I have been contacted by one of The Soldiers’ Angels representatives and the call is going out for everyone to help. At this time please understand that no names are to be provided in this post to provide a high degree of safety for the family as their situation is very personal. Also, there are so many bad people out there that would just love to send scum-like cards, and this family just does not need that right now (you remember those cards, don’t you?).

Our Marine family is stationed in Twenty-Nine Palms, CA. They have one son who is 11 years old and one daughter who is 7 years old. They are in desperate need of our prayers, gifts, cards of encouragement, donations, or just more support from the Milblogosphere! Their son was recently diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The reason that donations of money or maybe clothes is important is because for the past three weeks the Dad, our Marine in Need, has been paying for everything out of his own pocket. It just so happens that the government doesn’t move as fast as a family, or the situation, may require - if you’ve served or are serving now, you know this to be true. And, you may also know that all our brave men and women don’t get paid very much, so this hardship is even more acute.

Please take a moment and read the family’s story:

[Marine in Need] is an active duty Marine Staff Sergeant assigned to the 3rd LAR Battalion, Delta Company. He was deployed to Iraq on March 6, 2006 and was out in the Fallujah area. On or about the 1st week of May he was notified by a message from the Red Cross that his son was diagnosed with Lymphoma cancer. As hard as it was for him to accept this information, he had to make the toughest decision any Marine must make: to leave his fellow Marines to carry on without him. He returned to the United States to be at his son’s side, and supporting his wife, for the ongoing process of undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

Our [Marine in Need’s] son was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma on May 3, 2006 while he was in Iraq. His son had a mass on the right side of his neck that was noticed in November of 2005, and after a biopsy it was found that he had cancer. On May 4, 2006 they had an appointment with a Pediatric Oncologist and that is when their entire situation changed.

Our [Marine in Need’s] son is currently undergoing chemotherapy in the San Diego area at a military hospital. The hospital is about three hours (if traffic is good) from Twenty-Nine Palms where they are currently stationed. The doctor will not allow our [Marine in Need’s] son to travel to Twenty-Nine Palms throughout the length of chemotherapy, which is about six months. The doctor told them that the hospital at Twenty-Nine palms does not have adequate facilities if their son was to get sick. Chemotherapy wipes out one’s immune system; therefore any infection can be fatal.

The need for the this family is immediate. The last three weeks our [Marine in Need] has been paying everything out of his pocket. They have sent their 7 year old daughter to stay with family in Texas so that the Mom and Dad can focus on their son’s health. As far as any of us know, this family is all alone in California - except the biggest family in the world, the United States Marine Corps! Corps takes good care of Corps - but we need to help too! The family needs items like gas cards, gift cards (food), cash donations, cards of encouragement for the family, or drawings from your kids to give to their kids.

Contact me via comments in this post (or my e-mail if ya have it). I’ll provide updates as I receive them.

We really need to get this family some help and some good feelings

We just crossed the Memorial Day line, and we now need to help those in need who are always there ready to help us.

And, spread the word! We need the entire Milblogosphere to get the word out so this family can have a little peace in this very trying time.

UPDATE: Those Helping Us Get the Word Out!

• Soldiers’ Angels - NY
• Chromed Curses
• It’s So Obvious
• A Lady’s Ruminations
• The Uncooperative Blogger
• Mudville Gazette Open Post
• The Voice
• Sister Toldjah Open Post
• Media Lies
• Common Sense America
• The Bullwinkle Blog
• The Florida Masochist
• bRight & Early
• My Country - My View

UPDATE: PLEASE STAND DOWN!

I have been contacted by the Executive Director at Soldiers’ Angels and they have informed me that the Staff Sergeant and his family are overwhelmed! They have had so much support that they’d really appreciate it if we helped out other soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines. That said, please see my new post above: Two of California’s Brave Men Need Help

Thanks all of you for your help!

I hope that everyone has taken the time, before the brewskies, to thank the men and women who have served and paid the ultimate price. Please take the time to say a prayer for those left behind that carry on with their mission to protect everyone here in the greatest country in the world, the United States of America!

This is our simple flag, on a simple home, with a simple cause. Our daughters know the supreme sacrifice paid by so many so that they can enjoy so much. Today’s children, I suspect, do not know the history of our fathers, and the fathers before them.

We had a great time, as short as it was, yesterday. There are several members of the IMAA that get together and have a giant model aircraft air show. The best-est thing was that it took place on the old B-52 alert pads at Castle AFB! Oh yeah, to walk on the tarmac at Castle was a treat!

Well, ya think people see me coming, more appropriately going, with them thar stickers on my truck window?! Uh-huh, they do - not to mention my bright red cap with the 9th AMS badge in white and red! I’ll get a snap of that up here soon.

To top of the whole model aircraft air show was that a few gents, known as the Section 8 Air Force, place lights ALL OVER their radio controlled planes and fly at NIGHT! The girls had a ball, well, and so did the parents.

If you’d like to read a bit about this event, the Modesto Bee has a short snippet found here, and we met THE David Gunnin! He’s my Dad’s neighbor and a good man. He and his wife have been great, and have been very good to my Dad after Mom passed away.

Here’s a shot from the 2003 Event at Castle AFB

I’m telling you this because before the night flight show, I took the girls out to look for the “red line”. There’s a question out there in your head, I know, “What is the red line?”

That is the primary boundary between being watched and being “jacked up”! And, at Beale AFB, jacked up takes on new meaning, lemme tell you!

As we were wandering around the inactive alert pad, I’m explaining what all happened with B-52s, alert posture, and tankers at the ready during the cold war. I took them over to touch some of the taxiway signs and lights, we followed the path of the Follow Me trucks - on foot. Then, BAMMO! The red line! We jumped over it, then back, then over, then back! It was pretty fun for them, and a little bit of the way-back machine for me.

Then, we walked back to where everyone was sitting. I told the girls to yell out to Mommy, with arms raised high in the air flailing around, “I jumped the red line and didn’t get shot!”

Uh-huh, Dad’s a riot, huh?

Take care, God Bless, and God Speed to all those serving today!

And this Fox keeps stealing eggs from my basket and tossing them to other Foxes, on a ranch far away. It’s as if “Robin’s Hood” has been transplanted into today - yet it’s the wiley Fox that is getting the bounty. And our ranches, our hen houses, are California, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. These hen houses haven’t had a guard dog or a door for decades, and they have been falling apart year after year. Some day there’ll be no more eggs - where will the Fox go then?

Watch your six people, there are 46 more states to go - lots of eggs left so get them while they’re free!

I’m a bit tired of being told this situation is “complicated” and requires a “world view”. I am sick of having guilt thrust upon me by others that have no concept or understanding of my situation, history, and plans for the future. I shall not be talked down to by those who believe they know the only solution. There are many solutions, and there are many steps to be taken to get some of them implemented. Can we at the very least stop arguing and start doing something?

Tell me again, am I so stupid? Do I not have enough information to come to my own decisions or conclusions? Can it be the case that it is you, the one with all this “compassion” that is without enough information?

Here’s a backdrop, and you fill in de colores.

My mother is 1st generation American of German and Irish descent. My father emigrated from the United Kingdom a short time after he served his first country in the RAF during WWII. He followed the process, he forfeited his British citizenship and passport for American ones, he worked hard, he retired after 2 heart attacks and 37 years to watch his company go bankrupt - twice. He has crap for a pension. The American way - yep, when times get tough the kids will step in. That is the way we were raised, no matter how proud my parents are, they shall not be destitute.

Should I make you pay for what happened to them? I say no. Is that wrong? Then why is everyone else so quick to make me pay for the lack of planning and problems of others? Perplexed? Uh-huh … me too.

My roots go back into Poland and Prussia, and south to the Black Forest and close to Garmisch and Austria. None of my forefathers were rich. They were tradesmen, soldiers, and cobblers - and maids, cooks, and house keepers. One grandfather made glass for the war effort and the other made machine parts for British Spitfires and bombers. Each generation fought to get one or two rungs higher - always looking to their children’s future. No one in my history was crass or uncaring to those less fortunate.

All anyone had to do was ask. We have very huge hearts and we step in to help. All the men in my family served - either here or abroad - in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and the Royal Air Force and Royal Navy. We have given and sacrificed for our families and our friends and our neighbors.

But, to take from their children’s children?! We defend our honor, and their future. And for the gifts that come only from hard work, why should so many be given something so precious - just for a vote, 10 minutes of air time on the National News, or a hug from Alec Baldwin?

Is being an American that damn cheap?!

Are we just supposed to hand you citizenship? So many people worked hard to get here, and work very hard to stay here. And when the call goes out they raise Old Glory and fight for what this country is all about. And that is NOT a free ride, but the ability and opportunity to work hard and make your children’s children have a better life.

Oh, you noticed I said Old Glory and not some other banner? Uh-huh, that’s right, the American flag is our standard - the standard of those who are Americans. Big clue, if you want to be an American, our flag is red, white, and blue, and it does not run, it is not beneath any other flag, and it is to never touch the ground.

EVER!

Giving of oneself is what is at risk here. American’s are the most giving country. How many disasters last year happened in other countries, and the first people to jump to the ready and help were, who again? What country immediately shifted resources and manpower to save countless thousands from a fate that should befall no one? Have we all forgotten so fast how giving we are?

Have we all forgotten who came to our aid after September 11th, 2001? I remember five countries who truly came to help. Only three still truly stand by our side. (in my opinion those three are the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand - the rest just talk a good story)

When you steal, when you break the law (a law that is never enforced, which is a crime), when you are snatching bread from your neighbors mouth - is that right? Is that Christian? Are we all to just open our doors and let the burglars take what they want, whenever they want? (Kath of In Training has a great post about the UK making burglary OK - sheesh!)

I know that this subject is tough. I know that the people looking for refuge and a safe place to raise their children is all they want. I know that the country that is just a step away is enabling the poor, and also the criminal element, to hop right over to the Circle K known to them as the USA. I know that to be a Christian is to be forgiving and to open your heart, your arms, and your pocket book to help out in times of need.

But, when need is not really need, but the mismanagement of a government and the complacency and lack of fortitude of those in power at home to make things better, well, the rules change because it isn’t really need - it’s greed. Fox and the other Foxes are greedy, and they do not care that they are taking our eggs. In fact this is the most overt case of bowing to socialism I have ever seen, in our own country. And we all know the success of socialism and communism - this is greed of a different kind.

Greed does not care. Greed is boastful. Greed is deriding. Greed is arrogant.

Greed is a sin.

I believe that the American Cardinals, Bishops, and Priests best get off their assesdonkeys burros and teach our southern brethren a thing or two about being Christians. They need to stop telling me - I have a huge family history dedicated to being a Christian, a Patriot, and a Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and Marine. Our politicians need to stop enabling this situation and start making every life and the American way something to really be proud of - not a cheap chat with Matt Lauer or Vanity Fair.

Remember, greed is a sin.
Remember, socialism and communism fails.
Remember, tin horn dictators don’t care about you.
Remember, America is not the free mini-bar for the rest of the world.

For those that just don’t get it, this picture is a poignant look into what the Global War on Terror is all about:

Shall we remain complacent and suffer from a fear that will inevitably ensnare a nation?

It is true, it is hard to be apart from your family and living day to day committed in and for the mission. Your day begins knowing that everyone at home misses you. You miss everyone and make the best of it with those around you. The meals are OK, but you’d just love that [enter greatest meal ever here!]. You don’t tell everyone that your heart aches to be home. You definitely know there is more to this than meets the eye. Your country being safe means that your family, and everyone else’s family, is safe too - it’s worth it.

Optimism? You bet and nothing less will fall short of what the United States Military is all about!

Yes, it is terrible to be at home experiencing so many different things at once. You’re living day to day with those feelings of frustration and hurt that makes you question your resolve. Those chairs at the dinner table are always pushed in when they should be filled right now. Going on an errand the driver’s or passenger’s seat in the car just doesn’t seem the same today. The sounds of laughter when the dog falls of the coach go hallow. Those contagious giggles from the little one are left hanging in the moment. The hurt and frustration has to remain hidden because you know it really isn’t going to help - just so far away.

Is a positive commitment to something larger than all of us, bad? It’s what defines us and makes all families at home what the United States of America is all about!

Whenever you see the hugs, tears of joy, and huge smiles on such tiny faces, remember: it is what we are all about.

All these protests around illegal immigration have brought some interesting things to light. Most of all it makes me mad that our brave fighting men and women are in a foreign land, fighting to protect us, their greatest gift being away from home and family while keeping us safe. And here at home, the supposed elite and intelligentsia are subverting their efforts with election year vote getting and weak-kneed stances in protecting our country. It’s like someone has sent the entire defense of our country to another field of battle, and we’re left here hangin’ in the wind!

I bet if you asked our troops, “Would you rather be here at home guarding our borders?” you’d hear a resounding “YES!”

My favorite plane picture, ’cause it’s got our flag on an F-117! Oooh …

We all know that the fight is there, off our shores, to keep the pressure on and keep the hate machine from destroying us. Yet, within our own borders we are being overrun. Our leaders (sic) no longer realize that they are still lacking the smallest amount of courage when it comes to facing our enemies, staring him down, and putting him in his place. So, with that in mind, here’s my open letter to our lost boys in Washington:

TO: US Senators and Congressmen
FROM: Those who protect you every day
RE: Your Own Pursuit of PERSONAL GAIN!
CC: Everyone that REALLY supports us

Dear Sirs and Madames,

Please refrain from using us as pawns in your selfish pursuit of power, money, and vacuous praise from those in the media. When the President says, “Go!”, we go, no questions asked. Whether you like it or not, he’s in power - you wanna command us, GET THE TOP SEAT! All this shrill rhetoric and back-stabbing use of the media should be done on your own time, and without involving us in any way. You wanna smack your next door neighbor around from the great state of [ENTER STATE HERE], call ‘em on the carpet and do it. But, we are not the stone you throw in this fight to be top dawg.

Take it outside or get a room. It’s shameful!

Oh, and stop whining, quit the lies, and be honest and admit you all are just gathering votes in this election year. Sheesh, we’re not STUCK ON STUPID! Illegal immigration is, and has always been, against the law! Your great body of myopic pinheads have already set down the requirements and rules from which immigrants are allowed into this country. Open arms does not mean open pocket books. Stop giving away my hard earned money to keep you in office. Oh, uh-huh, right, you’re tough on terrorism, you’re a “hawk”, please! Find some BRASS ONES, Sheesh! If we waffled like you people do, hills get lost, morale falls fast, and good people second guess themselves - that is when people die!

Oh, right, you wanted to continue to get elected, get paid $140k a year, and treat us all as inferior dolts incapable of finding you out. Oh wait, all us uninformed doofuses have blogs - time to change your tune again before everyone else finds out. It’s a mess, and you all are at the root of it. Let’s be honest here, you really DO want illegal aliens in this country. You Democrats know that they benefit from your “MotorVoter Act” by using fake IDs and drivers licenses to vote for you Democrats! And, you shameless Republicans are giving away our right to enjoy our hard earned pay and benefits so you can get reelected and not have to make a stand.

And, McCain and Kennedy? What the HELL is going on?! Have the planets aligned in such a way that we are soon to be crashing into Uranus?! (pun intended) If you hate us so, just slap a “Kick Me” sign on my back!

That’s right, votes, power, poll numbers, new voters from other countries, fickle friends in the media, kisses from the Europeans … spare me.

You’ve got two hands and two feet, use them to do one of these two honorable things:

1) Stand up, wave Buh-Bye, and walk out
2) Pick up a shovel, dig some fence posts, come on out and truly support us

Your mouth? Keep it in park, we’ve heard enough!

Sincerely,

THE TROOPS AND PROUD AMERICANS FOR A SAFER COUNTRY

Wish they could hear us. If you haven’t already, please go here and vote. And then, use their contact for found here and give ‘em another ear full.

These pinheads.

See Ya!

I just got pinged by LinkedInUSAF about this program. It seems that the state of Illinois has implemented a program supporting the US Military. Folks that are residents of Illinois before and plan to return after their tour can get an MBA through the University of Illinois, for free! Now, that four letter word is pretty important, wouldn’t you say?! Here is the info from LinkedInUSAF’s blog post:

Here is a link that provides the background on this program:

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

Here is the quick version of eligibility from his site and the link above:

To be a qualified applicant, you must:

Have served at least one year of federal active duty service in the Armed Forces of the United States, unless you:

• served in a foreign country in a time of hostilities in that country, or
• were medically discharged and the medical reason for discharge was service related, or
• were discharged prior to August 11, 1967.
• Have received an honorable discharge for each period of federal active duty service, and/or be honorably serving.
• Not be a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).
• Have resided in Illinois within six months before entering federal active duty service or within six months prior to entering the service.
• Have returned or plan to return to Illinois within six months after leaving federal active duty service unless you are residing with a spouse in continued military service and establish or plan to establish Illinois residency within six months of his/her leaving federal active duty service.
• Be enrolled at an Illinois public 2 or 4 year college.
• Reside in Illinois unless you are serving federal active duty service at the time of enrollment in college or residing with a spouse in continued military service who is currently stationed outside of Illinois.
• Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant.
• Maintain the minimum grade point average (GPA) required by your college.

If you are currently serving in the Illinois National Guard you may also be eligible for the Illinois National Guard Grant Program.

If you receive benefits from the IVG Program while serving federal active duty service, upon discharge you will be required to verify that your service has been characterized as honorable.

Now some of you may be asking, “But, isn’t this a statewide program?”

Yeah, but I was contacted directly to help spread the word, by two very dedicated gentlemen looking to help our brave fighting men and women. I believe that the University of Illinois deserves the bulk of this post for that alone. It took a cold call to me, a short conversation, and some exchanging of LinkedIn connecting to seal the deal. No other college or university has done that with me, until now. Lion’s share goes to the one to execute and follow through.

Ya know the saying, “To the victor goes the spoils.”

Well, I have to agree, if the University of Illinois contacted me directly, they’d get the bulk of the page too.

I did a little extra hunting and found out that there is another place actively promoting this program. When I did a web-search I found a company called Bradley/Wiltjer, a marketing firm. They are trying to help U of I get the word out, too. You can go here to see their post about the program. And they also encourage you to read more about the Executive MBA Program at www.mba.illinois.edu/veterans.

So, get the word out and help some of our brave fighting men and women an MBA. I wish this was around when I was serving, as I suspect some of you do as well. Just because it wasn’t around when we were serving doesn’t mean we cannot help everyone else today!

Happy 3rd Anniversary of milblogging, running the great MiliBlogs webring, and giving me my first ever link so many moons ago (on another blog). Your roundups in the Dawn Patrol are great, and your posts are always a great read!

So, Greyhawk and Mrs Greyhawk, Happy Anniversary!

It hit me while I was reading a short history of Yamamoto’s demise in the current issue of Air Force Magazine: intel is something that makes or brakes a war. While I was amazed at the bravery and commitment of those P-38 pilots, the fact that we knew when and where Yamamoto would be was astounding. Questions ran through my mind:

• Who lost their life collecting this information (HUMINT)?
• Was anyone’s position given away as they transmitted the information (SIGINT)?
• Weren’t we close to having decoders for Japanese Communications (SIGINT)?
• Was a position overrun during a battle and we recovered information (HUMINT)?

And, what’s truly an example of the US Military’s commitment to the mission is that many men took a huge chance to strike back at the man who hit Pearl Harbor. Admiral Nimitz was in no mood to let this man escape - Nimitz wanted Yamamoto.

As it turns out, the US was working very hard at decoding Japanese communiques. Here’s a tiny snippet from Air Force Magazines article “Magic and Lightening” by Rebecca Grant, contributing editor of Air Force Magazine:

“Since well before Midway, Navy cryptographers had been breaking elements of the Japanese code through a secret program known as Magic. Even when the Japanese ciphers changed, the code-breakers could usually catch at least 15 percent of the contents of a message and decode more with the help of early IBM computing machines.”

“In April 1943, the chief of code and translation at Fleet Radio Unit, Pacific Fleet, usually scanned the messages. The American cryptographers knew that this message, while just partially decoded, was of immense value.”

“It fell to Cmdr. Edwin T. Layton, Nimitz’s fleet intelligence officer, to bring the news to the boss. There were definite risks in acting on partially decoded information, but Nimitz did not hesitate. The intelligence was sent to the area commanders, including Mitscher.”

The following image is the decoded transmission:

The source of the image is from “Lightning Strike: The Secret Mission to Kill Admiral Yamamoto and Avenge Pearl Harbor” by Donald A. Davis.

One last little snippet is here:

“‘What a damn fool thing to do,’ said an enraged Japanese commander when he saw the telegram.”

That my friends is the biggest argument for the secrecy of intel. No matter how confident you are, no matter how battered you think the enemy may be, no matter how few members of the opposition you face, keep intel close to the chest! Even the smallest bit of information can blow a hole so wide in your operation that you’ll wish you never woke up that morning.

I want to thank Amy Proctor, again, for the lively comments in the thread titled “Media Ignores Bush Exoneration”. I know, I seem like a broken record here, but she really has a Hot LZ going on over there! And when comments in that thread started to smell like the old conspiracy about Bush hiding all the information, I got to thinking about this story of Yamamoto being shot down because intel was compromised. There are so many bloggers out there without the experience of, or drive to learn about, relatively recent history and the role intel plays in a war. We all need to repeat to the unwashed masses out there that intel is always kept secret to save lives.

Remember, “Loose lips sink ships”!

No matter how hard a person tries to resist repeating the past, it just seems to happen. And if history is to repeat itself, why not choose the history that you’d like to repeat, thereby controlling the future?

Eh, I digress … these kids’ll never learn!

Oh! And you really need to read your Air Force Magazine this month! The fact that we sent just 18 P-38s up against Yamamoto’s 2 bombers and tons of Zeros as escorts - and we still bagged ‘im. The P-38s had to fly 30 feet off the water for over 500 miles (and no air conditioning in that black painted glassed in enclosure! Commitment? You betcha!

Ahhh, what a fine old bird she was - and FAST! Boy howdy, gimme a P-38 or a P-51. Hmmm …

I just finished a HUGE diatribe over at Amy Proctor’s Blog. Man, some of her subjects and the folks that post there get me all fired up! Sheesh … I saw that the Chief from The Truth was over there, so, howdy Chief!

Anyway, here’s my comment on the post called Academia VS. US Military:

For those that clearly have nothing good to say about the military, or have said that the entire US Military would be uneducated (stupid) if it weren’t for universities, or that our institutions today would be just fine without the US Military, many questions come to mind for me. And if I wrote those questions, I think some might take them as an afront, or something said that has no merit or rooted in fact. Instead, maybe I’ll just take a moment to reflect on what is going on around us all, yet from our side.

You may not want us. You may not like us. You think we are being elitist because we speak often of patriotism, duty, corps, self-sacrifice, honor, code, chain of command, leadership, past wars, conflicts, and covert ops. Some even think we are dumb and blind followers without a reasoning or rational bone in our bodies. You call us facists, baby killers, drones, jack-booted thugs, parasites, war mongers, pleebs (that’s a good one, I got that one in the Newark Airport while PCSing back from USAFE), and extremists. You think we are out of touch and spend too much of the budget and more should be going to our schools (hmmm, that’s a funny one too), or welfare, or just a cause to which you have become attached. You do not believe that any foreign force would actually attack us, in our sleep, without provocation, and try to destroy everything that makes this country great. You praise those that take to foreign soil and speak out against this country, yet look down your nose at the man or woman taking off their hat, placing hand over heart, during the National Anthem. You think it a cause to protest out in front of hospitals where young soldiers are in pain, families are visiting, and their pain is even greater. You do not know the copious amount of time spent studying world history, war, foreign and domestic battles or small skirmishes, political systems and culture, as well as language studies coupled with deportment (military bearing is the term we use). You may not believe in preemptive actions to stave off an even greater threat. You may think that HUMINT (human intel) and SIGINT (signals or communications intel) are abhorrent and should be stopped, even though you’d love to have the answers to a test you are about to take.

Let’s all be honest. There are a significant number of personnel in the US Military that are career military and have more experience, training, and love for this subject which affords them a sort of self-assuredness - often seen as arrogance. There is more to this than meets the eye, and with enough intel and experience, you might sing a different tune.

Dirty little secret: you need us.
Happy little fact: we know it.
Huge Guarantee: we’ll always be there to protect.
Obvious Result: we get no thanks, ’cause less and less of you learn because we have gotten better at what we do.
Biggest Reaction: we are degraded for being who we are.

And that last one, biggest reaction, my friends, is bigotry. Bigotry goes many ways, is in many forms, and takes all comers.

This has nothing at all to do with funds for universities. Research isn’t the only game in town. The private sector, especially entrepreneurship, is more beneficial to the US Military than universities. The situation where toys for the military come from universities is becoming less and less prevalent. Not everyone in development is swimming in degrees. Not every degree is applied to the actual job at hand.

It isn’t the book or the professor, it is the student. And, books don’t come from universities but private publishers. Odd how that works, too, you can pay to have your words printed and people will buy them. Amazing! Do I need a professor to make this all happen?

Boy Scouts, Recruiters on campus, Religion, Conservatism, Capitalism, US Military, Big Business, Pro-Life … c’mon, we all know the drill.

Rius has a great book, “Marx for Beginners” where I learned a great deal, sorta self-taught on some stuff (got your six, Chief). Walking through East Berlin during the height of the Cold War - more learning goin’ on. Standing face to face with a foreign power hell-bent on removing me from the face of the earth - try it, it’ll show you new paths to enlightenment.

CJ over at A Soldiers’ Perspective is trying to organize a letter writing campaign. If you are a regular reader over there, or have seen others posting about the situation I am about to describe, then you’re on “the list” and you know what ya gotta do - I’m just backin’ up CJ with extra motivation if you haven’t done your duty yet! .:. Hint .:. Hint .:.

If you are new to this issue, here we go.

CJ’s first post gave us all the background to the story regarding the treatment of Sgt. Rickey Jones’ family. Sgt. Jones, 21 and from Kokomo, Indiana, died while serving in Iraq. Here’s his photo:

When police have to be posted at someone’s home 24×7, the story is already getting ugly. Why would anyone need that level of security? I mean, Sgt. Jones died in Iraq, fighting for our country, our safety, and everyone’s freedom of speech.

He did not, however, die for some stupid groups freedom to destroy personal property, defame the family, and harass them at all hours via the phone line. The phone harassment should get the FBI involved, at the very least, since the phone is governed/regulated by the FCC - equaling Federal Jurisdiction. I know that if I do something stupid while using my 2M Handheld or HF Radio (I’m a HAMM), the FCC would come down hard and get other offices/authorities involved depending on the offense.

Where is the FBI now? I don’t know, but I’d add one small thread to this letter writing campaign and expand it to getting the FBI involved. Long shot? Sure, but hey, defame a soldier, go to jail!

IMHO

Now, defame is light when you take the words spoken in one of these phone calls:

“I’m glad your son is dead.”

What? Who are these callers anyway? Some strange sect/group of athiests that don’t believe in God, or the sanctity of life and death? Do these protestors range from the nail-IN-the-tree, lab burning, window-trashing types that make a big story everytime there is a G-7 meeting? No, these people are from, wait for it:

Westboro Baptist Church

Wow, I never would have guessed. You?

That said, I think that putting together a few letters to help this family through is the least we can do. In fact, my family and I are working on ours tonight.

The details on how, who, and when are on CJ’s site. The title is Letter Writing Request. I’ll repost a paragraph or two here to help ya out:

“I am trying to help organize a letter writing campaign to the family of SGT Rickey Jones’ family. As you may have read earlier, their home was vandalized by idiots who wouldn’t understand patriotism if it flew a plane through their bedroom window.”

“If you own a blog, please post this effort on your respective blogs and ask your readers to post it on their blogs. If you are as disgusted as I am and would like to write a letter to have delivered to this family, please email Lauren (mailto:MyWay716@aol.com) for more information. The good people over at Operation Military Pride are helping facilitate the delivery of these letters.”

Now, my being ex-USAF, I personnaly like CJ’s “idiots who wouldn’t understand patriotism if it flew a plane through their bedroom window”! Ha! If that just don’t give ya the right imagery?!

Oh, one more great paragraph:

“If you feel the same way I do, please email her and write this family a letter of support and love. Let them know that we appreciate their son’s service and mourn their loss. Let’s show them what America is really made of. This isn’t about whether or not you support the war. This is about common decency for a family that has suffered the ultimate sacrifice … having to bury a child. Thank you in advance. When this is over, I want the post office to have to hire new postmen just to handle the volume. Yes, it’s a challenge, as LinkedinUSAF would say.”

I caught this post over at LinkedInUSAF too … lot more calm over there …

[UPDATE: 5 March, 2006 at 14:21]
[CORRECTION - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION]
Buck over at Exile in Portales dug deeper into the story and alerted me that I missed a big piece of information: where to send your letters/snail-mail! I had not seen Heidi’s posting over at Euphoric Reality, which is where they included the mailing address for the local High School.

After writing to Lauren, CJ’s major helper, she would like you to contact her directly through the above e-mail address. She wants to ensure that we do not end up with another Joshua Sparling situation - and I agree! I have pulled down the address for the High School, and ask that you e-mail Lauren directly. Thanks.

I’d also like to add the folks that I know of who are trying to help, and have posted pleas for help in CJ’s letter writing campaign:

Euphoric Reality
Exile in Portales
You Betcha I’m a Proud Army Mom
Soldiers’ Angels - New York
Big Dog’s Weblog
Cao’s Blog
And THAT is MY Opinion
A Lady’s Ruminations
Gribbit’s Word
Conservative Insurgent
Ms. Underestimated
Iraq War Today
Landrys Life
Yikes!
A Rose By Any Other Name
Sparks From the Anvil
Blackfive
Right Truth
Conservative Cogitation
WhenEvilProspers
No End But Victory
In Training
Milblogging.com
Knowledge is Power

I’ll continue to update this list as more come online. Thanks to everyone I contacted in a separate e-mail for helping out and posting!     

Much of the history behind this story can be found by talking to WWII bomber pilots about the British Ferry Command. For extra color, ask Chuck Yeager about why I say the sound barrier went quiet, in memory, on the 10th of August, 1980. From the story on AF.mil, let me just drop some amazing firsts:

• Flew and tested the first turbo-supercharger ever installed on an aircraft engine in 1934
• Set three major flying records in 1937 and won the prestigious Bendix Race in 1938
• First person to fly and test the forerunner to the Pratt & Whitney 1340 and 1535 engines
• Flew and tested the first wet wing ever installed on an aircraft
• Helped design the first oxygen mask, and then became the first person to fly above 20,000 feet wearing one
• First flight on the Republic P-43, recommended a longer tail wheel installation (later installed on all P-47s)
• Flew many experimental flights for Sperry Corporation, testing gyro instruments (oooh, first INS, say Yeah!)
• Set three speed records, won the Clifford Burke Harmon trophy three times, and set a world altitude record of 33,000 feet – all before 1940

Now, if I said the name, you might say, “Wow! I know who that is!” But, I figure a little more dust-N-cobwebs need to be shaken from the old belfries. So, I must go on. Before I do, I think that a reality check is in order. Were you thinking all this time that all this was achieved by a man? You’re wrong. Read on:

• In 1941 she captured an aviation first by being the first woman pilot to pilot a military bomber across the Atlantic Ocean
• She was soon recruiting women pilots to ferry planes for the British Ferry Command, and became the first female trans-Atlantic bomber pilot
• Another renowned female pilot, Nancy Harkness Love, suggested the establishment of a small ferrying squadron of trained female pilots which was approved
• General H.H. Arnold asked her to command, staff, and train women to fly, which ultimately became the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots
• In 1948 she became a member of the independent Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Reserve. She had various assignments which included working on sensitive projects important to defense
• She was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for services to her country during World War II
• She was the first woman to break the sound barrier in an F-86 Sabre Jet in 1953
• She set a world speed record of 1,429 mph in 1964
• She retired from the Reserve in 1970 as a Colonel
• At the age of 70 she took up soaring
• In 1971, she was named Honorary Fellow, Society of Experimental Test Pilots and inducted into the Aviation Hall of Fame

This great woman is none other than Jacqueline Cochran!

[Graphic compliments of the U.S. Air Force]

In fact, to put a finer point on it, this paragraph says it all:

“She recruited more than 1,000 Women’s Airforce Service Pilots and supervised their training and service until they were disbanded in 1944. More than 25,000 applied for training, 1,830 were accepted and 1,074 made it through a very tough program to graduation. These women flew approximately 60 million miles for the Army Air Force with only 38 fatalities, or about 1 for every 16,000 hours flown. Cochran was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for services to her country during World War II.”

She was also the Grandmother of the United States Air Force, in my opinion.

“Jacqueline “Jackie” Cochran was a leading aviatrix who promoted an independent Air Force and was the director of women’s flying training for the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots program during World War II. She held more speed, altitude and distance records than any other male or female pilot in aviation history at the time of her death.”

We all, those of you Air Force types out there reading, can thank Jacqueline Cochran for pushing to have an independent Air Force. She, and other very dedicated individuals, made a branch of the service from an already strong tree, the United States Army.

Alright, this is truly a long flight. And, anyone that has been on a MAC transport (oops, AMC) knows that windows and flight attendants are - scarce?

You know, the general disorientation that comes with a long flight, crappy seats, the constant humm of the T-56s - oops, C-130 days flooding back here - umm, actually the Pratt and Whitneys whine. You look up, as Captain Erik Aadland does above (front row middle), and realize you are only 2 hours into the flight. Ugh. As time drags on you find yourself living the old adage: a soldier can sleep anywhere, anytime, if the opportunity presents itself. Just look, some of the most unpleasant conditions and folks are sleeping.

And then the bird hit the active runway, you taxi for a few moments, it seems like a lifetime, and then, chocks. Yeah! You get to really stretch your legs and that just seems like heaven. Now you’re out in broad daylight walking towards the “terminal”. We all know that Military Passenger Terminals are a far cry from the ones at home. As you head around the tail section of the plane, you see your destination just across the tarmac - and other folks are headin’ your way to get on the plane you just got off. Do they know how long their flight is going to be?

Actually, I think they do know how long the flight is, but they just want to sit down and sleep - for however long it takes to get home.

In those 5 words, the President of the United States:

• Separates the men from the boys
• Restates the classic oil and water conundrum
• Draws a line in the “sand” for those with no stomach
• Firmly states why the United States Military is what it is - the best

I’ll tell ya, when I hear words like those coming from a sitting President that has conviction and steadfast commitment, you just wanna re-up! At the very least you know that your CINC has got your six! At issue is if the rest of the electorate has the resolve to do what is right, what is needed, and what will keep us all safe.

Do you see a waffling, poll-numbers loving, womanizing, crocodile tears CINC here:

I know I don’t!

But, maybe that’s ’cause everything President Bush has done up to now has been to keep us all safe. We can all wander down the lane moaning and groaning about the spending, placating the Democrats on their stupid issues, and sucky candidates ad nauseam. But our true threat is far across the oceans, seas, and gulfs.

In President Bush’s speech in Afghanistan, found here at AF.mil, he went on to say:

“You saw our nation was attacked and when your country called you gladly served. This government will not blink, we will not yield. We are on the right course and the world will be a better place because of your service. God bless you for protecting our country.”

At every waking moment, every Sunday in Church, and whenever I see an Air Force plane, Navy ship, Army Duece-N-A-Half, USMC Hummer, or Coast Guard cruiser (we have those here in N. California), I wish them all God Speed and thank them for being there for my family.

On Monday, CJ over at A Soldiers’ Perspective wrote a great piece, IED Rollup #15, about numerous weapons caches siezed over the last week! He posits that these seizures equate to somewhere in the neighborhood of the 530 or so IEDs found, translating conservatively into about 3,710 lives saved! This AF.mil article has a great photo I thought would compliment CJ’s post:

[U.S. Navy Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Samuel Peterson]

Airmen with the 447th Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team explore a munitions bunker in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Feb. 20, 2006. The bunker was discovered after a previous detonation scorched the earth, revealing the entrance to a larger weapons cache.

Whenever I had the opportunity to meet anyone in EOD, I was always impressed and in awe. That is a job for steady nerves, lots of guts, and serious commitment!

Everyone in EOD: I and my family thank you for being there!

Ohhh, this is a great shot, don’t ya know!

Those words were written by “The Chief” over at The Truth. His posting, Children Do Not Lie has a quote, or assertion, one should take to heart these days:

“I ask each one of you reading this blog: Are you aiding or abetting the enemy? Are you corrupting our children? Are your words helping or hurting our Global War On Terrorism?”

I think that this is a very valid query. In the age of, no I think more appropriately The Starbucks Society nails it, too many folks are forgetting that there are consequences to every action. In fact, those consequences are deeper still during a war. Not many “kids” these days are aware of what this really means.

Sad, isn’t it?

Anyway, I think that the Chief has a great snippet there. In his own words he takes a quick moment to provide a look into what it is we Milboggers do that is so very different from the MSM. (remember, MSM = losers) In fact, his posting is based on a posting by Michael Yon, The Battle for Mosul IV.

The gist of the story the Chief was going after is how the media are willing accomplices (like Halifax and Mosely in Word War II). The MSM is trying so very hard to toss Bush out, or actually get an indictment and an impeachment to follow, because they are hurt. Yes, it is feelings that are more important than national security here. Make no mistake.

Halifax and Mosely were against Churchill - you decide, but I choose Churchill any time of day, hands down! So would Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, I reckon. (duh)

The assertion that keyed me to write: are your words helping or hurting. I joined, as we humans often do, the previous sentences with that to come away with, “Are your words helping or hurting your children?” Are your words, actions or deeds, corrupting your children?

My answer is, emphatically, “No.”

OK, as Kit or Heidi would say, “Hell No!”

Then, I read a post from a few days ago by Buck over at Exile in Portales. He’s worried about what his 9 year old is learning - like the war in Iraq is over oil. Hmmm … gives ya the willies, doesn’t it? I’m sure Buck will find a way to make it right.

Talk about resolve!

This woman, someone’s GrandMa, someone’s Mom, loves our fighting men and women! I gotta tell ya, this woman is what America is all about! Where is the MSM on all this stuff?

Obviously, they are blatantly and unabashedly absent on that line, the line for freedom.

Why is it that they missed out on such a great story of love for our troops?

I am sure that there are numerous reasons flying around your cranium - as in mine. One that just seems to jump out reminds me of a James Hirsen piece on NewsMax, an interview with Gary Sinise (my all time favorite actor right now, next to Mel Gibson). Read his words about how the MSM really just doesn’t care, and how they think that since bad news sells, they can justify their lack of good coverage ’cause they are “giving the people what they want”.

Well, there are several instances where I can recount tin-horn dictators, fascists of notoriety, having said that they were just giving the people what they want.

Does that make it right?

MSM = Losers

When I see these scenes I can feel the strength of conviction. I can see on their faces the limits of mortality that hit home in such a brief moment. I can see the friend that will forever miss his best friend - in this world only. And I can see the steely resolve that is an American.

[US Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David P. Benamati]

I know that I said this is a US Air Force blog. But, when push comes to shove I am pro-Military and that is all that matters. As I see it, we all fight for the same country. And, folks, we all die for the same country!

I noticed on a friends site that there are some comments out there about “Old Glory”. Do you think that any of these men would see our flag being burned?

I think not.