I am not a believer in whack-job conspiracy theories, whether they come from the left or the right. However, this is too eerie to be completely a coincidence.
I was listening live to Quinn & Rose when Dr. Corsi was on the phone this morning describing his detainment because of "missing papers". I hope that he makes it out of Kenya, with the information he obtained, and back to the United States safely!
ATTENTION:
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
TFH 10/6: Lieutenants Bleckley & Goettler, USAAC
Their Finest Hour has recognized a lack of daily honorees from the United States Air Force and its predecessors. Today's posting in the series starts rectifying that. From Medal of Honor Citations, a story of two American aviators' bravery and sacrifice from the dawn of aerial warfare:
*BLECKLEY, ERWIN R. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 130th Field Artillery, observer 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date. Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918. Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. Birth: Wichita, Kans. G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922. Citation: 2d Lt. Bleckley, with his pilot, 1st Lt. Harold E. Goettler, Air Service, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division, which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to 2d Lt. Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital. In attempting and performing this mission 2d Lt. Bleckley showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage, and valor.
*GOETTLER, HAROLD ERNEST (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, pilot, U.S. Army Air Corps, 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date: Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 21 July 1890, Chicago, Ill. G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922. Citation: 1st. Lt. Goettler, with his observer, 2d Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, 130th Field Artillery, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of this mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in the instant death of 1st. Lt. Goettler. In attempting and performing this mission 1st. Lt. Goettler showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage and valor.
Erwin Bleckley and Harold Goettler, your collective courage in the face of the forces of tyranny in a then experimental method of combat is a tribute to the service, sacrifce, and dedication of our Armed Forces and specifically among the pioneers of air warfare. October 6th 1918 - 90 years ago today - was your finest hour!
*BLECKLEY, ERWIN R. (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 130th Field Artillery, observer 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date. Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918. Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. Birth: Wichita, Kans. G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922. Citation: 2d Lt. Bleckley, with his pilot, 1st Lt. Harold E. Goettler, Air Service, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division, which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of his mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in fatal wounds to 2d Lt. Bleckley, who died before he could be taken to a hospital. In attempting and performing this mission 2d Lt. Bleckley showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage, and valor.
*GOETTLER, HAROLD ERNEST (Air Mission)
Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, pilot, U.S. Army Air Corps, 50th Aero Squadron, Air Service. Place and date: Near Binarville, France, 6 October 1918. Entered service at: Chicago, Ill. Born: 21 July 1890, Chicago, Ill. G.O. No.: 56, W.D., 1922. Citation: 1st. Lt. Goettler, with his observer, 2d Lt. Erwin R. Bleckley, 130th Field Artillery, left the airdrome late in the afternoon on their second trip to drop supplies to a battalion of the 77th Division which had been cut off by the enemy in the Argonne Forest. Having been subjected on the first trip to violent fire from the enemy, they attempted on the second trip to come still lower in order to get the packages even more precisely on the designated spot. In the course of this mission the plane was brought down by enemy rifle and machinegun fire from the ground, resulting in the instant death of 1st. Lt. Goettler. In attempting and performing this mission 1st. Lt. Goettler showed the highest possible contempt of personal danger, devotion to duty, courage and valor.
Erwin Bleckley and Harold Goettler, your collective courage in the face of the forces of tyranny in a then experimental method of combat is a tribute to the service, sacrifce, and dedication of our Armed Forces and specifically among the pioneers of air warfare. October 6th 1918 - 90 years ago today - was your finest hour!
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Why I call Barack Obama the New Soviet Man
(Images collected around the Internet)First, there's the imagery that Mr. Obama has either chosen or endorsed. Anybody who doesn't see the iconography of Soviet propoganda isn't being honest.
Then there's his associations with Communists, Marxists, and their policies. See:
And there's lots more...just search for "Barack Obama" and "Marxism" or "Socialism" or "Communism".
Then, there was the new words to the old Soviet tune as heard on the Glenn Beck Program:
Mark my words: should the American people make the disasterous move and elect Barack Obama on November 4th, there will be a move to repeal the 22nd Amendment so that the "Blessed Leader" can benevolently rule the revolution so long as he lives.
Did I miss a giant crack in the Earth's crust?
Or perhaps the giant meteor impact? Or perhaps the LHC creating a black hole that has sucked up the Earth? What follows are all quotes from articles appearing today on a certain newspaper's web site and print editions, emphasis illustrating what is exceptionally unusual in the passages is mine:
From reporting on the financial crisis:
From reporting on New Soviet Man Barack Obama:
From reporting on the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh's realignment with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone:
What the heck is going on today at The New York Times???????? It could be sanity - or perhaps honesty - but they'll have to keep it up for me to believe it.
Even this earlier NYT article talking about the Liberal vs. Conservative conflict in TEC that my diocese has now relieved ourselves of is incredibly fair.
I'm amazed that (a) the NYT is reporting facts detrimental to the Left and (b) they're actually treating the Conservative point of view fairly.
A strange, strange day for the paper where "All the News That's Fit to Fabricate".
From reporting on the financial crisis:
With that self-assurance, the company announced in 2000 that it would buy $2 trillion in loans from low-income, minority and risky borrowers by 2010. All this helped supercharge Fannie’s stock price and rewarded top executives with tens of millions of dollars. Mr. [New Soviet Man economic adviser Franklin] Raines received about $90 million between 1998 and 2004, while Mr. [J. Timothy] Howard was paid about $30.8 million, according to regulators. Mr. [Daniel H.] Mudd collected more than $10 million in his first four years at Fannie.
Whenever competitors asked Congress to rein in the company, lawmakers were besieged with letters and phone calls from angry constituents, some orchestrated by Fannie itself. One automated phone call warned voters: “Your congressman is trying to make mortgages more expensive. Ask him why he opposes the American dream of home ownership.”...
Within a few years of Mr. Mudd’s arrival, Fannie was the most powerful mortgage company on earth.
Then it began to crumble.
Regulators, spurred by the revelation of a wide-ranging accounting fraud at Freddie, began scrutinizing Fannie’s books. In 2004 they accused Fannie of fraudulently concealing expenses to make its profits look bigger.
Mr. Howard and Mr. Raines resigned. Mr. Mudd was quickly promoted to the top spot...
Had Fannie been a private entity, its comeuppance might have happened a year ago. But the White House, Wall Street and Capitol Hill were more concerned about the trillions of dollars in other loans that were poisoning financial institutions and banks.
Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, leaned on Fannie and Freddie to buy and hold those troubled debts, hoping that removing them from the system would help the economy recover. The companies, eager to regain market share and buy what they thought were undervalued loans, rushed to comply.
The White House also pitched in. James B. Lockhart, the chief regulator of Fannie and Freddie, adjusted the companies’ lending standards so they could purchase as much as $40 billion in new subprime loans. Some in Congress praised the move.
“I’m not worried about Fannie and Freddie’s health, I’m worried that they won’t do enough to help out the economy,” the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Barney Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, said at the time. “That’s why I’ve supported them all these years — so that they can help at a time like this.”...
Mr. Raines and Mr. Howard, who kept most of their millions, are living well. Mr. Raines has improved his golf game. Mr. Howard divides his time between large homes outside Washington and Cancun, Mexico, where his staff is learning how to cook American meals. [Sounds like somebody won't be spending as much time in his home "outside Washington"- one wonders why...]
From reporting on New Soviet Man Barack Obama:
At a tumultuous meeting of anti-Vietnam War militants at the Chicago Coliseum in 1969, Bill Ayers helped found the radical Weathermen, launching a campaign of bombings that would target the Pentagon and United States Capitol.
Twenty-six years later, at a lunchtime meeting about school reform in a Chicago skyscraper, Barack Obama met Mr. Ayers, by then an education professor. Their paths have crossed sporadically since then, at a coffee Mr. Ayers hosted for Mr. Obama’s first run for office, on the schools project and a charitable board, and in casual encounters as Hyde Park neighbors...
Steve Chapman, a columnist for The Chicago Tribune, defended Mr. Obama’s relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., his longtime pastor, whose black liberation theology and “God damn America” sermon became notorious last spring. But he denounced Mr. Obama for associating with Mr. Ayers, whom he said the University of Illinois should never have hired.
“I don’t think there’s a statute of limitations on terrorist bombings,” Mr. Chapman said in an interview, speaking not of the law but of political and moral implications. “If you’re in public life, you ought to say, ‘I don’t want to be associated with this guy,’ ” Mr. Chapman said. “If John McCain had a long association with a guy who’d bombed abortion clinics, I don’t think people would say, ‘That’s ancient history.’ ”
From reporting on the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh's realignment with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone:
A wide majority of clergy and lay members of the Episcopal Diocese of
Pittsburgh voted Saturday to leave the national church and align with a more
conservative South American branch, adding to the fallout from the 2003
appointment of an openly gay bishop...
The movement is driven by theologically conservative leaders who believe
the church has turned away from traditional biblical teachings on issues like whether Jesus is the son of God and the only way to salvation.
What the heck is going on today at The New York Times???????? It could be sanity - or perhaps honesty - but they'll have to keep it up for me to believe it.
Even this earlier NYT article talking about the Liberal vs. Conservative conflict in TEC that my diocese has now relieved ourselves of is incredibly fair.
I'm amazed that (a) the NYT is reporting facts detrimental to the Left and (b) they're actually treating the Conservative point of view fairly.
A strange, strange day for the paper where "All the News That's Fit to Fabricate".
TFH 10/4: 1st Sgt. Benjamin Kaufman, USA
Medal of Honor Citations for World War I don't have as much detail in them as those from later conflicts, but the heroism described by them are none the less inspiring. 90 years ago today, a great American rose up and had his finest hour!
KAUFMAN, BENJAMIN
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: In the forest of Argonne, France, 4 October 1918. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 10 March 1894, Buffalo, N.Y. G.O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919. Citation: He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machinegun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol and a machinegun bullet shattered his right arm. Without hesitation he advanced on the gun alone, throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, taking one prisoner and scattering the crew, bringing the gun and prisoner back to the first-aid station.
KAUFMAN, BENJAMIN
Rank and organization: First Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 308th Infantry, 77th Division. Place and date: In the forest of Argonne, France, 4 October 1918. Entered service at: Brooklyn, N.Y. Born: 10 March 1894, Buffalo, N.Y. G.O. No.: 50, W.D., 1919. Citation: He took out a patrol for the purpose of attacking an enemy machinegun which had checked the advance of his company. Before reaching the gun he became separated from his patrol and a machinegun bullet shattered his right arm. Without hesitation he advanced on the gun alone, throwing grenades with his left hand and charging with an empty pistol, taking one prisoner and scattering the crew, bringing the gun and prisoner back to the first-aid station.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Thank You, Congressman Jason Altmire
As you've probably heard, the massive socialization of the US economy cloaked as a financial rescue has passed both houses of Congress and will be signed into law by President Bush.
171 American Patriots of both parties stood fast and voted NO on this legislative travesty.
One of them was my Congressman, Mr. Jason Altmire (Democrat) of the Pennsylvania 4th District.
I contacted Mr. Altmire's office several times during these past days to first encourage him to vote against any bailout, then to thank him for his original vote on Monday against the bailout, and then to continue to oppose the measure. I'm thankful that many others in our district did the same, and that Mr. Altmire listened to his constituents.
I do not support Mr. Altmire's reelection, but on this day, I am proud he is representing me.
171 American Patriots of both parties stood fast and voted NO on this legislative travesty.
One of them was my Congressman, Mr. Jason Altmire (Democrat) of the Pennsylvania 4th District.
I contacted Mr. Altmire's office several times during these past days to first encourage him to vote against any bailout, then to thank him for his original vote on Monday against the bailout, and then to continue to oppose the measure. I'm thankful that many others in our district did the same, and that Mr. Altmire listened to his constituents.
I do not support Mr. Altmire's reelection, but on this day, I am proud he is representing me.
Apollo+40: The Phoenix Will Fly!
Welcome! Today begins my blog series, "Apollo+40: America Goes to the Moon". Their Finest Hour was created to celebrate greatness, and American Exceptionalism in particular. Project Apollo is certainly one of the greatest examples of what the United States of America is capable of, given the national political and public will to accomplish the goal. In his special address to the Congress on May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy challenged our Nation:
Then, on September 12, 1962 at Rice University in Houston, President Kennedy defined our quest for the Moon as effectively as could have been done:
Launch was set for Friday, October 11th - 8 days later.
Sources: Encyclopedia Astronautica, NASA Human Spaceflight, and NASA KSC Apollo 7 History Page
I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before
this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the
Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to
mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none
will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.
Then, on September 12, 1962 at Rice University in Houston, President Kennedy defined our quest for the Moon as effectively as could have been done:
If this capsule history of our progress teaches us anything, it is that man, in his quest for knowledge and progress, is determined and cannot be deterred. The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time, and no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space.
Those who came before us made certain that this country rode the first waves of the industrial revolution, the first waves of modern invention, and the first wave of nuclear power, and this generation does not intend to founder in the backwash of the coming age of space. We mean to be a part of it--we mean to lead it. For the eyes of the world now look into space, to the moon and to the planets beyond, and we have vowed that we shall not see it governed by a hostile flag of conquest, but by a banner of freedom and peace. We have vowed that we shall not see space filled with weapons of mass destruction, but with instruments of knowledge and understanding.
Yet the vows of this Nation can only be fulfilled if we in this Nation are first, and, therefore, we intend to be first. In short, our leadership in science and industry, our hopes for peace and security, our obligations to ourselves as well as others, all require us to make this effort, to solve these mysteries, to solve them for the good of all men, and to become the world's leading space-faring nation. We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people. For space science, like nuclear science and all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man, and only if the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence can we help decide whether this new ocean will be a sea of peace or a new terrifying theater of war...
There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?
We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon... (interrupted by applause) we choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win.
And now, the first installment of Their Finest Hour's "Apollo+40: America Goes to the Moon":
Thursday, October 3, 1968: NASA managers, engineers, and Astronauts Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walt Cunningham meet for the last approval required to let Apollo 7 launch - the flight readiness review.
Wally Schirra had wanted NASA to recind its rule against naming spacecraft so that he could call the mission's Apollo spacecraft, CSM-101, Phoenix - as it would be rising from the ashes of the Apollo 1 tragedy in January of 1967.
40 years ago today America's Phoenix - to sadly be known just as Apollo 7 - was determined to be fully ready in all respects to get our Nation back into space, and on our inexorable path to the Moon.
Launch was set for Friday, October 11th - 8 days later.
Sources: Encyclopedia Astronautica, NASA Human Spaceflight, and NASA KSC Apollo 7 History Page
TFH 10/3: Gordon and Shughart - Medals of Honor
October 10, 1993: Operation Gothic Serpent, otherwise known as the Battle of Mogadishu, took place. During the battle, a MH-60 Nighthawk helicopter of the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment was downed by enemy action. Several members of the crew were killed or injured; the pilot, CWO Clifton "Elvis" Wolcott was pothumsously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his bravery and flying skill. Four Silver Star Medals - all awarded pothumously - were also earned that day in the defense of Freedom.
The crashed helicopter was beyond support. A relief convoy was having difficulty getting to them. In this fog of war and sting of battle, two great Americans - Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart of the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detatchment-Delta ("Delta Force") - asked commanders for permission to go to their aid.
Permission was denied.
They asked again; denied again.
They asked a third time - these brave soldiers would not let their comrades go - and permission was granted.
Sergeants Gordon and Shugart were inserted into the combat zone by helicopter. The odds were long. The opposition fierce. The danger severe. They both gave their lives in the defense of our Nation and Freedom, and they saved those on board the helicopter still alive through their indomitable courage. They fought until they ran out of ammunition, found other weapons, and continued to fight until both were cut down. Both were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor and sacrifice. I'll let their citations speak for themselves:
*GORDON, GARY I.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Lincoln, Maine. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
*SHUGHART, RANDALL D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
Thanks to the United States' withdrawal from Somalia under the cowardly pseudo-leadership of President Bill Clinton, their sacrifice was ultimately in vain. Somalia today is still tormented by tyranny. President Clinton's cut and run from Somalia led directly to Al Qaeda thinking that the US was soft and the attacks on the USS Cole and 9/11.
However, on October 3, 1993 we saw the best of America. We saw the bravery of Americans who would not leave their comrades behind, and who would not give up the fight when the likely outcome was their own deaths.
On October 3, 1993 we saw the finest hour of Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart. I thank them both for their sacrifices and service. Our Nation, and the cause of Freedom, will forever be greatful for the valor and courage of such men.
The crashed helicopter was beyond support. A relief convoy was having difficulty getting to them. In this fog of war and sting of battle, two great Americans - Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart of the Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detatchment-Delta ("Delta Force") - asked commanders for permission to go to their aid.
Permission was denied.
They asked again; denied again.
They asked a third time - these brave soldiers would not let their comrades go - and permission was granted.
Sergeants Gordon and Shugart were inserted into the combat zone by helicopter. The odds were long. The opposition fierce. The danger severe. They both gave their lives in the defense of our Nation and Freedom, and they saved those on board the helicopter still alive through their indomitable courage. They fought until they ran out of ammunition, found other weapons, and continued to fight until both were cut down. Both were awarded the Medal of Honor for their valor and sacrifice. I'll let their citations speak for themselves:
*GORDON, GARY I.
Rank and organization: Master Sergeant, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Lincoln, Maine. Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
*SHUGHART, RANDALL D.
Rank and organization: Sergeant First Class, U.S. Army. Place and date: 3 October 1993, Mogadishu, Somalia. Entered service at: ----- Born: Newville, Pennsylvania. Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.
Thanks to the United States' withdrawal from Somalia under the cowardly pseudo-leadership of President Bill Clinton, their sacrifice was ultimately in vain. Somalia today is still tormented by tyranny. President Clinton's cut and run from Somalia led directly to Al Qaeda thinking that the US was soft and the attacks on the USS Cole and 9/11.
However, on October 3, 1993 we saw the best of America. We saw the bravery of Americans who would not leave their comrades behind, and who would not give up the fight when the likely outcome was their own deaths.
On October 3, 1993 we saw the finest hour of Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart. I thank them both for their sacrifices and service. Our Nation, and the cause of Freedom, will forever be greatful for the valor and courage of such men.
Pray today for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh
Today is the first day of the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Tomorrow should bring the vote that will extract us from the heresy and apostasy of the Episcopal Church USA and into faithful association with the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone.
Convention should also restore the Rt. Rev. Bob Duncan to his calling as the Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Lord Jesus, please protect, defend, and guide the leaders both lay and ordained of our diocese as they meet and determine the future of Anglicanism in Pittsburgh. Let their hearts not be swayed or troubled by those who oppose. I pray especially for Fathers Paul, Terry, and Ethan, Deacon Marybeth, and our lay representatives Gene and Chad. May He be with you all. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen!
Convention should also restore the Rt. Rev. Bob Duncan to his calling as the Bishop of Pittsburgh.
Lord Jesus, please protect, defend, and guide the leaders both lay and ordained of our diocese as they meet and determine the future of Anglicanism in Pittsburgh. Let their hearts not be swayed or troubled by those who oppose. I pray especially for Fathers Paul, Terry, and Ethan, Deacon Marybeth, and our lay representatives Gene and Chad. May He be with you all. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Sarah ROCKS!
Yes, I'm biased in her favor. Yes, I think she'd make a great Vice President - and for that matter, a great President. My dream ticket for the future is Palin/Jindal or Jindal/Palin; I really couldn't care who's at the top, so long as they're both on the ticket. I'm happy with McCain/Palin for now...
All that aside, Sarah cleaned the floor with tired, old Joe Biden tonight.
This is conservatism. This is the future. And most importantly:
This is one of us!
I loved it when Sarah basically said that she didn't care about the premise of the questions and what was expected as an answer - she was going to talk to the American people.
God Bless you Sarah and your wonderful, beautiful family. Keep being yourself. You'll never go wrong doing that.
Finally, an apology: I did think Gwen Ifill, Obama-gushing-book-being-authored and all, did a fair, balanced, probing, skillful, and impartial moderation of the debate. Ms. Ifill, should you ever see this, I am sorry that my initial reaction to hearing about the book and its non-disclosure to the parties concerned was one of disrespect for you as a journalist. You did a great job tonight.
All that aside, Sarah cleaned the floor with tired, old Joe Biden tonight.
This is conservatism. This is the future. And most importantly:
This is one of us!
I loved it when Sarah basically said that she didn't care about the premise of the questions and what was expected as an answer - she was going to talk to the American people.
God Bless you Sarah and your wonderful, beautiful family. Keep being yourself. You'll never go wrong doing that.
Finally, an apology: I did think Gwen Ifill, Obama-gushing-book-being-authored and all, did a fair, balanced, probing, skillful, and impartial moderation of the debate. Ms. Ifill, should you ever see this, I am sorry that my initial reaction to hearing about the book and its non-disclosure to the parties concerned was one of disrespect for you as a journalist. You did a great job tonight.
Just once...
Sarah missed an opportunity in the debate - a minor one (she's doing great by the way) - to state clear and loud what the exit strategy for the War on Terror is. Once, just once, I'd like to hear someone say at the top of their lungs that the only exit strategy acceptable to Americans in war is:
America's doctrine in war should have only two possible outcomes for the enemies of Freedom:
1) You may surrender unconditionally and immediately.
2) If you choose to not accept option one, you will be completely and totally annihilated.
End. Of. Discussion.
VICTORY!!!!!
America's doctrine in war should have only two possible outcomes for the enemies of Freedom:
1) You may surrender unconditionally and immediately.
2) If you choose to not accept option one, you will be completely and totally annihilated.
End. Of. Discussion.
Welcome Home, USS Intrepid!
The USS Intrepid has returned to her museum berth at Pier 86 in Manhattan. I can't wait to go back and tour the renovated "Fighting I" soon.
Read all about this storied warship at Wikipedia, and visit the museum's web site too!
Read all about this storied warship at Wikipedia, and visit the museum's web site too!
TFH 10/2: CWO Michael J. Novosel, USA
Unarmed and unprotected, the valiant members of our Armed Forces in medical units who put their lives on the line to rescue and save the lives their comrades deserve special recognition. Here is the story of one of them, from Medal of Honor citations:
NOVOSEL, MICHAEL J.
Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Michael Novosel, thank you for your service and courage to save the lives of others so that they may fight another day in the defense of Freedom and our Nation. October 2nd, 1969 was your finest hour!
Read the Wikipedia article on this great American!
CWO Novosel passed away on April 2, 2006 at age 83. A native of Etna, PA (just down the road from me), he was memorialized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in this obituary.
NOVOSEL, MICHAEL J.
Rank and organization: Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army, 82d Medical Detachment, 45th Medical Company, 68th Medical Group. Place and date: Kien Tuong Province, Republic of Vietnam, 2 October 1969. Entered service at: Kenner, La. Born: 3 September 1922, Etna, Pa. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. CWO Novosel, 82d Medical Detachment, distinguished himself while serving as commander of a medical evacuation helicopter. He unhesitatingly maneuvered his helicopter into a heavily fortified and defended enemy training area where a group of wounded Vietnamese soldiers were pinned down by a large enemy force. Flying without gunship or other cover and exposed to intense machinegun fire, CWO Novosel was able to locate and rescue a wounded soldier. Since all communications with the beleaguered troops had been lost, he repeatedly circled the battle area, flying at low level under continuous heavy fire, to attract the attention of the scattered friendly troops. This display of courage visibly raised their morale, as they recognized this as a signal to assemble for evacuation. On 6 occasions he and his crew were forced out of the battle area by the intense enemy fire, only to circle and return from another direction to land and extract additional troops. Near the end of the mission, a wounded soldier was spotted close to an enemy bunker. Fully realizing that he would attract a hail of enemy fire, CWO Novosel nevertheless attempted the extraction by hovering the helicopter backward. As the man was pulled on aboard, enemy automatic weapons opened fire at close range, damaged the aircraft and wounded CWO Novosel. He momentarily lost control of the aircraft, but quickly recovered and departed under the withering enemy fire. In all, 15 extremely hazardous extractions were performed in order to remove wounded personnel. As a direct result of his selfless conduct, the lives of 29 soldiers were saved. The extraordinary heroism displayed by CWO Novosel was an inspiration to his comrades in arms and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the U.S. Army.
Michael Novosel, thank you for your service and courage to save the lives of others so that they may fight another day in the defense of Freedom and our Nation. October 2nd, 1969 was your finest hour!
Read the Wikipedia article on this great American!
CWO Novosel passed away on April 2, 2006 at age 83. A native of Etna, PA (just down the road from me), he was memorialized by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in this obituary.
Be yourself, Sarah!
Here's to hoping that in tonight's debate, our Sarah forgets how her handlers have dumbed her down and remembers why we all love her:
She is one of us.
I support Sarah Palin because her story is an American one - one that doesn't revolve around being in government.
It will be nice to have somebody in Washington who isn't of Washington.
Please, oh Please!
She is one of us.
I support Sarah Palin because her story is an American one - one that doesn't revolve around being in government.
It will be nice to have somebody in Washington who isn't of Washington.
Please, oh Please!
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Fraud, what fraud?
The guys at PowerLine have a great post about donations to the campaign for the New Soviet Man - and how they've circumvented, disregarded, or outright broken the campaign finance laws.
Most sigfinicantly, it looks like over $33 million has been donated by foreigners!
No corruption here, none to see.
UPDATE: Allahpundit @ HotAir chimes in also.
Most sigfinicantly, it looks like over $33 million has been donated by foreigners!
No corruption here, none to see.
UPDATE: Allahpundit @ HotAir chimes in also.
Pelosi: Democratic Ethics
Wouldn't it be nice if all of us could funnel political donations to our spouses for their personal financial gain?
No corruption here, none at all.
Hat tip: Drudge
No corruption here, none at all.
Hat tip: Drudge
Yeah, Sarah will be treated fairly...
The "moderator" of the Veep debate tomorrow has a book in the works about the New Soviet Man that is scheduled to be released on Inauguration Day.
No bias, none at all.
Hat tip: Drudge
UPDATE @ 2:57 PM - Call the Commission on Presidential Debates to protest:
(202) 872-1020
No bias, none at all.
Hat tip: Drudge
UPDATE @ 2:57 PM - Call the Commission on Presidential Debates to protest:
(202) 872-1020
TFH 10/1: 61 in '61 - Roger Maris
On October 1, 1961 at Yankee Stadium Roger Maris hit his 61st home run of the season to break Babe Ruth's single season record! A great moment in both Yankees and baseball history!
Roger Maris, this day was your finest hour!
Roger Maris, this day was your finest hour!
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