Veteran's Day

Thank you.

Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down

192 Become U.S. Citizens While Serving

"I am extremely honored to preside over such an important event for these great men and women," Austin said. "Today, we have the opportunity to welcome 192 of our fellow brothers and sisters in arms into our American family."

Austin took time to individually recognize two troops, Marine Corps Sgt. Sidney King III and Army Spc. Alan Wyrwa, both of whom overcame numerous challenges to become U.S. citizens.

Wyrwa lived in communist-controlled East Germany until he and his mother risked their lives escaping to West Germany when he was 5 years old. King came to the United States in 1988 and spent his first five years separated from his parents. He worked tirelessly to obtain a visitor's visa, and later a green card, to stay in the United States. For the last nine years, he has served in the Marine Corps.

Read the rest here.

192 troops from 54 different countries became U.S. citizens. And to think about what these young men and women represent... talk about intestinal fortitude... My heart wells with pride for these fine examples of what it means to be an American.

Congratulations.

Move America Forward

Streaming Video by Ustream.TV

Learn more here.

Sunday Song, God Is In the Roses

Sunny - Hi 104 Lo 82 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 98 Lo 64 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Mostly Sunny - Hi 78 Lo 62 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: God Is In the Roses, Rosanne Cash

God Is In The Roses (Live) by Rosanne Cash

or

You Tube, God is in the Roses

I really wanted to share this song with you and I could not find it anywhere... I hope you check out one of the links above. This song was on Rosanne's LP, Black Cadillac released in 2006. This album is lovely, thoughtful, haunting, poetic, melancholy-- this song, one of my favorites.

Since this is Memorial Day Weekend and it is a time to remember those we have lost in service to our nation I couldn't help but think about the mothers of some of our local fallen heroes. I can think of no better song-- a song about loss and yearning and remembering and searching and asking for comfort.

To the servicemen that made the ultimate sacrifice - Thank you and I will not forget you.

God is in the roses
The petals and the thorns
Storms out on the oceans
The souls who will be born
And every drop of rain that falls
Falls for those who mourn
God is in the roses and the thorns

The sun is on the cemetery
Leaves are on the stones
There never was a place on earth
That felt so much like home
We're falling like the velvet petals
We're bleeding and we're torn
But God is in the roses and the thorns

I love you like a brother
A father and a son
It may not last forever and ever
But it never will be done
My whole world fits inside the moment
I saw you be reborn
God is in the roses
And that day was filled with roses
God is in the roses and the thorns

Have a great week everyone!

Amazing IS The New Awesome

Mostly Sunny - Hi 93 Lo 72 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 100 Lo 64 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Rain - Hi 58 Lo 46 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Nowhere to Run, Martha & the Vandellas

Martha and the Vandellas are by far my favorite girl group from Motown... Heatwave, Dancing in the Streets, Jimmy Mack, and of course Nowhere to Run!! It's hard to be blue when you are listening to these girls groovin' to a sound that is now classified as oldies... wait... the 80's are now oldies... this is from the 60's... no matter... the sound is just as fresh today as it was in 1965... AMAZING!

Ramble (Random Thoughts):

** Remember, you read it here first... Amazing is the new awesome... Michael made this observation a few months ago and I now concur... No longer will you hear blond bubble-heads proclaiming something awesome... everything now is AMAZING.... good grief... another perfectly good word run down into the ground...

** I was away on business last week and I had the good fortune to spend some time in Westchester County, New York... Yes... I was in Hillary's backyard... actually, we went to Hill and Bill's place... Hill wasn't home... didn't see Bill. OH.. and their next door neighbor had an Obama sign in their front yard... Priceless!

** The area that Hill & Bill and Martha Stewart live in is quite rural... about an hour outside of New York City... it is quite beautiful... It AMAZINGLY looks a lot like Kentucky...

** I was fortunate to meet a young soldier in the airport in White Plains, New York. He looked like he was 16... no way has this young man shaved more than twice in his life. He was dressed in fatigues holding a bottle of Mountain Dew. I went to a vending machine and forked out $2.00 for a Mountain Dew and $1.50 for some pretzels. I walked over to the young man, held out my hand to shake his--- funny... his hands were soft... maybe a couple of callouses... but young... young hands. I handed him the soda and pretzels and said that I would buy him a drink next time I saw him. He laughed and thanked me... As I began to walk away from him... I realized I hadn't thanked him... I swung around... and said, "NO!! Thank you, Son!" And when I walked away, I made my way to the ladies room where I proceeded to burst into tears... Yes... another young man going off to protect us... to keep us safe... some one's sweetheart...some one's brother... some one's son... These young men ARE AMAZING and that is the definition of AMAZING AND AWESOME... That is the standard we should be using when choosing our words...

** Another observation from Michael... if you are an avid listener of NPR... Michael is about to become your worst nightmare... the next time you listen to NPR... listen to how much the announcer's stutter and stammer... They all do it... all the time...

** This next video is from GodTube.com. I saw this a while ago.. some friends that attend the Vineyard shared it with me. It's powerful... a great video for young and old alike.


** One more thing... Happy Mother's Day to all you wonderful and AMAZING women.

Have a great week everyone!

Vern

The link I set up below is not working... hope this one does..

To Everything There Is A Season

Partly Cloudy - Hi 100 Lo 79 for Baghdad, Iraq
Sunny - Hi 95 Lo 63 for Qandahar, Afghanistan Mostly
Sunny - Hi 68 Lo 45 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Turn! Turn! Turn!, The Byrds

Was this the last song of an innocent time? I'm serious... I was only a few months old at the time of it's release... Let me know... President Kennedy had been assassinated 2 years prior... we were in Vietnam-- however soldier morale was still high because the American people were supporting the effort and the troops... Seriously, was this the last song of innocence for our country?

Ramble:

This month has been on God's time. And once again I am reminded about how fleeting time can be. One moment has brought sheer joy and pride--- the next absolute sorrow and inconsolable grief. In the joy, I have seen struggle and hard work. In the sorrow, I have witnessed strength through courage and the support of family and community.

** My grandfather's best friend was finally given his medals for his service to our great nation during World War II thanks to a Vietnam Veteran. Vern was a medic... he saved lives and brought aid and comfort to soldiers in 3 major campaigns... including the Battle of the Bulge. He was NEVER issued a winter coat. After the war, he came home like the rest of his generation and got on with his life. I'm so pleased my grandparents invited me to attend. I'm so proud of my grandfather... I'm so proud of Vern. Thank these men... sadly, we are losing them every day...

I have moved the video to a separate entry- above. My apologies for the end of the video... first time using my camera--- and I haven't figured out how to edit yet... That is Ohio Congresswoman, Jean Schmidt presenting Vern with his medals... I've seen her a lot in the past 3 weeks...

** About two weeks ago, a coworker of mine unexpectedly lost her 15 year old son to a brain aneurysm... How does a mother recover from the loss of her oldest child? I don't know... I don't imagine a parent ever recovers from the loss of a child.. it's not the natural order... a parent is supposed to outlive the child...

** Friday morning, I witnessed a friend, 1 of 69 people from 34 countries become naturalized citizens of the United States. If you have never seen this ceremony or been witness to the oath... This is powerful stuff. By choice, they come here...they decide that this is a better place. Federal Court Judge Bunning (yes... son of Senator Bunning) asked that each person stand and give their name, the country of origin and where they reside currently... Safe to tell you... I started crying immediately... First person was from Canada (3 total), the next Russia--- many many Bosnians, 1 Iraqi, 1 Iranian, Filipinos, 3 Mexicans, 1 from Holland, 1 from France, a handful from the UK, China, India.... now... proudly are all Americans... Becoming a legal United States citizen by design is not an easy process and it takes a long time... years... I forget who it was, but one of the women stood and stated her name, where she was from and loudly and enthusiastically proclaimed in her glorious accent that she lived in INDEPENDENCE, Kentucky.
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God."

** That same Friday afternoon, I learned from my sis in law that Susan lost her long hard fought battle with cancer. She was only 47. My prayers are with Susan's family-- her husband... her mother... her brother and sisters... her son.... only 47....

** This weekend Matt Maupin finally came home. He was escorted by his younger brother Micah. Carolyn Maupin and Keith Maupin continue to be beacons of strength and dignity and compassion and hope during a time of inconceivable grief and sorrow. On April 9 at a scholarship fundraiser in his brother's name, Micah reenlisted in the Marine Corp in front of a packed house-- including his father and mother. Although Carolyn stood by her son's decision.... You could see the pain and fear in her eyes. Matt is home and the community is welcoming this young man home. Yesterday morning I stood along the highway with my grandfather and a bunch of crusty old Marines waiting for Matt. Kyle--- as usual did something extraordinary to welcome him home and to offer comfort and support to the family... He had a sign(s) made... pictures below... Michael rode in the escort as a member of Patriot Guard Riders from Lunken Airport to the Civic Center. I was very proud of him... he was the only sportie among the Harleys... We all met at the visitation. My grandfather is 85 and in failing health... He wanted to go pay his respect, but the weather was not cooperative. The police officers on duty especially Officer Combs and volunteers saw to it that we would get my grandfather through. He told us to come back in 45 minutes, he would get us a wheelchair and would get us to the front of the long line. Kindness... respect... appreciation...

** Kyle spoke to a very distinguished looking man-- Kyle what was his last name? ... As this man with an umbrella, a stylish suit and an English accent spoke about his time in the service and the artillery he used and the brotherhood he shared with Kyle, the conversation turned to his appreciation of the outpouring of support he was witness to. Shortly after, he shared with Kyle as I eavesdropped that he was asked by President Bush to paint a portrait of Matt Maupin. He described the painting... it will be Matt and his brother Micah... the portrait will be called Brothers.

** Today--- will be Matt's funeral... again the Maupin's are concerned about the entire community... they want us to be able to mourn his loss and celebrate this young man's life. Michael again will participate with Patriot Guard... I will wander down to the ball park... and pay my respect.

Kyle the dreamer, Ray the installer, Tom the guy who made the sign a reality... Michael

Read the oath above again... really... read it out loud. Say the words... Hear the words. Understand the words.

Everything is done in HIS time-- now read the following words...

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3
1: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3: A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6: A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7: A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8: A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
9: What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?
10: I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.
11: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
12: I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.
13: And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.
14: I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. 15: That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
16: And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
17: I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
18: I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 19: For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity.
20: All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
21: Who knoweth the spirit of man that goeth upward, and the spirit of the beast that goeth downward to the earth?
22: Wherefore I perceive that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?

Yes... I have learned a great deal this month...

Have a great week everyone!

In Memory, Matt Maupin

We know he isn't in pain, he isn't being tortured anymore. He no longer has to be afraid. Matt has done his duty... he has paid the ultimate price. He has served his country and we must not forget him.

The sad news came yesterday that Matt's remains were found. My prayers and thoughts go to Keith and Caroloyn Maupin and all the friends and family that loved and knew Matt.

He will be home soon.



On April 9, 2008 there will be a scholarship fund raiser-- Let us never forget. For more information please visit the Yellow Ribbon Support Center.

Associated Press article

Uhhhh..... What Are We Doing?

Widespread Dust - Hi 110 Lo 86 for Baghdad, Iraq
Widespread Dust and Thunderstorms late - Hi 104 Lo 79 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Scattered Thunderstorms - Hi 86 Lo 66 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: It's All Been Done, Barenaked Ladies - Just two things on BNL. I really enjoy their music, hate their politics.

Ramble:

I believe I have mentioned that I am in military sales. I really love this market -primarily my world revolves around the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard.

Understand this. In the 1980's we had over 600 ships, we now have 273 ships. Ich... that's a little disconcerting, don't you think? We really aren't thinking ahead... Yes, the Navy is working on the DDG1000 (next generation Guided Missile Destroyer), the LCS (smaller combat ship) and the CVNX (new generation carrier) which is all very cool technology, however the cost to manufacture these vessels are extraordinary. Back in the early spring, LCS-3 by Lockheed Martin was canceled after a 90-day work stoppage by the Navy due to going way over budget... and I'm not talking a couple hundred bucks- try $100,000,000.00.

Just this past week Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (Ingalls) was chastised by Navy Secretary Donald Winter on their delinquency of delivering and meeting pricing agreements.

“I am deeply concerned about Northrop Grumman Ship Systems’ (NGSS) ability to recover in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, particularly in regard to construction of LPD 17 Class vessels. I am equally concerned about NGSS’ ability to construct and deliver ships that conform to the quality standards maintained by the Navy and that adhere to the cost and schedule commitments agreed upon at the outset by both NGSS and the Navy.”

Understand this. The DoD budget for the Navy continues to be cut year over year despite the increase in military spending. I fully support spending gobs and gobs of money on our military, but we are basically funding the war at hand and are not focused on anything on the horizon or beyond--- which is NOT good.

Cynthia Brown, President of the American Shipbuilders Association said back in 2004,

“Equally alarming is the fact that the United States is losing the industrial and skill capability to ever rebuild America’s sea power. Over the past decade, naval shipbuilders have eliminated jobs of tens of thousands of highly skilled engineers and manufacturing employees, and are
struggling to maintain their diminished workforce. The number of companies manufacturing critical ship systems and components has been reduced by 60 percent and hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost. Today, there remains only one company still in business to make many of each of the critical components essential to a warships operation, and that remaining company is hanging by a thread.”

Understand this. My company is one of those manufacturers hanging by a thread when it comes to manufacturing for the Navy. We are a strong and diversified company and manufacturing for the Navy is one very small percentage of a percentage of what we do. For this particular business we have only one competitor. That's it! One! It doesn't stop there. Our vendors and their competitors have dwindled away as well. In MANY instances there is only one vendor to supply us and our competitor. Naturally prices have gone up because there is no competition and despite the shrinking fleet, demand has gone up, but not enough to sustain another manufacturer entering this business. The cost of raw materials since I have been in this field have gone up over 140%. As a company, we find it harder and harder to stay in this business.

Furthermore, the engineering teams at the governing agencies such as NavSea, NavAir, Naval Underwater Warfare Center (NUWC) and Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) which approve military specifications have dwindled down to a handful of folks. More and more these agencies DEPEND on the manufacturers to provide expert engineering advice. I'm not an expert, and by no means at the top of the ladder within my organization, but having checks and balances on something this critical seems pretty important... but that's just me...

The flip side of this coin is that everyone else on the planet thinks that building a navy with a large @$$ fleet is a good thing. Japan and Taiwan stand out in the crowd as do Israel and Turkey. And of course there is China.........................

Just wanted to offer a little food for thought... I see this every day and my heart grows heavy. I am nervous for our country.

I ask, am I being paranoid??

Related:
Navy League
Defense News
American Shipbuilders Association
Navy League - China's Navy Today
PLAN in San Diego

On a different more uplifting note, last week, I was able to help this Army Unit in Iraq! Instant gratification and relieved I could make it happen.

Check out those missile launchers... click on the picture for a better view.


Have a great week everyone!

A Quiet Sunday

Sunny - Hi 114 Lo 86 for Baghdad, Iraq
Morning Rain - Hi 103 Lo 71 for Qandahar, Afghanistan
Partly Cloudy - Hi 95 Lo 72 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: I Want You To Be My Love, Over the Rhine

I am smitten with this duo, Over the Rhine. Not because they formed in my hometown of Cincinnati or even because they named themselves after a historic (and sadly run down) part of the city, but because they are talented. This song is sweet and melodic and comforting. The indie video I found goes hand in hand. I hope you enjoy it.

Ramble:

I don't have the heart to write this week... enjoy your Sunday, have some coffee and listen to my music selection.

...and to all the wonderful fathers out there... Happy Father's Day.

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

I try to visit LindaSog at Something and Half of Something a few times of week. She loves Marines almost as much as me...

Anyway, she put up a link that held me captivated for a good solid hour the other night. It is a tribute to Army Corporal Chris Mason. Chris' father sent an email....

I miss Chris today, more then ever; I was riding my bike and found tears running
down my face. I love my son, but he loved freedom more then he loved life it's
self.

Here is a link to Chris' MySpace that has been lovingly cared for by his father. I encourage you to watch all the videos... It is a reminder that on this day- we have sons and fathers in harms way... and we have sons and fathers waiting for loved ones in harms way to come home safe. Please, go, go now.

Lastly, in the next few days I'll be posting an intense piece written by my Italian buddy, Carlo at I Diavoli Neri. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the words.

Happy Father's Day and Have a great week everyone!

Letters Home

Partly Cloudy - Hi 111 Lo 85 for Baghdad, Iraq
Isolated Thunderstorms - Hi 85 Lo 65 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: You Raise Me Up, Josh Groban

Ramble:

In preparing for my Sunday post I read through various speeches- from our forefathers to President Bush. I kept finding my way back to President Reagan. His words are just as moving today as when he first spoke them. However, I wanted this Memorial Day post to be a little more personal so I went up to our loft and spent a good portion of the afternoon pouring over old letters that were saved by my Great Great Aunt Ethel.

My Aunt Ethel was the record keeper in the family. I received a birthday card and two dollars in the mail every single year up to her death. I was special as were all her nieces and nephews. It is my understanding that she had fallen in love once, but he broke her heart, so she never married. My grandmother has given me most of the photos from Aunt Ethel's collection and being the record keeper that she was, all the photos have first and last names, dates and the relationship of the person in the photo to the individual she gave the photo to.

This is a photo of my Great Great Great Grandfather. (click on images for a larger view)
I know this because---
Anyway, you get the point. She kept everything that was important- letters, photos, newspaper clippings, birth certificates and death notices- she was incredibly organized, fastidious, detail driven woman. She took an old roll of wall paper and mapped out our family tree... pretty ingenious if you ask me. I have her to thank for the letters below. The black marks are the last names of my family that I have blacked out on the photo copies I made to do this post- the originals are in tact with all her notes. Aunt Ethel even put last names on letters-- knowing (or at least hopeful) that someone in the family would want to know.

My Uncle Charlie passed away this past November and I posted about it him here. He did two tours of duty in Vietnam. He loved this country and never stopped fighting for her. Never. He loved the Corp. just as much as this country. He was a Marine his entire life- even when they made him retire. (click on images to enlarge and read)


My Uncle Steve (19 years old) and "Janis"





This letter cracks me up because Uncle Steve hates winter... he lives in Las Vegas now... Uncle Steve also retired from the Marines. As my memory serves me he left the Marines back in the early 80's and went to work for the railroad... found that he didn't like it and went back to the Corp. He retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant.

A few thoughts...

I think we miss out on a lot because we don't write letters- email is great, but there is something to be said about receiving a handwritten letter- to recognize the handwriting of the envelope and anticipate what will be found inside. A letter takes more thought and are to be cherished. Most email ends up being deleted. Having spent the afternoon reading through family letters of those now no longer with us... it was as if they came back to life. I could hear their voices again.

A special thank you this Memorial Day to all the military bloggers I have gotten to know. You are so important. Keep writing. Keep telling your story. It is important and a way to document for your family and generations to come.

Friends of ours have a son that on May 19 graduated from high school. On the 24th he was headed to Fort Benning. Patrick's goal is to be an Airborne Ranger attached to the 101st. I can not tell you how proud I am. No... he isn't joining the Marines ;-), No... he isn't my son... No... I don't even know him that well... However, I do know that to volunteer to serve our country during a time of war is quite courageous and quite humbling for me. I thank God every single day for men like him. I pray that God keeps him safe.

We live in such an amazing country. I am so grateful to the men and women we will remember tomorrow. I am so grateful to those that serve presently. I am so thankful to the families of those that serve. I think a powerful way to remember those that served our nation is to thank those presently serving. Maybe you know a mom or dad of someone presently serving- write a letter and give it to mom or dad to be delivered in their next care package. Maybe you have to pick up a loved one at the airport... our servicemen are easy to pick out in a crowd... the high and tight haircut on a young man or the tightly coiffed ponytail on a young woman is an easy giveaway- a simple gesture of a handshake and two simple words- Thank you will make the difference...

Thank you.

Thank you.

You do raise me up.


You Raise Me Up, Music and Lyrics by Rolf Lovland & Brendan Graham

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Have a great week everyone!

Three Years Ago

U.S. Army Sgt. Keith Matthew "Matt" Maupin was captured in Iraq three years ago today. Please keep him in your prayers.

Please pray for his parents, Keith and Carolyn Maupin, who are beacons of hope and pillars of strength in our community.
The 2nd Annual Dinner and Dance Fundraiser --- Let Us Never Forget Scholarship Fundraiser will be held this evening.

WCPO

Community Press

Yellow Ribbon Support Center - go here for details on the dinner/dance and to also see what the Maupin's and our community are doing to keep hope alive.

And just in case anyone has forgotten, Matt was captured by terrorists.

Matt Maupin has been promoted in absentia three times, most recently to Staff Sergeant.

photo courtesy of 724th Transportation Company

"LOVE NEVER LOSES IT'S WAY HOME"

Rewind and Replay... Not Quite...

Sunny - Hi 73 Lo 52 for Baghdad, Iraq
Rain - Hi 50 Lo 33 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Angry American, Toby Keith

I started out on You Tube looking for a tribute with the backdrop of Toby's song, which I have used a couple of times as my Song of the Week, however, none suited my feelings...none suited where we are today. All of the videos I found had flags waving, visions of the towers falling, the American people united, and soldiers fighting. I wish we were united against this evil, but we are not. I am uncontrollably angry. I am livid.

Ramble:

On August 7, 2005 I wrote about my anger AND hope after Lima Company took a huge blow in a post titled, Anger and Hope. Not much has changed... except I'm not so hopeful these days. I have grown weary. Below is an excerpt from the original post, if you want the links listed in the post please go to my original post here.

I am angry.
Those Marines were battling men that hide behind masks, that do cruel things that are too vile to discuss in a polite society. Torture? Please, go ahead and drive me crazy about talk of Abu Ghraib (Yes, I have seen all the photos, including the ones they don't show on the news...) and Guantanamo... No heads were viciously cut off in front of cameras...DO you remember hearing the blood curdling screams of those poor souls? Yes, there are a few idiots in our midst... I am ashamed that they are Americans--Lynndie England and Charles Graner (the most photographed) and the others, but we find them, remove them, and punish them accordingly. I'm disgusted by Janis Karpinski AND with the military that did not send her to be court-martialed... She allowed Abu Ghraib to happen on her watch... I'm sure she wasn't court-martialed because the military has blame in this too. She was placed in a job that she had no business in. I bet she was promoted through the ranks because she is a woman. (How many of us know people at work that have been promoted that should have been fired? Show of hands?) She is incompetent... You know it, I know it... and I can write it because I'm of the same gender...(you know what I mean... that whole politically correct thing... another topic for another time) Now I hear she is on the speaker circuit, trying to make a buck. I guess she is professing how hard it is to be a Brigadier General (was demoted to Colonel) in the Army in Iraq... boo hoo hoo...

Look... We don't torture and murder innocent civilians like Leon Klinghoffer, or Italian hero Fabrizio Quatrocchi, or the crew and passengers of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie Scotland, or Daniel Pearl ****LINK NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND SOME ADULTS****. We don't kill our athletes when they don't perform. We don't treat women like cattle... worse than cattle... We don't rape women and young girls and then murder them because they are no longer pure... We don't send a car filled with explosives into Embassies (Tehran, Beirut, Kuwait) to maim and kill civilians... We don't boobeytrap our own CHILDREN with explosives to kill soldiers!! We don't fill a back pack with explosives, board trains and buses and blow people to bits... Oh, and we don't fly jetliners into skyscrapers and kill thousands either!!!

We are fighting evil and it is real. It is tangible...You can touch the face of a terrorist- he isn't the bogeyman... You know as well as I do who the bad guys are....I must remind those that will listen to the Michael Moores and Al Frankens and all the politicians that would prefer to sell our collective souls to the devil that we need to to remember who the enemy is.... The Jawa Report **** NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND SOME ADULTS*** does an excellent job of reminding everyone in his blog entry, Avenging Cpl. Jeffrey A. Boskovich. Every time we start to forget the reason why we are fighting these extremest cowards... we should reflect on those awful images and sounds of horror as a reminder....

After this part of the post, I had provided reasons as to why I was hopeful. Today I wonder to myself whether or not I'm being sucked into a vacuum... Where is our sense of priority? Where is our personal sense of duty? Where is our accountability and responsibility? Anna Nicole... why is she still news? She is dead... and I don't think she is going to wake up... if she does then it would be Night of the Living Dead and I WOULD want to know about that. Britney Spears? Why do we care about this sad unfortunate bit of white trash? Jet Blue? I was flipping through the cable channels early yesterday morning and the banter went something like this:

Talking head with boobs # 1: "So, this was really traumatic for the folks on board, probably one of the most traumatic events anyone flying could endure. This is probably the worst case scenario when we are flying. What will Jet Blue do to prevent this from happening ever again?"

Talking head with boobs # 2: "Well, Jan the CEO has taken all the right steps. Time will tell whether it is enough."

Folks--- let's get one thing clear. If sitting on an *expletive * expletive* jet for hours is the most traumatic event that occurs in one's life...then I'd say... SHUT UP!!!

OH... and the most traumatic event that can occur on a jet? Hmmmmmm.... let's see... How about being on board with a bunch of terrorists that decide... "Yeah... this jet... it will make a great bomb...so, let's slash the throats of the crew with box cutters and take over this jet and go blow up some buildings..." Me personally, I think THAT would be the most traumatic event on a plane- but that's just me.

Good Grief!! There are soldiers and Marines that are fighting and DYING for us... They are wondering whether or not they have our support. We have asked these young men and women to do things that we can not begin to imagine. They do it- they do it for the sake of us- unappreciative, lazy, complaining whiners. They are keeping the fight OVER THERE!!!

Oh and check this out... as I'm perusing blogs as I like to do... I found this post....

Cut'n'run...............sounds like a plan

"If the U.S. leaves before the job is done, the enemy could follow us here." Quoted from a speech the president gave recently.

F*** You, Mr. President................................let them follow us.........

They've kicked our ass to a stalemate on their turf long enough. They control most of the battlefield. They pick away at our young service members with relative impunity. They die martyrs..........deluded, but happy to do so. We die for our "cause". A far less fulfilling fate.

So...................f*** you Dubya. Bring 'em home. Let's defend the Homeland from home. Let them be the strangers in a strange land.

Ankh

OH - MY - GOD!!! This guy thinks it's a great idea to fight 'em here... Fighting on our streets? Where our children play? Where our loved ones and homes can be blown up? With the exceptions of the so called occasional "Hate Crimes" or Teenage Angst Issues gone awry.... have we not prevented attacks on our soil? Why does this guy think it's a great idea to bring the battle here? To fill our streets with terrorists? Why? Am I missing something? Please help me out! Again... Am I living in some sort of vacuum??? What is this???

We have a bunch of whiney *expletive* politicians maneuvering and saying what they will to get our vote.... I am so sick and freaking tired of them!!! Which candidate is going to have the *expletive* to stand up and say,

"NO MORE! SHUT UP NANCY PELOSI! SHUT UP HARRY REID! TED KENNEDY SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP- HOW DARE YOU TELL ME ABOUT MORALITY! SHUT UP YOU BLEEDING HEART HOLLYWOOD DIMWITS! SHUT UP YOU COMMUNISTS! YOU SOCIALISTS! CODE PINK AND CINDY SHEEHAN! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH- I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY IT. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE TERRORISTS! WE WILL DESTROY THOSE THAT WOULD DESTROY US"

I don't see anyone on the horizon that looks like that, do you? Where is our next hero? It certainly isn't in the pack of Republicans I see... I want someone rabid- I want someone angry - someone that realizes what is at stake. I send off weekly notes to my representatives. Am I doing any good? Am I the only one?

So, I don't know what to do with my anger. I thank God everyday for our Marines and soldiers. I pray for them. I pray for our Commander in Chief. I support them and their mission, but I must ask,

What else am I to do? Am I all alone?

UPDATE 8:AM: Thanks Major Pain for posting this. Thanks for reminding me that there are good men in Washington fighting the good fight. Go watch Congressman Johnson speak.

Sgt. Tommy Rieman an American Soldier an American Hero

Last night during the State of the Union Address President Bush introduced Sgt. Tommy Rieman from Independence, Kentucky.

"Tommy Rieman was a teenager pumping gas in Independence, Kentucky, when he enlisted in the United States Army. In December 2003, he was on a reconnaissance mission in Iraq when his team came under heavy enemy fire. From his Humvee, Sergeant Rieman returned fire - and used his body as a shield to protect his gunner. He was shot in the chest and arm, and received shrapnel wounds to his legs - yet he refused medical attention, and stayed in the fight. He helped to repel a second attack, firing grenades at the enemy's position. For his exceptional courage, Sergeant Rieman was awarded the Silver Star. And like so many other Americans who have volunteered to defend us, he has earned the respect and gratitude of our whole country."

Complete Transcript from State of the Union Address

Well shoot! I know where Independence is!! Heck, I pass the exit everyday going to work... and my sis in law and her whole family live there.... whaddya know?

And what is more cool than real hero action figures?

"Rieman, now stationed at the Pentagon, was chosen in 2004 to be a model for one of the Army's new action figure toys in a product line called "America's Army Real Hero." The action figure depicts Rieman firing an M-4 rifle mounted with an M-203 grenade launcher during the December 2003 firefight."

Excerpt from the Kentucky Post - Local Soldier is Guest at Speech

When it comes to our military, understand this:

Sgt. Tommy Rieman is NOT the exception. Sgt. Tommy Rieman IS the rule.

Photo courtesy of United States Army And Read: OIF troopers beat 10:1 odds in December firefight

UPDATE- My honey works with Sgt. Rieman's Uncle Bubba.... so whaddya know?

How Do I Tell Liberals to F off on a PG Rated Blog?

OK... I need help from anyone that reads my blog. We have another discouraged soldier on our hands and I believe it is my responsibility to change that. I am asking you to do 3 simple things: 1) Read the email below 2) Leave a comment for this soldier offering words of encouragement- I'll make sure he gets a copy or gets connected to this blog 3) Refer 1 person here and have them do steps 1 and 2 also.

I am so sick and tired of these men and women having to deal with this sort of shit!!! They need to know that we are behind them, that we support them and we support their mission. Please, give this man and those he stands with some words of encouragement. Thanks. -C


From: Michael
To: Tom
Subject: Your Package
Date: Sat, 26 Nov 2005 11:47:03 +0000

Hello Tom,

I received your latest package a few days ago. Great! Excellent! More stuff I can use and enjoy. I appreciate it. I'm glad you and the fellers are keeping up with your support. Hell, we need more Americans like the patriots of your rod & gun club, sure! Yes, many Americans,
nay, most Americans are opposed to this war. I've heard as much. It bothers me. Personally, I believe we should be here. Hell, if we don't do anything about terrorism, who will? Iraq is the heart of terrorism, and us soldiers must pluck out the heart in one fell swoop. I agree that America should be waging this war but, from my point of view, the thing I don't agree with is the manner in which we are doing it. Mind you, I'm only seeing this from my own perspective, but I think the tactics we are using have got to change; they are killing us. If we are going to win, we must change our battle tactics. Anyway, I had a wee bit of free time (believe it or not), and I thought I'd go through my e-mails, answer some, as well as read 'em. Stay in touch, Tom. Thanks for being an ardent, patriotic supporter. I may be back in Ohio sometime in late February/early March.

-Mike

Then Tom forwarded this email:

From: Tom
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 8:04 PM
To: XXX

Kim, Kyle, and everybody,
(for those who don't know Mike XXXXX - he's a soldier stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.)
Here's my latest from Mike. I took exception with his statement (see below) about most Americans being opposed to the war and sent a response to him that said "I don't know who you heard that from, but it's bullshit". I refuse to believe that most Americans, or even many
Americans, or even more than a few short sighted people who happen to live here, are against the war on terrorism. I told him I was old enough to remember the Johnson and Nixon eras where there was a lot of dissention on the war - but I believe that's not the case today. I also told him to tell his buddies what I said. I think he needs a little support from lots of people. As I understand it, mail to soldiers in Iraq is free. I think it would be great for him to receive a ton of letters that tell him we believe in what he and his comrades are doing and that we support them 100%. Can you imagine those guys reading a letter that goes something like this:
"I understand that you think most of us are not behind you, praying for you, believing in you. Well, I don't know where you got that idea, but it's wrong. We remember 9/11. We saw what happened in Spain. We don't expect to sit around and wait for that to happen again. We expect the most powerful military in the history of the world and all members of the coalition to solve this problem for us. So, please, quit whining and get back to work - and remember, we all love you." Or, whatever words of support you can come up with. These guy need a HUGE cheering section. If you think this is worthy to pass on, do it. Mike's address is:

For obvious reasons I have removed the address. Please leave a comment and I'll make sure Mike gets it.

For those of you that know me and would like to send a card, please drop me a note or call me and I'll give you Mike's address.

Letter from a soldier

Sunny Hi 120 Lo 90 for Baghdad, Iraq
Scattered Thunderstorms Hi 86 Lo 71 for NKY, USA

Song of the Week: Learn to Fly -- Foo Fighters

Good Morning!

Anyone that knows Michael and I knows how much we love an air show. Our usual goal is to hit both days of the Dayton Air Show and up to Cleveland at the end of the summer for a weekend of aviation entertainment. Yesterday we went to the Dayton Air Show. A number of issues were plaguing Saturdays events. A week ago today, one of the well known civilian acts, The Masters of Disaster took a huge blow- Jimmy Franklin and Bobby Younkin were killed when they collided at an air show in Moose Jaw, Canada. Over the years, Michael and I have seen how close the air show community is and this was devastating. Jimmy Franklin, for those of you that may not be familiar was this guy... that flew a WACO bi-plane... one small modification, he had a jet engine mounted underneath... Talk about on the edge aerobatics... wow... My sympathy goes to the family and friends of these 2 pilots. They will be missed...

Jimmy Franklin
Bobby Younkin

In addition to the melancholy feel of the show, the weather was not cooperating. It rained off and on... The clouds were real low too, so the performers couldn't do a thing... An F-117 went up, but came right back down because he had an engine that went out... not good. We did get to see 2 F/A-18's, the Canadian version too, an F-15. Glacier Girl, a P-38 was to do the Heritage Flight with the F-15, but again, due to the low ceiling and crappy weather... no such luck...

Our biggest disappointment was not being able to see the F-22 Raptor. This is the brand new jet, it was only scheduled to appear at 4 air shows this season... Dayton, being one of them... oh well...

However, as a gentle reminder to myself, Rob Reider once said (prior to 9/11), "Air shows are probably one of the last places where a person can be patriotic without feeling silly about themselves."

So, amidst all our disappointment, we were then witness to something extraordinary. We watched a group of young men and women being inducted into the Air Force. I can't express how proud I am of them. I pray that God will keep you all safe and comfort your parents while you are away.

Now, the following letter is from Sgt. Michael O'Rourke. It was forwarded to me by Tom Fecher and Kyle Smithson. Please read the letter in its entirety as it is powerfully written and gives a vivid picture of what our troops must endure. It also gives us an opportunity to see into the heart of a soldier.

Sgt. O'Rourke: Thank you for allowing me to post your letter. Thank you for your service. Please know that I and countless others support you and your mission. Please be careful and come home safely.

It's been a time since I last wrote any account of my pleasant adventures here in Iraq. Naturally I'd like to write more oft, but slow computers and little time obviates that endeavor. Just so, I still manage to punch out a few words every now and then, as the following lines will testify:

From the foregoing events of late spring, I'd like to press on to July, more than two months subsequent to my last long e-mail. Life in Iraq isn't fun. Since my last, we have moved twice, been shot at a few times, responded to 3 or 4 bombings, and almost got bombed again. We (my platoon) were stationed a goodly ways north of Baghdad, but we moved in the beginning of June and re-joined our company in Rustamiyah. We stayed there for nearly two weeks then moved to this, our present location. A few noteworthy incidents which occurred while still up north were an accident and a bombing. I was involved in the former, but we merely responded to the latter.
The accident I speak of occurred around mid-May. We were doing a patrol along the highway when we saw a couple of Iraqis pulled over on the shoulder of the road. Following routine procedures, we attempted to circle them in our humvees but as my vehicle was getting in position, a big truck rammed into it with frightening suddenness. I guess the driver of the truck didn't realize we were doing a circular maneuver. Too, I think he was paying more attention to his fellow Iraqis on the side of the road than the road ahead of him. In any case, my gunner saw him hauling right at us and gave a shout of warning. My driver slammed on the breaks. The driver in the truck hit his breaks too, but it was too late; he smashed us. The collision could have been worse; nevertheless, my gunner up in the turret was injured. We had to call a medevac for him. He has been gone ever since. I believe he's in physical therapy right now back at Ft. Polk.

A few weeks following that accident, we received a mission to respond to an IED attack several leagues south of our base. When we arrived on the scene, we cordoned off the area, gathered intelligence, then took a look at the carnage wrought by the bomb. It wasn't an IED attack, but a VBIED attack. VBIED's are vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices. They are usually placed in cars, driven by suicidal bombers, and are deadly. This particular one was driven by a suicidal insurgent from Syria, and we found pieces of him all over the street - a hand, his upper jaw, part of his face. The Syrian targeted a convoy, drove right for a humvee, then blew it - and himself - to kingdom come. The driver of the humvee was killed instantly, and the team leader had one of his arms blown off. These two soldiers were already taken away by the time we got there, but we saw the interior of the humvee... it was a ghastly sight. Most of us glared almost paralyzed, our brains refusing to acknowledge what our eyes were seeing. The suicidal bomber also killed a civilian in this attack, an innocent Iraqi just driving by at the wrong place and at the wrong time. His body was still there when we arrived, lifeless, in his driver's seat, with a horrid wound the size of a golf ball in his neck. Such grisly images are enough to shake a man to his soul's foundation.

-Next Day-
Anyway, that was back in May. For the most part, other than the two 'aforementioned incidents, the rest of our time up north proved uneventful. One night we had our tents ripped down by a terrific windstorm. Another time, we encountered an Iraqi family while out on patrol. Well, we were ostensibly doing a patrol... in truth, we were out in the desert doing some target shooting. The Iraqis - a man, his wife, and their four children - were out collecting brass casings for a pittance. One of the daughters, a dirty big-eyed child, started to roam from humvee to humvee trying dispiritedly to vend her plastic bracelets. I bought a few and slipped the girl a $50 bill. Fifty bucks is the equivalent of a small fortune by way of Iraqi currency. The little one flashed me a five-hundred watt smile, and I reckon her family will be eating well for the next four months. Alas, all generosity must be selfish. It makes you feel good all over. Most of the families we meet extol us and give us high acclaim - especially the children. Their favorite English phrase? "Saddam no good, Bush good."
All told, our time up north wasn't bad. We had a lot of time off, got plenty of rest, and even had some fun. That all changed when we joined our company in the beginning of June. Now, in the area of Baghdad, we run missions every day with little rest or respite.

To be sure, it (Baghdad) is a bloody dangerous place. Pictures are flat surfaces; descriptions are dead things - they don't prepare you for the staggering phenomenon of actual war. The insurgents are devils. In Iraq, all is a masquerade where men and women hide their real intentions with a smooth mask. But who is friend, and who is foe? The media back home would paint a pleasant picture of the typical Iraqi, but they have more faith in the Iraqi soul than I have; they aren't the ones getting car bombs and rpg's thrown down their collars.
About three weeks ago, my squad was traveling back to our FOB after doing a mission. It was getting late and darkness came swiftly in the city, seeming to flow in almost tangible waves down the black streets, and ooze out of the blacker entrances of the alleys and buildings. We were steering along when we suddenly heard the much feared, KABOOM. At first, I thought the bomb hit the vehicle behind me - like last time - but then I saw a white plume of smoke about 400 meters ahead of us. I also noticed that there was another convoy to our front, some other unit, and they were the ones that got hit. Well, my squad (three vehicles) immediately stopped and got into our defensive positions. As soon as we stopped, gunfire erupted. From which direction it came, I could but dimly guess. I knew the shots were close. When you hear gunfire, it sounds like, 'pop-pop-pop-pop,' kind of like a popcorn machine. When the fire is close and coming at you, however, it makes a loud 'CRACK.' We hit the ground, and that more than swiftly.
I make bold to remark that, whilst under such circumstances, I possess a certain equanimity that astonishes even myself. Oddly enough, I become most alive whilst under fire. Every sense is honed by the knowledge of the imminence of death. Primitive instincts, slumbering in the average man, are whetted to a razor's-edge by days of constant hazard. Every nerve, muscle, and artery in my body becomes steel and fire, bound together with the co-ordination, the fighting instinct, that makes a man a warrior.... Bah! Would that it were so! After we took cover on the ground, I remember fiddling with my night vision goggles. It was utterly damnable. I couldn't get the accursed things on. I tried to mount the device on my helmet, but I dropped the dadgasted bracket that attaches them. Night-time in Baghdad, bullets flying, bombs exploding, and O'Rourke crawling around the ground on all-fours looking for a piece of equipment he dropped - intense drama giving way to high comedy. I quickly concluded that, if I were to ever get the blamed goggles on, I'd have to take off my helmet in order to do it. A simple thing, but only a fool would take his helm off when bullets are a-flying. After a few minutes passed, we scampered back into our HUMVEE - it being nigh bulletproof - and I got on the radio with the rest of my squad. One of the other teams said the rounds were being fired at my position. The sergeant of the team said he saw tracers flying across the street from a housing area toward the general location of my truck. I told him we were safe and, for the time being, weren't about to move anywhere. I then took the opportunity to don my night vision goggles without mishap.
Once I was able to see, I re-positioned our vehicle so it blocked a road that entered the road wherein the bomb went off. Not a few cars came down that road, and we had to fire a few rounds in front of those vehicles so their drivers could see the error in their route. After about 30 minutes or so, a quick reaction force arrived. Through the spectral grayness of my night vision device, I vaguely saw a squad of these soldiers doing a foot patrol in the housing area across the street - the area where the shots were fired from. They stalked furtively from house to house like the embodied spirits of Vengeance and Retribution, seeking the doom of all insurgent kind. With the reaction force came a few translaters. A few members of my squad, along with an interpreter, scouted out a nearby home on our side of the road. Within one of the brick and mud buildings, they found an old Iraqi man who kept babbling something about the bomb that went off. The interpreters questioned him for about an hour, trying to gather some intel from the old fellow.

Meanwhile, a few more shots went screaming in the night. Somebody said it was warning shots fired by the unit ahead of us. Others said it was enemy fire. Nobody knew for sure. Then, from across the street, an eerie wailing began and the sound of it lent an eldritch feel to an already chaotic night. Evidently, across the street from where we were, there stood a mosque. I reckon it was prayer time in the Islam world, and every mosque in the country has loudspeakers on the outside of it. When time for prayer arrives, the speakers blare forth their weird and loud chants. The Muslim prayers were soon drowned out by three or four Apache helicopters which suddenly appeared overhead. The combination of it all provided a bizarre atmosphere, a surreal experience you'd expect to see in movies.. And it turned out to be a long, long night, weird, weary, dreary, and long. When it was finally all over with, we drove the remaining twelve or so miles back to the FOB, feeling glazed and unreal.

All is not bombs, missions, and gunfire. While we do stay busy, there are some hours of down-time and rest. Even on certain missions, there are times where we don't do much at all. At such times, I often fall into deep contemplation... Sometimes I sit and ponder these ancient lands once peopled by half-mythical races. How old is this realm? What do we really know about the Middle East of pre-history? Who lived here during the early ages? What vast empires lurked behind the dawn represented by Iraq and by Babylon? Maybe there were gigantic black cities from whose ruins the first Babylon rose, a last mirrored remnant of an age lost in the huge deep gulf of night...

.... By the way, if I seem drowsy and lacking in connection, please blame it on the heat and languor of war in Iraq during the summer-time..... But to continue with my philosophical digressions -

It has struck me suddenly and strangely to know the real truth about anything in life might require infinite experience and understanding. How could one feel immense gratitude and relief, or the delight in satisfying acute hunger, or the sweet comfort of rest, or the gratifying appeal of peace, unless there had been circumstances of extreme contrast? Such thoughts are doubtless contributed to my experiences here. When you are fighting, tooth and nail, against tyranny and exploitation, you see things differently. And yet, I am of the opinion that we are not really fighting people; we are fighting ideas, beliefs which are evil and which cannot exist in the same world in which the beliefs that made America are to be found.

-Another Day-
Our present duty involves patrolling the trash-littered streets of a little town called, Al ---. It seems every day we venture off to this little hamlet, there is a vast amount of buying, trading, and selling going on. The village is like one big bazaar. The streets and alleys are full of Arabs swapping donkeys, sheep, goats, carts, trucks, and the devil knows what else. The traders are generally a seedy and disreputable lot, who move about in trucks and wagons, living from hand to mouth and camping wherever night finds them. Most camp at the edge of the trading district, sometimes a dozen families together, where they would plunge into the business at hand. The Iraqi farmers usually come to Al --- with worthless produce and the noise of their arguments, assertions and refutations rivals the clamor you'd hear at a rock concert. There are men, women, and children selling blankets, rugs, brassware, shoeshines, chewing gum, straw baskets, pottery, clay vessels, fake mesoptamian relics, silver jewerly, cigarettes, dresses, arabian shirts, sandals, soft drinks, melons, and some kind of bread stuffed with God only knows what kind of meat. There is also evident poverty, beggars with missing limbs, dirty children with no shoes, stray mongrels, and there is a sense of hard life and hardship, of recent oppression.

Whenever we patrol up and down a lot of these crowded little streets, we are met by Iraqis with varying degrees of suspicion, indifference, secret amusement, and generosity. Our first mission here took place a couple of weeks ago. It was a late mission (we didn't leave the FOB until nearly 7:00 p.m.), and didn't arrive in the town until nearly 8:00 p.m. account of Iraqi traffic being thick, ugly, and dangerous. Our first OP was near some wandering donkey traders who were more or less a nuisance. For reasons that defy the imagination, a few of them thought they could swap a lean and mangy old ass for one of our humvees. When we told them, "Laa, laa, de-tif-te-him, laa," (No, no, do you understand, no!) the idiot Iraqis howled until it was a scandal to hear. They were actually serious about the trade.
Suddenly we heard a most outrageous outbreak of noise and clamor - more howls, blows, bellowings and the drum of flying hooves. Looking behind us, we saw a turbaned Arab careering down the street in a high state. He was trying to stand up in the bed of a wagon while another Arab, maybe his son, started screaming at the top of his voice, standing upright and pouring leather into the donkeys. The old man was beating the boy, the boy was beating the donkeys, and the asses were at a dead run straight toward us. Well, what do you do? We started yelling, "Awgaf, awgaf" (stop), and even pointed our weapons at the spectacle hurling its way toward us. VBIED's are a constant threat to us - even if they come in donkey-drawn carts - and we didn't know what to make of it, but we were prepared for the worst. Just when we were about to fire a warning shot in front of them, an old woman dressed in black started yelling something at the two individuals in the cart. The boy managed to control the donkeys, and the woman ran out and started waving her hands at the pair the while spewing forth some kind of heated invective that, though in Arabic, was enough to curdle even our toes. It was weird, strangely weird. It demanded some kind of explanation, but we never got one. About 10:30, a howling sandstorm came up to add to the general lunacy of the evening.

-Next Day- The 4th of July
I really have no grudge against an insurgent who wants to kill me. But there's a difference between the one's that bomb you, and the ones that try to shoot you. The difference is treachery, a difference sometimes intangible and nebulous, but nevertheless a real factor that cannot be ignored. The motive behind an act is not the only thing to be considered; the manner in which the act is carried out must also be considered. Look, you have two Iraqis - one aims to bomb me with an IED, the other wants to go after me with a gun. Both these men wish to maim, cripple, or kill me. But my feelings toward them are quite different. One is open in his attack, and I have a chance to defend myself. The other, the bomber, is subtle and underhand; he tries to get me without risk to himself, and without giving me a chance. It's the old business of treachery again... I'd rather a man simply swindle me out of $600 than knock me in the head and take it away from me. On the other hand, I'd have more respect for the latter, than for the man who writhes his way into my trust, or takes advantage of my situation. By respect, I mean it in a relative way; I have no respect whatever for a swindler; even less for an insurgent.

-Another day-
Battling these insurgents is like fighting a shadow who wields a club. You sense the presence of your enemy... You rush in savagely and futilely, mad to come to grips and smash his ribs in, but hitting only naked air; at the end of the fight you are groggy and dizzy, sick with a feeling of helpless futility. That's the damndest thing - getting punished fiercely by something you can't come to grips with. Punishment isn't so bad if you're handing it out at the same time. The other fellow may be strangling the life out of you, or ripping your ear off with his teeth, but if you're driving your knee to his groin, sinking your fists in his belly or have your thumb in his eye, you can stand the abuse. The hell of it comes when you're up against an enemy you can't hit, or are licked and down in the dirt with the other fellow stomping your guts out or grinding your face in with his boot soles. That's what war in Iraq is like - fighting shadows, taking lickings that you can't return.

For all of that, I believe we are making excellent progress in this war. Whenever we actually do have the opportunity to confront our enemies in open battle, they fall like ripe wheat before the farmer's scythe. Our forces have done good execution on many of them and, deep down, they know this - that is why they have to resort to treachery as a means to achieve any kind of victory. They fear us greatly. They fear being swept off their feet by the hammering tide of American fury. Were it not for the insurgent's treacherous mode of warfare, this conflict would have been over two years ago. It's a hard and harrowing duty over here, but when the difficulties arise, the coward says, "Run Away." The hero says, "Stay and master it." As for all them naysayers, anti-war gurus, craven journalists, and protesters... they are banana peels on the steps of progress, and need to realize that the true object of war is PEACE.

On a more personal level, I'm happy to report that I am doing well. I am in splendid trim and in full possesion of myself. Life swells through my veins in full and magnificent flood. I was made for contest, and the powers have willed that my battlefield should be this perilous, dirty, inglorious city called Baghdad. But what of that? Life would be a strange thing if we did not have some fiery trials to test us.
I'd like to thank everyone once again for sending me packages, cards, pictures, and letters. I have received all of them, and I wish I could thank everyone individually, but I am under harsh time restraints (this e-mail is taking days to write). At a time and place wherein there is little to look forward to, deliveries from home speak volumes. Many have inquired as to what I might need here, so I made up a short list of things that are always low in supply, but high in demand:
Batteries: AA's, mainly. Everything runs on batteries: cd players, flashlights, two-way radios, gps systems, night optical devices, etc, etc, etc...Food/Candy: We all like it, so do the Iraqi children.Toothpaste/toothbrushes: Always necessary, and always running outHand cleaner/baby wipes/deodorant, rubbing alcohol: All personal hygiene stuff.
Pens & mechanical pencils.... always need them and they seem to get lost frequently. And, finally, pipe cleaners, cotton swabs, and other useful items to clean my weapons with.
Anyway, the above items are things I'll probably be always in need of. Anything else will be by a special request, or by the thoughtfulness of you, the sender. I will be in the States this month for a two-week break (catharsis, more like); whereupon, I shall visit both Arizona and Ohio. I hope to be in Arizona sometime between the 18th and the 20th. I fly to Ohio from Phoenix on the 21st. I'll be in Cincinnati up until the 31st, I think, then back to Arizona for a day or two. Concerning these dates, blame all the ambiguity on the Army.
I can't thank everyone enough for all the support and prayers, and I hope to see most of you in a very short while.

I am, & remain to be, Your humble soldier & friend,
Michael 'The Dark Celt' O'Ruairc


Final words:

To my grandparents-- MOM & PAPAW I hope you had a wonderful anniversary!! 62 Years and 1 day!! I heard that White Castles were on the menu... eww...!!! I thought I raised you better than that!! Holy Cow!!

Blog of the week....Friday, when I came home from work, I found that my honey, my husband had created a blog.... How much fun is that? His blog will be interesting... I recommend you bookmark it...

I am still updating this list... please forward the name of your loved one.

Don't forget about the benefit dinner for Susan Curran on Saturday, July 30.

Michelle Malkin brought this man to my attention. You can find Mr. Bjerre's website here If you are able to show your support by sponsoring this guy with a pledge when he participates in the blogothon please do so.

Have a great week. Please keep the family of Tim Hines in your prayers.

UPDATE: My Mother just called me this morning. One of her sister's passed away yesterday. My Aunt Masako had been very sick for a very long time. She came to the United States last year for the first time.My Mom is very sad today. She didn't want me to come over, she doesn't want to go out. "Today I cry". Pray for my Mom's heart to heal.


The last time my Mom got to see her sister Masako (on the left, my Aunt Haruko is on the right)


Bleriot


C-47


B-25


Les Shockley's Shockwave... Look for a special on The Learning Channel...


A veteran


priceless


Ominous skies


OK... this little girl was cute... but I had no idea I also took a picture of the moon too!!!


The crowd being introduced to the Air Force inductees


Taking the oath.
"I do solemnly swear 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 the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."


Waving to the Thunderbirds


Sleeping through the Thunderbirds performance


Still sleeping...


Uh... yeah... still sleeping...


My favorite plane... C-130