for spending time with the Clark Community Network. Your work with Operation Helmet is a fine example of Taking Action!

...and how many still need them?

We hear so often that Americans have not been called upon to help in this war - Unlike WWII, in which citizens at home could help by their work and sacrifices.

Operation Helmet gives us such a real and meaningful way to help our troops. I'm so grateful to have learned more about it.

carol4clark

General Wes Clark * * * * 4 Stars Over Texas

It's good to have you here.

Thanks for all of the great work you're doing with Operation Helmet.

Two questions not really related to Operation Helmet....I hope you don't mind.

How's your brother doing? That was a wonderful email he sent you. I had tears in my eyes reading it. I can only imagine how it made you feel.

And, is that your boy in the picture with you? He's gorgeous.

"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark

Glad to be here, too! I am a slow typist so hang in there with me. Just checked the Operation Helmet web site (operationhelmet.org) and the backlog is 3,632! This is a funding backlog not a manufacture. As for my brother, he is awesome and headed back home for a few months. Should arrive back in San Diego on the 15th. He is so excited about all the support the troops are getting via Operation Helmet and was thankful for this opportunity to share the news with the CCN. The little boy in the picture is Will. He is sitting right here with me. He too is a huge OH supporter and regularly donates his allowance.

other than email, that have been successful. I'm thinking about contacting the VFW. Oh, and I fairly sure that the general store will put out some flyers for me.

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley 

Over 21,058 inserts have been shipped so far. As I mentioned earlier, there is a large backorder. However, if you are purchasing an insert for someone, shipment can be made immediately. When I ordered Chris's, the insert was placed that day. When we ordered for the platoon, the guys got them within just a few days and they were deployed! Oregon Areo, the manufacture, and the Meaders are wonderful.

Welcome to CCN Hilary.

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley 

Donna, emails and begging have certainly worked (never underestimate the latter). Also, Nashville news has picked up the story. Lately, I have been having some success with writing businesses. Once a day, I try to mail something to a local store/business. Next on the list is setting up booths. I have three venues scheduled this month. One thing always leads to another. Someone hears about the project and wants to help. And that is one of the nicest aspects of OH: people can get involved at all levels (i.e., high/low involvement, high/low donations, high/low awareness of the military situation).

I want to thank you so much for your work, and wanted to let you know how inspiring you are to others. There might not be many 'good' stories that come out of war, but it's amazing to me when I see examples of personal goodness and the soaring of the human spirit.

Currently I'm writing a book on our returning OEF/OIF troops, and have a section planned which will close the book out offering examples of what people across the country are doing to make a differnce. I would be honored to include your story, as well as details on Operation Helmet.

Please feel free to contact me at ptsdcombatmail -at- insightbb.com, and I'll be happy to send you out a copy of what I'll include in my manuscript submission if you'd like a once-over before manuscript submission.

Again, many thanks. I just love what you're doing!

Blogging on PTSD Combat

Congratulations on the success of Operation Helmet!  

I do question why the DoD has been unable to satisfy the needs for our military men and women who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially given its huge budget.  But that aside,  your efforts to support our troops is truly admirable and there's no doubt that you helped saved thousands of lives!! 

Heartfelt thanks to you and everyone who supports this cause! 

================================ 

"Debate, Dialogue, Discussion, Disagreement - that's not wrong -that's not unpatriotic, that's one of the highest forms of patriotism and love of country, and we need to say it!" - Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.)

I mentioned how OH is very flexible for donors (the amount you give, involvement etc), but I should also note that on the recipients’ side, there are multiple things that this insert does. Along with a piece of equipment that certainly can save lives, not to mention the physical comfort that it brings, there is a morale factor. I have received letters from the men in Chris’s platoon that even now make me cry. I carry them with me all the time as a reminder to keep going (keep begging and nagging and pestering) because these men were blown away that individuals are doing this for them. For them! They can’t believe our sacrifice, which really amazes me. It seems the least we can do.

Now this is not to say that I don’t want the government to start picking up the tab. I do want that. But in the mean time, I am glad to give something to our troops. I am glad to bring the focus back on them.

Good question Knightrider. The good news is we have such a champion in the Meaders. They are continually fighting the Washington battle. Please tell folks that they can find at the OH (operationhelmet.org) site prewritten letters for your representatives. All you have to do is print and mail or copy and email.

This is really great what you are doing. I have sent emails about Operation Helmet to my friends and relatives. : )

You are an inspiration to us all.

Ilona, I am so glad that you are writing these stories. It would be such an honor for my little part in the OH project to be included. One of the things that I am doing for Chris is to keep a journal of the letter that people send me. The outpouring is unreal. Like you all, I want him to know how much people do support them. CarolNYC is right; our government not funding the project is pathetic and such a dishonor to our service people (I can’t believe yesterday’s news). But thank God, Americans have stepped up. Thank you Oregon Areo and the Meaders and General Clark and all of you.

Texas for Clark,
It’s not me. I am just one of the liaisons. This is a project that sells itself. What I have made sure that my brother’s guys know is that this is America responding. Sometimes with $5, once with a $1000, sometimes with prayers and promises to spread the news. But I am just one of the MANY people, like y’all that keep passing the news.

Another thing that I love about OH is that anyone can get involved: a book club, a Sunday school class, a Boy Scout pack, and certainly individuals. If you email Dr. Meaders, he will respond! So will his son Mark. If you ever have questions, or want to bounce ideas off him, just drop him a line. His contact information and mine can be retrieved from the site.

And welcome to the Clark Community Network. I want you to know how much the work you are doing on Operation Helmet is appreciated by those of us who truly support our troops efforts. Thank you!

I read somewhere that many of the men & women who have suffered these devastating head wounds were not actually wearing their helmets when they were injured. Do you have any statistics on this? While I agree that there is a definite need for upgrades to the standard military-issued helmets, they will do no good if the service men & women don't want to wear them. Has this problem ever been addressed?

Donna,
I was considering your strategies question and I think that having a goal really helps. Perhaps when you are fundraising, you could say, we are raising $7,000 in order to buy 100 inserts. Or tie your work to a certain platoon or company you want to support. Something that makes this more personal.

Hey Reggiesmom—You are right. Those Kevlar helmets are hot and heavy and not fun to wear. But the upgrade makes them so much more comfortable! A letter that I received from a Marine that had been in the service for 10 years and had personally been through many of the helmet changes wrote how nothing he had seen previously had been as comfortable as the Kevlar with the Oregon Areo insert. If the helmet is comfortable they are more likely to wear them. Amen for a product that works in so many different ways.

You are absolutely right! Hearing the stories has changed me—for good and bad. Some days, I get so frustrated (jokingly, I’ve said that I need my own insert for all the times that I bang my head on the wall). But really, it is an easy project. People want to help; it’s just getting the word out. It was a great day, when Carol emailed asking about posting my essay. The next couple days were slow. It goes in cycles. But I have about $6000 bucks left to raise to cover Alpha Company (even though they are coming home, 6 months from now, they are gone again). And like you, all of you, that keeps me going.

Just logged on the the blog and haven't had time to read all the comments. So, don't know if this has been suggested already: How about Ed Schultz on Air America Radio? Call or contact him on the AirAmeica website - and he would probably schedule you to speak on his program. Or maybe you have been on his show already.

Best Regards,
Linnea in Seattle

You are the perfect example of what just one person can do. Sometimes we feel so helpless, but your story and efforts are proof that we can all make a difference. Thank you for your time, energy and inspiration!

Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - Hunter/Garcia

If any of you would like printable copies of the article it can be pulled from the OH web site or the MTSU site (I would give you the link, but our university site is down due to a storm). But email me. I would be glad to help you get something going in your neighborhood. A CCN member is coming down to TN to help me with a OH Labor Day project. Again, amazing. Let me return the favor; let me know what I can do to help. Also, email the Meaders. It keeps me up at night thinking there are people out there that don’t know about this project. We have to get the word out.

Hey Linnea—AirAmerica and The Al Franken show are great. Actually, AF is where I heard about the project—they are good about getting military news out. He has had Meaders on twice and mentions OH regularly.

Jen—I have learned so much from this project. My classes have a large service component and I always give them a copy of that great Margaret Mead quote. You know the one about how one person can make a difference. And I believe that, but in this situation, I am so not alone. I invest my time and some money, but that’s it. This is America coming together. America is doing this. If that wasn’t the case, I would have been dead in the water a long time ago.

I've thought about making a donation in someone's honor or memory for Christmas. I'm thinking it would be especially meaningful for a veteran or veteran's family

carol4clark

General Wes Clark * * * * 4 Stars Over Texas

Thank you for bringing Operation Helmet to light Hillary. I can think of no finer place than Wes Clark's board. I have already begun to work on this project, getting the word out to a small service club here in Northern California - I got back an enthusiastic response from them today - and will be contacting others. This has become quite personal for me...

This is a truly wonderful project. Thanks for all you do.

What would you do for a Klondike Bar?

Carol-- What a great idea. I had one mother contact me wanting to get an insert for her son's wedding present. That one made me cry, both because she loves her son so much and again how sad it is that these are not provided. H

Well guys, I guess it’s time to hit the sack. Please know how much I value your dedication and appreciate you letting me participate. I can be reached anytime. This is a project dear to my heart and I will help in anyway to support your OH endeavors or any other work that you do on behalf of our service people.

Thank-you so much, Hilary, for stopping in to visit with us.

CCN has really become like a "virtual family" for many, and we're so glad to have you as a part of it.

Please know you'll always be welcome, and that we'll be eager to hear that Chris is home safely, along with his platoon.

And thanks to Will, as well, for sharing you with us this evening!

carol4clark

General Wes Clark * * * * 4 Stars Over Texas

Thank you

This subject just fills me more than up- to overflowing- with very powerful emotions. I have an uncle who served in Vietnam & is a triple amputee. If I said that over a period spanning more than thirty years he has accumulated a medical file that would fill the trunk of a limousine- that would be the least of it. A rare blood disease, alcoholism, PTSD, mouth cancer, heart attacks. To try to stave off an infection from a bed sore, he underwent another, higher amputation removing his hipbone earlier this week. It is a story of a life - one, only one, of so many tens of thousands of similar heartbreaking stories- so perverted by needless pain & suffering inflicted on a man - (he was under 18 and had been in Vietnam less than six weeks when it happened).

The point is how stunning the trivial dollar amount is that it would take to ensure this equipment is available compared to the cost of not having it. And it is a cost those who make the decisions to send our good men and women in uniform into harm's way rarely, if ever, have to actually pay themselves. 

The point is how can a government who cannot get equipment manufactured have the audacity, arrogance & false sense of it's own abilities so inflated as to actually believe they can win something utterly abstract- a global war on terror. Global war on terror? They can't even get factories re-tooled to produce this equipment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The mind actually reels to consider it. Trying to fight a "global war on terrorism" on the cheap. 

While a helmet insert would not have prevented his injuries- the only thing I believe can begin to stop the flow of new casualties & injuries being generated even at this moment is widespread, organized public protest. And I realize that through your involvement & outreach- non-partisan, as is proper- this is an American problem, a human problem- that you are doing all you can. But, my hope is that somehow, we find a way to step up much more visibly and draw stronger, unmistakable connections in the mind of the public & corporate media about the way the fate of those who died in the attacks on Sept. 11th, and those who have been sent abroad to supposedly combat hostile forces - are so tied together.

Airlines & border security too cheap to have proper security enforcement, military/gov. too cheap to have proper gear. Two sides of the same coin ruled by beancounters focused on excel spreadsheets. 

So sorry I missed you while you were here, but I just wanted to extend much of the same sentiments as others have; praise, frustration, and tremendous appreciation for all your efforts and the work of Operation Helmet. I'll be sending them what I can and I have a strong feeling, knowing the Clark Community as I do.... you haven't heard the last of us on Operation Helmet.

Thank you for your selfless work for the troops and for taking the time to grace the pages of CCN! In a world that sometimes seems devoid of inspiration, you have shone new light on our collective creativity and compassion.

as a member of the Troops and Vets committee, I was AWOL and beg forgiveness, the electrician was here, but I am ready to come back to work full time, the house is now done, and I have time to work again. I am real happy to see that Ilona has graciously agreed to join the group, her knowledge of PTSD and her warmth will definately be an asset.

SSG M G Bailey disabled vet Army 73-82 and Gulf War 1

And Bluemoon is right. I love the first sentence,
"This subject just fills me more than up- to overflowing- with very powerful emotions."

That really captures how so many of us feel. Great points described so well.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-08-08-brain-center_x.htm

Center for war-related brain injuries faces budget cut

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

Congress appears ready to slash funding for the research and treatment of brain injuries caused by bomb blasts, an injury that military scientists describe as a signature wound of the Iraq war.

House and Senate versions of the 2007 Defense appropriation bill contain $7 million for the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center — half of what the center received last fiscal year.

Proponents of increased funding say they are shocked to see cuts in the treatment of bomb blast injuries in the midst of a war.

"I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country," says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. "It blows my imagination."

The Brain Injury Center, devoted to treating and understanding war-related brain injuries, has received more money each year of the war — from $6.5 million in fiscal 2001 to $14 million last year. Spokespersons for the appropriations committees in both chambers say cuts were due to a tight budget this year.

"Honestly, they would have loved to have funded it, but there were just so many priorities," says Jenny Manley, spokeswoman for the Senate Appropriations Committee. "They didn't have any flexibility in such a tight fiscal year."

George Zitnay, co-founder of the center, testified before a Senate subcommittee in May that body armor saves troops caught in blasts but leaves many with brain damage. "Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury of the war on terrorism," he testified.

Zitnay asked for $19 million, and 34 Democratic and six Republican members of Congress signed a letter endorsing the budget request.

The House of Representatives approved its version of the spending bill June 20. A vote in the Senate is pending.

Scientists at the center develop ways to diagnose and treat servicemembers who suffer brain damage. The work is done at seven military and Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, including the center's headquarters at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, and one civilian treatment site.

The center has clashed with the Pentagon in recent months over a program to identify troops who have suffered mild to moderate brain injuries in Iraq from mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and roadside bombs — the most common weapons used by insurgents.

Preliminary research by the center shows that about 10% of all troops in Iraq, and up to 20% of front line infantry troops, suffer concussions during combat tours. Many experience headaches, disturbed sleep, memory loss and behavior issues after coming home, the research shows.

The center urged the Pentagon to screen all troops returning from Iraq in order to treat symptoms and create a database of brain injury victims. Scientists say multiple concussions can cause permanent brain damage.

The Pentagon so far has declined to do the screening and argues that more research is needed.

Am writing my representatives, now!