BarackAssWard

Since 2009 the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has killed 88 Americans in the continental United States alone.  Moreover, injuries are three times this number. In Europe, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey and numerous other countries, ISIS has killed, tortured, persecuted and mutilated thousands, especially Christians.

How does our President respond? It is a good time to allow ten thousand Syrians into the US with a highly flawed, semi non-existent vetting system where ISIS has openly told us they will imbed their fighters with the “immigrants.” They have already successfully done so in Europe which has resulted  in several attacks in France, Belgium and Germany. This will only continue. Estimates of the “immigrants” coming into the US are that 60 – 65% of them are young men, the fighting age. Where are the woman and children? (Why there is not a No Fly Zone over Syria to safeguard innocent populations is another missing piece of a coherent strategy).

Another brilliant piece of the Obama Administration strategy in the war on terrorism is releasing the worst of the worst terrorists from GTMO. Why, from Obama’s perspective, is he doing this? Because these terrorists were captured without being read their Miranda Rights and they weren’t given a fair trial. In other words, our President believes our enemy should be afforded the same constitutional rights as US citizens, while they plot and murder US citizens worldwide. Hello, whatever happened to wartime tribunals where evidence dictates a death sentence or lifetime imprisonment as we did in WWII with the Nazis? … And we wonder why we are losing!

To use a military term, all of this is “Backassward,” in other words, BarackAssWards?

The Barack Obama strategy in fighting ISIS and terrorist organizations could NOT be more BarackAssWards, more wrong, more arrogant, and more FUBAR’d up than this. The “JayveeTeam” is kicking his ass every day and Americans are paying the price for his “leading from his behind,” his myopic arrogance and perennial weakness. Let’s not even get started on his deal with Iran and lying to the American public every step of the way to enable the Iranians with a Nuke … And these liberals want to criticize Donald Trump for inquiring about US nuclear strategy? Obama, Clinton and Kerry just armed the Iranians with a Nuke that they WILL use against the West as soon as it is weaponized, and the opportunity creates itself.

 

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Compromised!

So this week we learn that Hillary Clinton discussed “our friend” in her emails over her personal unsecure server she used to conduct State Department business among other inherently governmental activities. “Our friend” was the Iranian nuclear scientist providing the US with information about the Iranian nuclear program to include the progress they were making toward building a bomb. This past week the Iranians executed our friend due to their discovery he was providing the US with Iranian secrets. How might the Iranians found this out? Just “carelessness” as the FBI Director summarized the non-charges against Clinton? Or willful neglect of properly safeguarding US classified information leading to the execution of this poor soul. Clinton is compromised, Comey’s integrity is compromised and the willing media failing to adequately investigate this matter is compromised.

More concerning is the prospect of her winning the Office of President of the United States. What are the contents of the 30 ,000  missing emails and who has them? Russia, China, Iran, etc. and how will they chose to use them? Are they waiting until she is elected President so they can blackmail her and compromise the US position on a variety of strategic interests forcing Clinton to not act on what is best for the United States? These are real concerns that should be looked into by our government and the news media but both have been compromised. Accountability, honesty and integrity have been compromised by the Democratic Party ruling at all costs  including the willing Republican Party Elite that tolerate this behavior without so much as a fight. Instead they sign letters attacking Trump for being flippant and undisciplined. Which is worse?

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Bigot Test

by The 53rd Board of Directors

1.Do you believe terrorists should be called by the group of people causing terrorism in the world, Radical Islamists?

2.Do you believe that marriage is between one man and one woman?

3.Do you believe a fence or wall is needed to safeguard the US homeland  and prevent terrorists and drug dealers from coming into the US from the southern border,  is an appropriate safeguard?

4.Do you believe the Gadsden flag (“Don’t tread on me”) is an appropriate form of free speech and patriotism?

5.Do you believe All Lives Matter, that Blue Lives Matter and not just Black Lives Matter?

6.Do you believe American workers should be prioritized for employment and that H1-B Visas should be rolled back, and the use of them is actual an indictment on the American education system failing to produce the workforce American businesses need?

7.Do you believe School Choice should be enacted across the country giving American families options to ensure their kids go to the best schools?

8.Do you believe political correctness is destroying the fabric of our country and denying historical commonsense society norms has degraded the fabric of America’s common purpose?

9.Do you believe it is wrong for a man to use a ladies room or a girl’s bathroom?

10.  Do you believe it is appropriate to  pray before a sporting event such as a football game?

If you answer “yes” to 7 or more questions, you are a bigot in the new “Transformed” America.

If you answered “yes” to 4 – 6 questions, you are becoming a bigot.

If you answered “yes” to a couple of questions, you have bigot tendencies.

Transformational Education Camps are coming to America. Oh wait, many universities have already become these willing camps of the transformed America.

Patriotic Americans that love the traditions of our country, our constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the American way of life have averaged a score of 7.1 or greater. Congratulations if you achieved this standard. You my friend are a Great American! Keep faith alive and the freedom candle lit!

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Clean the House!

by StanMan

So Trump says he’s not ready for a Paul Ryan redo, won’t support John McCain or Kelly Ayotte. All three of these special interest career politicians are defined by more than a few as Republican club elites, and in my opinion, all three are just that. They, like many others, need to go- we know it and Trump knows it. He’s showing strong indicators he’s setting the stage to clean house if elected President.

In Trump’s mind, political service should not be a career that goes on and on for 40 years, maybe not even 10. Rather, one should take on the role as civil servant, perform the best one possibly can, then move out smartly and find a career. In addition, if you’re tapping signals by either criticizing or not supporting Donald, then you had best get out of the huddle, have a seat on the bench and just get the heck out of the way. The Trump way is, “If you’re not with me, then you’re against me”- it’s that simple. And that’s why Ryan, McCain and Ayotte are not on Trump’s Christmas card list.

Trump’s engine runs on logic and tough standards, not emotion and feel-good politics. And if you don’t meet those standards it would be best to get off the field and watch the game from the sidelines. Whether it’s business, politics, military operations or sports, success is only achieved by accomplishing tough standards. Trump’s bottom line is standards, and if you can’t get it done then try your luck somewhere else.

It’s clear Trump’s building a team of fighters who are anything but politically correct. Enter General (Ret) Mike Flynn, Newt Gingrich, AL West, Chris Christie, Trey Gowdy, Rudi Guiliani, Sarah Palin and Ben Carson to name a few. We need leaders, not pals. We need decision makers, not consensus builders. And we need a bull dog-like fighter who can come off the ropes swinging against any bully anywhere on the planet- we need a tough guy like Trump.

Trump will continue to counterpunch anyone taking a swipe at him. Some call it thin-skinned. I call it protecting home plate, your turf, the family. Trump’s hit list will expand, and you can take that to the bank. Building his dream team is key to a successful presidency, and selecting his tough, loyal fighters will get him and the Country on the right track . Donald J. Trump may be a loud mouth New Yorker, but he’s our kind of loud mouth New Yorker. Get the mops and brooms– it’s time to clean the house because it sure is filthy!

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Jackals

Part 1 – Just War, Time to Fight!

The West has failed to wage a war of necessity and is now suffering the consequences. The President of the United States lacks the will and the understanding to rally the nation and rally the West to destroy ISIS and its affiliates of deviants, terrorists and enablers. Elitist left leaning politicians set the conditions for this hoard of jackals to gather in their caliphate and now the hoard is invading Europe and the United States. The floodgates have been opened wide by elitism, ignorance and an unwillingness to put American safety first and foremost.

Today marks a deadly turn in the lack of will to fight a war of necessity in protecting the West and the United States against Muslim jihadist terrorist jackals. These cowards invaded a Catholic Church this morning, forced the Priest to kneel at that alter and then they slit his throat and beheaded him in front of his congregation attending mass. We are at war. God help the people of France; bless Father Jacques Hamel, his family and his congregation. May Father Hamel be with the Lord resting peacefully in His kingdom.

Please spare me with the trite statements that Islam is a religion of peace. It is far from it. It is a religion of violence, hate and intolerance. Look around the globe and take inventory. The trail of destruction is rapidly spreading from the Middle East, thru Asia, into Europe and now the United States.

A formal declaration of war should be established by Congress and signed by the President. While war is terrible, this is a war of necessity to eradicate radical Islam and bring a just end to this barbarism. To allow these atrocities to continue is a failure of leadership and only continues to place innocents in harms way. Going to mass, to work or to a nightclub should NEVER end being victimized by terrorists. Just War theory is a doctrine that justifies the right to go to war when it is morally justified. We have been there for some time. Peace no longer has a chance with these Islamists. To do less than waging war against this evil, is accepting future atrocities where innocents here at home and abroad will continue to be killed, maimed or injured. Weakness, moral relevancy and making excuses for this religion of violence is getting us killed. Must it take another September 11th for the US to do what must be done? Time for these jihadists to meet their influencer, Satan!

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Eradicating Evil

by Commander, USN(R)

Let’s get straight to the point. Evil in this world exists like we have never seen it. Let’s start by recognizing that. Let’s not give this evil the name they want – ISIS – let’s call them evil and leave it at that. We are being led by incompetent leaders who see the world through the eyes of a fantasy land. They say things are better, we are making progress, we are going to degrade and destroy. They are foolish. These terror attacks – radical Islamic terror attacks by deranged and evil people – continue to happen and happen more frequently. Let’s call out the enemy for what it is and then do whatever is necessary to defeat it.

Enough of winning hearts and minds, that ship has sailed. Everyone knows that there are peaceful Muslims and we all know many, but that is not the point here. The point is we have to eradicate this ideological threat and recognize that it is radical Islamic ideological threat. If we bury our heads in the sand our world will become even more dangerous. Ronald Reagan had it right in 1986 in bombing the Qadafi and the terror regime in Libya – that we would go with our allies if possible, and alone if necessary. He meant what he said!

Boots on the ground – hell yes!!! Not to do nation building, that has never worked and we have to recognize that. Our objective needs to be clear and only protecting American interests and the interests of those nations that join us and fully commit. Let’s deploy not only the military but every of-age citizen with the means to fight with whatever weapon they can muster. Let’s mobilize our entire military, Air Guard and commercial air asset. Let’s freely climb aboard. Let’s fight. This insanity is pure evil and it must be eradicated. Think of our families, our children and future generations to come. Make the right choice on election day come this November! Time to fight!

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Problem is not Climate Change but Command Climate!

The real problem we are dealing with in the Unites States is not climate change but command climate! This president poorly leads us. A ruthless enemy is killing Americans here in the US and abroad, while President Obama reacts aimlessly and without passion. Historically, without regard to party, US presidents have reacted forcefully with passion, resolve and determination when America and Americans have been attacked or harmed. Notice how this president under-reacts to these events but is quick to blame republicans, Wall Street and Cops for all the nation’s ills. It is both shocking and troubling and makes one question this president’s motivation on a broad portfolio of issues, let alone his personal inability to name the enemy (Islamic Terrorists) and relentlessly attack them and destroy them.

So, what is command climate? Command climate sets the tone of leadership and a goal of a healthy environment (command climate) and creating a cohesive, team oriented approach to leadership. The key to a positive command climate is credibility of the commander, communication, trust, and confidence. Keeping this in mind, command climate is a state or condition existing from shared feelings and or perceptions among the American people, all aspects of our government (federal, state & local) about their leaders (their President), and about their government’s approach to leading us and governing us. Do you trust this Administration? Have they been telling us the truth?

Sadly, America is more divided then ever. President Obama divided us from the beginning by unilaterally passing the “Affordable Care Act” without a single republican vote. Seven years later, this division has manifested itself whereby the majority of Americans view our government as ineffective, toxic, bloated and untruthful. Scandal after scandal, there is no accountability. A few examples:

* Hillary Clinton breaks the law handling classified information and setting up a private server to avoid public scrutiny, and our FBI Director and DoJ places her above the law finding no crime. Five days prior to this finding Hillary Clinton’s husband meets with Loretta Lynch aboard her private jet to discuss golf and grandchildren. And they insult us expecting us to believe this. Oh by the way, Bill Clinton appointed Loretta Lynch as a federal judge.

* The IRS targets conservative Americans and scrutinizes their businesses and personal taxes. Louis Lerner retires comfortably. No accountability.

* Our government lies about Benghazi and blames the September 2012 attack on the US consulate where four Americans were killed to include the Ambassador on a video. Hillary Clinton personally tells family members of those killed in Libya, “we will find out who made that video and hold them accountable.” Disgusting!

* The DoJ develops a scheme to runs guns into Mexico that results in the loss of life of a DEA Agent by a felon using one of these guns. DoJ Holder stonewalled and lied about Fast & Furious Program to Congress. He has never been held accountable for this illegal program and unauthorized use of federal funds to buy guns and illegally sell them to criminals in Mexico.

The list goes on and on. The US is adrift and has lost her way due to this president’s leadership failure. We don’t have a climate change problem; we have a command climate problem. It is toxic, aimless and feckless. He has weakened us. Keep the faith. This November we will vote on our next Commander–in-Chief and the 53rd Regiment believes the public will vote to Make America Great Again!

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#MobRule – Pray for Dallas

(Dateline 8 July 2016) The Ferguson Effect in combination with the poor command climate established by this administration and President Barack Obama has created a toxic environment where police officers are under attack by fellow Americans. How did this happen? How far have we fallen? This administration once again focuses on their agenda and not the lives of our citizens.

The Rule of Law is under assault in every corner of America. Those who protect us day-in-and-day-out are under attack and instead of this president having their back, he has questioned and accused police departments of institutional racism from isolated incidents. This week Secretary Clinton was somehow not indicted for breaking numerous laws, coincidence of a Tarmac meeting between the DoJ Loretta Lynch and President Bill Clinton. The elite are protected and the average citizen would have already been in jail if we did what Clinton did.

Americans are saddened, bewildered and shocked at what is happening to our country. There is no respite  from the liberal-progressive assault on tradional values, respect for law and order and support for those wearing blue.

Pray for our fallen, pray for our country and pray that America finds her way with the silent majority restoring our way of life.

(Dateline April 2016) Arguably the left and the Democratic Party have always excelled at organizing the masses for various causes, some real and many manufactured. During the Obama years, manufactured movements (#MobRule) have been put on hyper drive and the go-to methodology for fabricating issues and enacting policies to control the masses and bring forth more regulation and taxes on businesses. What many people on the left fail to understand, or they are perfectly fine with, is that our government is gradually removing individual freedoms and replacing our freedoms with dictates, oppressive regulations and surveillance instruments to monitor our adherence. Let’s look at a few examples.

The governors of New York and California have recently passed laws to enact a mandatory $15 Minimum Wage law. So much for free market capitalism, supply and demand practices and Adam Smith’s invisible hand. These type laws are not only un-American, they are a reflection of how far a once vibrant US economy has fallen in the last two decades, especially during the Obama years. We are now replacing skilled and manufacturing jobs with $15 dollar fast food restaurant jobs and other entry-level jobs. This is the best the left and Democrats can offer? Think about it, instead of creating the economic conditions for businesses to thrive and prosper through lower regulation and lower taxes, they will inevitably chase employers away with these job-killing policies. These so called “living wage” laws define a lack of understanding in basic economic principles and really serve the Lefts own agenda of manufacturing causes for low information masses to help their own re-election campaigns and make payouts to their special interests.

The Occupy Wall Street movement was another convenient movement for the left and the Democratic Party to manipulate the masses and spew their anti-capitalism message to the low information voters and of course blame American big business, banks and Wall Street for all of America’s woes. When American states and cities led by Democratic Governors and Mayors are imploding with excessive debt, poor services and corruption, America as a whole is left with this carnage while the Demons blame others and assign scapegoats. They fail to ever think about holding themselves accountable for misappropriation of taxpayer funding, poor decision making or failure to maintain and live within a budget. This would be asking too much. Blame the 1%ers, the doers, the job creators; they are to blame for what is wrong with America. It was also very convenient how the Occupy Wall Street Movement coincided with President Obama’s re-election campaign beginning in November 2011. Hmmm. I guess all the 99%er problems must be solved now because Occupy Wall Street is no more and not in the news, they have moved on to the next movement, #BlackLivesMatter. Always a new cause to create, manufacture and give the willing media accomplices something to run with.

It doesn’t matter that the Police Officer that shot Michael Brown in self defense, whom was thoroughly investigated and found innocent by several investigations including the FBI, Department of Justice, and a local trial. What matters is the political and media narrative about Black Lives Matter, as if they do not (insulting by the race baiting crowd!). A false narrative that continues to be embraced today drove the riots initiated by mob rule in Ferguson, Missouri. Fact — the white police officer has been found innocent of any wrong doing against the black youth, Michael Brown who physically attacked him. From this false narrative, we have #BlackLivesMatter. Well, the busloads of protesters now being transported from city to city for various causes to include #BlackLivesMatter, I trust that Democratic Party backers are paying them the new $15 minimum wage standard for various manufactured protests? I would hope so as it is difficult to generate false passion about a plurality of causes. However, they have mastered the art of disruption and fabricating causes for the media circus.

My challenge to #BlackLivesMatter, park your asses in Chicago and demand safety and increased police presence for citizen safety. To date for 2016, 110 blacks have been gunned down and murdered in the city of Chicago alone. This is unacceptable! Stop being political stooges for the Democratic Party and put your energy and time into making a real difference. This is insane and outrageous. Every American deserves to live in a crime free environment where safety and security is paramount. Demand it, protest for it, lead it, and do something about it! #MobRule needs to end!

www.the53rdregiment.com/#MobRule

 

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America’s Awakening

 

It is time for all of us to re-awaken America’s Independence Day spirit and renew the promise of America. As citizens, when do we get serious? When do we start holding our government and this Administration accountable for their failures, lies and manipulation of the facts? When? We are losing the gift and blessings of America because so many of us fail to engage, feel intimated by political correctness or fail to study the issues and understand the challenges America faces. We remain the world’s best hope and we need to restore who we are and take our country back from the elites. We The People are in charge. This is our country. We should not tolerate a condescending governing elite that say one thing and do what they want behind closed doors.

  1. We are at war. America, the homeland, is under assault by ISIS and a global Jihad. They view us as weak, soft targets and without resolve. They see our Commander-in-Chief as feckless who makes excuses for a religion that kills in the name of their god, not the God I know. He withdrew US troops from Iraq, a fledgling democracy, and named the withdrawal “Responsible Drawdown;” a far cry from responsible, quite the opposite sadly for those who fought and those who died there. Obama has demonstrated repeatedly he lacks strategic judgment whether he wages war in Libya, surrenders vessels to the Iranians, loses Yemen, fails to support Ukraine, tolerates Chinese aggression in the Pacific or reacts passively to terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino, Ft. Hood, Tennessee or Orlando. The Unites States is at war, and sadly our leadership is an abject failure that has made all of us vulnerable here at home.
  2. The Lies. Benghazi, the IRS scandal targeting American conservative organizations, the Iranian negotiation manipulating press coverage, the American Affordable Care Act (“If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor”). And the media collaborators that fail to report honestly and simply cover up the numerous lies by failing to cover these stories.
  3. The Economy. 96 million Americans not working but yet the unemployment rate as reported by our government is 5%!?? Another 30 million Americans are under-employed. How does this happen? You think the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) or Most Favored Nation (MFN) status for China has had anything to do with this? Or 12 – 15 million illegals working in the country for below market wages and a porous border have anything to do with it? Of course! This is the Trifecta of undermining the American worker.
  4. Elite Tarmac Meeting. Two private jets on the same Tarmac in Phoenix, AZ at the same time in June, and oh it just happens to be a coincidence where the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, bumps into former President Bill Clinton and they spend 30 minutes in her DoJ jet just talking golf and grand kids. “Not once, not a single time (did I have sex with that woman)” did Bill and Loretta discuss Hillary’s legal issues with the server and compromising classified information? Of course not, just pleasantries that take oh, 30 minutes or so. Oh, by the way, who appointed Loretta Lynch a federal judge? Bill Clinton!

It is Independence Day. This coming fall we have an opportunity to take our country back at the poll booth. The list of incumbents that need to be flushed down the toilet is long. As a citizenry, it is time to remind our elected officials we are in charge! This fall, let’s remind the career politicians what a revolt looks like. Throw them out!

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Brexit, ISIS and a British Perspective

One of the more instructive British perspectives on the threat Great Britain faces, as well as the West. This short video is well worth the 6 minutes to watch it. Please look in comments section below for the BREXIT Video link. Where is this critical analysis in the press? Where?!

 

 

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The American Platform

The American Platform

  1. Bring Manufacturing Home. American businesses that have set up foreign manufacturing plants will be incentivized to bring the plant and work home, back to the USA.
    1. Federal training grants for the work force
    2. First three years no taxes, next four years 10% federal tax and federal corporate tax will never exceed 20% plant specific
    3. States will compete for the plant and this in itself will result in lower state taxes
    4. If a company locates their plant in a designated depressed city and commits to public school education technology oriented programs, federal and state taxes are capped at 10% for ten years
  2. Restore our Military. The world is on fire and the USA is under assault from strategic ignorance over the past seven years. The US will restore Peace through Strength and restore US troop levels to mid-1980 levels and invigorate a technology investment to repair military forces, ensure technology superiority and deter threats through an unquestioned will to protect our interests, defeat our enemies and restore US prestige globally.
  3. Make Education Great Again. Eliminate Common Core and restore education to the local level. Incentivize educators and schools based on results. Produce and be rewarded, fail, and be subject to school closings and teachers being relieved of their duties. Restore freedom of speech in schools and allow students to assemble to pray. Offer vouchers for students in school districts that fail them. Introduce education competition to demand better results.
  4. Congressional Equity Laws. If you make a law for the average US citizen, it applies to the Executive Branch, The Judicial Branch and Congress. Zero exceptions! Good enough for us, good enough for you.
  5. Revoke Congressional Pensions. It is a privilege to serve the American people. There will be no pensions. If you don’t like it, don’t run for office. You can invest in a 401K like the rest of us/America. Senators and Congressman will be paid the average wage of the American citizen. You want a higher salary, grow the US economy and increase American salaries.
  6. Healthcare. Simplify it. Incentivize businesses to reduce costs. Establish Catastrophic Care for citizens that experience hardship. Scrap Obamacare and eliminate the cronyism culture where government officials leverage corporate relationships for campaign and personal gain while corrupting healthcare solutions.
  7. Secure the US Border. Secure the border south, north, and the coastlines. Do what it takes. Establish a new Ellis Island along the Mexican border that can process potential immigrants in a timely manner, sort out criminals and reject them and treat all potential immigrants with dignity and respect. But be clear, proximity does not give you an advantage over other immigrants that use the system respectfully and follow US immigration laws. If you are found to violate US immigration laws, you will receive a five-year penalty ban and not be allowed to apply for immigration until after the penalty period is over.
  8. Department of Veterans Affairs. Eliminate it as a Cabinet position. Designate an active duty four-star general officer to command the VA and bring quality medical care and service to veterans. Put a three star general in charge of Veterans Health Agency with a medical service background; a three star general in charge of Veterans Benefits Agency and a two star general in charge of Cemetery Affairs. Have them report directly to the Secretary of Defense. Desinate a Command Sergeants Major as the VA Inspector General.
  9. Taxes. Launch the economy and incentivize Americans to take risk and grow the US economy through creating businesses. Attract foreign entrepreneurs to move and invest in the US. Max the personal tax rate at 25%.
  10. Regulations. Eliminate Obama regulations in one executive order. Congress will legislate future regulations to inhibit job-killing dictates from mega minds. Regulations will be limited to two typed pages in Time Romans 12 font.
  11. Restore Fiscal Sanity. Balance the US budget. Congressional wages will be charged and taxed a penalty for failure to balance the budget and reduce US debt.
  12.  Trade. All US trade deals will benefit American workers, grow the US industrial base and eliminate the financial dealings that benefit US government officials. US officials that benefit financially from selling America out will be prosecuted.

 

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Airline Pilot

by Airline Pilot
My lead flight attendant came to me and said, “We have an H.R. on this flight.” (H.R. stands for human remains.)
“Are they military?” I asked.

‘Yes’, she said.

‘Is there an escort?’ I asked.

‘Yes, I’ve al ready assigned him a seat’.

‘Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early,” I said…

A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldie r.

The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. ‘My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,’ he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.

I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat.

We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.
‘I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is also on board’, she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.

We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia . The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.

I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. ‘I’m on it’, I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of t he dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

‘Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now, and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft. The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family.

The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal, where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home.

Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.

I sent a message back, telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, ‘You have no idea how much this will mean to them.’

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing . After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft maneuvering every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told that all traffic was being held for us.

‘There is a team in place to meet the aircraft’, we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I a sked the copilot to tell the ramp controller, we were going to stop short of the gate to make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, ‘Take your time.’

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said: ‘Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking: I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX s under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is A rmy Sergeant XXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.’

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later, more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of ‘God Bless You’, I’m sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane. They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these United States of AMERICA .

Foot note:

I know everyone who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.

They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honor and respect.

Prayer Request:

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world… Share with others. Do not let it stop with you. Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, and others deployed in harm’s way, prayer is the very best one.

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!

Thank you all who have served, or are serving. We Will not forget!!!!

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Reflections

By PMWalt2

Yesteday, I had a bunch of Marines who served with me years ago contact me via Facebook.

These were guys I led in the very early 80s and called me Lieutenant. I was a tank platoon commander and they were my Marines. They were a great group of young men, Marines who like me were probably not as mature as we would be after our “float” across the pond, a float which would take us to Grenada and Beirut. Chatting with a few of them recently brought back memories of how proud I was of each and every one of them … then, as now.   We entered the crucible of combat and experienced pretty much everything that went with it.

Those chats reminded me of the importance of something I remember each year at this time of year, one particular event from decades ago.

One late afternoon on a non-descript January afternoon in 1984, things began to heat up and I took a section of tanks from our maintenance area to our firing positions east of the Beirut airport. I recall rounding a curve and making a quick decision to head to the right firing position which would mean the trailing tank led by Lance Corporal Rich Delgado to take the position to my left.

As we were turning into our positions, we drove into a barrage of either 122 or 152 mm rockets. Both of us were heads up out of the turret as all hell broke loose.

As we settled into our firing positions I got the call on the radio, “Delgado is hit, we need doc”. A piece of shrapnel nailed him in the neck as we were getting into firing position.

I made a medevac call and my doc (corpsman) and one of his buddies (another doc) ran from an adjacent bunker about 125 yards away to Delgado’s tank. Both got knocked down at least once with more incoming rockets, but both got to his tank unscathed. The docs got him stable and were able to medevac out of there in an Amtrak.  Later that night we heard Rich was stable on the USS Tripoli. The next day I got the word he was evacuated to Germany.

I saw Rich Delgado once more when we got back and were all at Camp Lejeune. He was still hurting and was going to be discharged.   I was so happy to see him and glad to see him. He was a Lance Corporal, an E-3, who was given a tank and three other Marines to lead … he was a solid leader, great Marine, and a great person.

Three or four years later, it doesn’t matter, I was a tank company commander at 29 Palms California and I ran into to my tank mechanic, Pollard, from that float years before. I was now a Captain and my Pollard now a sergeant. He asked me if I heard about “Delgado”.   Not knowing, I asked what he knew.

Sgt Pollard told me that Rich had passed a few years previously when undergoing surgery to repair the damage to his neck that January day in 1984.   Not knowing what to say, I recall feeling very sad and a bit hollow.

This Memorial Day, lift a glass and say a prayer for all of the Rich Delgado out there. I know I will, just as I have these past 30 plus years.

By the way, the event I recall from decades ago wasn’t the firefight in January ’84, it was learning of Rich Delgado’s passing.

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Don

by Marine1948

It’s 0447 hours here in Northwestern Massachusetts and as I look across the street I see the lights on in the dwelling of a silent hero.

Don is an old “China Marine”. He enlisted in the Corps in 1937 with duty on the Asian Mainland.

His enlistment should have been up in December of 1941 and then Pearl Harbor. All were told that their enlistments would be extended indefinitely.

Throughout the next 4 years Don slugged through campaigns in the Pacific on islands with the infamous names recorded in the annals of the Corps: Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima all with the 3rd Marine Division.

Don returned to his hometown in 1945 and went to work immediately. Met a woman and married her and raised his children. Still ever the duty bound man, he served with the town’s volunteer fire department and forest wardens until time caught up.

I came to know him probably at some point in the 70s. And as fate would have it, I moved in across the street from him the early 80s. Strange that 34 years have passed so quickly.

To say that I have been in awe of this man seems so inadequate. I have observed him through this many years do things that a man half his age couldn’t accomplish.

You see, Don will be 96 next month. Here is someone who has cut his grass, shoveled snow and so many tasks I can’t recall. And he still does! When the humidity is so high that even nature’s creatures don’t stir, he cuts the grass fully clothed. When the wind chill would scare an Eskimo, the snow is removed. And not uncommon for him to use his snow blower to help much younger neighbors.

He stands tall and straight. His hearing and eyesight remain intact. Ah, he still has a full set of his own teeth. Amazing!

There is the common denominator that we possess, that being MARINE. It is a bond that never leaves us. No matter the era from which we rose.

A common greeting is, “Do ya think we still could make it through Parris Island?” And the chuckles come.

I look at him and think that he is 5 years my dad’s senior, also a WWII man.

Don gave up his driver’s license a few months ago, as he said, “It’s time.” Now I observe him after he cuts his grass sitting in the backyard in a chair looking at the sky. I can only imagine the thoughts.

Don doesn’t ask much, but every now and then I bring him a package of Oreos, an enjoyment of his. It seems so small and insignificant for someone of his stature. But it brings a smile and a thank you.

On the holidays that are appropriate for the display, I put out my Marine Corps flag and then watch across the street, sure enough, Don follows suit.

Someday Don will enter Valhalla and the Valkyries will bring him the nightly feast joined by and in brotherhood by all other warriors.

I salute you, Don. Semper Fi! And God bless you and America.

“marine1948” Bishop, HG Jr
Sgt., USMC, 2322500 1967-forever

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