Apparently lying is protected under the First Amendment…

Now, I’m not always the most truthful fellow in the pool. And anytime any of us old warhorses start off a sea story with “Now this happened to me when I was on liberty in Thailand…” folks should start putting one hand on their wallet, and the other on their family jewels, because there’s a whopper inbound… But these are sea stories, anecdotes, tall tales that carry no claim of truthfulness, legal counsel, or historical accuracy…

… But when a fellow lies about having received a decoration, especially a decoration that sways public sentiments to the point where the public is at risk of being made the victim of fraud, on top of the damage done in the public eye towards legitimate holders of the decoration, well, is THAT covered by the law?

I’m not a lawyer, but it seems to me that this country’s laws are starting to do a better job protecting criminals than they do protecting the interests of those who won through personal valor, effort, and/or initiative a decoration while serving the Nation.

I’m just sayin’…

SGT B and Phoenix...

Know Ye, Oh Best Beloved, that SGT B and Phoenix, being of sound mind and spirit, were married in the eyes of God by a Pastor of the United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM, June 6, in the year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten.

The population of the Firebase now stands at 11:

SGT B

Phoenix

Kat (Reservist)

Bear

The Engineer

Sir Artiste

and then the Life Sparks:

Ice (K9)

Spike (Feline)

Jojo (Feline)

Tristan (Feline)

Sandy (Feline)

and assorted fish and One Red-kneed Tarantula (under a suspended death sentence as long as it stays where it belongs…)

In other news:

The Firebase has a new addition in the motor pool:

A 194? Ford GTB 1 1/2 ton truck, otherwise known as a “Burma Jeep”.  Doesn’t look like much right now, but she’s actually in pretty good shape:  All the important parts are there, and the engine isn’t locked up.

Oh, and it was FREE…

I had the pleasure of attending the 2010 MilBlog Conference in Washington D.C.!

Personally, the journey to and from the Conference was flawless and uneventful, and when I arrived in D.C., I was looking forward to the pre and post festivities as well as the event itself…

There are plenty of folks who have posted comprehensive summaries of the events, so I’m not even going to try (and ride their coat tails as far as kudos to all who pitched in to make it a great event!  Y’all rock!!!), but I am going to express a few thoughts:

I need to learn to twitter…  I’m sick and tired of not knowing where the after parties are…  ‘Nuff said…

I had a great time getting a chance to talk to the very same folks whose words have made me laugh, strengthened my resolve, and, most of all, forced me to expand my mind.  Rarely have I disagreed with any of them, but if I do, I know that, so long as I forward a reasonably thought out opinion, it will enjoy a cordial and genuine response.

Oh, and I need to learn how to spell Blackhawk Grayhawk Greyhawk…  And Mrs. G. is petite…  Kinda like dynamite…

Uncle Jimbo needs to get over his fear of public speaking and stop being a wall flower…

I don’t ever want to get Chuck angry at me…

The Golden Knights (U.S. Army Parachute Team) has a blog, and they were there.  I’m not sure whether a cost-benefit analysis would support them being there in their primary role as a parachute demonstration team, but I was glad to see them exploring the possibilities of using social media to advance their message as ambassadors of the U.S. Army.  Unfortunately,  the only thing I could have said to them face to face was “Dude, what you guys do is totally cool!”, and look like some blithering idiot, so I sat back and drooled from afar, because, you know, they are cool!  (And they left behind some really neat stuff!)

And then I was able to meet Major Norman Hatch, who shot combat footage of the Marines landing at Tarawa.  To Marines, he is a living legend, and meeting him, and having lunch with him was an honor of the highest degree!  He spins a good sea story as well!

And then there was Gina Elise…  What a sweetheart!  Got legs all the way up to her shoulders, and a heart of pure spun gold to boot!

Saving Able performed Friday night, and I wish I had brought my harps…  Next year: The Pipes!

If I were to try to list all of the bloggers I met and interacted with, I know I would forget somebody, but I see each and every one of you in my mind’s eye, and I enjoyed every conversation in which I participated, and I value the fact that some of you “heavy hitters” even remembered who I was!  It boosted my motivation to get my head and tail wired together and step up my own blogging.  Of course, being out in the middle of nowhere, it might look something like this:

12APR2010:  Watched the wheat in the fields growing…  Cleaned my rifle…

13APR2010:  Wheat is still growing…  Cleaned my rifle again…

14APR2010:  Still growing…  Rifle’s pretty clean…

15APR2010:  Wheat…  Growing…  Ran out of Hoppes No. 9…

16APR2010:  Growing wheat doesn’t make for good news…  Took a break from rifle cleaning and switched to the shotgun…

Anyhow, had a wonderful and enlightening time, and I’m looking forward to next year!

I offer this break from entropy, and celebrate the life-sparks that enrich my life…

First there is Spike (Interior Vector Control Tech 1st Class) who is voted most likely to speak in the manner of Sean Connery…  Yes, he’s THAT cool.

And then comes Jojo (Interior Vector Control Tech 2nd Class), who is beautiful, and he knows it!

And, in order of age, here’s my buddy Ice, who is as wonderfully capricious as any Princess ought to be, and proves that the word “dog” encompasses a concept of unconditional love that words will never fully define…

Have a wonderful day, and remember those who go to Piddler’s Green, but take comfort in those who remain at our side.

Now listen up, people.  We need a break from entropy.  So keep ‘em safe and healthy, eh?

Aye aye, sir.

To a lesser extent, but by no means less compelling, The Tuskeegee Airmen and Windtalkers provided a glimpse of the valor of individual units at war, showcasing the courage and contributions to victory of Americans who, despite the prejudices of the time, did their jobs, and did them very well.  In the parlance found at the end of just about every award given in the United States Armed Forces, they “brought great credit upon themselves, their unit, and their respective Services”.  In short, they gave all of us something to be proud of, irrespective of race, creed, or color, but as Americans.  IN this, these heretofore untold stories brought us together against the outrage of racial prejudice, and in admiration of technical and tactical skill, of which these individuals earned every right to be proud of their accomplishments.

And then there was the dearth of “wannabes”, which came in the form of Pearl Harbor, and The Thin Red Line, the first providing a spectacular (if inaccurate) portrayal of the attack on Pearl Harbor (a vexing pet peeve of those of us whose families were directly impacted by that attack – my Grandfather watched as his ship, the Oklahoma, capsized in front of him) as an expensive backdrop to the romance of two Army Aviators and an Army Nurse, and the second a “cerebral” contemplation of the horrors of war (which left me thanking Providence that the characters were not being portrayed as Marines.)

Now, HBO embarks on a production that will, I hope, meet or exceed the standards it reached with Band Of Brothers, and this time, tell the story of The Old Breed, the 1st Marine Division, and the ferocious combat found during the island hopping campaign of the Pacific Theater.  Hopefully this production will enlighten the modern generation about the many battles whose names have all but been forgotten: Guadalcanal, the Solomons, Tarawa, Pelileau, Okinawa, and other actions that should be as close in the Nation’s memory as D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge.

Having had the privilege of serving in the 1st Marine Division, I hope that this production will faithfully tell the story of the men in whose shadow I served, and in whose memory I did the very best I could to uphold the standards that they forged.

The 1st Marine Division, “The Old Breed”

All the best for 2010 to you, and I’ll expect you here for the AAR in December!

Your humble scribe at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, January 2009...

Your humble scribe at Firebase Rockford, United States of America, January 2010...

Despite the “PG” rating, I think that it contains combat scenes and language that might not be appropriate for the younger set.

Technically, the CGI was incredible, and the depiction of the planet “Pandora” is a visual tour d’ force; an amazing collection of bio-luminescence and jaw-dropping effects.  Were it real, this would be a wondrous place to explore, and hostile atmosphere notwithstanding, I could build me a nice little retirement home there…  The visuals of the indigenous population were handled with the tact of National Geographic, and well represented.

Without giving away the plot, it is a story of profit-driven humans trying to drive the indigenous population off of their sacred grounds to allow for the mining of a highly valuable mineral, using the military assets (specifically the Marines) to provide the heavy-handed eviction notice.  Bottom line, screwing the locals to make a buck…

And therein lies the message…

Those of us who adhere to a mono-theistic deity that is human-centric, and those of us who follow the martial vocation might be prompted to dismiss this as “another tree-hugging piece of work from Hollywood”.

And it would be wrong, in my view…

As far as I am concerned, relations between the Judeo-Christian God and His Son, Jesus Christ, are, first and foremost, a one-on-one relationship.  The whole idea behind Christ’s teachings is that we should lead by example, not force others to believe as we do.  Let our deeds do the convincing, in other words:  If we encounter another populace whose lifestyle is based on a different faith methodology, I believe that we should live and let live, unless that population is overly hostile with no discernible reason.  We should not fall into the trap of believing that our way (not HIS Way, OUR Way) is any more “righteous” that anyone else’s, and we should not be so arrogant as to think that we know all of God’s plans; He may have not granted us the Need To Know about His plans for our neighbors, in light of the fact that we are still trying to get our own house squared away.

So (after the appropriate suspension of disbelief), there is a population of ten foot tall blue folks who are so in tune with their natural surrounding that they have created a simplistic society that ties them to the land.  Sounds like a few cultures that once enjoyed an unfettered existence in our own backyard, doesn’t it?

Continuing the aforementioned suspension of disbelief, the reason for Humans even being on that planet was primarily wrong.  The presence of researchers attempting to learn about a totally different bio-system, culture, etc., might be justified, but to destroy a whole different culture for profit is plain wrong.

Which brings us to the Marines:  Had any of those Marines remembered the oath that they can be presumed to have taken upon their enlistment, the one that affirms that they will “Support and defend the Constitution of the United States…” not a man Jack among them would have fired a single shot.  Where was the threat?  From a population that didn’t even have the ability to escape their own atmosphere on a world that took six years to travel to from Earth?  I don’t think so.

Unfortunately, we have seen this scenario played out in our own reality.  Not in Iraq, or even Afghanistan, where there is, indeed, a threat to the United States from a hostile adversary that refuses to negotiate in good faith, and has proved their intentions through acts of violence upon our own soil.

So, taking all of this in, I think that there are two messages, both of which apply to my own life:

1)  If you’re going to pull the trigger, make sure that you’re pulling it for the right reason.

2)  Sometimes it isn’t doing what you are ordered to do…  It’s a question of doing what is right.

I approve of the movie’s message, and I hope that it makes people think.

Personally, I’m thinking that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to be tall, blue, and wearing a loincloth.

The reason for this is two-fold. First, milblogs are facing an increasingly hostile environment from within the military. While senior leadership has embraced blogging and social media, many field grade officers and senior NCOs do not embrace the concept. From general apathy in not wanting to deal with the issue to outright hostility to it, many commands are not only failing to support such activities, but are aggressively acting against active duty milbloggers, milspouses, and others. The number of such incidents appears to be growing, with milbloggers receiving reprimands, verbal and written, not only for their activities but those of spouses and supporters.
The catalyst has been the treatment of milblogger C.J. Grisham of A Soldier’s Perspective. C.J. has earned accolades and respect, from the White House on down for his honest, and sometimes blunt, discussion of issues — particularly PTSD. In the last few months, C.J. has seen an issue with a local school taken to his command who failed to back him, and has even seen his effort to deal with PTSD, and lead his men in same by example, used against him as a part of this. Ultimately, C.J. has had to sell his blog to help raise funds for his defense in this matter.

An excellent story on the situation with C.J. can be found at Military Times: “Off Duty, the Rise and Fall of a Military Blogger “ While there have been new developments, the core problem remains, and C.J. is having to raise funds to cover legal expenses to protect both his good name and his career.

One need only look at the number of blogs by active duty military in combat zones and compare it to just a few years ago to see the chilling effect that is taking place.

Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to the public. They have provided vital context and analysis on issues critical to operations and to the informed electorate critical to the Republic.

On Wednesday 16 December, readers will have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Those participating are urging their readers to contact their elected representatives in Congress, and to let their opinions be known to them and to other leaders in Washington.

Some milblogs will remain silent for several days; some just for the day. All have agreed to keep the post about the silence and C.J. at the top of their blogs until Friday 18 December.

The issues go beyond C.J., and deserve careful consideration and discussion. We hope that you will cover this event, and explore the issues that lie at the heart of the matter. Contact the milbloggers in your area or that you know, and hear the story that lies within.

A Partial List of Participating Blogs:
Bouhammer – http://www.bouhammer.com/
This Ain’t Hell http://thisainthell.us/blog/
Boston Maggie http://bostonmaggie.blogspot.com/
Blackfive http://www.blackfive.net/main/
Miss Ladybug http://miss-ladybug.blogspot.com/
Drunken Wisdom http://beerbrains.com/
Grim’s Hall http://grimbeorn.blogspot.com/
Frommyposition http://frommyposition.com/
CDR Salamander – http://cdrsalamander.blogspot.com/
You Served – http://www.vamortgagecenter.com/blog/
HomeFront Six – http://homefrontsix.blogspot.com/
Laughing Wolf – http://laughingwolf.net/

The Gun Line – http://www.thegunline.com

You can donate to CJ’s Legal Fund by logging into PayPal, go to the send money page, and put in his email: dj_chcknhawk AT yahoo DOT com; or, you can send donations directly to:

Grisham Legal Fund
c/o Redstone Federal Credit Union
220 Wynn Drive
Huntsville, AL 35893

Please write “Grisham Legal Fund” in the memo line if you use this option. Milblogs have been a vital link in getting accurate news and information about the military, and military operations, to you. Today, many milblogs are gone and others are under attack from within and without. Today, you have the chance to imagine a world without milblogs, and to do something about it. Make your voice heard by writing your congressional representatives and others, and by making donations as you see fit.

The battle for freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas is fought on many fronts and in many ways. Without your help, the battle may well be lost.

From SGT B:

Milblogs have been a voice for the issues most folks don’t see int eh mainstream media.  Some Milblogs call out political issues, others call out Veteran’s issues, some provide catalysts for the experiences Veterans have faced, either to allow them to “get it off of their chests” or inform the public of what a Veteran’s life is like.  I have been the beneficiary of a great deal of graciousness from both fellow Veterans and supporters of the military who simply care about my well-being, whether because they consider me a friend, or because I served, and they feel the need to simply care.

I’m no Black Five, or Laughing Wolf, or Boston Maggie, or Castle Argghhh!, I do not enjoy a wide audience, nor is this blog a forum visited by higher level military leaders, but I am a Milblogger, and I feel that the right of a soldier, sailor, Airman, Marine, Guardsman, or Coast Guardsman to express his or her personal feelings, as long as they follow OPSEC guidelines, and proper military etiquette (“With all due respect, I’m about to give you a wire-brushing, sir…”), their voices and stories must be given a public forum:  They have not given up their right to express themselves…

I condemn the small-minded individuals, both military and non-military, who fail to utilize the proper chain of command protocols.  Civilians should not “report” a MilBlogger because they simply disagree with his/her point of view, and those in the military chain of command have the responsibility to filter out those occasions when the system is being used improperly.

The Gun Line joins the rest of the MilBlogs who have “gone silent” in support of MilBloggers whose voice is being suppressed by such underhandedness.

I believe that God has a different plan for the Jewish faith, according to the Old Testament.  I don’t pretend to understand it, but I respect it – That’s between God and the Jews, and I have no place in it.

I also believe that when Jesus Christ said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega”, he meant that, after him, there would be no other prophets or emissaries from God.  He was the Last One – that’s it, period, end of story…

Any other faith professing anything otherwise is, well, suspect, as far as I’m concerned…

Yes, that includes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, otherwise called the Mormons…  But, you know, the vast majority of Mormons I know don’t “rock the boat”, and pretty much every Mormon I know is polite, and they take care of each other.  I don’t know much about their faith, and, truth be told, that’s between them and God.  They don’t pose a threat, but they do involve themselves in good works, so I’m not going to either support or condemn them – They do their thing, and I’ll not say anything against them…

… And the Buddhists, but then, they seek deep inner peace, so they earn my respect.

… And the Native Americans, who were truly screwed, are trying to relearn their own historical spiritual path.  I do not subscribe to their beliefs, but I will respect them and wish them success.

… And even a certain Officer I know, who I dare to call friend, who is a student of the Art of Combat, and a man I would follow into the very gates of Hell in a heartbeat, who eschews any pretense of Religion…

These are examples of other faith groups that offer inspiration and a view “outside of the box”, but whose connection to the Divine I don’t contemplate.  (God doesn’t need me to concern myself with my neighbors – I’ve got enough work to do in my own House.)  Last I heard, they found a way to co-exist without running amok with AK-47s, blowing up everything in sight…

But in 632 AD, a man from the desert introduced the world to Islam.  From then on, this “religion” started on a path filled with blood, death, conquest, exploitation, and has become so muddied with human agendas that any spiritual purity or benefits has been lost.  Life is devalued; Peace is given lip service; Trust and faith vary according to the whims of the blowing winds; and fanatics have taken the bridge of the ship…

…All in a “religion” that sprouted some 600 years after The Son of God said: I am the Last.  Which tells me, according to my beliefs, that the whole idea of Islam is pretty much moot.  It cannot be quantified, and cannot be qualified as a religion, especially one that derives its source of power from the God of a promise (not a gift of Divinity) to Abraham, because the God of Abraham sent His Only Son to us, in the form of Jesus Christ, who said (as I wrote before) that he was the last.

(A reminder here, that God promised Abraham that he would be “the father of Nations”, true, but the only reason we are even concerned about Abraham is because one of his descendants was a young woman named Mary, who became a vessel into which the Holy Spirit – that would be God – placed His Only Son – that would be Jesus Christ – who, as I said, was the beginning and end of Divinity upon this Earth.  Any claims of divinity through any other source is dead wrong…)

I bring this topic to the fore in the light of the aftermath of the murders at Fort Hood, and the veil of political correctness that blinded so many people to the goals of a murdering sack of slime who stood upon the Faith of Islam and used it to apparently justify his actions and beliefs…

So Islam has no Divinity, came along after Christ issued the “end of mission” command as far as divine emissaries of God is concerned, and has proven itself to be a hotbed of bloodshed, violence, and has the unmitigated gall to demand that it be accepted…  Seems to me that it is a cult of lost souls who, like little spoiled children, scream and throw temper tantrums to get God’s attention.

Mohammad, however, was a sneaky bastard, and he put enough controls into play to ensure that all of the trappings of this cult were protected by pain of death.  (You can’t even smudge the leaves of a Koran, lest the whole Islamic world go up in flames, whereas the Bible is only a book – it is the message within that is the main focus, not the physical construct of pages…  Reeks of insecurity in the part of Mohammad, doesn’t it?)

Would somebody please tell me why we should even listen to these folks?

Has political correctness trumped God?