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Bill Faith - "Aim High" My Friend
*** Update Sunday January 18, 2009 *** I should have added this link to Also to. Here are a whole bunch more:
Also, Bill's sister has requested donations be made to in lieu of flowers. Finally, I am unable to approve any comments left for Bill at other posts. Some of you already have posted elsewhere. If you wish to leave a comment for Bill please do so at this article, for which I am able to approve comments for. Thank You. ********************************************** It is with a saddened heart that I just heard from another Old War Dog, Zero Ponsdorf, that Michelle Malkin reported the death of Old War Dog founder and webmaster Bill Faith. I missed a couple of opportunities this year as I traveled through Southern Illinois, to stop and meet Bill in person. This is a mistake I will regret for the rest of my life. Through an electronic introduction from another Old War Dog, Jim Bartimus, I was introduced to Bill in July of 2005. It was then that Bill extended the invitation to join the Old War Dogs Blog, and it was the first type of anything in my adult lifetime I had ever joined. Bill could be cantankerous at times, often causing a bit of dissent among the ranks. But, I know that Bill’s life centered around two things: Old War Dogs and his Grandson. His Blogging and love of America, I can speak to. His abundant love for his daughter and grandson I will leave for others. Many years later, Bill and I discovered that I had preceded him into the Air Force by a mere week back in the summer of 1970, and that most of our time at Lackland AFB and afterward at Sheppard AFB, had overlapped. That’s where the similarity ended. Bill went on to serve in Vietnam, while I defended America from the frozen moonscapes of Alaska. I think it was our same age, military branch, and the fact that we were both Illinoisans, that caused Bill to always favor my writing and give it a little boost in the Blog position each day. In fact I was often embarrassed by the favoritism. Others, such as Russ Vaughn, JD Pendry, George “Rurik” Mellinger, William “1st Cav” Page and Zero Ponsdorf knew Bill longer and perhaps better than I, although most of us have been strangers to Old War Dogs for a couple of years now. A couple of years ago, Bill had entrusted the “keys” to the Old War Dogs Site with me and Russ Vaughn. I haven’t been in contact with Russ for some time, and I’m not sure how to proceed. Old War Dogs and Small Town Veteran were 100% Bill Faith. There is a part of me that says we should keep OWD going as a tribute to Bill, yet another that says it would only be a cheap imitation. As mentioned before, Russ and JD and perhaps a few others will have more to say on the topic. In closing, I simply want to say that Bill was a patriot, a loving father and grandfather, and a clear voice for veteran’s causes throughout the blogosphere. And for me personally, he was a friend and fellow Old War Dog. I will miss him. Mike Connelly |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on January 17, 2009 at 07:12 PM in , , , , , | | | |
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Soldier
Russ Vaughn passes this on via email for your Veterans Day enjoyment: Soldier I was that which others did not want to be, I went where others fear to go, And did what others failed to do. I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, And reluctantly accepted the thought Of eternal loneliness should I fail. I have seen the face of terror, Felt the stinging cold of fear, And enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment’s fear. I have cried, pained and hoped, But most of all, I have lived times Others would say were best forgotten. At least some day, I will be able to say That I was proud of what I was, a soldier. George L. Skypeck, Reg™, Copyright © All rights reserved, used with permission of Mr. Skypeck Military Historical Artist |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on November 11, 2008 at 12:48 AM in | | | |
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Did I ever mention Dad was a vet?
[Previously posted at , , and on this site last year.]
Did I ever mention Dad was a vet? I should have. He didn't spend a lot of time bragging but he was proud of it. He was part of an anti-aircraft gun crew on the USS Saratoga (CV-3). That could be him with his back to the camera for all I know. Why is it always too late when we realize we should have listened more and asked more questions? Happy Veterans Day, Daddy. I miss you. |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on November 11, 2008 at 12:45 AM in | | | |
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Happy Birthday America and President Bush
Gold Star Mother Debbie Lee emails: I sit at my keyboard reflecting on the celebrations ahead, the birthday of America and of our President just a few days away. I know that this year will be different than any other 4th of July. I have always been a patriot and understand that our freedom has been purchased by the sacrifice of many, some who paid the ultimate price. This year I don’t just acknowledge and understand that, I personally know the sacrifice, the depth of the pain and the priceless cost of our freedom. My son Marc Alan Lee gave all for our freedom. He was the first Navy Seal killed in Iraq Aug 2, 2006. I remember last 4th of July watching the spectacular fireworks lighting up the darkness of the evening sky. I remember the thunderous noise that each different explosion made and I wondered if this was like the sounds of war that Marc was hearing in Ramadi. I remember thinking how blessed I was to be celebrating the wonderful country that I lived in and the freedom that I have, knowing that my son, could be at that very moment in the midst of a firefight that could be producing the same sights and sounds. That firefight could be lighting up the dark sky where Marc was defending the freedoms I was experiencing. That firefight could be requiring the lives of any one of our troops who were willing if necessary to give the ultimate sacrifice for me, for my family, for the country they stood proudly for and swore their allegiance to defend. I remember crying at the thought of my baby all 6’0” of him, now a Navy Seal with muscles bulging and six pack abs, a perfect picture of intimidating strength and courage running into battle, not away from it. He was “One of the elite of the elite” as President Bush would later tell me. I remember missing him so and longing for the day he would return home. We heard on Aug 2nd that Marc would be coming home but the news was not joyful, as Marc would be returning home in a flag draped casket. Marc was buried Aug 12th in San Diego at Fort RoseCrans with a 21 gun salute and full military honors. The honor and respect that was paid to him that day by the Seal community was like none I had ever seen. We also had a Memorial Service in Hood River, Oregon where we were from. My Congressman Greg Walden showed such concern, sympathy and support for our family’s loss. He spoke at Marc’s Memorial service in Oregon paying tribute and honor to Marc‘s sacrifice. In one of our conversations I had shared that even though we had experienced such deep sorrow and loss that I still believed in what we were doing over there. That I still supported our troops, Our President and his stand against the War on Terror and that maybe because of my son‘s sacrifice I would have the privilege of one day meeting him. I received a phone call a few weeks later that Congressman Greg Walden would be having dinner with The President that Wednesday and would hand deliver a letter to the President for me, sharing my thoughts and my desire to meet him and thank him personally. The same night that my letter was delivered, President Bush hand wrote a letter that shared his deep sorrow, his deep respect for Marc and shared how I had lifted his spirit. He said he would be honored to meet me. In October President Bush’s Office called and arranged for me to meet him on his stop in Phoenix. The next few days after the phone call were filled with so many thoughts and questions. What to wear, what to say, do you greet him with a hug or a handshake? The day before our meeting I gathered a Seal Team 3 hat, a Seal Trident pin, and a copy of Marc with his platoon in Iraq. I also brought a copy of one of Marc’s amazing emails home just before July 4th that I have now labeled his “Glory letter.” I had decided that even though I wanted to hug him that it probably wouldn’t be proper and that if I didn’t want security tackling me to the ground and my picture on the National Enquire, I should greet him with a handshake. My son Kristofer and his wife Naomi also live in Phoenix so they escorted me that morning to what would be a lifetime memory. President Bush spoke at a fundraiser for Rick Renzi and then we were escorted to a room they had prepared for us to meet The President. When we walked in there was a small couch and 2 chairs arranged in a “U.” I sat on the couch thinking that no matter where he sat I would be close. My son suggested that He and Naomi sit on the couch since there were two of them. I guess that makes sense, but I wouldn’t be as close to The President. As I sat in the chair about 8 feet away from the empty chair I couldn’t believe how childish I was acting that I wouldn’t be close. I mean hello…I’m going to be in the same room as The President who is arranging his schedule to meet me. They have pastries, juices and coffee prepared for us, but who can eat at a time like this? A few minutes later his secret service lead him into the room. We stand and step toward him. Before I can even lift my hand to shake his, he reaches out his arms to hugs me and with tears in his eyes he says, “I am so sorry for your loss.” His secret service had left us alone in the room. There were no cameras in the room and these tears where not for a “Photo Op.” These tears came from a man who sincerely carried the burden and loss for my son Marc and for every other brave man and woman who had laid down their lives. After I introduced him to my son and daughter-in-law we sat down. President Bush walked over to the empty chair, looked at it and then back at me and as he slid the heavy chair across the floor said, “This is where I want to sit, next to a heroes Mom.” He pulled the chair within 2 inches of mine and sat down. I chuckled inside as I remembered the previous conversation I had with myself as to seating arrangements. President Bush then picked up my hand and held it and sincerely asked how I was doing. He reminded me I would need to rely on my faith during a time like this. I shared that I am experiencing the amazing strength and hope that God is giving me in the midst of this deep sorrow and grief! We talked about Marc and his character that caused him to willingly give up his life to save his buddies. We talked about our family and the challenges of being a single parent and shared some great memories of Marc. I shared about my newly adopted Seal sons and the amazing support from the Seal community. We talked about my commitment to use my voice to make a difference in America to support our troops. I gave him the Seal Team 3 hat, the Seal Trident and the picture of Marc and his platoon. I asked if I made copies of the Platoon picture for each one of my newly adopted sons would he sign one to each one of them. He called Jared in and asked him to “get me the “special address” where important mail goes.” That made me fell pretty special! We visited a little longer and then he signed pictures we had brought. As we were ready to depart he had his White House photographer come in and take pictures. He shared how much he loves the Seals and that they are the “Elite of the Elite,” and brought in the Seal who always travels with him. As he was leaving he gave me another hug and looked straight into my eyes and slowly and with deep sincerity and conviction told me “Your son’s sacrifice will not be in vain.” After the President left, we all just sat back down in amazement as to what had just taken place. Now, I could use some coffee and a pastry. We tried to figure out how long it had been and we guessed about 15 or 20 minutes. Later we were to learn from his staff that it had been 35 minutes. It felt as though I had just spent 35 minutes in my living room with family and friends, comfortable and relaxed. One of my first thoughts about the President was what a humble, genuine, sincere man he was. Not once did he look at his watch, or act like he had another care in the world. This was The President of the United States and we had his undivided attention. You knew that he deeply carried the sacrifice of each one of these brave men and women. It was obvious the depth of his compassion and that he truly loved America and wanted to defend and protect her. His motives are genuine and pure. I feel that President Bush has been unfairly attacked by the Main Stream Media and I wanted America to know the character of the man who I have come to know. A man of faith whose character is steadfast, loyal, compassionate, sincere, humble, truthful and genuine. I am honored that President Bush was the Commander in Chief of my son and our Nation during this extremely difficult time. Do I think President Bush is perfect? No way! He will be the first to humbly admit that he isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect and I’m sure that you aren’t either. Although… I have met those who think their perfect??? Do I worship President Bush? The only one I worship is the one who sacrificed His life on the Cross so that we could be free for eternity. Do I agree on everything with President Bush? No, we were on opposite sides on the Immigration bill. Do you agree with everything that anybody does 100%? Do you give up on them just because they think differently on some things than you do? President Bush is celebrating his Birthday on July 6th and I can’t think of a better gift to give him than to tell America of my experiences meeting him and his noble character. I am so proud of President Bush, his dedication to serving America and continuing to stand up for her, to protect her and her citizens. Happy Birthday President Bush! May God continue to bless you! Happy Birthday America and thank you to everyone who has fought to keep America free and One nation under God! God Bless America, Debbie Lee In Memory of Marc Alan Lee, |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on July 3, 2007 at 09:47 PM in , | | | |
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Independence Day
This year, as the death throes of the Shamnesty Bill still rattle, I would like for everyone to simply consider a phrase that has become as trite as “thank you for your service.” It’s a phrase I had come to detest until I considered it in a more appropriate context. Like Rurik’s brilliant recasting of hyphenated citizenship which allowed us to proudly proclaim ourselves Proud Veteran-Americans, I now lay claim on behalf of all Veteran-Americans, that phrase which is rightfully ours:
'Nuff said! |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on June 30, 2007 at 11:41 AM in , , , | | | |
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Evil Requires No Master; Just a Few Willing Accomplices.
The Gray Dog’s Note: I’m writing this to follow up on issues raised and responded to from my last post, My discussion of evil is strictly confined to mere mortal men. I will leave any spiritual discussion of evil to theologians and others more competent than I to offer judgments. In my last article I discussed a couple of loosely defined demographic groups I hastily labeled “them” and “us.” Even without a detailed description, I don’t think anyone was mislead or mistaken as to the fact that I was simply identifying two groups of mere mortals whose major differences were rooted in moral, political and philosophical opposition. I, The Gray Dog and most of my cohorts, both bipeds and quadrupeds, are part of the group referred to as “us.” Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Hillary and all other crustaceans and slithering reptiles belong to the group known as “them.” However, a number of respondents to my article in private emails and phone calls, referred to a more mystical group known simply as “They.” Unlike “us” and “them,” “They” appear to possess prescience and omnipotence close to a ten rating on the TDS (True Deity Scale,) therefore affording “They” the honor of capitalization. In my article, I expressed anguish over feelings of frustration, helplessness and betrayal. Responses to my rant ranged from “So, you’re having a bad day?” to “’They’, have been planning and plotting this for years! ‘We’ are so glad you have finally awakened.” I think “we” may be the subject of yet another post, but back to “They” for now. Now, as a BLOGGER, Forum Administrator and all around well heeled eDog, I find myself on a lot of strange email lists. One of the real odd-balls is a tax-evading, self-proclaimed Libertarian of a Conservative persuasion, who agrees with Rosie O’Donnell that Bush blew up the World Trade Center. Hat-Tip to my buddy Bill Faith for getting me on that list. How ya’ doin’ Harry? Continue reading "" |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on June 11, 2007 at 10:15 PM in , , , , , , | | | |
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There Is No Us in U.S.
The Gray Dog’s Note: At least one or two people have noticed I have not written much in the past few months. I have tried to. I have started and stopped dozens of times. I’m not sure there is a point in it any longer. I’m not sure how often I will continue to post at my BLOG or any other. I feel the need to take some form of direct action instead of writing to a handful of readers. I’m just not sure what that activity may be. Any suggestions? I thought that participating in GOE in March would provide a much needed outlet. In that regard, I was both wrong and disappointed. But, that’s another story. No, what follows is a bedtime story for the 21st Century. Sweet Dreams. Did you ever have nightmares as a child? You know, perhaps some beastly nocturnal visage that would scare the bejeebers out of you? Or perhaps you were simply falling helplessly through air waiting for the inevitable impact. Awakening with a scream that prompted a late night bedside visit from your mom, sleep would not come easy for the rest of the night. Between the ages of three and six, I was plagued by a recurring nightmare in which I was being abducted by a stranger I never saw. This nameless, faceless creature would always approach from behind, whisking me into the air, away from the comfort and security of my bed and begin walking through my family’s small basement apartment toward the front door. As we passed by my parents I would cry out but the sound would stick in my throat. The more I tried unsuccessfully to scream the more panicked I became. My mother would look in my direction and smile. The dream always ended with our passing through the front door as my parents seemingly unaware or unconcerned that I was gone, went about their business. Then I would awaken with a start. Sweaty, rapid pulse, panicked. After a short while, the panic would subside, but the feelings of despair, frustration and hopelessness would linger throughout the day. Nearly five decades have passed since that disturbing nighttime phantasm was conjuring unimaginable horror in a six year old boy. It was merely a childhood apparition to simply outgrow and be forgotten. Yet, fifty years later, it has returned. No longer content to simply manifest itself as an occasional nocturnal disturbance, that old familiar sense of despair has crept back into my life to become my constant companion. Hopelessness has replaced optimism as a way of life and a pervasive sense of dread enshrouds me as I wander aimlessly through a surreality that finds me rapidly vacillating between morbid despondency and irrational rage. Remnants of that childhood nightmare began to resurface last October, as Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos were convicted and sentenced to prison for simply doing their job as border patrol agents. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on June 9, 2007 at 11:43 AM in , , , , , , | | | |
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Decoration Day
As you remember those who’ve served and sacrificed, take a moment and a knee and give thanks for those who are serving and sacrificing now. Please have a safe Memorial Day Weekend. Franklin Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer June 6, 1944 My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer: Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest-until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas -- whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the Nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us Faith. Give us Faith in Thee; Faith in our sons; Faith in each other; Faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogancies. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister Nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen. |
We still call it here in Wild Wonderful. Many of us will visit a cemetery this weekend and pay our respects to those who have stood final muster and answered their last recall. I’ll visit my Father, WWII Navy Veteran Hudson Grey Pendry. Most of our youngsters don’t know about this special day and what it represents. Take the opportunity this weekend to forget politicians and their antics. Instead, take time to visit a cemetery and reserve some time in your mind and heart for people who truly deserve our thoughts. Take time to educate a youngster about Memorial Day. Tell them why we must remember the Men and Women who have sacrificed so that we can remain a free nation.|
Contributed by J D on May 24, 2007 at 07:00 PM in , , , | | | |
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Coming Monday: The National Memorial Day Parade
Click the image to learn all about it and check out the way cool photo gallery. (Hat tip: ) |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on May 24, 2007 at 04:07 PM in , , | | | |
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Take your dove and shove it
See previous:
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Contributed by Bill Faith on April 9, 2007 at 10:43 AM in , , | | | |
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Black & Right -- The rest of the story
Remember that cool YouTube video Del and Boomer sent me the link to? (Refresh your memory .) Allahpundit just posted the rest of the story:
Don't forget to bookmark ; you'll be glad you did. |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on April 6, 2007 at 02:45 PM in , | | | |
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The fabric that holds the flag together
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Contributed by Bill Faith on March 30, 2007 at 10:16 PM in , , , , | | | |
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Marsha Burks Megehee: The Folded Flag
This made the rounds by email several months back; Russ Vaughn sent me a copy and I posted it on Small Town Veteran, way back before the Old War Dogs site existed. That's been nearly two years ago, it's still a beautiful poem, and posting it again gives me a way to draw attention to the fact Marsha has accepted my offer to set up a blog to collect all of her poetry in one place. I'm a long way from being able to announce that it's all done and ready for the public but watch this blog for an announcement as soon as I can get it ready. The Folded Flag His Mother held the folded flag, The last song for a Soldier, He wrote, "Please Mom, don't worry, It's not just 9/11 Mom, Scenes of Dark September, Mom, Remember how I waved her Mom It was the words that grandpa said, Guard her well and wave her high. A gift of home and family, So Mom, If I should pay the price Place my flag on grandpa's shelf His Mother held the folded flag. Marsha Burks Megehee |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 09:45 PM in , , | | | |
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A Young Man To Watch
72nd TCS reports:
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Contributed by Bill Faith on March 27, 2007 at 05:07 PM in , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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Poem: A Gathering of Eagles
Marsha Burks Megehee left this as a comment on but it deserves better than to languish there unread:
*** Update: Marsha has sent me several more poems, of which I'll plan on posting one every few days at , and I'm impressed enough that I've offered to create a separate blog for her if she says she'd have time to post to it. More on that later if she accepts my offer. *** Update 2: It turns out there's already a nice collection of Marsha's poetry at . I'll still plan on posting a lot of what she emailed me and also posting excerpts and links to that site as time goes on. *** Update 3: Marsha has seen the light about the advantages of having both a blog and a static web site. I haven't made any promises about when I'll have it ready but I'm going to set up a blog for her under my TypePad account. Address and details to be announced later. |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on March 26, 2007 at 03:57 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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Awesome Gathering of Eagles video
Boomer emails:
Read the whole Old War Dogs Gathering of Eagles collection in one place , and don't forget about the Gathering of Eagles blog . |
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Contributed by Bill Faith on March 25, 2007 at 12:33 AM in , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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Despite my distrust of the media....
....there are a few that .
The quote is from my good friend, Bill Faith. His expression reflects the feelings of many Vietnam vets. For most of their adult lives, they have quietly gone about their business, avoiding the limelight and staying far away from the turmoil of politics. Scarred by their experiences returning to a nation that rejected them and despised them, they wanted nothing more than to go home and be left alone. Read the rest at . *** Bill Faith adds: Thanks, Anti. Del emailed me a copy of that column and I decided to take a short nap before I posted about it. I'm glad I did. You handled it much better than I would have. |
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Contributed by antimedia on March 22, 2007 at 10:33 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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The Silenced Majority
Gray Dog’s Note: This article is a continuation of thoughts inspired by Rurik’s essay titled originally posted at Old War Dogs in September 2006, and more recently holding its own page of honor at Veteran-American Voices. Actually, this article might be more appropriately deemed a variation on a theme or themes, as it also addresses Rurik’s sentiments in his post titled, In either case, I hope that Rurik’s inspiration has been duly noted and appropriately attributed. If history is written by the victors, then image is assigned by the vocal. On February 22, 2007, Richard "Dick" Becker attended a press conference for "A Gathering of Eagles." Becker, the brother of Brian Becker, National Coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition, characterized past Conservative and veteran’s counter-protests of ANSWER rallies, as "pathetic." On March 17, 2007 we have both the opportunity and the obligation to dispel that charge. It is the moment to rise above the damning legacy of a “Silenced Majority.” In so doing, we will fulfill the obligation to ourselves and our fallen brothers and sisters to reclaim the honor the “Beckers” of this world would take from us. For too long, our silence has allowed our foes to establish a national agenda without opposition. We have ceded control of the media and allowed the socialist liberal enemies of America to mold an image of her defenders as the ignoble and ignorant peasantry of our society. We allow them to deny us the respect we deserve, because they tell us it is their right as Americans to do so. And, when a few of us speak or act in opposition to these pretend Americans, whose grandiose marches and displays of hatred and disdain for the very beliefs and institutions for which we have shed our blood, they call us pathetic. [Original timestamp 2007.03.01.13:20] |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on March 1, 2007 at 01:20 PM in , , , , , , , , | | | |
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If Not Now, When?
Can a debt ever be repaid to those not here to collect? Can any act or deed we may do, be enough to mark that debt “Paid in Full?” The simple answer is no. The simple truth is that we must never quit trying. “A Gathering of Eagles” has become a clarion call that rings in my ears and pounds in my chest. For many, March 17, 2007 will be just one more time they have answered this call, for others this has become the last-best chance to stand with their brothers and sisters and place a down payment on that debt. That is why I ask the question, “If not now, when?” I began to write this post last Monday. I have re-written it several times in the past few days. That happens sometimes. I get hung up on a title I like, and then I can’t write something appropriate to match. The working title has always been “If not now, when?” It was this morning while browsing through the forum for “A Gathering of Eagles” that I saw this response to a troll by the name of “Patrick Henry.” Patrick had been goading forum members for several days with the statement “But, I still don’t understand your mission,” or referring to the Vietnam Memorial as a “black wall in a hole.” There were several well reasoned responses worthy of mention, but the following one stuck with me. It was written by a vet who professed to me “…writing has never been one of my strong skills…” My response is, “Your English teacher may have given you a ‘C’ for this response, but your Civics, History and Ethics teachers would have given this an A+. I did.” The following is reprinted with full permission from the author, John Cut. At his request I have modified minor typos.
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on February 15, 2007 at 07:44 PM in , , , , , , | | | |
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A Gathering of Eagles
You may notice that for this particular post that there are a lot of 'categories' selected. The problem with BLOGs in general is there are often not enough categories. For this one, I need to click over 58,000 more. By now, you have all heard about the veteran movement to defend the memorials in Washington D.C. on March 17, 2007. If you are still undecided about making the effort to go, please watch the following:
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on February 11, 2007 at 02:58 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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Everything in Moderation
More illusive that a needle in a hay stack, more challenging than “Where’s Waldo?” My quest to find Moderate Islam has taken me away from my blogging duties of late. Now, I know at this very second, you’re asking yourself, “Why the hell is a dog like you, looking for a Moderate Muslim?” In fact more importantly, “What the hell are you going to do with one if you find one?” Both good questions since before last week, this is not an endeavor I would have ever found on my “Important Things in Life I haven’t Done Yet List.” Besides, last week I was just your typical conservative, hate mongering (or in my case mongreling), unenlightened, bigoted, Islamophobic cur that could spot and point a Fascists, Imperialist, Fundamentalist, Conservative Islamist any time I needed to. But now I am on the road to enlightenment as dictated by the Blogroll requirements of the 910 Group. For those of you who are interested read |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on December 19, 2006 at 09:33 PM in , , , , , | | | |
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Sending More Troops
Now the cry seems to be all over both sides of the aisle. Send more troops! Yeah, that’s it. That’ll show our yokels back home how patriotic we are, how much we care. Send more more troops and show we really really care. Just like we do with healthcare and hurricanes and education and poverty. Show our commitment by makign our constituents sacrifice a bit more. If you can’t spend money, spending troops is almost the same thing. Works with social programs don’t it? (And of course the DEMOcrats like the idea because for over a century they know that a disastrous foreign war, with lots of unhappy troops sent off is the biggest part of a successful Socialist revolution, and bankrupting the country with new spending is the other ingredient. And masses of conscripted troops paid at career wages would do that trick. And another try at Socialist revolution is why they’re really in Washington, after all.) Okay, I’ll be reasonable and suspend the sarcasm for as long as I'm capable. I’ll admit there are some people who truly are convinced that sending more troops will give us the edge we need to win. After all, you do remember those basic principles of war, right? Overwhelming numbers, mass, concentration of force, outnumbering the enemy ? Yeeeesss. That’s a good argument. But tell me, what kind of troops? And how many? And where do you want to deploy them? And what are you going to have them do? This may come as a surprise to all the congressheros, but troops are not interchangeable widgets, except, perhaps, at funding time. Oh wait! That’s what our lords in Washington do and care about, the most of them who’ve never served, or had a three month cameo tour in some staff headquarters. So again let me ask, what kind of troops? Should we send more infantry battalions? Mechanized or straight leg? Or do we need tanks? Or more engineers? What kind of engineers -, combat engineers or road construction, or pontoon bridge companies? Or do you want Signal or Quartermaster, or some other logistics troops? Do we need more mechanics? I know!! Let’s send them a bunch of Army and Marine marching bands, and a lot of JAGs. Those count as troops, right? And how many more troops on top of the troops we send will we need to send to supply and support the troops we send? And how many more support troops to support the additional support troops? And where do we station them? On the Iranian and Syrian borders, where they’ll have more casualties, or at Tikrit. Or maybe at Basrah and the Kurdish districts where casualties may be lower? Or maybe around Baghdad, where they’ll be highly visible to the visiting politicians and media pukes? And what will they be doing? Actively hunting Hajjis? Or searching suspect houses and pissing off Senator Kerry? Or just clusterfucking around and providing additional targets for Mohammed? (Here’s a hint, since some of you might not be able to figure this out on your own during your lunch in the Senate messhall - sending Supply & Transport Companies to hunt Mr. Hajj is not a war-winning idea, nor is using Special Forces to direct traffic and distribute candy and school supplies.) See how complicated it all is, Mister Congress-creature? Oh, there’s one more important question. Will all those new troops we’re going to dispatch be allowed to operate under rules of engagement which allow them to bring the fight to the enemy without having to worry about the political consequences from JAG and their own headquarters? Or are they going to operate under the same constrictive rules of (non-)engagement now in place, intended to wage war without overly offending the sensibilities of the foe? Here’s a suggestion. If we allow our troops really to fight without having to worry about stumbling into a JAG ambush, and to pursue the enemy without regard to privileged sanctuaries, or the sensitive opinions of the New Dork Times, we might find the combat units already in theater might show some inspiring results. If we keep on pretend-fighting, while marching to a kumbaya cadence, then no imaginable number of troops, not the entire Army and Marine Corps with the Boy Scouts as round-out will be sufficient to achieve what we do not really wish to accomplish. Give me some reasonable answer to my questions and I’ll cease hooting at your calls for more troops. If you give me a good use for them, I'll actively support you. Our own Bill Faith has at a for the new troops, so I won’t mock him. For the rest of you who just want some more bodies inconvenienced so you can look patriotic without learning the first thing about the military, let me teach you your first words of warrior talk - SIERRA TANGO FOXTROT UNIFORM. -Rurik |
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Contributed by George Mellinger on December 11, 2006 at 11:58 AM in , , , | | | |
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The Shadows of Enlightenment
The shimmer of Enlightenment glowed brightly through the land, Tolerance and diversity became their clarion’s call, A beacon of liberty once shined throughout the world, -- The Gray Dog |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 30, 2006 at 09:30 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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May It Be
There are hundreds if not thousands of Flash tributes circulating the blogosphere. Tonight I humbly offer mine. The pictures are not mine, the music is not mine and the brave men and women who are the subjects of these images are not me. I have simply combined the artistic photographs of others and a hauntingly beautiful celtic melody with the men and women of valor to produce this simple offering. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 28, 2006 at 09:45 PM in , , , , , , , , | | | |
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War is the answer, but what is the question?
There is are discussions going on here, in our forum, and elsewhere in the blogosphere concerning 'the draft' or national service. Let me recommend "Starship Troopers" by Heinlein, written in the late 50's. A slightly warped view of the book is
I must admit that I find the idea appealing, however, there is the real world to contend with. "The Draft" has so much baggage attached that it has become a political football more than a practical approach. There is one quite narrow reason to even consider 'the draft' as a tool. That would be a Declaration of War. We could begin by making some changes to the existing Selective Service System. Simply make it a genuine pre-screening process. As it stands it is another useless government bureaucracy. |
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Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on November 20, 2006 at 01:56 PM in , , , , | | | |
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War and Peace
With apologies to Leo Tolstoy. Black and White, first and last, top and bottom, war and peace: Concepts of opposition and contrast so simple, that a five year old child could understand, yet so elusive to our national leaders. Can anything simultaneously be black and white, or will the blend simply result in gray? Which direction does one travel to be both first and last, or both top and bottom. Or, do you simply stand your ground and remain in the middle of the pack? Yet as a nation, we seem to both accept this absurd paradox within our military and expect a satisfactory result. Is it reasonable to expect our military personnel to function with the complete skill set of waging war and peaceful nation building, as if they were each the direct progeny of a union between Ares and Eireen? Bombing and building, killing and healing, guns and roses, war and peace: Simple contrasts or absurd expectations? |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 19, 2006 at 02:59 PM in , , , , , , , | | | |
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Sunday Musings
RINOS, DINOS, NEOCONS and Leprechauns. You just can’t survive today’s political scene without an appropriate tag. Each party is in search of the perfect description, the ideal candidate and the winning platform, yet if Jesus Christ himself signaled his second coming, I’m sure the extremists in both parties would find him objectionable. What is conservative enough? Where is the dividing line that separates Conservatives and RINOs? Is the extreme right of the Republican Party hell bent on imitating the failed practices of the George Soros wing of the Democrats? Joe Lieberman is the perfect demonstration of what happens when the extreme wing of either party demands perfection. On the other hand, a Democratic majority in the House and Senate is what happens when the Conservatives take their ball and stay home. Democracy is not black or white. It is a fluid system that demands weighing principles against pragmatism, convictions against realities. Extremism on the other hand is a denial of reality. The “my way or the highway” attitude often leads extremists to being stranded on the shoulder of the road. It doesn’t matter what form extremism takes, Conservative extremism, Liberal extremism and Islamic extremism share the same short sighted vision which will cause them to fail. |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 12, 2006 at 07:03 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |
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Dog Training
OK. We’ve worried, ranted, paced, stewed, guessed, analyzed, parsed, attacked and cowered. Now it is simply up to whether enough people care to get off their ass tomorrow and do the RIGHT thing. I’m just an old dog, trying to still believe in the Tooth Fairy (God knows I’ve left a few teeth in a collection of liberal asses.) I chased my tail in circles yesterday while I listened to the conservative optimists (Rush Limbaugh) and the conservative pessimists (Bill Krystal). The overwhelming majority of pundits say it’s going to be a bad day for Republicans tomorrow. So What? As I said, I’m just a dog. So I will do what I have been trained to do. Today, I will go vote, and the tomorrow I will continue to snap at liberals. Whether they gain a majority or stay in the minority, I will still continue to oppose all liberals, as they are the enemy. If they gain one or both houses, the world hasn’t ended; it just becomes a target rich environment. Don’t get me wrong. I believe on Wednesday morning that I will wake up to learn that the Republicans maintained a small advantage in the Senate and Congress. Laugh at me now. If I’m wrong, laugh at me again. I’m just a dog, so I will probably laugh with you and do a few tricks. Just beware of a dog that wags its tail, while it shows its teeth. If a Republican miracle happens, it will be amazing to see how many of the talking heads come out and cite some obscure statement they previously made, to show that “they knew it all the time.” On the other hand, if it goes the way most are predicting, they will be equally quick with the “I told you so.” The true test will be what we/they do afterward. Wednesday, November 8, 2006 will be just like Tuesday, November 7, 2006. The liberals in this country and the Islamofascists that appear to control them are still the enemy. How many will throw there arms up in surrender and accept defeat? Not true dogs! That’s not what we were trained for. Discuss at: |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 7, 2006 at 07:10 AM in , , , , | | | |
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Our Troops Aren’t Stupid. They Must be Crazy!
In a recent report written by Tim Kane, Ph.D., titled, published by the Heritage Foundation, Dr. Kane’s research reached the following conclusions:
There you have it. Our military recruits compare favorably to the general population. So the only explanation for these above average men and women who subject themselves to 140 degree Iraqi summers, wearing heavy gear as the play dodge ball with IEDs is that they must be certifiable lunatics. Oh, I guess there could be some other reasons, as Dr. Kane suggests:
Bark back and take the poll at our forum |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 4, 2006 at 12:53 PM in , , , , , , | | | |
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The Greatest of all Evils.
On November 7th, Election Day, there will be three great evils that voters should consider. The first two are well known to the electorate and are usually lumped together, specifying one, implying the other. So, what the hell am I talking about? The lesser of two evils. It would seem that the conservatives have tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I know it grates on me at the polls every election day. Bush spends like a drunken sailor, Frist couldn’t lead a conga line, Foley is a pervert and Hastert should have acted sooner to bust him. Could, should the American electorate expect and deserve better choices? Hell yes! How do we get them? By opting for the greater of two evils? Hell no! Look at the last paragraph and then think of the opposites. The greater of two evils! Would anyone have been content with President Al Gore on 9/11 or the second coming of JFK to wrap it up in Iraq? Would Tom Daschle or Harry Reid offer you any comfort. Does the thought of Nancy Pelosi, just two heartbeats away from the presidency lift your skirt? What is left is the third evil; the greatest evil of all. Teach those worthless pretend conservatives a lesson; stay home, don’t vote. Throw our country into endless Democratic investigations and hearings, let them set the agenda; roll back tax cuts, withhold funding for the war on terror, impeach W, repeal the Patriot Act, stop NSA eavesdropping on terrorists cells, keep the southern borders open, enter new bi-lateral talks with North Korea and Iran (give them more nuclear technology to make them play nice), turn foreign policy over to France and the U.N., abandon Israel, close down Wall-Mart, raise minimum wages to $20/hr, socialize healthcare, neuter the CIA, prosecute our troops, leave Iraq to Al-Qaeda, publicly fund Air America, resurrect CNN and MSNBC, replace Christmas with Xmas, Easter with spring break, and finally 4th of July with mid-summer holiday. What’s really hysterical about this attitude is that conservatives will do this purportedly to increase their chances of success in keeping the White House in 2008. Guess what idiots? All you’ve done is bring it back full circle. The lesser of two evils. So two years of upheaval, backslide, turmoil and chaos is worth it for what? A chance to vote in 2008 for the lesser of two evils again? Speak out. Visit the forum to chime in. Don’t be shy! |
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Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 1, 2006 at 09:45 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , | | | |