Feral Jundi

Friday, November 11, 2011

Cool Stuff: Giving Thanks To Military And Civilian Veterans Across The World

Contractor Casualty Statistics
The Department of Labor Defense Base Act Claims Cumulative Report By Employer
From 09/01/2001 to 09/30/2011
Killed: 2,871 (DEA)
Wounded: 74,571 (NLT, LTO, LT4)
Companies: 1936

Today, there is much attention, respect and remembrance for military veterans of war across the world. And they deserve that. But what is not heard or given thought to, is the great amount of sacrifice, contribution, and heroism given by our civilian veterans around the world during times of war.

Now personally, I am a military veteran and war veteran, but I am also a civilian veteran whom has worked extensively in the war.  I have also lost co-workers in this war as a civilian veteran, and those losses and their sacrifice will never be forgotten to me. It is the same for all civilian veterans whom have worked in the war zones and lost friends and co-workers. On Memorial Day, and days like this, contractors all go through the same process mentally of recognizing our military veterans, but also recognizing the work of their fellow contractors in this war.

And one of the more interesting facts of the war is that there are a percentage of contractors that are not military veterans at all. Danger Zone Jobs was able to get a statistic about such a thing. Out of the group of contractors polled in their survey, 37.3% of them did not have any prior military service.  Now how closely this matches the overall contractor history in this industry, is up for debate.

The other data point of interest, that no one has really been able to figure out, is how many civilian have served in the war over the last ten years. Although it would be safe to say that those numbers probably match that of the military. The current numbers of contractors in the war zones are at about 175,000. So that is 175,000 folks that deserve our thanks for stepping up and serving in the war zone, despite the dangers and hardships. That is also 175,000 civilian veterans that have friends and families, all praying for their safety every day. Wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends, sisters, brothers, daughters, and sons–all proud and supportive of their loved one’s service in the war. And they should be.

Not to mention all of the civilian veterans out there that have been wounded, and some grievously. It troubles me that my nation, or any nation out there, is not taking the time to recognize the service of these civilian veterans that I speak of.

I am here to give thanks to our military veterans. But on this day, I will also recognize our civilian veterans, and that is the least I can do.  –Matt

 

Ed Stiles, 91, said better pay and the whiff of possible adventure prompted him to overlook the risks of volunteering for combat duty with the famed Flying Tigers of World War II.

 

BALAD, IRAQ. An Australian doctor in the Balad Air Force base in Iraq photographs United States private contractor Jake Guevara. Insurgents ambushed Guevara, along with his team, when they went to pick up people from the embassy, and one of his team was shot and killed instantly. Hundreds of wounded soldiers have come through the military hospital for emergency treatment since the siege of Falujah began in early November.

 

Remembrance Day (also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day and Veterans Day) is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the official end of World War I on that date in 1918; hostilities formally ended “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice (“at the 11th hour” refers to the passing of the 11th hour, or 11:00 a.m.)
The day was specifically dedicated by King George V on 7 November 1919 as a day of remembrance of members of the armed forces who were killed during World War I. This was possibly done upon the suggestion of Edward George Honey to Wellesley Tudor Pole, who established two ceremonial periods of remembrance based on events in 1917.
The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem “In Flanders Fields”. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.

(more…)

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Industry Talk: Veterans Day And Remembrance Day….. For Military And Contractors

     So as everyone around the world takes time to remember their veterans and their sacrifice, I wanted to include one more group in this remembrance. That would be the thousands of civilian contractors that have served in this current war, and wars past. Their sacrifice and contribution to today’s war effort, and past war efforts, is worth every bit of respect and honor we can give them. Especially the 2000 plus contractors that have been killed in this current war, and the thousands out there that have been wounded.

     It is also important to note that the ranks of contractors in this war are filled with actual military war time veterans. It is quite a thing to work side by side with a veteran of South Africa’s Border Wars, or a veteran of the Vietnam War. Or some veteran that worked multiple tours in today’s wars, both in Afghanistan and Iraq, and here they are, working as a contractor in today’s war. This special class of veteran is the type of individual that stepped up again to put their lives on the line, and give another ounce of flesh to the cause. Wether it be training Afghan police, cooking the food in a DEFAC, building living quarters for the troops, or delivering essential wartime goods on dangerous roads–contractors must be remembered on this day too.

    Now to put my military veteran hat on, because many of us contractors have past service and past wars to remember. All of us who have that experience do not not need to be reminded to remember. If anything, this day comes with the hope that others will not forget these sacrifices, both past and present.

    Let’s not forget about the families of contractors and military veterans too. They are the ones that count the days while their loved ones are gone, and fear those phone calls or visits that might bring news of death. They are the ones that keep raising the family while their loved one is overseas, and they are also the ones to raise that family alone when their loved one is killed or seriously injured. I salute you for your strength and dedication.

    This post is also a dedication to the veterans from around the world who have at one point put it all on the line for their country during time of war. And no matter where or when, that experience is always a horrible sacrifice for all involved. There is nothing uplifting or positive about war, and the only good part about it is when it is over and everyone can go back to living their lives in peace.

    So with that sad, I am always touched by the words in the famous wartime poem ‘In Flanders Fields‘, by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. This poem says it all and I wanted to put it up here as a dedication to all veterans, both military and contractor, past and present, and around the world–this is for you.-Matt

In Flanders fields the poppies grow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie,

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

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