Soldiers-Wife's Blog

I know that St. Louis is not a HUGE military town, but I do know that St. Louies like to keep up on thier military news, especially when it deals with local soldiers.

Well, Not to toot my husbands horn, but this is kinda a big deal! Along with his Purple Heart he earned earlier this year, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor Device this week, the fourth highest military combat award. I am so proud of his bravery, and how he risked his life to save his comrades life, earning him this award. I do think that this is kinda a big deal, but maybe its because I am his wife. I think this should be broadcasted to the whole world! This is not an honor that most people earn, even the highest ranking officers and the enlisted.

This award was given for, "FOR HEROIC ACTIONS IN COMBAT OPERATIONS DURING ENEMBY AMBUSH IN THE KHADRA NEIGHBORHOOD OF BAGHDAD. FOLLOWING AN ENEMY IED ATTACK, SGT COURSON IGNORED HIS OWN INJURIES IN ORDER TO TRIAGE, TREAT AND POTENTIALLY SAVE THE LIFE AND LIMB OF HIS TEAMMATE. HIS ACTIONS ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE FINEST TRADITIONS OF MILITARY SERVICE AND REFLECT DISTINCT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF, THE BLACK KNIGHTS [2ND BRIGADE, 1ST CAVALARY DIVISION] THE MULTI-NATIONAL DIVISION-BAGHDAD, AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY."

My husband was featured in an article written by Richard Engle of NBC (sorry fox :( ) on msnbc. Check our your local hero, starring Doc Courson (incorrectly spelled coursen on the article) and let it melt your heart. The link to the article is: http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/04/23/16
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This is also an oppurtunity for me to speak my mind on the fact that its that time again to take a second of your day and think of the soldiers overseas who again will miss another Halloween with thier children, another turkey on the table for Thanksgiving, and most likely another Christmas Tree lighting, and turning in the year of 2008, just like last year since thier deployments have been changed from about 12 to 15 months. Think about how wonderful it is to be in a country where men and women volunteer thier lives to keep us free and allow us to do the daily things that we don't realize are luxaries, like sitting here writing a blog to you all!

Once again, thanks to everyone who is serving and to all our veterans no matter when you served! God Bless America and REMEMBER Freedom isn't free.

Why is missouri one of the only states that charges Veterans more money to get Purple Heart / Military plates?

In the state of Texas, with a purple heart plate, you receive free parking everywhere. You pay the $3.00 reg. fee, and its good for a life time.

In the state of Missouri, you have to pay registration plus a $15 dollar fee? I wrote Gov. Matt Blunt about this weeks ago in an email, and yet to receive a response. I don't know why they consider these 'vanity' plates. If anything, the state should thank them for thier service. Not that we can't afford the $15 dollar fee, but what about the vets who are on a fixed income and on social security, and do without thier meds and even food on the table to register thier vehicles?

Something must be done about this.......................

In my generation most kids my age are worried about partying, college, and building thier careers. But it is a changing generation, with kids as young as 17 being deployed to the war zone to give thier life and sacrifices for this great free country we all live in. Well also during this post Walter Reed era, its sad to say that most soldiers coming home aren't getting the medical attention they receive after devoting most of thier life to service our military.

Here is a local story that you may want to hear about. I am a resident of St. Louis, but recently had to move back down to Fort Hood, TX for my husband to receive medical care after being injured by an IED, improvised explosived device, or a roadside bomb to most of you.

The 'attack' took place on April 5, 2007, at 1145 hrs local Iraqi time. It was a call every military spouse fears of receiving, but luckilly he was all in one piece and is recoving well. I was due with our first baby on May 8, 2007, so since he wasn't seriously injured they decided to keep him in theater and not medevac him out until his R and R time, which was May 6-May 22, 2007. Since he wasn't medically evacuated, he kinda got screwed over, but yet if he chose that way then he would of missed the birth of our daughter, being stuck on the CASH in Kuwait. Well to try to make a long story short, he spent most of his R and R driving from Troy, MO to Ft. Leonard Wood daily to get medical treatment. No reimbursement for travel, nor would they provide a place for all of us to stay. Then on Monday, we were told we had to be here on wednesday. We all packed up and came down here, even the 2 week old baby. Yet to this day is he had a MRI on his knee, been screened for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), nor had a hearing test for his hearing loss in both ears!!!!! He already had his Purple Heart ceremony, and will be receiving his Bronze Star. (He is a medic and went back in to the vehicle to save his 3 bodies, and later went unconscience.)

Sad Story, that this is only one soldier and there are many  more that this is happening to!

They don't even have records here that he was even injured, so we have been having to communicate with folks down range, and that isnt cheap.

Why does the government treat thier soldiers with no respect after they give so much! I just wish we would take some of this money that we are spending in other countries and take care of our own.

(Sorry I had a lot to get off my mind...........................)   

So I have 3 jars of this peanut butter that has been recalled in my pantry. Peanut Butter Plus, Honey, and Creamy. Can I just take them back to the store, or what do I do with it? I want my money back!

Well I guess its a commonly asked question in St. Louis among females. So where did you deliver your baby at? Well being pregnant again, makes me think about it of course.

So where did you deliver your little boy or girl? I guess I could start..................my daughter was born at Missouri Baptist here in STL, and I was actually born at Christian Hospital NWest, and thats not there anymore, lol.

Have a great day girls.............and guys!

Well I couldn't help but notice all the darn women and men too, on here complaining because they didn't get this or that on Valentine's Day! Give me a break, you all sound like a bunch of babies who didn't get thier easy bake oven on Christmas morning! Now I am sure if you are with the 'right' person in your eyes, then you wouldn't have to complain about getting nothing, and it would already be there.

So since everyone is complaining about not getting jewelry, roses, dinner, or whatever they wanted............................

I am gonna complain about how I didn't get it either. It wasn't because my husband just had a meeting, he had a meeting with the Commander. It wasn't because we didn't have the money, because our love is already priceless. It wasn't because he didn't feel like going out after a hard night of work, because hes been out on mission for the last 15 days with no hot shower or meal.

It was because my husband is in Iraq fighting for our freedoms here, along with every other military spouse who is over there too! Lets remember to be thankful for what is here with us at home, no matter how crabby we are, or how tired we are at the end of the day.

Do me and all the other military spouses out there a favor....................

Before you go to bed, kiss and hug your husband or wife - and let them know how much you love them every night. Imagine how bad life could really be................?!?!

I am looking for anyone who knows organizations or companies that will donate for care packages for our troops overseas. I have done lots of research online, and come up with very few answers.

I am also looking to get together with people, that may want to donate anything from phone cards to baby wipes to send overseas. A lot of small things that we take for granted, they dont get. For example, the other day my husbands platoon wrote asking for nothing but Fire and Hot sauce from taco bell! A good way to spice up a MRE!

Any help or information can be helpful and greatly appreciated!

I really had a 'pet-peeve' yesterday!!!! I was patiently waiting for the World Series champs to stroll down the road yesterday along with the other 500,000 people, and you know what really ticked me off????? I couldn't believe how many people brought thier darn dogs down there! Do you really think that Rufus and Fido are going to have memories about the parade? NO! Do you really think that they have feelings about the cardinals, and that they are jumping up and down waving at the players go bye? I couldn't believe this one lady that wouldn't let a little boy in front of her, she was clearly way taller than he was. But she had a space next to her just for her dog! Yeah its all cutesy when they dress them up, just take a picture and post it on here. Then I had to watch the dog a huge dump in front of everyone! I couldn't believe it. Next time people - turn on your TV and leave the dog at home, not at the parade!

I am looking for other Military spouses, or wondering if there are any support groups around town? Preferably spouses with thier loved ones deployed..........if so.......we need to get together. This is a crucial time to stay busy, and not sit at home and wonder about things. Any help would be great.

I really wish that people would stop abusing handicapped spaces. Being handicapped, is not the definition of being in a hurry, you broke a nail, or you borrowed grannys car with the tag. If you can drive yourself to the darn space and get out, and in the store in 1 minute, you are probably not handicapped.

It breaks my heart to see ol' granny hustling from 20 spots away, were gonna have to start providing AED monitors at the cart returns. If you are guilty of this crime, come on, park somewhere else!

Doesn't any one realize that Fox 2 is a ST LOUIS based network? I don't know why people get on here and dis the cards, and go bonkers for other teams! These people should be banned! And most of all, I can't believe that the other day, someone had the nerves to post a blog about how great the Cubs are? Come on........go back to chi-cag-ooo.

GO CARDS!!!!GO CARDS!!!!GO CARDS!!!!GO CARDS!!!!GO CARDS!!!!