Merry Christmas

First of all MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope that everyone enjoys this Holiday Season.

Julia and I have been very busy the last several months. Julia has been working diligently on her grad school and I have been working hard getting ready for another inevitable deployment.

During the last weeks of October and most of November, I have been in the field training for Iraq and was able to come home for Thanksgiving only to go back to the field 5 days later. It was a little stressful, aw who am I kidding, it was really stressful but that is the idea. I was busy working on so many things that it’s all a blur for me. We spent 30 days in simulated Forward Operating Base (FOB) Operations. We did everything that it involves including patrolling, raids, counter fire (that’s firing back at mortars, rockets and the like that are fired at us) and day to day operations. It was surprisingly realistic minus the 3-5 inches of snow on the ground.


We were together for the five days at Thanksgiving and then I had to right back to the field for some Gunnery. I was able to go to the OP with the guys to shoot some mortars and that was pretty good training. I was disappointed that we didn't get to shoot and Artillery but that will come soon enough. All of the guys did a great job and some of the new guys got to shoot live for the first time. It was cold again there with snow on the ground and being up on "the hill" made the temperature colder then back at the barracks.






Julia and I had the opportunity to go to Rothenburg, the famous Medieval, walled city for one of the Weihnachtsmarkts, German for Christmas Market, while we were there. It was really fun and cold. There was no snow, clear day and lots of sun but no heat. We went to the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas store and museum and got some really nice Christmas ornaments. We also went to the Medieval Crime and Punishment museum and got to see what types of punishment were used 800 years ago. It was…interesting for sure. Then at night, we took the Night Watchman’s Tour of the city. He took us around the city to most of the major sights and talked about the cities history. The city is pretty amazing.


Now Julia and I are looking forward to Christmas and New Years together. We are going to keep it low key this year.

Again Merry Christmas to everyone!

New Job... Again

Well everyone I have a new job for the third time since January. No longer am I in a "Line Battery" but on Battalion Staff as the Adjutant. Basically I am the personnel officer for the battalion. It is something that I have really no experience with but I think that I can pick it up in some time. I am sad that I have to leave all of the Soldiers in Charlie Battery. I was looking forward to spending more time with a platoon but I guess that my Battalion Commander had other things for me.

I am also very happy that my Brigade’s deployment has been delayed from November. I really want to spend some more time with my wife this holiday season. We will have Christmas off so we are going to enjoy that time together. Julia is happy beyond words too. The only thing is that we will be in Germany until summer of 2009, instead of winter of 2008. Things happen for the best though and God has a plan so I am not worried.

Sergeant Major Speaks Truth as Well as His Mind

The following article was written last fall by a Sergeant Major (Ret) in the Army. If there is anyone who knows what its like, a Sergeant Major and he is going to tell it like it is. This article is prolific on the internet so I am sure that you will find plenty of other sources.


A military man addresses the leaders who betrayed him
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JD. Pendry is a retired Army Command Sergeant Major who writes for Random House. He writes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jimmy Carter, you're the father of the Islamic Nazi movement. You threw the Shah under the bus, welcomed the Ayatollah home, and then lacked the spine to confront the terrorists when they took our embassy and our people hostage. You're the runner-in-chief.

Bill Clinton, you played ring around the Lewinsky while the terrorists were at war with us. You got us into a fight with them in Somalia, and then you ran from it. Your weak-willed responses to the U.S.S. Cole and the first Trade Center Bombing and our Embassy bombings emboldened the killers Each time you failed to respond adequately they grew bolder, until
9/11.

John Kerry, dishonesty is your most prominent attribute. You lied about American Soldiers in Vietnam. Your military service, like your life, is more fiction than fact. You've accused our soldiers of terrorizing women and children in Iraq . You called Iraq the wrong war, wrong place, wrong time, the same words you used to describe Vietnam. You're a fake. You want to run from Iraq and abandon the Iraqis to murderers just as you did the Vietnamese. Iraq, like Vietnam is another war that you were for, before you were against it.

John Murtha, you said our military was broken. You said we can't win militarily in Iraq. You accused United States Marines of cold-blooded murder without proof and said we should redeploy to Okinawa. Okinawa, John? And the Democrats call you their military expert. Are you sure you didn't suffer a traumatic brain injury while you were off building your war hero resume? You're a sad, pitiable, corrupt and washed-up politician. You're not a Marine, sir You wouldn't amount to a good pimple on a real Marine's butt. You're a phony and a disgrace. Run away John.

Dick Durbin, you accused our soldiers at Guantanamo of being Nazis, tenders of Soviet style gulags and as bad as the regime of Pol Pot, who murdered two million of his own people after your party abandoned South East Asia to the Communists. Now you want to abandon the Iraqis to the same fate. History was not a good teacher for you, was it? Lord help us!! See Dick run.

Ted Kennedy, for days on end you held poster-sized pictures from Abu Grhaib in front of any available television camera. Al Jazeera quoted you saying that Iraqi's torture chambers were open under new management. Did you see the news this week, Teddy? The Islamic Nazis demonstrate real torture for you again. If you truly supported our troops, you'd show the world poster-sized pictures of that atrocity and demand the annihilation of it. Your legislation stripping support from the South Vietnamese led to a communist victory there. You're a bloated drunken fool bent on repeating the same historical blunder that turned freedom-seeking people over to homicidal, genocidal maniacs To paraphrase John Murtha, all while sitting on your wide, gin-soaked rear-end in Washington.
Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Carl Levine, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, Russ Feingold, Hillary Clinton, Pat Leahy, Chuck Schumer, et al ad nauseam. Every time you stand in front of television cameras and broadcast to the Islamic Nazis that we went to war because our President lied, that the war is wrong and our soldiers are torturers, that we should leave Iraq, you give the Islamic butchers - the same ones that tortured and mutilated American soldiers - cause to think that we'll run away again, and all they have to do is hang on a little longer.

American news media, the New York Times particularly: Each time you publish stories about national defense secrets and our intelligence gathering methods, you become one united, with the sub-human pieces of camel dung that torture and mutilate the bodies of American soldiers. You can't strike up the courage to publish cartoons, but you can help Al Qaeda destroy my country. Actually, you are more dangerous to us than Al Qaeda is. Think about that each time you face Mecca to admire your Pulitzer.

You are America's "AXIS OF IDIOTS." Your collective stupidity will destroy us. Self-serving politics and terrorist abetting news scoops are more important to you than our national security or the lives of innocent civilians and soldiers. It bothers you that defending ourselves gets in the way of your elitist sport of politics and your ignorant editorializing. There is as much blood on your hands as is on the hands of murdering terrorists. Don't ever doubt that. Your frolics will only serve to extend this war as they extended Vietnam. If you want our soldiers home, as you claim, knock off the crap and try supporting your country ahead of supporting your silly political aims and aiding our enemies.

Yes, I'm questioning your patriotism Your loyalty ends with self. I'm also questioning why you're stealing air that decent Americans could be breathing. You don't deserve the protection of our men and women in uniform You need to run away from this war, this country. Leave the war to the people who have the will to see it through and the country to people who are willing to defend it.

No, Mr. President, you don't get off the hook, either.

Our country has two enemies: Those who want to destroy us from the outside and those who attempt it from within.

Your soldiers are dealing with the outside force.

It's your obligation to support them by confronting the AXIS OF IDIOTS.

America must hear it from you that these self-centered people are harming our country, abetting the enemy and endangering our safety.

Well-up a little anger, please, and channel it toward the appropriate target.

You must prosecute those who leak national security secrets to the media. You must prosecute those in the media who knowingly publish those secrets.

Our soldiers need you to confront the enemy that they cannot. They need you to do it, now!

JD. Pendry, Ret Sgt. Major US Army

The Movie Quiz

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The 4th of July

Have a happy 4th of July.

Have a drink and think of the friends and family that we have lost defending what we celebrate today.

Gates of Fire

I am just finishing this great novel by Stephen Pressfield called Gates of Fire. The story is of the valiant defense of the Hot Gates of Thermopylae in 480 B.C by the Knights of Sparta and various other Greek allies. It is a narrative based on the actual events of the battle during the Persian King Xerxes attempt conquer Greece. It is an absolute a must read.

Bastogne

Julia and I had the amazing opportunity to see one of the famed European battlefields of World War II this last Monday. As a daytrip, we decided to go and visit the Belgian town of Bastogne. Most everyone knows the story of the Battle of the Bulge and the 101st Airborne Divisions bold defense of the town. I had read the book by Stephen Ambrose Band of Brothers, so was reasonably familiar with the story of the battle. I know where most of the more known locations are and where the more popular site from the battle around the city, but a tour sounded nice and there happened to be a unique one ready for us.


This is Robert. He drove us around in an authentic 1943 Willies. Most people would call it a Jeep. He took us around to 6 of the most notable sites to included the Bastogne Historical Center and monument, the Peace Woods, the Bois Jacques, Foy, Noville, Recogne, Boggess Pillbox and Bastogne city center. We were able to see a lot of great sites with a nostalgic feel from riding in the Jeep. Here are some of the great pictures we took on that trip.


A Sherman Tank used by the 4th Armored Division during the assault to relieve Bastogne.

The monument is dedicated to the units involved in the fight during the Battle of the Bulge. Below the monument is a crypt dedicated to all soldiers of the Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths.


Foxholes in the Bois Jacques overlooking the town of Foy. I don't know if they were E Companies or not, but it is in the general area.


Two original buildings in Foy that stood during the battles. If you look close, you can still see bullet holes.



This is the Borggess Pillbox. This is where 1LT Charles Boggess' tank, the lead tank of C Company, 37th Tank Battaion, made the initial break of the ring around the town of Bastogne.

What Competative Sports are REALLY About

I think that it is sad that over the last several decades, the people of the US have become antagonistic toward the winning attitude Americans have historically been known for. We strive to be the best at everything that we do and if we fail, we always get back up and try harder until, sometimes after numerous failures, we finally succeed. I think that Gen. George S. Patton said it best in a speech he made to his Soldier's of the Third Army before the Invasion of Europe in World War II.

"Men, this stuff that some sources sling around about America wanting out of this war, not wanting to fight, is a crock of bull****. Americans love to fight, traditionally. All real Americans love the sting and clash of battle. You are here today for three reasons. First, because you are here to defend your homes and your loved ones. Second, you are here for your own self respect, because you would not want to be anywhere else. Third, you are here because you are real men and all real men like to fight. When you, here, everyone of you, were kids, you all admired the champion marble player, the fastest runner, the toughest boxer, the big league ball players, and the All-American football players. Americans love a winner. Americans will not tolerate a loser. Americans despise cowards. Americans play to win all of the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American."

This is the true spirit of America. That is why I was so glad to see this article about the Dodger's starting catcher Russell Martin. His attitude makes him popular with the fans as much as his performance. Just read the article and you will see what I mean.


Russell Martin Achieves Stardom in Second Big-league Season

The whole reason that we get so much satisfaction from watching sports is we love to see the Spurs sweep the Cavs or the Colts win their first Superbowl since they were in Baltimore. We like to see them win and when our team loses, we get a sinking, churning feeling in our guts, that accompanies our sadness and regret. This competition is what drives us, makes us better, and keeps us from settling with mediocrity.

COMPETITION IS AMERICAN.

Paris Hilton

OH SO FUNNY!!!

Fallen Friend

Last week my wife and I found out that a friend of ours from church was killed in Iraq.

Fallen Soldier is Remembered as a Selfless Friend

Just after I got back from Iraq last October, and I started going back to the church that I had been going to before the deployment. While there we met a new couple from the States new to Baumholder. His name was Bruce Horner and his wife’s name is Erin. We had actually met them through other friends the Beaulieus; Michael Beaulieu was my Fire Support NCO in Iraq. They met when Mike had a flat tire and Bruce stopped to help. They changed the tire and then Mike invited him and his wife to church on Sunday. Once they came to church, they quickly made many friends including us. We went out to dinner and hung out with them on several occasions and really clicked.

Bruce had been in the Active Army for several years 18 years ago as an MP and then decided to get out. During his break in service he served as a Reserve MP and Police Officer in Virginia. Then he ended up going back on Active Duty in 2006 and came to Baumholder. Unfortunately as soon as we got back, his unit was getting ready to deploy the next week.

Julia and I did have the opportunity to go out for dinner again when he was home on R&R in February. That was the last time that we were able to see him.

Bruce and his wife were several years older then us but we got along like we went to College together. He was a great inspiration to everyone he met and was a devoted husband a Christian.
Julia and I will miss him.

Respect

The life as a soldier is hard not because we fight our nations wars, but because those that do not fight, grate on our nerves. I am sure that everyone has heard the quote by Voltaire, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Well the same goes with what people do, and in the case of this article, with what people don’t do.

A Soldier’s Final Flight

I have been a soldier for going on three years now. I have been deployed once and preparing for my second. During that time, I have see soldiers killed and actually lost a couple friends as some of them. I paid them all of the respect that they deserved and would expect even those not in the military, even if they do not know the specific acts of respect, at least be respectful.

Please take this article to heart and do not do what these people did.

From a grateful Soldier

VETO

VETO!

Amazing London

Once again a large space goes between posts.

Julia and I just got back from London, England this weekend. We took 4 days away to visit the major sites of the city since, well, you can’t see everything in the span of 4 days. What we did see was amazing though. It was St. Patrick’s Day this weekend as many of you know, and there is nothing like an Irish native on St. Patrick’s. I just assumed that London was not going to be very popular for the holiday since Ireland and England have such an angry past. Needless to say, I was wrong. The major squares were bursting with people and the pubs were flowing into the streets. There were Irish flags, clovers and green everywhere in Leicester and Trafalgar Squares. It did make things livelier that is for sure.



We were able to see the Houses of Parliament including Big Ben, Westminster Abby, the London Tower (where we say the Crown Jewels) and Tower Bridge. We went to Trafalgar and Leicester Square (where we say Stomp and Blue Man group) and saw the change of the guard at the Buck House (Buckingham Palace) and checked out the Times Square of London, Piccadilly Circus. We had an amazing time and really enjoyed the fact that we could speak the language.

Travels

It has been way too long since I posted here. Julia and I are doing well here in Germany still. We went to Barcelona a month or so ago and now this weekend we are going to head to London. We are so excited since it is one of the places that we have wanted to go since we got to Europe. Besides the people speak English which is a comfortable change of pace. I have a long weekend this week so we were planning this trip for some time. Initially we wanted to go to Ireland but the tickets were so expensive and then it hit us, it is St Patrick’s Day this weekend. Then I started hearing from people that they were going to Dublin this weekend so we would end up running into too many Americans if we went this weekend anyway. We are excited to go to London anyway. I will be sure to post some pictures and stories when we get back.

Oreos

Ok so most people know that I love Oreo cookies. I was just browsing the internet today and found this add for Oreo Cookies.

Catch up and a New Job

And so here I am once again, back after a long time away. A lot has happened since I last posted. Well Christmas and New Years were great. Julia and I went to Tennessee for Christmas where we rented out a cabin with our families for the holiday. We enjoyed the time with everyone from our parents to my siblings. Unfortunately, Julia’s brother was unable to make it. He joined the Air Force and had to leave for his Basic Training only a few days before Christmas. It was too bad but we are excited to have him in the military family.
My new job is working out nicely. I have moved to a new Firing Battery in the Battalion as a Fire Direction Officer. Basically I supervise the calculation of the technical fire direction for three out of the 6 M109A6 Paladin Howitzers. I have a variety of other additional jobs too like supply officer (which is like be an executive officer, busy and sometimes chaotic). I stay busy and have had long hours since moving to the Battery. The other Lieutenants are great guys and we get along really well so that is good. The Commander is a great commander and great to work for. He is leaving soon though but we are gaining a great commander as his replacement.
Well I hope to be a little more consistent in making posts in the future, and this is a start.

Avoiding Chaos or Causing Chaos

Once again I step into my civilian shoes for this post.

With the results of the new Iraq Study Group’s release of its findings the other day, it seems that the “situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating.” According to the ISG, the US government should “launch a new diplomatic offensive to build an international consensus” to create stability for Iraq. They also recommend that we open this “diplomatic offensive” by talking with Iran and Syria, two of the most influential external supporters, financiers and suppliers to various insurgent groups within Iraq. By now almost everyone has heard or read what the ISG has recommended in their report. This post is not to elaborate on the already publicized news, but to show that the people of Iraq and the nation of Iraq are only fodder for a greater political scheme for the left. The report is filled with recommendations that would spell defeat for the United States in the Global War on Terror and the ultimate ruin of Iraq. These true professional politicians are willing to write off, no, consciously destroy the nation of Iraq for their own personal political gain. Even the politicians in Iraq are screaming for us not to leave.

If we even so much as hint that we are willing to bow to the likes of Iran and Syria, they will claim victory and we will, to use a leftist term, lose all credibility in our ability and determination to carry out this Global War on Terror. If we begin talks with Iran, their price for assistance will be nuclear weapons. If we talk with Syria, they will want control of Lebanon. When this scenario is over, there will be a nuclear power in the middle-east in the form of the most anti-US and anti-Israel nation in the region. This is the very thing we wanted to deal with by going to Iraq in the first place. Second, Lebanon will be controlled by a dramatically anti-Semitic/anti-Israel country causing further chaos in the region. In less time then we have been in Iraq, if the government follows these recommendations, the region will deteriorate into a far worse condition then where it is today.

Remember the Day of Infamy

Just a reminder that today is Pearl Harbor day. It was 7 December, 1941, 65 years ago, that these pictures were taken. I hope that our government remembers that we finished that war.


The picture above is of the USS Shaw. This ship in particular was the ship that two of my closest friends' grandfather was on at the time of the attack. He survived and tells some pretty wild stories.

St Barbara's Day Ball

Julia and I went to our first formal event with 4-27 last night. It was the annual St Barbara's Day Ball. According to legend, St Barbara is the saint of the Field Artillery. I could explain the whole story behind her, but you could just look her up and it would explain everything. The ball itself is a ceremony used to induct certain soldiers who have shown their dedication the the Field Artillery into the Order of Saint Barbara. There was a dinner, live jazz band, a punch ceremony, awards ceremony and a guest speaker address by the 1st Armored Division Commanding General. Ultimately, its a time that FA soldiers celebrate being Field Artillery soldiers.


Julia and I went with another couple that we went to OBC with last year, Justin and Michelle. It was an enjoyable event that gave us the excuse to dress up. The best part of the evening was Julia in her formal gown.

Islam is Hedonism

I have voiced my difficulties working with Muslims and the faith of Islam. On several occasions, working with interpreters during my deployment, they have told me what the Imams are saying from the local mosques during Friday prayer. One such case recently presented me with an interesting observation. In this particular message, the Imam was teaching almost the exact opposite of what I and my family as Christians and what many others believe.

The Imam said in the midst of talking about the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, “Ramadan is a month to get close to allah. The way that you get close to allah is to do what makes you feel good about yourself.”

When I heard this, I had an epiphany. As Christians we presuppose that as humans, we are “fallen.” Many people would read the word “fallen” and not understand what it means to a Christian. To explain, I need to go through some other theological points. Another presupposition that Christians hold is that God created humankind in His image and initially without sin only to have humanity turn their back on God in sin. Everyone knows the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. When they ate the fruit on the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they then “fell” from God’s favor disobeying a direct commandment and He could no longer fellowship with man as he once did. Now this has significance because with that falling, humanity became basically evil. Human actions, apart from God, are motivated by a soul that is evil and without good. It is like a dark room. Darkness itself is only the absence of light just like human kind is, without God, evil. Even Jesus told his disciples they were a light to the world (Matt 5:14). The perfect verse is John 3:19, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” Ultimately man is free from good without God. So if you follow the teaching of this Imam to its extent, you get humans doing whatever they want that makes them feel good. Well if man is evil and loves darkness, then what he does to make him feel good is going to be evil. Logically that is not a good thing. So my epiphany is this: Islam is just the same old Hedonism (indulging in whatever the person desires as a way of life) that has been around since the beginning of man. Islam is just another face of it.