Veteran's Day 2011- 5th Annual Post

Fifth Annual Installment of the Veteran's Day Post, which hasn't changed because America hasn't stepped up, but the men who have earned the Medal of Honor have -- adding one more.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that America is currently at war.

There are no victory gardens or war bonds this time around. The Home Front hasn't mobilized at all. In fact, most of us just go about our daily lives, occasionally listening to news reports about how bad things are, how hopeless the whole situation is, what Congress is currently griping about, and how messed up the military is...etc., etc., etc. The news likes to emphasize that kind of stuff. They'd rather tell you about some sort of scandal, or mistake, or crisis than focus on the valor, the sacrifice, the dedication of our Soldiers, Sailors and Marines currently risking their lives for freedom. Not sure why. But with what little impact this insignificant diary may have, I'd like to ask you to take a moment on this coming Veteran's Day to think about the men and women in uniform, past and present, who have answered the call of their country, whether you agree with that reason for that call or not.

Take a moment and google Lt. Michael P. Murphy (USN), Cpl. Jason L . Dunham (USMC), SFC Paul R. Smith (USA), SPC Ross McGinnis (USA), SFC Jared Monti (USA), MA2 Michael Monsoor (USN), SSG Robert J. Miller (USA), SSG Salvatore Guinta (USA), SFC Leroy Petry (USA), and SGT Dakota Meyer (USMC) and learn what valor and sacrifice for your country truly means. Almost each year I have posted this--a name has been added to this pantheon.

If you see a Veteran from WWII or Korea-- thank him. If you see a Vietnam Vet-- welcome him home. And when you see a current service member or Vet, let him or her know that their service was not in vain. Because no matter what you think about the current war, you need to remember that the only reason you can just go about your daily business like nothing is going on is because he or she defended your ability to do so with all of their might.

And then consider that maybe you owe them more than that. It is a debt that cannot be repaid.

Living MOH recipient # 3

Sooooo, Labor Day is a another day off work. You get to go to work and have an hour lunch break or 30-minutes + two 15s. This guy didn't have that option. Welcome DAKOTA MEYER to the pantheon. Semper fi!

http://militarytimes.com/blogs/battle-rattle/2011/08/ 19/video-marine-corps-times-interviews-dakota-meyer-medal-of -honor-recipient

The Fourth of July

For Independence Day--My edited but re-occurring post updated to reflect the additional Medal of Honor Recipients.

Have a nice picnic. Enjoy your day off work, and in any way you can THANK the men and women who gave it to you: Take a moment and think of these:

Lt. Michael P. Murphy (USN), Cpl. Jason L . Dunham (USMC), SFC Paul R. Smith (USA), SPC Ross McGinnis (USA), SFC Jared Monti (USA), MA2 Michael Monsoor (USN), SSG Robert J. Miller (USA), SSG SALVATORE GIUNTA (USA), and on July 12, 2011----SFC LEROY PETRY (USA).

The Soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the Soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Gen. Douglas MacArthu

Welcome the the 38th Parallel!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/38th_parallel_north

I haven't posted in a while. A very long while. We've been in a stalemate and mom's been busy. But the war is not over. I just have new barriers. Something called an armistice (that and a move to Kentucky).

So the FTRL is still out there, just in a different guise. I still stand point. But this time I CAN'T get to him.

2007 Veterans Day Post Update for 2010

My re-occurring Vet day post updated to reflect the four additional Medal of Honor Recipients:

There are no victory gardens or war bonds this time around. The Home Front hasn't mobilized at all. In fact, most of us just go about our daily lives, occasionally listening to news reports about how bad things are, how hopeless the whole situation is, what Congress is currently griping about, and how messed up the military is...etc., etc., etc. But I'd ask you to take a moment on this coming Veteran's Day to think about the men and women in uniform, past and present, who have answered the call of their country, whether you agree with the reason for that call or not.

Take a moment.

Google Lt. Michael P. Murphy (USN), Cpl. Jason L . Dunham (USMC), SFC Paul R. Smith (USA), SPC Ross McGinnis (USA), SFC Jared Monti (USA), MA2 Michael Monsoor (USN), and SSG Robert J. Miller (USA) and learn what valor and sacrifice for your country truly means.

And today, tf you see a Veteran from WWII or Korea-- thank him. If you see a Vietnam Vet-- welcome him home. And if you see a current service member or Vet, let him or her know that their service was not in vain. Because no matter what you think about the current war, you need to remember that the only reason you can just go about your daily business like nothing is going on is because he or she defended your ability to do so with all of their might.

And then consider that maybe you owe them more than that. It is a debt that cannot be repaid.

The Soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the Soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Geneva Convention, 1949

There are rules in war. Orders that Soldiers must obey. I fear I might have violated one, or all of them.

In my war against the Fuzzy-Tailed Rodent Luftwaffe (FTRL), I had never once taken one out. That changed significantly the other day. I got one. Got him good too. Mom came home to me standing at the perimeter with the dead enemy dangling from my mouth. She ordered me (as she is the Commanding Officer as well as my chronicler and editor) to drop it. As it is my lawful duty to obey her order, I did so. Reluctantly, I might add.

And she was left to wonder, did I kill him in battle? Or did I find him wounded and suffering and dealt the final blow? There is sometimes a fine line between being a Soldier and being a war criminal. Whatever the circumstances, we will never know. There will be no Nuremberg this war.

Regardless, there's been a lot fewer of the FTRL hanging around. Now that they know that mercy is not something that can be expected here, they're a tad bit more careful of whom they send into battle.

Veteran's Day Isn't Just a Day Off of Work

Mom's been seriously derelict in her duties as my typist and official war chronicler. But I've got something to say, so I'm forcing her to take some time to put it into words for me.

Although we play Soldier here in my diary, and retell for you the events of my unofficial conflict with the Fuzzy-Tailed Rodent Luftwaffe and the Varmit Cong, we'd like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that America is currently at war.

There are no victory gardens or war bonds this time around. The Home Front hasn't mobilized at all. In fact, most of us just go about our daily lives, occasionally listening to news reports about how bad things are, how hopeless the whole situation is, what Congress is currently griping about, and how messed up the military is...etc., etc., etc. The news likes to emphasize that kind of stuff (mom should know, she worked for the New York Times for near a decade.) They'd rather tell you about some sort of scandal, or mistake, or crisis than focus on the valor, the sacrifice, the dedication of our Soldiers, Sailors and Marines currently risking their lives for freedom. We're not sure why. But with what little impact this insignificant diary may have, we'd like to ask you to take a moment on this coming Veteran's Day to think about the men and women in uniform, past and present, who have answered the call of their country, whether you agree with that reason for that call or not.

Take a moment. Google Lt. Michael P. Murphy (USN), Cpl. Jason L . Dunham (USMC), and SFC Paul R. Smith (USA) and learn what valor and sacrifice for your country truly means.

If you see a Veteran from WWII or Korea-- thank him. If you see a Vietnam Vet-- welcome him home. And when you see a current service member or Vet, let him or her know that their service was not in vain. Because no matter what you think about the current war, you need to remember that the only reason you can just go about your daily business like nothing is going on is because he or she defended your ability to do so with all of their might.

And then consider that maybe you owe them more than that. It is a debt that cannot be repaid.

The Soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the Soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. Gen. Douglas MacArthur

Mom Starts a New Job Tomorrow

After 2 1/2 years commuting 2 hours each way to DC to a job she really didn't like all that much, mom finally found a job that's at least a little closer to home and that is in the exact field she's wanted to work in all her life. It's a dream come true for her.

Unfortunately, the office is for work only--really important work. So, unlike her last office where she could spend her lunch breaks on dogster, she won't be able to do that in her new position.

Hopefully, she'll be able to come on at night at home or maybe on the weekends, but she won't be spending much time here as usual.

She'll try to keep the diary updated from time to time, but I doubt there will be many forum posts. And she'll try to acknowledge and give out rosettes, but if you send me one and I don't get back to you for a while please don't be offended.

I'll sure miss being on here everyday.

Raskol

Otis Tagged me!

My Honorary-APBT bully buddy Otis tagged me. I'm supposed to post 7 pawsome facts about meself and tag seven others who have to do the same thing. How fun is that?

1. I was Larry Merrill's Dog Each Day on MLK day!
2. I've a crush on Abby Grace (she is the prettiest pittie ever!)
3. I really do like my new foster brother Bubbles.
4. I'd rather drink my water than eat my food.
5. If I weren't a pit mix I'd wanna be a bulldog.
6. I actually don't mind getting a bath.
7. I'd rather rip the ball to pieces than fetch it.

I tag:

Abby Grace
Ziero
Moe Moe
Lucia
Kitai
Elliot
Rosie

Where's Samuel L. Jackson When You Need Him?

Those of you who read these entries know very well that I am in the midst of a prolonged battle against the Varmit Cong and the Fuzzy-Tailed Rodent Luftwaffe. Fancy Pants the Feral Cat is an occasional ally of the FTRL when she goes after my birds. She also, however, attacks members of the FTRL on occasion so I'm not sure where to put her in the whole Axis-Allies scenario. And that's were it's been for the last year or so.

Suddenly, however, a new player has entered the field of battle and I'm not sure where he came from. He made his first appearance a couple Saturdays ago when he infiltrated my perimeter. And this is the first combatant I've seen that freaked even mom out.

I walked down the stairs of my observation tower 1 and there he was at the foot--slimy, coily, and hissing. My "halt, who goes there!" was drowned out by mom screaming "RASKOL GET AWAY FROM THAT!" as she ran down the stairs to push me out of the way. "SNAKE!" was the next thing out of her mouth, and although she had managed to get me kinda out of the way, she was frozen. Dad came running out and yelled at her to get me and herself in the house. Normally, mom's usually got her wits about her, but the sight of that long scaly thing really got to her.

It was determined, however, although dad is not a herpetologist, that it wasn't one of the three venomous varieties of creepy-crawly snakes that inhabit the Commonwealth (copperhead, cottonmouth and rattlers), but some other kind. Which we're not really sure--not one of us wanted to get close enough to it to tell.

But snakes eat birds and rodents-so I'm in the same situation I am with Fancy Pants--not sure if he's friend, or foe.