The Patriot's Corner
Contents
This page provides links to multimedia (picture/sound/video) content with a patriotic theme that might be of interest to the membership.
Tesla Coil "Tone Arranger"
New Flash Mob
Dave Mikkelson passed on this awesome 'flash band' rendition of God Bless America.
(with apologies for any crass commercialism which might creep into Youtube's video link)
Angel Flight
Thank you, Dave Mikkelsen, for this:
My Hat's Off to this Soldier
Dave Mikikelson shared this
A Soldier's Final Inspection
THE FINAL INSPECTION
The soldier stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?'
The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
'No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.
There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
'Step forward now, you soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell.'
Author Unknown~
WVU Tribute to Armed Forces
Thanks to Dick Pedersen for this link:
Merry Christmas in Lights
This from the Roberts family of Andrews, TX. Merry Christmas
Van T Barfoot, RIP
Van T. Barfoot died
Remember the guy who wouldn't take
The flag pole down on his Virginia
Property a while back?
You might remember the news story several
Months ago about a crotchety old man in
Virginia who defied his local Homeowners
Association, and refused to take down the
Flag pole on his property along with the large
American flag he flew on it.
Now we learn who that old man was:
On June 15, 1919, Van T. Barfoot was born in
Edinburg , Texas . That probably didn't make
News back then.
But twenty-five years later, on May 23, 1944,
Near Carano , Italy , that same Van T. Barfoot,
Who had in 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army, set
Out alone to flank German machine gun
Positions from which gunfire was raining
Down on his fellow soldiers.
His advance took him through a minefield but
Having done so, he proceeded to single-handedly
Take out three enemy machine gun positions,
Returning with 17 prisoners of war.
And if that weren't enough for a day's work, he later
Took on and destroyed three German tanks
Sent to retake the machine gun positions.
That probably didn't make much news either,
Given the scope of the war, but it did earn
Van T. Barfoot, who retired as a Colonel after
Also serving in Korea and Vietnam , a well
Deserved Congressional Medal of Honor.
What did make news...Was his Neighborhood
Association's quibble with how the 90-year-old
Veteran chose to fly the American flag outside
His suburban Virginia home. Seems the HOA rules
Said it was OK to fly a flag on a house-mounted
Bracket, but, for decorum, items such as
Barfoot's 21-foot flagpole were "unsuitable".
Van Barfoot had been denied a permit for
The pole, but erected it anyway and was facing
Court action unless he agreed to take it down.
Then the HOA story made national TV,
And the Neighborhood Association rethought
Its position and agreed to indulge this
Aging hero who dwelt among them.
"In the time I have left", he said to the
Associated Press, "I plan to continue
To fly the American flag without interference."
As well he should.
And if any of his neighbors had taken a notion to
Contest him further, they might have done well to
Read his Medal of Honor citation first. Seems it
Indicates Mr. Van Barfoot wasn't particularly
Good at backing down.
COL Barfoot suffered a fall resulting in head trauma, and died on March 2, 2012 at the age of 92.
True Heroism
From Patriot Post, 28 SEP 2016
Alexander's Column
The Most Unlikely Hero — Desmond Doss
When ordered to retreat, but one man refused. The account of his actions is coming to a theater near you!
“There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” —Alexander Hamilton (1775)
In early November, many of us will be focused on the second Tuesday, Election Day, and the implications the poll taken that day will have on the future of Liberty. Most notable is the future composition of the Supreme Court, because the winner of this presidential election will likely remake the High Court for the next quarter-century.
But pause with me to read about an event that reflects infinitely more about the essential spirit of America than the contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
On November 4th, there will be a big-screen release starring Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man) in the lead role. It is an action hero movie, but it will not feature a Marvel Comics character.
“Hacksaw Ridge” is the incredible story of Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss, a screen adaptation by Mel Gibson based on a screenplay that had been relegated to “development hell” for 15 years. The film’s world premiere was earlier this month at the esteemed Venice Film Festival, where it received a 10-minute standing ovation.
So why does a script sit for 15 years and then receive an overwhelming reception by the industry’s leading critics? Because its subject did not have a self-promoting inclination in his body, and the word “hero” is so overused today that its meaning is now a ubiquitous reference to virtually anyone in any uniform.
But this story reaffirms the rightful definition of heroism.
I first met Desmond Doss in 1995 when he was 76 years old. He was a local man whose name wasn’t known to many, even in his small community. He and his wife, Frances, were simple people who lived a simple life on a small farm a few miles south of our family home in east Tennessee.
Desmond was humble and slightly built. He wore thick glasses and was virtually deaf. But he and Frances were warm and welcoming people.
So quiet and unassuming were these two souls that one would never suspect they had been more than five miles from their small homestead. But Desmond and Frances both exhibited a deep and unrelenting resolve rooted in their Christian faith, which became evident when in their presence.
Fifty years before we met, Desmond selflessly demonstrated that faithful resolve in repeated acts of heroism unparalleled among Medal of Honor recipients before or since.
Desmond was raised in a Christian tradition which taught that taking up arms to do someone harm was forbidden. When World War II began, he declined a religious exemption that would have allowed him to continue working in a Virginia shipyard. Instead, he became an Army medic. But he told his superior officers that his religious beliefs — his understanding of the Ten Commandments — prohibited him from picking up a weapon to kill someone.
I note that another Medal of Honor recipient, Tennessean Alvin York, held similar faith views. He was a Christian “pacifist.” However, in the 1918 battle of Meuse-Argonne, York took up his weapon and masterfully used his backwoods marksmanship to defend men who were pinned down by machine gun fire — and captured 132 Germans in the process. Alvin would later say, “A higher power than man guided and watched over me and told me what to do.”
Desmond was classified a “conscientious objector,” though he preferred the term “conscientious cooperator” because he never objected to serving our country. According to Desmond: “I felt like it was an honor to serve God and country. I didn’t want to be known as a draft dodger, but I sure didn’t know what I was getting into.”
Doss was viewed by officers and his fellow enlisted personnel as a coward. He never picked up a rifle, though he found himself in the heat of combat in places like Leyte and Guam in the Pacific. But it was his actions in May 1945, near Urasoe on Okinawa, that really distinguish his limitless courage and character.
Amid the most horrific fighting on that bloody island, Desmond refused an order of retreat and cover, because he knew there were many severely wounded soldiers above his position at the top of the Maeda Escarpment — a rocky cliff also known as Hacksaw Ridge. He scaled that high wall and, over the course of 12 hours, repeatedly crossed fields of Japanese machine gun, rifle and mortar fire and, one-by-one, pulled injured soldiers off the battlefield and lowered them 35 feet to safety via an improvised rope litter. When he finally came back down the escarpment, his fatigues were caked with blood.
His Medal of Honor citation reads like fiction. What he did simply doesn’t seem possible. But Desmond’s heroic actions with the Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division, between April 29 and May 21, 1945, are well documented:
“He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high. As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machine gun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying all 75 casualties one-by-one to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands.”
But his unprecedented heroics did not end there.
“On May 2, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2 days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within eight yards of enemy forces in a cave’s mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety.
"On May 5, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire.
"On May 21, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man.
"Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, by a sniper bullet while being carried off the field by a comrade, this time suffering a compound fracture of one arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards over rough terrain to the aid station.
"Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.”
In awarding Desmond his medal, President Harry Truman referred to him as “the little skinny pharmacist’s mate.” Indeed, at slightly over 140 pounds, he would have qualified as a welterweight fighter, but he performed feats that, by his account, could only have been achieved by God’s intervening hand.
For his part, Desmond said, “I wasn’t trying to be a hero, I was thinking about it from this standpoint — in a house on fire and a mother has a child in that house, what prompts her to go in and get that child? Love. I loved my men, and … I just couldn’t give them up.”
Years later, I heard a captain in Desmond’s unit, one who had relentlessly ridiculed him, recount in tears Doss’s actions on Okinawa — tears because he was one of the men Desmond pulled to safety.
Charles Googe, Director of the Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga (where Desmond’s original Medal of Honor is housed), notes why his actions are unparalleled among Medal recipients: “Often times heroism is measured within a single or split-second act. Desmond Doss performed repeated unimaginable feats of bravery on Leyte and Okinawa. He left Okinawa with a severely fractured arm and 17 pieces of shrapnel embedded in his body.”
Googe notes further, “Once back in the States, he devoted much of his life in service to his neighbors and community. Desmond’s character was defined not by one single event, but by repeated acts of honorable service to his country throughout his life.”
Desmond died in 2006, and indeed, all who knew him remember him for his lifelong repeated acts of service.
In 1992, during one of Ronald Reagan’s last public addresses, he offered these words about honoring our legacy of Liberty: “My fondest hope for each one of you is that you will love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism. May each of you have the heart to conceive, the understanding to direct, and the hand to execute works that will make the world a little better for your having been here. May all of you as Americans never forget your heroic origins, never fail to seek divine guidance, and never lose your natural, God-given optimism. And finally, my fellow Americans, may every dawn be a great new beginning for America and every evening bring us closer to that shining city upon a hill.”
Those words sum up the life of Desmond Doss.
Hacksaw Ridge is a big screen production that will introduce Millennials to the reality of genuine heroism and American Patriotism.
Pro Deo et Constitutione — Libertas aut Mors
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
"SHIFTY" - an incredible American hero
Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.
I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.
Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.
Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 ..." at which point my heart skipped.
At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy .. . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.
I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what
D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero ... and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.
I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes... And it 's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.
I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty cameforward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.
He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.
Shifty died on Jan. l7, 2012 after fighting cancer.
There was no parade.
No big event in Staples Center ..
No wall-to-wall, back-to-back 24x7 news coverage.
No weeping fans on television.
And that's not right!
Let's give Shifty his own memorial service, on line, in our own quiet way.
Rest in peace, Shifty.
(from an EMail about a chance encounter with SSgt. Darrel 'Shifty' Powers, written by Mark Pfiefer.)
VIETNAM - 50 years later
January 23 to March 29 marks the 43rd anniversary of our withdrawal from Vietnam. May all of our Brothers-Comrades-Friends-Warriors RIP.
Vietnam, 50 years later.
SAM ELLIOT NARRATES THIS STIRRING VIDEO....
Soaring Valor - WWII Vets
Great video of the Gary Senise Foundation's program of taking WWII veterans down to the WWII Museum in New Orleans on "Soaring Valor" flights.
We Should All Be Like This
Check out this YouTube video (thanks, Hunt Banister) of a couple of WWII Veterans waiting for their honor flight and how they reacted to some young ladies re-enacting the Andrews Sisters presentation of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. Would that we all could be that sprightly at their age.
A Different Christmas Poem
The Hometown Battlefield
Thanks to Hunt Banister for bringing this video to our attention.
It poignantly details the reality of PTSD and, while its focus is primarily Canadian, it's effects and significance are universal.
One Life, One Flag, One Mile
Thanks to Dick Pedersen for this great video:
Veterans Tribute
Sharing the USAA trubute to veterans on this Veterans' Day 2015:
Click on this link to view the video.
Kevin Troller says:
Happy Veteran’s Day to all of you. Today is a day we celebrate our combined commitment to something bigger than ourselves – Our Country. I’m thankful for the careers and memories that we share; and I’m thankful for the commitment and loyalty to each other and to mission that our careers reflect. Know that each of you are in my thoughts and prayers today. Thank You for your Service !!!
This morning I took the time to read our stories about Ernie Gregory, 22 wonderful stories of his investment in our lives and careers. Seemed fitting today to remember his investment in our lives and careers. Here’s the link to see what’s been posted so far: collection of anecdotes.
If you’ve not yet had the time to send your stories or tributes of Ernie, today would be a great day to do that. Please send them to: BULLETINS@RAFINO.ORG
Thank you, and Happy Veteran’s Day !!!! Kevin
Russ Dowden:
Colonel Troller and all the rest,
Thank you for your service to this still great country! I am proud to have served with you and thank you for being there to help me along the way ... russ
Jim Martens:
I join Kevin in Wishing you and your families that served our Great Nation a Happy Veteran’s day.
Thank You for your Service!
Best to all,
Glenna & Jim
Bob Speer:
Thanks Kevin! Happy Vetrans Day and thanks for your Service!
Best to All
Bob
From Jim Watkins:
It's a great day to remember all the men and women who put on the uniform and served! My thanks and best wishes to you all.
Jim
Jorge Roca:
Kevin, thank you, and I want to likewise thank all of you for your service, dedication, and friendship.
Happy Veterans day
Jorge
Tribute to Vietnam Vets
As we come up on 11 November and Veterans' Day, here is a short video tribute to the 7.2 million living veterans and the 9 million families of all who served from August 5, 1964 and May 7, 1975.
Some WWII Statistics (USAAF)
As we commemorate D-Day on 6 June, it would be enlightenng to review some of the statistics concerning the allied air forces during WWII:
http://pippaettore.com/Horrific_WWII_Statistics.html
Mansions ...
Thanks to Hunt Banister for this moving tribute to our fallen brothers:
They Don't Make 'em Like They Used To
Thanks to Dick Darcy for alerting us to this geat video of a great hero and a great representative of the greatest generation, CPT Jerry Yellin, USAAF
A Marine's Dad - Keeping it in the Family
As of April 2014, nearly 6,802 American troops died fighting in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The loss is immense. The impact is immeasurable. And no one knows this more than Bill Krissoff.
Bill’s son, First Lt. Nathan Krissoff of Reno, Nev., was killed in Iraq a year ago. Bill needed to find a way to honor his son. So, being an orthopedic surgeon, he made a decision that surprised the world — he enlisted in the Navy Medical Corps in the hope of being assigned to Iraq. At 61 years old, people thought he was too old to be considered, let alone sent to Iraq. After all, he was past the enlistment age limit, and getting an age waiver could take a year.
But Bill took every step he possibly could, and one day fate struck. Bill and his wife were invited to meet President Bush. At the time, the President was known for meeting with families of fallen soldiers across the country.
Check out the video below to see what happened next. There are those critics out there who think Bill is nuts for leaving a successful orthopedic practice to go to war. Bill, however, says it’s an honor.
Thank you Food City
Dave Mikkelson sent this to us. A great commercial from Food City.
If this one doesn't grab you, nothing will.
A Hero Passes Unnoticed
You're a 19 year old kid.
You are critically wounded and dying in the jungle somewhere in the Central Highlands of Vietnam .
It's November 11, 1967.
LZ (landing zone) X-ray.
Your unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense from 100 yards away, that your CO (commanding officer) has ordered the Med-Evac helicopters to stop coming in.
You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out.
Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again.
As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day.
Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter.
You look up to see a Huey coming in. But...It doesn't seem real because no Med-Evac markings are on it.
Captain Ed Freeman is coming in for you.
He's not Med-Evac so it's not his job, but he heard the radio call and decided he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway.
Even after the Med-Evacs were ordered not to come, he's coming anyway.
And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 3 of you at a time on board.
Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses and safety.
And,he kept coming back!! 13 more times!!
Until all the wounded were out. No one knew until the mission was over that the Captain had been hit 4 times in the legs and left arm.
He took 29 of you and your buddies out that day. Some would not have made it without the Captain and his Huey.
Medal of Honor Recipient, Captain Ed Freeman, United States Air Force, died last Wednesday at the age of 70 in Boise, Idaho.
May God Bless and Rest His Soul.
I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about the Kardashians, Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin,
the government shut down, "what difference does it make!", and the bickering of congress over OBAMA CARE!
BUT ZIP ABOUT THE PASSING OF
Medal of Honor Winner Captain Ed Freeman.
Shame on the media !!!
Patriotic Christmas Lights
Dave Mikkelson found this and shared it with us. Amazing what they can do with Christmas lights these days. (Sorry for the ad up front - the price we pay for You Tube):
Season's Greetings to RAFINO Members
A Christmas Card, thanks to Bob O'Halloran.
Sorry about the ad up front - You Tube does it to pay the freight.
A Soldier's Pledge
Freedom is not free - a Soldier's Pledge
Ventures Drummer is a 4 Star!
The 17 year old drummer who featured in the Ventures' hit song of "Walk, Don't Run" grew up to be a USAF Four-Star General.
Go back to your past as you view his reunion with the band in this YouTube video:
CMH Museum
Great video provided by John Olson.
The Choices We Make
A very neat commercial - the message rings true. Thanks to Doug Lawhorn for finding this one.
Hero's Send-Off
----
Mike Monsoor,
Was Awarded "The Congressional Medal Of Honor" in 2008, For Giving His Life In Iraq , As He Jumped On, And Covered With His Body, A Live Hand Grenade, Saving The Lives Of A Large Group Of Navy Seals That Was Passing By!
~
During Mike Monsoor's Funeral, At Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery , In San Diego , California ..
The Six Pallbearers, who removed The Rosewood Casket From The Hearse, and Lined Up On Each Side Of Mike Monsoor's Casket, were His Family Members, Friends, Fellow Sailors, And Well-wishers.
The Column Of People Continued From The Hearse, All The Way To The Grave Site.
What The Group Didn't Know At The Time Was, every Navy Seal (45 To Be Exact) that Mike Monsoor Saved That Day Was Scattered Through-Out The Column!
~
As The Pallbearers Carried The Rosewood Casket down The Column Of People To The Grave Side. the Column Would Collapse..
Which Formed A Group Of People That Followed Behind.
~
Every Time The Rosewood Casket Passed A Navy Seal, he Would Remove His Gold Trident Pin From His Uniform, and Slap It Down Hard, causing The Gold Trident Pin To Embed Itself into The Top Of The Wooden Casket!
Then The Navy Seal Would Step Back From The Column, And Salute!
~
Now For Those, who Don't Know What A Trident Pin Is, Here Is The Definition!
~
After One Completes The Basic Navy Seals Program Which Lasts For Three Weeks, And Is Followed By Seal Qualification Training, Which Is 15 More Weeks Of Training, Necessary To Continue Improving Basic Skills And To Learn New Tactics And Techniques, Required For An Assignment To A Navy Seal Platoon.
After successful completion, Trainees Are Given Their Naval Enlisted Code, And Are Awarded The Navy Seal Trident Pin.
With This Gold Pin They Are Now Officially Navy Seals!
It Was Said, That You Could Hear Each Of The 45 Slaps From Across The Cemetery!
By The Time The Rosewood Casket Reached The Grave Site, It Looked As Though It Had A Gold Inlay From The 45 Trident Pins That Lined The Top!
This Was A Fitting End To An Eternal Send-Off For A Warrior Hero!
This Should Be Front-Page News!
Instead Of The Garbage We Listen To And See Every Day.
Robin Williams and Retreat
Many of us mourn the loss of Robin Williams. In addition to being one of the most brilliant comedians there ever was, he was - in the tradition of Bob Hope - a great supporter of the troops.
Here is a video of what happened when he was doing a USO show in Afghanistan when retreat sounded.
The Saluting Boy on Omaha Beach
John Olson found this for us.
Subject: A little boy's salute
You don't have to be a Vet to appreciate this, but it sure brings a tear to your eye if you are.
After watching this you will know that all is not lost in the youth of today.
There are still honorable people alive and possibly, our younger generation may do better than we …This brought tears to my eye.
A Flag for freedom and liberty
Dick Pedersen sent this along; Excellent video:
The World's Tallest Patriotic Symbol
Audie Murphy's Wife
|
|
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2014.0.4592 / Virus Database: 3955/7643 - Release Date: 06/08/14
5.64 GB (37%) of 15 GB used
©2014 Google - Terms & Privacy
Last account activity: 4 minutes ago
Details |
|
Show details
|
D-Day Tribute
Receiver this from John Boyer;
Watch Challenger, the Eagle
Dick Pedersen provided this. Great images of a domesticated bald eagle.
Sage Military Advice
Here is a great Powerpoint containing sage military advice, gleaned from recently released top secret documents. It is a large file, so it may take a bit of time to download.
Arlington Flyover
Arlington Flyover
Two Air Force Pilots, Major Howard V. Andre Jr. and Major James E. Sizemore, were recently buried at Arlington National Cemetery and were honored with a flyover by civilian pilots. These U. S. Air Force pilots were killed in action over Laos during the Vietnam War, and their remains were only recently discovered in 2012 and returned for proper burial at Arlington . This Flight of Honor was truly awesome for the other pilots to plan and conduct it.
Please take a couple of minutes and watch this video from a local news outlet in the Orlando area. I didn ' t see it on any other news programs or in the newspapers, but I thought you would like to see it. God bless those who did the flyover, and God rest the souls of the two pilots lost so long ago.
What a great thing those heroic volunteer-airmen did. I also understand that they covered all the cost, including a large amount for the fuel.
Il Silenzio - ... Beautiful and Moving
About six miles from Maastricht. in the Netherlands lies buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home.
Annually on "Liberation Day" Memorial Services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio", a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.
This year the soloist was a 13 year old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra(the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi. Watch at this site and go full screen. It's very beautiful and moving.
NAVY UCAS
Just 6 months ago ( July 10, 2013 ) the Navy successfully conducted take-offs and landings from a fairly new nuclear aircraft carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, with a new stealth jet called the X-47B.
What is so different about this plane is the fact that it is a 'drone'. Yes, it is completely unmanned. Drones come in all sizes, and the X-47B is likely one of the larger ones.
What is so ironic about all of this is, the fact that the enemy cannot detect a plane like this in the first place. In the unlikely event they get lucky at shooting one down, there will be no human loss of life or captivity. As you view the flight deck crew signaling the plane, they are simply signaling the on-board cameras, who in turn are being manned by staff inside the command intelligence center ( CIC ) onboard the ship.
Thanks for Your Service
Please take 2 minutes and 30 seconds to watch. This is relevant especially since we celebrated the 50th Anniversary commenoration of the war last month.
Middle East Conflict War Memorial
Little known memorial in Illinois. Check out the video (thanks to Dave Mikkelson for the link):
Pearl Harbor (after visiting hours)
This is something I never knew. I felt that you, too, might enjoy seeing this.
J Claud Wallace 2/2/13
And Doug Lawhorn provided "the rest of the story":
When it was being built they were about out of money. They were in the neighborhood of $64,000 short. Elvis Presley was taking the tour on this memorial and he found out about the shortage of funds. Supposedly he grabbed his checkbook and wrote it for the amount needed, thus, allowing for the completion of this tremendous honored edifice to become a realty. If or when you are close enough to Pearl Harbor you should definitely make this one of your choices to visit.
SPITFIRE 944 A GREAT STORY
This is a fascinating story about our little-known recon pilots in WWII who flew spitfires carrying cameras and no weapons. Thanks to Hunt Banister for the link:
A Soldier's Pledge
See this very powerful message and refect on it this coming Independence day
U.S. Arrogance
There are those who feel we owe an apology to Europe and the Middle East for U.S. "arrogance".
Following are instances of our "arrogance", in alphabetical order:
1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France... A total of 2289
2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium... A total of 5329
3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France... A total of 4410
<
4. Brookwood, England - American Cemetery... A total of 468
5. Cambridge, England... A total of 3812
6. Epinal, France - American Cemetery... A total of 5525
7. Flanders Field, Belgium... A total of 368
8. Florence, Italy... A total of 4402
9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium... A total of 7992
10. Lorraine , France... A total of 10,489
11 . Luxembourg, Luxembourg... A total of 5076
12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14246
13 . Netherlands, Netherlands... A total of 8301
14. Normandy, France... A total of 9387
15. Oise-Aisne, France... A total of 6012
16. Rhone, France... A total of 861
17. Sicily, Italy... A total of 7861
18. Somme, France... A total of 1844
19. St. Mihiel, France... A total of 4153
20. Suresnes, France... A total of 1541
Apologize to no one. Remind those of our sacrifice and don't confuse arrogance with leadership.
The count is 104,366 dead, brave Americans.
HOW MANY FRENCH, DUTCH, ITALIANS, BELGIANS AND BRITS ARE BURIED ON OUR SOIL... AFTER DEFENDING US AGAINST OUR ENEMIES?
WE DON'T ASK FOR PRAISE...
BUT WE HAVE ABSOULUTELY NO NEED TO APOLOGIZE!
Puttin Up the Flag
Jim Bob Reeves sent us this. Not long or anything that is earth shattering - just a reminder of our flag and country in a non-political way. Although we as a nation are in very troubling times, we are a blessed bunch of folks. It is worth a couple of minutes of your time..
Peyton Manning USO Tour
Peyton Manning recently completed a USO tour downrange. While on the tour, he maintained a detailed journal of the trip and it is well worth reading.
This one Will GRAB You!
This video takes just a few moments and, if you are a Vietnam veteran, you will truly appreciate its message.
Bob Hope Christmases
Check out this YouTube tribute to Bob Hope and his morale-building efforts for the troops in the 20th century
Larry the Flagman
If you still have a dry eye after this one, you ain't alive:
Great CMH Speech
You could have heard a pin drop
JFK'S
When in England,
Texas Hero Portraits
Here is an excellent Youtube video of one man's way to give back to the heros in Texas who have given the utmost for their country.
Flash Mob at Gate 38
See the touching story and video of the inpromptu gathering of citizens to honor a group of WWII veterans, arriving at Washington's Reagan National on an honor flight..
Well worth the 4 minutes it takes to read/view.
WWII in the Pacific - Bookends
Here are two videos that make effective "bookends" for the war in the Pacific.
The first, a short story of how survivors of the USS Arizona, sunk at the beginning of the war in the Pacific, are allowed to rejoin their comrades-in-arms in death.
The second video is a melange of black and white newsreel shots of the complete surrender ceremony on another battleship, the USS Missouri.
Both are moving in their simplicity and their elegant encapsulation of the US inexorable march from defeat to victory.
A Soldiers Deck of Cards
Here is a short video with a long message you won't regret watching.
A Horse named "Reckless"
A real "War Horse" Named Reckless.
This story is Incredible!
This horse was a pack horse during the Korean war, and she carried recoilless rifles, ammunition and supplies to Marines. Nothing too unusual about that, lots of animals got pressed into doing pack chores in many wars.
But this horse did something more. During the battle for a location called Outpost Vegas, this mare made 51 trips up and down the hill, on the way up she carried ammunition, and on the way down she carried wounded soldiers.
What was so amazing? Well, she made every one of those trips without anyone leading her.
One can imagine a horse carrying a wounded soldier, being smacked on the rump at the top of the hill , and heading back to the "safety" of the rear. But to imagine the same horse, loaded with ammunition, and trudging back to the battle where artillery is going off, without anyone leading her is unbelievable. To know that she would make 50 of those trips is unheard of. How many horses would even make it back to the barn once, let alone return to the soldiers in the field even a single time?
Here is a clip of her story and photos to prove where she was and what she did. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIo3ZfA9da0
Reckless was retired at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton where a General issued the following order: "She was never to carry any more weight on her back except her own blankets." She died in 1968 at the age of 20.
British Military Wives Singing to their Husbands
WOW!
You absolutely must see this video. It is taken from a British series where a guy called Gareth Malone takes a group of people and turns them into a choir. This time he's taken a group of military wives whose husbands are all away in Afghanistan and turned them into a choir. Gareth looks about 16yrs old but is actually in his mid-30s and a Choir master for the London Symphony Orchestra, among other things.
They wrote a song based on excerpts from letters written by the couples whilst apart and this is the beautiful result!
http://www.youtube.com/user/militarywiveschoir?feature=watch
Veteran of the Year
Many people may have forgot about his time in the U.S. Army. He is the son of an Air Force General, and a accomplished Golden Gloves boxer, and he graduated from Pomona College with a B.S. degree, and then became a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University.
He joined the U.S. Army at the prompting of his father. After graduating from Officer Candidate School he attended and graduated from both Army Airborne and Ranger training in the very top of each class. He was selected for U. S.Army Special Forces Training but refused so that he could attend pilot training where he earned his wings, and became an accomplished U.S. Army helicopter (gun ship) pilot, and achieved the rank of Captain.
He was about to be promoted to the rank of Major, and appointed to teach at West Point when he resigned his commission from the Army to go into music and acting. You can tell in this video that his time in the military means a lot to him. I won’t give away who it is. You should just watch. I bet you will be surprised!
Tango-Mike-Mike - A Hero's Story
Here is a video telling the story of one of our Vietnam Veterans who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Respect Requested at Tomb of Unknown Soldier
Very appropriate for this time leading up to Veteran's Day - see this video clip of how the honor guard deals with laughter, chatter, and other forms of disrespect at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Touching Tribute to Veterans (** 5MB Download)
Here is a touching tribute from a group of grade school children and their talented teachers.
Caution: this is a large "PowerPoint" download of over 5 MB.
The Marvel of Marble for Veterans
Each RAFINO member is eligible, as a veteran, for a government-furnished headstone. Ever wonder where they come from? Check out this CBS News Story.
Flag of the United States of America
Here is a tribute to our flag on this, out nations's birthday. (Please note that the music/sound for the tribute only can be heard on Internet Explorer. If your Browser is other than Internet Explorer, you will not hear the sounds.)
Secrets for Retirement
This PowerPoint Show is a wonderful message to those of us who are chronologically challenged. Check it out (caveat - requires download of a file that is approximately 3MB).
RIFLES and BOOTS
FANTASTIC - Precision Marching and more
Unbelievable!!!
This is "RiverDance" with boots and rifles! I can't remember ever seeing a display of precision to beat this!! All the precision drill is being performed on ICE!!
Those are US made Garand M-1 rifles (WWII), and they are heavy weapons (9 POUNDS EACH).
When that one fellow goes on his own - YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A RIFLE SPUN THAT FAST!
USA Flag - Cape May Retreat
And just when one thinks that everything is going straight to hell in a hand basket, something comes along like this patriot's daily retreat ceremony at his home in Cape May, NJ