Battle of Bong Trang - 25 AUG 1966 DIVISION KNOCKS OUT 1/2 OF PHU LOI BATTALION. 171 VC KIA in Aug 25 Action. Fight occurs in heavily Fortified Base Camps. by Lt. David L. Raney
In a full day and night of fierce fighting on August 25, the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry; 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry; and A and C Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry engaged the famed VC main-force Phu Loi Battalion, killing 171 and capturing six in thick jungle base-camp areas approximately four mile east of Lai Khe and 25 miles noth of Saigon of Highway 16. The VC casualties amounted to 50% of their battalion destroyed.
A 15 man ambush patrol set out the day before from Company C, and the Recon Platoon, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry radioed for help at 7:40am, after encountering an estimated battalion in what later proved to be heavily fortified base camps. Helicopter fire teams reacted immediately to the call for help and started firing on the enemy within ten minutes. C Troop 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry and the remainder of C Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry rushed to assist.
Diverted from a Highway 16 clearing mission, the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry and B Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry also joined the fight, encountering heavy resistance in a series of bunkers and machine gun positions. As the fight intensified, the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry was air lifted was air lifted fro Lai Khe and began an attack eastward, locating another base camp and encountering M79 grenade-launcher fire and claymore mines.
By 8:30am VC resistance had diminished considerably. Air and Artillery pounded likely avenues of escape. The infantry battalions linked up in search and clear operations. Demolition teams from the 1st Engineer Battalion began destroying the large and sophisticated tunnel and cement-bunker complex.
The results of the search operations proved the enemy was not only well dug-in but also well equipped. Found were three 60mm mortars, three rifles, one Browning automatic rifle, one pistol, three radios, miscelaneous medical supplies, pioneer tools, gas masks and uniforms. Later destroyed were 82 60mm mortar rounds, an assortment of claymore, anti- personnel and anti-tank mines, TNT, hand grenades, small-arms ammunition and one radio. Company C, 2d Battalion, 28th Infantry discovered and destroyed 600 pounds of rice. Division casualties were described as moderate to heavy in four companies. The other eight companies had light casualties.
As related in Danger Forward
The Battle of Bong Trang was an exceedingly fierce engagement with the main force VC Phu Loi Battalion. It was fought in the Bong Trang Woods about four miles east of Lai Khe and 25 miles north of Saigon near National Highway 16 on 25 Aug 1966, during Operation Amarillo.
In the early evening, a defensive perimeter was set up. It was composed of Hq and Hq Co., 1st Bde; C Company, 2d Inf; A Company, 1st Engr Bn; and D Battery, 1st Bn, 5th Arty. The night passed uneventfully.
The next day, 24 Aug, the 1st Bn, 26th Inf, moved by air to the intersection of Route 1A and National Highway 13. As A and B companies, 1/2 Inf, continued to push south, the 1/26 Inf began to clear and secure its assigned sector. The task was accomplished in time for a southbound convoy to pass without incident. The 1/26 Inf closed into two tight defensive positions. C Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, moved to link up with the 1/26th Inf. At 1930 hours, a 15-man patrol from C Co, 1/2 Inf, moved out with the mission of locating VC personnel, bases or material.
At 0640 hours the next morning, 25 Aug, 10 minutes after A and B Companies, 1/2 Inf, and A and B Companies, 1/26 Inf, had resumed their respective clear and secure missions, the latter battalion was informed that the 15-man patrol had encountered and estimated VC battalion. The Battle of Bong Trang had began.
A and B companies, 1/25 Inf, were moved with great difficulty by engineer vehicles through the frustratingly dense jungle growth. Meanwhile, the 1st Bn, 16th Inf, was airlifted from Lai Khe into a landing zone which had been prepared by artillery fire and airstrikes. The unit was completely deployed in the LZ by 1124 hours. At 1200 hours the 1/16 Inf moved due east, employing two companies on line and one in reserve with reconnaissance screening the north flank. At 1258 hours C Co, 1/26 Inf, lead elements joined up with C Co, 1/2d Inf. As each unit reached the battle area. it deployed and entered the fight. The link up of all ground elements was completed by 1330 hours. At that time, CPT Mullen (who was later to receive the DSC for his valor in the action), was placed in command of the ground elements pending arrival of the command group. At 1520 hours B Co, 1/26 Inf, overran an enemy machinegun position. From this point on, the enemy resistance became much heavier. The 1/26 Inf found itself in the heart of the enemy basecamp. Heavy contact was sustained fom 1547 to 1911 hours.
At 1555 hours B Company, 1/16 Inf, arrived at a large VC basecamp. At 1600 hours the battalion's A Company moved into the basecamp. Both companies then continued through the basecamp area to accomplish the relief operation. At 1608 hours A Co, 1/16 Inf, linked up with 1/26 Inf and 1/2 Inf elements. Shortly afterwards, B Co, 1/16 Inf, arrived. The latter unit was directed to attack north maintaining contact with the 1/26 Inf on its right.
At 1617 hours B Co, 1/16 Inf, received heavy small arms, automatic weapons and M-79 grenade launcher fire. At 1620 hours the 1/16 Inf was ordered to change the direction of its attack to the north, bending around to the northeast, thereby keeping its right flank unit in contact with the 1/26 Inf and the 1/2 Inf. A Co was ordered to attack to the right (east) with two platoons abreast and maintain contact with friendly forces on its right. B Co was to move abreast of A Co and attack north on the left (west) flank, employing two platoons abreast. C Co was to follow B Co in reserve. The command group was following and moved north to join the remainder of B Co. At 1635 hours, with forces disposed so, the 1/16 Inf began it's attack north.
At an undetermined time, the 1/2 Inf moved back several hundred yards. The right platoon of A Co, 1/2 Inf, became heavily engaged with VC forces. The reserve platoon was committed to the right of the company. Both platoons then became heavily engaged, receiving heavy casualties. The other platoon of A Co, which was employed to the west, continued moving through the jungle with only minor contact. When the Company Commander was killed, one of his platoons became separated from its parent unit and continued attacking north. At the same time, C Co and the Reconnaissance Platoon received mortar and M-79 fire. B Co, on the west, moved north with very light resistance until it was halted by heavy automatic weapons fire fom the trees as well as mortar fire. The company made a series of assaults, each one becoming weaker as men were hit or separated - the last attempt being made by 14 men.
At 0700 hours, 26 Aug, a pre-planned airstrike was made in the forward battle area. At 0800 hours the remaining seven members of the original patrol from the 1/2 Inf came out of the jungle and into the LZ. They had spent the night in a VC tunnel. PFC Dennis Peterson, Westminster, CA, the only man not wounded, had cared for the other men throughout the day and night, finally leading them to safety. He was later awarded the Silver Star Medal for his Heroism. (Guess he should have performed outstandingly, instead of being brave. bb). At 0845 hours the 2/28 Inf replaced the heavily hit 1/2 Inf, which was returned to Phuoc Vinh. The remaining battalions in the battle area linked up and swept the field.
A total of 171 Viet Cong were killed in action, during the action of 25, 26 and 27 Aug. The Phu Loi Battalion had been literally cut in half. US Casualties were 30 killed and 183 wounded.
As remembered by Jim Holland - 1st Infantry Division
On the night of August 24, 1966 C Co, 1st Bn, 2 Inf sent out a reinforced squad sized ambush patrol. The patrol was to set up and watch an area for the four days that we were to be involved in a road clearing mission. The patrol got lost on the way to the site and asked for permission to "coil up" (spent the night) where they were and move to their ambush site when the sun came up. When the sun came up that squad found that they had walked into a battalion sized base camp. They were surrounded by VC and fought there way into a VC bunker where they set up a defense. When they found themselves in that predicament they called back to the company for help. We initiated air and artillery strikes in support of them and at the same time asked for help from the 1/4 Cav. We received elements of C Troop, mounted on their vehicles and broke jungle to move to the assistance of the encircled squad. When we were about 400 meters from them all hell broke loose. We deployed off the cav vehicles and we all returned fire. Our fire suppressed the VC and my company commander told me to take an A Cav and a tank, mount my platoon and go get the squad. We pulled out of the perimeter and headed for our objective. When we were about 400 hundred yards out the company and the vehicles we left were hit hard. I was ordered to return. As we turned the tank threw a track. Because it would have taken to long under those conditions to repair it we had to leave it. After destroying it we headed back in to the fight.
The 2nd of the 2nd had a site at one point but I have not been able to raise it for a while. They were trying to make it a 2nd Infantry site. I will keep looking for it. If it pops up I will forward it to you. I am still in the process of gathering information on the fight and trying to contact people who were with me or their relatives. After years of searching I did find my platoon sergeants children and we have had a good dialog. SSG Anglim was killed that day along with four other men from the 1st platoon. It was a rough one. Having the cav with us gave us firepower that we would not have had without them.
There were too many brave men who died in the Battle of Bong Trang, infantry and cavalry, for it to fade away as a footnote. I have the intention of putting together personal accounts of Bong Trang in a manner which I hope will give it the attention it deserves. I would also be glad to share with anyone else who is interested.
I had only been in country a short while when that fight exploded around me. Prior to Bong Trang I remember reading one of MG DePuy's memos to the field explaining the tactics we were expected to use upon making contact. I also remember that not long after this fight there was another memo to the troops which refined the tactics he had described in the pre Bong Trang memo. I have little doubt that the lessons the division learned from Bong Trang were incorporated in the post fight directive.
Over the years I have lost the directives which Gen DePuy distributed to all of us. I would love to read them again to see if my memory is as clear as I think it is. I am also looking for after action reports that cover that day. If you could provide me with any sources I would be most appreciative.
I have a great admiration for 1/4 Cav. I came to the division reading about the fight on Highway 13 and the Minh Thanh road fight. As I have already said in my first big fight the Cav was right in there with us. In fact it was your ability to bust jungle, firepower, bravery and even your ability to resupply us and provide shelter for the wounded that allowed us to sustain the fight.
For years I have those contemporaries, that were interested, that I have four Cav stories from my time on the ground. The first story took me into the middle of the Phu Loi Battalion. In the second I was riding on an A Cav that hit a mine and threw us and road wheels all over the place. My third encounter was on another road clearing operation S of Phouc Vinh. My platoon had 1,000 meters of road to clear and secure. Two teams consisting of one tank, one bulldozer dragging a hook, and one A Cav each were travelling with us on each side of the road. When we hit the end of our sector I stopped and told the tank commander to hold up. As I was placing security I heard the vehicles start up. I grabbed my RTO and headed for the lead tank to tell him to hold where he was. As I came even with the A Cav, which was about 8 feet below me it hit a mine. The force of the explosion blew both me and my RTO out into the rice paddies on the East side of the road. The ladderite gravel hits made me feel like I had been wounded numerous times from the bottom of my helmet to the tops of my boots (as it turned out none penetrated). The explosion also picked that A Cav up and dropped it on its side up on the road bed while blowing road wheels out past my security. The fourth time nothing happened but there was no way I could convince my mind that it would play out that way. You guys could move and it kept you in the middle of the fray.
I was BG Hollingsworth's aide during the second half of that first tour and as I am sure you well knew his soft spot was the Cav.
As remembered by Lew Graff - 1/2th Inf Bde who later served 2 tours with the 1/4th Cav
Prior to joining "C" Troop, 1/4th Cav, I was with the 26th Inf Scout Platoon from May 1966 until Dec 1966.
We were pulled out, I think, late on the 26th. Was given a ride out by the, you guessed it, the "Quarterhorse." I can't remember what troop. I'll tell you, at night the sound of the track mounted 50's sure was a comfort. Old Charlie sure had to keep his head down. The presence of the "Quarterhorse" was instrumental in our winning that fight in such a comparative short time.
Col Gorman, later Gen Gorman (4 stars) was awarded the DSC for his part of the battle. He was one man that really earned that medal. He was cool and, as much as possible, had complete control. He actually acted as the battle coordinator and the force commander. As they use to say, "Hell of a good man to ride the river with."
John Conley has been working with the 1st ID band and has a cd with the backup music so now we can really howl!! If anyone can bring a boombox that plays CDs, we could sure use one. He has also created a power point
program with the Song being played and sung by 1st ID Band members and showing some really neat Cavalry photos for the duration of the song. If you
think you might be interested in this song, let me know at the reunion and I'll make you a copy. Those of you not attending the reunion can e-mail me
for a copy. You'll really enjoy this. It even sounds like John singing the lead.
I have managed to get a few After Action Reports and Morning reports (A Troop), I have ordered some others but they haven't arrived and I doubt if they will make it before the reunion. I am putting these all in binders and labeling them. If you were with us from Jul 65 to Jan 68, I may have something of interest for you. I also have one binder full of information for the Feb 68 to May 70 personnel. If anyone wants of copy of anything contain in these binders, please bring the binder to me and I'll make you a copy of whatever you want. BB
Mesothelioma
The Mesothelioma Center is an up-to-date resource on all mesothelioma issues ranging from asbestos, mesothelioma, and mesothelioma diagnosis. Countless veterans were exposed to asbestos during their military service, potentially causing life-threatening illnesses. Visit Asbestos.com today to learn more information.
Below are the names of the troopers who have already signed up or plan on attending. I will update this
list weekly and post it on the Weekly Newsletter. Jim Skillings was making out his reseveration when he received news that
he is scheduled for surgery and won't be able to attend. BB
Davidson, Ronald
A Troop, 1/4th Cav
Friday, Jerry
B Troop, 1/4th cav
Kramer, Jeff C Troop, 1/4th Cav
Baker, Daniel D Troop (Air)
Smith, James
Other 4th Cavalry Troopers
Baker, Ralph ********************************************************************
S.3286 : VA Vet Claim Assistance Pilot Program. ********************************************************************
S.3447 : Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. ********************************************************************
S.3678 : Sergeant Coleman Bean National Guard and Reserves Mental Health Act. ********************************************************************
H.R.5428 : Disseminate Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights Info.
Here are some helpful hints than may help you. Sent in by Danny Horn.BB
10 Ways to Protect Yourself Online
1. Watch your back. In line at the grocery store, I’ll hold my phone like I’m looking at the screen and snap your card as you’re using it. Next thing you know, I’m ordering things online—on your dime.
2. That red flag tells the mail carrier—and me—that you have outgoing mail. And that can mean credit card numbers and checks I can reproduce.
3. Check your bank and credit card balances at least once a week. I can do a lot of damage in the 30 days between statements
4. In Europe, credit cards have an embedded chip and require a PIN, which makes them a lot harder to hack. Here, I can duplicate the magnetic stripe technology with a $50 machine.
5. If a bill doesn’t show up when it’s supposed to, don’t breathe a sigh of relief. Start to wonder if your mail has been stolen.
6. That’s me driving through your neighborhood at 3 a.m. on trash day. I fill my trunk with bags of garbage from different houses, then sort later.
7. You throw away the darnedest things—preapproved credit card applications, old bills, expired credit cards, checking account deposit slips, and crumpled-up job or loan applications with all your personal information.
8. If you see something that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM or sticks out from the card slot, walk away. That’s the skimmer I attached to capture your card information and PIN.
9. Why don’t more of you call 888-5-OPTOUT to stop banks from sending you preapproved credit offers? You’re making it way too easy for me.
PLUS: 13 Things Your Financial Adviser Won't Tell You
10. I use your credit cards all the time, and I never get asked for ID. A helpful hint: I’d never use a credit card with a picture on it.
11. I can call the electric company, pose as you, and say, “Hey, I thought I paid this bill. I can’t remember—did I use my Visa or MasterCard? Can you read me back that number?” I have to be in character, but it’s unbelievable what they’ll tell me.
12. Thanks for using your debit card instead of your credit card. Hackers are constantly breaking into retail databases, and debit cards give me direct access to your banking account.
13. Love that new credit card that showed up in your mailbox. If I can’t talk someone at your bank into activating it (and I usually can), I write down the number and put it back. After you’ve activated the card, I start using it.
********************************************************************
Some interesting facts sent in by John Conley. BB
WHERE TO BUY AMERICAN GASOLINE
You might want to pass this on.... Take a look at WALMART. WOW! They do it right.
WHERE TO BUY AMERICAN GASOLINE. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW. READ ON.
Gas rationing in the 70's worked even though we grumbled about it. It might even have been good for us!
Are you aware that the Saudis are boycotting American products? In addition, they are gouging us on oil prices.
Shouldn't we return the favor?
All of this information is available from the U.S. Department of Energy and each company is required to state where they get their oil and how much they are importing.
********************************************************************
I received this from a friend of mine. It's worth sharing. BB
Summary of Life
GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats..
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4) Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5) You can't trust dogs to watch your food..
6) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair..
7) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8) You can't hide a piece of broccoliin a glass of milk.
9) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10) The best place to be when you're sad is Grandma's lap.
GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:
1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge...mostly sweet, with a few nuts
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground...
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy..
GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD
1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional...
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions..
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus..
4) You look like Santa Claus.
SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is . . . . Not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . Having friends.
At age 17 success is . . Having a driver's license.
At age 35 success is . . . .having money.
At age 50 success is . . . Having money..
At age 70 success is . .. . Having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . ... . Having friends.
At age 80 success is . . .. Not piddling in your pants.
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way.
BUT NEVER forget the blessings that come each day.
Take the time to live!!! ********************************************************************
Heres a piece submitted by Bob Corbin. BB
As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support 'Red Fridays.'
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed One of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
>p>
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and Cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our Service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi..'
The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her...
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second.. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday - and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers.
The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is....We need your support and your prayers.
Heres one from Gary Taylor to get us started this week. BB
The Man Rules
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down
Finally , the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear " the rules" From the female side.... Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE!
1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports, It's like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something
Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know best how to do it , just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle..
1.. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as Football
or Hockey.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; ********************************************************************
This one comes in from Smokey. BB
A very gentle Southern lady was driving across a bridge near the Byrd Spring Rod & Gun Club in Huntsville one day. As she neared the top of the bridge, she noticed a young man fixing (ready) to jump. She stopped her car, rolled down the window and said, 'Please don't jump, think of your dear mother and father.'
He replied, 'Mom and Dad are both dead; I'm going to jump.'
He replied, 'I'm not married and I don't have any kids.'
She said, 'Well, think of Robert E. Lee.'
He replied, ''Who's Robert E. Lee?''
She replied, ''Well bless your heart, just go ahead and jump, you dumb ass Yankee.'
********************************************************************
Thanks to John Vernerio for this one. BB
A widowed older lady, still in good shape, was sunbathing on a mostly deserted beach at Ft. Myers, Florida.
She looked up and noticed that a man her age, also in good shape, had walked up, placed his blanket on the sand near hers and began reading a book.
Smiling, she attempted to strike up a conversation with him. "How are you today?"
"Fine, thank you," he responded, and turned back to his book.
"I love the beach. Do you come here often?" she asked.
"First time since my wife passed away 2 years ago," he replied and turned back to his book.
"I'm sorry to hear that. My husband passed away three years ago and it is very lonely, she countered. "Do you live around here?" she asked.
"Yes, I live over in Cape Coral ," he answered, and again he resumed reading.
Trying to find a topic of common interest, she persisted," Do you like pussy cats?"
With that, the man dropped his book, came over to her blanket, tore off her swimsuit and gave her the most passionate lovemaking of her life.
When the cloud of sand began to settle, she gasped and asked the man, "How did you know that was what I wanted?" ********************************************************************
Heres a good one from Danny Horn. BB
The North Carolina Department of Labor claimed a small Monroe, NC farmer was not paying
proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to investigate him.
Department of Labor employee: I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them.
Farmer: Well, there's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $200 a
week plus free room and board.
Then there's the mentally challenged worker. He works about 18 hours every day and does
about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room
and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night so he can cope with
life. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally.
NCDL employee: That's the guy I want to talk to...the mentally challenged one.
Farmer: That would be me.
********************************************************************
Here's one from Jim Smith who knows cause he lives down there. BB
Finally, a true map of Florida that explains this weird, but wonderful state. Those of us who live in Florida will recognize it and those who don't have been warned!
You know you're a Floridian if....
Socks are only for bowling.
You never use an umbrella because you know the rain will be over in five minutes.
A good parking place has nothing to do with distance from the store, but everything to do with shade.
Your winter coat is made of denim.
You can tell the difference between fire ant bites and mosquito bites.
You're younger than thirty but some of your friends are over 65.
Anything under 70 degrees is chilly.
You've driven through Yeehaw Junction.
You know that no other grocery store can compare to Publix.
Every other house in your neighborhood had blue roofs in 2004-2005.
You know that anything under a Category 3 isn't worth waking up for.
You DREAD 'love-bug' season.
You are on a first name basis with the Hurricane list. They aren't Hurricane Charley or Hurricane Frances. You know them as Andrew, Charley,| Frances , Ivan, Jeanne and Wilma, Irene, Cheryl, Rita and Mary-Alison.
You know what a snowbird is and when they'll leave.
You think a six-foot alligator is actually pretty average.
'Down South' means Key West.
Flip-flops are everyday wear. Shoes are for business meetings and church, but you HAVE worn flip flops to church| before.
You have a drawer full of bathing suits, and one sweatshirt.
You get annoyed at the tourists who feed seagulls.
A mountain is any hill 100 feet above sea level.
You know the four seasons really are: Hurricane season, love bug season, tourist season and summer.
You've hosted a hurricane party.
You can pronounce Okeechobee, Kissimmee, Withlacoochee , Thonotosassa and Micanopy.
You understand why it's better to have a friend with a boat, than have a boat yourself.
You were 25 when you first met someone who couldn't swim.
You've worn shorts and used the A/C on Christmas and New Years.
********************************************************************
Here's Howard Greenfield's submission for the week.BB
A husband and wife are shopping in their local Wal-Mart.
The husband picks up a case of Budweiser and puts it in their cart.
'What do you think you're doing?' asks the wife.
'They're on sale, only $10 for 24 cans’ he replies.
'Put them back, we can't afford them’ demands the wife, and so they carry on shopping.
A few aisles further on along the woman picks up a $20 jar of face cream and puts it in the basket.
‘What do you think you're doing?' asks the husband.
'It’s my face cream. It makes me look beautiful,' replies the wife.
Her husband retorts: 'So does 24 cans of Budweiser and it's half the price.'
by: Edmund Hayes, MD
US Dietary Supplements - Not As Safe As You Think ********************************************************************
Aseptic Meningitis Risk with Use of Seizure Drug Lamictal ********************************************************************
Dying Of Cold - More Heart Attacks In Cooler Weather ********************************************************************
Walking to School Could Reduce Stress Reactivity in Children and May Curb Risk of
Heart Disease ********************************************************************
New Anti-Viral Drug Shows Promise for Dramatic Improvement in Hepatitis C Treatment ********************************************************************
Computerized Warnings Can Dramatically Reduce Use of Inappropriate Medications in
Elderly Hospital Patients ********************************************************************
H1N1 Flu Virus Used New Biochemical Trick To Cause Pandemic ********************************************************************
Believe it or not
Docs discover pea sprouting in Mass. man's lung
Stop Accidentally Printing in Color (All Windows Versions)
A good way to solve this problem is to have your printer default to
black-and-white. That way, everything will print black and white
unless you manually set it to color, which is much more convenient
than the other way around.
1. Click the "Start" menu button and double-click the Control Panel.
Now your printer will default to black and white instead of color,
and that should save you time, ink and money!
*** BONUS TIP: PC Speed Maximizer ***
Thanks to Danny Horn for sharing this article with us. BB
Advocates see trouble for misdiagnosed soldiers
AP – Chuck Luther speaks about his combat experience while standing in his garage at his home near Fort Hood
By ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer Anne Flaherty, Associated Press Writer – Sun Aug 15, 2:22 pm ET
WASHINGTON – At the height of the Iraq war, the Army routinely dismissed hundreds of soldiers for having a personality disorder when they were more likely suffering from the traumatic stresses of war, discharge data suggests.
Under pressure from Congress and the public, the Army later acknowledged the problem and drastically cut the number of soldiers given the designation. But advocates for veterans say an unknown number of troops still unfairly bear the stigma of a personality disorder, making them ineligible for military health care and other benefits.
"We really have an obligation to go back and make sure troops weren't misdiagnosed," said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a clinical psychologist whose nonprofit "Give an Hour" connects troops with volunteer mental health professionals.
The Army denies that any soldier was misdiagnosed before 2008, when it drastically cut the number of discharges due to personality disorders and diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorders skyrocketed.
Unlike PTSD, which the Army regards as a treatable mental disability caused by the acute stresses of war, the military designation of a personality disorder can have devastating consequences for soldiers.
Defined as a "deeply ingrained maladaptive pattern of behavior," a personality disorder is considered a "pre-existing condition" that relieves the military of its duty to pay for the person's health care or combat-related disability pay.
According to figures provided by the Army, the service discharged about a 1,000 soldiers a year between 2005 and 2007 for having a personality disorder.
But after an article in The Nation magazine exposed the practice, the Defense Department changed its policy and began requiring a top-level review of each case to ensure post-traumatic stress or a brain injury wasn't the underlying cause.
After that, the annual number of personality disorder cases dropped by 75 percent. Only 260 soldiers were discharged on those grounds in 2009.
At the same time, the number of post-traumatic stress disorder cases has soared. By 2008, more than 14,000 soldiers had been diagnosed with PTSD — twice as many as two years before.
The Army attributes the sudden and sharp reduction in personality disorders to its policy change. Yet Army officials deny that soldiers were discharged unfairly, saying they reviewed the paperwork of all deployed soldiers dismissed with a personality disorder between 2001 and 2006.
"We did not find evidence that soldiers with PTSD had been inappropriately discharged with personality disorder," wrote Maria Tolleson, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Army Medical Command, which oversees the health care of soldiers, in an e-mail.
Command officials declined to be interviewed.
Advocates for veterans are skeptical of the Army's claim that it didn't make any mistakes. They say symptoms of PTSD — anger, irritability, anxiety and depression — can easily be confused for the Army's description of a personality disorder.
They also point out that during its review of past cases, the Army never interviewed soldiers or their families, who can often provide evidence of a shift in behavior that occurred after someone was sent into a war zone.
"There's no reason to believe personality discharges would go down so quickly" unless the Army had misdiagnosed hundreds of soldiers each year in the first place, said Bart Stichman, co-director of the National Veterans Legal Services Program.
Stichman's organization is working through a backlog of 130 individual cases of wounded service members who feel they were wrongly denied benefits.
Among those cases is Chuck Luther, who decided to rejoin the Army after the Sept. 11 attacks. He had previously served eight years before being honorably discharged.
"I knew what combat was going to take," he said.
Luther, who lives near Fort Hood, Texas, said throughout his time in the Army, he received eight mental health evaluations from the Army, each clearing him as "fit for duty."
Luther was seven months into his deployment as a reconnaissance scout in Iraq's violent Sunni Triangle in 2007 when he says a mortar shell slammed him to the ground. He later complained of stabbing eye pain and crippling migraines, but was told by a military doctor that he was faking his symptoms to avoid combat duty.
Luther says that he was confined for a month in a 6-by-8 foot room without treatment. At one point, Luther acknowledges, he snapped — biting a guard and spitting in the face of a military chaplain.
After that episode, Luther says, the Army told him he could return home and keep his benefits if he signed papers admitting he had a personality disorder. If he didn't sign, he said, he was told he would be kicked out eventually anyway.
Luther, whose account was first detailed by The Nation, signed the papers.
His case highlights the irony in many personality discharges. A person is screened mentally and physically before joining the military. But upon returning from combat, that same person is told he or she had a serious mental disorder that predated military service.
<>As in the civilian world, where many insurance companies deny coverage for illnesses that develop before a policy is issued, the government can deny a service member veteran health care benefits and combat-related disability pay for pre-existing ailments.
Despite the Defense Department's reforms, groups such as the National Veterans Legal Services Program say they don't have enough manpower to help all the veterans who believe they were wrongly denied benefits.
Stichman says his organization has more than 60 law firms across the country willing to take on the legal cases of wounded veterans for free. But even with that help, the group doesn't know when it would be able to take on even one new case.
A congressional inquiry is under way to determine whether the Army is relying on a different designation — referred to as an "adjustment disorder" — to dismiss soldiers.
Sen. Kit Bond, a Missouri Republican, wants the Pentagon to explain why the number of these discharges doubled between 2006 and 2009 and how many of those qualified to retain their benefits.
As for Luther, he got lucky. After about a year, he says the Veterans Administration agreed to reevaluate him and decided that he suffers from post-traumatic stress syndrome coupled by traumatic brain injury. The ruling gives him access to a psychologist and psychiatrist every two weeks, despite his discharge status, he said.
But Luther acknowledges that he still struggles. In June, he received word that the Army had turned down his appeal to correct his record, which means he could never return to the service or retire with full benefits.
A week later, he says, he lost his job delivering potato chips because a superior felt threatened by him. Luther says he misses the Army.
"When I was in uniform, that defined me," he said. "It's what made me, me."
S.407 : Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009. ********************************************************************
S.3477 : Blue Star/Gold Star Flag Act of 2010. ********************************************************************
H.R.1377 : VA Emergency Treatment Reimbursement to amend title 38, United States Code, ********************************************************************
H.R.4887 : Tricare Affirmation Act to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ********************************************************************
H.R.5641 : Heroes at Home Act to amend title 38, United States Code, ********************************************************************
H.R.5841 : VA PTSD Treatment Public-Private Partnerships. ********************************************************************
H.R.6104 : POA Hand Salute Authorization. To amend title 4, United States Code,
********************************************************************
Fisherman's Prayer
I pray that I may live to fish
Until my dying day.
And when it comes to my last cast,
I then most humbly pray:
When in the Lord's great landing net
And peacefully asleep
That in His mercy I be judged
Big enough to keep.
Amen
Thats all the news for this week. Check back next Saturday. Thanks, Ole' Bill
25Aug66: Battle of Bong Trang
As related in The American Traveler 3 Sep 1966
By early afternoon, the VC were apparently breaking contact and moving west. Air strikes and artillery from the 1st Battalion 5th Artillery hit the fleeing VC. At 4:30pm, an Air Force helicopter flying a rescue operation was downed by 57mm recoilless rifle fire in the center of the battle area. Troops strung out along the chopper to protect it, because of the thick jungle and heavy action, the copper could not be extracted until late the next afternoon. At dark, the three battalions had only light contact and took up positions encircling the enemy. The 2d Battalion, 28 Infantry was air lifed to a blocking position to the north. Helicopters dropped flares over the area throughout the night, preventing escape under cover of darkness. The next morning, trying desperately to break away, the VC threw out heavy small arms fire at the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, protecting the downed Air Force chopper. After being called in, two Air Force jets barely missed their targets attempting to hit the dug-in enemy only 50 meters from friendly positions. The tragic accident resulted in moderate friendly casualties and gave the VC a momentary lapse in action.
Amarillo began 23 Aug. The units involved were under the operational control of the 1st Brigade, Commanded by COL Sidney B. Berry Jr. The origianal plan was to clear and secure a section of Highway 16 and then to conduct search and destroy operations and pass resupply convoys along the route. The 1st Battalion, 2d Inf was to clear the highway from Phuoc Hoa south to its intersection with the route code-named Orange. The 1st Battalion, 26th Inf, commanded by LTC Paul F. Gorman, was to clear the highway south from that point to the village of Binh Co. On 23 Aug the 1st Bn, 2d Inf, commanded by LTC Richard L. Prillaman, and an attached battery from the 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, left the 1st Bde basecamp at Phuoc Vinh and moved by land vehicles to Phuoc Hoa. Backed up by artillery and followed by A Co., 1st Engineer Bn; and D Battery, 1st Bn, 5th Arty. The infantrymen began a sweep along Highway 16.
C Troop, 1/4 Cav moves through the jungle to reinforce the patrol that made original contact with the VC.
The remainder of C Co, 1/2 Inf, was alerted to reinforce its patrol and at 0755 hours, mounted on APC's of C Trp, 1/4th Cav moved out. C Co, 1/26 Inf, was placed on standby alert at 0731 hours.
At 0759 hours the patrol from the 1/2 Inf, which was located in a VC base-camp, an area well fortified by a sophisticated network of trenches with overhead cover, firing positions and protective shelters, reported that the VC were int he trenchline with it. Artillery was called in and adjusted by a FO with the patrol. When it was about to be overrun, the patrol called in artillery fire on its own position. Airstrikes were called in and the Artillery began firing concentrations to block the VC escape. At 0826 hours A and B Compaies, 1/26 Inf, were alerted to move out to the vicinity of the engagement. At 0838 hours the 1st Bn, 16th Inf, commanded by LTC George M. Wallace III, was placed on a 30-minute alert by the Division Commander, MG William E. Depuy. At 0900 hours C Co, 1/2 Inf, rode into the base-camp (Where's the Cav? bb) and engaged the enemy. At 0955 hours the commander of C Co, CPT William J. Mullen III, Turlare, CA, lost contact with the patrol. Each time the unit tried to move to the patrol's location it encountered intense enemy fire. B Co, 1/2 Inf, was alerted for movement to the battle area where it was to join up with C Co, 1/2 Inf. At 1022 hours the 2d Bn, 28th Inf, commanded by LTC Elmer D. Pendleton, was alerted to move to a blocking position. The battalion moved north at 1055 hours on foot.
At 1730 hours the commander of the 1st Bn, 26th Inf, LTC Gorman, Annandale, VA., was placed in command of all units engaged in the battle area. (For his "outstanding performance"(my quotes - bb) during the battle, LTC Gorman was later presented the DSC by President L.B. Johnson in a ceremony at Cam Ranh Bay.)
As darkness fell, the units were pulled back into night defensive positions. At 1915 hours the enemy, encircled by the 1/26 Inf, th 1/2 Inf, the 1/16 Inf and the 2/28 Inf, (where's the Cav? bb) was pounded by airstirkes and artillery fire. A flare ship lit up the area through the night to restrict enemy movement.
At first it was just C Co and C Troop. Then we were reinforced by B Co 1st of the 2d. Later the 1st Bn, 26th Infantry arrived. Then the 1st of the 16th. The fight lasted from about 8:00 in the morning on the 25th until the VC completely broke contact on the 26th. If your dad was fighting on those two days he was in this donney brook somewhere.
We were right in the middle of that contact. The VC unit was the "Phu Loi" Bn.. It had quit a reputation as hard hitters. At that time the Scout Plt had set up a defense for the 26th Inf CP group consisting of LTC Paul Gorman, a LNO, and 2 radio operators and me filling in as needed. It was a real touch and go situation for awhile. Contact was heavy and the bullets were flying. Overall, that was probably the longest sustained contact that I experienced in Vietnam. We came in early AM on the 25th and it seemed like we were under almost constant fire for the rest of the day and most of the night. I don't remember what our casualties were but we had one radio operator, SP/4 Smith, KIA'ed and several WIA's from the Scout Platoon. I have no idea of how many casualties the rest of the battalion had.
Wilemon, Jimmy
Kenneth J Costich II
Esquilin, Jorge and Wife
Humphrey, Richard
Miller, Paul
Baty, Bill
Snyder, Duke
Warne, Gary
Joe and Barbara Dabney
Valentine, Terry
Corbin, Robert and Wife
Empey, Terry
Jones, Charles
Kampfert, Elke
Kintz, Gerald
Novak, Edward
Row, Nancy
Keech, James
Benoit, Alan
Brigance, Charles
Seibert, Wilmer
Karl Listl and wife
Capps, Jimmy
Jones Jr, James
Riley, William
A bill to improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 4/20/2010) Cosponsors (13) Related bills: H.R.5120
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the award of grants to State and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to provide assistance to veterans with their submittal of claims to the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] (introduced 4/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/19/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve educational assistance for veterans who served in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/21/2010 Senate committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held.
A bill to improve mental health services for members of the National Guard and Reserve deployed in connection with a contingency operation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 7/29/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 7/29/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to educate certain staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs and to inform veterans about the Injured and Amputee Veterans Bill of Rights, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 5/27/2010) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 5/28/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
TROOPER's SOUNDOFF
Former identity thieves confess the tactics they use to scam you.
Can't we take control of our own destiny and let these giant oil importers know who REALLY generates their profits, their livings? How about leaving American Dollars in America and reduce the import/export deficit?
An appealing remedy might be to boycott their GAS. Every time you fill up your car you can avoid putting more money into the coffers of Saudi Arabia . Just purchase gas from companies that don't import their oil from the Saudis.
Nothing is more frustrating than the feeling that every time I fill up my tank, I'm sending my money to people who I get the impression want me, my family and my friends dead. The following gas companies import Middle Eastern oil:
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
Life is too short
ACTIVE DUTY NEWS
1. Men are NOT mind readers. (FIRST & FOREMOST RULE)
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
She said, 'Well, think of your wife and children.'
The man replied. "How did you know my name was Katz?".
More than half of adult Americans take dietary supplements in the belief they will
keep them healthy, help them lose weight, or increase vitality and drive, but according
to Consumer Reports, they may not realize there is no obligation for manufacturers
to show they are safe and effective, and in their latest report they reveal 12 ingredients
that consumers should avoid because they have been linked to health risks, including
cardiovascular, liver, and kidney problems.
In their September 2010 report published on Tuesday, the consumer magazine describes
how the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has little power to regulate dietary
supplements under the "industry-friendly" 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education
Act (DSHEA), and where it does have power, it hardly ever uses it.
The report says that of the 54,000 and more dietary supplement products listed in
the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, only about a third have any scientific
evidence to support some level of safety and effectiveness.
The consumer magazine's report identifies 12 supplements, which they refer to as
the "dirty dozen", that are readily available in stores and online, but that they
think consumers should avoid because of health risks to heart, liver and kidneys.
The following list summarizes their information:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned that the drug Lamictal (lamotrigine),
approved to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, can cause aseptic meningitis, an
inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal
cord not caused by bacterial infection.
The agency is working with the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, to update the
prescribing information and patient medication guide to include this risk.
Aseptic meningitis has a number of causes including, but not limited to, viruses,
toxic agents, some vaccines, autoimmune diseases, and certain medications, including
Lamictal. Symptoms can include headache, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stiff
neck and sensitivity to light. Hospitalization may be required.
Lower outdoor temperatures are linked to an increase in the risk of heart attacks,
according to a new study by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical
Medicine (LSHTM).
For the study (published in the British Medical Journal and released online today
at bmj.com), the researcher, led by Krishnan Bhaskaran of LSHTM found that each
1°C reduction in temperature on a single day is associated with around 200 extra
heart attacks.
Bhaskaran and colleagues analysed data on 84,010 patients admitted to hospital with
a heart attack between 2003 and 2006 and compared this with daily temperatures in
England and Wales. The results were adjusted to take into account factors such as
air pollution, influenza activity, seasonality and long term trends.
A simple morning walk to school could reduce stress reactivity in children during
the school day, curbing increases in heart rate and blood pressure that can lead
to cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a new University at Buffalo
study.
UB researchers report in the August 2010 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports &
Exercise that children who took a simulated walk to school later experienced smaller
elevations in systolic blood pressure, heart rate and perceived stress while taking
a short exam than children who had gotten a simulated ride to school.
Cardiovascular reactivity - including changes in heart rate and blood pressure due
to stress - is associated with the beginnings of cardiovascular disease in children,
and atherosclerosis - the dangerous build-up of cholesterol, calcium, fat and other
substances in artery walls - in adults.
Adding a direct acting anti-viral drug to the standard treatment regimen for hepatitis
C significantly increases the cure rate in the most difficult to treat patients,
according to a research report published Monday in the online edition of the journal
The Lancet.
The research team, led by Paul Kwo, M.D., of Indiana University School of Medicine,
reported that adding the drug nearly doubled the treatment's effectiveness when
given for 48 weeks in one treatment arm of the study.
An estimated 3.2 million Americans and 170 million people worldwide are infected
with the hepatitis C virus, but many do not know it. In the United States, 70 percent
of affected individuals are infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C, the most difficult
to treat. Although there may be no symptoms for years, long-term infection can cause
cirrhosis and the disease is a leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplantation.
Hepatitis C infections occur mainly through transmission of infected blood, such
as via injection drug use, and there is no vaccine.
Adverse drug events, such as dizziness or confusion occur in an estimated 40 percent
of all hospital patients and can be the result of inappropriate medications being
ordered. Not surprisingly, elderly individuals are particularly vulnerable to these
adverse events, which not only result in longer hospitalizations, but can also pose
a threat of serious complications and even death.
Now a study by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) finds
that a specially programmed computer warning system can significantly reduce doctors'
orders for drugs that pose a danger to older patients. The findings are reported
in the Aug. 9-23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, which appears on-line
today.
"We have long known that certain commonly prescribed drugs can be harmful to older
patients," says geriatrician and lead author Melissa Mattison, MD, Associate Director
of Hospital Medicine at BIDMC and Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
"But because the majority of doctors have not been trained in geriatric medicine,
they may not be aware of these risks. Our study found that when doctors were alerted
that the drugs they were ordering could pose a danger to older hospital patients,
the orders dropped almost immediately."
The influenza virus, scientists well know, is a crafty, shape-shifting organism,
constantly changing form to evade host immune systems and jump from one species,
like birds, to another, mammals.
Now, in a report in the current (Aug. 5, 2010) Public Library of Science Pathogens,
an international team of scientists shows that the recent pandemic-causing H1N1
flu virus used a new biochemical trick to spread efficiently in humans.
The new work expands the repertoire of known factors flu viruses can use to hijack
a host cell and amplify infection in mammals, including humans. The discovery not
only yields new insight into the subtle biology of flu, but also reveals another
genetic marker public health officials can use to presage pandemics.
The doctor confirmed the good news for Ron Sveden once the mass in his left lung
came back from the lab: He didn't have cancer. He had a pea sprouting inside his
chest.
"A couple days in a dark, wet environment, I'd sprout too," Dr. Jeff Spillane said
Thursday. "It definitely had a sprout."
It was a long way from the diagnosis Sveden, 75, had feared when he arrived at Cape
Cod Hospital on Memorial Day weekend.
The former teacher, who also had spent years running a retail fish market and smokehouse,
had seen his already-frail health begin to falter further in prior months. He already
knew he had emphysema but lately was having bad coughing spells.
"Everything seemed to be going downhill," said Sveden, of Brewster. "I seemed to
be tired a lot more. I didn't want to do too much. My appetite was diminishing."
The news sounded even more dire when he was told at the hospital that he was dehydrated
and suffering from pneumonia. Then came X-rays showing a small but ominous dark
spot - then biopsies that came up negative for lung cancer.
His doctors decided their only option was to go inside and see for themselves.
"There was a lot of inflammation there and I thought, OK, there's a tumor at the
bottom of this," said Spillane, who went in with a scope.
But the more Spillane probed at the encrusted mass, the clearer it became that it
was no tumor.
"It was pretty grungy, but it looked like a pea," Spillane said. "I sent it to the
pathologist. They said it was a vegetable."
It took less than half an hour to clear away the sprout, drain some of the fluid
that had built up around it, and help restore the lung's capacity.
After his surgery in June, Sveden spent three weeks in the hospital and a week in
rehab. He said he feels fine now and is still amazed by that something as small
as a pea could create such a big health headache.
Sveden's pulmonologist, Dr. Scott Slater, who first determined that there was something
wrong and called in Spillane, said it's not unusual for a patient to accidentally
inhale a small object.
"The typical story would be maybe someone's at a picnic and someone tells a joke
and they laugh and they choke on something and then, voila, we find foreign bodies
in the airways," he said. "But it's a little unusual to have aspirated on something
and not know it."
It's not the first story about a seed sprouting in a lung, though experts declared
that report implausible.
In 2009, a Russian surgeon said he found a tiny fir tree in someone's lung and suggested
the patient could have inhaled a seed. Experts said at the time that a fir seed
could not germinate in the lung because it needs sunlight.
The pea that Spillane removed from Sveden's lungs had apparently germinated. An
expert conceded it was not out of the question for growth to continue inside his
chest - but only if the pea wasn't pasteurized.
"Any pea that didn't go through that process, I suppose it could be possible," said
David Fiske, a horticulturist and gardens curator at the Massachusetts Horicultural
Society.
In Sveden's case, its presence caused a massive inflammation and the encrusted mass
in his airways. But it's better than the alternative, doctors said.
"It's given him a whole new lease on life," Slater said. "He went from someone who
probably had advanced lung cancer to someone that's no sicker than someone else
his age."
For most of us, the majority of things we print don't really need
to be in color. Unfortunately, many printers by default are set up
to print documents in color. When this happens, every time you
print a document from Windows, you need to manually set the
printing preferences to black and white, lest you waste your color
ink. And we all know how expensive printer ink can be.
2. Now look for the icon that says Printers and double-click it.
3. You should now see a list of printers. Find your default printer
(the one your computer uses when printing), right-click it, and
click on Properties.
4. When the multi-tabbed properties dialog box appears, click the
"General" tab, then click the "Printing Preferences" button. Look
for a color setting and set your printer to default to
black-and-white printing. When you are done press "OK".
Run a Free Quick Scan to find out the Status of your PC:
CLICK HERE for free scan
A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] (introduced 2/10/2009) Cosponsors (17) Related bill H.R.1513 Committees: Senate Veterans' Affairs Senate Reports: 111-24 Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-37
[GPO: Text, PDF]
A bill to ensure that the right of an individual to display the Service Flag on residential property not be abridged.
Sponsor: Sen Webb, Jim [VA] (introduced 6/10/2010) Cosponsors (11) Related Bill: H.R.2546
Committees: Senate Armed Services
Latest Major Action: 6/10/2010 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
to expand veteran eligibility for reimbursement by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for emergency treatment furnished in a non-Department facility, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51] (introduced 3/6/2009) Cosponsors (2) Companion Bill S.404. Committees: House Veterans' Affairs Latest Major Action: Became Public Law No: 111-137
to ensure that health coverage provided by the Department of Defense is treated as minimal essential coverage.
Sponsor: Rep Skelton, Ike [MO-4] (introduced 3/19/2010) Cosponsors (20) Committees: House Ways and Means;
Senate Finance Latest Major Action: 4/26/2010 Signed by President.
to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts for the transfer of veterans to non-Department adult foster homes for veterans who are unable to live independently.
Sponsor: Rep Buyer, Steve [IN-4] (introduced 6/30/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/2/2010 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish public-private partnerships for the treatment and research of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Sponsor: Rep Israel, Steve [NY-2] (introduced 7/22/2010) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: House Veterans' Affairs
Latest Major Action: 7/22/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
to authorize members of the Armed Forces not in uniform and veterans to render a military salute during the recitation of the pledge of allegiance.
Sponsor: Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] (introduced 8/10/2010) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Judiciary
Latest Major Action: 8/10/2010 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 1
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 2
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 3
Return to 1/4th Cav Weekly Newsletter - WEEK 5