Semper Fi Devil Dog, 11/07/2010

You will be missed, you have had an impact on my life greater than you can imagine. RIP

Since this entire blog is pseudonym, I will only say this man was not my father, but as close as one could be to filling that role. For all my life a man of honor has been there, and now he is gone.

Friday Night "Semper Fi"

Spent Friday saying welcome home to a friend and a Marine, and good luck and god bless to his brothers in arms that will be going back to the sandbox next month. Once again I was touched by the support of total strangers and genuine gratitutude towards these young men who are laying it all on the line. My personal highlight was when I witnessed a very personal "passing of the torch." A man who was introduced only as "a Marine from Vietnam," went around to each of these young Marines gave them a small token and had a private conversation with each of them. I would not dare to ask the content of those words, but as he finished his "thanks" all of these Marines went out of their way to let HIM know he "was their hero" for doing what he did at a time there were no parades, and very few happy home-comings. After many drinks, stories, and tributes we said good night, and a good night it was. Thanks to the American Legion, Patriot Riders, and the USMC 3/4. Please take a minute and have a thought for these boys and all of our soliders.

Jason
III

Taking Chance

What a difference 40 years can make. I remember vividly being in high school during Desert Storm, my history teacher asking the question:

"How do you think all of these stickers and ribbons in support of our troops make the Vietnam vets feel?" While on one hand he was proud to see his country finally salute its solders, he told us of his experience coming home to being spat on. This movie shows how we as Americans, every day, by simply acknowledging their existence, we pay them tribute. Watch this movie please and remember the fallen. (Read about Chance Phelps USMC here)

Thank you to all Airmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers. May you and your families find the peace you deserve.

Jason

IAVA

Watch this video please, if you are not, get involved.

Is The Military Coming For Us?

Part of my weekend was spent enjoying time and conversation with friends. Some of which are current and/or retired military. The talk drifted to the current Mid-East as the battalions represented had recently returned from Iraq, and are set to deploy on an Afghan route by years end. Anyways during the clearing of Fallujah talk we were going over the adaptive rules of engagement as Marines were going door to door. Here is a brief rundown:
-Early on it was door to door looksey.
-Some would fight, most hostiles would flee a few doors down.
-After a while you get a build up in a single location, a severe fight ensues.
-Door to door becomes escalated with multiple frag grenades. More people run out sooner, dig in deeper.
-More severe fight ensue, and the escalation continues on and on, and involve rolling big boomers.

Here is my first thought, if the Marines do come for Threepers were fucked! We simply do not have a realistic defense against a squad with a full frag set up. The good news is I don't think we need it. See as I posed the question to the Marines, about citizen disarmament, the answer I got was (paraphrased) "we got some crazy assholes, but I would hope the MP's would say F that before the orders even got to recon." Essentially followed up by the hint that you would soon see Marines on both sides of the line with an overwhelming majority of the battle proven on the side of our citizens. Thanks for the reassurance of support, Semper Fi and be safe out there boys.

Jason
III

(PS not meant to dismiss ANY other branch of service, you all just weren't at the party. Thanks to all who have and do serve. May you and your families find rest and peace soon, you deserve it)

Been Thinking...

Was doing some reading of all that is happening and being speculated on in the local agenda, felt something was being missed. To all of you who have and are serving, thank you. For all of you who know someone who is thank them. Remember our men, and women who have been away this holiday and missed or lost so much more. Do not wait for a "holiday", remember them always, no matter your political beliefs. Just a short note of a thought I had.

Militum Semper Memento,

Jason

III

Heros

(img. http://militarymotivator.blogspot.com/ )

"We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."- Will Rogers

While getting caught up on my reading it occurred to me, in all of this celebration recently (July 4, Heller vs. DC, The Freedom March) one very important aspect of American life has received very little attention from me, the American Soldier. Right now many of our fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters are fighting and some dying in over 140 countries across the globe. No matter what your thoughts are on any of the current “occupations, wars, conflicts, or security measures” remember, THEY are the ones in the front. They are the ones giving all so we sit can on our cans, have our Starbucks, shitty traffic and our Blogs, saying what we want when we want. Since any time in my memory the American Soldier has been a faceless, colorless hero in my eyes. I have fond memories of veterans, some disabled, some not, some old, and some young. I remember as a child that family friends who were veterans seemed to stand a little taller, and approach life with a more direct certainty. I know now that my forms of “hero worship” lead to the haloesque glow of these people, but even as an adult, I still hold the American Soldier in a special place. Because I was remiss in including you in recent writings let me say “thank you” to every Sailor, Soldier, Airman, and Marine from the American Revolution through today and beyond.

Gratia,
Jason