Michelle Tan

Campaign to 'Hydrate a Paratrooper' for pass and review

By Michelle Tan on May 20, 2014 Outside the wire

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate – especially when you’re preparing for a division review. More than 15,000 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division will be practicing for the big division pass and review Thursday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, as part of All-American Week, and the folks from U.S. Army W.T.F.! Moments are trying to make sure they stay on their feet. “We would like to provide hydration to these soldiers during one of their practice days, which falls on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the division review happening on Thursday,” they wrote on their GoFundMe site. Donations will buy Gatorade – at…

Soldier reunites with his canine best friend

By Michelle Tan on May 2, 2014 Army, Iraq

Looking to start off your weekend on the right note? Check out this heartwarming reunion between former Sgt. Jason Bos and his military working dog Cila. [HTML1] Bos and Cila were battle buddies in Iraq, completing nearly 100 missions together. They also served together at home, supporting President Obama and Vice President Biden. The pair was separated in 2012 when Bos was forced to leave the Army because of an injury, according to news reports. On Wednesday, thanks to the American Humane Association and Mission K9 Rescue, Bos was reunited with Cila as she was retired from service. Bos is…

Keeping up the fight for the real "Inglourious Basterd"

By Michelle Tan on April 1, 2014 Outside the wire

The Office of Strategic Services Society will continue its fight to see Frederick Mayer receive the Medal of Honor, even after Army Secretary John McHugh declined to reopen the case. “We’re the OSS Society! We never stop fighting,” group president Charles Pinck wrote in an e-mail. The OSS Society is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the accomplishments of the OSS during World War II. The society renewed its push to recognize Mayer in March, when President Obama presented the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, to 24 soldiers from World War II, Vietnam and Korea who didn’t receive…

Honoring the "real 'Inglourious Basterd'"

By Michelle Tan on March 17, 2014 Army, Outside the wire

Continuing its push to see Frederick Mayer receive the Medal of Honor, the Office of Strategic Services Society on Sunday sent a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh urging him to reopen the case. The OSS Society, a nonprofit organization that celebrates the accomplishments of the OSS during World War II, last week released a statement saying it believes Mayer, the “real ‘Inglourious Basterd,’” deserves the nation’s highest award for valor. The society’s statement came as the White House tomorrow will present the Medal of Honor to 24 soldiers from World War II, Vietnam and Korea who didn’t receive the…

"Real Men" makes mini-celebs out of Korea-based soldiers

By Michelle Tan on March 11, 2014 Army, Entertainment

A handful of soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division have become mini-celebrities in South Korea after appearing on a popular (and somewhat cheesy but hilarious) reality television show about the Korean military. “Real Men” features Korean celebrities experiencing some aspect of military life while being embedded with South Korean troops, Stars and Stripes reported. In a three-minute YouTube clip, the Americans are shown with their Korean counterparts. The men laugh and joke, as one soldier is first said to resemble “Home Alone” star Macaulay Culkin, then Voldemort as portrayed by Ralph Fiennes in the “Harry Potter” movie series. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEnFWzBYay4 “People will…

White House petition created to institute Army retirement medal

By Michelle Tan on February 10, 2014 Army

Sgt. 1st Class Steven Janotta recently shared his idea for a retirement medal with the readers of Army Times, and he’s since garnered thousands of supporters. Now one soldier has gone so far as to lobby the commander-in-chief himself. On Feb. 5, a White House petition was created compelling President Obama to consider instituting a retirement medal. The petition (which has a LONG way to go to reach the 100,000-signature threshold for actual consideration) states: “If a Soldier continued faithful service for at least two decades or more to the US Army; then, their service and this significant event should…

Spotted: SSG Ty Carter

By Michelle Tan on September 16, 2013 Afghanistan, Army, West Point

Staff Sgt. Ty Carter, who received the Medal of Honor last month for his actions at Combat Outpost Keating, Afghanistan, continues to make the rounds. The soldier appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, visited West Point and threw the ceremonial first pitch at the San Diego Padres vs. San Francisco Giants game. On Sunday night, Carter and his wife, Shannon, were seated in the front row at the Miss America competition in Atlantic City, N.J. During the ceremony, Carter was recognized with a standing ovation, and he was able to cheer on fellow soldier Theresa Vail, a Kansas National Guard sergeant…

MoH recipient's father inspires country hit

By Michelle Tan on May 6, 2013 Afghanistan, Army

Sgt. 1st Class Jared Monti’s father had no idea he was the inspiration behind a No. 1 Billboard country hit. It was Memorial Day weekend two years ago, and Paul Monti was interviewed on the radio about his son, who was killed June 21, 2006, in Afghanistan and posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor. Connie Harrington, a Nashville-based songwriter, was listening in her car. “He mentioned that he drives his son’s truck as a way to feel close to him,” Harrington said. “I was just really moved that he still drove his son’s truck.…

Army widow launches White House petition

By Michelle Tan on May 2, 2013 Army, Iraq

Barbara Allen has launched a White House petition to get her husband a Purple Heart. Allen’s husband, 1st Lt. Louis Allen, and Capt. Phillip Esposito were killed eight years ago when an anti-personnel mine detonated in a window of their room at their headquarters in Tikrit, Iraq. Both officers were assigned to the New York National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division. One of their soldiers, Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez, was charged and tried on murder charges. He was acquitted in December 2008 in the two officers’ June 7, 2005, deaths. Since then, Barbara Allen has fought, unsuccessfully, for her husband’s death…

Widow renews fight for Purple Heart

By Michelle Tan on March 19, 2013 Army, Crime, Iraq

Almost eight years ago, Capt. Phillip Esposito and 1st Lt. Louis Allen, from the New York National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, were killed when an anti-personnel mine detonated in a window of their room at their headquarters in Tikrit, Iraq. One of their soldiers, Staff Sgt. Alberto Martinez, was charged and tried on murder charges. He was acquitted in December 2008 in the two officers’ June 7, 2005, deaths. Since then, Barbara Allen, Louis Allen’s wife, has fought, unsuccessfully, for her husband’s death certificate to be changed to reflect a hostile death, which would qualify him for a Purple Heart.…

Author Michelle Tan