Wednesday, 15 August 2007
 

This summer's must read

Lone Survivor - Top Reading Choice of the Summer
George "Rurik" Mellinger

xxxx
xxx		xxx
xxxx

A military mission gone horribly wrong, resulting in a bloody struggle against overwhelming odds, is a common enough tale. But Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell with Patrick Robinson (Little, Brown 2007) is a rare example of the genre. Defeat, and escape from complete catastrophe are not the usual subjects for uplift and inspiration. And in any case, I usually detest “uplift and inspiration” as nonsense for the weak-spined needing continual bracing. But this book inspires anyway, perhaps because it is not intended to be “inspirational”. You may read Lone Survivor as an inspiring adventure of a warrior battling against odds and numbers too great, and somehow surviving. But if you read it only as an adventure tale, you will have missed the author’s purpose and his deeper message.

It would be easy to make such a mistake. The first two chapters got off to a very slow and awkward start for me. The tone was excessively conversational. With nary a complete sentence. Just fragments. And lots of slang usage. Disjointed, you understand. And disorganized. Like this.  And everything seemingly exaggerated. Marcus’ boasting, and his eulogies to his friends, now dead, which seemed to rise to the level of hagiography.

With the third chapter, the tenor of the book completely changed, and the story became far more focused, tighter and better organized. In this, and the following chapters, Marcus Luttrell describes the gritty path which led to becoming a SEAL. This enthralled me, and illuminated much of the boasting which had gone before, and also the determination which was to follow. The training is always stressful and brutal in any of the military’s voluntary programs, Officer Candidate School (which this reviewer tried unsuccessfully), Airborne, Ranger or Special Forces, or SEALs. Luttrell maintains that SEAL training is the toughest of all, and reading his description, I’m quite prepared to believe him. Every branch of every service convinces itself that they are an elite, better and tougher than all the others, believing the same thing. But the SEALs seem to have the bragging rights. This hundred and twenty pages, by itself would be an excellent lesson for anyone who has never done military service, what it means to become a warrior, and why they do it. ...

Read the whole thing here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 15, 2007 at 12:05 AM in Afghanistan, Books, The American Warrior, US Navy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 01 July 2007
 

In my mail: "Lone Survivor"

Lone Survivor
The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing
and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Actually it came Tuesday but between a visit from my grandson, the No Illegal Left Behind battle and having a bunch of errands to run Friday it took me till yesterday afternoon to get started reading it. I can tell already it's not going to be a fun read but it will definitely be an interesting read. I'll be back with a more detailed report later. For now check out Blackfive's post here and read a sample chapter here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on July 1, 2007 at 01:22 AM in Books, The American Warrior, US Navy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 18 June 2007
 

The fat lady never sings for Misty 1.
(American Patriot: The Life and Wars of Colonel Bud Day)

I finally managed to finish reading American Patriot, Robert Coram's excellent bio of Col. Bud Day. It's not that I didn't find it interesting and very readable -- I read it in three sittings -- just that some days my back gives me more trouble than others.  I can't begin to compete with Rurik's fine review of this excellent book but maybe I can at least throw out a few more reasons why you need a copy of it. You need a copy because without it you'll never know  ... 

• ... where the title of this post came from.

• ... which Old War Dog the author quotes in wrapping up his discussion of Col. Day's last (or not) battle.

• ... which former President Bud Day hates almost as much as, or possibly more than, he does John Kerry, and why (and one more reason you should too.)

• ... which egotistical low life son of a bitch was responsible for the Air Force's failure to award its most decorated living hero the retirement rank he deserved.

• ... whether Col. Day's reason for wanting to be buried upside down is the same as Major General Don Shepperd's. (I'm going to have to save my pennies for copy of Gen. Sheppard's book to find out myself.)

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 18, 2007 at 12:15 AM in The American Warrior, US Air Force | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 16 June 2007
 

RIP: General Robin Olds

Gary "Boomer" Adams emails:

Another of our American legends passes on. I'd like to think I shared some of the airspace in SEA with him when he was Commander of the 'Wolfpack'. Maybe even had him on the end of the boom and didn't know it.

Below the fold:

• Legendary fighter pilot Robin Olds dies

See also:

• Blackfive: Robin Olds Passes On.
• Walter J. Boyne: Mig Sweep

Legendary fighter pilot Robin Olds dies

6/15/2007 - U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- Legendary fighter pilot, retired Brig. Gen. Robin Olds, died June 14 from congestive heart failure one month short of his 85th birthday.

General Olds, rated a triple ace for having shot down a total of 16 enemy aircraft during World War II and the Vietnam War, served his country in assignments to England, Germany, Libya, Thailand and the United States, in positions of squadron, base, group and wing commander, and assignments to Headquarters U.S. Air Force and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

"Triple-ace Robin Olds' legendary leadership and heroic service to the cause of freedom have been an inspiration to our nation and our Air Force," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "He is one of our 'great captains' and a pioneer of air power.

"He became an ace with 12 aerial victories during World War II, flying P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs, and later shot down 4 MiGs in Vietnam to bring his total to 16. He also led the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing -- the famed "Wolfpack" -- to a record 24 aerial victories, a total unsurpassed by any other wing during the war in Southeast Asia," the general said. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 16, 2007 at 02:22 PM in The American Warrior, US Air Force | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 12 June 2007
 

"The One"

I'm not going to have a lot to say about this one till the review copy I've been promised arrives but do check out Blackfive's post here and follow the links. I already know enough just from that post to know this won't be a book I have to make myself make time to read simply because I promised to review it. I can hardly wait till it gets here and it will affect my blogging when it does.

***

Read the first chapter of the book online here. (H/T: Michelle Malkin)

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 12, 2007 at 12:08 AM in Afghanistan, Books, The American Warrior, US Navy | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 30 May 2007
 

'Earthquake McGoon' home at last

See previous: Legendary pilot 'Earthquake McGoon' heads home

Famed Flier to be Buried at Arlington

NEW YORK - Fifty-three years after he was shot down on a desperate cargo-delivery flight over Vietnam, a legendary pilot and Soldier of fortune known as Earthquake McGoon will be buried Thursday at Arlington National Cemetery.

The burial plan was announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday.

Earthquake McGoon, whose real name was James B. McGovern Jr., was one of the first two Americans killed in the Vietnam conflict. His remains were recovered from an unmarked grave in a remote northern Laos village in 2002 and identified last year by forensic experts at the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's laboratory at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 30, 2007 at 02:34 PM in The American Warrior, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 26 May 2007
 

Three for a long weekend

Read 'em in order. One today, one tomorrow and one Monday maybe.

• No Tears in Heaven

• At the Station

• At the Canteen 

Contributed by Bill Faith on May 26, 2007 at 06:30 AM in Caring about our troops, Memorial Day, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 18 April 2007
 

Video: Doolittle’s Raid
Bryan Preston

On April 18, 1942, James Doolittle led a daring raid over Tokyo. Wikipedia describes it thus:

The Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese home islands during World War II. The mission was notable in that it was the only operation in which United States Army Air Forces bombers were launched from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier. It was the longest combat mission ever flown by the B-25 Mitchell medium bomber. The Doolittle Raid demonstrated that the Japanese home islands were vulnerable to Allied air attack and it provided an expedient outlet for U.S. retaliation for Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The raid was planned and led by Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, already a famous civilian aviator and aeronautical engineer before the war. The raid, however, had its roots in the mind of Navy Captain Francis Low, who early in the war predicted that, under the right conditions, twin-engined Army bombers could be successfully launched from an aircraft carrier. Subsequent calculations by Doolittle indicated that the B-25 Mitchell could be launched from a carrier with a reasonable bomb load, hit military targets in Japan, and fly on to land in China.

Michelle and I interviewed some of the surviving raiders and sailors who helped get the mission airborne on Veterans Day last year. ...

Watch the video here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 18, 2007 at 02:12 PM in The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, WW II | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 15 April 2007
 

Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Gathering of Eagles

The following article was written by Henry J. Cook III, Senior Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. It was intended for use in their organizational publication. In light of certain parties claiming that they had convinced MOPH to drop their support, Mr. Cook asked that it be posted on the GOE blog as a reaffirmation of MOPH’s support for the Gathering of Eagles. Thank you William "1stCav" Page for bringing it to my attention.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Gathering of Eagles
Henry J. Cook, III

More than one year ago the international A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition began planning two major anti-war rallies in Washington, D.C. The first was held in January of 2007. From their rally point the various anti-war, anti-American groups marched on our nation’s Capitol. Upon arrival at the Capitol they proceeded to spray paint their slogans and anti-American sentiments on the Capitol steps. Apparently the Capitol police felt it was better to allow them to do their mischief and clean it up later than confront them physically to stop their actions. Some of the groups went to the U. S. Navy memorial and desecrated the Lonely Sailor memorial.

Who were these people ? A.N.S.W.E.R. , purely an arm of the communist party of the United States , joined by Code Pink, the National Council of Arab Americans, the Muslim American Society, the 9-11 Truth Movement (They claim 9-11 was a hoax.) a number of Palestinian and Lebanese support groups, pro-Castro and Che Gueverra groups, the Viet Nam Veterans against the war, at least one Anarchist group and a number of hippie-throwbacks, all receiving encouragement by Hanoi Jane Fonda, Ramsey Clark, Sean Penn, Ed Asner with Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) and the newest anti-war poster child, Cindy Sheehan.

After their performance in January, A.N.S.W.E R. let it be know that their next rally and parade was to begin with a rally at the Viet Nam Wall on March 17, 2007 and would end at the Pentagon.  ...

Read the whole thing.

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 15, 2007 at 08:30 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 14 April 2007
 

Remember Me, A Tribute to America

Scott Johnson says this has been viewed over 2,000,000 times. So how come I'm just now seeing it?

While I'm in a video mood, John Zaccardelli emails:

A Tribute to America

I wanted to share this great video with you.

This video, I believe gives us the strengh to continue our mission to protect our nations war memorials and remember how important these memorials represent our fallen soldiers who have given their lives for our freedom.

Please forward this on.

We believe that the war memorials are sacred ground; as such, we will not allow them to be desecrated, used as props for political

statements, or treated    with anything less than the solemn and heartfelt respect they–and the heroes they honor–deserve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh7MhvIlBeA

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 14, 2007 at 02:56 PM in Caring about our troops, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thursday, 12 April 2007
 

If I die before you wake

Bob Prinselaar emails:

This will touch your heart. Sure brought back some memories.

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

Bob

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 12, 2007 at 06:58 PM in Bob Prinselaar, Caring about our troops, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 09 April 2007
 

Take your dove and shove it

See previous: Anti-gun zealots oppose Navy SEAL memorial statue

SEAL's memorial within kids' view? Perfect spot
By David Harsanyi (H/T: Michelle Malkin)

Maybe those parents offended by a proposed war memorial in Littleton believe that freedom can be defended using snappy bumper stickers.

Luckily, Danny Dietz knew better.

For now, despite the protestations of a handful of locals, the memorial to honor this Navy SEAL, Navy Cross winner and Colorado native killed after volunteering for action in Afghanistan will go on as scheduled.

A wonderful statue of Dietz holding a rifle will be placed in the vicinity of schools and playgrounds - near many impressionable children.

Really, there's no better spot for it. The more kids see it, the better. ...

Read the whole thing.

Contributed by Bill Faith on April 9, 2007 at 10:40 AM in Caring about our troops, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 31 March 2007
 

"Wounded Marine Needs This Email to Go Viral"

Email from Blackfive:

Dear Friends,

Please forgive the mass nature of this email, as I hope you understand, I rarely, if ever, reach out in this way.  Time is running out.

From my posts about Marine DJ Emery Jr.- http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/02/spiritual_warfa.html.

Marine Corporal David Emery Jr. of the Battalion Landing Team of the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit was serving in Iraq.  David, aka "DJ", graduated high school in 2003.  He is married to the beautiful lass in the above photo, Leslie, and she is pregnant.  DJ's unit was extended past their rotation date of January 1st and he was hoping to make it home in time for his child's birth.

On February 7th, 2007, DJ was at a checkpoint near a crowded place when a terrorist walked up to the Marines.  DJ's Battalion Sergeant Major, Joseph Ellis (a recon Marine of 23 years), suspected that a bomber was approaching and put himself between the bomber and his Marines.

The bomber quickly detonated himself, instantly killing Sergeant Major Ellis.  The Sergeant Major's sacrifice absorbed enough of the blast to barely keep DJ from being killed.  DJ was hit hard in his abdomen - an artery was cut causing kidney failure - both legs and one arm were shattered, and, in fact, his wounds were so severe that doctors didn't think that he'd make it.

They had him on a respirator, fighting infection, fever, kidney failure and other problems for a time before he stabilized enough (just barely) to make the flight to Germany where his parents and wife met him.  While still unconscious, his family kept telling him to fight.  Then, on the 18th, DJ was strong enough to make the trip from Germany to the US (Bethesda).

His prognosis is hour to hour so prayers at anytime are needed.

As of today, both his legs have been amputated and are infected.  DJ's stomach wound is infected and can't be closed until the infection is gone.  And his kidneys are not working still...

DJ and Leslie will have a little girl soon.  I think I'll be able to get you Baby Shower information at a later time.

DJ's father, David, attended Sergeant Major Ellis' funeral at Arlington Cemetery on the 21st.

Sergeant Major Ellis' daughter Rachel said, "He just wanted to make a difference.  Anytime he was asked to go somewhere, even times when he didn't have to, he would. He wanted to be there for his troops."

Sergeant Major Ellis was 'Always Faithful' to DJ.

We should be the same.

Please pray for DJ.

Email this message to your friends and families.  Ask them to have their churches, synagogues, or mosques to offer prayers for DJ.  I will ask our minister in Ft. Myers to do this tomorrow.

At this point, DJ needs a miracle.

Thank you.

Matt
Blackfive

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 31, 2007 at 07:28 PM in Caring about our troops, The American Warrior, US Marine Corps | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Another American Atrocity in Baghdad

Baghdad Dispatch: Midnight Company
PJM Baghdad editor Omar Fadhil (H/T: Jules C.)

“I often find myself in arguments with people about the behavior of American soldiers when they search homes. Many of the people I talk to base their argument and negative impression on the footage of some raids we see on TV or on experiences of presumed relatives or friends.

When I try to counter the idea that ‘they knock down doors unnecessarily, steal jewelry and treat people bad’ by saying that there must be a good reason why the troops sometimes act rough and that ‘for every reaction there must have been an action’, I often get the response of “what do you know about that? The Americans never searched your home.”

Well, last night they did.” ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 31, 2007 at 04:37 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Ripley At The Bridge 
Contributed by Bill Faith

... By the Spring of 1972, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) had completed its buildup and was ready to mount a largescale attack on South Vietnam. As part of the assault, two infantry divisions, 30,000 soldiers with tanks and artillery support, began to cross the boundary between the two countries and attack south along Highway 1, the main north-south artery. They would first have to seize a highway bridge over the major water obstacle, the Cua Viet River just north of the town Dong Ha. Only the Third South Vietnamese Marine Battalion was in a position to block the critical avenue of attack and buy some valuable time. To the 700-man battalion was entrusted the awesome task of stopping, or at least hindering, 30,000 North Vietnamese. ...

Click here, follow the links.

Regular readers of [Old War Dogs] may wish to note that Arch Arthur, William "1stCav" Page, and yours truly all have very intense personal memories of the '72 Easter Offensive. Lord, was that really 35 years ago? It seems like last week. Some days it feels like yesterday.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 31, 2007 at 03:44 PM in The American Warrior, US Marine Corps, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 30 March 2007
 

The fabric that holds the flag together

“Message to the Democratic Party Leadership”
Bryan Preston

From Cpl Chris Mason, a soldier who was killed in Iraq in November, 2006. His father posted this video today.

Chris Mason, 32, was a member of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division. He once told his brother over the telephone that “he loved being (in Iraq) and waking up there because it was another day helping those people,” Garland Mason said.

“He talked about it a lot. He loved the people, he loved the children that would come out and hold his hand and walk with him. He loved training the Iraqi army. He had a great relationship with the Iraqis.”

Where do we find such men?

Here’s one clue:

Baker High School graduate Chris Mason wasn’t afraid of dying in Iraq because of his faith in Jesus Christ and his belief in the importance of helping others…

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 30, 2007 at 10:12 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, The American Warrior, US Army | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 27 March 2007
 

A Young Man To Watch

72nd TCS reports:

Col. Harry Riley, co-director of Gathering of Eagles.org, alerted his mailing list to a report on the Gathering of March 17 in Washington, DC, written by a truly extraordinary youngster. His name is Justin Till, and he is an 18-year-old high school senior from Texas. I believe his work deserves to be disseminated widely, and intend to quote extensively from it in the sequel. He writes beautifully, displaying a keenness of observation that puts to shame the reports by “professionals” that we read in major newspapers such as The New York Times and the Washington Post. Early promise does not always pan out, but this youth is truly outstanding. Here he is, and please remember: You Read It Here First.

An Unrecognized Majority: ...

[Read the whole thing.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 05:07 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Poem: A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Bill Faith

Marsha Burks Megehee left this as a comment on Awesome Gathering of Eagles video but it deserves better than to languish there unread:

Dear Old War Dogs,
I wanted to share my special poem with you -
"A Gathering of Eagles."

It's my way of saying "WELL DONE!" Thank you all for protecting our national treasures, and speaking up for the millions of us who could not be with you.

God Bless You All!
& God Bless the USA!

Continue reading "Poem: A Gathering of Eagles"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 04:20 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Marsha Burks Megehee, Poetry, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 26 March 2007
 

No Criminal Negligence in Death of Pat Tillman,
But Brass Made Errors in Reporting

SAN JOSE, Calif. —  The military has found no criminal wrongdoing in the friendly fire death of Army Ranger Pat Tillman in Afghanistan, but says there were critical errors in reporting the former NFL star's death and failing to provide details to his family.

Army and Defense Department investigators said Monday that officers looking into the incident passed along misleading and inaccurate information and delayed reporting their belief that Tillman was killed by his fellow soldiers. The investigators recommended the Army take action against the officers. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 26, 2007 at 04:28 PM in Afghanistan, The American Warrior, US Army | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 25 March 2007
 

Awesome Gathering of Eagles video

Boomer emails:

** The Land of the free **

http://www.nautinurse.com/GOE_17-March-2007.html

Sound on, F-11 for full screen!

Read the whole Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles collection in one place here, and don't forget about the Gathering of Eagles blog here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 25, 2007 at 12:28 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 23 March 2007
 

Despite my distrust of the media....
Contributed by antimedia

....there are a few that get it right.

......it turns out that the best reason to hit the pavement on Saturday was over in Washington, D.C. ...

As a frequent protest crasher, I'm sorry I missed this sea change in the tired old script of Iraq demonstrations. It was even more uplifting to read messages left afterward on the Eagles' blog by participants.

"Forty years lost in the wilderness," wrote one. "Forty years in exile. Behind us now. Yesterday we took our country back. It's in the air. I can feel it. ... We have to care enough to save it. I have hope again."

The quote is from my good friend, Bill Faith. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 23, 2007 at 12:41 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Patriot Guard Riders, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thursday, 22 March 2007
 

  Reflections on the Gathering of Eagles (Epilogue) 
March 21st, 2007 by CJ

I wanted to first bring something out I'm not sure many people caught. First, listen again to THIS audio of Brian Becker, member of International A.N.S.W.E.R.'s steering committee and a front group for the Communist Workers World Party (WWP). Pay attention to what he says in the middle of the clip.

"Let Bush and the Pentagon and their puppets (I'm a puppet) know that the people of this country are sick and tired of this [expletive deleted] war. LET'S BRING THE WAR HOME!!"

This is something I want everyone to understand. He doesn't say "let's bring the troops home." They don't support the troops. If they did, we wouldn't be seeing this in Portland:

[image]

He said this while he was trying to get everyone to move up to make their numbers look more bloated. They aren't interested in any victory. They want the terrorists here in this country. If he had his way, he'd pay for a state visit for Bin Laden. Those five little words say more than any speech ever could. Yet, even though every news outlet known to man was licking their shoes, this wasn't mentioned anywhere. ...

***

See also: Smash - The Infiltrator

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 22, 2007 at 01:00 AM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, The Lunatic Left, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 20 March 2007
 

01.01.04 AE

1st year, 1st month, 4th day, Age of the Eagle. The tide has turned. I'm proud to be an American again.
(This post will remain at the top of the site all day. Original timestamp 2007.03.20.00:14)

A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

The commies came, the commies saw,
The commies skulked away, ...
(Read the whole thing here.)

Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series on one page.

Continue reading "01.01.04 AE"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A Gathering of Eagles
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

The commies came, the commies saw,
The commies skulked away,
A Gathering of Eagles
Just spoiled their Big Red Day.
The ANSWER Coalition,
Led by Head Red Brian Becker,
Declined to find out if these birds,
Might have a bigger pecker. ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 09:30 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Accidental Protest 
The Gray Dog

“The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.”   
“To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns

Yes, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  The bumbling Becker Brothers, bodacious bemoaning and bellowing of bellicose bromides of betrayal, beseeching bedlam and bilious behavior by bountiful billions of boneheaded, boorish, bothersome and boastful Black Bloc braggarts was bested by barricades bonded by brazen bands of brothers borne of boldness and backbone, belying the bogus belief that America the beautiful, bountiful bastion of bravery was dead.

EAGLES 1
ANSWER 0

The Communist front organization, International ANSWER, has spent many months, countless dollars and wasted political capital promoting what became a most momentous flop called “March on the Pentagon.”  And for this day, and this day alone, the Gray Dog gloats.  Today, it is ANSWER that proved to be “pathetic.” ...

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 20, 2007 at 09:22 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 19 March 2007
 

The Day We Took Our Country Back -- Part 2

This Is The Dawning Of The Age Of The Eagle. Aquarius can kiss my ass.

(This post will remain at the top of the site all day. Original timestamp 2007.03.19.00:27)

Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series on one page.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Click here to listen to the .mp3) 

The Age Of The Eagle
By Kit Jarrell of Euphoric Reality

In every life there are moments that define us. They tell us in no uncertain terms who we are, what we believe in our souls, and what we are willing to die for.

For those of us who have worn the uniform of our great nation, these moments have stirred in our hearts before–often misunderstood by those who could never understand what it means to pledge your very life to protect another.

But even more rare is the moment that lets us define ourselves, that lets us show the world who we are, what we believe in our souls…and what we are still willing to die for.

March 17, 2007 will be remembered as one of those moments. ...

Do read the whole thing, won't you?

Continue reading "The Day We Took Our Country Back -- Part 2"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 19, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Four Years In. 300? It's Just a Movie.

Jules Crittenden emails:

Meet John Eade

You may know him from Mudville, where his story has appeared before. If you don't know him yet, you'll want to meet John Eade, survivor of the Ia Drang, and hear what he has to say about Thermopylae and standing your ground.

***

Update: "Continue reading" first then don't miss Greyhawk's post here.

***

Four Years In. 300? It's Just a Movie.
Jules Crittenden

John Eade hasn’t seen a war movie in more than 40 years, but he’s thinking about seeing “300.” I kind of get that. There is something about the Spartans’ simple illogical willingness to die at Thermopylae that I suspect speaks across the centuries to a lot of combat veterans. It is possible to understand how glad they felt about the opportunity that presented itself. But it’s the kind of thing that, if you try to discuss it with people who haven’t experienced it, places you at risk of being considered seriously disturbed.

I still watch war movies, looking for the ones that do it well as a technical matter, though real war ruined war movies for me. Even in the best, a written, acted script is vaguely offensive, that people who have never done this should attempt to dramatize it. There are maybe a handful that come close to capturing the strange normality of extraordinary events, when death and valor are common, unsurprising occurrences.

Images and dialogue will never convey things like the feeling of lying awake before dawn, when fear shoves its way up and down your esophagus like a fat, filthy rat; or the subdued euphoric feeling as the assault gets underway and you are ready to die; or the laughter in the midst of combat; or the inexplicable sadness over the death of someone who would have killed you. The emotions and shock movies try to portray are so often the stock ones, and the wrong ones.

Some movies come close, but struggle to deliver even a small piece of what someone like Eade can convey in a few spoken words. It isn’t the words, it is that thing his words carry, something almost imperceptible that comes across between the words, if you are able to recognize it. Within its embrace, it becomes completely logical that one should desire, in the company of 299 comrades, to face 250,000 Persians and die.

Eade is in a class with those Spartans. ...

Eade, now in his 60s, with broken body, is still a soldier. As Eade and I talked about Thermopylae the other night, we talked about the fact that for combat veterans, it is not ancient history. Eade knows what the Spartans knew. ...

Read the whole thing.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 19, 2007 at 02:44 AM in The American Warrior, US Army, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 18 March 2007
 

The Day We Took Our Country Back

This post will remain at the top of the site for the remainder of the day. Please scroll down for possible newer content. Actual timestamp 2007.03.18.01:49. Please consider this post an extension of my Eagles Up! post. Click the image to see the entire Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles series.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Click here to listen to the .mp3) 

Forty years lost in the wilderness. Forty years in exile. Behind us now. Yesterday we took our country back. It's in the air. I can feel it. Can you?

Continue reading "The Day We Took Our Country Back"

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 18, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pride of Minnesota

Not gonnna try to excerpt this one, folks. Read the whole thing.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 18, 2007 at 10:09 PM in Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, The American Warrior | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 17 March 2007
 

EAGLES UP!

This post will remain at the top of the site for the remainder of the day. Please scroll down for possible newer content. Actual timestamp 2007.03.17.00:02.

"Let us make it clear, we've all come here
To defend our long-dead brothers;
And understand you ain't layin' a hand
On our Wall you leftie mothers."
(Listen to the mp3 here.) 

I may not do a lot of posting on this site today. I'll be doing my best to keep up with the Gathering Of Eagles on Old War Dogs and won't be taking time to try to keep two parallel posts up to date. I know of at least three people who'll be at The Wall with my phone number programmed into their cell phones and they know I'll be anxious to know how things are going, so here's hoping.

EAGLES UP!

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 17, 2007 at 11:59 PM in Caring about our troops, Gathering of Eagles, Moonbat Madness, The American Warrior, US Air Force, US Army, US Coast Guard, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Viet Nam | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack