Opinion

The Kentucky Reapers
The Kentucky Reapers, a semi-professional football team based at Fort Knox, began full contact practice April 2.
The Reapers into their expansion season as an organized and sanctioned team within the Gridiron Development Football League for the 2011 season.
Building off of the local Fort Knox Soldiers, family members, retirees, and military community supporters, the Reapers are the first team to establish semi-professional football on Fort Knox since the 1960s and ’70s.

By COL. CHRIS TONER
Duke Brigade Commander

By JOHN HELTZEL
KYEM Director
and MAJ. PHILLIP MAY
FEMA Region IV Administrator
Every year, nearly half of all Americans make New Year’s resolutions. This year, we’re asking you to make a resolution that could save your life—resolve to be ready for disasters.
It only takes a few simple steps and it starts with making a family emergency communications plan. How would you get a hold of loved ones in an emergency evacuation? What should you have in your disaster kit?

By LT. GEN. RICK LYNCH
IMCOM Commander
As the assistant chief of staff for Installation Management, I have an important responsibility to oversee the Army Family Action Plan process, which is a program that enables Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members to communicate quality of life issues to Army leaders. Information provided through this process allows leaders the opportunity to affect changes that will lead to a more satisfied and resilient Army community.

By LT. GEN. RICK LYNCH

IMCOM Commander

The Army made significant promises when it unveiled the Army Family Covenant in October 2007. With the covenant, the Army commits to providing Soldiers and Families a quality of life that acknowledges their service, sacrifice and dedication. Practically speaking, that means providing programs and services—including family programs, health care, housing, recreation, education and employment opportunities, and child, school and youth services—that build Soldier and family well-being, resilience and readiness.

By LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY

Fort Knox Commander

“Trees stuck on top of the (German) trenches, lit up with candles, and all of the men sitting on top of the trenches. So of course we got out of ours and passed a few remarks, inviting each other to come over and have a drink and a smoke, but we did not like to trust each other at first.”

—Private Mullard,

   London Rifle Brigade *

As midnight neared on Christmas Eve, 1914, the British noticed that firing from the German trenches slowly stopped.

By LARRY BARNES

Turret Editor

Lots of you have decorated your homes and Christmas trees in white lights. You may have chosen that lack-of-color scheme because you think it looks tasteful and dignified, or serves as your personal reproach to your more gaudy neighbors.

For me, however, Christmas is a multi-colored, joyous, laugh-out-loud time of year. That doesn’t equate to sterile white.

By LT. GEN. BENJAMIN FREAKLEY

Fort Knox Commander

It was 12:48 p.m. eastern standard time that Sunday in 1947. Unlike today, the vast majority of the United States population lived in the same time zone. Most families were home from church, eating Sunday dinner.

Moments earlier at a U.S. Army SCR-270 radar at Opana Point, Oahu, Privates George Elliot Jr. and Joseph Lockard reported a target to the watch officer. Anticipating the classified arrival of six B-17 bombers, the watch officer did not give the report much attention.

By LARRY BARNES

Turret Editor

larry.barnes2@us.army.mil

It’s the day before Thanksgiving. Down in hell Artie Yak, the former TV comedy writer, has been summoned before the devil for his daily dose of punishment.

“Mr. Yak,” says the devil, “in view of tomorrow, I’m going to let you off lightly today. All you have to do is prepare for our entertainment tomorrow evening a little comedy about Thanksgiving. Think you can do that?”

Artie nearly swoons.