Someone You Should Know

We don't do this often enough on this site. I have no excuse other than current events seem to take precedent.

This gentleman was in town visiting this weekend and a friend sent me a photo from this morning. I'm not sharing the photo, but I am sharing this Marine's dedication to country.

Colonel Wesley Fox USMC Ret

Col. Fox was born in Herndon, Virginia, the oldest of ten. He enlisted in the Marine Corps shortly before his 19th birthday, on August 4, 1950. Corporal Fox was wounded in action during the Korean War on September 8, 1951, but returned for a second tour of duty in Korea as a Platoon Sergeant.

After his Korean War service, Fox returned to the United States and served as both a drill instructor and recruiter. He was promoted to First Sergeant in May 1966, and soon after was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.

Assigned to Vietnam, First Lieutenant Fox's actions in Quang Tri Province during Operation Dewey Canyon on February 22, 1969 earned him the Medal of Honor. Having been wounded in action, along with almost every other member of his unit, Fox personally neutralized one enemy emplacement and directed his men to destroy others. After his executive officer was mortally wounded, Fox continued to direct the actions of his Marines, ordering air strikes and coordinating the advance until the enemy retreated. Fox was wounded again in the final assault, but refused medical attention while he reorganized his troops and prepared the wounded for evacuation. The medal was presented to then-Captain Fox by President Richard Nixon on March 2, 1971.

Colonel Fox retired from the Marine Corps in September 1993. He continued to wear the uniform for eight more years as a deputy commandant of cadets for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. During his time at Virginia Tech, Fox spoke of his experiences to America's next generation of military officers, business executives, and civic leaders.

Fox has written a book about his experiences in the military, Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (ISBN 1-57488-425-5), and was featured on the 2003 PBS program American Valor.

Multiple choice test for College Administrators

And you still want to prevent adults from exercising the right to self defense.....
My daughter will learn to shoot at an early age.
via Jerry at From on High
and Greg L at BVBL

Virginia Attorney General to Appear on "The O'Riley Factor"

A media advisory just crossed my desk:

**********
Date: 5/8/07

*Advisory*

Attorney General Bob McDonnell Appears on The O’Riley Factor on fox News Tonight

Attorney General Bob McDonnell will be a guest on “The O’Riley Factor tonight on Fox News. He will have a conversation with host Bill O’Riley on the subject of gun laws and mental health reform in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting. Other topics may be discussed as well. The O’Riley Factor airs at 8pm and 11pm in Virginia and this segment is currently scheduled to run at roughly 8:20PM and 11:20pm.

For more information: http://www.foxnews.com/oriley/

Students for Concealed Carry

The terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech is still fresh in our minds. Discussion of the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" questions will continue for years. These students don't want to wait for years. They are taking charge of the problem of being defenseless and organizing. Check them out.

Soldiers' Angels

Just wanted to bring to everyone's attention an amazing group.

"The Soldiers' Angels was started by a self-described ordinary mother of an ordinary young man turned hero, Sgt. Brandon Varn. Brandon was deployed in Iraq and has since honorably completed his mission and has returned back to his proud and loving family.
In the summer of 2003, he wrote home expressing his concern that some soldiers did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a caring and loving mother, she decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She contacted a few friends and extended family to ask if they would write to a soldier or two. Within a few short months, Soldiers' Angels went from a mother writing a few extra letters to an Internet Community with thousands of angels worldwide."

Well, they've done something else wonderful for Virginia:

04/17/07
Soldiers’ Angels’ donates $10,000.00 to Virginia Tech ROTC Cadet Endowment Fund

...."In honor of the students and professors who died in this tragic event and the sacrifices made by the Virginia Tech Corp of Cadets for our country, Soldiers’ Angels is giving $10, 000.00 to the Virginia Tech Army ROTC Alumni Endowment Fund. Soldiers’ Angels challenges the nation to double this amount by logging onto http://www.armyrotc.vt.edu/ or by sending donations to Virginia Tech Army ROTC, Account # 872289, 226 Military Building, Blacksburg, VA 24061.
The donation you make will help the Virginia Tech Cadet Corp continue on so that it may live up to its motto of “UT PROSIM” - That I may move Forward. "

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Patti Patton-Bader, please call Don Mackay at (615)676-0239.

Gun control is NOT the issue. This time.

I do not agree with everything that Charles Krauthammer says, but in this situation he has a point. The Virginia Tech massacre should not be a political topic. However, when closely held beliefs are attacked, no matter the cause, one must respond. Silence, too often, implies consent or agreement. That said, he has a great piece on the true political issue involved. (emphasis mine)

"It is true that with far stricter gun laws, Cho Seung Hui might have had a harder time getting the weapons and ammunition needed to kill so relentlessly. Nonetheless, we should have no illusions about what laws can do...If we are going to look for a political issue here, the more relevant is not gun control but psychosis control. We decided a half a century ago that our more eccentric and, indeed, crazy fellow citizens would not be easily locked in asylums. It was a humane decision, but with the inevitable consequence that some who really need quarantine are allowed to roam the streets.
It turns out that Cho's psychiatric impairment had been evident to many."

Virginia Tech

May God take care of the families of the victims at Virginia Tech. Our prayers are with you.