Through a Patriots Eye

2009-07-27T20:21:00.002-04:00

Great Quotes from some Democrats:

Great Orators of the Democrat Party

'One man with courage makes a majority.'- Andrew Jackson

'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.'- Franklin D. Roosevelt

'The buck stops here.'- Harry S. Truman

'Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.'- John F. Kennedy

And from today's Democrats...............

'It depends what your definition of 'Sex' is?''- Bill Clinton

'That Obama - I would like to cut his NUTS off.'- Jesse Jackson

'Those rumors are false .... I believe in the sanctity of marriage.'- John Edwards

'I invented the Internet'- Al Gore

'The next Person that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary beads up their ASS.'- Joe Biden

' America is--is no longer, uh, what it--it, uh, could be, uh, what it was once was...uh, and I say to myself, 'uh, I don't want that future, uh, uh for my children.'- Barack Obama

'I have campaigned in all 57 states.- Barack Obama (Quoted 2008)

'You don't need God anymore, you have us Democrats.'- Nancy Pelosi (Quoted 2006)

'Paying taxes is voluntary.'- Sen. Harry Reid

'Bill is the greatest husband and father I know. No one is more faithful, true, and honest than he.'- Hillary Clinton (Quoted 1998)

HOW LUCKY CAN WE BE TO HAVE SUCH BRILLIANT MINDS IN
CHARGE OF OUR IMPERILED COUNTRY?

''Life's tough ........it's even tougher if you're stupid..''

-- John Wayne

Sad Day Indeed

2009-06-01T22:38:00.002-04:00

It is a sad day for me.

I can't believe the private sector in America, the land of the free, will be run by the government more every day!
Goodbye General Motors. We had some great times in the cars you supplied!
Now that you are GM ie. Government Motors.... Well the past is the past.
It is not the governments business to bail out anybody! It defies what has set us apart from the rest of the world, and that is TRUE Capitalism.
We have now lost the edge that has made us a special place.
To my decedents.... I am sorry you won't be able to see the America I have.
I will not give up the dream for us to be the Nation we once were.

That is real "Hope & Change!

Bradley's Last Mission

2009-04-17T22:53:00.002-04:00

May 22, 2002Our U.S. Army Rangers still aren't allowed to talk publicly about Operation Anaconda, fought last March in Afghanistan, probably because the Op proved in spades how out of touch the top brass are with counter-guerrilla tactics. I suspect the Secrecy Act is being employed once again to protect bad generals - at the cost of telling our countrymen the truth about an extraordinary mission conducted by the men of the 1st Platoon of Alpha Company, 1/75th Rangers. Eyewitness reports I've stitched together from allied commandos testify to that platoon's daring and heroism while rescuing teammates and aircrew from a downed chopper as they were about to be snuffed out by a ferocious enemy.Earlier, the platoon had been spread across the battlefield on separate missions. When word came down to find MIA Navy SEAL Neil Roberts, the lead element air-assaulted, its chopper was shot to smithereens upon landing, and the Rangers and aircrew were stuck on a rocky ridge surrounded by a large, well-dug-in al-Qaeda force. Because of blistering enemy incoming fire, a 1st Platoon reinforcing element landed by chopper at the base of the mountain, about a mile from the besieged warriors. The 10 men began clawing their way toward the top - loaded down with 100 pounds of kit - on what would prove to be a 5,000-foot, almost-vertical three-hour climb. And throughout this near mission-impossible feat, they were battered by enemy rifle and mortar fire that wounded several of these elite warriors. When the Rangers got to the top, they busted through the enemy's bunker line and linked up with their surrounded mates. But they soon found themselves waist-high in snow, the thermometer hovering around zero, in an increasingly hotter frying pan - with incoming RPG grenades, recoilless rifle fire, mortars thumping in and bullets snapping like angry bees across the open plain at 12,000 feet.An SAS commando who watched the fight said, "These blokes, along with their tactical aircraft and chopper air support, killed a bloody lot of them." Apart from their own incredible guts, the air support - virtually on top of them - is what kept them alive. If USAF air controller Staff Sgt. Kevin Vance wasn't on the ground bravely directing the fire, it would have been taps for all these good men. (Editor's Note: See "For the Record: Account of Gardez Battle, March 4, 2002" in this edition of DefenseWatch.)Ranger Marc Anderson said, "This is where all the training pays off," before catching one with his name on it while bounding toward the enemy. Ranger Bradley Crose was hit in the head by a round that smashed under his helmet and out the back of his head, and Ranger Matthew Commons went down for the count as well. Air Force warrior Jason Cunningham was hit by two rounds in the gut and lay out in the bitter cold - slowly bleeding to death. When the Ranger rifles were shot up, had malfunctioned or the men ran out of ammo, the Rangers policed up al-Qaeda weapons and waded into the fanatics, wasting them with their own bullets. For almost 18 long, blood-soaked hours, it was often hand-to-hand fighting with knives, pistols and rifle butts. That terrible night, the Rangers were supported by USAF AC-130 Specter gunships that, according to an Aussie SAS commando on a nearby knob, lit up the hills around them. "It was bloody amazing, the most beautiful - yet fearsome - sight I'd ever seen," he said.The entire action was relayed by Predator drone to the White House, the Pentagon and the generals whose flawed plan got our kids into FUBAR-plus in the first place. The spectators could watch in comfort and safety while our courageous Rangers fought and died and another squad fell wounded. But those who were hit never faltered, continuing to put heavy fire on the enemy in the fierce kind of combat and freezing conditions our forces haven't seen since the Korean War.Marc Anderson used to tell his buddies he was leaving the 1st Platoon $5,000 to celebrate the good times if he checked out. Upon their return to Fort Stewart, Ga., they were stunned to learn he wasn't kidding. Hopefully, it won't be long before they'll be lifting a few to him and the other extraordinary men they - and we - lost during one of the most heroic small-unit fights in U.S. history.

Copied from Military.com May, 22, 2002

Bradley Crose

2009-04-17T22:46:00.003-04:00

This will be the first post in recognition of the life and sacrifice of my cousin Bradley S. Crose.

Birth: Aug. 4, 1979
Orlando
Orange County
Florida, USA
Death: Mar. 4, 2002, Afghanistan
Army Sgt Crose was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Crose was in command of a six member fire team; part of a helicopter rescue team sent to retrieve the body of Navy SEAL, Neil Roberts, who had been killed in combat during Operation Anaconda outside Gardez. Crose died in a gun battle with Taliban and al-Qaida fighters after two MH-47 Chinook helicopters were hit by grenades. Bradley was born at the Naval Hospital in Orlando into a Navy family and tradition. He graduated from Orange Park High School in 1998 and two weeks later he joined the Army. While in school, he held a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do where he won a Bronze Medal in the Junior Olympics, was a runner-up at both the Florida and Georgia State Championships and fought in the Men's National Tae Kwon Do Championships in Houston, Texas at the age of 15. He was an avid Gator fan and reader, who spent $100 on classical literature at a local bookstore before he headed for Afghanistan. Bradley was proud to be an Army Ranger and was scheduled for discharge in October 2002. After getting out of the military, he planned on attending college, restoring his 1981 Corvette and hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Burial:
Jacksonville Memory Gardens
Orange Park
Clay County
Florida, USA

What a fine young man!!

Quote of the day

2009-03-30T20:55:00.000-04:00

"We can't expect the American People to jump from Capitalism to Communism, but we can assist their elected leaders in giving them small doses of Socialism, until they awaken one day to find that they have Communism."

--Nikita Khrushchev

constipated?

2009-03-30T20:27:00.001-04:00

If you are bothered by occasional or frequent constipation, repeat the following phrase three times in succession when symptoms occur:

"My financial and personal well being are totally in the hands of
Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Tim Geithner, Rahm
Emmanual, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Al Gore"

If that doesn't scare the shit out of you, then you are probably
destined to be full of it for the rest of your life.

Quote of the day

2009-02-15T14:15:00.002-05:00

Hate is simply the absence of love, just as darkness is the absence of light. Poverty is the absence of abundance, sickness is the absence of health, and sadness is the absence of joy. All negativity is simply the absence of something positive.

This is why we need to be positive.

Today's Quote

2009-02-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."
Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005

No ....Really .....Billions in a Bailout??

2009-01-16T23:30:00.000-05:00

How $315 Billion Look Like
We all want to be rich, we all want to have a lot of money. If you had $315 billion can you imagine how they would...

2nd Revolution

2009-01-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

2008-12-14T19:52:00.000-05:00

What you are about to read is news right from Afghanistan.
Tim is a friend in the Air Force. During this winter a major base is being built to support 20,000 troops that will arrive this spring.
The time after the date is our time when he posted to our site. (Not Afghanistan time)

11-15-08 9:00am
Well it's dusty and the food they said was horrible I just have to say these youngins haven't had to eat some of the stuff I've had to over the years. Now it's not momma's cookin but it beats MRE, C Rats or K Rats. The food certainly isn't as good as Iraq was but It'll keep you alive. I think! Only time will tell! I took some pictures of the conditions and will send some to Chief to post from time to time. I can't post pictures from here. Also for security reasons there are many things I can't take pictures of. I had a good nights sleep so in a few days I should be acclimated to here after the jet lag wears off. My office is plywood.

11-16-08 1:34am
News Update: Last week our Kandahar boys intercepted 59 tons of Hashish meant to finance the Taliban’s war against us. The biggest drug bust we’ve ever had. It was burned to destroy it and there was a run on all chow halls. Just kidding! Anyway your boys are working hard to stop the money flow to the Taliban to finance their war operations against us. This is a NATO operation and we have 9 countries trying to work together here. You can imagine the language problems let alone the way each group operationally works and were all trying to work together. So far it has been good. I met my counter parts in Safety and the head Safety person who is Danish. I’m to pay a visit to him this week and do lunch so we can get acquainted. I’ll offer my assistance and some of my safety programs to him. The more we can all do same thing the better our safety efforts will be. Well I have been tasked to write the Lock Out/Tag Out Safety Program for our base and our lead base. Then it will be sent off to be evaluated for the entire AOR. I better get to work on it. Your Brother Tim

11-19-08 9:14am
My computer died yesterday and I had to get a new one today. They are meant to be subjected to this environment. I cover it each night and in the morning there is a 1/16 inch of dirt on the cover. We have to blow out the key boards daily. The bad news is I lost everything I had done since I got here so I’m redoing it. We are forbidden from using CD, DVD, external hard drives, and thumb drives of any kind. Makes it kind of hard to back up your work huh? Computers do not last long over here. The other guys have all had their computers replaced too. This one has office 2007 on it so some of you may not be able to open things I send them unless you download the Microsoft compatibility pack. Ron/Chief, Clee and anyone else I l lost all those email addresses again damn it. Temps have been low to mid 20’s at night and 50 to 65 during the day. Okay, I’ve been here a few days and here’s my initial assessment. NATO, oh boy where do I start? Well in Afghanistan are 44 countries trying to work together. We have 17 of them here. It’s hard enough to get the Air Force and Army to agree to something now throw in 17 countries and you figure it out. We have an airfield with 17 camps around it. So, to make something happen you have to invite 17 people to a meeting and then convince them to do it your way. Sound like fun? Oh yeah! This is the only NATO run base. All other bases are owned by a particular country so they control it and then everyone else follows their rules. NATO has a cluster f@#k here. I think they know it and want to give it to us but feel it will make them lose face. I think they want us to take it over but publicly they will cry foul if we do but privately they will be relieved. They are struggling now and we are going to increase the base by 5 to 6 times its personnel. Then what are they going to do? We’ll be the size of the base I deployed to in 2007. Some of you will know what that means. We have to be very careful what we say and shred everything especially if it has personal info on it like addresses from home. Intelligence gathering is constant by our enemies. The international airport manager here makes about $200 a month so imagine what a sentry makes or a janitor. $10 bribe goes a long way so we must be vigilant. Rocket attacks are down. Thanks to our work outside the fence. But they have hit assets and personnel have been injured. We do not know an attack is under way until the first round impacts. Then the alarm sounds. Better late than never I guess. The Brits and the Canadians are doing a great job also. One group seems pretty poor but I still like the fries. Well love from the dirt.Tim

11-20-08 9:06am
I was out hunting this morning. Yes I get paid to hunt! Killing birds, varmits, vipers, and wild dogs. They can really mess up a multi million dollar aircraft. That's also why the arbor theory gets shot down. It just gives them a place to roost. I had killed several ducks when I heard a noise and being an old firefighter I knew that noise. I popped up out of the pond to see the dust cloud. Spent the a good part of the day working the investigation. I'm a little sunburnt! Tired too! And dirty!

11-22-08 12:52am
We had our first attack in two weeks just after dark yesterday. My first since arriving. I haven’t heard anything so it probably didn’t hurt anyone or anything. It’s Saturday morning so I’ll take a break later and visit the Haggii market. Vendors bring their wares on base. They sell DVDs for $2 each or 6 for $10, rugs, belly dancers outfits, lots of jewelry, clothing, junk watches, brass and Onyx carvings. They even sell ladies silver or gold underwear. I’m not kidding. You can buy bras, bikini panties and thongs made of metal. I’m probably misspelling it but they are made out of chain meil like the chain armor a knight wears in movies. Of course old Taliban money and water pipes are big sellers. The tarantula spiders are as big as your hand and the camel spiders are about half that size. There are 13 varieties of snakes/vipers. All poisonous! Including two types of cobras. There are no lights at night and the dust looks like fog at night so you have to be careful when walking. It is dark when I go to and from work but the temperature usually has dropped to the mid 30s at night and is around low to mid 20s in the morning. I walk about a mile each way from the barracks called a Mod short for Modular housing. Which is another name for a metal barn/building bolted together with rooms. You can see light pass through the walls at all the panel joints. We have to keep everything up off the floor if it rains because the building will leak and puddle in your rooms. Although there has been no measurable rain in 9 months. When the wind is blowing 15 mph outside it is blowing dust in and our room has a 5 mph breeze inside. It’s better than a tent. I’ve taken pictures but with the current virus that is attacking military computers I am not allowed to hook anything up to my computer so unless they loosen restrictions later you’ll have to wait till I come home to see them. The pictures I have sent out so far are pictures that are already on our computer system. Well I have a big day ahead so I better get to work. If anyone is thinking of sending any packages make sure it is in a heavy box and the contents are protected. When we unload mail you should see the condition some of the boxes come in.

11-22-08 6:14am
Care PackagesThings we could use List:1. Phone cards, In Iraq the 1st Sgts had them and we could get them from them but here no such luck so we all have to buy them.2. Jerky3. Gum4. Powered drink mixes for individual size packages to add to a bottle of water.5. Artificial sweetner in individual packets6. Magazines: Motorcycle, car, truck, fishing, hunting, camping, gun, National Geographic, Life, Time, running, cycling (bicycling), fitness, body building, and the ladies asked for some magazines like Womens Day, Marie Claire and the sort but they especially asked for Cosmpolitan (Cosmo). I was told on the QT that they like them for the sex advice and ideas for their men when they get home. Who Knew! LOL It’s a long tour for them too!7. Homemade cookies, fudge and brownies are always a hit.8. Small personal anti bacterial hand soaps.9. Body wash mens and womens10. Shampoo and conditioners11. Lip balms, like chap stick12. Sun screen, because the sun is always out and the anti malaria medicine makes you burn easy.13. Tooth brushes, tooth paste and mouthwash14. Individually packaged oatmeal cereal or other cereals individually packed.15. Baby wipes16. Lens cleaner wipes for glasses, computer screens and TVs17. Cleaning wipes for dusting. Baby wipes do work for this.18. Any individually wrapped microwave food that does not have to be refrigerated19. Combs and brushes20. Peppermint Patties21. Red Licorice from Rural King and some of the other flavors. They ate all mine!22. Chocolate bars and candy bars

11-22-08 10:10am
I started this morning at 0600 and now it's 1939 hrs. I still have a few hours to go after dinner. I’m getting about ready for dinner now. Moral is high amongst the troops. I’ve noticed something. Our US forces, the British, Canadians and the Australians moral is good and their attitudes are good. I sit and talk with them during meals. US forces have a definite edge. I think it’s because we “live to work”. We love what we do. Some of the other countries act as though they “work to live”. They only do what they have to do. That makes a real difference in the way each of us does business. The countries I mentioned above can’t wait to get outside the wire and find the enemy. We aggressively seek contact with the enemy. Others seem more content to only venture out when they have to and would be perfectly happy if they never met the enemy. The problem is the enemy seeks out these guys because they’re perceived as soft targets while they run, hide and fight when cornered by us. The Afghan military respects the US forces very much. We are training both the Afghanistan Army and Air Force here. Someday when this is over for the US they will still be here standing for their country. They are tenacious fighters.

11-24-08 4:59am
Taylor contacted me and asked if we were gathering items for the Afghan children. So I asked. As luck would have it we are right now gathering school supply items for the school across the street from our base. There are 500 kids there. They are children from the Afghan Air Force and Army. School supplies are desperately needed. Also small toys and small dolls, really small are appreciated. Small is the operative word here. Not big enough to put/hide a bomb in! Deflated soccer balls go over big. They love soccer! We have an air pump to inflate them. If anyone wants to send these sorts of items just send them to me and I’ll get them to our chapel folks. No books because they can’t read English. Coloring books are okay but nothing Religious in nature!

11-24-08 9:31am
I’ve seen some beautiful and strange things on the way here and since arriving. In Bagram AB while transiting through I witnessed the most awesome display. I heard the Giant Voice aka the base PA system announce, “ At 0300 (names omitted) are leaving Bagram. You are invited to say goodbye”. I asked what that was about and I was told two Army soldiers had given their lives in Afghanistan and their bodies were being sent home to their families. I got up at 0230 and got dressed. I walked out of my transit tent to see a wonderous scene I will never forget. Military personnel voluntarily lined the street on both sides form the morgue to the parked aircraft waiting to take them home. I’m crying now as I write this. I thought by waiting till now I could do this without breaking down. It was a little less than a mile but the streets were lined at 0300 everyone in uniform standing. As the two Humvee’s left the morgue with the metal casket on top there was a chirp from somewhere in the distance and the road with one loud snap popped to attention. I was there in line with the rest of them. I had a camera but this was not a place to take a picture. As the vehicles turned onto our road I watched every military person raise a slow salute as the vehicles drew near them. I can do this! As the vehicles past the salute was slowly dropped back to attention. Marching in formation were friends of these young men with tears streaming down their cheeks as mine are now. No one moved until the Aircraft taxied out. It was so moving a goodbye as I have ever seen. This is not an official ceremony orchestrated by the military It is a voluntary salute to our fallen brethren. No one had to be there it is voluntary. It was beautiful and sad. I’ve said I’ve seen some strange sites also. Most countries have opted to buy our Hummers and MRAPs but the British in true Brit fashion stuck with the tried and true Land Rover. I will try and get a picture of these. They’re stripped down with tops, doors and windshields removed. They have absolutely no armor but have 3 machine guns mounted on them. The soldiers are very exposed.You ole timers remember the TV show Rat Patrol? You got it that's what they look like.I told you we were at the end of the earth well it seems we are also at the end of the supply line also. We have all kinds of Rube Goldberg inventions to make things work when you can’t get the right stuff. Our Air Traffic Control Tower is two overseas shipping containers wide with three stacked for a total of six containers to house all the electrical equipment. Then on top is the round glass tower for the controllers to guide traffic in and out. No photography allowed on the flight line. Many people have an office that is one of those shipping containers with a door cut in it and a steel door and frame welded into it. Often they are stacked two high with a stairway. You just cut a hole and run conduit in if you’re lucky for electricity. Need a comm line then drill another hole. I have pictures! Well enough of a break time to get some more work done.Love from the dirt

11-25-08 8:02am
Incoming again

11-26-08 10:45
We heard this afternoon that a US Marine was standing with a group of fellow Kandahar US Marines. When he ran from the group and tackled a motorcyclist approaching them. They found enough explosives wired to the motorcycle to kill everything within 150 feet. The Marine saved his fellow Marines but I know to him it was not heroic. It’s just another day at the office. Looking out for his buddies! We heard when asked what tipped him off about the motorcyclist he said he just didn’t feel right. I’m hearing outgoing rounds now. Someone’s near! Maybe probing! There was sporadic 50 cal fire this morning from one of your perimeter vehicles. It’s been a busy day for all! Earning our money keeping you safe! The last incoming mortar round hit the shit pond and threw shit everywhere. We smell the pond everyday but it’s worse now! The laundry facility was covered so doing laundry is going to really suck for a while. I just know those Taliban Bastards knew I need to do laundry tomorrow on Thanksgiving.Love from the dirtTim

11-27-08 5:55am
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, We’re hard at work. Our British brothers stopped a huge truck bomb today in Kandahar with over 10,000 pounds of explosives. However a suicide vest bomber blew himself up in a market place. The Taliban has been very busy and active the past week. I think the warmer weather has something to do with it. It’s over 70 today and just like everyday sunny with no clouds. They have been caught several times cutting into our fences this week. Also they have tripped several flares outside the fence at night. They’re looking for holes in our defenses or someone sleeping in the job.Thanksgiving dinner was nothing like mom makes. If your mom makes dinner like we ate you should run away from home. LOL Well back to work since it’s a holiday I may only put in 12 hours today. I hope I’m not boring you with these postings. It’s what I do when I need a break for a few minutes to refocus.Love from the dirtTim

11-27-08 8:40 am
Rules, a US Air Force male has gotten in trouble for being in an Army woman’s quarters. We are under General order 1B. Basically it states no opposite sex in your quarters and you can’t be in theirs. No alcohol, no sex, no gambling. Now I don’t know about you but these are all the things I’m fighting for. I’m fighting so the Afghani people can have these freedoms. The Air Force allows no fraternization. The US Army allows married couples to share the same room. Men and Women are allowed to visit each other in their rooms but not spend the night. This is how our guy got in trouble. The Army female told him it was allowed. By her rules it is. All US Forces must be in uniform at all times. You can’t even roll your sleeves up. We are allowed to be in our PT (Physical Training) when going to the gym or when off duty. I don’t get know who has time to have off duty time. Our other NATO partners are walking around in crocs and flip flops, shorts and tee shirts. I did laundry this morning and a little Aussie soldier lady in short shorts and a tight tee shirt came in wearing sandals. I did enjoy the view when she bent over to load the dryer. She was followed by the little Dutch girl. What she was wearing couldn’t be called a tee shirt. More like a te sh! It was that small! Well back to work before I get in real trouble. Sorry honey I looked but I did not touch! I was only window shopping! Oh yeah, we are under attack again the siren just went off right after I felt the first thud followed by the sound of another a little further off. We have an IMP (International Military Police) Force here made up of all our NATO groups. They go around issuing parking tickets and speeding tickets. The speed limit is 10 mph around most areas and 5 mph around a few areas. The tickets are sent to your commander and back home to your home station so the points can be put on your license. Don’t speed or park in a war zone brother they mean it! RULES! Happy Thanksgiving!Love from the dirtTim

11-30-08 2:24am
I had a left handed black leather shoulder holster made for me by one of the local Afghanistan shops. $30 and it is very comfortable. Stamped into the holster it says “Made in Afghanistan” in English and Arabic with the Afghanistan National Seal. I looked at the holsters he had and they were all right handed so we talked through sign language to get him to understand I needed a left one. It took him about 30 minutes to make it while I watched. The leather sewing machine was foot treadle operated. No electricity!Love from the dirtTim

11-30-08 5:08am
I talked about rules before. Here’s some more. The US military are not allowed to have anything that might offend someone (political correctness at its finest). They tell us that we can’t have any magazines that show the human body. We are forbidden to bring muscle or fitness magazines because they show women in bikinis. We’re not allowed to have pictures suggestive pictures from our loved ones. We can get in trouble for them. However you can walk around the Canadian, British, French and Dutch camps and find topless and naked pictures of their wives, girl friends, and just plain friends all over the place. Like pictures taped to the sides of their computer monitors, stapled to the walls and taped to their desks. There are girly mags lying around too. Their magazines are far more explicit than Playboy, Penthouse or Hustler. While I was waiting for my prescriptions I read a sign on the wall about them having a BBQ with beer and wine served. I asked a dental tech about the alcohol and he said oh yeah we drink. Only you Americans aren’t allowed to. Then he offered me a pint bottle of beer from his refrigerator next to his desk. I turned him down. Why have Americans gotten so afraid to insult anyone? About 25% of the personnel over here are women but not one of them is complaining about the pictures or calendars. The US has become a group of pussies afraid to say tough shit to people when they complain. I think you can thank the ALCU, lawyers, courts and people just trying to get some money for nothing by claiming they’re upset. They can all kiss my hairy ass! Any way that’s my opinion and I’m fighting for the right to speak freely. You have a right to disagree after all we’re Americans. Love from the dirtTim

11-30-08 12:40pm
We just had the ground shake as the sound of an explosion was heard. Then the base attack siren went off. I hear the sound of sirens as emergency vehicles respond. We’re in shelter until we get the “all clear.” I’m hearing secondary explosions and counter fire outgoing. Earlier this morning a large VEID Vehicle bomb detonated near the base. Only the suicide driver died. He failed to get through and blew himself up. When the all clear is sounded I’m heading for a shower and bed. Love from the dirtTim

12-1-08 3:11am
The Taliban have been at us all week. We have a toehold in their back yard. Now with all the construction they’re beginning to realize their days are numbered and their poppy fields are going to be lost. They have no other way to finance their operations except taking aid from Iran. They do not want to do that. Iran is trying very hard to assert themselves into Afghanistan like they have tried to in Iraq. Like Iraq most of the new weapons come from there. However Iran would be financially strapped to give the weapons away without payment for them. Without the drug money the Taliban can’t buy weapons. I think if the Taliban strikes some of the other countries with a devastating attack they will fold and go home. The US military would hunt them down and double our efforts. The Taliban fear and respect us for that. Our only fear is the President folding or Congress. We won’t! Love from the dirtTim

12-5-08 1:32am
We’ve had no entertainment for the last two nights. Eerily quiet! I suspect they are regrouping. I think they’re planing something special. It’s a week of holiday for them so I’m thinking they’re planning something big. It’s just my intuition. Due to the increased activities, size of the entertainment we are on increased watch. We’re ready! I’m keeping my body armor close by. My gut feelings are usually right. I’ve learned to trust those hairs on the back of my neck.

12-6-08 2:53am
I told you yesterday that our Canadian brethren were hit by an IED. Well some of them will make the long journey home today. Pray for their families as they will be told today. We are having a celebration of these brave men’s lives in a little while (like an old fashion Irish wake without the alcohol). We will reflect and tell stories of their goodness and friendship. Following this we will escort them in proper military fashion to their ride home and render a last good bye (salute). It is a small place and our Canadian brother’s camp is right next door. While I did not know these men personally I recognize them and have sat with them in the dining facility. We all feel the loss! Today we are not Canadians and US, we are all Americans!Love from the dirtTim

12-6-08 8:58am
I just returned from saying good bye to our Canadian comrades. There were over 2,000 personnel were there to form a 200 yard by 200 yard formation of military personnel with a walk way down the center. 12 countries showed up to say good bye. Our Canadian heroes were escorted by 2 tanks and rode in an armored personnel carrier. They were hoisted onto the shoulder of their comrades while bagpipes played. As they passed by the sun had just set and the sky was orange and blue as the flag draped caskets went by. They were taken by 2,000 saluting hands as they were carried the last 200 yards to the aircraft. A short ceremony was conducted with prayer. We learned that one man was on his second tour to Afghanistan and was a husband and father of two, another young man was on his first tour and the third man was wounded during his first tour in Afghanistan in 2006. He worked hard to get fit for duty so he could come back. Just last week this man was cited for bravery when an Afghan interpreter was wounded and lying in the open. This man crawled under fire and pulled the injured man to cover where he administered first aid saving his life. The mission for all three of these men was to train the Afghan Army. They were with the Afghan Army in the field when an IED hit them.Love from the dirtTim
12-7-08 3:24am
It rained last night for about an hour around 0330 to 0430. It was a nice steady rain. How do I know? I sleep under a tin roof. If it had been a heavy down pour we would have had to put in ear plugs. By 0700 all was dry as if it hadn’t happened except for the leaks in our plywood office. We mopped up this morning and shook the water off our plastic bags we put over our computers every night to help keep the dirt out of them. Good thing we did that. Intel says the Taliban want to launch something big like drive a large vehicle through our fence line or a gate with several bombers on board that will run and hide and hit some strategic targets. A few days later the ones that were hiding will try and hit soft targets like a gym, dining facility, BX/PX, hospital or a worship service. Any place there is a large crowd! Do you remember the story of the prison break in Kandahar City where the Taliban broke out 400 prisoners? We’re talking something alone that line. They need something big to keep up recruitment and get support from other rogue regimes. They know their days are limited here in this area and they hope to cause some NATO countries to pull out. They’re thinking that will stretch us thin and prolong their hold on this area. It might but only for a few months. I don’t think they have any idea how large an operation this is about to become. Anyway we’re fortifying our defenses adding concrete Jersey barriers along area where vehicle could break through and several other things I can’t discuss. We’re not sleeping on the job. But we are waiting for the Calvary to arrive. The wagons are circled!Love from the dirtTim

12-9-08 3:03am
Thanks to the news media and someone leaking the information that 20,000 troops are due in here starting in January through April. We are the Taliban’s new number one target. Now they know what all the construction is for.We're getting ready for tonight. It's been really quiet for the last few nights. Intel folks says the Taliban are planning something big and may want to strike on the 10th. It's the peak of some Muslim holiday. For the Muslims the next day or the 10th begins at sundown. We believe they want to drive a bus or large truck into our defenses and then blow it up. Then pore people in and many of them will wear suicide vests. So were going to be ready. It's been foggy the last few nights and cold. They're hoping they can use it for cover. Infrared night vision picks up on heat so the fog will make little difference. Not everyone has this thought so we have to spread them along the perimeter. There are only some places that they can get vehicles through due to the terrain and mine fields. Talk to you later.

12-10-08
Well, we’ve had a quiet week. The days Intel said we were to be attacked came and went. We just lost some sleep. My opinion is they couldn’t recruit enough people willing to run a suicide mission like they wanted. They have been able to do one man missions but to convince 20 people to do it at the same time was too much for them. Or they’re just waiting for us to let our guard down. Time will tell! It could be that it has gotten cold so they haven’t attacked. Nights in the low 20’s and days highs are 45 to 50.
12-13-08 12am
Remember we were talking about the intel that they wanted to drive a vehicle through the fence. Bingo! Happened last night! After crashing through our perimeter fence and meeting 10 different kinds of hell they decided that it wasn’t such a good idea and tried to drive back out but we stopped them and have em in custody. This morning we blew up the explosives off base. All is well! We suffered no injuries.Love from the dirt! Still on the job! See you soon!MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

12-13-08 7:34am
We just got the word we lost 4 more Canadian Comrades today. IED destroyed their vehicle. So we’ll have another farewell soon. Four more families to pray for and four more good men to say goodbye too.Love from the dirtTim

12-13-08 10:47am
I just got back from the British camp where I went for dinner. The stroganoff almost past for food. Or maybe my standards have really lowered. Anyway as I was walking in yopu could hear a lot of heavy machine gun fire coming from over towards the Kandahar base perimeter. It was several weapons of differtent calibers but ther was no mistaking the 50 Cal sounds. It was a sustained fire from several towers. We must have had more probing from our entertainment committee. It's a full moon and clear out.Love from the dirtTim

12-13-08 10:49am
We heard about a little Afghan boy who blew himself up and killed 3 British Royal Marines too.

12-14-08 6:11am
12/14/08, 15:00 Hrs. It’s 05:30 Eastern time Ramblings while our communications are down. Last night at 23:42 hours our camp came under rocket attack. The PA system that ties all the camps and the base together is operated by the Dutch. So when they sound the alarm they announce rocket attack or whatever type of attack it is. However their accent and English sometimes is funny. It sounds like we were under a “woket attact”. It’s hard to run and take cover when you’re laughing. We were hit last night and we’ve lost most phones and all computer connectivity. So no email or internet! I’m writing this in a Word Document that I will copy and paste later into our site. All night and all day the Taliban has been hitting us. At night they harass with rockets, mortars and skirmishes near our perimeter fence line. All day today they have tried ambushes outside the wire and terrorized the civilian populace. The Medical Evacuation helicopters with Para Rescue personnel have been flying nonstop bringing in the wounded. At each ambush site a fighter aircraft fly’s high cover to help pin back the ambushers while the helicopter swoops in to take out the injured. An Apache helicopter flies low cover to keep the bad guys at bay and protect the medical chopper because the enemy tries very hard to shoot down the chopper and injure the rescuers and personnel that are exposed while carrying litters to the aircraft. Ground personnel throw a hail of lead to keep the enemies heads down while this all takes place. It’s a carefully choreographed procedure. For one thing both helicopters have to stay clear of the air space that the top cover fighter is going to be shooting through to protect them. Then there is the air command and control aircraft that are keeping aircraft available for the fight where needed and tanker aircraft that are kept nearby to provide fuel for the aircraft so they can stay in the fight and keep our ground personnel safe. The US provides this service to all civilian, Afghan Forces and NATO Forces. I think this is a sign of desperate people. Now that they know 20,000 US troops are coming the Taliban is striking in desperation because they know it’s over and their days are numbered. Also I think Iran is panicking because they fear we’ll next turn to Pakistan to help quell terrorism. Once the regions are quiet then they know their 10 year and 100 year plans have failed. Their 10 year plan is to break the western powers financially, control all oil production and the financial markets of the world. The 100 year plan is to control the world bringing one Islamic world controlled by them. This is why they must break the US. They must be able to bully the rest of the world to win. You’ll either be Islam or dead or a slave. Of course this will never happen because of us. Some of you are thinking man this guy is really out there. I’m not! Just use your own heads and look back at what’s been happening. None of this was accidental. It’s all been planned from long before 9-11. We’ve just been sleeping! Love from the dirtTimApparently I'm up at least the internet is up. Still no email or phones.

12-14-08 6:34am
16:00 local and we're being rocketed again. 2 explosions just went off.

12-14-08 7:00am
We just had got the all clear when we heard another boom and the alarm went off again. It's another woket attact! LOL It's 16:30 hrs

12-14-08 7:14am
Ground attack! Armor on locked and loaded taking up positions see you all later! Yeah haw!

12-14-08 11:06am
Second wave of fighters are just taking off. We spent the better part of an hour exchanging fire. They send in rockets and mortars and we send out mortar rounds. They hit the foundation of our new hospital under construction. The current hospital is a series of tents. In the morning we’ll have it patched and the crews will work on getting the walls up. The hospital foundation is about 75 feet from my office. On Kandahar in the distance you could hear the sirens of emergency vehicles responding during the battle. They attacked the gate but we had no problem holding them off. During the attack the three of us from the safety office where shoulder to shoulder with a group of British troops who had sought shelter with us. They had been caught out on the road when it all started. We joked about our enemy’s ability to shoot and so forth. Finally the NATO command gave permission for us to go get them. Two US fighters F-16’s screamed into the air followed by two Apache helicopters and two Kiowa hunters with mini guns. It became quiet after several explosions out there in the distance. At Kandahar another truck tried to run the main gate with six gunmen. They died! We’ve had 5 spearate rocket attacks in 5 hours. It’s been a busy Sunday. It's 20:35 hrsLove from the dirtTim

They deserve our thanks no mater where you stand on issues

Leave No Man Behind

2008-12-06T10:07:00.003-05:00

The Lyrics of a song written by Iris Harden & Thomas Brooks http://www.survivingyellowrain.blogspot.com/

Leave No Man Behind Not just soldiers, but real heroes - in real heroes you will find For only one or for a million - as the stars forever shine They both paint a picture - they leave no man behind I'm sure it broke their hearts to leave their families But these soldier's call to duty was to keep this nation free Someone's son, someone's father, someone's husband, now they're gone Gone but not forgotten, for real heroes, they live on Jumped into the line of fire, gave all they had to give For it was their heart's desire to see their comrades live A question of their honor, they upheld the Warrior Code The truest of real heroes, for they carried the load From the battlefield, in the frigid cold Strength and pride revealed, as their story was told Don't give up the fight, let real colors shine through Ol Glory, stars and stripes, the red, the white, the blue (Spoken Word) Looking eye to eye Seeing heart to heart They all know We're all coming back We leave no man behind

"We were honored to write this song in memory of Sgt. Bradley Crose and others who died while trying rescue their comrades. Bradley was only 22 years old, deeply religious and kind-hearted. He proudly served his country and paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom. We were able to give a copy of this tribute song to his mother. She should be very proud. Sgt. Bradley Crose was and will always be a real hero. Never forget the sacrifice. We Leave No Man Behind".

Bradley Crose was my Cousin. Although I never met him.....He is Family.
A simple Google search of his name will lead you to hours of information about him, his life, his Ranger Brothers, and proud parents.
Bradley had to be quite a Man to inspire songs and books. I know he inspires me even now!

I write this as we prepare to honor, and lay to rest yet another Hero today.
Bradley is on my mind each time I stand a flag-line with the Patriot Guard Riders.

Thank You Bradley! RLTW

2008-10-30T17:36:00.000-04:00

2nd Amendment ... Yeah I'm all about it!

2008-10-16T18:59:00.003-04:00

I have a new hero

2008-10-13T19:58:00.002-04:00

Idiot Quote of the Century

'My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history
of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we try to
change it.'

Barack Obama

Busted

2008-10-09T23:20:00.002-04:00

Picture Story No words needed!!!

Lincoln

2008-10-05T21:09:00.000-04:00

From a man I could look up too.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN SAID: 'Congressmen who willfully take actions during wartime that damages morale and undermine the military are saboteurs and should be arrested, quickly tried and hanged!!!'

Priceless

2008-09-13T21:18:00.003-04:00

68 Sportster sitting in a barn for 5 years 3500.00

Rebuild the engine over 2 years 1000.00

Same engine as a centerpiece on coffee table for 3 years 0.00

Overdue, and over budget custom paint 1600.00

Assembly 1 1/2 years in shop, and parts way over budget 2600.00

8 years of restoration and Winning 1st place
at the local Bike show................................................................... PRICELESS

Riding same bike from 8 years ago.............................. A Dream Come True

Money = "A renewable resource"

My Blog statement

2008-09-10T21:42:00.000-04:00

I never knew how this writing in a blog would go for me. I don't consider myself a writer. I have no organized form of writing, and to make it all the more strange to me is.....who the heck am I writing this to, or for??

So instead of not writing anything for long periods of time because I don't have the writing skill of others I know......(DNR)...... I will not worry about the style and just jot down thoughts, and or statements I find mean something to me, and maybe one or two others that happen to stumble onto this blog

Sons of the American Revolution

2008-09-10T21:24:00.002-04:00

I have known for some time I had a link to the Revolution that bore this land to be free..........But is has now been documented and made official with Sons of the American Revolution!! It is a day I have long waited on.

Our anthem

2008-07-06T00:17:00.002-04:00

1991 Super Bowl 25
The Anthem.......How it should ALWAYS be performed!
With feeling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5GSxSmYvME

1 letter off

2008-04-20T19:56:00.001-04:00

Intaxicaton : Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

Empath Test

2008-03-15T01:14:00.002-04:00

Answered a few questions and got a new label!!

Look for "Empath" http://www.chromedcurses.com/

What Kind of Empath Are You?
You scored as a Artist
You are an Artist Empath, one who creates their own reality and infuses the realities of others with your energy & emotions. You are poetic and sensitive. You turn your feelings into creations and share them with the world. Everything you touch turns to song and is freed by the color of your eyes. Your spirit dances with the winds and paints delight in the evening sky.

(from the "Book of Storms" by Jad Alexander at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Empaths/)

Artist
85%

Judge
80%
Shaman
70%
Traveler
60%
Precog
55%
Universal
55%
Fallen Angel
45%
Healer
40%

Sigh

2008-03-05T21:35:00.001-05:00

America is not at war.
The military is at war.

America is at the mall.

Sometimes the truth hurts. it sure pains me!!

Experience

2008-02-28T22:16:00.001-05:00

Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

"Double Tap"

2008-02-09T02:38:00.000-05:00

Playing by the rules with Muslims will get you killed.

This makes it very clear...JUDGED BY 12 OR CARRIED BY 6 ..............
Regarding the news blurb about the Marine who put two rounds ("double tap")in a wounded insurgent's head in Fallujah, here's a response from a Marine:

"It's a safety issue, pure and simple. After assaulting through a target, we put a security round in everybody's head. Sorry al-Reuters, there's no paddy wagon rolling around Fallujah picking up "prisoners" and offering them a hotcup o' Joe, falafel, and a blanket.

There's no time to dick around on the target. You clear the space, dump the chumps, and move on. Are Corpsmen expected to treat wounded terrorists? Negative.
Hey Libs, worried about the defense budget? Well, it would be waste, fraud,and abuse for a Corpsman to expend one man-minute or a battle dressing on aterrorist. It's much cheaper to just spend the $.02 on a 5.56 mm FMJ.

By the way, in our view, terrorists who chop off civilian's heads are not prisoners, they are carcasses. Chopping off a civilian's head is another reason why these idiots are known as "unlawful combatants." It seems that most of the world's journalists have forgotten that fact.

Let me be very clear about this issue. I have looked around the web, and many people get this concept, but there are some stragglers .. Here is your typical Marine sitrep (situation report): You just took fire from unlawful combatants (no uniform - breaking every Geneva Convention rule there is) shooting from a religious building, attempting to use the sanctuary status of their position as protection. But you're in Fallujah now, and the MarineCorps has decided that they're not playing that game this time. That was Najaf. So you set the mosque on fire and you hose down the terrorists with small arms, launch some AT-4s (Rockets), some 40MM grenades into the building and things quiet down.

So you run over there, and find some tangos (bad guys) wounded and pretending to be dead. You are aware that suicide martyrdom is like really popular with these idiots, and they think taking some Marines with them would be really cool. So you can risk your life and your fire team's lives by having them cover you while you bend down and search a guy that you think is pretending to be dead for some reason. Most of the time these are the guys with the grenade or a vest made of explosives. Also, you don't know who or what is in the next room. You're already speaking English to the rest of your fire team or squad, which lets the terrorist know you are there and you are his enemy. You are speaking loud because your hearing is poor from shooting people for several days. So you know that there are many other rooms to enter, and that if anyone is still alive in those rooms, they know that Americans are in the mosque. Meanwhile (3 seconds later), you still have this terrorist (that was just shooting at you from a mosque) playing possum. What do you do? You double tap his head, and you go to the next room, that's what!
What about the Geneva Convention and all that 'Law of Land Warfare' stuff? What about it? Without even addressing the issues at hand, your first thought should be, "I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

"Bear in mind that this tactic of double tapping a fallen terrorist is aperpetual mindset that is reinforced by experience on a minute by minute basis. Secondly, you are fighting an unlawful combatant in a Sanctuary, which is a double No-No on his part. Third, tactically you are in noposition to take "prisoners" because there are more rooms to search and clear, and the behavior of said terrorist indicates that he is up to no good. No good in Fallujah is a very large place and the low end of no good and the high end of no good are fundamentally the same ... Marines end up getting hurt or die.

So there is no compelling reason for you to do anything but double tap this idiot and get on with the mission. If you are a veteran, then everything I have just written is self evident . If you are not a veteran, at least tryto put yourself in the situation. Remember, in Fallujah there is no yesterday, there is no tomorrow, there is only now, Right NOW. Have you ever lived in NOW for a week?

It is really, really not easy. If you have never lived in NOW for longer than it takes to finish the big roller coaster at Six Flags, then shut your mouth about putting Marines in jail for "War Crimes.

"Semper fi. Written by an unknown Marine.

2008-01-21T20:17:00.001-05:00

Remember rule #1.

To all you old law dogs now just lyin' in the shade, current pistoleros and other fervent Second Amendment believers: I would rather be your friend, but if you are not interested in that, I am prepared to be a capable and efficient enemy.

This is the law: The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.

As John Steinbeck once said :

1. Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

2. If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck.

3. I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy.

4. America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall.

5. When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away. (So, shoot first then call 911)

6. A reporter did a human interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him 'Why do you carry a 45?'. The Ranger responded with, 'Because they don't make a 50.'

7. An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.

8. The old sheriff was attending an awards dinner when a lady commented on his wearing his sidearm. 'Sheriff, I see you have your pistol. Are you expecting trouble?' 'NO Ma'am. If I were expecting trouble, I would have brought my rifle.' (Winchester Model 94 30-30 Cal. and loaded with Winchester Silver Tips, no doubt).

9. Beware the man who only has one gun. HE PROBABLY KNOWS HOW TO USE IT!!!

To this I will add my comments. I was once asked by a lady visiting if I had a gun in the house. To which I said I did. She said 'well I certainly hope it isn't loaded!' To which I said, 'of course it is loaded.' She then asked, 'Are you that afraid of some one evil coming into your house?' My reply was, 'No not at all. I am not afraid of the house catching afire either, but I have fire extinguishers around, and THEY ARE ALL LOADED.'

Watch for a moment

2007-12-29T21:55:00.000-05:00

Take a moment of your time to view.

http://www.cryofthespirit.com/thesoldier.html

A letter home from the Front

2007-12-24T23:21:00.000-05:00

This Soldiers name is Mike, and we will leave it at that. Mike is a Chopper pilot in Iraq.
He starts his return home this Christmas after 15 months of serving not only his country, but his friends, neighbors, and fellow countrymen.
This is his final letter home before his return.

Family and Friends,

In the next week, most of my comrades and I will complete our tour of duty in Baghdad and begin our journey home to those we love and the way of life we battled to preserve. Unfortunately, not all of us will enjoy the homecoming we dreamed of from the moment we arrived. Many are now at rest among the generations of heroes at Arlington. Many more have returned to their home towns across America, covered with the Stars and Stripes of Old Glory, commemorating their devotion to the hopes and dreams of many current and future American generations.

In October of 2006, we were sent to Iraq to hunt Evil and deliver hope in an area of the world where Islamic Extremists desperately feared that Freedom and Democracy might take hold. Street to street and house to house your sons and daughters hunted, fought, built, bled and died. In doing so, Al-Qieda and other extremists were killed or captured on an unprecedented scale, bringing about hope in the day to day lives of the Iraqi people not seen in years. Mothers and daughters are now shopping freely in open markets and toy stores. Fathers and sons are enjoying city wide soccer tournaments and afternoon outings in the many city parks and playgrounds now open without the constant threat of suicide bombs and random sniper fire. By no means am I saying that Baghdad is now the safest place in the world to raise a family, but it is certainly far from the war torn city of chaos and me-hem often portrayed on TV and in the newspapers.

Our achievements have been many and our hard fought progress indisputable. Scores of my comrades made it possible with their lives, their limbs and their peace of mind. As you celebrate this Christmas and New Years with your family, I ask only that you not forget my brothers and sisters in arms, particularly those who remain on the hunt, so that the rest of us might enjoy this holiday season at home with those we love.

Thank You Mike, and those like you!
You may not like War, but our life would cease without Warriors like him.
Merry Christmas Mike.
My thanks to his family for their sacrifice while he was away!

Tis the Season

2007-11-27T06:07:00.000-05:00

While we are so busy with getting ready for Christmas it is easy for some to loose sight of some simple truths. 1st is the fact that we are able to celebrate this Holiday season as we wish because of the small percentage of our population that stands the line between US and our enemys.

The embers glowed softly and in their dim light
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.

My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.

My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.

A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"

For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,

I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at ' Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas that 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of ' Nam
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.

I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.

For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Whew!

2007-10-02T18:09:00.000-04:00

I never thought it would be so difficult to keep up, and post on a blog page.
First of all I'm not a writer, but I am a thinker. So even if the thoughts come easy its not so easy to make my 2 index fingers poke the little buttons that make the words show up on the screen. (That took a couple of minutes its self).
So I really need to be in the mood, and have something to say.
When I started this sooooo long ago.......(That's a funny!) I thought it would be only for my participation in the Patriot Guard Riders. Not gonna happen.
It will also include just about anything else that comes from my participation with the PGR.
For example.....Did you know that a dog can separate countless odors it is smelling at the moment, and can single out one, and ignore the others. Kinda like when we were kids, and Mom was trying to tell us whatever, and all we could hear was the TV.
Going across water, or up a tree wont throw them off either!
Some of these creations of God can even tell if your health is a bit, or a lot off from being normal.
Amazing what you can learn just by getting out of the house and hanging with some friends!!!
OK my fingers are way tired now.....stay tuned
DC out

2007-09-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

I could not help myself. I have become so tired of "The Facts" as presented by those that just don't get it.
This comes just a very short time after yet another shooting on a school campus where guns are not allowed for self defense.
How do you like that pepper spray now?

Physicians:

A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.

(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000.

(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.

Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.

Now think about this:

Guns:

(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000. ( YES , that’s 80
Million )

(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is
1,500.

(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188.

Statistics courtesy of FBI

So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous
than gun owners.

2007 Indiana Patriot Guard Rally

2007-08-29T21:49:00.000-04:00

This past weekend was the 2007 Rally for the Indiana PGR.
I arrived at Russ's Barn -N- Grill (Home of the Barn Bunch) on Friday evening in the rain. I was happy to be there regardless.
I had waited since last years Rally with great anticipation. You see this is not just a spot on the map to meet, but a very very cool pace to meet. Complete with food service line, grill for hogs, stage, I believe 4 acres for camping, a shower, and facilities in the camping area. Always a fire going in the pit, a full Tattoo parlor with great artists from out of state slinging some awesome ink!
The Barn has writing all over everything. Walls, ceiling, doors, refrigerators. There is not a safe place nor need there be one. Russ encourages everyone to leave their mark some where while they are there. Decorations from barn tools to Harley parts to bar room, and just about any decorations you can think of are hanging all over the barn inside and out.
The best feature this place has is the host, and hostess. No matter if you have been there so many times your a fixture, or if its your first visit you are made to feel at home, and I do mean that. You do feel welcome at the Barn.
When I arrived Fri night the iron kettle had been pulled from the fire pit, and Chile was served. Man was it good!
Shortly after that I found myself in Russ's truck headed after an old pull behind trailer to put out in the camping area for a friend of his. I was glad to be able to help. You just never know what is next.
I just need to squeeze this info in here. Last year I spent the weekend in the Tattoo room hoping to get some ink work done.....never happened. I missed alot. So this year I have an appt for some ink, but we'll see.
Linda, and I set up the tent in a slight drizzle. Good enough lets go party!
There were I guess about 15 to 20 people there Fri night. Didn't stay up to late. We all knew we had a PGR mission in the morning. Missions come first. That's the way it is.
So off to bed a little inebriated. About 1/2 hour later I wake to a drip on my face........OHH PISS! Rain fly is not doing its job! Of coarse the rain is really coming down steady now. Well I look around and its not the only drip. I thought of heading for the truck. Naw just laid back down and hoped for the rain to let up. It did. (Thank You!)
Up in the morning, and Russ has the coffee going, and breakfast in the warmers. What a guy!!
Before we leave on our mission I helped get the hog from the walk in, and put it on the grill. He tells me it is number 17 THIS YEAR!
I think I'll take this opportunity to state that "It never sucks to be Russ"
Saturday, and the mission to follow in next post.

The Begining

2007-08-27T22:35:00.000-04:00

This being my first post I felt it important to share the Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement. Mostly because it is my intent to share my experiences with this fine group of Patriots, so it would be important for any one viewing this Blog to start at the begining.

Patriot Guard Riders Mission Statement

The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for America’s freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join us.We don’t care what you ride or if you ride, what your political views are, or whether you’re a hawk or a dove. It is not a requirement that you be a veteran. It doesn't matter where you’re from or what your income is; you don’t even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American heroes as invited guests of the family. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and their communities.2. Shield the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by any protestor or group of protestors.We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means.
To those of you who are currently serving and fighting for the freedoms of others, at home and abroad, please know that we are backing you. We honor and support you with every mission we carry out, and we are praying for a safe return home for all.