Hero Stories for wrist bands

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) is the voice of the 21st century veteran. Founded in June 2004, IAVA is the nation's first and largest non-partisan, nonprofit supporting veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families. IAVA has thousands of active member veterans and more than 120,000 grassroots supporters nationwide. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are in their sixth and seventh years respectively. More than 1.8 million American troops have served in Iraq or ...

Sgt. Matthew West said he didn't know what to think when a rock came flying at him while guarding his Black Hawk helicopter at a landing zone on Camp Kiwi in central Afghanistan's Bamyan provin

Sgt. Maj. Jean Chouloute was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and lived in Saint-Marc until he was about 11. Although he moved away, he still has family living in Port-au-Prince, and like the rest of the world, the events that have unfolded in Haiti have held his rapt attenti

A couple weeks back, we were fortunate enough to meet the 467th at Fort Hood, following the terrible shooting that claimed 5 of their members. During our visit, I talked quite a bit with MAJ Laura Suttinger and in the conversation, she mentioned that they love getting their hands on books on the deployment. Well, they headed out to Afghanistan last week and I put out a call to friends and neighbors for books. Got a great bunch of really good books dropped off. Well, just heard from the Major ...

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light, I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest, My daughter beside me, angelic in rest. Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white, Transforming the yard to a winter delight. The sparkling lights in the tree I believe, Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve. My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep, Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep. In perfect contentment, or so it would seem, So I ...

[caption id="attachment_2833" align="alignright" width="188" caption="Christmas Tree sent to soldiers in Afghanistan"][/caption] My son and several adopted sons are in Afghanistan with the Georgia National Guard  48th Brigade 1/121st Infantry. This is their 2nd deployment the 1st being in Iraq. I have sent him a Christmas tree in anticipation of Christmas and being able to enjoy the Christmas spirit a little. Each deployment I have had friends help donate items and we have literally sent them...

Good Morning, I heard about your donation fo the bracelets to Fort Hood. Could we chat by phone to share ideas? It seems like we have similar missions - to offer comfort and hope. I look forward to speaking to you. My cell is below. Thanks. I sent this letter to Features Editor, Brian Bowers, of the military newspaper Stars and Stripes. Back in 1999, they launched the team of angels project by writing a feature story of my desire to send 5000 team of angels pins to the troops serving i...

ANGELS ON ALERT! GOLDEN PINS AT THE CORE OF PERSONAL RECOVERY The letters started to pour in by the thousands shortly after her angel pins started to make their way into the hands of people across the country and around the world. People with health problems, families in despair, soldiers in the trenches in the Middle East, and even convicted felons. When just one angel won't due, Patricia Gallagher says you may need a whole team on your side. Patricia - whose own tough times led her to creat...

1. How can I get a copy of my DD Form 214, Report of Separation (or equivalent form)? The DD Form 214, Report of Separation, is filed in the official military personnel file. Complete instructions for obtaining a copy of your DD 214 may be found under How to Request Military Service Records or Prove Military Service. Top of Page 2. There is an ongoing "myth" that "10 million medical records" were found. Are these duplicates of the records that were burned? No, they are not duplicate recor...

Military Service Records and Official Military Personnel Files (OMPFs, DD Form 214) If you've been discharged from military service, your personnel files are stored here at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). We are the official repository for records of military personnel who have been discharged from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard. Recent military service and medical records are not online. However, most veterans and their next-of-kin can o...