KNIGHTS IN SHINING 'AMOR'
Love of People, Love of Adventure, Drive Knightsbridge International
By Rich Carroll
Great people do great things. Buckle your chin strap for the next few minutes as
you read about an ARMY OF THREE.
Most middle-aged men take their "sense of adventure" to the golf course or
fishing hole.
This is the story of three former US ARMY SGTS who thrive on their ability to
GIVE without getting anything back... Ed Artis is a former member of the 504 /
505 and 325 Parachute Infantry Regiments of the 82ND Airborne Division and a
decorated Vietnam combat medic, who has spent the last three decades sneaking
into global "hot spots" to deliver badly needed food, cooking oil, tents and
medical supplies to human beings in need; those innocent victims of wars front
lines. Ed, Dr. James Laws, also
a former member of the 504 and 325 of the 82nd
Airborne Division, and Walt Ratterman have walked tortuous mountain passes,
drought-scorched earth and endured bitter weather (not to mention dodging the
occasional flying bullet) to feed and care for those desperate victims we so
easily call "collateral damage". Rwanda, Kosovo, Albania, Nicaragua, Cambodia,
Chechnya, Afghanistan, Philippines, - wherever the need for human compassion,
food, medicine and CARE is needed, our three "Knights" are there, delivering
HOPE.
On a recent trip to Afghanistan and during the heat of the "action" and
immediately after 9/11 the three men posed as reporters, crossing through Tajikistan
which is controlled by an unfriendly Russian Army to buy $150,000.00 worth of
relief items which ended up being 308 tons or enough food to feed 15,000 people
for the entire winter. So effective was their relief effort the Taliban placed
a $50,000 bounty on "Sir Edward's" head. ( he was knighted by a " self-styled
order of the Knights of Malta in 1993 for his international humanitarian efforts
).
Global recognition for this nonprofit organization would fill a four-volume set
of books. Letters from presidents, generals, political and religious
dignitaries, the U.S. Congress and Senate and organizations around the world
document the Herculean efforts and results of Knightsbridge International.
So why do Nobel Peace Prize nominees, (both Artis and Laws have been nominated
for the Nobel Peace Prize ) and the subject of featured stories on CNN, KCET/PBS
and National Geographic Explorer, continue to strap-on their bullet proof vests
and endure the tiring, grueling work of feeding and caring for swarms of
refugees? "The world is full of people in a desperate struggle for survival"
says Artis. (A documentary about his life and the humanitarian work of
Knightsbridge International is currently in production by Oscar nominated
filmmakers Adrian and Roko Belic,
http://www.wadirum.com/films/knightsbridge/ ).
A CALL TO ARMS...and not the gunpowder variety either, but the two YOU have.
Ed, Jim and Walt are looking for a few "good men and women " willing to
volunteer their sense of adventure, compassion for humans, and tireless efforts
to meet the challenge that "no man is so brave as the one who stoops to help a
child". A hurting, hungry, war ravaged planet Earth needs YOU.
You can make a difference to people who don't deserve what is or has happened to
them.
Contact Mr. Artis by EMAIL at:
Knightsbrg@AOL.com
These "Three Musketeers" ( all former SGTS in the US ARMY - ironically Artis and
Laws were both in the same units of the 82ND Airborne Division, the 504 and
325TH PIR about 24 months apart but did not meet until Artis was Knighted in
1993) have been credited with saving thousands of lives. They have delivered
hundreds of millions of dollars in food and medical relief in the worst places
on Earth, because, well, as Dr. Laws said to one reporter "I'm living life to
the very last minute and to the best of my ability." A recent National
Geographic Explorer documentary film "Afghanistan In The Line of Fire" shows
firsthand how Knightsbridge International is able to deliver supplies directly
into the hands of people in need at practically no overhead cost. This NGO (non
governmental organization) may on occasion have to bend some rules and sneak
around corners but their life saving missions show these victims our world does
care.
Knightsbridge cofounder Ed Artis says "You can't do it all, but you must do what
you can."
Three men, reaching out to those millions upon our planet desperate for
survival, cannot continue to do it alone. If you have the "right stuff", which
is mostly a compassion for people and eager for a life of adventure that only
participating in missions such as this can bring, contact Ed Artis or visit
their website at
http://www.Knightsbridge.org
"A man is as great as the dreams he dreams, as great as the love he bears. As
great as the values he redeems, and the happiness he shares". C. E. Flynn