SLAVOJ ŽIŽEK TEST

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1. When were you happiest?

With my family on vacation.


2. What is your greatest fear?

Failure.


3. What is your earliest memory?

Kneeling on a four legged, maroon-faux-leather stool by the window looking at the linesmen working on the telephone lines outside, and pointing them out to my mother. We were on the second or third floor of an apartment building because I was looking down. I would have been three or four at that time.


4. Which living person do you most admire, and why?

My father – he is an unqualified success and an inspiration for me to become a success.


5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Sloth.


6. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Lack of self-discipline.


7. What was your most embarrassing moment?

Getting caught out in a lie.


8. Aside from a property, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought?

Stocks.


9. What is your most treasured possession?

My family.


10. What makes you depressed?

The thought that the Democrats are in power, and are totally ruining the economy and selling our national security down the drain.


11. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My height & physical bearing. (I'm too big - I attract too much attention everywhere I go.


12. What is your most unappealing habit?

Sloth.


13. What would be your fancy dress costume of choice?

Zorro.


14. What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Eating like a pig.


15. What do you owe your parents?

Everything.


16. To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

My wife & kids for yelling at them.


17. What does love feel like?

Best feeling in the world.


18. What or who is the love of your life?

My wife & kids.


19. What is your favorite smell?

Jasmine.


20. Have you ever said ‘I love you’ and not meant it?

No.


21. Which living person do you most despise, and why?

A certain retired soldier, he is a personal enemy.


22. What is the worst job you’ve done?

Unknown; I've done a LOT of dirty jobs, shoveled my share of sh*t.


23. What has been your biggest disappointment?

Did not make Sergeant Major.


24. If you could edit your past, what would you change?

A certain event in Asia.


25. If you could go back in time, where would you go?

Vietnam, MACV-SOG.


26. How do you relax?

Underwater swimming and suntanning.


27. How often do you have sex?

Almost daily.


28. What is the closest you’ve come to death?

It involved bullets.


29. What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

Health.


30. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My marriage.


31. What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Nothing is fair. If something is fair, be surprised.


32. Tell us a secret.

I can read minds.

V-22 OSPREY COMMENTS (Continued) . . .

"Meanwhile, Marine Generals struggle to explain the dozens of missing V-22s to a congressional committee. In March 2009, the Marine Corps announced that all 73 of its MV-22s were grounded for inspection after several aircraft were found with loose bolts. However, Congress has funded 150 V-22s for the Marines through FY2009 (not including CV-22s for the Air Force) plus another 6 V-22s as part of supplemental funding. Around a dozen V-22s used in development have been retired or crashed, and only half of the 30 V-22s funded for FY2009 were delivered as of March. This leaves four dozen V-22s missing, and that's a big gap to explain away.

"There are no longer V-22s in Iraq as the 12 based there have returned home - by ship. As the 8000-man 2nd Marine Brigade deploys to Afghanistan this month, none of the Corps' 140+ new MV-22s will go. The Corps was forced to mobilize a reserve squadron with 25-year old CH-53E helicopters to support them. It also spent millions of dollars to re-engine a squadron of 40-year old CH-53Ds to support that deployment, helicopters that were scheduled to be scrapped in 2006. The CH-53E that has a greater range than the V-22 and can also air refuel and autorotate and carries three times the payload capacity of the V-22.

"Unlike helicopters with blades folded, a V-22 must be unfolded to work on its engines. During evaluations, it was demonstrated that a V-22 can unfold in the center of the hangar deck of an LHA/LHD -- big flattop amphibious ship. However, there is clearance for just one V-22 to unfold, and this blocks the movement of other aircraft within the hangar.

"The only alternative is to perform maintenance topside. That restricts flight operations and subjects maintainers to the weather. There can be no work in very cold weather, rain, or high winds, and maintainers must haul all their equipment and parts topside. Working at night is possible, but only if the tactical situation permits the ship to light up like a Christmas tree.

"V-22s can pivot their wings for storage on ship. This has not been necessary at airbases, but during a typical 6-month shipboard deployment this may be required a hundred times. Each fold imparts stress on the V-22's lightweight titanium hydraulic lines. These become brittle below 50F and may crack. This may be why VMM-266 had trouble in November of last year as it trained on ship as part of the 26th MEU. A CH-46E squadron deployed in its place.

"As a result, folding up V-22s has been avoided ashore. The extent of this problem is unknown, but it would cost nothing to test. On a cool morning, have a V-22 fold up and unfold 100 times in a row, then start her up and see what happens. That simple test alone could doom the V-22 program.

"According to the Osprey community newsletter "Osprey Nation", hydraulic leaks have caused engine fires that ruined three V-22s thus far. Since the V-22's hydraulic lines run along each wing and within the engine nacelles, they are stressed whenever the tiltrotor tilts, whenever the flexible wings flex, whenever the rotors are up and pummel the wings causing extreme vibration, and whenever the V-22 folds and unfolds.

"A conference was recently held on possible solutions. Routing the hydraulic lines outside the engine nacelle was debated. This would prevent fires and allow easy inspection, but would expose them to damage from objects whipped up by the V-22's intense downwash. Engineers preferred the second option of using electric motors. It would take years to develop and test an electrical system, and V-22 production would end before that became available.

"The V-22 was canceled in 1992 after DoD engineers concluded that the tiltrotor concept is flawed. It is possible to build an airplane whose engines can tilt to take-off and land like a helicopter, but the compromise design is so heavy and inefficient that very little payload can be carried. In 1992, Navy Secretary Sean O’Keefe told the House Armed Services Committee: "The V-22 cannot be built to meet the requirements specified. It’s an engineering impossibility."

"After the V-22 was resurrected for political reasons, Bell-Boeing engineers went to work to shed weight. The nose gun and NBC protection system were dropped. The strong kevlar flooring was removed. The fuselage was made 25% smaller than the CH-46E, even though it was expected to carry even more Marines. Components were left off until after test evaluations, like the hoist, deicers, and anti-missile flares. One crewman was deleted. These have been added back recently so payload was cut in half. The V-22 is now several thousand pounds above the "guaranteed empty weight" specified in its contract.

"The V-22 was designed with many more composite parts that any other aircraft in the U.S. military. According to a 2005 Rand study these parts are lighter, but they are far more expensive, more difficult to replace, and nearly impossible to repair. It is not uncommon for trucks or forklifts to bump into a transport aircraft and make a big hole. Bullets and other weapons easily punch holes into assault aircraft. With aluminum, a Marine simply patches it and pounds it into shape. This can't be done with composites because the skin provides some of the fuselage strength. The new big Airbus jetliner has a composite upper body, but uses heavier aluminum for the lower body because they worry that a minor ramp accident could cause millions of dollars in damage to a composite section and require depot-level work to repair.

"The V-22's fuel tanks, fuselage, and passenger seats were so light that they failed testing. New heavier fuel tanks and seats have since been added. However, the fuselage is too fragile and does not meet Navy crash standards unless it lands on a runway like an airplane so it can shed its engines before impact. This fuselage has proven fragile, which is one reason dozens of fairly new V-22s have been retired, although they are officially listed as "preserved."

"1,541 pounds shaved off the original V-22 design weakened the aircraft. After a couple years of service, the lightweight composite body and parts begin to fail. Repairs become too frequent or impossible because of cracks or parts that don't fit after hours of stress and vibration cause minor deformations. As a result, the aircraft is pushed into a hangar and unofficially retired. Proper mishap reports are never filed, and the aircraft is secretly hidden in a hangar. Damage of more that $1 million dollars requires a Class A mishap report and an independent JAG investigation. Nevertheless, no reports were filed as dozens of nearly new V-22's were damaged beyond repair.

"When its engines are in the helicopter mode, its hot jet engine exhaust can ignite dry brush. This has rarely happened as V-22 have been restricted to hard surfaces, or an occasional landing on a bare or green, grassy LZ.

"This incident sounds like a minor crash during a take-off attempt from a swampy area that was caused by tires stuck in mud. The V-22 is twice as heavy as the CH-46E (pictured), so it is much more likely to become stuck in mud at an LZ. A helicopter rescue crewman with many years of experience in Vietnam with the big, wheeled HH-53A said they learned it was best to conduct hover pick-ups to avoid this. If landing was required, a crewman would always jump out and test the soil, because getting stuck in hostile territory may be fatal. Igniting the LZ may also be fatal to Marine infantrymen.

"Marine Corps Brig. Gen. James F. Amos once stated: "I think the V-22 probably is high maintenance at this point. I think -- but make sure you understand one thing. Any new airframe at this point or any new system is going to be high maintenance. And why would that be? Because first of all, there is the real lack of experience in maintaining this."

"The General made that statement about the V-22's poor mission capable rate in 2000, so its ridiculous to use the same excuse nine years later. The V-22 first flew in 1989 and went into production in 1997; it is not new. The V-22 program is older than the C-17 program, and C-17s have mission capable rates above 85% and none have been retired or "preserved." Back in 2001, everyone thought that Brig. Gen. Amos would be forced to retire after he was caught telling lies about V-22 readiness and conspiring to hide V-22 failures from DoD leaders. The Inspector General even seized his computer."

Thanks for doing the homework here, Tom. - S.L.

KEYWORD SURVIVAL

Keyword "SURVIVAL" is the opening chapter of U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76, Survival.
Whenever faced with a survival situation, remember the keyword "SURVIVAL." You may some day have to make it work for you.

* S - Size Up the Situation
* U - Use All Your Senses, Undue Haste Makes Waste
* R - Remember Where You Are
* V - Vanquish Fear and Panic
* I - Improvise
* V - Value Living
* A - Act Like the Natives
* L - Live by Your Wits, But for Now, Learn Basic Skills

Click on the above links to learn the meaning of each letter of the word "survival."

S - SIZE UP THE SITUATION

If you are in a combat situation, find a place where you can conceal yourself from the enemy. Remember, security takes priority. Use your senses of hearing, smell and sight to get a feel for the battlefield. What is the enemy doing? Advancing? Holding in place? Retreating? You will have to consider what is developing on the battlefield when you make your survival plan.

Size Up Your Surroundings

Determine the pattern of the area. Get a feel for what is going on around you. Every environment, whether forest, jungle or desert, has a rhythm or pattern. This rhythm or pattern includes animal and bird noises and movements and insect sounds. It may also include enemy traffic and civilian movements.

Size Up Your Physical Condition

The pressure of the battle you were in or the trauma of being in a survival situation may have caused you to overlook wounds you received. Check your wounds and give yourself first aid. Take care to prevent further bodily harm. For instance, in any climate, drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration. If you are in a cold or wet climate, put on additional clothing to prevent hypothermia.

Size Up Your Equipment

Perhaps in the heat of battle or due to accident, you lost or damaged some of your equipment. Check to see what equipment you have and what condition it is in.

Now that you have sized up your situation, surroundings, physical condition and equipment, you are ready to make your survival plan. In doing so, keep in mind your basic physical needs — water, food and shelter.

U - USE ALL YOUR SENSES, UNDUE HASTE MAKES WASTE

You may make a wrong move when you react quickly without thinking or planning. That move may result in your capture or death. Don't move just for the sake of taking action.

Consider all aspects of your situation (size up your situation) before you make a decision and a move. If you act in haste, you may forget or lose some of your equipment. In your haste, you may also become disoriented so that you don't know which way to go.

Plan your moves. Be ready to move out quickly without endangering yourself, especially if the enemy is near you. Use all your senses to evaluate the situation. Note sounds and smells. Be sensitive to temperature changes. Be observant.

R - REMEMBER WHERE YOU ARE

Spot your location on your map and relate it to the surrounding terrain. This is a basic principle that you must always follow. If there are other persons with you, make sure they also know their location. Always know who in your group, vehicle or aircraft has a map and compass. If that person is killed, you will have to get the map and compass from him. Pay close attention to where you are and to where you are going. Do not rely on others in the group to keep track of the route. Constantly orient yourself.

Always try to determine, as a minimum, how your location relates to —

* The location of enemy units and controlled areas.
* The location of friendly units and controlled areas.
* The location of local water sources (especially important in the desert).
* Areas that will provide good cover and concealment.

This information will allow you to make intelligent decisions when you are in a survival and/or evasion situation.

V - VANQUISH FEAR AND PANIC

The greatest enemies in a combat, survival and/or evasion situation are fear and panic. If uncontrolled, they can destroy your ability to make an intelligent decision.

They may cause you to react to your feelings and imagination rather than to your situation. They can drain your energy and thereby cause other negative emotions. Previous survival and evasion training and self-confidence will enable you to vanquish fear and panic.

I - IMPROVISE

In the United States, we have items available for all our needs. Many of these items are cheap to replace when damaged. Our easy come, easy go, easy-to-replace culture makes it unnecessary for us to improvise. This inexperience in improvisation can be an enemy in a survival situation. Learn to improvise. Take a tool designed for a specific purpose and see how many other uses you can make of it.

Learn to use natural objects around you for different needs. An example is using a rock for a hammer. No matter how complete a survival kit you have with you, it will run out or wear out after a while. Your imagination must take over when your kit wears out.

V - VALUE LIVING

All of us were born kicking and fighting to live but we have become used to the soft life. We have become creatures of comfort. We dislike inconveniences and discomforts.

What happens when we are faced with a survival situation with its stresses, inconveniences and discomforts? This is when the will to live — placing a high value on living — is vital.

The experience and knowledge you have gained through life and your training will have a bearing on your will to live. Stubbornness, a refusal to give in to problems and obstacles that face you, will give you the mental and physical strength to endure.

A - ACT LIKE THE NATIVES

The natives and animals of a region have adapted to their environment. To get a feel of the area, watch how the people go about their daily routine. When and what do they eat? When, where and how do they get their food? When and where do they go for water? What time do they usually go to bed and get up?

These actions are particularly important to you when you are trying to avoid capture.

Animal life in the area can also give you clues on how to survive. Animals also require food, water and shelter. By watching them, you can find sources of water and food.

WARNING:
Animals cannot serve as an absolute guide to what you can eat and drink. Many animals eat plants that are toxic to humans.

Keep in mind that the reaction of animals can reveal your presence to the enemy. If in a friendly area, one way you can gain rapport with the natives is to show interest in their tools and how they get food and water. By studying the people, you learn to respect them; you often make valuable friends; and, most importantly, you learn how to adapt to their environment and increase your chances of survival.

L - LIVE BY YOUR WITS, but for now LEARN BASIC SKILLS

Without training in basic skills for surviving and evading on the battlefield, your chances of living through a combat, survival and/or evasion situation are slight.

Learn these basic skills now — not when you are headed for or are in the battle, or en route for an excursion to a remote or harsh environment. How you decide to equip yourself before deployment will impact on whether or not you survive. You need to know about the environment to which you are going and you must practice basic skills geared to that environment. For instance, if you are going to a desert, you need to know how to get water in the desert.

Practice basic survival skills during all training programs and exercises. Survival training reduces fear of the unknown and gives you self-confidence. It teaches you to live by your wits.

THEY ARE MASTERS AT CHESS

The question is, did they refuse the handshakes BEFORE or AFTER Obama gave up the missile shield?

My take on it: the Russians are masters at chess. What you saw there was not spontaneous, and nobody at that level in Russia does anything that outrageous without a plan. That was a deliberate move.

What I'm saying happened is a team of KGB psychologists analyzed Obama's narcissist make up, and coached the Russian negotiating team. They put Obama so far off his game that, when it was time to sit down to do the talking, he was so desperate to be liked he gave up the major tenet of US foreign policy - the missile shield - without asking a thing in return.

Me? If I was President and a team of Russians did a thing like that to me, I'd say, "Fine. Have a nice party. F*ck you very much." Then flip them the digitus impudicus and turn and leave.

You're the President of the United States, the Leader of the Free World, and the single most powerful man in the world, Mr. Obama, and you let a bunch of horse traders play you like a cheap violin. Smooth move. NOT.

CHARLIE PATTEN, HERO OF THE BLUES

This is the story of country bluesman Charlie Patton, by famed underground comix artist R. Crumb. Click on each image for higher resolution.

I HOPE SO . . .

CIA Had Plan to Assassinate Qaeda Leaders - NY Times



"Since 2001, the Central Intelligence Agency developed plans to dispatch small teams overseas to kill senior Qaeda terrorists, according to current and former government officials"

. . . for some incredible reason we're told the plan was never carried out!

The concept seems to have gotten mired down in organizational CYA overkill:

"Officials at the spy agency over the years ran into myriad logistical, legal and diplomatic obstacles. How could the role of the United States be masked? Should allies be informed and might they block the access of the C.I.A. teams to their targets? What if American officers or their foreign surrogates were caught in the midst of an operation? Would such activities violate international law or American restrictions on assassinations overseas?"

HEY! Earth to Langley, VA: SINCE WHEN DID WE START GIVING A RAT's *SS ABOUT BUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS ? ! ? ! ? ! We're at WAR here, RIGHT? US targeted killings of Al Qaeda terrorists is a legal act of self defense, point blank and simple - I mean, if it's OK to launch Hellfire missiles off Predator drones into multi-family dwellings in remote corners of Pakistan, what on Earth is wrong with taking out your targets with surgical precision?

OK - Problem identified; allow me to suggest a solution:

You throw enough money out there to hire a dedicated group of pissed-off ex-Green Berets like myself, and finance our operations. We know how to plan long-term operations, we speak foreign languages, we know how to live incognito overseas, and we have a certain motto when it comes to this sort of thing: "If it bleeds, you can kill it." We'll get the job done.

For planning guidance, check out GENERAL PATTON'S MAXIMS Here are a few to consider:

o A good solution applied with vigor now is better than a perfect solution applied ten minutes later.

o Take calculated risks.

o Do not fear failure.

o In case of doubt, attack.

o No one is thinking if everyone is thinking alike.

o The only thing to do when a son-of-a-bitch looks cross-eyed at you is to beat the hell out of him right then and there.

And there's this beauty, of course:

o No good decision was ever made in a swivel chair.

CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED . . .

Don't fish too close to the water!



Stand back when you fish!




Lots of good meat there after you skin this one out:



Check out the stomach contents in this guy:





Looks like someone was fishing too close to the water . . .

TEN GREAT TIPS

1. Stay out of trouble.




2. Aim for greater heights.




3. Stay focused on your job.




4. Exercise to maintain good health.




5. Practice team work.




6. Rely on your trusted partner to watch your back. Take your time trusting others.



7. Save for rainy days.




8. Rest and relax.




9. Always take time to smile.



AND


10. Realize that nothing is impossible!

THE MEDAL OF HONOR

On this day in 1862 the Medal of Honor, highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, was first authorized by the U.S. Congress.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed on a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes him- or herself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his (or her) life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." Because of the nature of its criteria, the medal is often awarded posthumously.





The Medal is often mistakenly referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, due to the requirement of an act of Congress; the official and correct title is Medal of Honor.

The first recipients were six Union soldiers who hijacked the General, a Confederate locomotive. Raid leader James J. Andrews, a civilian who was hanged as a Union spy, did not receive the medal. Many Medals of Honor awarded in the 19th century were associated with saving the flag, not just for patriotic reasons, but because the flag was a primary means of battlefield communication. During the time of the Civil War, no other military award was authorized, and to many this explains why some seemingly less notable actions were recognized by the Medal of Honor during that war. The criteria for the award tightened after World War I. In the post-World War II era, many eligible recipients might instead have been awarded a Silver Star, Navy Cross or similar award.

In 1916, a board of five Army generals convened by law to review every Army Medal of Honor awarded. The commission, led by Nelson Miles, recommended that the Army rescind 911 medals. This included the 864 medals awarded to members of the 27th Maine, 29 who served as Abraham Lincoln's funeral guard, six civilians (including Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to have been awarded the medal), Buffalo Bill Cody, and 12 others whose awards were judged frivolous.

There has been some political controversy associated with Medal. Although her case was no different to the other five civilian recipients, Mary Edwards Walker's medal was restored posthumously by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Critics of the restoration called it a political move, designed to curry favor with feminists. Buffalo Bill Cody's award was restored in 1989. This also drew criticism, as although his valor in scouting and Indian-fighting were legendary, he was not an actual member of the military.

The 20 Medals of Honor awarded for the action at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890 are also controversial. This is significant, as it is the highest number of medals ever awarded for one battle in the history of the U.S. Army. Some Native Americans called for "the immediate rescindment of the twenty Medals of Honor awarded for actions contributing to the Massacre at Wounded Knee.

During the Vietnam War, 18 Medals of Honor were awarded to US Army Special Forces soldiers, eight of them awarded posthumously. This was the largest number of Medals awarded to a single unit during that conflict. Of those, Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace (July 2, 1937–September 26, 1965) was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions while a prisoner of war; he was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity.


The Medal of Honor has not been awarded to any living persons in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, only posthumously. In addition, the percentage of persons receiving the medal in these wars has been significantly lower than in previous wars (one out of a million vs. one out of one-hundred thousand).

The Army Times published an article in March 30, 2009 suggested that because of the intense partisan politics in Washington, D.C. over these wars, the Bush Administration subjected potential Medal of Honor recipients to intense background checks so as to avoid scrutiny from political opponents. It was also suggested that Democrats did not want to submit names for the Medal because they were afraid of being seen as aggrandizing war. An Army Times editorial suggested, "Our heroes deserve to be recognized."

MEDAL OF HONOR

On this day in 1862 the Medal of Honor, highest military decoration awarded by the United States government, was first authorized by the U.S. Congress.

Medal of Honor Recipients, US Army Special Forces, Vietnam:

Captain Roger Hugh C. Donlon, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 6 July 1964, U.S. Army, Detachment A-726, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne, 1st Special Forces, near Nam Dong, Republic of Vietnam.

2d Lt. Charles Q. Williams, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 9 to 10 June 1965, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne, Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam.

Captain Humbert Roque "Rocky" Versace (July 2, 1937–September 26, 1965) was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions while a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War. He was the first member of the U.S. Army to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions performed in Southeast Asia while in captivity.

1st Lt. George K. Sisler, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 7 February 1967, U.S. Army, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, MACV/SOG Republic of Vietnam.

Master Sergeant Charles Ernest Hoskins, Jr., was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 21 March 1967, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant Gordon Douglas Yntema, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 16-18 January 1968, U.S. Army, Company D, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) 1st Special Forces, Near Thong Binh, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Drew Dennis Dix, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 31 January and 1 February 1968, U.S. Army, U.S. Senior Advisor Group, IV Corps, Military Assistance Command, Chau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Fred William Zabitosky, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 19 February 1968, U.S. Army, MACV/SOG, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 2 May 1968, U.S. Army, Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, west of Loc Ninh, Republic of Vietnam.

Spec 5 John J. Kedenburg, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 13 June 1968, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 30 December 1968, U.S. Army, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant First Class William Maud Bryant, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 24 March 1969, U.S. Army, Company A, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Long Khanh Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant First Class Eugene Ashley, Jr. was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 5 January 1970, U.S. Army, Company C, 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces, near Lang Vei, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant F. "Doug" Miller, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 5 January 1970, U.S. Army, MACV/SOG, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant Gary B. Beikirch, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 5 January 1970, U.S. Army, Company B, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Knotum Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Sergeant Bryan L. Buker, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 5 April 1970, U.S. Army, Detachment B-55, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Chau Doc Province, Republic of Vietnam.

Staff Sergeant Jon R. Cavaiani, was awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions 4 and 5 June 1971, U.S. Army, Vietnam Training Advisory Group, MACV/SOG, Republic of Vietnam.

First Lieutenant Loren D. Hagen, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 7 August 1971, U.S. Army, Infantry, U.S. Army Training Advisory Group, Republic of Vietnam.

Medal of Honor Recipients, US Army Special Forces, Somalia:

Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon, was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 3 October 1993, SFOD-D, U.S. Army, Mogadishu, Somalia.

Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart was awarded the Medal of Honor (posthumous) for heroic actions 3 October 1993, SFOD-D, U.S. Army, Mogadishu, Somalia.


Honor them.

TED KENNA, 1919-2009: VICTORIA CROSS, World War II

I just saw this:

Last WWII Australian Victoria Cross Awardee Passes On

Edward "Ted" Kenna VC has passed away 2 days after his 90th Birthday in a Geelong nursing home, Thursday July 9, 2009.


Ted Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest Military Award, for an action in 1945. His story is quite amazing.

Honor him.


Courtesy BLACKFIVE

ONLY IN AFRICA . . .

HOW TO QUELL A RIOT

This disturbing story of a minor race riot in Akron, Ohio caught my eye:

It came after a family night of celebrating America and freedom with a fireworks show at Firestone Stadium. Marshall, his family and two friends were gathered outside a friend's home in South Akron.

Out of nowhere, the six were attacked by dozens of teenage boys, who shouted "This is our world" and "This is a black world" as they confronted Marshall and his family.

There were about fifty perpetrators, apparently. They said it started when one teen, without any words or warning, blindsided and assaulted Marshall's friend as he stood outside with the others. It quickly developed into a melee involving Marshall's wife, his 15-year-old daughter (all 90 lbs of her), and two of his friends vs. the mob who were jumping, swinging fists and everything.


" . . .I was in fear for my wife, my kids and my friends," Marshall said, "I felt I had to stay out there to protect them . . ."

Of course, this is the natural instinct. You have just spoken the magic words, Mr. Marshall. You were in fear for your wife & kids. Repeat after me: "I was in fear for my life." You are allowed to defend yourself.

" . . . They were trying to take my head off my spine, basically . . . " After several minutes of punches and kicks, the attack ended and the group ran off.

Anybody who has been in any kind of close-quarter battle knows that seconds turn into minutes, a lifetime of events can be shoved into a minute, and several minutes of this kind of combat is an eternity.

"This was almost like being a terrorist act," Marshall said. "And we allow this to go on in our neighborhoods?"

This WAS a terrorist attack, Mr. Marshall, and I'm not hung up on the race thing; we simply must NOT tolerate this kind of uncivilized savagery in our neighborhoods. This is not Britain, or France. Not yet, at least. This begs the question: how long did it take for the police to arrive on the scene? To protect your family, I suggest you arm yourself.

Advice: THIS is how you quell a riot:


Remington 870 Express Magnum, with extended 7-round magazine. It's a crowd-pleaser - NOBODY wants to argue with Mister Remington.

In all fairness to Mr. Marshall and his friends, the situation sounds like it went dynamic, fast. Thanks be to God nobody was killed, maimed, raped or otherwise - it could have been a lot worse. The security professional analyzes the situation - After Action Review 'AAR' - to learn from, and plan for, future situations. Here's a suggested battle drill: if & when such a street crime occurs in the future, instead of the wife charging toward the melee, when the horde appears she runs back into the house and returns with the 12-gage shotgun. That first round fired into the ground should be sufficient to get everyone's attention. The muzzle is then leveled midsection of the first rank of would-be rioters.

Note to would-be muggers, thugs, wannabe terrorists and assorted scum & vermin: at Castle STORMBRINGER we keep the 12-gage within easy reach of the door.

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"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
- Amendment II to the United States Constitution

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