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.”?

Dang, I thought that I had dodged the bullet. Alas, not so … celebrity fever smack down has hit me as well. My wife got slammed about a day before me, so the whole house is a friggin’ sick ward!

If you see this virus hit anyone that your kids come into contact with, or someone you know at your work, then I have one thing to say:

RUN, DON’T WALK TO THE EXIT!!!

Yikes, what an evil virus. And, if you had a flu shot, this one was not on their list. Twits! I never get flu shots anymore as I believe it is a complete waste of time.

Well, we’re back home, early …

Our youngest, who is Type I diabetic (insulin dependent) had a temperature of 104.9! We tried to control it, but ended up going to Eisenhower Emergency (Palm Desert/Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage) just to be sure. That emergency room was like a place I never want to go again. You really do experience the depth to which our medical system has been dragged once you enter California’s emergency rooms. I felt like I stepped into someone’s cruel idea they had in store for those requiring immediate care.

One woman had waited SEVEN HOURS to be seen. For what condition, I have no idea, but at least she was mobile and capable. Our daughter was at 103-105, tired, it was 1am, and people were coughing. By 2am, we asked the triage nurse to check her temperature - if it dropped, we’d go home. It had slipped a bit closer to 102, so the nurse gave us some tylenol, and we took her back to the house.

Yesterday morning, I jammed everything in the car, we topped her off with some more tylenol, and hit the road for the 8+ hour drive home. Both girls were tired, but I think they feel better being in their own home.

For a short vacation, it was a bust … too bad …

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 …

Folks, this Sunday, the 25th of June, is the 10 year anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Khobar Towers. At a time where this country had returned to the ways of men like Neville Chamberlain and Jimmy Carter, we get one more big appeaser. And, appeasement gets you, what?

This:

AF.mil Courtesy Photo

And this:

U.S. Air Force photo by SrA. Sean Worrell

Ronald Reagan didn’t end the Cold War by making sure that the Europeans loved us and that the USSR was ready for a big group hug and a shot of vodka! Real, true force, a determined effort to develop new defensive technology, and having no fear to step into the fray prevents scenes like …
This:

U.S. Air Force photo by SSgt. Cesar Rodriguez

And, in the end, we never fired a shot at the USSR. We put enormous pressure on the Europeans, we made sure that the USSR knew we meant business, and we provided enough evidence that no matter how much you throw at us, we’re still gonna kick some ass!

So, Sunday, please pay special attention and pray for our departed brothers in arms from the Khobar Towers bombing. I’ll leave you with this shot of the memorial for our fallen at the former Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia:

AF.mil Courtesy Photo

God Bless and God Speed.

Also posted at California Conservative

DoD DVIDS Photo by Spc. Ferdinand Thomas, 214th MPAD, Richmond, VA

Your freedom to hate the US Military,
Your freedom to vilify those prosecuting the Global War on Terror,
Your freedom to burn Old Glory, our standard, the banner of freedom,
Your freedom to key my truck because you hate my showing pride in my service,
Your freedom to be born and later carelessly take the life of the unborn,
Your freedom to feel guilt for your own success because others are not,
Your freedom to stand in awe of this great country,

This is your freedom, paid for by 480,000 servicemembers being honored at the WWII Memorial in Washington D.C. Each star represents 100 souls and the memorial has 4,800 stars.

DoD DVIDS Photo by Spc. Ferdinand Thomas, 214th MPAD, Richmond, VA

Will you continue to disrespect this man, someone’s Dad, someone’s GrandPa, someone who truly knows what freedom means? Can you take for granted, with all you have today, the freedom this man’s brothers in arms sacrificed? Are you so bent on being right that you have forgotten the fact that previous governments and regimes would snuff an inconsequential person such as yourself without a care? Has the value of freedom paid by so many been lost on you, ’cause you forgot? Do you not see that freedom is costly, requires commitment and sacrifice, and cannot be taken lightly?

Freedom is earned. It is blood, sweat, tears, and long periods of time alone in foreign lands and at home. It is a path not all take. It is the families left behind that continue to pay the day to day sacrifices for freedom.

Your freedom must be cherished, because you have been given the greatest gift.

God Speed to all before me. God Bless those left behind.

Also posted at US Army: Stand-To!

Also posted at California Conservative

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!

Last Sunday afternoon, April 30th at 2:20p, God called my Mom to join Him. It is a very solemn moment, and one that happens to so many people every day. When it is you, it just takes time to adjust and understand.

My Mom’s biggest challenge was Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is a disease for which there is no cure and treatments are only bandaids. There are many procedures and drugs, and some people fight for a few years and some fight for a decade or two. For my Mom, and my Dad, it has been about 8 years. And yes, it affects both people especially near the end.

My Dad fought hard for no one to notice. My Dad fought to ensure her time was enjoyable and that she had immediate access to care - and her children and grandchildren. My Dad fought to keep her going, and in the end he fought to keep her as comfortable as possible. My Mom wanted to be at home and so with 24×7 care and Hinds Hospice, she had her wish.

She quietly went to be with Him … we’ll quietly say a prayer and then celebrate her life this coming Monday, May 8th, with a funeral Mass held by Father Tom. The wake, well, it will be simple and something I know Mom would love.

Take care, everyone, and thank you all for your prayers and kind words. It means so much to have friends I have never shaken hands with, never seen person to person, and friends that understand and care.

Sorry to have not posted very much lately. Often times when I drop onto other blogs and notice the writer has been away for a while, they say they’re sorry when they return. It’s nice to know a little about what is going on - when someone is quiet. I figured I’d let you know now …

My Mom is in very poor health. It is truly only a matter of time. We are spending all effort to keep my Dad going.

I’ll be back. Pop in now and again. You’ll soon see posts … thanks for being patient and understanding.

The C-5A that crashed in Dover, Delware on 3 April, 2006, just tears at me. To see a scene like this:

Just cries out to someone like me that loves all things US Air Force. I am so very glad that everyone was able to leave the aircraft alive, even if reports are true that three airmen are in serious or critical condition. To understand the gravity of this class of a crash, look at the size of the fireman near the wing, and the top of the C-5!

This aircraft is NOT on landing gear making the total hieght even higher.

My hat goes off to the crew for making this less tragic than it could have been. For those of you that have either piloted, or watched the C-5 in T-A-Gs, this bird is one tough customer! Even though her landing gear can match “crab” on approach, she still is bound by physics. She can be torn off course with ease, and with engine trouble - the reported cause of the return to Dover AFB - this is no simple feat to bring her home safe. Those who know also know that reverse thrust is a tricky situation. Top that with a healthy dose of weather and engine trouble … I shudder to think how this transpired and the feelings of the crew and passengers.

It is very sobering to realize that this is only the second C-5 to crash in 16 years! For all the flights/air miles she clocks, I am amazed. Next to the C-130 and the C-17, she moves more payload in the air than any bird around. Here is the snippet from AF.mil about the last crash:

“The last C-5 crash was on Aug. 28, 1990, during Operation Desert Shield. A C-5 crashed after takeoff from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, killing 13 of the 17 people on board.”

And, my deepest thanks go out to the ground crew and firemen that have to answer the call.

For those who have had to train on aircraft fire suppression techniques (most flightline personnel do), I respect this job! OK, we just have to put a pan of flaming JP-4 out with a standard fire bottle (the ones you see in flightline photos from AF.mil). When an aircraft goes down, it is mayhem of the highest degree, and flames so hot I cannot even begin to explain.

Thank God they are all safe. Please pray for all the airmen to be released safe, and say a prayer for their families too. And, say a special prayer for the men and women who fight those fires and rescue our flight crews. Firefighters should never go unthanked, and always deserve a special prayer.

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!     

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.