Watch Our BFF SKK's Article In This Week's People Magazine

In the immortal words of Lynard Skynard:

"There's things going on that you don't know"

Susan Katz Keating: Happy Birthday to Blake Powers, Whose Mission is His Calling

Susan Katz Keating: Happy Birthday to Blake Powers, Whose Mission is His Calling:

My partner, my Bud, a great person, a good man, a top hand.

Happy Birthday Bro. Hope you have many many many more.

Happy New Year!!!!!

A little birdie told me there's something coming after midnight over at my BFF SKK's blog.

Should be good cause my BFF says so.

Livestrem from the Tank Farm

We are live at the Tank Farm.

UCVTV

Plan Your Weekend Around This

This coming Saturday and Sunday, 20 and 21 August, the Wartime Museum is having its second Open House of the year. The past Open Houses have been a blast and I expect the same this time around.

I've confirmed that Dave Marron from Thunder Run will be there as well as Susan Katz Keating. No big surprise with SKK. She sits on the Board. Uncle Jimbo will probably be hanging out.

I will be livestreaming some of it on our Ustream site. This time I'll be attempting a mobile livestream so it should be a bit more interesting than just a fixed camera. I've also extended invitations to two very incredible Ladies. I hope their schedules permit. If nothing else, maybe I can get UJ to do a freefly but I'd rather have the Ladies.

Come on out and enjoy the Virginia countryside, take a chance on a raffle ticket and you might get yourself a seat in a helicopter or a German tank. See ya there.

Hate America Weekend-The Wrap

I may have more to say about the Charlie Foxtrot that was Joplin Road and US Rt 1 on Sunday. I saw millions in state tax dollars being wasted on a bunch of losers with a megaphone exercising their right to be stupid in public. There were 5 seperate LEA's on site today: VA State Police; Prince William County Police; Park Service Police (Mounted); Marine Corps MP's; and what I can only assume were DHS agents. I would never have allowed those clowns to pull the stunt they pulled by closing down a primary North-South corridor.

Uncle Jimbo and mystery reporter Athena Vitamin embed with the loonies at Quantico and, as usual, the result is a hard look at the geniuses behind free bradley manning. Just remember folks, these people are living and working amongst you and they vote. (Often)

In case you missed the first two installments of this weekend's festivities, here are some links so you can get caught up:

Day 1
As an aside to the Day 1 link, we now have a video up that has three years worth of Friday nights at Walter Reed. Good music and lots of Patriots.

Day 2
Did you know we have a chemical substance that will reduce 40,000 tons of steel to dust in ten seconds? Seriously, I did not know that. Thats how they were able to bring the Towers down so easily. And did you know that 7 of the 9/11 hijackers are still alive and living in Jamaica. (Ok, so I made up the part about Jamaica, but they really are alive.) I recieved this information from a credible source (who just happened to be the guy holding the banner saying 1,000 engineers and architects want the truth about 9/11.) A thousand.

Your humble blogger was the cameraman for some the video. I am now officially a member of SOG Media.

Its Not True; No Wait..The Lawyer Did It..No Wait

Our BFF SKK (thats NOT a Soviet weapon), ruffled some flaky feathers the other day.

Firm Fires Back At Blogger Allegations Over Manning Rally Press Release

This week, a press release was issued (text after the jump) with details about a rally planned for March 20 in support of Pfc. Bradley Manning. Manning is being held on a Marine Corps base in Quantico, V.A. on charges that he’s responsible for turning over classified information to Wikileaks. He’s been held since July, and some have called into question his treatment while in custody, saying that Manning has been abused. State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley resigned from his post last week over his criticism of the way Manning is being held.

You can jump over to SKK's place and get caught up.

Gates On the F-35

Uncle Jimbo has a piece in the WashTimes trying to decide who won this debate between SecDef Gates and SecDef Gates:

Robert M. Gates is on his farewell lap as secretary of defense and is making his final speeches to the service academies. He also seems to be debating himself in the process. He made the following remarks to Army cadets at West Point:

“And I must tell you, when it comes to predicting the nature and location of our next military engagements, since Vietnam, our record has been perfect. We have never once gotten it right, from the Mayaguez to Grenada, Panama, Somalia, the Balkans, Haiti, Kuwait, Iraq and more - we had no idea a year before any of these missions that we would be so engaged."

“The need for heavy armor and firepower to survive, close with and destroy the enemy will always be there, as veterans of Sadr City and Fallujah can no doubt attest.”

As Jimbo so eloquently states, "Thats common sense right there"

He [Gates] also said this:

“In my opinion, any future defense secretary who advises the president to again send a big American land army into Asia or into the Middle East or Africa should ‘have his head examined,’ as Gen. MacArthur so delicately put it.”

So now we've eliminated two whole continents and the center of Islamic extremism.

Now Lets hear the SecDef at the Air Force Academy:

“That includes the requirement for more sophisticated, high-end capabilities. I’ve said before that it would be irresponsible to assume that a future adversary - given enough time, money and technological acumen - will not one day be able to directly threaten U.S. command of the skies.

“So even as I’ve touted the need to incorporate the lessons of the current conflicts, I have also committed the Department of Defense - and this country - to the most advanced and expensive tactical fighter program in history - the $300 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The department is programmed to buy 2,400 of these aircraft, and the first Air Force training aircraft will arrive at Eglin Air Force Base in just over two months. Having a robust, large quantity of fifth-generation tactical air fighters is something I view as a core requirement, and in this era of increasing budget constraints, my goal has been to ensure that core capabilities for all the services are protected. This has meant increasing development funding for the F-35, scaling back or cutting other programs that are not as essential and intervening directly to get the program back on track, on budget and on schedule.”

GoE and Warrior Legacy Back At Walter Reed

Thanks to a very generous and thoughtful donation from the Band of Mothers, Gathering of Eagles was able to present a brand new laptop to a Staff Sergeant with 9 (NINE!!) deployments under his helmet. Dedicated Warriors such as this Staff Sergeant are the reason we sleep soundly and can freely express our opinions, no matter how distasteful some of those opinions may be; we need to give them all the support we can muster.

Thanks especially to the GoE Tidewater volunteer for getting the logistics worked out with Best Buy Business and thanks to Best Buy Business for being so damn nice. It was a Charlie Foxtrot for about an hour, but it got solved and the folks at Best Buy Broad Street helped enormously.

We took care of an 82NDABN Trooper with a nice new Toshiba and Dragonspeak.

Thanks to James Hanson, Communications Director for Warrior Legacy Foundation for donating his time this morning. Thanks to Cooking with the Troops CEO Blake Powers for making the trip under extreme weather conditions. (CwtT will have a huge announcement pertaining to our National Advisory Board soon. Stay tuned.)

A couple of SNCO's at WRAMC were instrumental in getting us in and out and for that, we are eternally grateful. HOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to my BFF SKK and Mini-SKK for being so damn hot. (You really didn't think I could do a post and not mention the hot women, did you?)

A Lot To Be Thankful For

I am thankful first and foremost to live in America. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to live anywhere else. (I can, but I won't.) I am very thankful for the dedicated men and women of the United States Armed Forces, standing the wall, walking the fence line in far away places, making sure I get to enjoy everything America stands for. Without those Warriors, we'd be lost.

One year ago today I woke up in an ICU with a breathing tube down my throat, a tube in my neck and several more exiting my body just above my bellybutton. I hurt in places I didn't think you could feel pain and all I could think about was getting that damn tube out of my mouth.

During that ordeal, I learned just how many friends I really have and I have to admit, it is humbling.

Thank you to everyone who sent prayers and good thoughts my way and Happy Birthday Tankerbabe.

Two Virginia Heros Talk About the Museum

From the earliest days of this project, we were filled with huge reservoirs of hope, ambition, and purpose. It really did start with a small group wanting to tell a very big and important story. We dedicated ourselves to honoring our service members and their families, and to educating our citizens. What strides we have taken! Surely we have had angels on our side. I imagine those angels to be the voices of American servicemen and women and their families, urging us: "Tell our story." I am gratified and humbled to be able to do just that. This facility will be a must‐go destination for all ages.

Susan Keating,
The Wartime Museum Board of Trustees
Author and Journalist, specializing in national security

We see The Wartime Museum as a favorite destination for school children with its interactive displays, oral histories of soldiers and civilians, outdoor landscapes of war, and hands‐on exhibitions featuring tanks, armored cars and other vehicles actually used in our conflicts. Who says education has to be boring?

During four decades as a war correspondent, I accompanied our troops into battle from Vietnam to Iraq, and it is a privilege to be associated with the creation of a museum to tell their stories and honor their sacrifices and that of their families. We have an obligation to remember the service of millions of Americans who have protected our freedom and defended our country. This museum will honor that obligation.

Joseph L. Galloway, (We Were Soldiers Once...and Young)
The Wartime Museum Board of Trustees

Virginia has some amazing folks. We always have. The Wartime Museum perfectly aligns with the tenets of Gathering of Eagles, EaglesUP, and Warrior Legacy Foundation. As a member of GoE, a Board Member of EaglesUP, and an unpaid volunteer for WLF, I will assist this endeavour in any way they ask.

Other Sites With Wartime Museum Posts

Blackfive

Susan Katz Keating

Prayers Needed For Virginia Blogger

Journalist, Virginia blogger, military writer, POW/MIA supporter and my good friend Susan Katz Keating has suffered a heart attack and is hospitalized. Please include her and her family in your prayers today.

And if anyone else is planning on trying to keep up with me, I'd ask that you re-consider your plans.

BBC Snubs Troop Support Effort

H/T Susan Katz Keating

Background brief: Earlier this year, a group of musicians and singers gathered at London's famed Abbey Road Studios to record a gorgeous anthem, "We Will Remember Them." The song honors troops killed in action. The stellar musical group includes The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pipes & Drums from the Scottish Regiments, Michael Bolton, Robin Gibb, and singers your kids would recognize. It was the biggest-ever one-day session at Abbey Road. As you will see, the result is GORGEOUS. The recording supports an excellent cause. All proceeds from the downloads / CD sales in the UK will go to Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion. The soldiers themselves - and their families - love the song. In Britain, it even has been played at the funerals of troops killed in action in Afghanistan.

More at the link above.

I've Been Remiss In My Cross-Linking

My other favorite conservative Lady has been busy. Read this very carefully.

Susan Katz Keating
In the Aftermath of Ft. Hood, Marking Veterans Day With a Message of Thanks

At Last The Long Awaited Announcement

and yes, I have signed on as a reader, so make it interesting. My normal reading fare is Ludlum, Koontz, King and Clancy.


From my buddy Susan Katz Keating:
Announcing the Uniform EnCounters GC3 Writing Competition
Hey, everyone! As promised: We have a writing competition!

As I wrote in my last post, have I got a deal for you! This blog's sister site, UniformEnCounters, is hosting a fundraiser/writing competition designed to benefit three good causes (GC3): wounded troops; soldier morale; and you, the writer.

Here's what you do.

Contest Rules

1. In 700 words or less, write an essay, story, or poem depicting a servicemember or members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their allies (i.e., Australia, Canada, etc.)

2. The subject matter can be any active duty scenario from World War I through the present.

3. Submit your entry in the body of an email to Uniformencounters@gmail.com. In the subject header, use your last name and a slash for category. Example: Obama/Poetry. If you enter more than once in a category, simply add a number in your header (Obama2/Poetry).

4. Submit a $15 entry fee through the UniformEncounters blogsite.

5. Your entry fees will go toward the purchase of voice-activated laptops for wounded troops, in the form of a donation to a remarkably worthy cause, Project Valour-IT.

6. Winning entries will be selected in each of three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Winning entrants will receive $50 each, plus publication on the UniformEnCounters site. Runners-up will receive prizes TBD.

7. Entries must be submitted by 8 a.m. EST on 1 December, 2009. Winners will be announced on the UniformEnCounters site on New Year's Day.

Tips and insights: There are no subject rules, but keep in mind that UniformEnCounters exists to raise support for our men and women in uniform. Enter as often as you like, but each entry must be accompanied by its own fee/donation. Fees are processed through PayPal. If you wish to use another method, please email uniformencounters@gmail.com for instructions on how to submit via snail mail.

Thank you in advance to everyone, and in particular to my intrepid squad of reader-volunteers! So now it's time to start writing. GC3 awaits!

The fine print: You retain all rights to your composition/s. By entering the competition, you agree to allow your winning submission to be published on the UniformEnCounters site.

Great Way To Start The Day

My Sunday morning helicopter ride at NMAW. Thank you SKK. She's tricky, that one.

A Nation That Stands Against Israel, Stands Against God

Personal observation: Screw with Israel at your spiritual peril. You will answer to a higher authority because of it. All Christians have a personal stake in the survival of Israel.
You stand with her or you stand with evil.

H/T SK-K

From Phyllis Chesler:

The fate of Israel is humanity’s fate, not merely Jewish fate. Israel’s destiny represents the destiny of Western civilization and that of civilized humanity everywhere. What happens to Israel will determine whether civilized humanity will—or will not–prevail over the forces of Evil.

We pray that God remember and watch over us. May God show compassion and mercy to all Israel and all civilians. We humbly pray that our good deeds, and those of our ancestors diminish, even cancel out what the scoundrels amongst us have done this past year: foul and mercenary deeds which have endangered us and for which we have all been held liable—not only by Jew-haters but also by God.