Help Me Raise $5000 for a Retreat For Wounded Veterans & Their Battle Buddies

A few of you may remember a few weeks ago that some co-workers and I, on a dare I might add, entered a pig wrestling event. I only agreed to do so if all of our co-workers collectively made donations to Defenders of Freedom. It was a huge success.

The goal is to put the pig up on the tire.

That's me in the red t-shirt behind the lady in yellow.  Yeah, I had the back end.  :)

I'm coming out of retirement to jump into a mud pit and wrestle one more pig on September 10th. This time I'm doing it in order to raise $5,000 for airfare to fly a group of Wounded Veterans and some of their battle buddies to Texas for a 4 day retreat. The Ranch, food, etc are being donated by a husband and wife who are incredible American Patriots and huge supporters of our active duty military personnel, Wounded, Veterans and their families.

The retreat is scheduled for mid October 2011 so we only have a few weeks to get this done.

I know times are financially tough right now for many of us and there are many requests for donations but please "sponsor" my pig wrestling event by donating what you can. $5.00, $10.00, $25,00, $100.00, etc.

If you've ever been around a Wounded Veteran or any Veteran you know that a few days together with battles buddies is about the best "medicine" there is.

Thank you for your consideration and please "share" this on facebook and/or your blog. For those who have friends, family, co-workers, etc who may want to donate please "share" on facebook or share this link direct to Defenders of Freedom.   If donating via the Defenders of Freedom website (versus facebook) once you 1) select an amount, 2) Add to cart, 3) click on "check out" please remember to 4) type Retreat towards the bottom of the page in the "How did you find out about Defenders of Freedom" line.  By typing Retreat there you will ensure that 100% of your donation goes towards this project.

If you prefer to donate by check you may do so via the following address:

Defenders of Freedom
706 Stratford Lane
Coppell, TX 75019

Please be sure to note "Retreat" on the memo line of your check.  All donations are tax deductible.


This fund raising event is endorsed by:

Ranger Up - (best darn t-shirts on the planet)
Blackfive -  (love my B5 guys!)
This Ain't Hell (Jonn's got a crush on me and I LOVE IT!  Plus he and TSO are more than awesome!)

When the Wounded Warriors from Down Range Arrive at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

There won't be any photos in this post out of respect for the Wounded Warriors and their families.  I didn't take any photos.  As you read this post I hope you will understand why I didn't.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of being at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) for a few days.  One morning I  witnessed the arrival of the Wounded Warriors from down range - Afghanistan and Iraq.  I won't lie, I had a lot of trepidation about this.  As it turned out it was one of the most difficult and poignant, yet heart warming events I've experienced.

The night before, while MaryAnn and I made her normal rounds in the hospital to visit the Wounded Warriors who were going out to the states the following day, word was that there weren't many casualties scheduled to arrive from down range the next day.  I knew that was great news!

The following morning was about as beautiful a day as one could ask for.  Blue skies.  Crisp temperatures.  Even for Germany that was a blessing in early July.  MaryAnn and I were up at the crack of dawn, literally, in order to get to the hospital to meet some of the outpatient Wounded Warriors for breakfast.  They ended up over sleeping but I got to spend a few minutes with them and say my good byes which was the point of breakfast anyway.

After leaving the Wounded men MaryAnn and I casually walked over towards the emergency room entrance and took a seat on a bench within eye shot of the emergency room but far away from where the ambulance buses, or ambuses for short, would come in and the staff would receive the wounded.  MaryAnn began to explain to me what I could expect to see; who would be dressed in what way (staff from ICU, man power staff, etc).  The man power staff are those who, in groups of eight, take the litters from the ambus and place them on the gurneys so the Wounded Warriors can be wheeled into the hospital.  MaryAnn explained that they are required to have eight people from man power because the litters can weight up to 750 pounds with the Wounded Warrior and the medical equipment he/she has with them.  I'm sure my jaw dropped open when she told me that.

We waited and waited and waited.  MaryAnn commented that the flight seemed to be unusually late that day but that you never really know when the flight(s) will arrive.  We noticed that several gurneys were rolled out from the emergency room exit and were placed under the awning where the ambulance(s) would arrive.  They kept bringing more gurneys.  Ugh!  I began to realize that the "word" there weren't many casualties from down range may have changed.

Finally the LNOs, hospital medical staff, PAO staff, chaplains, etc began to gather; Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, men in uniform from other nations.  They were all talking but no one was talking in a loud voice.  Many were comparing "notes" on clipboards.  My assumption was that they were comparing names, degree of injury and where that patient would be taken, branch of the military, etc. 

Long after we arrived an ambus (a bus sized ambulance) pulled up and everyone went into action.  There was so much going on I couldn't keep up with it.  A gurney was pulled to the ambulance.  Four people from man power stood on each side of the gurney.  The medical staff member who had attended the Wounded Warrior on the flight from Afghanistan or Iraq exited the ambus and came around to be with his patient.  He'd been up for HOURS caring for his patient in flight but had no hesitation in quickly getting to his patient.

I made a very wide walk around the perimeter to watch as they removed the patient from the ambus - being extremely careful not to be in any one's way.  The patient was moved to the door of the ambus.  I realized what MaryAnn meant about the "up to 750 pounds" with all of the medical equipment.  This Soldier was surrounded by and covered with so many machines I could barely see him/her.  With great precision and extreme care the man power team began to pull the litter from the ambus and pass it gently down the line to the next person on the team.  Once each of the eight member team had the litter in hand a muffled command was heard then the littler was placed on the gurney.  Immediately those "dressed" as identifiable from the ICU moved to the gurney and they, along with the medical flight person, raced into the hospital.

The ambus door was closed and the vehicle drove off but the staff remained in place indicating more incoming.  *sigh*

Sometime later a van pulled up at the emergency room.  About 6 or so "ambulatory" military personnel exited the van and moved around to the back to retrieve back packs and/or small duffel bags.  They were taken into the hospital by the LNOs via a different door than the emergency room.  These troops may have any myriad of reasons for being sent to LRMC from down range.  For example I met a Soldier a day or two before who was sent to LRMC for a biopsy on a suspicious growth.  I'm thrilled to report that the day after I returned from my trip I learned that his biopsy came back negative.  He was sent back down range.

The medical and other staff remained so we did, too.  A little while later another ambus pulled up and the staff all timed and synchronized movements.  It seemed so effortless.  My emotions bounced between thinking how incredibly professional and intensely careful they were (and they WERE) to thinking about how often they have done this and why.  The latter caused a huge knot in my stomach.

A gurney was moved in to place.  A litter appeared at the door of the ambus. The man power team passed the litter down the line without so much as a bump or jerk.  The litter was placed on the gurney. Someone with a clip board quickly moved forward but was finished with their task in mere seconds and the gurney was quickly rolled into the hospital via the emergency room door.  Repeat, Repeat. Repeat. 

On about the third repeat I noticed that once the litter was on the gurney the Chaplain would step forward, lean down and say something to the Wounded Warrior.  Even the Chaplain didn't dawdle.  As quickly as he stood up the gurney was whisked away into the hospital.

While I stood there waiting for the next ambus to pull up I reminded myself that on the other side of the hospital the same type of movement was taking place but in reverse.  The only difference was that those Wounded Warriors were being loaded into ambuses to be taken to the airfield at Ramstein Air Base to begin their journey back to the USA where they would be reunited with their loved ones and friends. In way too many cases, they would begin the long journey, not only of healing but, of learning to live so differently.  It was sobering.

The door was closed on the ambus but the remaining staff stayed in place.  There were still more gurneys lined up.  It's impossible to express in words what my emotions were at the sight of those remaining gurneys.  I kept purposely distracting myself by looking at the unit patches of the LNOs still standing by - attempting to identify the units.  Anything to keep my mind off of the fact that there were MORE Wounded Warriors coming.

I found myself feeling guilty that there were so many family members and friends thousands of miles away who would give most anything for the opportunity to lay their eyes on these men if only for a few seconds.  But I had asked to be there and I wasn't going to run away.  I wanted to be there to watch the staff.  Not to "look at" the Wounded Warriors.  As a matter of fact I made it a point NOT to look into the face of any of them.  I just felt it would be disrespectful to do so.

In time the final ambus (or so we thought) pulled up.  The same orchestrated movements began again with the same precision and ease.  As the second patient was lowered to the gurney the Chaplain approached along with a Soldier from another nation.  My guess is that he was there to translate for the Chaplain.  What a huge confirmation that we are not in these wars alone.

It was well after lunch at this point.  We had expected the first ambus to arrive around 8:30 AM but it didn't arrive until much later.  We were hungry so we decided to grab some lunch in the hospital before heading back to the outpatient barracks to unpack boxes, inventory, re-stock the shelves, etc.  After we finished lunch, and as we were walking down one of the long hallways in the hospital, we heard the public address system ask for all man power to make their way to the emergency room.    That only means one thing - more inconming wounded.  I felt my shoulders sink as we continued to walk to the outpatient barracks and I said a silent prayer for the Wounded Warriors and their families.

Here are some links that relate to this post.  None of the photos were taken during the time I was in Landstuhl.

MaryAnn writes about what it is like inside the ambus upon arrival at Landstuhl

A photo taken during arrival one day during the past few years

A photo taken of Wounded Warriors departing LRMC for the USA

Defenders of Freedom's "Tee It Up FORE The Troops" Golf Outing Day 1 - Greeting the Inbound R&R flight, meeting the Wounded Warriors, Man Cave and a WWII Veteran

I can never express how grateful I am to Donna Cranston of Defenders of Freedom for allowing me to participate, as a volunteer, in their 6th Annual Tee It Up FORE The Troops golf outing this past Sunday and Monday.  Everytime I think I have been allowed to be a part of an event or an occassion with our Wounded Warriors that is the best ever I find myself smack dab in the middle of another one that words and pictures cannot possibly discribe.  Maybe they could but I'm not a writer so it's not possible for me to "write" and explain the emotions, inspiration, joy and love that I get from our Wounded and from all of the sponsors and volunteers

Due to the kindness of a retiree from Delta Air Lines I flew to DFW airport on Sunday via a buddy pass.  I was given the last boarding pass for the flight but it didn't matter.  I was ON the flight.

Jamie, one of the incredible USO Girls and a very dear friend, met me at my arrival gate.  We hopped on the airport tram and over to the concourse where the BEST USO in the states is located to stash my bag.  We found out that the inbound R&R flight had been delayd for several hours and was only minutes from arriving.  I'd been to the DFW airport and had the privilege of working the outbound flight in the past but I'd never gotten to witness the welcome for the inbound flight.  What a bonus.  So....through security, on the tram and over to the concourse for the inbound.  Got there with minutes to spare. 

I'd heard about the welcome but to experience it is unbelievable.  A few other ladies who volunteer for Defenders of Freedom and at the USO were in the concourse.  As the Soldiers began to disembark and walk down an elevated glass enclosed hallway to customs the ladies began to clap. 

One by one people in the concourse began to look up and clap and yell and whistle.  As the Soldiers continued on down the glass enclosed walkway the applause started up along the way.  I had a huge lump in my throat and my eyes began to leak.  God Bless America!

We waved up to the Soldiers and they waved back down to us - smiles from ear to ear.  Ahhhhhhhh!

After the last one walked by we skeedaddled over out of security and to the area where they exit customs.  There were already two lines formed for them to walk through.  Most of the people in the line were wearing either Vietnam or WWII gear.  Took my breath away. 

Donna Cranston pointed out a group of Irving, TX fire fighters.  She said they are there EVERY day, too. 

Here they come!

Families who live in the area where there to grab their loved ones.  Yeah, I had tears, too.

As each man or woman got to the end of the lines of greeters Donna and another lady had connecting flight information and would direct them to the specific waiting bus outside that would take them to their flights HOME.

Just past the end of the line of greeters and before the exit doors to the outside were two tables set up and "manned" by Girl Scouts.  They had stacks and stacks of cookies to hand to the Soldiers

I tip my hat to those who are at the DFW airport EVERY SINGLE day to welcome our military personnel home on R&R.  I wish I could be there with them more.

Jamie and I went back through security and hopped back on the train to meet the first of several flights that Wounded Warriors coming in for the event were on.  Found them.  Introduced ourselves.  Went with them to baggage claim.  Hopped the airport shuttle buses and off to the Grand Hyatt hotel in the airport.  Got those guys checked in and headed back through security onto the tram, to another gate, collected more Wounded Warriors, baggage claim, airport bus, hotel check in, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat. 

Checking in at the Grand Hyatt - the staff was FANTASTIC!

Jamie helping Chris "guard" his golf clubs while waiting to check in at the hotel.  NOTE:  The day after Chris returned home his car caught on fire while he and his wife were in it.  They both, thankfully, escaped the car in time but the car and all contents - including Chris's golf clubs were a total loss.  If anyone has a set to donate to Chris let me know!

After we met the last flight assigned to us we dashed out to Jamies vehicle and pulled around behind the Dan Dipert bus that had the Wounded Warriors on it.  We followed the bus to the home of Teresa and Joe who had volunteered to host a dinner that night.  Their home is lovely as are they.

Arriving at Teresa and Joe's house for dinner the night before the golf tournament

Heading into Joe's "Man Cave" - a two story building that ANY man would love to have behind his house!

From downstairs in the "Man Cave" looking upstairs

A view looking down from the upstairs of the "Man Cave"

Pool

Shuffle board

Fooseball

Relaxing out by the pool

Donna thanking our hosts and everyone for coming

WWII Veteran Ernest J. Deeds and his delightful wife, Lois joined us for the evening.  What an honor to have them with us.

Teresa reading the events of the day Ernest J. Deeds lead his men onto Omaha Beach.  He was wounded as he ran up the beach.  She read about his men, his recovery and his awards.  Not many dry eyes in the house.  When Teresa was done a huge line formed to thank him.  So touching.

They guys leaning on the upstairs rail while Teresa read to us about Ernest J. Deeds

Our hostess, Teresa, Lois and Ernest Deeds and our host Joe.

An amazing evening all the way around.  Teresa told me about one of their neighbors who is retired and learned of the event.  She, the neighbor, came over one day with a home made Italian cream cheese cake (which I can attest to as being DELICIOUS).  A day or two later she came with a second cake.  Then the day of the party she arrived with a third cake AND a home made banana pudding (which I can attest to as being DELICIOUS).  I even heard one of the Soldiers, PJ, tell Teresa it was the BEST!

So a wonderful night with incredible Americans.  A delicious BBQ feat (Texas style), free flowing and never ending beer from the kegorator, laughs, jokes, hugs and the company of a WWII hero.  Seems impossible to find the words to thank Teresa and Joe for their hospitality.  Everyone had such a grand time.  How can life be any better?

I don't think I even remember my head hitting the pillow that night.  Maybe because I was floating on air?

A thank you to Dan Dipert for providing the transportation, too!