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

Author: Zero Ponsdorf

  • Memorial Day Melancholy – An Annual Re-post

    Two or three times a year some of us geezer types get a bit tangled up in old times. Late April and much of May include several dates that trigger memories here.

    Late April because my pop was declared KIA in Korea on April 25, 1951.

    Early May because years ago I was discharged on May 9, 1969 from the Navy after spending over a year around Vietnam.

    And then there is Memorial Day. The advertisements for sales and off topic events make the day difficult to avoid, even if I wanted to. So I repeat this post with minor updates.

    —-

    Circa 1950 pix of me ‘n dad

    me_n_dad

    I was an Army brat the first few years of my life. I have vague memories (or memories of memories?) of several Army posts; in Georgia, in Arizona, and another place or two. Then my dad was deployed to some place called Korea sometime in 1950.

    Three additional memories are a bit more vivid – the day we were notified he was Missing in Action and, sometime later, that his remains had been recovered, and finally, his funeral. I wasn’t allowed to go – I was deemed too young.

    But, I have a Purple Heart.

    He is buried in our home town, and there’s a small memorial in the city park there with his name inscribed. I visit both as often as I can. Even though I was only five or six at the time and will be 70 in about a month I still miss him. I have pictures and memories, and…

    I have a Purple Heart.

    For many others, like myself, Memorial Day has a face.

    We’re past the 50 year anniversary of Vietnam and there is a wall FULL of my brothers and sisters who earned a Purple Heart

    So please don’t wish me a happy Memorial Day because…

    I have HIS Purple Heart!

  • Well Said, But May Need Saying Again

    I honestly don’t recall where I found this. If it was here  – my apologies. It says things well that need saying and bear repeating.  It hammers the phonies, but also covers other things that many here will likely recognize.

    Watching this may rip open wounds most would rather forget… still

  • Jumping – Enjoy and/or File Under Sunday Silly

    Kinda stumbled across this. In honor of our host:

    Not quite sure how an old swabbie might elaborate? Oh yeah.. replace skirts at random during the video??? Thanks to Col Brown and FB.

  • Ignorance Admitted – for a Saturday Silly

    Preface: What follows is in no way intended to sound racist or involve any of them other evil words that get the SJWs (Social Justice Warriors) all in a tizzy.  It merely highlights my personal ignorance.

    In many parts of the world there is a sport frequently called “football” played by locals that involves a round ball. In many countries the game has all of the external trappings we associate with “FOOTBALL”.  So I might be forgiven for mistaking a headline that mentions football for this other sport.

    However, today I found this during my daily’ news cruise’: Football IFL: Rebels Win Second?straight Israel Bowl Title 

    “The Judean Rebels completed a successful title defense on Thursday of last week, overcoming a slow start to defeat the Tel Aviv Pioneers 32-14 in front of almost 1,000 fans in Petah Tikva.”

    They ain’t playing Soccer folks.  You can click on the link and see a pix of folks in pads and helmets, but I gotta offer one more quote:

    “The Rebels ended up punting before the game ended, and three plays later the Judean celebrations began.”

    Who, among this erudite group, already knew that REAL football is a currently celebrated sport in Israel (other than Hondo(grin))?

     

     

     

  • Gotta Share This

    I see these stories and find myself outraged, but with a tear as well. There are other sources that verify this story. Dunno anything about this particular site so caveat emptor.

    ETA: At least one source says this is OLD news. Sorry Jonn.

    http://www.worldpoliticus.com/thugs-try-to-stop-a-marines-funeral-then-bikers-show-up-watch/#sthash.T13S3Kws.dpbs

     

  • A Day Late: 9 Years Ago – A Repost

    A thing happened on this day 9 years ago. Any number of reference sources are available on-line if yer Google-Fu is good.

    Some ‘Nam vets, and others,  decided to stand up and be counted. ANSWER was gonna do some protesting at The Wall in DC. A coupla geezers decided to organize a counter effort. Captain Bailey and Colonel Riley managed to get the word out and The Gathering of Eagles was born.

    I hope I can be forgiven for personalizing this post rather than dealing with the event in more generic terms. The latter has been done by many, and arguably better than I might offer.

    The event marked my first trip to The Wall and my second trip to DC.

    I, somehow, wound up being in charge of on-site communications. There were folks doing “security” that needed to be able to talk to each other and Captain Bailey made me his commo Petty Officer so I bought encrypted walkies-talkies and some (then) cheap cell phones as back-up. The day before the event we scouted the site and I picked the highest point for my headquarters. While technically the right thing to do, it had one significant downside. It snowed and the temps dropped. We were ready technically, but not so ready for the weather. We were “under’ a canopy on poles that both threatened to blow away AND periodically dumped snow on us.

    Still… it was the first time I’d felt proud to be a ‘Nam Vet. I could see The Wall from my spot, and the thousands who had joined us. Needless to say… ANSWER didn’t get close to The Wall.

     

    Category: Geezer Alert!

  • It’s Sunday – So here is a Sunday Funny.

    So many somber and serious events and posts seem to demand a little levity for relief.

    If you are a Navy vet think about the first time you heard it. If you were relegated to one of the lesser branches just smile.

    Doesn’t require much more elaboration folks, besides it don’t make one gay to enjoy this (I hope!).

     

  • Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Breathe the Air Again.

    First off: This should be posted as a Weekend Silly, but I hurt myself laughing and wanted to share the pain.

    Secondly: This comes from a satire site. Still it even stirred memories in this geezer so I expect you lot will be coming up with a few new names yourselves.

    Axe Body Spray To Launch “Realistic” Line Of Deodorant Sprays Specifically For Veterans

    “Taking a page from last year’s “Thank You For Your Service” line ofmilitary-themed scented novelty candles, world-famous men’s health company Axe Body Spray is kicking things up a notch this month by unveiling their new line of veteran-themed deodorant sprays as part of their #MarchTogether campaign.  Deodorant cans containing scents like “Bagram Burn Pit” and “Whiskey and Bad Decisions” are flying off the shelves at Post Exchanges world wide.”

    The tone of article is nicely captured with this:

    “Additionally, scent is the sense most closely tied to memories, and what most veterans want to remember, more than anything else, is the smells from their time downrange,” Dr. Olfactory said in an exclusive interview with Article 107 News.  “So, we asked a focus group of forty young Army soldiers in the grade of E1-E4 to help us come up with names for the new military-themed line of body sprays, based on what they themselves remember from their brief military service.”

    “Unfortunately, some of the things they came up with were a bit… inappropriate,” Dr. Olfactory continued.  “No one is going to buy scents called “Fart Inside A Hot Pup Tent” or “Every Local National I’ve Ever Met” or “Port-O-Pottie Fornication,” that’s just gross.”

    For me – I might be interested in reliving a bit of my youth, but maybe with a candle rather than a body spray… The aroma of crossing the reknown “Shit River Bridge” into Alongapo.