We have been at war 10 f%cking years,and Operation Helmet still needs to exist?

[w8liftinglady]

http://www.operation-helmet.org/index.html

"Our Warriors Need Your Help
Both those in or deploying soon to Afghanistan as well as Iraq.
Please remember and honor them every day.
With your help, we've sent 53,561 helmet pad upgrade kits to our Heroes"

Info about the staff:

Founder, President Robert H. Meaders,MD. CAPT, Medical Corps, USN-Retired, Viet Nam vet. Flight Surgeon, Senior Naval Parachutist, Diver (SCUBA). Pilot, SMELS, Flight Instructor, Board certified in Preventive Medicine (Aerospace) and Ophthalmology. Ex-Medical Director, International Eye Foundation. Contact: [e-mail]. Wife, LaVera serves as chief mail organizer and in general keeps the old feller going.

Co-founder: SGT Justin Meaders, USMC, now IRR and going to college, Operation Iraqi Freedom vet, martial arts expert, Combat Engineer, back from his 2nd combat tour. Rolled up Ramadi bad guys first time, went back and served in Anbar Province the second time. Personally distributed over a thousand kits to his comrades-in-arms in between combat missions.

VP Fund Raising: Robert Fellers, "Marine for Life", Viet Nam vet, Silver Star, two Purple Hearts, rides loud motorcycles, fondness for adult beverages.

VP Treasurer: Richard Vetter, Ex-Army, European theater, Certified Public Accountant. Bald. Ex-smoker (weekly).

VP Secretary: Jack Visage, CDR, USN-retired. Viet Nam vet, ship driver in past life. Plays golf about like I waltz.

VP Everything Else: Rod McMahon, North American Metals rust-jockey

Celebrity Spokesperson: Cher. What else can I say. Love that sweet gal whose face (and body) have launched a million dreams and whose generosity and love have saved the lives and futures of untold numbers of our warriors...and their families and loved ones.

[w8liftinglady]

1. um...a little tidbit from 2002-FROM THE DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL CENTER

AKA...Our Government
http://www.pdhealth.mil/TBI.asp

Background

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Concussions, also called “closed head injuries”, are a type of TBI. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild”, i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe”, i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. TBI can cause a wide range of functional changes which can affect thinking, sensation, movement, language, and/or emotions. Some symptoms may appear immediately after the injury and other symptoms may not appear for days or weeks. Because of the nature of the injury and the symptoms, sometimes people may not recognize or admit that they have a problem. In post-concussion/mild TBI patients, recovery time is within weeks/months, but a small percentage have persistent symptoms. Patients with moderate to severe TBI may never fully recover their pre-injury function.

The rate of combat-related brain injuries in servicemembers returning from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is higher than in previous conflicts. Blast injuries are a significant cause of TBIs. TBI is often associated with severe multiple trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or undiagnosed concussions. Screening patients who are at risk for a TBI is important in order to ensure that TBIs are identified and appropriately treated.

[w8liftinglady]

2. and an opinion by those crazy Marines...from 2008

http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_helmets_080127/

But experts say new technologies could help mitigate, or somehow distribute, the blunt-force impact.

The new helmets may be costly, potentially twice as much as those currently in use, but improving headgear protection has become a top priority for many senior military leaders.

“If someone can demonstrate that a helmet can stop 7.62 at a 90-degree angle, we want that helmet,” Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway said during a December interview at his Pentagon office. “That continues to be sort of my No. 1 research and development — and ultimately, procurement — effort.”

geez-I'd hate to spend a few hundred extra bucks to save a guy's brain...let's spend a billion on a plane,instead.

[mopinko]

3. completely unsane. nt

[w8liftinglady]

4. my next editorial..will be my third regarding them.Do people even CARE anymore?

[w8liftinglady]

5. and don't forget Soldiers for the Truth..

http://sftt.org/

"Support our frontline troops with more than lip service—help get them the best available personal combat gear to make it home alive and in one piece."

[w8liftinglady]

6. an editorial I wrote in 2006

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1315672

We are three years into the war In Iraq. Our troops still do not have the equipment they need. The Pentagon is unwilling/unable to upgrade the Marine Corps helmets to withstand an IED attack. A private citizen has created operation-helmet.org.Through private contributions, this organization offers free modifications to upgrade helmets. Brain injuries are the number one cause of permanent injury in these insane attacks. This is yet another example of our Republican-led government “supporting our troops” on the cheap. Are our soldiers and Marines not worth the protective gear? Do you care? Go to http://operation-helmet.org / and get the facts.

Register to vote here: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml and act to get some competent legislators in there who will either end this war or fight it appropriately, minus the contracts to their friends, with our soldiers and Marines' safety at the forefront.

[w8liftinglady]

7. and january of this year...people don't give a shit anymore

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x28890

As our troops begin a new year at war on two fronts, it’s time again to focus on the true sacrifice these brave soldiers and Marines make ... as well as the continued disregard our government has for their welfare. One small, but very significant,area is the paucity of adequate helmet pads for our troops. As helmets must be worn for 12-14 hours at a time, the availability of comfortable, safe helmet pads is critical.

Operation Helmet is a 501-C charity begun by Dr. Robert Meadors, an Army flight surgeon. Dr. Bob saw too many traumatic brain injuries caused by poorly fittting helmets, stiff helmet pads and stress fractures of the skull. He developed simple helmet pads that prevent many of these injuries.

Operation Helmet uses 99.5 percent of their proceeds to produce and distribute these pads to those in the front lines. Until our soldiers are home,it is up to us,a grateful nation, to do more than talk. You can make a difference by yourself or in groups through donations and fund raisers. You can contact the organization here: http://www.operation-helmet.org/getinvolved.html

I have been fortunate to have been associated with these great folks for several years. Until we can convince our elected officials to upgrade the troops’ helmets on the government’s dime,it's up to us to help as many soldiers come home in one piece as possible.You can make a difference.

[knitter4democracy]

8. And knitters and crocheters keep making helmet liners.

Just like in WWI, WWII, Korea, and all of the wars, we're knitting balaclavas to keep our guys warm and give them some wind protection. I have one on the needles for my niece's new husband who'll be shipped out in April.

[w8liftinglady]

9. that's right...I saw your posts on many of these...

and will refer people if they print my editorial...