Posts Tagged ‘Memorial Day’
Sunday, June 19th, 2011
Under the Hood welcomes Kyle Wesolowski as the new manager. After several years of devoted service to Under the Hood,
Cindy Thomas recently stepped down as manager so
that she could be closer to her family. Cindy remains an important part of the UTH family and the soldiers, veterans, volunteers, and board members will never be able to thank her enough for everything that she has done. Jim Turpin, a longtime volunteer with UTH had this to say when he heard the news: “Cindy has made such a difference in so many people’s lives, there are really too many of them to count. Some of these young men and women are alive, happy, and healthy today because of her selfless work.”
With
Kyle Wesolowski’s recent release from the military, this is a great opportunity for him to provide some of the same kind of support to soldiers that he received when working to be acknowledged as a Conscientious Objector. With Kyle as the new manager, Malachi Muncy working on a 12 week internship, and support from IVAW staff working in Killeen on Operation Recovery, this is an exciting time for Under the Hood.
Check out some of the things that have been going on this month at UTH.
Operation Recovery campaign requests a meeting with the new General at Fort Hood: In late April, Lt. General Donald Campbell, Jr. took command of the Army’s Third Corps and Fort Hood, the largest and most deployed military installation in the United States. On General Campbell’s first week at work, IVAW, in coordination with Under the Hood staff, sent him a
letter requesting he meet with representatives of the Operation Recovery Campaign about the ongoing mental health epidemic raging at Fort Hood. Since then, Operation Recovery members have gotten no response from the General’s office.
Fort Hood Commander is put on watch: After receiving no response from the new Commander, Operation Recovery members attempted to meet with him on base on May 25th. After being escorted off of the base, members built a
watchtower as a symbolic act to let the General know that his actions in reference to the health and well-being of soldiers at Fort Hood are on watch.
Grill the General Barbecue and fundraiser held on Memorial Day: A fundraiser and barbecue was held at Under the Hood on Monday, May 31st. Soldiers, veterans, and civilians all came together to discuss work being done in Killeen and enjoyed a great meal together. Funds raised at the barbecue will go to support the continued work being done to support soldiers in need.
Under the Hood and IVAW members talk about Operation Recovery on Rag Radio: On June 10th, Thorne Dreyer interviewed Aaron Hughes, Malachi Muncy, Scott Kimball and Sergio K about Operation Recovery, their personal experiences, and their work to stop the abuse of traumatized soldiers. Listen to the podcast
here.
Here is a way that YOU can help a soldier in need. PFC Ryan Reed recently received a 10 month sentence at a court-martial at Fort Hood, Texas.
His crime? – He put his family first.
PFC Reed tried to get help from his chain of command when his wife suffered from serious health issues after the birth of their first child, but his requests were repeatedly denied. In fact he was told by some of his NCOs that he should give up his child to either his parents (or the state), so that he could legally abandon his family and deploy with his unit.
PFC Reed left the unit for six months. Upon return he was told that his family would still get no help (he was even forbidden to talk to the chaplain about his problems) and that he must deploy. This time he fled again, taking his family to Canada where he believed he would be safe from prosecution and his wife could get the care that she needed.
In October 2010, PFC Reed made the difficult decision to voluntarily return to the United States. Upon return he was arrested and then escorted back to Fort Hood, Texas.
At trial PFC Reed plead guilty to one count of AWOL and one count of desertion. He then presented a strong case showing (1) his serious family hardship, (2) his old unit’s failure to help him, (3) his positive service history upon return to military control, (4) his high rehabilitation potential, and (5) the difficulty his family will experience if he is given jail time. PFC Reed asked the judge to give him a BCD (bad conduct discharge) in lieu of jail time, but he was instead given a 10 month sentence (coupled with the BCD, loss of pay and loss of rank).
The good news is that this fight is not over. PFC Reed has a right under MCM 1105 to submit written matters in mitigation to the convening authority (Lt. General Donald Campbell, Jr., CG of Fort Hood). We are asking members of the public to write letters of support asking the general to suspend part or all of the 10 month sentence.
Details will be posted soon on what these letters should say and how they can be submitted. In the meantime, please “like” our page on Facebook (
Free PFC Ryan Reed campaign) to show your support for PFC Reed.
This Memorial Day, we remember three fearless activists for peace.
Nick Travis III, 55, passed away suddenly early Monday morning, May 24, 2010 in Austin. Nick, a long-time peace activist, was known to show up at Under the Hood with his guitar and infectious smile. People couldn’t help but be a little happier with Nick around.
Lisa Morris, 28, passed away unexpectedly the next day, May 25, 2010, in Copperas Cove. Lisa, a regular at Under the Hood, always made sure to stand in protest with fellow soldiers, veterans and family members at the gates of Fort Hood. She left behind many friends.
Then on January 30, 2011, Nel LeBar passed away, surrounded by her family after losing a battle with cancer. In the words of Nel’s granddaughter: ”Nel lived a life of grace and love. Her absence will leave no small hole for those who called her friend, which includes her family. Those who knew her were changed by her, and those who met her were inspired. Her legacy will live on in the memories and hearts that carry her spirit always. She didn’t waste one moment here on Earth and demonstrated love in everything that she did. Her gentle soul that longed for peace has finally found it.”
Although we miss Nick, Lisa and Nel more than words can say, we continue to work for peace in their memory.
Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a
one-time donation or want to sign up as a
sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood? We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out
here.
Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website! If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
Tags: 2011, bad conduct discharge, BCD, Cindy Thomas, conscientious objector, deploy, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Support Network, IVAW, Jr., June, Killeen, Kyle Wesolowski, Lisa Morris, Lt. General Donald Campbell, Memorial Day, military, Nel LeBar, Nick Travis III, Operation Recovery, PFC Ryan Reed, Rag Radio, ResiStore, soldiers, Under the Hood, Update, veterans
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Saturday, May 28th, 2011
Join us on Memorial Day as we celebrate Kyle Wesolowski’s release from the army as a Conscientious Objector!
Meet the organizers of Operation Recovery.
Kyle Wesolowski
Monday, May 30th, starting at 2:00 p.m.
Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center,
17 College Street, Killeen Texas
A $10 suggested donation is requested to cover the cost of food, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. GIs are welcome to join us free of charge.
All are invited to Under the Hood to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Also, visit with IVAW field organizers who have arrived for several months of work doing outreach to Fort Hood soldiers as part of Operation Recovery.
http://www.underthehoodcafe.org/ and https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=110527332368984&ref=ts
Tags: 2011, BBQ, conscientious objector, Fort Hood, G.I., IVAW, Killeen, Kyle Wesolowski, May 30, Memorial Day, Operation Recovery, soldiers, Under the Hood
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Thursday, May 19th, 2011
May is a busy month at Under the Hood. Iraq Veterans Against the War headed to UTH this month, as part of its Operation Recovery Campaign, in its continued effort to stop the deployment of troops suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Military Sexual Trauma . IVAW has requested a meeting with General Don Campbell. Read IVAW’s letter to General Campbell here. IVAW has not yet received a response, but their efforts to reach the General is only the beginning of the work they plan to do while in Fort Hood. IVAW’s organizing team will work for several months to outreach to soldiers, build their case against the military’s egregious practices, conduct town hall meetings, and pressure Fort Hood’s new General to do the right thing
Under the Hood has a new intern! He’s a longtime supporter of UTH – Malachi Muncy. This internship through the national G.I. Coffeehouse Network started on May 9th and will last for a total of 12 weeks. Malachy will be working closely with the Under the Hood staff, volunteers an board members to build working relationships with veterans, servicemembers and the civilian community. We’re very excited to have him on staff.
Regina Vasquez brings her Fatigues Clothesline to UTH. This 8 week series beginning May 15th, from 5-7 pm, is for women only. To find out more, you can reach Regina at
[email protected].
Join us on Memorial Day as we celebrate Kyle Wesolowski’s release from the army! As we told you in our
March issue,
Kyle’s Conscientious Objector claim was approved by the U.S. Army. Since he was notified of his CO status, Kyle has been on terminal leave. After months of patiently waiting, Kyle will officially be out of the military by Memorial Day!
Here are the details:
What: Under the Hood BBQ and get-together
When: Monday, May 30th, starting at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Under the Hood Cafe & Outreach Center, 17 College Street, Killeen Texas
A $10 suggested donation is requested to cover the cost of food, however, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. GIs are welcome to join us free of charge.
Meet new friends and get together with old ones. We look forward to seeing you on the 30th!
The Fort Hood Support Network, sponsor of Under the Hood, is very pleased to receive a 2011 grant from RESIST, an organization that has funded forty years of social change. The “Hell Yes!” Grant was awarded for leadership in the movement for social justice on April 3, 2011. RESIST says, “The ‘Hell Yes!’ Grant honors the spirit of resistance to illegitimate authority and is awarded to groups that embody the moral clarity, courage and political commitment to challenge the forces that drive toward war and place profits over people.” The Fort Hood Support Network board member and treasurer says: “We are honored to be a ‘Hell Yes!’ grant recipient.”
Your continued support of Under the Hood allows us to continue our important work in Killeen. Whether you are making a
one-time donation or want to sign up as a
sustainer, it’s easy to contribute through PayPal.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.
Interested in sharing some of your time and talents with Under the Hood? We are always happy for support in any form. Along with monetary support to keep our doors open, we can always use other forms of assistance. If you believe that you can provide support in some way, please feel free to
contact us. We’d be happy to put you to work!
Check out the ResiStore! Now you can purchase great items and support Under the Hood at the same time. Check it out
here.
Under the Hood Update is on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Past issues of Under the Hood Update are now on the Under the Hood website!
If you’ve missed any of our past issues, or if you just want to re-read past articles, please click
here.
P.O Box 16174 | Austin, TX 78761
Tags: 2011, BBQ, Cafe and Outreach Center, CO, conscientious objector, deployment, Fatigues Clothesline, FHSN, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Support Network, G.I Coffeehouse Network, G.I., General Don Campbell, Hell Yes, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, Killeen, Kyle Wesolowski, Malachi Muncy, May, May 30, Memorial Day, Military Sexual Trauma, Operation Recovery, PTSD, Regina Vasquez, RESIST, ResiStore, servicemembers, social change, Texas, Traumatic Brain Injury, troops, u.s. army, Under the Hood, Update, veterans, war
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Saturday, June 19th, 2010
At Under the Hood, Memorial Day 2010 was a day to remember two friends who were mainstays of the Texas peace community. Nick Travis III, 55, passed away suddenly early Monday morning, May 24, in Austin. Lisa Morris, 28, passed away unexpectedly the next day in Copperas Cove. Nick, a long-time peace activist, was known to show up at Under the Hood with his guitar and infectious smile. People couldn’t help but be a little happier with Nick around. Lisa, a regular at Under the Hood, always made sure to stand in protest with fellow soldiers, veterans and family members at the gates of Fort Hood. She leaves behind many friends. Both will be missed dearly. Our work continues on in their memory.
Under the Hood needs YOUR support now! This is a critical time and we won’t be able to keep our doors open without your sustaining donation. Please consider signing up for a recurring donation today. If you believe in the work we do at Under the Hood, show us your support by considering a monthly donation. As little as $10.00 a month can go a long way toward making Under the Hood sustainable. Two hundred supporters contributing $10 a month will help us ensure that we can continue to provide these important services. It’s easy to become a sustainer through PayPal. The first 100 supporters to sign up for a sustaining donation will receive their choice of a poster or 12 oz. bag of Under the Hood coffee!
We would like to thank our most recent UtH supporters. A special thanks to our newest sustaining donors.We now have 16 sustaining donors toward our goal of 200! We also want to thank Lee & Hardy Loe and Sue & Walter Long for their generosity. Because of these two families, we had two very successful fundraisers in Houston and Austin in May. We are also very grateful for a $1,000 grant from the Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia in Seattle, Washington.
The Fort Hood Support Network (FHSN) operates Under the Hood Café and Outreach Center. FHSN is a Texas non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Donations may be treated as tax-deductible.
Under the Hood has had a steady stream of soldiers reaching out to us for support. For the first time, however, a group of military spouses recently contacted Under the Hood for assistance. As the U.S. heads into its tenth year of combat in Afghanistan and continued combat missions in Iraq, the number of soldiers facing multiple redeployments and resulting physical and mental health problems is reaching unprecedented levels. Soldiers and families are increasingly finding that the Army is doing little to address these and other health issues soldiers face. In fact, right here in Fort Hood, the Army is violating its own regulations by training soldiers for deployment despite their non-deployable status.
In an effort to call attention to this mounting problem, a group of military spouses scheduled a press conference to speak out against combat training for soldiers with a no-deployment profile, and for the Army’s lack of medical assistance and support. You can read
Dahr Jamail’s interview with these spouses in his
truthout article
here.
RISE TOGETHER: IVAW national convention is coming to Austin July 8 – 11, 2010. IVAW and Under the Hood mutually support each other’s efforts to end the war, one soldier at a time! We look forward to seeing many of our IVAW brothers and sisters this July. For more information about the IVAW convention, check it out
here.
Under the Hood film makes the top 10 spotlight in the Austin Chronicle. The film
“Under the Hood” by filmmakers Sarah Garrahan and Lauren Sanders was listed in “Take 10: The annual 10 Under 10 showcase spotlights collegians and cameras” in last month’s Austin Chronicle. Congratulations to Sarah and Lauren for their great work. Check out the video
here.
Under the Hood Update is now on Facebook. Become a fan! You can find archived issues and connect with other fans of Under the Hood. Visit our Facebook page by clicking
here.
Or visit Under the Hood on the web at
Tags: 2010, army, Austin, Copperas Cove, donation, Fort Hood, Fort Hood Support Network, health, IVAW, july, June, Killeen, Lisa Morris, Memorial Day, mental health, military spouses, Nick Travis, soldiers, Under the Hill Update, Under the Hood, Under the Hood Cafe
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Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010
Austin, TX, May 31, 2010. Noted photographer Alan Pogue responds eloquently to State Senator Kirk Watson’s Memorial Day e-newsletter.
From: Alan Pogue
Date: May 31, 2010 1:44:25 PM CDT
Subject: Happy Memorial Day, an oxymoron
I deeply apologize to the Vietnamese people for having been part of the U.S. military assault on their country in 1967-68. One cannot be a hero and a war criminal at the same time. I joined the Vietnam Veterans Against the War as soon as I could. There was a hero in the War against Vietnam, Warrant Officer
Hugh Thompson (photo courtesy of Alan Pogue)
Hugh Thompson. Thompson was a helicopter pilot who confronted William Calley and saved over one hundred Vietnamese from the massacre at My Lai (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Thompson,_Jr.). His door gunners pointed their machine guns at U.S. soldiers so that Thompson would have cover for saving more Vietnamese civilians. The wars against Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are equally as criminal as the war against Vietnam was. War is big business, the Military-Industrial Complex. As president Eisenhower warned us it would the Military-Industrial Complex is now in charge of our foreign policy. President Obama made William Lynn, a chief lobbyist for the Raytheon Corporation ( makes the guidance systems for the Cruise and Predator missiles) a deputy secretary of the Pentagon. Now the federal government is paying Raytheon’s lobbyist. This is not what Joseph Campbell had in mind. As Plato pointed out, being courageous is meaningless if the purpose of the action is not just.
Alan Pogue
On May 31, 2010, at 10:09 AM, Kirk Watson wrote:
Happy Memorial Day
May 31, 2010
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
— Joseph Campbell
For all of the heroes we’ve lost, and to all of the heroes who are still with us . .
We remember. And, say thanks.
www.kirkwatson.com
Copyright Kirk Watson | Political advertisement paid for by Kirk Watson for Texas Senate
P.O. Box 2004, Austin, TX, 78768; Rosie Mendoza, Treasurer.
Tags: afghanistan, Alan Pogue, Hugh Thompson, Iraq, Kirk Watson, massacre, Memorial Day, military-industrial complex, My Lai, Pakistan, Vietnam, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, war, William Calley
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