[nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

Tue May 25 18:23:26 UTC 2010

I don't disagree with any of that.

Dan Frye 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Mary Ellen
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 2:02 PM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Cc: list at cfb.ca
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving,Thriving In New
Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

In the 1980's, we passed a resolution saying that, if a military draft
was reinstituted, blind people should not be exempt. For me, the really
interesting part of this story is that these particular blind soldiers
were not automatically separated from the service when they lost their
sight as they would have been in the past. If they can continue to serve
in the military, why can't people who are already blind who would like a
military career enlist? 
Whether one likes or agrees with military culture, it exists. Blind
people are as diverse a group as any in our country and undoubtedly some
will want to be soldiers. 
I yearn for the day when there will be no need for a military because we
have found more sane ways to settle conflict. Until that day comes,
blind people should be able to join the Army, Navy, or Air Force if they
choose.

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Frye, Dan
Sent: May 25, 2010 5:23 AM
To: NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving,Thriving In New
Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

Bob:

Smiley, Castro, and several others were present last year in Detroit. I
don't know what their plans are for future conventions. They've been
given something like star status among the blind community for some
reason that honestly escapes me (other than the fact that society
dictates that we're supposed to be on-our-knees grateful to these men
for their service to their country), so I don't know if they'll feel any
sense of community with the rank-and-file blindness movement or not.
Most blind stars do not, as you know. This fact is further complicated
by the fact that they are, by their positions, newly blinded and no
doubt coping with this adjustment, so involvement with the civil rights
movement of the blind probably seems understandably foreign to them. I
wouldn't want to generalize, but I'm also guessing not a lot of military
types feel a close affinity for any civil rights movements. But, I
thought you'd be happy to know that they were present at least once. I
should also say, so that I'm not entirely misunderstood and perceived as
a jerk, that I am genuinely grateful to members of the military for
volunteering to serve our country, and perhaps I believe that they
undertook this commitment without any desire or expectation of
unmitigated fanfare. I am encouraged to profile these heroes in the
pages of the Braille Monitor. I may cave to such pressure, but I'll do
it reluctantly. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and most of them
don't get such recognition. 

***********************
Daniel B. Frye, J.D.
Editor
The Braille Monitor
National Federation of the Blind
Office of the President
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Telephone: (410) 659-9314 Ext. 2208
Mobile: (410) 241-7006
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email: DFrye at nfb.org
Web Address: www.nfb.org
"Voice of the Nation's Blind"

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Robert Sellers
Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 7:12 AM
To: 'NFB of Washington Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving,Thriving In New
Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

Wonder if there would be a chance for any of these blind soldiers coming
to the NFB National convention?

bobd 

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbwatlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
On Behalf Of Nightingale, Noel
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2010 4:26 PM
To: nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New
Positions, Huffington Post, May 21 2010

Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/21/blind-soldiers-still-serv_n_585
038.
html

Text:
Blind Soldiers Still Serving, Thriving In New Positions MICHAEL HILL |
05/21/10

In this April 8, 2010 photo, Capt. Scott Smiley gives a tour of his
staff's offices in West Point, N.Y. Smiley is one of only a few blind
soldiers to remain on active duty since the fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Though unable to return to his old infantry duties, Smiley
has thrived in stateside postings like his latest at West Point, where
he graduated in 2003. He now commands the Warrior Transition Unit here
for ailing or wounded soldiers.
(AP Photo/Mike Groll)

WEST POINT, N.Y. - Since a car bomb blinded Capt. Scott Smiley in Iraq,
he has skied Vail, climbed Mount Rainier, earned his MBA, raised two
young boys with his wife, won an Espy award and pulled himself up from
faith-shaking depths.

Smiley, 30, has snagged attention for his big accomplishments. But the
daily ones are telling, too, including the recent tour he gave of his
staff's offices at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he
plans to attend President Barack Obama's address of the Class of 2010 on
Saturday.

Unable to see the path around the workers' cubicles, Smiley stepped
forward with a joke to the camouflage-clad officers he was showing
around: "I walk around, and when I hit things, I move," he said.

An aide trailing him said softly, "Turn right, sir," at a doorway.
Smiley turned.

Smiley, of Pasco, Wash., is one of only a handful of soldiers who chose
to remain on active duty after being blinded by fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan, a practice that's rare but one that military officials say
benefits both parties.

Though unable to return to his old infantry duties in Iraq, Smiley has
thrived in stateside postings such as his latest at West Point, from
which he graduated in 2003. He now commands the Warrior Transition Unit
at West Point for ailing or wounded soldiers.

Voice software allows Smiley to listen to e-mails, books and pamphlets.
Aides help him navigate and tell him what order he's signing. It's a
little like changing his son's diapers at home: He's fine as long as he
knows where everything is.

His resiliency and energy helped him earn the 2007 Soldier of the Year
commendation from the publication Army Times, as well as an ESPN Espy
award in 2008 for best outdoor athlete.

He earned his master's of business administration at Duke University and
has spoken to the Olympic and Duke teams coached by Mike Krzyzewski, a
fellow West Point alum. He has a memoir coming out this year titled
"Hope Unseen."

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