Just as no one should be left behind, no one should ever be forgotten

I am posting this today with mixed emotions. Please know that while I still adhere to my stance on not discussing politics, I do feel that our government holds a huge responsibility in our country. We count on them and defer to them in times of crisis to make responsible, reasonable and well informed decisions. Being a paid public figure who sits in such positions is an awesome responsibility and certainly not one that I would want, so I certainly don't mean any disrespect with this post. I just feel that with their job there can not be any room for error. Just as our military is bound by a code of conduct much higher than any other organization in this country, shouldn't our government be held to the same standards? It is because of that immense weight we lie upon their shoulders that I'm torn between what I came across this morning.

On August 1st, 2013 U.S. Representative, Scott Rigell stood before the house and asked the speaker to bear with him for five minutes as he paid honor to the 32 American Heroes lost nearly two years earlier on August 6, 2011 during Extortion 17. Please know that the number 32 referenced above is not an error or typo on my part. That is the number he mentioned twice during his five minute speech. Then he listed the names of those American Heroes, going through the Navy, Army and Air Force personnel until all 30 names were read. Once again, when I wrote 30, that was not an error. If we are counting only American casualties, from Extortion 17 alone, the number would be 30, plus 1 military working dog named, Bart. To read the entire record for that day, please click HERE.

The faces of the 30 American heroes lost in Extortion 17 on August 6, 2011

Please know that I believe Mr. Rigell's intention to be pure of heart and obviously his assistant or whoever slipped him the little piece of paper gave him wrong information. However, I can't help but wonder how quickly someone in the military would be reprimanded (severely) if they made even the slightest error on a mission. Regardless, I will digress as I am neither judge, nor jury. My biggest bone of contention with this is that sadly we lose countless lives every week, month and year and these names do not get mentioned. They do not take five minutes out of their sessions to read their names. My question is why? Now, to the people who are saying to me right now, "but, it was the greatest loss of life for NSW (Naval Special Warfare) in a single day since Operation Red Wings in 2005" I completely agree with you and can't tell you how much my heart hurts for the families that lost loved ones that day. 

Marine Sgt. Daniel J. Patron

However, how many know that on that same day, of the same year, we also lost a Marine? Marine Sgt. Daniel J. Patron was 26 years old and from Canton, OH. He died in Helmand Province, Afghanistan while attempting to disarm a roadside bomb. We've all heard the names of the 31 heroes (including Bart) that were killed during Extortion 17, but how many of you can honestly say they've heard of Marine Sgt. Patron? Did you know that he has a highway which has been dedicated to him? Did you also know that after serving two tours in Iraq in 2005 and 2009 that he voluntarily extended his service? When he was killed, he only had three months left on his tour. In November he would have been home. Home with his family.

Every day on Honor Them the names and faces of the our fallen heroes are shared with everyone who wishes to take a moment to say thank you for the tremendous sacrifice these heroes have made for our country and us. In light of Mr. Rigell's five minutes wishing to pay remembrance to those American heroes lost, I can't help but feel that an injustice has been done to the other families who also grieve on this day. So, please, if you would, join me in a moment of silence while I list the other names that were not mentioned and who lost their lives on August 6th during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Army Spc. Zeferino E. Colunga KIA 2003-08-06

Army Pvt. Kyle C. Gilbert KIA 2003-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Brian R. Hellermann KIA 2003-08-06

Army Sgt. Leonard D. Simmons KIA 2003-08-06

Marine Cpl. Roberto Abad KIA 2004-08-06

Army Spc. Joshua I. Bunch KIA 2004-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Larry L. Wells KIA 2004-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Chase J. Comley KIA 2005-08-06

Army Sgt. Brahim J. Jeffcoat KIA 2005-08-06

Army Spc. Kurt E. Krout KIA 2005-08-06

Army Sgt. Carlton A. Clark KIA 2006-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Tracy L. Melvin KIA 2006-08-06

Army Staff Sgt. Stephen A. Seale KIA 2006-08-06

Army Cpl. Jose Zamora KIA 2006-08-06

Army Cpl. Juan M. Alcantara KIA 2007-08-06

Army Sgt. Nicholas A. Gummersall KIA 2007-08-06

Army Cpl. Kareem R. Khan KIA 2007-08-06

Army Spc. Christopher T. Neiberger KIA 2007-08-06  

Army Staff Sgt. Jacob M. Thompson KIA 2007-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Cpl. Christian Guzman Rivera KIA 2009-08-06

Marine Cpl. Daniel L. Linnabary II KIA 2012-08-06

My final thought is more of a question for Mr. Rigell and every other politician who serves in such an important capacity for our country. I ask you to not forget the sacrifice paid by so many others. We have lost thousands upon thousands of heroes since the global war on terror began. Not just 30, or even 32. I ask you to please make note of every loss of life, not just the ones lost in certain tragedies. It should never be about the number of lives lost. The person who was lost should be what matters the most. 

Since Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation New Dawn has began (and at the time of this post), U.S. Central Command has confirmed 6,714 deaths as the result of these conflicts. They were fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, they were husbands and wives. And more importantly, they were heroes. They served our great nation valiantly, they put duty before self. 

Quite simply, they gave their today, for our tomorrows. 

Let us not forget any one of them.

With respect, and immense gratitude. I thank you for your time in reading this message.
~ Amanda HONOR THEM! 

War Affects Many

Good afternoon folks, In light of the recent news that a US Soldier has killed over a dozen Afghan civilians I would like to share my personal thoughts on this subject.

First and foremost, I would like to emphasize that ALL life is precious. With Please that being said, I do not condone or make excuses for anyone taking the lives of innocent civilians, regardless of their nationality. Be that as it may, I am not in a position to make judgment calls on this particular incident. In fact, none of us are. I ask everyone to please let the appropriate authorities investigate this incident and let them decide the course of action and/or punishment. We were not there and do not have the capability to look into all that took place.

Sadly, there have been many innocents lost in the global war in terror. I emphasize again, that ALL life is a precious commodity and one that should be cherished, not used as a pawn in war. Unfortunately, this does happen. War is an ugly beast which can change an ordinary man and make him see and feel things that we couldn't begin to possibly understand. Instead of passing judgment on any person, instead I ask that you all join me in saying a prayer and having a moment of silence for all those innocent lives that were taken. We may not be able to turn back the hands of time and change what happened, but hopefully we can learn from this tragedy and it will never happen again.

With respect for all those affected by war,

Amanda

DS&S Tactical's Charity Knife Auction in honor of those fallen on 8-6-11

On August 6, 2011 our nation was rocked by tragedy when a CH-47 Chinook carrying 38 Warriors was shot down by a rocket propelled grenade in the Wardack Province of Afghanistan killing all 38 people on board.  Of those who died, 17 were U.S. Navy SEALs, 5 were U.S. Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Command Support personnel, 5 were crew members from the U.S. Army's 7th Battallion, 158th Aviation Regiment and 2nd Batallion, 135th Aviation Regiment, 2 were special operations U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen (PJ's) and 1 Combat Controller from the Air Force Special Operation Command (AFSOC); also on board was a highly trained U.S. military dog.

Sadly, the event was reminiscent of a blow we felt a little over six years ago on June 28, 2005, when we lost 11 U.S. Navy SEALs and 8 of our U.S. Army's Night Stalkers in Operation Red Wings.  Until August 6th that had been the single worst loss of life in the Special Operations Command in Afghanistan. The similarities and immense number of casualties served as a chilling reminder of the grief felt six years ago.

DS&S Tactical, a company founded by a Veteran of Somalia, is making a total of four custom knives to honor our fallen Warriors. These knives will be auctioned and sold to the highest bidder with 100% of the proceeds made going to charities which will help military families. The first knife in the series, and the one you see below will benefit The Navy SEAL Foundation in honor of the fallen heroes of 8/6/11 Tangi River Valley "Extortion 17".

For those of you who have watched me on my mission to Honor Them in the past year you know that any organization willing to give back to military or veterans and their families is always going to have my full and unyielding support. So I ask you to please share this very worthy cause with as many people as you can so that we can help DS&S Tactical raise as much money as possible to give back to those who have given so much.  As always, I thank you for your support and all you do to Honor Them.

"All gave some ~ Some gave all"

LINK TO AUCTION

From the DS&S Tactical website:

Because we can:

DS&S will offer a separate knife for charity auction, in remembrance of each of the military services represented in the lives lost at the Tangi River Valley. Below, is the knife marking the lives and accomplishments of the Navy SEALs who died that day. In the coming weeks, we will produce three other blades: One for the Army, one for the Air Force - and we will also produce one to benefit Military Working Dogs. All four knives will be produced by us and 100-percent of the proceeds will go to charity to benefit military families...

The Tangi River Bullshark - now ready for handle and sheath construction - and the special nano-infusion process, which will make the steel as much as 100 times stronger than it is now.

 

 This is a close-up pic of the raw engraved blade which will be infused with single-walled carbon nano tubes - truly super steel .... and one of a kind.

A special thank you to DS&S Tactical for allowing me to post this information from their site. 

A few other pictures of the Tangi River Bullshark

Nano Tubes are applied.
They begin to fill in the cut channels and link together






  
The blade once it's coated

The blade once it's cured