Thoughts on 9-11's 8th Remembrances

The sun shone brightly here in Indiana this morning, much like it did on that fateful day eight years ago. In New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, the sky was gray and shedding tears, fitting for the lasting grief of the Victims Families and friends.
I followed my usual traditions, a call to my friend Les, who called me that morning to tell me to turn on CNN, as someone had flown a small plane into the side of the World Trade Center. I saw the gaping hole, and smoke beginning to stream out from the North Tower, and immediately told him, "That was no small plane, I've been in that building, and only an airliner could make that hole". We watched for a while in silence, then Les said, "Who would do such a thing, and I said,"Usama Bin Laden", he said "who", and I answered, "The same asshole who blew up the USS Cole".

Later that evening, the Gang had gathered at the Pub. We were all in shock, and felt as though the nightmare would end soon, and would have been a mass hallucination. We talked about how our innocence as a nation, and our lives of taking our safety and freedom for granted were over. We decided that this was Our generation's "Day that would live in Infamy", as Pearl Harbor Day had been for our parents. Those of us who were Veterans wished to have our youth back, so we could enlist, and go kick some RagHead Ass.

The coming weeks renewed my faith in the younger generation, as thousands quit their jobs and schools to enlist, and to volunteer, or just to serve their Nation in whatever way they could. I knew that the togetherness, the unity and goodwill that followed 9-11 wouldn't last, but that renewed pride and patriotism were a joy to me during their short existence.

A few days before 9-11-01, my family had had a reunion, and all us Morgans gathered here in Mooresville, Indiana, and saw family from California, Florida, New York, and points all over America. When 9-11 happened, we all had each other to commiserate with about the attacks, and that was a comfort to us all, and I think the tragedy of the attacks actually brought us closer than did the reunion. Turns out, that no matter where we grew up, or what our politics were, all the Morgans are Patriots.

I'm going to end this, and ask All of You to share your memories, and tell us where you were 8 years ago today, thanks for responding, and God Bless America !

Navy Close-Order Drill, 2009 Style !

One of the guys on the Vietnam Vet's Forum at "Classmates.com" posted this video, which shows some of the best rifle and drilling you could ever hope to see !
Click below to view it on Utube, There are some Marine Corps Silent Drill routines linked here too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgcGNDxuyoI

Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters !

Hello, The post title refers to a New Group effort my Cousin Jeni and I are putting together on The Web. Originating from a Group she started on FaceBook, we now have a web page devoted to it which is linked to this Post's Title.
The basic Idea of the Group is to start a National effort to see that Every Returning Veteran from Iraq and Afghanistan, get a Huge Media-covered Welcome Home!
You Know, Like the ones We Never Got ??
Anyway, I would appreciate it if you would visit the site and check it out, maybe even click a link or two to make my sponsors happy ! Sign the Guestbook, and leave any comments you have, good or bad !
You know Me, and God knows I can take criticism ! LoL
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Now, on a lighter note, My buddy TJ is running a GiveAway on his popular website.
The GiveAway is to promote the Start of his and his Son's new Store on Esty.com :
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6883788
They are selling his son's excellent Ceramics, and they are something to see, so click on this post's links to learn more and see some beautiful Ceramic Art Works. Thanks

Happy Independence Day Weekend !

Like Most Patriots, This weekend of Cook-Outs and Fireworks is my very favorite. For many years after returning home, I had to view the local Fireworks display from a distance. The reason for that was that my "Startle Response" was so strong, that my body would automatically dive for cover. Needless to say, I couldn't be doing all that flinching and cringing in Public, so I would find an appropriately distant hillside to park on, and explain to my kids that I wanted to avoid all the traffic downtown. I found that if I was setting off the fireworks myself, or watching them be lit, I could anticipate the Boom, and not cower down reflexively !

I Love all the Flags on display, the Martial Music, the neighborhoods gatherings where folks that aren't that social year-round, can enjoy the company of their neighbors, and everyone can comment on how much the kids have grown, how bad the new mayor is, and other events around the "hood".

I'm going to enjoy this year's Celebrations all that much more than recent years, because We have a New President, our overseas allies are working with us again, and despite a serious recession and at least two wars going on, it seems that people are more optimistic now than any time in recent years.

I hope Your holiday weekend is a Glorious One, and that everyone you meet tells You, "Thanks for Your Service to Our Nation".
Thanks from me !

Saluting The “Greatest Generation” ‘09

I found this fascinating quote today:

As a Patriotic sort, I watch these events, and all the speeches every year, all that’s available. This year two major thoughts occurred to me; (1), The remaining Veteran’s who are able to make it to France is quickly declining each year. More are in Wheel Chairs and using Walkers each year. For every one of the Vet’s who are able to make it to these Memorial ceremonies, there are dozens who are spending the last days of their lives in Veteran’s Hospitals, Medicare funded Nursing homes, and other lonely places that are all Far Less than what these humble Heroes deserve., One veteran made it to France this year, left yesterday’s gatherings because he wasn’t feeling well, and died in his sleep last night. Sad, Yes, but in another sense, he died in close proximity to all those friends and strangers who strove for survival and Victory, those bloody days 65 years past. Even the least likely websites are saluting these Heros today, check out this first link, it is from a website called “TransBuddha, a stopover on The Road to Enlightment” : http://www.transbuddha.com/content/june-6th-1944/Saluting The “Greatest Generation” ‘09, Apr 2009

You should read the whole article.

As Vietnam Veterans, We grew up with the Veterans of WWII as our local leaders, teachers, and heroes. Thier successes were the stuff of legends, their few failures, sad proof of the terrors they endured. Now, 65 years later, the numbers of our heroes are sharply declining, and who's gonna fill the shoes of these, "The Greatest Generation ? "

"Secretary of War" Robert Gates on 60 Minutes

Yes, I realize there hasn't been a Secretary of War since the 40's, but that's what Bob Gates calls himself, and how he feels about his job.
I admire that!. He's got a point. His actions in recent months; cutting future weapons systems in his budget, concentrating his expenditures on safer vehicles for our troops in Afghanistan, along with better weapons for the battles being fought today.

He says that the Pakistani's have the troops and wherewithal to defeat the Taliban and Al Queda in the Northwest Territories, but he thinks they are hedging their bets. Keeping some doors open to the Taliban in Afghanistan, because they, (Pakistan), aren't sure we're going to win that war. I think that's unacceptable for a supposed ally, especially one who's taken Billions in Military and Financial Aid from the US since 9-11-01.

I was also impressed with Mr. Gate's statement that he has kept an account on every service man and women killed or injured since the day he took office. Asked by Katie Couric if he liked his job, he responded that because every troop in both Iraq and Afghanistan was someone he had sent there since taking office, that they were on his mind constantly, so there was no way anyone could like or enjoy that job. I hope he was doing a subtle slam of that 'Cowboy Rumsfeld', who seemed to be a "Happy Warrior" and never gave a damn about anyone he sent to die.

As one who remembers every "SecDef" since the disastrous Robert McNamara, and has even met and shaken hands with one, ( Paul Nitze ), (Whoops, Wiki just informed me he was only a Deputy SecDef), anyway,.. I met him when he was Secretary of the Navy, and was impressed enough to read several of his books and articles published both before and after he founded the "School for Advanced International Studies" at Johns Hopkins University. That school now bears his name, following his death in 2004, at age 97.

Sorry for the little detour, but for a "Cold Warrior", Paul Nitze was a moderate and rational man, much like Mr. Gates appears to be. I'm glad Bob Gates chose to stay on with the Obama Administration, and Glad Obama had the good sense to ask him to continue with the job he's done so well.

Comments anyone ?

Herman Helps an Officer !

Howdy, Glad to see Y'all,
I've been home for about a 10 days from my little mini-vacation to visit old friends in Bloomington,{IN}, and my Old Gray-Haired Mom in suburban Bethesda,MD.

While in Bloomington, I was made aware of just how damned Old I'm getting ! My nephew Ryan took me and my youngest Brother downtown to the College Bars, the area where we spent way too many years working in the bars, and chasing College Girls. What made me aware of advancing old age, was that all those little coed Hotties we used to chase, now look about 12 years old ! Plus, many act it too ! LoL

The next day we went down to the Elks Club with our Nephew and Bro'-in-Law, to visit with some extended family. While there, I met a new shipmate who was a retired Naval Intelligence Officer who served a lot of time in Southeast Asia when I did, and was still in the service when NISO became NCIS.

We were chatting over cocktails when the subject of the VA came up. Having been an Officer when he retired, he had a slightly different health care package than do we "4-and-Out" guys, but in the course of our conversation, I learned that he had 2 Purple Hearts, a couple of Silver Stars, and several other Combat Ribbons.

We started talking about pensions and stuff, and I was shocked to learn that he knew next to nothing about the "Improved Pension", hadn't ever applied for Compensation for his PTSD, and had never been told anything about his benefits by the VA.

At one point in our conversation, he said, "I've learned more from you in 15 minutes than I've known about through the VA in all the years since I retired !".
Well, for somebody trying to help my Brother and Sister Veterans, that was pretty cool to hear ! ( I damn near threw my shoulder out patting myself on the back! ).

That was a nice experience, and one I am going to work on, because the man gave me his email address, and I'm going to send him a lot of the links I've got here, and all the VA's links and phone numbers I've amassed over this 5 year ordeal to get my PTSD Claim approved.
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Now, Another Subject


"HippyVet's Daily Opinion Blog" Launched !

Late last month, just before I took some time off, I began my first "Paid" Blog.
I learned about this new Blog Network through my Blogging Guru's Job Board at Pro-Blogger.com. These people were looking for Bloggers across a whole range of subjects, and I applied for one about Politics. Politics being the only thing in the world that I know as much about as I do Cooking and Bartending. This was not only an opportunity to increase my income from Google Adsense, but also a reason to focus on one subject, as I had planned to do with my Chef's Blogs before getting this job.

So, If you would like to check-out my newest efforts at Internet Success, please go to this link, and while you're there, leave me a comment or two, and maybe click on an Ad that interests you too. Thanks, Herman
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Herman Presents "Spiders On Drugs"