Former Marine Platoon Commander Notes 2013 Congress has
Least Active-Duty Veterans Since WWII

The U.S. military invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and has been there ever since; in fact, the government started and ended another long and costly campaign in Iraq within that period. All the fighting, dying, loss of limbs, family absences, stress and resulting post-traumatic stress disorder, alcoholism, homelessness and suicide have been experienced by less than 1 percent of the population - combat veterans.

"Everyone says they can only imagine the hell of war, and it's true; if you haven't been in combat, you just don't know what it is like," says Ord Elliott, a former platoon commander with the Marines and author of The Warrior's Silence (www.ordelliott.com). The memoir, written over several decades, recounts the transformative experience of combat in Vietnam and how it informed his emerging understanding of war as a young man.

"The problem has gotten worse because the number of active-duty veterans in the U.S. Congress has been declining for nearly four decades," Elliott says. "This year's 113th Congress will have the fewest since World War II - just 19 percent of the 535 House and Senate members."

Elliott says he had no particular purpose in mind when he wrote down his memories and impressions of war, and the pages sat in the back of my closet for years - until the drums of war started up once again for the Middle East.

"I knew more young people would be used as cannon fodder for an unnecessary war, voted on by old politicians with nothing to lose. That's when I knew my writing could be used for something."

Much of his reader feedback addresses the apparent indifference by politicians to the suffering that will be endured by troops when the nation goes to war, says Elliott, a Princeton graduate. He says many feel thatThe Warrior's Silence - in the tradition of Karl Marlantes' Matterhorn and Norman Mailer's The Naked and the Dead - should be required reading for any politician pushing for a war vote. Several passages in Elliott's book detail the heavy toll of war:

• Resentment & anger: As a platoon commander, Elliott participated heavily in "the numbers game," which was the attempt to count the dead and wounded on both sides. "It became a far more fictional than real method of accounting," he says.Many times since then, Elliott has daydreamed about having Robert McNamara, the late Secretary of Defense who played a major role in the Vietnam War, run "point." "I wanted the politicians and the generals and the colonels sitting back in Da Nang moving pins on a map - I wanted those bastards on my point," he writes. "When you're on point, you're marching on the edge of annihilation, your last moment not a full breath away."

• Depersonalizing humans: In Vietnam enemies were called "Gooks;" today, we fight "terrorists,"or even the more blatantly racist "rag-heads." In addition to the many inane reasons given for the past several U.S. wars -which stay with vets as a nagging "why?" - embattled military personnel also carry with them the dangerous experience of having dehumanized people. "When you get back from combat, you know you've changed, but you don't know exactly how," he says.

• The good warrior: Dave Hackett, a friend of Elliott's in Vietnam, was the company's executive officer. "He was a good Marine who never questioned the war; he was a professional warrior who accepted the rules of the game he was in," Elliott says. One night, the two shared coffee while Dave retold the adventures of a Native American hero, as portrayed in a western-novel series, in which the protagonist was finally killed. The storytelling turned out to be prophetic.The next day the company was ambushedand Dave died in the firefight trying to save other Marines.Today's Marines are much like Dave, Elliott says. They are admirable in their willingness to charge into anything, and they are completely at the mercy of politicians' votes.

• Insight: "My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge," writes Catherine Webber, a former Oregon state senator. "Two years later, when I was only 6, he committed suicide. Ord's insight into the warrior's mind has helped me understand how what he endured could have trumped his love for me, my mother and my baby sisters. Had I known this 60 years ago, my life would have been much different. I have now finally found some closure and peace ...."

About Ord Elliott

Ord Elliott was a Marine Rifle Platoon Commander in Vietnam, and he is a Princeton graduate. He went on to build a successful career in management consulting. He is also the author of a book on organization design, The Future Is Fluid Form: Practical Steps for Designing Flat, Flexible Organizations.

Changes will save families, businesses and communities significant initial and annual costs

(DES MOINES) - The Governor's Office today announced the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has accepted Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds' alternative to the RICE rule. After signing an Executive Order, meeting with EPA head Lisa Jackson, and pushing for the elimination of burdensome regulations, Branstad has secured significant savings for Iowa families, businesses and communities.

"Lieutenant Governor Reynolds and I made a commitment to Iowans when we took office to fight burdensome government regulations regardless if they came from the state or federal government," said Branstad. "Recognizing this unnecessary onerous rule would raise costs on Iowa families, I signed Executive Order 72 to rescind the Iowa's adoption of the rule. I am pleased to learn the Environmental Protection Agency has listened to my concerns over the rule and opted against requiring generators to be retrofitted with expensive components."

Average Iowa families faced the potential of hundreds of dollars in utility bills if the RICE rule would have been implemented. As the RICE rule was originally written, back-up diesel generators used by municipal utilities in several of Iowa's rural communities would be required to be retrofitted with very expensive new parts, even though the engines are rarely used.  These new requirements would have meant higher utility costs for residents in sixty-seven Iowa communities.

"This is an issue that came up in one of our town hall meetings, and the governor and I pledged to take action," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds. "This is the benefit of visiting all 99 counties each year and listening to the concerns of Iowans."

Gov. Branstad met with EPA head Lisa Jackson on June 20, 2011, to express his concerns over the costs being passed on to Iowans. Branstad explained that the costs of retrofitting the generators, which would be passed on to Iowa consumers, were extraordinarily high given the little amount the generators are used each year and the rule should be rescinded.

Yesterday, the Governor's Office was informed the EPA finalized changes to the RICE Rule which will help keep utility costs low for hard-working Iowa families.  Specifically, the EPA updated the rule with a broader usage definition of emergency use, which will allow utility companies to use these important back-up engines during winter storms or power outages, without necessarily having to retrofit the engines with the expensive new components.

According to the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, the following communities/municipal utilities utilize diesel engines and would be affected by the RICE rule: Algona, Alta, Anita, Atlantic, Bancroft, Bellevue, Bloomfield, Brooklyn, Cascade, Coggon, Coon Rapids, Corning, Dayton, Denison, Dike, Durant, Earlville, Estherville, Forest City, Cowrie, Graettinger, Grand Junction, Greenfield, Grundy Center, Harlan, Hopkinton, Independence, Indianola, La Porte City, Lake Mills, Lake Park, Lamoni, Laurens, Lenox, Manning, Maquoketa, McGregor, Milford, Montezuma, Mount Pleasant, New Hampton, Ogden, Onawa, Osage, Panora, Pella, Pocahontas, Preston, Primghar, Rock Rapids, Rockford, Sibley, Strawberry Point, Story City, Stuart, Summer, Tipton, Traer, Villisca, Vinton, Waverly, West Bend, West Liberty, Whittemore, Wilton and Winterset.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today they are inviting graduating seniors to apply to be a delegate to the 2013 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC).  Two seniors from across the state will receive a full scholarship to exchange ideas with scientists and other professionals from the academic and corporate worlds at the camp, which will be held next summer in West Virginia.  Students may nominate themselves or may be nominated by school administrators, teachers or parents to attend the three-week camp, which includes lectures and hands-on research projects presented by scientists from across the nation, overnight camping in the Monogahela National Forest, and a visit to Washington, D.C.  Delegates must demonstrate academic achievement in science and potential for thoughtful scientific leadership.

The once-in-a-lifetime experience is possible thanks to generous contributions to the National Youth Science Foundation. Educational and recreational programming, as well as meals, lodging, and round-trip air passage are provided to delegates free of charge.  The camp will be held near Bartow in the eastern mountains of West Virginia, within the Monongahela National Forest. The 2013 camp dates are June 26 to July 20.

"This is an outstanding opportunity for two young Iowans to learn about different scientific disciplines and leadership along with delegates from other states," said Branstad. "The camp recognizes the excellence that participants have already demonstrated, and their potential."

"In keeping with the goal of the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Advisory Council, the National Youth Science Camp is a great way to engage more students in science and to inspire them to become future scientists, engineers and mathematicians," said Reynolds, who is co-chair of the council, along with University of Northern Iowa President Ben Allen. "I hope many Iowa students will express interest in participating."

Application forms are available at http://2013.nysc.org/ and must be submitted directly to the Iowa Academy of Science as follows: Attention Marcy Seavey, NYSC, Iowa Academy of Science; 2607 Campus Street; Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0508.

Applications must be postmarked by Friday, Feb. 15.  A selection committee from the Iowa Academy of Science and the Iowa Department of Education will review applications and select Iowa's two National Youth Science Camp delegates and up to four alternates.  Delegates and alternates will be honored by Iowa's scientific community at the 125^th Annual Meeting of the Iowa Academy of Science at Simpson College on Friday, April 19.

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Indianapolis, Ind. - The non-profit National Private Duty Association (NPDA), along with its Iowa chapter today announced that the organization has changed its name to the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) to better reflect the organization's role as an advocate for affordable and safe home care services.

Founded in 2002, the HCAOA is the nation's first and only association for private duty home care agencies. Members of the HCAOA are companies that provide private pay in-home care services for the elderly and disabled including home care aides, companion care, homemaker services and nursing care.
As an organization the HCAOA develops industry standards and best practices, creates core training and education programs for members, addresses legislative issues, and educates the public about the differences in private duty care models.
"There have been many changes in our industry as it continues to grow and evolve," said Tim Purcey, president of the HCAOA. "Our organization continues to keep abreast of changes and make our members successful by helping them deliver affordable, quality services. We feel this name change allows us to better serve and support our membership, while continuing to educate the public and legislative leaders."

The HCAOA, and its Iowa chapter, are the recognized resource for private duty home care practice, supported by a strong national membership of providers. HCAOA leads the industry that cares for people at home through education and advocacy. It currently represents nearly 1,400 home care agencies in 49 states and Puerto Rico.

HCAOA also launched a new website, www.homecareaoa.org. Effective immediately, all future business will be conducted using the new name.