Tag: Desert Storm

10th Annual Mt. Vernon to Marietta, 160-Mile Veterans and First Responders Paddle

The 10th Annual Paddle for Heroes, Mt. Vernon, Ohio to Marietta, Ohio 160-Mile – 2026 Memorial Paddle, will be dedicated in honor of:

1st Lieutenant Charles L. Wilkins & PFC Ryan A. Martin.

—Both killed in action on August 20, 2004, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

On August 20th, 2004, with temperatures rising above 95 degrees, soldiers of A Company, 216th Engineer Battalion, from Chillicothe, Ohio, were concluding a long day of route-clearance operations. Operating in the notoriously dangerous region of Samarra—often referred to as “the hot entry point to Fallujah”—their mission was abruptly cut short. A sudden blast struck the convoy’s lead Humvee, claiming the lives of two dedicated soldiers: 1LT Charles Wilkins and PFC Ryan Martin.

A 1984 graduate of Bishop Hartley High School (Columbus, Ohio), Charles Wilkins first served in the U.S. Air Force. Seeking to become an officer, he later joined the Ohio Army National Guard, which allowed him to pursue law school at Capital University while also working as a transportation planner for the Federal Highway Administration.

Despite his busy schedule, LT Wilkins was known for always making time for family—doing so joyfully and with a smile. Friends and loved ones described him as witty, dedicated, and selfless. His commitment to helping others led him to volunteer from a sister company to deploy with A Co. 216th Engineer Battalion to Iraq. He put law school on hold because he felt called to help rebuild the country and support his fellow soldiers.

PFC Ryan A. Martin

Ryan Martin graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 2000. Following the attacks of September 11th, he felt compelled to serve and joined the Ohio Army National Guard. Known as a go-getter, PFC Martin enthusiastically volunteered for deployment with A Co. 216th Engineer Battalion.

Nicknamed “Big Bear,” Martin brought humor and positivity to his unit. He loved telling stories—such as the time he bought a semi-truck at age 16, only to have his parents make him return it. He was thrilled to operate heavy equipment in Iraq and looked forward to becoming a heavy-equipment operator or working alongside his father on the family farm.

 

Event Details:

The Paddle for Heroes memorial paddle is a challenging and reflective 160-mile journey.

  •  Participants will paddle approximately 30 miles per day, up to 12 hours daily.
  • A meaningful event focused on remembrance, resilience, and outreach.

Registration & Participation:

  •  Only 30 paddle spots are available.
  •  Priority is given to veterans, first responders, and their adult partners.

* The first 10 veterans or first responders who commit will have their room covered at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta on Friday, June 12th, 2026.

*Non-veterans and non-first responders interested in attending should contact:

Joey Butts, Vice President, Paddle for Heroes

Text: 740-258-2127

Email: paddleforheroesusa@gmail.com

There are additional ways to support this event, other than paddling. Please contact Joey for more information.

Happy Holidays from Vet Info

Thank you to all our Veterans and to those who continue to serve our great nation. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication do not go unnoticed. Wishing you and your families a Happy Holiday season and a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Team Vet Info

Vet Info wishes all Veterans and Active Service Members a Happy and Safe Holiday Season. Picture shows a Beautiful Holiday Wreath.

Message from Founder Bill Watts

As a former member of the United States Army, the holidays always remind me how important it is to honor those who have served—and those who are serving right now. I spent more than one holiday season far from the people I loved, proudly wearing the uniform of our nation.

From the deserts of Egypt, to the DMZ ( Camp Casey ) in South Korea, and during Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991, those moments were not easy. One holiday, I received a care package from my mother filled with some of my favorite foods and cookies. That simple gesture meant everything—bringing warmth and comfort to me in the middle of a desert, more than 10,000 miles from home.

When we speak of those in uniform, we must also remember the families who feel their absence every single day. Behind every service member is a family missing them, especially during the holidays.

SSGT Jimmy Haws—gone but never forgotten. To those I proudly served alongside—1st Sgt. Maynard Meadows, Jonah Booth, Steven Mafnas, Cpl Cruz, SSGT Berley, and so many others from C Battery, 4/5 ADA, 1st Cavalry Division—you are truly missed. I hope one day our paths cross again.

To all Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families: thank you for your sacrifice, your strength, and your service. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a strong, hopeful New Year.

Miami VA – Lung Health Fair 2025

Come and Join us for the 3rd Annual Lung Health Fair at the Miami VA Hospital

Learn about new research and treatments.
Food and Drinks for Veterans.

Vet Info CO-Sponsored.

Presentation of VISN8 LPOP Challenge Coins to Dept. of Veteran Affairs Gulf War Illness Research Advisory Committee.

Members of the Department of Veteran Affairs Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Illness Holding VISN8 LPOP Challenge Coins presented during a parent committee meeting held in Oahu Hawaii.

During the Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf War Illness Research Advisory Committee meeting held at the Oahu Vet Center in Hawaii members were presented with Challenge coins by the VISN8 LPOP Veteran Advocate who was present. This was given for the hard work and dedication of the advisory members. The Hawaiian Islands are home to 112,000 Military Veterans, 50,000+ Active Duty Service Members, and 9,600 Hawaii State Guard members.

VA Announces nine rare respiratory Cancers as presumed service-Connected Disabilities.

On April 25, 2022, VA announced that nine rare respiratory cancers are now presumed service-connected disabilities due to military environmental exposures to fine particulate matter. These cancers include:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
  • Squamous cell carcinoma of the trachea
  • Adenocarcinoma of the trachea
  • Salivary gland-type tumors of the trachea
  • Adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung
  • Large cell carcinoma of the lung
  • Salivary gland-type tumors of the lung
  • Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung
  • Typical and atypical carcinoid of the lung

VA will process disability compensation claims for these conditions for Veterans who served any amount of time in the Southwest Asia theater of operations beginning Aug. 2, 1990, to the present, or Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Syria or Djibouti beginning Sept. 19, 2001, to the present.

VA added 3 presumptive conditions related to particulate matter exposure

The new presumptive conditions are asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis. To be eligible for benefits, you must have gotten one of these conditions within 10 years of your separation from active service.

This will expand benefits for Veterans who served in:

  • Afghanistan, Djibouti, Syria, and Uzbekistan during the Persian Gulf War, from September 19, 2001, to the present, or
  • The Southwest Asia theater of operations from August 2, 1990, to the present

If you have a pending claim for one or more of these conditions, you don’t need to do anything. We’ll send you a decision notice when we complete our review.

For more information about VA benefits and eligibility, or how to file a claim, Veterans and survivors can visit www.VA.gov or call toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. 

Visit the VA Website on this issue. VA Website on newly added cancers

Founder Desert Storm Veteran Bill Meets Southern Command – Commander – Admiral Faller

Admiral Faller Southern Command and Bill Watts

Today Veterans from all over South Florida came to the city of Doral in a somber ceremony celebrating our Nation’s Hero’s. Key Note Speaker Admiral Faller took the time to Thank all the Veterans Past and Present for their Service.