I find myself alone this evening, the wife away at a work dinner party, the daughter at the inlaws. As you probably already know if you've read some of my blogs, I enjoy my solitude. So I am kicked back in the lounger in the living room, VH1 on the TV (a show called Drug Years), Mountain Dew at my side, comfy clothes on, nice summer evening breeze whispering promises through the window behind me.

This week has been quite a journey. Excuse my language, but I fucked up on Saturday after hanging out with an old friend with whom I thought I was armed and ready to be around......and WHAM just like that.......I took a snort and reminded myself why I have enjoyed being sober, guilt and regret free, and strong like the soldier I was while my wife was away. What blew me away was the fact the ten days she was away I was so strong amidst the opportunities to do anything I wanted, then in one fell afternoon swoop, while real life played electronic in the background, I took a blade to the heart.

But I made it through with new resolve and my Lord has forgiven me once again. He reminded me I am still a warrior He is molding, and one lost fight does not the battle lose. So me and my Master are all good.

Then, to top off the boy comedown, I forgot about my appointment for my psych meds (depression and anxiety) and instead waited in vain for the cable man, so I went three days without my meds which messed me up even more. By the time Monday morning rolled around, I was so depressed I couldn't get out of bed, I didn't make it to work, I didn't eat, I didn't shower (ewwwww). I somehow made it in to the clinic for my meds anyway, but as many of you might understand, you miss a few days and whatever you're taking meds for can comeback tenfold until the meds get regulated in your system again. I made it to work Tuesday even though I felt like shit and was about to cry at the flush of a toilet, sound of a vacuum, or the smell of lemon stainless steel cleaner, but couldn't make it Wednesday. My boss asked when I called why I was depressed and I didn't have an answer. Luckily she is very understanding. But I hate missing work. Absolutely abhor it.

Last night I started to feel a bit better, and woke the morning with a clear mind, my meds back in action in the bloodstream, the Lord by my side, my wife and daughter supportive. I got to work and the first thing my boss did was hug me and ask how I was doing, and that meant more than she could know.

I've had a good day. I'm back on track. I've learned a couple new lessons (and here I thought I knew it all), lessons I'm putting into action. I made up my mind awhile back that this was the time in my life for REAL change, and no slip ups, knockdown drag outs are gonna keep me outa the race or permanently lead me away from the path My Lord has for me.

I AM THE WARRIOR POET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Medal of Honor given to Sioux for heroism

Nation's highest military for valor in North Korea; sergeant died in 1982

updated 7:14 p.m. CT, Mon., March. 3, 2008

WASHINGTON - President Bush apologized Monday that the country waited decades to honor Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble for his military valor in Korea, giving him the Medal of Honor more than 25 years after he died.

Keeble is the first full-blooded Sioux Indian to receive the nation’s highest military award. But it came almost six decades after he saved the lives of fellow soldiers. Keeble died in 1982.

“On behalf of our grateful nation, I deeply regret that this tribute comes decades too late,” Bush said at the White House medal ceremony. “Woody will never hold this medal in his hands or wear it on his uniform. He will never hear a president thank him for his heroism. He will never stand here to see the pride of his friends and loved ones, as I see in their eyes now.”

But, Bush said, there are things the nation can still do for Keeble, even all these years later.

“We can tell his story. We can honor his memory. And we can follow his lead, by showing all those who have followed him on the battlefield the same love and generosity of spirit that Woody showed his country every day,” the president said before a somber East Room audience that included three rows of Keeble’s family members.

'Soldiers watched in awe'

Fellow soldiers, family members and others have been pushing Congress and the White House for years to award Keeble the medal. They said the man known as “Chief,” a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux tribe, deserves the medal for his actions in Korea in 1951, when he saved the lives of other soldiers by taking out more than a dozen of their enemies on a steep hill, even though he himself was wounded.

“Soldiers watched in awe as Woody single-handedly took out one machine gun nest, and then another,” Bush said. “When Woody was through, all 16 enemy soldiers were dead, the hill was taken, and the Allies won the day.”

Pentagon officials had said the legal deadline had passed to award the medal to Keeble unless Congress specifically authorized it. Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Tim Johnson, D-S.D.; and John Thune, R-S.D., introduced legislation to award Keeble the medal, and it was signed by Bush last year.

Keeble was recommended twice for the medal in the 1950s but the applications were lost both times. He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross.

“Some blamed the bureaucracy for a shameful blunder,” Bush said. “Others suspected racism — Woody was a full-blooded Sioux Indian. Whatever the reason, the first Sioux to ever receive the Medal of Honor died without knowing it was his.”

'Woody never complained'

His friends felt he was cheated, Bush said, “yet Woody never complained. See, he believed America was the greatest nation on earth — even when it made mistakes.”

Seventeen members of Keeble’s family, along with soldiers who served with him, attended the ceremony. Keeble’s stepson, Russell Hawkins, accepted the award along with Keeble’s nephew. He said after the ceremony that he does not believe it was racism that delayed the honor.

“I think it was truly lost,” he said of the original recommendations. “I don’t think Woodrow would say it was discrimination. He didn’t see racial colors, he didn’t see racial barriers.”

Hawkins said the family has been pushing for the medal since the early 1970s.

Keeble, who was born in Waubay, S.D., moved to North Dakota as a child. He was also a veteran of World War II and received more than 30 citations, including four Purple Hearts.

Bush saluted Keeble for his military heroism, but also for his conduct in his personal life — pursuing a woman he loved, becoming “an everyday hero” in his community and maintaining cheerfulness — despite his own grief and physical suffering. The wounds he suffered in Korea would “haunt him the rest of his life” and strokes paralyzed his right side and took away his ability to speak, but he mowed lawns and gave money to down-and-out strangers.

“Those who knew Woody can tell countless stories like this — one of a great soldier who became a Good Samaritan,” the president said.

• My kiddo LOVES her new school! When 'the husband' and I walked her to her new classroom, she was understandably nervous. When we left, 'the husband' was devestated. "She's terrified!" He exclaimed.  I told him not to worry. I knew she would be okay when the girls announced they were happy because there was another girl in their midst. They are outnumbered by the boys in their class.

My sister, who works as the school nurse at my daughter's new school, called and gave me midday report. She said that the demi-goddess was sitting at the front of the reading circle and answering questions. She also told me my daughter was the line leader on the way to lunch and won at playing Bingo.  When my daughter got home she was beaming! "Oh, Mommy I love my new school!" She said excitedly. She said couldn't wait to go back again. Today she told me not to forget that tomorrow is Wednesday which means she has to wear her special uniform for chapel. Yep, she's a warrior, just like her mama! *cue high pitched warrior trill* lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

• I'm pleased as punch because I colored my hair and it came out perfect!  Normally, when I try to color my hair, the color doesn't even pick up!  Lately, I've noticed that my hair color was dull and flat so I decided to use one of those color boosters to add highlights and tones.  A color booster is a very mild rinse that you apply to your hair when your permanent or semi-permanent hair color starts to fade. I haven't colored my hair in two years so I didn't think it would work that well, but it did! I saw a noticable change -- not a dramatic change, but a noticable one. My hair even looks shinier! I used a product called Motions Color Return Refresher and Conditioner in Nutmeg Brown.  Now, my hair is dark brown with auburn highlights. I feel a bit prettier. :)

• School is going well. Today, when I trekked across the campus, it was only slightly hot due to cloud coverage. I was glad I didn't arrive at the lecture hall drenched in sweat.  Being sweaty and smelly would have totally cancelled out my pretty, new, shiny hair!

I was kind of feeling guilty for not reading all of the assigned reading, but I was lucky that he stopped lecturing where I stopped reading. I can't rely on that kind of luck forever, so I need to get my butt in gear and start putting my nose to the grindstone.  Playtime is over!

By Samantha L. Quigley

American Forces Press Service

March 29, 2007 – Understanding the critical role spouses play in the recovery of wounded warriors, Operation Homefront has created the Wounded Warrior Wives Project to help them navigate the challenges they may face.  "While the military sees to their physical health, the key to the short- and long-term stability and full restoration of our wounded warriors lies in the support of their spouses," Meredith Leyva, founder of Operation Homefront, said. "It is the spouses, not the wounded warriors, who are most responsible for key family issues such as financial viability and seeking assistance."

The Wounded Warrior Wives Project is an opportunity for spouses to get together and really discuss issues surrounding their servicemembers' recovery, Leyva said. And though the title specifically mentions wives, "we are certainly open to everyone," she said.

The Wounded Warrior Wives Project began at Operation Homefront's annual chapter presidents' meeting, Leyva said. The group recognized that each new phase of recovery and rehabilitation brings new challenges not only for the patient, but the caregivers, Leyva said.

"It' a comprehensive program," Leyva said. "We catch them in the hospital at the acute phase (and) they can continue with physical support groups at the rehabilitation centers."

The Wounded Warrior Wives Project strives to help provide caregivers with an emotional and practical support system to navigate those challenges. Through the program, Operation Homefront will provide support groups at each major military medical facility, Leyva said.

It will continue this support network beyond the family's involvement in the medical system with Web-based magazine content and discussion forums that will directly address pertinent issues. This content will launch April 2, she said.

The Web content will become a new section on CinCHouse.com, Operation Homefront's online community. Dr. Julia Storey, a retired Air Force psychologist, and Tonia Sargent, a Marine wife whose husband suffered severe head injuries, will lead this endeavor, Leyva said.

Local support groups are primarily peer-to-peer with the goal of presenting information on all the programs available for military families, Leyva said.

"However, we will not be allowing command officials and program officials into the inner workings of the support group meetings, as a matter of privacy, unless the support group members specifically request that," Leyva said. "People need to be able to talk openly and without fear of reprisal, and I think command officials understand this."

Operation Homefront is a member of the Defense Department's America Supports You program, which highlights the support the nation's servicemembers are receiving from the American public and the corporate sector.

Article sponsored by criminal justice online leadership as well as police and military personnel who have authored books.