You all are aware that we are seriously vulnerable right now in regards to National Security, right? You know that Congress left to party and have a great time before renewing the Protect America Act, right? You know that there are no protections in place for companies that help track down terrorists, right? You know that of the 29 Senators that voted against extension of the Protect America Act, 24 took monies from trial lawyers that have sued companies helping to track down terrorists, right? You know all this because our friends in the media make it a point of sharing with you the importance these issues have in relation to our National Security, right?

Sure … right … I know they haven’t, too.

It is sad that the media and Washington’s elite continue to spin their untruths about the Protect America Act. While spinning all this muck, they continue to threaten our security. Just remember, they are doing this for another vote that will net them 4 more years sucking money from we, the tax payers! This is all about their ego, money for free, and power to tell you what they think is right - because you are too dumb to know. Yep, government knows best, we the people are sheep, and things like National Security are too far above our heads to grasp.

There is someone out there that hears your concerns and is aware of how you feel. They have published results from a poll to see just what you all know, and just how far off Washington’s elite and the media machine really are on knowing you, the American people! American Solutions for Winning America asked the Polling Company to cover three key areas: the Protect America Act, protection for companies that help track down terrorists, and the self-interests of Senators who took money from trial lawyers that sued companies that helped track down terrorists. Let’s take each one as a separate issue as well.

In regards to our immediate National Security being at risk, the Protect America Act was due to be renewed a short time ago. Well, our elected free loaders Congress decided to take 12 days off instead of voting to renew the Act. Yep, the “all about me” crowd decided to leave us all exposed instead of doing what is right and maintaining a strong front against terrorism (like this is nothing new, I know). So, the Polling Company asked we, the people, did we think it was right for Congress to leave to party and whoop it up for 12 days before voting to renew the Act. Here is what we, the people, have to say about their deplorable conduct:

Was leaving on a 12 day recess without renewing the Protect America Act best for our safety?

• Should have renewed the Act before leaving: 71%
• Republican: 83%
• Democrat: 63%
• Independent: 68%

As you can see, across the board, everyone says they should have actually renewed the Act. Of course, no one in the media cared to tell us what we already know. They just continue to sweep this under the rug even though OVERALL, more than 60% of we, the people, wanted Congress to DO SOMETHING RIGHT!!!

Moving on …

There is a very important facet to the protection of our beloved country. I fought for our country to continue to be free, as many of you have as well. I also believe that to maintain a strong front against terrorism, one must enlist all resources capable of supporting the effort. This includes those in the private sector, companies, that have a myriad of ways and opportunities to help our government track down terrorists. However, these brave folks in these companies have little to no protection at all from freak-fest lawsuits! These brave souls are out there, with no one to watch their six, and they get routinely stabbed in the back for keeping us safe. Well, how do you all feel about this, and is the media and Washington’s elite share your concerns? Well, here is what we, the people, have to say about this:

If a company helps the government track down terrorists, should these companies be afforded protection from lawsuits?

• Agree with protection against lawsuits: 75%
• Republican: 89%
• Democrat: 65%
• Independent: 77%

Again, the media and Washington just don’t see it. We are greater than 65% behind those companies that help to track down terrorists! What the heck is going on, anyway? Self-aggrandizing politicians and media twits are twisting this against us, and we need to spread the word - they need to tell the truth, now.

Moving on …

Did you know that there are a sizeable amount of lawyers out there that make money from suing companies that help track down terrorists? Did you know that from the money awarded in these cases, $1.5 Million went to our US Senators and other political causes? There were 29 Senators that voted against the extension of the Protect America Act. AND, 24 of those 29 took money from these 66 trial lawyers that donated this $1.5M!!! Yeah, these free-loadin’ Senators who already get paid way more than they should be, also took donations from the trial lawyers suing companies that have helped to keep us all safe!!! Plain and simple this shows that Senators are willing to put their own self-interests over the safety and welfare of all of us - we the people. Yeah, I can just hear the media and Washington’s elite providing us this powerful bit of news, what about you? Well, as before, here is what we, the people, have to say about this:

Senators put their own political self-interests above National Security - and take money from trial lawyers who sue companies that help track down terrorists

• Agree Senators put their own political self-interests above National Security: 58%
• Republican: 74%
• Democrat: 48%
• Independent: 61%

OK, so here is where you can see the true colors of the Democrats polled. If you give them a mulligan, you can still see that greater than 60% of we, the people, know that Senators only care about their own political gains and really care less about our National Security.

Look, the fence isn’t the only thing we need for our own protection. But, wouldn’t you say we all need some protection from our own elected officials and the main stream media? Really, these people are DANGEROUS to our own safety!

Think hard when you vote … bigger changes are needed … I’m gonna keep up on what American Solutions for Winning the Future … you should too!

If you are interested in helping American Solutions, or you are interested in the full data collected from their most recent poll, contact me: Fix4RSO :at: FIX4RSO :dot: com

My older sister sent me this snippet - she knows Teddy and Winston are powerful, insightful, and also quite with the times even today:

“In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American…There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.”

Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

Gotta tell ya - heard any of the candidates today stumble into words so powerful and true?

[nope - too affraid of going back to when Europe hates us more than now is DANGEROUS, eh?]

Nothin’ says California like the tail of a C-17 from California’s USAF Reserve at March AFB:

[DVIDS - USAF photo by A1C Nathan Doza]

I saw this over at DVIDS and just HAD to post it!

It’s true, no one wants to have to memorialize anyone that has given the ultimate sacrifice serving their country. But when our brave men and women serving their country,our country, have fallen while performing their duty, they shall be given the respect they deserve.

[DVIDS — USAF photo by Staff Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth]

“Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff briefs Chief Master Sgt. Rudy Lopez and Air Force Surgeon General James Roudebush on the Fallen Airman’s Memorial which was created to honor the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen that have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country, Balad Air Base, Iraq, Feb. 26. Roudebush came to Balad to meet with 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing leadership and asses the efficiency of the air medical operations in the region.”

Thank God men like these are there to ensure all the fallen are given the respect, praise, and support they and their families deserve.

Now, to those who expend their breath trying to convince us they support those who protect us all, I believe they cheapen memorials such as these. It saddens me when I have to listen to the spew-ridden, soulless, vote-gettin’ politicians, and their cabal of Satan-forgiving main stream media types, trying to make us all believe they support the troops. If you truly inspect the record of those doing this unholy deed (lying to us all) you can see they have quite a history that contradicts their glowing statements of today.

Do you honestly expect me to believe someone like Mike Wallace actually supports the troops? The same Mike Wallace that spent countless hours deriding and destroying those who served in Vietnam? The same, “man”, that put everything on the line to promote an agenda of destruction that to this day has roots so deep I believe continue to choke those who served so bravely and were sold a steaming bag of excrement. Just because they may have served, or may have taken the field of battle to report, does not excuse the destruction they have directed at us all.

Again, one can only take so much - and how much have you checked into the backgrounds of those that say, “I support the troops.”?

These two desserts look to be pretty much the same thing. And, to the person standing there watching you make these two after dinner delights, it sure looks like you used the same ingredients, mixed the batter, rolled the dough, prepared the apples, you know, the same steps. But, there are subtle nuances that can be found, if one actually takes the time and has the experience, in making these two classic desserts.

The Main Stream Media thinks they understand how the US Military gets troops ready for battle. These are the same scum that miss some glaringly obvious nuances and truly “forked us” in regards to Vietnam.

In this last Sunday’s San Francisco “Comical” (SF Chronicle to those of you that respect this friggin’ rag!), Anna Badkhen, the person that typed the piece of fiction to which I refer, says that the US Military has “cut corners” to get personnel into the field. She asserts that shorter training times and lack of equipment have hurt readiness. One of the choice paragraphs that exposes her lack of understanding follows:

“Soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division had so little time between deployments to Iraq they had to cram more than a year’s worth of training into four months.”

At first blush, one could say, sure, this amount of training time seems a bit too short for someone to go into an operational theater, not to mention the field where every move one makes has consequences. Some of us would say that there are very plausible reasons to have just such a training period. I will hold that assessment until my conclusion. My true intent at the outset is to show just how off the mark these “writers” are when it comes to understanding US Military training and deployment policies, procedures, and ultimately goals and objectives that are more strategic in nature. Or, more appropriately, just what these twits are really up to as they mask their true colors.

The “writer” continues:

“Some had only a few days to learn how to fire their new rifles before they deployed to Iraq - for the third time - last month.”

Now, let’s really look at this statement closely. This is the third time that this particular team, or team member that she spoke with, has been to the battlefield. They had weapons then, obviously, yet this time they have a new weapon. Is the weapon in question such a tectonic departure from their current weapon for their MOS? And I am assuming these individuals are only in the US Army (1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry), what if it were a US Marine or US Air Force Security Forces person? C’mon, is this reporterette honestly trying to make me swallow this swill, hook, line and sinker?! Are all the “SF Comical” readers truly that lost that they do not understand weapons training and in-combat experience?

Am I the only one awake, left reading this tripe, and barely able to hold down my breakfast? Well, this gets better, really! Chew on this one:

“And some soldiers were assigned to the brigade so late that they had no time to train in the United States at all. Instead of the yearlong training recommended prior to deployment, they prepared for war during the two weeks they spent in Kuwait, en route to Anbar, Iraq’s deadliest province.”

Again, members of this brigade are on their THIRD ROTATION! Or, am I just missing something she seems to understand as being crucial to the whole picture? Onward:

“As the Pentagon prepares to boost troop levels in Iraq by 21,500 people, such logistical and training hurdles are emblematic of the struggles besieging a military strained by unexpectedly long and grueling commitments in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

I’m trying really hard to stay calm here … really …

You’d think that, based upon the above, we are talking about shortened training time with new weapons, right? Oh no, this little barb sticks out, in a big way:

“After the Cold War, U.S. military [her use of case, not mine] policy - pushed hard by former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s policy of “transformation” - relied too much on cutting-edge technology and air power and too little on boots on the ground, and further undercut spending on equipment that would protect large ground forces, critics charge.”

Why do these pinheads always dodge the bullet and say, “critics charge” or “military analysts conclude”? Why isn’t this reporterette making an assertion herself? C’mon have some “gravitas” and make the call yourself! Hiding behind faceless, and often out of context, assertions that are based on several factors, not the one under discussion. But, I digress … these friggin’ chicken-livered, candy-assed, oops … sorry … onward …

Obviously, this writer has no information from which to posit an intelligent conclusion. Just 20 minutes of research on 5th Generation Warfare, and she’d be relatively up to speed on modernization and the efforts being put forth by the US Military - beyond boots on the ground. The only reason that the casualty rate is SO FRIGGIN’ LOW YOU MORON is due to these new, modern, and all encompassing changes to improve the net effective force strength and battlefield control infrastructure.

As to my statement above where I said I’d add a conclusion, well, here goes. Reporters like this Anna Badkhen, in pieces like her 4th of February 2007 piece, “Corners Cut in Rush to Add Troops”, really shows just how lost these people are today. I am struck by the obvious lack of military experience that pervades our printed and video media reports. To just take one point to task, shorter training times are not necessarily bad during war - in fact, they are quite often the smartest decision. By using real world examples (ie on the job training - the hallmark of the US Military!), while riskier, provides training that far surpasses anything you get using fake rounds and a confidence course! And, when you are already skilled with one rifle, how hard is it to get qual’d on a newer one? I know folks that would be splittin’ targets after about 10 minutes of mini-instruction on a new rifle!!! Once you’ve got the sight, feel, weight, balance, and correction for drift, any rifle is just damn deadly - to our enemy. So, THREE WEEKS TO LEARN A NEW RIFLE!?!?!?

Sheesh!

What’s holding us back is stories, and I truly use the word story in reference to this reporter’s piece, and uninformed perspectives that cloud the overall effectiveness of the US Military. We wouldn’t have such a strong insurgency if it weren’t for the cut-N-run crowd and these twits that are very much the lesser of any species trying to grasp what warfare and the US Military are all about.

Anyway, we’re way beyond Apple Crisp and more into apple sauce … what a mess!

If you have the Sunday Comical from 4 February, 2007, maybe you need some bird cage liner?

So, did you get on the Stand-To! mailing list? No? Hmmm … we need to talk.

The US Army has provided the second part of their discussion of battle command. Again, I’ll help those that are asleep at the switch and haven’t seen today’s installment:

“What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future? The Army continues to focus on the synchronization of operations, logistics and intelligence in order to provide Commanders and leaders with the most accurate information needed to conduct combat operations and achieve mission success. The Army will use the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) process to field robust Joint Network Battle Command capabilities to the units as they prepare and engage in combat operations. The Army will use these new Joint Networked Battle Command capabilities to leverage information from intelligence, logistics, operations and medical sources, improve analysis, enable greater collaboration, to synchronize efforts quicker and reduce Commander’s decision cycles in the execution of operations to include Force on Force, Stability and Security Operations (SASO) and Counter Insurgency (COINS). The Battle Command systems will connect more soldiers to the network, and provide increased throughput, improve security, enhance collaboration, provide situation awareness, unit readiness status and Command & Control analysis. Battle Command will move toward closer integration with Logistics, including the Movement Tracking System. This system automates tracking of continuous, distributed, and Joint focused logistics across the battle space. Battle Command will also add gateways to US Marine Corps, joint, and coalition tracking systems. As with Blue Force tracker, the result will be a better integrated common operational picture.

Why is this important to the Army? Battle Command is an essential Warfighter Mission Area operational capability for both our current and future joint operations. Joint fully networked Battle Command capabilities will bridge to the Future Force and enable the Joint Force Commander to conduct fully interdependent, network-centric warfare. The Army must continue to work with the Combatant Commanders, Joint Forces Command, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Network and Information Integration to identify, align and develop Joint Force capabilities relevant to joint operations. Battle Command will align with Joint ground combat capabilities while simultaneously spiraling in proven Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies.”

Is this approach new to the US Army, or the US Military as a whole? No.

Is there something missing that no matter the good intentions of the US Army and the entire US Military Command Structure, this is all for naught? Yes.

To wage an effective campaign in this 5th Generation Warfare watershed, the media is an integral component to success. Without getting too down on the main stream media (I know, fish in a barrel) an effective holistic campaign can only be waged with communications not just inward but outward. The Milbloggers are behind you and already on board, but multiple media outlets are still not working effectively together with the war. This war on terror is lacking a primary component and we are sacrificing the high ground by not executing in this area.

One can see the net-effect difference by comparing Al Jazeera teamed up with al Qaida and the terrorists currently in the field of battle. In a 5th Generation Warfare command structure, communications between soldiers and communications to the support structure, like the people sacrificing their sons and daughters, results in a highly effective overall campaign. Terrorists have a lock on that, albeit they utilize tactics that should nullify any effort, but theirs works very effectively. We are not to accept or emulate their approach, but it is clear without an outward communications component, all effectiveness is diminished to an unbearable level.

It is a fact that the main stream media is refusing to support our military, our politicians are thrashing to keep their jobs, and the counter-media (Al Jazeera) utilizing propaganda to shift opinion and mold fact to fiction. All of this gives testament to the lack of the US Military’s ability to effectively execute a holistic campaign in the global war on terror. We have technology that dwarfs the competition, yet we cannot use true shock and awe because we all know we’d be set upon by our own media and politicians. It is a given that the European Union is against us, they always will be, so move on, nothing to see here. But the negative energy from within our own boarders is continuously aimed inward thereby reducing the overall effectiveness of waging a true campaign. In the end, it is impossible to be effective in a 5th Generation Warfare watershed until the entire battlefield is conflated. Therefore, our US Military Command Structure needs to gain the high ground on this primary objective, take this last hill and hold it, or we will never be able to effectively field a successful force in battle.

For review, here are my 5GW posts, in order from oldest to newest:

Seems the family has a rift
We Blew Through 4th Generation Warfare!
Boundaries for the Fourth Generation
Clues to the 5th: Shorter Chains?
Yeah, 5GW Means Squat, Right?

Again, any 5GW stuff you find, forward on to me.

Alright, there are a few of us in the blogosphere that follow this crazy stuff. Yeah, I know, we’re like those Area 51-types that see something not really there, just behind that door. And, no, we are NOT all hopped-up on “acid” or “Mary Jane”! Force utilization and the changes and strides made over time are very real, and something that makes some folks just sit up and wanna read more.

Now, when one gets a missive straight from the core area of development in regards to warfare, and the act of prosecuting a war, ya just gotta dig a little bit deeper. This morning, in my regularly scheduled morning memo from the US Army, my inbox gets a jolt! The team at Stand-To! are covering a very germane subject termed battle command. To those of us working and writing about generational warfare, and this aligns with my 5GW posts quite well, their first installment entitled Battle Command - Part One has been posted to those within the US Army command structure - and some of us that read their site and get their daily e-mails.

If you don’t have the time to wander on over to Stand-To!, please take a moment and read their latest sidebar article:

“What is it? Battle Command is the art and science of applying leadership and decision making to achieve mission success. Battle Command leverages technology to achieve information and decision superiority. Battle Command systems enable leaders to gain knowledge to enhance the speed and accuracy of decision making. Battle Command provides Commanders and Leaders with the ability to see first, understand first, act first, and finish decisively.

What has the Army done? Recent combat operations highlight the criticality of beyond line of sight mobile communications, enhanced situation awareness, and synchronization of force application. Battle Command provides improved information systems to make visible actionable information and reduce the cycle time on key commander decisions. The Army has created a better common operational picture with enhancements made to Blue Force Tracking and Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below (FBCB2). With Joint Intelligence Operations Capability - Iraq (JIOC-I) the Army has integrated and fused intelligence that is relevant and timely within a specific geospatial area of operation for Commander’s and Leaders. Also, the Army has integrated unmanned Aerial Systems and their imagery feeds, and we have added Biometric enhancements to our Human Intelligence (HUMIT) data collection. The Army’s Joint Battle Command network has increased connectivity with JNN, putting more soldiers on the network with higher throughput, so that they are able to push more Command & Control information to Battalion. The Army also has experimented with collaboration tools such as Information Dissemination Management - Tactical (IDM-T) and Command Post of the Future (CPoF), and information systems similar to Combined Information Network Data Exchange (CIDNE) and FusionNet, which provide valuable information to Commanders. The Army has accelerated the fielding of critical Battle Command systems to standardize capabilities, ensuring interoperability of operational and tactical organizations. These capabilities improve joint interdependency as well as horizontal and vertical situational awareness to the platoon level. The Army continues to work with DOD agencies to bring the Joint community closer to a shared common operational picture.”

Now, what interests me very much is the threading together, within the major FBCB2 (Blue Force Tracking and Force XXI Battle Command Brigade and Below), of joint intelligence, information dissemination, and overall coordination within the command structure. This is where I have been leading us all in my 5GW posts. We are doing a better job and have made significant strides in these areas, but how does our use of 5GW differ from those of our enemy? In fact, how much of what we have done is being borrowed, or emulated, by our enemy. My next few posts are now going to be focused on those two very important questions.

For review, here are my 5GW posts, in order from oldest to newest:

Seems the family has a rift
We Blew Through 4th Generation Warfare!
Boundaries for the Fourth Generation
Clues to the 5th: Shorter Chains?

And, please check out as many resources that you can find where this subject, generational warfare, are being written about, and send on to me. I am a major consumer of this subject - a hobby ya might say.

Just about a year ago I wrote a short piece about the 447th EOD finding and destroying weapons caches.

Today, the same squadron has lost three airman, and another is seriously wounded. AF.mil has the short announcement, here. I’ll provide the text here inline because the most disgusting part of this is that it was a vehicle-borne IED:

“SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) — Three Airmen assigned to the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s Explosive Ordnance Division were killed Jan. 7 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area.”

“Additionally, one Airman was injured in the explosion.”

This just brings up all sorts of ire in me. When public opinion makes the US Military second-guess their decisions, like protecting oneself from a suspicious looking oncoming vehicle, bad things happen. I just cannot stress how the media, politicians, and ex and current senior officers that gravitate towards a “softer stance” are actually placing our fine men and women in harms way. Add to that those that find appeasement and cut-N-run as viable options are just placing a round in the chamber themselves - in a weapon aimed directly at our brave volunteers.

Step back and think for a moment; truly, search your heart. Do you honestly believe that the rest of the world’s leaders want peace? Yes, the people that live under these iron-fist regimes most certainly want peace. But, they are not in a position of power. Therefore, what option is left for a country, and her citizens, but to use force until those that force themselves on the weak have been vanquished. I can count on just about 2 hands the number of peaceful countries, that have leaders that promote and work towards peace every day, and do not support terrorism or the act of subjugating their people.

Just remember, there are very few countries in Europe today that have such mettle.

I will post an update below, as we find out more information. In the meantime, please take some time to pray for all those in EOD and their families and friends. It is an important job, and one that saves so many lives.

God speed.

The Department of Defense announced Jan. 8 the death of three airmen who were killed Jan. 7 by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in the Baghdad area supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The airmen were assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron, Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Killed were:

• Tech. Sgt. Timothy R. Weiner, 35, of Tamarac, Fla.
• Senior Airman Elizabeth A. Loncki, 23, of New Castle, Del.
• Senior Airman Daniel B. Miller Jr., 24, Galesburg, Ill.

For further information related to this release the media can contact the Hill Air Force Base public affairs office at (801) 777-6634 or if after 5 p.m. MST, call (801) 777-3001 and ask for the on-call public affairs representative.

Sorry for the confusion, but AF.mil had the squadron as the 447th Civil Engineering EOD, and today’s annoucement states that it is the 775th Civil Engineering Squadron. I am unsure if this is a joint command or if the 447th EOD was in a FOB and assigned to assist the 775th, or if the initial announcement from yesterday was erroneous. I am attempting to contact an internal source to see if I can confirm - or I’ll just wait like everyone else and keep an eye on AF.mil.

Here is the update from AF.mil - and, yes, they were from Hill AFB but attached to the 447th while in Iraq:

“The Airmen were assigned to the 775th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight. While in Iraq, the Airmen were members of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron.”

God Speed SrA Loncki, SrA Miller, and TSgt Weiner …

Well, tomorrow is Veteran’s Day, and I have had so many things happen this week that have made me even prouder of my service to my country, and those that have served before, with, and after me. And, to add a finer point to it, there are those that have not served at all that have gone out of their way to help our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. Over the last two weeks, those that have not served surprised me in ways I would not have imagined, and confirmed for me just who they are deep down inside.

There is one man, in particular, who I know is not the most outspoken in favor of the current administration. He lives in a world that is very counter to what you would expect. He has had some very trying times, he is strapped financially, and he is mad at the world. He has fallen into a funk that is often times difficult to extricate oneself from - like target fixation, ya know? I have known this man for almost two years. We laugh about all sorts of stupid things and riff on Monty Python skits and stupid movie quotes. And he floored the buh-jeezers outta me when I talked to him early Wednesday morning. He asked me why I looked so tired, and I told him I am trying all kinds of things and staying up late getting folks involved in a donation drive. He asked, “Which one?” I said, Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT, and I am on Team Air Force.” He says, “Well, duh!” (he knows, ’cause we talk about all kinds of Air Force stuff - he loves all things planes!) Then, here’s the kicker, he says, “Send me the URL, I’ll help.” He turns on his heel and heads back to his desk with a smile on his face.

Thump … like the sonic boom we used to hear from the Blackbird. Thump …

I know he is strapped for cash. I know his life is gonna get even worse very soon. I know not to talk about my political “leanings” or get into subjects that would put us at odds, ’cause, well, we’re friends, and that’s what friends do.

But, he knows the stakes, and he knows that everyone serving right now has volunteered, and he knows that we all need to help one another when the chips are down and there is no way out. And for those fine men and women that request a laptop from the Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT program, we all need to help them, no matter what it takes.

Thanks again, from me and my family, to all of you on the Valour-IT Air Force Team. In fact, my Dad, who’s old RAF from WWII, he thanks you too!

‘Cause the kindness you show reflects on us all. And in the end, that’s what the US Military is allll about.

God Bless to all those that follow, here:

AND a special blessing to:

• Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY - she’s a ROCK!
• Buck of Exile in Portales hangs in there when it gets tough!
• The 7th SOS/ACS of Hurlburt AFB and Max Friedauer
• 3c0×1.net Forum
• KFOX 98.5 with Greg Kihn and Chris Jackson
• KSFO 560 - Lee Rodgers, Melanie Morgan, and Officer Vic!
• All the LinkedInUSAF Members (my colleagues)

They gave and I am very grateful for all your kindness and support!

I listen to Greg Kihn in the morning on KFOX 98.5 here in the Bay Area. He speaks out in favor of our troops all the time. I switched to listen to him after the GWOT started, ’cause he was the ONLY local radio guy to be pro-Military - well, except KSFO that airs Rush.

Greg’s Dad fought in WWII and has talked often about how he found out more about his Dad after his Dad passed away. Greg is the main reason I listen to KFOX. Greg takes some crap from listeners that tell him to shut up about being pro-Military. He even has been right on the money when he equates this to what our parents went through during WWII. And he is so correct, and has even made a point to say this is even worse - ’cause Islamofacism is far more dangerous as it is “in the name of God/Allah” … he is soooo right on!

I sent Greg and Chris, his right-hand-guy during the morning show, a note to see if they could get some info out on the air about Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT drive. Not sure if they got my note - it’s a web-based thing and ya just never know. Plus, they are busy producing and doing the show. I hope they can help us all out.

So, folks, get to work and think out of the box! Contact local personalities like radio shows! We gotta get to the goal and any way you can get us there is what we need!

Alright, the numbers for Team Air Force, well, flat out suck. We are so far behind that Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY, Buck of Exile in Portales, and I have been trying all kinds of crazy things to get our numbers up. In fact, Laurie actually did something about it and has offered up HER OWN STUFF to get the donations going!

FOLKS, SHE IS AUCTIONING OFF HER OWN MEMORABILIA!!!

She has offered to auction some US Air Force Thunderbirds memorabilia she received when she visited the team at Nellis AFB. The items are a Thunderbirds 11″ x 14″ Poster with 2006 T-Birds facsimile signatures, a Thunderbirds Safing Pin Style Key Chain embroidered on both sides, and a Thunderbirds T-Shirt with logo on front and back. Here are the photos of each item, being offered as a whole package:

So, get on over to this new auction for US Air Force Thunderbirds memorabilia, now!!!

Valour-IT Air Force Team Member CoInSide is managing the auction for Laurie, which is very nice of him. It’s great to see that we can get a few folks involved in our crazy hair-brained schemes!

Thanks to all of you, especially Laurie of Soldiers’ Angels NY, for keeping this drive going!

Well, it looks like Navy is taking the lead, and they plan on holding us all to the fire. They have secured the beachead and have dutifully maintained their Valour-IT supremacy!

Navy is about $11k over Air Force (which is now in a pitiful last place) and say, around, a comfortable $9k over the Marines and $7k over the Army. You can now see that we all are in scramble mode to find a way to, at the very least, get within $500!!!

Alas, it seems that my team, US Air Force, is destined to stand-down and allow Navy wings to take control of the air, and keep it. I’ve tried several different ways of mustering support for our Air Force Team: sent e-mails to tons of my business colleagues, enlisted the help of LinkedInUSAF’s list of professional contacts on the LinkedIn professional networking site and their Yahoo group, sent a short request to some friends over at the the 7th SOS/ACS organization (a private group of Air Force Special Ops folks), as well as contacted the folks at my local chapter of the Air Force Association (Tennessee Ernie Ford Chapter #361). Seems I’ve got bupkiss …

I’d hoped, in this short ten days, that we could make a great showing of force and show everyone that our branch, and team, can make things happen. It is a great group of folks we have on our team, and I hope all of you have been making the rounds, touching everyone in your life, and getting support in some unlikely places - there are some. In fact, I even talked someone who has a fiancee that is a Marine give to Team Air Force! That’s not bad, eh?

Anyway, this is a great cause, so let’s keep this going and push to get the full $180,000!!!

Todays Valour-IT Team Air Force Funny from Day-By-Day!

Richard S. Lowry has offered to auction two of his books for this years Valour-IT donation drive.

Marines in the Garden of Eden

The Gulf War Chronicles

Valour-IT Air Force Team Member CoInSide is managing the auction for us. The auction ends in 8 days, so you need to get there, manage your bids, and GET THESE BOOKS!

And, let’s get this donation drive going, Air Force folks! Yesterday, it was fun to watch how we were in second place for the bulk of the day! It would be really great if we could, at the very least, hold second place to the end!

Wouldn’t it … ???

Alright, John over at Op-For is my team leader for the Valour-IT Project drive this year.

Now, he’s counting on all you US Air Force types to get in there and keep us on top - you know, ’cause the US Air Force OWNS THE SKY! And if you’ve never been in the US Air Force, but like reading the stuff I write, then, please be kind and make a donation via the link I have provided at the top of my sidebar, there on the right. If you make a donation here on my blog, the US Air Force team gets credit for your kindness!

And, well, there still is an inter-Branch rivalry! No one branch wants to be on the bottom of the heap, least of all me! And, I know that John is going into this full AB! So are the other folks I have seen so far on our team roster. Here is our squadron of US Air Force Milbloggers so far:

• OPFOR
• Euphoric Reality
• THIRDWAVEDAVE
• richardlowry
• Cold Fury
• My Weekly Thoughts
• The Adventures of RV-6 N466PG
• Stop The ACLU
• iowahawk
• Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
• Soldiers’ Angels New York
• Dude Where’s The Beach
• Spec Ops Angels
• Fix 4 RSO
• Exile in Portales
• Radio Patriots
• MURDOC ONLINE
• Defense Tech
• Right on the Right
• No Angst Zone
• Banter In Atlanter
• Townhall Blog
• Bill’s Bites
• Gateway Pundit
• Mudville Gazette
• Seraphic Secret
• CoInside
• The Splatter Zone
• Air Force Pundit
• Conservative Thinking
• VodkaPundit
• LinkedInUSAF
• Gazing at the Flag
• Michelle Malkin
• Kowabunga
• Blogger News Network
• Mind in the Qatar
• If Laura Petrie Married General Patton
• corsair the rational pirate
• Townhall Blog
• James Hudnall - Hud’s Blog-O-Rama
• CascadeExposures
• Dazed and Confuzed from Here
• Lemonade Made Daily
• One Happy Dog Speaks
• The Happy Homefront
• Watchman’s Soap Box
• Ironic Surrealism
• Anchored by Grace
• Ron’s Musings
• Diary of the Mad Pigeon
• Mean Ol’ Meany
• Rude1’s Rampage
• Pixie Dust Productions, Inc.
• Thunder And Roses
• GOP and College
• Defense Tech
• ArmyAirForces.com

I’ll continue to update the list as they are updated on the Valour-IT Project site.

Let’s keep getting people involved! This is a GREAT cause and something we all can work on to help our brave men and women defending our freedoms!

God Speed!

I like to visit HighBoy’s blog, Christ Matters. You all know me as someone that speaks out with conviction regarding our troops, the defense of our great nation, and where I see politics drifting off into the weeds. The one subject I don’t think I have ever touched on is religion. I visit HighBoy and Amy Proctor’s Bottom Line Up Front to get my “fix” as it were. And remember, I use the word “fix” in this blog to mean two things: repair the system and provide a waypoint. This post is a waypoint …

I am going to post comments I made to one of HighBoys discussion threads. It’s about the pro-abortion position, so if you have this as one of your “sticky points” either move on or read on.

As it happened, the discussion was pretty heated, and in my first comment (#17) I made a few “Fix4RSO-like” goofey comments within some fair points of contention. I also made some points that I feel resonated quite well with my inner self and soul. Then, the discussion came to how many weeks means a fetus is “real”, and how can we have respect for life when innocent lives are being destroyed in Iraq (Bush lied, innocent people died) and it struck me: we are defending ourselves from Islamofascists that have made it, and continue to reiterate, their life’s goal to kill us all - all infidels! So again, we are defending ourselves, yet, what about the innocent life that cannot defend itself?

Remember, I warned you … continue at your own peril, the rest of this post all the way to the bottom is straight from comment (#32)

Interesting - this has finally devolved into saying that defending oneself from being killed is not OK, yet, a fetus that cannot defend itself is OK to be killed …

By your arguments, Jody, I am wrong for disagreeing with both of my above statements.

All this arguing to keep abortion available to those that want a “nicer life ’cause the FETUS is going to ruin my cozy Sunday mornings reading the paper in bed” is all for naught.

God knows you’ve sinned.

When you meet him, you’ll finally understand. And, if you do not believe in God, then, don’t worry! Which is exactly why all those pro-abortion types should worry, and do, and flail like crazy trying to make the rest of us come down to their level.

At least here on earth they’ll feel better … for a while. It’s that eternity-thang I’m actually paying attention to right now. So, pardon me if I refuse to lower myself so far down to accept this new form of euthenasia … life, no matter which week, day, hour, second, fraction of a second, is precious.

You’ll never wrest from me the respect and love that I have for the unborn life. This is where we all come to, in the end, and where we always shall part ways. You’ll never respect or love it as we do, and we will never slice it to the week or second to have a “happy life without a little hard work”.

And, you DO NOT KNOW my situation, or that of my children. For those of us parents that have a heavier burden than others, take heed.

By your hand, one of my children would not be here.

She would NOT have placed the fake flower on the chair next to me, giggle, and run away down the hall. Then, when she thought I was not looking, the flower is replaced with the huge spider from the Halloween decorations … all just her little game …

And, my joy.

He looks down on her with love, and that love is spread to our entire family. His love is in her smile, her patience, and her determination to understand just what it is that makes her different from all of her classmates.

She cries - we hug her.
She asks - we explain, and hug her.
She lives - we hug her a bunch.

We cry, when she is not looking.

May God have mercy on your soul. It is His will that I forgive you, and you may not understand and take this the wrong way, but that is His will.

It shall be done.

My previous post set a general theme. Let’s continue with a few questions that have been rattling around in my cranium after that post:

• Why does the Republican Leadership (?) keep sticking their hand out to help Liberals and Democrats?
• Why does the entire party let swindlers like the Gang of 14 get away with their slick and destructive tactics?
• What is it that makes Republicans in charge allow speeches on the floor support the rights of terrorists - rights that only apply to citizens of the United States of America?
• What’s the deal with making every effort to hide the fact that it really is amnesty, and we out here are not idiots, so stop bending over?
• Where did Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Ronald Reagan happen to go?
• How did we end up with such lily-livered sap-suckers in the Republican party!?

Let’s be honest, the “Gang of 14″ are actually Liberals and should have to register as such.

It’s October again and you can hear the talking heads portending the Republican loss of the Senate and House. Fox News, of all places, and our local CBS or ABC News stations (even our independent Channel 2) have been spinning the trouncing of the Republicans this season. The baseless attacks that are allowed to be waged can make anyone launch their cookies! Where is the counter-offensive? Am I smokin’ crack here expecting some form of strength coming from the “Party of Lincoln”?

Or, maybe the new way of winning is keeping your message safe and middle of the road to keep your seat … ??? If that is the new way of maintaining power, then why have the Republicans been losing ground? For me, I see some very glaring examples of a lack of leadership: soft on their political opponents, immigration issues and laws, handling terrorists and prosecuting the Global War on Terror (GWOT), and listening to the United Nations. In every one of these cases there is an influence that has made Republicans they way they are today. Let me take a moment and use my last posts chronological look at Presidential show of power to answer your, as well as my own, questions and concerns.

This country has a long and proud history of taking it to their opponents. The reason that the rest of the world doesn’t like us is because when we go “all in”, there is nothing left but a US victory. It is hard to imagine what it must feel like to be handed a defeat such as those proffered by the United States Military. A sound victory is only achieved when the whole, and that means everyone, is working together to a common goal - going “all in”. Taking the fight to the enemy used to be the standard of the Republican party as we were always the first to stand up to defend Old Glory! And I might add, 100 years ago, that even used to be the Democrat party! But Democrat Presidents in the last five decades have been fostering a simplistic and myopic approach to how the United States deals with her enemy combatants, and leaving us all to less than stellar victories if not completely disastrous outcomes.

When we need to handle our combatants, and how we extract information from those combatants, we are the ones that think before we act. Think back, when the British were attacking us during our revolution, as well as during the War of 1812, do you HONESTLY believe we did not extract information from our combatants? AND, just remember, our people (US MILITARY and SECRET SERVICE) were extracting information from our VERY CLOSE BROTHERS of only 10-50 years past. We do not engage in acts that come anywhere close to how, say, the Islamofascists handle their captives. We use manipulation and psychological tactics to get information, they just chop off the head of their captive and put the whole thing on TV. The United States would never go to that extreme, and pundits and leaders are doing us all a disservice by alluding to such a thing - just to win an election.

Fast forward from the War of 1812 to the last five decades. You can see that how we, the United States of America, handle all threats and foreign aggression can affect situations happening in the very near future. The “information age” has propelled the entire world into a nearly instantaneous cause and effect maelstrom. The fact that we have been projecting a cyclic “force then weakness” approach to world affairs, anyone outside our borders has got to be scratching their heads, in real time! You’d think “the clapper” was plugged in to this country somewhere - clap on, clap off, clap on, clap off! It is this on-again off-again type of leadership that has brought about a cataclysmic effect so few had seen coming.

In my last post, I provided the backdrop to how al-Qa’ida has been able to wage such an effective campaign and strike us at home. The plan was building for a very long time, born from a few Presidents overwhelmed by their own “governing law of inaction”. After Ronald Reagan left office, we really left the door open to those wishing to harm us. And September 11th, 2001, all came about because the Democrat run House and Senate forced the Bush Administration (George H.W. Bush) to pull out of Iraq and Kuwait - oh, and to raise taxes, a HUGE No-No from a Republican worth his salt. I believe that those actions alone emboldened Islamofascists to say, “Hey, we can win against these guys if we put pressure on Democrats and the media! With those two snakes wrapped together, striking out on a daily basis, the American people will just lay down and take it!”

Once Clinton stepped in, it was a brand new day - for Islamofascists.

You see, the “Gang of 14″ have it all wrong. If we continue to follow the example of so many failed Democrat Presidents, the enemies of the United States of America will have a clear shot at our flank. In a world where force is the only moderator, and be honest with yourself this is a self-evident truth, why would anyone step into the fray armed for a pillow fight?

First, show them you mean business and bring your force to bear. Second, by and through leadership, bring compassion and structure to support growth. Finally, keep your word and honor this new friendship by staying by their side, even when things look grim and all just might be lost.

When has the United States Military EVER slacked off when things looked grim?!

Iwo Jima, Bataan, Valley Forge, Midway, Lexington, and Tarawa.

We’ll never stop fighting to keep Old Glory flying free!!!

If only those in Washington DC had the same, mettle …

UPDATE: Wow, hadn’t read Investor’s Business Daily in some time. Found this article with the same thread as this post - different take is the Editor utilizes Democrat Presidents at the outset whereas I posit all Democrat Presidents were “governed by the law of inaction”.

Thanks Cao for the OTBP there at Cao’s Blog!

I want to share a very important message that The Gunn Nutt asked me to cross post. We all really need to help everyone that is adversely affected by the Global War on Terror. In this case, your help goes directly to the soldiers at Walter Reed.

Olney Park Golf Event — October 7th 2006

Please, read on:

Hello Everyone,

My name is Sgt. Mark Kreisher and I am a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), while I recover from injuries. I have met most of you either at a golf outing or at WRAMC. I am contacting all of you because at some point each of you has touched my life and helped my recover in a positive way.

I have been a patient at WRAMC for 9 months. One of the hardest things I have faced during my recovery (both physical and mental) was getting myself back out in public and trying to resume doing some of the things I did before my injuries. Thanks to some GREAT individuals, groups, and organizations I was offered the chance to learn and play the game of golf. Golf became a big part of my physical and mental therapy and I’m afraid without the
opportunities afforded to me I would still be sitting in the lonely confines of my room feeling sorry for myself. I (along with dozen of my friends) have been provided golf equipment at no charge, free lessons from a PGA instructor, and unlimited range time at no charge! The instructors do not care if we have lost an eye, two legs or an arm, they help us develop our golf games despite our “limitations”. They have donated their time to instruct us, and treat us as if we were paying customers.

I’m not going to pull any punches on this matter and I’m not the type of person that finds it easy to ask for help, but I DESPARATELY need HELP from each and every one of you, as well as your friends and colleagues! I have been asked to coordinate a fundraising event that is very near and dear to my heart! The Disabled American Veterans and Yellow Ribbon Fund, in conjunction with Olney Golf Park and local PGA instructors Jim Estes and Matt Kayson, have set up a fund dedicated to their goal to provide quality golf and recreational opportunities for military personnel injured while on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The fund that has provided me and numerous other soldiers with these opportunities is running dangerously low, and it tears me up inside to think that it won’t be around to HELP my fellow SOLDIERS in the future, as it has helped me and my friends in the past year.

My HOPE is that through donation of items and cash, 100% of the money raised will go directly to helping soldiers.

I NEED EVERYTHING!! DOOR PRIZES, SILENT AUCTION ITEMS, CONTEST PRIZES and CASH DONATIONS.

If you can donate something, no matter how small, I can use it. I also need each of you to PLEASE pass this E-MAIL on to anyone you know that may be able to help. I have never done anything like this, so if any of you have any advice for me, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me, and please keep me in your prayers!

I can arrange for any companies that would like to hang a banner during the event to do so, and there is room for approximately 10 to 15 tents.

The Event will be held on October 7th, from 1pm-5pm, at Olney Golf Park, in Olney Maryland (www.olneygolfpark.com). There will be free golf clinics, free golf exhibitions, short game challenge, putting contest, and many other fun activities.

I am pleading for your help, failure is not an option for me on this project! I believe too much in this program to let it DIE! PLEASE let me know how YOU can HELP!

For Cash donations make checks payable to Disabled American Veterans. Items and donations can be sent to:

Olney Golf Park
Attn. Mark Kreisher
3414 Emory Church Rd.
Olney MD 20832

Thanks to each of You!

Mark Kreisher
U.S. Army
Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Mark’s e-mail, in case you can make a direct connection that can help him out, is here:

mark DOT kreisher AT us DOT army DOT mil

Please help these folks out, in any way you can!

Thanks Gunn Nutt!

And a hearty HOOAH! to the readers of Stand-To! — GET THE WORD OUT, PLEASE!

Members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing stand in a moment of silence, and I am sure some are in prayer, during a September 11th memorial service.

And it is important to recognize, once again, that our brothers in arms are taking the fight directly to those that hate us. They still remember that day, September 11th, when decent lives, a place of commerce and trade, and the peace we enjoy here at home came crashing to the ground. All because of a hatred, and the twisting of a religion, that in the end seeks Israel’s and our complete annihilation. It will not stop until we make it stop.

As MSgt. William Kaufmann sings the National Anthem (say the words to yourself, before continuing please) you can see everyone in solemn salute.

We all know that we may have dodged it in our days. You know, you slipped quickly into the car to miss taps, or end up somewhere on the flightline and not realize taps was being played. But, those days, in fact in my days, are far behind us now. No one, I wager, misses taps anymore!

And as these fine men from left to right, SSgt. Jason Ramirez, SrA. Daniel Utley, SSgt. Duane Nicol, and A1C Chris Dickerson, who are firefighters from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, symbolically lay down firefighter gear, there is a palpable quiet.

No one is fidgeting or trying to bail. No one has forgotten why we are there. At least, no one in the 386th AEW has forgotten. There are men and women serving on the ground, in the air, and on the seas because we have taken back, our country. We shall not leave her, and as these 4 men had one fall out to symbolize a missing man formation, that missing man being a fallen firefighter. We often see a missing man flyby, but rarely will you see this poignant a missing man formation!

And, as taps is played, the Honor Guard is here to bring it all home.

This formation is one that needs to be seen and heard. More Americans need to understand that this honor is one that signifies the greatest price, one that has no boundary. Yet we all know that for us all to be free here at home, and for us all to remain free, that price is one a very few have paid. I say a very few because in relation to those that live here, in freedom, and pay nothing, there are those willing to carry your weight. There is no finer service than that paid by those that rush into danger to save another. And, there is no finer honor than those same that will also pay with their lives for us to be free.

Three volleys, and if you’ve heard the sound, you know how your insides thump every time a volley is fired.

Just a simple 21 rounds go off for those that have fallen. But that sound, that strength, and that conviction is what we all know keeps us free here at home. 21 rounds, people, just 21 rounds …

And, do you remember your training, as do I? Do you remember getting yelled at by your DI (drill instructor) for botching the whole thing? Did your DI scream at you at the top of their lungs? Do you remember what they told you? I bet these fine men and women still do!

Not one of these fine men and women would ever dream of showing their palm. There is code, there is honor, and there is bravery - no palms, ever! Refuse to succumb to those that do not know, or have forgotten, or cannot fathom, why the palm is never to be shown in salute.

I still grab my outseams during the National Anthem. I still stand ram-rod straight during her solemn pledge, our anthem. If I’m wearing a cover, I still salute …

WITHOUT EVER SHOWING MY PALM!!!

And I can give a friggin’ damn about the looks, so keep staring, ’cause we’re still out there!

God Bless and God Speed to all those before and after me. God Bless America. And God Bless the United States Military!

A hearty HOOAH to all of you coming from Stand-To! I’ve been very lucky, and graced, by the team at Stand-To! that have posted my articles! I am so glad that you are out there, fighting the fight, leading the teams, and takin’ it to ‘em! Come back whenever you want, and search for other stuff - I’ve got some US Army stuff here too, really! OK, so, I’m a total zoomie, but God Bless the US Military, and HOOAH!!!

I know that there are so many of you out there doing great work in remembering this day. Your support of all the families is what makes us, us. No fan-fare, just good feelings and support being spread across the blogosphere.

My post is less than so many of you out there have shared. My post is not one of the 2996 posts. My post is just me, and my memories, feelings, and conviction about that ill fated day.

My wife and I were going through her photos of New York, from a vacation she took before we were married. We’re gonna post some of her shots - as our own little memorial.

For now, my September 11th 2001 rememberance is actually a journey. Each step along this journey is one that in reality is marked every day I post in this blog. I cannot put into words how deep my conviction is when it comes to the defense of free people everywhere. Everything I am, and the first steps of my journey, began the day I put my right foot on the first step of that Greyhound Bus, on my way to processing in Fresno CA.

I posted about “Why We Fight” and my reasons for joining the US Air Force. I was still a Junior in High School when I enlisted in the Delayed Enlistment Program. I wasn’t ROTC or a Boy Scout, or only talking about what needed to be done to protect this great nation after Jimmy Carter made the US Military look like fools.

I stepped on that bus and signed my life over to the United States Air Force.

Commitment? Conviction? Love of Country? Patriotism?

What has happened after September 11th separates us all. There are those that lead, and those that are lead. There are those that fight, and those of flight. There are those of action, and those of opinion. There are those of conviction, and those of dereliction. There are those that are patriots, and those that purport.

To me it all boils down to just one thing, comprised of the following questions:

• Are you willing to stand by and allow us all to be overrun?
• Do you truly think that appeasement is a course of action that will quell those engaged in terrorism?
• Do you honestly believe that the only way to defeat an enemy is to negotiate peace with someone sworn to destroy you?

If so, my September 11th is in no way close to yours.

Remember when you could get matchbooks of all kinds on base or post? There were some colorful, some olive drab (not like we didn’t have enough of that to wear), and some said what you were all about.

My Mom loved to collect matchbooks. A very good friend of the family, a US Marine Colonel, loved to collect all kinds of bottles - mostly ones holding alcohol. A trade started that lasted a life time.

I remember stories of what Colonel Benedict went through during WWII. I remember his HUGE bushy eyebrows! And I remember how kind he was and how much he and his wife cared about my Mom and Dad, and our whole family. Their conversations would go on for hours when they came o