Yes, how did the US get so lucky – to enjoy the gift of the caliber of troops who protect this country? “Lucky” is probably not the correct word to be used. “Blessed” is more appropriate.  The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob divinely assisted this country in being formed. Yes, I know the old mantra about “separation of church and state.” That does not mean separation of God from state. He allowed the caliber of men of the will and wisdom of the Founding Fathers to put this all together.  

He continues to allow the US to be blessed with the caliber of men such as Louie Zamperini, World War II Veteran. I read this account of the achievements and service of Mr. Zamperini, on Christmas Day 2010. Ironically, I was reading this article as the CD player was playing Christmas carols, including “Rose of Bethlehem,” exquisitely performed by Selah.  I was reading about the brutality of the Japanese soldiers, juxtaposed with the beautiful music and lyrics of those Christmas carols, with my eyes misting over, and quite frankly revenge on my mind.

I wanted to metaphorically, take whatever was handy, and whack chief torturer Watanable across the midsection. But, I quickly replaced those thoughts with thoughts of gratitude for the blessings since enjoyed by Mr. Zamperini.  Watanabe was simply acting out his own inner sense of inferiority by torturing defenseless prisoners. Watanabe has long gone on to his just reward. Zamperini is living his just rewards with more to come when he departs this life. Zamperini was “born for this.”  Just when I thought that I was running out of heroes, on that Christmas Day, I found another.

During Mr. Zamperini’s time in service, enlisted men were considered “cannon fodder.” Maybe they are no longer fodder for cannons, but could be fodder for politicians and bureaucrats who continue to use and abuse them. That will never change. What have we here? I think that I have the first supporting argument for my “thesis.”  When I first saw this Diane West article about the “geographical trajectory” of spit and pee by Marines, I thought that it had to be a spoof. Has this “spit and pee” procedure replaced “spit and polish”?

I wonder what is the cost per “insurgent” killed in Afghanistan when divided by the billions poured into that country, and the human cost of US and Coalition troops. Marines, make sure that you get your piss and spit in the right direction. That could be more important than the trajectory of a bullet used to kill an “insurgent.”

 I think that I may be incorrect about the unimportance of the trajectory of a bullet. Michael Behenna , Army Ranger, is on the wrong side of the trajectory – of a court decision, precisely because expert witness on the trajectory of the bullet that killed the enemy, is not considered important enough, to be allowed into the trial testimony.  In my humble opinion, Mr. Behenna and his family are an inspiring example of an American family. They have endured what many of us would not have. Had I any artistic ability, I would have done a Norman Rockwell type painting of that family. All I can do is simply say “thank you” – for showing the rest of us how “grace under pressure” looks.

How was your day today? This article was on my Twitter page on Thursday 1/27/11. I saved it to remind me, as I have previously asked – how did we get so lucky, or blessed? I will remember the following, next time I think that I am having a bad day:

What you should consider the most when you look into the shaken eyes and the thousand yard stare of this combat veteran, is that HE volunteered to have all those “bad days”, so that YOUR bad days would look nothing at all like his.

"One Simple War Story" gives us a look into the Vietnam War. I did not know that this war had its own version of the IED. I held my head in my hand and had to take a break from reading each account of death of soldiers after soldiers. We back in “Civilian Land” take pains to try not to age in years. Here was this young soldier, aging in seconds, prior to his near death experience:

I felt myself aging. I recall with vivid clarity, thinking, “When the guys see me later, they’ll know that I’m older.” Believe me, when years seem to pass in seconds, the individual feels it.

How did some of their fellow citizens welcome home W. Paul Hughes and other troops? I know the ticker tape parades were “missing in (in)action.” The spit, without the polish, was in full supply.  Those fellow citizens spit on those troops. Some of those fellow citizens even openly supported the enemy, and still continue to be lauded and worshipped.

In case any of us are mistaken about who is really holding this country afloat, let me mix metaphors and burst your bubble. It is not the “decision-makers.” Without those troops to lend force to the decisions, how long would the decision makers last in their well-appointed offices, absent the cannon fodder?  I wonder if those who make the “executive” decisions to send these men and women to war, have even one clue of what is involved in actual combat. Maybe we need to have each member of Congress and the president, spend at least one week on the frontlines, sans all of the usual Secret Service protection, expected to carry his or her weight in weapons and other gear, and expected to fight for survival.

It appears that even when our troops do their jobs, those who profit the most from the “borrowed” glory, tend to not quite get the story right? Chuck Pfarrer, a former SEAL is putting forth his version of events of when bin Laden got dispatched to the mythical 72 virgins, in his book “ Seal Target Geronimo: The Inside Story of the Mission to Kill Osama Bin Laden.” In this Yahoo.com report, the official version is described as a "fairy tale."

So, who are we civilians to believe? A presumably battle scarred Vet, or those who lead from their offices? Officialdom and “political-dom” have so eroded my confidence in their kingdom, that unless, they come up with irrefutable proof, from sources I consider untainted, I am going with the Vet.  The following paragraphs sum up the “credit taking,” “leaking orifices, and “operational ignorance”:

But Obama’s announcement, he said, “rendered moot all of the intelligence that was gathered from the nexus of al-Qaida. The computer drives, the hard drives, the videocasettes, the CDs, the thumb drives, everything. Before that could even be looked through, the political decision was made to take credit for the operation.”

And in the days that followed, as politicians sought to thrust their identities into the details of the bin Laden kill, the tale began to grow out of control, said Pfarrer.

“The president made a statement, and as far as that goes, that was fine, that was the mission statement,” he explained. “But, soon after … politicians began leaking information from every orifice. And it was like a game of Chinese telephone. These guys didn’t know what they were talking about. Very few of them had even seen the video feed.”

Pfarrer suggests that much of the misinformation was likely born out of operational ignorance, even among those sitting in the White House.

This sounds like a textbook description of “political-dom,” especially the information leaking from every orifice! I am still searching for answers how, so conveniently, about two months or so, after bin Laden was dumped into the sea, that some members of the SEAL Team, who helped him to that destination, were killed by the enemy.

What have we here? "Panetta weighs military cuts once thought out of bounds”? It appears that medical and retirement benefits, “once thought sacrosanct,” are on the chopping block, as well as shrinkage of troops, and reduction of the purchasing of new weapons. I hope that the enemy is also undertaking a similar “reduction.”  Already, according to this Reuter’s article, “more than 15 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans were unemployed in January.” This stat is “far higher than the national jobless rate.”

When I first read this article, back in February of this year, I was incensed, and decided to save it for inclusion in this article. Former Army Staff Sergeant Anthony Maschek, wounded Iraq Vet, and now Columbia University freshman, was jeered by some of his fellow students, fellow students who were enjoying the Ivy League atmosphere of Columbia, while he was in Iraq getting shot up. I would be honored to be in the same room as Mr. Maschek, unworthy though I am. As for those who booed and jeered, I wish them wisdom, that one day, they may awake from their stupor and realize that, as he tried to warn them: . "There are bad men out there plotting to kill you."

Kudos to his fiancée Angela O’Neill for standing by her man!

I have been hearing about these drone attacks, a good way to kill the enemy, minimizing the involvement of US troops. I did not realize the seemingly scattered areas of operation involved in the use of the drone, until I read this Los Angeles Times article about a drone attack on US troops, who were mistaken for the enemy. From California, to Nevada, to Indiana, to Afghanistan, coordination was needed in order to ensure that the intended targets were hit. The coordination broke down and two Americans lost their lives. I know about “friendly fire” and that mistakes will happen. Did this have to happen?

Remains of war dead dumped in landfill did not brighten my mood. Bin Laden at least got his body dumped at sea, and our troops get dumped in a landfill? The good news is that “officials have since abandoned (landfill dumping) in favor of burial at sea.”

Once upon a time, there was apparently a politically incorrect US general who did not get the memo to replace the fatigue glasses with some nice rose colored glasses, and lie. US general fired for verbal attack on Karzai , was the result of that failure to receive the non-existent memo? I know. Persons in positions of authority, especially when representing the US government, should be circumspect in speech and behavior, if nothing else. But, I cannot help applauding that general for at least having the courage to speak his mind, knowing that his words would be published, instead of having his true feelings exposed by an open microphone.
 
I seem to recall his C-I-C having an open microphone about that commander’s true feelings about the leader of Israel. The C-I-C did not get fired. Why the double standard. Moreover, didn’t Karzai make it absolutely clear which side he would be on in a US versus Pakistan conflict? It was not the side of the US. General Fuller, if I had the money, I would place you on retainer to poke a few eyes with a needle!

These two articles left me with a warm feeling in my heart, and almost succeeded in tamping down my ire, at the treatment of some of our troops.   Eli, the bomb-sniffing dog, of Pfc. Colton Rusk, is being adopted by Eli’s “grandparents,” Darrell and Kathy Rusk. Although I am happy for Eli, I have to be honest and confess that I felt a bolt of anger at the death of a troop, barely into his twenties, at the hands of the cowards, who are going to be taking over Afghanistan. Technically, the Karzai government is taking over. In reality?

Cena and Drake, dogs of servicewoman Britney Monroe, with the Army National Guard, have found a foster home, where they will be cared for by 12-year old Raphael Pennell and two of his sisters. I had never heard of the organization Guardian Angels for Soldier’s Pets, until I read this article. Awesome!

Also awesome is Applebee's  “Thank You Movement to show Veterans and Troops the appreciation they deserve!” Country music star Rodney Atkins, singer of one of my favorite country music songs Going Through Hell,  is spearheading the efforts! I pray to God that our troops who are “going through hell,” may get out before “the devil even knows” that they are there.

What would be a Veterans Day without The Warrior Song?

Here are just a few of the organizations that help our troops:

USO

Semper Fi Fund

Move America Forward

Soldiers Angels

Wish Upon A Hero

God bless our troops! God bless America!