We're not real current with celebrity news around the Portal (is Brittainy in or out of rehab ?). Surfing around the net, however, we stumbled across the news that the Jolie-Pitt Foundation (as in "Brangelina") has donated $1 million to benefit American and Iraqi children affected by the war.
$500,000 is dedicated to the Armed Services YMCA Project Hero Program. The ASYMCA works through schools to provide counseling services, educational assistance and emotional support to children of military families coping with long deployments and/or grief.
The other half million bucks benefits three groups working to sustain educational opportunity for Iraqi children: a group serving refugee Iraqi children in Jordan, a group assisting Iraqi moms still in country and a third group working specifically in Najaf.
The web headlines particularly caught our eye because the blogosphere is abuzz follwing reports of diminishing media coverage of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The rhetorical pot shots at network news in particular focus on the generous coverage of entertainment and celebrity "news" (this could be a good introduction to Abu Muqawama if you're not already following the blog).
So you'd expect that the bona fide celebrity surrounding Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would lend some cache to covering America's longest armed conflict, right?
Don't bet your Underwood on it.
Wierdly, the headlines catching our eye all turned out to come from foreign press sources: the Calgary Herald, the BBC, Ireland's DRE, the Malaysia Star. Even more wierdly, we've seen no coverage of Brad and Angelina's philanthropical zeal on "Extra" or "TMZ" when we parked in front of the tube to audit those shows.
Does the corporate media truely believe we Americans are so averse to difficult issues that we'll turn off the TV if they so much as mention them? Do they really think we'll get so angry if we hear about our wars that we'll stop buying the cushioned innersoles and deodorants their sponsors sell ?
Even more scary: what will the media advisors to the Presidential campaigns recommend they do when talking to us about the issues brought up by our nation's wars ?
This won't be the only lament you'll hear from us about media coverage of Iraq. One of the factors that launched the Portal was when we noticed CBS News discontinued their "American Heroes" spots when Bob Shiefer left the anchor chair (some are archived on the CBS News tribute page).
More importantly, this won't be the last time we'll be highlighting the compassion and generosity inspired by the sacrifice military families endure.
Be sure to take a look at the ASYMCA website. The organization has a long history of support to our troops and offers a broad array of services to the enlisted and their families. The Project Hero Program premiered at Camp Pendleton; the chapter offers more info at its website.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Obie
You know Obie even if you never met him. He's an American archetype, as natural a product of our national DNA as the ballfield in the park, the autumn changing leaves dappling the woods, the sweet smell of lawngrass when the yard's been mowed.
You might have known him as Branden, Branden Oberleitner. A big kid but quiet. "He was always quiet unless he has something important to say."
Loved tinkering on cars. It's why he got that job at the gas station, that one that's still got a workbay there in Worthington -- Worthington, Ohio? Just outside of Columbus?
Most of his tinkering still got lavished on the old car in the driveway at his folks' house. He'd been working on it for years. Friend and classmate Tyler Louk still laughs remembering the night of the senior prom. She and her date, decked out for the big night, passed by Obie's house and there he is in the driveway, all elbow-deep in grease just working on that old car.
"He wasn’t into the social scene," she smiles. "He went his own way."
Caroline Peters went to Kilbourn Middle with Obie, she'd gratefully second that notion. Caroline sort of went her own way too, signing up as the only girl on the Kilbourn football team.
"He always stood by me and didn't look at me crazy like everyone else did cause I wanted to play football." Caroline gives her teamate high marks not just for his courage to go against the herd but for his compassion and understanding. "He was a true leader, I will always remember the words of courage he gave to me being a female and playing football on a boys team."
Obie did that a lot: encourage people when they were challenged. He bucked them up through his quiet conviction and presence. High school buddy Roger Hohman shared Obie's interest in firefighting as a career. They took Fire/EMS classes together at nearby Delaware JVS. Roger, now a certified firefighter/EMT in Washington, D.C., gives the credit to Obie.
"Branden was plane out one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. . .If it wasn't for Branden's encouragement and willingness to help me out, I probably would have never made it to where I am today."
Obie had been giving a lot of thought to the military as a career move too. Kevin Earhart who worked with him at the gas station got an earful. "That's all he wanted to do," Kevin insists -- his pal was passionate about it. After 9/11, Obie felt "compelled" to join the military. He put his firefighter plans on the shelf and told his mom he was enlisting.
He ended up in the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry (2/502) out of Ft. Campbell. He made deep impressions with "The Renegades" and bonded with a whole new circle of folks.
"I remember one day while we were training in the woods of Ft. Campbell," Jason Stockton writes: "It was raining that cold, miserable rain. Everyone was soaked and cold. We were stopped for a moment to rest and let the LT do his thing. Half of what was comming out of everyone's mouth were complaints.
"Well, a squad leader came by and asked Obie how he was doing. The only words out of his mouth were 'good to go sergeant.'
"That was something that has always stuck in my memories and, when times get tough, always motivated me."
Ellen Resnik says: "I met Obie several times when I came to Ft. Campbell to visit my fiance, Jason Resnik. . .I have never met a young man who loved Elvis as much as he did, and he sure knew all the words. We all had many great memories together. Obie . . .holds a great place in our hearts."
Somehow it's not surprising that Obie was a big fan of the King. Everything that is truely American about the Presley mistique is true for Obie, he would have fit in easily in any Elvis Presley movie.
Consider this note from Jason Resnik's mom to Obie's folks:
"Obie came to our home several times with Jason and their friends. He was very mannerly and a fun person. He and I both loved 'The King' so we had a common interest there. You raised a fine young man. . .I know Jason loved rooming with him."
Ms. Resnik isn't alone in praising Obie's natural politeness. Nilda Miranda Negron, wife of Obie's sergeant writes:
"I knew Branden, every time he notice me in the parking lot waiting for my husband, he will running to me to let me know my husband was advice of my waiting. Very correct in the presence of the wifes. I always appreciate that."
So many features of the Elvis Presley image -- the self confidence to go against the herd, the ready fellowhip, the generosity of spirit, the innate grace and manners however unpolished -- all those qualities of the American hero that the Presley image was crafted to convey actually resided in Branden Oberleitner. They were in fact in his DNA. American as apple pie.
December of 1955, two weeks before his 21st birthday, Elvis Presley basked in the glow of a national record deal and the prospect of a springboard into the hearts of a nation.
Two weeks before his 21st birthday, June 5, 2003, Pfc. Brandan Oberleitner was felled in an RPG attack in Fallujah, Iraq. Obie isn't known nationwide, but he is firmly implanted in the hearts of all those who knew him and of many who now can only hear of him.
"I. . .was in the same squad as 'Obie' and was there when we were hit," writes Thomas Ford of Ft. Richardson, Alaska, "and everyone that was there was hurt by the loss of such a good guy.
"Sorry that my words come so late, and i'm extremely sorry if these words don't make any sense or if they bring up old thoughts and emotions."
Obie's death inspired a lot of thoughts and emotions -- feelings and memories from middle school and from mud soaked training fields, from fun gatherings of new friends and from old friends acknowledging help selflessly given.
In her letter, Sgt. Negron's wife recalls June 5th, '03 and how her husband -- still in the States then -- sensed trouble even before he heard the news. Devastated when he did hear, Nilda worried many weeks for her distraught husband.
"I know is hard for him to write you, he is not good at it, so that's why is me who is doing it; but I can tell you, he have not forgotten... he remembers Branden every day...and remembers all the others 'guys' too. He feels sorry but also feels proud for the way Branden was...'a good guy a good soldier' that's what he just say to me with a smile. I think is a soldier thing, I don't know.
"Last year we went to Fort Benning in a trip and we found Branden's name in the book they have in the museum honoring the fallen soldiers... my husband touch the name and smile. I think now he is better if I may say so.
"My husband was Oberleitner's sgt," Mrs. Negron explains to Obie's folks, "and his lost affected him, and of course me too. But you have lost more and I ask God to give you all the strength and the confidence to live with this."
Obie's mom, Iris and stepdad, Freeman Carmack did find that strength. Their son's passing inspired them to continue sending "care packages" to the Renegades still overseas. The gesture meant a lot to Obie's comrades.
". . .thank you for sending the letters and packages after we lost 'Obie,' " Tomas Ford goes on in his letter, "it really felt good to hear from the family and letting us know that it was ok, that it wasn't our fault, and we wasn't to blame, it really felt good and was motivating to read those words from the people that mattered the most to 'Obie'."
His mom and stepdad's movement gained momentum as other families joined in, people who hadn't even met Obie. Shelby Bergin of Washington, Missouri writes:
"Branden was a very brave soldier who will live on forever in my heart as a hero. I am only 13 years old but my brother, Leo, is overseas. He is with the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell Kentucky. My mom, sister-in-law, and me are all a part of the Renegades Family Readiness Group. I just wanted to tell you that Branden will always be a hero to me and my friends and family."
Maybe it's "that touch of an angel in him," Ms.Carol Liller White speculates, wishing she'd been able to meet him, "that reached out to others" inspiring them to post letters and notes to the Fallen Heroes Memorial site. Letters and notes that paint a vivid portrait of an American boy, that kid worked at the gas station, an irreplaceable American hero.
God bless the family, friends and comrades of Branden Oberleitner and thanks for giving us Obie, a model for how to live a valuable life.
You might have known him as Branden, Branden Oberleitner. A big kid but quiet. "He was always quiet unless he has something important to say."
Loved tinkering on cars. It's why he got that job at the gas station, that one that's still got a workbay there in Worthington -- Worthington, Ohio? Just outside of Columbus?
Most of his tinkering still got lavished on the old car in the driveway at his folks' house. He'd been working on it for years. Friend and classmate Tyler Louk still laughs remembering the night of the senior prom. She and her date, decked out for the big night, passed by Obie's house and there he is in the driveway, all elbow-deep in grease just working on that old car.
"He wasn’t into the social scene," she smiles. "He went his own way."
Caroline Peters went to Kilbourn Middle with Obie, she'd gratefully second that notion. Caroline sort of went her own way too, signing up as the only girl on the Kilbourn football team.
"He always stood by me and didn't look at me crazy like everyone else did cause I wanted to play football." Caroline gives her teamate high marks not just for his courage to go against the herd but for his compassion and understanding. "He was a true leader, I will always remember the words of courage he gave to me being a female and playing football on a boys team."
Obie did that a lot: encourage people when they were challenged. He bucked them up through his quiet conviction and presence. High school buddy Roger Hohman shared Obie's interest in firefighting as a career. They took Fire/EMS classes together at nearby Delaware JVS. Roger, now a certified firefighter/EMT in Washington, D.C., gives the credit to Obie.
"Branden was plane out one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. . .If it wasn't for Branden's encouragement and willingness to help me out, I probably would have never made it to where I am today."
Obie had been giving a lot of thought to the military as a career move too. Kevin Earhart who worked with him at the gas station got an earful. "That's all he wanted to do," Kevin insists -- his pal was passionate about it. After 9/11, Obie felt "compelled" to join the military. He put his firefighter plans on the shelf and told his mom he was enlisting.
He ended up in the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry (2/502) out of Ft. Campbell. He made deep impressions with "The Renegades" and bonded with a whole new circle of folks.
"I remember one day while we were training in the woods of Ft. Campbell," Jason Stockton writes: "It was raining that cold, miserable rain. Everyone was soaked and cold. We were stopped for a moment to rest and let the LT do his thing. Half of what was comming out of everyone's mouth were complaints.
"Well, a squad leader came by and asked Obie how he was doing. The only words out of his mouth were 'good to go sergeant.'
"That was something that has always stuck in my memories and, when times get tough, always motivated me."
Ellen Resnik says: "I met Obie several times when I came to Ft. Campbell to visit my fiance, Jason Resnik. . .I have never met a young man who loved Elvis as much as he did, and he sure knew all the words. We all had many great memories together. Obie . . .holds a great place in our hearts."
Somehow it's not surprising that Obie was a big fan of the King. Everything that is truely American about the Presley mistique is true for Obie, he would have fit in easily in any Elvis Presley movie.
Consider this note from Jason Resnik's mom to Obie's folks:
"Obie came to our home several times with Jason and their friends. He was very mannerly and a fun person. He and I both loved 'The King' so we had a common interest there. You raised a fine young man. . .I know Jason loved rooming with him."
Ms. Resnik isn't alone in praising Obie's natural politeness. Nilda Miranda Negron, wife of Obie's sergeant writes:
"I knew Branden, every time he notice me in the parking lot waiting for my husband, he will running to me to let me know my husband was advice of my waiting. Very correct in the presence of the wifes. I always appreciate that."
So many features of the Elvis Presley image -- the self confidence to go against the herd, the ready fellowhip, the generosity of spirit, the innate grace and manners however unpolished -- all those qualities of the American hero that the Presley image was crafted to convey actually resided in Branden Oberleitner. They were in fact in his DNA. American as apple pie.
December of 1955, two weeks before his 21st birthday, Elvis Presley basked in the glow of a national record deal and the prospect of a springboard into the hearts of a nation.
Two weeks before his 21st birthday, June 5, 2003, Pfc. Brandan Oberleitner was felled in an RPG attack in Fallujah, Iraq. Obie isn't known nationwide, but he is firmly implanted in the hearts of all those who knew him and of many who now can only hear of him.
"I. . .was in the same squad as 'Obie' and was there when we were hit," writes Thomas Ford of Ft. Richardson, Alaska, "and everyone that was there was hurt by the loss of such a good guy.
"Sorry that my words come so late, and i'm extremely sorry if these words don't make any sense or if they bring up old thoughts and emotions."
Obie's death inspired a lot of thoughts and emotions -- feelings and memories from middle school and from mud soaked training fields, from fun gatherings of new friends and from old friends acknowledging help selflessly given.
In her letter, Sgt. Negron's wife recalls June 5th, '03 and how her husband -- still in the States then -- sensed trouble even before he heard the news. Devastated when he did hear, Nilda worried many weeks for her distraught husband.
"I know is hard for him to write you, he is not good at it, so that's why is me who is doing it; but I can tell you, he have not forgotten... he remembers Branden every day...and remembers all the others 'guys' too. He feels sorry but also feels proud for the way Branden was...'a good guy a good soldier' that's what he just say to me with a smile. I think is a soldier thing, I don't know.
"Last year we went to Fort Benning in a trip and we found Branden's name in the book they have in the museum honoring the fallen soldiers... my husband touch the name and smile. I think now he is better if I may say so.
"My husband was Oberleitner's sgt," Mrs. Negron explains to Obie's folks, "and his lost affected him, and of course me too. But you have lost more and I ask God to give you all the strength and the confidence to live with this."
Obie's mom, Iris and stepdad, Freeman Carmack did find that strength. Their son's passing inspired them to continue sending "care packages" to the Renegades still overseas. The gesture meant a lot to Obie's comrades.
". . .thank you for sending the letters and packages after we lost 'Obie,' " Tomas Ford goes on in his letter, "it really felt good to hear from the family and letting us know that it was ok, that it wasn't our fault, and we wasn't to blame, it really felt good and was motivating to read those words from the people that mattered the most to 'Obie'."
His mom and stepdad's movement gained momentum as other families joined in, people who hadn't even met Obie. Shelby Bergin of Washington, Missouri writes:
"Branden was a very brave soldier who will live on forever in my heart as a hero. I am only 13 years old but my brother, Leo, is overseas. He is with the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell Kentucky. My mom, sister-in-law, and me are all a part of the Renegades Family Readiness Group. I just wanted to tell you that Branden will always be a hero to me and my friends and family."
Maybe it's "that touch of an angel in him," Ms.Carol Liller White speculates, wishing she'd been able to meet him, "that reached out to others" inspiring them to post letters and notes to the Fallen Heroes Memorial site. Letters and notes that paint a vivid portrait of an American boy, that kid worked at the gas station, an irreplaceable American hero.
God bless the family, friends and comrades of Branden Oberleitner and thanks for giving us Obie, a model for how to live a valuable life.
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