Stories 2
| Dear Mr. Lea: Thank you for sharing the information regarding veteran tags. It seems to me that if you served in Iraq under the command of the Military you should qualify as being eligible for Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran tags. I will share the information you gave me with the persons authorized to control the eligibility. Based on their response I will follow-up with changes in the law to prevent this from happening to others. I will keep you updated as we move forward. Sincerely, Les Winningham House District 38 |
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| The following is a e-mail messages from a Political who shares support for all our vet's both Military and Civilian Nov 19, 2009 |
| Did you know the original US Civilian Seabee's of WWll were not able to carry weapons even though serving in a War Zone at War Time? They were captured, tortured and executed for serving our proud USA www.seabeecook.com/history/seabees_in_ww2.htm |
| Local Resident Makes History, Again On July 23, 2010 at the Jackson County Court House in Gainesboro, TN history was made. Local resident Civilian Combat Veteran Frankie Lea Sr was issued the first ever Iraqi Freedom Veteran License Tags for a Civilian who served in Iraq. Before July 5th 2010 Veteran Tags could only be issue to Current or Formal US Military soldiers. Mr. Lea served under the US Army and DOD as a Civilian HSE (Health, Safety & Environmental) Inspector in BaQubah, Iraq from June 2004- January 2005. While in Iraq Frankie was awarded an outstanding accommodation. Again Frankie had a chance to serve our country and went to Iraq for the second time. This time he served under USACE (US Army Corp of Engineers) in Mosul, Iraq from April 18 2006 to April 20 2007 as a HSE inspector. For his services in Mosul, Frankie was awarded a Commanders Award from the USACE. He went to Iraq for the reconstruction of Iraq, and is very proud to have served the US Military on their fight for Freedom. Every time Frankie came home for R&R he was greeted by on lookers at the air port. One of the main questions he was asked, what branch of service are you in? It was explained he was in Iraq as a civilian. After all our nation began it’s fight for freedom by Civilians stepping up. At the Boston Tea Party (wonders how that turned out) from the Revolutionary War, even the Alamo had civilian’s insider the wall. Civilians supported both sides of our Civil War. Then in WWI the Donut Girls was on the front line, to the original WWII fighting sea bees. IN Korea, in Viet Nam (Air America) even today the Civilians have volunteered 100% to go where they are needed. In August 2007 the US Government registered, licensed and recognized Frankie as the US / World’s first Civilian Combat Veteran. Now Frankie will be the first to tell you, this was for all the civilians who have served fore the fight of freedom not just personal gain or reorganization for him self. In July 2008 Frankie left the US and spent 9 months in Haiti for the stabilization of the Haiti government. He served as HSE Inspector under the US State Dept. In November 2008 when Haiti had had their Tragedy when two different school collapsed. Frankie rushed across town and joined in on the Search & Rescue. He was at the first school collapsed and was finally joined by the Search & Rescue team from the US. In June 2009 Frankie went down to the Clay County tax office in Celina, TN to get his much deserved Iraqi Freedom Veteran License Tags. He was first denied because according to them he was not a Veteran. They were even shown proof that the US Government recognized him as a veteran, his Baptism record where he was baptized at the 1,600 year old Christian Monastery at Mosul, Iraq. Even the Commanders Award from the USACE did not matter. Then the County Clerks office told him, he was not a Military Veteran. It was heart breaking to know any one, can get Son’s Of a Confederate Solider License Tag even if they had no relative who ever served in the Civil War, but yet any civilian who served our country over seas had no License Tag support in their behalf. So the Help of Tennessee Representative Les Willingham was drafted. Les tacked this issue head on and finally on July 5, 2010 the law was changed and signed. The law was changed so that Civilians who have served our country at War time are now considered Veterans. This new law not only covers Iraq but all US conflicts back to WWII. It’s not just a simple License Tag, but an Honor to all civilians who stood along our country over the years. When the 4th of July, Veteran Day even Memorial Day, there is no mention of Civilian veterans being honored along side our brave Military? Its people like Rep. Les Willingham, Clay County’s highway superintend Earnest Garrison, and Jackson County Clerk Belinda Ward who takes care of our home front while our Military & Civilian Veterans are away. God Bless Americans, for they make of America says Frankie and he can be seen driving his vehicle with his much earned Iraqi Freedom Veteran License Tag from Tennessee. |