Another (late) Memorial Day post. Read this:
https://www.powerlineblog.com/…/2019/05/americas-honor-7.php
Marines, or maybe because of my military background, or time working with the Marines, or my adolescent reading of military history borrowed from the Ambler public library, I already knew most of the names mentioned by Scott Johnson in his column. I knew of John Basilone, Dan Daly, Dick Bong, Dakota Meyer, and the 5 submariners who were awarded the Medal of Honor.
It is a shame that those names are not household knowledge; but everyone knows Kim Kardashian.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/05/americas-honor-7.php

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ADDED 6/7/2019:  Instead of a new post, I decided to list the MOH awardees that I learned about, either by reading about them or because a ship or building was named for them.

FIRST: Rodger Young -http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3076/young-rodger-w.php  . If you don't know where his name appears, shame on you, but just ask. He was the first MOH awardee I never heard of.

SECOND: Dick Bong - http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2646/bong-richard-i.php  . I read about him in a Landmark book "Great American Fighter Pilots of WWII."

THIRD:  As a submariner I learned about the 8 MOH Submariner receipients:

https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/tm2-henry-breault-1923/ ;
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/capt-john-p-cromwell-1943/  ; Elected to go down with the ship rather than revealing what he knew about breaking Japanese codes under torture if/when captured.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/cdr-howard-w-gilmore-1943/  ; When wounded on the bridge he said to his XO "TAKE HER DOWN" when he couldn't make it below quickly enough. Saved the ship at the cost of his life.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/cdr-richard-h-okane-1944/  , Cdr O'Kane survived a bad torpedo in a circuar run sinking his ship and years as a Japanese POW. He was one of he most successful submariners in WW II. He was trained by Mush Morton before taking command of the Tang. The next patrol of the Wahoo she was lost with all hands.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/cdr-samuel-d-dealey-1944/  ; best known for shooting and sinking 5 Japanese destroyers in one war patrol.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/cdr-lawson-p-ramage-1944/  ;  "Red Ramage led is sub in a furious night surface battle wit an escorted convoy, with outstanding results.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/3864-2/  ; penetrated a Japaneze protected anchorage with 30 ships, then attacked until out of torpedos and had to evade on the surface until water get deeep enough to submerge.
https://www.navalsubleague.org/links/historymuseums/submarine-force-medal-honor-recipients/cdr-george-l-street-iii-1945/  ; another daring night surface attack, in shallow water inside a protected Japanese anchorage, causing maximum damage and escaping to deeper water under fire.

FOURTH: I was the CNA Scientific Analyst to OPNAV N42, who owned the Strategic Sealift Program and the Prepositioning ships. I learned about several MOH awardees in that job. The Army and USMC Prepo ships were generally named for MOH awardees, including:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3233/bobo-john-p.php  ;
http://www.militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=1965  ;
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3149/lopez-baldomero.php  ;
http://www.marinemedals.com/lummusjack.htm  ;
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/2472/button-william-robert.php  ;
There are more, and I read about the Marines and the ships that were named for them once I was part of the team charged with operating and maintaining them and the equipment they carried. The Army had several Prepo ships also named for Army MOH receipients as well.

FIFTH (and lastly): As a Marine contractor working for the MCSC and MCCDC I had desk in the MCCDC Death Star - the GEN Raymond Davis building. Iooked him up and found another Marine MOH RECEIPIENT:  http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3104/davis-raymond-g.php  ; He led the relief effort to rescue Marines trapped during winter in the Korean war. He later served to the 4-star level as the ACMC.

All these men served beyond the call; all deserve our thanks and respect, and our thanks for the things they, and their shipmates or company mates, did to preserve our way of life. 

BLATE -- These are just examples of what makes our country great.

Some thoughts on MEMORIAL DAY, with a rant on many of today's young.

BLUF -- I give honor and prayers to my friends and shipmates and the millennials who know:
"The tree of liberty must be periodically replenished with the blood of PATRIOTS. "  
 
"All gave some, some gave all." This saying is familiar to many. Today is the day where we remember those who gave all. I'm lucky because all my uncles (and Dad) gave some in WWII or Korea, but none gave all. I do have Naval Academy shipmates who did give all while serving our country protecting my ability to sit her and write this blog.
I remember my Shipmates:
ANTHONY J.R. BILOTTI, LTJG, USN
JOHN W. SMITH, JR., LTJG, USN
STEPHEN D. SCOTT, 1LT, USMC
WILLIAM H. READMAN, LTJG, USN
PATRICK J. CONROY, LTJG, USN
PAUL J. CAPPELLINO, LTJG, USN
JAMES D. WATKINS, LTJG, USN
MICHAEL F. BROWN, LT, USN
MICHAEL J. OHLER, CAPT, USMC
JAMES F. SURCH, JR., LT, USN
STEPHEN J. BURLEY, CAPT, USMC
WILLIAM A. STUVER, MAJ, USMC
STEPHEN A. GARCIA, LCDR, USN
EUGENE T. MCCARTHY, JR., MAJ, USMC
JAMES E. BOYLE, LCDR, USN
EDWIN W. CARDIN, CAPT, USAF
My wife was in the Class of 1980 and she also lost some shipmates:
DARYL L. CHEN, LTJG, USN
PATRICK K. INGLIS, LTJG, USN
NICHOLAS C. HARMAN, LT, USN
DONALD E. WOOLLETT, 1LT, USMC
CYNTHIA S. GRUBBS, LTJG, USN
JAMES M. MERRILL, LT, USN
CARLOS A. MILLER, LT, USN
JEFFREY H. TUSET, CAPT, USMC
STEVEN M. MOREAU, LT, USN
ROBERT A. NEMECEK, LCDR, USN
MARSHALL W. ATKINS, LCDR, USN
On a personal level I lost a crew member to an impossible fight against the sea and high pressure air. He was on the stern planes when a failure in the control 3000 lb. air caused the planes to go to full dive. He was a strong man but could not budge the control stick. The next morning he had an aneurysm give way near his heart and died. I always thought his blood pressure shot up as he fought the Stern Plane Control Stick for several minutes and weakened the aneurysm he didn't even know he had. I still mourn his passing.
Today I have a problem with many of today's generation. Not the ones ADM McRaven mentions when he said: "Anyone who calls millennials 'soft' has clearly never seen them in a firefight."
I've seen many who are professional, patriotic, and continuously work to improve themselves and our country.
I give honor and prayers to my friends and shipmates and the millennials who know:
"The tree of liberty must be periodically replenished with the blood of patriots."     -- Robert A. Heinlein
I'm disappointed with the soft and lazy millennials who have been miseducated by the liberal/Socialist indoctrination to sit passively and let "big state" take care of them from birth till death. Stupid, lazy, and soft is no way to go through life.
GROW UP and start ADULTING.

This is the long overdue introduction to me, and why I can now write this blog, and what thoughts and ideas of which I'm trying to increase the visibility.
FIRST: About me. I am a Retired Navy Nuclear Engineer and Conservative (really small "l" libertarian) by education and experience who recently retired and has time to write down his thoughts. I hope sound ideas, articulately stated can convince some and reduce the chaos that the Communist, Democratic (but I repeat myself) punditry is creating. Comments, calmly stated, are always welcome. Try not to be too profane.
A small "L" libertarian is one who is happy with as little Government as possible, and control at the lowest level of Government as possible. NOT NO GOVERNMENT. I spent all my adult working life (44.5 years) working for the Federal Government; first in the Navy; then as a contractor supporting the DON, then A Federal Agency; then the DoD. "Provide for the Common Defense" is clearly articulated in our Constitution.
Reading anything and everything as a Federal Government job under the rubric of "Promote the General Welfare" clause (or the interstate commerce paragraph) is a gross overreach; and I JUST SAY NO.
I use JUST SAY NO  as my watch words for this blog. I'm happy with a LIMITED FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the Several States, as articulated (masterfully) in our Constitution.
In addition to the Preamble to the Constitution:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
The Declaration of Independence is a much longer statement of the goals our Founding Fathers wanted in the country they were building. Among others:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
There is much more, but this early paragraph is a key passage. Rights don't come from the Government; but are guaranteed by the government, and come from our innate humanity (or from the higher power that made us in his image, if you prefer).  We are guaranteed the right "to pursue happiness", it does NOT guarantee happiness for all.
The phrase "deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed" is also important. This is what I call "SERVANT LEADERSHIP" (thanks USMC) and I wish we had more of it at all levels of government; from my local HOA up to the Federal Government. When the governing body treats the citizenry as subjects and not their employers Government loses sight of why they are there. We are getting more that way each day now.
Anyway I hope you enjoy my thoughts and tips are welcome.

Another of my (almost) weekly thoughts on the passing American scene:

BLUF - JUST SAY NO -- this time I have several short observations to share.
Please read to the end. I have a different BLATE at the end but it is an IMPORTANT NEW CONSERVATIVE Thought to get to and to understand.

FIRST:
TRUMP is right to JUST SAY NO to complying with any further Democrat/Socialist/Communist harassment via hearings that are only to further media time from their propaganda arm (most mainstream TV and Print media).
A blogger/author whom I admire says when the forces of evil (Democrat/Socialist) say or do something stupid - point it out and laugh at them. TRUMP's twitter use is among the best efforts to point out the excesses and stupidity of his disloyal opposition. I and most people who are not brainwashed by media bias, or our stupid party (Country Club Republicans) caterwualing about appropriate conduct (never seems to notice or comment on Democrat/Communist inappropriate conduct) see through the stupidity. TRUMP fights back, and more power to him.
If the Communist/Democrat controlled House ever comes up with a legitimate request for information they won't need  subpoena, TRUMP will deliver the legitimate info promptly.

SECOND:
The current Immigration Laws, even when enforced, do a disservice to American citizens. (And the businesses they try to operate successfully despite the heavy hand of laws passed by our government (and the even heavier RULES ordered by an unelected Administrative State) that work against a successful business.)  
And Democrats/Socialists skew enforcement toward their short-term political goals, to the detriment of American citizens. American citizenry needs a common, unifying "lingua Americana" (i.e. American English) (Even Obama now says immigrants need to learn English.) And TRUMP is right to significantly reduce "Chain Immigration" in favor of getting more skilled immigrants (who hopefully want to pursue the American dream of success without unbearable Government oversight pressuring the wheels of free enterprise.) TRUMP, and all of us, should JUST SAY NO to chain migration.

THIRD:
A country without borders (and with effective entry and exit controls) is NO COUNTRY AT ALL. TRUMP and I don't want to join as "One World Government" modeled on the EU failed/failing Humanitarian National Socialist model. We both want a LIMITED FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of the Several States; as laid out in our Constitution describing the best way to achieve the goals articulated in our Declaration of Independence. We both JUST SAY NO  to any and all attempts to destroy the existing compact between the Citizens of these UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

BLATE - I believe in the concept of "Servant Leadership" (thanks USMC) and think our leaders should be chosen by us Citizens to serve our interests, not theirs, to the best of their ability and using their knowledge and information they develop while serving OUR interests.
Sorry the BLATE was so long. But I think it is an important concept to articulate.

This pic says it all. All were true growing up in Ambler PA in the '60s.

The latest column from Victor Davis Hanson pointing out similarities between 300 AD Rome and 3rd millenium USA. The comparison is on point and doesn't bode well for the USA. Those who don't study are doomed to repeat it . . . https://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/our-modern-satyricon/

Reposting the newest Victor Davis Hanson column; another cogent analysis of the Democratic (Communist) effort to obstruct and unseat the current LEGALLY ELECTED PRESIDENT.
He describes how the animus has shifted to the Attorney General for accurately summarizing the:
          "22 months, $34 million and a 448-page, two-volume {Mueller} report. "
He was supposed to sacrifice his ethics and legal standards to meet media and Democratic 2+ year fantasies.
He is accused of being "The President's Wingman" which is Democratic Transference. Obama's two Attorneys General.
       (I tend to refer to him as Barry Sotero, which is what he went by in High School until he
         needed to be more Black.)
Please read and understand how the desperate opposition is grabbing at straws in an attempt to continue their coup attempt. Share what you now know to be true; and
JUST SAY NO.
Here is the link to the VDH column:

https://pjmedia.com/victordavishanson/progressives-face-a-bleak-post-mueller-landscape/

BLUF -- Not all my thoughts are on controversial topics, and this is one on a topic that just pisses me off.

I knew it would be a tease and scam not a demonstration of anything I could immediately use.
I am recovering slowly (its been 19 months and my right foot probably will never fully come back) and my right side core (thoractic and lumbar core) ache and cause a lean to the left as the muscles tire prematurely. So I was interested in something that was an advertisement on JWR.
I like the daily JWR as a good source of well thought out and well documented Conservative/libertarian columns. Clicking to view an ad sends money to JWR to keep the site solvent.

(sign up here for the daily JWR email: http://www.jewishworldreview.com/subs.php  )

The video promised to reveal the one exercise I could do in "one minute"; I knew it was a LIE but let the video drone on. After 35 minutes it revealed you could BUY her video and book to get the answer. "ONE MINUTE" my eye, and anything that leads with a lie is probably a scam. The 35 minutes were spent saying that PT doesn't know the answer and Doctors are in the dark as well. Only her program can make you feel better. WABOS.
I changed the URL below so it won't work. Please don't patronize this scam artist. 
http:{SLANT}{SLANT}worldhealthlabs{DOT}com{SLANT}lpo{SLANT}back-pain-fix-shocks-doctors{SLANT}index_ff031a0a.html?sxid=5hox5r80suz1&creativeid=11737118787741452&click=1_11890876368689948

I am reluctant to re-raise this series of events, but when a Democratic Presidential front-runner present a FALSE account of events I have to relate the complete, unvarnished story has never been told in major media.
Over two yers ago an extremist fringe ultra-far right wing group went through all the admin paperwork drill to stage a march to demonstrate their opposition to the removal of monuments to historic leaders who are now known to be on the wrong side of rightiousness, and therefore history.
Their march was to serve two purposes: FIRST - to show that the monuments, taken in the context of history provide a valuable lesson on questioning the majority position on an idea; and SECOND - to goad the Liberal left into a violent response.
A right wing thought leader has proposed when we hear about one of these marches we should gather as they march by; and point and laugh at them. They don't represent us, but do have a right to make fools of themselves.
The first goal was lost in the noise, at least partially because media didn't want to tell that part. The second goal worked too well. Violent radical left counter-protesters tried to disrupt the march, which was properly authorized by the administrative state and allowed by the FIRST AMENDMENT, using clubs and fists. An unstable and angry Ultra-right wing fringe member drove through the crowd of violent counter protesters and killed one. For which he was tried and convicted of murder.
But in the following two years there has been NO mention of the pre-planned violent, Ultra-left wing, (wish it was fringe but now see it is not), counter protest to prevent the FIRST AMENDMENT guaranteed ability to petition their local Government to address their grievances over plans to remove monuments to historical figures. WHY? I suspect it doesn't fit the meme that the Right wing was the only violent group.
Bottom Line at the End (BLATE) - We need to JUST SAY NO when media buries an important part of the story and ensure the real, full story is told.
JUST SAY IT early and often - The LEFT WING are the violent fringe today and until they see adverse consequences for their actions they will continue to grow more violent and disruptive to a civil society.