In lieu of the labored essay I intended to post for this weekend, I instead post the words of a facebook post from a gentlemen named Tom McCuin

"I wish there was a good answer, but I think it has to start with those who have been there. Anyone who has spent time over there, particularly those out from the FOBs, need to reach out to each other, need to be there to listen to a brother, to help them and to realize that sometimes stronger help is needed and to have the courage to do what is necessary, be it push them to a good counselor or get emergency help. And, most of all, to have the shoulders that can take a load off for a while." 

What is Memorial Day really about?  While we are busy gearing up for the weekend, I thought I should post this annual reminder about the holiday.  It may surprise some of you.

If you are relatively new to Blackfive, you should read this story about a Memorial Day ten years ago - Mathew Schram's Memorial Day.  And, unfortunately, we've posted many memorials to our Fallen Americans.

The words to "Taps" are:

Day Is Done,
Gone the Sun,
From the Earth,
From the Hill,
From the Sky,
All Is Well,
Safely Rest,
God Is Nigh

When Taps is played at dusk, it has a completely different meaning than when Taps is played during the day.  No soldier really wants to hear it played during daylight.  For when the bugle plays Taps in the daylight...that means a soldier has fallen...There is a belief among some that Taps is the clarion call to open the gates of heaven for the fallen warrior and letting them know to "Safely Rest"...

Of course, Memorial Day is about remembering the sacrifices that our military men and women have made over the last 237 years.    We are still a young nation, but one that has made many sacrifices to remain free.  We should also take time to remember the families who have lost loved ones.

We have focused on just a few of the fallen over the last few years.  I've lost good friends during the War on Terror.  And I write about the others to ensure that we don't forget their sacrifices - I do that for me as much as for anybody.

I can't speak for the friends of the many others who have fallen, but for Mat, Cooter, and Mikey, I can say this:

It is important to remember them, and it is just as important to enjoy yourself this weekend.  To spend time with your family and friends.  Have a beer while grilling Wisconsin brats (Schram-bo!) in the backyard while watching your kids play tag. 

What better assurance to them that they did not die in vain?

Enjoying your freedom and understanding it's value is the best way to honor the sacrifices of my friends.

That's the way they'd want you to spend Memorial Day. 

Remembering them, and being a good friend, father, and an American is the best way that I can honor their memory.

I'll close with this heartfelt letter, written by Rick Kennedy, that I received via the late and great Corporal Seamus about Taylor Prazynski - a Marine who was buried at Arlington eight years ago.

On Saturday morning May 21st I flew to Washington, D.C to meet my daughter Mary with grandchildren Calista and Lindsey, and her husband Joe Teller to drive with them to Chesterfield Virginia to attend a ballet recital for Callie that evening. Joe and Mary were in Washington for the burial services of Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski USMC the 20 year old son of Joe’s cousin John Prazynski. Taylor was killed by enemy fire in Fallujah on May 9th while serving in combat with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Regiment, and 2nd Marine Division. Mary and Joe, along with 50 other family members attended the burial service for Taylor on Friday at Arlington National Cemetery, and when I met them they remained emotionally overwhelmed and forever moved by the elegant display of military reverence, and efficiency at Arlington. They were deeply saddened by the loss of this young Marine.

Earlier in the week Taylor’s body arrived at the Greater Cincinnati Airport by commercial jet. All passengers were instructed to remain on the plane until Taylor’s body was removed by a contingent of Marines. A military helicopter followed the Marine vehicle as it motored to the funeral parlor. Police and fire trucks were stationed at the overpasses and along the highway and saluted at Taylor passed by. At the funeral parlor no civilian was allowed to touch the body. The Marines prepared the deceased...A Marine color guard followed by a rider less horse accompanied Taylor’s body down Ohio Highway 4 for funeral services at Fairfield High School gym. Over 1500 people were in attendance of the funeral service at the school where the young Marine graduated in 2003, and played football and ran track. Pastor Dave Workman of the Vineyard Community Church presided. He gave a sterling tribute to this fallen hero that gave his life to his country. The pastor praised Taylor for his work with the church’s youth group, and his volunteer work with a multiple-disabilities class while in high school.

At Arlington on May 20th, the seven pall bearers dressed resplendent in the Marine dress blues uniform marched with the flag draped casket with military precision. When they reached the gravesite they abruptly raised the casket above their shoulders for 30 long seconds, giving the fallen Marine salute, and then rested the casket on its conveyor belt support over the grave. The military chaplain in civilian clothes gave the last rites, and presented the family Taylor’s posthumously awarded Purple Heart Medal.

All seven Marines removed the American Flag from the casket. They raised the stars and stripes above the casket pulling the flag rigid like a drum. Then they tightly folded the flag step by step in a triangle with the ends tucked firmly in place. One of the Marines did an about face and presented the flag to the Marine Sergeant standing alone to the rear of the casket, and saluted the flag.. The Marine in charge carrying the flag proceeded to the seat of the father John Prazynski. The Marine knelt down and bowed his head and presented the flag to the grieving father as the final gesture of sympathy and appreciation by the United States Marine Corps for the brave service of this young Marine.

Seven Marines standing away from the proceedings fired their rifles in three volleys representing a 21 gun salute, and you could hear muffled screams of sorrow from the youth in attendance as a lone bugler in Marine dress blues played the sad haunting sound of “Taps’ that echoed across the green rolling plains of Arlington on to the endless stream of white stones in this section called” Iraqi Freedom”. This was the Marines way of sending a signal to God to open the gates of Heaven for the arrival of [Corporal] Prazynski who gave his life for his country and our fight against terror throughout the world.

Soldiers' Angels Germany reminds us of some ways to honor them.

And have a great Memorial Day.

Remember Them.

I want to commend a post to you by RU Rob.  As the weekend starts, how many truly know (or care) what the day truly means? Some food for thought

LW

If so, drop me a line as I would like to see what, if any, meet-ups can be arranged.  Drop me a line at blake at blakepowers diespamerside net.  Thanks!

LW

If you feed, house and submit to rabid dogs, you will be bitten. Homegrown Islamists blew up their subways before, and now they have beheaded a British soldier in broad daylight on a city street. We allowed the same thing to happen with the two vermin in Boston.Tolerance is a crime if it allows those sworn to our destruction the freedom to live amongst us, take our largess and then act as they said all along they would. These British scum were on watch lists, but just like the Tsarnaevs. Political correctness kept the Brits and us from doing what should be done to rabid animals.

I get sick of stating that all Muslims are not responsible for the actions of these scum, and there is some truth there. But look at the Pew report and do the math.

Few U.S. Muslims voice support for suicide bombing or other forms of violence against civilians in the name of Islam; 81% say such acts are never justified, while fewer than one-in-ten say violence against civilians either is often justified (1%) or is sometimes justified (7%) to defend Islam. Around the world, most Muslims also reject suicide bombing and other attacks against civilians. However, substantial minorities in several countries say such acts of violence are at least sometimes justified, including 26% of Muslims in Bangladesh, 29% in Egypt, 39% in Afghanistan and 40% in the Palestinian territories.

They try to minimize a hellish statistic by noting 81% say violence against civilians is never justified. But that means that 19% believe it is. And that is among US Muslims, the least radicalized in the world. That stat alone ought to chill your bones. The Pew report is hardly a right wing exercise in Islamophobia, if anything it is neutral orleans to the other side. They were unable to even conduct their research in the most virulent hotbeds of Islamist insanity like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and other dens of jihad as the mere act of talking to a researcher could get even Muslims beheaded. If you apply the 19% support  for jihadist slaughter among relatively moderate Muslims to the rest of the 1 billion plus around the world, you get several hundred million folks who are just fine with beheading infidels, honor killings and imposing religious totalitarianism on all of us.

I don't know about you, but that is something worth paying attention to, and doing so is not Islamophobia. It is common freakin' sense. If someone holding a meat cleaver says he and his friends are going to cut your head off, the smart move is to give him the bin Laden treatment. Shoot him in the eye and feed his carcass to the fishes.

Talk about screwed up priorities. The Obama team is so busy targeting journalists, they can't be bothered to scarf up the guys who killed a US Ambassador and three other citizens on their watch.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. has identified five men who might be responsible for the attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, last year, and has enough evidence to justify seizing them by military force as suspected terrorists, officials say. But there isn't enough proof to try them in a U.S. civilian court as the Obama administration prefers.

Seriously, we have them under surveillance and O doesn't want to capture them because then he would have to either bring then to the US, or horror of horrors, send them to Gitmo.

U.S. officials say the FBI has proof that the five men were either at the scene of the first attack or somehow involved because of intercepts of at least one of them bragging about taking part. Some of the men have also been in contact with a network of well-known regional Jihadists, including al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

The bastards are bragging about it, but heaven forbid Barry actually do his damn job and capture them. Maybe he can have the IRS audit al Qaeda's status as an Islamic charity.

 The U.S. has kept them under surveillance, mostly by electronic means. There was a worry that the men could get spooked and hide, but so far, not even the FBI's release of surveillance video stills has done that.

Why should they worry, there was no security when they showed up to the show, none while they were slaughtering and they have no reason to believe they are going anywhere. Plus if Barry does act, it will be a drone strike, so why run? They would just die tired. This administration will go down as one of the least competent and most political ever.

The American Legion has stepped forward in Oklahoma.  The Legion is on the ground with Soldier's Wish in Moore right now, and has further allocated $1 million to help help veterans and their families affected by the tornado. 

"The American Legion is committed to the welfare of all veterans and has been on the front lines with veterans and their families in times like these since 1919," said American Legion National Commander James E. Koutz.

Bravo Zulu!

LW

NOTE:  Updated link with direct fundraising page, apologies for the bad URL before.

Devastation (not decimation) has hit in the midwest, particularly in Oklahoma. Team Rubicon is on it.  Please, share the word and spare what you can to help.  Meantime, keep the people effected by it in your thoughts and prayers. 

LW

A preliminary view of the Kindle cover, note final covers will vary

I am pleased (and somewhat relieved) to announce that the second volume in the A Different View series is now out in trade paperback and on Kindle.  This new volume showcases day-to-day life of Marines at Al Qa'im on the Syrian border while I was with them on the last part of my first embed.  It then transitions to Germany and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, where I introduce readers to a very special ceremony for arriving wounded.  I'm honored that MaryAnn Phillips of Soldiers' Angels Germany and Michael Z. Williamson agreed to write the foreword and introduction, respectively. 

Here's a taste of what people who have seen it have to say:

“A Different View is a personal and vivid narrative of the author’s experience in a combat zone, showing not combat but the mundanity, humor, and boredom that make up ninety-nine percent of life ‘inside the wire.’ The author’s photos and narrative illustrate how service members cope and adapt to the surreal conditions, and how injury and death are still close by. This is a valuable book, and anyone who cares about America’s troops and the fight in the Middle East will find it worthwhile.” 
Larry Bond, bestselling author of Shattered Trident  

"A Different View is well-titled; it gives the reader an alternative perspective of the fruit yielded by the American effort in Iraq. Most of it is good fruit.  The book is well worth your time...and your money."
Juliette Ochieng, author of Tale of the Tigers

Given feedback from readers, the Kindle version of this new book was created specifically for Kindle in an effort to deal with format and photo issues that were reported with the previous volume.  While the print and Kindle covers will be slightly different, it is hoped that the presentation of the photos will give readers the best possible experience. 

This book builds on A Different View:  Travels with Team Easy, Iraq, 2007 (Kindle and trade paperback) 

You said you wanted more writing, so you got it.  I hope it makes you laugh, think, and cry. Also, if you want to read the full reviews, click on over to Laughing Wolf as I will have them posted there. 

LW

Last week, I saw a post on Facebook that caught my attention.  It was about a relay coming through the Atlanta area for an organization called Carry The Load.  The word was going out for people to sign up and join in to help the charity, remind people of the meaning of Memorial Day, and get in some exercise.  Well, that was my take on in when the president of Ranger Coffee (a former ranger) challenged everyone on a particular leg to bring a ruck and make it a ruck march.  Liking the concept and needing some exercise, I agreed. 

The previous relay arriving

Carry the Load was co-founded by former SEAL Clint Bruce.  I think the words he shares on the site say it best:

"I served our country as a Navy SEAL. Every Memorial Day I have a persistent, dull, deep ache. It’s the memory of all of the buddies I’ll never be able to talk to again. I couldn’t express my feelings with words, so I put on my boots, loaded my pack and I started walking. With every step, I thought about those buddies I lost. As I walked, a man stopped me and asked, ‘Son, who are you carrying?’ He understood what I couldn’t say. At that moment I knew that other people felt like me, and Carry The Load was born.”

A mother and daughter who walked

Nor do they stop with just the military, but also include law enforcement, firefighters, and -- most importantly to me -- their families. 

A young man who walked with us, signing the march flag

It was a very good experience doing the five mile "leg" as the group got to know each other.  There were quite a few veterans, some active duty, and the rest were just glad to show some support of those who serve and the meaning of Memorial Day.  One group even traveled an hour and a half to take part. 

Part of the group for my leg, ready to head out

It was an honor and a pleasure to take part, and a good reminder of the real meaning of Memorial Day.  Check out Carry the Load, and I also want to thank Ranger Coffee for the sample they provided.  It's a good brew, better than a certain "fishy" coffee chain by a mile. 

LW

Well, it appears that TRADOC is now well into the process of attempting to destroy the greatest armed force that the world has ever known.

Training and Doctrine Command has launched “two major efforts in support of this full integration of women soldiers.” TRADOC has started a scientific review working with U.S. Army Medical Command, U.S. Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine and Army Research Institute to assist in the development of gender-neutral physical standards for all Areas of Concentration for commissioned officers and military occupational specialties for enlisted soldiers.

In addition, the “TRADOC Analysis Center is examining the institutional and cultural barriers related to integrating women soldiers into previously all-male specialties and units in order to develop strategies to overcome these barriers,”

I am curious how the armed forces, particularly the US Army (and by extension the US Marines) are going to "gender norm" the physical standards. 

My argument is, the standards are already gender neutral...

First, let's have a look at the physical standards.  Take a look at the one everyone is talking so much about.  For those of you following along at home, that would be:  11A Infantry officer/11B Infantry. 

Let's have a look at the physical requirements in summary.  I know I have mentioned it here before, but let's look at the specifics.  I got this from some academic reports on the Land Warrior System.

The physical requirement for the infantry do not differ from those for all Army personnel. The physical demands for infantry soldiers include the following:

• occasionally raise and carry 160-pound persons on their back;

• frequently perform all other tasks while carrying a minimum of 65 pounds, evenly distributed over entire body; for miles;

• frequently walk, run, crawl, and climb over varying terrain for a distance of up to 25 miles (while carrying these loads)

• frequently give oral commands in outside area at distances up to 50 meters;

• able to hear oral commands in outside area at distances up to 50 meters;

• occasionally climb a rope a distance of up to 30 feet;

• frequently throw 1-pound object 40 meters;

• frequently visually identify vehicles, equipment, and individuals at long distances.

The physical profile also refers to functional capacity to perform as determined by medical personnel in six areas: physical capacity, upper extremities, lower extremities, hearing-ears, vision-eyes, and psychiatric. These areas are always presented in the same order. A score of 1 is normal and 4 is diminished performance. The required physical profile for an entry infantry soldier is translated as follows:

• physical capacity (1)--good muscular development with ability to perform maximum effort for indefinite periods;

• upper extremities (1)--no loss of digits or limitation of motion; no demonstrable abnormality; able to do hand-to-hand fighting;

• lower extremities (1)--no loss of digits or limitation of motion; no demonstrable abnormality; be capable of performing long marches, standing very long periods;

• hearing-ears (2)--audiometer average level of six readings (three per ear) at 500, 1000, 2000 Hz or not more than 30dB, with no individual level greater than 35dB at these frequencies and level not more than 55dB at 4000Hz; or audiometer level of 30dB at 500 Hz, 25dB at 1,000 and 2000 Hz, and 35dB at 4000 Hz in better ear (poorer ear may be deaf);

• vision-eyes (2)--distant visual acuity correctable to 20/40-20/70, 20/30-20/100, 20/20-20/400;

• psychiatric (1)--no psychiatric pathology; may have history of a transient personality disorder (well duh, you did pick the Infantry--ed).

As I said at the outset of this argument, the standards are normed already.  There are already a large group of 18 to 24 year old males who already have the ability to "perform maximum effort for indefinite periods," the ability "to do hand-to-hand fighting," and are capable of performing "long marches" and there are some 18 to 24 year old females who are just as capable, but there are alot less who are capable of these standards.  I know that I can take a group of those males and a group of those females from the general population (because that is who we recruit from) in that same group and get an 80 percent success rate on "occasionally raise and carry 160-pound persons on their back" from the men.

Anyone want to hazard a guess on what the success rate would be for that same group of women?  Does anyone think it would even break into the double digits?  What is going to be the injury rate, percentage wise? What do you think the rate of success is going to be if the men start lifting the women?  How about if the women start lifting the men?  More? Less?

So tell me Big Army, is the plan to have the female infantry soldiers only lift their battle buddy and carry them if they are smaller than them; only after stripping them of their 65 pounds of additional equipment?  Start making plastic artillery shells?  Insist that manufacturers of tanks and fighting vehicles make the component parts from plastic?  Only fight wars in countries with temperate climates and low rolling hills?  The base plates on mortars, Ma Deuce receivers, Mark 19 ammunition and machine gun barrels are not going to get lighter, so my guess is that Big Army's plan is to make soldiers lift them less, tote them half as far and involve twice as many soldiers to do it.  Infantry squads will go from 9 to 15, gun crew size will double and it will take twice as long to get anything done that involves physical work.

No matter what part of the equation you look at here, the only part you can change is the part you can't change:  The averages and genetics., because ON AVERAGE (which is where the Armed Forces recruits from) the average 5'4" 150 pound female can't run faster, punch harder, run farther or lift more than the average 5'10" 180 pound male.  I don't need the the wizards of smart at U.S. Army Medical Command, U.S. Army Research Institute for Environmental Medicine and Army Research Institute to crunch any numbers, study any cohorts, evaluate the kinestetics, or discuss this in a committee to know what is plainly obvious:  Girls do not have a propensity for violent physical combat, nor do they possess the requisite muscle mass, bone density or aptitude for it.  Call me a misogynist and a chauvinist; I don't care.  The fact that I have to explain this tells me just how dumb the people who study this stuff have become. 

The next, more sinister part of this will be how they address the institutional and cultural barriers related to integrating women soldiers into previously all-male specialties and units in order to develop strategies to overcome these barriers.  Anyone want to walk down this path with me so we can wrap our minds around all the rules and regulations this is going to spawn?  I can't wait to hear about the ongoing battle against sexual harrassment in the workplace in Infantry units (i.e. the battlefield) and how it affects readiness, or the massive sea change taking place in Infantry combat becoming more focused on efficiency and less focused on power and strength.  If women can't as a group in units of type A+ personalities whose main mission is to violently end the intentions of our nations enemies deal with some dirty jokes and scat humor, FFS how the hell are they going to close with and destroy the nation's enemies?  The combat arms better get ready for an epic ass-load of sensitivity training and diversity indoctrination. 

None of our enemies have ever been killed with kindness; it generally takes a bullet, an artillery shell or an airstrike.

But more importantly, the institutional and cultural barriers related to integrating women soldiers into previously all-male specialties is about turning men, and I mean rough, violent, skirt chasing, beer drinking, march 25 miles with a 60 pound ruck and a 60mm baseplate with a bad hang over, put their foot up your ass if you can't meet the standard, wood-line attitude adjusting, stick a knife in you with extreme prejudice, hard men into something the Big Army thinks will make senators, Congresswomen and defense secretaries more apt to promote the officers that supervise these new age, kindler, gentler, happy warriors who are all too glad to have females in the combat arms.

Does anyone doubt that our misogynist enemies who think women belong in burkas and shouldn't be allowed to drive or see phallic vegetables in the market (yeah, a real news story) are not in the hospital right now being treated for the damage they have done to their insides from the epic belly laughs as they watch us weaken our armed forces in the name equality?

One of the maxims of battle is when your enemy is about to make a critical error, don't interfere.  I know that if I watched my enemy get ready to start putting soldiers, who are by every measure that matters, weaker soldiers, into front line, meeting the enemy combat; I would relish the thought of meeting them in battle.

And now that the words are out there (gender norming), is there any doubt about what Big Army has in mind and the outcome of this little experiment? Or, I could be wrong, maybe Big Army will do all that studying and come to the logical conclusions I have listed repeatedly here.

Tell me when I can stop holding my breath....

Quoting a friend, who was their LT:

Remembering Alex Varella, Travis Haslip, David Behrle, Joeseph Gilmore, Jean Paul Medlin, Christopher Moore, and "Caesar II" today.

KIA Ameriyah, Baghdad, Iraq
19 MAY 2007
1 PLT/A CO/1-5 CAV/1 CD

Six years ago today.

Black Knights

Long-time readers may well remember these fine men, and Lt. Hickey.  For those that don't go learn more about them, and previous things that showed their character, at this post that was part of Operation Puppy Love. 

Please join me in remembering and honoring them today.

LW

 Bonus:  Day two photos below the fold too.

Staff Sgt. Jacob Dipietro, 525th Military Police Battalion, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, fires at his target at with his M4 Carbine Rifle at the Qualification Range. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

U.S. Army South is holding it's Best Warrior Competition, hosted this year at Camp Bullis, Texas.  U.S. Army South (ARSOUTH) has responsibility for 31 countries (and 15 areas of special sovreignity) covering the Carribean, Central, and South America.  The Warrior Games(corrected) Best Warrior Competition is an Army-wide competition that tests basic skills and knowledge through simulations and drills, demonstrations of basic skills, board reviews, essays, and other activities relevant to modern operations.  Here are some photos from day one of the competition, which wraps up tomorrow. 

Sgt. Andrew French, 512th Geospatial Engineering Detachment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, fires his M4 Carbine Rifle at the Zero Range. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Sgt. Andrew French, 512th Geospacial Engineer Detachment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, walks back to his M4 Carbine Rifle after checking his target at the Zero Range. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Staff Sgt. Jacob Dipietro, 525th Military Police Battalion, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, fires at his target at with his M4 Carbine Rifle at the Qualification Range. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Down goes the target! (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Austin Hunsaker, 525th Military Police Battalion, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, fires an M9 pistol. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Capturing the action. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Austin Hunsaker (right), 525th Military Police Battalion, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, assembles a M249 machine gun as his grader looks on. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Austin Hunsaker (bottom), 525th Military Police Battalion, Guatanamo Bay, Cuba, performs a move during Modern Army Combatives testing. . (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Franciso Padilla (right), 512th Geospatial Engineering Detachment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, performs an armbar during Modern Army Combatives testing. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Franciso Padilla (blue belt), 512th Geospatial Engineering Detachment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, attempts to escape the rear naked choke during Modern Army Combatives. (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Sgt. Andrew French (right), 512th Geospatial Engineering Detachment, listens to instruction before the Modern Army Combatives tournament. U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Spc. Franciso Padilla (bottom), 512th Geospatial Engineering Detachment, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, attempts to maintain the guard position during the Modern Army Combatives tournament. . (U.S. Army Photo by Master Sgt. Kevin Doheny, U.S. Army South Public Affairs)

Wishing all those taking part well, and looking forward to sharing more with you after the conclusion of the competition.

LW

Army Spc. Elizabeth Wasil wins gold in the 1500-meter wheelchair race during the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14, 2013. More than 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans will compete in the games, which run through May 16. The military service with the most medals will win the Chairman's Cup. DOD photo by EJ Hersom

The Marine Corps sitting volleyball team celebrates a point and went on to defeat Army, earning the number one seed during the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 13, 2013. More than 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans will compete in the games, which run through May 16. The military service with the most medals will win the Chairman's Cup. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jimmy D. Shea

Marine Corps Cpl. Kyle Reid wins the men's 200-meters open race during the 2013 Warrior Games track and field competition in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14, 2013. More than 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans will compete in the games, which run through May 16. The military service with the most medals will win the Chairman's Cup. DOD photo by EJ Hersom

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jim Castaneda throws the shot put during the 2013 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 14, 2013. More than 200 wounded, ill, and injured service members and veterans will compete in the games. The military service with the most medals will win the Commander's Cup. DOD photo by EJ Hersom