A Real Hero You Should Know and Help

Allow me to begin with the acknowledgement that I am biased toward children. I love them. Now that this is out in the open, I would like to share with you a story that is still in everyone’s prayers who knows of this.

SPC Selena Lassien spent her time in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) from October 2004 to September 2005. If you thought that was hectic, you haven’t heard anything yet.

When Selena returned home to Vinton, La, on September 24, 2005, she found herself being chased out of her home by Hurricane Rita. For her 26 years of life, the worst was yet to come.

After this, her family and she were settled in many different places, with Selena moving from one Fort to the next. Until one day, her boyfriend Darrell and she settled in at Lake Charles. After they had settled in, they received the news. Selena was pregnant.

It just so happened that she flew to her cousins high school graduation party in Jamaica Plain, Mass. in June 2006. Two hours before she was ready to fly home, she noticed there was something wrong with her pregnancy. She called her doctor back home, he told her to relax and fly home, but Selena knew better. (Not too hard, if you ask me, to second guess a doctor!)

It was a good thing, too. She went to the hospital emergency room. Being six months pregnant, she was already dialating. They admitted her that day. “After another four weeks in a special bed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, tiny Kameryn Bias was born. She was soon transferred to Children’s Hospital, where surgeons dealt with the intricate complexities of this fragile but determined life.” She weighed no more than 1.5 pounds.

As of today, she weighs in at 2 pounds. At this very moment, Kameryn is having another surgery. I have just learned this from Patty Patton-Bader, President and Founder of Soldiers’ Angles. Soldiers’ Angles will be accepting donations into their general fund for 48 hours, starting last night, to help Selena find an apartment near the hospital.

She is far away from home, and she really needs our help. She helped us by going to war on our behalf, this is a very simple way for us to show our gratitude.

You may also find some information at Blackfive’s website. Also, Pundit Review held a three hour vigil of sorts on their radio program last night for Selena.

Please, no matter if you only have $10, it all counts. Do not be embarrassed. Think about it this way. How would you feel after going to war, living through a hurrican, and then your child is born premature and needed surgery on her heart and intenstines? Would you like to be near your daughter? Would you do whatever it took to do so? Well, we’re just trying to make it a little easier on her. After all, doesn’t she have enough on her mind?

Please use the paypal, or write to:

Soldiers’ Angels
Care of SPC Selena Lassien
1150 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248
You may also call SA at (615) 676-0239.

Thank you so much for all that you do. That includes the Veterans who have also stepped up to the plate. Unfortunately, they can only offer housing which is very far away from the hospital. I love you guys, but come on. I wouldn’t even leave the hospital, let alone go far away!

Please remember to pray for Darrell, Selena and Kameryn. Thank you.

Sources: Blackfive, Pundit Review, Soldiers’ Angels, and two articles from the Boston Herald: Infant at home in the Hub — for now and Fellow vets reach out to mother in need.
Category: (Military) Someone You Should Know.

A Real Hero You Should Know and Help

Allow me to begin with the acknowledgement that I am biased toward children. I love them. Now that this is out in the open, I would like to share with you a story that is still in everyone’s prayers who knows of this.

SPC Selena Lassien spent her time in OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) from October 2004 to September 2005. If you thought that was hectic, you haven’t heard anything yet.

When Selena returned home to Vinton, La, on September 24, 2005, she found herself being chased out of her home by Hurricane Rita. For her 26 years of life, the worst was yet to come.

After this, her family and she were settled in many different places, with Selena moving from one Fort to the next. Until one day, her boyfriend Darrell and she settled in at Lake Charles. After they had settled in, they received the news. Selena was pregnant.

It just so happened that she flew to her cousins high school graduation party in Jamaica Plain, Mass. in June 2006. Two hours before she was ready to fly home, she noticed there was something wrong with her pregnancy. She called her doctor back home, he told her to relax and fly home, but Selena knew better. (Not too hard, if you ask me, to second guess a doctor!)

It was a good thing, too. She went to the hospital emergency room. Being six months pregnant, she was already dialating. They admitted her that day. “After another four weeks in a special bed at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, tiny Kameryn Bias was born. She was soon transferred to Children’s Hospital, where surgeons dealt with the intricate complexities of this fragile but determined life.” She weighed no more than 1.5 pounds.

As of today, she weighs in at 2 pounds. At this very moment, Kameryn is having another surgery. I have just learned this from Patty Patton-Bader, President and Founder of Soldiers’ Angles. Soldiers’ Angles will be accepting donations into their general fund for 48 hours, starting last night, to help Selena find an apartment near the hospital.

She is far away from home, and she really needs our help. She helped us by going to war on our behalf, this is a very simple way for us to show our gratitude.

You may also find some information at Blackfive’s website. Also, Pundit Review held a three hour vigil of sorts on their radio program last night for Selena.

Please, no matter if you only have $10, it all counts. Do not be embarrassed. Think about it this way. How would you feel after going to war, living through a hurrican, and then your child is born premature and needed surgery on her heart and intenstines? Would you like to be near your daughter? Would you do whatever it took to do so? Well, we’re just trying to make it a little easier on her. After all, doesn’t she have enough on her mind?

Please use the paypal, or write to:

Soldiers’ Angels
Care of SPC Selena Lassien
1150 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248
You may also call SA at (615) 676-0239.

Thank you so much for all that you do. That includes the Veterans who have also stepped up to the plate. Unfortunately, they can only offer housing which is very far away from the hospital. I love you guys, but come on. I wouldn’t even leave the hospital, let alone go far away!

Please remember to pray for Darrell, Selena and Kameryn. Thank you.

Sources: Blackfive, Pundit Review, Soldiers’ Angels, and two articles from the Boston Herald: Infant at home in the Hub — for now and Fellow vets reach out to mother in need.
Category: (Military) Someone You Should Know.

Iraqi Leader Takes Action Toward Peace

This is a little longer than most press releases, but it is well worth reading. You may find it here. Have a great day!

Category: (Military) Press Release.

Baghdad operation improving security

Thursday, 24 August 2006
BAGHDAD — Operation Together Forward, the Iraqi-led operation to reduce violence in Baghdad, is progressing well and improving the security situation around the Iraqi capital, a Joint Staff official said Aug. 23.

Over the last five weeks, the number of incidents of sectarian violence in Baghdad has decreased steadily, Army Brig. Gen. Michael D. Barbero, deputy director of regional operations for the Joint Staff, said at a Pentagon news conference. This success is a direct result of the efforts and dedication of Iraqis, he said.

“I attribute it to an Iraqi government that has committed itself to ending sectarian violence, and I attribute it to the capability of the Iraqi security forces,” Barbero said. “Two-thirds of the forces on the ground in Baghdad are Iraqi security forces. The feedback … from the population in the areas we’ve cleared are all very positive about removing the threat of this violence, the performance of the Iraqi security forces, and their confidence in the government.”

As the operation progresses, Iraqi forces take more and more responsibility for areas and missions, Barbero said. Last week, Iraqi forces were the lead for security for the annual Shiite pilgrimage to Baghdad, and U.S. leaders say they did a superb job.

Barbero added Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that Iraqi security forces will be able to assume responsibility for more provinces in the coming year.

“We see continued improvement of the Iraqi security forces — by now, about 275,000. The numbers, the capability and the equipping increase continuously,” Barbero said.

The operations in Baghdad are important because 90 percent of sectarian violence in Iraq occurs within 30 miles of the city, the general said.

Border operations are also crucial, he explained, as Iranian influence is strong among extremist groups.

Training and equipping border police will do a lot to decrease the Iranian influence, and the U.S. will continue to support the Iraqi border forces as they develop capabilities, Barbero said.

Operations targeting the extremist groups in Baghdad also will help solve the problem of Iran, because it will cut off that country’s direct influence into Iraq, he said.

In addition to targeting extremist groups, the U.S. is working on refocusing the Iraqi Police to hone their civil policing skills, so they will be ready to take over security in the city when operations conclude, Barbero said.

After areas are cleared of violence, civil works and economic development will be brought in to improve the overall situation in the city, he said.

U.S. Central Command
Public Affairs
1Lt. Anthony Deiss
Spc. Patrick Ziegler
Spc. Chris Erickson

Category: (Military) Press Release and Iraq.

Iraqi Leader Takes Action Toward Peace

Release Date: 8/24/2006
Release Number: 06-08-02P
Created by: 8:05am, Patrick A. Ziegler.
Last modified: 8:05am, Patrick A. Ziegler.

Description: FOB KALSU, Iraq – Seeking a unified province free from terrorism and sectarian violence, leaders of groups in Babil came together Aug. 20 in Al Hillah to reconcile and denounce sectarian violence.

Iraqi Security Force leadership, representatives of the Iraqi national government, local government officials, social leaders, tribal sheik leaders and religious leaders, joined together at the Iraqi police academy convention hall to map out a strategic plan to shape Babil’s peaceful future.

“This was Iraqi generated, Iraqi led,” said Col. John Tully, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, an invited guest of the ISF leadership present at the conference “They are clearly trying to come to grips with the issues their society is facing.”

The meeting was orchestrated by Maj. Gen. Qais Hamza, Babil provincial police chief, to bring representatives of every facet of Babil culture to the conference and provide them a forum to speak. It is hoped the meeting would signify the commencement of a new era in the region and the end of terrorism in southern Iraq, said a sheik in attendance.

“We have Sunnis, Shias, women, children – that is a miracle in this day of age,” he said. “Everybody knows what needs to be done, but Gen. Qais is the person who decided that it was time to quit talking and start acting.”

The idea came in coordination with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki’s 24-point national reconciliation initiative plan he outlined to the Iraqi National Council of Representatives in June. Sectarian violence has plagued Iraq for much of the year, and leaders of Babil said they wanted to lead the rest of the nation in heeding al Maliki’s words.

The meeting started off with children from the area singing the Iraqi national anthem and readings from the Holy Koran. Many of those in attendance took turns speaking about the current situation in Iraq and Babil and then gave their suggestions on how to unify the region.

“There is no winner in war,” said Aeman Alkhafaji. “Everybody is a loser.”

Speaking on behalf of a women’s rights group, Alkhafaji said sectarian violence is destroying the greatest part of Iraqi culture – the family. When the man of the house dies, there is no one to provide for the family, no backbone present to steer their children to their future. Or when a woman is killed, it crushes the family dynamic and children lose the comforting tender side of the family.

“A woman without her man is like land without water,” she said. “And a man without his woman is like a ship without sail.”

Numerous Sunni and Shia tribal leaders spoke before the congregation and offered their hand to one another, promising to not let the trouble witnessed in Baghdad infiltrate their region.

“We are not Sunni or Shiite, Kurdish or Christians,” one sheik said. “We are Iraqis, and we intend to secure Iraq. The people who are fighting the old regime and each other are the same people that have lived together for over a thousand years and have drank from these two rivers.”

After a brief recess for lunch, Qais proposed a reconciliation agreement draft he drew up. The agreement’s last paragraph reads: “We have sworn this oath; we accept the promise of the Provincial Government to provide security for all citizens without regard to their sect, ethnicity or political party affiliation and to work toward inclusive, representative government unencumbered by bias and disenfranchisement.

Qais then challenged the more than 500 in attendance to sign the oath and make every effort to make Babil the place all of Iraq strives to be. A large reproduction of the oath each person received was placed near the door and everyone signed it as they exited the conference.

“Let Babil be the example for the freedom and the mixture that we have in Iraq,” said Col. Abbas, Al Hillah police chief.

Smiles were abundant as the participants left the conference, shook hands and offered kind words to each other. More work is left to do, but the initiative Qais introduced seemed to have struck a chord with the people who attended.

“It was very uplifting,” said Tully. “In this society, when you get that many Sunni and Shia sheiks to support a plan, there is a chance for success.

“If Babil can keep people like Gen. Qais in leadership positions, it will be the most progressive and truly democratic province of the southern provinces in Iraq.”

Category: Press Release.