Patterico's Pontifications

5/24/2015

Seeing Memorial Day Through The Eyes Of A Veteran, The Democratic Party, And The RNC

Filed under: General — Dana @ 3:01 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Originally known as Decoration Day, it is the day set aside to honor and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.

Retired Army Staff Sgt. Luke Murphy, who served two tours with the 101st Airborne Division’s 187th Infantry Regiment and lost his right leg as a result of a roadside bomb blast in 2006, shares his thoughts about Memorial Day in a brief yet poignant essay:

As a wounded veteran who served two tours in Iraq, I’ve been asked to give speeches at Memorial Day celebrations. It’s one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever done.

Veterans Day is easy. Fourth of July, a piece of cake.

But Memorial Day, that’s a tough one.

Service members like me think about the soldiers we lost pretty often. I remember when he was alive, all the stuff we did — the training, combat and even just hanging out together off duty. Then my mind usually goes to the day of his death. I remember where I was when I heard about it, or what it felt like to see him catastrophically wounded. I picture their faces. They’re young; they never get old.

When soldiers die, they don’t just roll over and quit like in the movies. They fight like hell. They do whatever they can to stay alive — sometimes that’s their hardest fight. And sometimes they lose.

And sadly:

Memorial Day is supposed to remind Americans what other people have sacrificed for them. But sometimes, I think nobody’s paying attention.

They’re too self-absorbed.

After reading Murphy’s essay, I saw this:

God Bless Jake Tapper:

The Republican National Committee shames itself as well:

–Dana

113 Responses to “Seeing Memorial Day Through The Eyes Of A Veteran, The Democratic Party, And The RNC”

  1. Hello.

    (Apologies for tweets not embedding. I’ve asked Patterico to fix them.)

    Dana (86e864)

  2. execrable wankers

    happyfeet (831175)

  3. Thank you, Dana, for reminding me to put aside some time and think again about the sacrifices made on our behalf by others. Something to discuss with my children.

    Very serious business indeed, and a good reminder of how partisanship is corrosive no matter who does it.

    Simon Jester (c94262)

  4. http://projects.washingtonpost.com/911victims/robert-penninger/

    “Bob Penninger loved life, always living it to the fullest. He always tried to find humor in any situation. Bob also loved cars. In high school, he was always tinkering with the cars he and his friends owned, fine-tuning them to get more speed. So it seemed only natural that he buy a 1999 electric green Cobra Mustang with thoughts of making it into a show car. He added many Saleen extras including a speedster cover, spoiler and ground effects. He had a supercharger installed, as well as having the car lowered, putting on wider tires and a roll bar. He enjoyed every moment driving and showing this car and won a trophy at every car show he entered.” — Janet Penninger, wife

    I had previously sold my ’88 LX convertible. You could only do so much to it before your ran up to the limits of speed density fuel injection system.

    The there was Dan Shanower.

    http://naperville.il.us/shanower.aspx

    Naperville, Illinois, was one of the first cities in America to dedicate a memorial to those who died in the September 11, 2001, attacks on America. The memorial was inspired by Naperville native Naval Commander Dan Shanower, who died in the attack on the Pentagon. Dedicated on September 11, 2003, the memorial is nestled between the DuPage River and the Municipal Center in downtown Naperville.

    The memorial takes its theme from an article written by Commander Shanower entitled “Freedom Isn’t Free.” In it, he wrote: “Those of us in the military are expected to make the ultimate sacrifice when called. The military loses scores of personnel each year. Each one risked and lost his or her life in something they believed in, leaving behind friends, family and shipmates to bear the burden and celebrate their devotion to our country…Freedom isn’t free.”

    The body count kinds of racks up from there. In honor of their memories, I just did the seven basic elbows of Krav Maga and some Indian club mills.

    No, I’m not being unserious. All gave some, some gave all. I am still here with more to give.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  5. 75% of success in the Navy is showing up on time with a hair cut.

    Dan showed up on time with a hair cut.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  6. If we are thinking of the 9 /11 victims, don’t forget Rick Rescorla.

    At 8:46 a.m. on the morning of September 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 struck World Trade Center Tower 1, (The North Tower). Rescorla heard the explosion and saw the tower burning from his office window in the 44th floor of World Trade Center Tower 2 (The South Tower). When a Port Authority announcement came over the P.A. system urging people to stay at their desks, Rescorla ignored the announcement, grabbed his bullhorn, walkie-talkie and cell phone, and began systematically ordering Morgan Stanley employees to evacuate, including the 1,000 employees in WTC 5. He directed people down a stairwell from the 44th floor, continuing to calm employees after the building lurched violently following the crash of United Airlines Flight 175 38 floors above into Tower 2 at 9:03 A.M. Morgan Stanley executive Bill McMahon stated that even a group of 250 people visiting the offices for a stockbroker training class knew what to do because they had been shown the nearest stairway.

    Rescorla had boosted morale among his men in Vietnam by singing Cornish songs from his youth, and now he did the same in the stairwell, singing songs like one based on the Welsh song “Men of Harlech”:

    If any of you have seen the hardcover book Heart of a Soldier, the cover photo is of Rick Rescorla at the Ia Drang Valley battle. He saved a company that was cut off by the NVA. He sand Cornish drinking sings all night to keep their spirits up.

    He saved all the employees and the woman he was looking for when he went back was already out.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  7. http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/%E2%80%9Ccharge%E2%80%9D-philippine-scouts-and-the-last-horse-cavalry-charge-of-the-u-s-army/

    “Lt. Ramsey in leading his platoon into the battle fought like a hungry tiger. . . .”

    2nd Lt. Eliseo Malari, Platoon Leader, 2nd Platoon, Troop E, 26th Cavalry Regiment (Philippine Scouts)

    Ramsey quickly signaled his men to deploy into forager formation. Then he raised his pistol and shouted, “Charge!” With troops firing their pistols, the galloping cavalry horses smashed into the surprised enemy soldiers, routing them.

    Beats the h3ll out of my several tours in the Navy policing light fixtures.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  8. Mike, I think the point is to remember those who died because they were willing to wear the uniform of the United States military.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Stethem

    Robert Dean Stethem (November 17, 1961 – June 15, 1985) was a United States Navy Seabee diver who was killed by Hezbollah terrorists during the hijacking of the commercial airliner he was aboard, TWA Flight 847.[1] At the time of his death, his Navy rating was Steelworker Second Class (SW2). He was posthumously promoted to Master Chief Constructionman (CUCM)

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  9. The problem, I think, is that there is no reminder every year. No event, no activity, no common experience that reminds people what the day is about.

    And so it is just a bank holiday like all the others.

    I wonder if there are enough people willing to join in some kind of distributed observance that might wake people up annually and remind them what the day is about. Maybe everyone who can, takes a bugle out into their front yard and plays taps at sundown. Or everyone puts a candle in the window. Probably too much to ask folks to go down to the federal cemetery and put flowers on a grave.

    But the reason they forget is they’re thinking barbecue and baseball and beer. And forgetting how lucky it is that the US hasn’t had a hostile shot fired within its borders in 150 years.

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  10. My sons and I go spruce up veterans’ graves on that day, most years. And we talk.

    Simon Jester (128815)

  11. Salon tools just can’t help themselves on Memorial Day weekend:

    The biggest threat to U.S. national security is the U.S. military


    No link for them.

    Dana (86e864)

  12. the article is about defense budget spending which apparently precludes other essential service for society. No mention about cutting spending….

    Dana (86e864)

  13. And though I am certain you know this, Dana, you have to watch them: a decrease in an increase is usually called a cut in the modern lexicon. But since most people just see headlines…well…

    Simon Jester (128815)

  14. R.I.P. Anne Meara, actress, wife of Jerry Stiller, mother of Ben Stiller

    Icy (797871)

  15. The National Memorial Day concert from Washington DC is on PBS television tonight.

    elissa (f12021)

  16. Given how busy our store was today, the RNC was pretty much on target although tomorrow there will be several local ceremonies.
    Perhaps it needs to be moved, or simply merged with Veteran’s Day. I think most people think of it as the start of summer, not at all apposite to its real meaning.

    So herewith reverting to its origin.
    The Bloody Angle on the battlefield of Spotsylvania Courthouse. May 1864. Don’t be fooled by the park-like appearance (photo taken last year, 150 years after the battle, almost exactly to the day).The combined casualties (Union and Confederate) for the full day of fighting here exceeded the combined casualties (Allied and Axis) for 6 June 1944.

    kishnevi (adea75)

  17. (Apologies for tweets not embedding. I’ve asked Patterico to fix them.)

    What I learned is that you have to embed the Tweet, save it, then immediately publish. Do NOT preview the post. For some weird reason, that changes the Tweet from embed picture to embed body. Don’t know why.

    The other weird thing is that sometimes the Tweet will embed as a picture, then at some point switch over to just the body of the Tweet, then later switch back. The troubled genius of WordPress, I suppose.

    Happy Memorial Day, Dana. Thanks for the great blogging you have been doing over the past few months. I’m glad you are so much better at it than I.

    JVW (8278a3)

  18. the article is about defense budget spending which apparently precludes other essential service for society.

    Having all those weapons is keeping us from fully funding Cowboy Poetry Festivals and Queer Studies Departments at our universities. Imagine how great things would be in America if we had more of those two essential programs.

    JVW (8278a3)

  19. Kevin @11, I am at the same time the most respectful observer of Memorial Day and the least. Because every day is Memorial Day. I don’t think a day goes by during which I don’t think of someone who died in harness. I don’t dwell on it, though. I do think about how I’m going to fight my way out of the mall in case everything goes all Nairobi on me. Or Baltimore.

    My first aid kit is a Craftsman tool box full of medical supplies. Every one of which I know how to use. I keep all my Red Cross certifications current. No one dies on me if I can prevent it.

    Memorial Day is necessary because most people don’t have much connection to the service.

    As for me what excuse do I have to offer my friends and ancestors in the after life about the times when I didn’t speak up? When I didn’t fight back? That I was afraid of dying? Or, worse, afraid of being called names? Don’t think that’ll fly.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  20. The Republican National Committee shames itself as well:

    Beyond that, I’m totally fed up with Republicans for colluding with Obama on the new Asian trade bill, apparently full of crud that will merely further the same-old, same-old and won’t help America’s economy one iota.

    On this Memorial Day, welcome to the USA as a living version of Potterville from the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Increasingly amoral, feckless, exhausted and greedy.

    Mark (09522c)

  21. Mike, I think the point is to remember those who died because they were willing to wear the uniform of the United States military.

    If you think Rick Rescorla didn’t wear the uniform with distinction, you didn’t read any of what I posted. He might well have been a candidate for the Medal of Honor but it was early in Vietnam. His behavior on 9/11 was just another example of his valor. He had also predicted what happened and had strongly advised his employer to move out of the WTC after 1993.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  22. he was the UK, born in one of the commonwealth countries, and served in the La Drang valley,
    the site of the battle commemorated in ‘We Were Soldiers’

    narciso (ee1f88)

  23. JVW,

    Thanks for the embed advice. I’m going to try that. I usually avoid using tweets in a post because I’m such an abysmal failure at embedding and always end up having to call on to help get them right.

    Thank you so much for your encouragement. It’s certainly a fun posting. Even if I end up taking it on the chin in the comments section!

    Dana (86e864)

  24. “When people scream that we fight “unjust and amoral wars.” Remember young men of this quality, who freely gave of their lives. And that throughout history America has never taken possession of the land, the people or the resources of their enemies. Rather, America in victory, has rebuilt their enemies in the image of freedom and liberty. Would that the youth of other nations have the courage and love of their fellow man that the American Fighting man has for humanity.”- Paul Skurnick

    pitchforkntorches (ef0337)

  25. What I learned is that you have to embed the Tweet, save it, then immediately publish. Do NOT preview the post. For some weird reason, that changes the Tweet from embed picture to embed body

    JVW, I went to the tweet, I hit the three little dots and selected “embed tweet”. I went to the code, select all, copy, and then pasted in the place on the post. Hit update (since you can’t save once the post is done and you’re updating). Still no embedded tweet….

    Dana (86e864)

  26. I see Jake Tapper is posting the photos of those who have sent him pics of loved ones lost during service to their country. It’s a lovely tribute, and it’s a lovely thing that these noble individuals are still missed and loved by those left behind.

    Dana (86e864)

  27. I can’t remember the Word Press terminology but you might try saving tweets the same way you save photos.

    DRJ (e80d46)

  28. Yes, I’ve tried, DRJ. It captures the photo, but not any text.

    Dana (86e864)

  29. I’m not sure why we expect the public to be more mindful of Memorial Day when we elected a Commander in Chief who doesn’t know the difference between this day and Veteran’s Day.

    Gazzer (d3f7b0)

  30. http://www.navsource.org/archives/03/features/taffy3m.htm

    MEMORIAL TO ADMIRAL SPRAGUE
    AND TASK UNIT 77.4.3 (Taffy 3)

    I don’t think any battle has deserved more, but has gotten less, attention, than the Battle off Samar.

    Samuel B. Roberts’ call sign was “little wolf.” When Ziggy Srague issued the order “small boys attack” little wolf asked does that include small small boys. The skipper Robert Copeland didn’t wait for an answer. He just turned to and went bow on to the threat.

    Aviators who were winchester, out of ammo, dove on ships just to draw fire so that aviators who had ordnance would have a decent shot. The aviators who had armed aircraft were inappropriately armed. They were armed for getting the troops ashore, and also anti-submarine warfare. Not for combating a surface threat.

    Back aboard little wolf Paul H. Carr died at his station. He was a gunner’s mate, and apparently his gun got a little hot. But since he was trading broadsides with the Chikuma he had other priorities.

    http://media.navysna.org/HOF/C/Carr.htm

    Posthumously awarded the Silver Star for heroism in action during the Battle off Samar in World War II against vastly superior Japanese forces. He was the five-inch gun captain aboard his destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts, firing over 300 rounds against enemy cruisers at close range, knocking out an enemy eight-inch turret, demolishing her bridge, and starting fires. Although his ship was damaged and he had to fire six rounds without the safety device of gas-ejection air, his gun was ultimately wrecked by a powder charge cook-off, killing three of the gun crew and horribly wounding Petty Officer Carr from his neck to his thigh. Although the order was given to abandon ship as his ship was sinking, Petty Officer Carr died still trying to load and ram the final shell available.

    There’s a name you might think of tomorrow. “Horribly wounding” is the nice way of saying ripped open. His shipmates cleaned him out of the turret and laid him next to it, expecting him to die in short order. When they went by again before abandoning ship he had clawed his way back into the turret and his dying wish is that someone would help him get off another round.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uht5e4_U5wQ

    Caoidh/Lament – Sgt MacKenzie

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  32. rnc
    republican nation of communists

    mg (31009b)

  33. Every time i see bitch mcconnolls face, I want to kick it in.

    mg (31009b)

  34. What about this?

    DRJ (e80d46)

  35. Yeah, this was the little bit of nothing little wolf took on that day.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cruiser_Chikuma_%281938%29#Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf

    It doesn’t exactly jibe with my version of events, but it’s wikipedia.

    Steve57 (fb1453)

  36. kishnevi, good reminder @18. I have a French heavy cavalry pallasch that will turn 200 next July. A near Napoleonic. Obviously the blade was rehilted to the 1854 standard. And just as obviously, what it was doing there, in small shop just off a Civil War battlefield.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  37. http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=59891

    AFP reports that the Israeli Defense Forces have decided to exclude women from their armor units because the jobs involved too much physical work;

    Israel needs to win its wars.

    It’s no big deal. I couldn’t get through Army Ranger school, either, ladies. We all have our God given talents. I think I have what it takes to be first shellman on a five inch gun. Or keeping a tank firing. Which I think is more apropos to the subject at hand.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  38. A good read for Memorial Day.

    http://www.amazon.fr/Dawn-Like-Thunder-Torpedo-Squadron/dp/0316056537

    A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  39. I don’t think any battle has deserved more, but has gotten less, attention, than the Battle off Samar.

    I’ll drink to that. Sprague and his guys saved Halsey’s ass from a fool stunt he pulled that day.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  40. A Dawn Like Thunder: The True Story of Torpedo Squadron Eight

    Alvin Kernan’s book, is also great and he was there. Kernan’s story is incredible. His other book, Crossing the line is also great. He was there and was on the Enterprise at Pearl Harbor. When he came back from the war, he went to college and ended as dean of the graduate school at Princeton. My review of the book from 2005 is here.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  41. Sprague and his guys saved the invasion force from Kurita and his center force. They weren’t fighting to preserve Halsey’s reputation.

    The Army had a toe hold on Leyte and the last thing some Navy guys did in life was make sure they kept it.

    It’s nice to know that should the roles be reversed they would return the favor.

    To pick one on this Memorial Day.

    http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3481/sabo-jr-leslie-h.php

    Specialist Four Leslie H. Sabo Jr. distinguished himself by conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his own life while serving as a rifleman in Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division in Se San, Cambodia, on May 10, 1970. On that day, Specialist Four Sabo and his platoon were conducting a reconnaissance patrol when they were ambushed from all sides by a large enemy force. Without hesitation, Specialist Four Sabo charged an enemy position, killing several enemy soldiers. Immediately thereafter, he assaulted an enemy flanking force, successfully drawing their fire away from friendly soldiers and ultimately forcing the enemy to retreat. In order to re-supply ammunition, he sprinted across an open field to a wounded comrade. As he began to reload, an enemy grenade landed nearby. Specialist Four Sabo picked it up, threw it, and shielded his comrade with his own body, thus absorbing the brunt of the blast and saving his comrade’s life. Seriously wounded by the blast, Specialist Four Sabo nonetheless retained the initiative and then single-handedly charged an enemy bunker that had inflicted severe damage on the platoon, receiving several serious wounds from automatic weapons fire in the process. Now mortally injured, he crawled towards the enemy emplacement and, when in position, threw a grenade into the bunker. The resulting explosion silenced the enemy fire, but also ended Specialist Four Sabo’s life. His indomitable courage and complete disregard for his own safety saved the lives of many of his platoon members. Specialist Four Sabo’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness, above and beyond the call of duty, at the cost of his life, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, Company B, 3d Battalion, 506th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  42. I take it you are Michael T. Kennedy?

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  43. Greetings:

    Back in the summer of the last ’68, I was doing my military service down in Texas which, besides the Bronx, is the place I’d most like to be form. For several months, I was assigned to the base’s funeral detail. We would provide pallbearers and a rifle squad for those requesting military funerals in the local area.

    Military-wise, it wasn’t bad duty. On the days when we weren’t scheduled for a funeral, we would spend several hours practicing our “drill and ceremonies” and a couple of more squaring away our uniforms and equipment. On funeral days, we would head out as early as necessary on q 44-passenger bus, often in civilian clothes or else fatigues with our first-class uniforms in tow. Often we would change into our duty uniforms at the funeral home, once in the casket display room, or on the bus itself.

    It being Texas and the Viet Nam war being in full swing, we often had several funerals a week to perform. There was a certain spectrum from the World War graduates through the Viet Nam casualties. The former might involve a local veterans’ group and an afterward BBQ or such. The latter were somewhat more emotionally raw as most of us were facing our own deployments in the near future.

    Two funerals of the latter sort have stayed with me through the years. The first was of a young Private First Class who had been MIA for several months before his remains were recovered. I was on the pallbearer squad that day and when we went to lift that casket, it almost flew up in the air. There was so little of the young soldier left that we totally overestimated the weight we were lifting and almost looked decidedly unprofessional.

    The other was that of a Negro Specialist 4th Class. I was in the rifle squad that day. In the rendering of military honors, there is a momentary pause between the end of the (21-gun) rifle salute and the beginning of the playing of “Taps”. It is a moment of profound silence in most cases. During that moment, the soldier’s mother gave out a yowl from the depths of her grief that so startled me that I almost dropped the rifle out of my hands. That yowl echoes within me still.

    I’ll readily admit that as a result of my experiences, I became much imbued with a sense of duty and respect to and for our fallen. Hopefully, this year, when our media do their reporting they will show some of the same and let “Taps” be played out in its entirety. It would be nice for a change.

    11B40 (6abb5c)

  44. “They weren’t fighting to preserve Halsey’s reputation.”

    I didn’t say that. Halsey should have been court martialed for that and for his gross error in taking the fleet into a typhoon. The Navy decided they could not do that for morale reasons and so John McCain (the Senator’s grandfather) was relieved of commend and died soon after. He was not allowed to be at the surrender ceremony while Halsey’s reputation was preserved.

    Because of 100 mph (87 kn; 160 km/h) winds, very high seas and torrential rain, three destroyers capsized and sank, and a total of 790 lives were lost. Nine other warships were damaged, and over 100 aircraft were wrecked or washed overboard; the aircraft carrier Monterey was forced to battle a serious fire that was caused by a plane hitting a bulkhead.

    Those guys died too.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  45. I’m well aware of Typhoon Cobra. And yes, those guys died too. And I hope the investigations into non-aviation mishaps do some good.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  46. * And I hope the investigations I made into non-aviation mishaps do some good.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  47. Truscott, who nobody ever heard of, said what Halsey never said.

    I have Truscott’s book in my bookcase.

    Truscott’s life.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  48. Thanks fot the posts Mike k.

    mg (31009b)

  49. I take it you are Michael T. Kennedy?

    A salute will be sufficient. It is not necessary to kiss my ring.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  50. Not dead yet! Spunky 92 year old British WWII vet flies a Spitfire for the first time in 70 years.

    Seven decades after her last flight in the iconic plane, Joy described the experience as “lovely: it was perfect”, making her feel “quite young.” The ATA made an enormous contribution to the war effort by taking over from service pilots the task of ferrying Royal Air Force and Royal Navy warplanes between factories, maintenance units and front-line squadrons.

    Watch the BBC video. Note the hair dye and pink lipstick! You will laugh at her one complaint about the flight–“too much talking”.

    http://www.weaselzippers.us/224601-sunday-smile-92-yr-old-wwii-pilot-gets-to-fly-her-favorite-plane-again-after-70-years/

    elissa (8008e9)

  51. Respectfully, @TheDemocrats, this is not what Memorial Day Weekend is about. https://t.co/331F9IX2Xz

    — Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) May 23, 2015

    “Can I just eat my waffle cone?”

    carlitos (c24ed5)

  52. this post made me realize an epiphany in my head

    i’d really really like to see carly replace priebus

    i think she’d be much much more effective

    and this priebus is getting a lil too entrenched for my taste

    happyfeet (831175)

  53. That may be the rare two seat spitfire at Duxford. I would love to have had a chance in it but didn’t have enough time when I was there. Nice museum. But the US part is closed now.

    Large area refurbishing old war birds.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  54. 53. …“too much talking”…

    elissa (8008e9) — 5/25/2015 @ 10:51 am

    Any car guy can tell you the engine provides its own music.

    If I got a hop in a Spitfire, my one and only hop and at 92 my last, and somebody tried to talk over that Rolls Royce Merlin I’d be P.O.d too.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  55. I never knew that Truscott tale,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  56. some years ago, I read Hornfischer’s account of the naval part of the Solomon’s engagement, ‘Neptune’s Inferno’ in part based on the journal of one of those who are there,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  57. 52. I take it you are Michael T. Kennedy?

    A salute will be sufficient. It is not necessary to kiss my ring.

    Mike K (90dfdc) — 5/25/2015 @ 10:39 am

    I followed the link to where you said I’d find your review from 2005. There was one review from 2005, by a guy named Michael. I wanted to confirm you were the same Michael.

    Let’s not get carried away with the ring kissing and the saluting.

    Another name to remember.

    http://darbysrangers.tripod.com/id110.htm

    2nd Ranger Battalion Memorial Page

    These guys trained together.

    On June 5th; purely by chance the German Army moved elements of the 352’nd Division to the Pointe Du Hoc cliff area of Omaha Beach. At the time of the assault by the 2’nd Ranger Battalion the German troops were undergoing training in defensive maneuvers and every gun position was fully manned.

    …Lt. Col James E. Rudder C.O. of the Provisional Ranger Force called on assistance from the Satterlee. The Satterlee drew just over 17 feet of water; and coming as close as possible to the action; the Commanding officer placed the Destroyer in harms way short of 1/2 mile from shore…running back and forth parallel to the shore-line and laying down decisive gunfire in support of the Rangers; the 274 man Destroyer gave impressive performance.

    The Satterlee defied every rule of safe naval operation during this combat to support the 2nd. Ranger Battlion and the mission.

    The Destroyer laid in volley after volley and turned and made more parallel passes until Rudder spoke into his radio again; “Very Nice Shooting!…Don’t Go Away.” The precious time and lives saved by the valiant crew and Commander of DD-626 Satterlee contributed significantly to the success of the vital Pointe du Hoc Assault; D-Day 6 June 1944.

    Laughing Wolf of Blackfive bumped into the helmsman of the Satterlee in Normandy back in 2013.

    http://www.blackfive.net/main/2013/06/pointe-du-hoc.html

    The skipper of the Satterlee said if he had to run his ship aground to support those Rangers, that’s what he was going to do. He damned near did.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  58. Other presidents, ones that perhaps loved this country more, treated Memorial Day with more respect.

    Here’s the Gipper, in 1984

    Kevin M (25bbee)

  59. narciso, if you haven’t read Hornfischer’s Ship of Ghosts and Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors I recommend that you do.

    http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/82864/ship-of-ghosts-by-james-d-hornfischer/

    “Son, we’re going to Hell.”

    The navigator of the USS Houston confided these prophetic words to a young officer as he and his captain charted a course into U.S. naval legend

    http://www.amazon.com/The-Last-Stand-Sailors-Extraordinary/dp/0553381482

    The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy’s Finest Hour

    …“This will be a fight against overwhelming odds from which survival cannot be expected. We will do what damage we can.”

    With these words, Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland addressed the crew of the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts on the morning of October 25, 1944, off the Philippine Island of Samar…

    They bracket the Navy’s WWII experience. From outclassed in December 1941, staring at smoking wreckage and trying to figure out what to do next, to figuring out what to do next and outclassing everyone by the end of the war.

    It’s a shame we’re giving away what these men fought so hard to achieve.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  60. Kevin @61, since Prom Queen despises this country and thinks it’s very existence is illegitimate, why should he respect the memory of those who fought and died for it?

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  61. I once lived in the woods in a cabin and one of the 90 other people that lived throughout that wilderness was an old guy named Chuck who had been a part of Carlson’s Raiders. It wasn’t surprising he lived in such a remote area as he was not particularly fond of people. He had a colorful background growing up in NYC, enlisting in the Marine Corps and lying about his age. The first time, they turned him over to his mama who gave him a shiner for lying, and then he went to a different recruiter and lied again and they took him. He regretted breaking her heart, but he was young and invincible and there was a war going on demanding his attention and he knew that girls were crazy for soldiers. Anyway, he was filled with stories. What always strikes me with the old vets is that while their stories are big, they almost always see their roles as small and almost insignificant. There is an admirable humility and modesty about them. Except for when they are with only other vets of that generation. Per my octogenarian parent who is a vet, when he and the other surviving vets from WWII and Korea get together for their bi-weekly lunches, the bullshit is non-stop, the branches still try to outdo each other, and they themselves nearly single-handedly won the every battle they faced. Absolutely charming.

    Dana (86e864)

  62. http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/2015/05/fullbore-friday_22.html#disqus_thread

    Friday, May 22, 2015
    Fullbore Friday

    A slightly different FbF today – a great warship whose crew one day provided a benchmark all who go to sea must measure themselves against; are you ready?

    Today, the USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG-58) is being decomissioned…

    As we have seen, as I have attempted to show, this OHP-ckass frigate wasn’t the first Sammy B to provide a benchmark. The Butler class DE set a pretty high bar.

    Oh, and relevant on this memorial day. Attention to citation.

    http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=80612

    CITATION:

    For heroism while serving at Naval Station Norfolk Security Detachment, Norfolk, Virginia on 24 March 2014. While performing his duties as Chief of the Guard, Petty Officer Mayo was alerted to a suspicious individual walking towards USS MAHAN (DDG 72) on Pier 1, Naval Station Norfolk. Petty Officer Mayo pursued the individual up the brow of the ship while both he and the Quarterdeck watch-standers directed the individual to stop and provide identification. Failing to comply, the individual approached the Quarterdeck, attacked and disarmed the Petty Officer of the Watch. After boarding the ship, Petty Officer Mayo realized that the Petty Officer of the Watch no longer had control of her weapon. With complete and total disregard for his own personal safety, Petty Officer Mayo immediately placed himself between the Petty Officer of the Watch and the assailant. While fearlessly engaging the assailant and shielding the Petty Officer of the Watch, Petty Officer Mayo was fatally wounded. His exceptionally brave actions saved the lives of four watch-standers and ensured the safety of the entire crew of USS MAHAN (DDG 72). By his courageous and prompt actions in the face of great personal risk, Petty Officer Mayo prevented the loss of lives, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

    For the President,
    JONATHAN W. GREENERT
    Admiral, United States Navy

    Petty Officer Mayo died heroically but only as a result of multiple failures in security that, as far as I can see, have resulted in no civilian losing his or her job. The report of the investigation into the circumstances that resulted in Petty Officer Mayo’s death is dismaying.

    But Petty Officer Mayo, at least answered yes to CDR Salamander’s question. He was ready. He stood his watch and was 100% there. You expect it in the Persian Gulf but you don’t always expect it pierside in the states. But it’s never your choice.

    http://usmilitary.about.com/od/navy/l/blsentry.htm

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  63. 65. …and they themselves nearly single-handedly won the every battle they faced…

    Dana (86e864) — 5/25/2015 @ 4:42 pm

    Did you know, Dana, that Saddam Hussein waited until I and the Carl Vinson left the AO before invading Kuwait?

    Sure, the Carl Vinson and the rest of the battle group played a small role. But it was largely me and my intimidating personal presence that stayed his hand.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  64. clearly someone drew a cartoon to provoke that guy, narciso.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  65. Bad s*** just doesn’t happen with Muslims unless Pamela Geller and cartoons don’t happen.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  66. To get back on track. Attention to citation.

    http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3447/williams-james-e.php

    Citation

    For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. PO1c. Williams was serving as Boat Captain and Patrol Officer aboard River Patrol Boat (PBR) 105 accompanied by another patrol boat when the patrol was suddenly taken under fire by 2 enemy sampans. PO1c. Williams immediately ordered the fire returned, killing the crew of 1 enemy boat and causing the other sampan to take refuge in a nearby river inlet. Pursuing the fleeing sampan, the U.S. patrol encountered a heavy volume of small-arms fire from enemy forces, at close range, occupying well-concealed positions along the river bank. Maneuvering through this fire, the patrol confronted a numerically superior enemy force aboard 2 enemy junks and 8 sampans augmented by heavy automatic weapons fire from ashore.

    But does Boats Williams let little details like this give him pause? I think you know the answer.

    In the savage battle that ensued, PO1c. Williams, with utter disregard for his safety exposed himself to the withering hail of enemy fire to direct counter-fire and inspire the actions of his patrol. Recognizing the overwhelming strength of the enemy force, PO1c. Williams deployed his patrol to await the arrival of armed helicopters. In the course of his movement his discovered an even larger concentration of enemy boats. Not waiting for the arrival of the armed helicopters, he displayed great initiative and boldly led the patrol through the intense enemy fire and damaged or destroyed 50 enemy sampans and 7 junks. This phase of the action completed, and with the arrival of the armed helicopters, PO1c. Williams directed the attack on the remaining enemy force. Now virtually dark, and although PO1c. Williams was aware that his boats would become even better targets, he ordered the patrol boats’ search lights turned on to better illuminate the area and moved the patrol perilously close to shore to press the attack. Despite a waning supply of ammunition the patrol successfully engaged the enemy ashore and completed the rout of the enemy force. Under the leadership of PO 1 c. Williams, who demonstrated unusual professional skill and indomitable courage throughout the 3 hour battle, the patrol accounted for the destruction or loss of 65 enemy boats and inflicted numerous casualties on the enemy personnel. His extraordinary heroism and exemplary fighting spirit in the face of grave risks inspired the efforts of his men to defeat a larger enemy force, and are in keeping with the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

    That “larger concentration” was something like 200. Admittedly no one was in the mood to do any fine accounting, but Boats Williams and his partners in crime damaged or destroyed about a quarter of them.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  67. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSob=c&GSlh=1&GRid=74715857&

    US Navy First Class Aviation Machinist Mate. Gaido was serving on the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S Enterprise in the Pacific Ocean after the attack at Pearl Harbor. On February 1, 1942, in the Central Pacific near the Marshall Island five Japanese bombers attacked the Enterprise. After the five dropped their bombs four sped away, but the fifth plane was so badly damaged it was unable to attempt to return to it’s base. The Japanese pilot elected to crash his plane into the carrier and inflict as much damage as possible. Although the anti aircraft fire at the enemy plane was intense the plane continued it’s descent towards the carrier. It was then that Gaido realized the imminent danger the ship was in and jumped into a Scout Bomber Dauntless dive-bomber parked on the flight deck, and manned the .30 caliber machine gun. Gaido’s relentless fire at the bomber eventually caused the plane to spin at a ninety degree angle, causing it’s wing to slice in half the Scout Bomber Dauntless Dive-Bomber Gaido was firing from. Gaido’s shipmates later said that it was Gaido’s fire that brought the plane down, thus potentially saving the Enterprise from serious damage…

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  68. ‘Neptune’s Inferno’ in part based on the journal of one of those who are there,

    One feature of that book is the info that more sailors died at Guadalcanal than Marines.

    Truscott had a lot to do with Darby.

    Also, I had an English teacher and football coach who was a Raider. Jim Arneberg. He was 17 when he was a raider.

    A few photos of Normandy when I took my daughter to see it.

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  69. Ben L. Salomon

    Yeah.

    At 5 o’clock in the morning on July 7, 1944, a 30 year-old Jewish dentist from Milwaukee head-butted a Japanese infantryman straight- up in the f***ing face and then shanked him with the knife he’d taken off another enemy soldier he’d just killed two seconds earlier. All around him, the surgical tent of the 105th Infantry Division was in chaos …

    – See more at: http://www.badassoftheweek.com/index.cgi?id=587622426994#sthash.ryw4uD6d.dpuf

    My parish priest, Monsignor Tillman, captured 11 NORKs at the point of his .45.

    Every once in a while when I’m tempted to have a high opinion of myself I think of these guys just to remind myself I’m not exactly Alexander the Great.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  70. a distant relative of mine:

    The invasion force was left stranded, and after 72 hours of fighting, Mr. San Roman radioed a message from the beachhead that he was abandoning the effort. ”Tanks are in sight,” his message said. ”I have nothing to fight with. I cannot wait for you.” #20 Months in Cuban Jail He was taken prisoner along with about 1,100 of his men, spent 20 months in jail and was set free after the United States provided more than $50 million in food and medical supplies to Cuba.

    narciso (ee1f88)

  71. 74. One feature of that book is the info that more sailors died at Guadalcanal than Marines.

    Mike K (90dfdc) — 5/25/2015 @ 6:01 pm

    The Navy gets a bad rap for the circumstances surrounding Guadalcanal. I can still get into fights with Marines for daring to defend ADM. Fletcher. Marines who think his actions were indefensible. I recommend the book by Lundstrom, Black Shoe Carrier Admiral: Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Midway, and Guadalcanal, as the antidote.

    Oddly enough, just as Neptune’s Inferno was based on the journal of those who were there, the strongest defense of Fletcher’s actions is based on the personal papers of a Marine who was on Fletcher’s staff. Papers which didn’t come to light until the man died and his family found them as they were sorting out his estate.

    When Fletcher “abandoned” the Marines on Guadalcanal, forcing the Navy supply ships to withdraw before offloading all the the Marines supplies, he really had no choice. Going toe to toe with the land-based air force at Rabaul was a losing game. Fletcher’s fighters were rapidly being attrited. Plus his ships were going through fuel oil like it was going out of style.

    The Japanese navy was just head and shoulders above the USN in night fighting. This is why Iron Bottom Sound got its name. Night fighting takes practice. The USN did not have the money to practice during the Great Depression. So, it didn’t. It also didn’t have the money to figure out, holy s***, those ships were going to burn through fuel at an ungodly rate when maneuvering in combat. Everyone’s estimates were wildly off.

    From the Marine’s personal notes, it was clear that Fletcher had no choice but to clear out. He was going through planes and gas too fast. He had to get out of range of Rabaul. If I recall correctly, the there was only one tanker left at Noumea. The other had been sunk by a sub. While he still had enough fuel to keep the keel down he had to get out of Dodge. One tanker is a slim hope.

    What did the Marines want? A bunch of Navy ships out of gas, bobbing around, targets?

    I think all the dead sailors off Guadalcanal are evidence the Navy never abandoned them.

    I’m still researching for my book tentatively entitled, Green Dragons And Black Cats; A Love Story.

    AKA, STFU Marines.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  72. plus we had fallen for the delusion of the Washington Conference on Naval Disarmament,

    Hornfischer makes the images as vivid as one can imagine, a sea born counterpart to Private Ryan,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  73. I didn’t recall this part:

    http://www.weaselzippers.us/224652-mike-rowe-maybe-today-we-are-all-related-to-those-who-gave-their-lives/

    the way his relative survived as a POW was a story in itself,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  74. The New York Times asks: What do you do with a cultured sailor?

    The High Line.

    Shake Shack.

    The American Girl store.

    Fleet Week is not what it used to be.

    Once upon a time, sailors on leave on New York’s streets after months at sea went a little wild — liquor and female companionship were the priorities, with barstool-tossing brawls often the unintended result.

    Now, not so much.

    “I spent way too much money at the American Girl store,” said Chief Petty Officer Justin Brown, a member of the Navy for 17 years who said he came to the city with a detailed shopping list from his daughters, ages 4 and 7, in Virginia. “I got a bunch of clothes for the dolls, and accessories.”

    The turn from those drunken sailors of shore leaves past to the American Girl doll-toting sailors of today has been long in coming, with cultural tourism slowly edging out more earthy pursuits. To see this week’s white-clad visitors exploring New York is to understand not just how sailors have changed, but how significantly the city that welcomes them has changed.

    Dana (86e864)

  75. …The mission orders they received from their sergeant squad leader, I’m sure, went something like this: “OK, take charge of this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass. You clear?” I’m also sure Yale and Haerter rolled their eyes and said, in unison, something like, “Yes, sergeant,” with just enough attitude that made the point, without saying the words, “No kidding, sweetheart. We know what we’re doing.”…

    Did Petty Officer Mayo not do as well, Coronello? Not to take anything away from the Marines. The sea services are sort of incestuous. I wouldn’t have become a Naval officer unless a Marine DI approved of my existence. Later I went on to do counter narcotics and harbor defense with the Coast Guard.

    Semper Fidelis. Semper Paratus. Sic Semper Tyrannus.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  76. I’m not a fan of Fletcher. At Midway, he turned over his command to Spruance and Spruance did the right things.

    I commented to Don Rumsfeld at a book signing, where he insisted on a standup desk, that Spruance also used one.

    He agreed and said he learned that in the Navy,

    I would have voted for Rummy for president,

    Mike K (90dfdc)

  77. Is that the whole story, Mike? Did Fletcher have a choice at Midway?

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  78. Spruance was a fine commander but even he’d tell you that Fletcher was, too.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  79. and more of that:

    http://www.ww2pacific.com/fletcher3.html

    narciso (ee1f88)

  80. Our host has fixed the tweets. It’s a much more complete post with them actually appearing.

    Dana (86e864)

  81. http://www.midway42.org/Features/Fletcher2.aspxhttp://www.midway42.org/Features/Fletcher2.aspx

    CLOSING THE BOOK:

    ADMIRAL FLETCHER AT MIDWAY

    Did Admiral Fletcher make mistakes? Sure. Who wouldn’t have. He largely shouldered the burden for the entire Pacific war for the first seven months. There was no play book. No one knew how an aircraft carrier war was supposed to go. And Fletcher was a black shoe, not an aviator.

    But he got a lot of stuff right. When he retired he commented (not his exact words) that his critics were mostly talking out of their @$$. I tend to agree.

    Rest your oar, sailor. You done good.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  82. that link doesn’t work, other officers had Morrison’s ear, just like the sources that Halberstam listened to, who proffered nary a dissent till Elegant and more recently Moyar,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  83. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3419826

    Adm Frederick “Moose” Moosbrugger

    …The Battle of Vella Gulf took place on the night of 6-7 August 1943. On the night of 6 August the Imperial Japanese Navy sent a force of four destroyers under Captain Kaju Sugiura – the Hagikaze, Arashi, Shugure, and Kawakaze – carrying about 950 soldiers and their supplies. The Japanese airfield at Munda on New Georgia, which the force at Vila was assigned to reinforce, was on the verge of being captured – it actually fell later that day. The Japanese commanders expected that Vila would become the center of their next line of defense.

    The U.S. Navy Task Group 31.2 of six destroyers – the USS Dunlap (DD-384), USS Craven (DD-382), USS Maury (DD-401), USS Lang (DD-399), USS Sterett (DD-407), and USS Stack (DD-406) – commanded by Commander Frederick Moosbrugger was lying in wait, and it made radar contact with the Japanese force at 2333 hours. Having learned the harsh lessons of naval combat at night after the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Kula Gulf, and the previous PT boat debacle, the American destroyers did not give away their position with gunfire, but rather, they waited until they had all their torpedoes in the water. The U.S. Navy destroyers fired a total of 36 torpedoes in the space of 63 seconds. Four American ships, including the USS Craven, used the mountains of the main island to their east to help camouflage their position. Japanese radar was not as advanced as American radar, and could not differentiate between the surface ships and the island. All four Japanese destroyers were hit by American torpedoes. Hagikaze, Arashi, and Kawakaze burst into flames and were quickly sunk by naval gunfire. The torpedo that hit Shigure was a dud that did not explode, damaging her rudder only, and she escaped into the darkness…

    The skipper of the Shigure lived to pronounce the American victory at Vella Gulf was perfect. His book, along with Zengi Orita’s I Boat Captain, was to have a major influence on my life.

    http://www.usni.org/store/books/recently-published/japanese-destroyer-captain

    The XO of the Maury, Russel Crenshaw, also wrote his own book.

    http://www.amazon.com/South-Pacific-Destroyer-Battle-Solomons/dp/1591141435

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  84. Crenshaw also wrote the textbook on ship handling.

    http://www.amazon.com/dp/0870214748/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=3485228338&hvqmt=p&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_aqvfr1h3p_p

    Naval Shiphandling (4th Edition) Hardcover – September, 1974
    by Russell Sydnor Crenshaw

    …I have owned this book for well over a decade and continue to use it as a reference. While a bit dated, this book is still THE guide for a maritime professional, as the principles of modern shiphandling have not changed that much since it was published. It covers forces affecting a ship, handling alongside, replenishment at sea, towing, and single/twin engine handling to name a few. In addition, the author lists a number of real life shiphandling “problems” and tells how the conning officer was able to safely maneuver his ship to safety. While there is no substitute for experience, this book, coupled with the Naval Shiphandler’s Guide, provides the reader with an excellent reference on the unique science behind handling large military vessels. With its level of detail, this book would also be a good reference for masters of large commercial vessels and will help them to brush up on their skills.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  85. I mistransliterated Orita Zenji’s name.

    Also, no one in the Shigure knew the Americans had even touched them until a later dry dock availability. When they saw the nice, clean, round hole the torpedo had punched through the rudder.

    Which cleared up the mysterious funny-handling characteristics their ship had all of a sudden developed.

    Vella Gulf served as a wake up call. Up until then the Japanese had owned the night. Vella Gulf showed the Americans were capable of adapting. Even though their torpedoes would be inferior throughout the war, the Japanese were on notice. And I believe we all know how things worked out.

    It’s only a matter of getting up one more time.

    In Requiem For A Battleship I read how the the Japanese JOs redlined a report about how the Americans had attacked and killed a sub with sonobuoys and an aerial torpedo. The Japanese could do none of those things. When they pointed out how the Americans and British were innovating their superiors retorted that they weren’t operating with the proper yamato damashi. The spirit of Bushido would carry the day.

    The Japanese JOs belatedly concluded their only hope was to kill everyone O-4 and above and start over.

    This is kinda sorta relevant to today as we, like those Japanese junior officers, have people who want to kill us and a government that’s lying to us.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  86. after yamamoto, and yamashita, who MacArthur scapegoated, capable staff and flag officers were few and far between,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  87. yamashita, the tiger of manila, blamed for actions committed by well connected superiors,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  88. My little brother Ralph has said it briefly, and I think well. Ending a conversation between he, my Dad, and I on a Memorial Day Lunch when vets were asked to stand and Dad and I had made faces before standing, then sitting and discussing that: “Oh. We’re celebrating that you’ve survived, and you’re mourning those you remember who didn’t.” That’s the best or at least most understandable explanation I’ve seen.

    I usually say “Blessed Memorial Day”, hoping you’ve all had such; I’m trying to … I don’t know, avoiding “Happy”, which it is, in a way, but not the usual value of happy. WW2 vets Navy LT. Mom and Army 2LT. Dad are buried together in Leavenworth National Cemetery.

    htom (4ca1fa)

  89. http://www.nmajmh.org/exhibitions/catalog-hallOfHeroes/cat31.php

    LIEUTENANT (J.G) AARON KATZ

    Navy Cross

    Lieutenant Katz took part in the Battle of Midway, as a member of the famed Torpedo 8-plane squadron, and distinguished himself as a flier in the Solomons.

    No one figured this guy. He was from an ultra-orthodox family and as a kid wore coke bottle glasses. But he decided he was going to fly from an early age. It’s like his eyes got better from sheer will.

    At torpedo 9 his XO, later CO after CDR Waldron was killed, was Swede Larsen. A vicious anti-Semite. Which was cool with Katz, as he later said he preferred his anti-Semitism straight up.
    Not even Larsen could stop Katz from showing his stuff.

    As an aside, everyone agrees that Swede Larsen mellowed over the years.

    If I talk like I knew these guys, I did. Or at least I knew some of them, and the men who served with and flew with them.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  90. Anyone see Obama’s Memorial Day address? It’s at Pajama Media, among other places.

    Absolutely disgraceful. Just beyond words and imagination.

    Every single person who voted for this man should be whipped and stripped of citizenship.

    Estragon (ada867)

  91. what’s the moderation about, Yamashita’s railroading in the military tribunal,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  92. that’s doubleunplusgood thinking.

    narciso (ee1f88)

  93. The male with the minus touch finds a way to dig even deeper. Do you think that he thinks that if he digs deeply enough he’ll end up in Hawaii? Indonesia?

    htom (4ca1fa)

  94. 97-Estragon
    I raise my glass to that.

    mg (31009b)

  95. …I don’t know, avoiding “Happy”, which it is, in a way, but not the usual value of happy…

    htom (4ca1fa) — 5/25/2015 @ 9:09 pm

    You know people mean well when they wish you a Happy Memorial Day.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3nncd4sxaM#t=669

    Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez

    Benavidez’ call sign was Tango Mike Mike. Tango Mike Mike stands for That Means Mexican. It’s still used when the fight isn’t breaking your way and uncommon courage is needed.

    Not by me. I’m not special forces. But I know what it means when I hear it.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  96. I guess to round things out, here are three airmen whose graves you won’t be visiting anytime soon.

    http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/05/01/air-force-cross-silver-stars-combat-controllers/26639629/

    POPE FIELD, N.C. — Three combat controllers who refused to let their team be taken during a September battle in Afghanistan, were honored during a ceremony here Wednesday…

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  97. 100. 97-Estragon
    I raise my glass to that.

    mg (31009b) — 5/25/2015 @ 10:00 pm

    I raise my glass to Airmen Temple, Greiner, and Goodman.

    Who kept at least several guys from being memorialized this Memorial Day.

    Hopefully one day this country will recover and be worthy of their efforts.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  98. Thanks Steve57. You are a special man.

    mg (31009b)

  99. I don’t feel special, mg. I knew people who are. Like this man.

    http://homeofheroes.com/valor/02_awards/silverstar/6_PostRVN/05_grenada.html

    HOWARD, TIMOTHY B.

    The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star Medal to Timothy B. Howard, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as an AH-IT (TOW) Cobra Attack Helicopter Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE (HMM-261), Twenty-Second Marine Amphibious Unit, conducting combat operations on the Island of Grenada in support of Operation URGENT FURY, on 25 October 1983. Captain Howard was flying a Cobra helicopter supporting Navy SEALs who had gone in to rescue Governor-General Paul Scoon, the British Administrative Representative on Grenada. Captain Howard had brought his Cobra into a hover in order to allow his Weapons Officer, Captain Jeb Seagle, to line up a shot with a TOW missile. As they hovered the ship was bracketed by gunfire from a ZU-23 23-mm. Anti-Aircraft gun. Shells exploded around the ship. One shell hit the port side engine and another blasted through cockpit side. That second shell almost severed Captain Howard’s right arm and also peppered his right leg, breaking it in a number of places. In addition, the violet impact had knocked Captain Seagle unconscious. Captain Howard using his functioning limbs, managed to land the aircraft in the middle of Tanteen Field without rolling it. The force of the impact activated the canopy release system and also woke Captain Seagle, who jumped out of the aircraft and pulled Howard free. He then tied his helmet communications cord around the stricken pilots arm to stop the bleeding. Captain Howard feeling as though he was slipping away, told Captain Seagle to leave him and save himself. Seagle refused and instead, grabbing Howard’s pistol, moved away to lure Grenadian forces, who had begun advancing on the crash site, away from his grievously injured pilot. While a medevac CH-46 was landing to rescue Captain Howard, Captain Seagle was captured and executed by Grenadian forces. As the CH-46 sped out of St. George’s Harbor, the gunship covering its withdrawal, crewed by Captain Pat Giguere and Lieutenant Jeff Scharver was hit and plunged into the harbor. By his extraordinary courage, uncommon valor, and steadfast devotion to duty in the face of danger, Captain Howard reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

    After he recovered from his wounds he became an intel officer. He was assigned to III MEF at some . and I worked with him in USS Belleau Wood. Not that he’d know me from Adam. He retired as a Colonel in 2006. I remember like it was yesterday seeing him in the gym working out with grim determination. Because at one point his life did depend on it.

    http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1588316/posts

    Marine hero leaves legacy of determination, retires after more than 30 years service
    United States Marine Corps ^ | 1 March 2006 | Lance Corporal Ethan Hoaldridge

    …Even after receiving a Silver Star for his courageous actions in Grenada, the real feat of awe-inspiring determination was his triumph over the severe wounds he received on Grenada, the same wounds that would almost cost him his Marine Corps career.

    Even after suffering the loss of his lower right arm, and enduring more than ten surgeries on his right leg, Howard refused to give up.

    “After that crash it took me a year of rehabilitation just to walk with a cane, and another year to jog,” said Howard. “I worked out two hours in the morning and another two in the evening, sometimes with tears running down my face.”

    “I remember a nurse from the hospital who cautioned me not to work so hard and inflict so much pain on myself,” said Howard. “The doctor said the harder I push myself, the faster my rehabilitation will be.”

    “She said that nobody else was working as hard as me, and that I should slow down,” said Howard. “I said, well ma’am, if you were an MIT graduate in a room full of morons, would you act like a moron, too?”

    Since Howard’s first physical fitness test after recovery, he has never scored lower than a first-class PFT score…

    When I knew him he was Major Howard. You didn’t know MAJ Timothy Howard and not be improved by the experience.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  100. If I am special at all, give credit to these gentlemen.

    http://www.blackfive.net/photos/uncategorized/2008/02/18/drill_inst_2.jpg

    It was a different crew back then, but they were my new bunch of best friends when I showed up at AOCS in Pensacola back in ’88.

    We were inseparable for a few months.

    Steve57 (6b60b5)

  101. This thread began by targeting Obama having an ice cream cone and the GOP hawking discounted coffee mugs.

    After three straight busy days at work, I am pretty sure Obama and the RNC are well within the mainstream of how the Populus observe this day. In fact, Obama showing up at Arlington to help move that wreath in place probably did more ti actually observe Memorial Day than they did.

    kishnevi (9c4b9c)

  102. targeting, interesting choice of words, if this had happened under W, one wouldn’t avoid hearing about it for a month, it would be on the cover of Time,

    narciso (ee1f88)

  103. Who built that ice cream cone?

    And why is it vanilla instead of twist or chocolate?

    htom (4ca1fa)


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