Hero Edith Cavell From WWI - A Nurse Who Did MUCH - and Was Executed

Learn about Edith Cavell, the nurse who saved over 200 people and was later executed for doing so.

I tried to find this exact video on YouTube - but was not able to. Sorry. 

Find the YouTube video below:
 

Instagram video:

CLICK HERE

Life Story of Edith Cavell | British Nurse Who Rescued 200+ Soldiers in WW1

So unfortunately - this person won't allow other to play their video on other websites - you have to click on "watch on YouTube"

I'll look for another one!

God Bless The U S A - Special Recording to Hear and Watch

My heart is full of gratitude for the sacrifices

my ancestors made to ensure the continued 

freedom of this great country!

 

This Incredible Woman Gave Wounded WWI Veterans A Second Chance In Life

Anna Coleman Ladd 

made masks for Veterans who suffered 

horrific face injuries during World War I

I have tried to upload this video from youtube, but for some reason, 

it is not coming up as a playable  video.  So here is the link:

Click Here

1:55 minutes

Sculptor Made Masks for Wounded 

WWI Soldiers with Disfigured Faces

1:58 Minutes

Where Eagles Dare . . . Catching Rogue Drones!

French military using winged warriors to hunt down rogue drones
Published February 22, 2017
Original Post Here

A golden eagle grabs a flying drone during a military training exercise at Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base, Southwestern France, February 10, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

The French military is literally going where eagles dare in an effort to combat the increasing use of drones by criminals and terrorists.

Following incidents of drones flying over the presidential palace and restricted military sites – along with the deadly 2015 Paris terror attacks – the French air force has trained four golden eagles to intercept and destroy the rogue aircraft.

Aptly named d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis – an homage to Alexandre Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers” – the four birds of prey have been honing their attack skills at the Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France since mid-2016.

A French army falconer works with a golden eagle as part of a military training for combat against drones in Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base, Southwestern France, February 10, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

It takes about eight months to fully train the birds, but the eagles are surrounded by drones from before they hatch to make the unmanned flying devices part of their natural environment and to teach the birds to associate drones with being fed.

“A drone means food for these birds,” Gerald Machoukow, the military base's falconer, told FRANCE 24. “Now they automatically go after them.”

The use of hunting birds – normally falcons and northern goshawks – by militaries around the globe is common practice in the fight to scare other critters away from runways and so cut the risk of accidents during takeoff or landing. But it wasn’t until 2015 when the Dutch started using bald eagles to intercept drones that other militaries started to see the benefit of these winged warriors.

The French bred the four golden eagles – three males and one female -- using artificial insemination since eagles are a protected species and harvesting wild eggs is strictly forbidden. They chose the golden eagle because of the birds hooked beak and sharp eyesight.

Also weighing in around 11 pounds, the birds are in a similar weight class as the drones they’re sent to destroy and clocking in at a top air speed of 50 miles per hour, with the capability of spotting its target from over a mile away, the eagles are deft hunters.

To protect the eagles from drone blades and any explosive device that might be attached the them, the French military designed mittens of leather and Kevlar, an anti-blast material, to protect the bird’s talons.

A golden eagle carries a flying drone away during a military training exercise at Mont-de-Marsan French Air Force base, Southwestern France, February 10, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau

"I love these birds," Machoukow told Agence France-Presse. "I don't want to send them to their death."

The birds are first taught to attack in a straight line before graduating to diving from heights. Soon they’ll be patrolling the skies over the Pyrenees Mountains in southern France and could possibly be deployed at airports and special events, such as political summits and soccer tournaments.

While an initial progress report on the eagles’ capabilities is due in June, French officials say that the results are promising and the French air force already expects four more eagles to join the fleet at Mont-de-Marsan by the summer.

America's Greatest

When they bombed Tokyo 74 years ago -

They once were among the most universally admired and revered men in the United States - 

There were 80 of the Raiders in April 1942, when they carried out one of the most courageous and heart-stirring military operations in this nation's history. The mere mention of their unit's name, in those years, would bring tears to the eyes of grateful Americans.

After Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, with the United States reeling and wounded,  something dramatic was needed to turn the war effort around.
Even though there were no friendly airfields close enough to Japan for the United States to launch a retaliation, a daring plan was devised. Sixteen B-25s were modified so that they could take off from the deck of an aircraft carrier. This had never before been tried -- sending such big, heavy bombers from a carrier.

The 16 five-man crews, under the command of Lt. Col. James Doolittle, who himself flew the lead plane off the USS Hornet, knew that they would not be able to return to the carrier.  They would have to hit Japan and then hope to make it to China for a safe landing.

But on the day of the raid, the Japanese military caught wind of the plan. The Raiders were told that they would have to take off from much farther out in the Pacific Ocean than they had counted on. They were told that because of this they would not have enough fuel to make it to safety. And those men went anyway.

They bombed Tokyo and then flew as far as they could. Four planes crash-landed; 11 more crews bailed out, and three of the Raiders died. Eight more were captured; three were executed.

Another died of starvation in a Japanese prison camp. One crew made it to Russia.

The Doolittle Raiders sent a message from the United States to its enemies, and to the rest of the world:   We will fight. And, no matter what it takes, we will win.

Of the 80 Raiders, 62 survived the war. They were celebrated as national heroes, models of bravery.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a motion picture based on the raid; "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," starring Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, was a patriotic and emotional box-office hit, and the phrase became part of the national lexicon. In the movie-theater previews for the film, MGM proclaimed that it was presenting the story "with supreme pride.

Beginning in 1946, the surviving Raiders have held a reunion each April, to commemorate the mission.

The reunion is in a different city each year. In 1959, the city of Tucson,Arizona, as a gesture of respect and gratitude, presented the Doolittle Raiders with a set of 80 silver goblets. Each goblet was engraved with the name of a Raider.

Every year, a wooden display case bearing all 80 goblets is transported to the reunion city.

Each time a Raider passes away, his goblet is turned upside down in the case at the next reunion, as his old friends bear solemn witness.

Also, in the wooden case is a bottle of 1896 Hennessy Very Special cognac.

The year is not happenstance: 1896 was when Jimmy Doolittle was born.

There has always been a plan: When there are only two surviving Raiders, they would open the bottle at last, drink from it and toast their comrades who preceded them in death.

As 2013 began, there were five living Raiders; then, in February, Tom Griffin passed away at age 96.

What a man he was. After bailing out of his plane over a mountainous Chinese forest after the Tokyo raid, he became ill with malaria, and almost died. When he recovered, he was sent to Europe to fly more combat missions. He was shot down, captured, and spent 22 months in a German prisoner of
war camp.

The selflessness of these men, the sheer guts ... there was a passage in the Cincinnati Enquirer obituary for Mr. Griffin that, on the surface, had nothing to do with the war, but that was emblematic of the depth of his sense of duty and devotion:


"When his wife became ill and needed to go into a nursing home, he visited her every day. He walked from his house to the nursing home, fed his wife and at the end of the day brought home her clothes. At night, he washed and ironed her clothes. Then he walked them up to her room the next morning. He did that for three years until her death in 2005."

So now, out of the original 80, only four Raiders remain: Dick Cole (Doolittle's co-pilot on the Tokyo raid), Robert Hite, Edward Saylor and David Thatcher. All are in their 90s.
They have decided that there are too few of them for the public reunions to continue.


The events in Fort Walton Beach marked the end. It has come full circle; Florida's nearby Eglin Field was where the Raiders trained in secrecy for the Tokyo mission. The town planned to do all it can to honor the men: a six-day celebration of their valor, including luncheons, a dinner and a parade.

Do the men ever wonder if those of us for whom they helped save the country have tended to it in a way that is worthy of their sacrifice? They don't talk about that, at least not around other people. But if you find yourself near Fort Walton Beach this week, and if you should encounter any of the Raiders, you might want to offer them a word of thanks. I can tell you from first hand observation that they appreciate hearing that they are remembered.


The men have decided that after this final public reunion they will wait until a later date -- sometime this year -- to get together once more, informally and in absolute privacy. That is when they will open the bottle of brandy. The years are flowing by too swiftly now; they are not going to wait until there are only two of them.

They will fill the four remaining upturned goblets. And raise them in a toast to those who are gone.

Their 70th Anniversary Photo

THE WALL - A Little History Most People Will Never Know

Interesting Veterans Statistics of the Vietnam Memorial Wall. 

There are 58,267 names now listed on that polished black wall, including those added in 2010. 

The names are arranged in the order in which they were taken from us by date and within each date the names are alphabetized. 

It is hard to believe it is 57 years since the first casualty. 

The first known casualty was Richard B. Fitzgibbon, of North Weymouth, Mass. Listed by the U.S. Department of Defense as having been killed on June 8, 1956. 

His name is listed on the Wall with that of his son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Richard B. Fitzgibbon III, who was killed on Sept. 7, 1965. 

There are three sets of fathers and sons on the Wall. 

39,996 on the Wall were just 22 or younger. 

8,283 were just 19 years old. 

The largest age group, 33,103 were 18 years old. 

12 soldiers on the Wall were 17 years old. 

5 soldiers on the Wall were 16 years old. 

One soldier, PFC Dan Bullock was 15 years old. 

997 soldiers were killed on their first day in Vietnam

1,448 soldiers were killed on their last day in Vietnam

31 sets of brothers are on the Wall. 

Thirty one sets of parents lost two of their sons. 

54 soldiers attended Thomas Edison High School in Philadelphia. 

I wonder why so many from one school?

8 Women are on the Wall, Nursing the wounded. 

244 soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War; 153 of them are on the Wall. 

Beallsville, Ohio with a population of 475 lost 6 of her sons.

West Virginia had the highest casualty rate per capita in the nation. There are 711 West Virginians on the Wall.

The Marines of Morenci - They led some of the scrappiest high school football and basketball teams that the little Arizona copper town of Morenci (pop. 5,058) had ever known and cheered. They enjoyed roaring beer busts. In quieter moments, they rode horses along the Coronado Trail, stalked deer in the Apache National Forest. And in the patriotic camaraderie typical of Morenci's mining families, the nine graduates of Morenci High enlisted as a group in the Marine Corps. Their service began on Independence Day, 1966. Only 3 returned home.

The Buddies of Midvale - LeRoy Tafoya, Jimmy Martinez, Tom Gonzales were all boyhood friends and lived on three consecutive streets in Midvale, Utah on Fifth, Sixth and Seventh avenues. They lived only a few yards apart. They played ball at the adjacent sandlot ball field. And they all went to Vietnam. In a span of 16 dark days in late 1967, all three would be killed. LeRoy was killed on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the fourth anniversary of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Jimmy died less than 24 hours later on Thanksgiving Day. Tom was shot dead assaulting the enemy on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The most casualty deaths for a single day was on January 31, 1968 ~ 245 deaths.

The most casualty deaths for a single month was May 1968 - 2,415 casualties were incurred.

For most Americans who read this they will only see the numbers that the Vietnam War created. To those of us who survived the war, and to the families of those who did not, we see the faces, we feel the pain that these numbers created. We are, until we too pass away, haunted with these numbers, because they were our friends, fathers, husbands, wives, sons and daughters. There are no noble wars, just noble warriors.

WWII Miracle - Flying Fortress

FLYING FORTRESS MIRACLE!!!

 B-17  "All American" (414th Squadron, 97BG) Crew

Pilot- Ken Bragg Jr.
Copilot- G. Boyd Jr.
Navigator- Harry C.   Nuessle
Bombardier- Ralph Burbridge
Engineer- Joe C.   James
Radio Operator- Paul A. Galloway
Ball Turret Gunner-  Elton  Conda
Waist Gunner- Michael Zuk
Tail Gunner- Sam T.   Sarpolus
Ground Crew Chief- Hank Hyland

In  1943 a mid-air collision on February 1,  1943, Between  a B-17  and a German fighter over the Tunis dock area, Became the subject of one of the most famous photographs of WW II.

An enemy fighter attacking a 97th Bomb Group formation went out of control, probably with a wounded pilot, then continued its crashing descent into the rear of the fuselage of a Flying Fortress named "All  American", Piloted by Lt. Kendrick R. Bragg, of the 414th Bomb Squadron.

 When it struck, the fighter broke apart, but left some pieces in the B-17.
The left horizontal stabilizer of the Fortress and left elevator were completely torn away.
The two right engines were out and one on the left had a serious oil pump leak.
The vertical fin and the rudder had been damaged,
The fuselage had been cut almost completely through.
Connected only at two small parts of the frame,
And the radios, electrical and oxygen systems were damaged.
There was also a hole in the top that was over 16-feet long and 4 feet wide at its widest;
The split in the fuselage went all the way to the top gunner's turret.

 Although the tail actually bounced and swayed in the wind
And twisted when the plane turned and all the control cables were severed,
Except one single elevator cable still worked, and the  aircraft  miraculously still flew!

 The tail gunner was trapped because there was no floor connecting the tail to the rest of the plane.
The waist and tail gunners used parts of the German fighter and their own parachute harnesses
In an attempt to keep the tail from ripping off and the two sides of the fuselage from splitting apart.

 While the crew was trying to keep the bomber from coming apart, the pilot continued on his bomb run and released his bombs over the target.

 When the bomb bay doors were opened, the wind turbulence was so great that it blew one of the waist gunners into the broken tail section.
It  took several minutes and four crew members to pass him ropes fromparachutes and haul him back into the forward part of the  plane.  When  they tried to do the same for the tail gunner, the tail began flapping so hard that it began to break  off.
The weight of the gunner was adding some stability to the tail section, so he went back to his position.
The turn back toward England had to be very slow to keep the tail from twisting off.
They actually covered almost 70 miles to make the turn home.
The bomber was so badly damaged that it was losing altitude and speed and was soon alone in the sky.

 For a brief time, two more Me-109 German fighters attacked the All American.
Despite the extensive damage, all of the machine gunners were able to respond to these attacks and soon drove off the  fighters.
The  two waist gunners stood up with their heads sticking out through the hole in the top of the fuselage to aim and fire their machine guns.  The  tail gunner had to shoot in short bursts because the recoil was  actually causing the plane to turn.

 Allied P-51 fighters intercepted the All American as it crossed over the Channel and took one of the pictures shown.
They also radioed to the base describing that the appendage was waving like a fish tail and that the plane would not make it and to send out boats to rescue the crew when they bailed out.

The fighters stayed with the Fortress, taking hand signals from Lt. Bragg and relaying them to the base.
Lt. Bragg signalled that 5 parachutes and the spare had been "used", so  five of the crew could not bail out.  He  made the decision that if they could not bail out safely, then he would stay with the plane to land  it.

 Two and a half hours after being hit, the aircraft made its final turn to line up with the runway while it was still over 40 miles away.
It descended into an emergency landing and a normal roll-out on its landing gear.

 When the ambulance pulled alongside, it was waved off because not a single member of the crew had been injured.
No one could believe that the aircraft could still fly in such a condition.
The Fortress sat placidly until the crew all exited through the door in the fuselage and the tail gunner had climbed down a ladder, at which time the entire rear section of the aircraft collapsed.

 This old bird had done its job and brought the entire crew home uninjured.

What an amazing story!

 David K Strate--Agent

The Most Decorated

On this day in 1971, the most decorated combat hero of World War II is tragically killed. Audie Leon Murphy wasn’t supposed to be a hero! In fact, when he first tried to join the military, the Marines rejected him because of his small size. The paratroopers rejected him, too. Disappointed, he joined the infantry.

The young Texan wasn’t one to be kept down! He soon proved himself to be a skilled marksman and a brave soldier.

Perhaps his most famous demonstration of bravery occurred on January 26, 1945. He was in the small town of Holtzwihr, France, with his unit of only 40 men. They’d been ordered to hold a particular road until reinforcements arrived. Unfortunately, the Nazis chose that moment to attack. Murphy’s men were badly outnumbered—there were up against 250 Nazis and 6 tanks!

Murphy ordered his men to fall back into the woods, even as he picked up his field phone and called for an Allied artillery attack. As Allied fire fell, he was able to take control of a burning tank. Perhaps more importantly, he took control of its machine gun! Germans were all around him, but he fired on the Nazi infantry for an hour until his ammunition ran out. He was talking on his field phone the whole time, helping to direct Allied artillery fire! When his ammunition was finally exhausted, he left the tank. Refusing medical treatment for his injuries, he organized his men into a counterattack. In the end, Murphy and his 40 men rebuffed the 250 Germans.

“I expected to see the whole damn tank destroyer blow up under him any minute,” Private Anthony Abramski later testified. “For an hour, he held off the enemy force single-handed, fighting against impossible odds. . . . The fight that Lieutenant MURPHY put up was the greatest display of guts and courage I have ever seen. There is only one in a million who would be willing to stand up on a burning vehicle, loaded up with explosives, and hold off around 250 raging KRAUTS for an hour and do all that when he was wounded.”

After the war, Murphy came home to a hero’s welcome! He’d earned 28 awards, including the Medal of Honor and some French and Belgian honors. He earned every American medal for valor. He’d done all of this, and he was only 20 years old! He was soon featured on the cover of Life magazine, which brought him to the attention of Hollywood. The soldier-turned-actor would go on to act in dozens of movies, and his memoirs would be made into a film, To Hell and Back. He also became a songwriter.

Despite these successes, everything was not rosy for Murphy in these years. He was candid about the fact that he suffered from “battle fatigue” (today known as post-traumatic stress disorder), and he struggled with insomnia. Nevertheless, he apparently didn’t know how to stay away from military service. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1950, hoping that he would be called to serve in the Korean War. It didn’t happen. He later transferred to the Army Reserve.

Murphy was killed in a private plane crash on May 28, 1971. After his death, he was buried with full military honors in Arlington Cemetery. Finally, just two years ago, his home state of Texas posthumously awarded him its greatest military honor: the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.

The poor son of sharecroppers was not supposed to be a hero—and yet he was! Determination, perseverance, exceeding expectations . . . . How AMERICAN.

-------------
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A Texas Goodbye

This is a bit of history information and for all those Texans out there, you’re the best
QUITE A STORY

From a friend in Texas :

Patriotism, Texas and Chris Kyle:
I just wanted to share with you all that out of a horrible tragedy we were blessed by so many people. Chris was Derek's teammate through 10 years of training and battle. They both suffer/suffered from PTSD to some extent and took great care of each other because of it. 2006 in Ramadi was horrible for young men that never had any more aggressive physical contact with another human than on a Texas football field. They lost many friends. Chris became the armed services number #1 sniper of all time. Not something he was happy about, other than the fact that in so doing, he saved a lot of American lives.

Three years ago, his wife Taya asked him to leave the SEAL teams as he had a huge bounty on his head by Al Qaeda. He did and wrote the book "The American Sniper." 100% of the proceeds from the book went to two of the SEAL families who had lost their sons in Iraq . That was the guy Chris was. He formed a company in Dallas to train military, police and I think firemen as far as protecting themselves in difficult situations. He also formed a foundation to work with military people suffering from PTSD. Chris was a giver not a taker.

He along with a friend and neighbor, Chad Littlefield, were murdered trying to help a young man that had served six months in Iraq and claiming to have PTSD.

Now I need to tell you about all of the blessings. Southwest Airlines flew in any SEAL and their family from any airport they flew into free of charge. The employees donated buddy passes and one lady worked for four days without much of a break to see that it happened. Volunteers were at both airports in Dallas to drive them to the hotel. The Marriott Hotel reduced their rates to $45 a night and cleared the hotel for only SEALs and family. TheMidlothian, TX. Police Department paid the $45 a night for each room. I would guess there were about 200 people staying at the hotel … 100 of them SEALs. Two large buses were chartered (an unknown donor paid the bill) to transport people to the different events and they also had a few rental cars (donated). The police and secret service were on duty 24 hours during the stay at our hotel.

At the house the Texas DPS parked a large motor home in front to block the view from reporters. It remained there the entire five days for the SEALs to congregate in and all to use the restroom so as not to have to go in the house. Taya, their two small children and both sets of parents were staying in the home. Only a hand full of SEALs went into the home as they had different duties and meetings were held sometimes on a hourly basis. It was a huge coordination of many different events and security. Derek was assigned to be a pall bearer, to escort Chris' body when it was transferred from Midlothian Funeral Home to Arlington Funeral Home and to be with Taya. A tough job. Taya seldom came out of her bedroom. The home was full with people from the church and other family members that would come each day to help. I spent one morning in a bedroom with Chris' mom and the next morning with Chad Littlefield's parents (the other man murdered with Chris). A tough job.

Nolan Ryan sent his cooking team, a huge grill and lots of steaks, chicken and hamburgers. They set up in the front yard and fed people all day long including the 200 SEALs and their families. The next day a local BBQ restaurant set up a buffet in front of the house and fed all once again. Food was plentiful and all were taken care of. The family’s church kept those inside the house well fed.

Jerry Jones, the man everyone loves to hate, was a rock star. He donated use of Cowboy Stadium for the services as it was determined that so many wanted to attend. The charter buses transported us to the stadium on Monday at 10:30 am. Every car, bus, motorcycle was searched with bomb dogs and police. I am not sure if kooks were making threats trying to make a name for themselves or if so many SEALs in one place was a security risk… I don't know. We willing obliged. No purses into the stadium! We were taken to The Legends room high up and a large buffet was available. That was for about 300 people. We were growing.

A Medal of Honor recipient was there, lots of secret service and police and Sarah Palin and her husband. She looked nice, this was a very formal military service. The service started at 1:00pm and when we were escorted onto the field I was shocked. We heard that about 10,000 people had come to attend also. They were seated in the stadium seats behind us. It was a beautiful and emotional service. Bagpipe and drum corps were wonderful and the A&M men’s choir stood through the entire service and sang right at the end. We were all in tears.

The next day was the 200-mile procession from Midlothian, TX. to Austin for burial. It was a cold, drizzly, windy day, but the people were out. We had dozens of police motorcycle riders, freedom riders, five chartered buses and lots of cars. You had to have a pass to be in the procession and still it was huge. Two helicopters circled the procession with snipers sitting out the side door for protection. It was the longest funeral procession ever in the state of Texas. People were everywhere. The entire route was shut down ahead of us … the people were lined up on the side of the road the entire way. Firemen down on one knee, police officers holding their hats over their hearts, children waving flags, veterans saluting as we went by… Every bridge had fire trucks with large flags displayed from their tall ladders … people all along the entire 200 miles standing in the cold weather. It was so heartwarming. Taya rode in the hearse with Chris' body so Derek rode the route with us. I was so grateful to have that time with him.

 The service was at Texas National Cemetery. Very few are buried there and you have to apply to get in. It is like people from Civil War, Medal of Honor winners a few from the Alamo and all the historical people of Texas . It was a nice service and the Freedom Riders surrounded the outside of the entire cemetery to keep the crazy church people from Kansas that protests at military funerals away from us. Each SEAL put his Trident (metal SEAL badge) on the top of Chris' casket one at a time. A lot hit it in with one blow. Derek was the only one to take four taps to put his in and it was almost like he was caressing it as he did it. Another tearful moment.

After the service the governor's wife, Anita Perry, invited us to the governor's mansion. She stood at the door and greeted each of us individually and gave each of the SEALs a coin of Texas (she was a sincere, compassionate, and gracious hostess). We were able to tour the ground floor and then went into the garden for beverages and BBQ. So many of the team guys said that after they get out they are moving to Texas. They remarked that they had never felt so much love and hospitality. The charter buses then took the guys to the airport to catch their returning flights. Derek just now called and after a 20 hours flight he is back in his spot, in a dangerous land on the other side of the world, protecting America.

We just wanted to share with the events of a quite an emotional, but blessed week.

And to this day, the president in the White House has never acknowledged Chris Kyle.Click on link for comments left from this story -
http://twitchy.com/2013/02/11/beautiful-thousands-gather-at-cowboys-stadium-to-remember-slain-hero-chris-kyle-photos-video/
"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the  labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson

Marine's Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, 

In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney, with presents to give 

and to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, 

no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.

No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand. 

On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land. 

With medals and badges, awards of all kind, 

a sobering thought soon came to my mind.

For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen. 

This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more, 

So I walked down the hall and pushed open the door. 

And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone, 

Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,

Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine. 

Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read? 

Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan. 

I soon understood, this was more than a man.

For I realized the families that I saw that night, 

Owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight. 

Soon around the Nation, the children would play, 

And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.

They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,

Because of Marines like this one lying here. 

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, 

On a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home. 

Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye. 

I dropped to my knees and I started to cry. 

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice, 

“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice 

I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more. 

My life is my God, my country, my Corps.” 

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep, 

I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.

I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill. 

So I took off my jacket, the one made of red, 

And covered this Marine from his toes to his head. 

Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold, 

With an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold. 

And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, 

And for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside. 

I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night, 

This guardian of honor so willing to fight. 

But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure, 

Said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.” 

One look at my watch and I knew he was right,

Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

✽¸.•♥♥•.¸✽✽¸.•♥♥•.¸✽✽¸.•♥♥•.¸✽✽¸.•♥♥•.✽¸.•♥♥•.¸✽✽¸.•♥♥•

The USAF Band - 2014 Holiday Flash Mob

Here's to the Air Force!!

Silent Weapons For Quiet Wars

Some of you might have had access to this years ago, but this will blow your socks off! Listen to at least the first ten minutes of it and you will want to watch the rest of it!

   

September 9, 2013 This is a reading of the document entitled, "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars". This clip was put together for those who might be distracted with kids or work and for those who choose to listen rather than read the full document.

Dated May 1979, "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars" (Technical Manual SW7905.1) was found in 1986 in an IBM copier that had been purchased at a surplus sale.

It is the product of a discipline called "Operations Research" developed during WWII to attack enemy populations using tools of social engineering and psychological warfare. It was allegedly published by the JASON group, and presented at the first known Bilderberger Group meeting in 1954. Research for the document was allegedly done at the Rockefeller Foundation's Harvard Economic Research Project.

JASON is an independent group of scientists which advises the United States government on matters of science and technology. The group was first created as a way to get a younger generation of scientists - that is, not the older Los Alamos and MIT Radiation Laboratory alumni - involved in advising the government. It was officially established in 1960 and today has somewhere between 30 and 60 members.

According to the secret "Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars" document, the "international elite" decided in 1954 to wage a "quiet war" against the American people with the goal of shifting wealth from "the irresponsible many" into the hands of the "responsible and worthy few."

"In view of the law of natural selection it was agreed that a nation or world of people who will not use their intelligence are no better than animals who do not have intelligence. Such people are beasts of burden and steaks on the table by choice and consent." 

Pilot Down - Rescue of Roger Locher

After the fiasco of recent events . . . THIS is the way it’s suppose to happen.  Truly inspiring:
  This is an inspiring and, to me, humbling story.
What a contrast to how our "leaders" reacted to the murder of our ambassador and 3 other fine young Americans in Libya.

Posted 2011

Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie and the Rescue of Roger Locher Brig. Gen Steve Ritchie tells the amazing story of the rescue of downed pilot Roger Locher in Vietnam in 1972.

In that same year Ritchie volunteered for his second tour in Southeast Asia and was assigned to the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Udorn, Thailand. Flying an F-4D with the famous 555th ("Triple Nickel") Tactical Fighter Squadron, he became the only Air Force jet ace by downing a MiG-21 on May 10, another on May 31, two on July 8 and his last on Aug. 28.

After completing 339 combat missions totaling more than 800 flying hours, Ritchie returned as one of the most highly decorated pilots of the war, having received the Air Force Cross, four Silver Stars, 10 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 25 Air Medals.

His combat expertise brought him the 1972 "Mackay Trophy" for the most significant Air Force mission of the year (along with Capts. Jeff Feinstein and Charles DeBellevue), the Air Force Academy's 1972 Colonel James Jabara Award for Airmanship, and the 1972 Armed Forces Award, presented by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In 1973 he was selected as one of the "Outstanding Young Men of America," and in 1974 he received the Eugene Zuckert Award from the Civil Air Patrol.

A Good Question

Government service as an elected official was not intended to be a lifetime or permanent job, it was to be of SERVICE!

Harrowing Experience Aboard the USS Saratoga

https://www.facebook.com/johnbytheway/posts/10152758596119895

70 YEARS AGO TODAY -- February 21, 2015

Here's a harrowing experience of my Dad, a nineteen-year-old aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3), off the island of Iwo Jima (Have you ever seen the photo/film/sculpture of the Marines pushing up the flag at Iwo Jima? This event took place two days before that film/photo was taken):

I had taken my place on lookout watch at about 1600 hours (4:00 p.m.) The day was Wednesday, February 21, 1945.

I had been on lookout watch for about an hour when our lookout leader advised me to proceed to my battle station as bogeys had shown up on our radar screen at 80 miles. I immediately left my lookout station, ascended down through the superstructure, and was crossing under the flight deck to the port side when I heard, "Boing--boing--boing." This was the general quarters alarm. I sprang into a dead run, as did all the other sailors, and as I arrived at my battle stations, our starboard guns began firing, while at the same time, the ship was jolted heavily as I heard loud explosions. I suddenly realized that this was the real thing--we were under attack. As I joined my gun crew, they were breaking out ammunition furiously. I took my place as second loader and began to pass clips of 40 millimeter ammo to the first loader. At this time, the gun captain yelled out, "You second loaders, if the first loader gets hit, drag him off and get up there and take his place." Fright began to overtake me as I realized the possibility of death had become very real. I immediately thought of Mom and Pop. I could see them opening a telegram from the Navy Department informing them that their son had been killed in action. All this came to me in an instant. I could hear the whine of the electric motors on the gun as they started up. By now, many guns, both port and starboard, were firing, even the 5-inches. (Our 5-inch guns were for long range, our 40 mm guns were for intermediate range, and our 20 mm machine guns for short range.)

At this moment, as I looked up and out across the water, I spotted a plane leveling off low on the water and coming directly at us. Thinking it was one of our F6F Hellcats, I started to say, as I pointed, "What's he doing?" All of a sudden our gun swung into position and began firing rapidly at it, as did all other guns on the port side. I then realized it was not one of ours--it was a Japanese Zeke [aka "Zero"]! I pulled my helmet down tight on my head and began to pass ammunition as fast as I could. At this time, our 20 mm began firing and then I knew that he was getting in close to us. I didn't have much time to be frightened--though I was. My main concentration was on passing those shells into the hands of the first loader in the right position so he could, without pausing, drop them into the breach of the gun. (The correct procedure here was critical.)

A few moments later, the ship again was jolted heavily as a loud explosion followed. We were showered with pieces of teakwood and metal fragments. Heavy black smoke blew over us. By now, every gun was now firing rapidly. The noise was intense and I had no cotton in my ears. I don't know if the plane I saw was the one that hit us or not.

At this time, I again glanced out over the water and I saw one of our destroyers coming across our bow at flank speed and firing every gun it had. Apparently, the attacking aircraft were coming in from our starboard bow and the destroyers were moving into position to protect our bow.

We had already taken several hits, and the entire forward end of the flight deck was on fire. We continued firing, but at what, I don't know. The ship would quiver every few moments and I realized we were really taking a beating. I could hear the water pumps start up as the fire fighters began fighting the flames. Much water was being pumped aboard in an effort to douse the fires. Again, the ship was jolted, as though it had been blown entirely out of the water. And almost immediately, black smoke poured through the large ventilation fans from the hangar deck and onto our gun mount. We nearly choked. A suicide plane had crashed into the starboard side of the ship and had gone through to the hangar deck. A fire followed as some of our planes began to explode and burn.

Above and behind me, on the passageway, I could hear rapid footsteps and voices shouting, "Get out of the way!" I looked up momentarily and saw some men running toward the forward bow. They had left their guns in a state of sheer panic as a large twin engine Japanese bomber was bearing down on us at the stern. Some men, however, remained on their guns and shot it down just before it got to us. If that bomber had made it through, he could have put our steering gear out of commission and we would have been sitting ducks.

We were taking on water more rapidly now and we began to list to starboard as the ship began losing speed. A lull in the firing ensued and we were instructed to smear flash burn cream on our faces, neck and on the back of our hands to protect us from any flashes from bombs or other explosions. After that we began dumping empty shell casings, clips and ammunition cans over the side. I could see all the other guns were doing the same. We had to do this to make room for more. Probably tens of thousands of brass casings were going into the ocean.

By now we were dead in the water (stopped) and we all began to put on life preservers as some began to cut life rafts loose. I began to prepare for the worst. A terrible fright came over me as I thought of abandoning ship and having to jump into that cold, gray Pacific. I knew that at this time of year, a person would only last a few minutes there, even with a life preserver. About this time, two jeep (small) carriers had come in our vicinity. Some Japanese suicide planes took after them and made direct hits on both of them. I saw them burning. Later, we got the news that they were both sunk. One of these was the Bismarck Sea. I can't recall the name of the other one.

Darkness began to overtake us now and we again began to fire. I believe our guns were now being fired by radar.

The bilge pumps were finally started up and now the water taken on to fight fires was being pumped overboard. A short time later, the ship began to slowly move forward. I began to feel somewhat relieved. At least we weren't sinking. We slowly picked up speed and, in a short time, were making at least seventeen knots.

We remained on our guns and periodically fired--at what, I don't know. I believe there were times that they were firing at stars as clouds would part.

The smell of fire and burning chemicals was everywhere and the stench was more than we could stand. The fires on the flight deck were put out only after much effort.

Some of our air group was still aloft, so we turned into the wind and landed them. One pilot we took aboard was from another carrier in the vicinity, probably one of the jeep carriers. As he climbed out of his plane, he exclaimed, "I'm sure glad I'm not on the Saratoga. They're sure catchin' hell." When he was told that he was on the Saratoga, he nearly fainted.

We lost a number of our air group. Because we were under fire, some of our pilots couldn't land. Some probably just ran out of gas and were ditched, others were probably shot down. Some of our pilots were still aboard and some were killed by the kamikaze attack.

A lull in the firing came well after dark, probably about 2200 hours (10:00 p.m.). We stayed on our guns. The word was passed to send a representative from each battle station to the galley for "K" rations (Army field rations). No one felt much like eating, but we knew we must to keep up our strength. I opened mine and began eating some very old and hard biscuits about the size of a fig Newton. There was also a small can of sponge cake and a can of veal loaf; also a small roll of toilet paper and cigarettes.

We could hear people moving about on the flight deck, cleaning up debris. The stench was worse than ever now as the smell of burned flesh was mixing with it. Corpsmen with menua (?) stretchers were now moving through the passageways on their way to sickbay. Only once in a while we would doze off in an effort to sleep, but the cold and the fear of freezing to death kept us awake.

Morning finally dawned and we were relieved of our duty. I went to our sleeping quarters and the deck had been flooded, but our lockers were okay. Everything seemed in tact as we were away from the damaged area. Many of the men's lockers in other parts of the ship were completely destroyed. Many lost all their gear--and their sleeping quarters.

I moved about on the ship assessing the damage. It was incredible. It was sickening. Some men had been blown to bits and their flesh had to be hosed off the bulkhead and decks. The smell of burnt flesh turned my stomach and I nearly vomited. As the dead were being counted, I wondered how some of my high school chums fared. I knew a fireroom on the starboard side had been hit and I became concerned about Keith Crawford. I later learned that the fireroom that was hit was the next one aft from his. Thank goodness. All the rest of my classmates were okay. I learned that one tall, handsome, red-headed LDS boy from Provo died on a forward gun just below our lookout station. I learned that the marine detachment we had suffered extremely heavy losses. They manned 40 mm guns on the forward end of the flight deck, where most of the damage occurred. Some Marines had to go over the side or burn to death. Some were burned to death, many went over the side never to be found.

I was approached by someone to proceed to the bomb locker and help remove some badly burned bodies. I declined, as I'm sure the person who asked me could see my sickened condition and knew I would be of no use to him. I later learned that those bodies there were literally roasted and if you tried to pick them up, they fell apart. They finally had to shovel them up.

I passed the galley, and it was a mess (no pun intended). Large baking pans containing hams were still on the stoves, now ruined by water and debris. Some of the cooks were beginning to clean up the debris and spoiled food. I passed the bakery and saw much the same thing--ruined cakes, pies and bread now water-soaked and debris-covered. Death, destruction, and fear was everywhere. Everyone was very solemn and said very little.

As the day proceeded (Thursday, February 22, 1945), the activity picked up markedly. We cleared away debris, cleaned up living quarters. The airmen were dumping damaged planes over the stern. The dead bodies were being taken to the flight deck for burial at sea. The most sickening sight of all was to see those dead bodies, row after row. They put whatever bodies they could into mattress sacks. It was terrible to see the sack tied around their ankles and their feet protruding out of the sack. Most of them still had their shoes on. I thought of all the telegrams that had to be sent and the poor parents and loved ones who received them, and what their thoughts would be. I was grateful that my own parents were spared. If Mom and Pop knew what I had just gone through, they would have died. I was grateful they didn't know.

All the bodies were draped with the American flag. Here I saw the dead who had given their lives in defense of their shipmates and their country.

The call went out for all hands to muster on the flight deck for burial services. It was a very cold, gray, solemn day as we took our places in our respective divisions. I could see that a couple of our lookouts were missing. I later learned that some had been wounded.

The chaplain gave a short eulogy and as he pronounced the name of each dead shipmate, he would "command to the deep" and to God. Each body was then slid into the sea from underneath the flag. I shuddered to think of that deep, cold, watery grave. Their loved ones didn't even have the privilege of laying them to rest by their own homes. They sank quickly as they were weighted with a 5" projectile.
It was necessary to bury them as soon as possible to keep the ship as free from contamination as possible.

We all went back to work to make the ship as clean as possible. All day long, more debris and damaged aircraft were being dumped into the sea.

The thing that kept us from sinking was that most of the damage was above the water line. This was the only good thing about the whole battle. Even at that, it could have been much worse. I felt very lucky. As I recall, we took about seven hits, but we also shot down a number of the attackers. Our destroyer escort contributed heavily to our staying afloat. They were pulled in tight around the bow of the ship, which gave considerable protection. One of the ship's starboard fuel tanks was hit, and it emptied into the sea. Why it didn't catch fire, I'll never know.

We still needed an anti-submarine patrol, because we were very vulnerable. So the old Sara proved her worth again. Since we couldn't launch our planes off the bow because of battle damage, the old Sara simply backed down at 17 knots into the wind and launched them that way. When it came time to land them, we were steaming ahead and could take them back aboard. It was a super surprise to go top side that morning and see the sea passing by us in the opposite direction. No one had even realized, except the bridge, that we had come to a stop, and then proceeded to back down. It was most comforting to know that we still had a few planes and pilots to give us that protection.

(Copyright, Jack Lee Bytheway)