On this page you will find links and   info  for Military sites, and  places that support our troops!

To Make a donation to help support our Heros..  Please  click on any one of the donation links  on the left under our page locater.

It has recently been brought to our attention that many injured troops are unaware that they have benefits through their SGLI policies.   If you have been injued in combat, Make sure you have  spoken to your Unit Commander and asked about the benefits  you may recieve under your SGLI policy. It is no longer only a Life Insurance policy.  You may qualify for  up to $400 thousand dollars  depending on your injury and  disability.

The following links   are informational  links , and interest links   to  other sites.   The US TROOP SUPPORT   Foundation  may not support  some  comments  or  information given at these sites and reserves the rights to  remove these links at any given time .  We  do feel, however that some  information in these links  can be helpful  or of interest to folks . If  you  happen to click on one of these sites  and find a problem, please feel free to bring it to our attention.   We will try to keep these links updated   as well as possible. 

Some you my be able to just click on others  you may need to copy and paste.  Enjoy !

We never forget  our Hero's 

We pary for the safe return of  Keith  (Matt) Maupin.

America Supports You is a DOD sponsored program where folks can go and find foundations that support our troops.  Do not  be afraid to call or contact any of these foundations and ask what percentage stays in the program. Ask for their 990 and know who you are donating to and how much of your money is really going to the cause. Ask details of what they do for our troops!  If  you find one that you think is not doing what they should please report it to  America Supports you.     You can locate America Supports You online at

www.Americasupportsyou.mil

If you find any person  or  any buisness that you think is  being unfair to our military in anyway, this includes military hospitals, and facilities please report it ! They are fighting for our Freedom.  The least we can do is watch out for them.

Great song and video about Troops and families of Troops!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpsv2R9rO1E 

contact for this video

http://tomsmidis.com/tth.htm .
 

Great video  of thoughts from troops

http://outsidethewire.com/

Video  of  troops   to remember

 If I die  before you wake   Video . EXCELLENT  A MUST VIEW !

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

 Incredible Video  of pics  by a photographer  with marines in 2004

 The follwoing  2 minute movie  is a dedication to troops  past present and future. This is  a terrific Clip. We  thank  the ones who made it !

http://www.TheTrenchMovie.com

This  is a Marine dedication for veterans day , and as for as we are concerned  EVERYDAY !

http://exclusives.250free.com/html4/Marinevetday2.html

This is a great  reminder  to  all Americans and A "Thank You" to all our Military  for the sacrafices they have made!

http://exclusives.250free.com/html4/HVD.html     

War tracker  by CNN

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/war.tracker/index.html

Death tolls   by CNN

Foriegn Affairs and International News Links

Defense consultant John Pike's info site

http://www.globalsecurity.org

News on Foriegn affairs and events

http://www.worldtribune.com

A potpourri of military news and information updated daily

http://www.strategypage.com

Letter from a soldier   Want to know what combat is like? By Corporal ---------------- Well, I am still here in Iraq, and with regards to this war, I can say I have seen and done some amazing things. I've seen both cowards and heroes both young and old. Been both confident and terrified, both at the same time. I've grown to love and hate people with a fierce passion. I've given food to the starving, and water to the thirsty. I've seen the pain and uncertainty in a man, woman, and child's face right before they died. I've seen the terror in a man's face when my weapon was pointed at his head. I've looked a man in the eyes right before I put a sandbag over his head. I've tasted the burn of OC/pepper spray as I sprayed a man in the face. I've learned Arabic from a 12 year old girl who was my friend. I've waved hello back at so many passing cars, I felt like I was famous. I've been on TV 4 times, then watched the media tell lies about us. I've been in 3 papers, and was amazed at the inaccuracy of my story. I've seen dozens of marriages fall apart on both ends. I've seen Iraqis cry, they were so happy that we were here. I've had Iraqis swear me up and down because I had to search them. I've heard the launch of mortar rounds as they left the tube. I've seen those same mortar rounds blow up around me and my friends. I had a friend show me pictures of his kids, and get killed the very next day. I've heard the pop-pop-pop of gunfire, and then the ping-ping-ping as it hit around me. I've seen people afraid to pull the trigger, and not kill...and I've seen people kill when they shouldn't have pulled the trigger. I've seen men in the cross hairs of the scope mounted on my rifle and I've pulled the trigger so they will never ever be seen again. I've laid countless hours on my cot trying to sleep but couldn't, because the helicopters were to loud, explosions were to close, their was to much gunfire. I've taken prisoners, guarded prisoners, and released prisoners. I've lost weight because my stomach couldn't handle the food here. I've knocked on people's doors, kicked down people's doors, and almost shot off someone's door. I've sat on a rooftop for 53 days straight looking for bad guys, and learned what patience really is. I've lost all sense of privacy, but grew closer than a brother with my squad and platoon. I've cleaned my weapon more than I have cleaned my clothes, because it was more important. I've learned to appreciate all the things I once took for granted. I've never worked so hard and got paid so little in my life, but even still worked harder. I've watched videos of Nick Berg getting his head sawed off his body while he screamed, and never wanted to kill so bad in my life. I remember when a young kid that called us "sadiq-i" (friend) brought us food each day at a checkpoint, and remember when a suicide bomber killed him and 18 other people days later. I remember a crazy lady telling me lies to waste my time for no reason. I remember a pretty girl secretly waving hello to me so nobody would see, fearing ridicule. I remember the screams of people when a restaurant exploded with innocent people inside. I'll never forget the smell of burning flesh for as long as I live...ever. I've seen Iraqi people fight alongside us one minute, then fight against us the next. I've captured dozens of weapons, some of which were gold plated. I've been in a car accident that would've killed me if I wasn't riding in an armored hummer. I've smiled and scowled, laughed and yelled at different crowds of people. I've seen a 13 year old prostitute bring money home to her father to live. I've smelled the crisp air of a new morning, and the soot and stench of cordite the next morning. I've been so hot, that I stopped sweating and my body started to shut down. I've been so tired and worn out, but still couldn't sleep for days at a time. I've seen people accidentally shoot their weapons and almost kill people, and I've seen people intentionally shoot their weapons and kill people. I've never counted or carried so much ammunition in my life, and I've been around the world more than once or twice with the military. I've sat back and enjoyed an ice cold Coke, and other times I've called on the radio begging for a resupply of water and food because we were starving literally. I've seen guys "baby" their weapons, and I've seen guys treat them like hell, fully knowing it was the only thing that might save their lives. I've said "I hate here" a thousand times, and heard it said a million more times. I've seen a platoon leader curl up in the fetal position out of terror during a firefight, and a private in that same platoon fight like a savage for his life. I've seen a medic choke-up and not be able to do his job, and an infantryman next to him bandage up a wounded child. I've had kids throw rocks at me because I didn't have any chocolate candy to give them. I almost shot a 14 year old kid that pulled a gun on another kid, the toys look very real here. I've seen kids play in a virtual minefield of explosives and ordinance like they were at Disneyland. I've heard shots fired and hit the ground, ducked, jumped behind cover, and flat out ignored them I've seen "new guys" in units come here so scared they point their guns at everything they see. I've been on missions so long, that I've come back to my FOB (base camp) with a full beard. I've sat up late at night waiting for a friend to come back from a patrol that got hit, like a parent waits for their child who's been out all night. I've made best of friends with a 17 year old kid, and a 47 year old man, and talked to both like we were old high school buddies. I've cleaned my friend's blood off of his equipment, and turned it in because he was killed in an explosion hours before. I've seen enough different people's body parts, that I could put them all together and make a completely new body with them. I've laughed and joked with Australian soldiers, had conversations with British soldiers, and drank chi (tea) with Arab soldiers. I've seen how well our bulletproof vest work, and they do stop bullets. I've read the bible and figured I am in, or near the 'Garden of Eden'; but it hardly looks like paradise to me. I've seen fisherman fishing, kids swimming, boats and dead bodies floating in the Tigris River. I've asked myself dozens of times "Why am I here", but I know the answer, and I know if asked...I'd come back again no question. I've missed my family and still do, and I regret not spending as much time with them as I should've before I left. I've figured out who my real friends are back home, because they have taken the time to write me a letter or an e-mail. I felt sold out by my chain of command because I made a decision to shoot, and sat through an 'inquisition' for making a judgment call that I would again. I've gone on my 2 weeks of R&R and enjoyed the downtime, however was anxious to get back to this strange place. I've been to far too many memorial services of our fallen brothers, and choked up everytime, even if silently so nobody could tell I've seen an enemy sniper cause so much pandemonium, that without a shot being fired the sniper was winning a psychological victory over us. I've traded 'war stories' with my best friend who worked in the private sector up north through countless e-mails. I've been disgusted by the double standard that I have seen day in and day out. I've lost a friend to an enemy sniper's bullet and felt helpless. I've been given a urinalyses test because people were doing drugs over here. I've seen the Iraqi people respect the military, and I've seen them totally disregard our presence and "walk all over us". I've searched a car we stopped in sector and found an Oklahoma license plate in the trunk with '04 tag stickers on it. I've felt my stomach knot and my heart skip a beat when a vehicle speeding by, cut his wheel and came directly at me...I was going to be blown-up for sure I thought. I've been terribly sick, but continued to work and patrol through it...mission first. I've gotten packages and letters from people I don't know, and a smile was brought to my face each time. I've had my comfort zone tested and violated by these people time and time again. I've had Iraqis throw fireworks at me on New Years, thinking it was funny that I couldn't tell it wasn't a gunshot. I've come to the conclusion that some soldiers here will return home by the grace of God, and other soldiers will come home simply because the man to the left or right of him did their job. I've seen lousy soldiers awarded medals for no reason at all, and other soldiers who rightfully deserved recognition for gallantry under fire passed over with not even a pat on the back. I've seen the clear difference between competence and arrogance in my leadership. Corporal --------------- __________________ This I pledge, and I'll take it to my death I'll lay my life down for you and die over again I and I, I'm not ashamed of the Most High Even if I die tonight, if I die tonight Si vis pacem, para bellum   _____________________     The following Poem was sent to us by email. I have no idea who the author is. This is such a wonderful poem though we wanted to share it.   The  Armored Sands of Christmas I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh, and looked across the table where the bills were piled too high. The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix, My stocks were down another point, the Dolphins lost by six.         And so with only minutes till my son got home from school, I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool. The burdens that I carried were about all I could take, and so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break. I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust, No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust. And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh, eight hummers ran a column right behind an M1A. A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens, Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean. They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight, Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night. Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind, To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again. There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease, They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MRE's. They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see, They didn't need an ornament-- they lacked a Christmas Tree. They didn't have a present even though it was tradition, the only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition". I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side, He asked me what it was I feared, and why it was I cried.  I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near and kissed him on the forehead as I whispered in his ear. There's nothing wrong, my little son, for safe we sleep tonight, our heroes stand on foreign land to give us all the right, to worry about the things in life that really mean nothing at all, instead of wondering each day if we will be the next to fall. He looked at me as children do and said it's always right, to thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write. And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note, to thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote, God bless you all and keep you safe, and speed your way back home. Remember that we love you so, and that you're not alone. The gift you give, you share with all, a present every day, You give the gift of liberty and that we can't repay.

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