Attention Veterans

Due to recent events and discussions with a couple other Vets, I thought I'd post these thoughts.

Our WWI Vets are gone. We are losing our WWII Vets every day. Our slightly older brothers-in-arms from the Korean War, are also getting older and they'll be following our WWII Vets home more and more. And for my generation, us Vietnam Vets are no spring chickens anymore.

When our Veterans go home, they take with them all their memories. If no one captures those memories on recordings or on paper, then no one can learn anything from what they could pass on.

I have started something of a journal or book. I have no plans on marketing such a thing (although many do so with much success), but do want to have it copied, at least for my kids, and their kids. I want it to tell MY story, and share my thoughts and memories. I want it to be here, long after I go home one last time.

Everyone has to deal with their experiences in what ever way it right for them. But, my fellow Vets, from all conflicts, I would encourage you to document YOUR thoughts and experiences, and keep them for those who will follow some day. With today's computers and flash drives, it is easier that ever to write such thoughts down, and safe them, until YOU are ready for anyone else to read them, even it's to be read only have you have gone home.

I would encourage all Veterans to do so. And for the record, I am still working on my own memories, and it's taking me more than 10 years, and I'm still not done. You too may have some things you can't say to yourself yet, but don't let that stop you from starting, and putting down those things you can say to yourself.

THANK YOU to all our Vets, past and present.
God Bless you all.
AIRBORNE!

Open letter to Obama

(I post this here for anyone else to read, as I seriously doubt he will read the one I mailed to him.)

Dear Mr. President,

I write this with great concern for our nation. And, with a greater concern for who is at the helm.

Mr. President, you ran as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States of America. As such, you won that election, and became THE President of the United States of America.

Sir, you are NOT the Democratic President of the United States. You are THE President of the United States of America....President - to all Americans. The election is over, and it is time that you consider ALL Americans in your decisions, not just the democratic majority (by a very slight margin). Mr. President, I expect YOU to also look out for me, even if I am a Republican.

Sir, the Presidential election results were about 53% for you, and about 46% for McCain. And for the healthcare ideas YOU are pushing, the top ten poll averages are running about 53% AGAINST the currently proposed plans, and about 38% FOR it.

Mr. President...PLEASE...BE the AMERICAN PRESIDENT, and not just the president of half (or less) of America! The decisions you make, affect ALL of us.

You want my support? You want the support from the "other half"? How about LISTENING to the other half?

Be the AMERICAN President. Stop being the President of just Democrats! You sold yourself as being the President of change, and would stop "politics as usual". Now show ALL of us that you will follow through. Otherwise, you are no better than any other self indulgent politician, from either side of the isle.

Terrorism risk?

Today's news included a panel of those in the CIA, Homeland Security, and the FBI, who were asked by members of a Congressional hearing, if the US could expect a terrorist attempt to strike within the U.S. within the next 3 - 6 months. They all agreed that it was a certainty, that an attempt would take place.

So far, we have been only slightly lucky. The Texas man was discovered early, and his attempt to blow up a Dallas high-rise was thwarted by the FBI.

The "Christmas Day" bomber, just didn't get his compounds right. Instead of just a fire in his pants, it could have blown the airliner up in mid-air.

And the Army Major at Fort Bliss! No bomb, just two handguns and lots of ammo. Our soldiers were sitting ducks for the murderous Major Hasan.

These are cases we know of. What don't we know, because of national security?

In the latest reports, it is suggested that any new attacks on our soil, may likely be of the small, simply armed individuals. Could they also be small "teams" of men with simple weapons made in the kitchen? Or civilian style weapons, modified to be more lethal?

If there is another attack, I would expect well organized attacks across the nation, much like those we see in Iraq, where at a given time, terrorists unleash attacks at selected targets. And true to the terrorist we have seen, military and/or police targets will not be their focus. Let's face it...military (in general) and police....are ARMED.

And this brings me to this - the 2nd Amendment has never been more important. A free society, legally able to bear arms, at least presents an opportunity for a response before the police can arrive. ... Unless you live in NYC, then you'd better hope they have enough police to cover all the potential target areas!

If you were such a terrorist, would you choose a community known to be full of redneck hunters? Or a community known for their restrictive firearms laws? Risk armed resistance? Or go for the unarmed people, knowing the police can't save them?

Today... it is time for the 21st century Minuteman to wake up and be ready for ANYTHING.