Who: Gathering of Eagles, Eagles Up!, Rolling Thunder, and more! What: Eagles Muster to denounce Winter Soldier II Where: Washington, DC and Silver Springs, MD When: Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15
Have you had it with the left wing organizations demeaning and slandering our troops at every opportunity? Has the escalation in attacks against our recruiters across the nation, which progressed to the bombing of the Recruiter Station in Times Square last week, alerted you to the fact that we are fighting a REAL INSURGENCY in this country?
In NY City this weekend we held a rally in support of our troops and our recruiters in Times Square. You can read my after action report here:
This morning I discover the cretins from Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW), who are running their program to slander and defame this generation of American Warriors in the same fashion as their guiding lights from the old VVAW did to our Vietnam Veterans, noticed our display of patriotism in Times Square.
Their response:
You are going to eat it if unless you cease and desist from your planned "events".
Their earlier comment on the bombing of the Times Square Recruiter Station was:
Fuck recruiters.
I don't know about you, but it gets my Irish up when someone can, in effect, condone and endorse domestic terrorism against our troops and then threaten more against anyone who supports the troops.
Up until now I have wanted to protest their planned defamation of our warriors at the Labor College in Silver Springs, Maryland, but work requirements were going to restrict my travel only to the Saturday Rally and March in DC. Now, wild horses couldn't keep me away on Friday.
I condemn in the strongest language the willful terrorist enabling of the AFL-CIO for allowing this group to use the Labor College for their planned seditious blackballing of our American Troops.
I strongly recommend that anyone with a union card and patriotism join us in a mass burning of union cards outside the university gates on Friday to demonstrate to the fat labor bosses what we think of their collaboration.
I demand that any media organization planning to cover the IVAW lie fest explicitly include in their reports the above IVAW quotes to demonstrate IVAWs true level of support for our troops. I demand that any media organization who runs anything on the IVAW propaganda campaign specifically use the DUPES process outlined here: to perform their due diligence on anything the IVAW may claim.
The agenda for Friday, March 14th is:
Truth Challenge against IVAW Winter Soldier II National Labor College 10000 New Hampshire Avenue New Hampshire Ave and Powder Mill Road Silver Spring, Maryland 20903 Map Link: Starting 8am, All Day
The agenda for Friday Night, March 14th is:
Support our Wounded and counter Code Pink Walter Reed Army Medical Center 6900 Georgia Ave. Georgia Ave and Elder Street Washington DC 20307 Map Link: From 7pm until the Troop Bus returns from dinner
The agenda for Saturday, March 15th is:
Eagles Muster and March Washington Monument 15th St NW south of Constitution Ave Map Link: From 10am. March at 1pm to Capital
Bring your flags, signs, banners, whistles, cowbells, megaphones and anything else you think will be required to get our message across. Never again will one generation of warriors abandon another!
Never Again!
***
I just realized this information is also posted on the GOE site.
See also:
***
Promoted from the comments:
I have just learned of this. I figured Old War Dogs was a good place to post it. Pittsburgh Anarchists Plan Violent Take Over of Military Recruiting Station on March 19th! - Velvet Hammer
Contributed by Bill Faith on March 10, 2008 at 04:22 PM in , , |
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Monday, 16 April 2007
1stCav: Name a country that starts with a U Contributed by Bill Faith
William Page emails:
We are in deep DOO-DOO! ...and they vote! This is embarrassing!
Contributed by Bill Faith on April 16, 2007 at 01:48 AM in |
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Saturday, 27 January 2007
Someplace new you'll want to visit often Contributed by Bill Faith
Click the image, bookmark the site.
You may have noticed already that the pack has gotten a little smaller. There have been some "philosophical differences" behind the scenes for a while now but since and have been decent enough not to air them publicly I'll follow suit. The Gray Dog will be contributing to the new site and to Old War Dogs, some of the Dogs who left the pack will be posting only at the new site, and you may have heard the last of some of the others altogether for all I know. I'll be linking to the new site on occasion and I hope they'll link back to OWD now and then. I'll allude to "philosophical differences" just enough to say I think and are aimed at ecosystem niches sufficiently different to allow both sites to prosper and I wish the new group well.
***
Rurik's comment captures my sentiments toward the new site far better than I was able to express them myself:
Like The American colonies and England, let us put behind us our differences and grow mutually as friends and allies.
Contributed by Bill Faith on January 27, 2007 at 09:19 PM in , , , , , |
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Sunday, 10 December 2006
A father's letter to Jean Fraud Kerry Contributed by Bill Faith
Thanks go to 1stCav for sending me the link to this Friday night. I promised him I'd take care of posting it then spaced out and forgot till just now.
Leo J. Pusateri
This is not a joke. When John Kerry delivered his so-called "," I made it a point, as a parent of a deployed soldier, to send him an email signifying my outrage at his comments. To tell you the truth, I didn't expect a response:
December 7, 2006
Mr. Leo Pusateri XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Dear Mr. Pusateri:
Thank you for writing to me about the botched joke about President Bush I made on October 30th. I appreciate the opportunity to clarify my statement.
First, it was a dumb joke and I slipped up, dropped a couple words, and made it worse. I take responsibility for my misstatement. ...
Sincerely,
John F. Kerry United States Senator
After reading this correspondence, I felt compelled to respond:
Dear Senator Kerry:
Thank you for your response.
I wish that I could tell you that I accept your "apology," but I could not begin to do that in good conscience. For to accept an apology is to accept the notion that the person making that apology is sincere.
Your insincerity is apparent immediately at the outset of your correspondence. You continue to maintain that the incident in question was a "botched joke." Mr. Kerry, if you had a history of true support for our troops, I may accept that explanation at face value; but your very history, both short- and long term, screams otherwise. Rather than support our troops, you are someone who has repeated ad nauseum that their mission has been a mistake (at least as soon as you found it politically advantageous to do so). Given also the grave disservice you did to our brave Vietnam veterans during your "Winter Soldier" testimony, I have no choice but to question the veracity and depth of your alleged sincerity.
I have seen the videotape of your "botched joke." Usually, when one tells a "botched joke," especially one so potentially damaging, one usually gets a sheepish look on one's face; and in recognizing the folly takes immediate measures to correct the verbiage on the spot. What I saw on the video was a man who told a joke, smiled, and waited for rimshot laughter connected to the punchline (which, thankfully, never came). No attempt was made to correct nor clarify. While I have no doubt that the dearth of positive accolades in response to your "botched joke" made for an awkward moment, I nonetheless am led to believe that you meant every word you said. ...
... Freedom of Political Speech, a gift given us not only by our Founding Fathers, but by the lifeblood of every Soldier, Sailor and Marine since the founding of our Nation, is a multi-edged sword that can cut in varying directions. A prudent, judicious American will recognize that with such an awesome freedom, comes an equally awesome responsibility to use it wisely. You sir, have wielded it with a reckless abandon befitting not a statesman, but a brigand.
Once again, Senator Kerry, at the very least, I wish to thank you for taking the time to respond to my correspondence. But accept your apology?
Thanks, but no thanks.
Sincerely,
Leo J. Pusateri
Contributed by Bill Faith on December 10, 2006 at 02:17 AM in , , , |
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Tuesday, 31 October 2006
October Surprise. Contributed by The Gray Dog
Down to the wire, the October Surprise was unleashed upon the Democrats yesterday. Surprisingly it wasn’t launched by the Republicans, but instead the liberal’s very own “useful idiot” John Kerry.
"You know, education - if you make the most of it - you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. If you don't, you get stuck in Iraq,"
With that comment the Old War Dogs are pleased to make known their own 11th hour October surprise:
The Old War Dogs Forum is now open for membership at
This site was to be announced next week, but in light of Kerry’s comment and the importance of next week’s elections we hope you will visit what promises to be an exciting place for discourse on the issues of the day.
Participation does require registration, so don’t be shy.
Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 31, 2006 at 07:57 PM in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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John Kerry vs REAL Warriors and the Myth of Peace Contributed by 1stCav
How apropos to John Fn Kerry's traitorous words today!
For however many thousands of years of human history there have been leading up to the 20th and 21st centuries, all tribes and civilizations, at least in their eras of growth, ascendancy, and power, were Warrior cultures. They were not all bloodthirsty and barbaric, but they were cultures and civilizations that held the Warriors among them in the highest esteem. For most of human history, the life and survival of the tribes and nations (tribes writ large) have always been too precarious and vulnerable to the barbarians at the gates, or across the river, for pacifism and indolence to flourish, and the Warriors of every tribe in history have been most highly esteemed because it was they, fighting and defeating the tribes' enemies, who made the life and survival of the individuals and the tribe, and the avoidance of death and slavery, possible.
Without Warriors, the tribe perishes.
When the Warriors fail, when the Warrior ethos fades, the power of the tribe withers, and in time it is absorbed by new conquerors, or taken into slavery, or slaughtered, and becomes just grist for the archeologists who will excavate its traces centuries or millennia later...
... General George Patton once advised:
"Not every man can be a soldier. To be a soldier is the highest profession of life; [it] comes closest to being a life like Christ who gave life for others, as we may do."...
Do read the entire
Contributed by 1stCav on October 31, 2006 at 06:07 PM in |
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Thursday, 12 October 2006
RE: American Values? Contributed by The Gray Dog
The Gray Dog’s Note: The original title for this post was simply, “Escapism.” But while I was writing this in my attempt to escape, I was drawn in by a few posts some of the other dogs had recently contributed. It was in the writing of this post that I once again realized there is only one real escape and that it is visited upon some way too early in life. It took a bit of effort to write. The score updates are in real time from last night’s game.
While I sit at my keyboard, I am watching the Detroit Tigers in the ALCS (American League Championship Series) trying to escape life’s little problems and recapture some of the youthful exuberance that seems to have faded from my life over the years. (Current score, Oakland 3, Detroit 1) My love affair with the Tigers began as a nine year old in the summer of 1961. I could but I won’t recite their starting lineup. If you are an older Tiger fan, you know who they are, if not, I would bet you could care less. And though the Tigers won 101 games that year, usually good enough to clinch a pennant, and also won their season series against the Yankees, they still finished in second place to New York. That was the year Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris captured the attention of all baseball fans as they battled to capture Babe Ruth’s single season home run record. I think Maris won*.
Al Kaline was my hero. Stormin’ Norman Cash was a close second, and Rocky Colavito, who lived in the same “downriver community” of Taylor, Michigan as I did, was next. Just saying their names makes me smile. But players come and go, and the one constant of being a Tiger fan was listening to the games called by Tiger broadcaster Ernie Harwell. This past Saturday as the Tigers eliminated the New York Yankees; Ernie at the age of 81 was in the ESPN broadcast booth to call the 3rd and 4th innings. His voice was as strong and certain as I remember it forty-five years ago. For a short while, the rest of the world disappeared and I was nine years old again. (Current score, Detroit 5, Oakland 3).
I told you I was at the keyboard while I was watching this game. I’m watching, writing and reading posts by some of my good friends at OWD. I guess I’m just another victim of the 21st century compulsion to multi-task, as this evening is not providing the escape I was seeking.
I just read George Mellinger’s post, “Eulogy of the Common Soldier.” It is the “prescient” poem written by an eighteen year old who only six years later died in combat in Iraq. 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan will never sit back and contemplate his life. There will be no time for him to recapture a youth that was stripped from him. He will never have the opportunity to look back.
Next to William “1st Cav” Page’s post “John Murtha and his Deal With the Devil.” William recounts his personal experience during Viet Nam’s “The Battle of Kontum.” Their mission was to rescue and save an American advisor to the 22nd ARVN regiment, Captain Kenneth Yonan. William tells us, “Overwhelming elements of three uniformed regular NVA divisions supported by tanks prevented it.”
Captain Yonan did not have the opportunity to indulge himself of escaping from life’s little problems. He is forever young.
My friend Zero Ponsdorf, offers the post, “American Values?” He asks the question, what is “Just one thing that will stand as American, without nuance or reservation?”
First and most importantly, I offer 1st Lt. Aaron Seesan and Capt. Kenneth Yonan. And far down the road, while I indulge myself this evening, I offer you the vision of America through the eyes of a nine year old, the Detroit Tigers. (Current score, Detroit 7, Oakland 4)
What are American values? What a great question you pose Zero. I would suggest that they are the individual values derived from a common American Spirit. To me it might be “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet.” To others it might be “football, pizza, nachos and Ford.” But for Lt. Seesan, Kenneth Yonan, and all of us that served, it is all derived from General MacArthur’s immortal words “Duty, Honor, Country.” (Current score, Detroit 8, Oakland 5)
There is no nuance or reservation in that statement. Three simple words that, are purely American. No interpretation necessary.
I now go to bed this evening with a smile on my lips and a mist in my eyes. Here's a sports update for Lt. Seesan and Capt Yonan and thousands of other vets that didn’t have the chance to share this evening. Oakland left the bases full with the winning run at the plate. (Final score Detroit 8, Oakland 5) Goodnight Troops. I hope you enjoyed the game.
Contributed by The Gray Dog on October 12, 2006 at 07:22 PM in , , , , , , |
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Tuesday, 10 October 2006
John Murtha and his Deal With The Devil... Smell the Sulphur Contributed by 1stCav
FIRST - A little background about my anger
My political activites had been mostly limited to voting prior to the '04 presidential primaries. That all changed when John Kerry decided to run for Commander In Chief. It's a very personal thing for my brother and me. We both served in Vietnam in 1971- '72. I'm sure most Vietnam Veterans feel as betrayed as we do. You see John Kerry and his ilk were giving concieously giving aid and comfort to our enemy while we were fighting alongside our allies. As for John Kerry and his seditious Congressional Testimony statement; " ... ," many American patriots did exactly that.
In a largely unknown desperate battle in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam during the the Easter Offensive of 1972 better known as ''The Battle of Kontum', things really became much more personal. It was during this very little known, but one of the largest battles of the Vietnam War that I have a personal interest. In 1972, my unit, a regular line company of the 1st Cav Div, 3rd Bde (Separate), D Company 1/12th Cav had been operationally detached from the 1st Cav and OPCON to the Second Regional Assistance Group (SRAG) under command of then Military Region II, Sr. US Advisor, Mr. John Paul Vann. It was during this battle on 24 April 1972 that we were tasked to try and save a brave American Advisor to the 22nd ARVN regiment by the name of . Our small squad could not save him because overwhelming elements of three uniformed regular NVA divisions supported by tanks prevented it. Yeah Kerry/Fonda, they were only peasants in a civil war/ [/sarcasm]. We did try. The brave Captain Kenneth Yonan, an American of Assyrian descent, had to be left. We just didn't have the necessary force to rescue him. Although his remains were returned in 1988, his true fate is still not known. He was actually on the list of captured prisioners in 1973 to be returned. I blame his and other Americans deaths on the antiwar loud mouths in their demand to pull out of Vietnam too fast. The Left left us short handed as they wanted. Pun intended.
Although there were not as many U.S. deaths during this late part of the war, how do you measure the casualties? How many is too many? The leftist condemned body counts. So what's a life worth? How about a live one? In 1971 - '72 not only were there mostly U.S. volunteers fighting then as today, but many tens of thousands of brave South Vietnamese died fighting for their belief in democracy. We'll never forgive John Kerry or the to destroy a nation and scorn us. Never. May they rot in hell for eternity. Nor will we stand idly by while others such as John Murtha (D- Pa 12th ) condemn the mission yet claim to support the troops. What a croc. We have several active duty family serving now. Do you John Murtha?
Murtha's connection to my anger:
I've been following the anitwar crowd for quite some time. Their outright lies, smears, and deceit are destroying our country... again. Maybe permanantly this time and He not only supports the communist group Code Pink that protest our wounded troops at Walter Reed Hospital, but has received awards from them. I ask Murtha, why did you sell your soul to the devil and our nations enemy? or other shady dealings since then?
~
just Smell the Sulphur ~...~
While researching POW/MIA documents online at I happened upon a very interesting find of John Murtha, then a newly elected Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania's 12th District. Read John Murth's statements below from the official Congressional Record of July 16th, 1974 and judge for yourselves. Murtha sold us out. What changed his mind? Contrast his 1974 Congressional Record statements to his 'cut and run' statements today. He has literally sold his honor, loyalty, country, and our brave men in battle for his own personal gain.
For below references go and search for document # "2202307025" - a 10 page .pdf file.
[QUOTE]
Congressional Record - House July 16, 1974 H 6565
..."MR. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Speaker, I want to complement the gentleman from Mississippi. As a combat veteran, I want to repeat to the Members who are here that I know I complained on the floor recently that I felt that the criticism at home, in and outside Congress, hurt the war effort. I still believe that very strongly..."
H 6566 Congressional Record - House July 16, 1974
..."MR. MURTHA. Mr. Speaker, let me again commend the gentleman in the well, and let me say this: I too believe the North Vietnamese read the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. According to Page Robinson, they certainly knew of the antiwar speeches that were made before. I think it is important that we show unified support and concern for the families of the missing in action....
No John Murtha, I need no anger management classes. What I do need is for you to cut and run away from your 12th District Congressional seat before you get my family and other patriots killed.
If you want ot find out more about John Murtha visit And if you feel as I do about this turncoat please contribute to his demise
Contributed by 1stCav on October 10, 2006 at 06:35 PM in , , |
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Sunday, 01 October 2006
Murtha's critics call for his 'redeployment' out of Congress Contributed by Bill Faith
1st Cav left part of this as a comment on . I can't risk letting it be overlooked.
By Julie Benmatii, The Tribune-Democrat
Nearly 1,000 people, many of them military veterans, blasted U.S. Rep. John Murtha’s stance on the Iraq war and questioned his patriotism during a rally Sunday afternoon at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena.
The “Boot Murtha” event was held just one day after Saturday’s pro-Murtha rally held in Central Park – and featured speakers who all sent the same message.
Using the Johnstown Democrat’s past call for troop redeployment in Iraq, critics called for the longtime congressman and Vietnam veteran to redeploy himself to retirement.
“It’s time for you to redeploy to Johnstown as a private citizen,” said David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, who led the anti-hijacker group on Flight 93 that crashed near Shanksville on Sept. 11, 2001.
“(Murtha’s) plans are flawed, his positions are divisive, and his current and past activities will catch up with him,” Beamer told the crowd. “I wish (Murtha) peace and security with your family during your retirement.”
“Boot Murtha” supporters accused Murtha using the military and the Iraq war for his own political gain.
Harry Beam, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and decorated Vietnam veteran who lives in Upper Yoder Township, said unlike the speakers who supported Murtha a day earlier, the “Boot Murtha” guests were “ordinary citizens with extraordinary experiences.
[...]
Contributed by Bill Faith on October 1, 2006 at 07:59 PM in , , , |
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Tuesday, 26 September 2006
MURTHA in Trouble? Contributed by 1stCav
Murtha is now in a hellava fight for his seat in PA district 12. Some of our pack of Old War Dogs are helping to make a difference. Keep up the good work this weekend Dogs!. Wish I could be there. Two active duty Marine nephews are telling me that their respective units totally despise Murtha. That fits with the overwhelming majority of veterans and other active duty troops informally polled. Article is Diana Irey is pulling very close to defeating the once thought well entrenched and funded Murtha.
This is gonna get real interesting especially with losers Max Cleland and sissy Wes Clark trying to counter the Veterans For The Truth (VFTT), the rally, and the grassroots campaign against Murtha. How dare Murtha say our troops "killed innocent civilians in cold blood" even before a final investigation is complete. A little would go a long way to help retire the traitorous Murtha.
Posted on 09/26/2006 7:13:20 AM PDT by smoothsailing
IREY ADVISORY: DIANA IREY TO CALL FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO MURTHA FUNDRAISING PRACTICES
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
(PITTSBURGH, September 26) -- Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey -- the woman standing up to U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha -- will hold a press availability today, Tuesday, September 26, on the sidewalk outside the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, at 700 Grant Street, in Pittsburgh, at 11 AM.
Irey will release a letter she is delivering today to U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan requesting an investigation into Rep. Murtha's fundraising activities.
Based on news reports, lobbying disclosure reports, Federal Election Commission Records, and a study released last week by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, there is reason to believe Rep. Murtha may have violated federal law.
WHO: PA-12 nominee Diana Irey
WHAT: Press availability
WHERE: Sidewalk in front of the office of the U.S. Attorney
700 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA
WHEN: 11 AM
Note: Author corrected exact statement of Murtha to "killed innocent civilians in cold blood" ...a technicality IMHO.
Author: 1st Cav combat Veteran of Vietnam
=======================
IREY ASKS U.S. ATTORNEY TO INVESTIGATE JACK MURTHA
(PITTSBURGH, September 26) -- Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey -- after delivering a letter to Mary Beth Buchanan, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, requesting an investigation into the activities of U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha to determine whether or not he violated federal law -- today released the following statement:
"Today I delivered a letter to Mary Beth Buchanan, the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, asking her to open an investigation to determine whether or not Congressman Jack Murtha violated the Ethics Reform Act of 1989 by accepting campaign contributions in exchange for placing earmarked appropriations into legislation he is largely responsible for drafting and pushing to passage.
"You will find a copy of the letter in the packet you've just been handed....
Read on
Contributed by 1stCav on September 26, 2006 at 11:20 AM in , , , |
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Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Glenn & Wm Page - Armor Training Contributed by Bill Faith
William, leave us a comment telling us which one's you and I'll update this post.
Am I correct in thinking that the one who isn't has a son in Iraq right now?
For those who haven't read I'll mention that he earned a Bronze Star knocking out North Vietnamese armor ("tanks" to you civilians) with jeep-mounted TOW missiles during the Battle of Kontum in '72. Is that a recoilless rifle mounted on the front of that jeep in the picture or just a 50 Cal? Early training pays off, I reckon.
btw, William, did I ever get around to thanking you for that? I was at the airstrip in Kontum while that was happening. Life was exciting enough in those days without those tanks breaking through. Thank God, and you, they didn't.
Good thing William lives in Louisiana and I'm in Illinois or I'd worry about getting my butt kicked for posting this.
*** 16:05
Click "Comments" to read William's reply.
Contributed by Bill Faith on September 13, 2006 at 03:08 PM in , , , |
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Monday, 04 September 2006
Rumsfeld Expands on Recent Speeches Contributed by 1stCav
Even though this is a day or two old, I've not noticed it posted anywhere yet. Goes along with and George Orwell's quote within.
New Enemies Demand New Thinking The secretary of Defense clarifies and expands on what he said in his recent speeches about appeasing extremists. By Donald H. Rumsfeld, DONALD H. RUMSFELD is the U.S. secretary of Defense. September 1, 2006
IN THE LAST FEW DAYS I have had the opportunity to speak at the annual conventions of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. It is always a humbling experience to be in the presence of those who have served and fought for our country during some of our darkest, most trying times — when it was unclear whether our way of life would prevail.
We are again engaged in conflicts that are testing whether we believe that the defense of liberty is worth the cost. And again, there are those who disagree with the mission, who question whether it is worth the sacrifice. This is to be expected in a time of war.
Today, some think that World War II and the Cold War were black-and- white affairs: good versus evil. But there were always those who thought that we should retreat within our borders...
....
... The last question is particularly important, because this is the first war of the 21st century — a war that, to a great extent, will be fought in the media on a global stage. We cannot allow the terrorists' lies and myths to be repeated without question or challenge...
By all means do go and read it all. Bush should be shouting this message at every opportunity.
Contributed by 1stCav on September 4, 2006 at 10:29 PM in , |
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Friday, 25 August 2006
Pentagon Leaders Distorting Haditha Facts Contributed by Bill Faith
Thank Old War Dog William "1stCav" page for the link to this one:
Pentagon Leaders Distorting Haditha Facts
Unnamed sources in the Pentagon with their own agenda have been leaking false information about the killing of civilians in Haditha by Marines last November, NewsMax.com has learned.
A Marine intelligence agent who investigated last year's Nov. 19 shootings of civilians in Haditha in the immediate wake of the incident has stepped forward to defend the Kilo company Marines against charges that they massacred the victims.
[.]
Contributed by Bill Faith on August 25, 2006 at 02:05 PM in , , |
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Sunday, 23 July 2006
NEW WORLD DISORDER Contributed by 1stCav
It's all starting to come out y'all. And one of those in the lead is not only Tancredo, but a good old Alabama boy, Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., is asking a lot of questions.
A congressman is pressing the Department of Commerce to fully disclose a congressionally unauthorized plan to implement a trilateral agreement with Mexico and Canada that critics say could lead to a North American union.
Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the , wrote July 11 to Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez requesting detailed disclosure of working groups in the office within his department.
1st Cav
Contributed by 1stCav on July 23, 2006 at 08:51 PM in , , |
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Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Re: Re: "From 1stCav via email (S. 3622)" Contributed by Bill Faith
In response to Russ's mail, which I posted , 1stCav wrote back:
Russ,
As stated before, I was once thinking that way. One of the reasons for my change of mind is contained in the information provided in article. Seems that the original NAFTA plan could have possibly benefited both Mexico and the U.S. However, a lot has changed since the early 90's NAFTA plan's conception and enactment. It's not the small change I'm really worried about. As evidenced in the referenced article, the NAFTA vista has widened to more of a worldwide utopia idea. John Lennon the dreamer would be proud, not me. I don't want to lose our nations sovereignty, and we're well on the way to it. You don't think the Chinese would be involved do you?
by Jerome R. Corsi
"The has been working actively with the Communist Chinese to open and develop NAFTA shipping ports in Mexico.
The plan is to ship containers of cheap goods produced by under-market labor in China and the Far East into North America via Mexican ports. From the Mexican ports, Mexican truck drivers and railroad workers will transport the goods across the Mexican border with Texas. Once in the U.S., the routes will proceed north to Kansas City along the NAFTA Super-Highway, ready to be expanded by the Trans-Texas Corridor, and NAFTA railroad routes being put in place by Kansas City Southern. Kansas City Southern’s Mexican railroads has positioned the company to become the “NAFTA Railroad.”
Right now, the cost of shipping and ground transportation can nearly double the total cost of cheap goods produced by Chinese and Far Eastern under-market labor. The plan is to reduce those transportation costs by as much as 50% by using Mexican ports."
[...]
The development of a China-Mexico trade route reflects a fundamental shift since the passage of NAFTA. At the peak in the mid-1990s, there were some three thousand maquiladoras located in northern Mexico, employing over 1 million Mexicans in low-paying, assembly sweat-shops. Today, even Mexican labor is not cheap enough for the international corporations seeking only to maximize profits. , that bubble has burst and the maquiladora activity is down over 25 percent from the peak as the international corporations have found even cheaper labor in China.
As the Port of San Antonio evidences, linking NAFTA inland ports with NAFTA super-highways and NAFTA railroads is an important part of the development plan for the emerging global free trade economy. San Antonio officials by working with the communist Chinese to open Mexican ports for NAFTA trade evidence that plan. International capitalists are now determined to exploit cheap Mexican labor, not so much for manufacturing and assembly, but as a means of saving port and transportation costs in the North American market."
[...]
William
Contributed by Bill Faith on July 19, 2006 at 01:52 AM in , , |
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Tuesday, 18 July 2006
From 1stCav via email (S. 3622) Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf
Posting this as a favor for William "1stCav" page. However, I share his outrage.
[Introducing S. 3622] Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation--previously introduced in the 108th Congress--which I believe is important to the long-term competitiveness of North America. And I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Mr. COLEMAN, for his support and recognition of the value of this legislation. He is an original co-sponsor of the bill, and I look forward to working with him and others to ensure its success.
Currently, a significant development gap exists between Mexico and the United States and Canada. I believe it is in our best interests to find creative ways to bridge this development gap.
As my colleagues undoubtedly are aware, Mexico will elect a new President this weekend. When President Fox was elected in 2000 it was a watershed event for Mexico because the election was fair and the transfer of power was peaceful. I hope that the same fair, peaceful process takes place this weekend. So I wish all the candidates well and I look forward to working with the new Administration and the new Congress on issues of mutual importance to our countries.
Considered in the context of history, Mexico has--particularly within the past decade--made significant strides related to its system of government and its trade policies. However, much work remains to be done, and I think it is important that we explore ways to help our neighbor move their development efforts to the next level, to assist them as they continue on a path of prosperity and growth.
I have come to view the creation of a North American Investment Fund as both central to our relationship with Mexico and necessary to ensure the economic prosperity of North America as part of an ever-changing and growing global economy. I hope that this legislation will be a useful vehicle to help jump-start discussions on this very important topic.
My bill authorizes the President to negotiate the creation of a North American Investment Fund with the governments of Canada and Mexico. The fund can only be created if Mexico satisfies two conditions.
First, the Government of Mexico must raise tax revenue to 18 percent of the gross domestic product of Mexico. Their current tax rate is approximately 9 percent.
Second, Mexico must develop and execute a program of economic reforms to increase private investment and economic growth, while also maintaining economic stability in Mexico.
These steps are of the utmost importance because any lasting changes in Mexico must start from within.
The purpose of this fund is to reinforce efforts already underway in Mexico to ensure their own economic development. The funding would make grants available for projects to construct roads in Mexico to facilitate trade, to develop and expand their education programs, to build infrastructure for the deployment of communications services and to improve job training and workforce development for high-growth industries.
As I have mentioned on several occasions, I have heard from Mexico leaders who say they want desperately to "export goods and services, not people" to our country. Well, I think we all recognize that opportunity in one's home country and immigration are linked, and I believe we should be more involved in helping to promote the strength and stability of our neighbors.
Development provides a positive and stabilizing influence on economies, on government institutions, and also on immigration. We've seen, in past years, a steady flow of immigrants--particularly undocumented workers--coming across our borders. A vast number of these immigrants are here to work hard so they can send money home to their families and relatives. They may be well-intentioned, but at the same time, these hard workers are doing nothing to help their own economies.
Mexico does not want the most entrepreneurial members of its society to permanently leave. What it wants most of all is for economic development to grow in their region, so that citizens would have real opportunities to stay and grow the economy there. But with the entrepreneurs and risk-takers coming to the United States, Mexico cannot hope to improve its own economy.
Economic growth creates new jobs and raises incomes. This growth lifts people out of poverty even as it spurs positive economic reform. The potential for good is nearly limitless; as with such a fund we could spur sustainable development, strengthen private property rights, while also encouraging competition, regional integration, the open flow of technology.
So the best solution for all of us is a Mexico economy that is vibrant--and one important way is to ensure its continued development of infrastructure and resources. The legislation I am proposing today would encourage this development, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
I have no illusions that Congress will move quickly to approve the idea of a North American Investment Fund. In fact, I think it will likely take some time to make our case regarding the important role this fund would play in helping spur much-needed reforms in Mexico. But this investment in Mexico's future will only serve to contribute to a more stable and prosperous North America, which should be a goal we all work to actively support.
It is important that we consider not only what is immediately feasible, but also what is ultimately desirable--the ultimate goal--in terms of the relationship between our three countries, and so I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important legislation.
The Bill itself and more in the extended section.
Cornyn's little gem! Pass it to every
single person who gives a damn.
new Senate Bill that was introduced by John Cornyn (TX) and Norm Coleman (MN) that would require US Taxpayers to fund infrastructure projects within Mexico. This is on top of the billions earned here by illegal aliens holding American jobs, that is sent back to Mexico, never to be seen or spent in America again!!! These guys are killing our economy, our jobs, our sovereignty, and they need to be exposed!
North American Investment Fund Act (Introduced in Senate)
S 3622 IS
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3622
To authorize the President to negotiate the creation of a North American Investment Fund between the Governments of Canada, of Mexico, and of the United States to increase the economic competitiveness of North America in a global economy.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 29, 2006
Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. COLEMAN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
A BILL
To authorize the President to negotiate the creation of a North American Investment Fund between the Governments of Canada, of Mexico, and of the United States to increase the economic competitiveness of North America in a global economy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `North American Investment Fund Act'.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INVESTMENT FUND.
The President is authorized to negotiate with the Government of Canada and the Government of Mexico to establish a North American Investment Fund (referred to in this Act as the `Fund') by--
(1) agreeing to certain amendments to the November 1993 Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican States Concerning the Establishment of a Border Environment Cooperation Commission and a North American Development Bank; or
(2) negotiating an agreement with the Government of Canada and the Government of Mexico to establish and administer the Fund.
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the Fund shall be--
(1) to increase the economic competitiveness of North America in a global economy;
(2) to reduce the income gap between Mexico and Canada, and between Mexico and the United States; and
(3) to promote economic development in Mexico in the areas of infrastructure, education, technology, and job training.
SEC. 4. PROJECTS FUNDED.
(a) In General- Grants shall be awarded from the Fund for projects to carry out the purposes described in section 3, including projects--
(1) to construct roads in Mexico to facilitate trade between Mexico and Canada, and Mexico and the United States;
(2) to encourage the development and improve the quality of primary, secondary, and post-secondary education throughout Mexico;
(3) to expand the deployment of communications and broadband infrastructure throughout Mexico, with emphasis on rural and underserved areas; and
(4) to expand job training and workforce development for high-growth industries in Mexico.
(b) Project Selection-
(1) IN GENERAL- The agreement described in section 2 shall include guidelines for determining which projects will receive financial assistance from the Fund.
(2) PRIORITY- In selecting grantees to carry out projects described in subsection (a)(1), priority should be given to projects in the interior and southern regions of Mexico that connect to more developed markets in the United States and Canada.
SEC. 5. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND.
(a) In General- The agreement described in section 2 shall require the Governments of Canada, of Mexico, and of the United States to contribute to the Fund, subject to the limitations under subsection (b).
(b) Limitations on Contributions by the United States and Canada- The agreement described in section 2 shall include provisions that permit Canada and the United States to contribute to the Fund if the Government of Mexico--
(1) increases the tax revenue collected by such Government, with the goal of annually collecting an amount of such revenue that is equal to 18 percent of the annual gross domestic product of Mexico; and
(2) carries out a program of reforms to increase private investment and economic growth, reduce poverty, and maintain economic stability in Mexico.
SEC. 6. TERM OF THE FUND.
The agreement described in section 2 shall require that the Fund--
(1) operate for an initial period of 10 years; and
(2) cease operations at the end of such 10-year period, unless the Governments of Canada, of Mexico, and of the United States agree to extend the period of operation beyond such initial period.
SEC. 7. REPORT.
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Government of Mexico complies with the criteria described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 5(b), and once every 180 days after such date of compliance and before the finalization of the agreement described in section 2, the President shall submit a report to Congress detailing the progress made by the Government of the United States to establish the Fund in accordance with this Act.
{EDIT} And I got this email as I was creating this post.
What I sent before references the below:
You won't believe this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Follow the link named "Click above link to read the charter of the Border Enviroment Cooperation Commission"
Then go to page 10 and read the authority for confidentiality and ... Go read Article IV...
...it gives them eminent domain privileges - A true multinational government!
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on July 18, 2006 at 09:26 PM in , , |
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Friday, 07 July 2006
There is Justice, and it's sweet Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf
H/T William Page
A Whitefish man was sentenced Thursday to spend 50
hours wearing a sandwich board with the words, “I am a liar. I am not a
Marine. I have never served my country.”
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on July 7, 2006 at 05:49 PM in , , |
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Some folks 'get it' Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf
H/T William Page
A
group of 43 influential opinion leaders – including Alan Keyes, Phyllis
Schlafly, David Horowitz and Swiftboat activist John O'Neill – have
signed a declaration pledging to withhold support for any candidate,
Democrat or Republican, who votes for legislation providing "amnesty"
or a guest-worker program for illegal aliens.
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on July 7, 2006 at 05:36 PM in , , |
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Wake up, America! Contributed by Bill Faith
1stCav's on the road but he thinks everyone should click .
Contributed by Bill Faith on July 7, 2006 at 12:24 AM in , , |
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Wednesday, 28 June 2006
Who Are We? Contributed by Bill Faith
It all started with an email from Russ Vaughn, which I posted . That set off a flurry of emails which led to the creation of this site. I'll let Russ explain more:
Through the magic of the blogosphere it is becoming increasingly evident that there are a lot of old dogs out there mastering the new tricks of this 21st Century phenomenon. While some are technically skilled enough to create their own sites, like your host Bill Faith, far more fall into my category: those who tenaciously hunt and peck out their opinions on war, society and life in general, and have only the basic computer skills requisite to sending those opinions into the ether of this wonderful thing called the Internet.
Old War Dogs is a site designed for these old dogs to practice their new tricks without having to compete with the fluid skills of younger, more technically savvy bloggers. While we may be too old to carry a gun in the ranks, we can still pound these keys. Mao’s dictum that political power flows from the barrel of a gun, while true, predates the blogosphere; and this old dog bets the Chairman would be truly stunned at the power that flows from the keyboard.
Ron is entitled to wear stars and numerals indicating multiple awards of several of the ribbons shown. The webmaster has so far been unable to obtain suitable artwork.
Sgt (E-5) Winter, Ronald United States Marine Corps 1966 - 1970
See all of Ron's Old War Dog posts in one place .
Ronald Winter is an author, public relations executive, college professor and award winning journalist. He regularly writes and speaks on matters of public interest including the military, politics and the Vietnam War particularly as it relates to the ongoing War on Terror in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ron is author of the book published by Random House, and regularly posts commentary on war and politics in his column Winter's Soldier Story at his website .
He grew up in the farming country of upstate New York near Albany where he gave up an academic scholarship at the State University there in 1966 to join the Marines and fight in Vietnam. Ron was a helicopter crewman and machine gunner, flying 300 combat missions.
After Vietnam he returned to his studies earning undergraduate degrees in Electrical Engineering and English Literature. In a two-decade journalism career that included stints as investigative reporter, supervising editor and columnist, Ron was the recipient of several awards and a Pulitzer nomination.
He owns Spectre Communications where he specializes in marketing, media relations and political communications. He also is the Eastern Representative for Michael J. London & Associates public relations firm. Ron is an adjunct professor of communication at the University of Hartford.
John is entitled to wear 3 Oak Leaf Clusters on his Air Medal and 5 stars on his Europe/Africa/Middle East Campaign Ribbon. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
1st LT Werntz, John D. 72nd TC Squadron, 434th Group 9th USAAF, EAME Theater 1943-1945
See all of John's Old War Dog posts in one place .
The youngest of 4 sons, John Werntz turned 18 —choice draft-meat —11 weeks after Pearl Harbor. His eldest brother, Ted, a telephone technician in civilian life, was already in the Army, fated to find himself installing commo systems in Morocco in late 1942. Lest we forget, North Africa in’42 led to Palermo, then Messina, Salerno, Cassino, Anzio, Rome, Southern France, on up into Germany and all the way to Munich. But this is about John, not about Ted.
The middle brothers, Eugene and Howard, were already noncoms headed for action in the Pacific with the Fleet Marine Force. John’s dilemma: How to beat the draft without incurring the wrath and scorn of his dog-tagged and chevron-sleeved brethren. Just in time, the Army Air Corps lowered its standards to permit mere high-school grads to train as aircrew officers. After months of hard schooling relieved by PT and a modicum of Hup!Toop!Threep!Fawr, this gawky teenager found himself taking the President’s commission and with it a solemn vow of service to the nation. A soldier? Hardly. But a citizen in full.
That was early August of ‘43. Two months later John’s outfit, which was the first Troop Carrier Group to arrive in England, began to train for the assault on occupied Western Europe. Please note that John’s official MOS was Aerial Observer (Navigator). Prior to D-day he racked up well over 1000 hours of air time. Much of that was spent observing two sweating pilots wrestling with the controls, trying to stay on an even keel and keep proper distance in close formation while wallowing in rotten turbulent air exasperated by propwash and wingwash. A neat trick, formation flying in an aircraft that was designed to look serene while soaring over the Grand Tetons in lonely splendor.
The rest is history, and John had ample opportunity to observe some of it. The chaos that ensues when you release gliders, dozens of them in the air all at once, competing for a safe place to set down. The silent menace of that huge invasion fleet lurking in the pre-dawn mist off the coast of Normandy. The foreboding when the invasion seemed bogged down in the hedgerows six weeks after D-day. The euphoria after the breakout. Loud cheers in the Quonset hut when Patton’s tanks overrun the LZs and DZs of planned airborne ops. Why ramble on? We all know what happened. For John Werntz, it all comes down to a tale of 3 first weeks of August.
1943: Newly hatched shavetail, wet behind the ears.
1944: Breakout at St. Lô. Paris soon liberated. Rehearse French.
1945: Enola Gay does its thing. Tear up orders for Okinawa. Get smashed.
John has mentioned to me in the past that his unit flew C-47s and C-53s similar to the one in the above picture, which he told Small Town Veteran readers more about , and that he himself flew one mission on that particular aircraft. STV readers first met John in post.
The members of the Old War Dogs pack were saddened to learn that John Werntz passed away due to complications following a fall on 22 June 2008. Please see post for more information.
SSGT (E-6) Vaughn, Russ U.S. Army 1959-1962, 1964-1967 2d Bn, 327th Parachute Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division Vietnam 65-66
See all of Russ's Old War Dogs posts in one place .
I was tempted to just write "Russ Vaughn is widely known as the Poet Laureate of the milblogosphere," but I guess I'll go ahead and post what he sent me as well:
Russ served in the 101st Airborne Division in varying assignments including combat MP, infantry RTO/driver, fire team leader, and battalion CBR NCO from 1959-1962/1964-1966. He served in Vietnam with the 2d Bn, 327th PIR of the 101st Airborne. Russ was serving as brigade staff CBR NCO of the 2d Brigade, 82d Airborne Division when he left the Army in 1969. He obtained his B.S. degree from Texas El Paso on the G.I. Bill in 1971 and then entered the health care marketing field, specializing in military medicine. Retiring in 2000, he now travels frequently as a consultant in military medical marketing.
Small Town Veteran has been privileged to post frequent examples of Russ's writings over the past several months. Click to see the entire STV Russ Vaughn collection.
*** Update: The STV Russ Vaughn index has been updated and moved .
Back in the day, the stage just barely shy of "heap highly pissed" was "torque-jawed." Jaw muscles tight, jaw sticking out just a shade, somewhere between "If you weren't wearing those freakin' stars I'd tell you what I think" and "Dead man walking."
TorqeJaw, A Proud Veteran-American
TorqueJaw don't say much about his past, sorta gives the impression it's safer not to ask. We're not sure if he was a Gray Beret or maybe just a Mafioso or some such thing. TorqueJaw gets his way a lot.
TorqueJaw was created by Mr. and Mrs. Gray Dog.
FTM2 "Ponsdorf, Zero" Blue Water Navy 1963-1969 Yankee Station, SAR, Operation Market Time support, Shore Bombardment
See all of Zero's Old War Dogs post in one place .
"Zero Ponsdorf" was born and raised in West Virginia. He joined the Navy Reserves between his Junior and Senior year in high school (1963). Since his father was KIA in Korea he wouldn't have been drafted, but wanted to 'see the world' anyway.
Following high school he went to FT/A school at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and then to the USS England DLG-22, the first of four ships on which he served. Others were the USS Parsons DDG-33, USS Worden DLG-18, and the USS Mahan DLG-11.
"Zero" made 4 visits to the Gulf of Tonkin, each about 6 months long. The duty while there was varied, from picking up downed aircrew to firing shore bombardment. During rescue missions it was not unusual to exchange fire with North Vietnamese shore batteries.
He was discharged in May, 1969 as an E-5.
After his discharge Zero held many jobs, from driving a cab in San Diego to working for NASA at the tracking station on Kauai. While with NASA he worked on the first nine Shuttle missions.
Now Zero has settled in on his piece of ridge in central West Virginia. He does a little consulting work with computers, and some minor web work for friends.
Zero has been Blogging since 2004, and recently migrated (mostly) from Live Journal to Blogspot [Click -- BF.] He participated in the Kerry Lied rally in DC and is preparing to help Larry Bailey unseat Murtha this fall.
Zero has resigned from Old War Dogs effective 2007.01.21 and now posts at .
J.D. is entitled to wear stars and numerals indicating multiple awards of several of the ribbons shown. The webmaster has so far been unable to obtain suitable artwork.
CSM Pendry, J. D. U. S. Army 1971-1999
See all of J.D.'s Old War Dogs post in one place .
At JD's request I'm replacing the bio information that was here with the following copy of from his site:
I am a native West Virginian. I retired from the Army on September 30, 1999. I’m not a war hero. My views are conservative, pro-defense and pro Soldier.
My first line leadership book, : Common Sense Leadership for NCOs was released by Presidio Press in April, 1999. Random House purchased Presidio and now TMZ is under the Ballatine label. If you have a copy, thanks.
. Net Assessment - book review by Gilbert Duenas
xxx
The Three Meter Zone provides a comprehensive yet easy to follow review of several fundamental leadership principles for non-commissioned officers (NCO). Not only is the book a work of art, but also it has functional value for today's NCO. The author addresses the principles of NCO leadership via personal and professional experiences, quotations from political and military leaders, historical military accounts, and extracts from US Army field manuals. Command Sergeant Major Pendry, USA, presents the material in such a way that NCOs in any military service can easily use it to take care of their people and accomplish the mission.
The book is essential reading for the junior, midlevel, and senior NCO, offering a practical prescription for tackling leadership issues in the twenty-first century. The author candidly discloses personal experiences--each striking anecdote lends clarity and realism to leadership concepts such as selfless service, integrity, trust, and confidence. In a sense, Pendry invites the reader into a very natural discussion about leadership philosophy, one that underlies the NCO's role as mentor, disciplinarian, motivator, and communicator. He declares that an NCO's influence is indispensable to the character and growth of the military organization, insisting that the NCO is the backbone of the US armed forces. ...
Sgt. Pahl, Anthony W., OAM Royal Australian Air Force, 1967-1988 Vietnam: 9 Squadron RAAF June 1969 to June 1970 - Helicopter Gunner Malaysia: August 1973 - July 1976 Current Status: Retired with 100% war disability pension
See all of Anthony's Old War Dogs post in one place .
Anthony enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in December 1967 as an Airfield Defence Guard and was posted to Vietnam in June 1969, originally with No 1 Operational Support Unit at Vung Tau where he was mainly tasked with airfield security, perimeter patrols and perimeter maintenance. Included in this period was an attachment to No 1 Australian Reinforcement Unit with the Australian Army in Nui Dat. In August 1969 he applied for and was accepted as a helicopter gunner with No. 9 Squadron RAAF based out of Vung Tau and working out of Nui Dat. In the succeeding 10 months, until repatriation in June 1970, he few a total of 650 hours on "Slicks" and "Gunships".
During his 20 years service, Anthony was stationed on many Australian bases including Richmond, Edinburgh, Hobart, Laverton, Point Cook, Amberley, and Support Command in Melbourne. He also spent 3 years in Butterworth, Malaysia from 1973 to 1976. He remained in the RAAF until January 1988 but is now retired through ill health.
Since creating the IWVPA website in January 2001, its development and maintenance has been his means of remaining an active participant in society. On Australia Day, January 26, 2006, fellow Australians honoured Anthony with the "for service to veterans through the International War Veterans Poetry Archives".
Anthony's blog post contains additional background information many may find of interest.
SP/4 Page, William B. U.S. Army 1971-'73 Viet Nam 1971- '72 1st Air Cav Div (AM), 3rd Bde (Sep), B 2/5th Cav & D 1/12th Cav 1st ID 1972 - '73, CSC 1/2 Inf, Ft. Riley, KS. Inactive Reserves '73 - '77 (one activation - Ft. Drum, NY)
See all of William's Old War Dogs post in one place .
William "1stCav" Page volunteered for the Army at 17 after high school. 11B/C Infantry. Assigned to 1st Cav, 3rd Bde (Separate), 2/5th Cav Rgt., Co. B. in Viet Nam, he served in that unit in MR III until it stood down. He was then reassigned to 1/12th Cav Rgt., Co D, in MR II (Central Highlands, the only Infantry line company in the region and directly OPCON to Mr. John Paul Vann, Second Regional Assistance Group (SRAG) from the 1st Air Cav.
Elements of D 1/12th Cav were assigned various task during the Easter Offensive of 1972. Some were assigned with American Advisors (Adv. Teams 21, 22, 23, 36, etc) to differing bases and locations. William was in the Tan Canh/Dak To AO when ARVN 22nd Div had to abandon those facilities due to tank assaults from elements of two NVA Divisions. He was later chosen for 'Task Force Salvo', a small unit of then new jeep mounted TOW Missiles, and was with the group (82nd Abn TOW gunners) that first killed NVA tanks with the then new ground TOW at Kontum AO 15/16 May 1972.
After fulfilling his Army obligation William graduated from Auburn University in 1978, BS Bus. He worked for Int. Paper as a plant scheduler and in sales for 3 years, then left for the oilfield and hired on with Schlumberger as a Measurements While Drilling (MWD) Systems Engineer, and was later promoted Health Safety and Environmental Manager in Houston. He worked in East Coast Arctic (Davis Strait), Venezuela, and delivered a paper at The Hague, Netherlands in 1991. Other authorship included articles for 'Oilfield Review'.
William started an oilfield service company in 1992 and sold it in 2003. He is currently researching Viet Nam War military history.
William has resigned from Old War Dogs effective 2007.01.21 and now posts at .
SP/4 Mellinger, George M. U. S. Army 1969-1970 Viet Nam October 1969-October 1970 39 Engineer Bn, 18 Engineer Brigade Texas Army National Guard 1971-1972
See all of George's Old War Dogs posts in one place .
George Mellinger received a BA in Psychology in 1968 and began graduate school, but enlisted in the Army in 1969 as the one acceptable way to avoid the draft. His primary MOS was 12B20 Combat Engineer, but in Vietnam he served as battalion Kit Carson Scout handler and then as a line squad member, before being REMFed back to the company motor pool. After ETS, he worked for the Veterans Administration for seven years before returning to school to study history. He also volunteered for a year in the Texas Army National Guard. As a history student he specialized in Russian History, in which he is ABD, and also studied Early Islamic History; all his degrees are from the University of Minnesota. He has taught at university level, and is the editor/author of two academic volumes on the Soviet armed forces and the author of four (and counting) commercial books on Soviet Aviation history. He continues to follow military matters, particularly Russian/ex-Soviet, and hopes to die “on duty” at his keyboard. He is also hated on the web under the screen name Rurik.
Rurik has been a frequent contributor to Small Town Veteran, where he introduced himself to STV readers with post. Click to see the entire STV Rurik collection.
George has resigned from Old War Dogs effective 2007.01.21 and now posts at .
SGT (E-5) Krupienski, Robert U.S Army 1961-1964, 1964-1967
See all of Bob's Old War Dogs posts in one place .
Bob spent 6 years on active duty with the Army starting in February of 1961, taking his basic at Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri. They had wooden barracks and coal burning furnaces for heat and hot water back then. From there he went to a Nike Missile base northwest of Cincinnati (D Btry, 5th Msl Bn, 56th Arty, Oxford, Ohio). That was his duty station for his first enlistment, which ended in February of 1964.
After Bob was discharged he bummed around the country for a while with no real plans for the future, then re-enlisted in late 1964. Upon re-enlistment Bob was assigned to Brooke Medical Center for Med Records training. During his training he learned that his father was terminally ill so he requested a compassionate assignment to the Chicago area. The request was taking forever. Finally, his brother got hold of a powerful Chicago Alderman and within days Bob was at his duty assignment at the 5th Army HQ in Chicago, at 51st and Hyde Park near the Museum of Science and Industry. He was there about a year.
From there Bob went to Korat, Thailand and was assigned to the 31st Field Hospital which was part of the 9th Logistics Command. As the end of he assignment came near I requested and got a 6 month extension . That put him back in the states with less than 3 months to go so he got an early out.
Bob is currently working for a engineering firm in downtown Chicago. He has been with them for 30 years and spent 25 of those years at job sites during construction. They are in the power industry.
Bob tells me:
I am sure I am not the only one who, as we reach our twilight years, has found the need to re-connect with people from out military days. The need became stronger for me beginning March of 2007. I, and around 30,000 other vets and supporters went to DC to keep Hanoi Jane and her followers away from the Vietnam War Memorial. I met a lot of vets there but none from my old units. That was also the time I decided to join the Patriot Guard Riders. Yep, even at my age I ride a motorcycle.
SSGT King, Lloyd A. U.S Army 1967-1973, 1986-1992 1st Squad, 2nd Platoon, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division Airmobile Republic of South Vietnam, 1968 - 1969
See all of Lloyd's Old War Dogs posts in one place .
Lloyd A. King, Jr. was born in the rural town of Batavia in western New York State. Lloyd graduated high school in Sweetwater, Texas and attended college at Philadelphia College of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania majoring in Industrial Design with a minor in Fine Arts.
Lloyd's many aspirations were put on hold in 1967 during the Vietnam War when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Lloyd served as a non-commissioned officer in the infantry with the 101st Airborne Division-Airmobile during 1968 and 1969, the two worst years of the war.
Following Vietnam, Lloyd worked in the Oil and Gas Industry for twenty-eight years retiring as a Director of Safety and Training. In conjunction with his notable career, he lived in nine states and traveled to numerous foreign countries. He and his wife live in Lafayette, Louisiana, which he refers to as his adoptive Cajun hometown.
Lloyd began delving into the world of creative writing as a combat infantry soldier in 1968. He penned his emotions, experiences, and the sights and sounds of war in the form of poetic vignettes while in the jungles of South Vietnam. He described the things he couldn’t tell his family back home.
Thirty years after surviving Vietnam, Lloyd decided to tell his family about his experiences, but he couldn’t verbalize events that still haunt him today like the rage of a fierce thunderstorm. On July 28, 1998, he began a literary mission to tell others what the war was like…hoping that his family and friends would understand the war and better understand Lloyd as well.
Lloyd considers himself very blessed to be alive. Wounded twice, he experienced many of life’s terrible adversities firsthand…and somehow survived. Through seeing death, fear, killing, and atrocity, he learned about his own mental and physical capabilities and limitations.
(Click to read more.)
Lloyd has resigned from the Old War Dogs pack effective 2008.02.28
Gene is entitled to wear 2 Oak Leaf Clusters on his Presidential Unit Citation and two stars on his Europe/Africa/ Middle East Campaign Ribbon. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
Sgt. Harrison, Gene Hq 1st Bn 254 Inf 63 Div United States Army "Death before Defeat"
See all of Gene's Old War Dogs posts in one place .
"Gene Harrison" is the nom de guerre of a WW II veteran who served in Europe with Hq 1st Bn, 254th Inf, 63rd Infantry Division from Aug 1943 to June 1945, and then with SHAEF until April 1946. His regiment was attached to the First French Army for the Colmar campaign. He and his battalion were awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Charles de Gaulle.
The 63rd made the first break in the Siegfried Line near Ensheim Germany, where Sgt Harrison received a Bronze Star for gallantry in action on March 19, 1945. When the war in Europe ended, a chance meeting of an old friend resulted in his transfer to SHAEF Signal Corps, where he served with General George S. Patton, Jr., until Patton’s death in December 1945.
On his return to Com Z he used the GI bill to train up through the PhD. That degree opened various faculty appointments in several Ivy League universities. His CV boasts more than 100 publications, including original work in peer-reviewed journals and several widely quoted books. He is, without question, a blot on the “liberal,” academic landscape.
GMG3 Gardner, Steven M. U. S. Navy Feb. 1965 to Feb. 1971 Vietnam Service: 1966-1967 Cam Ranh Bay, 1968 – 1969 An Toi , Cat Lo, Vung Tau "Other than 3months in GMG A school and 4 months aboard the USS Nereus AS-17 the rest of my time was spent in the Republic of Vietnam aboard Three different divisions of Coastal Squadron 1."
See all of Steve's Old War Dog posts in one place .
Steve Gardner, known in some circles as "the tenth brother," served in the U. S. Navy from 1965 to 1971, spending almost the entire time patrolling the rivers and canals of Viet Nam as a swift boat crewman, including 2.5 months as John Kerry's gunner on PCF 44. He came home to raise 3 loving children and 4 loving grandchildren, whom he visits as often as he can get to Cincinnati. He worked and ran boat dealerships in three different states prior to the Kerry wars, after which he spent two years out of work; the company he's now with hired him knowing all about his background and he now covers three states and loves what he's doing.
SSgt (E-5) Faith, Billy D. USAF 1970 - 1974, USAFR 1974-1975 Viet Nam, 1971-1972 (14th, 8th Aerial Port SQs, PACAF)
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In the spring of '70, with American troops in Cambodia, National Guardsmen at Kent State and hundreds of long haired smelly people running around with "If you aren't part of the solution you're part of the problem" signs Bill Faith decided college just didn't seem "relevant" any more and enlisted in the Air Force. After training and a few months at Kelly AFB to practice what he'd been taught, Bill arrived at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base in November of '71 for six months of shuffling papers around trying to look busy. When the air base was shut down as a result of Congressionally mandated troop cuts right in the middle of the NVA's spring offensive, Bill was reassigned to Ton Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon for 90 days Delay Enroute on the way home. Tired of shuffling papers, he volunteered at that point for the 8th Aerial Port Squadron's Mobility (Bare Base) Team and got an opportunity to do some site-seeing in such beautiful exotic places as Cam Ranh Bay (where the Mob team was the only Air Force presence; the base was shut down, remember?), Qui Nhon (likewise) and Kontum (where there'd never been a real air base to begin with). The highlight of Bill's Viet Nam experience was at Kontum. After Viet Nam, Bill spent several boring months looking busy at Bergstrom AFB waiting for his ETS date.
When he returned to civilian life the GI Bill made it possible for Bill to spend two years at the University of Texas, earning a BSEE with Highest Honors degree in 1976, and later an MEEE degree from UT Arlington. After stints with Motorola in Fort Worth, Emerson Electric in St. Louis, and Rockwell International in Cedar Rapids, Bill was given an opportunity to "explore his interests in other areas" when Defense Secretary Cheney told Congress it would be OK to cut the defense budget a little and Congress overreacted. After a few months of odd jobs and freelance computer programming Bill settled into a technical support role, first spending 8 months answering a Microsoft telephone and later at an "outsourcing" contractor which provided technical support for several major PC and peripheral manufacturers. When Bill's health problems became worse about the same time someone realized Indians can answer email and some Canadians sound American enough to answer the phone, Bill entered early retirement. The VA considers Bill "Totally and Permanently Disabled" (non-Service Connected) and sends him just barely enough money to survive on every month. To the extent his health permits, between occasional trips to Ft. Worth to visit his daughter and grandson he spends the bulk of his time surfing the web and blogging. Prior to becoming webmaster for Old War Dogs, Bill blogged at , and before that at . *** Update: Bill is also now blogging at an OWD satellite site, .
Sgt Dog, Gray USAF 1970 – 1974, USAFR 1974 – 1976 5008th Tactical Support Squadron, Elmendorf AFB, AK 3902nd Air Base Wing, SAC HQ, Offutt AFB, NE
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The Gray Dog was born in West Virginia but grew up in the Detroit area. After graduating high school in 1969 with a student deferment in hand, he entered Wayne State University as a Music Major. After a sudden illness in his second semester forced him to withdraw from classes, the Selective Service saw fit to reclassify him 1A. With a low lottery number and a new draft status, Mike decided to be proactive and enlist in the Air Force in July 1970. His hopes of becoming an Air Traffic Controller were dashed when he didn’t pass the vision test, thus the Air Force armed him computer training and shipped him off to Alaska.
At Elmendorf AFB all newly arrived airmen were assigned to a Security Police Augmentee Team. So when he wasn’t defending the country from behind a computer console, The Gray Dog was issued an M16 and walked guard duty during the long Alaskan nights. Two years later he was reassigned to SAC HQ at Offutt AFB, NE. There, he was an Operations Supervisor assigned to the 3902 Air Base Wing.
After leaving the Air Force, The Gray Dog remained in the computer industry as a mainframe software developer which he still does today, making him a dinosaur in the industry.
In 2004, with the maniacal rants Michael Moore and John Kerry proliferating through the air waves, The Gray Dog decided to add his voice to the conservative blogs that were springing up throughout the country by starting his web site and assisting and contributing to his son’s site, IHateJohnKerry.net. He also was a contributor at Reject Liberalism and it was also during this time that he began regular correspondence with Old War Dog Jim Bartimus. The Gray Dog and Jim became fast electronic pen-pals and contributed frequently at each others site. The Gray Dog has recently resurrected his own fine site,
Del is entitled to wear a V for Valor device on his Navy Commendation Ribbon. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
Cpl. Del Vecchio, R. J. U.S. Marine Corps 1966 - 1968
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When R. J. Del Vecchio entered the Marines in 1966 the Marine Corps decided to make use of his BS and MS in chemistry and assigned him to a Photography MOS. He spent from Dec '67 to Nov '68 in Viet Nam, working as a Combat Photographer for the 1st Marine Division, based in Da Nang, and traveled over most of I Corps, from An Hoa in the southern tip to Hue most of the way north. Many of his photographs are in the National Archives, College Park, MD.
After his service in Vietnam, Del continued working in the field of chemistry and became a pro-veteran activist using his experience and knowledge of the conflict in SE Asia. His book, Whitewash/Blackwash: Myths of the Viet Nam War, co-authored with Mr. Bill Laurie, explodes many of the major myths of the Vietnam War. Now active in veteran circles, also Director of a charity for disabled ARVN vets suffering still in Viet Nam, been back there twice in the last 15 months to find and help them. He is also a regular lecturer in high schools and colleges on the history of the war.
Learn more about Whitewash/Blackwash, including ordering information, . Learn more about The Vietnam Healing Foundation, which Del directs, . Click and while you're at it.
MSgt (E-7) Craig, Bobbie USANG 1973-1976, 1982-2004 Desert Shield, Desert Storm 1990-1991 Various periods of Active Duty 1973-2004
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("Bobbie Craig" is the nom de blog of a retired Air National Guard NCO who prefers to keep her real identity secret for reasons the webmaster knows and considers perfectly valid.)
As the daughter of a career Army man, it was a family joke that whatever "Bobbie" grew up to be, it would be in the Army. Years later, Bobbie was expecting to pursue a career in federal law enforcement and found that the competition usually included military police experience. In order to keep up, in spite of the fact that we were in the midst of a serious conflict in a little place called Viet Nam, Bobbie tried to enlist, but insisted that it would be for military police training. The Air National Guard finally called and said that they could guarantee her a slot in that career field. So, it was off to Lackland for basic and SP training in 1973. That was the beginning of a very satisfying career with the ANG, to include interesting trips to some fascinating places in a wide variety of assignments.
Special memories for Bobbie include being one of the first 4 women to graduate from USAF Law Enforcement technical training (back in the day when women were not issued combat boots. Ever done the low crawl in regular shoes, guys?); packing C-130's for deployment all over the world in support of every imaginable contingency; riding those hulking birds all over the world, wearing out 5 laptops doing load plans during Desert Storm, printing the final ones to get the units home with no screen; and getting to drive to DC on 9-12-01 to support operations there.
After retirement in the spring of 2004 it was Bobbie's honor to stand with other veterans who opposed the lunacy of Kerry running for the presidency. That group continues operations in opposition to the Idiots for Peace as they work to undermine all the sacrifices we have made.
CPT Briscoe, Shane U.S. Army, 1971-1976 2/34 Armor, Ft. Carson 4th Infantry Division Headquarters, Ft. Carson 1/77 Armor, Ft. Carson 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Nuremberg
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Shane Briscoe is the pseudonym (for purely business reasons) for a West Point graduate (Class of ’71) and former Army Captain who, though he signed up at the height of Vietnam, ended up missing combat altogether.
The son of an Army officer (we call them “Brats”), Shane grew up on Army Posts around the world, from Germany to Hawaii and in between. He sought nomination to West Point with the goal in mind of a military career, but such was not to be.
“Vietnam changed the Army, and not for the better,” Shane says. “Fighting a war with one hand tied behind your back and no strategy for clear victory will do that to any army. Having said that, I thank my West Point classmates and everyone else who stayed in and fixed things so that we have the professional, dedicated, lethally effective force we have today.”
Commissioned an Armor officer, Shane served as a Platoon Leader and Executive Officer in two Fort Carson tank units and later at 4th Infantry Division Headquarters as a Public Affairs and Information Officer (“I was setting myself up for civilian employment”) before being posted to Germany in 1974. “My Dad always told me volunteering was bad luck, but I wanted a short tour so I could be in the United States to find a civilian job when my commitment expired in 1976; I volunteered for Vietnam first, and then Korea. They told me, ‘Lieutenant, you’re on orders for Germany,’ and that was that.”
Shane was assigned to the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment, the oldest regiment on continuous active service in the U.S. Army. Its mission at the time: Patrol the southern sector of the East German Border, along with the Czech Border as the very frontline NATO force. "In other words, we were the tripwire tasked with delaying the Warsaw Pact until our heavy divisions could organize. Gen. Tommy Franks of Iraq War fame was a fellow regimental staff officer."
Leaving the military in June 1976, Shane went into corporate public affairs, serving first as speechwriter for the chairman of a major utility company before finding his true calling in the oil business in 1980. He now works as a senior executive with an international oil and gas company headquartered in Houston.
“There is nothing more important than fighting and winning the War on Terror,” Shane believes. “This is World War III and the stakes are every bit as high as in World War II, the American Civil War and our Revolution. The rest of the world is too decadent and too socialist (same thing) to recognize it, but this war is also a fundamental clash of civilizations—the modern, Judeo-Christian, human-justice forces of Western Civilization against barbarians, pseudo-religious zealots stuck in the Middle Ages with no morals and, more important, no restrictions on their behavior. Winning this war, and winning it decisively, is the only option. It is the challenge of our age and a life or death struggle for our way of life.”
Shane also has his own blog at .
Karl is entitled to wear an Oak Leaf Cluster on his Air Force Commendation Medal, 3 bronze stars (instead of the one shown) on his Vietnam Service Medal, and 4 Oak Leaf Clusters on his Air Force Service Longevity Medal. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
LTC (Ret.) Bossi, Karl R. Enlisted, U.S. Air Force Reserve 1959 – 1962 (94th Troop Carrier Wing - Hanscom AFB, Bedford, MA) Officer, U.S. Air Force 1962 – 1982 (Japan, Vietnam, Spain, Turkey, U.S.)
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The youngest of three brothers, Karl Bossi was born and raised in Boston in the predominantly Irish section of Dorchester, a few years prior to the start of World War II. His brothers served in the USAF but Bossi chose to make the military a career. He could never know that the C-119 flying boxcars he supported as an airman would one day fly combat missions as AC-119 Gunships from his base in Vietnam.
As a nuclear weapons/conventional weapons maintenance officer and later an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer, Bossi worked in various squadron-level and staff assignments. He managed nuclear and conventional weapons operations, performed operational testing of new weapons, led a munitions squadron in Spain, advised the Turkish Air Force, and directed nuclear weapons stockpile activities. In 1968 after graduating from the Navy EOD School in Indian Head, MD, Bossi volunteered for Vietnam and was assigned to the 14th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base. As the officer in charge of the EOD Team he gained first-hand knowledge of Viet Cong bombs, bullets, and booby traps.
In 1982 Bossi retired at Kirtland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico as the Chief, Maintenance and Quality Assurance Division, Field Command Defense Nuclear Agency. He landed a position there as an aerospace logistic engineer at Sperry Flight Systems, later Honeywell Defense Avionics Systems Division. Over the next 15 years Bossi contributed to many key defense avionics programs involving the B-1B bomber, OH-58D helicopter, F-117 stealth fighter and C-17 transport aircraft.
Bossi holds graduate degrees in counseling and guidance and procurement management and is a published writer and author of a 5-star memoir, entitled Just Call Me Moose. Bossi's articles with photos have appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque Tribune, Albuquerque Business Journal, New Mexico Magazine and the nationally syndicated Country Woman Magazine.
Learning conservative principles started early for him. Fifty years ago as the Editor of the Yearbook at Boston Technical High School, Bossi ended the prologue with these words: “May God grant us strength to surmount the obstacles which lie ahead in a world made difficult by conflicting philosophies and aggressive governments.” Today every American must fully grasp the consequences of failing to win the war on terrorism. The Old War Dogs who launched this website understand.
Karl has announced his resignation from the Old War Dogs site effective 2006.10.22.
SP/4 Bartimus, James R. U.S. Army 1970-1973 Vietnam June 71-March 72 102nd Engr Co. 815th Engr Bn Camp Dillard Co E, 1st Engr Bn, 1st Inf Div Ft. Riley, Ks.
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Jim Bartimus was born and raised on a farm in the hills of Illinois. He enlisted in the Army during his junior year in high school. He was trained as a crawler tractor operator (62E20) with the combat engineers at Ft Leonard Wood. From there he went to NCO schooling for senior operators and was deployed to Viet Nam in 1971 as a SP/5 with the 102nd Engineers CS at Camp Dillard in the central highlands near Da Lat. The mission at hand was to build QL-20, a main corridor to the southern part of the country. This was a full circle operation with rock crushers, asphalt plant and an off compound rock quarry. The sergeant running the drilling and blast crew in the quarry rotated out and Jim replaced him after learning the tricks of the trade. He received his hard stripe E-5 ranking with an MOS for quarrymen (62G30) and also did the EOD work when required. Using time delay caps on 200 shot patterns with between 2000 and 3000 lb of TNT you can pretty much pile the rock anywhere you want it, and we were good at it. Those three steps are still in the side of that hill and will be forever. The 102nd was slated to stand down in 72 and some of the upper echelon changes didn’t seem to agree with those that were working off compound in the real war zone. (long story). JB got demoted to SP/4 and was replaced with an E-6 and continued with his work in the quarry. The day he held that badly wounded mans (Sgt Roher’s) head in his lap shielding his eyes from the sun will never be forgotten. He ran a track drill over a booby-trapped 81mm mortar round that was meant for me. We also lost the life of an old papasan that day that was very dear to me. I will never forget the Vietnamese friends that I had over there and the compassion we had for them. They weren't all the enemy.
Jim rotated back to Ft. Riley Kansas in March of 72 after the 102nd stood down and was assigned to Co E 1st Engr Bn 1st Inf Div, which was a floating bridge unit.
After leaving the military Jim returned to Illinois and married a nice Irish girl, and worked as a mechanic in the automotive and the trucking industry. He accepted a position in Texas doing engine (irrigation) rebuilds & machine work and spent 12 years working there and raising their son in a good environment.
JB is back in Illinois now and works for one of the largest independent oil field operators working the Illinois basin. His current job is process management and control stuff and taking care of the onsite 3 Megawatt power generation facilities and doing computer work and web authoring after hours for entertainment.
Jim is also the proprietor of the fine site.
Capt. (O-6) Bailey, Larry U.S. Navy 1962-1990
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A native of East Texas, where he graduated from Marshall High School and Stephen F. Austin State College, Larry Bailey was raised on a dairy farm, where he milked an estimated 300,000 Holsteins and Jerseys. Upon graduation from college, he went to Navy Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an ensign in 1962. After a less-than-stellar eight months as a destroyer sailor, he volunteered for Underwater Demolition Training at Little Creek, Virginia, and graduated therefrom in January 1964. After spending a year at UDT-22, he transferred to SEAL Team TWO, where he spent the next three years. Among his deployments at that command were combat tours to the Dominican Republic and Viet Nam.
Larry's 27-year Navy career saw him stationed in Panama, Bolivia, Scotland, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, in addition to various stateside postings, which included Little Creek, VA; Coronado, CA; and Ft. Bragg, NC. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Unit TWO in Machrihanish, Scotland, and Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado. He retired from the US Special Operations Command in 1990.
Since retirement, Larry has worked as a consultant, speechwriter, fundraiser, and general gad-about. His most notable activities included presiding over Vietnam Vets for the Truth, which campaigned against John Kerry in 2004, and over Vets for the Truth, which unsuccessfully tried to deny John Murtha a 17th term in Congress.
Larry and his wife Judy are the parents of two adult children: Tucker and Hallie.
Arch is entitled to wear an Oak Leaf Cluster on his Distinguished Flying Cross and 10 Oak Leaf Clusters on his Air Medal. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
Major Arthur, Arch U.S. Air Force 1967-1987
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Arch Arthur was born in Birmingham, Alabama – the son of an infantry lieutenant who was wounded in Normandy, and again on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, then gave his life for his country in April 1945. Two years later, Arch's mother married a career naval officer who spent WWII island-hopping the Pacific as a Seabee.
His family moved from Gulfport to Guam, Washington DC, Boston, New York and Norfolk. Arch attended public schools and two military academies, graduating from high school in Newport RI. He earned a BA in Asian Studies at the University of Oklahoma and married Judith Kennedy – the daughter of a retired artillery officer.
In 1967, 2LT Arthur graduated USAF officer training school. He attended undergraduate navigator training and the F4 aircrew training course before volunteering for South East Asia. He was assigned to Homestead AFB, FL.
In 1971 while TDY to Phu Cat, he got orders to the 366 Tactical Fighter Wing at DaNang AB, RVN. During his tour, he flew 164 ½ combat missions.
During the 1972 Eastertide Offensive Arch flew Linebacker and strike missions. As a Stormy Forward Air Controller, he and Cisco, his aircraft commander, made 7 passes on a SA-2 site the North Vietnamese set up just south of the DMZ. A site across the border fired five missiles; they saw three. The fourth detonated just below their aircraft. Both engines caught fire and stuck in full afterburner. Flight controls failed crossing the beach and the nose pitched up. As the aircraft slowed to 450 knots, they both ejected and parasailed about 1 Km feet wet. NVA artillery shot at their rafts for half an hour until HH-53s from the 33 ARRS rescued them. After recuperating for 10 days, he returned to Stormy.
After Vietnam, he was assigned to 58 TTW at Luke AFB, teaching aircrews to operate the F4C. In 1975, he moved to Clark AB, Philippines in an operational test and evaluation unit – the 1st Test Squadron. In 1978 he served in the 4th TFW at Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC.
After 13 years in the cockpit, he accepted an overseas assignment as a US military-political affairs officer in Central America. Returning to CONUS in 1981 with three overseas tours, he finished his career as a staff officer in Air Defense Weapons Center at Tyndall AFB, FL. From concept to operational status, Arthur was responsible for three major range improvement programs – formation drone control, vector scoring and telemetry relay.
Before retiring in 1987, Major Arthur had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and another for extraordinary achievement, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters and other citations. He held aeronautical rating of Master Navigator and a Top Secret SBI clearance.
After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Arthur accepted an executive position with LTV Aerospace and Defense – Missiles and Electronics Group/Sierra Research Division in Buffalo, NY. At Sierra, he was program manager and product line manager of avionics with full profit-loss, orders, sales and performance responsibility for $100 M in active US DoD, foreign military and commercial contracts. In 1999, he was promoted to director of business development, marketing wideband time space position information technology.
In 2004, Arch accepted early retirement and founded his own defense electronics firm. In December 2006, he moved from Buffalo to a rural town south of Birmingham.
(Unit patches pending)
OST-6 "Antimedia" U.S. Navy 1968-1974
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Antimedia served in , which was secret but has now been declassified. His entire service was shore-based - one year and three months in training, two years and nine months in Cape Hatteras, NC and two years in Newfoundland, Canada.
Antimedia also has a great blog of his own, .
Sgt. Andrew, Martin Royal Australian Air Force, 1977-2005
International Military Liaison Darwin October 1999 – July 2000
RMAF Base Butterworth July 1982 – November 1984
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Martin Andrew is an Aussie ring in. Best known for his GI Zhou Newsletter and his contributions to the Jamestown Foundation's China Brief he spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Air force rising to the rank of Sergeant. A dedicated REMF or Pogue, postings during his career included Malaysia where he received an Australian Service Medal for liver abuse and getting married, and eleven and half years in the Northern Territory. The highlight of his career was being an International Military Liaison Officer from October 1999 to July 2000 in Darwin, during Australia's involvement in East Timor the first time. He worked as a liaison officer with elements from various forces including the Jordanian Special Forces, South Korean Rangers, Irish Rangers, Canadian Defence Force and the Fijian Defence Force.
Martin holds a Masters Degree in Asian Studies and has been to Harvard University as a Research Affiliate on North Asia. His contributions will be in the area of North Asia, modern weaponry notably infantry weapons ,and modern warfare. He was trained in many small arms during soujourns to Fabrique Nationale and Heckler and Koch in the 1980s and travelled extensivelly around East Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei from 1991 to 2003 collecting much information about the region for his university research.
He looks forward to contributing to the Old War Dogs but acknowledges he is a pup - he owns a half Staffordshire Terrier/half Australian Red Heeler who is his best friend and companion.
Martin Andrew has resigned from the Old War Dogs site effective 23 Nov 2006.
Gary is entitled to wear 3 Oak Leaf Clusters on his Air Medal, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze OLC on his Air Force Good Conduct Medal, 2 OLCs on his Army Good Conduct Medal, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze OLC on his Air Force Longevity Medal and 3 OLCs on his Outstanding Unit Award ribbon. The webmaster has so far been unable to locate suitable artwork.
SMSGT Adams, Gary ("Boomer") U.S. Air Force 1956-1986
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Gary was born and raised in Ashland, Wisconsin, on the shore of Lake Superior (some call it Gitcheegumee). He enlisted on June 12, 1956 upon graduation from high school. Basic training was at Parks AFB, Pleasanton, CA and was one of the very last classes before the base was closed and all basic training moved to Lackland AFB, TX.
Gary's first assignment was to be Itazuke AB, Japan. He departed Oakland by ship (MSTS M.M. Patrick) and spent 17 days, three days in a typhoon, enroute to Yokohama, Japan. At Tachikawa his assignment was changed to Kadena AB, Okinawa where he spent the next four years (Dec 56 - Dec 60). While there he met his Miss Okinawa in 1958 in the Airman's Club. Gary comments: "It took three months of trying to get her attention before she finally spoke to me and three more to get her to go on a movie date". They were married on March 16, 1959 and have one son (48), one daughter (46), eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter who lives with them.
Other assignments: Fairchild AFB, Spokane, WA (Dec 60 - Sep 64), Pease AFB, Portsmouth, NH (Sep 64 - May 66), Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taichung, Taiwan (May 66 - Jun 67), Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA (Jun 67 - Dec 70), Grissom AFB, Peru, IN 9 (Dec 70 - May 72), a second tour at Kadena AB, Okinawa (May 72 - May 80) and finally Andersen AFB, Guam in May 1980 where SMSGT Adams assumed the position of his career as Chief Boomer, Pacific Tanker Task Force. He retired on March 1, 1986.
Gary logged 212 combat support missions (800+ hours) in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. Notable historical events he participated in: Frequent Wind (the withdrawal from Vietnam) - flew 12 hour communication relay sorties on the last two days, 29 and 30 April 1975. He also participated in 8 of the 11 days in December 1972 during Linebacker II when the B-52's conducted an intensive 11 day bombing of North Vietnam. An unforgettable 11 days it was.
After Gary retired he was hired by Pacific Stars & Stripes as the Guam Area Manager. He held that position until he resigned in December 1989. Gary is now 100% retired and stays home to take care of his many canine friends and play with his great-granddaughter who will someday be a pilot and take him for a space ride (she already loves airplanes).
Webmaster's note: This post may change as time goes on without being re-dated. I'm still looking for better pictures of some of the ribbons and badges, and the post will grow as we recruit more Old War Dogs.
Contributed by Bill Faith on June 28, 2006 at 07:25 AM in , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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The youngest of 4 sons, John Werntz turned 18 —choice draft-meat —11 weeks after Pearl Harbor. His eldest brother, Ted, a telephone technician in civilian life, was already in the Army, fated to find himself installing commo systems in Morocco in late 1942. Lest we forget, North Africa in’42 led to Palermo, then Messina, Salerno, Cassino, Anzio, Rome, Southern France, on up into Germany and all the way to Munich. But this is about John, not about Ted. 
