HOME  |  UNIT HISTORIES  |  ABOUT US  |  SPECIAL ORDERS  |  CONTACT US

   T-shirts, Polos, Sweatshirts, Mugs, Hats, Beer Steins, Posters, and Prints for Active Duty and Veteran Soldiers.
1st Armored Div
1st Aviation Bde
1st Cavalry
1st Infantry Div
1st Marine Div
2nd ACR
2nd Armored Div
2nd Infantry Div
3rd ACR
3rd Armored Div
3rd Infantry Div
3rd Marine Div
4th Infantry Div
5th Infantry Div
7th Infantry Div
8th Infantry Div
9th Infantry Div
10th Mountain Div
11th ACR
18th MP Brigade
XVIII (18) ABN Corps
23rd Inf Div - Americal
25th Infantry Div
30th Med Com
44th Med Com
82nd Airborne
101st Airborne
173rd Airborne
Military Vet Shop News
Learn about new products, designs, coupons & more!

* indicates required

 New on MilitaryVetShop.com

New for July 2010
(Updated 7-6-10)

July already? This year just seems to be FLYING by!! Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday with friends and family. Here in the "Tip Of The Mitt", we enjoyed a warm and sunny day that was picture perfect for the local Independence Day Parade. But, enough about our time off, rather here's what we've been doing with our time "on"...

New History

9th Infantry Division | "Old Reliables"

9th ID Veteran The 9th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army is nicknamed the "Old Reliables." It was created during World War I as the 9th Division, but it was never deployed overseas. The division proved to be an important asset during World War II, Vietnam, and the Cold War. Click here for full history of the 9th ID »

New Aircraft

The OH-58 has been added to the 11th ACR section on both our Zazzle and Cafe' Press stores.

New Embroidery

We've spent most of the past month adding embroidered items for each of the patches, branches and badges we feature on MilitaryVetShop.com. It took a lot longer than planned to work out all of the issues, but I think everyone will like the end results. Please take a moment to view the embroidered Hats, T-shirts, Jackets, Polos and more »

From The Roving Historian

Trippin' through Gettysburg

The Fourth of July holiday weekend is right around the corner. I’m such a military history geek, that thinking about the Fourth always reminds me of the anniversary of the Civil War battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863). This is the perfect time to tell you about my visit to the Battlefield while I was on my research trip in May. As I’ve mentioned before in this blog, my friend John works as a park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park and rents a house on the battlefield from the NPS. Of course I wanted to visit my friend that I hadn’t seen in three years, but I was also looking forward to another visit to one of my favorite Civil War battlefields and getting a personal tour from the most knowledgeable person I know about the battle and the war.

I had visited Gettysburg on several occasions over the years since my first visit back in 1988. However, this was the first time I had toured the Battlefield and the town with a guide. Even for those of you who are familiar with the battle (as I thought I was), I highly recommend touring the battlefield with a licensed guide or attending one of the presentations given by the NPS staff. John was able to show me, on the ground, parts of the battle that have gotten little attention from both historians and popular culture. I won’t go into the history of the battle, but leave you with the guidance that there is much more to the battle than what is portrayed in the movie Gettysburg. The more you learn about it the more you want to know.

I invoke the Hollywood version of the battle (one of my favorites mind you), because during our tour John pointed out several items that the movie got wrong. He also gave me the background on a few of the monuments that over the decades since the battle have been placed for politics and tourism as well as honoring the sacrifices of our soldiers. Actually, the history of the battlefield as “hallowed ground” versus “tourist attraction” is as fascinating for me as the battle itself. For example, the term “high-water mark of the Confederacy” applied to Gettysburg, and specifically Pickett’s Charge, was coined by a tourism promoter years after the battle. If we are speaking in terms of Confederate military strength, one could argue that there are other points during the war when things looked much worse for the Union. In terms of geography, organized Confederate forces fought in the same campaign about 35 miles north of Gettysburg near Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, in what is known as the Skirmish of Sporting Hill.

Since I had visited the area before, it is interesting to see what is changing and what stays the same. The park is conducting projects to restore the terrain to what it looked like during the battle. Read about it in the park newspaper. There have been some trees removed around the Devil’s Den since my last visit. There are now some new peach trees in the Peach Orchard. The NPS has acquired a new “witness” house on the Emmitsburg Road, and the new Visitor Center opened in 2008 (which is fantastic!). Some things never change: the debate is raging in town about a proposed casino and hotel on US 15. That was voted down the last time I was there back in 2006. The casino promoters are back for another attempt at a permit.

Therefore, this trip to Gettysburg brought up several of those internal debates I have with myself. The primary being: At what level should we teach, or expect the public to know, history? Moreover, is a little drama such a bad thing if we can engage the public to tune in to the lessons of history? How far should we go to protect our historic sites? Does a place like Gettysburg deserve protection from what is built nearby? The analysis of these questions, whether I discuss and debate them with others or just in my head, is what excites me about public history.

I’ll close by saying, "Thanks again, John!" for the fantastic tour and a great steak dinner.

Excerpted with permission from www.RovingHistorian.com

Just Ask!

Yes, our "to do" list is a mile long - BUT - special requests go to the front of that line! If you don't see it in either our Cafe Press store, or our Zazzle store, ask about it. Simply email us your request and we'll see if we can make it happen! Remember, this store was created because we couldn't find what we were looking for - it's our number one mission!

As always, a big THANK YOU! to our subscribers and customers - we really appreciate you! Please feel free to share this email with a friend!

Jim, Sheila, and Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

 
 

New for June 2010
(Updated 6-4-10)

New History

Jim came back from the National Archives this month with a renewed zeal for military history and he has written a Summary History of the 5th Infantry Division - Red Devils. Please take a moment to read about this unit, who's history stretches back to WWI and carries through to present day.

New Aircraft

Per special request, we've created an OH-58 for all you scout pilots and door-gunners! The 58 is currently available in the 2nd Armored Cav section and will be posted to the 11th ACR next week. Please let us know if you'd like the OH-58 - or any of our available aircraft or vehicles - added to your unit.

We've already begun work on the delta model and will let everyone know when its ready.

:-)

New For Joint Base Balad - Iraq

We received a couple of requests from Air Force vets serving in Iraq that helped to break us out of our "Army-centered" rut a bit. Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time to request certain patches, aircraft or vehicles - you're helping us to become a much better Military Vet Shop!

New Air Force Designs:

332d AEW "The Legend Continues" is the motto of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, who derive their lineage from the 332d Fighter Group, the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. Currently, the 332d AEW and 332d EMDG have many airmen at Joint Base Balad in Iraq - also known as "Mortaritaville"

Army in Balad:

13th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) "The difference between a click and a bang is logistics." is the motto of the 13th ESC, also stationed in "Mortaritaville". We've added designs for the 13th ESC with the Armored HumVee, the 5-Ton Truck and other Veteran Designs.

New Airborne

New for 82nd Airborne:

For the All American veterans of the 82nd Airborne's 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR), we now have shirts, mugs, stickers and more available on our Cafe Press and Zazzle stores.

Your History

Many of you are members of veterans' organizations who have volunteered - or in some cases been volunteered to seek out and maintain your unit history. While the internet is becoming a good source for first-person accounts and private collection photos, there is nothing quite like going to The Source - the main repository of Army photos, documents, and personal papers of our great leaders. In the following article Jim tries to take some of the mystery out of the process of using our nation's resources to learn about and share our history.

From The Roving Historian

The Army Heritage and Education Center

In my last post, I told you about my research trip during the first week of May. I started with the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. In this post, I would like to tell you about the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) in Carlisle, PA. This was actually my first stop during my research trip for photos and primary documents on the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

The AHEC is several things in addition to a repository for primary source documents pertaining to military history. Originally, (and still its primary function) the AHEC was created to support the Army's War College at Carlisle Barracks. In 2002, they moved to their current campus, off base, so you don't have to have your vehicle and ID checked to park there. If you visit, plan an extra afternoon to visit the museum and the Army Heritage Trail. The trail is a walking path of about a mile that has interactive exhibits that are recreations from army history. For example, you can go into Redoubt #10 from the battle of Yorktown, get into a WWI trench, or walk through a WWII era tarpaper billet.

The fact that the AHEC is a library as well as an archive makes it a "first stop" for researching military history. Before you visit in person, look at several of the AHEC's online resources, like their list of finding aids and the online catalog. Finding aids have been created for many unit histories and military history subjects. These documents are available online. With these finding aids and the online catalog, you will know what secondary works are available as well as primary source documents. Looking for secondary sources through interlibrary loan with your local public library will save you days of research time at the AHEC. Knowing the primary source material available will help you determine if you need to visit in person, and if so, estimate how many days you will need in the library.

When you enter the main building of the AHEC, you will have to sign in with security before going in the research library. Lockers are provided to store your coat and any carry cases. You can only bring laptops, cameras, writing paper, and pencils into the research room. A research assistant is available to help you fill out your "pull request" from the library. Don't try to go it alone, use their expertise. The staff is extremely knowledgeable, very friendly, and eager to help you with your project.

While all libraries and archives have similar procedures, they also differ from place to place. Unlike NARA, at the AHEC you cannot bring in a flatbed scanner. I use a small digital camera to take pictures of documents (reproduction costs would kill you) that are too lengthy to take notes on. I used the same camera at AHEC to reproduce photographs. A photo station is set up in the research room for this purpose. You mount your camera on a photo stand and adjust two studio lights beside the table on tripods. I at first had my doubts, but this system worked beautifully. For textual items, I just set my camera to a "copy" preset and use it handheld. I reproduced 13 photographs and over 200 pages of documents in one long day at the AHEC.

I am a huge fan of digitizing primary documents so we don't have to travel to an archive to look up this information. However, I know we will never be able to put every document and picture held in repositories online. There is just too much. Also, there is just no beating the thrill of holding the document in your hand, or to read the contents in its entirety for yourself, unedited and not interpreted for you by someone else. Again, I urge anyone who is interested in any subject to visit the appropriate archive and look up the information. I do not consider myself to be a scholar, an academic, or an intellectual. No one asked me what my qualifications were before allowing me access to any materials at either the AHEC or NARA. It is our history. Go get it.

Excerpted with permission from www.RovingHistorian.com

Just Ask!

Yes, our "to do" list is a mile long - BUT - special requests go to the front of that line! If you don't see it in either our Cafe Press store, or our Zazzle store, ask about it. Simply email us your request and we'll see if we can make it happen! Rember, this store was created because we couldn't find what we were looking for - it's our number one mission!

As always, a big THANK YOU! to our subscribers and customers - we really appreciate you! Please feel free to share this email with a friend!

Jim, Sheila, and Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

 

 

New for May 2010
(Updated 5-5-10)

New Format

This is our second month using the new format for our newsletter - we hope you like it! Please feel free to share your copy with a friend.
:-)
Subscribe Here

From The Roving Historian

“Memorial Day Once Again”

May is upon us once again.  The last day of the month will bring us Memorial Day Weekend.  For most Americans that means the official start to summer.  Here on the Lake Michigan shore it also means the informal beginning to the tourist and resort season.  (Our town’s population more than doubles during the summer with the return of all the snowbirds.)  That being said, how could I not take the opportunity to talk about the real meaning of Memorial Day?

The tradition of a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers began as early as the end of the Civil War.  Various communities around the nation held their own day to honor their dead.  The first attempt at a nationwide observance was the proclamation of “Decoration Day” by General John Logan, the commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, the national organization of Union Army veterans.  General Logan proclaimed that May 30th of 1868, and each year thereafter, be set aside to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers.  Most communities in the South did not participate, mainly due to a lack of Union graves, not to mention a lingering resentment toward the North.

The name “Memorial Day” did not come into use until after 1882.  The sentiment of the holiday became accepted nationally after World War I when the country came together to honor all of our war dead.  Now the day is officially Memorial Day by a Federal law passed in 1967.  It is celebrated on the last Monday in May as per the National Holiday Act of 1971, passed to ensure that we get a three-day weekend for Federal holidays.  Although Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Tennessee still have alternate days set aside to honor their Confederate war dead.

Many Americans seem to forget the meaning of the day.  Some believe that this was fostered by the creation of the guaranteed three-day weekend in 1971.  Some, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, believe that returning the date for Memorial Day to May 30th would help to re-educate Americans and encourage a more traditional day of remembrance and honoring of our fallen warriors.  Over ten years ago, separate bills to do just that were introduced into the House and Senate.  Unfortunately, neither bill made it out of committee (the place that most bills go to die).  However, in 2000 a resolution was passed into public law to encourage a National Moment of Remembrance, “which invites everyone to pause where they are at 3:00 p.m. on Memorial Day in a uplifting act of national unity.”

I do not glorify the sacrifices that were made in wars past and present.  In fact, I view them as a tragedy.  Nevertheless, wars do happen and someone has to go and fight them.  As a historian and a veteran who was raised in a family of veterans, I am saddened to see the growing numbers of naïve and idealistic, not to mention the legions of the ignorant and apathetic.  Memorial Day is a learning opportunity and an excellent day to take a reality check.  I don’t want to be a buzz kill or party pooper and take away from the tradition of the barbeque, or the tailgate, or the camping trip you have planned for this Memorial Day weekend.  By all means, enjoy.  However, I do encourage you to take a moment to remember the sacrifices of others and pass on that reverence to your children…so that they can pass it on to theirs.

Click here to visit The Roving Historian

Thank You

As always, we'd like to thank you for subscribing to Military Vet Shop News and for your business. We hope your spring is starting out green and pleasant and look forward to talking to you again next month!

Thank you,
Jim, Sheila & Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

New Products

We've added several units this month in our quest to represent all units that fought in Vietnam.

USASTRATCOM
USASTRATCOM - Vietnam
5th Trans Cmd
5th Transportation Command
15th Support Brigade
15th Support Brigade
Health Services Command
Health Services Command
15th Sustainment Brigade
15th Sustainment Brigade

Embroidery Available

New Embroidered Items


Embroidered Polos, Jackets, Shirts, and Hats are now available!! If you don't see your unit patch or branch insignia, let us know - we're working as fast as we can to get them all posted, but requests always move to the front of the list.

Shop Embroidered Items
Contact Us

 

New for April 2010
(Updated 4-5-10)

New Format

This month, we've transferred to a new format for our monthly newsletter - we hope you like it! Unfortunately, we were unable to transfer our old mailing list from our old provider - so please feel free to share your copy with a friend - we'd love to have all of our subscribers back!
:-)

Subscribe Here

Customer Photos

We love to hear from our customers and we love it even MORE when they include photos! Bill Cope of the 192nd AHC was kind enough to share photos on the wall of our new Facebook page. Thanks Bill!!

Visit us on Facebook

From The Roving Historian

“The Borinqueneers”

I must admit my ignorance. Before yesterday, I did not know who the “Borinqueneers” were, or the history of the 65th Infantry Regiment. Now that I am enlightened to the contributions of this military unit, I had to share the information with you.First, hear the how and the why that led me to read a little bit about this historic unit.

I have a particular interest in the Korean War, as my father was a veteran of that conflict, besides my being a military historian.  Korea came up on my radar last week due to an article in the NY Times that tells us that North Korea is threatening reprisals if South Korea and the United States do not stop civilian tours to view the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).  As we approach the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War (June 25, 1950) it is appropriate that we take the time to remember the sacrifices of the veterans who have served in that “forgotten war.” And remember that not only do we still have troops stationed in South Korea, but that the Korean War never ended, but only ceased hostilities with the signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953.

BorinqueneersWith that motivation, I searched the NY Times for other recent articles about Korea and came across the obituary for Modesto Cartagena, who as a staff sergeant serving with the 65th Infantry during the Korean War was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and is the most decorated Puerto Rican soldier in history.  Mr. Cartagena passed away at his home in Puerto Rico on March 2, 2010 at the age of 87.  His obituary in the Times explained that the 65th Infantry was an all-volunteer unit from Puerto Rico.  Since I had never heard of this unit of Puerto Ricans, I had to satisfy my curiosity.

A simple Google search provided me with the story.  Here is a link to the Borinqueneers’ website that contains photographs and archival video.  In addition, here is a link to an excellent Wikipedia article summarizing the history of the unit.  It would seem that the 65th Infantry Regiment experienced similar prejudices as other ethnic units in the history of the United States Army.  Moreover, like the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (Japanese-American), the 92nd Infantry Division (African-American), and others, this unit distinguished itself beyond all expectations.

The unit’s nickname, “Borinqueneers,” is a combination of the words Borinquen, which is what the Puerto Rican natives called their island before the arrival of the Spanish, and Buccaneers.  The soldiers coined this name during an exhausting month long boat trip from Puerto Rico to Pusan, Korea in September 1950.

The unit met its greatest challenges in Korea.  Many new officers transferred into the unit by the army where white continentals who could not speak Spanish, the native language of the common soldier in the unit.  After two years of distinguished service in combat, an action occurred in which one of the regiment’s line companies was pushed off a hill by Chinese forces.  A new Regimental Commander, a continental, accused the unit of cowardice.  The commander ordered the unit to stop calling themselves Borinqueneers, took away their special ration of beans and rice, ordered the men to shave off their distinctive mustaches, and even had one soldier wear a sign that said, “I am a coward.”  Due to the humiliation, combat exhaustion, and cultural barriers, it is understandable that the unit rebelled and refused to continue fighting.  Ninety-one of the unit members were found guilty at court martial and sentenced to prison.  Later, the sentences were remitted through intervention by the Puerto Rican government.  Though the men who were court martialed were pardoned, there currently is a campaign for a formal exoneration.

This “mass court martial” does not take away from the fact that members of the unit were awarded 10 Distinguished Service Crosses, 256 Silver Stars, and 606 Bronze Stars during their time in Korea.  The 65th Infantry Regiment earned streamers for nine campaigns during the Korean War.  Approximately 61,000 Puerto Ricans served during the Korean War, most of them were volunteers.

The island of Puerto Rico became a U.S. Territory in 1898 at the end of the Spanish-American War.  The United States immediately appointed a military governor of the island and the army established a presence there.  The Army Appropriation Bill passed by Congress in 1889 authorized the creation of the first unit of “native troops.”  The “Porto Rico Provisional Regiment of Infantry” first formed in 1901 would evolve into the 65th Infantry Regiment in the Regular U.S. Army.  The unit fought in WWI, WWII, and Korea.  The unit was transferred to the Puerto Rico National Guard in 1956, the only active army unit to ever be transferred to the Guard.  As National Guard units, members of the 65th Infantry have deployed in support of the Global War on Terror to Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo, and the horn of Africa.

Click here to visit The Roving Historian

Thank You

As always, we'd like to thank you for subscribing to Military Vet Shop News and for your business. We hope your spring is starting out green and pleasant and look forward to talking to you again next month!

Thank you,
Jim, Sheila & Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

NEW to Military Vet Shop – Added in March!

84th Engineer Company

Desert Storm Vet - 84th Eng Co
By veteran request, for those who served with the 84th Engineer Company and wore the 2nd ACR patch during Operation Desert Storm. Available on our Cafe Press store and our Zazzle store.

192nd AHC - 1st Platoon

192nd AHC 1st Platoon
For Vietnam Veterans who flew with the 1st Flight Platoon of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company. Available on our Cafe Press store and our Zazzle store.

192nd AHC - 2nd Platoon

192nd AHC 2nd Platoon
For Vietnam Veterans who flew with the 2nd Flight Platoon of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company. Available on our Cafe Press store and our Zazzle store.

192nd AHC - 3rd Platoon

192nd AHC 3rd Platoon
For Vietnam Veterans who flew or crewed with the 3rd Platoon of the 192nd Assault Helicopter Company, the Tiger Sharks. Available on our Cafe Press store and our Zazzle store.

151st Inf Rgmt - 38th ID

151st Inf Rgmt - 38th ID
By special request to honor one of the fallen Avengers of Bataan. A 38th Infantry Division patch with 151st Infantry Regiment. Available on our Cafe Press store and our Zazzle store.

20th Engineer Bde

20th Engineer Brigade (Combat)
Part of XVIII Airborne Corps, the 20th Eng Bde has a lineage that dates back to the Civil War. They are veterans of Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan. We offer six different designs on a wide variety of products in our Cafe Press store as well as our Zazzle store.

Our New Truck!

5-Ton Truck
Now available for 2nd Armored Division and 11th Armored Cavalry veterans. We'll add this vehicle to the appropriate units as soon as possible, but please let us know if you'd like it added to your unit as requests go to the front of the line!

New Embroidered Items

ALL NEW!
We know, we know... you can't wear your t-shirt EVERYWHERE you go! So now we have an alternative for you: Embroidered Polos, Jackets, Shirts, and Hats are now available!! If you don't see your unit patch or branch insignia, let us know - we're working as fast as we can to get them all posted, but requests always move to the front of the list.

 

New for March 2010
(Updated 3-9-10)

Thanks to everyone for "tuning in" to our What's New newsletter this month - there is a loooooong list of new items posted to the Military Vet Shop (to include a few sneak peeks at what we're working on for next month) and an article from Jim, the Roving Historian on Stolen Valor.

We've been having some issues with our newsletter generator lately and are trying to get a decent replacement in the coming weeks - please let us know if you or a friend are having trouble receiving or reading the monthly news. Email us at: cp@ridinthewave.com.

 

Featured This Month:
Stolen Valor and Getting It Wrong
What's New in our Store?

 

Stolen Valor and Getting It Wrong
From Jim Broumley - RovingHistorian.com

I want to bring your attention to an article I read in the NY Times recently that frankly got my goat both as a historian and as a veteran. It concerns a recently released book titled "The Last Train from Hiroshima" by Charles Pelligrino. Apparently, sections of the book that reveal never-before-told events and details of the mission to drop the first atomic bomb are based on interviews with a veteran who was never there. Take the time to read the article. This veteran, Mr. Joseph Fuoco, claimed to have flown as part of the crew of one of two observation planes that accompanied the Enola Gay. Fuoco claimed that he was put on the flight at the last minute when another crewmember, Mr. James Corliss, got sick. As it turns out, documents and witness accounts tell that Corliss was on the flight in question. There is no proof available that places Fuoco in the 509th Composite Group, much less on the flight in Mr. Corliss' place. Both veterans have since passed away. The author says that he now realizes he was "probably duped."

The book is out there on the shelf at your local bookstore. It is number sixteen on the list of bestselling military history on Amazon. If it is not recalled, it becomes part of the historical record. Historians almost always base their works on the secondary sources created previously. It is quite possible that twenty years from now, a writer might find this book and cite something from it, and perpetuate the fabrications it contains. The fact that the book does not cite any sources and the author admits that it contains fabrications, makes suspect the remainder of its contents. I will not purchase or read this book.

At first our righteous indignation might be directed at the veteran who fabricated his story, and rightfully so. However, I have personal experience in taking oral histories and I know that memories fade and sometimes get filled in with what is learned after the event. We each have our own truth as to what we experienced and what happened and when and who was there. Moreover, some want to have "been there" so bad that they will make up their own truth, whether consciously or subconsciously. You know they are out there. If you do not, or don't think there are that many, read the book "Stolen Valor" by B. G. Burkett and Glenna Whitely.

As a historian, my ire is directed at the author, Charles Pelligrino, and his publisher. This entire episode could have been avoided with some simple fact checking and review of primary sources. When the author was interviewing Mr. Fuoco, how hard would it have been to look at his discharge or other documents like award certificates? Did the author not make a trip to the National Archives or other repositories to view the official records like flight plans and passenger lists? We do not know because there is no list of sources in Mr. Pelligrino's book. Moreover, the most distasteful part is that Pelligrino has been published previously (albeit this is his first history book) and had a movie made based on one of his earlier books. Not only should an author of his experience know better, but he also has the financial wherewithal to easily conduct primary source research and fact checking.

I don't want to tell you how to think or who to blame. Make up your own mind. I'm just going to give you my opinion, my philosophy if you will. I believe that the job of the nonfiction writer, whether an academic or a popular historian, is to honor those who came before us by telling their story so it is not lost to history. The recollections and eyewitness accounts of individuals are an integral part of telling that story. However, the absolute primary function of the interviewer is to check the validity of a claim before publishing it as fact.

As far as we veterans are concerned, I know this in my heart to be true. I think that however you got there; circumstances make the hero. You might have joined or you might have been drafted. You might have volunteered for Special Forces, or prayed for the Finance Corps. Nevertheless, fate, kismet, or karma put you in the line of fire or it didn't. You either witnessed history, or wish you had, and it wasn't totally up to you, no matter how hard you tried either way. That being said, anyone who steps forward and signs up, no matter what their role, should be thanked for their service and their courage should never be in question. Not by anyone else, and certainly not by themselves.

 

NEW to Military Vet Shop – Added in February!

11th Infantry Brigade

11th Infantry Brigade
Born during WWI and active again from 1967 to 1971. The 11th Infantry Brigade fought with the Americal Division in Vietnam.

Shop for 11th Inf Bde gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 11th Infantry Brigade gifts on Zazzle »

7th ID - Panama

7th Infantry Division - Panama Veteran
For the Light Fighter vets who participated in Operation Just Cause, the invasion of Panama in December 1989.

Shop for 7th ID Panama gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 7th Inf Div Panama gifts on Zazzle »

XXIV Corps

XXIV Corps
US Army XXIV Corps for veterans from the Battle for Okinawa to the jungles of South Vietnam.

Shop for XXIV Corps gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for XXIV Corp gifts on Zazzle »

Armor Branch

Armor Branch
The Armor Branch traces its history to the formation of the Cavalry in 1776. The Tank Service was formed in 1918 and Armor became a branch in 1950.

Shop for Armor Branch gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Armor Branch gifts on Zazzle (featuring a sneak peek at our new Embroidery line!) »

CMAC

CMAC
C.M.A.C. The Capital Military Assistance Command (CMAC) was formed in 1968 after the Tet Offensive to command and coordinate security forces around Saigon in South Vietnam.

Shop for CMAC gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for CMAC gifts on Zazzle »

I Field Force

I FIELD FORCE
A corps-level command created in 1966 whose area of responsibility included the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Shop for I Field Force gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for I Field Force gifts on Zazzle »

II FIELD FORCE

II FIELD FORCE
A corps-level command created in 1966, based in Long Binh, was the largest corps command in Vietnam.

Shop for II Field Force gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for II Field Force gifts on Zazzle »

1st Cav CH47

1st Cavalry Vietnam - CH-47
For the First Team veteran who flew, crewed, or rode in, a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Vietnam.

Shop for 1st Cav Vietnam gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 1st Cavalry CH47 gifts on Zazzle »

101st ABN Chinook

Army Veteran - 101st ABN Chinook
A Chinook helicopter flies in front of a 101st Airborne Division patch. For all of you who flew, crewed, or rode in a CH-47.

Shop for 101st Airborne gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 101st Abn CH47 gifts on Zazzle »

192nd AHC

192nd Assault Helicopter Company
For Vietnam Veterans of the 192nd AHC, 10th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade. Slicks and gunships for Polecats and Tiger Sharks.

Shop for 192nd AHC gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 192nd AHC gifts on Zazzle (featuring a sneak peek at our new Embroidery line!) »

 

 

New for February 2010
(Updated 2-2-10)

Featured This Month:
There's more to it than you'd think.
What's New in our Store?

 

Busy, Busy, Busy

As you can see from the extensive "what's new?" list below, we've been busy, busy, busy ove the past 30 days, but doing what? We thought it was high time we share our process with you - to give you a better understanding of what we do — and why it sometimes seems to take forever to get your requests posted!

There's more to it than you'd think.

Does making t-shirt graphics have anything to do with history? You bet it does. We thought it might be appropriate to share with our friends and fellow veterans what the process is for making our designs and in what order.

Let us say again that it is our goal to provide every veteran with the shirt or coffee mug that they want to honor their service to our country. That's a pretty big goal considering the time limitations that we have. Military Vet Shop is our favorite pursuit. Unfortunately, it is not our only one. Sheila and Jim have a "day job" running Wave of the Future, our website development business. Moreover, Jim recently completed his MA in applied history and is researching a book length project: a history of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion. You'll be able to read more about it on his blog, The Roving Historian, in the near future.

So how do we choose what to create, given the limited time available? Remember the old Burger King™ commercial with the song "...special orders don't upset us..." You're singing it right now, aren't you? Well, that's us. We love special requests. A request was behind the new badges section and the branches section. A request was made for the 30th Medical Command patch. A request was made for the CH-46, CH-47, and the M551 Sheridan. We figure that if you want it, there must be others out there that want it. Hopefully, you know some folks who want it and will tell them about it. For that reason, requests automatically go to the top of the "to-do" list.

Now here is where the history comes in. After the request list, we are then prioritizing a list of every major unit patch that was in Vietnam. For each patch that we choose to create a set of graphics for, while Sheila (the graphics artist) is making the patch object, Jim is researching the history of the patch. We have to determine if the patch was in Vietnam, or Iraq, or Afghanistan. Then we need to determine what vehicles the veterans who wore that patch used. It is in this task that veteran's websites and the pictures posted on the web are invaluable. If enough information is available, we'll even produce a summary history of the unit patch on our website.

Making patches is a relatively quick task, but making an original, photo-realistic, graphic image of a vehicle or aircraft is a time intensive project. Sheila puts hours of work into these projects. That's why it takes a few weeks for requests of vehicle graphics to be fulfilled. Moreover, the operative word here is original. We completely respect the work of others and are careful not to violate the copyrights of any artist. We will not cut corners by copying from others. That is also why you won't find the image you buy from us on any other site. (If you do, please let us know for obvious reasons!)

As you can see, you the veteran, our customers, are a crucial player in obtaining our goal of getting every veteran the design they want. We welcome your input!

 

NEW to Military Vet Shop – Added in January!

Aviation Branch

Aviation Branch
The Army has been flying since before WWI. Due to the importance of aviation in Army doctrine and operations, Aviation became a separate branch on April 12, 1983.

Shop for Aviation Branch gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Aviation Branch gifts on Zazzle »

Cavalry Branch

Cavalry
Cavalry insignia was adopted in 1851. Personnel in cavalry regiments, cavalry squadrons or separate cavalry troops are authorized to wear cavalry insignia.

Shop for Cavalry Branch gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Cavalry Branch gifts on Zazzle »

Infantry Branch

Infantry Branch
Infantry is the oldest branch in the Army. Ten companies of riflemen were authorized by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, the birthday of the Infantry.

Shop for Infantry Branch gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Infantry Branch gifts on Zazzle »

Military Police Branch

Military Police Corps
The MP is law enforcement in garrison, handles POWs, and secures supply routes. Provost Marshal and Military Police Branch was established in 1941.

Shop for MP Branch gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for MP Branch gifts on Zazzle »

Aviator Wings

Aviator Wings
Shop our selection of Aviator, Senior, and Master Wings – several styles available for veteran and active Army Aviators.

Shop for Aviator Wings gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Aviator Wings gifts on Zazzle »

Crew Member Wings

Aircrew Wings
Army Aviation Crewmember, Senior and Master wings for crewchiefs present and past.

Shop for Crewmember Wings gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Crewmember Wings gifts on Zazzle »

Flight Surgeon Wings

Flight Surgeon Wings
For those flying doctors that specialized in keeping us pilots flying. Show off your special skill. Flight Surgeon, Senion Flt Surgeon, and Master Flight Surgeon.

Shop for Flight Surgeon Wings gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Flight Surgeon Wings gifts on Zazzle »

Army Parachutist

New Designs for the Parachutist Badge
The coveted jump wings of the American Airborne soldier. Display the pride of a United States Paratrooper. Available in several different styles for master, senior, active duty, and veteran!

Shop for Parachutist Badge gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Parachutist Badge gifts on Zazzle »

Air Assault Badge

New Designs for the Air Assault Badge
Air Assault Wings are awarded after the soldier learns how to rappel into combat out of helicopters.

Shop for Air Assault gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for Air Assault gifts on Zazzle »

CIB - Combat Infantry Badge

New Designs for the Combat Infantryman Badge
The CIB is awarded to infantrymen who have taken the ultimate test of their skills. It is awarded to infantrymen who have engaged in combat.

Shop for CIB gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for CIB gifts on Zazzle »

Combat Action Badge

New Designs for the Combat Action Badge
Authorized since 2001, the CAB is awarded to any soldier after personally engaging or being engaged by the enemy.

Shop for CAB gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for CAB gifts on Zazzle »

4th Transportation Command

4th Trans Cmd
Featuring several designs for veterans of the 4th Transportation Command – Vietnam or any era.

Shop for 4th Transp. Cmd gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 4th Trans Cmd gifts of Zazzle »

38th ID

38th Infantry Division
The 38th Infantry Division, headquartered with the Indiana National Guard, is also known as the Cyclone Division. Serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Desert Storm and Vietnam - to name a few.

Shop for 38th ID gifts on Cafe Press »

Shop for 38th Inf Div gifts on Zazzle »

7th Infantry Division History

New History! The 7th Infantry Division.
Juste released on January 28th, a summary history of the 7th Infantry Division.

Read full history here »

Hot News! We have begun adding Embroidered - yes, EMBROIDERED - hats, jackets, long and short sleeve polos and tee shirts for every unit, branch, and badge that we have available. Look for ALL designs to be loaded within the next week to 10 days on our Zazzle store. Jim already has one of the 11th ACR hats and he's very pleased with the quality!

As always, if you have a special request - let us know! Email your request to: jim@militaryvetshop.com.

 

As always, a big THANK YOU! to our subscribers and customers - we really appreciate you! Please feel free to share this with a friend!

Jim, Sheila, and Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

 

New for January 2010
(Updated 1-2-10)

It Was A Christmas Miracle!

We were finally able to carve out enough time over the holidays to complete the much-requested M-551 Sheridan graphic! The first designs have been posted on the 2nd Armored Cavalry section, because they were the first to request it, and the 11th ACR section, because the boss said so! We'll get them posted on all of the appropriate units as quickly as possible, but feel free to contact us and we'll put your unit at the front of the line.

Also new this month is the long-awaited CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. Currently featured in the 1st Aviation Brigade section – it will soon be added to all the units that fielded the aircraft.

We really appreciate your feedback and suggestions and even though our "day jobs" sometimes get in the way, rest assured - we WILL get those vehicles and aircraft done! Please don't hesitate to contact us with your ideas.

Hot News: For our newsletter subscribers only! We have just completed the Aviator and Aircrew Member wings (senior and master too) and will be adding them to our badges section in the next week to 10 days. If you would like to see the wings added to your unit patch, or choice of aircraft, please let us know!

NEW Stuff!

Vietnam Vet - 1st AVN BDE CH-47

Vietnam Vet - 1st AVN BDE CH-47 By special request for 1st Aviation Brigade Vietnam Veterans who flew the CH-47 Chinook Helicopter.

View new 1st AVN BDE CH-47 products on Cafe Press »
View 1st AVN BDE CH-47 products on our Zazzle store »

Army Veteran - 11th ACR M551

Army Veteran - 11th ACR M551 For those 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment tankers who rode the M551. A Blackhorse Sheridan in front of the 11th ACR shoulder patch.

View new 11th ACR M551 products on Cafe Press »
View 11th ACR M551 products on our Zazzle store »

24th Infantry Division

24th Infantry Division The "Victory Division." Veterans of the 24th ID are heroes of Korea, The Cold War, and Desert Storm.

View new 24th ID products on Cafe Press »
View 24th Infantry Division products on our Zazzle store »

506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

506th Parachute Infantry Division Currahee! Is the motto of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment (PIR) of WWII fame. Now they are Air Assault infantry, but the legend still lives.

View new 506th PIR products on Cafe Press »
View 506th Parachute Inf Div products on our Zazzle store »

As always, a big THANK YOU! to our subscibers and customers - we really appreciate you! We wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Jim, Sheila, and Meaghan Broumley
MilitaryVetShop.com

 

 

New for December 2009
(Updated 12-1-09)

From the Roving Historian:

Marine Corps Restricts Use of Emblems and Terms

The availability of t-shirts and coffee mugs with any reference to the United States Marine Corps (USMC) might be seriously curtailed. Recently the USMC, from their newly created Trademark Licensing Office, has claimed trademark rights on all emblems and terms that might reference the Corps. This includes the word "Marine" and any reference to Marine Veterans. The claim also encompasses terms like "USMC," and even "Semper Fi."

Each of the military services has always protected the use of the service seals representing the Department of the Army, the Department of the Navy, etc. This is allowed in Federal Statutes and it is understandable to prevent an organization from inferring that they officially represent one of the branches of the military. However, there has never been any claim to copyright or trademark of terms against those designs that represent the military with respect. Civilian companies have always created products that celebrate the service of veterans without the requirement of licensing. With the advent of print-on-demand (POD) technology and Internet sales, these designs and products have multiplied to unimaginable numbers. It would easily be assumed that terminology that refers to the military branches, or emblems created by these government organizations would be in the public domain and free to use by anyone. Apparently, that is not true anymore.

In December of 2007, the Department of Defense (DOD) initiated a directive for each service to "establish a branding and trademark licensing office to manage and coordinate a DoD-wide brand development and trademark licensing program." You can read that Directive here: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/553509p.pdf. The other services have exercised restraint in the application of this directive. For example, the Department of the Army enforces trademark on the Department of the Army seal and any copyright enforcement on shoulder sleeve insignia is delegated to the unit commander. The Air Force, so far, has chosen to only enforce their trademark on their seal, and the "high wings" emblem that you see on recruiting commercials.

The Marine Corps, however, has really taken the ball and run with it. They established their trademark office in July of 2009. Currently they are contacting print-on-demand companies and requesting that ANY design that refers to the USMC in ANY WAY, be removed from the site until a usage license is obtained from the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps was contacted directly and a representative stated that no licenses had been issued yet. Nevertheless, they were serious about enforcing what they saw as their trademark rights. When a license is issued, it will cost $1,000 to apply and a minimum of $5,000 per year in royalties. This figure puts most of us little guys out of business. For example, Military Vet Shop only earns a couple of hundred dollars per year on USMC veteran items, despite our loyal customers who wear our designs with pride.

Military Vet Shop uses two POD providers, Cafepress and Zazzle. We post on two different sites so that we can offer our customers a larger number of products and styles from which to choose. Currently, Zazzle is systematically searching their product database for any USMC designs and deleting them, with only an email notification to the designer that the removal was at the request of the Marine Corps. With no communication coming from Zazzle, the information in this article was gathered from other websites and the Zazzle seller forums. Within a few days we will no longer be able to offer any USMC veteran items on Zazzle.

So far, no action has been taken by Cafepress. We assume, and hope, that they are negotiating a collective license agreement for all designers who post their work on the Cafepress website. This is the option that we wish Zazzle had chosen, rather than becoming intimidated by the issue.

The USMC is perfectly within their rights to enforce a trademark that is specifically laid out in a federal law that allows them to do so. Even if the license fees go into the USMC Morale and Welfare Fund, we are still very disappointed in the direction the Marine Corps has decided to take. We think the morale of the veterans we honor is important too. It saddens us to see the "corporatization" of any of our military services.

If you would like to read more about this issue, here are some links for you:

NEW Stuff!

1st Signal Brigade

All New! 1st Signal Brigade Their motto is "First To Communicate!" Their history of service began in Vietnam in 1966 and continues today in South Korea. Your choice of t-shirts, sweatshirts, coffee mugs, stickers, hats, and other gift items for veterans or active soldiers of any 1st Sig Bde unit, including the 41st and 31st Signal Battalion, the 304th Integrated Theater Signal Battalion (ITSB), and the 6th Signal Center.

View new 1st Signal Brigade products on Cafe Press »
View 1st Sig Bde products on our new Zazzle store »

62nd Medical Brigade

New Unit! 62nd Med Bde The 62nd MED BDE, formerly Medical Group, has been active since 1942. They support I Corps out of Fort Lewis, and have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Choose from six new designs on t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and more!

View new 62nd Med Brigade products on Cafe Press »
View 62nd Med Bde products on our new Zazzle store »

34th Inf Div

34th Infantry Division - The Red Bulls The Red Bulls have a noteworthy history that dates from WWII. This National Guard Division has had units deployed numerous times in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eight new designs to choose from!

View new 311th ESC products on Cafe Press »
View 311th ESC products on our new Zazzle store »

 

 

New for November 2009
(Updated 11-2-09)

From the Roving Historian:

The fall of the Wall. Has it really been twenty years?

Along with Veteran's Day, November brings another day of remembrance with a great deal of significance to Cold War Veterans. November 9th marks the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. While many remember the Berlin Wall from popular media, few non-veterans realize that the "iron curtain" was also represented by the inner German border that separated East from West Germany and West Germany from Czechoslovakia. Few who did not serve in Europe understood the threat that was posed by Warsaw Pact forces and the number of troops we maintained in West Germany for decades.

I remember that day in 1989. I watched on television with amazement at the people crawling all over the wall. I had returned to the United States exactly one year prior to that date after spending a three-year tour in Fulda, Germany patrolling the East German border with the 11th ACR. When I left the Blackhorse in 1988 there were no indications that only one year later the wall would come down and the two Germanys would reunify only one year after that. For me, and the army, the "Fall of the Wall" changed our mindset forever and ushered in a new post Cold War era.

While what would become NATO forces had faced off with Soviet armies since the close of World War II, the border fence and the Berlin Wall was not constructed until 1961. Before its construction, approximately 3.5 million East Germans had fled to the West. Approximately 5000 people tried to escape the East during its existence. Estimates of those killed vary widely between 98 and 200. I know from my own experience that between 30 to 50 people each year would escape across the border in our sector during the years I was serving with the 11th ACR.

In November of 1989, after weeks of unrest in East Germany, the government announced that it would ease travel restrictions to the West. When asked at a news conference on the morning of November 9th when that law would take effect, a government official said that he assumed immediately. Spontaneously, thousands of East and West German citizens crossed the border and climbed the wall. A mass celebration erupted that quickly ushered in the reunification of the two Germanys and the dissolving of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact.

Now those Cold War days are all but forgotten. However, those times changed a lot of us. Everyone who served from WWII through the 1990s had a part in winning the Cold War and defeating the Soviet Block. To honor that service, I asked Sheila to create a graphic commemorating the date. There is a generic version as well as a patch version that is currently made with 11th and 2nd ACR patches. If you'd like your unit patch placed on that design, just let us know.

Fall of the Wall »
2nd ACR Fall of the Wall »
11th ACR Fall of the Wall »

Border photos courtesy of Jim Broumley (click for close-up)

Border Photo 1 Border Photo 2 OP Alpha

Also of note: I know it's short notice, but if you happen to be in the neighborhood, you might want to join the 2nd ACR Dragoon Base members in Moedlarueth, Germany (Little Berlin) to celebrate the anniversary. More info »

NEW Stuff!

1st Infantry Div

Army Veteran - 1st ID Artillery For Big Red One vets who fired the big guns. Design features a M109 Howitzer in front of a 1st Infantry Division patch.

View new 1st Infantry Division products on Cafe Press »
View 1st ID products on our new Zazzle store »

USARPAC

New Unit! USARPAC Six new designs! The U. S. Army, Pacific is a theater level command. USARPAC commands active Army and Army Reserve forces in Alaska, Hawaii, and other locations in the US Pacific Command (USPACOM).

View new USARPAC products on Cafe Press »
View USARPAC products on our new Zazzle store »

311th ESC

311th ESC - USAR By special request, the patch of the 311th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (ESC), including designs for the 382nd CSSB, United States Army Reserve.

View new 311th ESC products on Cafe Press »
View 311th ESC products on our new Zazzle store »

MAAG Vietnam

MAAG Vietnam The Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam, were in country since 1950. They served our country as advisors to the South Vietnamese.

View new MAAG Vietnam products on Cafe Press »
View MAAG Vietnam products on our new Zazzle store »

Korean War Vet Designs

Korean War Veterans We've added several new designs for our Korean War Vets:

9th Infantry Regiment »
1st Cavalry Division »
7th Infantry Division »
2nd Infantry Division »

Coming Soon! (sneak peek) Yes, we've heard your pleas - you proud Grandpas, Moms, and Girlfriends of soldiers...Soon, we will have everyone – and every patch – covered! If you'd like a sneak peek, visit our
311th ESC - USAR section »

New Instructions We've posted new, detailed, instructions on how to create custom business cards with your choice of design – take a peek and see what you think!

Custom Business Cards »

 

 

New for October 2009
(Updated 10-25-09)

The Roving Historian on Veteran's Day

Plan for Veterans Day, November 11th.

Veterans Day is right around the corner. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are approximately 23.8 million living veterans in the United States. Women make up 7.5 percent of that number. Spouses and dependent children of living veterans and survivors of deceased veterans make up another 37 million Americans. Together those groups make up about 20 percent of the U.S. population. While those are big numbers, it is still an exclusive club. November 11th of each year is the day we set aside to honor the service and sacrifice of our living veterans.

Veterans Day has its roots in what was called “Armistice Day.” While World War I ended with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, most people assume it was the day of the cessation of hostilities. Germany and the Allied nations agreed that fighting would end on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first observance of “Armistice Day” on November 11, 1919. After 27 states had made the day a legal state holiday, Congress echoed President Wilson’s proclamation in 1926 and passed a law creating a federal holiday in 1938.

Originally, Armistice Day was created to honor the veterans of WWI and to set aside a day “to be dedicated to the cause of world peace.” However, by 1954 the country had survived World War II, which had required the greatest mobilization of armed forces in our history, and the end of hostilities in Korea. Congress passed Public Law 380, which President Eisenhower enthusiastically signed, making November 11th of each year a federal holiday that would be called “Veterans Day.”

For a few years, we tried moving Veterans Day to the closest Monday to the eleventh in order to create a three-day weekend. It didn’t work out too well. It was made obvious to Congress that this day has great historical, patriotic, and emotional significance to many of our people. A law was passed changing the official observance of Veterans Day back to the way it originally was. Since 1978 we have honored our veterans on November 11th regardless of what day of week it falls on.

So on November 11th, don’t forget to thank a veteran for their service.

Visit: http://www.rovinghistorian.com

 

Miss the September Issue?

We apologize for the lapse, but we were right in the middle of moving from Seattle, WA to Harbor Springs, MI and just completely missed our deadline!
:-P
We are now happily in-place here in the "tip of the mitt" and looking forward to getting a LOT of work done this winter!
Our contact information has been updated: http://www.ridinthewave.com/thinkytees/contact.html

 

Vietnam Patches

We are working feverishly to get all of the Vietnam patches represented on both stores, but requests move to the top of the list, so don't hesitate to contact us if you don't see your patch here and we'll get it posted ASAP! http://www.ridinthewave.com/thinkytees/contact.html

New Products

Since Labor Day we’ve added designs for Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), US Army, Vietnam (USARV), and US Army, Pacific (USARPAC). http://www.militaryvetshop.com

The Purchase Process

Since we've added new products from another print-on-demand provider, we've had some invaluable feedback from customers on the purchase process. It's not as intuitive as we would like and thanks to your feedback we are in the process of completely revamping our new store - but for right now, we hope that the instructions we've put up on our site will help alleviate some of the confusion.

We will send out a notice when we've completed the remodel process and hope to hear from you on the streamlined process - your input is always welcome! http://www.ridinthewave.com/thinkytees/reunionspecials.html

 

 
 

New for August 2009
(Updated 8-15-09)

1. 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment

New this month - for those of you who insist on jumping out of perfectly good aircraft, we've got a section for you! Specifically, the brave soldiers of the 504th PIR.

Featuring all the usual gear: t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs and hats. We were able to see one of those 509th PIR Golf Shirts this week and were quite impressed with the quality and color! (Thanks Mike - glad to finally meet you in-person!)
;-)
http://www.cafepress.com/militaryvetshop/6835945

2. Long, hard road...

Well, we had to take a couple of detours along the way, but we finally made it! Jim completed his Masters in Applied History this week - which also means his project at the Ballard Locks is complete.

I guess "complete" is not quite the word for it, because it has, as planned, taken on a life of its own with wonderful new leadership and enthusiastic new volunteers. These folks will insure that the Library and Photo Archive that Jim started will continue long into the future.

I've had a good view from my place on the sidelines and I've learned a great deal about our own history -- our family history. As my daughter, Meaghan, and I sorted through our own photo archives (OK, not so much "archives" as cardboard boxes, computer discs, and various rubbermaid containers!), the one thought that kept going through my mind is: "these are degrading before my eyes!".

It seems after several cross-country moves and who-knows-how-many wet Seattle winters, that our precious memories are disappearing! And we KNOW BETTER!! So, I have made use of our photo management software (we use one by the Ulead company) to begin digitizing, keywording, and arranging our memories. My time is not unlimited, so each and every photo in the box won't make the cut, but I will certainly have photos that show Meaghan as she grows up, the various goofball cats and dogs we've enjoyed, and Jim and I going places and doing "stuff".

I'm actually enjoying the process of going through and picking out the "must keep" photos - it's both a pleasant trip through the past and a reminder to keep taking photos, no matter how old or pudgy I look! Because in another twenty years, I'm going to look back and say "Dang! I looked GOOD!"

:-)

Resources for Free and Low-Cost Photo Management Software:

MeaghanPicasa by Google (Free)
Ulead Software (Low Cost)
A Looooong List of Other Options (Read Reviews B4 Deciding!)

For the complete wrap-up on Jim's project at the Ballard Locks:

RovingHistorian.com

What ELSE is New??

We'd like to announce that our little family business is growing! We've fallen so far behind in promised new designs, that we finally had to bring in some help. Our daughter, Meaghan will be joining MilitaryVetShop.com effective immediately. Hopefully with her assistance, we'll finally be able to post the promised vehicles, aircraft and patches.

 

Thank you everyone for being a part of this - we love hearing from you!
:-)
Sheila

Military Vet Shop
Jim, Sheila & Meaghan Broumley
Visit us online at: http://www.militaryvetshop.com

Now Available – Custom Postage!

Custom Postage on Zazzle »

And don't forget – on our Zazzle store, EVERYTHING is customizable! It's simple as can be – click HERE for details!

 

 

 

New for July 2009

(Updated 7-15-09)

Get that man a beer! And for heaven's sake, put it in something decent! Whether you prefer the traditional german beer garden style, or a smooth frosted glass mug, you can enjoy your beer AND show your pride at the same time!

Our Zazzle store offers several choices in mug styles with your choice of Military Vet Shop graphics. Makes a great gift too!

View mugs on our Zazzle Store »

 

 

 

No "sissy" aprons here! These durable canvas aprons are heavy duty and made to withstand the toughest grillmaster! Available in three styles and three colors with your choice of graphic on front. Don't forget - you can personalize anything you'd like in our new Zazzle store! (Click here for detailed instructions)

Click here to view bbq aprons »

 

Thank you for visiting Military Vet Shop! We hope you like what you see - below, is the online version of this month's newsletter:

 

Military Vet Shop News
New This July
July 15, 2009

Veterans Helping Veterans

I think it's amazing when Americans take time out of their busy lives to help their fellow man - whether it's something as simple as dropping off a case of canned vegetables at the local food pantry or shoveling the walk for an elderly neighbor, it makes everyone feel connected - a part of something bigger than themselves.

These small acts are a wonderful way to stay connected to our local community, but we also need to maintain a connection to our larger community - our country - to stay aware of the things that are going on in our name and for our benefit, the things that will resonate for generations to come.

Specifically, I'm referring to the issues that face our latest crop of Veterans. In order to make it easy to understand the issues, the folks at Swords to Plowshares have put together a booklet entitled Combat to Community, which provides an overview of services available to veterans as well as some sobering statistics about what these men and women have faced.

We are all Military Veterans, or families-of Military Veterans, so it's up to us to know as much as we can and speak out when we think that our fellow Veterans need us to stand with them. I hope you will take some time to page through - I'm so glad I did!

Oh! And please - pass it on!! :-)

Swords to Plowshares Site »

 

The Vietnam Center and Archive

Vietnam Vets - Tell your story!

I know what you're thinking "Bah! Who wants to hear MY story??" Well, to answer your question... a bunch of Historians in Texas do - for starters!

The Vietnam Center at Texas Tech University has created a virtual archive in order to "promote a greater understanding of the American Vietnam experience"... this means ALL of it!

No matter what part you played - you played a part! Please step forward with your documents, photographs, slides, negatives, oral histories, artifacts, moving images, sound recordings, and maps. (whew! that's a mouthful!!) Or simply take five minutes to Take the Survey Online. You lived through an important time in American History, please take the time to share it.

Visit the Vietnam Center & Archive »

Well, I'm going to keep it short and sweet this month because for the next few days it's actually going to be SUNNY here in Seattle and I need to get out from behind this computer!!

Jim and I appreciate your continued interest in the newsletter and hope that you will pass it on to a friend or two.

Click here for more information on What's New in our stores »

Have a great July!
:-)
Sheila

 

 

 

View back-issues of What's New: [ June 09 ]

 

 

 

Some Tips & Tricks about the New Military Vet Shop on Zazzle:

As we're sure you've noticed, in order to get these cool new products, we had to go to another print on demand (POD) company - Zazzle. In order to accommodate the military vets who have contacted us asking for larger sizes, 2-sided dark apparel, bulk orders, etc., we decided to expand a bit – even though it means that our customers will lose the luxury of shopping in only one spot. We hope you'll agree that it is SO worth it!

Military Vet Shop on Zazzle

  • When you enter the new site, you'll see a page containing all of the available unit patches - very similar to the other store on Cafe Press - click on one of the patches to go to that section.
  • Scroll through the available designs within the section and select either a light or dark product by clicking on the image.
  • From here, you can:
    • Select a different model (see it on a person that resembles you in size/stature)
    • Select a different shirt style
    • Select a different color
    • Select your size and view size chart
    • Customize it – at no additional charge, you can add your own images or text – perfect for that upcoming reunion! (Click here for detailed instructions)
    • Buy in Bulk
      • 11 - 25 shirts 10% off
      • 26 - 50 shirts 15% off
      • 51 - 100 shirts 20% off
      • 101 - 250 shirts 30% off
      • 251+ shirts 35% off

Visit Military Vet Shop Main Page  |  View A Complete List Of Army and Marine Unit Histories Available  |  Learn More About The People Behind MilitaryVetShop.com
Instructions For Bulk Orders And Reunion Special Orders  |  What's New In Our Store?  |  Contact Military Vet Shop

©2010 Military Vet Shop – All rights reserved. MilitaryVetShop.com is owned and operated by Wave of the Future. All unit histories have been written by Jim Broumley
and are covered under United States Copyright Law (title 17, U. S. Code). Please contact the author for permission to use any or all of these unit histories for your veteran
organization.

Military Vet Shop offers quality t-shirts, sweatshirts, embroidered jackets and hats, mugs, posters, license plate frames, business cards and other themed gifts for the military veteran.
We welcome your comments and suggestions - please contact us.