I have been a Glenn Beck fan before he dived headlong into politcs. I think he is the most vibrant and energizing figure in conservative talk radio right now no doubt. Yet the very audio above and then some disappointed me. Have we gotten to the point that we question a young man or woman's desire to serve? Have we gotten to the point that because of political differences that we hold them in higher regard than service to our country? Obviously, this is a very serious subject in regards to serving and how one's family feels. However Glenn Beck put his politics above all else here.

  I shouldn't say you "cannot" but you certainly SHOULD NOT disuade anyone from serving because of political notions. It is because of those who have served that he has the right to voice his opinion, but because you CAN say something doesn't mean you SHOULD say something. What makes this view any different from that of Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi who are known defeatists?  This war is not over Glenn, this war is not pretty. However, please name for me ONE war that this country has fought that was flawless that was free of mistakes and delay...Name me just one.

 To pretend and broadcast that this war in Afgahanistan is done or to hint that it is over because of who is in office is irresponsible and wrong. It doesn't matter who is in office. Do you think that those that stormed the beaches of Normandy gave a rat's ass if their buddies were Democrats or Republicans? Do you think that all were in favor of FDR? No....No they weren't . This is a ridiculous and an irresponsible knee jerk approach, and is wrong and divisive.  I expect better from Glenn Beck.  I think Beck needs to rethink how his views resonate and to step down off of his cloud just for a minute.

 There is change coming...Beck is a part of that change. However, to give up and fold on our troops now is preposterous. If you look into our country's history you will find that we have overcome much more difficult and broad situations. Our war today is easily won, if we don't fold within our own borders while our troops battle overseas.

God Bless Our Troops

Thx
LT

                                       
 As I drove into work today it all kind of hit me on how sad so much is today. Just crossing the bridge and a look to the right, the MEPS building's flag flying at half mast. Pulling onto the lot at work, our flag was flying at half mast.

 Veteran's Days should be a day of bitter sweet. A day of celebrating our Vets passed and living. Today it is over shadowed by a freakish and tragic event at Fort Hood Texas. People in our own unifirm gunning down people in our own uniform at home. An event that will change military life on posts forever.

  This entry I write today may or may not piss off some of my favorite Vets or Vets reading. Those that I know and love, I am certain are with me in my feelings. Those that I hold dearly are in a far better place and know much more than any of us down here do. This all looks certainly senseless to them.

 Yet, when I hear and read of fellow Amerericans making every excuse of the killings at Ft Hood, other than what it is.
 A troubled man, a man torn between his religion and duty, or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? It infuriates me. We are at war with radical Islam and this killer made no bones about where he stood. He disgraced our country and our uniform and killed mothers, fathers, friends, neighbors, aunts, and uncles. He devastated families forever. Yet, the media digs for REASON and the safe haven of their mainstay of defending the wrong victim. Little by little they dribble their nonsense into trumped reason when it comes to this tragedy... All meant to avoid the reality of the situation.

 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? Really? I can only speak for myslef and those I know and love in regards to the military. The military ALWAYS messes with your head, from start to finish. From the littlest things to the major moves and deployments. It's not done on purpose, it's the military. It's how it's supposed to be.

 When I was leaving for Somalia for example. We were on alert for two months. Every morning for those two months as we sit in the barracks we could be leaving each day and not knowing if THIS WAS THE DAY. Not knowing if we were going to be back home that night to our families for one more dinner and quality time. Then finally after going through that? THAT day came. In my mind, I was convinced we really weren't going, even as we were in line with our equipment to board the jet on the tarmack. Even the loud hum of the jet engines didn't convince me until we were in the air. That is how bad it can mess with you and I hadn't even set foot in Africa yet. Thank God for my buddies.

 My grandfather who I miss so so much. He was/is my reason for feeling the way I do, the reason I feel so proud of this country. he was a hero at war, and an even greater hero in his life after the war.  He was a Marine, a tough as nails and yet sweet Marine (hope I'm allowed to say that grandpa). A Vet of American Samoa, The Gilbert Islands, and finally Tarawa.

 When he "landed" in Tarawa, the military misjudged the tide and the Marines had to wade in armpit deep water for a few hundred yards. They were wading through a coral reef. The Japanese were picking off our Marines left and right like sitting ducks and the water was red with blood. Those that made it to the beach were covered in lacerations from the sharp coral they waded through. It even sliced through their boots. My Grandpa told me that by the time he made the beach that he just wanted to roll under a truck and die, except his battle had just begun. We won the battle of Tarawa against a deeply dug in crazed Japanese army. Grandpa caught malaria at Tarawa and was brough back to San Francisco where he was posted as a guard for the newly formed United Nations which was headquartered in San Francisco at that time. The rest of his Marines went onto Iwo Jima.

 Probably the saddest story as it goes for my family is the story of my grandpa's little brother. Joined at the age of 17. I believe it was 1943. Only my uncle joined the Navy and was a crew member of the U.S.S Indianapolis.
[url]http://www.ussindianapolis.org/story.htm[/url]

 He was a survivor. My uncle was never "right" couldn't talk well and you could never truly understand what he was saying. As a kid, my parents told me he was "shellshocked".  Well that was a nice way for parents to put it. Out of over 900 sailors who made it into the water, he was one of 317 that survived after days of floating in the water and fending off sharks and watching his friends being dragged away and losing their minds from drinking the salt water.... My uncle died about fifteen years ago. My grandparents cared for him his whole life. When he died I told my grandfather "Grandpa, you gave him all the care you could give and he knew you loved him" He replied " You don't understand. he never had a sweetheart, a wife, children, or even had a chance to share a beer with a friend at home". 

 My step-dad in Vietnam lost countless friends and withstood enemy fire and attacks just building roads for our incoming troops when he was with the Combat Engineers.

 My real fathers' best friend (who now his first name is my middle) was 17 and leaving for Vietnam. The last time my Dad saw him was at a skating rink in East St. Louis. He poked his head in my dad's car door and told him he was looking for some guy to kick his ass because he was gonna steal his girl while he was in Nam. His last words to my Dad were... "See ya when I get back man" My dad's friend was killed a couple months into his tour.
  He and his girl had a son however. He has his dad's first name and I have his dad's middle name. He and I went to high school together and sadly I knew more about his dad than he did. 

 I guess I've rambled too much, many of you have stories like this and I think they should be told over and over. Many stories like this are being carried out right now. new heroes new stories. Something that brings sadness, pride, happiness, and people closer together.

   Our military and it's Vets and fallen deserve better than what  we give them today, in our media, in our schools, and in our lives. The Ft. Hood tragedy and the individual that murdered these innocent people, should NOT have excuses made for him. Post Traumatic Stress? Please. We know better than this.
  The enemy is right in our faces and we turn the other way. The seriousness of this situation needs driven home.

 No one wants war, no one. Doesn't matter your political perspective on things. No one wants it. However it is the world we live in and we owe it to those before us and those that got us here to defend what they've built for us. To defend the innocent, our family, children, and friends and out way of life.

   There is not any given day that I don't realize and take pride in the fact that not only do the people around us, that teach us, parent us.... give us the knowledge to learn and excel but that our military defends the right for us to use that knowledge to it's fullest extent.

 Have a blessed Veteran's Day.

Thx
LT