Meet Staff Sgt. Nathan Canine from Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
May 2nd, 2012 | Army Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
It’s not every day you walk around a corner in a hospital and find a valued member of the staff with four paws. This is Staff Sgt. Nathan Canine, recently promoted from corporal (his rank in the video), a therapy dog at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. While working on an update to a piece we did on the hospital’s opening, we ran into Nathan and Kristen Maisano, a doctor of occupational therapy at the hospital who told us about her four-legged companion’s duties.
On top of being very cute and friendly, Nathan can fold laundry, act as a sleep companion and simply provide comfort to wounded service members.
If you’re at the hospital, stop by and say hello.
Video: Scott Olsen since Occupy Oakland injury
November 29th, 2011 | Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
Our colleagues over at USA Today caught up with former Marine Cpl. Scott Olsen after recovering from a head injury sustained during the Occupy Oakland protests on October 25.
Olsen lost the ability to speak for a period of time, but is slowly regaining it. With a scar above his left eye, Olsen returned to the scene of the protests where he was hit by a projectile, resulting in a fractured skull.
The 24-year-old had this to say about his experience from the USA Today story:
Even when it comes to his injury, Olsen considers himself fortunate — and not just because he wasn’t killed. He said that as a veteran he was shown more honor and treated with more respect than many others under the same circumstances. “It almost seems,” he said with a shrug, “like I got lucky.”
Below is the video from the events of October 25:
USA Today: War veteran injured in Occupy protest says he’s ‘lucky’
Actress Kim Delaney escorted off stage at Liberty Medal ceremony for former SecDef Gates
September 23rd, 2011 | Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
Last night, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates was awarded the Liberty Medal by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. While you’d think there wouldn’t be much else to report, the ceremony had a small hiccup with Army Wives star Kim Delaney.
NBC Philadelphia posted the video last night of her speaking at the event where she appeared to have trouble reading the teleprompter. After about two minutes, audio is heard in the background and someone involved with running the ceremony appears to escort Delaney off stage.
I’m guessing more details will come out today, but nonetheless a strange event for an award that’s honored Nelson Mandela, Sandra Day O’Connor, Kofi Annan, Shimon Peres, and Colin Powell, according to its website.
Not wanting to go Solo, Army captain Hopes for a date
July 19th, 2011 | Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
If you haven’t been following all the invites from the Marine Corps, it’s becoming a bit of a trend to ask out a celebrity on YouTube. Now the Army is getting into it.
Meet U.S. Army Capt. Nassar Jabour. He would like U.S. Women’s National Team goalie Hope Solo to join him in Vienna, Austria for his officer’s ball in January. The video itself is a bit outdated because it was filmed before the U.S. lost to Japan on Sunday, but he wishes the team luck before the biggest game of their careers.
No word on whether Solo has accepted or even heard about his invitation. Since the Women’s World Cup began, there’s been an onslaught of reports about Solo’s dating status, but hopefully Capt. Jabour will hear something soon.
Veterans, the GI Bill and For-Profit Colleges
June 29th, 2011 | Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.
Last night, Frontline’s “Educating Sgt. Pantzke” highlighted the ongoing struggle veterans have dealing with earning a college degree once they leave the military. Frontline’s piece centers around the claim that these, mostly online, colleges allegedly offer full support for military students, but in the end, leave them with tens of thousands of dollars in debt and no degree.
Many of these colleges — University of Phoenix, Westwood College, Strayer University, Ashford University, Kaplan University, DeVry University — have pages that show their policies for military students.
What’s your opinion on these colleges? Have you had similar experiences?
‘Restrepo’ director Hetherington killed in Libya
April 20th, 2011 | Outside the wire | Posted by Chris Kelly
Some sad news out of Libya. Tim Hetherington, director of “Restrepo,” was killed in Misrata today.
He was a British citizen and a veteran photographer best known for his recent film “Restrepo,” which followed 2nd Platoon, Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, of the 503rd Infantry Regiment’s 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
Hetherington and three other journalists were involved in a rocket-propelled grenade attack that also left left two injured. One of the injured victims had life-threatening injuries.
In the late ’90s, Hetherington spent a good deal of time in the west African nation of Liberia, covering the ongoing conflict there and in the surrounding region.
Read more from the New York Times.
Below is a video of Hetherington and his partner in making “Restrepo,” Sebastian Junger, speaking about the film.