Navy Wives

Project Valour-IT ~ Support OUR Injured Troops in their Recovery!!! Go TEAM ARMY!

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:39:58 -0800

Project Valour-IT

(formerly Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops)
In memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss

www.deltabravosierra.us

It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
–Major Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, on using a voice-controlled laptop

You can make a donation to Valour-IT through Paypal here.

Soldiers' Angels has been designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity by the IRS. Donations are tax-deductible and may be eligible for matching funds from donors' employers (ask your employer).Please include your name, address, phone number and email address with donations by mail. Send your donation by mail to: Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104. Donors may choose to sponsor a wounded soldier currently on the laptop waiting list. All funds received go directly to our wounded troops; 100% of your donation to Project Valour-IT will be used to purchase laptops and other technology that will support recovery and provide independence and freedom to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.

www.deltabravosierra.us

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:

Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.

Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).

Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

The experience of Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops and other technologies can be to a wounded service member's recovery.

Blackfive is once again leading the ARMY team in a friendly competition among the military branches/milbloggers to raise funds for Project Valour IT -http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/10/valourit-fundraiser-on-the-way.html#comments

I have joined the Army team...

Team Leaders

Air Force - Mudville Gazette

Army - Blackfive

Marines - Villainous Company

Navy - USNI Blog

Ryan Job, a USN SEAL WIA in Ramadi Iraq on August 2, 2006, dies at age 28 after surgery

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 10:27:16 -0700

Blinded by a sniper's bullet in Iraq, Ryan Job retained his characteristic determination and persistence. [He was on a rooftop in Ramadi, Iraq on Aug. 2, 2006, when a sniper's bullet struck the rifle he was holding in front of his face. Pieces of the shattered weapon tore through his face, severing one eye and damaging the nerves of the other, leaving him completely blind.]

He climbed Mount Rainier, trained for a triathlon and became a spokesman for an organization that helps wounded veterans transition to civilian life.

“This is just something that happened to me,” Job said. “I can’t change it. What are you going to do, stop living? It just made me take a different approach. I had goals and plans that had to change.”

JobRyan

Ryan Job & his guide dog

"He didn't back down from any challenge," said a friend, Tyler Lein, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Ryan Job, who grew up in Issaquah, Washington died Thursday morning, Sept. 24th after major reconstructive surgery at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. He was 28.

Mr. Job's younger brother, Aaron, served three tours of duty in Iraq with the Marines. The Seattle Times profiled the Job family during Aaron Job's deployments in 2003 and 2004.

Ryan Job, left, and his brother, Aaron

A story on Ryan Job, a former (medically retired) Navy SEAL, reaching the summit of Mount Rainier appeared in July 2008. Three combat injured veterans - two blind, one missing his right leg - we are talking about superior performance! All three veterans: Ryan Job, Chad Jukes and Joey Martinez III summited Mt. Rainier. Less than 50% of all climbers make it to the summit of Mt. Rainier. Due to the extraordinary makeup of these vets and their climbing team, the group made the 8-hour grueling climb getting to the summit (14,410 feet). They spent about an hour at the summit, then started their descent about 9 am. and arrived back in Camp Muir at 2:55 pm, for a total climb time of around 12 hours.

Ryan, 2008

Ryan

Camp Patriot Mt. Rainier climb '08, photos by Seacat Photography

His mother, Debbie Job, of Issaquah, said her son had taken on the challenge of blindness with the same strength with which he confronted other challenges in his life.

"He was determined not to be a disabled guy," his mother said Friday by phone from Arizona.

Ryan climbing Mount Rainier

Ryan Job prefered to focus on what he could do. The Issaquah native returned to Washington state this past July on a new mission - help his fellow war wounded conquer Mount Rainier. Photos are on flickr. See the July 2009 interview video clip -http://www.king5.com/video/index.html?nvid=377438

Ryan graduated from Jones International University with a 4.0 after he was wounded and was working for General Dynamics in Arizona.

Ryan Job underwent an eight-hour surgery Monday to rebuild his face and repair his eye socket. The recovery seemed to be proceeding smoothly, his mother said, though her son reported some discomfort Wednesday night. A nurse checked on him at 3:30 a.m. Thursday. He was found unresponsive at 5 a.m. She said the hospital had not determined the cause of death.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," said Debbie Job. "It's a total shock."

Neighbors of the Job family on the Sammamish Plateau recalled Ryan Job as a strong, physically active young man who had been determined to join the elite Navy special-operations force, despite the grueling training regimen. Mr. Job regularly swam across Beaver Lake a few miles from his home and ran for hours before dawn, said Neil Iovino, a neighbor who watched the Job boys grow up.

Trident

"His goal was to be a Navy SEAL and it didn't matter how hard it was," Iovino said.

Sentinels of Freedom AZ - Navy Seal Job

Ryan Job was born in 1981, the eldest of three children. He graduated from Sammamish High School in 1999 and joined the Navy in 2002. Mutual friends in San Diego, where he trained for the SEALs, introduced him to his future wife, Kelly. The couple married in 2007.

2007

Ryan Job was on patrol in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006 when a sniper's bullet struck his rifle. Pieces of the shattered weapon tore through his face, destroying one eye and severing the optic nerves of the other. [Ryan Job was wounded on the same mission as Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (SEAL) Marc Lee, who later died and was posthumously awarded the Silver Star-Read more in the book SEALs: The U.S. Navy's Elite Fighting Force (pg 202) by Mir Bahmanyar, Chris Osmani]

After his injury, Mr. Job spent time in military hospitals in Maryland, Florida and finally Palo Alto, Calif.

He and Kelly moved to Arizona in 2007 with the help of the Sentinels of Freedom Scholarship Foundation. The California-based organization assists armed-forces veterans severely injured in the line of duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001.

The foundation found a condo for the couple to live in, arranged for furniture and helped Mr. Job enroll in an online college program to complete the business degree he'd begun at the University of Washington.

Ryan and Kelly Job

"He was a great spokesman for the organization," said Lein, whose father, Howard Lein, founded the Arizona chapter of the Sentinels.

A 2007 story in The Arizona Republic quoted Mr. Job as saying he and his wife wanted to return the generosity others had shown them.

Job and Spieth

"Once I'm back on my feet, we'd like to help the next group of guys make the same transition."

Debbie Job said her daughter-in-law is pregnant with the couple's first child. She is due in May.

His brother, Aaron Job works with the Orange County Sheriff's Department and hopes to find a job in the Seattle area, his mother said.

In addition to his mother, wife and brother, Mr. Job is survived by his father, Eric Job, his sister, Kelsie, and his grandmother Barbara McCormick of Sammamish.

Funeral Services will be on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 11:00 AM. Scottsdale Bible Church 7601 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ. A celebration of life will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00PM (1800 hrs to 2000 hrs)

Marriott Hotel 16770 North Perimeter Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 502-3836

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to either Camp Patriot, www.camppatriot.org; Sentinels of Freedom, www.sentinelsoffreedom.org; or the Naval Special Warfare Foundation, www.nswfoundation.org.

From Robert Vera, Co-Founder, Iron90.com:

What are the odds?

I believe that there are no coincidences in life. There are people and events that shape our lives and things are as they should be for a reason. Perhaps this is our destiny. There are people who come into our lives that change them forever. Their presence is powerful, it sends a ripple through us and all who we meet. Their names alone are enough to motivate us to set worthy goals and to press on to finish difficult tasks. Ryan Job is this person in my life. Ryan and I met this past summer, the meeting was totally "by coincidence". In June a friend was in town visiting me from Boston. What are the odds that anyone would come visit me in Phoenix in the summer?

He had never been to Phoenix before and he came to work with me to train a group of clients at 5:30 one morning. One of my clients later emailed to tell me that her friend trains with a former Navy SEAL named Ryan Job and wanted to know if my friend knew him. I asked Steve and he smiled wide and said yes, he and Ryan were good friends. This was in June 2008, my friend Steven had not seen Ryan since BUDS training back in 2003. What are the odds?

Ryan and I met and began training together to prepare him for his goal; the ascent of the 14, 411 foot Mount Rainier. What are the odds that a blind guy would be able to climb a mountain?

Early each Saturday morning we put on our Heart Rate Monitors and hiked together on the various peaks that surround Phoenix. He would lead, I would call out directions from behind with my hand on his shoulder. We would pass young able bodied people all the way to the top where we would turn around to descend now facing the people that we had passed.

On the way up many were curious why I had my hand on his shoulder telling him where and how to step, now seeing Ryan they realized from his scare and closed eyes that he is blind. What are the odds that blind guy would pass you hiking?

On one occasion the people that we passed stood aside to let us come down and then without any warning or a single word, they broke out into spontaneous applause. Ryan asked me what was going on. I did not want a Navy SEAL to know that I was crying so I muttered, "keep going, I will tell you later". Tears streamed down my face as I walked behind him thinking; who is leading who?

My favorite book in the Bible is the Book of Job. It's about a man who has lost everything and finds the courage to walk by faith not by sight. What are the odds that now a blind man named Job was walking in front of me leading me by his faith not by sight?

Many who pray, including me, often request a sign or a clue that they are doing in life what they should be doing. Apparently, God knows that I sometimes miss his subtle suggestions, so he found a blind guy named Job to lead me early one morning on a desert trail then gathered a group of total strangers together to clap loudly as we passed by so that I would not miss his clue. (Thanks for tip, I got it).

On July 10, 2008, a little less than two years after Navy SEAL Ryan Job cheated death on a rooftop in Iraq, he stood atop the roof of Mount Rainier (See Seattle Times Story). As he did two F-15 jets flew over him to salute his achievement. What are the odds?

Ryan has gone on to challenge himself in other areas of life, he creates his own opportunities because he works hard at everything he does. We are all very grateful for Ryan's and for his fellow veterans service to our country. We are also grateful to all the organizations that support them especially Camp Patriot.

What are the odds that Ryan Job will continue to inspire more people and go on to conquer more summits? Very good!

Ryan is on the right

September 24, 2009-I hope you are soaring among the clouds, able to watch over your loved ones from above. Rest in Peace.-LIG

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USN SEAL Lt. Daniel Cnossen, WIA 9/8/09 needs YOUR support~SEAL Team One, USNA '02

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:06:22 -0700

USN SEAL Lt. Daniel Cnossen is a member of SEAL Team One based in Coronado, CA. He is also a 2002 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. Dan is a Topeka, Kansas native.

Lt Daniel Cnossen

He was seriously injured while operating near Kandahar, Afghanistan on September 8th, 2009. At this point, he has had both legs amputated at the knee. He may need to have these amputations revised later on in the week in order to better fit his prosthetics in the future. He has an open book pelvic fracture, as well as extensive deep tissue and internal wounds to the lower half of his body. From the waist up, everything else is great; no brain damage, no paralysis, no torso or facial injuries.

Dan is a truly inspirational person. Please visit his website often.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

This is from Rob, one of Dan's closest friends:

Family & Friends,

Just wanted to send you all a quick update on Dan...He is doing great and everyday is getting better and better. Yesterday, the ICU took Dan off the ventilator and to everyone's surprise he started talking. Dan remembers pretty much everything in detail, and his spirits are as high as ever. He understands his injuries and is anxious to start his rehab as soon as possible. He was even cracking jokes about the number of pullups he'll be able to knock out.... and how fast he'll be swimming with bionic fin attachments. He will be undergoing a surgical wash out today and will continue his surgical debridement/reconstructive surgeries every other day for sometime, hopefully to be out of the ICU in two weeks or less. He has the verybest surgeons... the White House medical team in fact. He wanted me to pass along to each of you that he loves you all and looks forward to seeing you all soon. Out of respect for Dan's family, and the necessity for Dan to get as much rest as he can while in the ICU, he wanted me to pass along that unless you are family or very close and immediate friend to please wait to visit until he is out of the ICU in 1-2 weeks. So far the support has been tremendous and the NSW community has taken great care of Dan and his family. Please feel free to send cards or notes of support to Dan and the family. As Dan begins the road to complete recovery, please continue to keep his Mother Alice and his Sister Leslie in your thoughts and prayers as well as the men in Dan's platoon as they begin their deployment. A few of us in the D.C. area will continue to be with Dan multiple times a week and I will be sending out a weekly SITREPs for you all. Please feel free to send me contact info of anyone else that wishes to be on the Distro list to track his progress.

Best Regards,

Rob

For Dan's Address in the ICU-see the website. Or leave a message of support at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dancnossen/guestbook

While many organizations have stepped forward to assist Dan and his family, his road to recovery will be very long. His mother and sister have taken unpaid leaves of absence from work to be with him. Dan will be in the hospital for many months ahead.

Your small donation here will go directly to Dan and his family to help support them through the recovery.

LT Brian Ray (USNA '02) is personally administering this fund. If you have any questions, please email him- RAY (at) usna.edu

100% of your donation goes directly to the family.

Feel free to contribute any amount, even $5 will help cover the cost of a meal, etc.

Click here for to pay by credit card or Paypal.

If you would prefer to donate via check:

Make your check payable to "Dan Cnossen Fund"

Mail to: Dan Cnossen (c/o LT Ray), 25 Baldridge Rd., Annapolis, MD 21401

Patriotic_soldier

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USN SEAL Lt Michael P. Murphy~5K Run/Walk~Bethpage NY~Sept 13, 2009

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:17:41 -0700

USN SEAL Lt Michael P. Murphy 5K Run/Walk - New Island Hospital

"Help Us Honor a Hero-Medal of Honor Recipient Lt Murphy"

Host:	New Island Hospital- Bethpage NY
Type:	Causes - Fundraiser

Price:	$25 pre-registration (before 9/11) $30 day of race- free parking

Date:	Sunday, September 13, 2009
Time:	8:00am - 12:00pm
Location:	Bethpage State Park- Polo Field (entrance near Seaford-oyster bay pkwy)
Street:	99 Quaker Meeting House Road
City/Town:	Farmingdale, NY

Phone:	5165202487
Email:	rraio@nihli.org

Please join Lt Michael Murphy's parents Dan & Maureen, brother John, friends and family for a 5K Run/Walk to be held in his honor. Murphy grew up in Patchogue, NY. He was killed in action in Kunar Province, Afghanistan during Operation Redwing on June 28, 2005.

See the United States Navy's page to learn more about Lt Murphy and the heroic actions that resulted in him being posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
http://www.navy.mil/moh/mpmurphy/

New Island Hospital in Bethpage is creating a new NAVY LT. MICHAEL P. MURPHY EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. All proceeds will be going to purchase new emergency medical equipment and supplies. New Island Hospital's ED delivers rapid fire life-saving care to nearly 40,000 patients a year. Murph himself always took on the role as protector, as a SEAL, and in earlier days as a dedicated lifeguard, and ALWAYS as a big brother.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2009
CHECK-IN 7:30-8:45 AM
RACE START 9AM RAIN OR SHINE

After race activities include: award presentations, raffles, a live band and a health fair so bring the family and friends. For more information call Community Relations at 516-520-2487.

New Island Hospital is a proud participant in the 2009 Long Island Track and Field Cross Country Challenge.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the top overall finishers in all age categories. Accurately measured 3.1 Mile Cross Country Course. Preregistered participants will receive a gift bag and t-shirt, while supplies last. (last year they ran out-so get there early!)

$25 entry fee (before 9/11/09) pre-registration $30 on the day of the event. No parking fee. To pre-register-see link http://www.newislandhospital.org/5kwr/
Online and mail-in registration available.

**Lt Michael P. Murphy challenge coins will also be available for purchase for $20 each.** A picture of the coin is in my photo album or see the link below for last year's blog.

Last year's event pictures and description at
http://longislandgirl.vox.com/library/post/follow-up-report-5k-benefit-in-memory-of-usn-seal-lt-michael-p-murphy-bethpage-ny.html

Any questions-please email me at jolo219@optonline.net or email the Community Relations contact person at New Island Hospital-Rita Raio rraio@nihli.org

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Happy Holidays! It's been a while

nobody@vox.com(J.Marie S. Photography) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:00:13 -0800

It has been a while since my last post. It's been a rough few weeks for myself and my family. We have accomplished so much and also experienced a loss that is a very rough one for us all. We were able to get our christmas tree up in our living room and looks fantastic! My husband and kids had a blast putting up the ornaments together as I watched in awe of their talent and hearts coming together. The poor tree had been bare with only one thing on it, a $1 santa star from the dollar tree. lol! It was like that for three weeks before my husband and kids were kind enough to do the decorating for me this year, as I wasnt in the spirit at the time of getting up and doing the decorating. Here is the tree topper this year since our angel wont stand up:

DSC02180

And, here is the rest of our tree, before the decorations went up:

DSC02188

So, today really helped to make my spirits come back up. I woke up this morning, got the coffee pot going, turned on the tv, was getting my son dressed when the news is showing 3-5 inches of snow on the ground in parts of San Diego. I havent seen snow in over 4 years and I LOVE snow!!! I miss it terrably! So, I checked with the CHP on the use of tire chains, and called my husband to share the news and we decided to get the kids ready when he got home (early) to go play in the snow! How amazing! We're going to do that some more this winter, preferrably this week, even. But, here's my favorite shot of the snow from today:

DSC02224

I sure do miss that snow! I hope my fellow readers enjoy this as much as we do! Happy holidays! I hope to post more here in the coming weeks! Thanks for reading!

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4 Days until Christmas!

nobody@vox.com(J.Marie S. Photography) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:54:21 -0800

I wonder if this picture will play any part in what Santa brings for our dearest daughter. I wonder what Santa has up his sleeves this year?

DSC01336

Oh, but that "You better be good! Santa always knows!" works every time!

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Sneak Peek!

nobody@vox.com(J.Marie S. Photography) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:45:16 -0800

Just a little sneak peek at how we decorate our house for the holidays! We LOVE to decorate for the holidays, and it really has begun to show! We are so proud of what we have done this year! So, here is just a slice of what we have done this year!

A portion of our entertainment center:

DSC02267copy

The santa in the middle is holding onto wooden stockings that have all of our names on it. That was a precious find up in Julian, CA where we were able to shop around in their craft fair.

I am still not feeling too well, but will post more as I feel better. Tomorrow the (crazy, I know) air conditioner guys are coming to install central air into our house. Go figure, they must not have been thinking about where we would be putting the gifts for our kids before christmas. We had to get the garage mostly emptied for them to be able to do their work. Also had to get the lawn straightened out since I've been out of commission for a while with the big work like that. What a week this will be. One thing is true about all of this.... It sure does help to stave off those emotions for a while from the loss of such a great member of our family.

I am tired, so I will go. I hope you enjoy the little bit I could post today. Happy Holidays! Stay safe, keep warm, and try not to get sick!! LOL!

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OTC Newport Combat Pool to be dedicated to USN SEAL Lt Michael P. Murphy

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:34:56 -0700

LTMICHAELMURPHYNewportInvite

Lost Heroes of Operation Redwing

Michael P. Murphy

May 7, 1976-June 28, 2005

Never Forget

Naval Station Newport to get new command, dedicate new pool

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 7, 2009

By Richard Salit

Journal Staff Writer

NEWPORT — The arrival of a new command — and with it 20 military positions and 40 civilian jobs — will be cause for celebration at Naval Station Newport on Wednesday.

And the following day, Navy brass will gather to dedicate a $4.5-million pool that will be used to train the rapidly rising number of students who come through Newport every year.

The two events underscore how Newport has emerged from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process with a bright future as a Navy education center. The federal initiative resulted in the downsizing, closing and consolidation of many military installations.

The Center for Service Support shut down in Athens, Ga., late in June, and will resume operations here on Wednesday in Fitzgerald Hall on Coasters Harbor Island. The command oversees 13 Service Support schools around the country that provide training in administration, logistics and media for 12,000 officers and sailors annually.

“It’s a big deal,” said spokeswoman Lisa Rama. “It represents more employment in this state.”

Many of the civilian employees in Georgia chose not to relocate, which will result in the need for hiring in Newport, Rama said.

Officer Candidate School returned to Newport in 2008 — after a 15-year absence — bringing with it not only jobs but close to 1,000 students who go through the program each year. Chief Warrant Officer/Limited Duty Officer School also arrived last year.

The Navy Supply Corps School, also being relocated from Athens, is slated to open in new facilities in January, bringing 2,500 students a year, 100 active-duty positions and 80 civilian jobs.

By 2010, the number of students attending educational programs in Newport is expected to increase by 3,600 from the pre-BRAC levels.

Construction of the pool, in an 11,280-square-foot building, began in March 2008. It will be used for combat and survival training, including basic swim instruction and man-overboard exercises. The pool is next to Callahan Hall and was built by Consigli Construction, of Milford, Mass. Training will no longer take place at the pool built on the base in 1945 during World War II.

SEALGraduation

The new pool will be dedicated to Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, of Patchogue, N.Y., a 2001 graduate of Navy Officer Candidate School who was killed in action while conducting counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan in 2005.

His four-man Navy SEALs team was covertly conducting reconnaissance east of Asadbad, in Kumar Province, when discovered by local nationals. The team soon found itself surrounded and under attack by about 50 fighters allied with the Taliban.

Under heavy fire, Murphy left cover to radio for support. He was shot in the back and dropped the transmitter, but he picked it up, completed the call and then rejoined his team.

A helicopter arrived to rescue the SEALs. But a rocket-propelled grenade hit it, killing all 16 men aboard, before it could land. Three of the four SEALs, including Murphy, died in the battle.

Murphy was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2007. Members of his family will attend the dedication.

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USN SEAL Daniel R. Healy~Bridge & Monument Dedication~Sunday, July 19, 2009

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:59:07 -0700

~Lost Heroes of Operation Redwing~

Daniel R. Healy

July 17, 1968-June 28, 2005

Never Forget

DanHealyDedication

From Marcus Luttrell: "...scrambling aboard, came the massively built Senior Chief Dan Healy, the man who had masterminded Operation Redwing, who apparently looked as if he'd been shot as he left the barracks." "He loved us all with equal passion ... He guarded his flock assiduously, researched every mission with complete thoroughness, gathered the intel, checked the maps, chats, photographs, all reconnaissance. Also, he paid attention to the upcoming missions and made sure his kids were always in the front line. That's the place we were trained for, the place we liked to go."

Healy grew up in Exeter, where he graduated from high school in 1986. He joined the Navy in 1990 and later volunteered to become a SEAL.

His first assignment took him to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team One in San Diego. He left the team in 1996 to study Russian and after that was assigned to a SEAL unit in Little Creek, Va., for two years. In March 2000, he was sent to Pearl Harbor, where he joined ECHO Platoon as leading petty officer. He was later promoted to chief petty officer. He deployed to Afghanistan in March 2005.

His awards include the Bronze Star (with Combat V), the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

He is survived by his wife, Norminda; his children, Chelsea, Jasmine, Sasha, Jacob, Nia, Nathan and Chris; parents, Natalie and Henry; sisters, Jennifer Healy and Shannon Keane.

At a July 11, 2005 Memorial Service, Chief Warrant Officer Dave Bauer said of his shipmate, “Senior Chief Dan Healy was a great SEAL. He was fiercely determined to face the enemy on the field of battle. I know of no other man who I would want with me more when facing the enemy. All SEALs will forever be held to a higher standard because of what Dan Healy did.”

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Transitioning Veteran~Helping Military Members through the benefits maze

nobody@vox.com(LongIslandGirl) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:20:26 -0700

http://transitioningveteran.com and on facebook

Transitioning Veteran is dedicated to helping veterans who have or are in the process of separating from the

mlitary and who are looking for information on veteran benefits. Transitioning Veteran is a website that

helps guide veterans directly to what I feel are very useful links, when searching for information on

education, work and medical benefits. My hope with Transitioning Veteran is to make it easier for a veteran

of the Armed Forces to find important information pertaining to veteran benefits. I have spent numerous

amounts of time searching the internet for information that would help me to transition back into the civilian

world once I had separated from the Air Force. Since being out of the Air Force, I have used this

information that I found on the internet, to help me use my GI Bill, find a job and help me when applying for

my VA medical benefits.-Steve

Visit the blog too @ http://transitioningveteran.com/wordpress

Most recent blog post:

A Call to All

I was recently given a website to checkout called Not Alone, which was created to help military personnel who battle the after math of being in a war zone a chance to share their experiences with one another. We are all affected in different ways when we experience a tragic event in our lives, war can contribute many of these events that can manipulate a persons mind that could change them forever.

As I searched through the pages of the website, I stumbled upon an article speaking about Fort Campbell Suicides (by BULLDOG), a subject we are hearing all to often inside and outside the military community. Comments by others had been posted in response of the article and when I came upon a comment by Yvonne and took the time to read it, I realized I was reading a comment left by a soon to be married woman who was excited about marrying her military man, but never saw that day.

Yvonne lost her husband while he was deployed, and yet in the end Yvonne spoke about her fiance’s best friend who after returning home from the war, struggled to fit into civilian life once again do to the lack of support and proper treatment he needed. Yvonne ends her comment calling out to all civilians to be more supportive and understanding of what these brave heroes go through.

Yvonne is 100% correct, our military men and women need more support and war can change a person too a point where they cannot reconnect to civilian life. Many soldiers are affected differently with the trauma they experience while serving in a combat zone and where the Government lacks, organizations such as this one are making a difference.

Communication and support is key to helping these guys who serve our country. The Soldiers Project is another great organization with medical personnel taking a little of their time to help OIF/OEF veterans battling with symptoms of PTSD, though it is slowly expanding throughout the U.S. and needs more volunteers. The same goes for so many other Non-profit organizations, who are looking to do everything they can to help the men and women of the military.

Though we are making a difference in helping veterans when they return from the war zone compared to other past wars, support is still needed in anyway so these great organizations can fully reach out to these soldiers. Just as the many organizations are here to help these returning veterans, so should their families and American citizens. Family needs to support and understand what their soldier may be going through when they return and family too should take time to educate themselves to prepare for the return of their soldier. Instead of thinking their military family member is just having a bad day which then drags on throughout time, take the time to talk and try to connect with them.

Like I said before, talking to a person shows you care, and communication is the main focal point to understanding what a person may be going through. When you show someone your supportive, that’s when you may find the person opening up, revealing to you what troubles them. Though I’m not a professional or a licensed medical personnel, this is something I have experienced with someone and it’s also what I have learned while attending college.

So to all organizations, families and American citizens looking to make a difference in the lives of returning veterans, support and work with one another and maybe we can help even more men and women of the military and the number of suicides from rising.

To Yvonne,

Whoever you are, My sympathy goes out to you and I will make sure your call to all is heard.

-STEVE

TRANSITIONING VETERAN WIKI – PTSD LINKS

http://www.notalone.com/

The Soldiers Project – a non-profit organization in the Mental health sector looking to make a difference in the lives of OIF/OEF Veterans

SHORT FILMS

WALKING WOUNDED – produced by Darin Farr (Veteran and Film producer for Veterans Affairs)

NOW, AFTER – produced by Kyle Hausmann-stokes (Veteran of OIF and Film producer)

Tags: Darin Farr, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, NOT ALONE, PTSD, The Soldiers Project

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