Archive for the ‘Military’ Category

Marine Nick Popaditch is an inspirational speaker, I’ve seen one of his appearances online for a group of soldiers. He’s also known as “The Cee-gar Marine” and now he’s going to take back District 51 in California.

The Associated Press snapped the famous photo of a Marine sitting in the turret of his tank enjoying a celebratory cigar during the fall of Baghdad with the statue of Saddam Hussein in the background. That is Gunny Pop.

Later in the Iraq war, during the 1st battle for Falluja – in which he earned a Silver Star – Gunnery Sergeant Popaditch was seriously injured by an RPG, and ended up losing his right eye, and subsequently had to retire for the 2nd time from the Marine Corps, the first time being after the 1991 Gulf War.

Originally a Hoosier, Nick settled in the San Diego area with his wife April, a native Californian, and their two boys and began his life again as a civilian. He also wrote his award winning memoir called “Once a Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander’s Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage, and Recovery” and has carved out a career as a motivational speaker for military and non-military audiences alike.

Free Republic has a FR LIVE Interview. Read the comments, Nick is answering questions throughout the thread. Gunny is supported by Former Congressman Duncan Hunter and current Congressman Duncan Hunter.

Nick ‘Gunny Pop’ Popaditch, CA-D51, USMC, Cigar Marine, Cee-gar Marine, 2010 Election, Rep Duncan Hunter

Cpl. Charles Aldieri(Ret.) & 1st Lt. Jack Jewell(Ret.)

Lt. Col. David Hurley, commander of Schweinfurt, Germany’s 15th Engineer Battalion, presents unit coins to two 9th Infantry Division World War II veterans — Charles Aldieri, a former corporal with the 746th Tank Battalion (shaking hands) and Jack Jewell, a former first lieutenant with Company B, 39th Infantry — during a March 8 ceremony honoring the division’s efforts in capturing the famed Remagen Bridge in the closing days of World War II. The commemoration took place in the Remagen Bridge and Peace Museum now housed in the remains of the span, which collapsed 10 days after its capture on March 7, 1945.

Photo Courtesy United States Army

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday.

For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero, Cpl Charles Aldieri(Ret.), 1st LT Jack Jewell (Ret.), WWII

If you didn’t catch Glenn Beck’s interview with Rep Eric Massa regarding his ethics charges, you’re lucky! It was an hour of one tall tale after another. This guy is a total degenerate hack. Only the clever and astute writing of David Bellavia even comes close to expressing true disgust at this man’s lies and distortions.

BTW, David Bellavia has written one of the all time BEST non-fiction stories about combat experience in Fallujah, Iraq. His book reads like an intense action novel yet it’s true and his story. See House to House.

Vote Vets’ Rep. Eric Massa: Frakking Full of Shazz

It took FIVE men to peal him off atop his tear streaming tickle-victim.

Mass was endorsed by the tough guy Veterans Political Action Committee (PAC) VoteVets. VoteVets is led by tough guys like Jon Soltz, a veteran of four months of duty in a division extended for fifteen months in Iraq. So far since 2006, VoteVets (click here for the This Ain’t Hell breakdown) has lied about Body Armor issues in a multi-million dollar campaign commercial used against Senator George Allen, had another veteran lie about his service in a Missouri Senate campaign commercial for Claire McCaskill. Still following? VoteVets used a veteran who lied about being a veteran in Denver. A veteran who is not a veteran. There are lies and then there are VoteVets’ Richard Strandlof who is now facing jail time for claiming to be a wounded warrior.

For the past week, Massa has further disgraced VoteVets in a gay scandal.

This is the legacy of VoteVets. You can’t blame them. When you are so desperate to prove your argument, even though you are absent factual truth or first hand testimony, you tend to get that guy on camera quick. So when you meet a fellow defeatist, pro-victimizing veteran, you grab them with both arms. Sometimes vetting these liberal “war heroes” would a good idea. But if Jon Soltz and VoteVets vetted everyone in their group claiming to have served in a combat zone, hell even Jon Soltz wouldn’t be a member of VoteVets.

Eric Massa is the new mascot for everything that is VoteVets.

I’ve taken only a small segment of David Bellavia’s article on Rep. Massa, you really need to go read the WHOLE THING.

Rep Eric Massa, Glenn Beck, David Bellavia, Ticklegate

Cpl. Jason L. Dunham
22 years old from Scio, New York
Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced)
April 22, 2004

For The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Corporal Jason L. Dunham, United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Rifle Squad Leader, 4th Platoon, Company K, Third Battalion, Seventh Marines (Reinforced), Regimental Combat Team 7, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), on 14 April 2004. Corporal Dunham’s squad was conducting a reconnaissance mission in the town of Karabilah, Iraq, when they heard rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire erupt approximately two kilometers to the west. Corporal Dunham led his Combined Anti-Armor Team towards the engagement to provide fire support to their Battalion Commander’s convoy, which had been ambushed as it was traveling to Camp Husaybah. As Corporal Dunham and his Marines advanced, they quickly began to receive enemy fire. Corporal Dunham ordered his squad to dismount their vehicles and led one of his fire teams on foot several blocks south of the ambushed convoy. Discovering seven Iraqi vehicles in a column attempting to depart, Corporal Dunham and his team stopped the vehicles to search them for weapons. As they approached the vehicles, an insurgent leaped out and attacked Corporal Dunham. Corporal Dunham wrestled the insurgent to the ground and in the ensuing struggle saw the insurgent release a grenade. Corporal Dunham immediately alerted his fellow Marines to the threat. Aware of the imminent danger and without hesitation, Corporal Dunham covered the grenade with his helmet and body, bearing the brunt of the explosion and shielding his Marines from the blast. In an ultimate and selfless act of bravery in which he was mortally wounded, he saved the lives of at least two fellow Marines. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Corporal Dunham gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.

All Information Was Found On And Copied From MilitaryCity.com

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday.

For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero, Cpl Jason L Dunham

Daniel Foster at The Corner had a link to a photo essay of EOD teams from Iraq and Afghanistan which reminded me of one of the most outstanding photo’s of the Iraq War and that is……

Injured Marine Defies Attackers (1 finger salute)

Once Marine Gunnery Sgt. Michael Burghardt realized he could wiggle his toes and fingers, he had one message for the insurgents who wounded him – defiance. Burghardt, of Huntington Beach, Calif., disarmed two bombs that were found – quick action that probably saved the lives of several Nebraska soldiers. But he couldn’t get to a third.

Photo by Jeff Bundy of The Omaha World-Harold on assignment with Dave Kotok in Iraq. September 2005

There is no actor who can or could portray the heroic and defiant action of Marine Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt.

Also see: Gunnery Sgt. Michael “One Finger Salute” Burghardt Update

Iraq, EOD, Marine Gunnery Sgt Michael Burghardt, Hurt Locker, Oscars

This Weeks Post Was Actually Written By Sgt. McGowen A Year Before He Passed Away. He Was Suggested By His Granddaughter, Leigh, To Honor Him.

Sgt. Charlie McGowen
August 22, 1921 – December 5, 2009

1940-1945

In 1942 he was drafted into the Army Air Corps. He was sent to England. His trip there took him through Warrior, Alabama, Ft. McClellan, Ft. McPherson, Gulf Port, Mississippi, Chanute, Salt Lake City, El Paso, Alamorgoro, and New York City. Then he took the Queen Mary to the Fifth of Clyde in Scotland. Upon arriving he was sent to the Wending base in England. In his military service he was part of the World War II: 32 Bomb Group 578 and 579 Bomb Squadron Second Air Division, 8th Air Force, ETON 117 Wending, Norfolk, England. While stationed in Wending, he went to Piccadilly Circus in London. While he was there he visited the American Red Cross Center with friends. The center was Rainbow Corner. While there he was introduced to a lovely English lady named Margaret (Peggy) Johnston. It was love at first sight. They were married on January 13, 1945. They moved back to Alabama after the war and raised six children. They have ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday.

For that, I am proud to call them Hero.

We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Wednesday Hero, Sgt Charlie McGowen

Back on Feb. 18th Erick Stakelbeck at CBN broke the story of the alleged poison plot by 5 Muslim soldiers at Fort Jackson, S.C. Since then the story disappeared. Now he has an update.

Rep. Joe Wilson: “Fort Jackson Five” Removed From Active Duty

CBN News first broke the news back on February 18th (updates here, here and here) that an investigation of five Muslim soldiers in the 09 Lima translator program was underway at the South Carolina military post over food poisoning allegations. Here is what Rep. Wilson told McClatchy:

A South Carolina congressman said Friday that five Muslim soldiers at Fort Jackson, S.C., had been removed from active duty, and four of them discharged from the Army, in connection with an ongoing probe into alleged threats to poison food at the large South Carolina base.

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, said the soldiers’ laptops had been seized and were being analyzed. Congressional officials with knowledge of the case said cell phones and Arabic writings had been confiscated as well.

Wilson said the soldiers were discharged because of unrelated incidents of minor theft.

In his first public comments on the case, Wilson said FBI forensics experts were working with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division in the probe.

“The initial investigation confirmed that (the five soldiers) had not made any effort to poison food and that allegations about their disloyalty were inaccurate,” Wilson told McClatchy Newspapers. “There was further investigation. I have not received any word of it being over. I think they would tell me.”

It’s good news, obviously, that the men have apparently been cleared of making threats to poision food at Fort Jackson. But the fact that their laptops were seized and cell phones and Arabic writings confiscated raises eyebrows, to say the least.

Continue reading….

Muslim males who were originally from Northern Virginia, where there’s smoke there’s usually fire!

Fort Jackson SC, muslim soldiers, poisoning food supply

Women are already in combat and those female soldiers who do want combat currently go for the military police ranks. Since this is another push by the social engineering police of the left I think there should be another caveat added to this change in policy.

If all the barriers to women in combat are to be removed then women should also be required to register with the Selective Service at age 18 just like males. If you want there to be no differences between the sexes in the military remove all physical requirement differences.

Wars force US military to review ban on women in combat

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US commanders are taking a second look at policies that bar women from ground combat, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have thrust female soldiers into the thick of the fight.

The Army chief of staff, General George Casey, told lawmakers last week that it was time to review the rules in light of how women have served in the two wars.

women in combat, us military,

Here’s Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) laying the costs of the Senate HC bill and Obama’s ‘new’ HC bill out in 6 minutes. You’ve got 6 minutes to watch to this video. Ryan is refuting the false assumption that Obamacare will reduce the deficit.

Health Care Summit, Rep. Paul Ryan, Obamacare, true cost of Obamacare

I guess this shouldn’t be too surprising considering that Obama and the Department of Homeland Security think religious extremists (read:pro-life activists), returned combat veterans and right wing activists (read: Tea Partiers) are more of a threat to U.S. national security than Islamic terrorists!

The person Obama wants to head up the Coast Guard is Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr.

U.S. Coast Guard nominee would reduce terror hunt

In an internal memo from Vice Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr., the Coast Guard commandant nominee says that starting in 2012, he would slash funding for programs in the agency’s homeland security plan that would include homeland security patrols and training exercises.

The memo, marked “sensitive — for internal Coast Guard use only,” was obtained by The Associated Press.

Papp’s outline is significant because it could mean major changes for the more than 200-year-old agency that took on a significant homeland security duties after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Obama’s 2011 proposed budget cuts for the Coast Guard already has caused outrage from some lawmakers.

According to Papp’s memo, he would scale back the Coast Guard’s counterterror priorities in favor of traditional search and rescue operations that save people in imminent danger on the water and maintaining the maritime transportation system.

In the memo, Papp said he wants to eliminate teams that are trained to respond to and prevent terror attacks. These teams also train other Coast Guard forces on counterterror operations.

snip…After reading the memo, Republican Rep. Pete Olson said Papp’s proposals would gut an agency critical to national security. Olson said he is “pretty scared” that Papp is the administration’s pick to run the Coast Guard.

It’s bad enough for the Coast Guard since most of the Coasties boarding ships for inspection are not carrying weapons. Even the Coast Guard cutters in the Middle East has the Coasties using UN bullets (they’re rubber)!

Obama, Coast Guard, Vice Adm Robert J Papp Jr, budget reductions