Combat Veterans For Congress

Maybe I'm biased towards people who have been tested under fire. Maybe its because I know a lot of veterans. Maybe its just an attitude/philosophy that favors the moral and civic ideals that the uniform represents. Then again, its probably just that I know a few of them personally.

I do know that veterans, especially the current crop of candidates, have the fortitude and conviction of their beliefs that will serve them, and by extension, us, the United States, in the House and the Senate.

From David Bellavia who is running for the newly minted NY-27 in upstate New York, to Pete Hegseth who is seeking the Republican Senate seat in Minnesota, I know in my heart that these men can and will do the job America needs to be done. I know this, because I know them.

I know times are tight. I know we're all struggling to buy gasoline, get to work; hell some of you are still trying to get a job; and I know its a bad time to be asking for anything that will not result in instant gratification. But we need to look long term. You need to know there are people out there from whom we will get a return on the investment.

America needs these men and women again and they have stepped up once again to serve their country. Neither of these men owes us or the country a damn thing. They have both paid their dues and then some. They have both been tested in the best (or worst, depending on your perspective) way possible. In combat, under fire.

Give them a look. Read House to House. Check 'em out. Then send them whatever you can afford.

NY-26 UPDATE

From Dan Maloney NYGOE

Why David Bellavia is the Right Choice for New York

March 12, 2011

The Republican and Conservative Parties made the wrong decision in New York in deciding to put money over principles in their choice for a candidate to run for the special election in the 26th Congressional District.

But it is about more than just principles.

Gary Berntsen Comes Out Swinging For Bellavia in NY 26

March 12, 2011
Afghan War Hero Gary Berntsen has come out full force behind David Bellavia, himself a decorated Iraq War hero, in David’s bid to capture the Congressional seat vacated by the resignation of the Republican Party choice, Christopher Lee.

SIT-REP NY-26

I checked in with my buddy Charlie up in Rochester. He runs Rochester Conservative and is an Air Force vet.

He reports this tidbit:
The Republican Party bosses seemed to be siding with Jane L. Corwin as she's wealthy and can fund her own campaign. That was the deciding factor when they chose Lee back in 2008, when DB tried his first run at the seat.

So the party apparatchik is deciding who gets to represent the good folks up in NY-26? I think not. Time for some TEA Party action.

FreeRepublic

Iraqi Vet Back In the Fight

David Bellavia speaking at Vets for Freedom Vets on the Hill

This time, he's doing it at home. Full disclosure, I am an unpaid volunteer for Warrior Legacy Foundation, which was founded by David and Matt Burden from Blackfive, and I have met David and consider him a friend.

We have a rare and immediate opportunity to replace a disgraced politician with an authentic hero of the Iraq War. David Bellavia is running in a special election to fill the vacancy left by disgraced Rep. Chris Lee (R-NY-26) who resigned last week after shirtless photos he sent to a woman surfaced.

Staff Sergeant Bellavia is the real deal! He was nominated for the Medal of Honor and Distinguisehed Service Cross and was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the Second Battle for Fallujah. He also received the Bronze Star, three Army Commendation Medals and two Army Achievement Medals.

Bellavia's heroics in Fallujah were the subject of a Time Magazine cover story and he was an honored guest of the President at the 2006 State of the Union. He is also the co-founder of Vets for Freedom and the author of the best-selling book House to House.

As a decorated veteran, David Bellavia has demonstrated selfless service to country. As a principled conservative he is right on the issues. The special election will be held in just a few weeks and we need to make sure that this dynamic and honorable man has the resources he needs to win.

So please, no matter the size of your contribution today - be it $10, $25, $50, $100 or more - I know every dollar will make a difference toward victory.

Warmest Regards,

Kieran Michael Lalor

Founder, Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC

###

Iraq Veterans for Congress PAC (IVC) is a federally registered political action committee supporting the congressional campaigns of conservative veterans. IVC looks for veterans who are determined to become a voice for our troops, military families and hardworking patriotic Americans who believe that our country, our Constitution and our way of life are worth fighting for. IVC was founded in 2007 by Kieran Michael Lalor, a Marine Corps Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Thunder Run - From the Front

In today's From the Front: (Click on link to read stories highlighted below) This post is courtesy of The Thunder Run.
Dispatches:
Michael Yon: Big Guns
Katherine Tiedemann: Daily brief: Taliban attack Peshawar police
ANNA BADKHEN: Afghanistan's Little Men
Army Blogger Wife: Deployment Question #15--Can I go too?
Army Live: (VIDEO) Sledgehammer Soldiers 6 months in
TIM HSIA: America’s Multiethnic Military
Corey Mindlin USArmy: Why is it?
David Bellavia: Veterans Take the Fight to Westboro Whackos <--(Bellavia is gonna get us in trouble)
the semi-normal, day-to-day life of a female marine: PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma
Bruce R: Afghan army marksmanship: quality vs quantity
Sargeant Stewart McCrone, Quick Reaction Force Commander, 16 Signals Unit at Camp Souter, Kabul: QRF
Bill Roggio: US-born cleric Awlaki 'proud' to have taught al Qaeda operatives
Loving A Soldier Blog: Allergies and more
LTC John: Good works, and good music
New Girl on Post: Back In The Boot
Ramblings from a painter: Skip Has Left The Building
LTC Rich Phillips: More Photos
Sic Semper Tyrannis: Iraqi election Aftermath: Sectarian Bombings
Terry Galvin: Ending Afghanistan's Agony: "Our Afghan Comrades Speak Out." Unambiguously Ambidextrous: Robert Semrau On Trial For Murdering “Soldier”?
The Unknown Soldiers: Quiet patriotism, out of the spotlight
Wings Over Iraq: The Difference
War, the military, COIN and stuff: Can Banning Ammonium Nitrate Help Curb IEDs in Afghanistan?
American Ranger: Big Problems in Afghanistan
The Captain's Journal: Chasing the Enemy
This Ain't Hell: Stop pretending that you care, at least it will make you honest.
News from the Home Front:
Local families still waiting for their soldiers to come home
DoD Agrees to Submit Some Fort Hood Documents to Senate
Administration continues to defy Senate subpoena for Fort Hood documents -
Pace of Changes Clouds Future, Mullen Says
Slain Nevada deputy had just returned from Afghanistan

News from the Front:
Iraq:
Report Details Torture at Secret Baghdad Prison
Sunni - Backed Vote Winner Seeks Caretaker Government -
Former PM Urges Interim Government in Iraq
Clinton urges Iraq to 'speedily' form government
Obama Sticks to a Deadline in Iraq

Afghanistan:
Military Disputes Taliban on Korangal Valley Outpost
Would-be Pakistan suicide bomber tells all
Five Policemen Killed In Pakistan Car Bomb Attack
UAE Jails Six For Funnelling Money to Taliban
Roadside Bomb Kills 12 Civilians In Afghanistan
Pentagon taking closer look at Afghan intel unit
U.S. Begins Inquiry on Spy Network in Pakistan
Case of teenage militant moves toward tribunal trial
Afghanistan denies police role in killing of U.N. staffers
Transfer of Authority in Helmand Province
Afghan Victory Day Celebrated in Kabul
IJC Operational Update, April 28
Terrorist attacks spike in Pakistan, Afghanistan -
Four policemen killed, six injured in suicide attack on check post in NWFP
Taliban "Ready for the Assault" in Kandahar
Afghan deputy trade minister calls for Iran’s cooperation in investment
Rocket hits Kabul City
U.S. plan to arm Afghan militia founders on tribal rivalries
Taliban protection payoffs denied by contractor
Afghans Mark Anniversary Of Mujahedin Victory
Roadside bomb kills 12 civilians in Afghanistan

The Thunder Run's From the Front is a daily series that highlights news and personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Operation New Dawn - We Won. Does Anyone Care?

Obama has renamed Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the END of an operation.


Typical. Probably the only thing he can take credit for....well, the only thing that he SHOULD get credit for. We all know that he's going to take credit for the whole thing.

New York Times:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military mission in Iraq will soon be getting a new name.

As of Sept. 1, Operation Iraqi Freedom becomes Operation New Dawn.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said in a memo Wednesday that the name change — which is to immediately follow the scheduled withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq — will send a strong signal that American forces have a new mission. He also said it reinforces the U.S. commitment to honor its security agreement with Iraq and recognizes ”our evolving relationship” with the government there.

New mission. After combat troops have been withdrawn? How do we honor a security agreement without combat troops?


David Bellavia looks at this change and puts it into context. The new name is not even original.

Our Mission is Finally Accomplished....Anybody Care?

Someone is responsible for everything that goes wrong in America. It makes us feel better to know it wasn’t our fault.

The war in Iraq was no different. While many scurried to blame Donald Rumsfeld, General Franks or President Bush for losing the war in Iraq, they bet against the American fighting men and women to turn the tide of the war. “The mission” in Iraq was evil. The troops would never be maligned as they were in Vietnam.

I don’t begrudge these people. They simply will never get it. They are the type of people you need to protect in a society. They are innocent and naive.

It is the job of the warrior to hide them under the bed and tell them it will be okay, before we run off to combat the threat.

The ones that hold my contempt are those who, even today, know of the sacrifice made, the incredible progress gained and still will not acknowledge what was won on the ground in Iraq. They cheapen the sacrifice of how it was earned. Operation Iraqi Freedom is no more.

Operation New Dawn (the exact same name of the Battle of Fallujah in November 2004) is the new name of the deployment to Iraq.

Obama will do anything in order to make himself look good. I wonder.....will military members still receive the OIF medal or will Obama make a new one......

Blackfive Radio Goes Live

Uncle Jimbo has been hinting at this since he made the move east, and now it’s official.

Blackfive Radio is on the air.
Knowing UJ like I do, this is sure to be at least one good show.
Radio America may not be ready for UJ and Big Wave Dave Bellavia.

Here’s the pre-show interview UJ had with RA:

Uncle J: So when I refer to al Qaeda can I call them “Goat-raping bastards”?
Radio America: Yeah…well
UJ: OK what about “goat-molesting wankers”?
RA: Maybe…..I guess
UJ: I have been referring to Obama as “Cakeboy” since shortly after they began inserting him up my ass in 2004, is that still kosher?
RA: Well, the “Cakeboy” wil probably fly, but the anal-insertion, not so much.

Set Your Clocks

This Tuesday, June 17th at 5:00PM EDT, Author and Talon contributor Ronald Winter ("Masters of the Art; A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam") will be the sole guest for one hour on the top rated program at Global Talk Radio's "Calling All Authors."
Valerie Connelly is the host for this popular long running show. You can listen live and call in to ask Ron questions by visiting http://www.globaltalkradio.com/shows/callingallauthors/

I have just finished reading "Masters of the Art" and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants a true account of Viet Nam by someone who was there, on the ground, voluntarily.

I'm trying to finish "House to House" by SSG David Bellavia, which I also recommend (GET THIS BOOK READ THIS BOOK) and have just received a copy of Michael Yon's "Moment of Truth in Iraq", which is next on my list.
Unless I get my copy of "Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell back from my buddy Hershal in time.

I'm also deeply engrossed in this riveting piece of literature. This one will keep you on the edge of your seat. It's a real page turner, folks. Leave the lights on and make sure the phone works before you start this one.