According to Adm. Mike Mullen’s Facebook update, it will occur today at 2:34 p.m. (ET).

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Small Wars Journal has crossed over to help Team Navy “Now Hear This…” 

We really, really, try to avoid inter-service rivalries but will make an exception in this one case – because it is for a really good and noble cause, we were asked to help out Team Navy and we like underdogs. Via e-mail from Project Valour-IT shipmate Maggie……

Dave’s already had his tag’s removed by the Quantico MPs!

Bacon does it again on Broadside Blog at Navy Times: here and here

Lex sends “A Letter to My Shipmates”, beautifully written as always.

National Review is also Helping out the Milbloggers for a Worthy Cause

And even one of our competitors, reminds of this story written at her blog Villanous Company

Memories are powerful yet elusive things. Unruly and capricious, they resist our determined attempts to summon or lock them away. Dancing slyly at the borders between desire and imagination, they return unexpectedly to torment us when our defenses are down or, perversely, brush against us like purring kittens offering comfort and uncomplicated joy. They are preserved, reinforced and evoked by stories, rituals and traditions, symbols, as a scent carried on a breeze, a favorite song, the slant of light on someone’s hair or a stolen glance across a crowded room.

We will never know what memories Bill Krissoff has of his son Nathan.

What we do know is what they have inspired him to do: at the age of 61, Bill Krissoff is closing his medical practice and following his son to Iraq.

Because 42 is the Navy’s age cutoff for medical officer enlistees, Krissoff was initially told that joining would be a difficult and lengthy process. So he pressed the issue and asked for the needed waiver from the highest authority he could find – President Bush. Krissoff met Bush in August at an American Legion convention in Reno. The doctor described the personal meeting he had with the president immediately following the convention as a solemn experience with a small group of families grappling with the loss of loved ones in war.

Krissoff says Bush asked each family what he could do for them.

Krissoff told the president he wanted to serve.

After a brief moment, Bush deferred to Krissoff’s wife, Christine, who has consistently supported her husband’s decision. Krissoff says he pressed Bush about the matter with humor.

“‘Sir, I’d like to serve but they told me I’m too old, but I’m younger than you, sir,’” Krissoff says, telling the story with a rare grin.

Go Navy! Go America! Go Families!

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In a report issued last month, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) concluded that the VA is woefully unprepared for the surge of female veterans trying to access their system and obtain quality and timely care. What a surprise. Why is the VA always caught flat-footed?

The VA’s services for women’s health needs are highly fragmented. Few VA facilities are able to serve all of a woman’s health care needs in one place. Consequently, patients need to travel to multiple facilities to get all of their health care issues addressed. Indeed, the VA recognized this in 2003 and mandated that all VA hospitals and clinics provide basic women’s services – but only where it was feasible. Talk about an edict with no teeth! Six years later and comprehensive women’s primary care clinics are still scarce, with only 14 percent of them providing a one-stop shop for women veterans.

Adding to this inconvenience is the inaccessibility of many VA facilities, as many veterans have to travel long distances to get to any one facility – especially for those veterans who live in rural areas. As the fastest growing segment of the veterans’ population and one that is expected to more than double in the next 15 years, women veterans should be able to access quality care more easily.

I like John McCain’s 2008 campaign proposal: Give veterans a type of debit card that allows them to go to the doctor of their choice in their hometown. Why does the VA have to provide all the resources, when they have already proven that they can’t keep up with the growing demand?

For more info, read the full IAVA report, “Women Warriors: Supporting She ‘Who Has Borne the Battle,’” at the IAVA web site (www.iava.org).

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One more reason to love Bacon, courtesy of the Navy Times.:

What do Ping Pong and a comic strip have to do with a fundraiser to purchase laptops for wounded warriors?

A lot.

Because today I had planned on telling you all about Soldiers’ Angels, who are raising money to purchase high tech equipment for wounded warriors. Guys who can’t get out of bed easily need laptops. Those who can’t use their hands need voice controlled equipment. The Angels are holding an event called Project Valour-IT, running until Veterans Day, and they really need your support.

Read the rest of the story Go Navy!

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Last night throughout the several social media service I follow the same message kept coming about, and I’m glad I began to pay attention. Via my friends Mario Vittone and Peter Stinson I was reminded of the mission of our Coast Guard Foundation. Though I’ve always know of it I had honestly given very little thought to the prospect of giving to it. Don’t get me wrong we do the Mutual Assistance and CFC deal every year; but the Foundation? Who are these people and why do they need my money?

First, as most of you know it was less than a week ago that the Coast Guard lost seven of its shipmates to an aviation accident- two United States Marines were also lost. It’s times like this when the mind starts to wander and one begins to note that though they may not have known those that were lost that bond of being a Coastie compels you to want to help… is there anything I can do? There is.

The Coast Guard Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports projects that enhance the education, welfare and morale of all Coast Guard members and their families. In the case of our downed aircraft some of fallen Coasties had family they were supporting- and the Foundation is aiming to assist where able. From their website-

The Coast Guard Foundation’s Board of Trustees and Staff are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the families of these crewmembers and all Coast Guard members stationed in California and throughout the world.

The Coast Guard Foundation’s Family Disaster Relief Fund provides emergency assistance to families that have lost a service member in the line of duty. It is our hope that we can provide support and comfort to these families- and others in the future- who are experiencing difficult life-altering events such as this.

With this I would like to invite you do what you can to assist with the fund. You can go directly to their donation page or visit the Coast Guard Foundation homepage for more info, and then you can follow the link on their page.

If you’re looking to do one good deed this week this should be that deed.

Cross posted from ryanerickson.com.

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