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

Author: Sporkmaster

  • USS Texas (BB-35) is in trouble.

    The USS Texas, the battleship that served in during World War One and on both fronts during World War Two, is not in her toughest fight yet.

    For the past few decades the Texas Parks & Wildlife staff and volunteers that take care of the century old dreadnought have been fighting against salt water, flooding and time to keep her above water. Recently things have taken a turn for the worse. In this case, when it rains, it pours.

    “The Texas is as old as the Titanic.The Titanic launched a month before the Texas,” said Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the Battleship Texas Foundation. “She’s been in the water for over a century and water always wins that fight — sooner or later.”

    Water poured in earlier this month, and officials say they can’t keep up with it

    In order to keep the ship sustainable for years to come, officials say it’s going to take $40 million. That is why they’re sounding the alarm now.

    This is not the first time the USS Texas has faced similar a crisis. But this time may need more then just another patch job, it needs to be put in dry dock. Unfortunately most of the funds and donations have only been able to handle buy time and not permanent solutions. Currently the dry dock is in phase two, but it is expected to be eighteen months before the plan is completed.

    “You can’t move this ship anymore,” Bramlett said. “We don’t want to reach the point where it’s just you have to cut her up right where she sits and haul her out of here on barges.”

    Battleship Texas officials say the state will have to put up $30 million just to scrap the ship, so they’re hoping they can raise the extra money necessary and get help from federal officials as well.

    The “S” word has me concerned and worried. I have been to the USS Texas as kid and as a father with my son. I have the USS Texas in my fleet for World of Warships. I first heard of the ships from shooting at coke cans advertising the aluminium recycling drive to help restore her back in the 1980s. So the idea that may have to be scraped is a signification event. So I wanted to acknowledge original message that I saw on Facebook, the that inspired me to make this post.

    If you want to help, please call the Governor’s (Greg Abbott) office at 512-463-2000 and tell them to appropriate the funds for a dry berth now. The state is going to spend $30M one way or the other (if scraping becomes necessary), so they might as well spend the money the right way. Call every day! Please share this with your other battleship fans…and CALL TODAY!

    So that is the message, help spread the word around.

    Save the battleship Texas.

  • Pearl Harbor: Remembering Cornelia Fort

    CorneliaPT19

    I know that this is a late story, but I think that it is worth a mention. I want to talk about Cornelia Fort. The quick version is that on the day of the attack she was flying with a student on his last flight before the students’ first solo flight. She was able to rescue the student and aircraft by her quick thinking and piloting. She later became a member of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) and help transport untold number of military aircraft from the factory to various bases for use. She was killed in a crash in 1943 at the age of 24. But she is not as well known as other heros on that day. There have been several good stories about her and actions that she did that day.

    As Cornelia and her student were turning to align with the runway, Cornelia saw off to the side a fighter type aircraft coming right at her and her student. Grabbing the flight controls, she pulled up sharply narrowly escaping a collision with the fast moving aircraft. Her first thoughts were of the Army Air Corps pilots who were supposed to avoid the area around John Rodgers airfield but as the aircraft flashed by her, she saw the emblem on the wing was a large red ball, the “rising sun” insignia of Japanese Empire, not the star and bar of the US Army Air Corps. As she raised her eyes to Pearl Harbor, the initial plumes of black smoke made her realize that Pearl Harbor was under attack by the Japanese.

    Cornelia immediately turned to get the little Interstate Cadet on the ground. She dodged one set of bullets from at least one pass on her by another Japanese aircraft. On the ground, her and her student quickly jumped out of the plane and ran for the school’s hangar. They were strafed as they were leaving the aircraft but not hit.

    But I wanted to emphasis this part for those who are not familiar with military aircraft. Cornelia Fort went against the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, one of the most advanced military aircraft at the time in a Interstate Cadet and was able live to tell the tale. But here is where is gets interesting.

    Depending on who you talk to, there is a very convincing argument that the aircraft used by Cornelia Fort is now currently residing Burlington, Washington. The Interstate Cadet was restored to flight status by the Heritage Flight Museum. I ran into it by pure dumb luck. I did not realize what I was seeing until I returned home to upload the photos to Wikipedia commons. Given that this is the 75th anniversary of the attack, I though that this would be a good subject to talk about. Also if you are in the Burlington, Washington feel free to drop by to see this piece of history.

  • Desmond Doss, the man, the myth, the legend.

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKdwsWdH3A4&w=460&h=315]

    So with the upcoming movie Hacksaw Ridge, people are learning about the actions of Corporal Desmond Doss. TSO’s previous post gave a good idea about what the man did, but I want talk about who he was.

    I first read about him when assigned to give a oral presentation about a Medal of Honor recipient for WLC. He was a Medic and that was something I could relate to. But also that it was a reminder that heroes can come from even the most unlikely of places. His actions in the Pacific made the the Army to finally see that.

    He was born in February 7th 1919 and learned the trade of carpentry from his father, who was cabinet maker. He was a devote 7th Day Adventist. We worked at the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company and declined a work related Draft Deferment when drafted in 1942. In in own words he said this.

    “I felt like it was an honor to serve my country, according to the dictates of my conscience.”

    “I didn’t want to be known as a draft dodger, but I sure didn’t know what I was getting into.”

    Basic Training at Fort Jackson in 1942 as a Medic and assigned to the 77th Infantry Division. Ostracized by fellow Soldiers for religious views on not working on the Sabbath (Saturday) and refusal to take a life. Recommend for Court Martial as “mentally unfit” for service. Later in the Pacific he recieved two Bronze Stars for service as a medic in Guam and the Leyte Island in the Philippines during 1944.

    “I made It a practice to go out on patrol with the men. The non-com warned me not to, but I told him, it may not be my duty but it was what I believed in. I knew these men; they were my buddies, some had wives and children. If they were hurt, I wanted to be there to take care of them. And when someone got hit, the others would close in around me while I treated him, then we’d all go out together.”

    On the day that he lowered over 72 fellow Soldiers down the hill to safety he kept saying one thing and one thing only. “Lord, help me get one more. Just ONE more.” Just reading when he went though was humbling, let alone what it must have been like on that hill.

    They were my men and I couldn’t go off and leave them even if it cost me my life. So I stayed there and let the men down by rope about 35 feet to the place where they could be taken by litter to the aid station.

    If that was not a example of what a medic should be, I do not know what is.

    CPL Desmond Doss stayed in the Army until 1946. He lost a lung to Tuberculosis in the same year. The infection and loss of a lung contributed to his medical complications later in life.

    I found a few of his favorite phrases.

    Anything that’s not worth doing right to start with is not worth doing at all.

    It’s not how much you know, but what you do with what you know.

    When asked about what advice he had for current and future medics, he had this to say.

    The best advice I can give is put your heart and soul into your work. If you like what you’re doing, the Lord will bless. I know some thought I was better. Well I felt like I was. We put our heart and soul into our work. I feel like, especially for the medics, it’s the most rewarding work there is.

    It is something that all in the medical profession should remember and take to heart.

    Since today is the day he received the Medal of Honor, he talks about that day in the video. Start on 4:45 and let it play

  • Port of Olympia emails and military cargo.

    PortZiegler
    It seems that the Port of Olympia might be used for the transpiration of military cargo via emails. This has apparently hit a nerve with a portion of the population in Olympia. Currently the city of Olympia is holding a public discussion on if the military cargo should be allowed to pass through the port. When I first heard this coming back from work I had to do a double take on why this is even up for discussion.

    Denis Langhans of Olympia, who was one of the first to speak Monday, said he was surprised by the “lack of candor and transparency on an issue of real community sensitivity.”

    Walt Jorgensen of Tumwater was one of two men who read The Olympian story to the commission. After he was done, he said the port’s credibility had plummeted to a new low.

    “There’s no other way to say it: Somebody’s been lying to me and I resent it,” he said.

    “Our faith and trust has been violated,” Chris Carson of Olympia added.

    Mike Pelly of Olympia questioned the honesty of how the military shipments discussion has been handled.

    “We want you to act like public servants and not do deals behind our backs,” he told the commission.

    Except that there has to be operational security in these matters. Public knowledge of a convoy route, cargo and delivery time would expose people to unneeded risks. Given the recent attacks on a Marine 10K, it is not far off to say that a another attempt would be realistic. Another reason would be the outcome of the last time military cargo was transported in Port of Olympia in 2007. It is also the current residence of the The Veterans For Peace Rachel Corrie Chapter 109 as well as Coffee Strong, after leaving Lakewood Washington. So it is not surprising to see statements like this.

    Mark Fleming of Olympia urged the commission not to accept military cargo.

    “It’s a visceral issue with me,” he said. “I convinced myself to participate in the Vietnam War, and I urge you not to make the same mistake in 2016.”

    There were supporters who voiced their opinion.

    “I want the port to continue to support the use of our port by the military,” Jon Cushman of Olympia said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

    “The port should be afforded an opportunity to exercise its role as an alternative port,” said Bill Adamson, program manager for the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership.

    Greg Bucove of Olympia also commented on The Olympian story, saying the emails show that Executive Director Galligan is just doing his job.

    But in the end it comes down to this simple fact. If the military needs to use a port to support the many different operations around the world then it is not for the local city to decide if it will happen or not.

    Galligan also said the port is bound by the Shipping Act of 1984, which prevents it from “unreasonably discriminating in the provision of marine terminal services.”

    “Our acceptance of military shipments in no way implies involvement in the making of foreign policy,” he said. “Rather, it demonstrates our commitment to operating a public marine terminal in compliance with all governing regulations.”

    He added: “I understand and appreciate the diverse perspectives our community holds on geopolitical strategies and the use of military force. (But) these are actions and policy decisions well outside the port’s jurisdictional authority.”

  • Deserea Hopkins follow up

    Deserea Hopkins follow up

    Deserea Hopkins with SSG rank

    A few hours ago KLTV published an updated story, but just a few sentences in we get this;

    On Dec. 24, we contacted the East Texas Military Family and Friends Support Network and told co-founder Anna Gonzales that we were looking to do a story that day with a veteran or military family. Gonzales gave Deserea Hopkins our reporter’s phone number. Hopkins called our reporter, and we interviewed her and her children for a story that aired in our 5 p.m. newscast on Christmas Eve.

    I just find is strange that this is the first time that we are hearing about this East Texas Military Family and Friends Support Network in how Deserea Hopkins was chosen for their story.

    So, how did this happen?

    To find out, we contacted [Military Family and Friends Support Network co-founder Anna] Gonzales again. Gonzales said she personally helped Hopkins’ family by giving them gifts and food, and that she believed Hopkins’ story was credible.

    “I had no reason to doubt [Hopkins’ story]” she said Tuesday. She said she did not ask Hopkins for a DD214.

    Gonzales also said she believes this is the first time she and her organization have been scammed in 10 years of service.

    Hopkins came to Gonzales as a direct referral from Kim Upton Goodwin, a Good Samaritan who wanted to help. Gonzales said this is the first and only time she has taken on a case brought to her by someone other than an established group. Normally, Gonzales said she finds people to help through veteran recognition groups, such as the Jaycees.

    Yet more shifting of responsibilities. I have to wonder why they chose a different source for ensuring that a person’s claims where true. Also if they have been doing this for 10 years, why did they not pick up on the red flags that were spotted within hours of the story going live. But let’s finish this shifting blame and responsibilities with a statement from Deserea Hopkins herself.

    Friday night, she said she could not find the document and she would check a safety deposit box or get another copy from the VA if she could not find it. On Monday, we spoke with her again, and she said she was at work. That’s when we requested the official document from the U.S. Army.

    On Monday afternoon, however, Hopkins chose to stop communicating with us. A final text message says, “I’m done. There’s nothing I can do to prove to the world I am not a liar & I don’t even want to argue anymore. No matter what I’ll never have my life back.”

    But the problem is that there is enough here to say that you are a liar.

    Image
    Deserea Hopkins’s FOIA

    Deserea swindled 500 dollars from a man who intended it to be a gift to a legit military service member.

    Unfortunately, this year I got scammed. I received Deserea’s name through a military friends and family support network. She had four kids, was a single mother that worked hard, and was a veteran that had been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I told all of you about her and her kids. I felt so awesome to know that I had helped someone who had fought for our country. She even told me “it’s people like you that are the reason I fought for this country, and I’d do it again!”

    Unfortunately, that was all a lie. She didn’t fight for our country. She was never deployed and she didn’t even finish basic training. She scammed me. She scammed others. She flat out lied to me, to KLTV in Tyler, and to many others. I wasted $500 on a liar and con artist, and I’m so sorry. We have always been so careful with our selections, but since this came from a veterans association, I really didn’t think there was any way it could be fake. But it was.

    This is the reason why stolen valor is more then just people playing pretend and dress up.

    We appreciate the hundreds of people across the country who recognized the apparent discrepancies in the story Hopkins told to us, as well as to local veterans assistance groups. We regret that our efforts to recognize the sacrifice made by our military men and women turned into a story that mislead and angered those it was meant to honor.

    That sentiment is appreciated, but it would be more appreciated if folks owned up to their mistakes rather than shifted to someone else; “Many will seek credit for success, few will accept responsibility for failure”.

    UPDATE: Dec 30th 2015

    It is currently being debated on what charges, if any should be brought against Deserea Hopkins.

  • Deserea Hopkins; How the Grinch stole Valor

    Deserea Hopkins; How the Grinch stole Valor

    Deserea Hopkins with SSG rank

    During the holidays people in general like to read heartwarming stories about people overcoming hardships and tragedies. The same goes for reporters and writers when there is a chance to capture one on paper. So when a Soldier, Staff Sergeant Deserea Hopkins, was willing to talk about being home for Christmas for the first time in three years due to deployments, it did not take much for this story to go viral in the internet age.

    “I’ve been on two deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. We actually had to go and kick down doors do all the dirty work. Go make arrests. I really just missed my family, mainly,” Hopkins said.

    “The military was my life; that’s all I know, but I’m more than happy to be a single mom to my kids,” she added.

    Hopkins’ kids stayed with her grandparents while she was away. This will be her first Christmas with her three-year-old son, Paiden. But, her six-year-old daughter Precious remembers the Christmases without her mom.

    Except that the story was not exactly true as the good people at Guardians of Valor are happy to show. Lots of good things in there; entry level separation,arrest records and the standard abuse of AR-670-1 seen by most posers.

    According to our friends at GoV;

    Official US Army Response:

    Rank: Private.

    Home of Record: Mount Pleasant, Texas.

    Service: October-December 2011.

    Entry level discharge at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

    No MOS and no awards.

    But the real victim here is her six year old child who was quoted in the story.

    Hopkins’ kids stayed with her grandparents while she was away. This will be her first Christmas with her three-year-old son, Paiden. But, her six-year-old daughter Precious remembers the Christmases without her mom.
    “It’s sad ’cause I love my mom so much,” she said.
    “She’s excited; she’s like ‘Mom are you gonna go?’ and I’m like ‘No, I’m here,’” Hopkins said.
    But Precious knew what her mom was doing.
    “She told me when she was a soldier and would protect everybody,” Precious said.

    I mean, having to explain to your kid that you are a fraud and a liar is going to be fun. But what will be worse is having to hear it as a kid from your mother. But stolen valor is just a victimless crime, right?

    This sounds like a promising candidate for the new stolen valor act that Texas has recently approved this year.

    UPDATE: December 29th 2015

    KLTV has updated their story to reflect with what information we already know.

    Image
    Image

  • Field Reunion at JBLM

    Glenn Palmer, invited to tour his former unit that he served with during the Korean War. Mr Palmer and family were transported to a field training exercise being conducted by the 47th Combat Support Hospital. The 47th Combat Support Hospital was known as the 47th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War. Mr Glenn Palmer served as a Administration clerk from June 1953 to August 1954.

    47th CSH reunion Korea

    During the tour it was discovered that there was a photo of Mr Palmer when he was with the Hospital. His photo was take with image on his right. This image is now on the 47th Combat Support Hospital’s Facebook icon photo.

    I enjoy when events like because it often renews one’s spirits by remembering that they where and seeing were their efforts have brought us today.

  • [Insert clever Veteran’s day title Here]

    Ok I admit, I cannot think of a good enough title for this post. Call it a off day. BUT, what I am not out of is stories of things going on these Veterans day. The first one I want to start out with is the airing of the reunion that I talked about a few days ago in San Antonio. They did OK with it given that the spot was less then two minutes. But I wanted to again thank this website for helping this meeting to take place. Also because this website was not credited as being the main reason that my family was able to connect with his.

    Speaking of reunion it seems that there was a similar story where a Soldier from the 101st was able to talk to a long lost love from 1944. It is a nice story, just ignore the fact that they used footage of US Marines ambitious landing at a unidentified location in the Pacific when they were talking about Operation Overlord.

    Next we have retired military pilot Retired Air Force Col. William “Goldie” Goldfein who was given another chance to fly by a group called the Ageless Aviation Dreams Foundation. Just a few things from this story shows what amazing person he is.

    While he was flying, Anderson recalled one trip that required a lot of skill.

    “I had a dead stick landing when I was over Germany,” Anderson recalled. “Smoke coming from under the instrument panel, that makes it exciting. Fortunately the good Lord was looking over your shoulder and we had good training.”

    I am not sure if I would have used the word exciting in that context.

    And a completely random thought, Stinson Airfield, the location of this event has a nice aviation museum that is worth a look.

    Lastly is a reminder on why we have this day, to remember those who have served past and present.

    So the morale of these stories is remember the past and remember to tell it. Because it is the stories that we tell our children and grandchildren that could make our golden years just that more interesting.

    UPDATED Nov 13th 2015: Here is a link to the story that the 12th Training Wing wrote.