Kamara Pettiford served five tours of duty with the US Army in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. She’s bright, personable and attractive, served her country for seven years and has been out of work since May.

One issue is her lack of a college diploma. “It’s hard to get a degree with multiple deployments …” she told me. “Everytime you get started in class you get called up again.”

Kamara is working with the NY State Department of Labor to get tuition assistance and go back to school to pursue a career in criminal justice. She’s also working with a Veteran’s counselor to find work near her Brooklyn home in the interim.

Kamara is one of thousands of veterans showing up at the USS Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum in New York City for the Operation HIRE Veterans Career Fair.

More than 75 employers have more then 2000 positions to fill. Many of the jobs are entry level. Some of the prospective employers include the NY State Police, FBI, Amtrak, Coca Cola, Pepsi and Fed-Ex. Wayne Packer from Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores is looking to fill dozens of positions.

Wayne and others say those who’ve served make excellent employees, but nearly 15% of the state’s Vets are out of work, a stat this job fair hopes to adjust downward.

Tamara says this is the first time she’s been unemployed since she was 15. “It’s frustrating at times” she told a group arriving for the event “but I’ve sacrificed too mich during my time in the military to give up hope.”

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Okay so here’s a bit of a pickle we came across while On the Job Hunt: human resource departments are cutting back on personnel.  Meantime, human resource workers are being inundated with electronic resumés at a rate that has them buried in electronic paperwork.  At Denver Health, one of the area’s largest hospitals, “we get about 6700 applications a month” online, says Mark Genkinger, Human Resources Director of Recruitment.  Genkinger says it’s impossible to go through each one and this hospital doesn’t have one of the more sophisticated ‘applicant tracking systems’ some corporations use to sift out the contenders from the less qualified.   We asked Genkinger how someone stands out in a field of thousands.  He says, first of all, don’t send out the same resumé to a bunch of different openings.  Tailor your resumé to fit each position.  For example, Genkinger says, “…they may say, ’seeking to obtain management position’ but they’re applying for an individual contributor position.  Right then and there, I don’t need to read any further because I know I have hundreds, if not thousands of resumés still to review that may target those specific positions”.  Andrew Hudson, who helps people find jobs through his website, AndrewHudsonJobsList.com in Colorado, agrees.  Hudson also told us that if you’re unemployed, you still have a full-time job being the “Chief Marketing Officer for Yourself”. That means, Hudson explains, that you have to get offline to get yourself noticed.  Hudson says, “…it seems cliché, but networking is key.  Seventy percent of folks who get jobs, have gotten jobs as a result of who they know and being able to go to networking parties put on by associations that reflect your industry.”  Still not convinced? Consider this, in June of this year, more than 65 million Americans visited a career-related website.  The message we got while on this story was, much of the world may be in the state-of-the-art electronic age, but throwing back to the out-of-style, get-off-your tail age could be ingenious.  In other words, don’t overestimate the power of the internet while underestimating the impression of good ol’ snail mail. As we were told by a hiring agent who sees hundreds of e-mails a day, “What differentiates a candidate is an old-fashioned card in the mail that’s handwritten, that just says thank you for the interview.  It makes a big difference.”

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Aaaaaannddd, they’re OFF!  That is the declaration that hasn’t been heard at historic Hialeah Park since 2001, when the track shut down.  But Hialeah, Florida’s lush and tropical landmark is about to reopen.   Thanksgiving weekend will see a return of horses and gamblers in the stands, which needed all kinds of work to get back into shape.  150 construction workers have been installing the plumbing, painting, and electrically wiring this place in double shifts to make the deadline.  That’s a lot of sweat — literally.  It’s still 85 degrees in South Florida, and Hialeah is a couple dozen miles from the beach, so, no ocean breeze like you get in Miami Beach to cool you down a notch.  Out in the center of the track, there’s a flash of pink that the horses will be sprinting by.  It’s a flock of pink flamingos, and as local lore has it, they’re the descendents of the pink flamingos made famous in the opening of the hit 80s tv show Miami Vice.  Crocket and Tubbs are long gone, but the developers of Hialeah Parks reopening can already sense the return of the good times.  And this place does look spiffy, freshly painted and polished.  And in front of the main entrance, little kids will learn the history here.  A big statue of Citation, the triple crown winner who raced here on its way to becoming a horse racing legend, will welcome all spectators on their way in.

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It’s the biggest company you’ve probably never heard of, and today, according to Governor Bobby Jindal, CenturyLink is hiring. Up until this year, CenturyLink was CenturyTel, a company of about 6,000 employees based in a sleepy corner of Northeast Louisiana. Last year, CenturyTel announced they were buying Kansas-based Embarq., a company three times the size of CenturyTel. The new combined company has 20,000 employees/workers. CenturyLink is now the fourth largest communications company in the country. Not bad for a little telephone company that started in someone’s living room back in the ’30s.

Governor Bobby Jindal announced today that CenturyLink has agreed to stay in Monroe through 2019 and will add 350 jobs. The announcement couldn’t come at a better time for the region. Unemployment in the region hovers around 10%, well above the state average. and traditionally, this has been one of the poorest parts of the country. Almost everyone I talked with today mentioned how devastating it would have been if CenturyLink were to have relocated. It’ll be interesting to see how the company grows from here. Walk around CenturyLink headquarters and it feels more like a family business than a future Fortune 500 company. Employees greet each other like they’re at church and call out to one another by first name. They all turned out for the governor’s announcement in the atrium and then celebrated with a lunch of turkey and all the fixings. It may be just a tiny blip of good news in a sea of bad economy stories, but it’s happening in a place where they can really use it.

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By FNC Reporter Orlando Salinas

A couple of weeks back i burned off a day at Cleveland elementary school in Tampa Florida…

I was there to learn about something called the “renaissance program”… The idea is to pay “the best teachers” bonuses of 5 to 10% to teach students at some of Hillsborough counties poorest and worst performing schools.

I watched these kids … Watched their teachers … Listened to the principal talk up the program and  I gotta tell you — I liked what I heard and liked what I saw.

A patient teacher and kids who reminded me — of me! The 5th grade boys were full of wiggling energy — and the girls were paying more attention — don’t they always?!

I remember having a really hard time in elementary school… Math had always been my arch enemy– and I had a math teacher who Told me that I was nothing “but a stupid little boy”.

That stuck with me — and the other week as I sat there in Mrs. Emily Fagan’s classroom at Cleveland Elementary …  I found myself thinking ‘how wonderful it would have been to have had someone teaching me like Mrs. Fagan. A teacher who it seemed — loved teaching!

The kids there at Cleveland may not come from wealthy families, but their families love them enough to push for this “renaissance program”. And the teachers who are part of it, I don’t think they do it for the money, I think they do it cause they want their kids to have a fair shot at a better future.

And that starts by growing a thriving “mental garden” — a renaissance if u will

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Boeing V. Union

When Boeing recently decided to build the second assembly line for its 787 Dreamliner plane in Charleston, South Carolina, the politicians and union members in Washington State howled in protest. ‘How could they?’ ‘Was there no loyalty to Seattle?’ Boeing explained the decision by saying it came down to labor stability and long-term competitiveness. Translation: No more costly strikes and more flexibility from its labor force. Company officials decided that those goals were not attainable as long as the jobs were held by members of the International Association of Machinists. And after getting huge tax breaks from the South Carolina Legislature, Boeing bolted.

The IAM says the company was only negotiating with the union in order to get a sweeter deal from Charleston. They point to the fact that Boeing hired a lobbyist months ago and bought land adjacent to an existing facility where the new plant will be built. The union, however does not acknowledge that it would not give Boeing everything it wanted in exchange for the 3,000 jobs. The company wanted a 10-year, no strike contract. IAM offered an 8-year contract. Boeing wanted to give 2% annual pay raises. The union wanted 3% plus $15,000 worth of bonuses over the next 6 years. Also, the IAM was asking for a guarantee from Boeing that it would build all future new planes in Washington state and demanded that Boeing remain neutral when the union tried to organize in plants that are currently non-union. In other words, the union wanted to tie the company’s hands for years to come. Boeing would have none of it.

And so a trend that we have seen in the auto industry and the aerospace industry continues … manufacturing jobs leaving strong union states for the non-union South. Did the union shoot itself in the foot? Perhaps. The new assembly line in South Carolina makes it more likely that when Boeing has to build a replacement for the 777 or the 737 it will leave Seattle for Charleston or elsewhere.

The move by Boeing does come with substantial risk, however. While it would not have to build much in the way of new infrastructure in Seattle, Boeing does have to construct a 600,000 square foot plant for the 787 assembly. That will cost an estimated $1.5 billion. In addition Boeing will have to train a whole new workforce to build it’s most important new plane in over a decade and a plane that is already 2 years behind schedule.

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By FNC Reporter Steve Brown

It isn’t often I’m required to shower … twice … to get an interview.

Last week … we traveled to Country View Family Farms in Fannettsburg, Pennsylvania. It is a large pig-breeding operation. It is also the latest target of Mercy for Animals.

The animal welfare group (which openly urges the public to switch to a vegan diet) got one of its ‘investigators’ hired at the farm earlier this year. The investigator was only identified as “he” … and Mercy for Animals says this man was employed at the farm for three months.

What the ‘investigator’ got … was video of some unsavory practices at the farm:

- piglets picked-up by their ears and tossed

- shots of piglets castrated and tails removed without anesthesia (there are none with FDA approval)

- piglets stampeded into a narrow corridor

- adult pigs being repeatedly tattooed by workers using sticks with metal prongs dipped in ink

- vaccination of piglets (including one where the animal had a mask drawn on it with a marker intended to show which piglets had been vaccinated)

- pregnant sows in gestation ‘crates’…which while providing opportunities to monitor feed and care gives the animal little room to move

- the euthanizing of an adult pig with a bolt-gun which required repeated ‘shots’ to finish the job

- piglets still alive after being placed in bins charged with CO to euthanize those which were too small or injured

When producer Marla Cichowski contacted Country View and told them about the video and asked for an interview to explain … they had one request. They wanted me to tour the farm. Because of bio-security measures (to make sure I didn’t transport any disease in or out) I had to do what every employee there does daily.  I was required to shower before going into the facility … and shower coming back out.

During the tour in company coveralls, bump-cap, socks,  underwear and boots … I saw none of the objectionable things in the video.  (Exception, the gestation crates where pregnant sows are held and monitored. I had discovered before arrival they ARE standard in pig breeding farms). The veterinarian, Dr. Jessica Clark answered all my questions about how and why things were done at the pig-breeding facility.

I learned quite a bit unfortunately, Country View would not allow us to bring in a camera so we could show how the place operated. After the one-hour tour of some 2,500 sows and many more piglets, I returned to the showers got back into my civilian clothes and got on with the interview.

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By FNC Reporter David Lee Miller

If you are reading this online you know at least something about the Internet. Chances are however, you don’t know the Internet is running out of addresses.

I don’t mean domain names like Fox News.Com Internet address are the numerical designations assigned to each Web site. They operate invisibly behind-the-scenes. After all, computers don’t understand English. They speak numbers.

The address shortage could end Internet expansion. No new Web sites for schools, businesses and the government. Forget the hope of one day connecting your toaster oven to the Net.

When the current system called IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) was created decades ago no one could imagine the explosive growth of the Internet. In addition to computers, nowadays phones, cars, and even household appliances are connected to the web or soon will be.

The computer scientist nicknamed the father of the Internet, Vint Cerf,  said when he helped create the current address system decades ago, he never imagined it’s 4.3 billion addresses would not be sufficient.   If someone made the suggestion a larger system was needed, Cerf said he would have thought they were “out of their gourd.”

Cerf is now advocating a new address system called IPv6. According to the experts who administer the Internet the number of potential address is a number so large it is hard to fathom. To put the expansion in perspective, if the current system is a golf ball, the experts say, the new one is almost the size of the sun.

As Cerf might explain, in order to imagine a number this big, it helps to be out of your gourd.

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As the first cars roll off the assembly line at KIA’s new plant in West Point, residents of this small Georgia town are celebrating the creation of new jobs, new businesses and something they haven’t seen much of in a quarter of a century — new home building. And that means even more jobs.

Builder Ross Mundy of Southern Place Homes says West Point is not just a great place for business — it’s a great place to live. He knows this firsthand, having moved here with his family from Atlanta. Watch my interview with him here.

Follow Jonathan on:     Twitter Facebook Other Blogs

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Have you ever been to a concert and been so far back from the stage on the floor or in the stands that the musicians looked like little pins on a huge map that you could barely make out?  Me too… and it can be really frustrating.

I must admit, I have had some pretty great opportunities to interview bands, or sit up close from time to time through my years as a reporter and former rock radio DJ, but there is NOTHING like being in the protected area in front of the stage called the “Photo Pit”.   You are actually closer than being in the front row, and protected from concertgoers who might push their way around you while trying to get a good spot to see the band.   Last night, I had the rockin’ opportunity to be in the Photo Pit for Metallica’s sold out show at Madison Square Garden, and I took some great shots to share with you.

Getting into the Photo Pit area is quite a process, but a really exciting one to be a part of.  First security checks you in, searches you, and has you in a holding pattern in the bowels of the arena where everything sounds muffled and has the charm of an abandoned hospital ward.  Then you are loaded into a service elevator and taken to the main floor where waiting fans are filling the arena with nervous and excited energy.   Because Metallica plays “in the round” which is a stage in the center of the arena, you are led out through the tunnel in the middle of MSG to the stage, and once fans see the photographers being led out in a row… they know that the band is very close to going on.  There are loud hoots and cheers, hands go in the air, the volume of the arena cranks up to 9  (11 is saved for Metallica of course).   Photographers get in position, roaming the area between the barricade and stage like cats pacing for milk.     Once the lights go down, and the band comes out, you have 3 songs only to get as many shots as you can before you are escorted back to the service elevator and led back outside.  That’s right, no free tickets come along with the Photo Pit pass, but once you see the slide show and video clip here, I think you’ll agree, it’s not a bad payoff!

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“If you mess with America’s feelings, America will hurt you.” A line delivered by Richard Heene’s Defense attorney, David Lane, when asked by someone in the crowd of reporters what he’s learned from the case unofficially known as Balloon Boy.

The Heenes did not make a statement today and were clearly not interested in the flurry of media attention this time around. Instead, Mayumi, the mother of the Heene clan, quietly listened as Judge Stephen Schapanski explained the charge against her of false reporting to authorities. It’s a misdemeanor offense and a lesser charge than she may have faced had her husband not plead out to a class 4 felony.

According to the attorneys in this case and affidavits filed in the Larimer County Courthouse, Mayumi admitted in a videotaped interview with a police officer that the events of October 15th, when people around the globe watched in terror (and curiosity) as a giant saucer shaped balloon drifted in the Colorado sky supposedly carrying her son, was a hoax. The family had been planning it for two weeks, Mayumi said. This admission, attorneys say, could have cleared the way for authorities to charge the 45 year old mother of three with a felony.

This was a risk the family says it could not afford. You see, if Mayumi Heene were convicted of a felony, as a Japanense citizen, she would be deported to her native country. In a statement released by David Lane, Mayumi’s husband Richard chose to “fall on his sword,” and plead guilty to a more serious charge, so that his wife would not have to. It was a package deal, said Lane. After both Heenes voluntarily admitted to the charges against them, Judge Shapanski let both know that restitution would be sought and that jail time was a possibility. The cost of the four hour chase last month, that involved the cops, sheriff’s deputies, the national guard and the Federal Aviation Administration, is till unknown, but estimates start around 60-thousand dollars. Judge Shapanski will make the final decision during the Heenes sentencing hearing in December.

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If you’ve been curious about whether the world comes to an end in 2012, or wondering if now is the time to seriously get closer to God …  please be assured that as far as any expert I’ve talked with …  the world will still be around pretty much as it is today in 2013. (That doesn’t mean, you shouldn’t cozy up to the big guy!)

Here’s the lowdown.

Fact: the ancient Mayans were great mathematicians and astronomers, obsessed with time. They created these long-count calendars of five cycles, totaling around 26,000 years. At the end of every cycle they predicted that some sort of major event would happen. What that event would be they didn’t know. The last cycle ends on December 21, 2012.

Director Roland Emmerich took that fact and created the worse-case scenario, for a big budget, $260 million, Hollywood disaster flick. It’s the disaster flick to end all disaster flicks.

Fact: Most Religions have End-Times prophecies. Most are preceded by some sort of series of cataclysmic events. None of the prophecies gives a time frame.

But that hasn’t stopped anyone from guessing.

People throughout history have looked on all our wars, natural disasters and general mayhem, as signs that the world is coming to an end. But yet, here we are.

There’s one prediction we can be assured of: With hundreds of books written about 2012 and the Mayan calendar, “2012″ the movie will likely bring good fortune to many a folk.

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I’ve covered enough high profile search and rescues to know that if the missing would have had some kind of a GPS locator beacon they probably would still be alive. James Kim, the San Francisco techie who got stuck in the Oregon mountains during a snowstorm could have been saved by technology. He left his family in the car while he went for help only to die of hypothermia while teams looked for him. Cases like that, led many people to buy the latest locator gadget. And now authorities are starting to see some abuse of the products by people who have little experience in the back country. They call it Yuppie 9-1-1.

Mostly it’s people hitting the S.O.S. when they’re tired or cold and don’t want to work to get out of the woods. Another abuse takes the cake. A father and son were camping in Arizona. They initiated a search three days in a row. The last time was because they drank water from a stream that tasted salty. Irritated rescuers finally yanked them out of the woods. Over a 15 year period search and rescues in national parks alone cost taxpayers more than $58-million. Beacons can actually reduce the cost of legitimate emergencies by giving rescuers an exact location to pinpoint the search. But abuses are frustrating sheriff’s departments and the many volunteers who conduct these operations. There’s no substitute for preparation. And if these novice outdoorsmen continue to be the ‘hiker who cried wolf’ they could end up getting charged for their ‘rescue’. Currently New Hampshire is the only state that allows for a rescue bill, but if the Yuppie 9-1-1 trend accelerates look for other states to follow.

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By FNC Reporter Anita Vogel

It’s hard to look at the video of 19-year-old Patty Phommannyong.  She was vibrant with her whole life ahead of her until her tragic accident.

Patty was taking part in a high-flying cheerleading stunt when something went terribly wrong, causing her heart to stop.  She fell into a coma and is now paralyzed and lives in a nursing home.  Her parents are devastated and drowning in medical bills.

What happened?  A lack of supervision say officials involved in the cheerleading industry.

Cheerleading has become the single most dangerous girls sport – responsible for more than 60 percent of women’s sport’s-related injuries.

What can be done?  One recommendation is for coaches to become certified by the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators.

Right now, only 13 states require that coaches have any sort of certification at all and there’s also a movement to make cheerleading an actual sport in the NCAA so far no movement on that.

Another simple thing parents can do is to ask questions about whether the cheers squads will be using mats and spotters like private cheer clubs.

They can make the difference between a safe routine and life-changing accident.

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And the big winner of the night at this years CMA Awards… Taylor Swift! Taking home 4 awards including Best Female Vocalist, Album of the Year, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year! Swift came by backstage to talk with us about all her wins, so did Brad Paisley who served as host and will go home with an award.

We also spoke with Lady Antebellum, winners for two categories: Best Single of the Year and Vocal Group. They say although this isn’t their first industry nod, they still have a lot to prove.

Next up, Best Duo: Sugarland, who used their acceptance speech to give a shout out on stage to fellow nominees Brooks and Dunn who’ve announced a split. Sugarland came by (CMA in hand) and talked about how good it feels to be the 43rd winner in this category.

And… we got to drop in on his CMA rehearsal, now he’s a CMA winner – Darius Rucker! We can stop calling him new to the genre now I think… A bonafide country star with the statue to prove it. One he says will go on display right between his Grammys.

And that’s a wrap from the 2009 Fox News coverage of the CMA Awards. Now its time to make your predictions for 2010…click “comment” below to do so!

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Ashley and Jill Dobson on the red carpet!

Plenty of cowboy hats and a couple of boots made it onto the red carpet at the CMA’s tonight, as all the country stars dressed to the nines to celebrate the night and honor their peers. 

To name a few we caught up with… Reba McEntire, who wore her own “Reba” line dress! A shiny black floor length gown fitting for county royalty. The multi-tasking star discussed all her latest projects and from clothing to furniture and of course new music this year, she’s been busy.

Several former American Idols made there way over too like Diana Degarmo in bright pink and Danny Gokey (who we spoke to already earlier in the day, but we wanted to know how his first CMA red carpet was going!)  

The Judds (Wynonna and Naomi) came by too and made sure to recognize Veterans Day. They also spoke with us about working together and what this year means to them since 25 years ago today they won their first award as The Judds at the CMAs. 

Now the show is going on and we are backstage waiting for all the winners to tell us if it really is an “honor just to be nominated” or… if its always better to win!
Stay tuned for more from here at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

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I have the privilege of spending Veterans Day in a place where it carries special meaning this year. Last week, a gunman stationed at Ft. Hood in central Texas, started shooting and killed 13 people. Twelve of the victims were members of the military. At a time when soldiers risk their lives every day in Afghanistan and Iraq, they certainly don’t expect to risk their lives once they make it safely home. As the investigation continues, and the wounds of the injured begin to heal, the family of those killed will begin to bury their dead. Their sacrifice is a world apart. Even though they were not killed on the battlefield, in the end they were killed because they had a commitment to serving their country. No one but soldiers and those serving soldiers were killed or wounded that day.

Today at a press conference, three soldiers wounded during the attack were in front of the cameras. They are part of a unit who lost three people in the shooting. I can only begin to imagine the pain they and their families are experiencing. They will deploy to Afghanistan before the year is out.

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Danny Gokey finished in the Top 3 at American Idol in May. He wrapped the Idol tour in September, and moved to Nashville the next day! Now, he’s hard at work on his first album, to be released next year. I caught up with him at Sony’s Nashville headquarters today. Gokey has a gospel background but decided to pursue country when Idol guest mentor Randy Travis told him, “I think you’d be great in the genre. The fans would love you.” So far, the feeling is mutual. Gokey says he loves Nashville because, “It’s like one big family here.” A year ago, he lived in Wisconsin and worked as a church musical director. Now he’s attending tonight’s CMA awards and says he’s not quite used to the spotlight. He says he still gets nervous at big red carpet events, but “I think that’s a good thing, it keeps me on my game.” Tonight I’ll be on my game, working the CMA red carpet and keeping an eye out for Gokey, Kenny Chesney, Taylor Swift and all of country’s biggest stars!

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By FNC Anchor Trace Gallagher

In the hustle bustle of daily life, it’s sometimes easy to forget just how blessed we are as Americans.We are free to say what WE want, do as WE  please, believe as WE choose. But the only reason we are allowed to live our lives freely is because someone chose to freely give up their life.  Not because they didn’t want to live, but because they wanted their children and ours to live better.  For two hundred plus years they have ridden away, sailed away and flown away. Leaving behind sons, daughters, wives and husbands. When they didn’t come home their families were never the same, and when they did come home their families were never the same.  So remember that Veteran’s day should be as important for those of us who did not serve, as for those who did.  Because it gives us a chance to say thank you.

Happy Veterans Day and thank you.

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By FNC Reporter Shannon Bream

He was an 18 year old looking for purpose when Ed DePuy decided to join the United States Marine Corps back in 1964.  It was a time when many young men faced the reality of either joining the military or being drafted.  My father opted to go voluntarily and says becoming a Marine was a “life-changing experience” that had a dramatic impact on him.  After boot camp in Parris Island, South Carolina, he was trained on the AMTRAK – an amphibious assault tractor – that transports troops ashore from ships.  For six years my father remained in the reserves and reported once a month to find out whether he’d be deployed to Vietnam, as the War there intensified.  He remembers each time there would be lawyers present to help soldiers draft their last wills and testaments, and medical staff on hand to give shots to those selected to head overseas.  While he was never tapped to go to the frontlines, I have no doubt my dad would have gone without hesitation.   He wrapped up his service in the Marine Corp in December 1970, just weeks before I was born.  Today, on Veterans Day I asked him to sum it up and he said, “I’m really proud I served my country.”

My other favorite veteran happens to be my stepfather, Jasper Norris.  He’s a United States Navy man who joined up back in 1956.  He had classmates who had served in the Korean War and says he was impressed when they returned with their sharp uniforms and interesting tales.  The Navy gave my stepdad the chance to serve on aircraft carriers around the world, and to train for his future profession owning a laboratory where dentures and all manner of dental prosthetics are made.  During his time in the Navy, my stepdad served as a boat coxswain and eventually a medic.  He told me, “The Navy provides young men and women the perfect way to get an education and to make something of their lives.”  My stepdad talks about his time in service with real affection for the opportunities and discipline it gave him.   He finished his service in 1961, and despite the sometimes tough challenges, his overall memory is, “I really enjoyed it.”

I’m proud I grew up in a family where military service is the norm.  In fact, my brother Eddy now services as an active duty Navy pilot.  I’ll refer to him as my favorite FUTURE Veteran.  What I’ve learned from these three men is that there is great honor in serving our country.  It takes equal parts bravery and selflessness.  Each time I pass the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here in Washington, D.C., I remember that the names of men my dad and stepdad knew and served with are inscribed there.  To all our Veterans who are still with us, whether they saw combat or worked endlessly to support those who did, I say THANK YOU.

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Back in Nashville and so far it’s been one live music set after another! From the moment we walked off the plane there’s someone singing a hit country tune and everywhere we go especially downtown there are folks hitting the stage.

Here to catch up with the stars as they prep for their CMA week, we were able to check in with Darius Rucker who last year was just beginning his run in this genre and telling us how he was excited to be welcomed onto the scene … the Hootie and the Blowfish lead singer has been turning out the hits solo for country ever since.

All around town folks are buzzing with celebrity spottings like now Nashville staple Kid Rock (some said they saw him over at the other Nashville staple “Tootsies”). We got to check out the famous Tootsies and get a tour! And that idea of people coming to this city guitar in hand hoping to catch their break …  I saw it myself right there with one hopeful wanting to get a chance to show what he’s got at the Orchid Lounge.

And we also caught up with Alan Jackson, former American Idols Kellie Pickler and Danny Gokey, and took a studio tour with Jimmy Wayne!

Plus, there’s much more to come as all of the stars from Carrie to Taylor, Kenny to Brad, and the rest of the big names in country walk the red carpet at the CMAs tonight!

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This Veterans Day I am grateful to work for a network that truly appreciates the sacrifice each and everyone of our men and women in uniform and their families make for this country. I have been so privileged to meet and get to know many military members and to see through their eyes what challenges we face against terror in the world. Without the deployments, now lasting longer and being repeated for so many military members, we could not truly be safe on American soil. They tell me this again and again, and I believe them.

But what becomes of the soldier that serves day in and day out when involved in an engagement when they return home? Sure on day one there are hugs and thanks and ceremonies celebrating a homecoming but then reality sets in and it sets in fast. Bills, kids, long distance relationships sometimes not strong enough to last and then the issue of employment. What are returning troops to do?

Today, I am at Volt Information Sciences a temporary staffing company that employs tens of thousands of folks in jobs with companies by matching their skills to open assignments.  Its CEO Steven Shaw tells me the military provides training and dedication and motivation beyond what any school can and that is why former military – in this case – Army reservists are in demand. Volt is one of 750 private sector employers that have signed on to the Army Reserve Employer Partnership a program that links employers with jobs to reservists who are given interviews through the Army Reserve website.

Those brave enough to fight for our freedom in our all volunteer Army deserve at least that and more. The employers I have spoken to that are part of this program agree with me on that and they are doing something honorable about it.

I am really happy that we are doing this story today and bringing added attention to what we can do for our veterans on Veterans Day. Our story last week on the civilian jobs available to anyone looking for work and the chance to be a part of the world’s greatest fighting force also will hopefully help many of you find employment.

For more on the Army Reserve Employer Partnership – if you are a Reservist looking for a job or an employer who has one to offer – go to www.armyreserve.army.mil and go to the Employer Partnership tab to see jobs available. And keep it on Fox News Channel for more military stories and the latest headlines!

Fox News Channel is “On the Job Hunt”!  Getting you the facts that will get you back in business! Every night, go On the Job Hunt on the Fox Report!  Weeknights at 7pm.

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He looked so sharp that day in his Army uniform, his hair, almost platinum-blonde, cut so close to his scalp.  No medals on his chest , but he hadn’t yet seen combat.   Didn’t matter to me.  I thought he looked proud and strong and regal, a man ready to take on the world.  I didn’t realize that he was barely out of boyhood, age nineteen at the time.

No, he was my big brother.  Nine years older, bigger, tougher.  He seemed every bit a grownup to me.  Deep voice, hair on his chest, all the markings of a man.  I stared out the window on that crisp Colorado morning, awe mixed with envy, as my oldest brother marched smartly down the driveway with my parents, climbed in the family station wagon and headed off to Vietnam.

I remember wondering if he would come home.  Even then I was attuned to the news; it was 1968, the war was growing exponentially and along with it, the body count.  Something told me he would be fine.  Big brother was tough as nails.  God would look after him, right?  He would do his duty, he would be fine, he would come home in a couple of years.

Looking back on it now, I smile at my own innocence, my own naïveté.  One of the earliest Christmas gifts I remember requesting was the “5-Star General’s Uniform” in the Sears catalog.  I enjoyed pretending to be a soldier, a leader, a man of valor.  Capture the Flag was fun when you played it in the backyard with some of the other kids on the block.  And here was my big brother, going to fight in a real war in a real Army uniform, looking so impressive and unfazed.

He must have been terrified.

I was right about most of it.  He did his duty, served honorably, fought hard.  Deployed near the DMZ as a frontline artillery observer, he followed orders, saw some terrible things, lost his closest buddies.

And then he came home.  Alive.  Uninjured, save for the wounds a soldier hides in his head.

We had the discussion once after he made it home.  He told me my turn was coming.  I remember answering that I thought the war would be over by the time I turned 18.  His four-word answer:

“Don’t bet on it.”

But I was right, he was wrong.  American involvement in the war ended while I was in high school.  Even the draft was gone by the time I turned 18.  It seemed at the time that our nation politely folded up its military forces like a battle flag and put them high on a closet shelf to be brought out again at some future time as needed.  So no, I never served.  It wasn’t that I was anti-military or even anti-war.  It just seemed that, by the mid-70’s, my brother and his buddies had done all the heavy lifting and there wasn’t much left for the kids like me who followed.

He doesn’t talk about it much.  I know some of what he experienced.  Most of it he keeps to himself.  I tell people that Vietnam didn’t do him any favors.   I think that’s the best way to put it.  He’s recently begun receiving disability payments through the V-A based on his exposure to Agent Orange.  It was a tough war.  Aren’t they all?

His country called.  He answered.  He served.  He’s proud of his Army record, proud to be one of those men who battled the enemies of freedom for this great nation, proud to have put in his time fighting a war that ultimately turned unpopular.

And his little brother is very, very proud of him.

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Kevin & Brandi Norman in 2003

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.” — Anonymous

In this day and age and especially in a business where we are fortunate to meet so many people, friends come and they go. We may not talk for months and in some cases even a few years, but good friends pick up right where they left off; as if no time has ever passed … as if older age has never come.

It really doesn’t seem that long ago. Dressed in uniform with worries that now seem so trivial, summers were spent at Cleve Borman Field in the heart of the Napa Valley. On a hill overlooking the quaint town of Yountville, sits the Veterans Home of California and at the heart of “The Home”, lies a baseball field that has been ingrained into the lives of men, young and old for generations. Somewhat appropriate that this field is where I met Kevin and so many other summer friends.

I only mention this backdrop because when I think of Kevin Norman, I can only think of him here. Standing at third base, usually a smile on his face as we both nodded in agreement that the next pitch needed to be a bit inside because the batter was being a bit too cocky. There were so many times that he would look over after I took the inside fastball sign from our catcher Mickey Lippett and say…”got your back”, much to the chagrin of our coach Steve Meyer.

Funny thing is…Kevin and I were really only friends because of baseball. We went to different high schools, were different years in school and lived in different towns. Didn’t matter. Even though I hadn’t talked with Kevin in about 4 years or so, he was still a friend on the day he died…for that matter he is still a friend.

Kevin, his wife Brandi (also a pilot in the Army), his family and friends are why so many of us treasure our military. They risk their lives in places like Afghanistan and Iraq and for Kevin and thousands of others serving our country, they provide support and security in areas we sometimes rarely hear about….or have almost forgotten. When we went to Korea a few years back for stories, I met some of these brave men and women and I also had numerous Koreans and soldiers tell me about Kevin and his friend Dave…and their heroic acts.

Funny how life works because last night I was out with some old friends, who like Kevin I hadn’t seen in a while. Through one of them I met someone new who knew all about Kevin. You know how the conversation goes when you meet someone who knows someone in or around your hometown and you’ve never met them before? They always ask….hey, do you know (insert name here). In this case one name led to another and Kevin came up. I grabbed my iPhone and searched his name. Hard to believe that it has been 6 years since I learned about his fate. I was long away from the wine country and couldn’t attend any of the services at the time, but I remember talking on the phone with some of our friends and a member or two of his family. I remember calling our affiliate KTVU in the Bay Area, letting the family tell them about his selfless and heroic act. KTVU went to Sonoma and told the story of Kevin’s bravery in 2003 and would return to tell of his honor this year.

As I pulled up the first article on the internet, I was expecting to see a dateline from 2003, the year that Kevin died. Instead I found this story. An honor for a man I knew in stirrups and a jersey, but showed ultimate courage in a quiet different uniform. A kid who once played for veterans, now honored as one of our best veterans. This story comes from the U.S. Army Forces Command and several other reports.

It is a story about two soldiers and their bravery that resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.  Kevin was honored in his hometown of Sonoma on Memorial Day this year and on March 27th, just two months prior….he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, along with friend and fellow soldier Dave Snow.

According to the Army, Aug. 12, 2003 was a perfect day for flying.  Chief Warrant Officer Dave Snow, a maintenance officer, needed an aviator to complete a maintenance test flight. Captain Kevin Norman, always ready to fly, volunteered to handle the flight.  From reports and flight recordings, the C-12 had engine problems and was flying at a low altitude,
heading towards a crowded restaurant and some other homes. Snow and Norman diverted the plane to an open field to avoid crashing into the restaurant and homes, saving at least 30 other lives.

Several Korean villagers wrote letters expressing their gratitude for the Soldiers’ selfless act.
“My family, including many children, would have burned to our deaths if not for the last efforts of the
pilot,” said Nam Ki Soon, a villager who witnessed the plane heading towards his house.

Because of Norman and Snow’s recordings, which were recovered at the accident site, maintenance procedures of the C-12 were changed. Also on the one-year anniversary of the crash, a statue was erected at the site of the accident in Korea and as one of their commanding officers said at this years ceremony.“Both were known to have a great sense of humor. They loved their Families, but especially their wives. They both loved flying as well as teaching and mentoring Soldiers under their  command.”

They may not be here in person, but we can still learn from them in spirit. I never met Dave and hadn’t seen Kevin in some time…but I feel honored to know their story and hope one day to see them again.

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Hurricane Ida, which in a span of about 24 hours broke apart from a Cat 2 hurricane to a Tropical Storm to a Tropical Depression, is now less of a wind event, and all about the rain.  Flash flood warnings are in effect all up through the South,  from Alabama north to Virginia and beyond.

Being based in Miami, I tend to cover a lot of these type of stories, as Florida gets hit by a lot of the hurricanes and tropical storms that strike the US.  The days are long, wet, and dreary, typically.  In hurricanes, even worse:  no power, sometimes for 100 miles in all directions.

Not the case with Ida.  Really a “boring” storm, from our point of view.  Not even all that much rain where we were positioned, at Ft. Walton Beach, Florida.  But the Atlanta-area is expecting more than 4 inches of rain.

Stay tuned to Fox News Channel for the latest on Ida!

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