It has been 8 years now since that horrible morning in 2001 when a 4 planes, commandeered by cowards, murdered US Citizens and struck at us, hoping to shake the very foundation of this great land.
Category Archives: Military
9/11 – NEVER FORGET
It has been 8 years now since that horrible morning in 2001 when a 4 planes, commandeered by cowards, murdered US Citizens and struck at us, hoping to shake the very foundation of this great land.
God Bless America and the brave men and women that defend her!!
Hemp for Victory!
Somehow the conversation at work devolved into us finding this little gem:
Hemp for Victory. 1943 Film by the US Government. It’s 10 min. long, and seems to have been sped up a bit during digitizing. According to the websie where I found this, the film was VERY difficult to locate, and a usable copy was not located until 1976!.
Here it is, hosted on YouTube… at least until someone in the US Government puts a stop to it:
Passing of a REAL hero
I was sent the link to this, from my good freind Steve. It’s fitting that the man mentioned in this article be celebrated, and his life remembered. Godspeed Shifty, Godspeed.
From: http://www.neptunuslex.com
We’re hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services.
I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell “Shifty” Powers.
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you’ve seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn’t know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the “Screaming Eagle”, the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he’d been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said “Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . ” at which point my heart skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said “I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?” At this point my heart stopped.
I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said “I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem .” I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said “Yes. And it’s real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can’t make the trip.” My heart was in my throat and I didn’t know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I’d take his in coach.
He said “No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy.” His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center .
No wall to wall back to back 24×7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that’s not right.
Let’s give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
Fort Lewis Military Museum – Part 1
A fine day to take in some history
This past Saturday, my kids and myself traveled to the Fort Lewis Military Museum to learn a little bit about the largest military base in the state of Washington. What I did not expect was to learn so much.
Our family has a tie to the base via my cousin, a Lt. Col. whom deployed to Iraq in 2003 from Fort Lewis, following his unit’s activation, to support the 2003 Operation Iraqi Freedom. He received the Legion of Merit for his service, which our family is very proud of. Following his deployment, before his return to California, he spent some time with my family, showing us photos and stories from his time in ‘The Sandbox’. I thought it appropriate to give the kids some exposure to the great warrior traditions of the US ARMY and their family. Fort Lewis has continued to provide critical personal to the fight against terrorism overseas, with deployment of Rangers, MPs, Engineers and of course the STRYKERs
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So much history, so much to see, so much to read.
There is no way to due the museum justice without a multi-part article, and at some point later down the line, following another visit, I may just do that. For now I’ll cover some of the interesting things to be seen there in photos.
Artifacts and History from the Lewis and Clark Expedition through WWI
There is a complete section on the Lewis and Clark expedition, which was in fact, a military expedition to explore the west. Along with commissioned officers Lewis and Clark, the force consisted of volunteer US ARMY regulars. Within that section of the museum I learned about a confrontation between the US and Britain during the 1800’s over possession of the San Juan Islands, the nearly erupted into another war between the nations. Displayed is a map of the area showing positions of forces, along with a political cartoon of the time.
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Also in the display was an excellent collection of rifles, pistols and other equipment related to the expedition.
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Museum History – The Red Shield Inn
The Fort Lewis Military Museum is occupies one of only two existing historical buildings at Fort Lewis that date back to WWI. In 1918, the Salvation Army constructed the 150-room ‘Red Shield Inn’ at a cost of $107,000, to accommodate the soldiers, his family and friends. After the drawdown following WWI, the Salvation Army sold the building to the US ARMY for the price of $1 (one dollar) on July 1, 1921. It remained in use by the US ARMY until a new Fort Lewis Lodge was constructed closer to the base’s Main Post Headquarters. The Fort Lewis Military Museum is the only certified US ARMY museum on the West Coast, and contains interesting and rare artifacts preserving the heritage of Fort Lewis and the US ARMY in the Pacific Northwest.
Getting to the Museum
The Fort Lewis Military Museum is located south of Seattle, between Tacoma and Olympia. Take exit 150 to enter Fort Lewis. The museum is located in North Fort Lewis, signs guide the way. Visitors without a current military vehicle registration decal and federal ID card must first obtain a Visitor Pass at the Main Gate Visitor’s Center. You will need to produce a driver’s license for each individual 16 years and order, as well as the current registration and proof of insurance for every vehicle entering the base. Those receiving a pass, and get directions to the museum from Visitor’s Center staff.
Luggage shipped! – Canada Trip on schedule!!
Woot! Tankpack is supposed to arrive in time!!!!
If the bag arrives as scheduled and I don’t run into an installation issues, I’ll be headed for Kamloops B.C. very early Saturday morning.
Two day ride up to Kamloops, BC from Federal Way area and back. Stay the night in Kamloops and ride back with a few stops along the way. Approx. 11 hours each day.
When: June 6 & 7
Pace: Moderate, depending upon leg lead
Comments:
Experienced alternating leads to keep everyone engaged. Specific legs TBD.
Passport or Enhanced Driver’s license required, we’re going to Canada eh?
General Route – 300+ miles. Group is planning 11 hours travel time each direction.
View Larger Map
I received the order and shipping confirmation today.
Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 BCK.TR6021 Bags-Connection “Vina” Quick-Lock Tankbag for SW-MOTECH Gascap Mounting System $134.99
Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 TRT.00.475.110 SW-MOTECH Gascap Bottom Ring for Quick-Lock Tankbags & Camera Mount (Yamaha/Ducati/Triumph/Victory 5 $27.50Number of Packages 1
UPS Service: 2ND DAY AIR
Weight: 4.7 LBS
Scheduled Delivery: 05-June-2009
747 flying off-course in NYC caused building evac
What the FAA indicates was a photo-op fly-by, coordinated with state and federal authorities, a Boeing 747 escorted by two F-16 interceptors, was flown down over the Hudson river (same approach pattern used by the killers on 9/11). The sight caused a couple of buildings near the World Trade Center crater, to be evacuated.
Since it was coordinated, it seems it would have been nice of them to tell the people in the buildings not to panic! Geez. Nothing like needlessly scaring the crap out of people.
Some photos have been taken of this event by paniced citizens, I’ll post links as soon as I can find them (they are doing multiple passes of the jets so I’m sure plenty of photos will be posted soon).
UPDATED: 5-May-2009
Related links:
US NAVY SEALs
US NAVY SEALs – multi-part Frontline video:
Congrats US NAVY – Rescue of Captain Phillips.
Congratulation to the US NAVY for the sucessful rescue of the hostage, Captain Phillips. With 3 of the 4 pirates killed and the 4th in custody, it seems that it was a very successful operation. News still seems to be streaming in and accounts vary slightly by source.
MSNBC – ‘Captain was in imminent danger’
MOMBASA, Kenya – U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.
Reuters – ‘U.S. NAVY rescues captain, kills Somali pirates.‘
MOGADISHU (Reuters) – The U.S. Navy shot dead three Somali pirates and rescued cargo ship captain Richard Phillips on Sunday from a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia where he was being held captive, ending a five-day standoff.
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“The on-scene commander took it as the captain was in imminent danger and then made that decision (to kill the pirates) and he had the authorities to make that decision and he had seconds to make that decision.”
President Barack Obama granted the Pentagon’s request for standing authority to use appropriate force to save the life of the captain, Gortney said.
Washington Post — ‘U.S. Captain Rescued From Pirates by U.S. NAVY SEALs‘
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, April 12, 2009; 6:39 PMMombasa, Kenya, April 12 — An American captain being held by Somali pirates was freed unharmed Sunday in an operation carried out by U.S. Navy SEALs, U.S. military officials said. Three of the pirates were killed and the fourth was captured.
The captain, Richard Phillips, who had been held in a lifeboat adrift in the Indian Ocean since Wednesday, was initially taken aboard the Norfolk, Va.-based guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge. He was later flown to the USS Boxer, where he received medical attention and phoned his family. The operation took place at 7:19 p.m. local time, the Navy said.
Bottom line is that our new President exhibited some stones, ordered the rescue and let the NAVY do what it needed to do, to make that happen. Credit is due to all in this situation, including the President. Why it took 10 days to put the operation together, or for the order to be made, I have to wonder. But, it’s still great news!
The first US flagged ship comendered in 200 years and it was quickly returend to crew control, the the pirated/terrorists where dispatched. No money paid. This is message to the rest of the panzy nations worldwide that help to make piracy a viable business model. GET WITH THE PROGRAM! KILL THEM, DON’T PAY THEM!
Murder of a hero’s dog.
9 days after it happened, the mainstream-media are finally picking up this story.
Marcus Luttrell (American hero and former Navy Seal), is awakened at 1:00AM when a group of young men murdered his recovery dog, with a single gunshot. The thought of what those wastes of skin did to this hero is nauseating.
They recently released the 911 tapes (I’m looking for the links) of his chase of these people. It turns out these dirtbags had been murdering dogs for quite some time in the area, and that night they made the mistake of kill this man’s dog.
After the punks where captured, one of them had that audacity to mouth off to Marcus about ‘coming back to get him’. The restraint Mr. Luttrell exhibited upon confronting the punks is, amazing.
Additional Links:
Dallas News