This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Author: Hondo

  • More Secret Service Issues Surface

    It looks like another report of bad behavior by the Secret Service has surfaced. And this time, it’s a bit more troublesome than the last one.

    This new report involves the POTUS protective detail operating on Martha’s Vineyard – including the Counter Assault and Counter Sniper teams.  And it includes a clear allegation that the Secret Service ignored or “lost” at least one report of agent misbehavior, as well as indications that local law enforcement may have helped keep things “quiet”.

    The “bad” behaviors alleged run the gamut from letting local children see/touch Secret Service weapons (oh, the horror!) to hard off-duty partying to loss of credentials to disclosing sensitive operational details. The first two? Meh. The last two? Uh, different story.

    The article is relatively long, and includes quotations from named witnesses. It seems credible.

    A few scattered incidents here and there are what you’d expect in any 4400-person organization. But you wouldn’t expect to find the Secret Service playing fast and loose with info regarding operations. And we’ve now seen reports of more than a few scattered incidents here and there.

    It’s beginning to look like there might well be a leadership problem at the Secret Service. A serious leadership problem.

  • How Good Must the Mirror Be?

    An unrelated discussion in the comment thread of another article got me to thinking (yeah, I hear ya – “Oh crap, here he goes again . . . . “).  But I do that sometimes, though it’s gotten me in trouble more times than I care to remember.  And I guess maybe Zero’s question earlier today also played a role.

    Anyway:  Jonn lets me post here, so until he comes to his senses and kills my account, well, here I go again.  (smile)

    And this time, I’ll ask for help too.  ‘Cause sometimes when I think I come up with a question or six for which I can’t find a good answer.

    For most of its history, America has had an arm’s-length relationship with its Army (and the military in general).  Before the Civil War – and indeed afterwards, up until World War I, basically – “out of sight, out of mind” was pretty much the norm when bullets weren’t flying.  And even then, except for the Civil War the military only tangentially impacted most of America.  The Army was mostly on the frontier, and the Navy was at sea or in a few ports.  America and it’s military were only passing acquaintances.

    World War I was scarcely different.  Yes, we ramped up hugely for World War I – but we ramped down just as quickly.  The military very nearly disappeared again until around 1940.

    World War II and the Cold War afterwards changed things.  Korea (the first real flare-up of the Cold War) rubbed our noses in the fact that we couldn’t assume we were safe and largely dismantle the military.  And since then, we’ve retained a sizeable military in both war and peace.

    However, society was somewhat – well – schizophrenic in what it wanted in its military.  For years after World War II, the US had a peacetime draft.  That led to a military that was relatively a mirror of the society from which  it came.  And the military experience was widely shared.  This was generally considered a “good thing” for a democracy.

    (more…)

  • More Secret Service Issues?

    We’ve all seen the recent news stories about salacious misbehavior by members of the Secret Service. Well, apparently there just might be a bit more history there. Bad history.

    Seems that there are numerous accusations of misconduct involving Secret Service personnel over the past several years. While many of these accusations appear to be unfounded, others don’t.

    Yes, the Secret Service is a large organization (about 4400 personnel) – so a few “duds” will slip thru screening. And yes, some of it seems to be overblown.

    But at least some the alleged misconduct seems to be significant – the apparently substantiated allegations seem to include disclosure of sensitive information. The number of substantiated incidents appears not to be inconsequential.  And the Secret Service is purportedly carefully screened.

    Maybe there really is a problem in that agency.

  • Millard Time (Continued)

    Looks like it’s time for a quick update on that studly young former NY ARNG soldier, Geoffrey “TBI” Millard.

    A third party sent me a copy of a Millard FOIA  they recently received from NPRC.  Recently, as in “less than a week ago”.  It’s linked here.   I redacted the source’s name/address info and the name of the NPRC records tech who processed the FOIA.  Nothing else was omitted.

    For comparison, Millard’s 2008 FOIA is found here, as is Millard’s purported but suspect 2005 DD214 and photos of Millard publicly wearing the awards listed on that suspect DD214.  Plus photos of Millard also wearing some items not listed on that suspect DD214, like a CIB.

    So let’s compare these old documents with the one from last week.

    What they show:  both the new and 2008 FOIAs say Millard has the National Defense Service Medal , has one (1) Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.  Both FOIAs show he was discharged as a Specialist.  Both show the same dates of service – 14 May 1998 to 13 May 2007 – in the Army National Guard.  And both show Initial Active Duty for Training (IADT) from October 1998 to February 1999.

    What they don’t show:  neither FOIA shows Millard having any mobilizations or time spent overseas (the only assignment shown outside the state of New York is his IADT in Fort Leonard Wood, MO).  Neither FOIA shows him having any Meritorious Service Medals, let alone 3.  Neither FOIA shows Millard having an Army Commendation Medal.  Neither FOIA shows Millard having an Army Achievement Medal, much less 3. The FOIAs also don’t show Millard having the Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal,  Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terror Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, or Armed Forces Reserve Medal.   And they also don’t show him having a Combat Infantry Badge or an Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, either.

    In fact, both of Millard’s FOIAs from NPRC look remarkably like those of a “slick-sleeve” Army National Guardsman who enlisted, went to IADT, then did nothing besides show up for drill and annual training on and off for 8 years.  They look like the FOIAs of someone who was never mobilized, never served on extended Federal active duty after IADT, never deployed to combat, never got a personal decoration other than one ARCAM, and screwed up enough along the way that they failed to receive what should have been an automatic second ARCAM.  (The latter is essentially the equivalent of the Good Conduct Medal for the Army’s Selected Reserve).

    In contrast, Millard’s purported 2005 DD214 shows him as a Sergeant, not a Specialist, who was mobilized and who served overseas in “Kuwait/Iraq”.  And it lists all of the above medals except for the Humanitarian Service Medal.  (It also does not list a CIB.)   That’s . . . odd.  Because that DD214 was purportedly “issued” over 6 1/2  years ago.  You’d think it should be consistent with his records on file at NPRC.

    Then again, we already know there are numerous inconsistencies in Millard’s purported 2005 DD214.

    In fact, it’s now over 5 years since Millard was discharged from the ARNG.  He’s completed all  8 years of his military obligation.  I’m pretty sure the NY ARNG should have retired his personnel records by now.  So I find it a bit . . . curious that NPRC wouldn’t have copies of all of Millard’s military records by now.  That’s particularly true concerning those records relating to Federal active duty because of mobilization and service in Iraq in 2004-2005.

    A FOIA on Millard is currently on its way to the New York Army National Guard.  Because something, somewhere, just ain’t quite right here.

  • About Those Stopped Clocks . . . .

    I wrote a previous article concerning recent high-level  security leaks.  Given recent developments I suppose I should write a follow-up.

    I trust everyone knows by now that the Attorney General has appointed a pair of attorneys to investigate these leaks.  That’s exactly what he should have done.

    Predictably, the Administration’s political opponents have questioned whether or not these two will be sufficiently “independent”.  Personally, I think that criticism is misguided and out of line.  Whether or not they can be sufficiently independent remains to be seen; such questions  should IMO wait until there’s some evidence of a reason to make them.

    Kudos to the current Administration for doing the right thing in this case.  But as always, the “proof is in the pudding”.  And  I guess I can understand why the Administration’s opponents might feel the way they do.

    The Nixon Administration appointed a special prosecutor to investigate Watergate, too.  But when things got to “hot” to suit Nixon, the result was the “Saturday Night Massacre”.

    Hopefully we won’t see history repeat itself.

  • Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam . . . . .

    You’ve heard Jonn talk about the spam he gets here.  One of the things about being allowed to post here is that you can see it.

    Jonn’s busy enough running TAH, so I try to pitch in from time to time and help “take out the garbage”.  But I thought TAH’s readers might be interested in seeing a representative sample.  And some of it is, well, kinda funny.

    Here’s a sample, with my comments concerning them.  This is maybe 5% of what I waxed this morning.  Jonn deals with several times this much daily.

    Engrish/WTF?

    I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish. nonetheless, you command get bought an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come more formerly again as exactly the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield this increase.

    Yeah, well, Jonn says thanks.  I think.

     Thank you for your whole effort on this blog. My niece delights in working on investigations and it’s really easy to understand why. A number of us hear all relating to the compelling method you give sensible tips by means of your blog and as well improve participation from some others on the concept so our favorite simple princess is without question being taught so much. Take advantage of the rest of the year. Your carrying out a dazzling job.

    Uh, yeah.  Whatever.  And I’m sure Jonn appreciates what I think was a compliment at the end.

     I must express thanks to this writer just for rescuing me from this particular dilemma. After exploring throughout the the net and obtaining thoughts which are not productive, I figured my entire life was over. Existing devoid of the answers to the issues you have resolved by way of this short post is a crucial case, as well as the kind that might have badly damaged my entire career if I hadn’t noticed your website. Your primary talents and kindness in maneuvering the whole thing was vital. I’m not sure what I would have done if I had not encountered such a solution like this. I’m able to at this moment look ahead to my future. Thanks so much for your expert and results-oriented guide. I will not be reluctant to refer your web page to any individual who should have guide on this issue.

    Glad TAH could help.  Please poke around a bit – and click a few ads.

    Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite justification appeared to be on the web the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people consider worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

    I ran this through Babelfish.  Even Babelfish came back with a “WTF?” too, so I don’t feel too bad about missing the point.  If there was one.
    (more…)

  • “Got Your Six”, Eh?

    Everyone here’s doubtless heard about the “Got Your Six” campaign out of Hollywood.  NBC – yeah, that NBC, the same one that brings us MSNBC – is a sponsor.

    NBC also now is part owner of the Weather Channel.  I didn’t know that, but it’s also not surprising.  Media companies get bought and sold by other media companies all the time, and NBC is one of the “big dogs” in the industry.

    Well, it looks like NBC might have been caught being just a tad hypocritical.  (What a surprise.)  Seems that a former Weather Channel host, Nicole Mitchell, has brought a lawsuit against NBC her former emloyers.  She’s an officer in the USAF Reserve and a member of the USAFR’s  “Hurricane Hunters”.  And she alleges that NBC fired her as a Weather Channel host because of her military status.

    Mitchell’s allegations on the surface appear fairly damning, assuming they’re accurate.  There appears to be an escalating  pattern of discriminatory behavior, starting after NBC acquired ownership interest in the Weather Channel, culminating in a firing.  And all of it  clearly seems to be be based largely if not entirely on Mitchell’s military reserve status.

    But at this point, they’re just allegations.  They aren’t yet proven.

    The Weather Channel, predictably, has declined to comment on the pending lawsuit other than to say that they don’t discriminate, they follow the law, and that Mitchell’s allegations are “inaccurate” – without providing any specifics, of course.   Figures.  But unlike our “Best Friend” Timmy Poe, at least they seem to know when to keep their mouths shut to avoid eating more foot.

    NBC and the Weather Channel probably should hope Mitchell can’t prove her allegations.  There’s this little thing called the Uniformed Services Employment/Reemployment Rights Act on the books.  Has been since 1994.

    It’s a Federal law.  And it says, very clearly, “You can’t do that. ”

    “Got your six”, eh?  Yeah, NBC – looks like you “got her six”, alright.  But I don’t think what you seem to have done here is exactly what the term means.

    If Mitchell prevails in court, well, here’s hoping she returns the favor and “gets NBC’s seven”.  As in seven figures or more.

  • Home at Last

    Under the wide and starry sky
    Dig the grave and let me lie:
    Glad did I live, and gladly die,
    And I lay me down with a will.

    Could he answer, I rather doubt that that Pfc John A. Donovan, USMC, of Plymouth, MI, would agree that he “glady” died. Young men just don’t think like that. They have too much life left to live.

    Nevertheless, on a stormy April night Donovan died. He was 20.

    Donovan was lost, along with the rest of his crewmates, on a training mission in what is today the nation of Vanatu Vanuatu. During World War II. On the night of 23 April 1944.

    The precise circumstances of loss were not known at the time. And for a long, long time the wide and starry sky above Donovon and his crewmates was indeed their only grave. But it wasn’t their wide and starry sky. It was the southern sky above the island called Espritu Espiritu Santo.

    For decades, they lay under that foreign sky. It might have been pretty, but it wasn’t the sky of home.

    Fifty years later, a private search firm looking for another aircraft crash site located theirs. That information was relayed to the Department of Defense.

    It took many years and substantial effort, but eventually sufficient remains were located to allow the crew’s positive identification – and in Donovan’s case, to allow for a proper burial.

    At home.

    Donovan’s remains were returned to the United States on 6 June 2012. He was to be buried today. He’ll be buried besides his brothers in Ann Arbor, MI – with his sole surviving sibling, his sister Josephine Demianenko, in attendance.

    This be the verse you ‘grave for me:
    Here he lies where he long’d to be;
    Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
    And the hunter home from the hill.

    Welcome home, Marine We’re sorry it took so long to return you to your own wide and starry sky. But you’re now home.

    Now, rest in peace. You’ve more than earned that.