Free Republic

A new drug is offering hope for the family of a little girl whose genetic defect causes mobility issues similar to that of polio and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Four-year-old Lexi Pacini, of Colorado Springs, was diagnosed with type 2 spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as a toddler. The rare disease is marked by the absence of a gene that codes protein signals from motor neurons to muscles, and it leads muscles to weaken to the point of atrophy. **SNIP** “She dances the way she knows how, in her walker,” Tammy told Children’s Hospital Colorado in the release. “She just doesn’t...

CAMP CROPPER, Iraq, Aug. 7, 2009 – Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston discussed key concerns and possible solutions with soldiers during a visit here Aug. 3. At a town hall meeting, Preston outlined the topics he had brought to President Barack Obama in the president’s first office call with the top noncommissioned officers of each service. "I submitted three things: stress on the force, recruiting and retention, and the Year of the NCO," Preston said. Preston pointed out that stress doesn’t just affect soldiers overseas. "It's not just the soldiers who are deployed," he said. "It's also...

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, May 3, 2006) – The work of American Soldiers is helping countries like Afghanistan and Iraq recover from years of war and repression, according to the Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. Preston has visited forward operating bases across Southwest Asia and the Balkans several times during his tenure, and will visit again this summer and fall. In addition to checking on the welfare of U.S. enlisted Soldiers, Preston will look for continued progress in Iraq and Afghanistan’s emerging enlisted army structure. In spite of terrorist and insurgent attempts to unseat the stability of...

FORT HUACHUCA — This year and next will be the toughest for the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan, the service’s top enlisted soldier said Friday. Equating too many things coming together at once to the movie “The Perfect Storm,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston said the Army is in the midst of a major transformation of creating more brigade combat teams, movement of forces from overseas locations, base closures and realignments, recruiting more soldiers and continuing to fight terrorism. What cannot be lost is protecting the nation, he told nearly 700 noncommissioned soldiers and officers during a...

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (Army News Service, Feb. 8, 2006) -For one Soldier recovering from wounds sustained in Operation Enduring Freedom, a visit from the Army’s senior NCO came with a special birthday gift -- a promotion. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston visited wounded warriors recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center Monday to thank the troops for their sacrifice and service. Spc. Ernesto Godoy was promoted to sergeant during Preston’s visit. Godoy was injured in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device while on a routine patrol with the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy. Although suffering...

TOKYO, Japan (Army News Service, July 19, 2005) – Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force leaders met with Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston in Tokyo July 15 to talk about the relationship between both armies. The growing JGSDF is making improvements in its ranks. The Japanese Army is creating a senior sergeant major-rank system, positions for noncommissioned officer instructors and a sergeant major of the JGSDF. “I have some things I’m proud of and one of them is my NCOs,” said Gen. Tsutomi Mori, JGSDF chief of staff. “To make things better, we’re making some changes. Biggest step is...