Hmmm…. Do you believe what your government tells you?
Through the recommendation of a patriot, educator, military historian, WordPress blogger and friend Mustang USMC, I read “One Million Steps” in a one day marathon. I only put it down to tend to my kids or chores.
It was riveting.
It had sad moments.
It describes how our young Marines would have to patrol through fields of opium poppy and marijuana to seek out the Taliban intent on killing them and not be able to do anything about it.
It tells of how they had to resort to using Walmart metal detectors, called Vallons, to keep them scant inches from stepping on an IED.
It tells about how policies established by the White House “for” conducting war collide head on with the Marines’ job – “to” conduct war – at the cost of our young boys’ lives.
It showed that 75% of our volunteer Marines of the Third Platoon in 3/5 – the 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marines, 1st Division – came from two parent families. Think about that for a minute.
And it is humbling to see what Marines are all about: Semper Fidelis.
Always Faithful.
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A short civilian’s look into the honored history of 3/5, and more specifically, the Third Platoon…
The 3rd Battalion, Fifth Marines was organized in 1917 in preparation for WWI combat, just one of which was the Battle of Balleau Wood.
During WWII, they endured and won in costly combat at Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Peleliu, and Okinawa. E. B. Sledge, or “Sledgehammer”, scribbled notes in an Old Testament during combat as a mortarman on Pelilieu and Okinawa. At the urging of his family, his notes became the foundation for his historic book, “With the Old Breed”. Sledgehammer was part of the Third Platoon.
During the Korean War, they left their bloodied mark in history once again at battlefields called Inchon and Chosin Reservoir to name just two.
Called again into action during the Viet Nam War, they heroically fought at god-forsaken places such as Chu-Lai, DaNang, Quang Nam and Que Son. A few of our readers served in that war and are thanked greatly.
After waging war in Operation Desert Storm, they now have Sangin in Afghanistan to add to their battle history. This is where the story takes place.
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I do not wish to steal the thunder from Mustang in case he wanted to write about the excellent book… Indeed, he would do a much better job. But I could not NOT write something about it as I hope a few of you would read it. Our boys dying in combat for YOU deserve your support, understanding and compassion.
As I do not wish to taint the book’s message with opinion, what I propose to do (if it’s legal – I’m no lawyer nor writer) is just reference a few passages from “One Million Steps”, a book by Bing West. Perhaps it will tempt you into also picking up a copy (also available for Kindle):
These boys are fighting under orders from the White House…
They WILL be fighting for you under orders from the White House.
To protect YOU.
Read about them – these young American men.
Feel for them.
Appreciate them.
Semper Fi.
Man, this got my eye plumbing leaking…
Two Heroes!
Marine dog, Lucca, was given a wonderful tribute in the Parade Sunday magazine. After more than 400 missions in Afghanistan, no one had been hurt by an IED when they were with her. She was the only one that the Green Berets felt comfortable hugging after a tough day.
Mamma Lucca, as she is nicknamed, was injured herself. Handler Col. Juan “Rod” Rodriguez quickly applied a tourniquet and she was air-lifted to one veterinary team after another in all-out attempts to save her life. They succeeded, but Lucca lost her right left leg in the action. You can see her honorary Purple Heart on her harness. Today she lives with her original trainer, Gunnery Sgt. Chris Willingham and his family. She continues to serve at VA hospitals and in schools.
Could someone please explain to me WHY this Hero’s Purple Heart is considered HONORARY??
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Farewell Salutes –
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I’m telling ya, she’s killing me.
My little Cake Boss. She’s become a girlie. Totally.
Nails. Brushing her hair for dance classes. Face timing. Trying on different clothes just to go to a supermarket. Spending 15 minutes in a soap store and not finding a single one she likes. Never ready on time.
All summer long, she asked if it was OK to go to the beach or something with her friends. I said no problem; just don’t do it at the last minute.
I even took her to two stores to buy a new bikini. Egads. She even asked me what color she should get to which I replied, “A warm color; I think purple looks best on you.”
So she buys a pink one. Why ask?? See, she’s killing me.
Oh… I said to get a beach towel since she had her pink Disney princesses towel since she was three. Plus, they were on sale. She said she didn’t need one.
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I had my kids for two straight weeks this time… but she has dance five days a week plus the last two Saturdays were all day rehearsals. I had also promised to take my son to the range but my ex ruined my plans once again by interfering.
So this last Monday, my little Cake Boss – with the days now getting cooler – asked if she and two of her best friends could go to the beach. Again, I said sure but let me know now so we can be ready.
On Tuesday, I asked, “Brooke, so can your friends go?”
“Papa, I asked, OK? Just wait, OK?”
On Wednesday, I asked, “So Brooke, are they coming?”
“Papa… They haven’t gotten back to me so wait, OK? Sheesh!” Never mind they are classmates, BFF and spend all day together.
On Thursday, I asked, “Brooke. So what’s the story with the beach this Sunday?”
“Papa! I’ll let you know, OK??!”
On Friday, I asked, “Brooke… So is it on? Sunday’s the day after tomorrow!”
“Papaaaa!”
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So guess what? After picking her up from rehearsal Saturday night and after eating dinner, she says, “Papa. So they’re coming at 11:30 TOMORROW (caps added) and we’re going to watch Godzilla afterwards… but K needs to be home by 6:30 PM.”
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SO SUNDAY MORNING at 9:00 AM… Guess what? She coyly asks, “Papa… Can we go get a beach towel? Its kinda old now. Heh heh, heh.”
We’re off to Target to get a beach towel with her friends coming a little over two hours… October 1st is just a few days away. Who’s gonna have a beach towel let alone a one she likes???
We can’t find one, of course…and she gets mad at me.
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We then we made a mad dash to Stater Bros. to get stuff to make hamburgers and BBQ for them afterwards… “Papa… Why do you have to rush?!
So her two BFF arrive and at 12, I say, “Brooke, you said you all wanted to watch Godzilla afterwards and K needs to be home by 6:30 so we need to go.”
“Papa, OK!! Just wait 30 seconds, OK?! Sheesh!”
Five minutes.
Ten minutes. I’m waiting outside with the car loaded up. I go back inside. I find they’re still in her room… yakking away.
“Brooke! We need to go,” I yell through her door.
“Papa!!! We’re trying on clothes so just wait!”
WTF??
Fifteen minutes. Sure is a long 30 seconds.
After 25 minutes… They are finally ready to leave and come out… but then she realizes she needs to “use the bathroom” and runs back into the house. Criminy!
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Well, we finally made it to the beach around 1 PM… But in a little over an hour, she says, “OK, Papa. We’re ready to go home now because it’s getting a little cold.”
She’s killing me, I tell ya. But at least they saw three dolphins just 40 yards off the beach… and they had a great time.
BFF…
So tonight, the kiddies asked if I could make something new. Something different.
Not my Fettuccine Alfredo nor my grilled chicken with lemon and chive pan sauce nor my szechuan tofu…nor Hamburger Helper.
Nor green eggs and ham – but it was close.
They asked for bowtie pasta with (classic) pesto.
Like the one they ate at California Pizza Kitchen.
Egads.
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So Cook’s Illustrated came to my rescue again. They had a recipe AND even a video!
Now…if I could only follow the instructions. And I was determined NOT to leave a bag of groceries at the check out line like my blogging bud Jan Morrill did when she made pesto. 🙂
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Per Cook’s Illustrated’s recipe, the ingredients were simple:
2 “packed” cups fresh basil
2 tbsp “packed” flat leaf parsley (i.e., Italian parsley)
1/4 cup pine nuts (raw)
3 (skewered) garlic
7 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan Reggiano
(The trouble here in SoCal is the drought. EVERYTHING is getting expensive. Fresh pine nuts were $8.99 for a small carton!)
Also, note the type of parsley:
It does taste different and with all that garlic, I felt the parsley was important. 🙂
Boil the water but do NOT salt yet. Skewer the three cloves of garlic and submerge in the boiling water for about 30 seconds then plunge into an ice bath. Mince but it needn’t be too fine as it will go into the processor.
After generously salting the boiling water, start to boil the pasta while keeping a measuring cup in the colander; you need to remember to reserve about 1/2 cup of the water.
After toasting the pine nuts in a skillet over medium low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, everything went into the food processor except for the Parmesan and the water. Scrape down the sides with a spatula as necessary until you get a relatively smooth mixture. You should still be able to make out small pieces of the basil. (Oh, you had to put the basil and parsley into a Ziploc and pound it maybe a dozen times to bruise the leaves before throwing them into the processor. Doing so helps release the savory oils.) Salt as necessary.
This is what it should look like:
The rest is easy. When your pasta is al dente, reserve about 1/2 cup. Add about 1/4 cup of the reserved water into the pesto along with the Parmesan. Toss with the pasta and you’re done!
A very important bit of information – for you and your family to digest…
You must (MUST, please!) read THIS ARTICLE. I’m hoping Bill Maher (see my post beneath this one today) hears about this and talks about it.
Then, because you’ll be SO MAD at what you read in the article, HERE is the audio on The Todd Show. The DJ, Todd Pettingill is trying to wake Americans up to the fact that domestic terror IS here. The killer admits he was on a jihad. He shot poor Brendan Tevlin, 19 year old kid who was a wholesome, nice boy, but whom the police apparently suggested was in a drug deal because they don’t want folks to hear about this incident and find out it IS terrorism!
As Todd puts it “He was a young boy who was killed for being an American” …I will add “…on American soil!” The killer admitted this was a retribution for muslims being killed abroad. And…
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I hope you all are well and I pray for our young souls going into combat for our sakes.
In addition to investing time into reading WWII history books, my snapshot side of me still beckons.
“EXPLORE” is a featured group on the photo website flickr.com. Out of the close to 2,000,000 photo uploads daily, about 500 are selected for “EXPLORE” by the website for “interestingness”. Some of my photos have been fortunate enough to be “interesting”, 19 in total.
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The last four are below; hope they are “interesting” to you. Clicking on the images will take you to the actual photograph. 🙂
This is called “painting with light”. You leave the shutter open then use a flashlight to illuminate the subject.
A Lantana
A blue Balloon flower
An Amarcrinum Lily X taken at Descanso Gardens
A summary as of today of my photographs selected for “Explore” on flickr:
Airmen, Marines, soldiers and sailors – be safe.
While I am not a supporter of the entertainment industry using their power to call attention to one of their own for whatever reason, I felt this reblog would perhaps bring a smile into your day…
Yes, I was a fan of Johnny Carson. Although I could never really watch his shows as they aired so late at night…
But he was a great practical joker. And this is my absolute favorite. Always fun to watch – and listen to – again.
Put aside the joke was played on Joan Rivers. But then again, she is what makes the joke so precious…and this was before she became the Queen of Plastic.
The last few seconds alone are worth the view!
A good number of pies have come out of my oven during the past six months to be taken to parties and such. Even to a cigar lounge. Fortunately, there have been no claims of food poisoning – so far.
But I ended up buying a few more Pyrex pie plates (They work great provided you place them on a preheated cookie sheet – helps brown the bottom.). But what to do with them when pies are on hold? They just lay in my pots and pan drawers.
Well, my ve
ry good friend from the 1980’s, Tom G., had a “fishy” time last weekend. Tom is an avid fisherman and got shot at in Viet Nam. He was drafted and did his duty as an American (unlike Clinton). His dad saw combat as a gunner in a B-24 Liberator during WWII. His family has indeed served the US of A.
Anyway, Tom went out on a fishing boat and everyone on board hooked tuna like crazy… except for Tom. Just kidding! He snagged his limit of five so we were recipients of fresh tuna!
What does fresh tuna have to do with pie plates?
Lots.
As my kids “whine” about eating, i.e., “Pasta again, Papa?”, I decided to try something different – and easy… and hopefully, the kids would eat it. That’s where the pie plates come in.
I decided to try the “Garlic and Ginger BBQ Tuna”. Couldn’t go wrong, I thought, as I know the kids’ll eat (almost) anything if it has soy sauce and garlic in it.
The marinade was simple:
All went into a Pyrex pie plate (which I have a ton of) and the tuna was marinated for about 30 minutes in the fridge (turned after 15 minutes). Onto a dilapidated Weber BBQ grill over medium heat they went, four minutes each side (I had to slightly over-grill them as my son Jack wouldn’t eat it if he saw just a touch of red). Three minutes may be sufficient, too.
They turned out good!
So if you have an unused Pyrex pie plate and a great friend like Tom, try it!
Thanks, Tom!
There is something enchanting about the Corps. The United States Marine Corps.
It’s the only branch of service where the first letter is capitalized.
Marine.
Yes, we owe our current freedoms to ALL of our branches of service, especially during WWII (It seems, however, that our current leadership do not value that.). Don’t get me wrong. Many of you had fathers or grandfathers fight in the Army, Navy, USAAF during WWII. Two of my uncles served in the US 8th Army as part of the then secret Military Intelligence Service. I just place the US Marine Corps at the top of my own personal list… I am but a citizen and like Obama and Clinton, I have never served although I got close in 1973…but I sure the hell didn’t flee the draft like a former President we know.¹
Yet, why does our media castrate or belittle the Marines so much? I just do not understand.
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Old Man Jack endured combat in the SW Pacific during WWII as a sailor. Put it this way: for whatever reason, he volunteered for duty in 1942, soon after Pearl. One very piercing and ugly flashback he would endure while describing what truly went on in war was, “If you got killed with shit in your pants, you got buried with shit in your pants.”
I think of all the boys and young men who were killed on those “stinkin’ islands” as Old Man Jack called them. One step to the left or just taking that step one second earlier or later meant instant death. And on Iwo Jima, there was no “front line”. The enemy hid in caves or were secreted away by camouflage or were in well hidden concrete fortifications that they had years to build. They would pop out of a tunnel that the Marines just “cleared”. Death came from all directions for very young Marines. Same at Pelileu. At Guadalcanal. At Saipan. Many other small islands.
Yet, they fought – and died for their buddies – to be buried with soiled dungarees in that black talcum-powder like sand like Old Man Jack horribly recollected. Or in an unmarked grave deep in a jungle on Guadalcanal, forever lost.
But why does the media today showcase to no end an instance when front line Marines urinate on dead Taliban? Because it isn’t PC? Or because its a paycheck? And the injustice – yes, injustice – served upon the Marines by the media during Viet Nam? I, for one, thank each and every one of the military who were in Viet Nam.
But most importantly, why DOESN’T the media showcase all of the other gazillion humanitarian acts performed by the Marines?
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Well, since in my opinion CNN and other outlets have their own agenda, I will write about just one of the HUGE US Marine humanitarian efforts here. In my tiny corner of this blogging universe.
Because the Obama tainted media won’t and I think that sucks.
When the devastating tsunami hit Japan in 2011, who were the first ones to render aid to the pockets of isolated Japanese civilians?
It was the United States Marine Corps. In the typical and expected norm for Marines, they were the first ones there… even before Japan’s own relief efforts reached them.
Did you know that? They got to many of the isolated survivors before their own government did.
(Note: some of the footage immediately above will be of the USN)
And one thing you will also notice about these desperate Japanese people in the footage.
There was no rioting. No looting. No screams about, “You need to bring us more. We are entitled to it,” when the desperately needed supplies were unexpectedly choppered in.
The exact opposite. The shocked, hungry and cold Japanese formed chains to help unload the desperately needed water, food, clothing, medicine and kerosene… then distributed them amongst themselves in an orderly fashion.
It was all for one… and the Japanese appreciated the Marines.
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But how much footage of the Marines’ relief efforts did you see on TV back then? Very little, I think. I wager that you likely didn’t even HEAR of the US Marine relief efforts.
Excuse me. Anderson Cooper was there on a Japanese street corner in the evening, broadcasting for CNN. But he didn’t report about our military helping tremendously in their relief efforts.
He was stirring up the media pot. He was accusing alluding to the Japanese government hiding the truth about the Fukushima nuclear power plant meltdown.
Right there on a Japanese street corner.
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Old Man Jack fondly recollected “tussling” with the Marines back then because “they thought they were better than us white caps”. But he followed that up real quick by saying there was no one better than the Marines to protect his sorry ass with theirs when it came time.
Well, if we are stranded somewhere like the tsunami victims, I’m sure the Marines will be coming.
They’ll even help Anderson Cooper…reluctantly.
Footnote:
1 You can decide for yourself about Clinton and the draft. You cannot argue you didn’t agree with the war. It was a duty, plain and simple. Senator Fulbright pressured the officer in charge of the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas to accept Clinton. By doing so, Clinton’s induction would be delayed. Instead, he fled to England to further his studies at Oxford. Google “Clinton letter to Col. Holmes”.
Masako and Spam Musubi 