What ya gonna do PL?

This video had me falling off of my chair in an Army NCO school. I wish they were harder on all leaders like they were when I first started this lifestyle in the early 90's but oh well.

The Army has changed but one thing will always remain, there is nothing more dangerous or funny then a new Lieutenant.

Enjoy!

2 Arrested in plot to attack Seattle MEPS station

You tell me how I'm supposed to feel about this one. I enlisted in that building... both times.

Click here for the full story: http://bit.ly/mK3Djl

An excerpt from KiroTV.com

SEATTLE -- Two men have been arrested in a plot to use machine guns and grenades in an attack on a military processing station in Seattle that also houses a daycare, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday.

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, of Seattle, and Walli Mujahidh, also known as Frederick Domingue Jr., of Los Angeles, were arrested Wednesday night.

They made initial court appearances Thursday on terrorism and firearms charges. The defendants both only said "yes" when asked if they understood the charges. Their attorney asked for more time, and the judge set a new hearing for next Wednesday.

Special Report - Osama Bin Laden is DEAD!

After all of this time, Osama Bin Laden is dead...... March 1st 2011
We won't stop chasing you if you attack us..............

What I'm doing in Iraq this time

This is a short little clip of what I'm doing over here in Iraq for this tour. I am reposting this video from my aviation podcast located on iTunes under LetsFlyWa. Enjoy!

Tribute to 303rd Armor

Video of 303rd Armor during the training and OIF II deployment

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

Friedberg Germany

I found some pictures of my old home while I was with the 1st Armor Division back in 1996 in Friedberg Germany.

I thought I'd share them with you because it was with out a doubt the best time of my life.

I hope you enjoy these photos.




Friedberg Germany 2005


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, VFW,Germany

Navy SEAL earns the Medal of Honor

I don't know what to say that could thank Michael Monsoor enough for jumping on the grenade that day.

There aren't words for that type of loyalty and dedication to his fellow soldiers, only his brothers and sisters in arms can understand what makes a person do something that is sure to bring them harm so their friends can be saved.

Some people would die for their country, their mission or their beliefs but every true American soldier that I have met and served with would do it for the person next to them.

Some may call this fine man crazy or say that his death was a waste, I say his death serves as a reminder to all that American men and women can show courage and love for their brothers in arms.

We are a family when our families fail us, we are our only salvation when we are in need, we are our support system when it is no longer the "in" thing for other Americans to care about us, we are the American fighting force and we only need each other!

Honor this man and all the others like him who face tough challenges every day and prevail.

Remember that people like him brave the heat, bombs and bullets each day while you are enjoying the ball game or that nice cold beer.

It's people like this that make our country great!

Please read about him and pass this on to your friends and family. Read More







Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, VFW

This soldier could use a hand

I hate to ask for things for myself but I'm down to the wire on this one.

I have just found out that in a few short months I'll be back in the big sand box o' fun and would really like to complete my dream of becomming a private pilot before I go.

I have been working on this dream for 20 years and in Nov of '06 I started my training. I was stopped by weather, finances and then a major set of personal problems that still cause me problems today.

Please read this post on my other blog and if you can help me out I would be in your debt.

Please understand that I'm not begging for money but asking that a plane owner allow me to rent their airplane at a little lower rate than the nearest FBO, a CFI to give up some time in exchange for washing their plane or what ever needs to be done.

I don't want a hand out but I do need a little help to make this dream come true before I leave one more time.

Thank you,

Red4Golf

An Army SGT

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans,

Low interest rate loan for pilots and veterans

I know I've been gone a long time but I wanted to pass along a request to help a friend prepare her financially for her upcoming deployment to Iraq.

She is trying to pay off some high interest credit cards so I pointed her to a new service called Prosper to help her get a loan at a lower interest rate than her current credit card rate.

This service is like e-bay in a way, a lender signs up to invest in a loan or group of loans and submits a bid for a specific amount and a minimum interest rate. As more people bid the interest rate can fall but the lender will never go below their set interest rate. For more information on this service both potential lenders and borrowers should check out the Prosper web site.

Click on the link below to see her specific listing or to join my lending group for pilots and veterans.





Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, Prosper, money, loans

Memorial Day 2007

Need I say more?

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, VFW

Tribute to my Honor Guard

Here is my first attempt at creating a video that highlights my Honor Guard team. Its a little rough and the timing isn't exactly perfect but I'll keep working on it.

This is how I currently make my living when I'm not out on my M1A1 tank and these are the soldiers that work their butts off for me in an attempt to give the honors that our veterans have earned.

You'll see some older people in the slide show, these are members of the American Legion, VFW, etc. that show up every day to provide honors for our fallen brothers and sisters. Some are up in their 80's and receive no pay for their duty.

I hope you enjoy this rough draft and please let me know what you think.

P.S. You won't see me because I'm taking the photos ;-)







Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, VFW

A Medal of Honor winner in my family

I was posting a little info about a family member on my other blog today and thought that you might be interested in reading a little about him as well.

My sister-in-law is the granddaughter of the famous Gregory "Pappy" Boyington.

For those of you that don't know who he was he lead the Black Sheep Squadron in the Pacific during WWII, was awarded the Medal of Honor, wrote a book called Baa-Baa Black sheep and had a TV show made about him and the squadron during the 70's.

Please jump on over and find out a little more about this war hero.

Read More!

Technorati Tags : WWII, History, War, Pacific, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

How veterans feel about protesters

See how actual veterans feel about the Iraq war, anti-war protests and more!

Please watch the entire video and feel free to comment.










Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, watada, protest, anti-war

Haven't posted in a couple of weeks.

I haven't posted in awhile because I really haven't had much to say that is worth sharing.

The Watada protests that we all expected outside of Ft. Lewis were a joke with about 200 showing up the first day and by the second day there were as many anti-Watada folks mixed in the crowd.

We all got a really good laugh out of the free Watada sign next to the "Hang the Coward" sign...nobody seemed to notice.

I hope all is well you you out there and I'll resume my normal rants when my anger over the actions of Congress subsides enough for me to form complete thoughts again.




Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, watada, protest, anti-war

My first podcast.

Well, here it is, my first podcast. Its more of an introduction and a welcome to this cast than anything but I do touch a little on LT. Watada and what I think about his court-martial.

I hope you enjoy it and will isten more in the future!

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, watada, protest, anti-war

Pod Casts are comming soon!

I have decided to enter the world of Pod Casting and thought I'd let you all know that starting next week I will be putting together a couple of shows to find out if anybody is interested in what I have to say.

I find that all of these thoughts that I have while driving to or from work slip out of my mind during the day or that life gets in the way of my posting at night.

Now I will record my thoughts for you to listen to and comment on, maybe even do a couple of interviews so all of my readers can hear what real soldiers think about their job and their time in Iraq.

If you have any suggestions for topics, please feel free to send me a comment and I'll try to fit it in.



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

The trial of Ehren Watada begins tomorrow.

This is not a hero, this is a coward!

This is a hero!

Click here for his full story.

Tomorrow Lt. Ehren Watada will stand before a court-martial panel at Ft. Lewis Washington.

There are many out there that think he is doing what is right by refusing to deploy to Iraq because of personal convictions and some of those people will show up to support him tomorrow.

As a soldier that has served a lot longer than this young man, I for one will be following this case to its end.

There are some things that those of you that have never served need to think about.

He joined after we invaded Iraq of his own free will, he failed to file his request to resign his commission before his unit was called up to deploy, his choice to become a soldier caused him to willingly give up some of his rights like the right to free speech, soldiers can choose the life but not choose when, where, or how they will be used.

I could never explain to those out there that have never lived the life of military service exactly how much our lives change after putting on that uniform but we all put the uniform by choice and not by force. We lose the right to make a lot of our own choices in life but most of us do that so YOU are protected to make your own.

I have known some soldiers that were big and bad during times of peace but as soon as real bullets were being shot at them they wanted to turn and run like this LT.

To me they are all cowards, I'm not a big bad super soldier but I did make a choice, a choice that takes me away from my family for long periods of time, a choice that puts me in the field in harsh conditions with little sleep and comfort, a choice that could get me killed someday.

In the end, it was my choice and those that want to back out on their decision before they have completed their duty are filthy, lazy, cowards. They are not an example to be held up for the public to honor but an example of selfishness, lack of character and should be shunned.


Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans, watada, protest, anti-war

Washington State has passed a law to protect the families of dead soldiers.

This is one of the few times that you will hear me agree with new laws coming out of Olympia Washington. This state has been known to lean way to the left and the law makers do as they please and not how the people vote.

Having said that, this new law protecting veterans families from protesters is on the mark. These families have been through enough and don't need people yelling and screaming at them while they say their last goodbye to a loved one.

Don't these protesters understand that the soldier doesn't choose how they are used? Don't they know that the family is suffering or is it that they just don't care?

Since returning from Iraq I have been a part of the Honor Guard that provides services at a National Cemetery and I for one will protect the family of any soldier, sailor, airman or marine that I am providing final honors for.

Here is the section of the law covering funerals:

13 (d)(i) Intentionally engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct
14 or makes unreasonable noise, within five hundred feet of:
15 (A) The location where a funeral or burial is being performed;
16 (B) A funeral home during the viewing of a deceased person;
17 (C) A funeral procession, if the person described in this
18 subsection (1)(d) knows that the funeral procession is taking place; or
p. 1 HB 1168.PL
1 (D) A building in which a funeral or memorial service is being
2 conducted; and
3 (ii) Knows that the activity adversely affects the funeral, burial,
4 viewing, funeral procession, or memorial service.
5 (2) Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor.
6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate
7 preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the
8 state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect
9 immediately.



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

See the latest Saddam video - Warning Noose Damage -

This is a graphic video of Saddam after his hanging.

Please preview this before your kids see it as it isn't a pretty sight but at least we know that he is dead!

Good luck to the Iraqi people, the devil is dead!

Watch the video.

Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans

More troops to be sent to Iraq?

I know I don't want to leave my home and family any time soon but if they want more troops in Iraq then I'll go in a heart beat. I want to see this job done right and not screwed up like Viet Nam was.

When I say that I mean by the one sided press that likes to show nothing but American blood and the folks in D.C. that want to get back at President Bush.

The only reason we will loose in Iraq is if we allow those outside of the military to dictate how the war is fought and when we come home.

Send us! Send 300,000 more. Allow us to grow our total force to the Cold War status and own every inch of Iraq if that is what it will take.......Just let us do our job!



Technorati Tags : Iraq, Baghdad, War, OIF, Army, Military, Navy, Marines, Veterans