Category Archives: military news

military news

What to do with this hat …

For far longer than I can remember, I have possessed a headgear item that once sat atop the noggin of a young man who — if given the chance — would have killed my dad.

My father brought it home from World War II, where he served for more than three years in the U.S. Navy. He saw the bulk of his combat in the Mediterranean Theater. The headgear, of course, belonged to a German Nazi soldier who was among other enemy fighters who surrendered to American troops in the Med. I don’t recall how Dad actually acquired this helmet. It’s not dented or pocked with any bullet strikes. I guess the guy who wore it knew enough to keep his head down.

Dad died in 1980. My memory of what he told about those days have faded quite a bit in the decades since we lost him. I do recall him telling me that the Germans who were captured generally acted like gentlemen even as they were interrogated by Allied troops. Not so with the Italians, who were still in the fight until 1943, when they surrendered to the Allied onslaught on Sicily and the Italian mainland. They behaved “like animals,” Dad told me. Whatever, back to the helmet.

I wrestled for a time with what to do with this piece of history. Do I get it appraised and sell it? Do I donate it to a museum?

After giving it some thought — but not too much of it — I have decided to keep it. I might even hang it on a wall in my man cave. I have some pictures and other framed documents from Dad’s Navy service hanging on a wall in my home office. I could buy some nail anchors that are heavy enough to hold this piece of metal headgear. So, that’s what I think I’ll do.

I want to display it as a testament to Dad’s courage in enduring the constant aerial bombardment that fell on him and his fellow sailors. I want it to be my tribute to his love of country when, at age 20, he enlisted in the Navy on the very day the Japanese hit us at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

I also want it to be a lasting tribute to the sense of patriotism he imbued in me as I have come of age and am now enjoying my elderly years in this great nation of ours.

media news, military news

Good for POTUS to back off livestreaming execution

I hereby give credit to Donald J. Trump for having the good sense to call of a planned livestreaming of a man condemned to die by firing squad in December.

Trump re-thought a decision to allow the public to witness the killing of former Army Major Nidal Hasan, who was convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009. He backed away from that ghastly decision, proclaiming that the execution will go forward … just not in public view.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been making a lot of hay about televising the execution, proclaiming that allowing the public to view it could deter future lunatics from doing what Hasan did. I don’t think so. I do believe that Hasan’s death at the hands of an Army firing squad will be sufficient deterrent, if it, indeed, does deter anyone from killing innocent victims.

Trump and Hegseth had gotten a lot of backlash from both sides of the political aisle over the decision livestream Hasan’s death. I am glad that the commander in chief thought better of it. I want him now to fire Hegseth, who is unfit to lead the Pentagon … period, full stop.

medical news, military news

Bloom falls from VA

I have taken up space on High Plains Blogger singing the praises of the care I had received from the Department of Veterans Affairs and to be sure I don’t regret the bouquets I have tossed at the federal agency.

In recent weeks, though, I have learned a tough lesson about the VA’s medical policy. It works well … if you don’t have an injury or a serious illness. If you need actual help from the VA, well, you’d better strap in for a long haul.

I stumbled and fell on my right arm in the wee hours of Sept. 14. When I hit the deck, I thought I heard a snap in my right arm. I thought it might have broken my arm. I went to the emergency room that morning. I got it checked out. The ER doc told me the x-ray revealed no fracture, but said I needed an MRI to provide me with a definitive diagnosis. The doc said I might have a damaged muscle or tendon or possibly a rotator cuff issue that needs attention.

I have been battling day and night with the VA and with the office of an orthopedist to secure an MRI. It’s now Oct. 2. It’s been 18 days since I hurt my arm. The pain is still there. At times it is sharp. It hurts like hell. I have limited mobility in my right arm, which by the way is my “good arm.”

I still don’t know what in the name of serving our veterans has held up the MRI. I’ve been told I needed another x-ray. I got one. I’ve been told to talk to my primary care physician. I have spoken to her nurses.

There has been delay after delay after delay.

Then the ice-jam broke. I managed to secure an MRI appointment. It will occur in a few days.

My nightmare is almost over. I hope to learn that the detailed exam reveals. I further hope to get it treated. I want to be rid of the pain.

The lesson? The VA is OK, as long as it’s all routine. If you suffer an injury or get sick, then it’s every man for himself.

military news, national news

Donald, think of us out here … eh?

Donald … and no, I won’t refer to as Mr. Anything, but I have a message for you.

Stop messing with my income, my retirement savings, the nest egg I want to leave my family. I am sickened by your ridiculous war that you pledged never to start. I am tired of watching my investment account shrink because of you, your idiotic advisers and that dimwit you have serving as defense secretary.

The price of oil keeps skyrocketing. Same with the price of everyday grocery items. You’ve imposed an illegal tariff on everything this country imports. And stop with the lies about all that money you say is pouring into the Treasury from those tariffs. Those tariffs are, Donald, a regressive tax that everyone in this country pays.

I have been sick of this crap that has flowed from your pie hole from the very first day you launched your 2016 campaign. My sickness only has worsened the longer you have been in office.

You are a lying piece of mule dookey, and the sound of your voice only worsens my condition.

The Iran war must end. We have to assist Ukraine in their effort to defeat the Russian invaders. And you must end this tariff BS.

There. Now that I’ve got that off my chest, I think I’ll try to figure out how to pay my bills.

military news, national news

Combat ineffective? My ass … !

Next time our idiot Defense Secretary declares that Iran’s military has been reduced to “ineffective in combat,” or has been rendered “defenseless,” remind Pete Hegseth that his lies have been exposed with every report on Iran’s attack on U.S. and other regional targets.

Iranian drones today struck a Saudia Arabian oil pipeline, rendering it useless “for the time being.”

U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have rendered Iran’s military to being ineffective?

My … ass!

 

local news, media news, military news

Recalling quick trip through history

I have spent a good chunk of today recalling the tremendous, emotion-packed weekend I just spent touring the nation’s capital with friends … and acquaintances who have become my friends.

I took part in an Honor Flight to D.C. to receive a pat on my back for the service I delivered to my country as a snot-nosed teenager, who ended up serving the Army in Da Nang, South Vietnam. Words are inadequate to describe the feelings that overwhelmed me at times during our quick-as-hell visit to Washington.

There were 45 Honor Flight participants on this trip. Many of them served in ‘Nam; others served nearby in places like Thailand and the Philippines. Others still didn’t serve in a war zone, but they too were eligible to take part in an Honor Flight. They came and received the love that Honor Flight organizers give everyone who dons a uniform and choose to serve.

Three events caused me to show my sappy side. The first was the Love Field Fire Department firing water hoses into the air in an arch to celebrate our flight as it departed the airport in Dallas; the fire department salute came after being applauded by onlookers as we entered the ticket area to prepare for boarding. We received countless expressions of thanks from those who clapped at us we walked through the airport. We each had “guardians,” volunteers who served as our helpers. If we needed wheelchair aid, someone to carry gifts, or just be there to serve as our companions, the guardians were there. My guy was a former Air Force airman who lives in Tyler. He’s now a dear friend.

No. 2 occurred on our arrival at Reagan National Airport in D.C. Staffers and onlookers began applauding us as we deplaned. So help me, I thought of The Gipper — and wondered if he would have been there to applaud us as well.

We scurried from memorial to memorial the first day. It was a busy time, but we got through it. Our hotel accommodations were first class.

The next day was much like the first day. Breakfast was served. We chatted with each other, had plenty of laughs over our remembrances.

Then we departed for Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Our return from BWI was set and we took off for Love Field, where event No. 3 awaited me.

We landed and were instructed to let the non-Honor Flight passengers depart first. We did. Then we exited the aircraft. I had told the jetliner captain to “have a good flight” when we boarded and thanked when we got by saying, “Good job, Skipper. The flight was great.”

While waiting at the gate we were instructed — again! — to stay put until we got the signal to head for the front door.

We got the “high sign” and headed out of the airport … where we were greeted by a huge throng of folks, chanting to the sound of a Scottish bagpipe band playing that Scottish anthem you always hear at these events.

They were cheering, clapping, thanking us for our service. My family was there. My sons, my daughter-in-law and my granddaughter were there to tell me of their love for me and thanked all of us for serving our nation.

It was an unbelievable experience that I will take with me to the moment my time is up.

I am thrilled to have taken part in this wonderful moment.

local news, military news, national news

Ready to receive long-awaited thanks

My day today was spent doing something I didn’t think I would do … which was think about a brief trip to the nation’s capital to receive thanks for my service to the nation.

The Honor Flight about which I have written on this blog is at hand. The Honor Flight is the 63rd such venture from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Washington, D.C. We depart early tomorrow from Love Field. Our plane will carry 45 military veterans and “guardians” assigned to assist with anything under the sun that we might need on our whirlwind visit.

We’re going to hit the ground in a full sprint when we arrive in D.C. I don’t know the precise itinerary, but I am aware it will include the major memorials and monuments along the National Mall. We will see the World War II memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the MLK Jr. Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery (including the changing of the guard).

I need to mention the Reflecting Pool, the one that’s been in the news after Donald Trump messed it up by trying to dye the water blue, only to have it turn out green.

I am anxious to see it all and to share some of my not-very-exciting military story with fellow vets.

We’re going to get lots of thank you greetings from strangers, or so I have been told. They will deliver thanks for our service, much of which we didn’t get when we returned home when we were so much younger. The nation was not used to “losing” a war and many Americans blamed soldiers like me for the failed policies we were ordered to carry out. Don’t misunderstand: I didn’t get spit on when I got home, but I did get a wide range of indifference from strangers when I informed them of my then-recent history, which involved a brief tour of duty in Vietnam.

The good folks who arranged this Honor Flight assure us that’s all about to change. I am ready to accept all the love I expect to receive.

military news

What does Hegseth mean?

Let us take a quick peek into the shallow mind of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the nimrod who keeps telling us that Iran has been dealt a blow that renders its armed forces “combat ineffective.”

Recall that Donald Trump recruited Hegseth off the Fox and Friends Weekend couch to lead the Pentagon. Hegseth has zero qualifications to serve as defense secretary. Except for one thing. He is blindly loyal to Trump.

Accordingly, when Trump declares complete victory over Iran in this idiotic war of choice, Hegseth follows the liar in chief straight into the crapper. He bought Trump’s desire to refer to the Pentagon chief as the “war secretary,” and calls his department the “Department of War.” What a bunch of crap!

So, when Hegseth keeps repeating the lie about Iran being rendered defenseless against our bombs and missiles, I am left to wonder: How in the hell do the Iranians keep firing missiles at targets in the Strait of Hormuz? We were told the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes “obliterated” Iran’s military. Isn’t that the case?

While we keep bombing Iran, and they keep firing back at us, the price of oil continues to skyrocket, forcing huge inflationary pressure on the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Hegseth is silent about all of that, as is the dipshit in chief.

As a veteran who has served in a war zone for my country, I consider Pete Hegseth to be unworthy of any form of respect his office should demand. He is a disgrace.

local news, military news

Ready to accept ‘honor’ of grateful nation

Fewer than seven days to go and soon it will be flaps as 44 fellow veterans and I take off from Love Field for an “Honor Flight” designed to thank those who wore the uniform while serving our great land.

Please accept my brutal candor here. It took me some time to consider this a trip worth making. Why is that?

Well, I wasn’t sure a brief sprint through some of our nation’s hallowed memorials and monuments was worth the effort. Time also was a factor. Honor Flights leave in the morning of Day One and return the evening of Day Two.

As time marched on, I kept hearing reports from other veterans who have declared the event one of the highlights of their lives. Hmm, I thought: Well, if it means so much to so many of these veterans, then perhaps there’s more than meets the eye on these honor flights.

The vets who return talk of the immense respect they collect from strangers they encounter while touring the DC Mall memorials. You know, this might be all that it is cracked up to be.

The older veterans on this trip saw service in the Vietnam Era. Many of us actually reported for duty in the war zone. I will exempt myself from in any discussion of combat experience in Vietnam. I was a REMF. The acronym stands for Rear Echelon … you can assemble the rest of what the letters spell out.

And although I didn’t get the “baby killer” epithet or other hostile language, I did receive the cold shoulder from strangers –and, yes, even a few friends — when I mentioned my time in the war zone.

These Honor Flights are an effort to tell us that the nation is sorry for the way it treated us when we got home and to thank all those who wore the uniform that the nation is proud of them.

Six more days of prep — emotional and physical — are on tap for this ol’ geezer. I am looking forward to this whirlwind.

military news, national news

We haven’t won anything yet … Donald

Donald J. Trump keeps heaping superlatives on our war with Iran, such as declaring complete victory, saying we have accomplished all we intended to do when we went to war more than six months ago.

The only thing he hasn’t done is land aboard an aircraft carrier and emerge under a huge “Mission Accomplished” sign.

Hmmm. We know why, I reckon. It’s because Trump must know in its private self what many of the rest of us know, which is that Iranians haven’t yet lost the war. Trump went to war without explaining how it would end, or what he intended to accomplish. He has done not a damn thing to unite the nation behind this feckless effort.

Still, POTUS 47 continues to boast — along with his defense department blowhard/mouthpiece Pete Hegseth — that the Iranians have been rendered “combat ineffective for years to come.” Hegseth even has declared the Iranians have been rendered defenseless against U.S. forces “for decades.”

Someone needs to explain to me why we continue to have forces on duty against Iran if we already have accomplished all we have intended.

Oh, wait. I almost forgot. Trump is lying about it all.