with a black belt in MCMAP, holds black belts in the disciplines of Ninjutsu, Koppojutsu, and Kenpo.

“His passion and knowledge for martial arts is phenomenal,” said Cpl. Christopher A. Terrell, who assisted teaching the course and is the assistant family readiness officer, MARFOREUR and MARFORAF.
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Making a Difference One Soldier at a Time

Filed under DoD News, Wednesday Warfighter by jtozer on May 17, 2012 at 7:12 am {no comments}

U.S. Army Spc. Annette Daniel of Tiffin, Ohio, a Unit Ministry Team chaplain assistant with Task Force Corsair (right), takes a moment to catch up with soldiers on Forward Operating Base Shank. Daniel says interacting with soldiers is what she enjoys most about her job as a chaplain assistant. (U.S. Army Photo by Capt. Katharine Williams, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

Annette Daniel, a 21-year-old soldier from Tiffin, Ohio, is a chaplain assistant and part of the Unit Ministry Team with Task Force Corsair. Daniel said she became a chaplain assistant because she wanted to make a difference in the lives of soldiers.

“Sometimes soldiers just want to be heard. They want to know that someone wants to listen and understand what they are saying. That’s where I come in, I want to hear and understand them,” said Daniel.

When speaking with Daniel, it’s obvious that her profession is a perfect fit; she is engaging, personable and has a warmth that elicits comfort and trust.

“Daniel is the perfect fit for being a chaplain assistant. Her genuine caring personality is exactly what we need and try to teach to all chaplain assistants. We are blessed that it all just comes naturally for her,” said Chaplain (Maj.) Stanton Trotter of LaPalma, Calif., 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade chaplain. “Daniel is a joy to see in action. She naturally relates to all soldiers and is incredibly proactive as she helps her chaplain care for all of our soldiers.”

Daniel has had training in counseling but explains that soldiers aren’t always looking for advice or encouragement, they just want to be heard, and that’s where she comes in.

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