American Heroes

It’s April 18th, again…

…and I harken back to that whole Paul Revere (William Dawes, Dr. Samuel Prescott, et al) thing.

Paul Revere

I remember reading history (guessing it’s not even offered in school, anymore, unless it’s politically-correct) about Mr. Revere, patriot, silversmith, artisan.

It seems his father had emigrated to the British Colonies from France (!)  His name was Apollo Rivoire, and his son Paul was his namesake.  Sadly, many of the English New Worlders had difficulty pronouncing his name – so he changed it.

To Paul Revere.

Or in his father’s words, “I changed it so the bumpkins would find it easier to pronounce!”

Bumpkins in the Nation – even back then!

Another Hero Gone…

(stolen borrowed from Old NFO – because our history IS important! – Guffaw)

The final four survivors are Lt. Col. Cole of Comfort, Texas; Lt. Col. Robert Hite of Nashville, Tennessee; Lt. Col. Edward Saylor of Puyallup, Washington, and Master Sgt. David Thatcher of Missoula, Montana.

RIP Major, know that you were an example to an entire country and gave America hope!

To the Major and his memory!

h/t JP

Charles Durning R.I.P.

This just in…

Charles Durning, who worked in Hollywood for nearly six full decades working on over 200 titles, has passed away at the age of 89. The character actor’s death was confirmed by his daughter, having died last night in his Manhattan home. As prolific as they come, Durning split his career between the stage, the small screen and big screen. He earned acclaim for his take on Big Daddy in an early 90s staging of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, had recurring roles on series like Everybody Loves Raymond, Evening Shade and Rescue Me, and starred in classic movies like Tootsie and The Sting.

Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

I especially loved him as the PI in De Palma’s Sisters, and the Governor in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

h/t Cinema Blend.com, Real Hollywood Heroes

Daniel Inouye RIP

Senator Daniel Inouye, the longest serving U.S.Senator after the passing of Robert Byrd, died today.

While I disagreed with most of the man’s politics, he was indeed a true American hero.

His Medal of Honor citation:

Second Lieutenant Daniel K. Inouye distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action on 21 April 1945, in the vicinity of San Terenzo, Italy. While attacking a defended ridge guarding an important road junction, Second Lieutenant Inouye skillfully directed his platoon through a hail of automatic weapon and small arms fire, in a swift enveloping movement that resulted in the capture of an artillery and mortar post and brought his men to within 40 yards of the hostile force. Emplaced in bunkers and rock formations, the enemy halted the advance with crossfire from three machine guns. With complete disregard for his personal safety, Second Lieutenant Inouye crawled up the treacherous slope to within five yards of the nearest machine gun and hurled two grenades, destroying the emplacement. Before the enemy could retaliate, he stood up and neutralized a second machine gun nest. Although wounded by a sniper’s bullet, he continued to engage other hostile positions at close range until an exploding grenade shattered his right arm. Despite the intense pain, he refused evacuation and continued to direct his platoon until enemy resistance was broken and his men were again deployed in defensive positions. In the attack, 25 enemy soldiers were killed and eight others captured. By his gallant, aggressive tactics and by his indomitable leadership, Second Lieutenant Inouye enabled his platoon to advance through formidable resistance, and was instrumental in the capture of the ridge. Second Lieutenant Inouye’s extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit on him, his unit, and the United States Army.

He was a medical volunteer immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack, and enlisted in 1943, after the U.S. Army dropped it’s ban on Japanese-Americans.  I remember seeing him on a late-night talk show (Tomorrow – Tom Snyder?) and he spoke of being 17 and looking skyward at the attacking planes flying over his home shaking his fist and saying, “God Damn Japs!”

RIP Senator.

h/t TinCan Assassin

Dave Brubeck R.I.P.

I’ve written before about the many Daves in my life, Dave the genius mechanic being the most prevalent.  But there’s yet another Dave.  Dave Brubeck.

Nope, never met him.  Dave the mechanic and I did see him in concert, in 1977, I believe.

Musically, I was first interested in Classical, then Jazz, and later Rock.  Being into Classical was terrific when my high school choral teacher Ken Wells had us sing in Latin(!)  Bach is my first musical love.

But Mr. Wells also taught us about jazz.  And Brubeck.  And he gave me my first jazz record, Brubeck’s Adventures in Time.  I still remember the liner notes, recounting therein Thelonious Monk receiving a gift of a potted plant.  His comment?  “With fronds like these, who need anemones?”  Priceless.

Many folks don’t know that Dave Brubeck stood up against racism, refusing to play segregated venues in the South when his bassist Eugene Wright was banned from staying in the same hotels, or from being shown in TV broadcasts, because he was black.  Brubeck simply refused to play unless Wright was offered the same accommodation and exposure.  This was viewed as going-against-the-grain, but Dave didn’t care – right was right!

His musical experimentation with time signatures is phenomenal.  As was his life.  He passed earlier today, at age 91, one day before his 92nd birthday.

He will be missed.

And, if you don’t know Brubeck by name, you certainly know him by sound.  Give a listen:

Charity

courtesy of Proud Hillbilly

Talk about shooting oneself in the foot!

The Wounded Warrior Project, who obviously assists wounded veterans and their families has done just that.  They recently refused to participate in a firearms-oriented radio talk show, which would have brought them great publicity and additional support.  An email exchange between their PR flack and the radio producer produced evidence that they do not organizationally support Second Amendment Rights.

Our position regarding firearms and alcohol is in response to the struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.

What?!

Pro-civil-rights-bloggers are dropping them from their blog sidebars like hot machine gun barrels.  Hopefully, other big supported like Anheuser-Busch are doing the same.

As am I.

I’m substituting the charity Soldier’s Angels in their stead.

This reminded me of many years ago, before I was married.  I was looking into the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization, with the possibility of perhaps sponsoring one.  They, too, seemed to do great work.  A local news story surfaced, wherein the regional chapter denied a decorated, veteran police officer Big Brother status, because he insisted on having his gun with him!  Now, I don’t know (or particularly care) if this was a local, regional or national policy decision.  It soured the organization for me.  I didn’t pursue the status further, and give them no money.  And tell all who will listen the story.

There are many worthy charities out there.  I wish I had the resources to help them, but, I do not.  But, I can put them on my sidebar and send them five or ten dollars when I have it.  Which is not very often.

But I’ve expectations of those I support.  They don’t need to actively support gun rights, HOWEVER, disparaging firearm possession and furthering propaganda lies are another thing altogether.

Please support Soldier’s Angels.

(Update – WWP is backpedaling all over the place.  Too little, too late in my view – Guffaw)

Today…

NOT tomorrow…

(borrowed from Theo Spark, because it made me cry…)

Please remember.  And shake hands and thank a Veteran to day (or tomorrow).  If you are able.

h/t Parker and Hart

Women and Guns

Or rather one woman and one gun…

Good friend (and hero) Lonnie emailed me this.  With all the negative imagery regarding the young today, I thought this might be better.

And, besides, women and guns, DUH! 

The REAL Miss America
There’s a Proud Papa out there somewhere.

This 19 year old ex-cheerleader now an Air Force Security Forces Sniper, was watching a road in Pakistan that led to a NATO military base when she observed a man digging by the road. She engaged the target (she shot him).  It turned out he was a bomb maker for the Taliban, and he was burying an IED that was to be detonated when a U.S. patrol walked by 30 minutes later. It would have certainly killed and wounded several soldiers. The interesting fact of this story is the shot was measured at 725 yards. She shot him as he was bent over burying the bomb. The shot went through his rectum and into the bomb which detonated; he was blown to pieces. The Air Force made a motivational poster of her. (Folks, that’s a shot 25 yards longer than seven football fields)

If You Can Not Stand Behind Our Troops, please Feel Free To Stand In Front Of Them!

h/t Lonnie

“He’ll Run Away To Fight Again!”

Knuckledraggin’ My Life Away has an excellent post surrounding the history of the Revolutionary War guerilla fighter The Swamp Fox.  You should go read it.

Sadly, most of my knowledge about him comes from the Walt Disney TV version (staring Leslie Nielsen), with it’s cheesy theme song:

“…Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, hidin’ in the Glen…
He’ll run away to fight again!”

Even as a kid I joked that I, too, would have run away, if my name had been Francis Marion!

“run away, run away!”

Back In The Saddle, Again

One of my favorites from childhood (WAY back in the 1950s) was Gene Autry.  Along with Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers, he embodied much of the Western mythos that was presented to we children.  In later life, he contributed heavily to charity, and even owned a baseball team.  Obviously, Capitalism was good to him.

But, Mr. Autry wasn’t just a capitalist, film, radio and TV star.  He set forth in his radio show a set of rules to live by.  The Cowboy Code.  Granted, they may seem trite by today’s standards, but in their simplicity and directness really aren’t a bad way to conduct oneself.

A Cowboy Must:

1. Never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage;
2. Never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him;
3. Always tell the truth;
4. Be gentle with children, the elderly and animals;
5. Not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas;
6. Help people in distress;
7. Be a good worker;
8. Keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits;
9. Respect women, parents and his nation’s laws;
10. Be a patriot.

I don’t recall having any toys attributed to him (I still have my Hopalong Cassidy watch, somewhere!) but finding these rules in my Internet travels is a better remembrance.

My question is this – what values are being presented to today’s children steeped in popular culture?  From the Kardashians to the Octomom…what are their rules to live by?