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On June 24th, 2019, Barry Donadio was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM) for his service while still in the military back in 2002. The United States had just been attacked on September 11th, 2001 and we had not yet invaded Iraq when Donadio served on anti-terrorism operations from September 2001 until August 2002. Donadio was then honorably discharged from military service in 2002 and transferred to the United States Secret Service. He spent the next ten years in serving the United States Government.

Donadio originally did not receive the medal because he was already out of the military when the medal was established on March 12th, 2003, via executive order 13289.

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (GWOT-SM)

The criteria to receive the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is that a military service member must have served on active duty during a designated anti-terrorism operation. They had to serve for a minimum 30 consecutive or 60 non-consecutive days on such operation. For those who were engaged in combat, killed, or wounded in the line of duty the time requirement is waived.

Barry Donadio, October 2001

Donadio said; “I would like to thank Shawn Jester, Constituent Liaison of Congressman Andy Harris M.D. (R) for assisting me to obtain this prestigious medal. I would also like to thank Congressman Andy Harris who not only helped me but has been instrumental in helping other Veterans in Maryland. I really appreciate his devotion to serving Maryland citizens.”

Donadio will add his newly awarded Global War on Terrorism Service Medal to his corrected DD-214 military record along with his already existing Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, and four honorable discharges to name a few.

Since completing his military service and government service, Donadio stays active as an advocate for other Veterans. He is a member of the Kent Island American Legion Post 278 and a lifetime member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars (VFW) in Grasonville, MD.

My DAV chapter has told me that the IRS has revoked the tax exempt status the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) have had for decades.  Does anyone know of any other organizations that have had  their tax exempt status revoked?  If the Charter granted by Congress has not been withdrawn nor changed, how does the IRS get away with this?

I want to share a story of a good man, a heroic man. He’s British and a SAS Sgt but operated with our SF in the Tora Bora actions and saved many US lives. He’s now sitting in Military Prison after the greatest travesty of justice I have ever seen. I was a Marine and had the chance to work with Danny’s unit in Afghanistan and I can’t let this slide without at least spreading the word. The British should be shamed and ridiculed and he should be returned to his family before Christmas. Here’s a excerpt from the British Newspapers. Read his story if you are a veteran or support those who keep our freedoms?

Even if they wear a different uniform!

“Sgt Nightingale, 37, is serving an 18-month sentence for possession of a firearm after a pistol given to him by Iraqi forces he trained was found in a locked box in his Army accommodation while he was on tour.

The SAS sniper had forgotten about its existence because of brain damage caused when he collapsed during an endurance sport event in which he was taking part to raise funds for the families of dead and injured SAS soldiers.

The sergeant, who had served 17 years in the Army, 11 of them in the SAS, pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun earlier this month, after his quarters were searched in an unrelated incident involving another SAS member.

 Civilian police found a 9mm Glock in a locked box.

 It had been given to Sgt Nightingale in 2007 by Iraqi special forces. He had intended to have it deactivated and kept as a souvenir in the SAS sergeants’ mess.

 But after he was ordered to accompany the bodies of two fallen comrades back to Britain, the pistol was packed with his other equipment and left in storage at SAS headquarters in Hereford.

 The SAS soldier then took part in an endurance running event in Brazil to raise money for the families of dead and wounded comrades, collapsed due to over-hydration and suffered brain damage which left him with lapses in his memory, which included forgetting about the existence of the pistol.

 The weapon was eventually transferred to his quarters, where it was found in the raid while he was on active service in Afghanistan.

Note - There is also growing concern over the quality of the case brought against Sgt Nightingale, and the actions of his Army superiors.

The Telegraph has learnt that the civilian West Mercia Police, which conducted the original investigation, decided not to press charges against Sgt Nightingale because “no criminal intent was suspected or could be established”.

 In a separate development, a leaked email from the SAS also showed that many of Sgt Nightingale’s colleagues believed that he had been “hung out to dry”.

 However, the email, which was sent to members of his squadron by a warrant officer, wrongly claimed that Sgt Nightingale stole operational equipment including weapons, body armour, radios, night vision goggles and ammunition."

Full Story - http://ow.ly/fCA35

His wife and Lawyer asked me to get the message out to other veterans here and get as many to sign this petition asking for his release on bail to await a new hearing. Please sign here -  http://ow.ly/fCzIn Lets get him home for Christmas.

Thanks

Gregg

IT HAPPENS EVERY FRIDAY! Were you aware?
Mornings at the Pentagon

By JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY
McClatchy Newspapers

Over the last 12 months, 1,042 soldiers, Marines,This week, I'm turning my space over to a good friend and former roommate, Army Lt. Col. Robert Bateman, who recently completed a yearlong tour of duty in Iraq and is now back at the Pentagon.

Here's Lt. Col. Bateman's account of a little-known ceremony that fills the halls of the Army corridor of the Pentagon
with cheers, applause and many tears every Friday morning. It first appeared on May 17 on the Weblog of media critic and pundit Eric Alterman at the Media Matters for America Website.

"It is 110 yards from the "E" ring to the "A" ring of the Pentagon. This section of the Pentagon is newly renovated; the floors shine, the hallway is broad, and the lighting is bright. At this instant the entire length of the corridor is packed with officers, a few sergeants and some civilians, all crammed tightly three and four deep against the walls.

This hallway, more than any other, is the `Army' hallway. The G3 offices line one side, G2 the other, G8 is around the corner. All Army! Moderate conversations flow in a low buzz. Friends, who may not have seen each other for a few weeks, or a few years, spot each other, cross the way and renew.

Everyone shifts to ensure an open path remains down the center. The air conditioning system was not designed for this press of bodies in this area.

The temperature is rising already. Nobody cares. "10:36 hours: The clapping starts at the E-Ring. That is the outermost of the five rings of the Pentagon and it is closest to the entrance to the building. This clapping is low, sustained and hearty. It is applause with a deep emotion behind it as it moves forward in a wave down the length of the hallway.

"A steady rolling wave of sound it is, moving at the pace of the soldier in the wheelchair who marks the forward edge with his presence. He is the first. He is missing the greater part of one leg, and some of his wounds are still suppurating. By his age I expect that he is a private, or perhaps a private first class.

"Captains, majors, lieutenant colonels and colonels meet his gaze and nod as they applaud, soldier to soldier. Three years ago when I described one of these events, those lining the hallways were somewhat different. The applause a little more wilder perhaps in private guilt for not having shared in the burden ... Yet.

"Now almost everyone lining the hallway is, like the man in the wheelchair, also a combat veteran. This steadies the applause, but I think deepens the sentiment. We have all been there now. The soldier's chair is pushed by, a full colonel.

"Behind him, and stretching the length from Rings E to A, come more of his peers, each private, corporal, or sergeant assisted as need be by a field grade officer.

"11:00 hours: Twenty-four minutes of steady applause. My hands hurt, and I laugh to myself at how stupid that sounds in my own head. My hands hurt. Please! Shut up and clap. For twenty-four minutes, soldier after soldier has come down this hallway - 20, 25, 30. Fifty-three legs come with them, and perhaps only 52 hands or arms, but down this hall came 30 solid hearts.

They pass down this corridor of officers and applause, and then meet for a private lunch, at which they are the guests of honor, hosted by the generals. Some are wheeled along. Some insist upon getting out of their chairs, to march as best they can with their chin held up, down this hallway, through this most unique audience. Some are catching handshakes and smiling like a politician at a Fourth of July parade. More than a couple of them seem amazed and are smiling shyly.

"There are families with them as well: the 18-year-old war-bride pushing her 19-year-old husband's wheelchair and not quite understanding why her husband is so affected by this, the boy she grew up with, now a man, who had never shed a tear is crying; the older immigrant Latino parents who have, perhaps more than their wounded mid-20s son, an appreciation for the emotion given on their son's behalf. No man in that hallway, walking or clapping, is ashamed by the silent tears on more than a few cheeks. An Airborne Ranger wipes his eyes only to better see. A couple of the officers in this crowd have themselves been a part of this parade in the past.

These are our men, broken in body they may be, but they are our brothers, and we welcome them home. This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.

"Did you know that?