Unbelievable but true

Ex-Marine Murtha (Not former Marine Murtha, EX-Marine Murtha.  In the Marine Corps that’s a significant difference.) was given a citation for his “selfless devotion to the Nation’s Sailors and Marines…”?   Really?  For his devotion to repeatedly claiming on national television that eight United States Marines were cold-blooded killers?

That would be these eight Marines he’s taling about. From the Don’t Honor John Murtha Petition to the Secretary of the Navy:

Eight Marines were originally charged. As of March 17th, 2009 all charges were dropped against six Marines, one was found not guilty on all counts in courts martial. The prosecution has delayed the court martial of the final defendant indefinitely. The original allegations of a massacre and the statements of Congressman Murtha have been thoroughly discredited. Despite the facts, John Murtha refuses to apologize to those he slandered.

Is this citation really about Murtha’s devotion to United States Sailors and Marines?

Sign the Petition. I already did.

12:58 am EST

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Remember the Fallen

241 Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers killed on October 23, 1983 by Islamists in the Beirut barracks bombing.  There’s a reason it’s called the Long War.  (h/t B5)

1:43 pm EST

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U.S Warship arrives in Georgia

The USS McFaul, an Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyer, and the first of three United States ships scheduled to arrive this week with humanitarian aid for Georgians, dropped anchor at the Georgian port of Batumi today.  The port of Batumi is 30 miles south of the Russian-occupied port of Poti.  Stay alert guys!

There’s other current information on the conflict at both links.

2:03 pm EST

UPDATE @ 3:13 pm EST:  Instapundit links to a post at Wired’s Danger Room noting the other two ships scheduled to deliver Georgian aid are the USCGC Dallas (WHEC-716) and the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20).  Rumor is that Polish and Canadian frigates will be escorting the USS Mount Whitney.  Interestingly, Dallas also utilizes helicopters.  In addition, Danger Room notes the Russians have announced that their only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, is heading to the eastern Mediterranean, and further notes that in 1991 the Kuznetsov illegally transited Turkey’s Bosporus Strait from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

You can follow information on our humanitarian aid to Georgia at the Headquarters United States European Command website.

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US Navy Seal Mike Monsoor

Today the President of the United States awarded the Medal of Honor, posthumously, to US Navy Seal Michael Anthony Monsoor. He had previously earned a Silver Star for rescuing another SEAL on May 9, 2006, and was also awarded a Bronze Star for 11 different opertions in Ramadi, Iraq between April and September, 2006. Blackfive has much more information and a wonderful tribute to Monsoor, including two video tributes, a transcript of the President’s remarks at the presentation, and the Medal of Honor citation. These two paragraphs from the President’s remarks are a glimpse of the essence of the hero:

On Saint Michael’s Day — September 29, 2006 — Michael Monsoor would make the ultimate sacrifice. Mike and two teammates had taken position on the outcropping of a rooftop when an insurgent grenade bounced off Mike’s chest and landed on the roof. Mike had a clear chance to escape, but he realized that the other two SEALs did not. In that terrible moment, he had two options — to save himself, or to save his friends. For Mike, this was no choice at all. He threw himself onto the grenade, and absorbed the blast with his body. One of the survivors puts it this way: “Mikey looked death in the face that day and said, ‘You cannot take my brothers. I will go in their stead.'”

Perhaps the greatest tribute to Mike’s life is the way different service members all across the world responded to his death. Army soldiers in Ramadi hosted a memorial service for the valiant man who had fought beside them. Iraqi Army scouts — whom Mike helped train — lowered their flag, and sent it to his parents. Nearly every SEAL on the West Coast turned out for Mike’s funeral in California. As the SEALs filed past the casket, they removed their golden tridents from their uniforms, pressed them onto the walls of the coffin. The procession went on nearly half an hour. And when it was all over, the simple wooden coffin had become a gold-plated memorial to a hero who will never be forgotten.

Please, go read it all. Honor a hero’s life and sacrifice by never forgetting his name or his story.

10:06:50 pm EST

UPDATE (4/09/08 @ 7:32 pm EST):   Here is the Navy’s Medal of Honor page for MA2 Michael Monsoor, USN, including video of the White House Medal of Honor Ceremony, and a Photo Tribute.

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Life Aboard a Destroyer

In recent years, I’ve often found myself wondering what day-to-day life aboard a destroyer was really like. Dad’s passing, and the global war on terror, have renewed my interest in such things. There are so many more questions about Dad’s life in the Navy, and his duties as a Gunners’ Mate, I would ask him today if I could.

The world has changed since the early 1950s, and so have destroyers. Fletcher Class ships, like Dad’s ship, the USS ISHERWOOD (DD-520), are long gone from service. Only a few have been preserved as museum ships. The Navy now has guided missile destroyers, and Gunners’ Mates’ responsibilities are obviously more technologically demanding. The Arleigh Burke class ships are currently the Navy’s only active destroyers. One of those is the USS RUSSELL (DDG-59).

Earlier this evening (now yesterday evening), via Neptunus Lex, I became aware of a brand new blog, The Destroyermen, about “Life Aboard United States Ship RUSSELL (DDG 59), Through the Eyes of its Crew.” Yes! I am excited. I look forward to following the crew of the RUSSELL and getting a tiny glimpse into the life of today’s Tin Can Sailor. The destroyers may have changed, but I suspect sailors haven’t really changed that much.

I wish the crew of the RUSSELL success in the mission, and a safe return to homeport.

1:05:20 am EST

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Navy SEAL Lt. Michael Murphy

The White House announced yesterday, October 11, that Lt. Murphy will posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor.

If you haven’t read Lone Survivor yet, you really should. It’s an amazing story.

6:07:05 pm EST

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GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR – WAR ON TERROR

He frets, worries and is troubled? Is Admiral Mullen a warrior or someone’s granny? He also seems to suffer from political correctness.

I’m not seeing negative things from milblogs concerning Admiral Mullen’s nomination this past June. Of course, most of it is praise for General Pace. A comment at Blackfive pegs Mullen as a “manager, not a warrior.” Here’s Admiral Mullen’s bio. Make up your own mind.

However, Bear Creek Ledger links to this unsettling story about UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and Mullen. An excerpt:

Mullen is said to be the brain behind the 1,000-ship Navy concept. One story notes that Mullen’s concept is “to build on existing international security agreements to extend the global reach of sea power.” That power, he says, includes the ability to “share and unite” nations.

Sounding like a U.N. Secretary-General, rather than a U.S. military leader, Mullen says, “Our vision is to extend the peace through an interconnected community of maritime nations working together.” That includes UNCLOS.

There is one big problem with Mullen’s “vision.” What happens when a country like China violates the treaty? It is clear, based on the EP-3 incident, that the U.S. doesn’t have the political will or military capability to confront China. So what happens when the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea rules for China and against the U.S.? It can only mean further surrender by the U.S. in the face of Chinese military power.

Read the whole thing.

We shall see what Gates and Congress have wrought.

2:57:33 pm EST

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Recruiting Goals

All services, except Army and Air National Guard, met or exceeded their recruiting and retention goals for August. Is there something about the Reserve that’s more appealing than the Guard?

From this personal enlistment story, it wouldn’t seem the Army has relaxed its standards or tossed aside any stupid rules.  Doesn’t cycling someone for 2 years on “maturity issues” work against the Army’s claim it turns boys into men?

1:33:40 pm EST

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Answering the Call

People either get it, or they don’t. Unfortunately, not enough Americans get it yet. (h/t Uncle J @ B5)

8:33:43 pm EST

 

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Happy Birthday Dad

On July 11, 1930, someone very near and dear to our hearts was born. Unfortunately, he was taken from us way too early, at the youthful age of 60. Some who read this blog may wonder where our family gets its love of country and patriotism, and reverence for the men and women serving in the United States military. I can tell you it was from this man, Carl Lee Wilson. (Anyone recognize that class ring? 🙂 )

 

He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and loyal friend to many. He was also a gunner’s mate, serving on the destroyer USS Isherwood (DD-520) in the early 1950’s, and was proud to have done so.

He visited many ports around the world during his time in the United States Navy. Conversations at our dinner table while growing up often centered on his stories of life aboard ship, and things he had seen and experienced at various ports of call around the world. As a kid, I was particularly fascinated hearing about the guys jumping off the ship to swim in the ocean, and the dolphins that would swim around the ship. Dad also told us about the living conditions and general way of life for people in other countries, especially in the Mediterranean where the Isherwood was located when I was born. He made it abundantly clear that we were extremely fortunate to have been born in the United States and should be forever grateful to this country for our wonderful way of life. While he acknowledged America was not perfect, he was adamant it was still the best country in the world to live. As I’ve gotten older and learned more about other countries, I’ve come to fully appreciate just how right he was.

And so today, on what would have been his 77th birthday, I’d like to wish Dad a Happy Birthday. Thanks for raising us right, Dad. You done good. We love you, and still miss you so very, very much.

At the beach. August, 1988.

(Note: To see a larger version of each picture, click on the thumbnail.)

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Blackfive

I’ve been busy the last few days and am just now trying to catch up on stories from some of the milblogs. In case you haven’t been checking the sites yourself, definitely visit Blackfive for some good stories and videos. As I scrolled to see what I’d missed (lots!), the post I was happiest to see was the one about the memorial to Navy SEAL Danny Dietz being unveiled in Denver in a ceremony on Independence Day. There’s also the story (with pics and a video of General Petraeus’ remarks) about 588 troops who reenlisted and another 161 naturalized as American citizens on Independence Day in a ceremony in Iraq.

There are other good posts, including, video of Uncle Jimbo talking to truthers in Madison, maritime operations in the Persian Gulf, a video sent to Blackfive by Sgt Deboard from RCT-6 of 2/5 Marines in Karmah, Sit-Reps from Afghanistan and Baghdad, and more. Just go to the Blackfive main page and keep scrolling.

3:27:15 pm EST

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“The One”

There are so many good posts over at Blackfive today. Definitely don’t miss reading about “The One”, including the WaPo article. (I ordered the book.)

After you’re finished with that, hit up Blackfive’s main page and scroll. Be sure to catch the letter written by the Lion of Fallujah, Major Doug Zembiec, to the children of a fallen friend. Words to live by. Integrity. Valor. Sacrifice. Discipline.

1:53:49 pm EST 

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