Our message on this 100th anniversary of Veterans Day is pretty simple and like Remembrance Day, it goes for our brothers and sisters both here in the United States as well as our allies.
Thank you for your service, and please keep it up.
For those of us who aren’t serving, support those that do.
This Veteran’s Day, DMOS Collective is giving away one of their Delta and another of their Stealth shovels in FDE, to a lucky SSD reader. One recipient will receive one shovel and another winner, the other.
For full rules, and to enter, visit dmoscollective.com/pages/veterans-day-giveaway
Meet the Delta Shovel. A compact, portable feat of engineering from DMOS, the Delta Shovel is the E-Tool you wish you had in the military. Capable of being used as a full-sized shovel or collapsing down for work in limited space, as a hoe, or folding flat for storage, the Delta Shovel is your constant companion for any of the toughest jobs. Whether you’re freeing a stuck vehicle or digging a sniper hide, the Delta is always on hand and never in the way.
The Delta shovel’s handle is telescoping and can be used at 24″, 37″, or 51″ long.
The shovel’s head, similar to an e-tool, can be positioned and locked as a shovel, a Pulaski-type hoe, or flat for storage.
Full-sized. Fully-collapsible. Tougher than an Avy shovel but easy to stow on your backpack, snowmobile, dune buggy or wherever else your adventures take you.
The Stealth is THE original award-winning DMOS shovel. Crafted of lightweight but tough 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum, the Stealth shovel is a perfect companion for any adventure in snow or sand. Collapsible down to a mere 24” x 11” x 3”, the Stealth can fit in a backpack, in a trunk, on a snowmobile, or on one of our custom-fitted mounts to accompany you anywhere. The serrated teeth on the blade allow you to use it as a rake, bust ice, or level campsites, and the full-sized shaft lets you do it all WITHOUT ruining your back. Smaller user? No problem, the handle can be used at three lengths. Whether you’re building kickers for snowboarding or digging out your truck in the dunes, make sure you’ve got the right shovel.
For this of you who want to purchase any products, use discount code DMOSSERVICE for 20% off for Mil/LE/EMS.
Check DMOS out on FB at facebook.com/dmoscollective and Instagram @DMOS_Collective.
If you’re looking for value, check out the Terrain Flex Jeans from LA Police Gear. Made from stretch denim, they incorporate rear mag pockets, a hidden handcuff key pocket and hidden knife clip reinforcements.
Available in two fits (slim and straight) and two washes (dark and medium). Sizes 28-42 waist and 30, 32, 34, and 36 inch lengths.
They are also a smoking deal at under $30 a pair.
Founded by Marine Veteran Travis Haley, HSP has introduced M81 Woodland camouflage versions of many of their products.
Appropriate enough on the USMC’s birthday, as Marine Special Operations Command still uses the pattern in their work advising the Afghan Army.
Get yours before they’re gone at haleystrategic.com/m81.
“The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” — President George Washington
November 11th, 1919 was the first observance of Armistice Day, it was created to honor the fallen from WW1. In 1938 it was made a legal holiday. In 1945 it was changed to honor all military veterans.
I wanted to share some stories of POW through the history of the U.S. There have been over 500,000 Prisoners of War held thru out the history of the U.S. Many did not make it home. I wanted to share this on Veteran’s Day as I feel they gave a lot more than most ever will.
Prison ships of the Revolutionary war
During the Revolutionary, War prisoner were held on prison ships on New York harbor. They were held in some of the worst conditions, and at one point, 12 prisoners were dying a night, from diseases like smallpox, typhoid, and yellow fever. By the end of the war, 11,000 soldiers would die in British ships, more than were killed in all the battles combined (4,500). Many died a slow and painful death within the confines of the HMS Jersey and other prison ships. During the evacuation of New York, British forces abandoned and set fire to all the prison ships in the harbor. Eight thousand prisoners were still onboard when it was set on fire. For years after the war, bones continued to wash up on the Brooklyn shore. In 1902, while extending one of the docks, workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard unknowingly pierced the hull of the ship. Her resting place was finally discovered.
www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/the-hms-jersey
U.S. Civil War- Andersonville
Andersonville Prison, formerly known as Camp Sumter, was a Confederate military prison that only existed for 14 months during the American Civil War. It opened in early 1864 near Andersonville, Georgia, and closed in April of 1965. The prisoner’s lack of food, poor sanitation, disease, and also praying on each other, made Andersonville the worst prison of the war. Of the 56,000 prisoner-of-war deaths that occurred during the war, 13,000 were at Andersonville Prison.
www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/civil-war-prison-camps
WW2 POW of the Japanese
There were more than 350,000 prisoners captured by the Japanese in the Philippines, more than half were native, the natives were dying at such a high rate, that the Japanese released them. They said they were releasing them for propaganda purposes. Over 140,000 allied prisoners (U.S., UK, Aussies, Dutch, Canada, and Kiwis) were held in the Japanese POW camps. Of these, one in three died from starvation, work, and punishments. The death rate was 27% compared to 4% of POW help by German and Italy. About 5 million Chines died in captivity; over 25 million died at the hands of the Japanese.
Korea and Vietnam
As we started to fight communism, a new type of prison of war camp was encounter. Now, prisoners began to be “reprogramed.” North Korean, the Chinese and North Vietnamese guards, used extreme torture to try and “reprogram” the prisons. The most notorious prison during the Vietnam war was the H?a Lò, a name loosely translated as “hell hole.” It was nicknamed the Hanoi Hilton by the POWs. It is infamous as one of if not the worst prisons in history. From the beginning, U.S. POWs endured miserable conditions, including inadequate food, unsanitary conditions, and torture. Although North Vietnam was a signatory of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which demanded “decent and humane treatment” of prisoners of war, severe torture methods were employed, such as rope bindings, irons, beatings, and prolonged solitary confinement. The North said that since the US never declared war, they didn’t have to follow the Geneva Convention. In 1972 jane fonda visited the Hanoi Hilton. While she was there, she called out some of the prisons as faking being mistreated and being hungry. She also posed on an NVA anti-aircraft gun. When she returned, she called out returning POWs “hypocrites and liars,” adding, “These were not men who had been tortured. These were not men who had been starved. These were not men who had been brainwashed”.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/500710.Two_Souls_Indivisible
mohmuseum.org/you-are-not-forgotten-national-pow-mia-recognition-day
AKRON, OH (Nov. 8, 2019) Metisentry, LLC, based in Akron, OH, has announced the acquisition of ScholarVets as of Nov. 1, 2019.
ScholarVets is based in Silver Spring, MD, and works to connect military veterans with academic partner schools more efficiently. Through the use of its patent-pending web platform and mobile application, ScholarVets is arming veterans with a powerful communication channel.
This, in turn, is increasing veteran graduation rates post-military service.
“Our vision has always been one where our platform would help 100% of military-connected students graduate and obtain meaningful employment post-military service,” stated John Lunardi, President of ScholarVets. “This acquisition will not only further our original vision but because of Metisentry’s strong ties to the military via MilitaryHire.com and Willco Technologies, will take ScholarVets to new heights.”
The acquisition of ScholarVets is happening on the heels of Metisentry’s recent acquisition of MilitaryHire, which works to connect veterans with employers seeking their unique skills.
According to Metisentry CEO, Marling Engle, “We see ScholarVets as a fantastic complement to our other military-related portfolio companies. These organizations are working to connect and help veterans realize their goals post-military service directly. We’re very proud and excited to be a part of that process for them.”
The acquisition was finalized on Nov. 1, 2019, and the ScholarVets staff will remain on— and grow. Metisentry will be acquiring the business through an investment from SaaS Factory, the related portfolio company.
Here’s the Commandant’s birthday message.
We appreciate everything you’ve done America. Keep it up!
Here’s to 244 more!
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. – The Special Tactics Airman who had an unplanned parachute departure from a C-130 aircraft, November 5, 2019, over the Gulf of Mexico, south of Hurlburt Field, has been identified.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Cole Condiff, 29, was a Special Tactics combat controller with the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron, 24th Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command.
“Cole was a man with deep-rooted beliefs who dedicated himself to God, our freedoms, peace, and his family. He was a devoted family man within our squadron, focused on teaching his girls to be adventurous like he was,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Steven Cooper, commander of the 23rd STS. “This is a tragic loss to the squadron, the Special Tactics community and our nation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and teammates at this time.”
The Dallas, Texas native was a graduate of Sachse High School. He attended Utah Valley University and later served a two-year mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spokane, Washington. Condiff then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2012 and immediately entered the two-year combat control training program. Upon completion of the pipeline, he was assigned to the 23rd STS at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
Condiff was a static-line jumpmaster, military free-fall jumper, combat scuba diver, air traffic controller, and a joint terminal attack controller. As a Special Tactics combat controller, Condiff was specially trained and equipped for immediate deployment into combat operations to conduct reconnaissance, global access, precision strike and personnel recovery operations.
Condiff completed deployments to Africa and Afghanistan in support of national security objectives. His awards and decorations include an Air Force Achievement Medal and an Air Force Commendation Medal with a combat device.
Recovery efforts by a combined U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy team are ongoing. The Air Force is actively investigating the incident. To preserve the integrity of the investigation, no additional details will be released until further notice.
Condiff is survived by his wife and their two daughters as well as by his parents, sister and two brothers. The 24th SOW would like to emphasize the family’s request for privacy.
Statement provided by the Condiff family:
“Cole loved his country and was honored to serve to protect the freedoms we enjoy.
Cole had a deep faith in God. Although we mourn, it is through our faith that we take comfort in knowing we will be with him again.
He loved his family. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother and friend. He will be greatly missed by all.
We would like to express our deepest and unending gratitude to those that have searched so diligently.
We would also like to thank those who have been and continue to stand at the ready to help serve the family in this time of crisis.
We ask for continued prayers as his wife and daughters move forward without their beloved husband and daddy.
Please pray for all of our military men, women, and families.”
