Something... and Half of Something

November 11, 2009

To those who served:

Thank you.

"A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it." - General George S. Patton, Jr.

Veterans' Day will come and go
Quicker than the blink of an eye
But memories of heroes present and past
Will never, ever die.
The youth of today, do you understand?
The price brave men did pay
To preserve the freedom we enjoy
Each and every day.

They were called to duty, and so they went
Not knowing what was to be
Many came home, some never did
They sacrificed so we could be free.

How lonely some must have felt
How scared some had to be
They paid the bill with their own blood
What a great cost to be free.

The heroes of our country
Are the ones who paved the way
For freedom and the many rights
That we enjoy today.

Next time, young folks, you pass someone
Who may be old and gray
Remember — thanks to him or her
You have your freedom today.

by Holly Rulli

November 11 is also General Patton's Birthday, but we never seem to remember that. Below is the famous "Patton Prayer" sent to the men of the Third Army December 8, 1944:

"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."

Amen.

Thank you for protecting this great Country of ours, and for protecting my personal freedom. I am forever grateful.

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:43 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack

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October 26, 2009

Valour IT ~ The Few - The Loud - The Marines!

Today is the first day of this year's fundraiser and I'm raising my voice with the Marine Corps Fundraising Team, for Project Valour-IT.

What is Project Valour IT? Well, first you get the background... the story behind Valour-IT:

Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.

During his deployment he kept a blog. Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.

As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss' fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.

A fellow who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of creating libraries of laptops with voice-controlled software that could be brought to the bedsides of wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers' Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.

When I made this post in July of 2005, my goal was to cheer up Chuck as he recovered from wounds he received while defending our freedom in Iraq. Yes, it's the same Chuck, and many of you sent cards and letters to him during his stay at Walter Reed. I thank you for that. But, our work is not done yet. Now I'm asking you to help Valour-IT.

Project Valour-IT accepts donations of any amount to supply the "libraries" of laptops at major medical centers and gifts to individuals, but has also added the option of an individual or organization directly sponsoring a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide him or her with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. Thanks to the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Valour-IT is also able to reach patients in VA hospitals who would benefit from a Valour-IT laptop.

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of voice-activated laptops for wounded servicemembers.

Project Valour-IT is a simple idea with profound impact. It's grateful Americans, providing laptops with voice-activated software for severely wounded troops. Project Valour-IT offers a way for us to tell them we have not forgotten their sacrifices, and that is truly priceless. In many, many ways what we are trying to do is reconnect them to the world; remind them that they are not alone. That they still have something to contribute, that they are still a vital part of this nation, and that even though they may have lost parts of themselves that they can never recover, though they may temporarily be feeling hopeless, helpless, even alone, they aren't.

Someone remembers. Someone still cares. And when they get out of the hospital, America will find a way for them to rejoin the community and be useful again. For a wounded vet facing traumatic and painful injuries, that knowledge alone is beyond price.

Please dig deep. You cannot know the value of the hope your small contributions can bring to those who have already given so much on our behalf.

If you wish to donate, you can use the button below or this link, or send a check (with MARINES in all caps on it!) to:

Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104

Soldiers' Angels has been designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity by the IRS. Donations are tax-deductible and may be eligible for matching funds from donors' employers (ask your employer). Be sure to consult your tax advisor for further information.

Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT, challenge your co-workers or employer to match donations, consider involving clubs, churches, or charitable organizations. If you have any contacts in the media, local or national newspapers, radio, TV, whatever, whoever, however, spread the word!

I know I can count on your support for this, just hit the button so the Marine Corps Team gets credit! and... Thank you!

Yes, there's a good bit of good-natured interservice rivalry fun in the interests of raising some money for a good cause, but at the end of the day what really matters is not which team you support, but that you find it in your hearts to support a worthwhile cause. Because our wounded vets have given more in the service of our country than most of us will ever be able to repay.

If you were wondering why I choose the Marine Corps Fundraising Team every year, well, I love tanks, and I love fighter jets, and I love those great big ships and subs, but in the end, I joined the Marines Fundraising Team because of the Marine you see right there, down on one knee...

He served in Korea, as Infantry, in the Military Police and he was a proud member of the Marines' Drum and Bugle Corps.

And he just happens to be my Dad! Handsome, isn't he? Of course he is, that's why they let him be a Marine! and I bet you thought it was a coincidence that Marines are always so darn good looking!

I'm proud of my Dad, and I'm proud of each of every one of our troops serving in the United States Military, whether it's the Army, Navy, Air Force or the Marines. These brave men and women deserve our support, and Project Valour-IT is a great way to say Thank You!

Finally, if you're a blogger, join a team, any team will do. However, if you join the Marine Team, there are privileges... you get a link here, that's right, a link right here along with these other fine Marine Team Members:

The Few... The Loud.. THE MARINES!

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:37 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack

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September 16, 2009

A Promise Kept

It was a promise neither man would have wanted to keep. Yesterday the funeral of a Black Watch soldier killed in Afghanistan took a bizarre turn when his best friend arrived in a bright green dress and pink leg warmers to honour a pact that the two of them had made.

Private Kevin Elliott and his friend, Barry Delaney, had agreed that whoever survived the other should wear a dress to the dead man’s funeral. Mr Delaney duly fulfilled the pledge as a tribute to Private Elliott, who was killed aged 24 while on foot patrol in the southern province of Helmand on August 31.

Mr Delaney wept on his knees at the graveside in Dundee as shots were fired during the military funeral. His dress plans are believed to have been known about in advance by other mourners.

Private Elliott’s other friends wore Black Watch tartan ribbon pins with the words “Kevin Elliott Our Hero”. His young cousins wore T-shirts emblazoned with his photograph. His army colleagues wore their regimental uniforms and carried his coffin, which was draped in a saltire. Earlier, hundreds of mourners had lined the route outside St Mary’s church in the city centre, clapping as the funeral cortège left for the cemetery.

During the church service, Private Elliott’s father said that he could not remember being anything but proud of his son.

Sandy Elliott said: “Kevin was a grandson, a brother, a nephew, an uncle and a cousin, but more than anything he was our son. And although some things he did annoyed us, I can’t remember being anything but proud of him.

“The saddest day of our lives was hearing he had died — something no parent wants to hear. But for 24 years Kevin brought joy to our lives.”

Private Elliott, who also leaves behind his mother, Maggie, brothers Craig and Thomas, and sisters Kirsty and Natasha, had been ready to leave the Army but decided to follow his comrades to Afghanistan at the eleventh hour. He was killed alongside Sergeant Stuart Millar, 40, whose funeral will be held in his home city of Inverness tomorrow.

The Ministry of Defence yesterday named a soldier who was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday. Kingsman Jason Dunn-Bridgeman, 20, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, died fighting in the Babaji district of Helmand province.

Kingsman Dunn-Bridgeman’s commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Robbie Boyd, said that England and the battalion had “lost a lion” with his death.

----------------------------------------

I think I will carry this in my heart to the end of my days. What a brave and honorable young man, a true and loyal friend. May G-d watch over you, and give comfort to you and the family of Private Elliot, and ease the pain of your loss.

Posted by LindaSoG at 10:34 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

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September 13, 2009

Reason # 84746363859

Why I adore Annoyed White Male:

It was a small thing for me to spend an afternoon should to shoulder with veterans and their families to face down a bunch of America and military-hating Leftists, but I finally got to do something real to show my support.

... because they hate this place so much, they have twice before staged protests against it. They have every right to peaceably do so.

But not today, during a 9/11 memorial. Anyone that would do such a thing is dog shit.

AWM answered the call from the National Gathering of Eagles and stood side by side with them against not only the Code Pinkos, but also the IVAW, World Can’t Wait, Veterans for Peace, Chester County Peace Brigade, Bill Perry’s minions (Winter Soldier testifier) and assorted smaller groups in defense of the Army’s cutting edge recruiting station at Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia.

So I went and stood with dozens of tough old guys who had been in Viet Nam, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the world risking their lives and loosing friends to prevent the dog shit from making it into that center. These were men that had been there. I was not worthy to hold their tattered denim vests. But for a moment I was one of them. I needed to be there, I who had never served as they have, to let them know I'm on their side, now and forever. They shook my hand and welcomed me among them.

The full story, pictures, and video are posted here, don't miss any of it.

Posted by LindaSoG at 10:11 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack

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September 06, 2009

I read every word

I found it fascinating...

I've read I don't know how many letters home from soldiers from WWII. This is very very different.

G-d Bless our Troops.

Posted by LindaSoG at 10:16 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

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August 13, 2009

If you're in Philly...

Received via email from the National Gathering of Eagles

CALLING ALL VETERANS AND TROOP SUPPORTERS.

On 12 September the Army Experience Center, http://www.thearmyexperience.com/, the Army’s cutting edge recruiting station at Franklin Mills Mall in Northeast Philadelphia, will be the target of Code Pink, IVAW, World Can’t Wait, Veterans for Peace, Chester County Peace Brigade, Bill Perry’s minions (Winter Soldier testifier) and assorted smaller groups. The A.E.C. has reached out to the veteran’s community of the region to ask for support. Support they will get, even if I have to stand alone; although I know I will not be standing alone. The antis have promised to shut down the A.E.C. by infiltrating it and then provoking mass arrests. This must not stand! We have all promised that never again will one generation of veterans abandon another. Only the vilest of creatures would seek to disrupt a 9/11 commemoration, while attacking our men and women in uniform. They must know this we will not take.

This is where we must make our stand. Bring flags and signs of support for our military. Details are below and attached is what these people truly think of those of us who have served; plus the words of one of the organizers, Bill Perry who admits he let his unit be ambushed while serving in Vietnam; then testified to since discredited war crimes committed by that same unit.

Only we will be allowed entry to the A.E.C. After our show of support there will be a ceremony commemorating the losses we suffered on 9/11. There will also be food and drinks provided by the Army and all the interactive effects will be open to us. I know many people are heading to D.C. for the Tea Party protests that day, so please pass this to anyone in the region who could help with support, but please keep it off the public pages so as not to give the other side much notice. All veterans, of every service and every era, as well as patriotic troop supporters are invited.

When: 1215hrs 12 September, 2009
Where: Franklin Mills Mall Red Entrance
1455 Franklin Mills Cir
Philadelphia , PA 19154

We are coordinating with area veteran’s motorcycle clubs for an entrance after the main body has reached the Red Entrance with flags and signs. Hopefully, the main body will draw the attention of the antis and be caught unawares as the bikes come in behind them. Classic hammer and anvil for you infantry types. If anyone is approached by the soldiers from the A.E.C. please reference *****. This will help prevent any of the other side from masquerading as one of the good guys to cause trouble.

Thanks much. Manchu.

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If you're planning on attending, send me a note and I'll let you know the reference to use if you're approached by soldiers from A.E.C. I'm not posting it here - loose lips, yannow? -- Linda.

Posted by LindaSoG at 12:28 AM | Comments (4)

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August 05, 2009

Thanks Don!

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:11 AM | Comments (0)

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July 26, 2009

Dang, I hate to miss it

The Gun Blogger Rendezvous in Reno is coming up in September, I wish I could go. Since I can't go, I did the next best thing, I coughed up the cash to enter into the Raffle for this:

That's ParaUSA's new GI Expert entry-level 1911. Purty, ain't it? The tickets are $10.00, and the raffle is being run by Soldiers Angels, to benefit Project Valour-IT. It's a great gun, and it's a great way to support our troops who have been injured in combat and desperately need your help. You don't need to be at the Rendezvous to win the Raffle, but you do need to prove you can legally own that baby.

if you're inclined to buy a ticket, you can do so by clicking here. Even if you don't win, it's $10 well spent.

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:09 PM | Comments (3)

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May 31, 2009

From across the pond

Back in March, we watched in wonder as the Brits stood up to the moslem bastards who protested a parade in honor of the returning 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, known as the Poachers. They've toured Iraq twice in two years. As the soldiers reached Luton Town Hall... the moslems interrupted the parade, holding signs that said "Butchers of Basra," and called the soldiers "babykillers" and "murderers."

The Brits stood up for the troops and ran the moslem cowards right off the streets. It was a proud moment.

But things in Luton are escalating, and it should come as no surprise. It seems to be a rallying point for radical islam and terror. One of the "militants" convicted of plotting to blow up the Bluewater shopping centre in Essex in 2007 came from Luton and the 7/7 London bombers congregated at Luton station before heading to King's Cross. There are claims of four Muslims from Luton who died fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan, and two who have traveled to Gaza to be suicide bombers in Israel.

Since the parade in March and the anti-troop protest, one of the moselms who taunted the returning soldiers has had the windows of his home smashed, and his car set on fire. The words 'Scum' and 'Get out' have been daubed on his walls. Now he's under 24 hour police protection, along with his sister and and his parents. Threatening letters have been sent a local mosque and just after midnight on May 5, Luton's Islamic Centre was torched; a firebomb hurled through a window.

Just last week, the people of Luton had their own protest, against the moslem extremists, a "peaceful" protest that quickly turned violent:

Nine people have been arrested after hundreds of anti-Islamist protesters clashed with police yesterday.

The streets of Luton descended into violence after demonstrators, many hiding their faces behind balaclavas, brandished England flags and chanted at officers.

A group called March for England was said to have organised the rally as a peaceful protest against Muslim extremists. They were joined by a local group United People of Luton.

During the protest, the mob, which included teenagers and women, held banners with slogans such as 'No Sharia Law in the UK' and 'Respect our Troops'.

Some protesters wore masks with the horned face of Sayful Islam, a local hardline political agitator who led Muslim demonstrators in an anti-war protest during the Royal Anglian Regiment's homecoming parade in Luton in March.

Groups of young men in balaclavas and England shirts chanted outside the city centre and one balacava-clad protester held a Rottweiler on a chain, while others clashed with police in riot gear.

One Asian man was hit across the face with a banner and left with a bloody nose.

A spokesman for United People of Luton, Wayne King, said many people in Luton were concerned and annoyed that the Muslim community in the town had not taken steps to deal with Sayful Islam's 'hate-filled preachings'.

The 24-year-old, who wore a T-shirt with the words 'No surrender to Al-Qaeda' on it, said: 'We decided enough was enough after the soldiers got heckled as they marched through the town centre by the Muslim extremists.

'Our community has been racially attacked for the last 10 years.

'A mosque in the town got set on fire a few weeks ago and it made national news but churches in Luton are regularly being set fire to.

'We want laws brought in to stop preachers of hate operating here.'

Luton town centre was busy at the time of the riot with shoppers enjoying the sunshine.

Many of those who joined in the march had been drinking in town centre pubs.

Later on, overhead, a police helicopter monitored the movement of the mob which at one point appeared to be making in the direction of Bury Park, an area of Luton where many of the town's Asian population live.

The police believe the protest was organized and run by skinheads, and while they were certainly in attendance, they were not the only attendees. The claim that most of the attendees were men from the pubs doesn't wash either, not with the reports that there were many women and teens in attendance. I don't understand why the authorities refuse to admit that the average person is sick and tired of extremist moslems any more than I understand why they refuse to call moslems moslem and insist on calling them asians.

But we're not quite done with the news from Luton. There has been yet another interesting development:

Extremists behind anti-war protest driven off the streets by moderate Muslims

The Muslim community turned on extremists in their midst yesterday, telling them they were 'sick and tired' of their behaviour.

The angry confrontation came in Luton, where anti-Islamist protesters brandished England flags last Sunday, before clashing with police.

The latest violence erupted as arguments raged between fellow Muslims shortly after Friday morning prayers in the Bury Park area of the town.

As the radical Muslims began to set up their stall, they were surrounded by a crowd shouting 'we don't want you here' and 'move on, move on'.

So., We have a group of moslems from the firebombed mosque chasing off the other group of moslems who protested the return of the troops.

Farasat Latif, of the Islamic Centre in Luton, which was firebombed after the protest against the soldiers, said moderate members of his community took action because police had failed to move the group on.

He said the extremists, who follow the militant group led by Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammed, had fuelled feelings against the Muslim community which led to a march last Sunday in Luton which was disrupted by white, right-wing extremists.

Mr Latif said: 'We have been fighting these Muslim extremists for you. They represent nobody but themselves.
'The community decided to move them on because the police won't. We have asked them, but they did nothing.

'I don't know if they will be back. We have been the victims twice over - from the stupidity of Muslim extremists who metaphorically pour petrol and fan the flames of the right-wing extremists.

'This was a peaceful demonstration and we hope they get the message that the law-abiding community is sick and tired of them.'

Well. Where have you been Mr. Latif, all this time? Why did you not speak out sooner? And where were you on July 8, 2005?

After the attack on your mosque, an attack in which no one died, you said "We strongly condemn this violent Islamaphobic attack on our mosque."

After the attack on July 7, 2005, an attack in which 56 people were killed and 700 injured, you said people were "sickened" at what had happened. You also said there was anger that a conclusion had been jumped to that the attack was carried out by al-Qaida. "We should keep an open mind," you said. An open mind to what? That maybe some Amish folks did the bombing?

You know, there's nothing like having your mosque firebombed to get you "fired up," and you sure sounded fired up today. But, other than your actions today, where and when exactly have you been fighting radical moslem extremists? You make that claim, but there is nothing to back it up.

In fact, don't some of your friends and associates agree with the jihadists? You've admited to that, and to sharing some of their doctrines in your mosque, which is after all, a Ghuraaba mosque that bases its teachings on Saudi doctrine.

Somehow, I think Latif's problem is not with what Sayful Islam is saying, it's that he's saying it out there in the streets where too many people hear it and Latif doesn't like paying the price.

I don't believe in moderate moslems, and this publicity stunt by Latif and his cohorts leaves me cold. I don't trust it, and I see a wolf trying to hide in sheep's clothing.

As for the skinheads, well, they may fight the moslems today, but I will never forget that once upon a time, their master aligned himself with the islamists to kill Jews. They are not welcome in my foxhole. In this case, the enemy of my enemy is still my enemy.

But to the good folks of Luton who stood against the moslem radicals, good on ya.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:18 PM | Comments (3)

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May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

In honor of Memorial Day, I'm asking you to help Vetsville Cease Fire House keep it's doors open at least a little longer.

Shelter for Vets in Danger of Closing

Founder Chris Noel said Wednesday the shelter may not survive through the rest of this turbulent year. She held a fundraising luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton in January that left her in debt.

Noel said she'll need $25,000 through the end of the year to pay for utilities and to maintain the shelter that vets have called home over the past decade at 291 NE 19th Ave.

"My prayer to God is, 'If you still want me to do this, please make it happen. If you want me to keep doing this, please help me,'" she said. "'If you don't want me to then I know you'll close the door.'"

Noel, 67, an avid veterans' advocate from West Palm Beach, ran a radio show on Armed Forces Radio from 1966 to 1971 and even traveled to Vietnam to boost troop morale. She began opening shelters in 1993 in Riviera Beach and West Palm Beach before branching off into Boynton Beach.

Today, the south county shelter is the only one that remains. It's a place where there is food, clothing, clean showers, a garden, fruit trees and companionship for veterans. They've also enjoyed pet therapy from cats and dogs and even a docile dove and rooster that co-existed with the four-legged creatures.

"It becomes their home while they're there," Noel said. "So they feel stabilized."

It's a small slice of paradise for Don Marlowe, a 74-year-old who joined the Army in 1956 and served for almost 20 years. He's lived in Vetsville for the past 10 years, he said.

"I'm going to stay here till it's closed and I don't know what the rest of the men are going to do," said Marlowe, one of about a half dozen residents.

Among them is a Vietnam veteran who has deformities on his back and was exposed to Agent Orange, an herbicide used in Vietnam that proved deadly and caused birth defects, Marlowe said.

Send the price of a package of hot dogs if that's all you got, but give a little something, please. It would mean another month off the streets for a veteran and that matters, it matters a lot. If we can help Chris keep the doors open a little longer, maybe she can raise the necessary money to keep Vetsville open for the rest of the year, and beyond.

You can mail your check directly to

Vetsville Cease Fire House
291 NE 19th Avenue
Boynton Beach, FL 33435

Thank you. and enjoy your Holiday.

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)

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May 13, 2009

Sliding down that slipperly slope

excerpt from a letter to the president...

The rest of the letter is, in a word, stunning. Run over to Rodger's, follow the link and read it.

Funny but, based on 0bama's own comments, I don't think our waterboarded troops need wait even a moment to bring such a class action suit for torture, they surely could do so based on 0bama's statements right now. What a circus of a trial that would be, with President 0bama as the star witness for the prosecution, along with all of the distinguished democrats from congress. How compelling it would be for the jury to hear such weighty testimony on whether or not waterboarding is torture.

You know, if this were a movie, it would be one of those asinine comedies where the class clown gets elected by promising to outlaw suits and ties, give everyone three day weekends, and free popcorn at the movies and then manages to almost destroy the world and at the end, you applaud when the "president" gets impeached and as the credits roll, he gets pissed on by a poodle at his new job as the town dog catcher.

Unfortunately, this is real life. We have the class clown in office, and it's getting worse every day.

I hope you're getting prepared.

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:37 PM | Comments (1)

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April 25, 2009

We lost another WWII Vet today

I've always loved Bea Arthur. She passed away early this morning, cancer. She will be missed.

During World War II Bea volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming one of its first female recruits.

Thank you Bea, for everything. Rest in Peace.

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:54 PM | Comments (2)

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March 04, 2009

Presented without commentary

None needed.

Thanks Rodg.

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:23 PM | Comments (3)

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February 13, 2009

Today's Lying Liar

is political wanna be Val Kilmer, who is contemplating a run for governor of New Mexico and who dissed Vietnam Veterans while qualifying his experience in an interview with Esquire Magazine:

[Klosterman]: You mean you think you literally had the same experience as Doc Holliday?

Kilmer: Oh, sure. It's not like I believed that I shot somebody, but I absolutely know what it feels like to pull the trigger and take someone's life.

[Klosterman:] You understand how it feels to shoot someone as much as a person who has actually committed a murder?

[Kilmer] I understand it more. It's an actor's job. A guy who's lived through the horror of Vietnam has not spent his life preparing his mind for it. He's some punk. Most guys were borderline criminal or poor, and that's why they got sent to Vietnam. It was all the poor, wretched kids who got beat up by their dads, guys who didn't get on the football team, couldn't finagle a scholarship. They didn't have the emotional equipment to handle that experience. But this is what an actor trains to do. I can more effectively represent that kid in Vietnam than a guy who was there.

and then... he denied saying it...

"In response to the recently quoted interview regarding the Vietnam veterans:

I have read the interview and I certainly did not say those things.

The writer was elaborating and not able to accept the intent of empathy, and sympathy that an actor has for all human beings and the human condition.

My father served proudly in WW2 and I have never uttered a single word of disrespect to any armed servicemen anywhere ever.

I sincerely apologize for causing any discomfort to any vets and would not have pursued a line of thought that could have been turned into such an ugly version of a simple rule in acting.

You are justifiably offended, as I was when I read the supposed quotes.

I have travelled to Iraq, interviewed, and filmed on behalf of the men and women in the field and have met with some of our great retired generals. One of the greats that I had the privilege to know was Admiral Noel Gyler, a true hero, as was Colonel Gavin, whose family I was adopted by, and even asked to write his eulogy.

Sincerely,
Val Kilmer"

So. That's nice, except he did say those things. Oh yes, he most certainly did. You see, the entire interview, including his statement, has been tape recorded for prosperity...

The quotes attributed to Mr. Kilmer in Mr. Klosterman’s story are absolutely accurate. The interview was recorded and every quote used in the story was checked by our research department to insure that it was printed precisely as spoken.

It should be noted Mr. Kilmer did not dispute the validity of the quotations when the article was first published four years ago, nor did he dispute them when the article was reprinted in Mr. Klosterman’s fourth book, nor did he dispute them when the story appeared in Ira Glass’s anthology The New Kings of Nonfiction.

Sincerely,

David Granger
Editor in Chief
Esquire

Oh well. All that's left is the Shaggy Defense.

Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked,
banging on the bathroom floor

How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me

~ ~ ~

To be a true player you have to know how to play
If she say a night, convince her say a day
Never admit to a word when she say makes a claim
And you tell her baby no way

But she caught me on the counter
(It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa
(It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower
(It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera
(It wasn't me)

She saw the marks on my shoulder
(It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her
(It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder
(It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over

Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked,
banging on the bathroom floor

I had tried to keep her
From what she was about to see
Why should she believe me
When I told her it wasn't me

I don't think it worked for Shaggy either.

Fuck you Val Kilmer.

Posted by LindaSoG at 01:15 PM | Comments (3)

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December 28, 2008

Reason #838126327458354934509

why I love, and I mean LOVE the United States Marine Corps can be found right here, at Chuck's place.

Get'cher butt over there.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:02 PM | Comments (3)

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December 20, 2008

Today's Military Moment

Just for the fun of it:

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:55 PM | Comments (1)

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December 13, 2008

Dammit. No more Onion here. Ever.

I ain't laughing today, not at the Onion. and in fact, I won't watch another thing they put out, ever again. Don't tip me to them, kay?

Why? Well, because of this:

Satire and comedy have its place and serve its purpose, but that place and purpose is never to mock and humilate our troops and I will not support or tolerate such things from anyone under any circumstances, in any format. What the Onion has done here is no less than shameful, I'm horrified at the thought that our wounded warriors and their loved ones will see this mockery of all they believe in, this mockery of their courage, their dedication to their vows, their bravery and their honor.

I'm done with the Onion. I'll make one last visit to the site to see who their advertisers are, and then, I'll avoid those companies and products as well.

UPDATE: Interestingly, it seems the Onion may have reconsidered the message in this video, perhaps after reading letters like this one from Charles Ziegenfuss, as it seems that the Onion removed the video from its main site and from its youtube page, however, my direct embed link and other direct embed links are still active.

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:07 PM | Comments (11)

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November 16, 2008

Valour-IT - The Few ~ The Loud ~ The Marines!

Okay, I'm a little late this time, but from today thru November 27th I'm raising my voice with the Marine Corps Fundraising Team, for Project Valour-IT.

What is Project Valour IT? Well, first you get the background... the story behind Valour-IT:

Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.

During his deployment he kept a blog. Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.

As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss' fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.

A fellow who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of creating libraries of laptops with voice-controlled software that could be brought to the bedsides of wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers' Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.

When I made this post in July of 2005, my goal was to cheer up Chuck as he recovered from wounds he received while defending our freedom in Iraq. Yes, it's the same Chuck, and many of you sent cards and letters to him during his stay at Walter Reed. I thank you for that. But, our work is not done yet. Now I'm asking you to help Valour-IT.

Project Valour-IT accepts donations of any amount to supply the "libraries" of laptops at major medical centers and gifts to individuals, but has also added the option of an individual or organization directly sponsoring a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide him or her with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. Thanks to the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Valour-IT is also able to reach patients in VA hospitals who would benefit from a Valour-IT laptop.

Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of voice-activated laptops for wounded servicemembers.

Project Valour-IT is a simple idea with profound impact. It's grateful Americans, providing laptops with voice-activated software for severely wounded troops. Project Valour-IT offers a way for us to tell them we have not forgotten their sacrifices, and that is truly priceless. In many, many ways what we are trying to do is reconnect them to the world; remind them that they are not alone. That they still have something to contribute, that they are still a vital part of this nation, and that even though they may have lost parts of themselves that they can never recover, though they may temporarily be feeling hopeless, helpless, even alone, they aren't.

Someone remembers. Someone still cares. And when they get out of the hospital, America will find a way for them to rejoin the community and be useful again. For a wounded vet facing traumatic and painful injuries, that knowledge alone is beyond price.

Please dig deep. You cannot know the value of the hope your small contributions can bring to those who have already given so much on our behalf.

If you wish to donate, you can use the button below or this link, or send a check (with MARINES in all caps on it!) to:

Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104

If you're a blogger, join a team, any team will do. Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT, challenge your co-workers or employer to match donations, consider involving clubs, churches, or charitable organizations. If you have any contacts in the media, local or national newspapers, radio, TV, whatever, whoever, however, spread the word!

I know I can count on your support for this, just hit the button so the Marine Corps Team gets credit! and... Thank you! (If the button looks screwy - and says "click here for demands - don't click it - read the paragraph below and use the link there).

{Note: At the moment, it seems the Coast Guard Team thought it would be fun to hijack everyone's donate button to get their team more donations (not funny), sadly though, first everyone's buttons went completely blank and no one could donate at all and now the end result is that all they've really done is make it harder for people to donate to a really worthy cause.

So. If the button looks screwy, click here to: Donate to the Marine Corps Team.

Yes, there's a good bit of good-natured interservice rivalry fun in the interests of raising some money for a good cause, but at the end of the day what really matters is not which team you support, but that you find it in your hearts to support a worthwhile cause. Because our wounded vets have given more in the service of our country than most of us will ever be able to repay.

If you were wondering why I choose the Marine Corps Fundraising Team every year, well, I love tanks, and I love fighter jets, and I love those great big ships and subs, but in the end, I joined the Marines Fundraising Team because of the Marine you see right there, down on one knee...

He served in Korea, as Infantry, in the Military Police and he was a proud member of the Marines' Drum and Bugle Corps.

And he just happens to be my Dad! Handsome, isn't he? Of course he is, that's why they let him be a Marine! and I bet you thought it was a coincidence that Marines are always so darn good looking!

I'm proud of my Dad, and I'm proud of each of every one of our troops serving in the United States Military, whether it's the Army, Navy, Air Force or the Marines. These brave men and women deserve our support, and Project Valour-IT is a great way to say Thank You!

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:23 AM | Comments (4)

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November 11, 2008

Meet Pvt. Kevin T. Flanagan

Pvt. Kevin T. Flanagan joined the Army in January 2006 and arrived at Fort Drum that May. He is a fire support specialist with the 1-32 Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. He was in Afghanistan from May 2006 to June 2007.

Pvt. Kevin T. Flanagan was charged with third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, the result of Sunday morning melee that left a Barack Obama supporter "gravely injured." Yes, you read that right.

According to police, officers arrived at the Pizza Pub restaurant, 141 W. Bridge St., at 3:02 a.m. Sunday and found Moreno, 19, a junior at the State University College at Oswego, lying near a parked car.

Moreno was taken by ambulance to the college and was then flown by helicopter to University Hospital.

According to a witness in the restaurant, the fight began when patrons began arguing about Obama's presidential election.

About 12 people, including several soldiers, took the argument outside and the fight broke out, according to a restaurant waitress who declined to give her name.

"It was all over the new president," the waitress said.

Police said no weapons were involved in the fight.

Pvt. Kevin T. Flanagan is being charged with third-degree assault for beating the piss out of a Obama supporter. I have to say, I could certainly understand how such a thing could happen, I know I have been tempted to do the same myself, many times.

Still, Moreno has equal responsibility for whatever happened, he willing "took it outside," obviously with the intention of fighting and obviously with the belief that he was going to emerge the winner. Just another punk who never learned the lesson that you should never let your mouth write a check that your ass can't cover. All it took was one punch and fight was over, one punch. Unfortunately, Moreno first hit his head on a car on his way to the pavement. Ended up with big ole well-deserved owie. Guess his Obama muscles didn't do him much good.

Now, I don't know if Pvt. Flanagan is guilty of assault, but I do know that Pvt. Flanagan put himself in harm's way in service to the United States of America and to protect my personal freedom. He has proven himself to be a man willing to protect America from her enemies, both foreign and domestic. I would like to say thank you.

The last information I obtained, he's still in jail, he hasn't raised the $5,000 bail. So, tomorrow morning, I'm going to make a few phone calls and see what I can do to help Pvt. Flanagan, either with bail or with his legal bills. Lord knows, with my medical bills, I ain't got much, but maybe I can work a few extra hours for him. It's the least I could do.

Let me know if you would like to do the same and I'll pass along any information I obtain.

Syracuse Post-Standard
NY Post

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:20 PM | Comments (9)

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October 23, 2008

They came in Peace

Twenty-five years ago today, Hezbullah, under what is believed to be the direct orders of Iran, made their largest and most successful attack against America.

"Their loss is not in vain and we will not break faith with them in the tasks we have ahead... We did not know they would be the first casualties -- among the first -- in the war on terrorism" - Lt. Gen. Jan C. Huly, USMC

In Lebanon, we have some 1,600 Marines, part of a multinational force that's trying to help the people of Lebanon restore order and stability to that troubled land. Our Marines are assigned to the south of the city of Beirut, near the only airport operating in Lebanon. Just a mile or so to the north is the Italian contingent and not far from them, the French and a company of British soldiers.

This past Sunday, at 22 minutes after 6 Beirut time, with dawn just breaking a truck, looking like a lot of other vehicles in the city, approached the airport on a busy, main road. There was nothing in its appearance to suggest it was any different than the trucks or cars that were normally seen on and around the airport. But this one was different. At the wheel was a young man on a suicide mission.

The truck carried some 2,000 pounds of explosives, but there was no way our Marine guards could know this. Their first warning that something was wrong came when the truck crashed through a series of barriers, including a chain-link fence and barbed wire entanglements. The guards opened fire, but it was too late. The truck smashed through the doors of the headquarters building in which our Marines were sleeping and instantly exploded. The four-story concrete building collapsed in a pile of rubble.

More than 200 of the sleeping men were killed in that one hideous, insane attack. Many others suffered injury and are hospitalized here or in Europe. This was not the end of the horror. At almost the same instant, another vehicle on a suicide and murder mission crashed into the headquarters of the French peacekeeping force, an eight-story building, destroying it and killing more than 50 French soldiers.

President Ronald Reagan, 27th Oct. 1983,

Our Marines on sentry duty had their ammunition clips in their pockets. There were no barriers around the barracks, other than a bit of wood and plaster. When the bomb blew, the building was lifted off its foundation. When it came down, it collapsed in a heap of cinder blocks, plaster, and dust. All told, 241 Americans lost their lives in the blast. It was the worst day for the Marines since the battle of Iwo Jima and the worst day for the US military since the first day of the Tet Offensive in Viet Nam.

25 years have come and gone. Our first duty is to remember.

If you have a minute, visit the Beirut Veterans Organization, and lend your support to the Beirut Stamp Initiative.

Thank you Kevin.

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:56 PM | Comments (2)

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July 10, 2008

Spreading the Cheer

This showed up in my email (thanks Sarge!)... and it put a big old smile on my face:

I think about the men and women of the United States Military, and what they face every single day to protect my freedom, and everything I am facing pales in comparison.

If you liked it as much as I did, then go tell them!

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:24 PM | Comments (1)

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July 04, 2008

Defining Patriotism

Happy Birthday America!! USA! USA!! USA!!!

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:17 AM | Comments (2)

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Happy Fourth of July

Oh, Say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

On the shore, dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected, now shines on the stream.
'Tis the star-spangled banner; oh, long may it wave
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war's desolation;
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Francis Scott Key

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:59 AM | Comments (0)

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June 19, 2008

I loved him then

and I love him now!

Parody, yes, but a good one and I'm happy to have a reason to post it.

Okay, back to the article. I was somewhat struck by this:

Last January McCain said that the president was “ very badly served by both the vice president and, most of all, the secretary of defense.”

“John said some nasty things about me the other day, and then next time he saw me, ran over to me and apologized,” Cheney said in an ABC News interview in February. “Maybe he’ll apologize to Rumsfeld.”

Aw. Ran over and apologized, did he? Nothing says hypocrite and panderer quite like an apology made in private for an attack made in public. Maybe McCain will apologize to Rumsfield, or... maybe he already has. In private.

Some of McCain’s colleagues in the Senate said they believe Rumsfeld will eventually support the GOP candidate. “He will be for him in due time,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said. ... Rumsfeld’s vote will be for McCain, Thune surmised, because “he cares about the country’s national security.”

Yeah sure, McCain really really cares about the country's national security, you can tell by his plan to close GITMO because after all, closing GITMO and bringing terrorists here into the United States prison system will do so much for the country's national security. Sure, why not give these hardened and experienced terrorists a captive audience made up of angry, violent, hate-filled American citizens and the opportunity to recruit and train and initiate them into Jihad. It will only make us safer, right?

If Obama was advocating this plan you'd say he was pro-terrorist, and I would agree with you. So...

Uh oh. There appears to be quite a few similarities between the two.

And... while we are on the subject, even though we have those hardened and experienced terrorists in custody, if John McCain is in charge, you can be sure that we'll never know who their terrorist friends are, and where those terrorist friends are, and we'll never know what those terrorists are planning, because we won't interrogate the terrorists we catch with any amount of aggression. McCain's policy of "pretty please" won't make us safer and sooner or later, those terrorists are going to get lucky again, and kill a bunch of innocent Americans.

UPDATE:

Republican John McCain vowed today that if he's president, Osama bin Laden will be either killed in combat or executed.

That little gem is posted on John's website. Sure, Johnny boy knows how to get him, all ya gotta do is just say "pretty please" to the next terrorist we catch and he'll tell us where to find bin Laden! Silly old George Bush just wasn't asking nice.

Gah! I despise that man more every day.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:30 AM | Comments (4)

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June 12, 2008

Bastards!

But then again, what else is there to expect from the french?

The beech trees of Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair forest bore a poignant testimony to the D-Day landings for more than six decades. Thousands of American soldiers stationed there after the liberation of Normandy spent their spare hours with a knife or bayonet creating a lasting reminder of their presence.

Although the trees grew and the graffiti swelled and twisted, this most peculiar memory of one of the 20th century’s defining moments remained visible - until now. Amid bureaucratic indifference and a dispute between officials and the forest owner, most of the trees have been felled, chopped up and turned into paper.

Claude Quétel, a French historian and Second World War specialist, was horrified when he discovered what he called a catastrophe and a shameless act. “It is a typically French failing to wipe out the traces of the past,” he told The Times.

The trees surrounded land in the heart of Saint Pierre de Varengeville-Duclair forest, near Rouen in Normandy, which was once home to a US army camp named after the Twenty Grand brand of cigarettes. It was one of nine cigarette camps - along with Pall Mall, Old Gold, Philip Morris, Chesterfield, Lucky Strike, Home Run, Wings and Herbert Tareyton - used by troops needing treatment or waiting to be sent elsewhere. They were places of calm between the D-Day landings and the Ardennes, the Siegfried Line or the Pacific.

Camp Twenty Grand, set up in September 1944 and closed in February 1946, had tents for 20,000 US soldiers as well as a few hundred German prisoners. Some of the Americans stayed weeks, others months, bringing chocolate, fruit and parties to a French population emerging from the rigour of Nazi occupation.

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Gah! I spit on the french, and all their generations, yesterday, today, and into the future.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:08 PM | Comments (3)

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May 26, 2008

Reveille

Posted by LindaSoG at 12:32 PM | Comments (7)

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May 25, 2008

In Memory

of the Fallen:

Please don't wish me, or anyone else, a "happy" Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a day for somber remembrance of the brave men and women who were killed in action defending this great Nation and the freedom of every man, woman and child throughout the world.

If you're "celebrating" with a backyard barbeque, take a moment and lift a glass, have a moment of silence, in their honor, remember the sacrifice made for you, and pray for the comfort of their loved ones left behind.

Loved ones like Kristen Nelson.

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:41 AM | Comments (4)

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May 23, 2008

Quote of the Day

“The taint of unlawful command influence started from the inception of the investigation, when high-ranking Pentagon officials decided to make LtCol Chessani a political scapegoat to appease a liberal anti-war press and politicians. This ill-conceived prosecution has resulted in the removal of one of America’s most effective combat commanders in Iraq by the Marine Corps’ own standards. Although nothing can undo the harm caused to our Nation and to LtCol Chessani and his family, this ruling gives us hope that the military justice system will rise above the politics that fomented this prosecution and allow LtCol Chessani, who devoted more than 20 years to the Marine Corps and to the defense of our Nation, to get on with his life.”

Yep. The Military Judge found evidence of unlawful command influence in the Haditha prosection. Ya hear that John Murtha?

It's not over, but it will be soon. 30 months after Time Magazine published terrorist propaganda as news, the cases against three of the four Marines charged in the Haditha incident have already been dismissed, LtCol Chessani will be next. In a perfect world, we would then see those who invented this story indicted, including Time Magazine and yes, including John Murtha. I suppose its too much to hope for.

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:24 AM | Comments (3)

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May 12, 2008

Great Words from a Great Man

I give you an excerpt from the speech given to the cadets of the U.S. Military Academy by General of the Army Douglas MacArthur upon his acceptance of the Sylvanus Thayer Award 46 years ago today, on 12 May 1962:

Full Text can be found on the Tribute to the General I did many many years ago, back when this silly weblog was a silly website.

Posted by LindaSoG at 12:42 PM | Comments (4)

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April 22, 2008

Reason #948387532

Why I love the Marines:

It was filmed in Fallujah, Iraq and it kinda makes ya feel good all over don't it?

I spotted that at Theodore's World and shamelessly stole it to post here. Thanks Wild Thing, that was wonderful.

Posted by LindaSoG at 09:23 PM | Comments (1)

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April 04, 2008

Reason # 84762654

why I love the Marines:

heh.

(I found it at Denny's)

Posted by LindaSoG at 05:56 AM | Comments (4)

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March 30, 2008

Sgt Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin

On April 9, 2004, terrorists kidnapped then PFC Keith "Matt" Maupin, assigned to the Army Reserve 724th Transportation Company, when his convoy of fuel trucks was ambushed while enroute from Camp Anaconda to Baghdad International Airport. He had been in Iraq for six weeks.

A week later, Al Jazeera aired a video that included Maupin giving his name, rank and serial number, indicating that he was being held by a group known as the "Sharp Sword Against the Enemies of God and His Prophet". The group indicated that they would be willing to trade Maupin for prisoners being held by the U.S.

Two months later, another video showed a man in desert camouflage, sitting in front of a hole in the ground. The man, identified as Maupin, was shown only from the back...and then, apparently, was shot in the head. A statement released with the video claimed that Maupin had been killed because the U.S. refused to negotiate the release of Iraqi prisoners.

The figure sitting in the dirt was only shown from behind, so there was no proof that it was Maupin. Despite thousands of tips, an Arabic-language commercial aired several hundred times in Iraq, and a $200,000 reward for the return or recovery of Maupin, the trail grew cold. Matt was not considered “missing in action” and he was not considered a “prisoner of war” either. He was just… gone. We hoped... and we prayed.... and we waited...

And now, almost four years later, Matt Maupin is coming home:

His resting place shall be in the Garden of Eden.
Therefore, the Master of mercy will care for him
under the protection of His wings for all time
And bind his soul in the bond of everlasting life.
God is his inheritance and he will rest in peace
and let us say Amen.

Maupins Confirm D-N-A is from Body of Son, Missing Soldier Matt Maupin

(UNION TOWNSHIP, OH) -- Keith Maupin confirmed this afternoon that the remains of his son, Matt Maupin, have been identified by the army in Iraq.

In a statement Keith said "We are proud of the continued efforts of the military and the army to return Matt to us. We must now work on efforts to return Matt.'

"Please keep the military and our family in your prayers."

Carolyn Maupin, Matt's mother said, "Thanks to everyone for their prayers and continued strength of the family."

"It hurts after four years of hope and this is what happens it is like a let down for me and I'm trying to get thru that right now."

"Pray. This is going to be very difficult and stay by our side in support."

Keith says that the family was informed this afternoon about 1p-m by a three star general. The body was identified by the D-N-A remains.

Please, take a moment today, visit Matt's parents' website, sign the guestbook, and let his family know that you care.

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:05 PM | Comments (3)

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February 22, 2008

We are doomed

if this man ever becomes Commander in Chief:

Ohfercryingoutloud.

Posted by LindaSoG at 02:13 PM | Comments (6)

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February 21, 2008

USA! USA!! USA!!!

Go Navy!

Posted by LindaSoG at 12:08 AM | Comments (2)

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January 24, 2008

Presidential Decision Directive #25

What happens when the President of the United States decides to ignore the Constitution, ignore Congress, ignore statutory law, and send America's sons and daughters into a military setting under the authority and the command of a foreign entity?

Ask SPC Michael G. New:

On August 21, 1995, my seniors in the U.S. Army chain of command informed me that my unit and I would soon be ordered to significantly alter our uniform by sewing a United Nations patch on my right shoulder and wearing the blue beret and/or helmet of the U.N. These are important insignia. If they were unimportant, then I would not have been threatened with courts-martial, imprisonment, or less than dishonorable discharge when I expressed my reservations about wearing them. I interpret the wearing of a uniform, or the accoutrements of a uniform, as a sign of allegiance and faithfulness to the authority or power so signified, or which issues that uniform. I am an American citizen who was recruited for and voluntarily joined the U.S. Army to serve as an American soldier. I am not a citizen of the United Nations. I am not a United Nations Fighting Person. I have never taken an oath to the United Nations, but I have taken the required oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

I am not trying to avoid a difficult or dangerous assignment or to get out of the Army. I served in Kuwait last year and have offered to serve anywhere in the world, in my American uniform, in my capacity as a U.S. Army medic under American command and U.S. Constitutional protections. I have worked diligently to be a good soldier. I have previously been offered a "Green to Gold" program to an Army Commission, and I am still seriously considering that offer. In order to avoid controversy, or to avoid placing the Army in a bad light, I have requested a transfer to a unit that is not required to wear the U.N. uniform. I was told that such is not possible, and I was even reluctantly willing to accept an honorable discharge, and I was willing to sadly and reluctantly withdraw from the U.S. Army quietly. However, I will not wear a U.N. uniform or serve under U.N. command, and I will strongly contest any discharge that is less than honorable.

I simply cannot understand the legal basis of the Army order to change my uniform against my oath of enlistment, against my conscience and against my will. Despite my requests for information up my chain of command, my questions about the lawfulness of such an order or about how my allegiance can be transferred without my approval have gone unanswered.

My chain of command has directed me to study the history and objectives of the U.N. My knowledge of, and my research into the United Nations, (which continues even as I prepare this statement), indicates to me that the U.N. Charter is based upon manmade principles which are incompatible with the Constitution of the United States, and the U.N.'s authority and principles are diametrically opposed to the founding documents of my country. The more I study the U.N. history and American history, the more incompatible they appear to me.

My studies indicate to me that there are those who would see my country assimilated or brought under the authority of the United Nations, which I interpret to mean a corresponding loss of sovereignty, which is a departure from our Founding Principles and a loss of independence for all Americans. Boutros-Ghali, for example, has written, "The time of absolute and exclusive sovereignty has passed." (1992, An Agenda for Peace) I should expect EVERY American soldier to be concerned about serving under such a Secretary General.

I believe that the Constitution is the fundamental law of America, and if there is any ambiguity or conflict with treaty or international agreement or organization that the U.S. Constitution would prevail. My oath is to the Constitution. I cannot find any reference to the United Nations in that oath. That oath includes a statement that is more than a passing reference to God Almighty, it is a prayer, "...so help me God." It is no secret that our nation is founded upon Biblical principles. {~" ) Our Founders reflected this fact in their speeches, correspondence and documents from the Mayflower Compact to the Declaration of Independence, and other more recent documents, all of which recognize certain rights such as life, liberty and property as being bestowed from Above, and as, therefore, "unalienable." I believe I will lose something precious and more valuable than the U.N. can possibly grant me, by surrendering my status as an American fighting man.

Without a response from the Army about the legality of any orders to become a U.N. soldier, I do not intend to surrender my status as an American soldier to wear the uniform of a foreign power. If you wish to convene a courts-martial and send me to jail for standing upon my oath as an American soldier and for defending my wearing the American Army uniform, and its historic significance, then I cannot prevent that action, and I will accept it as a price I am willing to pay, rather than submit to an order to obey or render allegiance to any foreign power, including the United Nations.

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"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

Powerful words, clear and consise, it is the oath Michael New took to defend the constitution of the United States. An oath so many brave and honorable men and women have taken with pride, determination, courage and honor.

It was not, and is not, an oath to server under the command of the United Nations or any other foreign entity.

Michael was told the order to wear the UN uniform was lawful because,"The President says so, therefore it is." But nobody provided a legitimate, legal or rational basis for the order. Eventually, a battalion briefing about the deployment offered the justification that, "We wear the U.N. uniform because it looks fabulous."

SPC Michael G. New refused. He refused to discard the uniform of the United States Army and to don the uniform of a foreign entity.

Today is the anniversary of his court-martial. The panel of seven, including three officers, returned a "guilty" verdict on charge of disobedience. They denied the Army's request for a prison term and Dishonorable Discharge, giving Michael a "Bad Conduct" Discharge instead.

"Right is right, and wrong is wrong. They can argue until the end of time, but I will never serve the United Nations." - Michael G. New

A decade of fighting, Michael's appeals have all been denied, and today, the conviction stands. In December of 2005, Judge Paul Friedman upheld the military's conviction, ruling that the U.S. military can force its personnel to wear the blue beret of the United Nations and serve under the world body's command.

That decision stands today.

But... its not over. President Clinton's Decision Directive #25 to place American troops under a foreign command is now 13 years old and eligble for declassification. In August of 2007, Michael New requested just that. Why? Well, it could mean a reversal.

Does it matter? Hell yes, it matters, especially since America could very well be facing another Clinton Presidency. What happened to Michael New could very well happen again, to our troops in uniform today.

American Troops should not be forced to serve under a foreign power. I pray Michael is successful.

Want to help? There's more here.

Posted by LindaSoG at 11:30 AM | Comments (3)

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January 19, 2008

Where do we get such men?

A wounded Navy Seal puts this on his hospital door.

I found it at SondraK

Posted by LindaSoG at 08:56 PM | Comments (2)

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January 08, 2008

In Memory of the King

Elvis Presley
January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977

G.I. Blues

Happy Birthday Elvis. You still have the power to melt my heart.

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:16 AM | Comments (2)

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January 05, 2008

In Memory of Andrew Olmsted

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:05 PM | Comments (1)

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January 02, 2008

Reason #8674367395

Why We Win:

but wait... there's more:

I love a bit of war pr0n with my coffee. Ha! The numb nuts never saw it coming... fire raining down from the heavens, justice, swift and sure. Our troops are kicking ass and taking no prisoners, and that my friends, is just how I like it.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:09 AM | Comments (4)

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December 12, 2007

There are many ways to skin a cat!

Much ado is being made of the Military's policy of returning mail that is addressed to "Any Soldier." Its a shame, but such are the times we live in. I support that decision, and not just because some jihadi may decide to send a little anthrax for Christmas.

There are moonbats out there who think one way to fight the war is to demoralize our troops, and I don't want anyone getting a "dear baby killer" letter from the wackos. An outrage, yes, but it has happened, just google Joshua Sparling and you'll see how the left supports the troops.

The end result is that anything addressed to "Any Soldier" has to be vetted for the safety and well being of our troops. Its just one more thing we have to deal with.

But do not doubt, we are dealing with it.

Good people will always find a way accomplish a goal.

So. Here's a tip I received from Wollfe:

"With the support of the Department of Defense, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and with help from Pitney Bowes Government Solutions, the American Red Cross will collect, review and disseminate holiday greeting cards to wounded military personnel. For security reasons, the Red Cross will only be able to accept holiday cards, not packages. Red Cross volunteers will receive and bundle the cards to be shipped by Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. Then, Red Cross volunteers at military medical facilities will distribute the cards to patients and their families in time for the holidays."

Address your Cards or Letters to:

We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
PO Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419

If you hurry, you might be in time for the Holidays.

But that's not all.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, located in Germany, is usually the first actual military hospital wounded soldiers are taken to after they've been evacuated from the Middle East. Sometimes, they are further evacuated stateside after a few weeks, and sometimes they return to duty.

Thanks to Pastoral Services, you can send a card or a letter to a wounded soldier at Landstuhl, and they will make sure your letter or card gets to a soldier. Its probably too late for Holiday greetings but better late than never!

US Army Hospital
attn: MCEUL/Pastoral Services
CMR 402
APO AE 09180

These services are generally overwhelmed during the holidays, please remember, our troops need your support 365 days a year. These addresses are always good. Why not make it a monthly thing, or even better, a weekly thing. Its a good habit to get into.

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:15 AM | Comments (1)

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November 27, 2007

Of course the Democrats support veterans

just not American Veterans!

A recent Veterans' Affairs Committee meeting took an unusual twist, ...

First, the Veterans' Committee took away benefits from some very deserving American veterans. Second, the committee gave benefits to veterans of another country who don't live in the United States, and never have lived in this country or been American citizens.

... the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007 (H.R. 760)... will provide benefits to Filipino World War II veterans.

These veterans were members of the Philippines military. They fought in the Pacific Theater, presumably on behalf of their native country.

They are citizens of the Philippines and not U.S. citizens. While these Filipino troops may have fought bravely, side-by-side, with American soldiers, they should be looking to the Philippines for veterans' benefits.

If signed into law, it would provide full veterans' status to World War II era Filipino soldiers and even their survivors.

This would include pay for service related disabilities, survivor pay for service-connected deaths, as well as pensions and death benefits.

Those who are living in the Philippines, and are not U.S. citizens, would receive $6,000 to $8,400. Low-income widows would receive $3,600.

Oh... but there's more. Of course, there's more.

Because of House PAYGO rules, any new entitlement spending (such as the Filipino Veterans Equity Act) must be funded by either a corresponding cut in existing spending or matching revenue gains.

In this case, the Democrats on the Veterans Committee voted to save nearly $1 billion by eliminating a $2,200 special monthly payment to veterans who are less than 100 percent disabled, but 60 percent or greater disabled.

We can stop this thing. If you care about our Veterans, the time to raise your voice is now, while this atrocity is still in Committee. Click here, call, email, fax the Committee members.

You can also thank VA Committee Chairman Bob Filner, D-California for sponsoring this outrage. Phone: (202) 225-8045; Fax: (202) 225-9073.

Spread the word!

Posted by LindaSoG at 12:59 PM | Comments (4)

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November 11, 2007

Thank You!

"A man must know his destiny… if he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean, once, twice, or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder… if he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take, if he has the guts, he will take it." - General George S. Patton, Jr.

Veterans' Day will come and go
Quicker than the blink of an eye
But memories of heroes present and past
Will never, ever die.
The youth of today, do you understand?
The price brave men did pay
To preserve the freedom we enjoy
Each and every day.

They were called to duty, and so they went
Not knowing what was to be
Many came home, some never did
They sacrificed so we could be free.

How lonely some must have felt
How scared some had to be
They paid the bill with their own blood
What a great cost to be free.

The heroes of our country
Are the ones who paved the way
For freedom and the many rights
That we enjoy today.

Next time, young folks, you pass someone
Who may be old and gray
Remember — thanks to him or her
You have your freedom today.

Support our President, support our troops
Support our country, too
As they go fighting for what is right
For freedom the price is due.

by Holly Rulli

November 11 is also General Patton's Birthday, but we never seem to remember that. Below is the famous "Patton Prayer" sent to the men of the Third Army December 8, 1944:

"Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen."

Amen.

Today is the last day of the Valour-IT Fundraise and yes, the Marines Team is still doing well...

We're beating the AirForce and the Navy:

But the Army is beating the Marines...

Please, show our troops you care!

Posted by LindaSoG at 07:28 AM | Comments (5)

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November 10, 2007

Happy Birthday!

'Twas winter time in Quantico in nineteen-twenty-two,
The slum was pretty rough that night, and all the men felt blue;
The hail and sleet, with ghostly feet beat on the bunkhouse dome,
Some men doped out their time to do, while others thought of home.

Then from the starless night, there slipped in through the bunkhouse door,
An old top sergeant that no man had ever seen before;
The hoar frost glistened in his hair, his eyes like star shells shone,
A gnarled mustache hid half his face, and he was skin and bone.

He sat down near the glowing stove and warmed his fleshless hands,
The chill of death was in his breath, like thunder his commands;
His voice was hollow, like the tone of one who’d long been dead,
And when he spoke, the silence broke, and this is what he said:

“Pipe down, all you devil-whelps, and snap out of your dreams,
And a tale I’ll tell of heaven and hell, and the Devil-Dog Marines;
Just Captain Jimmy Bones, M.C., their skipper wrote his name,
He was a fiend for fighting, he had no care for fame.”

“Have never seen so fierce a man on land, nor sky , nor sea,
He had a scar for every war, and fought in ninety-three;
When he was riled, he had an eye that drilled a hole through men,
He spoke but once, and no man asked him how, nor why, nor when.”

“Now Jimmy was the headpiece of a hundred brave Gyrenes,
He used to have a whole lot more who died from eating beans;
But them what ate the chow and lived, they sure were hard-boiled guys,
They flicked the bullets off their coats just like so many flies.”

The old top sergeant’s voice grew low, and at its ghostly gloom,
Men shivered, and the vermin crawled upon the bunkhouse broom;
He stuffed a live coal in his pipe, and deeply did inhale,
He blew the smoke clean through the roof, and then resumed his tale.

“They say the devil made him mean when he was in the skies,
And filled them all so full of hell it shone out through their eyes;
Then old St. Peter found the bunch, and gave them souls of white,
But hell still boiled up in them, and they couldn’t else but fight.”

“So Peter had to can old Nick, and when to earth he fell,
He got himself a steady job recruiting souls for hell;
Well, Peter stamped Marines ‘OK,’ and marked them all first class,
‘Cause all that ever scared ‘em was to see a looking-glass.”

“Now some they come from Texas sand, so they was full of grit,
And some was from Montana plains where they’d been roughing it;
Some more they come from old New York, and wore a Bowery frown,
Then some which was the toughest came from good old Frisco town.”

"Old Jimmy Bones shoved off for France in nineteen-seventeen,
And shipped across the toughest crew the world had ever seen;
Each man had ‘First to Fight,’ tattooed across his chest, in black,
And right betwixt his shoulder blades, ‘Watch out, we’re coming back!’”

“Them hundred Devil Dogs sure was a bold and daring crew,
They bit the soles right off their shoes whenever they’d want a chew;
There wasn’t one among that bunch of those U.S. Marines
Who couldn’t spit three fathoms deep, and sink three submarines.”

“And when it came to shooting guns, why, say, them men were there,
They’d shave a man a mile away, and never miss a hair;
They’d trim the eyebrows off a lark, a- soarin’ in the sky,
Or shoot the points off shooting stars, as long as they had an eye.”

“They cruised on all the seven seas and rationed on hard tack,
They fought their way around the world and half to hell and back;
They fought in every war there was, clean up to Vera Cruz,
The only things they hadn’t fought was huns, and too much booze.”

“Now Jimmie Bones reached France OK with that all-furious crew,
And everyone turned round to say, ‘No savvy parley-vous;’
The French girls grabbed them by their hands, and washed their necks with tears,
The French men slapped them on their backs, and yelled them deaf with cheers.”

"Then Jimmy made a speech, and said, ‘I hear you got a war,
Around here somewheres hereabout, and that’s what we’re here for;
But all I got to say is this. Enjoy it while you can,
I’m going to clean up Germany If I lose every man."

“The Germans learned that Jimmie Bones had crossed the sea to fight,
And when they got that awful news, their feet turned cold with fright;
And when they lamped that roughneck crew from off an aeroplane,
It nearly knocked ‘em for a goal, and some went plumb insane.”

“Said they, ‘What is this thing, Marines? If they had said before,
They had such Devil Dogs as these, there wouldn’t be no war;’
So that is how they got their name of ‘Devil Dog’ Marines,
And ever since, they’ve chased the Dutch dachshund clean off the scenes.”

The old top sergeant rolled his eyes, as if to recollect,
And where he let his fierce glance fall, it scorched six feet of deck;
Said he, “No man has ever lived that crossed old Jimmy Bones,
He had the power that lifted men, Or dragged kings down from thrones.”

"A general of the allies looked out through his periscope,
And seen ten million German huns a-coming on the lope;
He bit his short mustache and said, ‘We’re in an awful stew,
We’ve only got a million men. It looks like they’ll break through.’”

“Then, Jimmy Bones piped up and said, ‘You didn’t count Marines,
I’ve got some hell-dogs that’ll chew the spikes right off their beans;
‘Cause numbers don’t mean nothing to my well-behaving crew,
Why, they ain’t been to school enough to count the men they slew.’”

“The general said, ‘You win, my man. Go take your wild Marines,
And form a scouting party just to double up the scenes;’
Then Jimmy Bones saluted stiff, and to the general said,
‘We’ll break through to Berlin, sir, If we don’t, we’ll come back dead.’”

“With that, he yelled, ‘Outside, Marines, and snap out of your hop,
We’re going out to gather up that German lemon crop;
And if I see one of you men so much as leave a rind,
You’ll rate the brig ‘till kingdom come, and sixty dollars fine.’”

“The hundred Devil Dogs fell out, and then they all fell in,
And each one closed a gap in ranks by shaving up his chin;
The chief cook turned up missing when the time for counting come,
But he was cooking shrapnel up to make the crew some slum.”

“Then Jimmy Bones, he gave a talk, to all his men, he said,
‘We’re shipping out on heavy seas with reefs and shoals ahead;
But all I got to say is this, remember you’re Marines,
Cause water settles everything, and that’s what our name means.”

"He marched ‘em up on company front, in quick and double-time,
He marched ‘em in a riot squad and in a skirmish line;
He ran ‘em in a platoon rush, and then by single squad;
And each advance ten thousand huns stretched out and hit the sod.”

"He mowed ‘em down with Browning guns, and with their Springfield gats,
And them they couldn’t get that way they stuck with bayonets;
And when it came to trenches they just shoved the banks all in,
And tons of huns were swallowed up, and never lived again.”

“The Germans shot a bunch of bombs of dead limburger cheese,
But all it did to Jimmy’s men was make them cough and sneeze;
Then Jimmy lit a strong cigar from off a passing shell,
Three million huns got one good whiff, and died of that vile smell.”

“The hundred Devil Dogs shoved on, their eyes flashed liquid fire,
Which melted guns and cannons up just like they were lead wire;
They kicked about a million huns into the River Marne,
And if they drowned, or sunk, or swam, they didn’t give a darn.”

“The Germans thought that judgment day had come to take its tolls,
They got the jula in their knees, and trembled in their souls;
And when they saw those Devil Dogs, and heard their awful yell,
They knew their judgment day had come, and they were picked for hell.”

“So, what was left threw up their mitts, and hollered ‘kamerad,’
But Jimmy’s men thought that was Dutch for talk profaning God;
So they stuck their bayonets right through them anyhow,
And buzzards came down from the sky and ate ‘em up for chow.”

“Now Kaiser bill and Hindenburg was in a game of craps,
He staked his royal crown against a box of ginger snaps;
Old Hindy won the crown and said, ‘This ain’t no good to me,
I’d sooner have a bite to eat than all of Germany’”

“Said Kaiser Bill, ‘I’ll tell you what. You lend ten marks to me,
I’ll pay you back in a month or two with French indemnity.’
Said Hindy, ‘Where’d you get that stuff. Do you see any green on me?
I bought myself some Liberty Bonds from Mrs. Liberty.’”

“Just then the crown prince busted in and said, ‘Oh papa dear;
I see some wild men coming who will wreck this joint, I fear;
I’ll shoot a long-range shot at them, and if they still persist,
Then I’ll take about a million men and slap them on the wrist.’”

“The Kaiser took a peek out from a half-raised window blind,
And seen a hundred Devil Dogs a-swimming across the Rhine;
The river was a-running blood, From all the men they slew,
And every time they’d duck their heads, they’d drink a quart or two.”

“The Kaiser’s hair stood up on end and turned from black to white,
And when he spied old Jimmy Bones, his blood ran cold with fright;
He grabbed the prince’s hand and said, ‘Don’t fool with that wild Yank,
He’ll fill you full of bullet holes where Papa used to spank.’”

“‘What ho the guard!’ Cried Kaiser Bill. ‘There ain't no guard no more,’
Said Hindenburg, ‘The guard was shot out there by the palace door;’
‘Where is my ally Gott?’ yelled Bill. 'Von Gott, he ain’t at home,’
Said Hindenburg, ‘The Gott you had was in your crazy dome.’”

“The Kaiser’s eyes stuck out a mile. ‘What shall I do?’ said he,
‘I’ll save myself and my six brave sons. To hell with Germany;’
Said Hindenburg, ‘It went to hell long time before this thing,
Ten million huns that you sent there are waiting for their king.’”

“The outside palace door crashed in. There was a mighty roar,
‘Thank gott,” said Hindenburg, ‘I’ll see that mush of yours no more;’
With that he grabbed his gat and blew the brains out of his head,
And Kaiser Bill knowed then and there he meant just what he said.”

“The Kaiser beat it for the door and flung it open wide,
And there he met Jimmy Bones a’coming just outside;
Behind him were his Devil Dogs with gleaming bayonets,
And Kaiser Bill knowed they had come to get a whole world’s bets.”

“Then Jimmy gave him just one look that turned his gizzard pale,
And made him wish that he had spent his life in some nice jail;
Said Jimmie Bones, ‘So you’re the cur that kicked up all this row,
You’ve got about an hour to live, so don’t give us no gow!’”

“The Kaiser’s nerve went over the hill. His brow dripped bloody sweat,
He got down on his knees and cried and got the carpet wet;
His teeth, they rattled, just like dice do in a game of craps,
And every word that Jimmy spoke was like a note of taps.”

“Then Jimmy Bones drawed out his gat, and then he tossed it by,
Said, ‘you ain’t fit enough to live, and not that fit to die;
You’ve served the devil all your life, but now you’ll work for me,’
And then he thought of things to do. Jim Bones can think of three.”

“‘You’ll stand a guard of twenty hours around the Arctic zones,
With fifteen minutes out to thaw the marrow in your bones;
And every hour throughout the night you’ll answer reveille,
And every twenty years or so, you’ll rate a liberty.’”

“‘And all you’ll have to drink is German blood you’ve shed,
And when you’re hungry, you will gnaw the bones of German dead;
You’ll do a jolt in eighty-four for ten or twenty years,
And under a hard-boiled non-com you’ll shed your dying tears.’”

“Then Jimmy stopped, and silence filled the gloomy castle hall,
The Kaiser rose and tried to speak, then fell against the wall;
Said he, ‘I thought the devil was a mean and ugly guy,
But you’ve got Satan cheated with one look out of your eye.’”

“Said Jimmy Bones, ‘Now that ain’t all I’m gonna leave you do,
Them things is just light duty, but there’s heavy duty too!’
The Kaiser throwed up both his mitts. ‘You win!’ That’s all he said,
He gave a yell that was heard in hell, and then fell over dead.”

The old top sergeant paused awhile to see if some would doubt,
He sneezed a sneeze, the stoves grew cold, the window panes fell out;
He rolled himself a cigarette from sweepings off the floor,
And lit it with his flaming eye, and then resumed once more.

“Now German spies sent work to France that Jimmy Bones was dead,
And all his hundred Devil Dogs was slaughtered too, they said;
The women weeped a lot of weeps. The men felt pretty bad,
And all of them were mourning cause the shock it hit ‘em bad.”

“The cook was boiling coffee up from a piece of dried-out meat,
Said he, ‘If they is dead or not they’ll be back here to eat;
The world has never seen the time Marines have met defeat,
They would have gone to hell to cut off Kaiser Bill’s retreat.’”

“A sentry sighted Jimmy’s men a’coming over the hill,
And dragging on behind them what was left of Kaiser Bill;
And when they reached old Paris, they were met with yells and cheers,
And showers of gold enough to last ‘em all a thousand years.”

“They hung a million medals on old Jimmy and his crew,
And when they took ‘em off they had a barrel full or two;
And ever after that each lived just like a millionaire,
They never answered reveille, or heard a bugle blare.”

“And all they did was bunk fatigue from then, forever more,
And when they died, they went above and knocked on heaven’s door;
Old Peter came down to the porch and hollered, ‘Halt! Who’s there?’
“United States Marines,” said Jim. First here, and everywhere’”

"So Peter let the whole bunch in along with Captain Jim,
And each one grabbed himself a harp, and sung the Marine hymn;
And ever after that each stood his guard on heaven’s green,
And nary a German has got past the brave U.S. Marine.”

The old top sergeant heaved a sigh that raised the bunkhouse roof,
And those who sat too close to him were blown ten feet aloof;
He cut the sling from off a gun and took a three-foot chew,
And where he spat, the floor gave way, and hell came boiling through.

Then from the fiery pit there rose a corporal of the guard,
His face was sunk, his flesh was iron, his look was twice as hard;
Said he, “The detail’s still intact around the brimstone floods,
The devil’s peeling onions and the Kaiser’s peeling spuds.”

The old top kicker knit his brow, said he, “All right, that’s well!
But when you’ve finished with that job they’ll start to coal up hell;
And if them billion tons ain’t in before they shut an eye,
I’ll run ‘em up ‘fore Jimmy Bones, and let them tell him why.”

The corporal turned and leaped head on down through that fiery mass,
The floor closed up, the bunkhouse swayed with clouds of molten mass.
The top arose, the lights went out, Taps sounded, came the rain,
A chill swept through the room and he was never seen again.

A true Marine Corps classic, “Captain Jimmy Bones And His Devil-Dog Marines” originally appeared in an early forties edition of “Leatherneck Magazine."

Now... what better way to say Thank you...

Posted by LindaSoG at 11:24 AM | Comments (4)

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November 05, 2007

Project Valour-IT - Go Marines!

I see hundreds of them on the road and in parking lots every day. All different colors and designs. Some yellow, some red, white and blue, some a combination. They all say the same thing. There is a yellow one on the back of my truck right now.

Support the Troops.

A fine notion, and one that America has not truly embraced since WWII. There were plenty of troops to support in-between now and then. I attended Support the Troops rallies during Desert Storm, including one on Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown Miami. Now the only rallies we see there are the anti-war rallies run by socialist/communists who consider America to be the enemy.

But, there are all those magnets. All those people who claim to support the troops. Spend your $5.00, stick it on the back of your vehicle and go on your merry way, doing all the day to day things in your life made possible by those very same troops.

What if... what if you met one of those troops face to face. One of those troops who spent several nights sleeping in a hollow in the sand, like those pictures you saw last year in your email? One of those troops who took Baghdad from Saddam's Army in less time than it took Reno to massacre the Branch Davidians? One of those troops who went door to door in Fallujah, under fire by terrorists. One of those troops who fired back, protecting himself, his unit, and yes, protecting you in the process. One of those troops who were running a supply convoy and ran into an I.E.D. One of those troops who took part in one of these IPOs? What if that troop had been injured?

Would you show him your magnet?

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded servicemember's recovery.

Many of my readers will remember when I made my Let's Cheer Up Chuck post in July of 2005. My goal at that time was to cheer up Chuck as he recovered from wounds he received while defending our freedom in Iraq. Many of you sent cards and letters to Chuck during his stay at Walter Reed and I thank you for that.

But there are other brave troops like Chuck who need our help, and they deserve the very best that America has to offer. Will they get it? I hope so, and I am sure you hope so too. But, like the magnets on the back of all those cars, hope is not going to do much to support these who have done their very best to protect our Freedom, and this Country.

I urge you to do a little more then just hope. Please help. Put your money where your heart is. Send the price of a magnet if that's all you can afford. But send something.

MARINE CORPS UPDATE:

The Marines Team is doing well...

We're beating the AirForce and the Navy:

But the Army is beating the Marines...

So, today I hit up the office, and I'm passing some flyers around the building. Why not do the same?

Our Team Leader, Holly Aho, is auctioning off some hand-made jewelry and Christmas is coming.... there are more auctions here and the money gets donated!

and... Special thanks to the Marine Corps Team:

Soldiers Angel - Holly Aho; The American Princess; Fuzzilicious Thinking; Gazing at the Flag; Michelle Malkin; A Blog For All; ThreatsWatch.org; Soldiers' Angels Germany;America's North Shore Journal; Stix Blog; The Dan Lee Report;Bookworm Room; Semper Gratus!; Gunz Up; Bilskirnir - Thor's Hall; Quality Weenie; GruntDoc; She Who Waits; docweaselblog; Not Ready for My Burqua; North Star Liberty; Random Thoughts; Freedom Dogs; Cao's blog; Sister Toldjah; Flobbergobber; Meep's Livejournal; IMAO; Gazizza; A Lovely Infidel; The American Pundit; Weird,Strange, or Crazy Auctions; What...?; Java Zen:Thinking Out Loud; To Tame the Wild Beastie; A Jester Unemployed; EckerNet.Com; Fatekisminy; Anti-Strib; Hugh Hewitt; http://www.myspace.com/unclemo665; Shadowscope; Something and Half of Something; Ogre's Politics and Views; PC Free Zone; Anti-Strib; A Swift Kick & A Band-Aid; The Median Sib; Political inSecurity; W. Thomas Smith Jr.; Drunken Wisdom; Is this Life?; American and Proud; Thismink.com; From the Halls to the Shores.

A fine group of people and fine buncha bloggers. Visit them!

Posted by LindaSoG at 06:47 AM | Comments (3)

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November 04, 2007

Thank you Art Carney

Today, on your birthday, I would like to thank you for the laughs... and thank you for protecting my freedom!

For those of you who didn't know... Art Carney was drafted into the Army in 1943 and in 1944, he took part in the D-Day landing at Normandy. A piece of mortar shrapnel shattered his right leg, leaving him with a leg three-quarters of an inch shorter than the other and a lifelong limp. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

Art Carney was a funny guy, and a Hero!

Posted by LindaSoG at 01:38 PM | Comments (2)

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October 31, 2007

Valour-IT - The Few ~ The Loud ~ The Marines!

From October 29th until November 11th I'm raising my voice with the Marine Corps fundraising team, for