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Recently I asked the question "Where is the Army"? I think this news article answers my question well. They are on rotation.

I know of a few hundred Army guys who would probably disagree.

I mean, Ft. Benning is only right there next to Columbus, GA. There is probably a very good portion of the students there with military parents.....

Not only is this school close to Ft. Benning ... Spencer HS is the designated school for all high school students living on post at Benning. The school grounds butt up against the military post!

I just received a phone call from a co-worker. He has spoken with our boss who rode out the storm in Gulf Breeze Proper. Our boss' home (northwest side of the peninsula) has only sustained a little water damage, but a friend's home (southeast side of the peninsula) has holes in the roof and has flooded (don't know to what extent). Also, as expected, both bridges in Gulf Breeze (P'Cola to GB & GB to P'Cola Beach) are impassable. I tried to get more info, but that's all I know for now.

I logged on specifically to try to get info about Gulf Breeze. My family and I live in Gulf Breeze Proper but evacuated to a friend's house at Ft. Benning, GA. My son and daughter were keeping in close touch with their friends in Gulf Breeze yesterday by phone. We have been unable to contact anyone today. I hate to say it, but after watching news reports, I fear the worst. My husband and eldest son left Ft. Benning about 15 minutes ago headed back to Gulf Breeze to help with medical care, cleanup, etc., ... and to see what is left of our home. I will let you know if I hear anything.

The original link at the Houston Chronicle website doesn't work for me:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2257312

This is a cached link from my google search:
http://216.239.39.104/search?q=cache:ifdCdWF_3DEJ:www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2257312+%22911+call+center%22+houston+%22super+bowl%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Hope this helps.

Don't know anything about the software, etc., but I agree that it does need to be checked for hackers, as well as any intentional programming glitches.

I'll be sure to post if I hear or see anything out of the ordinary. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I'm about 25 miles outside the city, but I'll do what I can.

Excellent thread. I've been lurking here since the very beginning ... checking in several times a day. I don't post very often, but I just had to jump in here when I saw post 12,618 re: problems with the Seattle 911 emergency call center.

I live just outside Houston and every couple of weeks we hear yet again about the problems with the Houston area 911 emergency call center. I did a quick search and found this article. With the seemingly huge target painted on Reliant Stadium and the Port of Houston ... especially for February 2 ... I thought I might throw this into the mix. I guarantee it will make your hair stand on end.

-----------------

Nov. 29, 2003, 2:41PM

911 Call Center Fails Again
Officials unsure what caused computer software crash
By KRISTEN MACK
Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

As waves of shoppers flowed toward area malls early Friday, the computer system at the new Houston Emergency Center was swamped by waves of a different kind.

Calls backed up, and the resulting "information bottleneck" caused the second system failure in as many months at the center, although the new director, Sharon Counterman, said it had nothing to do with the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season.

Call takers had to write down information and relay it to police officers and firefighters via radio for almost four hours after the system failed at 8:28 a.m.

While public safety officials said no emergency calls were lost and no one was endangered by the computer crash, critics noted that this was another in a long list of problems since the center opened in September.

"It seems like there is a lack of communication, cooperation and coordination over there," said Johnnie McFarland, vice president of the Houston Police Patrolmen's Union.

"They need a change in management. They haven't addressed technical, operational or personnel issues."

Officials said they were not sure why the computer software failed but should have more answers by Monday. The system was put back into service at 12:23 p.m., and no more problems had been reported as of late Friday.

Counterman, who became the center's first director this month after overseeing communications in the Las Vegas Police Department, said she still has faith in the system. "We never lost any 911 calls," she said. "It was not as efficient, but it was still functional and the public got the service they need and want."

The emergency center was designed to put the city's 911, police, fire and emergency medical services dispatchers under one roof and improve response. But technical problems continue to cause delays, union officials say.

If the system crashes on the busiest shopping day of the year, McFarland said, he questions whether it can withstand the demands of the upcoming Super Bowl in February.

"I can't believe they are going to bring visitors from all over the place and our system isn't ready," he said. "We are the fourth-largest city in the country, and they designed a system to handle Mayberry."

Counterman said she can't guarantee that the system will never fail again, but she added, "I can guarantee that citizens will continue to be served."

This is truly awesome. Rest assured that these miracles are happening all over Iraq and continue to take place in Afghanistan. Countless children have been saved by our soldiers ... children with legs and arms blown off by land mines ... terrible sicknesses ... burns ... you name it.

It's nice to see that this story is getting a bit of media coverage. There are hundreds of heroes just like this soldier who will never be publicly recognized for their efforts. (I'm honored to be married to one of these amazing men.)

We are inching toward another war, and we are going to have more veterans, and we are going to have more wounded.

Last time I checked, we were already at war ... resulting in more veterans ... and having more wounded. *&^%$ is going on in Afghanistan and elsewhere continuously. Please remember the men and women involved in ongoing operations ... as our press seems to think the war in Afghanistan is over. It's not ...

... and sorry to bust your bubble, Tommy (D), but we have kicked some serious Taliban butt.

Interesting how everyone seems to only remember the Marines ... thanks to the media, I guess. But our Rangers jumped into Camp Rhino and were conducting operations a week or so before the Marines even stepped foot on Afghan soil. And SF, Delta, and Navy SEALs were obviously in country well before that.

Two men, Ranger Stonesifer and Ranger Edmunds, gave their lives during that mission. But all anyone remembers are the Marines.

Don't get me wrong ... Marines have done their job incredibly well. Just setting the record straight and giving credit where it is due.

Amen.

I agree with you 100% that they deserve our support.
Beyond moral support, what can we do?
Establish a fund, supported by donations, at the state level to augment NG pay?

And maybe spread some of that generosity around to their active-duty counterparts? I won't deny that a lot of us active-duty families are doing just fine financially (getting paid about half what our civilian counterparts make, but getting along fine just the same). But remember ... there are thousands of lower-ranking enlisted families who supplement their incomes with food stamps as a way of life.

Maybe some of the hundreds of millions of dollars collected in the 9-11 funds could have been spread out to supplement pay for troops that have been activated. These families have been deeply affected too. Don't get me wrong ... my heart still grieves for those families who were most directly affected by the attacks of 9-11 ... but $1.5 MILLION per family does seem a bit extreme by most standards.

MAGGOTS GROWING IN NOSES OF VETS IN VA HOSPITAL
This is the kind of treatment that boils my blood!

I just can't get the picture out of my mind -- this VA hospital vs. the "abhorrent" conditions at Gitmo. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE????? Makes me want to puke ... all over the hospital staff.

You all are angels. No need to thank me, and my husband feels the same. As he always says, "I'm just doing my job." But prayers are always welcome. ;o)

Thanks for posting the article. Sports medicine, strength training, and physical therapy are by far the most utilized areas of Ranger care during routine training. Their bodies take an incredible beating on a daily basis. My husband is in his mid-30s (an old man by Ranger standards) and in fantastic physical shape, but he doesn't think his body can withstand much more abuse. Rangering is definitely a young man's profession.

I'm a daily lurker on this thread and don't often post. But I come here to find strength and comfort, especially during the times my husband is deployed. I am always deeply touched by what I see and read here ... and today's thread hits me squarely in the heart. Thank you for honoring these amazing men.

Marine Recon regularly jumps out of perfectly good airplanes and helicopters. Guess he couldn't pass muster.

My, my. You got me there, Smedley. My bad. There were a couple of other reasons (his being 17 and immature the time for one), but I can assure you that it has nothing to do with him passing or not passing muster. He decided to go back to college and medical school. I dunno. Maybe that had something to do with it too. Marines didn't have a slot for him once his plans changed. Anyway, I don't know why you felt the need to slam him. I didn't say one word against the Marines. I respect them too much.

By the way, your character certainly comes through loud and clear in your post.

Oh ... and thank you for your support. [/sarcasm]

The Amry brass, however, does not want the Corp to get anymore press, or so it would seem.

You mean the press that kept beating the drum about the Marines "going in first" to "secure" Camp Rhino? The same Camp Rhino that a couple hundred Army Rangers dropped into for a look-see ... a full month before the Marines hit shore? THAT press?

Don't get me wrong. I love those Marines. (My husband would have been one if they would have let him jump out of a perfectly good airplane every once in a while.) But it was kinda rough sitting back here listening for weeks about the Ooorahs going in first, when it was really the Hooahs all along. And let's not even get into the whole "botched mission" crap that the press put out.

Rangers Lead The Way!

Since I don't believe in coincidences, I am responding to this. My sister called me today. We have a family member in Afghanistan now. From what she tells me, our troops are not feeling the level of support from the American people that they felt during Desert Storm.

It breaks my heart to hear this. Did your deployed family member mention what more we can do to show our support?

My husband recently returned from 3 months in Afghanistan / Pakistan / Fill-in-the-blank-istan. The whole time he was there I was writing letters, sending care packages (to him, to his medics, and to other single soldiers), and I asked relatives and friends to collect letters from children at their schools and churches. I must have sent over a hundred letters addressed "Dear Soldier" to our guys over there.

I've found that a lot of people here at home want to help but don't really know what to do or where to go. I tried to give these people an avenue to get their messages of support directly to our troops ... especially to those troops who don't have access to email. My husband said that it was probably the best thing I could have done ... especially sending care packages to our single soldiers. It did get expensive, but I was amazed at the outpouring of generosity from friends, family, and complete strangers. They would send money and/or goodies, and I would fill the boxes and ship them out.

I will admit that I have slacked off a bit during the past month or so (mental health and recuperation time I guess). But I guarantee you that I'll be right back at it within a couple of months, as I'm almost certain my husband will be deployed again soon.

I truly believe, whether we like it or not, it falls on the shoulders of the military families and friends back home to somehow help provide an avenue to make sure that their servicemember and all those serving with him or her know how much they are appreciated. I'll admit that mail delays of 3-4 weeks don't make for the best communication, but every little bit helps and it can be done.

This thread is a perfect example of military family and friends reaching out for prayer from others. Now this Air Force commander can report back to his airmen that he personally knows of hundreds, if not thousands, of people back home who are keeping his troops in their thoughts and prayers. What a morale boost that must be!

Prayers once again going out to our brave men and women overseas and to their families back home.

War is hell on the homefront too. Whoever said that really knew what they were talking about.