Well I got a little distracted in my previous post. I meant to comment on the Yankees’ tribute to the United States Armed Forces and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation on Flag Day (yesterday). I was looking for photos/video and got side-tracked by the new digs of General Ann E Dunwoody - the first ever female 4-star Army general and then continued to digress.
It took 45 minutes of searching today, including a curious redirection from the Special Ops site to the Dept of Defense, to find some photos, which of course weren’t in the usual places: Yankees.com, ESPN, MLB, AP or Reuters. And there was no official video to be found – even on Military.com or the Army Materiel Command site – where I should have started out. Maybe somebody at the game will post one on YouTube. I would like to see the General’s form. Something tells me it would be a tad better than Skiles’.
Not to take anything away from heroes in their own right, photos and videos were easily available of Flight 1549’s First Officer Jeff Skiles and both of Captain Sullenberger’s ceremonial tosses but not Gen Dunwoody’s, who happens to outrank former USAF Captain, Captain Sullenberger by four stars and then some and who I’m sure made some of her own spectacular landings during dicey circumstances — feet first — during the first Gulf War, and whose military pedigree extends back to the Revolutionary War.
Americans, young girls especially, should get to see the heroes who go about their business and never end up being praised on the Morning Talk Show circuit or have their courageous deeds remunerated and immortalized in Hollywood movies.
Women/girls watched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling - how many know how Gen Dunwoody exploded through the brass ceiling or are even aware that she did?
“Premiere logistician” General Dunwoody has served in the Army since 1975 and has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, SWASM (two campaign stars), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.
Watch her Nov 14, 2008 – 4th star ceremony – the actual pinning done by a shaky-handed husband.
DUNWOODY: I’ve heard from moms and dads who see this promotion as a beacon of hope for their own daughters and an affirmation that anything is possible through hard work and commitment.
According to written accounts, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuted into Yankee Stadium in perfect formation – followed by the playing of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) video. Marine Sergeant Keith Zeier, along with Courtney and Hillary Robinson, daughters of deceased Lieutenant Colonel Craig Robinson [read inspiring back story] then accepted donations ($95K) on behalf of the SWOF Foundation, which “provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations people who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations people and their families.”
The West Point Color Guard presented the colors while country singer and former U.S. Army Elite Task Force Ranger Keni Thomas, who was a member of the Army unit that fought at the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, sang the National Anthem.
And then Commanding General for the U. S. Army Material Command, Gen Ann E Dunwoody, threw a perfect strike.
If anyone has run across a video, we’d really appreciate your letting us know.
Photos courtesy of SFC RICHARD GUZMAN USAREC
Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, on the mound at NY Yankee vs. NY Mets game June 14 in honor of Military Appreciation Day at the stadium.
Gen Dunwoody with Yankees Manager and ex-Cubbie, Joe Giardi
Members of the US ARMY Golden Knights.
I would like to know what their thoughts were as they shook the hand of the first female 4-star Army General.
A pix that makes me a very proud American.
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