Afghanistan

Subscribe to Afghanistan via RSS

Capt. William Swenson received the Medal of Honor this week from Pres. Obama.  Capt. Swenson received his award for the same battle in which LCPL Dakota Meyer received his Medal of Honor.  I previously wrote about Dakota Meyer here.  Capt. Swenson exposed himself to enemy fire repeatedly to bring back soldiers trapped in an…

In a remarkable advance for persons with disabilities, Justin Slaby won his discrimination lawsuit against the FBI.  The jury returned a verdict awarding Mr. Slaby $75,000 in compensatory (emotional suffering) damages.  Because the government is the defendant, punitive damages are not available.  The court will determine the details regarding whether Mr. Slaby should be reinstated…

Yes, there is still a war on.  A son of the City Manager for Olmos Park died from his injuries in a bomb blast.  SSGT Michael H. Simpson died from injuries from an IED while riding an ATV.  SSGT Simpson was the son of Michael W. Simpson, the City Manager for Olmos Park, Texas.  Michael…

LCPL Benjamin Schmidt was killed in Afghanistan last year by friendly fire.  Before he joined the Marines, he was studying at Texas Christian University.  After his Marine service, he had planned to return to TCU to study history.  He enjoyed TCU so much that he designated TCU to receive one-half of his $200,000 life insurance…

I just do not get it.  I keep seeing and hearing stories about veterans who are not being hired.  One woman spent a year in Iraq guarding high profile prisoners.  She joined the National Guard at the age of 36 years old.  Soon, she went on her first tour in Iraq.  She was laid off…

A San Antonio warrant officer was killed in a helicopter crash in Logar Province, Afghanistan.  CW2 Thalia S. Ramirez and another soldier from the Rio Grande Valley were piloting a OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter, a scout helicopter when they crashed.  CW2 Ramirez was assigned to the 82d Airborne Division.  There are indications the helicopter may…

Its hard to believe there is a war on.  We are in the middle of a cantankerous presidential debate, but the war in Afghanistan never comes up.  According to a San Antonio Express News columnist, we have had the highest number of casualties since last September.  According to statistics, the number of attacks on American…

I do not understand why some service members feel the need to exaggerate their military service.  I suppose some of that has long occurred.  Once, I was in the Officers Club at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas enjoying a drink with another service member.  Some guy we did not know, sitting at the bar started telling…

To join the US Army, a person must be be smart enough, in sufficient physical condition, free of drug use and free of criminal history.  These requirements mean only two out of ten teenagers qualify.  Those who do enlist are often the best in other ways.  The Stars and Stripes news report about one such…

 2LT Clovis Ray was killed in Afghanistan recently.  He grew up in Three Rivers, but here in San Antonio,  He joined the US Army at the relatively late age of 32 after many years as an investment banker.  He worked for Wells Fargo and Wachovia banks here in San Antonio before enlisting and going through…