Category Archives: Soldiers

A soldier’s uniform.

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Meet Joey Paulk, who survived horrific injuries incurred in Afghanistan:  “The burns on a soldier’s face are huge: It’s your military uniform and you can’t take it off,” he said. “The surgery changed so much on my face that it … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Empathy, Philanthropy, Soldiers, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Puppy love and war.

Posted on November 17, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Puppy love: Stray dogs befriended by soldiers on duty in Afghanistan are flown thousands of miles to be reunited.

Posted in Afghanistan, Animal kingdom, Soldiers, United States, War | Tagged | Leave a comment

Iraq through the lens.

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

I discovered the “conflict photographer” Benjamin Lowy thanks to The New Yorker Magazine: “It took years for me to get a book from Iraq published. I had to win an award to do it because no one wanted to publish … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Iraq, Soldiers, War | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Navy SEAL Chinook Water Extraction = helicopter gets down in water to retrieve an inflatable boat!

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

When I first read the title “Navy SEAL Chinook Water Extraction”, I thought it meant a helicopter extracting water via a hose, for putting out fires or spraying fields. To my amazement, it really means bringing the helicopter down to … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Soldiers, Technology, United States | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Veterans’ Day… why we should never forget!

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

The reason why we celebrate Veterans’ Day and some of us wear poppies on our lapels: In Flanders Field by John McCrae MD (1872-1918) In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, History, Soldiers, War | Tagged | Leave a comment

Meet Thomas L. Roznovsky, a “protector of freedom”.

Posted on September 30, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

If you, like me, feel bombarded with terrible and negative news from Afghanistan, the Victoria Advocate has a great story about Chief Petty Officer Thomas L. Roznovsky’s experience at the National Military Hospital in Kabul.  Here are two quotes from … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Empathy, Soldiers, War | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A Marine Mother’s sacrifice for her country.

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Soldiers’ Angels posted this beautiful picture with the request for prayers from the baby’s deployed Marine mother.  I am humbled.

Posted in Gender, Soldiers, United States, War | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dispatches from (and faces of) Afghanistan.

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

If you have never read Michael Yon’s “Dispatches”, do go and pay a visit.  He is currently in Afghanistan, and he is able to provide a real glimpse of what is happening over there: 13 September 2011 Zhari District, Kandahar … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Blogging, Culture, Soldiers, War | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Preserve and honor: American troops photograph every grave in Arlington National Cemetery.

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Following in the steps of a young man, Richard “Ricky” Gilleland, troops are photographing every grave in Arlington.  I was surprised that the article does not mention the Preserve and Honor project. Here is a lesson regarding the power one … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Culture, Empathy, History, Soldiers, United States, War, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The incredible Marine Corporal Todd Nicely.

Posted on July 31, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

The TV show below illustrates how the human spirit overcomes physical shortcomings. Thank you, Mr. Nicely, for providing an outstanding example to all of us who complain about the tiniest of setbacks. (Thanks to the Huffington Post.)

Posted in Culture, Science, Soldiers, Technology, United States, War | Tagged | 2 Comments

“YOUR COUNTRYMEN OWE YOU THEIR FREEDOM AND THEIR SECURITY. THEY SLEEP SAFELY AT NIGHT AND PURSUE THEIR DREAMS DURING THE DAY BECAUSE YOU STAND THE WATCH AND PROTECT THEM.”

Posted on June 29, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Secretary of Defense Gates’ message to the troops upon his retirement.

Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Soldiers, War | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The origins of Father’s Day.

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, first proposed the idea of a father’s day in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was raising six … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Memories, Soldiers, United States | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A rehabilitation project for wounded soldiers.

Posted on May 31, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

How a greenhouse is helping wounded soldiers: You leave the place after meeting these blokes with a feeling of humility and more than a little embarrassment when you think about something that had recently pissed you off or about something … Continue reading →

Posted in Soldiers, United Kingdom, War | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Richard “Ricky” Gilleland III’s Preserve and Honor.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

On this Memorial Day, it bears repeating:  it only takes one person to make a difference! Richard “Ricky” Gilleland III‘s website preserveandhonor.com provides solace and comfort and dignity to the families and friends of fallen soldiers.  Read about it here … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Soldiers, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Memorial Day and the war in Iraq.

Posted on May 30, 2011 by Barbara Dillon Hillas

Walter Russell Mead writes a moving account, reflecting on how to commemorate those who gave up their lives defending their country: The story of America’s victory over terror in Mesopotamia needs to be told. In justice to those who sacrificed … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghanistan, Iraq, Religion, Soldiers, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment