Nine Line Apparel · 21 June, 2024 Join Us for our Annual Heroes Weekend! Taking place September 20-21, the weekend will consist of our annual Holes Fore Heroes Golf Tournament, our Heroes Dinner and Gala, our Annual Run for the Wounded, and a Range Day for VIPs. All proceeds will benefit the Nine Line Foundation and the mission to support severely wounded and homeless veterans. Sign up today to participate, or contact us if you'd like to donate or sponsor. Let's make this our biggest year yet! https://www.ninelinefoundation.org/events/2024-heroes-weekend?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2q1RBCJ8_DqvOiRePrqgkR02N1MnTKz8eJIhQLSQXw6V1EaWcfm7ZSq18_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw #NineLineApparel #heroesweekend #ninelinefoundation #fundraiser

A fun "walk in the park" over memorial day. SSG Kyle McKee Memorial Ruck. Contributed to SubZero Mission and hosted by All American Rucks. https://subzeromission.org/ https://www.allamericanrucks.com/

Hello all!!!, I have already sent out a few DMs looking for some assistance, but figured I would throw this out there with a very large stroke of the brush. I am finally leveraging my fairly large network to see if any of you may have any contacts who can help with Funding Grants or donations. I am involved with an organization called The Purple Heart Project. The mission is to introduce physically and mentally Combat Wounded Veterans still suffering from the negative effects of combat to the peace and joy that can be found through the therapy of traditional hand tool woodworking. I went through the program last year and since, their director has asked me to come on board to help with funding, as it is 100% supported by donation. If any of you could please pass along any info/contacts you may have in the fundraising arena as well as pass along what we do, it would mean a great deal. Thank you and keep doing all the great things each of you do!! https://www.thepurpleheartproject.org/

How talc from Afghanistan’s opaque and poorly regulated mining sector is helping fuel the Islamic State and Taliban. Talc is a common ingredient in a vast number of everyday products; from cosmetics to paints, and plastics to baby powder. The lifestyle and habits of Western consumers is driving the demand for talc production – and the biggest single market is the United States. Our research shows that talc mined in Afghanistan is transported across the border into neighbouring Afghanistan where it is mixed with Pakistani mined talc before export. Some 40% of talc exported from Pakistan goes to the US; with the EU as another large market. Consumers and companies in these countries could, therefore, unknowingly be funding the Afghan insurgency https://youtu.be/z9acG6aWCoI?si=ERz5y7f20rbbyN3R

Istalif, a small village located north of Kabul, is renowned for its rich tradition of pottery-making that dates back over 400 years. The village is nestled in the scenic foothills of the Hindu Kush mountains, and its unique red clay is known for its high quality and distinctive colour. Local potters in Istalif create a range of functional and decorative items, including plates, bowls, vases, teapots, and other household items. Each piece is individually crafted by hand, using traditional techniques passed down through generations of artisans. Visitors to Istalif can witness the pottery-making process up close, from the initial shaping of the clay to the final firing in the kiln. Many local workshops welcome visitors and offer demonstrations and workshops to teach the art of pottery-making. In addition to its cultural and artistic significance, the pottery industry in Istalif plays an important role in the local economy, providing employment opportunities for many families in the village. A visit to Istalif's pottery industry is a must-see for anyone interested in the rich history and traditions of Afghanistan. https://youtu.be/lI7c35ZZ6nk?si=V19Mq6T1zSIzXWym

B. Historical context Pashtuns are historically the dominant ethnic community in Afghanistan, and they have actively fought to keep their predominance throughout Afghan history. In the years before 1978 Pashtuns made up about 40 per cent of the Afghan population. After the Soviet invasion in 1979, some 85 per cent of the more than 3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan were Pashtuns. They have always played a central role in Afghan politics, and their dominant position has been a major catalyst in triggering conflict. For example, conflict arose between partners in the Mujahidin coalition which fought the Soviet troops and opposed the regime of President Mohammad Najibullah. Following Soviet withdrawal and that regime’s collapse, President Burhanuddin Rabbani represented the Tajik minority, whereas opposition troops led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and those of the Taliban, were mainly Pashtun. The Taliban rule was based on a strict and controversial interpretation of Shari’a law and it was responsible, during its dominance, for grave human rights violations based on gender, and also for ethnic discrimination. This period brought severe poverty to Afghanistan, accompanied by food insecurity for most Afghans, and large-scale displacement and emigration, though some Pashtun communities were treated favourably and protected against the worst of the conditions. However, though Pashtuns were in power, the majority of the community nonetheless continued to suffer discrimination. This was particularly true for Pashtun families who had been moved to the north more than 100 years earlier by Amir Abdur Rahman Khan, as part of a state consolidation effort. They were left to the mercy of the Tajiks and Uzbeks who are the predominant ethnic groups in the area. There have been reports of ethnic massacres at Mazar-e-Sharif in 1997 and 1998 and continuing reports of violence targeted against the Pashtuns (whether or not formely Taliban supporters) as vengeance for the Taliban regime’s excesses. With the collapse of the Taliban regime and the signing of the Bonn Agreement in 2001, Pashtun dominance over the other ethnic groups in Afghanistan came to an end. Of the estimated one million internally displaced at that time, most of those remaining in displacement were Pashtuns, who had been uprooted by ethnic violence in the north and the west of the country. Current issues Since the fall of the Taliban, there has a fundamental shift in the traditional power balance. Although the first post-Taliban president, Hamid Karzai, belongs to a prominent Pashtun family from Qandahar, the central government was largely dominated by the Uzbeks and Tajiks of the Northern Alliance. This less privileged position in administration and power has created obvious dissatisfaction among Pashtuns. Following the final results of the most recent 2010 parliamentary elections, Pashtun parliamentary candidates from Herat and several other provinces staged protests, claiming that they were systematically excluded from the election process through fraud and intimidation. Nevertheless, Pashtuns remain the largest ethnic group and therefore in an increasingly democratic system are likely to regain their influence. Indeed, Karzai’s successor, President Ashraf Ghani is also a Pashtun, although when he took office in 2014, he signalled his intention to break through ethnic barriers by dropping his tribal last name from official documents.

Aimaq The Aimaq are mostly Sunni Muslim of the Hanafi branch, like the Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks and the Turkmen of Afghanistan. They speak a dialect of Persian mixed with Turkic vocabulary. While the Aimaq have traditionally been a nomadic people, they are gradually becoming semi-nomadic, travelling only in certain seasons. Their societal structure is based on the patriarchal nucleus family, which also defines their ethnic identity. Their main economic resource is carpet-weaving and, on a secondary basis, farming. Lacking in rich agricultural land some of them were nonetheless forced to choose to become farmers due to the drought in the 1950s and 1960s. Despite the main source of economic wealth resulting from carpet-weaving, Aimaq culture still measures wealth through the number of heads of livestock. Historical context Being a nomadic people, the Aimaq, divided into their different sub-groupings have traditionally traversed through the entirety of Afghanistan and Iran. They are credited with participation in the defence of the state against the Soviet invasion, as well as being active in the ensuing civil war, on the side of the Mujahadin. Being a relatively small though diverse group with no real territorial base, there has not been any claim from the Aimaq for self-determination. Their tribal and nomadic character has acted as a barrier from them ever becoming politically active, nor have they sought administrative power in any concerted manner. As a result, they have lacked the means through which to communicate their main very fundamental concern of survival under very difficult conditions. Current issues In contrast with other communities in rural Afghanistan, Aimaq women are accorded high status and are able to participate in group discussions with outsiders present, and have some degree of choice over whom they marry. Although a numerically small ethnic group, Aimaq have gained positions in parliament. However, some Aimaq have expressed concern that the voter identification process would not allow them to identify as Aimaq, and rather, the government was going to force them to identify themselves as belonging to other smaller ethnicities, accusing the government of applying divide and rule tactics.

By Major Mark A. Smith Sr. (ret) Note: Some decades ago, a friend in the Pentagon asked me to jot down a few Soldierly thoughts. Through the years I added a couple, but deleted none of the originals. They may not be modern or politically corrected, but they did make the rounds. I stand by them today. - Mark 1. Never accept an officer as competent based on his source of commission. 2. Your right to influence the battlefield is diminished in ratio to the distance you are from the actual arena of action. 3. The battlefield selects its own Generals. No school or board can replace it. 4. Never call fire on your own troops, unless you stand among them. 5. Leaders are indeed born and no military school can provide what God did not. 6. Equipment procurement will always be compromised by not only being made by the lowest bidder, but by attempting to make it multi-functional. 7. Attempting to lighten the soldier’s load by diminishing the weight of any given weapon, will always result in shorter range and less firepower. 8. Excellent staff officers rarely make good battlefield commanders. 9. Outstanding commanders will surround themselves with excellent staff officers. 10. Never make command a reward for good staff work. 11. Discipline began its decline with the demise of the swagger stick and centralized promotion boards. 12. Outstanding NCO’s may make good officers. But, rarely will a riffed officer make a good NCO. 13. Atheists will never be trusted by their troops on the battlefield. 14. Women can do many things men do, except for a few days every month. 15. Going through the change, has nothing to do with the female senior officer’s uniform. 16. Sexual harassment is a two-lane road. 17. Soldiers tell the truth about good and bad commanders. Their opinion is the ultimate evaluation of an officer. 18. No commander was ever hated for being too hard. But, many are detested for trying to cultivate that image, without substance. 19. The maximum effective range of any weapon is that range at which the individual soldier can hit his target and not an inch further. 20. Pretty females rarely feel harassed by male counterparts. 21. Plain-looking female soldiers are usually the best performers and fit in. 22. Endurance should be judged on the bayonet assault course and not on a marathon run. 23. How far soldiers can run in shorts is unimportant, compared to how far they can speed march with full equipment. 24. Pregnant females are overweight soldiers. Thus, the US Army Weight Control program is not based on equal enforcement of the rules. 25. Tears on the cheeks of any soldier, regardless of gender, are only acceptable on the death of a relative or comrade and when “Old Glory” passes by. 26. Pregnancy is self-inflicted, thus abortions should be paid for by the soldier, as a non line of duty procedure. 27. Soldiers are not ‘sent into combat,” they are led. 28. Your worth as an officer should never be judged on how well you ran with a football in college. 29. West Point is a place of learning, as is any college. Both produce two types of officer; Good and Bad. 30. The computer will never be able to judge the content of a soldier’s spirit, as his Sergeant can. 31. Esprit De Corps cannot be attained at the Battalion picnic or Sports Day. It must be instilled by good leadership and belief in one’s fellow soldiers. 32. No new weapon or tactic will ever instill the same fear in the enemy that one Infantryman with a bayonet can. 33. He who drinks at lunch is a drunken soldier in the afternoon. 34. No soldier is so smart that his physical deficiencies can be overlooked in the Infantry. 35. Painting rocks and serving drinks to officers, have never been soldierly functions. And golf is not a required skill for officers. 36. Consolidation of all administrative personnel at battalion level has eroded accountability and proper reporting. 37. Anyone who thinks that future battlefields will not contain Infantrymen knows nothing about war. 38. Indecision kills more soldiers than any wrong decision. One can command his way out of a wrong decision. 39. The only mission of the Infantry Soldier is to kill the enemy. “Humanitarian Missions" are someone else’s job. 40. Only the Infantry and Armor can gain ground. Only the Infantry can hold it alone. 41. Special Forces are not Rangers or Light Infantry and should never be employed as such. 42. Rangers are light infantry and are not Special Forces. 43. Victory is not a limited objective. There is no other reason to engage an enemy, except victory. 44. Never shower or apply after-shave and cologne, forty eight hours prior to a night attack. 45. Sweat is the true lubricant of the Infantry fighting machine. 46. No American Soldier can be managed to victory. He must be led. 47. The only color in the U.S. Army is green. 48. Use of chemical weapons and biological weapons are a crime against humanity. 49. Not training your soldiers to protect themselves from them is a crime against your own troops. 50. Any tactic written in a book is known to your enemies. 51. If short hair is truly a matter of hygiene and discipline, then all soldiers must have it. 52. No member of a soldier’s family is more important than the mission. 53. No soldier can accomplish his mission if the Army neglects his family. 54. Any soldier who sleeps with another soldier’s wife or lover cannot be trusted on the battlefield and should be shunned. 55. Officers are more likely to wear unauthorized awards than any NCO or Private. 56. Any officer who claims he is accepting an individual award for the entire unit should allow his soldiers to wear it. 57. There can be no quota for awards. 58. Any award for Valor is of more value to the Army than any school diploma or certification. 59. Heroism cannot be taught. But, cowardice is a communicable disease. 60. The machine gun is too important a weapon to be used as a tool for punishing poor soldiers. 61. Precision weapons will jam, if the Commander demands communal cleaning. 62. No officer should be given a command, because, he needs one for his career. 63. No officer should be denied a command, because, he already had one. 64. The state of the Army can be evaluated by how its soldiers look in uniform, at any airport in the world. 65. No reporter can be trusted with operational plans. A reporter who reveals operational plans is a traitor to his country. 66. A combat veteran of any war should be respected by soldiers. 67. American soldiers do not lose wars. Leaders lose wars. 68. What a soldier saw with his own eyes, cannot be ignored or changed by higher headquarters. 69. If Special Forces are not assigned strategic missions, they are being misused. 70. The “Hummer” is a vehicle and is the only thing of that name allowed in the Infantry. 71. If you wish to learn about guerrilla warfare, study Francis Marion and not Westmoreland or Giap. 72. The one night you don’t dig in, will bring mortars on your position. 73. Taking the easy way will always get you killed. 74. Blank ammunition has no place in Infantry training. 75. The more you restrict Infantrymen possessing live ammunition, the more accidents you will have. 76. The Air Force and Navy are supporting arms. 77. Intelligence Officer is usually a contradiction in terms. 78. Inclement weather is the true Infantryman’s ally. 79. There is no special duty so important, that it takes the Infantry Soldier away from his squad. 80. Commanders who use the “Off Limits” authority to deny sex to combat soldiers will have a high V.D. rate. 81. A Commander’s morals are his own and cannot be imposed on his soldiers. 82. Chaplains must present themselves when the soldier has time, not because they have a schedule. 83. An officer must be judged on his ability and not on how many coffees his wife has attended. 84. Senior officers who allow discussions about a brother officer, not present, are not honorable men. 85. A Commander who bad-mouths his predecessor will never be truly respected. 86. Equal opportunity is guaranteed by the law and does not require a separate staff. 87. If a Sergeant Major suggests a unit watch, he is the supplier. 88. The quality of food went down, with the initiation of the consolidated mess. 89. No NCO or Warrant Officer outranks a Second Lieutenant. 90. Any officer who does not listen to NCO’s and Warrant Officers is a fool. 91. If you wish your subordinates to call you by your first name, go sell shoes. There is no place for you in the Army. 92. Any Army man who sneers at a Marine for being sharp and well turned out is no soldier. 93. Any Infantryman who must call higher headquarters before engaging the enemy has a fool for a commander. 94. Soldiers respect leaders worth emulating. They cannot be “ordered” to respect anyone. 95. No man who refused to serve his country in war should be elected or appointed over men and women being sent to fight.

"We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful." - C.S. Lewis "In his book, The Abolition of Man, Lewis was prophetic in pointing out that relativism—the idea that there are no absolute truths—would lead to the decay of morality and a lack of virtue within society. Without a belief in and the teaching of universal moral laws, we fail to educate the heart and are left with intelligent men who behave like animals or as Lewis puts it, “Men without Chests.” Read slowly to follow Lewis’s apologetic: It still remains true that no justification of virtue will enable a man to be virtuous. Without the aid of trained emotions the intellect is powerless against the animal organism. I had sooner play cards against a man who was quite skeptical about ethics, but bred to believe that ‘a gentleman does not cheat’, than against an irreproachable moral philosopher who had been brought up among sharpers. In battle it is not syllogisms (logical arguments) that will keep the reluctant nerves and muscles to their post in the third hour of the bombardment. The crudest sentimentalism about a flag or a country or a regiment will be of more use. We were told it all long ago by Plato. As the king governs by his executive, so Reason in man must rule the mere appetites by means of the ‘spirited element’. The head rules the belly through the chest—the seat, as Alanus tells us, of Magnanimity, of emotions organized by trained habit into stable sentiments. The Chest-Magnanimity-Sentiment—these are the indispensable liaison officers between cerebral man and visceral man. It may even be said that it is by this middle element that man is man: for by his intellect he is mere spirit and by his appetite mere animal. The operation of The Green Book (a book promoting relativism) and its kind is to produce what may be called Men without Chests. A persevering devotion to truth, a nice sense of intellectual honour, cannot be long maintained without the aid of a sentiment... It is not excess of thought but defect of fertile and generous emotion that marks them out. Their heads are no bigger than the ordinary: it is the atrophy of the chest beneath that makes them seem so. And all the time—such is the tragi-comedy of our situation—we continue to clamour for those very qualities we are rendering impossible. You can hardly open a periodical without coming across the statement that what our civilization needs is more ‘drive’, or dynamism, or self-sacrifice, or ‘creativity’. In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful." Praise GOD From Whom All Blessings Flow! Never Forget! - Never Quit! NSDQ!

Having some creative fun with my business. 🤙🏽🚁🇺🇸 NSDQ

Military Times Early Bird Brief 19 March 24: One key senator eyes troop pay raises, increased funds for military housing

A Father’s Pride in His Late Son’s Service Commentary: A Father’s Pride in His Late Son’s Service By Army Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Stein Special to American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, March 15, 2010 – While flying on United Airlines last week, I overheard a telephone conversation from a gentleman seated directly behind me. His words went something like this: "Although today was an extremely sad day for me - it was absolutely the happiest day of my life, and I am proud to be an American." This gentleman went on to talk about a funeral he attended in South Carolina, and specifically gave great kudos to the U.S. Army for the professionalism displayed at this service. He went into great detail about the funeral service itself and how it was conducted. He went on to say that Jeremiah really enjoyed serving in the Army, and now, he clearly understood why. My ears immediately perked up when I overheard him talk about the Army in such a positive way. He boasted about the General who presented the flags to him and his family, the sharp-looking soldiers of the salute battery, the sounds of taps, how the soldiers stood at attention for such a long period of time, how the military paid for his family to fly to South Carolina, the number of letters and calls he received from Jeremiah's command, how the Red Cross assisted, and so on. He could not say enough great things about our Army. I quickly pulled a two-star card from my briefcase and wrote him a thank-you note for his kind words about our Army. He had no clue I was in the Army since I was in civilian clothes. Within seconds, he tapped me on the shoulder and with tears in his eyes proceeded to tell me the rest of the story. The gentleman's name is Robert Wittman. He was flying with his entire family: wife, son, daughter, Mom, Dad, grandparents and friends. They were carrying home the cremated remains of his son, Sgt. Jeremiah T. Wittman of the 4th Infantry Division, who was killed in Afghanistan on Feb. 13. Dad told me that Jeremiah already had two tours in Iraq and ultimately gave his life in Afghanistan. While in Iraq the first time, Jeremiah's vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device, and several of his buddies were severely injured. He went on to say that his son truly loved the Army and did what he did from the heart. His dad was a proud man. He did say that he often wondered why his son stayed in the Army after his initial attack in Iraq. Now that he saw the U.S. Army in action at the funeral, he said – as he had on the phone earlier -- that he now understands why. Dad proudly held up the urn and boasted about how beautiful it was, and he continued to brag about the Army for all to hear. The folks around him listened with big ears and inspiration. I must admit, although it really was a beautiful urn and a wonderful Army story - it brought a slight tear to my eye, as I, too, have a son —- a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division -- serving in Afghanistan, and this moment hit home. Bottom line: Although the family was saddened by the loss of their son, they were all proud to be associated with the U.S. Army. I could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices. Why? Simply because of the way they were treated by our Army family at the funeral. The 4th ID leadership and others involved did it up right and made a positive, lifetime-lasting impact with this family. Great job! To top off a memorable flight, when the aircraft came to a halt the pilot announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. Among us today is a Great American Soldier named Sgt. Jeremiah Wittman, killed in action on 13 February. Our deepest sympathy, respect and sorrow go out to the Wittman family. We ask that you honor Sergeant Wittman -- our fallen hero -- the entire Wittman family and our armed forces by remaining seated and allowing the family to depart the aircraft first.” At that moment, you could have heard a pin drop in the aircraft, but within seconds, everyone on the aircraft was clapping as the family departed on their way. The family departed feeling special and honored. I sat there proud to be an American Soldier (Army Maj. Gen. Kurt J. Stein is the commanding general of U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command.)

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.“ ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Trust is a word most of us don’t throw around lightly. In combat, we trust in our own training, the training of our crew, the customer, the intel, the equipment, etc. Remember your first time in combat, then flash forward to your last. As our level of experience grows, we are able to function through chaos with a mindset and demeanor that is unteachable, it is only earned from the experience we gain through hardships, victories, defeats, “close calls”, good decisions, bad decisions, etc. I can think back through my Christian journey the same way. From where I started, to where I am today, all of the hardships, victories, defeats, etc., prepared me for today. Today I have a choice. I can go through life, with a “hair on fire” attitude; overreacting, overthinking, and trying to do things my way. Or I can walk with confidence and trust that He has a plan for me, and through the hardships, he has strengthened and emboldened me, preparing me for victory in His name. I pray I do it better today than yesterday. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

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via: TSAF Industries · SPC Marc Anderson, 30, of Brandon, Florida was killed while fighting in Afghanistan against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda during Operation Anaconda in the renowned Battle of Takur Ghar; where US Army Rangers were called upon to rescue and extract a Navy SEAL team under intense enemy fire. The MH-47 Chinook helicopter carrying a US Army Ranger Quick-Reaction-Force, including SPC Anderson, crash landed due to enemy fire. SPC Anderson and two other Rangers were killed by direct enemy fire as they fought their way out of the helicopter. The battle would endure for 12 hours, while Army Rangers and the surviving Navy Seals fought to secure and hold the peak of Takur Ghar, later named Roberts Ridge. SPC Anderson proudly served with Company A, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Marc was born in Fort Benning, Georgia, and in 1978 when his father retired from the Army, his family relocated to Alliance, Ohio. Marc was a gifted athlete in High School, with a special talent in track and field. ''Physically, Marc was like an N.F.L. lineman,'' said Jim Polen, Marc’s former track coach, adding that despite his size, he could run the 40-yard dash in less than five seconds. But Marc had brains as well as brawn. ''He had the quick humor of a talk show host,'' Polen said, searching for words to describe what made Marc Anderson so special. ''He was as bright as a college professor. But he had the spirit of a little boy.'' Marc would go on to attend Case Western Reserve University, before transferring to Florida State University. He distinguished himself as a standout student-athlete. He was recognized as an All American in both football and track by the NCAA and won the Florida State student athlete of the year award in 1995. After obtaining his teaching degree from Florida State University, he taught math in Fort Myers. Marc was dedicated to his students and volunteered with Boys/Girls clubs during summer. Marc enlisted in the Army to assist in paying off his student loans. He is survived by his parents and two brothers. #Patriot #Hero #RLTW #suasponte #tsafindustries #tsafnation (Ref: andersonmcqueen.com/obituary; rangersremembered.com; leadthewayfund.org)

via: The Giant Killer · Pictured are the eight U.S. Marines of the suicide mission "Doom Patrol" to recover the body of a dead Marine, Charlie Company, 7th Marine in Quảng Nam Province, 1968. In February 1968, eight Marines volunteered for a suicide mission. After 32 US casualties were incurred during the first 30 hours of Operation Pursuit. The operation was initiated in mid-February 1968 by the 1st Marine Division to search for enemy rocket caches in the mountains west of Da Nang. Operation Pursuit began at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14 as Charlie Company crossed the western end of Hill 10 while Delta Company departed from Hill 41, about 2 miles to the southeast. Accompanying them were 1st Division combat correspondent Sgt. Robert Bayer and photographer Cpl. R.J. Del Vecchio. The two companies linked up on the approach to Hills 270 and 310. The dense jungle growth at the base of Hill 270 channeled the Marines into a single-file column during the slow, exhausting climb that forced the men to hack out a trail with machetes. By 6:30 p.m., Delta Company had secured Objective 1, the saddle between Hills 270 and 310. Charlie Company had secured Objective 2, the top of Hill 270. Pfc. Michael J. Kelly, a member of the point squad who had been with the company for only two months, was hit by an enemy bullet that struck a grenade on his cartridge belt. The detonation killed Kelly, severing a leg in the process. Lt. Col. Bill Davis ordered Charlie and Delta companies of the 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, to get off Hills 270 and 310 and return to their base camps in the flatlands to the east. A little later the morning of Feb. 16, the acting commander of Charlie Company, 1st Lt. Dana F. MacCormack, whose men were descending from Hill 270, radioed Davis: “Here come the NVA, Colonel! I’ve got one more KIA that the last helo did not have room for. We are having a hell of a time carrying this body, and the bones are cutting up the body bag.” Davis, on Hill 310 with the battalion command group, told MacCormack to get Charlie Company off the mountain immediately to avoid any more casualties. And that meant leaving the body behind. Thousands of North Vietnamese Army troops had trekked down the Ho Chi Minh Trail in eastern Laos and moved through South Vietnam’s A Shau Valley before making their way to high ground, including Hills 270 and 310, overlooking an area known as Happy Valley and the Marine positions to the east. In early afternoon, out of food and water and low on ammunition, the weary, battle-shocked Marines of Charlie Company arrived at Hill 10 and were met by the actual company commander, Capt. Karl Ripplemeyer, who had been on leave and just returned. Delta Company, meanwhile, had reached its base camp on Hill 41. Davis radioed the regimental commander, Col. Ross R. Miner, and told him that the Marines were back at the command posts, but added that a dead Marine had to be left behind. A few hours later, Miner told Davis that a B-52 bombing mission was scheduled to strike Hills 270 and 310 and ordered him to send a team to recover Kelly’s body before the bombing started. Davis, however, did not want to risk any more lives in those mountains before the bombing runs were completed and argued against an immediate recovery mission, but Miner wouldn’t rescind his order. Davis discussed Miner’s order with Ripplemeyer, as well as the battalion operations officer and the officer who coordinated air support for the battalion. Davis decided to use Charlie Company volunteers for the recovery since they knew the location of Kelly’s body. “It was 100% a suicide mission,” Whittier, the 2nd Platoon lieutenant, would write to his wife on Feb. 17. “This is a point I can’t too heavily emphasize.” “Suicide mission” was an unintentionally appropriate term, given Charlie Company’s longstanding nickname: “Suicide Charley.” The unit had earned its nickname during the October 1942 Japanese assault on Guadalcanal, when 1st Battalion was led by Lt. Col. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, who later became the Corps’ most decorated Marine and finished his career as a lieutenant general. During that battle, Charlie Company held its line against a far larger Japanese force despite suffering heavy losses. The day after the fight, a white flag of parachute cloth with a picture of a skull and crossbones rose over the company’s position. Emblazoned on the flag was “Suicide Charley.” The patrol to recover Kelly’s body had only a few hours to prepare for its departure. A runner was sent to Charlie Company seeking the volunteers, including an experienced squad leader. John D. McCreless, then a 20-year-old sergeant, recalled: “When the decision came down to use a squad of volunteers, I got crazy and raised my hand and said I’d lead it.” Lance Cpl. Stephen B. McCashin responded similarly: “When I heard they were asking for volunteers, I said anyone who would go back into those mountains again would have to be crazy. I thought it was a suicide mission, but since I’m on my second tour here, I must be crazy, so I decided to go.” Pfc. Joseph A. Hamrick signed up because, he said, “I was the only one of the volunteers who knew exactly where the body was, so even though I had only been in the ‘Nam’ for a month and had never walked point, I figured I could go right to it.” The other Marines on the eight-man patrol were Pfc. Thomas M. Adamson, Lance Cpl. Tyree Albert Chamberlain, Pfc. Alfred P. Granados, Cpl. Billy R. Ranes and Pfc. Pedro A. Rodriguez. Someone—no one can remember exactly who—dubbed the volunteers the “Doom Patrol.” Granados, the radio operator, remembers their preparations. “Our equipment was light for a short recon patrol—no helmets, flak jackets or cartridge belts, and all but one of the men of the Doom Patrol asked to trade their M16s for the more reliable M14, and permission was granted,” he said. “We were to make no enemy contact, travel by stealth in the dark, get the body and return. If we ran into a superior enemy force, we were to abort, split up and get back any way we could.” Before the men departed, a senior staff sergeant told McCreless: “None of you will probably return alive, but to increase your chances, if things get hairy you can just bring back the leg.” The eight Marines weren’t totally on their own for the mission. The battalion air officer had arranged for continuous air support for the patrol. At 2 a.m. on Feb. 17, McCreless’ squad left Hill 10. A little more than an hour later, near the abandoned village of Phuoc Ninh —military maps distinguished villages with the same name by numbering them—the Marines spotted NVA soldiers moving toward their position. Chamberlain opened fire and killed one of them, but the patrol was now compromised. McCreless faced a difficult decision: abort the mission or stay the course. He spoke to the battalion command center and was told to proceed. No one wanted an empty casket sent to Kelly’s family, and the men on the mission knew the odds when they volunteered. On the move again toward the base of Hill 270, the Marines observed another enemy patrol, and McCreless stopped for an hour near another abandoned village, Phuoc Ninh, a precautionary pause in the dark to make sure there was no other NVA activity in the area before continuing their journey. By sunrise, around 5 a.m., the patrol had cleared the open rice paddy areas and started into the dense jungle on the side of the mountain—with a long march still ahead, which meant they would have to conduct their “stealth” mission in broad daylight. Three hours later, the men were in a flat area above the bomb crater where Kelly’s body lay, covered with a poncho. There they waited while pilots in O1-Bird Dog propeller-driven planes called in airstrikes. One of the pilots radioed McCreless to tell him that napalm drops by F-4 Phantom II fighter-bombers would land just forward of the bomb crater. He instructed the patrol members to take cover, take three deep breaths, exhale and hold their next breath. The napalm struck about a 100 yards in front of the patrol. Granados still remembers the intense heat and dust being sucked past his face into the inferno. The shock waves from the blast seemed to raise him off the ground. After the napalm flames diminished, Granados saw NVA soldiers emerging from bunkers and spider holes. McCreless, worried that the enemy troops were about to move against his seriously outnumbered men, yelled: “Get the leg, and let’s get the hell out!” Moments later, Ranes and Adamson dashed to the crater. They grabbed the severed leg and quickly strapped it to a backpack that Chamberlain carried. The eight Marines then ran back down the trail, amid the still-smoldering napalm and the enemy fire tearing into trees and brush around them. A final strafing run by F-4 Phantoms silenced the firing. After reaching the flatlands, the patrol came upon Charlie Company’s 1st Platoon, sent to assist the squad if any of the men had been wounded or killed. The platoon escorted McCreless’ squad to base camp, and by 2 p.m. all the Marines were back on Hill 10. Amid great rejoicing, Davis summoned the men to his quarters and handed them cigars and cold beer to celebrate their incredible accomplishment. (He wasn’t aware at that time that the full body had not been recovered.) As recounted in his autobiography Tet Marine, Davis told the Doom Patrol that he had been a fan of Suicide Charley since the Chosin Reservoir battle during the Korean War. “I’ve been proud of them during all these years, because they did great things at the Reservoir,” he said. “But never did they do anything greater than YOU did, as volunteers, last night and today.” McCreless said: “The only reason I can think of why we were able to pull it off is that the NVA just couldn’t believe that we were stupid enough to go in there and do what we did. They must have thought we were bait for some kind of trap.” After the celebration, Davis typed a letter to the commander of the 7th Marine Regiment: “Dear Colonel Miner, I’ve never been prouder to be a Marine than at this moment! This magnificent squad [from Suicide Charley] went on what appeared to be a suicide mission. I wish you could have heard this young Marine [Pfc. Joseph Hamrick] describe why he volunteered. He just couldn’t imagine that an empty casket would go to a Marine’s parents. He knew they had to do the job, and while he was scared all the way out, and all the way back, he knew that they just had to succeed. I’ve just lived through an experience that I’ll always hold dear to me. Semper Fi.” Within 10 hours of the patrol’s return, the B-52s from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam devastated the high ground on Hills 270 and 310. But the NVA would return to Hill 310, and many more Marines were wounded or killed there the following month during Operation Worth and in August during Operation Mameluke Thrust. On March 8, Whittier and McCreless were wounded. Later that day, at the Navy hospital in Da Nang, Whittier died from his wounds. A few days later, McCreless was medevaced to Japan for additional surgery. During fighting on May 30, Doom Patrol volunteer Rodriguez was killed. Men from E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, found Kelly’s body on March 25 during Operation Worth. A medevac helicopter picked up the remains and took them to the mortuary in Da Nang. A funeral with a casket containing Kelly’s leg was held in his hometown of Findlay, Ohio, in March 1968. A second funeral, with the rest of his remains, was held in April 1968. Story by Jack Wells — Jack Wells served in Vietnam during 1968-69 as an artillery forward observer with Alpha and Bravo companies, 1st Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, and later as executive officer of H Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. SALUTE!

Shared by Art Reynolds from a friend of his: "Those who fight monsters inevitably change. Because of all that they see and do, they lose their innocence, and a piece of their humanity with it. If they want to survive, they begin to adopt some of the same characteristics as the monsters they fight. It is necessary. They become capable of rage, and extreme violence. There is a fundamental difference, however. They keep those monster tendencies locked away in a cage, deep inside. That monster is only allowed out to protect others, to accomplish the mission, to get the job done, Not for the perverse pleasure that the monsters feel when they harm others. In fact, those monster tendencies cause damage, GUILT, ISOLATION, DEPRESSION, PTSD. There is a cost for visiting violence on others when you are not a monster. Those who do so know one thing: The cost inflicted upon society as a whole is far greater without those who fight monsters. That is why they are willing to make that horrible sacrifice so that others may live peaceably. Before you judge one of us, remember this: We witness things that humans aren't meant to see, and we see them repeatedly. We perform the duties that you feel are beneath you. We solve your problems... Often by visiting violence upon others. We run towards the things that you run away from. We go out to fight what you fear. We stand between you, and the monsters that want to damage you. You want to pretend that they don't exist, but we know better. We do the things that the vast majority are too soft, too weak, too cowardly to do. Your life is more peaceful because of us. The current political climate in this country holds that there is nothing worth fighting for. Submission is the popular mantra. Warriors are decried, denigrated, and cast as morally inferior. We know how childish, how asinine, and how cowardly that mindset is. We know this: There ARE things worth fighting, and dying for. We know that not every problem can be solved through rational discourse, that some problems can only be solved through the application of force and violence. And, while we do prefer the former, we are perfectly capable of the latter. We believe that fighting what others fear is honorable, noble, and just, and are willing to pay the price for that deeply held belief. Why? For us, it isn't a choice... It is what we are. We are simply built that way." ~ SHARED BY A FRIEND AND WARRIOR BROTHER!!

via: Susan Kee - Honoring Korean War Veterans · "When you're young, you take more risks, and you are more brave. Maybe, this is why they send young men to war..." - Korean War veteran This photo of a young American Soldier serving in the Korean War, is a reminder to us of how young they were and also how brave they were. Most of them were about 18 years old and in many cases, they were only 16 or 17 years old. Many Korean War Veterans say, "when you're young, you take more risks, you are more brave. Maybe, this is why they send young men to war..." Many of these young men admit they did not even know where Korea was when they were sent there. Little did they know that the fate of a Nation and its People rested on their shoulders. It is because of their great courage and sacrifices that South Korea and its People were saved from the grips of North Korea's communist regime and South Korea prospers and flourishes in Freedom today. Over 70 years later, our Korean War Veterans are now nearing or over 90 years of age. Everyday, there are increasing number of Korean War Veterans passing away and leaving us. Over the last few years I have attended more funerals of Korean War Veterans than ever before. Sadly, I have lost count of how many funerals of Korean War Veterans I have attended in the past 10 years. My heart breaks with the passing of each Korean War hero. Time is running out and I feel there is a great urgency to capture and document their stories. Their experiences and stories are important pieces of our history that we all should know and pass on to future generations. The fact that South Korea is a thriving Free Nation today is only possible because of all who fought and saved her from communist tyranny during the Korean War. This incredible legacy of these young men who fought with great courage and gave their lives to save a nation from communist oppression, should never be forgotten. Over 36,000 Americans sacrificed their lives and over 8,000 became Missing in Action with thousands others from other United Nations countries who laid down their lives to save South Korea and its People. I am among the millions of Koreans who live in Freedom today because of their tremendous sacrifices. We, Koreans can never Thank them enough and we will never be able to repay all that was sacrificed for us. I believe the best way we can thank and honor them is to learn their stories and make them known. Many Korean War Veterans say to me, "the Korean War is forgotten, no one knows anything about it." So, I challenge every Korean War Veteran to do something to change that. The way that our Korean War Veterans can make sure that the Korean War is not forgotten, is to share their stories and teach the rest of us, of what happened. 70 years later, I thank God that I, a Korean American woman, can meet these very heroes who saved my family, and my birth country and learn their amazing stories. Since 2012, I have interviewed hundreds of Korean War Veterans and everything I share with you on this Facebook page is a result of what I have learned from them. Our Korean War Veterans have been my greatest teachers of Korean War history. Our Korean War Veterans will continue to be my inspiration and I will continue to share their incredible stories with you, as my way of Honoring and Thanking them. I encourage all of you who have a Korean War Veteran as a family member or friend, to please seek the Veteran and ask him if he would share anything of his Korean War experiences. Their stories are important history that should be remembered. This post is dedicated with utmost gratitude to all the young men from the US and United Nations countries, who risked their lives and gave their lives in the Korean War. May these Heroes, their stories and their legacies, never be forgotten. With everlasting Love, Gratitude and Respect to my greatest heroes, Susan Kee - Honoring Korean War Veterans PHOTO CAPTION: "American Soldier scans the area in front of his Observation Post on the front line somewhere in Korea. July 29th, 1950." (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) #koreanwar #koreanwarveterans #koreanwarheroes #freedom #freedomisnotfree #neverforgotten

This is an organization I have the pleasure of both being able to work with as well as being a prior recipient of their phenomenal generosity. We are needing help in funding 49 Combat Veterans each year. Please share this within your networks and ask that anyone who can spare some change to please do so. Anything helps but the biggest thing you can do is get the word out there and let social media do what it does best....continue to spread the word. Thanks y'all!!! https://www.thepurpleheartproject.org/

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP: From a Janitor By Colonel James E. Moschgat, Commander of the 12th Operations Group, 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas William “Bill” Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor. While we cadets busied ourselves preparing for academic exams, athletic events, Saturday morning parades and room inspections, or never-ending leadership classes, Bill quietly moved about the squadron mopping and buffing floors, emptying trash cans, cleaning toilets, or just tidying up the mess 100 college-age kids can leave in a dormitory. Sadly, and for many years, few of us gave him much notice, rendering little more than a passing nod or throwing a curt, “G’morning!” in his direction as we hurried off to our daily duties. Why? Perhaps it was because of the way he did his job-he always kept the squadron area spotlessly clean, even the toilets and showers gleamed. Frankly, he did his job so well, none of us had to notice or get involved. After all, cleaning toilets was his job, not ours. Maybe it was is physical appearance that made him disappear into the background. Bill didn’t move very quickly and, in fact, you could say he even shuffled a bit, as if he suffered from some sort of injury. His gray hair and wrinkled face made him appear ancient to a group of young cadets. And his crooked smile, well, it looked a little funny. Face it, Bill was an old man working in a young person’s world. What did he have to offer us on a personal level? Finally, maybe it was Mr. Crawford’s personality that rendered him almost invisible to the young people around him. Bill was shy, almost painfully so. He seldom spoke to a cadet unless they addressed him first, and that didn’t happen very often. Our janitor always buried himself in his work, moving about with stooped shoulders, a quiet gait, and an averted gaze. If he noticed the hustle and bustle of cadet life around him, it was hard to tell. So, for whatever reason, Bill blended into the woodwork and became just another fixture around the squadron. The Academy, one of our nation’s premier leadership laboratories, kept us busy from dawn till dusk. And Mr. Crawford...well, he was just a janitor. That changed one fall Saturday afternoon in 1976. I was reading a book about World War II and the tough Allied ground campaign in Italy, when I stumbled across an incredible story. On September 13, 1943, a Private William Crawford from Colorado, assigned to the 36th Infantry Division, had been involved in some bloody fighting on Hill 424 near Altavilla, Italy. The words on the page leapt out at me: “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire... with no regard for personal safety... on his own initiative, Private Crawford single-handedly attacked fortified enemy positions.” It continued, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, the President of the United States...” “Holy cow,” I said to my roommate, “you’re not going to believe this, but I think our janitor is a Medal of Honor winner.” We all knew Mr. Crawford was a WWII Army vet, but that didn’t keep my friend from looking at me as if I was some sort of alien being. Nonetheless, we couldn’t wait to ask Bill about the story on Monday. We met Mr. Crawford bright and early Monday and showed him the page in question from the book, anticipation and doubt in our faces. He starred at it for a few silent moments and then quietly uttered something like, “Yep, that’s me.” Mouths agape, my roommate and I looked at one another, then at the book, and quickly back at our janitor. Almost at once we both stuttered, “Why didn’t you ever tell us about it?” He slowly replied after some thought, “That was one day in my life and it happened a long time ago.” I guess we were all at a loss for words after that. We had to hurry off to class and Bill, well, he had chores to attend to. However, after that brief exchange, things were never again the same around our squadron. Word spread like wildfire among the cadets that we had a hero in our midst-Mr. Crawford, our janitor, had won the Medal! Cadets who had once passed by Bill with hardly a glance, now greeted him with a smile and a respectful, “Good morning, Mr. Crawford.” Those who had before left a mess for the “janitor” to clean up started taking it upon themselves to put things in order. Most cadets routinely stopped to talk to Bill throughout the day and we even began inviting him to our formal squadron functions. He’d show up dressed in a conservative dark suit and quietly talk to those who approached him, the only sign of his heroics being a simple blue, star-spangled lapel pin. Almost overnight, Bill went from being a simple fixture in our squadron to one of our teammates. Mr. Crawford changed too, but you had to look closely to notice the difference. After that fall day in 1976, he seemed to move with more purpose, his shoulders didn’t seem to be as stooped, he met our greetings with a direct gaze and a stronger “good morning” in return, and he flashed his crooked smile more often. The squadron gleamed as always, but everyone now seemed to notice it more. Bill even got to know most of us by our first names, something that didn’t happen often at the Academy. While no one ever formally acknowledged the change, I think we became Bill’s cadets and his squadron. As often happens in life, events sweep us away from those in our past. The last time I saw Bill was on graduation day in June 1977. As I walked out of the squadron for the last time, he shook my hand and simply said, “Good luck, young man.” With that, I embarked on a career that has been truly lucky and blessed. Mr. Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where he resides today, one of four Medal of Honor winners living in a small town. A wise person once said, “It’s not life that’s important, but those you meet along the way that make the difference.” Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I haven’t seen Mr. Crawford in over twenty years, he’d probably be surprised to know I think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here are ten I’d like to share with you. 1. Be Cautious of Labels. Labels you place on people may define your relationship to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for a long time, we labeled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, “Hey, he’s just an Airman.” Likewise, don’t tolerate the O-1, who says, “I can’t do that, I’m just a lieutenant.” 2. Everyone Deserves Respect. Because we hung the “janitor” label on Mr. Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others around us. He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of Honor winner. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team. 3. Courtesy Makes a Difference. Be courteous to all around you, regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily words to Mr. Crawford turned from perfunctory “hellos” to heartfelt greetings, his demeanor and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us. 4. Take Time to Know Your People. Life in the military is hectic, but that’s no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in your midst? 5. Anyone Can Be a Hero. Mr. Crawford certainly didn’t fit anyone’s standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he won his Medal. Don’t sell your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it’s easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down, but don’t ignore the rest of the team. Today’s rookie could and should be tomorrow’s superstar. 6. Leaders Should Be Humble. Most modern day heroes and some leaders are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your “hero meter” on today’s athletic fields. End zone celebrations and self-aggrandizement are what we’ve come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford-he was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well-served to do the same. 7. Life Won’t Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve. We in the military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don’t come your way. Perhaps you weren’t nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter as you thought you should - don’t let that stop you. 8. Don’t pursue glory; pursue excellence. Private Bill Crawford didn’t pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. No job is beneath a Leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it. 9. Pursue Excellence. No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr. Martin Luther King said, “If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be.” Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area a home. 10. Life is a Leadership Laboratory. All too often we look to some school or PME class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet everyday will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look and listen. I spent four years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don’t miss your opportunity to learn. Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model and one great American hero. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons. Dale Pyeatt, Executive Director of the National Guard Association of Texas, comments: And now, for the “rest of the story”: Pvt William John Crawford was a platoon scout for 3rd Platoon of Company L 1 42nd Regiment 36th Division (Texas National Guard) and won the Medal Of Honor for his actions on Hill 424, just 4 days after the invasion at Salerno. On Hill 424, Pvt Crawford took out 3 enemy machine guns before darkness fell, halting the platoon’s advance. Pvt Crawford could not be found and was assumed dead. The request for his MOH was quickly approved. Major General Terry Allen presented the posthumous MOH to Bill Crawford’s father, George, on 11 May 1944 in Camp (now Fort) Carson, near Pueblo. Nearly two months after that, it was learned that Pvt Crawford was alive in a POW camp in Germany. During his captivity, a German guard clubbed him with his rifle. Bill overpowered him, took the rifle away, and beat the guard unconscious. A German doctor’s testimony saved him from severe punishment, perhaps death. To stay ahead of the advancing Russian army, the prisoners were marched 500 miles in 52 days in the middle of the German winter, subsisting on one potato a day. An allied tank column liberated the camp in the spring of 1945, and Pvt Crawford took his first hot shower in 18 months on VE Day. Pvt Crawford stayed in the army before retiring as a MSG and becoming a janitor. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan officially presented the MOH to Bill Crawford. William Crawford passed away in 2000. He is the only U.S. Army veteran and sole Medal of Honor winner to be buried in the cemetery of the U.S. Air Force Academy.

WWII hero, 1SG Leonard A. Funk, LAUGHED his way to earning a Medal of Honor.... One of the more darkly humorous episodes of warfare occurred on 29 January 1945, in Holzheim, Belgium. Funk and his paratroopers were assaulting the town, and he left a rearguard of 4 men, while he scouted ahead to link up with other units. Those 4 men had to guard about 80 German prisoners. Another German patrol of 10 happened by and overwhelmed the 4 Americans, freeing the prisoners and arming them. When Funk returned around the corner of a building, he was met by a German officer with an MP-40 in his stomach. The German shouted something at him, and Funk looked around. There were now about 90 Germans, about half of them armed, and 5 Americans, disarmed except for Funk. The German shouted the same thing at him again, and Funk started laughing. He claimed later that he tried to stop laughing, but the fact that the German was shouting in German touched a nerve. Funk didn’t speak German. Neither did any of the other Americans. Why would the German officer expect him to understand? His laughter and non-compliance caused some of the Germans to start laughing. Funk shrugged at them and started laughing so hard he had to bend over. He called to his men, “I don’t understand what he’s saying!” All the while, the German officer was shouting more and more angrily. Then, quick as lightning, Funk swung his Thompson submachine gun up and emptied the entire clip into the German, 30 rounds of .45 ACP. Before the other Germans could react, he had yanked the clip out and slammed another in and opened fire on all of them, screaming to his men to pick up weapons. They did so, and proceeded to gun down 20 men. The rest dropped their weapons and put their hands up. Then Funk started laughing again and said to his men, “That was the stupidest F*#!?#* thing I’ve ever seen!”

I have older kiddos in their 20’s and missed them growing up because I was a work first type of guy. TDY, Deploy, School, TDY, deploy rotation after rotation for 20 years. I hardly know my oldest two. But my young ones, I make it my priority to be there. School plays and functions, just showing up and seeing them look for you in the crowded lunch room and when they see me it just melts my heart and I hold back tears. I often apologize to my oldest ones for not being there and they just say, “dad, we understand.” So moments like these pics, I didn’t care if we caught anything, it was just passing down knowledge that was passed down to me.

Today is Walt B's Funeral/Memorial Service, info as follows: All family and friends are welcome to attend his service on January 6th, 2024, at 1:00p, at Forest Lawns Memory Garden in Savannah, GA. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Obituary info: Walter C Battisti, 70, of Savannah, GA, passed away on December 15th, 2023 after a battle with a brief illness. Walter was born on October 23rd, 1953 to Saturno and Angela Battisti in San Juan, PR. He joined the US Army in 1973 where he worked as a CH-47 Mechanic. Walter had an extensive and successful military career. He was incredibly proud of being in the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which made a significant impact on his life. He carried this achievement with pride until his final days. Walter retired from the military in 1997. His love for aviation inspired him to become a contractor for the 224th Military Intelligence Battalion. Adopting the name Waldo, he went on many deployments and met many friends during his time spent there. In his personal life, Walter was a man of few words. Although he was a quiet man, you could always see when he was deep in thought. Whenever something needed to be said, he always made his loved ones laugh with his quick wit. Behind that sometimes old grumpy man persona, he had the biggest heart. Walter was a big animal lover as he leaves behind his three dogs Sophie, Lulu, and Abby. Walter also seemed to be a turtle magnet as he would rescue any turtle he found. He was a very doting grandfather who loved his grandson, Anthony, and would get excited with the smallest things he would do. Walter will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and pets. He is predeceased by his parents and his son, Kenneth. He is survived by his wife, Nilsa Battisti, his two daughters, Angela Battisti, Barbara Battisti Bell, son in law Richard Bell, and his grandson, Anthony Bell. Rest Easy, Brother Thank You for all provided, yours was A Life Well-Spent in the Service of Others. We shall freshly Remember and Honor You today - Prayers Outbound for your Family! Never Forget! - Never Quit! NSDQ!

Hello brothers and sisters. There are many silent sufferers out there dealing with their own internal storms with regard to combat and/or any/all trauma. I was a pretty high functioning dude. At some point, I dropped a fill somewhere and the internal Comms stopped transmitting properly. I went to Mexico and received Ibogaine and 5MEO/DMT treatment. I won’t bore you, you can read the article below, published by Stanford University of 30 SOF veterans who went to the same place I did. Changed my life. If you are interested in treatment, check out the Non-profit : VETS (veterans exploring treatment solutions) They give grants to SOF to participate. Take care of each other this year, kind words and helpful moments. #mentalhealth #TBI #ptsd #psychedelictherapy #endveteransuicide #nsdq https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-023-02705-w.pdf

Losing Doctor still hurts, daggum it... https://www.gofundme.com/f/randy-rumph-funeral-expenses Never Forget! - Never Quit! NSDQ!

https://www.military.com/benefits/burial-and-memorial/military-funeral-honors.html

[FALL_IN_STAFF_DUTY] [The_Fall_In_1SG] [The_Fall_In_Skipper] Having fun with my grandchildren. Proud of what FALL IN is doing. Cheers!

On this date, Dec. 28, 1965: CIA pilot Mele Vojvodich, Jr. takes Lockheed A-12, 60-6929, Article 126, for a functional check flight after a period of deep maintenance, but seconds after take-off from Groom Dry Lake, Nev., the aircraft yaws uncontrollably, pilot ejecting at 100 feet after six seconds of flight, escaping serious injury. Investigation finds that the pitch stability augmentation system had been connected to the yaw SAS actuators, and vice versa. SAS connectors are changed to make such wiring mistake impossible. Said Kelly Johnson in a history of the Oxcart program, “It was perfectly evident from movies taken of the takeoff, and from the pilot's description, that there were some mis-wired gyros in the aircraft. This turned out to be exactly what happened. In spite of color coding and every other normal precaution, the pitch and yaw gyro connections were interchanged in rigging.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/50-funny-photos-that-perfectly-sums-up-each-of-the-american-states/ss-AA1m6Nf1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=NMTS&cvid=d8c5df158bd74aa59d3b13f687b07861&ei=67

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/columbia-veteran-launches-gofundme-for-veteran-suicide-prevention-and-gold-star-families/ar-AA1m3BCs

I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to Live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time. Up to a certain point, it is necessary for a man to live his life in the world in which he finds himself, and to make the best of it. But beyond that point, he must create a world of his own. And the greatest thing about life is that it is always giving us the opportunity to create something new. It is never too late to start over, to make a fresh beginning, to blaze a new trail. Life is short, and we have but a brief time in which to explore, to learn, to experience, and to create. Let us make the most of that time, and let us burn brightly, like meteors across the night sky, leaving behind us a trail of light and inspiration for those who come after us. ~ Jack London (Book: I Would Rather Be a Meteor https://amzn.to/45j7GSW )

NIGHT STALKERS! Would you like to see a NSA store that has complete AMAZON functionality that allows you to get your swag +/- 30 secs.

Makes for a FUN night, but a VERY long morning… 🤒

Fun thinking about “how we think.”

Great Seal & Night Stalker retreat this weekend. Bourbon tours, camp clean-up, tad bit of bourbon tasting and some GREAT fun. Great dudes.

Who can relate? #funny https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRvsY6cc/

https://www.wrbl.com/news/military/unclaimed-vietnam-war-veterans-funeral-to-be-held-at-fort-mitchell-national-cemetery/

#funny #ArmyStories https://youtu.be/yzw0kM4AviU

#funny #comedy https://youtu.be/DTEBCAPSkqo

#fun https://youtu.be/NvfzZa6pMP0

#funny #comedy https://youtu.be/0-jflQThRBQ

https://help.dav.org/page/52572/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=fund_sem&en_txn6=BFN025TPNACNSA&utm_campaign=fund&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_term=donate%20disabled%20american%20veterans&matchtype=b&msclkid=aed99b4f08ec19163961fe058681d24e