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When we go to war, so do they. In every war in American history, dogs have been by our sides helping us to find the enemy and keep us safe.

Now they are also helping to heal our wounds.

A recent story in USA Today revealed that the two "specially selected and trained therapy dogs will be attached to combat stress units in Tikrit and Mosul, where 'they'll be a vital part of the medical team' that helps troops struggling with stress, sleep disorders and event-related stress." Read more.

Dogs are also being used to help our newly wounded troops through rehabilitation. Shane Parsons, a wounded soldier who recently received a new house courtesy of CSAH, has a very special bond with Gracie, a mixed breed therapy dog, who visits him often as he recovers at Brooke Army Medical Center.

And ... in this heartwarming case, man is dog's best friend. Nubs is an Iraqi dog who was severely injured and saved by one very special Marine. If you love dogs, you must read this story here!

Labels: dogs, recovery, rehabilitation, supporting wounded veterans, trends, wounded soldier, wounded troops

To follow up on J.R.'s last post ... Donny Daughenbaugh (wounded Marine and fellow CSAH spokesman) and I are in New York City today to honor LeAnn Rimes, on behalf of REDBOOK, with the 2007 Strength and Spirit Award for her charity work, especially with the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes.

We just walked the red carpet with her ... man there were a lot of flashing lights! We felt like celebrities ourselves. Now we are on our way to give her this much-deserved award. More later....

- B.J. Jackson

Labels: LeAnn Rimes, paparazzi, red carpet, REDBOOK, wounded Marine, wounded soldier

I was asked by my good friend, Ron Martz (former military reporter at the Atlanta Journal Constitution), on behalf of the The Association of Military Journalists (www.militaryreporters.org) , to represent my fellow injured OIF/OEF veterans on the panel called "Covering the Wounded" at their annual conference in Arlington, VA on October 12, 2007.

There I answered questions from the press on my perspective of how this subject has been treated by the media, what I think they are doing right and what I think they are doing wrong. I'll let the answers I gave there remain exclusive to those who attended, but I can tell you that the media has been my friend during my recovery. Since 2004, I have been the National Spokesman for the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes so I've had my fair share of interactions with the press. The press holds all the power with their pen and paper to tell the American public our story. Thanks to the journalists like the ones I met at this conference, the public is now more aware than ever of the battles our families when returning home severely wounded. Without these stories, too many Americans may forget that our freedom is not free.


General Sanchez was the keynote speaker at the event. Here he poses for a picture with me. I have a lot of respect for the former General.

Thank you Ron for this great honor to represent the wounded service members at your conference. Thank you to all who attended.

For more information on The Association of Military Journalists, visit www.militaryreporters.org.

- Posted by J.R. Martinez

Labels: military reporters, military story, wounded soldier, wounded troops