Eagle Cane News

SA Tre Profirio USAF

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:38:57 -0500

Senior Airman Tre Porfirio was laying cable in Afghanistan near the Pakistan border, on November 21 when he was shot three times in the back from about ten feet away, by an insurgent who had been posing as a member of the Afghanistan army. It required eleven surgeries to reconstruct his abdomen, including some that were groundbreaking. This surgery was the first known successful transplant of insulin producing cells after severe trauma resulting in the complete loss of the pancreas, according to Walter Reed officials.

On May 6, the Huber Senior Carvers, who meet at the Huber Heights Senior Center, had the opportunity and pleasure of meeting SA Tre Porfirio and the “special lady” in his life, Ahja Nock. They had been invited to stop by the center so they could be presented a special hand carved eagle head cane. The Huber Senior Carvers have been participating in the Eagle Head Cane Project for over three years. Originally this project was started by a group of carvers in Eastern Oklahoma, and has spread to just about every state.

The goal is to “provide presentation canes to a select group of post 9-11 veterans who have received some manner of leg disability from combat related action.

The 21 year old senior airman received lifesaving medical attention at U.S. military hospitals in Afghanistan and Germany before being removed to Walter Reed on November 24. There, a transplant surgeon, removed Porfirio’s pancreas, iced it down and had it flown to Miami where a specialist, Dr. Camillo Ricordi, who had developed a method for isolating insulin-producing islet cells, waited. Dr. Ricordi, and his staff, spent a very early Thanksgiving Day harvesting the islet cells. They then were put into a solution, bagged and flown back to Washington for the infusion into Porfirio’s liver later on Thanksgiving Day.

Tre Porfirio had eleven surgeries in 20 days, and has more ahead of him. He can expect to appear in several medical journals, because of this record breaking surgery. Doctors hope that his body will have enough ability to regulate blood sugar levels enough so that he will suffer little or no effects from diabetes.

When Porfirio was asked by Jake Jacobsen, who carved the eagle for his cane, as to what type presentation ceremony he would prefer, the answer was for a nice, simple and quiet presentation. Otherwise, newspapers and television reporters would have swarmed the Huber Senior Center to photograph and interview the man, who had such groundbreaking surgery.

That was not the case on July 9, when he was awarded the Purple Heart at a ceremony that took place at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

 

Cane Donated to the MD PGR for Fund Raiser

Tue, 3 Aug 2010 17:42:03 -0500

John Freels, Smoky Mountain Woodcarver from Knoxville Tennessee made a cane to be raffled at the MD chapter of the Patriot Guard Ridders and lucky Zeb Miller, whose grandfather made the purchase with a $411.00 bid, is now the proud owner.

Ann and Ted helped host a picnic for the local area hospitals including Walter Reed and Zeb enjoyed the canes, motorcycles and crowds.

Well done John. jack

Fri, 9 Jul 2010 17:25:14 -0500

“Today was the kind of day of which we need more . I had the pleasure of being in attendance at a special cane presentation to 2nd Lt Harold Noel, 94 years old, a WW11 B24 Navigator, who was shot down on his 15th mission and became a POW at Stalag 3 for over a year. He was freed when Patton Drove his tanks into the Stalag.

Hank Cloutier, one of our local River Rats, and his cane carving team, did one for Harold to honor his service to our country. BG Jeff “Tuna” Johnson, CC of the 113th ANG Wing at Andrews, was honored to host and do the presentation in his Ops Group conference room. The event took place today today. In attendance, beside Tuna were Colonel Kirk “Tick” Pierce the new OG. Harold’s daughter Nancy Noel, son and daughter-in-law Bob and Nancy Noel (Yes, The daughter-in-law is also Nancy). Hank Cloutier and his other cane carver (Peter Ward), and me.

After the presentation, Harold told many stories about his POW experience. The Stalag 3 was the camp about which “The Great Escape” was filmed. He told of his capture, being held in Vienna, then Nuremberg then the march to Bavaria. His targets for the first 14 missions were the big ones, Ploesti, Wiener Neustadt and other well defended ones. On one mission the gunners of his plane did shoot down 2 German fighters.

It was an honor for all of us to be present at this ceremony. It was well worth the hour and a half to honor this genuine
American hero. Harold had no idea that it was going to be such a ceremony. His children had just told him that they wanted to take him to Andrews (AFB) for lunch. “

Pedaling across America

Mon, 24 May 2010 17:37:49 -0500

Jack,

I recently sent a cane to Nicolette Liegon Maroulis to replace a cane I had carved for her that was stolen. (Can you believe anyone slimey enough to steal such a cane?) I had told her I would replace it for her... just be patient. Well, she was very patient for months but recently e mailed me asking about her cane? She is riding with a group of injured vets from California to the east coast. I said riding, yes riding, a hand pedaled "trike". She wanted her Eagle Head cane so I just shut everything down and carved it. She is riding with a group and is being sponsored by some large corporations. Well, I got her cane to her a couple days prior to her leaving for the west coast. She was so very happy with her new cane..... made any effort I made seem so worthwhile. They will be leaving the west coast June 4 I think and are scheduled to ride 64 days/4000 miles. The promos said the national news will be covering them. Anyway, thought you'd like to know.

You can look up more info at www.worldteamsports.org/foa/nevergiveup.

Ernie

Bronze Star in the Battle of the Bulge, WW11

Mon, 24 May 2010 17:03:44 -0500

“From the hearts of the Blue Star Riders, and Jack Nitz and the Eagle Cane Project, Thank you Major Earnest M. Chamberlain, for your Honorable Service, Courage and Sacrifice that truely changed the world. You Sir, are truly an American Hero!” Gordon Ewell.

Eagle Cane News

SA Tre Profirio USAF

Cane Donated to the MD PGR for Fund Raiser

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Pedaling across America

Bronze Star in the Battle of the Bulge, WW11