“They Went to the Sound of the Guns. They Were Saving People, but they Couldn't be Saved Themselves Because of the Ineptitude or the Political Chicanery of an Administration that doesn't even care about the Military.”

Seven hundred retired military Special Operations personnel who voluntarily put their lives on the line for their country, have signed a petition demanding that the U. S. House of Representatives convene a special (select) committee to uncover the answers to lingering questions about the Benghazi terrorist attack that killed a U. S. Ambassador and three others, including two Navy SEALs. Members of the Special Operations “brotherhood” ranging from four-star generals to Army privates signed the petition, according to a spokesman for the veterans group Special Operations Speaks. A letter to Congressional leaders contained 16 questions that veterans believe need better answers.

Colonel Bill Koehler, USA (Ret), above left,  has been elected and installed as the president of the Greenville Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Colonel Steve Carroll is First Vice President, Capt. Brian Vorse is Second Vice President. First Lieutenant Pam Durham is Secretary and Valerie Gonzales Treasurer. Colonel Dave Ellenburg, President, South Carolina Council of Chapters installed the new officers. Lt. Col. Shane Ostrom, USAF (Ret) representing the MOAA National Council was guest speaker. Capt. Larry Rinne is Awards Chairman and Katie Danner,  Personal Affairs Chairman. Maj. Richard Palmer is Webmaster.

First Lieutenant Brenda Jansons, USA (Ret) is immediate past president.

MOAA is the professional association for military officers and their families. It is the largest military officers association with a membership in excess of 370,000.

Sgt. Channing “Bo” Hicks was on patrol in Paktika Province, Afghanistan, when the unit was attacked by enemy forces using an improvised explosive device (IED) and small arms fire. Sgt. Hicks, 24, and another soldier, Specialist Joseph Richardson, 23, from Booneville, Arkansas, were killed.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kansas.

Channing Hicks was born in Greer, and graduated from Greer High School in 2006. He had decided to enlist in the U.S. Army before he graduated. He was a member of the US Army, participating in Basic Training at Fort Jackson, less than two weeks after graduating from Greer High School.

Joseph Evan Davis Chapter #907, Children of the Confederacy, Honors Veterans at November Veterans Appreciation Ceremony

The Creed of the Children of the Confederacy Organization states:

“Because we desire to perpetuate, in love and honor, the heroic deeds of those who enlisted in the Confederate Services, and upheld its flag through four years of war, we, the children of the South, have united in an Organization called the “Children of the Confederacy,” in which our strength, enthusiasm and love of justice can exert its influence. We therefore pledge ourselves to preserve pure ideas: to honor the memory of our beloved Veterans: to study and teach the truths of history (one of the most important of which is, that the War Between the States was not a rebellion, nor was its underlying cause to sustain slavery). And always to act in a manner that will reflect honor upon our noble and patriotic ancestors.”