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

Category: Support the troops

Remembering service

At Argghhh!!, The Armorer remembers this day in Medal of Honor history;

While not rising to the level of 101 Medals, like 5 August, today was still a day of fire, thunder, and blood in the history of the Medal, with 68 Medals of Honor marking actions on this day – including that of Navy SEAL Mike Monsoor, who earned his Medal in Iraq on this day in 2006.

Some still living heroes, got some mail from their families and friends on their way from Wyoming to DC to visit the World War II Memorial to their service;

Sixty years ago, soldiers received notes in the form of V-mail – miniature bits of paper shrunken down via microfilm to save cargo space.

Now aboard Honor Flight-Wyoming, the 110 World War II veterans traveling to see their memorial weren’t expecting all these letters.

The staff collected them ahead of time, two Xerox boxes full. Some veterans opened all the letters on the plane and shared them. Others kept them sealed. Maybe they would open the notes later, at home, when they were ready.

The letters brought back memories of mail received at war. They were reminders of stories these veterans will always carry with them.

Laughing Wolf takes a modern look at Omaha Beach at Blackfive;

Today, the view from the top of the bluffs is far different than it was on that miserable June day. Trees and brush have grown up, dunes have been allowed to pile up, and time has marched on. Yet, for all that time has marched, some things have stood still.

Tankerbabe reminds us that we missed Gold Star Mothers’ Day;

The last Sunday in September is designated as Gold Star Mother’s Day. While it is not an “official” holiday in the United States it is a day we should all stop to remember the fallen from our wars and give support to the mothers (and other family members) of our Fallen Heroes.

September 29, 2009
OK, maybe I’ll keep my VFW membership

Adirondack Patriot sent us the following story from the Albany Times-Union;

Normile said the man came into the [VFW] post’s bar last Friday night on Poplar Avenue for a drink but was turned away because he had no ID.

Angered, the man went outside, lowered the flag which hung for a time in Iraq, and set it on fire with a cigarette lighter.

The VFW members got a bit riled up themselves and went looking for the guy and finally found him on Saturday. They confronted him and gave three choices for punishment. They say he chose option three without mentioning what the first two were;

The young man, whose name was not released, was duct taped to the pole by veterans for about six hours last Sunday with a sign around his neck accusing him of being a flag burner.

Well, apparently the members of the VFW haven’t lost their spirit and sense of what’s important, even though the national headquarters has, so I guess I’ll keep my membership to honor those comrades of mine in Albany.

There’s more at the VFW website.

September 25, 2009
BoA, flag this

Our new friend ALa at blonde sagacity writes about a homecoming for LCpl Christopher Fowlkes who lost his life in Afghanistan.

It seems everyone is Gaffney [SC] was proud to honor this fallen Marine. Everyone except Bank of America.

The Gaffney branch manager of Bank of AMERICA personally removed all flags and stated that they “violated company policy” and that customers could be offended by the flags. She said that the BANK had a policy against the flying of ANY flag –even the AMERICAN flag. Even though they are bank of AMERICA and apparently even though they had no problem taking 45 BILLION dollars in federal bail out money.

Here’s the story from Fox News by Megyn Kelly who interviews Brenda Earle, an eyewitness, who has closed her account at BoA in response to their callous actions that day;

And here’s a video of the actual homecoming through Gaffney, SC (turn your speakers down).

September 22, 2009
Yes, there is a Canada Free Press

I had the distinct pleasure to meet one of the few remaining conservatives in Canada while I was at Walter Reed last weekend. Her name is Marinka Peschmann and she writes for the Canada Free Press and and this is the article that resulted from her visit;

On the eighth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attack on America, a band of patriots were on a special mission at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, DC, with America’s wounded warriors. Their mission, the brainchild of 69-year old, decorated Vietnam veteran, George Samek, was to help the wounded warriors’ recovery by providing them with donated laptops with webcams.

For some of America’s wounded warriors who have risked all in the defence of freedom, the recovery may be swift. For others who have lost precious limbs or endured near death burns at the hands of terrorists and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, their challenging recovery may span months, to years, to a lifetime.
The donated laptops serve not only as a window to the world but will also enable America’s wounded warriors to do something most take for granted—and that is to be able to say “goodnight” to their loved ones and keep in close touch with their families who often live in different states.

It was a joy to discuss politics with Ms. Peschmann and the article she wrote reflected the respect she had for our wounded and for the folks who donated time and money to help them. Do her a favor and click over to the article and read the whole thing – and then thank George Samek for the work he does with Gathering of Eagles and our wounded troops.

September 21, 2009
Some Hump Day perspective

TSO emailed me about the fellow in the picture, Specialist Reed Jones III with whom TSO got the opportunity to spend the afternoon among other wounded veterans. Here’s the story of the picture from the San Antonio News;

Although doctors initially were against him making the trip from Brooke Army Medical Center, where he is recovering from his injuries, Jones insisted.

“He would do it for me, so I’d do it for him, so here I am,” he said in an interview in the reclining wheelchair in which he attended the funeral Friday.

Jones arrived at Borden Chapel Baptist Church in an ambulance, accompanied by medics.

Despite the pain of the 283-mile journey, the 45-year-old Beaumont native would not have missed his father’s funeral.

Reed Jones Jr. died at age 70 Tuesday after a long series of illnesses. Toward the end, in a weakened state, it was unclear how much he understood of his son’s injuries. He’d been told of the incident, but spared any details that might worry him too much, said the elder Jones’ sister-in-law, Faye Johnson.

TSO sends; “I wish I could convey how great a guy he was. Is on a ton of painkillers and just kept thanking us for visiting.”

Make sure you read the whole story.

September 16, 2009
Mullen calls for more troops

Stars and Stripes reports this morning that Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress yesterday that he may need more toops and more resources to win in Afghanistan;

Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the war is growing more complicated and the enemy gaining in sophistication. Winning will require more resources from outside Afghanistan, including more troops, Mullen told Congress.

“A properly resourced counterinsurgency probably means more forces, and without question, more time” and dedication, Mullen said.

Last week, as reported by McQ at Blackfive, Nancy Pelost doesn’t see the “support” for increasing forces and resources in Afghanistan. Uncle Jimbo reminds us that this is just an echo from our past.

Also echoing from our recent past is Pete Hegseth and the Vets For Freedom who are passing around a petition asking Congress to give our troops the funding they need and give our military leaders the resources they need to fight this war. You can sign the petition at this link.

September 16, 2009
Barbecue and Patriotism at Walter Reed

Just got back from a day at Walter Reed and thought I’d share some of it with you.

First, we ate courtesy of the organizational skills of Concretebob and his crew;

Then it was off to the front gate where the action was, courtesy of the DC Chapter of Free Republic who has standing at Walter Reed to welcome the wounded soldiers home for 230 consecutive weekends, rain, shine, heat and cold. They were gratified with the huge turn out tonight;

Of course the other side was there, too, in pitiful numbers;

There were a pair of matching trucks with a huge sign in the bed that we all signed;

Did I mention that at This Ain’t Hell we love dogs?

If the turn out tonight is any indication of what tomorrow is going to be like, the news media is going to be real sorry that they didn’t cover it. This was the largest crowd I’ve ever seen at Walter Reed on Friday night – and I left when I was losing light and folks were still arriving.

Video Added;

There are more pictures, as always, at my Flickr Photostream.

1stCavRVN11B sends a link to the live streaming photos from Walter Reed.

September 11, 2009
Troops at Bagram Airbase remember 9-11

The AP and Stars & Stripes report that the folks at Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan remembered 9-11-2001 with a 9.11 km run today;

About 1,000 service members ran 9.11 kilometers (5.5 miles) at the main U.S. base, both to commemorate the anniversary and remember troops who have died in nearly eight years of fighting.

The U.S. and its allies first invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 to oust the Taliban regime for sheltering al-Qaida leaders who planned the attacks. The Taliban were quickly routed, but the militants regrouped and have mounted an increasingly strong insurgency over the past three years.

Organizers of Friday’s race, which also was held at two other bases, called it an act of defiance against insurgents who have killed more American troops this year than in any other since the beginning of the conflict. August was the deadliest month for U.S. troops so far, with 51 killed.

Now, if we only had an administration which found value in acts of defiance.

There’s more on remembering 9-11 at Blackfive; one post by Mr. Blackfive and another by Uncle Jimbo. More from Mr. Greyhawk and Mrs. Greyhawk.

ADDED: El Marko has a really excellent photo essay of 9-11-2001 at Looking at the Left.

September 11, 2009