Supporting the Commander in Chief

Enthusiasm!

Where Do We Get Such Men?

Rear Admiral George Tarrant asks that question in the movie The Bridges of Toko Ri. He asks it after Navy pilot Lieutenant Harry Brubaker dies after completing a successful mission to destroy the bridges held by the North Koreans. He reflects that Brubaker left a successful law practice, a loving wife, and his children when called to duty. Brubaker.

What touched me was the loyalty of helicopter pilot Mike Forney and Nestor Gamidge. They pulled Brubaker out of the ocean when he had to ditch his plane. At the end of the movie, it was these two men who landed their helicopter where Brubaker had crashed on land. The focus of these two men was on protecting Brubaker. Sadly, none of them survived.

Where do we get such men as Forney and Gamidge? The movie tended to portray Forney as some sort of screwball while downplaying his professionalism while performing rescue duties.

The admiral was focused on the pilot Brubaker when he asked his question. But it applies to all those who serve.

Another movie I watched yesterday was The Great Raid. This was a difficult movie to watch. One of the opening scenes showed Japanese soldiers forcing American POWs into air raid shelters that had been dug into the ground. Once the men were in, the Japanese doused the POWs with gasoline and then set the gas on fire. The POWs who attempted to escape the inferno were mowed down by machine gun fire. The brutality of the Japanese toward POWs was inhumane and atrocious. The way the Japanese treated the civilian population of Manilla was just as brutal.

The movie hinges on whether or not the American Rangers raid on Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp will be successful. The POWs are starving. Many are succumbing to disease. And yet, the POWs remain loyal to one another. Some risk their lives to bring food to those in the "hospital" building. Others smuggle in malaria medication. Even through all the deprivations, the POWs keep their humanity.

Where do we get such men?

Care Packages

While the Democratic National Committee says it supports our troops, they have an odd way of doing so. They have a political ad which shows some of our men experiencing an IED attack. If you think the ad is in bad taste, an affront to our troops and their families, and doesn't show support for our troops, there is something you can do about it.

There are 381 380 soldier's waiting adoption. The terms are simple. Won't you adopt one today?

Cool Landings

WC-130J's make up the Air Force Hurricane Hunters. It is fun to watch f the Hurricane Hunters and other C-130's taking off and landing at Kessler Air Force Base. I've been to Kessler's open house and it is fun to be able to board the Hurricane Hunters. They are huge planes. I never thought C-130's would be able to take off and land on air craft carriers. I was wrong:

Veteran's Day Thank You

Since our country's founding, there have been men and women of every generation who have stepped up to preserve freedom. Today and everyday, I thank them.



This was my Dad's favorite day. He felt great pride when asked to be part of the color guard on Veteran's Day. Below is a picture of my favorite vet. It was taken while he was deployed at Guantanamo Bay Cuba in the early 1970's.



My Dad was the most recent in my family to serve our country's call. He was in the US Army for 16 years and a Seabee for 4 years. He had two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Seabee. There have been others in my family who have served. Some served during the War of 1812. Some served during the Civil War. One was at Little Big Horn. Some served during World War I. Others served during World War II. I am proud of each and every one. I am thankful for all those who are now heeding our country's call.

Thnaks to all who served. And thanks to all who are serving. Today, reach out and thank a vet. Go to a parade. Donate to Project VALOUR-IT.

A Jump Start

The fundraiser doesn't start until tomorrow but I wanted to pass on information about Soldier's Angels Project VALOUR-IT. Laptop computers provide severely wounded soldiers with a means of communicating with loved ones. Soldier's Angels provides the laptops and the Department of Defense provides the voice-activated software. This opens up a whole new world for wounded soldiers.

Originally Valour-IT provided the voice-controlled software, but now works closely with the Department of Defense Computer/electronic Accommodations Program (CAP): CAP supplies the adaptive software and Valour-IT provides the laptop. In addition, DoD caseworkers serve as Valour-IT’s “eyes and ears” at several medical centers, identifying possible laptop recipients. Wounded military personnel can also directly request a laptop through the sign-up form or through the Valour-IT/Soldiers' Angels representatives at the following medical centers:
* Balboa Naval Hospital

* Brooke Army Medical Center

* Madigan Regional Medical Center

* National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda Naval Hospital)

* Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton

* Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital (29 Palms)

* Walter Reed Army Medical Center

The annual fundraiser is a friendly(at times, snarky) and fun competition amongst the military branches. You can join one of the teams by clicking here.

The Navy Team Leader has created a forum which is a good clearinghouse for all the teams.

This is the third year I've participated in the fundraiser and it is a lot of fun. I hope you join one of the teams(NAVY/COAST GUARD). The one I've been part of is the best of the best and is of course the NAVY/COAST GUARD TEAM.

The goal is $240,000 this year. I expect this goal will be surpassed as in the two previous years.