The VA

Criticism of the VA and their lack of good "whatever" always seems to play well on the evening news. They have lots of shortcomings and are an overwhelmed HMO. And, there's two sides that most don't get: the claims section is not the medical side. However, with that slight bit of support for VA, what fascinates me are the vets themselves. They may or may not be a reflection of society. I don't think so. In front of me are a couple of guys who are like a history book. They know the units and they love to give commentary. as if it is the military channel: talking about the various units--5th Special Forces, 8th Infantry, 509 Airborne, Marine Force Recon. Need I go on? 

The VA is like a zoo. Today, mostly old vets and in fact, looks like mostly Vietnam vets. The guy beside me has his clothes in a plastic bag and is one of the "don't smell him, treat him" types.  Sometimes I don't know how I feel about VA. I go there because It is as close as I can get to soldiers. In my mind's eye, I have this unrealistic view that us vets are like a fraternity. We have been soldiers. We have similar experiences. 

But, I don't know. Fellow Vietnam vets, so called Swift Boat vets, sunk John Kerry when he was running for president. Think about it: Kerry lost, we got George W. We also got two useless wars, similar to Vietnam. Impossible to have decisive victory under any circumstance. As Vietnam vets, we should have known better. We have to figure that if Kerry had been elected, he had been a soldier and we would have avoided useless wars. As vets we f..ked up, let's face it. We were simply used for politics. Doesn't speak very well for us vets being a fraternity. 

LARRY SUMMERS

Have you ever known someone you don't even know but you don't like? Larry Summers is one and I am sure he will me staying up nights worrying about how some "midget" in the scheme of things doesn't care for him.  (In my defense, I have read lots over the last several years about him. But, based on my track record of late with the president's decisions, he will probably nominate him to be Fed Chairman). What amazes me about guys like Summers is that they have modest incomes/wealth at a certain point. They go to work for the government and immediately the f..kers are wealthy. Summers is a good example. He is worth about $400,000, goes to work for Obama and now conservatively $7-31 mil. You have got to be kidding me! What the f..k. Do we think that all these people who are paying him these big bucks or involving him in businesses or stocks or start-ups are doing it for his good looks or because he is a good guy 

He gets 6 figures for speeches. Who in the hell is worth that? These outfits who pay them that much money must be dumber than a "box of rocks." Maybe, dumb like foxes. I am absolutely flummoxed. 

My info comes from the "NY Times" story about Summers. Most of those interviewed fall over backwards touting positive things about the him. What do we expec them to say? They surely expect to gain, at least in influence. He'll take their call. 

Green Berets

I saw this saying and it reminded me of how the Green Berets saw this saying, "If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it is yours. If it doesn't, it never was."

What I remember from Special Forces days was a poster that you saw everywhere. I kept one for a long time, just as s joke at how macho the Green Berets were and they needed it based on their pretty hairy missions. 

"If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, shoot it." 

THE GIFT

SWEETEST COMMENT

Nurse: Good luck and God bless you. 

Patient: I want to give you (all the staff at the Infusion Center) a gift for the great care you have provided. 

Nurse: No need. Our great gift is seeing you leave treatment and cancer free. 

ACTING LIKE A LITTLE KID

I am not bound to win but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed but I am bound to live up to what light I have. I must stand with any man when he is right. Stand with him while he is right and depart from him when he goes wrong. Abraham Lincoln

I have been a big time supporter of the Prez. Financially contributed, campaigned and defended even when I didn't agree: drones, GITMO, etc. But, it seems of late his good sense has gone South. His advisors maybe--I don't know where he gets these f..kers like Jay Carney. Milk toast personified, wakes up every morning as Alice in Wonderland in a new world. Here's an example of poor thinking in my view. backing out of a one on one with Putin, the President comes off like a spoiled brat. We don't get our way and we pick up our marbles and go home. What the f..k.

VIETNAM VETS

Hey Guys,  Check this out.  I was walking my dog the other day as a "Trucker" was pulling out from a motel.  He spotted my 101st Cap and motioned me over.  We had one of those insightful 3 minute conversations that transcended time.  I gave him a business card and he said he would be in touch.  Check out his communication.   

Enjoy  ..............  Dan

Greetings........Always nice to meet a vet wearing his Division patch. That alone says something. of your attitude....Ive met other vets who cant even remember who they served with..........When I went to Nam I always had the intent of keeping a diary and  even in my civilian life prior to going to Nam was use to carrying my trusty instamatic camera...........A few years ago I found one of the guys from my company had a website up concerning Nam and I spent about 2 years sending info and photos. Gordon,who runs the site, had also found the official duty officers log for each day.  ...........So anyway its just  an honest tour of duty account. Mostly boring and nothing they'll make a movie about but theres loads of photos. but it is honest and accurate............go to www.webewebbiers.com/vietnam/index.htm     and click on the Ed Nored story 

Dan, thanks for sending along. What an interesting chance meeting. I went into the website. He has best definition of a Vietnam vet and the war's aftermath that I've seen. It's simplicity is what is very good in my view. His comments that he knew some vets who didn't remember units, etc; I have never encountered that unless the people were bogus. When someone tells me they were in Vietnam, I ask what was your unit, your MOS and where were you? If a guy doesn't know this, he was probably not in Vietnam. I ran into some guy the other day who said he had been in Vietnam. Where were you? Oh, I was all over. OK! Hope all is well. God bless.  jda

NOTHING CHANGES

My apologies to the “NY Times" but have to mention this. The incredibly discouraging thing about our culture is that we can have all these investigations/exposes like in the “Times." Nothing changes. An example, a surgeon charges big bucks in the US; overseas, a fraction of the cost. Nobody says how the f..k can this be. He or she continues to charge.

BLUE JASMIN

This is not like a movie review. But, will have to say that Woody Allen's latest movie is terrific. Kate Blanchett will definite get an Academy Awards Nomination. Every character is terrific. My favorite is Bobby Canavale. He plays a blue collar type from Brooklyn. Great. The basic story is a little of a take off on Bernie Madorf. A reverse rags to riches story as a riches to rags. The Kate Blanchett character is essentially off her "rocker" and comes to live with the low self esteem sister.

The movie is simple an example of our culture--a movie about life. Everybody has a story. I love movies for the reason that they give us a chance to see and talk about our story. I'll be discussing it for some time--this is how you know a movie is good. 

NSA HAS US BY THE GONADS

"Closing of embassies because of the threat of terrorist attacks." Do we think that now with the National Security Agency in the spotlight, their calling our attention to potential terrorism justifies what they have been doing.  Have the vast majority of Americans just fell off the turnip truck? Apparently so with the acceptance that the NSA is doing its job is justified: Keeping us safe from terrorists or the threat thereof. The NSA can't lose. If we have terrorist attacks, they say, "we warned you." If we don't, the word will be that we were prepared and thus, attacks were thwarted. How can we dispute it? Give me a break!!

SNOWDEN

What is this BS. Last night all over the news is "Russia granting asylum to Snowden". Good for them, not going to be bullied by the U. S. What hypocrites we often are in this arena. We give around 5000 asylum prr year and we raise hell at Russia's action. To me, Snowden is someone who made a decision of conscience. And, we are singing a song of treason. Do any of us think that the NSA would ever admit that they are spying on us--yeah and I can fly. What is it with the president and all these politicians embracing the NSA for their spying on us. And, worse still, since we didn't get our way, we are not going to play, i.e., meet Putin when they have the G8 summit in Russia. Bullshit. 

MORE BRADLEY

Listening to the Bradley Manning guilty verdict, I was thinking first of all that the military and justice is an oxymoron to say the least. The catchword always is "bring the guilty bastard in." Then, we can listen to a bunch of old white men tell us how this PFC (Private First Class) who should never in a thousand years be allowed to have assess to anything beyond yesterday's newspaper has injured the country. 

Maybe a bit of a conspiracy theory. Why did he want just a judge to try him? She let him slide on one charge to make it appear like it was some sort of justice. Give me a break, conspiracy theory is closer to the truth than most would admit. Plus, think of the irony. You have a guy like John Kerry that I like and wanted to be President, came back after Vietnam, demonstrated, bad mouthed the country, really treasonist if you look at it in those terms. Jane Fonda, the heroine of every Vietnam vet goes to Hanoi at a time when it appears that the North, because of the bombing, might be ready to give up. Here comes this famous movie star and North Vietnam, not knowing our system think that most of America is against the war. They decide to hang on. Then of course, we have Daniel Ellsburg smart enough to go to the NY Times. But, of course this was Vietnam, everybody's war to hate.  

BRADLEY MANNING

Yes, we were so surprised that Manning was found guilty. (Major tongue in cheek). Well, "not guilty" on aiding the enemy. The idea that Manning would get a fair hearing is about as stupid as one could imagine. Doesn't mean that justice as defined by the law, wasn't done. But, like so much of life, just because something is legal doesn't mean it is ethical. 

Anybody who has adult children know how stupid they can be. Manning was stupid and never should have had assess to anything, remotely resembling important. For God's sake he is a f..king PFC, In the Army, a PFC is hardly authorized

Death and dying

The "NY Times Magazine" had an amazing article about a college professor who had a bicycle accident and is now a quadriplegic. The wife is a nationally known "right to die" advocate. Now that it is her husband, all changes. He has round the clock care, 8 caregivers, physical therapists,  respiratory therapists; a wheel chair that cost $45,000.  Paying for all of this is a combination, insurance from their University, Medicare, and private funds. 

This appears to be unusual in a couple of ways. Who could afford this for one thing? Without the funding, would he have already died? Probably. He often says he wants to die but changes his mind. Whoa! An amazing story and one in which I am trying to form an opinion. Who would want to live in this state of total dependence. The flip side of the coin is that it is easy to talk when you are not in his condition. But, still the question appears to be consent. This is interpretive based on the actions of the wife. He gets an infection, he immediately is rushed to the hospital and pumped full of antibiotics. A tough question. If I could project a bit, let me "go." If I say I don't want to go, ignore me. 

PRESIDENT!S REMARKS

As one who thinks George Zimmerman should have gone to jail, I don't think the President's remarks today helped us. I really don't know what he was about. Race is pretty much an insoluble issue. What he seemed to imply was that the rule of law in a jury trial got it wrong. Maybe, but I doubt the President's remarks are going to make the discussion any better. The recalcitrant Republicans, the racists, Americans who care--not sure. 

THE PRESIDENT AND THE MYERS BRIGGS INDICATOR AND THE PRESIDENT

Listening to David Gergen on Forum (local NPR show) is an example of these prognosticators who don't know s..t about most anything but especially personality. They apply typical conventional wisdom to the President. There are two things from my perspective to know: the first one is that it is a "personality" issue. If one knows the "Myers Briggs Type Indicator," this is the secret of who the President is. On the MBTI, he is an ENTJ. He is an (E) extrovert, likes people; an iNtuitive, very creative; (T), very ethereal in his head mostly and (J) Judging (not judgmental, a lifestyle), very organized, "give someone a job and get out of the way and let them do it." The SECOND thing is the elephant in the room, "racism." Not racism in a classic sense but more of what I would call "philosophical racism." Gergen mentioned LBJ and the civil rights bill. When it was enacted, LBJ said something like, "the Democtats have lost the South for ten years." He was off by 40 years. Shamefully it is the way it is. It is in our genes I am sorry to say. But, the President has done a fantastic job in living with a recalcitrant and partisan bunch of Republicans who by their own admission have had one goal, get rid of the president. Tell me that's not racism. 

FRUITVALE STATION

WOW. What a movie. It was extremely well done and if it doesn't win an Academy Award, I will be disappointed. The movie had several tentacles, not the least of which is how we view race in America. The movie is based on the last day in the life of Oscar Grant who was shot in the "back" on New Year's Day, 2009, by one of the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) policeman who later was convicted of manslaughter. The policeman's Defense was that he meant to "taser" Oscar but accidentally shot him with his gun. 

As a San Franciscan, I lived through the incident and have no objective data but it just seems that the incident changed policing throughout the Bay area. As I have watched various protests (Demonstrations are a way of life here), the police seem to be more culturally aware and gentler when crisis happen. 

The movie didn't make Oscar Grant, the protagonist, a hero but a good natured hustler and dedicated dad. Oscar lived in a culture and climate that brought him/it into conflict with a  police that simply went overboard with Oscar and fellow revelers who were returning to Oakland from San Francisco and a night of partying on NY's eve. 

The heavy handed police turned a simple incident into a major conflict. The "bad guys" appear to be the police--this one looked a lot like a Nazi, a reincarnation from the past and Buchenwald Concentration Camp. 

WHAT IS A LIFE WORTH? I surely don't know but if there is any sort of "take away" from this tragedy, (not depicted in the movie), it is the settlement that Oscar's daughter received, payments until

she is thirty. This is something Oscar would like. God bless her. 

Will this movie improve race relations in America. I doubt it but it surely should impact those of us who care. 

DOING WHAT WE CAN

I am often moved by the sheer generosity of some people. Also, the great need that we often confront can be overwhelming too. The informal motto of the UCSF Infusion Center could well be from Saint Augustine "Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by accidents of time, or place, or circumstance, are brought into closer connection with you."

VIETNAM

It is their country, their future at stake, not ours. To ignore that reality will be immensely costly in terms
of American lives and resources

Senator Mike Mansfield
Talking about Vietnam in 1968. At that time, a few thousand Americans had died in the war. By the time it ended, the number of American lives lost was 58,000 plus.

DEMENTIA

DEMENTIA. Very sad with my brother. What can I say? There's been so much written about one's slide into Dementia/Alzheimers, whatever we choose to call it, not sure there's anything left to say. I don't know how to express it. We kind of know what happens, we just don't know exactly what to do about it. My brother had been a very successful businessman to now be reduced to total dependence. In many ways, the sadness is left for his children who have to clean up the mess he left behind, the result of very bad decisions. For him, he is enjoying himself basically in who he is presently. He has a full time caregiver and responds to very simple things. He is fine. His family's dealing with the real world, of course.

One way to look at it in a sense is to be angry at his f..k ups that bring us to this point. Let's tell his story with just one FU. My brother had been a bachelor for years, having escaped a "controlling witch". He had retired, bought a nice little cottage on a golf course, did a little work with our older brother on his peach farm. He met a woman and married her, against our unsolicited advice after we met her. To say we failed To connect would be quite the understatement. We had gone to visit. The brothers were very close. She resented our questions by telling us that it was none of our business. To be honest we were more or less joking, certainly not serious. This incensed our older brother who said, "I don't think you understand but we will knock our brother in the head, throw him in the trunk of the car and you'll never see him again." We weren't exactly kidding. My brother married her. She wasn't all that bad, we allowed. They were traveling, bought a new house. Things seemed to be proving us wrong. Eight months into the marriage, she had a massive brain aneurism. In the process of her near death, a baffling practical discovery surfaced. She had lied about her age. She was ten years older that she had led my brother to believe. Immediately, the ramifications surfaced. When you are 65 or seventy, in our medical world, age means one thing but when you are 80, it is something else entirely. As my brother dealt with the discovery, she had another aneurism. She survives but becomes an invalid. As a joke but maybe an example, my older brother says, "You couldn't kill her with an ax." And, in general, we take our Dad's mantra: you might as well laugh as cry. 10-15 years down the road, here we are. She is in a nursing home. My brother lives now, thankfully, with another brother. Is there something to take out of this tale of woe? A couple of things: (1) Get your act together while you can. Don't leave a mess for your relatives to clean up. (2) figure out, assuming the above is taken care of, how you'd like to live out the last few years of your life.

Afghanistan

Stupidity seems to take over when you get to high levels of the government or the military, which is usually one and the same. These high level generals are politicians themselves, they give rosy reports about Afghanistan which is mainly BS, laced with a healthy amount of stupidity.

We ar p..sing in the wind, Afghanistan is simply out of here. Come on, millions and millions of dollars and in a sense all we have to show for it are the lost lives of some of America's finest. As soon as we leave, here comes the Taliban. Wake up and smell the roses. Think Vietnam. We worked out a peace agreement with North Vietnam and they owned the country before we could whistle Dixie. (this is an aside. I love NPR but sometimes wonder where the f..k they get some of these people: some government weenie or "think tank" imbecile thinking he knows s..t.) What about this don't we get. F..kkkkkk

WOMEN IN COMBAT

General Dempsey says "let's get women into combat positions to help with sexual harassment/assault." Men are sorry MFers let's face it but combat and death is no respecter of persons. Facing an enemy who could could give a s..t less about gender, we want the best soldier. And, 'political correctness' needs to take a backseat to potential death in combat. Combat is no 'day at the beach' and the military is not a 'social experiment.' Dempsey is merely another politician who wears general stars and a chess full of 'atta boys.'

LEARNING FROM HISTORY

SYRIA. Why the hell should any person who thinks, trust the government's view of why to go to war. Vietnam. Gulf of Tonkin. Bullshit. Iraq. Weapons of mass destruction. Out and out lie. Now Syria. Using chemical weapon. The flimsiest of evidence. 900,000 thousand Syrians dead. 150 (while any death is unacceptable) killed supposedly by "sarin" gas.

I know history, especially Vietnam and how we saw our involvement expand through dictators, inept military policy, and a host of other stupid mistakes. Syria is worse. The Mideast is a f..king mess anyway you look at it. Sad as it is, we will only get deeper into a morass we can't affect. And, nothing we see indicates that any country in that volatile part of the world can be democratic as we know it. We only make it worse I think. Stay the hell out of Syria.

SYRIA

Supplying the rebels with arms. I just don’t know. I know history, especially how we saw it expand, expand through f..king dictators, inept military policy, and a host of other stupid mistakes, in Vietnam. Syria is worse. The Mideast is a f..king mess anyway you look at it. Sad as it is, we will only get deeper into a morass we can't affect. And, nothing we see indicates that any country in that volatile part of the world can be democratic as we know it is. We only make it worse I think. I’ve convinced myself. Stay the hell out of Syria.

SPYING ON "Mericans."

This whole thing about gathering info from citizens is ticking us off! WHO? Well, for one thing, a group of 8 Vietnam vets (the ultimate in patriotism, right wing Republicans even). We took a poll. Eight guys. Seven said this spying with emails, texts, phone calls is a "noway Jose." Give me a break! This is not the American way. The main thing, here is a guy, only working for them three months, a contractor, blows the whistle. First of all, who the f..k gave this guy permission to spy on American citizens. This whole thing is way out of control. Nobody gets their arsh kicked for letting him have assess to gathering private citizen's telephone data. Same thing with Wikileaks hero, Bradley Manning. Nobody owns up for letting a "Private" have assess to all this supposedly classified material. A private! What the f..k? In military parlance, a "private" is, symbolically, lower than whale manure; in the military, a "Private" has to get permission to even breathe. It really is a classic example of shooting the clumsy messenger. What if they are checking out texts of me telling NSA to f..k off. As I've said before, they can just kiss my arsh.

NSA

If you haven't done anything or have nothing to hide, who gives a f..k about the invasion of privacy with the NSA looking at everything. The flip side of the coin is that I don't like it. The NSA and all these Intell agencies justify their existence constantly and go for the overkill. Consequently, you f..kers tapping into my blog post, kiss my ass. When I was in the Army, the Intell people investigated me for having an out of date, by several years, troop list (where they were). It was my job to keep up with them. What a waste of time. Then when I was in Korea, the Intell types got all excited when I mentioned this spy plane flying over us. Everybody knew it and yet I had the audacity to mention it. And, the Intell types dilute their effectiveness by classifying things that don't need to be classified. We need a real look at all this Intell bullshit. Let's get real here.

NSA

If you haven't done anything or have nothing to hide, who gives a f..k about the invasion of privacy with the NSA looking at everything. The flip side of the coin is that I don't like it. The NSA and all these Intell agencies justify their existence constantly and go for the overkill. Consequently, you f..kers tapping into my blog post, kiss my ass. When I was in the Army, the Intell people investigated me for having an out of date, by several years, troop list (where they were). It was my job to keep up with them. What a waste of time. Then when I was in Korea, the Intell types got all excited when I mentioned this spy plane flying over us. Everybody knew it and yet I had the audacity to mention it. And, the Intell types dilute their effectiveness by classifying things that don't need to be classified. We need a real look at all this Intell bullshit. Let's get real here.

HE LIED

I tried to answer them, sitting on the beach, halfway around the world, at the edge of the South China Sea. "Let me tell you something...America has a resurgence of old fashioned patriotism that we have not seen since WWll. You are not fighting in an out of town ball game in a dark stadium on a rainy night with empty grandstands. We are with you. Your country is solidly with you."

When he comes home, he will find out I lied to him. But, by then, perhaps it won't hurt so much.
Gordon Baxter
1967

PROSTATE AWARENESS DAY

Today, I heard Michael Milken promoting Prostate Awareness Day. He was the junk bond king with insider trading thrown in on the side. $600 million fine. 10 years in prison.

Got prostate cancer and was given the standard 6-18 months to live and that was 15 years ago. His rehab has been the prostate cancer cause. Good for him.

THE SCIENCE OF AGING

I keep thinking about your question about a plan for aging. I think some of it involves a plan for staying involved in the modern hworld...I have too many friends who seem to me to be embracing old age as an excuse to no longer make an effort. Which is their choice but not mine. My goal is to stay interested and involved forever. How exactly to do that I'm not sure...but I am working on it.
Great to see you. Have not yet seen Carolyn for a run-down on the reunion...tomorrow...

Sent from my iPhone
Sylvia Attkisson

They May Have Died In Vain But They Lived In Honor

Thanks for the remembrance. Memorial Day is always a sad time to me. The NY Times had this really moving story showing how meticulous the bodies of deceased soldiers at the morgue at Dover were dressed in their uniform for the final goodbye from family. These young soldiers often unrecognizable, yet their uniforms were prepared with the most arduous care. So sad and yet inspiring. War is such a terrible thing. We have made grivious errors, at least to me--The mistakes of Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan.

When I was a young soldier in Vietnam, I had to go to Dover, DE. as I was escorting a soldier in my unit for burial in his hometown. I will say this for the military: they spare no effort to honor our dead in war and they rightly should. At Dover, I was overwhelmed by it all.

My thoughts in our history of not making the best decisions, there should be a "Dover" test. Caring Americans (and not all Americans care) need to feel that our soldiers who end up at Dover--killed in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan did not die in vain. I am not sure we can do that but what we can assert: THEY MAY HAVE DIED IN VAIN BUT THEY LIVED IN HONOR. Sergeant Phil Woodall, in his book of poetry, Rhymer In The Sunset.

TEN VIETNAMESE

"10 Vietnamese," is an old book from the library of a journalist in Vietnam and the Phillipines for the better part of 30 years, Jim Belden. The book was written by Susan Sheehan, wife of a "NY Times" Reporter and author of "A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam," about the common Vietnamese: peasants , North/South Vietnamese, soldiers, Vietnamese merchants, etc.

On the one hand, a realization of how awful our involvement in that sorry war, meaning our asses should have stayed out of it. However, we have to deal with the long arm of history. Had we stayed out, many Vietnamese who are arguable the most successful emigrant group in America could not have been a fraction as successful in Vietnam, or at all, i.e, tending a rice paddy as opposed to owning a nail salon. So...

HOW DID HE DIE?

When a group of old warriors gather, it's hard to know what will come out of it. Have we heard all the war stories? No, never, even if the same ones are told with a different slant. Here's one that 3d Platoon, Delta Company, 1/501st Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, told with a new purpose. At the latest gathering, we had a special visitor, Jimmy Stevens, the brother of one of our guys, killed in one of the longest battles of the Vietnam war.

The brother has, for the last several years, made it somewhat of an obsession, in the best sense of the word, to contact members of his brother's unit--Those who knew him, those who might have known him, even those who didn't know him. Over the course of several years, he's made great friends with most of his brother's fellow soldiers. And, now of course, here he was face to face with those who had been with his brother when he died. A warm atmosphere as various ones recounted the story of the battle, from their perspective. The brother, Danny, had joined up at 18. Simple, said by Jimmy, "My brother, Danny, ran toward being the best he could be, regardless of the difficulty and sacrifice and not away from it."

When Danny was killed, a prolonged battle had already taken place, several hours in fact. In a cemetery. (Americans often sought refuge in a cemetery because the VC and NVA shied away from them as spooky).

In late afternoon, the battle started. Horrendous and raged on through the night. At the north end of the cemetary, the NVA had established an extremely effective firing line. In regular fashion, the NVA soldiers would pop up and fire, mostly concealed by the mound of built-up dirt, indicating a grave. It was one of these, on the far left, behind one of the graves, that an NVA soldier shot Danny Stevens through the heart. Norm Campbell, the best shot by truth and reputation viewed the scene. With a mounted bipod (A bipod is used to steady a weapon and make it more accurate, usually fired from a pronged position. Often used by snipers) on his M16, he waited. The NVA popped up again. Norm sent a round right between his eyes.

Danny's brother, most assuredly, could now know how his brother died and if it was comforting, how he was avenged.

MEMORIAL DAY

Hey there friends and fellow citizens.
Adam (patriotic and home sick!)
Hope you have a lovely Memorial Day.
God Bless America.With very best wishes to everyone, and with grateful remembrance of all the brave men and women who have died defending our great country, which despite all it's faults, remains a nation founded on the greatest ideals and highest principles ever articulated in a written constitution, penned by the most noble and inspiring brotherhood of men I know of.

Looking forward to coming back some day. Adam (A Brit, who was a regular with these old guys called the "Girlfriends." He was in the youth Dept.) married a fellow Brit and moved back home. We still miss him.


Adam, thank you. We still
miss you and often say, "wonder how Adam is doing?" Thanks for the comments about "Merica" as we call it. As we say in the South, we are between a "rock and a hard place." A dysfuncinal congress that needs to be fired but we have a system which doesn't give us the chance to do it--Too controlled by self interests. But, I am convinced that the Americans who care are determined to fight through the utter paralysis of Washington. God bless you. My best to Bet and big hug for "Liberty Bell" (daughter).

STORIES WE TELL

STORIES WE TELL. I read about this documentary in the NY Times, then heard the film maker interviewed by Terry Gross (my favorite Interviewer) on Fresh Air (NPR). I saw the film and then read the reviews. I immediately wondered if we'd seen the same movie. First of all, it was very boring. The story: the Mom has an affair, daughter and family basically discover this way down the road, although a couple of the family members say they suspected. The "secret" is that the film maker's dad who raised her and biological father are not one and the same.

And, to be honest, the duped dad and the biological father are equally dull. I know scores of families that have greater secrets and are much more attractive. One comes immediately to mind: a High School girlfriend. The subject of the movie and my girlfriend even look alike. My friend Becky was so "alive" as was the Mom of the documentary. Becky as a teenager was innovative and creative, energetic to a fault--always at the center of activity. I was way too "slow" to keep up with her. As I trip down memory lane, I think, "What a shame," in a sense, as we "play the hand we're dealt." Her parents were wonderful folks but were "survivors" themselves and didn't know how to nourish the creativity of this incredible daughter they had. Now, as I look back with the long lens of our history, I can see this.

Consequently, I am revising my view of STORIES WE TELL. See it. If a movie causes a stir in your memory bank i.e., this wonderful person who crossed my path at a significant time in life, I have to say, thanks for the memories.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS

Rarely do I empathize with the generals. I used to think, "what the hell is it with all these generals with a chest full of lettuce (medals)." But, I will have to say that watching them on TV recently being battered, I felt sorry for 'em.

I don't know what the f..k it is with these sexual assaults. The perpetrators need to be strung up by their heels and their gonads cut off. That being said, those of us who want to "step back" a bit are accused of being part of the problem. Bullshit. An example, a lawyer friend of mine and me were attempting to dialogue. I was trying to present an idea, the military is not a social service organization. It has one purpose: "to fight and win wars." He got his drawers all in a bunch. "Well, you think rape is OK." F..k No! Rape or sexual assault is never all right.

An aside: All fields of service, to include combat, have to be opened up to females, plain and simple; but, let's get real here. Men and women will reflect their society, they always do. They get together. (hook up). Let's don't lose sight of the mission. FIGHT AND WIN WARS. Men are stupid. Their brains, more than likely are in the wrong, "head."

I have faith in the system that those in authority who abuse their position will be punished but just because they are men doesn't make them all guilty. If every time someone tries to defend the system, they are accused of pandering to the guilty, they will shut up and that hurts us all.

A last thing: do we think that the "Special Operations Troops" that overthrew the Taliban and killed Bin Laden are in reality, Sunday school teachers in their off time. I don't think so. We have some "bad actors" as soldiers and this is said with respect to these exceptional and highly trained and wound tight troops. They can do a hundred push-ups with either hand and leap tall buildings with a single bound. Get the idea? In combat, we don't have time to debate the role of gender, we are closing with and killing the enemy. THIS IS WAR and let's keep all this in perspective.

IRS

What do u think of all these Obama scandals? Benghazi, IRS targeting of conservatives, monitoring reporter phone calls. Are u going to write about it? I think my republican house members forming all these committees to investigate, it will just make them look bad... I am sure there is bias targeting in Obama administration. Not saying that the Obama administration should do any thing illegal but republicans need to get over it and deal with this guy for the next 3 years

I have several thoughts. First of all, how can the IRS be this stupid but they are. In the age of Twitter, FB, please!!! I haven't really heard how it came out. The IG for one thing. It is a mess. Somebody along the way f..ked up and it could be a few midgets, meaning "low on the totem pole" types but who had a philosophical view of how f..king disastrous the budget cutting like the Republicans wanted to do. Things like this probably go on much more than we think. Most of the time, it is detectable. And, the thing that is overlooked is that these people were opting for a tax break. It is not like individual income tax returns were targeted. I am not defending the culprits and their stupidity. But, things happen, people are stupid, they even make mistakes. Sometimes they are criminal. And, now, what is worst is that we have to put up with this self righteous bullshit. I have little patience with Congress in general. They are mostly a self serving collection of charlatans. We ought to be investigating them. When they were recently inconvenienced with plane delays, their sorry ass jumped right on it. Why doesn't somebody make a campaign out of their salaries and benefits. 2 quick opinions. Most of this "tea party" types and these other conservative groups are a f..king bunch of zeolots and they are guided by, "don't confuse me with facts, I have my mind made up. (2) The IG has a job to find some problem. Just that simple. That is his job, good or bad, find a problem. Having talked to many IGs (Inspector General) over the years, the IG can be the problem themselves. They are a type of zealot. They often are simply not objective but are shielded as if they were.

I hate bullshit like this because it takes away from tackling the real problems in the country. Am I biased? f..king

DEATH

Grieving is a lifelong process and becomes a part of our living life more than we care to admit. Unfortunately, nothing we can do about it. Death is a pervasive part of life, in one way or another. In our country, we have not had to confront the reality as others have. Syria, for instance, where death is daily assured to be a part of a tragic existence. And, of course, we are shocked at tragedies like Boston and West, Texas.

Regardless, the philosophical views of death do not minimize a single one. And, all death is not equal. Here's an example. I recently received a call from a daughter telling me about her Mom, 85, who is very sick. A wonderful person and basically has lived her life to the fullest, some of which I witnessed up close. I was immediately struck by a contrast of a tragedy in the same community. A high school youngster and her father were killed in an auto accident. A community wide memorial is schedule for tomorrow (Monday, May 13). This youngster, who goes by the name of KI, has not had a chance to live her life yet. No, all death is not equal. For KI, No graduations, college, marriage, career, children. GRIEF. So sad.

MOTHER'S DAY

MOTHER'S DAY. My wife said about
Mother's day, "tell the kids that the greatest gift is their family." Plus, flowers for Rose's mom, in honor of Rose. This has become a bit of a ritual: I go to my favorite flower shop in North Beach, looking for a flower called, Lilly of the Valley. They don't have it. I go to Trader Joe's--they have great flowers. Some knowledgeable woman tells me that Lilly of the Valley is a specialized flower that we don't have in America. What! It is not that I don't believe her but go to Safeway where they seem to have a variety of flowers, also. A young Asian lady offers to help. It is hard to convince her that I am not talking about "Lillies." I finally give up and pick out a beautiful mixed bouquet and literally run up Taylor Street to Rose's house. It is a pretty tough climb. In my mind's eye, I can see Rose smiling.

I ring the bell at Rose's house. I hear the phone ringing. Just as Rose's mom opens the door, the answering machine comes on. It is Rose's voice on the answering machine message. Her Mom has never changed it. I am deeply touched in hearing Rose's voice. It is like Rose is making her presence felt. I am so glad that I followed my instincts and got flowers. I definitely know it was Rose.

SC, As A State of Nuts

To me, the election of Mark Sanfort back to Congress in South Carilina has nothing to do with the fact he lied but mainly that the MFer has had his chance. He was a Congressman in this same district and was governor when he went on his infamous hiking trip chasing the "love of his life." Get the f..k out of the way and give somebody else a chance is what could have happened. Forget that! Are we dreaming? His election proves a very sad fact: we have a broken system and we can't fix it. The people of SC would elect an "orangutan" if he/she was a Republican. They don't think and could give a s..t less. And it is not going to change. CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO REFORM ITSELF. We all know what the problem is. It is not the Mark Sanfords of the world. It is the f..king stupid electorate that votes him in. Good luck.

The Electorate

To me, the election of Mark Sanfort back to Congress in South Carilina has nothing to do with the fact he lied but mainly that the MFer has had his chance. He was a Congressman in this same district and was governor when he went on his infamous hiking trip chasing the "love of his life." Get the f..k out of the way and give somebody else a chance is what could have happened. Forget that! Are we dreaming? His election proves a very sad fact: we have a broken system and we can't fix it. The people of SC would elect an "orangutan" if he/she was a Republican. They don't think and could give a s..t less. And it is not going to change. CONGRESS IS NOT GOING TO REFORM ITSELF. We all know what the problem is. It is not the Mark Sanfords of the world. It is the f..king stupid electorate that votes him in. Good luck.

KARZAI'S SLUSH FUND

PRESIDENTIAL SLUSH FUND. We can't be this stupid but I think we are. President Karzai of Afghanistan says he has been assured that piles of dollars will continue to be delivered to him in wheel barrels. He is absolutely correct. We have given the CIA a blank check. WE ARE IN FACT THIS STUPID.

NRA

In my mind, there is absolutely no difference in the NRA and radical Islamists. Guys like LaPierre are the radical Imans inciding the ignorant and uneducated to violence.

VIETNAM and BOSTON

This month is the commemoration of when 22 American soldiers were killed at one time, in the same Unit in the Vietnam war. At that time in May of 68, it was the single most Americans killed in one action, Charley Company, 1/501 Airborne Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Each year platoon survivors and a few straphangers (paratrooper term, roughly meaning, in this instance, extras who just showed up) gather to honor fellow soldiers from that action. I will never forget it. When we got word at the TOC (tactical operations center), I was one of the first one to arrive, along with Alpha Company for security purposes. The platoon had gone through this little ville (hamlet) and had swept it but then made the mistake of coming back without sweeping it again. The very cunning VC (Vietcong) had come in behind the platoon and planted booby traps and had positioned a sniper to force them to take cover. The carnage cannot fully be described.

Think of the Boston Marathon bombing and multiply it by six or seven. This is just a thought. Every year forever, this terrible act in Boston will be commemorated as it has been burned into our psyche. For our comrades with this dubious distinction, most soldiers lost in war, in one action, only a few of us will gather to remember and honor them.

THE PROM

All over America, teenagers are beginning to wrestle with thoughts of the prom. In the day, we called it the "Junior/Senior." The "Juniors" did the heavy lifting. In our little town we had this National Guard Armory that we decorated for the big dance. It was something. Thank the Lord for memories. They can be like a gentle ocean breeze, like the old home place that feels good to revisit. The memories are there, at times strong, at times weak--the perfect combination of old and new. The smiles and the occasional stress. Prom is pure happiness. It's the prom date. It's the prom dress.

And sometimes, there's sadness: a friend recently told me this story. A patient was in chemo. The final stages of a dreaded cancer. A daughter is preparing for the prom. They shop for the dress. The patient is so happy as they find the perfect one. She will never make it to shop for that future wedding dress but she made it for the prom dress. The patient died just before the prom.

ONE AMERICAN'S VIEW

I came to America when I was a teenager. It was hard at first but we came from unbelievable deprivation to the land of plenty. We could not believe how generous Americans were This is my opinion for all the immigrants that have a complaint about living here in AMERICA. Get the Fuck out of here. Go back were you came from.

THE COMPANY WE KEEP

This is one of those movies that you pretty much know where its heading. A pretty thin story line: sixties radicalized anti-Vietnam war types who took the peaceful demonstrations violent (Weathermen) and now are left over hippies who have blended into normalcy. Part of the issue with older actor; maybe they should let us remember them in "The Sting or Sundance Kid," and in their twilight years dedicate themselves to their Grandkids.

He is 76 years old. What do you expect?

76, his eyes. Should wear glasses all the time. Don't know if he has had work. I think maybe an eye job.

I still think Robert Redford is holding pretty well. Nick Nolte looks terrible though. Fat and scratchy voice.

MISSING A CHANCE

A few months ago, I saw the baseball movie with Clint Eastwood. He is a scout. Not much of a lvie. Plot as thin as a piece of NC country ha

Here's a war story that is only slightly related to Ball State. When I was in College trying to be a football player, the Coach talked to us about going back to our High School trying to recruit friends, etc. We had this guy, son of one of my teachers--I talked him into coming to my college. They literally ignored him. I did what I could but it was obvious that the coach's interest was zero. The guy goes to UNC becomes an All American. I wanted somebody from Ball State to recognize him, who had it all: good grades, handsome, great athlete. How lucky they would be. They could put the rush on. They did nothing. The officials had their heads up their posterior. "Ball State who?"

STUCK IN GRIEF

Recently a family member told me that the president called her cousin's Mom after her son was killed in Afghanistan-- one of the five soldiers, killed along with the young female diplomat. I thought to myself that it could hardly make up for the tragedy. Even with my cynicism (so think that our decisions about Iraq and Afghanistan have been so stupid) it was a nice gesture, the least the Commander could do--"sorry for your loss." There is no sugar coating it. Young Delfin Santos, Jr. cannot be brought back. In this case, the loss is compounded as he is the only son, Dad dead. The scene is sad, more than sad anyway you cut it. And, the military process doesn't help in my estimation.

Grief, sadly, has its own personality, more than I could ever innumerate: "shock at the news, questions like when is the body arriving?" To the military's detriment and sometimes credit, they often give out too much information as they don't really know some details but want to be helpful. And, when young Santos actually does arrive, it is a new round of grief. There ought to be a better way. Or, maybe this is merely one way. Maybe it is better to grieve to the point that one is numb with it. There really is no formula. A buddy of mine told me that when his brother was killed in Vietnam, his mom went into the house and did not come out for seven years.

And, now we have the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing. The grief is almost palpable. God bless us all.

EVERYBODY HAS A STORY

This is fascinating to me. Most of us are glued to the radio for news of the Boston Marathon bombing. One dead and we hope closing in on the other. The one youngster on the lam is a teenager. One person interviewed, actually an NPR broadcaster, who knew the teenager. Can't believe it. Unbelievable. Questions, Questions, Questions.

Then comes a program on NPR, "Story Corp." Unbelievably inspirational. An amputee spends his time talking to patients at the hospital where his leg was amputated and who has many amputees. He goes to some bureaucrat at the hospital and tells them that he wants to volunteer to talk to amputees. They tell him to get "out of town." He isn't trained, etc. On the way out of hospital, he runs into the chaplain. The chaplain asks him what he is about. He explains to the Chaplain. The Chaplain ask, "Can he come back on Saturday? He doesn't know anything or why the Chaplain wants him to show up. But, dutifully he shows up on Saturday. It is training on how to talk to people. The Chaplain gives him a Chaplain's badge and tells him, "Now, you can visit as much and all you want." Amazing! Now, this is a Chaplain! Airborne! HooAhhhhhhh. An aside, what a nice story in light of the tragedy in Boston.

A WASTE

GIs and a young female diplomat trying to help the most vulnerable and dying for it. F..k. Delivering textbooks. So sad and personally I say "f..k, MFer" I am angry and realize what a waste the loss of these young lives are.

SICH A WASTE

GIs trying to help the most vulnerable and dying for it. F..k. Delivering textbooks. So sad and personally I say "f..k, MFer" I am angry and realize what a fuckin waste.
GdA

MOSTLY USELESS REMARKS

RUTGERS. I had originally written these remarks. "What the F..k? I get so tired of issues like the Rutgers incident. I went to college on a football scholarship and it was par for the course for the coach to abuse us or rather to say anything. What the hell, you sorry MFers, you are not worth s..t, anything. You are not worthy to even breathe the same air as a real athlete. All the while, he is pushing, cursing.

I TAKE IT BACK. Watching the video makes me realize I am wrong. This guy at RUTGERS is out of control. He had to go. Goes to show you, get the whole picture before passing judgment.

The President's remarks that California has an "attractive attorney general" is sexist. Come on! Give me a break!

Fat people are mad at Target because TARGET labels a dress, Manatee. The rather large people say manatee is insulting because it means a rather fat animal. Hmmmmmm Then the Samoans are ticked off because their airline wants to charge by the pound. Dang. And, on two different programs: The Jews were saying they were discriminated against: one in college admissions, another in music, heard this program on NPR and then read about a play on Broadway where this is a lot of the theme. We can't minimize this and always have to be aware. I am a "white boy" from NC. In NY where I lived for a time in Brooklyn, the deli folks would laugh at my accent. Then, my daughter and I were skiing in Switzerland once and at night sitting in the hot tub with a bunch of Brits. Afterwards my daughter said, "Dad, these people were making fun of you constantly and you didn't even know it." So, that is it. I never get pinged because I don't "get it." we'll, I have to be more aware. Today is Holocoast Remembrance Day. I am definitely going to REMEMBER!!!!

LEAVE AFGHANISTAN

LEAVE AFGHANISTAN. This doesn't seem so hard. A country whose leadership is mired in corruption, a whole segment of the people ready to go over to the Taliban. Only a small fraction of Americans even know we're in Afghanistan. Leaving 8-14 thou is a fast train to nowhere and opens us to immense problems. We sure as hell can't listen to the generals. Their mantra is more troops. Nothing we are doing in Afghanistan is working. We have done our best. Next case.

North Korea

KIM Jong UN has the emotional maturity of a tree, with apologies to the tree. The difficulty which none of the prognosticators have zeroed in on-- Korea, like most Asian countries, subscribe to the Confucian Ethic. This isn't a religion, rather a philosophy. Not casual if taken to the extreme. In North Korea, the Confucian Ethic is past the extreme: "worship of the leader," Kim Jung UN is drunk on power. In practical terms, it means that an emotionally challenged neophyte like UN could care less about the lives of people anywhere, to include his own. He is dangerous. If he does what I predict, take the country to war or some provocative act, he could be in Seoul in milliseconds. Consequently, South Korea, not America, The ROK (South Korea) Army is as good as any in the galaxy. They have conscription with no loopholes, everybody serves. Their training conditions are incredibly hard and borders on torturous. They have to be super ready, expecting war to happen!

What I am hearing is that most everybody seems to think it is more North Korean bluster. NO, I DON'T THINK SO. The dictator is too inexperienced and honestly believes he is infallible.

The ROK (Republic of Korea) needs to be ready to go in fast and hard, backed by US air. And, bombing them into the stone age should be a "given." No long protracted engagement. What is a little different this time in my estimation is that we can't afford to buy them off. In the past to get them to quit their nuclear program, we have thrown them a few million here and there. The bank is closed, can't afford it or simply our system has now slammed shut this avenue: sequestration.

Sadly, this is really the only way. I am sorry for the people as they have been brainwashed for years but there is no negotiating with a madman. God bless us in this critical time.

Grover Norquist

Grover Norquist is a f..king zeolot anyway you look at it. He is an example of a smart guy who has an answer for everything. Anybody who signs the "tax pledge" of this MFer's "no taxes" is as dumb as he is. I wish this f..ker would move to another country. Am I biased? F..king "A" in spades. The difference is I honestly think that my mind could be changed, in particular if something were presented that would help the country. This f..ker, Norquist, is a zeolot: "Do nor confuse me with facts, I have my mind made up."