The good life.

Shelliegh gets it.

Not Military in Nature....

However this news will affect my military career ... sort of.

I have been kinda quiet. There have been quite a few things going on in my personal life. There have also been some personal crises in other people's lives. I find I don't have a lot of patience for drama. I tend to be a "figure out what is wrong and fix it" kinda person. I don't agonize over the how or whys. I tend to attract those kinds of people though. Maybe they want ME to "fix it". I dunno.

Anyway on to my big news…. This is really huge. My darling husband has decided to abandon any attempt to continue his chiropractic career to the point of selling everything we own (aside from personal belongings and furniture) buying a farm and becoming goat ranchers. Do not laugh!

My husband comes from a long line of farmers. He was an agricultural major in college. He was on the UGA livestock judging team (very hard to get selected to be on the team). He has kept his hand in cattle through the years but just enough to be a hobby.

My husband decided to be a chiropractor to support his farming habit. He hates chiropractic. He started off liking it, but through the years it has just beaten him down. He works very hard but being a chiropractor is not easy. It is literally a 24/7 job. He is a great chiropractor but being inside an office for 10 hours a day has literally slowly driven him crazy. He ends each day going out on the porch to watch the sunset. He is usually very sad and says "I just have to see the sun for at least a little while today."

Payson is a hunter. He does not hunt for sport. He likes going out and providing meat for his family. We process it and I prepare venison almost year round. We have tenderloin, cubed steaks, hamburger and sausage. We all love it. Payson loves being outside and loves working with his hands. He has the biggest shoulders I have ever seen on anyone. He is very strong. He is very earthy and I love it.

Recently he noticed he was losing the hair out of his beard, so he shaved it. I was so sad. He is very cute with out the beard but.... I was alarmed that he is so stressed he is losing facial hair! I didn't say much to him about it.

About a month ago Payson hired a consultant to help him with his practice. The consultant had Payson take all sorts of personality profiles, practice analysis, etc. The consultant went over the results and a week later told Payson "I can help you become a more successful chiropractor and you can die a very unhappy man..." OK. "OR… you can quit chiropractic, become a farmer and die happy." WOW.

Payson hesitated to tell me. He really wanted to let the news sink in first. He came home one day and said he had some news but was reluctant to tell me. He told me he felt he should follow this man's advice. I AGREED! I am ecstatic! I am thrilled. He didn’t doubt my support for a minute. In fact he knew I would be thrilled for him, but he wanted to make absolutely sure this was the direction to take. My husband is so much more relaxed. He wears a smile now!

We have done some research and decided that goats will be much more profitable than cows. We will have some Angus cows but the majority of the farm will be meat goats. We plan on honey bees for honey and wax, an orchard, goats milk and cheese and a few other "crops". I will be able to transfer my National Guard enlistment to wherever. We are looking at central Tennessee, maybe south of Nashville. There is good farm land there. I can still be in the Guard and help my husband. This is such good news.

Now to tell Payson's family.... The REAL battle begins... Grandma is not going to take moving her grandbabies lightly.

Video Tribute

Grey Eagle's husband has put together a video tribute to the Fallen. It is well worth going and watching/reading. Several of the stories touched my heart. Every single one of these Soldiers or Marines was doing what they believed in. Every single one was a person of honor and courage. All the Heroes deserve the honor we give them. This tribute is a gift. I was so touched by the video.

I am Such a Sap Head

Confessions of a Military Recruiter has a post about some great patriotic music. The cd he recommends features several songs one of which is about the soldier leaving for boot. Recruiter says:

Hero is a tale of a young man who goes off to serve his country even though his mother does not want him to go. This is by far my favorite song on the entire CD. The courus "Mamma begged him not to go. Mamma lost her little boy, but a country gained a hero" rings so true for every Soldier, Sailor, Marine and Airmen. I emailed that track to my mom and she called me crying "I'm so proud of my boys!" Every time I listen to that song I still remember the day I shipped out, like it was yesterday.

Then he goes on to tell his story. Lord I had tears flowing freely down my face. Yes, it is hard leaving home and going to boot and an unknown future. Well worth it but difficult. Go read his story, you'll be glad you did.

5 of the happiest moments of my life

Shayna has tasked bloggers who read her site to name 5 of the happiest moments of their lives. Since I have been on my pity pot today I figured it would be a good exercise. So here are my five:

1) childbirth. I have more than one child and each birth was very special in its' own way. I could never say one was better worse than the other. But there is nothing in this world like holding your newborn baby. Your heart almost explodes with joy.

2) Finding out I was pregnant. I was 35 with Joshua and I was surprised. I wasn't trying but I had been infertile for 7 years so I was blown away. I was 43 with Grace. When I found out I was speechless but the happiest I have ever been. I had a tubal reversal the month prior.

3) Boot camp graduation. I graduated as the Navy League Outstanding Recruit for the whole graduating class. My grandparents were there. They were originally from Colombia but had made America their home. They had always been there for us kids growing up. I had lived with them as a Teen. They got to come out to the parade field and were treated as dignitaries. They were so proud of me and I was so happy to have them there. Good memories.

4) My wedding day. My husband is one of these guys who likes to do things RIGHT. We had a huge wedding. I fought him every step of the way. I wanted something small and quiet. He stood his ground and we had a HUGE outdoor wedding with all the trimmings. The day arrived and I was so nervous, but when I walked down the aisle, I felt like a princess. My Prince Charming was waiting at the end of the aisle. The day was a perfect autumn morning, crisp and cool. You could hear the birds chirping and there wasn't a dry eye there! I am SO glad we had our day.

5) When Payson proposed. My husband is a born romantic. He had planned for months how he was going to ask me to marry him. He took me to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. Then we drove out to his parent’s home. He had me wait while he went to "check on something". A few minutes later his dad says "Go down the drive, cross the road and follow the signs." Huh?

So I walk down the drive wondering what the heck is going on. I cross the road and look around for a sign. It is cold and misty (January in NW Georgia) and I can only see a few feet away. Then a few feet down a path in the woods I spot a rose tacked to a tree. Attached to the rose is a piece of paper. I pull the paper off and read "How do I love thee? Let me tell you....follow the roses, Little One." So I pull off the rose, and continue down the trail to read 9 other notes and gather 9 other roses. I see a little tent with a table and chairs and a rose in a vase. This note says to call for him, my love. From out the cool mist I see my Knight approach with the twelfth and final rose in his hand, he kneels and pulls out my engagement ring and asks if I will marry him. Sigh. And the rest is history. :-)

Boot Camp Picture

I recently ran across my boot camp picture from the Navy. Made in 1983. Lord, I was so young. The thing that strikes me most is how much my son looks like me. I won't be posting a picture of him but here I am in all of my Navy Glory:


I better get one taken of me in my ACU's.

Honor for the Fallen

I posted this recently:

Pfc. Caesar S. Viglienzone, 21, of Santa Rosa, Calif. -- died Feb. 1 in Baghdad when a roadside bomb detonated near (his) Humvee.

Gunny submitted this comment about Caesar:

We buried Caesar this fine spring-like day. The funeral home was overflowing so I stood outside in the bright sunshine with the honor guard and a number of Vietnam vets who came to pay their respects. Caesar was destined to die young; of that I am now sure. He was headed down the wrong path with drugs dominating his life. Somewhere along that way to self-destruction, he decided to do something; to make a difference. The Army saved his soul, restored his dignity and honor, taught him to be a man and gave him a family; his band of brothers. He knew he was making a difference in Iraq and he died knowing that fact. Watching the photo memorial to Caesar from his infancy to manhood was tough. Seeing his mom and dad in their pain and anguish was tougher. In a room full of hardassed combat veterans from WWII until now, there wasn't a dry eye in the that overflowing Veteran's Hall. He was proudly a Screaming Eagle, and that outfit was well-represented, including a vet who fought at Bastogne; the pivotal stand that stopped the Nazi attack during the Battle of the Bulge. To a man, the tears were evident as they paid their respects. I won't forget this experience or this boy who grew up to be quite a man.

I got online and read other comments about Caesar. Pfc Viglienzone was an only child. He wanted to do something with his life. He wanted to make a difference and be somebody his family could be proud of. I think he accomplished that.

World-renowned Cardiologist Trades in Lab Coat for Uniform

Pretty cool story about a doctor who always dreamed of a military career and at age 53 finally did it. Quote from the article:

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, Feb. 9, 2006 – With credentials as an Ivy League-college graduate, world-renowned cardiologist and top-ranked university vice president, Dr. Ward Casscells never had a lack of respect -- or success.

The tireless Casscells is a teacher, doctor and champion of humanitarian relief, with countless hours spent tending to victims of hurricanes, tsunamis and terrorist acts. His studies have led to breakthroughs in cardiology, and his years of research on now-spreading avian flu are now deemed cutting edge.

Casscells has served on President Bush's health care advisory committee, at the forefront of humanitarian relief efforts such as Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 South Asian tsunami.

With more than 30 years of accomplishments behind him, the sky was the limit for Casscells' future. However, instead of a pursuit of fortune or fame, at age 53, Casscells chose a decidedly more modest, and to some shocking, route - the U.S. Army.

"People told me I was too old, not physically fit enough or won't be senior enough to be able to do anything interesting," Casscells said. "None of that was true." In June 2005, Casscells traded his lab coat for a uniform and joined the Army Reserve as a colonel.

Hooah, Col. Casscells!

A Couple's Story

I went to the gym today and happened to see a friend of mine. Her name is Traci. Traci was born and raised in Queensland, Australia. She has the ruddy good looks of an outdoorsy type of girl. She grew up around horses, rides and trains them still. Traci is a very strong, salt of the earth woman. She wears no make-up, has beautiful skin and peircing blue eyes. Traci has a ready smile and an open heart. She is a born adventurer.

Traci has been in the States awhile... she met her husband, Troy, while they were both in Australia. He was coming back to the States and she decided to take the leap and follow him here. They travelled together then lived together for awhile; and while employed at a ranch in Tennessee, he proposed, she accepted and they were married. Troy is a good ole Southern boy. He says Ma'am and Sir to his elders. He is slow to anger but is a straight shooter. He is tall and weathered looking from years spent hunting and riding. They make quite the couple.

About 2 months ago Troy decided to join the Army National Guard. He had long dreamed of joining the Army but never did. At 37 years old he decided that if he was ever going to do it, he might as well go for it. He is scoring in the top 10% of his boot camp company in all areas. He is ahead of the pack in shooting, running and physical training. His Drill Instructor told the company that he "would like to have him in Iraq, I know he would have my back..."

At Christmas several of us girls had planned to go see the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha". Mainly because Traci was going to be alone for the Holidays. Four days before Christmas Traci was at work when a tall thin stranger in an ACU uniform came into the vet's office clutching a dozen roses. She didn't recognize him until someone said "Is that Troy?". Yeah, Boot Camp changes a person. He had surprised her and was home on Leave for Christmas.

As Traci and I stood discussing the merits of a Military life she reflected on their choices. She mentioned she has a brother in the Army. He is in the Australian Army and serving in Iraq. Now her husband is wanting to volunteer and go. She says it is a struggle because she so desparately wants to have him home, but she understands the drive he has to be a soldier. Regardless of what Troy decides she is behind him 100%.

She says she realizes it will be a huge sacrifice. "My brother was in Iraq when it all started. It was very scary not knowing day to day what could happen. I realize the dangers. But I also know this is a life long dream for Troy. This is something he needs to do. We will make it through..." Her brother is back in Iraq now.

There is a wistfulness in her eyes, she loves her soldier because of who he is. He is a warrior and is fulfilling that destiny. Yet it is hard being the one left behind. It is difficult to love a soldier. You love the part of them that wants to be a Knight and slay dragons, but dread the battle that may end their life. Do you play it safe, keep them home and risk seeing the light in their eyes slowly dim, a rather sort of slower death. Do you let them soar to new hieghts and glory in their flight all the time fearing that getting so close to the Sun will melt their wings. Traci has chosen to let him soar. She knows she is his anchor.

I am proud of Traci and proud of Troy. It takes a lot of guts. These two are the kind of people who settled the West *and* Australia. Pioneers. I am a better person for knowing them.

Comments worth sharing...

I recieved the following comment in response to my post on supporting Denmark:

Mere Muslim said...

Below are links to four new articles, from a traditional Muslim perspective, which address various issues which are being raised by the on-going Danish cartoon crisis. I hope that at least some of the self-righteous Islamophobes out there will have the courage to read these articles in detail--but especially the first one which is an exposé of the sloppy antics of Daniel Pipes:

Danish Cartoons, Double-Standards and Daniel Pipes

Hate-Mongers Beware...

Why Muslims Are Angry...

An Idiot's Guide to Offensive Cartoons

Enjoy...

Mere Muslim
http://www.MereIslam.info/

Tuesday, February 07, 2006 11:30:32 PM

SGT Lori said...

While I respect the right of Muslims to be terribly upset by the flagrant disrespect paid to Mohammed by the cartoons, I do not believe it is an excuse to turn violent and murderous. In the past in the United States there have been artists who portrayed a Cross and Jesus in a bottle of urine. Extremely disrespectful. There have been portrayals of Jesus as a homosexual, as a fornicator, a liar and showman. As upset as I got, I NEVER thought to go and kill the "heathens" who created the works.

So while I can understand a boycott, scathing rebukes, I cannot understand or tolerate burning buildings, murdering priests, murdering innocent peoples who are in no way responsible for the offensive cartoons.

I promise you I *will* go read the links, but I can also promise you I will be undeterred in my support for freedom of speech.

Sgt Lori out.

Get out the Kleenex...

I can hardly type for the tears... Blackfive pointed out this story at the Rocky Mountain News. I sat and read literally bawling like a baby. Here is a long excerpt:

"This evening I want to take a few minutes of your time to name my grandson," said Birgil Kills Straight, Cpl. Lundstrom's great-uncle.

"Before he enters the spirit world, it's important for him to have an Indian name, because that's how the ancestors will know him," he said.

Earlier that night, Kills Straight had gone to an Inipi, a sweat lodge, to pray for the name, and to ask the spirits to guide the fallen warrior.

After the ceremony, long after midnight, the Marines would take Lundstrom's body into the tepee, where Lakota beliefs hold that the spirits of Lundstrom's ancestors would communicate with his.

First, Kills Straight said, they needed to know who he was.

"His name is Wanbli Isnala," Kills Straight said, and then translated: "Lone Eagle."

With that, he took the eagle feather, walked to the open casket, and placed it on the Marine's chest.

"He, alone, above everything else, is an eagle," Kills Straight said. "He will fly to the highest reaches of the universe. He may bring back news to us in our dreams."

He looked to the stands of the stadium, and spoke of Lundstrom's well-known warrior ancestors.

"The blood of these people you've probably heard of runs in the blood of Brett . . . this is who Brett is," Kills Straight said. "He is a warrior."

After placing ceremonial grasses in the casket and offering prayers in Lakota, he turned again to the crowd.

"Now I want to name my other grandson," he said.

From the back of the room, Pfc. Eddy Lundstrom walked in wearing his desert camouflage uniform, the one he was wearing only a week earlier in Tikrit, when told of his brother's death. As the only surviving son in the family, he had the option to spend the rest of his tour stateside.

Instead, he plans to leave Tuesday to go back to Iraq.

In the days leading up to the naming ceremony, as Birgil Kills Straight searched for the proper names to bestow on the two brothers, he said he specifically wanted a name that might help ensure Eddy's safe return.

As the 21-year-old private stood at attention, his shoulders straight, his fingers curled slightly at his sides, Kills Straight took out another eagle feather.

"His name is Wicahci Kailehya," he said finally.

"Shining Star."

Rip your heart out, and that is only part of the story. Go read it as it is WELL worth your time. Be sure to view the slide show as well.

Department Of Denfense Announcement

• Three soldiers -- 1st Lt. Garrison C. Avery, 23, of Lincoln, Neb. ; Spc. Marlon A. Bustamante, 25, of Corona, N. Y. ; and Pfc. Caesar S. Viglienzone, 21, of Santa Rosa, Calif. -- died Feb. 1 in Baghdad when a roadside bomb detonated near their Humvee. All three were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

• Army Spc. Walter B. Howard II, 35, of Rochester, Mich. , died Feb. 2 in Balad of injuries suffered earlier that day in Ashraf, when a roadside bomb detonated near his M-1 Abrams tank. Howard was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

• 1st. Lt. Simon T. Cox, Jr., 30, of Texas, died in Taji, Iraq, on Feb. 2, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M2A3 Bradley. Cox was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

• Sgt. 1st Class Lance S. Cornett, 33, of London, Ky., died in the vicinity of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Feb. 3, of injuries sustained earlier that day while engaging enemy forces. Cornett was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C.

• Spc. Jesse M. Zamora, 22, of Las Cruces, N.M., died in Bayji, Iraq, on Feb. 3, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV. Zamora was assigned to the Army's 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

• Spc. Sergio A. Mercedes Saez, 23, of New York, N.Y., died in Baghdad, Iraq on Feb. 5, when the HMMWV in which he was riding accidentally rolled over into a canal. Mercedes Saez was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

• Spc. William S. Hayes III, 23, of St. Tammany, La., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Feb. 5, of a non-combat related injury. Hayes was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

Pray for their loved ones if you think about it.

Bleak House

This doesn't have anything to do with the Military, but have any of you been watching Bleak House, Sunday Nights at 9pm on PBS?? It is a miniseries directed by the same guy who did the A&E production of Pride and Prejudice. P&P is my favorite movie of all time, Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy; help me I am swooning!

Anyway, Bleak House is pretty good. It was written by Charles Dickens and although I am not a big fan of English Lit., too dreary and opressive for me, I *do* love a good romantic "period" peice. Poor Esther Summerson is a not very pretty girl who has a low birth; she is taken in by a very rich and weathly Mr. Jarndice. You will fall in love with Esther, whose looks soon become secondary as her wonderful personality is brought to the fore. Yes, guys, she has a GREAT personality! LOL. The plot thickens as we discover who Esther's parents really are and as the very rich and good Mr. Jarndice falls in love with Esther (who isn't returning his feelings at present)!

I encourage you to watch it. My sister bought the DVD set after just one episode. As soon as she gets it we will be having a Bleak House Marathon (we did the same thing with P&P only I bought the set!). My HUSBAND is even caught up in the story line.

Capt B on the Super Bowl

Check it out, Capt B's insight on the Super Bowl.

Eugene

Sgt Hook has been following a story about a Vet named Eugene. Seems Eugene (and all the other Vets there) is being evicted from his Veteran's home. Sgt Hook asks "What would YOU do?" Indeed, what *would* I do??

I really don't know. As a family, we give money to charities. We have in the past volunteered with different organizations, homeless shelters, soup kitchens etc. I have taken in friends in need. I have, in the past, been stupid and put myself in danger. I am more cautious now.

I was stationed in California in 1988-1991. During that time the Californian's passed legislation that changed the definition of someone who was deemed mentally ill and unable to care for themselves. Overnight the mental hospitals were emptied quite literally and they turned these people out onto the street. People who, prior to the new definition, were taken care of because they were unable to care for themselves. Everyday on my way to the base I saw the newly homeless and it was quite apparent they were mentally ill. It was a shame and I was outraged. I volunteered with a local homeless shelter to help these people. However looking back I can see that a homeless shelter was not the appropriate answer.

I can relate with Shayna, the papers were silent and most people just seemed to not care. It is a sad state of affairs when people are counted as numbers and their value is directly porportional to their income or assets. I think people do care, but are unsure of how to help. Throwing money at something isn't the answer either.

Here in the South "family" is very important. I am not saying that in other parts of the country it is unimportant but, to me, it seems to be the first priority here in the South. Family comes first here. You can do no wrong if you are "family". They may cuss you, they may say hateful things about you, but if you need anything; family is there. That's why I totally understood Shayna asking Eugene of he had any family....

What would *I* do? I'd write the paper. I'd write my political leaders. I would find him accomodations (as she did). I guess I need to get my head out of the sand and see if there are any "Eugene"'s here in my home town....

So please go over to Sgt Hook's and answer the question, or comment here, or go to Shayna's and give her some moral support. But I would like to know what would YOU do??

The Rules

A friend of mine sent these to me. They are hilarious. Disclaimer: I do not necessarily proscribe to or necessarily agree with the below listed rules but I must admit they are funny. I must give full credit to the creative ability of the individual who took so much of his employer's time [name omitted for obvious reasons) to compose and write this. J.R. New Rules for 2006 New Rule #1: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn. New Rule #2: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, the chili costs less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout? Luckily, it was only a finger! If it were a whole hand, Congress would have voted to keep it alive. New Rule #3: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: lucky bastards. New Rule #4: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done. New Rule #5: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water. New Rule #6: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole. New Rule #7: Girls, just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. Come on, it's right above the crack of your ass and it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You were just high when you picked it out. New Rule #8: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show." New Rule #9: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie. New Rule #10: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving. New Rule #11: and this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your web cam, dude. I just want to wash my hands. New Rule #12: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.

Support Denmark

Here is a site where you can download a banner to your blog in support of Denmark. You can also Buy Danish. Love those Danish cookies, Havarti Cheese, and Danish Crown Hams. Let Freedom Ring.

Queer Conservative: Muslim Outrage My Ass

Queer Conservative: Muslim Outrage My Ass

Neal Boortz is quoted with a LOOOONG list of events that the Muslims have expressed no outrage. Go take a look, its' a real eye opener.

What is up, Mohammed?

Laughing Wolf has a GREAT idea over at his blog. He joined Michelle Malkin in posting the Mohammad cartoons as a stand for freedom. I'm joining them. Michelle is really covering this topic well. Laughing Wolf says it better than I could:

I stand for civilization, for values, and most of all for Freedom. "I will not run, it is my place to stand." Though it cost me my job, my home, my life, it will still be but a small price to pay, for as those before me did I pledge my life, my fortune, and my sacred honor to the cause of freedom and individual liberty and determination. LW

Hooah LW!

I have an idea...

I have been toying with an idea, but I am not sure how this will work out. I may have to get my own domain, or webpage instead of staying with blogspot. Blogspot has been great to cut my teeth on... but... it has its limitations.

Back to my idea; I get the Department of Defense announcements sent to my email. You can do the same thing by clicking here and signing up for them. You get a lot of news releases that are not very interesting for civilians (or military for that matter) but you DO get the releases announcing the death of our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen.

Each time I'd get the announcements (always too many) I'd hate to just simply delete them after reading them. It just made me think...it is like their death didn't matter, I don't know him or her; just send this to the trashcan. I felt I wasn't doing them honor. I had thought about doing something similar to Grey Eagle's milblog and to list the Fallen on the side of the blog. Blogspot being what blogspot is, and my limited skills with the web being what they are... I wasn't able to do that. So I quickly forgot the idea.


Yet the notices of the Fallen kept coming.


I'd keep them in my inbox for awhile. I would read them, look at the rank, name, and especially the ages. I would imagine the wife, the mother, and the children at home wrestling with the news. Struggling to keep from losing their wits.

Even NOW I just got another notice; an Army casualty.

Then I watched Matt from Black Five on CNN today. The thrust of his brief interview was the media's lack of coverage for our Heroes, for the Fallen. As I watched I was struck again, how we all have a tendency to let the daily news numb us to reality. I have found myself doing it, I'd see so much footage of children starving in Africa that after awhile I become callous to the cries, as I sat in my leather reclining couch, a cold drink next to a sugary snack on my end table close at hand. In an instant, with a switch of my remote I could change the picture on the screen from a suffering child to a funny comedy. Just as quickly I could switch off the emotions that reach out to that child.

And even more amazing, where is the footage of the War on Terror? We see quite a bit about the politics, we hear about local heroes. There is an absence that is disquieting. At least to me.

So I would like to try and post the dispatches I get. Obviously the families will have been notified already. I don't expect to be posting something that you aren't aware of; I am not trying to be a newscaster. I just want to give these guys and gals their due. They died for you and me. They died so we don't have to. I think a short blurb here is the least I can do. So I will begin to post about the deaths here as I get them. Just a short line and any details I can glean.

Black Five

Matt from Black Five was on CNN (gasp) last night and today addressing the role of milbloggers in the War on Terror. I HIGHLY recommend his blog for keeping up with all things Military.

Found this on snopes.com

The Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant in the picture is Michael Burghard, part of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team that is supporting 2nd Brigade 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania Army National Guard). I heard the below story first hand last Saturday during a video teleconference between his Brigade Commander and the 28th Infantry Division Commander. I thought that others should hear it as well, as I think it demonstrates the true spirit of most of our troops on the ground.

Leading the fight is Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, known as "Iron Mike" or just "Gunny". He is on his third tour in Iraq. He had become a legend in the bomb disposal world after winning the Bronze Star for disabling 64 IEDs and destroying 1,548 pieces of ordnance during his second tour. Then, on September 19, he got blown up. He had arrived at a chaotic scene after a bomb had killed four US soldiers. He chose not to wear the bulky bomb protection suit. "You can't react to any sniper fire and you get tunnel-vision," he explains. So, protected by just a helmet and standard-issue flak jacket, he began what bomb disposal officers term "the longest walk", stepping gingerly into a 5ft deep and 8ft wide crater. The earth shifted slightly and he saw a Senao base station with a wire leading from it. He cut the wire and used his 7in knife to probe the ground. "I found a piece of red detonating cord between my legs," he says. "That's when I knew I was screwed."

Realizing he had been sucked into a trap, Sgt Burghardt, 35, yelled at everyone to stay back. At that moment, an insurgent, probably watching through binoculars, pressed a button on his mobile phone to detonate the secondary device below the sergeant's feet. "A chill went up the back of my neck and then the bomb exploded," he recalls. "As I was in the air I remember thinking, 'I don't believe they got me.' I was just ticked off they were able to do it. Then I was lying on the road, not able to feel anything from the waist down."

His colleagues cut off his trousers to see how badly he was hurt. None could believe his legs were still there. "My dad's a Vietnam vet who's paralyzed from the waist down," says Sgt Burghardt. "I was lying there thinking I didn't want to be in a wheelchair next to my dad and for him to see me like that. They started to cut away my pants and I felt a real sharp pain and blood trickling down. Then I wiggled my toes and I thought, 'Good, I'm in business.' As a stretcher was brought over, adrenaline and anger kicked in. "I decided to walk to the helicopter. I wasn't going to let my team-mates see me being carried away on a stretcher." He stood and gave the insurgents who had blown him up a one-fingered salute. "I flipped them one. It was like, 'OK, I lost that round but I'll be back next week'."

Copies of a photograph depicting his defiance, taken by Jeff Bundy for the Omaha World-Herald, adorn the walls of homes across America and that of Col John Gronski, the brigade commander in Ramadi, who has hailed the image as an exemplar of the warrior spirit. Sgt Burghardt's injuries — burns and wounds to his legs and buttocks — kept him off duty for nearly a month and could have earned him a ticket home. But, like his father — who was awarded a Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts for being wounded in action in Vietnam — he stayed in Ramadi to engage in the battle against insurgents who are forever coming up with more ingenious ways of killing Americans.

The URL for this page is http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/burghardt.asp

One Marine's View

One Marine's View has a great post and a picture with an "Army Poem". A great read! I'd go check it out if I were you. You can click the picture above, it will open to a larger easier to read size. Capt B has the printed words on his blog.

Fun with Son

My son is a very outdoorsy type of boy. We live in a rural part of Georgia and have woods or cow pasture all around us. He is also very close to me and loves when Mom comes out to play. Well today he wanted to play with his Pellet gun but it wasn't actually working. Since I love to fix things I said to let me take a look. There were bent peices, missing peices and broken pieces. I asked wazup? He says that it sort of got run over a little bit by Dad's truck. Hmm sort of a little bit pregnant, I think not.

So we go outside and I pry open the slot to place the pellet with a bottle opener. I try and sight on a Shatterblast clay target and I shoot. Puff of dirt rises off to the left. FAR off to the left. My son says "I know! Let me get Dad's target for the bow!" Off he runs to the barn and drags out the big cube with the giant bullseye on the side.

It brought back memories of the first time we had target practice. He got a Daisy Powerline 856 pump action air rifle with a scope from Santa. It is all black and has a woodgrain stock. He was so excited as we went outside to play. He set up clay pigeons as targets. He took turn after turn to no avail. Now I haven't qualified on a weapon yet.... but I am a country girl and I do know how to shoot. In fact I am what is known as a natural. I haven't had lessons but every time I shoot I have very little problem. So I asked if I could take a turn. I shot target after target and he was amazed. He stood with his mouth hangin open and said "How'd you learn to shoot like that?" I smiled and said "Practice." LOL.

So today I kept fiddlin with the Pellet gun and figured out that the sight is permanently off to the right. So I compensated and shot a bullseye right in the dead center. I made a mark on the target and told him "aim for that". He did and he got inside the center circle of the bullseye. He was amazed. I told him "You shoot and figure how far off the sight is, aim with that in mind and you hit bullseye." He got it. He was tickled to be able to practice again.

They say we buy our kids toys we wish we had gotten! They say you might be a Southerner if yer Mama taught you how to shoot. I reckon they're right. :-) It was a fun day.

Not Funny

This cartoon was in the Washington Post Jan 29, 2006. It is by Tom Toles. Not funny, Mr. Toles. I found it nauseating. This letter signed by all Joint Chiefs speaks clearly to the issue.

Washington Post
February 2, 2006
Pg. 20

A Reprehensible Cartoon

We were extremely disappointed to see the Jan. 29 editorial cartoon by Tom Toles.

Using the likeness of a service member who has lost his arms and legs in war as the central theme of a cartoon was beyond tasteless. Editorial cartoons are often designed to exaggerate issues, and The Post is obviously free to address any topic, including the state of readiness of the armed forces. However, The Post and Mr. Toles have done a disservice to readers and to The Post's reputation by using such a callous depiction of those who volunteered to defend this nation and, as a result, suffered traumatic and life-altering wounds.

Those who visit wounded veterans in hospitals have found lives profoundly changed by pain and loss. They also have found brave men and women with a sense of purpose and selfless commitment that causes battle-hardened warriors to pause.

While The Post and some of its readers may not agree with the war or its conduct, these men and women and their families are owed the decency of not having a cartoon make light of their tremendous physical sacrifices.

As the joint chiefs, we rarely put our hand to one letter, but we cannot let this reprehensible cartoon go unanswered.

PETER PACE, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

EDMUND P. GIAMBASTIANI JR., Admiral, U.S. Navy, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

MICHAEL W. HAGEE, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps

PETER J. SCHOOMAKER, General, U.S. Army, Chief of Staff

MICHAEL G. MULLEN, Admiral, U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations

T. MICHAEL MOSELEY, General, U.S. Air Force, Chief of Staff

Washington

Here is the letter in its' entirety. Hooah.