All Hands on Deck

Project VALOUR-IT is having a fund drive starting today through Veterans Day, November 11! This time there is going to be a friendly competition between the NAVY, Army, Marines, and the Air Force.

I, of course, am going all out for the NAVY. Here's one reason why.

MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan - U.S. Navy equipment operator Craig Ries steered his 15-ton truck through this earthquake-ravaged city and recalled the destruction of a disaster thousands of miles away, Hurricane Katrina.

The storm swept away the two-story apartment complex in Mississippi where he lived with his wife and two children.

"It's a bittersweet feeling being here," said Ries, a 25-year-old petty officer 3rd class. "We lost everything. I'd like to be at home, but the people really need us here." "We lost everything...but the people need us here"

This unique program will benefit all of our wounded heroes. Captain Ziegenfuss, the inspiration behind Project VALOUR-IT, is currently back in the hospital and recovering after more surgery. Stop by his site and read about what he is going through.

Sergeant Buzz Robinson is another who has benefitted from a lap top for him to use while in the hospital.

My nephew, Sgt. Richard (Buzz) Robertson was wounded in Iraq last week. He had shrapnel in his liver and stomach. The worst of his injuries is a lacerated spinal cord. He is currently in Walter Reed Hospital and has a 50% chance of ever being able to walk again. Buzz and his unit were in an up-armored Humvee when they hit an IED near the border of Syria. Several of the men died so we are very lucky that Buzz is a survivor.

Fuzzilicious received this e-mail from his mother.

I can't believe it but I just called to talk to my son to see how he was doing and he said the Angels for Soldiers delivered a Dell Laptop today!!! This is really incredible! The love and support..."

So far we have purchased forty laptops--we have the capacity to assist forty soldiers. Considering the kind of impact this can have on each wounded soldier (and family) who receives a laptop, that's not nearly enough.

As for me, it's NAVY all the way!! GO NAVY!! Go to Smash's site and help the Navy blow the Army, Marines, and Air Force out of the water in this "friendly" competition.

Our wounded need our help and y'all have been so very generous with helping us out here in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, I fear donation fatigue may be sitting in. There is another way to help. As a blogger, you can help spread the word about this donation drive by posting at your site between now and Veterans Day. Blackfive has links to the Army, Air Force, & Marine team leaders.

Linked with Basil's Covered Dish Supper 11/02/05

UPDATE: 11/05/05 Thanks to Patrick for posting about this! Reaching Out to Our Hereos

If would like to join one of the teams, click here . The NAVY is a very good choice.