Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Wednesday Hero

No Wednesday Hero this week. Taking a small holiday and we'll start fresh in the new year.
Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas



I want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas. Stay safe and eat WAY too much, diet be damned. And please remember to keep the Men and Women in the Armed Forces who aren't able to be home today in your thoughts and thank them for all that they do.

A song that's not always easy to find a really good version of. This is a really good one.


Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by The Pretenders
Thursday, December 22, 2011

Veterans Who Need Help

Make the Connection is a public awareness campaign that provides personal testimonials from fellow veterans and resources that can be accessed in a completely private and confidential manner to help veterans deal with post-traumatic stress, problems with alcohol or drugs, nightmares and other difficulties with dignity and respect. So if you are, or you know, a vet who's come back and is having difficulties you should check this site out. And if you could pass this along to let others know about it.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Wednesday Hero

I want to wish all our men and women of the United States Armed Forces a very Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas. You sacrifice so much for us and there's no way we can ever properly repay it or give you enough thanks. You are all loved and respected and I hope you have a great holiday.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Happy Hanukkah



Right off the bat, I know nothing about Hanukkah. Is there a traditional greeting or blessing? I do want to wish you a happy holiday and I hope it brings you and your family many blessings and joys. Shalom.
Monday, December 19, 2011

Christmas Music Monday

6 Days!
I always wondered who sang this. Great swinging Christmas tune.



Happy Holidays by Andy Williams
Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Marguerite Gene Arenesen, George Warren & Thomas M. Sugg
Click Image For Full Size


Marguerite Gene Arenesen (left) a member of the Coast Guard in World War II, George Warren (standing), a Canadian-born immigrant who became a naturalized American citizen at age 17 and joined the Army Air Corps shortly after the Dec. 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and Thomas M. Sugg, a Navy veteran, share a moment in front of a Christmas tree at the Veterans Home in Barstow, California.


Photo Courtesy United States Marine Corps Taken By Keith Hayes

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, December 12, 2011

Christmas Music Monday

13 Days!
My second favorite Christmas song of all time.



Christmas Canon Rock by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Mrs Xoke

Sgt. 1st Class Bryan E. Hall
Sgt. 1st Class Bryan E. Hall
32 years old from Elk Grove, California
1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
April 10, 2009
U.S. Army

Bryan Hall received three Army commendation medals, as well as good Army achievement, good conduct and war on terrorism medals. But his family didn't learn about them until after his death. "He was such a humble man," said his mother, Betty. "He was a special person, he never boasted about his accomplishments or was arrogant and pompous, he did his job," his sister, Kristi, said. "When he was done with his job, he came home and he was a father, a husband, a son and a brother. He embodied what I think every soldier would want to be."

Sgt. 1st Class Hall was a junior in High School when he signed up for an Army early entry program. After he graduated he attended one year of college before enlisting.

Bryan Hall, and five other soldiers, was killed on April 10, 2009 when a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives at a police station in Mosul, Iraq. Betty Hall said an Army commander told her that by ordering his soldiers to fire on the suicide bomber's truck, her son probably saved many lives by preventing the attacker from entering the police compound.


You can read more about Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hall here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Pearl Harbor: 70 Years

This Post Was Written By Cindy

Pearl Harbor was originally a shallow embankment called Wai Momi (Pearl Water) or Pu'rloa (long Hill). It was considered the home of the shark goddess, Ka'ahupahua, and her brother, Kahiuka. Tradition says that Keaunui, the legendary chief of the Ewa chiefs is the one w ho created a navigable channel near the present day Pu'uloa saltworks. The estuary known as "Pearl River" was then accessible to shipping. It was never used for large shipping because of the shallow entrance. As whaling and trading began to use the islands as a half-way point in the Pacific, by 1820 the US was looking for a major harbor. It was not until the turn of the century that Pearl Harbor began to be refitted for larger naval vessels. The naval base we know today was formally opened when the dry dock was open to flooding on August 21, 1919.

As early as February 1, 1933, the Navy staged a mock attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The exercise was a disaster. Even in 1933 it was known that Pearl Harbor's defenses were considered, after the mock attack by Japan, a failure. It makes the events of December 7, 1941 even more heart-wrenching. The War Department knew the attack was coming. They did not know when. They did not realize that Pearl Harbor, which was basically a sitting duck, was to be the location of the attack. It was assumed the attack would come in the Philippines.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Holiday Recipes

My Mom made these for Thanksgiving and I thought I'd share them in case anyone was looking for something to make for Hanukkah or Christmas. Real simple and pretty damn good.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Christmas Music Monday

20 Days!
Christmas comes this time each year.



Little Saint Nick by The Beach Boys
Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Spc. Joseph A. Graves
Spc. Joseph A. Graves
21 years old from Discovery Bay, California
110th Military Police Company, 720th Military Police Battalion, 89th Military Police Brigade
July 26, 2006
U.S. Army

Spc. Joseph Graves's dream was to work for the FBI and he saw that joining the Military was a way to help me do that. Joseph Graves enlisted in the Army at 17 and surprised his family when he went to jump school soon afterwards. "This was a kid I could hardly get to ski down a ski slope, because it was too intimidating," said his father, Kevin. "And now he's jumping out of airplanes." Spc. Graves was the lone casualty when his convoy was attacked by insurgents near Baghdad on July 26, 2006.


You can read more about Spc. Graves here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, November 28, 2011

Music Monday

One of my favorites. A song I never tire of.


Too Shy by Kajagoogoo
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Kathi


Wreaths Across America has been < a href="http://rightwingrightminded.blogspot.com/2007/12/monday-hero.html">profiled before< /a> and it will probably be profiled again because they are a great organization. For 20 years they have have laid Christmas wreaths on the headstones of our fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. And this year, for their 20th year, their goal is to lay a wreath on every headstone, all 220,000, and they need our help. Head over to Help Wreaths Across America Cover Arlington and there you can find information on how you can do that. Whether it's via a donation or just getting the word out, anything we can do helps.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, November 21, 2011

Music Monday

If you don't have this DVD you need to go out and get it. One of their best performances.


A Saucerful Of Secrets (Live at Pompeii) by Pink Floyd
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. Kevin Stewart(Left) & Spc. David Duque(Right)
Sgt. Kevin Stewart(Left) & Spc. David Duque(Right)
U.S. Army

Sgt. Kevin Stewart, left, congratulates Spc. David Duque on his becoming a U.S. citizen in a ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Nov. 9. Duque is a native of Cuba. Both soldiers are members of Company E, Forward Support Element, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.


Photo Courtesy U.S. Army Taken By Capt. Christopher Larsen

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, November 14, 2011

Music Monday

I love this song and Robertson's guitar. I think they would describe this as "hauntingly beautiful".


Unbound by Robbie Robertson
Sunday, November 13, 2011

3/5 Darkhorse: A Year Later

In 2010, 1,000 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, 3/5 Darkhorse, were deployed to Afghanistan. During their seven month deployment they lost 25 men and suffered nearly 200 wounded. A year later NPR is doing a seven part series on 3/5 Darkhorse. They have six parts up already, but part four seem to be missing. Not sure why. I don't know when the final part will be posted so keep checking their site.

h/t Kathi

Show Your Pride

Carton-Top Industries, not associated with the comedian, is a company that sells a multitude of flags, banners, magnets, stickers and such. They have a new line of "Welcome Home" products for sale. If you have someone returning from overseas, want to show your respect and thanks for those who served, or are looking for a flag to proudly display head over and check them out.
Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans Day


To all the Men and Women who've ever worn the uniform, Thank You.

Below is what I posted last year. I thought I would use it again.

Some have fought and bled for us while others never saw action. Yet they are all Heroes who deserve our deepest respect and thanks. They've done so much, yet ask for so little in return. Some who have come back were lucky and have been able to pick up their lives while others need our help. On this Veterans Day take time and remember these brave Men and Women who stood up and served this country and it's people.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd
Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz (Far Left) and Amber Boyd (Right)
U.S. Air Force

Senior Airmen Kristian Robles Cruz and Amber Boyd from the 633rd Security Forces Squadron, which is at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., are greeted at the Newport News, Va., airport by family and coworkers Nov. 2, 2011 . The two were part of a group of Airmen that deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in June, but returned a couple of months early after President Obama announced the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year.


Photo Courtesy United States Air Force Taken By Master Sgt. Jeremy Lock

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Three Missing Soldiers From The Vietnam War Identified

Army Capt. Arnold E. Holm Jr. of Waterford, Conn.; Spc. Robin R. Yeakley of South Bend, Ind.; and Pfc. Wayne Bibbs of Chicago, Ill. will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, on Nov. 9 in Arlington National Cemetery. On June 11, 1972, Holm was the pilot of an OH-6A Cayuse helicopter flying a reconnaissance mission in Thua Thien-Hue Province, South Vietnam. Also on board were his observer, Yeakley, and his door gunner, Bibbs. The aircraft made a second pass over a ridge where enemy bunkers had been sighted, exploded and crashed, exploding again upon impact. Crews of other U.S. aircraft involved in the mission reported receiving enemy ground fire as they overflew the crash site looking for survivors.

Between 1993 and 2008, joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed witnesses, investigated, surveyed and excavated possible crash sites several times. They recovered human remains, OH-6A helicopter wreckage and crew-related equipment, including two identification tags bearing Yeakley's name.

Today more than 1,600 American remain un-accounted for from the Vietnam War. More than 900 servicemen have been accounted for from that conflict, and returned to their families for burial with military honors since 1973.
Monday, November 7, 2011

Music Monday

This is the only song I know of where Angus doesn't play his signature SG.


Stormy May Day by AC/DC
Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Beth & Cindy

1st Lt. Ashley White, Sgt. First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij & Pfc. Christopher Horns
1st Lt. Ashley White, Sgt. First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij & Pfc. Christopher Horns
October 22, 2011
U.S. Army

On Saturday, October 22, 2011, three United States Soldiers were killed in Kandahar, Afghanistan. They were 1st Lt. Ashley White, 24, 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard; Sgt. First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29; and Pfc. Christopher Horns, 20, both with 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 31, 2011

Music Monday

Happy Halloween


Halloween (Live) by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Sgt. James Hinson
Sgt. James Hinson
U.S. Marines

Sgt. James Hinson, Marine Barracks Washington motor transportation operator, prepares a dish for a homeless person during a So Others Might Eat volunteer event in northwest Washington, D.C., Oct. 20, 2011. Fifteen Barracks Marines volunteered to assist the SOME staff in feeding homeless men and women from the nation's capitol region.


These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 24, 2011

Music Monday

Not a big fan of Reggae but I heard this some time ago and thought it was a pretty good cover.


Baby, I Love Your Way by Big Mountain
Saturday, October 22, 2011

Missing WWII Aircrew Identified

Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Robert R. Bishop of Joliet, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Thomas Digman, Jr. of Pittsburgh, Pa; 2nd Lt. Donald W. Hess of Sioux City, Iowa; 2nd Lt. Arthur W. Luce, of Fort Bragg, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Karaso, of Philadelphia, Pa; Staff Sgt. Ralph L. McDonald of East Point, Ga.; Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle of Oakland, Calif.; Sgt. James T. Blong of Port Washington, Wis.; Sgt. Michael A. Chiodo of Cleveland, Oh; and Sgt. John J. Harringer, Jr. of South Bend, Ind., will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, on Oct. 26, in Arlington National Cemetery. Hess and Karaso will be interred individually in Arlington National Cemetery.

On April 29, 1944, the 10 airmen were ordered to carry out a bombing mission over Berlin, Germany, in their B-24J Liberator aircraft, piloted by Bishop and Luce. German documents captured after the war noted that the aircraft crashed near the town of East Meitze, Germany, and there were no survivors. German forces buried the remains of Digman, Blong, and one unknown airman in a cemetery near Hannover, Germany, around the time of the crash. In 1946, the Army Graves Registration Service exhumed the remains of the three individuals for identification and reburied them in a U.S. Military Cemetery in Condroz, Belgium.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Lt. Richard Biedermann (Ret.)
Lt.Richard Biedermann (Ret.)
89 years old from Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 28, 1922 - October 3, 2011
U.S. Navyy

When Dick Biedermann asked the organizing committee of the Oklahoma Honor Flights how much more was needed to be raised he was told $10,000. His response was "Piece of cake. I can raise that". And in only four weeks he did just that. In fact, he raised $16,000 and in doing so was able to help send 105 of his fellow WWII veterans to D.C. to see the national WWII Memorial back in February of this year. He was scheduled to go with them but he had taken a fall the week before and was unable to go. But this was nothing new for the retired Naval Lieutenant. He was always helping others. The Ronald McDonald House, the United Way, the Tulsa Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association and so on. He saw it as his mission.

Sadly, Richard (Dick) Biedermann passed away on October 3 after a long battle with heart disease. He was buried on October 6 with full military honors by the VFW and Patriot Guard Riders.


You can read more about Dick Biedermann here and view his obituary here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 17, 2011

Music Monday

Sex, Drugs & Rock and Roll. You won't find a ballad with these guys. And that's the way it should be. It's my mission in life to make as many people as I can aware of this band.


Bottom Of The Well by Airbourne
Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Cindy

Capt. Theodore
Capt. Theodore "Ted" Williams (Center)
83 years old from Inverness, Florida
VMF-311, Marine Aircraft Group 33 (MAG-33)
August 30, 1918 - July 5, 2002
U.S. Marines

Everyone knows Ted Williams as one of the greatest Baseball players of all time, but many may not know that he also served his country during W.W.II and Korea. Williams joined the V-5 program to became a Naval aviator after enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1942. He received his pilots wings two years later in 1944. He never saw action as Japan surrendered as he was in Pearl Harbor awaiting orders. He did, however, in the Marine Forces Reserves and was later recalled in to active duty during the Korean War. He flew 39 combat missions before being hospitalized with pneumonia which resulted in the discovery of an inner ear infection that ultimately disqualified him from flight status.


You Can Read More About Williams here and here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 10, 2011

Music Monday

You take Koko Taylor's pipes and Buddy Guy's licks and you get one badass song.


Born Under A Bad Sign by Koko Taylor & Buddy Guy
Thursday, October 6, 2011

Four Missing Soldiers Identified

Master Sgt. Charles V. Newton of Canadian, Texas; Sgt. 1st Class Douglas E. Dahill of Lima, Ohio; and Sgt. 1st Class Charles F. Prevedel of St. Louis, Mo., all U.S. Army, were buried as a group on October 5 at Arlington National Cemetery. Newton was also individually identified and was interred individually at Arlington on the same day as the group interment. On April 17, 1969, the men and three Vietnamese soldiers were on a long-range reconnaissance patrol operating in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, near the border of Laos. That afternoon the patrol was ambushed by enemy forces and radioed for air support but thunderstorms in the area prevented rescue attempts. Search and rescue teams reached the site the next day but over the next week found no signs of the men.

Between 1990 and 1993,joint U.S./Socialist Republic of Vietnam (S.R.V.) teams, led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), interviewed witnesses, investigated leads and excavated the site associated with the ambush. The teams recovered human remains, personal effects and military equipment. In 2003, some of the recovered remains were identified as those of Prevedel. In 2006 and 2007, joint U.S./S.R.V. teams returned to the site and recovered additional remains and military equipment.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Wednesday Hero

This Weeks Post Was Suggested By Steve

F/O Leland H. Pennington
F/O Leland H. Pennington
24 years old from Alma Place, New York
332nd Fighter Group
1921 - April 21, 1945
U.S. Army Air Corps

Sadly, little is know about Flight Officer Leland Pennington's military career. He joined the Military sometime in 1941 or 1942. He became one of the famed Tuskegee Airmen. Then in 1945, after a bombing run on the Attnang-Puchheim marshalling yard in Austria, F/O Pennington was lost after completing a successful escort mission.


You can read more about F/O Pennington here and here

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, October 3, 2011

Music Monday

I hope you have a fire extinguisher near by because this will set your speakers on fire. Were I ever to make one of those "Now That's I Call Music" albums this would definitely be on it.


Burn (Live) by Deep Purple
Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Thanks to Greta Perry & John Donovan

Second Lt. Perla Kimes

Second Lt. Perla Kimes
U.S. Army

Second Lt. Perla Kimes has her bars of gold pinned on during a commissioning ceremony this summer at the Leader Development and Assessment Course on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.


Photo Courtesy U.S. Army

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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Monday, September 26, 2011

Music Monday

One of the greatest of all time. So how have I not posted them before now? Shame on me. Before I knew anything about Rush I'd always thought that was a chick singing. Hell, I didn't know. I just knew they kicked ass.


Fly By Night by Rush
Friday, September 23, 2011

Fake Military Death Notices

The Oklahoma Army National Guard is warning the families of military personnel of a hoax involving fake death notifications in the Oklahoma City area.

This is sickening. I hope they find the people doing this and that they don't see the light of day for many, many years.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Wednesday Hero


Sgt. Dakota Meyer
Sgt. Dakota Meyer
23 years old from Greensburg, Kentucky
Embedded Training Team 2-8
U.S. Marines

On September 15, Sgt. Dakota Meyer was awarded the Medal Of Honor by President Obama for his actions on Sept. 8, 2009 in the Ganjgal Valley of Afghanistan when he and Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez saved 36 fellow Marines when they, and the Afghan military members they were helping to train, came under attack by Taliban insurgents.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Missing WWII Airmen Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced that the remains of nine servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Air Forces 1st Lt. William J. Sarsfield of Philadelphia; 2nd Lt. Charles E. Trimingham of Salinas, Calif.; Tech. Sgt. Robert L. Christopherson of Blue Earth, Minn.; and Tech. Sgt. Leonard A. Gionet of Shirley, Mass., will be buried as a group in a single casket on Sept. 21 in Arlington National Cemetery, along with remains representing previously identified crew members 2nd Lt. Herman H. Knott, 2nd Lt. Francis G. Peattie, Staff Sgt. Henry Garcia, Staff Sgt. Robert E. Griebel, and Staff Sgt. Pace P. Payne, who were individually buried in 1985. These nine airmen were ordered to carry out a bombing mission over Rabaul, Papau New Guinea (P.N.G.), in their B-17E Flying Fortress nicknamed "Naughty but Nice", taking off from an airfield near Dobodura, P.N.G., on June 26, 1943. The aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and ultimately shot down by Japanese fighter aircraft. A tenth man, the navigator and only survivor of the crash -- 2nd Lt. Jose L. Holguin -- was held as a prisoner of war until his release in September 1945.

In 1949, U.S. military personnel in the area were led by local citizens to a B-17 crash site on New Britain Island. Remains were recovered but couldn't be identified given the technology of the time. The remains were buried as unknown at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.

In 1982 and 1983, Holguin returned to the area and located the crash site. A fragment of the aircraft nose art was recovered and is displayed in the War Museum in Kokopo, P.N.G. In 1985, the remains were exhumed and identified as Knott, Payne, Garcia, Peattie, and Griebel. In 2001, a team from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) excavated the site and found additional human remains and crew-related equipment.
Monday, September 19, 2011

Music Monday

"There's a long road, I've gotta stay in time with, yeah. I've got to keep on chasin' that dream though I may never find it. I'm always just behind it"

This always gets me all worked up when I listen to it. Brad Delp(RIP) makes me wish I could actually carry a tune so that when I sing along I didn't screw it up. And the guitar on "Long Time"... forget about it. They just do it like that anymore. Bitchin' song. And yes Rock and Roll Hall of Lame, induct Madonna, Grandmaster Flash and Run-D.M.C. but not Boston. Morons.


Foreplay/Long Time by Boston
Friday, September 16, 2011

National POW/MIA Recognition Day

To date, there are still over 80,000 Americans still missing. We can never rest until everyone of them is brought back home.

Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office

POW/MIA
Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Wednesday Hero

Seaman Sha'Quanda Jacobs
Seaman Sha'Quanda Jacobs
U.S. Army

Religious Programs Specialist Seaman Sha'Quanda Jacobs rings the bell during commemoration ceremony of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States at Naval Air Station Oceana.


Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy Taken by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Terah L. Mollise

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To Look

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.
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