Thursday, September 15, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Books: Gifts Of War–Once Upon A Rice Paddy, By Dan Roach
This is cool. Every once in awhile I get a heads up from a reader about a book they wrote. This particular book is about the author’s experiences in Vietnam. What is cool though is that this book has appeal to all types of veterans, and the leadership lessons learned are priceless.
Those lessons and the blood, sweat, and tears of war, are the ‘gifts’ of memory that I believe the author is referring too. They are the memories and experiences that veterans will always cherish–the good and the bad. And lucky for us, Dan has taken the time to put those memories into a book and share that with the world. A gift indeed.
At this time, the book is being distributed through Author House, so follow the links below if you are interested in checking it out. If you are a Ranger or 101st Airborne from that era, you are really in for a treat with this book. Like Dan says, ‘you’ll laugh, you’ll cry but most of all you will be treated to a gift of understanding’. –Matt
GIFTS of WAR, Once Upon A Rice Paddy
By Dan Roach
Like many that have experienced the bitter taste of war; I understand the need for war and warriors. Yet, I am now a reluctant warrior. This book is an invitation for you to be embedded with a young lieutenant as he experiences an incredible journey as a combat platoon leader. You will experience the daily social, psychological, emotional, ethical and moral dilemmas presented by war. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry but most of all you will be treated to a gift of understanding. I believe you will be awe inspired at what our nation asked of these young warriors and how they responded. You will be pleasantly surprised at the gifts of war received by this warrior. Vietnam was the stage and we were the players in a life and death drama.
About the author.
After graduating from college with a B.S. Degree in Forestry, Dan Roach faced one of the biggest decisions of his life; enlist or be drafted during time of war. He chose enlistment hoping to have more control over his destiny. On May 10, 1966 he enlisted in the Army and was off to FT. Jackson, SC to attend Basic and AIT (Advanced Infantry Training). After AIT he reported to Infantry OCS (Officer Candidate School) at Ft. Benning, GA. On March 27, 1967 he graduated as a 2nd Lieutenant and went directly into RANGER School. After RANGER School he was assigned as an instructor in the Mountain Phase of RANGER Training at Dahlonega, GA. As a RANGER he was sent to Airborne School at FT. Benning, on 17 July 1967.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Publications: Journal Of International Peace Operations, September-October 2011
Call To Action: The Civilian Veterans Association
A big thank you to Doug for giving me the heads up about this association, and to Anthony for putting this together. The Civilian Veterans Association will be the equivalent to the VFW or any other number of associations dedicated to those that have served or are serving. And to me, it is about time we have something like this.
I should also note that the potential for this association is great. The headquarters is located in the heart of the defense world, and there are so many thousands of contractors that have served to draw from, that this could become a very big group. An association like this can also be an advocacy group for contractors who have served. They can also be an advocacy for those that were wounded, or for our POW and MIA contractors. In my post about the resolve and sacrifice of contractors, I have identified just such a group that needs all the support we can give them.
So here are some details. The CVA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia. On the website, you can make donations to this group at their donation page here. They are also looking for folks who would like to help with the various tasks of standing up the CVA. Most of all, they are looking for a director. Definitely head to the website and explore the various ways that you can contribute. Every little bit counts.
Finally, and this is really cool. The CVA is wanting to march in the New York City Veterans Day Parade. Here is an excerpt:
The CVA intends to march in the New York City Veterans Day Parade on 11 November 2011. This year’s theme is “Never Forget,” and pays special tribute to the 10th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. If you are a Civilian Veteran, particularly, if you are a Civilian Veteran who has served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom or any other formally or informally recognized warzone, you deserve recognition and it is high time to come out in force. If you would like to march, please march@civilianveteran.org.
I think this is the first time I have ever heard of a civilian veterans group wanting to march at this parade, and to me, that is awesome. We have had several thousand killed, and thousands more wounded in this war, and I would very much like to see some kind of recognition for this sacrifice. We should also have a national monument or memorial of some type so the friends and families of civilian veterans have something to remember at. Cool stuff and definitely check out the links below if you want to get involved. –Matt
Website for the Civilian Veterans Association here.
The Civilian Veterans Association (CVA) supports civilians who served the United States in official and nonofficial war zones or during domestic terrorist events.
Throughout our nation’s history, civilians have served the US government in war zones, whether as diplomats, intelligence officers, engineers, analysts, trainers, linguists or in support of the military. In particular, for many Civilian Veterans the post 9/11 environment has been one of extreme hardship and personal sacrifice. These Civilian Veterans of war and conflict deserve recognition and support for the sacrifices that they and their families have made in defense of our nation.
Membership in the CVA is open to those who have served in official and nonofficial war zones or during domestic terrorist events while in the employ of the United States Government, whether in a civilian or contractor capacity. The CVA also serves military veterans who have since gone on to serve as a government civilian or contractor in a warzone.
Games: Erik Prince On His Entry Into The Video Game Business
This is cool and I totally agree with Prince on this one. There is an incredible amount of money being made in the video game industry, and all of the big money making video games involve some form of combat and the use of guns in various types of environments throughout the world. Not only that, but they are drawing from historical battles or modern war fighting for ideas. So with that said, it makes total sense for him to enter such a market.
Here are some statistics that support what I am talking about. As of June of 2011, the gaming industry global revenue forecast was about 65 billion dollars. There were 10 million Kinect motion sensors sold, and 55 million Xbox’s sold. The top game was a first person shooter called Call of Duty, like the interview mentioned. With those numbers, it is no wonder that Prince would want to get into this market.
Anyway, this is a cool little interview below. I have not played the Kinect Blackwater game since I’ve been busy with a free bingo games download recently on my phone so I have nothing to add on the game itself. I would be interested in any gamer feedback on this thing though? –Matt
Blackwater founder Erik Prince enters video game business
By John Gaudiosi
September 12, 2011
More and more, today’s video game business is driven by huge military shooters like Activision’s “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3” and Electronic Arts’ “Battlefield 3.”
Now, Erik Prince, the founder of a controversial, real-world military group, is stepping into the virtual war zone with a new first-person shooter, “Blackwater.”
Designed exclusively for Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360, “Blackwater” was developed by Zombie Studios and overseen by Prince, a former Navy SEAL.
The shooter is set in a fictional North African town overrun by warlords and opposing militia forces. Players enter the fray as team members of Blackwater, the mercenaries-for-hire company that Prince founded in 1997.
Featuring licensed real-world weapons, the game can be played with a traditional controller. But it has been crafted to take advantage of Kinect’s motion controls. Gamers will be able to aim, crouch, and interact with the on-screen action using only body gestures and moves to take out enemies through a series of action-packed missions.
The game has already courted controversy, since Blackwater employees were linked to the deaths of numerous noncombatants and civilians in the Middle East while employed by the U.S. government.
Critics have complained about the game because Blackwater employees take on missions for money, while U.S. soldiers, the focal point of games like “Modern Warfare 3” and “Battlefield 3,” fight for their country.
Following inquiries by Congress into Blackwater actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including a shootout that led to the deaths of 17 Iraqis, Prince changed the company’s name to Xe and, in 2009, resigned as CEO. He sold the company last year.