Bang the Drum Slowly

Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure: Now You're Going To Make Me Talk About You

2008-10-27T10:50:00.002-05:00

Preach on Brother, Preach on.

Haole

Bill and Bob's Excellent Afghan Adventure: Now You're Going To Make Me Talk About You

Bombers blow themselves up on resistance from Pakistani locals

2008-09-18T22:29:00.003-05:00

Bombers blow themselves up on resistance from Pakistani locals
Pakistan News.NetThursday 18th September, 2008 (IANS)

Two of three suspected suicide bombers blew themselves up Thursday after residents in Pakistan's restive North West Frontier Province tried to apprehend them, officials said.

Three militants stopped briefly in the village of Maskeray in the Dir district, were spotted by residents and challenged, Mayor Bakht Sher said in a telephone interview. The two sides exchanged fire and the two militants blew themselves up, he said.

The third militant fled into a forest near the village but was later caught by the locals and beaten severely, Sher said.

'He told the locals that he was by profession a veterinary doctor and an Afghan national who had come to fight in Swat,' the mayor said.

The three men were travelling from the tribal district of Bajaur to the Swat Valley, which has seen intense fighting between security forces and pro-Taliban militants for almost one year.

The fighters in the valley - where the followers of a radical cleric, Maulana Fazlullah, have launched an armed campaign to enforce Taliban rule in the area - also get support from Taliban militants travelling through Dir from tribal regions.

Hundreds of people, including Taliban fighters and security personnel, have died in the yearlong fighting.Several parts of the North West Frontier Province - particularly those adjacent to the lawless tribal belt, which are known sanctuaries of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters - are suffering from rising Islamic militancy.

The Taliban have blown up hundreds of girls schools, music and barber shops and forced women to wear the veil in some areas, in addition to carrying out dozens of suicide attacks.

But the locals in Dir have so far resisted the spread of Taliban influence by organising small armed groups called peace committees to guard their villages against militants.Some media reports suggested that the three militants Thursday had tried to take hostage about 300 children in a primary school near which they stopped, but Sher denied that any such attempt was made.

'They never entered the school, and a very brief exchange of fire took place between them and the villagers near the outer wall of the school, after which they fled to the nearby forest, where two of them blew up,' he said

'Not a single bullet hit the school building,' he added.

'Thank God we heard the children screaming, and then almost every male in the village came out with a gun and forced the Taliban to flee,' said resident Ghulam Ghaous, 39, whose nine-year-old son was inside the school.

A little help from our friends

2008-09-02T12:22:00.002-05:00

08/05/2008 - A U.S. Soldier and a Canadian Air Force Airman help a citizen board a flight at Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, La., Aug. 31, 2008. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Defense are transporting citizens to destinations safely outside the path of Hurricane Gustav. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller, U.S. Air Force/Released).

The Man in the Door

2008-08-29T14:05:00.004-05:00

WE ARE SOLDIERS STILL, Lt Gen. Harold G. Moore (Ret.) & Joseph L. Galloway

2008-08-27T11:50:00.010-05:00

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

Pritzker Military Library
610 N. Fairbanks Ct, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
312.587.0234

Reservations suggested
Member reception: 5:00pm CDT
Presentation & live webcast: 6:00pm CDT
No Charge

They were soldiers once, and young – and today, though many years older, they are soldiers still.

It was the 1992 publication (and Vietnamese translation) of We Were Soldiers Once…and Young that allowed journalist Galloway and retired Lt. Gen. Moore to return to the Ia Drang Valley, in the remote Central Highlands of Vietnam, site of the battle chronicled in their first book. Joined by men they had fought with, such as Medal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall – and men they had fought against, such as North Vietnamese Lt. Gen. Nguyen Huu An – and equipped with only Moore’s old Army battle maps and Galloway’s very old Boy Scout compass, they returned to what they describe as “ground hallowed by the sacrifices of our men…no one who fought there, on either side, talked seriously about who won and who lost. In such a slaughterhouse there are no winners, only survivors.”

In We Are Soldiers Still, Galloway and Moore find occasion to reconcile with old enemies, examine the face of a land once scarred by war and now reclaimed by nature, and honor friends and young men lost in battle. They also reflect on lessons learned throughout their careers – how they were both changed by war, and how those lessons apply to wars being fought by young men today.

Joseph L. Galloway, sixty-six, is the author of a weekly syndicated column on military and national security affairs. He recently retired as senior military correspondent of Knight-Ridder Newspapers. Galloway spent twenty-two years as a foreign and war correspondent and bureau chief for United Press International, and nearly twenty years as a senior editor for U.S. News & World Report.

Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore, USA (Ret.), eighty-six, was a master parachutist and Army aviator, commanded two infantry companies in the Korean War, and was a battalion and brigade commander in Vietnam. He retired from the Army in 1977 with thirty-two years' service.

Joseph L. Galloway, sixty-six, is a native of Refugio, Texas. The author of a weekly syndicated column on military and national security affairs, he recently retired as senior military correspondent of Knight-Ridder Newspapers. Galloway was a special consultant to Gen. Colin Powell at the State Department in 2001 and 2002. Galloway spent twenty-two years as a foreign and war correspondent and bureau chief for United Press International, and nearly twenty years as a senior editor and senior writer for U.S. News & World Report. He lives in Bayside, Texas.

Lt. Gen. Harold G. Moore (USA Ret.), now eighty-six, was born in Kentucky. A West Point graduate, Moore was a master parachutist and Army aviator, commanded two infantry companies in the Korean War, and was a battalion and brigade commander in Vietnam. He retired from the Army in 1977 with thirty-two years' service, and served as executive vice president of a Colorado ski resort for four years before founding a computer software company. Moore lives in Auburn, Alabama.
HarperCollins

Mail to Afghanistan

2008-07-25T11:15:00.002-05:00

Near the end of this video is a good view of mail handling in Afghanistan.

Just heard about of a support effort starting up for some new troopers in Afghanistan. Welcome the 6-4 CAV.

http://gratitudeprayers.blogspot.com/

Haole OUT

Media Reports Exaggerated Outpost Battle

2008-07-21T13:43:00.003-05:00

Thank you Col Presler ! ! !

Continueing the fight.

"I get emotional about this, you’ll have to forgive me," he said. "These guys have fought for 15 months, and they have fought harder, and I mean this literally, they have fought harder and (had) more engagements, more direct-fire engagements, than any brigade in the United States Army in probably the toughest terrain. These guys are absolutely veterans and they know what they’re doing and they have that airborne spirit and they fought a very, very tough battle and held the ground and did everything they were supposed to do."

Read the Rest of the Story.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56252

Welcome 3-1 ID

2008-07-21T10:36:00.010-05:00

We gearing up to support some new guys on the block (the Kush Hindu Mountains). Check back for a new blog, devoted to supporting the 6th Squadron, 4th CAV Regiment 3rd Brigade 1st Infantry Division. Hereafter known as the

6-4 CAV Raiders

This effort will be continuing the support for guys in the same area as the fantastic 173rd.

(you'll recognize the names of the support team)

The Welcome Home for the 173rd to Vicenza, Italy continues.
http://173rdskyangelsfund.euphoricreality.com/

Prepare yourselves to become acquainted with the 6-4 Cav 3rd Brigade of the 1st ID.

Raiders Lead the Way

Remember:
"We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. George Orwell

I thought this was an interesting perspective.

God bless all our troops and their families.

CARRIER . Video | PBS

2008-04-17T14:19:00.003-05:00

Go here to view 23 minutes of the documentary.
http://www.pbs.org/weta/carrier/video.php

It was a LONG download, so I just downloaded the site.

If you have never stood looking up at an AirCraft Carrier, you cannot imagine the immensity of these floating cities.

Go here to view specific info on the carrier.

CARRIER . Video PBS

Brandon Friedman / Marcus Luttrell American Warriors

2007-11-06T18:45:00.000-06:00

Saturday was a wonderful morning at the TEXAS book festival with Brandon Friedman, Marcus Luttrell, and Jim Hornfischer, the panel discussion of Afghanistan, and the following book signing. Their family and friends were wonderful, and it was a remarkable day. Lots of fun, lots of information, lots of emotion !

I don't know what people were expecting, but they were treated to an insightful view of battle from two typical young Americans. Typical, yet men of courage and commitment called into atypical situations. Battle is not a comfortable situation, as these young men graphically described. No matter how excellent the training, they described the way the senses are bombarded. The sights, the sounds, the smells ---- definitely not a video game, or a day on the ranch doing chores. Thank God we have such young Americans serving in harm's way in the battle against TERROR.

The audience was attentive, and involved. They were so appreciative of these young men, and I believe Brandon and Marcus could feel the connection. I know their was a connection only they could feel, as possibly they were the only ones in the room who truly knew the ravages of war.

Well, I'm off tomorrow toward a brighter future of walking without as much pain. The surgery is on. Catch me at the North Austin Medical Center ----- bring coca-cola. It's a Pepsi zone.

Sox win the series

2007-10-28T23:44:00.000-05:00

SOX nation --- we could get used to this.

Keep Lowell Bring on A-Rod

More on a great day

2007-10-27T09:08:00.000-05:00

Out my front door, what a way to begin the day. . .

And UT fall exhibition game.

I keep telling you how blessed I am.

A great Day . . .

2007-10-26T00:41:00.000-05:00

Today has been a great day.

Doonsbury, The Sandbox finally came, and it looks great !

The pumpkin spice coffee was fantastic.

Pulling together as a group in the office, was rewarding.

The Texas Book Festival Posters were delivered, and are awesome.

Met by phone, a wonderful woman (submariner wife, Baseball fan).

Terri wrote a wonderful post on why Americans enlist, and Terri is seeing the beginnings of a dream accomplished.

Acquantances with various physical ailments seem to be getting answers, and moving toward better health.

All of my contacts in war zones, are well, and blogging steadily.

Progress is being made toward surgery.

Boston took game two.

UT plays baseball tomorrow.

Ashlee and Brooke play volley ball Saturday.

The John Deere is home, and mowing is a wonderful experience again.

There are two flat driveways to the house.

Hershey makes dark chocolate M&M’s.

Day ONE --- No Coca-Cola (I know I can, I know I can, but I really don't want to!)

Life is good !

Thank you God !

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Salerno Hospital

2007-10-15T00:37:00.000-05:00

Caring for the Best is the motto/mission of Salerno Hospital at FOB Salerno. Located at Khowst, Afghanistan --- they are on the front edge of caring for "the best" their fellow warriors, and Afghan nationals.

Check out "Richard's Deployment to Afghanistan . . ." as LTC Richard Phillips, commander of Salerno Hospital, and some guest bloggers chronicle the progress at Salerno Hospital.

Comment and ask questions, and let these warriors know we appreciate their service.

Okay, This is it . . .

2007-10-15T00:21:00.000-05:00

The date for my first knee replacement surgery has been set. Nov. 7th Wednesday AFTERNOON.

I understand there is a pool forming as to whether I'll go through with it, this time.

Put your money on the positive. First this one, and then rehab, so I can get the right one completed.

I am ready, AND I am terrified ! ! !

I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO SIGN SOMETHING ASKING THEM TO CUT OUT THE MIDDLE OF MY LEG. Am I the only one who questions my sanity on this ! ! ! !

But, I have rehabed to get ready to do this and I am psyched.

Stayed tuned, I will be chronicling the whole thing.

In a total knee replacement, an incision is made to expose the knee joint (A). The surfaces of the femur are cut with a saw to receive the prosthesis (B). The tibia is cut to create a plateau (C). The prostheses for the femur, tibia, and patella are put in place (D). The incision is closed (E). (
Illustration by GGS Inc.)

It really does say "CUT WITH A SAW." This is not a pretty picture.

*
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Badgers Forward: "Ya like the rock melon?"#links

2007-10-08T01:38:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Badgers Forward Readers of the Week - HAOLE WAHINE via comments

Badgers Forward: "Ya like the rock melon?"#links

New chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

2007-10-04T14:39:00.000-05:00

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, greets service members assigned to Forward Operating Base Bucca in southern Iraq, Oct. 3, 2007. Mullen is on his first tour of the Central Command area of operation visiting with the leadership and service members assigned to the region since becoming chairman on Oct. 1. Defense Dept. photo by Navy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley.

If you haven't already seen the letter from Admiral Michael G. Mullen to the troops:

To America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and your families,

I am honored today to begin my term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. As I do allow me to thank you for your service at this critical time in our Nation's history.

Whether you serve in Baghdad, Bagram, Kabul or Kuwait -- whether you find yourself
at sea in the Pacific, flying support missions over Eurpoe, on the ground in Africa, or working every day at stateside bases -- you are making a difference and so is every person in your family Your service matters. And I do not take it for granted.

The world is a dangerous place. The hundreds of thousands of you who have deployed since September 11th -- many of you more than once -- already know that. You've stood up to those dangers. You have lost friends to them. You may even have lost some of yourself to them. The dangers of this new and uncertain era have hit you and the people you love squarely in the gut. I will not lose sight of that.

Nor should any of us lose sight of the need to continue serving. The enemies we face, from radical jihadists to regional powers with nuclear ambitions, directly and irrefutably threaten our vital national interests. They threaten our very way of life.

You stand between these dangers and the American people. You are the sentinels of freedom. You signed up, took an oath, made a promise to defend something larger than yourselves. And then you went out and did it. I am grateful and honored, to be able to serve alongside you.

The law says my main job is to advise the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council on issues of military readiness and capabilities. I will do that. But, I also see myself as your representative to those same leaders, an advocate for what matters to you and your families -- your voice in the policies, programs, and processes that affect our National security. I will not forget the impact my decisions have on you.

I will remember that you, too, comprise a great generation of patriots, and that among you are combat veterans with battlefield experience that many at my level have never and will never endure. I will tap that experience. I want to make sure we learn from it.

I am not interested in planning to fight the last war, but neither am I interested in ignoring the valuable lessons we continue to learn from this one. It would be foolish to dismiss the knowledge you have gained. I will not do that.

I know the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are taking a toll on you and your families. They are taking a toll on our equipment, our systems, and our ability to train as well. I worry, quite frankly, that they are taking a toll on our readiness for other threats in other places.

But that does not mean our struggles there are not important. They most certainly are important. They are vital.

To the degree the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contribute to or detract from a stable, secure Middle East, they bear a direct effect on the security of the United States. That is why my number one priority will be developing a comprehensive strategy to defend our Nation interests in the region.

Next on my list is resetting, reconstituting, and revitalizing our Armed Forces, especially the Army and Marine Corps. I believe our ground forces are the center of gravity for the all-volunteer force and that we need to make sure that force is correctly shaped and sized, trained, and equipped to defend the Nation.

Finally, I intend to properly balance global strategic risk. We must stay mindful of our many global security commitments and of the core war fighting capabilities, resources, and partnerships required to conduct operations across the full spectrum of peace and conflict. The demands of current operations, however great, should not dominate our training exercises, education curricula, and readiness programs.

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan will one day end. We must be ready for who and what comes after.

There is much to do. The speed of war, the pace of change, is too great for any of us to manage it alone. I need your help, your ideas, and your input. Whenever I travel to the field and to the fleet, I expect you to tell me what's on your mind. Tell me what you think. I need your constant feedback. I can't succeed -- we can't succeed -- without it.

You made a promise to defend this country. Let me make one to you: I will listen to you. I will learn from you. And I will endeavor to lead always with your best interest at heart.

The way I see it, that is my job now.

M. G. Mullen

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Introducing "DEEBOW"

2007-09-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

As Blackfive says: Notice the damn sexy American Fighting Man

http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2819/2174932

A NEW old warrior with so much Afstan experience (If you don't know about the elephant, you really need to learn the "forgotten war"), he brings a whole new WINDOW.

Get on over to Blackfive and RSS/ATOM that site --- come on surely you already had it RSS'd !

If you didn't PLEASE don't admit it.

Really, though, ALL the light we can shed to NEVER FORGET !

Welcome DEEBOW

Disbanding the Iraqi Army

2007-09-18T21:39:00.000-05:00

Charles Ferguson, a filmmaker, presents a rebuttal to claims made by L. Paul Bremer III that top American officials approved the decision to disband the Iraqi army.

http://video.on.nytimes.com/?fr_story=54a96b0d367da6ce96eb1401f0e127f76688ddd6

THE WAR A Ken Burns Film

2007-09-18T17:39:00.000-05:00

PBS will start airing THE WAR, directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, Sunday September 23, 2007.

View the preview: http://www.pbs.org/thewar/video_clips.htm

It's 29 minutes long, but time well spent.

Harry J. McKinney (Mac) was my Daddy. He's passed on, now, but he was a SEABEE. We didn't hear many details of his service, but we sure knew his pride.

He came to visit when we were stationed at Pearl during the 70's.

He and I drove and we drove and we drove, looking and for Red Hill, because that was where he had helped construct a "whole lot of buildings." He just could not believe that it had been dug up and carried away to make room for the highway.

He went to the Arizona Memorial, but we and all around us got a heartful. "They wouldn't let us get those boys home to their mothers." His opinion, but one we heard very loudly.

Then there was Punchbowl National Cemetery.
My Daddy wasn't one for reading historical markers, but he walked every step, around every one of those great stones. He found names he said he hadn't thought of for years, and the tear would show --- before he moved on. All he said about the little sand boxes of the battles across the Pacific, was "Yeah, looks about right."

"They didn't like us boys with the cats. We'd just raise that blade and go on," was all I ever heard about I Iwo Jima. Oh, there was something about trying to build a runway, and it being hard because they kept landing planes on it. But I'm not sure where he was talking about.

So, I'll be watching THE WAR because that's my Daddy, uncle Bob, uncle George, uncle Orn, uncle David,

AND the rest of my family that waited and kept things going at home

*
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*
*

Tired of hearing about Cindy Sheehan ---- Read about a true HERO father

2007-09-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

Jump over to aSoldier'sMind
http://soldiersmind.com/2007/09/18/gold-star-father-turns-grief-into-advocacy-for-war/

to read about John Wroblewski --- a true American Hero Father.

thank you, Wroblewski family

Two Box Tissue Alert . . .

2007-09-16T13:21:00.000-05:00

Thanks ASP . . .

"This is a great song and video from Christian recording artist, Mark Schultz called Letters From War. Enjoy!!"

Army Participating In National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 9-15

2007-09-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

If you have just driven on through blog posts, and never commented. STOP AND COMMENT on a Soldier's Mind, on this.

http://soldiersmind.com/2007/09/13/army-takes-part-in-national-suicide-prevention-week-sept-9-15/

GET INVOLVED !

A kind word,

a handshake,

follow-through.

Never miss the chance to do good!

Rej

Our International Friends . . .

2007-09-11T21:27:00.000-05:00

Received this letter sent to a few Americans from a new acquaintance in Belgium . . .

Dear All, guys,

It has been exactley 6 years today since the attacks on the twin towers happened. In these years a lot of things have changed for all of us, for the world and to some of you, my friends…
I know that most of you have started to participate in the fight on terror, in whatever way, training, consulting, in your day to day job or even going to war!!!!
From this side of the lake, a lot of comments have been raised by people that have no clue, but on this tragic ‘birthday’ I wanted to let all of you know, how proud I am to know you, to have you doing what you are to allow my family, my girl and myself to go to sleep every night peacefully….
Here, in my surroundings we had a moment of silence for all the heroes lost, for all the heroes still fighting!!!! We think of you and support you as much as we can, all day every day!!!
SEMPER FI says it all, and THANK YOU doesn’t even come close, but words are not enough to express the minute of silence and its inpact on our hearts, that goes out to you all!!!!

Hope to see you all soon,

Kris and Josine

“Courage is required every day of your life - stand by your dreams and strive always to be prepared, for one day you will be tested!”- United States Navy Seals on Courage

Krisztian Zerbowitz

www.jkd.be
krisztian.zerkowitz@telenet.b

Speaks for Itself . . .

2007-09-11T20:14:00.000-05:00

9 / 11

N e v e r F o r g e t

Texas trash talk and sarge charlie's southern stuff

2007-09-05T23:27:00.000-05:00

In deference to Sarge Charlie's southern stuff

sarge charlie: Southern stuff

I offer a little TEXAS trash talk. No not UT's game? against ARKANSAS STATE -- that was garbage. This is trash talk.

One thing visitors and newcomers

invariably get wrong is "y'all,"

which is mostly used as a plural,

That is , except in the expression,

"Y'allcomeback, heah?"

and that can be addressed

to a solitary individual.

When a Texan tells you:

"This ain't my first rodeo,"

He's telling you he really knows what's up.

When there's a possibility a

Texan can or will do something,

he or she will.

Texas and the matter of death.

It just isn't done among God-fearing folk.

If you live in Texas, you better not die.

You'd best "pass away" or even better,

"passed into eternal rest in the arms of the Lord,"

or even,

"gone fishing with Jesus."

You know you're in Texas when ...

Summer is followed by more summer, still summer, and Christmas.

The thermostat is switched from A/C to heat and back on the same day.

Stores don't have bags; they have sacks.

Kids find themselves trick-or-treating in 90-degree heat.

Bridges, or rivers, are not necessarily associated with water.

Hot water comes out of both taps in August.

The cafe utilizes five spices:

Salt

Pepper

Ranch dressing,

BBQ sauce

and Ketchup

Twangit, Dangit!

I can explain it to you but,

I can't understand it for you!

Special thanks to Jennifer Briggs

Afgha.com - News - Summary

2007-09-02T12:41:00.000-05:00

NEVER FORGET !
News from Afgha.com News on the "Forgotten War":

Taliban attach kills Afghan Civilians
http://www.afgha.com/?q=node/4133

More Fighting Reported in Musa Qala
http://www.afgha.com/?q=node/4134

Top Taliban military leader, Mullah Berader, killed in Coalition
assault
http://www.afgha.com/?q=node/4128

Remember all our Warriors

Badgers Forward: Publication Day - The Sandbox

2007-09-01T17:18:00.000-05:00

Badgers Forward: Publication Day - The Sandbox

Amazon promises delivery on Sept 5. Harry Potter was delivered on publication day, but email says shipping delayed. Drats ! ! !

Badger 6 promises to try to pursade TD into a book signing tour.

TEXAS TEXAS TEXAS

Check it out for all your favorite blogs. The list is fantastic.

Amazon does have the Table of Contents, up so pull it up ! http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0740769456/ref=sib_dp_pt/102-4352937-0347353#reader-link

82nd Makes Front Page NYTimes ....

2007-08-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

Guess Eighty Deuce meant it when he said they were busy.
http://airborneparainf82.blogspot.com/

Even the NYTimes took notice. Okay, the stories weren't the best, but work with me here.
http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2007/08/25/pageone/scan/index.html

We all know the 82nd rocks, and is taking care of business. ........

the caption reads:
"Members of 82nd Airborne Division heading to a rooftop after rockets were fired yesterday in a Baghdad neighborhood."

picture credit --SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES

It's OFFICIAL, I don't live on a road Anymore ....

2007-08-21T00:26:00.000-05:00

I used to live on a nice little pot holed county road, just outside Hutto, Texas.

At first they just dug up the South side of the road.

Then, they dug up all the asphalt for one mile on either side of my driveway.

Today after Work!

I think they mean business ! ! !

Yes, my NEON fit between the shovel and the back of the grader.

Poor Baby, I think the NEON would accept a new family far far away from this nightmare.

Check it out.......

2007-08-11T22:53:00.000-05:00

A*W*A*C has done it again.

Check out Capt Mike Toomer's post, okay rant.
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/1043326/2076973

Then, let's back him up.

Marcus Luttrell, The Lone Survivor, booked for TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL

2007-08-02T23:28:00.000-05:00

“The Texas Book Festival, and Marcus Luttrell have both tentatively confirmed he will be one of the authors at the 2007 edition of the Texas Book Festival; Austin, Texas, the weekend of Nov 3-4, 2007. Laura Bush was the founding chairman of TBF, which is in it’s 13th year. The schedule will not become official till mid-September, but plan on coming for the weekend."

Click here for TBF: http://www.texasbookfestival.org/

“In the festival format each author, or a panel of authors, is interviewed by a moderator, and then questions are taken from the floor. So, the author does most of the speaking. But it is not a speaker’s forum. It is quite casual. All sessions are held in different meeting rooms of the State Capitol building, with book signings in a tent on the Capitol grounds, after each session.”

The TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL is quite an event. It is not high falutin' (for those non-Texans, that means no one is putting on airs), and everyone is welcome.

There is absolutely no charge for the book festival (well maybe for parking at some of the lots), and they will have books available. But just about everywhere, they have run out of The Lone Survivor.

Remember this is Austin, and the liberal loonies can come out in hordes if provoked. Cotten pickin' they don't even have to be provoked, they just provoke themselves. So, this is our chance to show who "really supports the troops" and the jobs they are doing.

This is a really good excuse to come to TEXAS. I can't imagine anyone needing a good excuse to come to TEXAS, but if you do --this is a good one. There is plenty of RV parking around this area, if you are so inclined. Anyone coming can contact me at hutto_longtime@yahoo.com. I'll be glad to answer any questions, and find out anymore details you may need. Clay at TBF asked me how large a crowd I thought there might be. I told him I'd let him know, so they made sure Marcus was in a large enough room. So contact me, and I'll flood Clay's office with numbers.

Help us get the word out. A soldier's mind has heard from so many people who missed Marcus at preceding book signings. As I said, mil blogs were about the only sources of publicity for Marcus's book signings. So put the word out at all the blogs you frequent, and feel free to use the hutto_longtime@yahoo.com for anyone needing more information.

This is TEXAS, so WE WILL be having a bar-b-que, boots optional.
It will probably be Saturday nite, Nov 3, 2007.
Wouldn't a sunrise
prayer service for the troops be a great idea?

Ya'll come, and meet the bloggers, commenters, and other AMERICANS who support our troops and their efforts. Bring cameras and take pictures to send your military families that show who and how many AMERICANS are really supporting them.

Afstan...

2007-07-28T23:21:00.000-05:00

Marcus Luttrell's Lone Survivor is a must read. Drink plenty of water before beginning to read, make no plans to do anything else but read, and stock up on tissues. You will need to hydrate because one minute you're crying real tears, and the next page you're laughing so hard--there's more tears. Blackfive and a soldier's mind have great details, so I send you to them.

http://soldiersmind.com/2007/07/12/marcus-luttrell-book-tour/

http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/07/book-review-lon.html

I have recently heard of a woman you need to know. I am continuing to search for details to flesh out the biography. Right now in America, she seems to be more famous for being murdered in her bed in Afghanistan, than her life.

She is Zakia Zaki.

There is a clip on her:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4j9pQ7L6M

I intend to add information on her as I am able to digest it.

It's almost Sunday morning, I hope you are blessed with a church family that enriches you.

What Do You Mean No One's Gotten Email for 4 days...

2007-07-24T23:21:00.000-05:00

No where on my resume, or job description does it say mind reader. I know I checked today. Our business receives 75% of our inventory (Names) by email from all over the earth. I've been tied up with internet/phone T1 bounces, and of course that fried harddrive (MINE), so my standard office email account hasn't been high on my agenda. I have gone into the server remotely several times, and trust me all my email from the last 3 weeks is still there. People should be getting bounces soon, as it will be full. BREAK MY HEART.

So, the innocent question, this morning "Any idea when the email problem will be cleared up?" Kinda took me aback.
"Just what kinda email problem?"
"Oh, no one has gotten any email since the 19th."
"NO ONE!"
"Yes, No One. I thought you knew!"
"Did you submit a ticket?"
"No, I thought you knew. Everyone else knew."
"Well, has anyone done anything about it. LIKE SUBMIT A TICKET!"
"Oh no, we figured you knew."
"Didn't you get the email about the alarms being turned off, so I needed to be notified personally if you had any other problems."
"Oh, yes, but we figured you just knew about this, since it has affected everyone."

There I feel better now--It is just as silly writing it as it was when it took place.

Milestone--got my hair cut Today.

The military blogs are really getting positive. There is so much good writing going on out there from our boots on the ground, and former boots, and those that love and respect them.

Today AMAZON delivered Warriors: On Living with Courage, Discipline, and Honor; Wars of Blood and Faith; Power, Faith, and Fantasy; and the Harry Potter audio CD's.

It's been raining the past 2 days, and supposed to continue tomorrow. The ears of corn are going to sprout, if this keeps up.

Friday will go to Ft Hood for Marcus Luttrell's booksigning. Will be nice to see Terri again. She is doing a great job at asoldier'smind.

Sounds familiar

2007-07-20T21:27:00.000-05:00

Mil Blog put out a call for supporters for Soldier Angels. I applied, as some of my guys and gals have rotated home. Good timing for me.

The unlikely soldier was really ranting the past few days. Reminded me of all of us sitting around on the floor in Hawaii. Complaining, pointing all the foible actions of whatever authority was the topic of discussion, and going right back at it the next day. Remember this was right after Nixon. I guess some things never change.

Heard more about a remarkable person in Afghanistan--Zakia Zaki. Thanks Eddie. Right now seems she is more famous for being murdered, but her life was remarkable. She was the owner/operator of a radio station, before the Taliban fell. She was also the director of a school. Will write more as I learn about her.

But Officer this is the best reception in town...

2007-07-19T22:49:00.000-05:00

Bookkeeper called and needed help running reports, just as I was about to turn into Uncle Bill's driveway at Steelhouse Lake. Could not get good reception on both phone and broadband card at same time and could not find a Schlotsky's, so wound up on the Home Depot parking lot in Killeen. Set laptop up and running on trunk, call Dot, and start stepping her through the reports. I'm pacing around the parking lot, trying to walk her through and through and through each little step. It really was fun, and the pacing helped. Didn't get very far from the side of the car, so no fear of falling. Suddenly realized i was very animated. But, it was really going great--I'm never gonna see any of those people again, anyway.

Now the Highway Patrolman was another matter. (I'm sorry they will never be trooper) He went by once, when I was making a very pointed point (get the point), and was drove back past about 5 minutes later. I didn't think anything about it, he's finished whatever he was doing and was just coming back. The third time past. OK this is not good! Sure enough, turns around and comes back. This is not good. There is no one else around for a good 100 yards, but little ole me. He doesn't park right next to me, but a good 5 - 6 spaces. Gets out, and does his little slow walk up. I'm thinking -- okay they won't come to an accident on a parking lot so you can get that magic little piece of paper that makes accident reports so glorious. Does that also mean, they can't arrest you on a parking lot????? Missssssss Is there a problem----Give me a break Missssssss-----I've got a good 20 years on him. No, sir I'm just trying to help someone back at the office. Well, you seem a little agitated. No sir, not anymore, I think we've got it working just fine now. I'm just gonna hang around for the bookkeeper to call back, if there's another problem. By now he's to the car. THIS IS ALL ABOUT THE LAP TOP SITTING ON THE TRUNK!!!!!! He's been looking at laptops, and wonders how I like my HP as compared to DELLs. That's what he said, anyway, could have been looking for bomb triggers for all I know. After pulling a DVD out of the backseat for him to see how wonderful it looks on the 17" screen. Mega RAM, Extra speed in processor, wireless mouse, broadband card, and he wants to see a #%#%## DVD???? After he gets to play with the games a few minutes, Well M'am (so now I'm a m'am) looks like you've calmed down. You know it's not really good to drive when you're that agitated. CALGON TAKE ME AWAY!

And So It Begins . . .

2007-07-19T00:14:00.000-05:00

Took seven years, but those that took my cowboy have finally been dealt with justly. And from that justice I am now capable of seeing not only to my needs, but am able to generously share with others.

Friends tell me to get on with my life, that I've completed my obligation to my cowboy. But they don't understand my life doesn't exist, anymore.

So, I'm starting over. AGAIN!

Doesn't seem to be any way I can do anything else.

So, join me for the ride. It hasn't been boring so far, and I have no reason to believe that will change.

My love, I've kept every promise I ever made to you, and now I've run out of promises to keep. So, I guess I have to be off again. More windmills to tilt at , don't you know. Leave the light on for me, because I will find you when it's my time. Till then, I'm trying to relocate the person I was when you loved me, and I continue seeking the joy this life brought both of us.