Semper FI

On April 22 of this year Marine Cpl. Jonathan T. Yale 21, of Burkeville, Va.; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Lance Cpl. Jordan Haerter, a rifleman with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment were killed in action as they refused to leave their post and continued to fire upon a suicide bombing truck containing 2000 pounds of high explosives bearing down on their check point while conducting combat operations in Balad, Iraq. Their heroic stand has been recognized, Maj. Gen. John Kelly who personally conducted the investigation into this event has recommended that the pair be awarded posthumsaly the Navy Cross for their heroic stand that day.

From The LA Times online

Some Iraqis told him they were incredulous that the two Marines had not fled.
When Marine technicians restored a damaged security camera, the images were undeniable.
While Iraqi police fled, Haerter and Yale had never flinched and never stopped firing as the Mercedes truck -- the same model used in the Beirut bombing -- sped directly toward them.

Without their steadfastness, the truck would probably have penetrated the compound before it exploded, and 50 or more Marines and Iraqis would have been killed. The incident happened in just six seconds"No time to talk it over; no time to call the lieutenant; no time to think about their own lives or even the American and Iraqi lives they were protecting," Kelly said. "More than enough time, however, to do their duty. They never hesitated or tried to escape."

Kelly nominated the two for the Navy Cross, the second-highest award for combat bravery for Marines and sailors. Even by the standards expected of Marine "grunts," their bravery was exceptional, Kelly said.

Their bravery in the face of the enemy goes to show what fine young men we have serving in the Marin Corps and our armed forces. God Bless them and their families.

Harrier Down

A USMC AV-8B Harrier crashed on final approach to Cherry Point MCAS this afternoon. The pilot who has not been identified pending notification of next of kin was killed in the crash. This was the third Harrier lost this year but the first fatality.
(Photo USMC)

Raiders Win!

The Oakland Raiders stunned many experts and fans like myself by scoring 17 unanswered points in the second half and sending Tampa Bay down to defeat and out of the playoffs. Michael Bush who is essentially a rookie after rehabbing all of last year from his broken leg suffered as a senior at U of L rocked the Buccaneer defense for 177 yards on 27 carries with two TD’s. Bush is an outstanding back who has speed and at 6 ft 1 inch and 245 one huge load for any defensive to bring down. I could not understand why he was not playing more with the ongoing injuries to McFadden and Fargas but maybe next year we can use him more and dump Fargas.
Same with interim coach Tom Cable, I thought he did a good job and should be given the head coaches job full time and let him finish what he has started. Shoot he even looks like what a Raider coach is supposed to look like,
The sweetest part of the game was at the end when Tampa Bay’s fans booed them off the field. What did they expect dropping 4 in a row in December.

Pic Of The Day

"Fighters are fun but bombers make policy"

(Photo's USAF)

Christ Is Born

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Apollo 8, 40th Anniversary

Sunday marked the Forty-year anniversary of the historic launch of Apollo 8 around the moon mission. The first manned Saturn 5 mission launched from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space at 0751 AM on 21 Dec 1968. The crew, Frank Borman, Commander, James Lovell Command Module Pilot and William Anders Lunar Module pilot rode for three days in their command module towards their historic intercept with the moon. The insertion into lunar orbit occurred on Christmas Eve and the crew became the first humans to see the far side of the moon, later that evening the crew home broadcast was highlighted as they read passages from Genesis. One of the most famous NASA photo earthrise was taken during this mission. Apollo 8 proved the major hardware of the program was capable of getting a crew to the moon. Subsequent missions of Apollo 9 and 10 tested the Lunar module and paved the way for Apollo 11 historic landing in July of 1969.

I look back on those days when I was a young man and I can remember the excitement of a launch and all of the TV coverage. My friends and I knew whom all the astronauts were and were always talking about NASA. I still enjoy the shuttle lift offs but the magic is no longer there. Hopefully NASA can get back to were they were during the heydays of Apollo and can create that excitement in little kids again and inspire a new generation to reach for the stars.
(Photo's, NASA)

737 Down In Denver

A magnificent job by the Denver Fire Department ARFF crews prevented what could have been a major loss of life after a Continental Airlines 737-500 crashed during take off on Sunday. The 737 departed the runway approximately 2000 feet into its takeoff roll sheared one of it landing gear and an engine and came to rest on fire near a drainage ditch. Quick response by the cabin crew in evacuating the passenger and rapid arrival by the DFD ARFF crew prevented what could have been a major tragedy. The NTSB is on site gather evidence to try and find out what happened to this aircraft to make it depart the runway.

Steele Soft On 2nd, Bad Choice For RNC Chair

While Steel is articulate and had an NRA endorsement the questions he answered from the Washington Post in 2006 tells me he is just another RINO who probably does not know an AR from a howitzer.


Steele on Gun Control via the Arsenal
Michael Steele was endorsed by the NRA in 2006 in his race for the U.S. Senate.

Dave Kopel opined in 2006 that a win by Michael Steele would have been "a great pick up for the Second Amendment"

Via the Washington Post (2006):
Q: Your views on gun control?

A: My views are pretty much in line with [NRA-backed Gov. Robert Ehrlich]. I grew up under some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. I loved the moment [anti-gun activist] Carl Rowan got caught [with a gun]. That summed it up for me. Summed it up for me...

It's not the law-abiding citizen. It's not the person who used it as a hobby. There's an underground market for guns. Despite the laws, streets are flooded with them...

Q: Should people have access to buy assault weapons or any gun that they want?

A: Well, I mean you draw the line. I mean, what do you need an assault weapon for? I mean, if going hunting, I think that's a little overkill or whatever, but the reality of it is, I think it's important for a society, a community to draw the lines as we've drawn in a number of other constitutional areas, but I don't think that that means that you go to a total ban for those who want to use guns for skeet shooting and hobbying and hunting and things like that.

Click the title to go to the Arsenal,

Shok Valley, 4/8/2008

Video footage from the engagement of Detachment Alpha 3336, 3rd Special Forces Group. This is the battle that 10 of the Green Berets where awarded Silver Stars for bravery under fire.

Remember Global Warming?

I wonder if the Goracle has seen these shots'? They are from Ft Irwin early today and the Las Vegas Strip; Global warming, all is lost so sayeth the Goracle and his cap and trade scheme.

(Vegas photo John Gurzinski, Ft Irwin photo Swiggumsmum)

Malmedy

Today is the 64th Anniversary of the massacre of prisoners from Battery B, 285th Field Artillery Observation Battalion POWs by 1st SS Panzer at Malmedy Belgium. This incident occurred during the second day of the Battle of the Bulge. Eventually 72 bodies were were discovered and 43 survivors managed to find refuge and made it back to Allied lines, some with the help of Belgian civilians.

After Germanys, surrender more than 70 people were tried by tribunal. The Court pronounced 43 death sentences, (none of which was carried out), and 22 life sentences. Eight other men were sentenced to shorter prison sentences.

Pic Of The Day

An F-15E Strike Eagle on Combat Air Patrol in Afghanistan.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon)

First C-5M Super Galaxy

Lockheed Martin has delivered the first of the upgraded C-5M Super Galaxy. This is a the result of a two-phase modernization effort of existing C-5B’s. The first and ongoing phase is the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP), which provides a state-of-the art glass cockpit and a digital backbone to support the RERP modifications. Forty-three C-5 aircraft have completed the AMP modifications. RERP is the second phase, which adds new GE CF6-80C2 commercial engines and 70 other enhancements or replacements of major components and subsystems.

(Photo Lockheed Martin)

Obama: Don't stock up on guns

The soon to be President Elect made the statement Sunday, he also said

“I believe in common-sense gun safety laws, and I believe in the second amendment," Obama said at a news conference. "Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear. I said that throughout the campaign. I haven't indicated anything different during the transition. I think people can take me at my word."

I think I’ll take him at his voting record as a Illinois Representative, were time after time he voted for the most extreme guns laws to include, gun and ammunition bans, and 500% tax on ammo.

The left always wants to take the guns out of law-abiding citizens hands as opposed to throwing away the key on criminals who use guns while committing crimes.
I know why, a disarmed populace is nothing but sheep to an all-powerful government, after all those with the guns make the rules. History has shown us that time and time again one of the first things leftist dictators have done over the years is disarm the populace. Thank god that the founding fathers knew that tyranny had no limits and gave us the means with the second amendment to preserve freedom.

The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- (Thomas Jefferson)

""The great object is that every man be armed . . . Everyone who is able may have a gun." (Patrick Henry, in the Virginia Convention on the ratification of the Constitution.)

"The advantage of being armed . . . the Americans possess over the people of all other nations . . . Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several Kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." (James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, in his Federalist Paper No. 46.)

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." (Second Amendment to the Constitution.)
Sales of firearms and ammunition have gone through the roof locally. Getting and AR clone or many types of high-end pistols is difficult, as you must wait 3-4 weeks in some cases. I did my part and purchased a few odds and ends and I will continue to purchase ammo when I get a chance. The funny thing is that the politicians have noticed this and this is what caused Obama to make these statements.

Pearl Harbor Day

Today Is Day That Will Live In Infamy

Royal Marines

Bootnecks from 42 Commando RM operating in Afghanistan
(Pic British MOD)

F-15 Music Video

A decent F-15 music video, Stills set to heavy metal

F-15 Fighter Jet Music Video - More free videos are here

Pic Of The Day

On a lighter note a great pic of the day, The Concord lifting off from JFK,how I miss this magnificent aircraft

Back From A Break

Well I’m back from a week off which was great, shoot I did not even watch the news or read a newspaper. That’s what made today’s Obama announcements of his staff so funny.
Clinton Secretary of State, enough said on her total lack of international experience, and in her speech today another reference to global warming. These leftist will do what ever it takes even using junk science to get their carbon cap and trade tax going, after all green is the new red. Then we have Gen Jim Jones a questionable choice at best for NSA in a war against Islamic terror, Eric Holder who under no circumstance s be confirmed as AG after his action during the Clinton administration pardon mill and lest we forget Gov Napolitano as Homeland Security, exactly how is this open borders advocate is qualified expect for the fact that she was a vigorous supporter of the one? Finally Susan Rice at the U.N. the women who failed in the Clinton years to get Bin Laden when we had the chance.

This whole team seams like Clinton lite 3, the only person seemingly qualified for the task at hand is Secretary of Defense Gates who has agreed to stay on for at least another year.. Hope and change, we can only hope that this dynamic team does not totally screw us up and lead us to another 9/11 disaster.

Key West Pics

Just a few shots from our recent trip to Key West. I really like it down there the Conch Republic is a great place to party and kick back. The shots are Duval Street at night, a Key West Sunset and of course a rooster. The roosters are becoming endangered as the City is shipping them out to another Key, to bad they add character an quirkiness to the town. If I ever hit a lottery I’m moving to the keys.

Pic Of The Day

F-15e from the 494th FS, Panthers on combat air patrol

(Photo USAF)

A-10 Strafing

Great job by the Hogs!

Obama and Israel

I hope the self-loathing leftist Jewish Obama supporters in this country are happy.
After the one said over the weekend that he wants Israel to withdraw tp its pre six-day war 1967 borders the Palestinian leader Abbas threatened war on Monday if the Israeli government does not move in this direction to the 1949 borders. Obama's proposal also included ceding the Golan Heights back to Syria.

I’ve heard of bad moves but what is to be expected from a man who throughout his life has been supported and surrounded by Ant Semites. I expect that the Israel will just ignore the latest form the Obama camp. I have a strange felling that the folks in Tel Aviv no that they are screwed and will not get the support they need to keep the Arabs at bay after Jan 20, 2009. I believe that the election results have effectively green lighted the Israelis to take action against Iran, after all what choice do they have? There is no way any sensible government in Israel is going to tolerate a nuclear armed Iran

Obama- Biden on Gun Control

Just when you thought it was safe to go ahead and but the M4 Bushmaster. My advice is do it now while you have a chance. The big thing is if any of this ridiculous anti gun and second amendment gun grabbing legislature gets to the floor be sure to lean on your local elected House and Senate members, after all politics is local.
What amazes me is the complete disregard for the facts of crime reduction in concealed carry must issue states. Also the stupidity of politician’s news folks and other various uninformed left-wingers that constantly refer to AR 15’s as assault weapons. An assault rifle has selective fire (full auto capability) Now you can legal own a full auto weapon after being examined by ATF and Treasury for a class 3 license
Yes it matters what these guys do, would there efforts stop at just the 2nd amendment for so called prudent gun laws, I think not. Grabbing guns has never made anywhere in society safer because the criminals don’t follow the law anyway. These same stupid politicians who through my lifetime have never been able to stop a steady flow of illegal drugs or aliens think that they could then stop a flow of illegal arms. It is laughable to say the least.
This is more feel good look what I’m doing against crime and violence for the sheeple back home. You want to reduce gun crime violence, tack a minimum of ten years on every persons sentence that must be served if you use a gun to commit a crime. That will get scumbags attention.
It has always amazed me the left wing, Democrat and Rino view on guns. After all the real leftist fascists of this world from Stalin, Hitler, Castro, Mgumbe and others the first thing they did was disarm the population, After all those with the guns make the rules. This one fact should scare all Americans even if you don’t own any firearms.

While running for Senate in 2004, Obama called for "national legislation" to prohibit citizens from carrying concealed weapons at all. In 2008, he affirmed that concealed carrying "creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could [get shot during] altercations."

Obama also supports the reinstatement of a 1994 ban on a variety of semi-automatic pistols and rifles characterized as "assault weapons." McCain voted against the ban, which expired in 2004, and continues to oppose it.

Obama's vice presidential pick, Sen. Joe Biden, has been a stalwart believer in gun control throughout his Senate career, offering steady support for the Brady Bill and championing legislation to renew the assault weapons ban.

F-35 Breaks The Sound Barrier

Another first for the Lightning, last week one of the Ft Worth based F-35’s went 1.05mach on its second flight of the day.

(Photo LM)

The Eagle Is Born

I watched this and felt old, some of these tails I worked on are now in the boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB in AZ.

Air Force Special Tactics Recruiting

Civil Defense Plan, Your Kidding Right?

I thought that Obama was kidding when he talked about some kind of Stalinist civilian defense corps as strong as the military that has mandatory service.
If Bush had proposed this, the left would have had a mental meltdown becasue it is total crap, but instead all we hear from the MSM is crickets. It like the old story of the Nazis how no one spoke up when they came for the various groups but when they came for you, who is there to speak out for you. I predict major pushback and sever buyer’s remorse with in days after the inauguration if not before, epically when some of the bigger Obama bots realize that the one is not going to pay for their mortgage and give them a free gas card. Here is Rahm Emanuel from 2006 and the one himself talking about it. click the title to go to Eyeblast.com

All I can say is pray for the country and be ready for anything.

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More On The American Hostage Rescue

A great article from the Navy Times on the recent rescue of an American engineer from the hands of the Taliban. Super job by the SEALS and what appears to be 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Chinooks.
Here is the link http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/military_air_rescue_110708w/
You can also click the post title for a redirect.

So Far No Deal For Big 3

It looks like common sense is prevailing and the natural business cycle of bankruptcy and reorganization is in store for the Big 3. Don’t get me wrong there will be pain and despair in Detroit,Toledo and some of the other main auto manufacturing cities, but this is something that just has to happen.
The management of the big three and the insanity brought by the UAW have got to end. I worked for Daimler Chrysler for a little over a year in 02 and 03 at Dodge City in Detroit were they make the 4 door Rams and Dakotas. In my experience I saw a union who would continually back totally useless employees who should have stayed fired instead of being brought back. I saw thousands of employees who were technically laid off but still drawing a huge percentage of their weekly salary for doing nothing. I saw senior management that had zero labor relations training and caused more harm than good every time they ventured out on the factory floor.
A good example was when would try and use the skilled tradesmen in these so called labor pool but could never get enough of them for a project to make it work so we had to use sub contractors instead. I could go on but what the point, Big 3 top management and the UAW sowed the seeds for this disaster years ago, the crop is now ready to be harvested. It’s unfortunate that some of the fine men I know that still work in Detroit will be directly impacted but this needs to happen, there is not enough money in the world to continue the same poor business and contract practices that have gone on for years.
People wonder what an economy run by Obama will look like, look no farther than Michigan under the left wing Granholm who has got to be the biggest train wreck in the country as a Governor.
One last note the UAW must be furious after all the money they coughed up to the Obama campaign and all the no doubt illegal contributions in the way of manpower for the campaign that they did. When Big 3 file for protection one of the first thing that will happen is the suspension of the contracts and all the ridiculous business killing parts of it. Makes you wonder why the UAW has never been able to organize a foreign car maker plant the Japanese manufactures in particular..

Pic Of The Day

Nice shot of an F-15C alert bird from the 32nd TFG, Soesterberg AB, Netherlands taken sometime in the late 80’s. I was there then and Zulu Alert would scramble almost daily on practice missions and a few times a week on actual intercepts. There was some great shots in the Zulu barn of TU-95’s that had been intercepted out in the gap.
This was back before we were completely PC and we still had happy hour at the NCO club on Fridays. Nothing like fresh cold native Heineken on a sunny summer day.
(Photo USAF)

Veterans Day

As a Desert Storm veteran and retired USAF SNCO, I would like to thank all of my fellow veterans both alive and dead for their service and sacrifice to this great nation.
Without these great people the United States and the free world would be a much different place.

More C02 Madness

The President elect is out in left field with the environmental wacko’s on this one. Talk about killing off the big 3 in one fell swoop.
W
ait what am I thinking these guys want us to pour billions into the already failed big three

The president-elect has said, for example, that he intends to quickly reverse the Bush administration’s decision last December to deny California the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. “Effectively tackling global warming demands bold and innovative solutions, and given the failure of this administration to act, California should be allowed to pioneer,” Obama said in January.
California had sought permission from the Environmental Protection Agency to require that greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles be cut by 30 percent between 2009 and 2016, effectively mandating that cars achieve a fuel economy standard of at least 36 miles per gallon within eight years. Seventeen other states had promised to adopt California’s rules, representing in total 45 percent of the nation’s automobile market. Environmentalists cheered the California initiative because it would stoke innovation that would potentially benefit the entire country.

10 November 1775

Happy Birthday USMC

Today is the 233 birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps was founded on 10 November 1775 when the Second Continental Congress ordered that two battalions of Marines be raised. Thirty-one-year-old Samuel Nicholas was commissioned to the grade of captain and began recruiting in the suitably appropriate location of Tun Tavern in Philadelphia.

Semper Fi

VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN

Vote for John and Sarah and pray to God for the delivery of our nation from the Marxist.

My Friend,
From the time I entered the Naval Academy at age seventeen I have been privileged and honored to serve my country.
Throughout my years of service, I've been faced with challenges where I could have taken the easy way out and given up. But I'm an American and I never give up. Instead, I choose to show courage and stand up and fight for the country I love. Today, I am asking you to stand with me and to fight for our country's future.
Our country faces enormous challenges and our next president must be ready to lead on day one. My lifetime of experience has prepared me to lead our great nation. I'm prepared to bring solutions to our economic challenges, bring our troops home in victory and improve our nation's healthcare system.
Time and time again, my country has saved my life and I owe her more than she has ever owed me. I have chosen to show my gratitude through a life of service to our country and tomorrow, you will have a choice before you.
I humbly ask you to make the choice that will allow me to serve my country a little while longer by casting your vote to elect me as your next President of the United States.
Finally, I ask that you never forget that much has been sacrificed to protect our right to vote. We must never forget those Americans who, with their courage, with their sacrifice, and with their lives, have protected our freedom. It is my great hope that you will exercise your right to vote as an American tomorrow.
I thank you for your kind support, your dedication to our cause, and most importantly I thank you for your vote.
With sincere appreciation,

John McCain

Raiders So Bad It Hurts

The Raiders to whom I have been a loyal fan for 35 years sunk to a new low even for them. After 6 years of hapless losing and more coaches than you can count yesterday at home the Raiders were shut out by Atlanta 24-0. They managed a whole 77 yards in offense the worst team performance since 1961, in front of a partially empty stadium
This team is a joke, Al Davis needs to go ahead and give over control to his son who then needs to hire a new GM and a coach. Maybe then after two or more seasons we may be a .500 ball club again. Until this happens I will be packing away my Raiders clothes and will not buy another Raider anything until Al goes.
The last six seasons have managed to completely destroy a team legacy that had swagger, pride and victories.

I wonder if someone could Photoshop the Raider emblem with two eye patches?

I wish they could win baby!

Heavy Metal

Real Heavy Metal

(USAF Photo)

What Is a Veteran?

I posted this a while back and its still and always will be true, regardless of how the drones on the left feel.


" A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check
made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to
and including my life.' That is Honor, and there are way too many people
in this country who no longer understand it.'"

Strike Eagle At Dawn

Real busy week so lets see a great Eagle Pic
A Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. An F-15E Strike Eagles lift off in full burner for a combat air patrol.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

Obama On Guns

Just a few money quotes from the one on guns, he gets a consistent F rating from the NRA and as an Illinois Senator has voted for such outrageous things as 500% tax on ammunition and gun sales, and total ban on handguns.

I am consistently on record and will continue to be on record as opposing concealed carry." - Obama, Chicago Tribune, April 27, 1994

"...just because you have an individual right does not mean that the state or local government can't constrain the exercise of that right..." - 2008 Philadelphia primary debate

Remember the totalitarians and Marxist want you disarmed. Because after all those with the guns make the rules. Our founding fathers knew this and this why they gave us the second amendment. If the liberals chip away at the 2nd screw around with the 1st with the fairness doctrine what other parts of the constitution will they not follow or seem to think has evolved. We are at the top of the slippery slope in a little over a week we can save ourselves and try and get it right with a vote for McCain/Palin.

401K Abolition Next for the Democrats?

Simply mind blowing, there is no doubt if McCain does not win the Democrats will economically reduce this great nation to a third world social st state. It pisses me off so bad that these greedy no good politicians most of whom have never worked a real job one day in their pathetic lives want to tax us even more.
America has a little over one week to wake up or all us working people are screwed and will end up working until we are dead.

It’s not enough that the Democrats total screwed up the banking system with their obstruction and lack of oversight that Bush and company tried to get on Fannie Mae, now they want to screw up the 401k system and really tank the market. Baghdad Jim and Miller need to be run out of D.C on a rail.


From the Free Republic and other news sources

House Democrats Contemplate Abolishing 401(k) Tax Breaks Powerful House Democrats are eyeing proposals to overhaul the nation’s $3 trillion 401(k) system, including the elimination of most of the $80 billion in annual tax breaks that 401(k) investors receive. House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller, D-California, and Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Washington, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee’s Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, are looking at redirecting those tax breaks to a new system of guaranteed retirement accounts to which all workers would be obliged to contribute.

A plan by Teresa Ghilarducci, professor of economic-policy analysis at the New School for Social Research in New York, contains elements that are being considered. She testified last week before Miller’s Education and Labor Committee on her proposal.

At that hearing, the director of the Congressional Budget Office, Peter Orszag, testified that some $2 trillion in retirement savings has been lost over the past 15 months. Under Ghilarducci’s plan, all workers would receive a $600 annual inflation-adjusted subsidy from the U.S. government but would be required to invest 5 percent of their pay into a guaranteed retirement account administered by the Social Security Administration. The money in turn would be invested in special government bonds that would pay 3 percent a year, adjusted for inflation.

Operation Urgent Fury

25 years ago today Marines from the 22nd Marine Amphibious unit, Soldiers from 82nd Airborne Division, 75th Ranger Regiment, Delta, and the 160th SOAR Seals from Teams 5and 6, Airman from the 21st TASS landed on Grenada. In addition numerous USN combat ships and USAF AC-130 Gunships supported them.
The invasion occurred on this date after an appeal by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Jamaica and Barbados that occurred when the former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop was murdered by the ruling military junta. This request was coupled with the fact there were over 700 Cuban soldiers and construction battalion personal along with Soviet, North Korean, East German Bulgarian and Lybian military advisors who were hand in hand with the junta in building an enormous new runway on the island. There were also numerous American college students attending St Georges University.
The invasion started at dawn with a classic airborne assault on the new airport which was followed up by amphibious and heliborne assault by the Marines and special operation forces. The island was secured with minimal casualties . Sir Paul Scoon took over the government and reinstated the constitution and appointed a new government.
Reaction was typical, the lefties in Congress including Louis Stokes and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus condemned the action. Congressman Ted Weiss and other Democrats attempted to impeach Reagan and the useful idiots at the UN voted also to condemn the invasion.
Valuable lesson were learned included the need for better intelligence in both gathering and dissemination, better communication gear and the need for more interoperability among the different branches of the armed forces. The lessons learned directly lead to the formation of US Special Operations Command.

25 Years From Beirut, They Came In Peace

Yesterday Oct 23 was the 25th anniversary of the murder bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut Lebanon. 241 Marines, Sailors and Soldiers; lost their lives to Islamic terrorist scum. Special commemorative services were held at Camp Lejeune.

May God bless these fallen hero’s and their families and give us the strength and will to stomp out the Islamic terrorist threat around the world

Semper Fi

CPL TERRY W. ABBOTT, USMC
LCPL CLEMON S. ALEXANDER, USMC
PFC JOHN R. ALLMAN, USMC
CPL MOSES J. ARNOLD JR., USMC
PFC CHARLES K. BAILEY, USMC
LCPL NICHOLAS BAKER, USMC
LCPL JOHANSEN BANKS, USMC
LCPL RICHARD E. BARRETT, USMC
HM1 RONNY K. BATES, USN
1STSGT DAVID L. BATTLE, USMC
LCPL JAMES R. BAYNARD, USMC
HN JESSE W. BEAMON, USN
GYSGT ALVIN BELMER, USMC
PFC STEPHEN BLAND, USMC
SGT RICHARD L. BLANKENSHIP, USMC
LCPL JOHN W. BLOCKER, USMC
CAPT JOSEPH J. BOCCIA JR., USMC
CPL LEON BOHANNON JR., USMC
SSGT JOHN R. BOHNET JR., USMC
CPL JOHN J. BONK JR., USMC
LCPL JEFFREY L. BOULOS, USMC
CPL DAVID R. BOUSUM, USMC
1STLT JOHN N. BOYETT, USMC
CPL ANTHONY BROWN, USMC
LCPL DAVID W. BROWN, USMC
LCPL BOBBY S. BUCHANAN JR., USMC
CPL JOHN B. BUCKMASTER, USMC
PFC WILLIAM F. BURLEY, USMC
HN JIMMY R. CAIN, USN
CPL PAUL L. CALLAHAN, USMC
SGT MECOT E. CAMARA, USMC
PFC BRADLEY J. CAMPUS, USMC
LCPL JOHNNIE D. CEASAR, USMC
PFC MARC L. COLE, USMC
SP4 MARCUS A. COLEMAN, USA
PFC JUAN M. COMAS, USMC
SGT ROBERT A. CONLEY, USMC
CPL CHARLES D. COOK, USMC
LCPL CURTIS J. COOPER, USMC
LCPL JOHNNY L. COPELAND, USMC
CPL BERT D. CORCORAN, USMC
LCPL DAVID L. COSNER, USMC
SGT KEVIN P. COULMAN, USMC
LCPL BRETT A. CROFT, USMC
LCPL RICK R. CRUDALE, USMC
LCPL KEVIN P. CUSTARD, USMC
LCPL RUSSELL E. CYZICK, USMC
MAJ ANDREW L. DAVIS, USMC
PFC SIDNEY S. DECKER, USMC
PFC MICHAEL J. DEVLIN, USMC
LCPL THOMAS A. DIBENEDETTO, USMC
PVT NATHANIEL G. DORSEY, USMC
SGTMAJ FREDERICK B. DOUGLASS, USMC
CPL TIMOTHY J. DUNNIGAN, USMC
HN BRYAN L. EARLE, USN
MSGT ROY L. EDWARDS, USMC
HM3 WILLIAM D. ELLIOT JR., USN
LCPL JESSE ELLISON, USMC
PFC DANNY R. ESTES, USMC
PFC SEAN F. ESTLER, USMC
HM3 JAMES E. FAULK, USN
PFC RICHARD A. FLUEGEL, USMC
CPL STEVEN M. FORRESTER, USMC
HM3 WILLIAM B. FOSTER JR., USN
CPL MICHAEL D. FULCHER, USMC
LCPL BENJAMIN E. FULLER, USMC
LCPL MICHAEL S. FULTON, USMC
CPL WILLIAM GAINES JR., USMC
LCPL SEAN R. GALLAGHER, USMC
LCPL DAVID B. GANDER, USMC
LCPL GEORGE M. GANGUR, USMC
SSGT LELAND E. GANN, USMC
LCPL RANDALL J. GARCIA, USMC
SSGT RONALD J. GARCIA, USMC
LCPL DAVID D. GAY, USMC
SSGT HAROLD D. GHUMM, USMC
LCPL WARNER GIBBS JR., USMC
CPL TIMOTHY R. GIBLIN, USMC
ETC MICHAEL W. GORCHINSKI, USN
LCPL RICHARD J. GORDON, USMC
LCPL HAROLD F. GRATTON, USMC
SGT ROBERT B. GREASER, USMC
LCPL DAVIN M. GREEN, USMC
LCPL THOMAS A. HAIRSTON, USMC
SGT FREDDIE HALTIWANGER JR., USMC
LCPL VIRGIL D. HAMILTON, USMC
SGT GILBERT HANTON, USMC
LCPL WILLIAM HART, USMC
CAPT MICHAEL S. HASKELL, USMC
PFC MICHAEL A. HASTINGS, USMC
CAPT PAUL A. HEIN, USMC
LCPL DOUGLAS E. HELD, USMC
PFC MARK A. HELMS, USMC
LCPL FERRANDY D. HENDERSON, USMC
SSGT JOHN HENDRICKSON, USMC
MSGT MATILDE HERNANDEZ JR., USMC
CPL STANLEY G. HESTER, USMC
GYSGT DONALD W. HILDRETH, USMC
SSGT RICHARD H. HOLBERTON, USMC
HM3 ROBERT S. HOLLAND, USN
LCPL BRUCE A. HOLLINGSHEAD, USMC
PFC MELVIN D. HOLMES, USMC
CPL BRUCE L. HOWARD, USMC
LT JOHN R. HUDSON, USN
CPL TERRY L. HUDSON, USMC
LCPL LYNDON J. HUE, USMC
2NDLT MAURICE E. HUKILL, USMC
LCPL EDWARD F. IACOVINO JR., USMC
PFC JOHN J. INGALLS, USMC
WO1 PAUL G. INNOCENZI III, USMC
LCPL JAMES J. JACKOWSKI, USMC
LCPL JEFFREY W. JAMES, USMC
LCPL NATHANIEL W. JENKINS, USMC
HM2 MICHAEL H. JOHNSON, USN
CPL EDWARD A. JOHNSTON, USMC
LCPL STEVEN JONES, USMC
PFC THOMAS A. JULIAN, USMC
HM2 MARION E. KEES, USN
SGT THOMAS C. KEOWN, USMC
GYSGT EDWARD E. KIMM, USMC
LCPL WALTER V. KINGSLEY, USMC
SGT DANIEL S. KLUCK, USA
LCPL JAMES C. KNIPPLE, USMC
LCPL FREAS H. KREISCHER III, USMC
LCPL KEITH J. LAISE, USMC
LCPL THOMAS G. LAMB, USMC
LCPL JAMES J. LANGON IV, USMC
SGT MICHAEL S. LARIVIERE, USMC
CPL STEVEN B. LARIVIERE, USMC
MSGT RICHARD L. LEMNAH, USMC
CPL DAVID A. LEWIS, USMC
SGT VAL S. LEWIS, USMC
CPL JOSEPH R. LIVINGSTON, USMC
LCPL PAUL D. LYON JR., USMC
MAJ JOHN W. MACROGLOU, USMC
CPL SAMUEL MAITLAND, USMC
SSGT CHARLIE R. MARTIN, USMC
PFC JACK L. MARTIN, USMC
CPL DAVID S. MASSA, USMC
SGT MICHAEL R. MASSMAN, USMC
PVT JOSEPH J. MATTACCHIONE, USMC
LCPL JOHN MCCALL, USMC
SGT JAMES E. MCDONOUGH, USMC
LCPL TIMOTHY R. MCMAHON, USMC
LCPL TIMOTHY D. MCNEELY, USMC
HM2 GEORGE N. MCVICKER II, USN
PFC LOUIS MELENDEZ, USMC
SGT RICHARD H. MENKINS II, USMC
CPL MICHAEL D. MERCER, USMC
LCPL RONALD W. MEURER, USMC
HM3 JOSEPH P. MILANO, USN
CPL JOSEPH P. MOORE, USMC
LCPL RICHARD A. MORROW, USMC
LCPL JOHN F. MUFFLER, USMC
CPL ALEX MUNOZ, USMC
CPL HARRY D. MYERS, USMC
1STLT DAVID J. NAIRN, USMC
LCPL LUIS A. NAVA, USMC
CPL JOHN A. OLSON, USMC
PFC ROBERT P. OLSON, USMC
CWO3 RICHARD C. ORTIZ, USMC
PFC JEFFREY B. OWEN, USMC
CPL JOSEPH A. OWENS, USMC
CPL CONNIE RAY PAGE, USMC
LCPL ULYSSES PARKER, USMC
LCPL MARK W. PAYNE, USMC
GYSGT JOHN L. PEARSON, USMC
PFC THOMAS S. PERRON, USMC
SGT JOHN A. PHILLIPS JR., USMC
HMC GEORGE W. PIERCY, USN
1STLT CLYDE W. PLYMEL, USMC
SGT WILLIAM H. POLLARD, USMC
SGT RAFAEL I. POMALESTORRES, USMC
CPL VICTOR M. PREVATT, USMC
PFC JAMES C. PRICE, USMC
SSGT PATRICK K. PRINDEVILLE, USMC
PFC ERIC A. PULLIAM, USMC
HM3 DIOMEDES J. QUIRANTE, USN
LCPL DAVID M. RANDOLPH, USMC
GYSGT CHARLES R. RAY, USMC
PFC RUI A. RELVAS, USMC
PFC TERRENCE L. RICH, USMC
LCPL WARREN RICHARDSON, USMC
SGT JUAN C. RODRIGUEZ, USMC
LCPL LOUIS J. ROTONDO, USMC
LCPL GUILLERMO SANPEDRO JR., USMC
LCPL MICHAEL C. SAULS, USMC
1STLT CHARLES J. SCHNORF, USMC
PFC SCOTT L. SCHULTZ, USMC
CAPT PETER J. SCIALABBA, USMC
CPL GARY R. SCOTT, USMC
CPL RONALD L. SHALLO, USMC
CPL THOMAS A. SHIPP, USMC
LCPL JERRYL D. SHROPSHIRE, USMC
LCPL JAMES F. SILVIA, USMC
LCPL LARRY H. SIMPSON JR., USMC
LCPL STANLEY J. SLIWINSKI, USMC
LCPL KIRK H. SMITH, USMC
SSGT THOMAS G. SMITH, USMC
CAPT VINCENT L. SMITH, USMC
LCPL EDWARD SOARES, USMC
1STLT WILLIAM S. SOMMERHOF, USMC
LCPL MICHAEL C. SPAULDING, USMC
LCPL JOHN W. SPEARING, USMC
LCPL STEPHEN E. SPENCER, USMC
LCPL BILL J. STELPFLUG, USMC
LCPL HORACE R. STEPHENS, USMC
PFC CRAIG S. STOCKTON, USMC
LCPL JEFFREY G. STOKES, USMC
LCPL THOMAS D. STOWE, USMC
LCPL ERIC D. STURGHILL, USMC
LCPL DEVON L. SUNDAR, USMC
LT JAMES F. SURCH JR., USN
CPL DENNIS A THOMPSON, USMC
SSGT THOMAS P. THORSTAD, USMC
PFC STEPHEN D. TINGLEY, USMC
LCPL JOHN J. TISHMACK, USMC
PVT LEX D. TRAHAN, USMC
PFC DONALD H. VALLONE JR., USMC
CPL ERIC R. WALKER, USMC
CPL LEONARD W. WALKER, USMC
CPL ERIC G. WASHINGTON, USMC
CPL OBRIAN WEEKES, USMC
1STSGT TANDY W. WELLS, USMC
LCPL STEVEN B. WENTWORTH, USMC
SGT ALLEN D. WESLEY, USMC
GYSGT LLOYD D. WEST, USMC
SSGT JOHN R. WEYL, USMC
CPL BURTON D. WHERLAND JR., USMC
LCPL DWAYNE W. WIGGLESWORTH, USMC
LCPL RODNEY J. WILLIAMS, USMC
GYSGT SCIPIO WILLIAMS JR., USMC
LCPL JOHNNY A. WILLIAMSON, USMC
CAPT WALTER E. WINT JR., USMC
CAPT WILLIAM E. WINTER, USMC
CPL JOHN E. WOLFE, USMC
1STLT DONALD E. WOOLLETT, USMC
HM3 DAVID E. WORLEY, USN
PFC CRAIG L. WYCHE, USMC
SFC JAMES G. YARBER, USA
SGT JEFFREY D. YOUNG, USMC
1STLT WILLIAM A. ZIMMERMAN

Political Pic Of The Day

Enough said

I AM Joe

Pic courtesy of Iowahawk. Check out the blog its in the favorites list.

No Politics Just Plane Pics

I’m fed up today with the fawning of the MSM over the one and the lack of balanced coverage. So today just plane pics, even some for Sailors picked up over at http://tailhookdaily.typepad.com/tailhook_daily_briefing/

McCain - Palin 2008