Soldiers, Some Young, Some Old, Some Gone

This post is dedicated to the family and friends of Harley Edward Huston.

Harley Edward Huston
September 13,2008

Soldiers, some young, some old, some gone. This post is dedicated to one who has left us this past week. You don't know him but you know of him and 16 million just like him. He is a World War II Veteran. On September 13, 2008 Harley Edward Huston's spirit left his worldly body to soar to the heavens and be with God. Although I didn't have a close relationship with Mr. Huston I know his daughter, grandaughter and son-in-law. By knowing them I feel I knew him.

Harley Huston represents what has become almost a forgotten generation. NOT because his generation did nothing of importance but, because they are passing on. Mr. Huston's generation lived through the Great Depression, fought bravely on 2 war fronts, freed millions of Europeans that had been overrun by the German war machine and island hopped to Tokyo, Japan, one bloody island at a time. Yes, they invented the Atom bomb but they also cured the crippling disease of Polio. Their hard work and perseverance built this county in to what it is today. The BEST county on the face of this earth. Harley Huston and his generation set the standards for our military to be the best in the world and set the American lifestyle to be the best in the world.

This is a generation that according to a Fox News Report of May 24, 2008 are dying at the rate of 1000 per day. According to Fox, they were once 16 million strong and now number approximately 2.5 million. Many of these veterans are still around. You see them in the parks, in the Wal-Mart stores and in the Veteran Day parades. The next time you see a veteran and you will know the the WWII veterans. They are the ones with gray hair, gnarled hands, some are a little stoop shouldered and their eyes get teary when the National Anthem is played. Just quietly and gracefully say, Thank you sir, thank you for my freedom and what you sacrificed for me.

Mr. Huston, with respect, I salute you. God Bless. For prayer clik on Psalm 23

A Veteran Speaks Out,

This link was sent to me by my blogger friend Mighty Mom over at http://texassiren.blogspot.com/ It sends a powerful message for all Americans. It was done by a young veteran who did it on his own, without funds from anyone, because he felt he had to do it. I will let this young warrior speak for himself and the many, many young warriors it has been my honor privilege to meet in the last 3 years. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4fe9GlWS8

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Time for Some Good News

As our young warriors continue to train for their next engagement some good things are happening. You won't catch this on the major networks. It doesn't involve mayhem, gore (not Al), or an anti-American spin. It is up to your humble blogger to bring it to you. I heard on the radio our brother Marines are giving up security in Anbar Province effective the end of this week. The Iraqi Security Forces will take over and protect their homeland. If you remember, the major networks made nightly news of Anbar as it was an AQI stronghold. Gee, where are the major nets now that the surge has turned the tide and the ISF are up to speed. This post is not about that. I just threw it in for free, which means no extra charge to read it. (Smile, I am) You do have to wonder though, why are the major networks not reporting GOOD happenings in Iraq?

Posts can go on and on but I just wanted to take us, you and me, away from the boring programing that has been on EVERY TV channel this week. Thank goodness for The History and The Discovery Channel. Not to be one sided, I am certain it will be the same way next week but, I still have two channels worth watching and I have to mow the grass.

For some good news clik on this link. http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50939

See what IS happening in Iraq. This is just a small part of what our brave warriors have accomplished since they have been there. I must put in a plug for Specialist Jacob who was home last weekend. During his deployment in Baghdad he told me part of the 15 months his unit was there they rebuilt and re-furbished 3 schools for girls.They also were with the Corp of Engineers when they built a water pumping station for irrigation of farmland so the Iraqis could begin farming in the region. For some good news from Iraq, like I said clik on the link. Kids are kids the world around.

Have a wonderful Labor Day and don't forget the young men and women who protect our FREEDOM.

God Bless America, America, Bless God

FINALLY A TIME TO JUST TALK

It happened this weekend, not the way it was planned but it happened, FINALLY. As most of you know Jacob returned from Iraq in March. Due to the passing of his uncle that same day, our reunion was cut short. When his leave FINALLY rolled around in June, it was vacation to Atlanic City, compliments of the in-laws, thank them very much, then back to Ft Bragg because the boys started summer basketball.

During the July we managed to corral one of the grandsons and held him for ransome. We knew dad would come and get him sometime before school started. We were right! Got him!!

He rolled into the homestead about 2120 hrs, (9:20PM for you civilians) Friday evening. A two hour parking lot (accident) on the West Virginia Turnpike (?) caused the delay of a normally 8 hour trip. But he's home. Sit down eat some pizza from his favorite pizza joint and just talk and listen. Oh, what a wonderful experience. Just Mom, Dad, and child, (man). Conversation ran the gamut (sp?) from re-enlistment, buying his first home, little sister who is with child, was Michael, the grandson good?, (grandchildren are always good for grandparents!). It was just fantastic!

Saturday morning I went to work for a couple of hours and then.....the tradition breakfast at Bob Evans. We went there on a regular basis and just talked about everything and nothing. Dad's know about this type of talk. The first thing that happened was so emotional I had a hard time telling it to his mother when we got home.

I gotta set this up. We go to BE and are dressed in shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes. No military stuff at all. We are shown our table and before the waitress give us our menus a guy from our church walks over. He puts his arm around Jacob and declares to the tables near and some far, "Welcome home soldier, we are so proud of you and what you are doing for us." Let me tell you a very humble rough tough soldier was visibility moved. Thank you's came from various other tables around us then. Of course dad was bustin' the buttons off his t-shirt but my soldier just sat there quite and humble and replied thank you sir and nodded thanks to the other people. It was a very moving moment in his life and mine. I believe it meant more to him than anything that he has ever had happen in his life. He understood the path he had chosen was the right one not only for him but for his county and the people who live here. He knew what he and all of our young men and women were and have been doing was well worth it.

Saturday we had a little surprise cook out with just family and friends. He and his little sister were talking and she asked him about PTSD. Do you have it, she asked, yes, he answered a mild case. What are you doing about it? Dealing with he says. This struck me as I began to think while they talked about it. Every soldier must have some PTSD coming back home. How do they deal with it? It was good to see little sister and big brother talking it out. Just for the record little sister is 2 years older but about 8 inches shorter than her big brother.

Later in the evening we just talked about everything and nothing. He told me the day went "good pops, good". That coming from a person who does not like the spotlight. Now just more talk and listen until midnight and our soldier racks out on couch, a place we found him on many a morning. Then just mom....and dad...and child asleep. In Jacob's bedroom his son was sleeping. The cycle begins again, another child and perhaps someday another parents worry but, for now, for this one night, this one moment, parents just breath a sigh of relief, thank their God, their child is home safe.

I just wish all of you could have been here. For Airborne Dad and Infantry Dad and the rest of you with sons and daughters "in harms way" I know you know the feeling.

He's off again back to Fayville and ready to do what all of our brave sons and daughters do. Protect us and give us the best county in the world to live in. They are so very special. That's why they are "The One Percenters"!

Please note the addition of two more of America's One Percenters on my Prayer List

Greg Funk, Army
Nathan Petty, Army

Have a great week and God Bless America!

Good Morning All,

I have yet to ask for donations for this blog as I personally wouldn’t pay for most of the information that is printed here but……OH BOY, here is comes. Nah, not for me. If you haven’t figured it out yet I write on two blogs, Mark 1:11 http://markoneeleven.blogspot.com/ and Conservative Outrage http://conservativeoutrage.blogspot.com/ .

Mark 1:11 was started when my son Jacob went to Iraq to follow him and his unit. Conservative Outrage was started a couple of months ago to stand up for Conservative causes. I didn’t want the two blogs to mix as I support my son and the military and I support the Conservative base of America. Sort of “my son”, “my country”. That being said I read a number of blogs on a regular basis. One of them http://www.restart.typepad.com by Pastor John Slider has a post on July 30,2007 that not only affects our military but is an Conservative Outrage!

I invite you to clik on http://www.restart.typepad.com , scroll down to the July 30 post and read it. If you feel strongly about our military and the Conservative base that founded the greatest county on earth clik the “Contribute Now” and make a donation. This good Marine, an Iraq veteran of 3 tours in combat is being persecuted not prosecuted! He deserves our support!

Thanks,

ABNPOPPA

Proud father of an 82^nd AIRBORNE Paratrooper

Let's Not Forget Them

One thing I have noticed lately and I feel a little sad about it is the frequency of blogging has slowed down. I am not sure why, perhaps it is summer and people are on vacation. Perhaps it is because the young soldiers our blogging family has been keeping track of and praying for are safe at back home. As I look back on the last 18-19 months when our soldier left it seems as most of the world I live in has stood still. Any vacation was taken at Fort Bragg to support our daughter-in-law and the grandkids. Preparations for them to come back to home (Ohio) for holidays were done. Finally the big preparation for the return of Jacob to the United States was done. The world just stood still, at least mine did. I am pretty certain ABNMOMMA’S did too. We need to keep in mind the 110, 000 brave soldiers still serving in Iraq.*

When Jacob deployed it was for 12 months and was bumped up to 15 months. Since he left in January we decided we would leave Christmas decorations up until he came home in January. Being a rather bull headed person after we learned of the extra 3 months I said something to the affect “those damn decorations are staying till he comes home.” Then he did come home to Fort Bragg and we found out his 30 day leave wouldn’t be until June.

ABNMOMMA put her foot down and the artificial tree and Nativity Scene succumbed to her wishes or at least I did. Now, herein lies my problem. We have 14 foot tall ceilings in the Great Room. Hanging in the Great Room are 16, 12 inch ornaments about 2 to 3 feet from the ceiling. To quote Subvet, “she who must be obeyed” has requested they come down. I say, since I am the one who has to climb up the ladder and reach about 6 inches longer than my arm will allow they should stay. Christmas is only about 4 months away! Safety first, don’t you agree?

What say you? C’mon guys I need your help on this one. Save me!

*Please note the addition of SSG David Cross to my Soldiers Prayer List. He was recently deployed to Iraq and his parents are part of our church family. Your prayers for his safety are appreciated.

G-d Bless All

ABNPOPPA

Who among us would not post on our blog this memorable day. The day that gives freedom and justice for all of us in the greatest county in the World. Sure there will be the flags, parades and fireworks, a tradition that has spanned over 200 years. We are so lucky and blessed.

As my children were growing up and as I tell my grandchildren today one only needs to read two documents to live a righteous life. The first is the Bible and the second, of course is The Declaration of Independence. I firmly believe if one puts time and effort into these two instruments, lives by what the authors wrote, and follows them as the authors intended a person will have a successful life.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 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,

I have only copied the first part of the Declaration of Independence because I feel it contains two very important statements. The first,

"all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator".

It doesn't say only in church, it doesn't say not in the place you work, it doesn't say not in a court room and it doesn't say not in a school. The Creator endows every man, woman and child all the time everywhere!

You only have to go back to when prayer was taken out of the schools to see the moral decline that has taken over. First the schools, then work and now some state and local governments are trying to pass laws that would prevent Pastors, Preachers, Priests and Rabbis from preaching what the Creator has endowed on every man.

The second statement, "

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed".

The key here is with the consent of the governed. It is not just the last Congress that was elected two short years ago but ones that were elected several years ago that began the downward cycle the Greatest Nation on earth faces today. The term "do nothing congress' is appropriate for the current congress. The slippery slope started when "we the people" began to demand less of the people we elected. It began when we decide it wasn't worth the effort to study who was running for what office or what they wanted to do, or...who they were connected with. Our elected officials have health insurance they don't pay for, bank accounts they don't have to balance, can take a trip anywhere in the world and say it is for government business and drive in cars we can't even begin to afford. All at taxpayers expense.

I say Bull Crap! It is time, "we the people" begin to form a more responsive government. It all starts with holding their feet to the fire this coming election day. The President of this great country is the most powerful man in the world but....it is the Congress that holds the purse strings. I don't care who you vote for as it is none of my business. I do care that you vote and encourage everyone you know to find out where these current congressmen and women stand on issues. What have they done in the last 2,4, or 6 years? Is it for their own political gain or is it for the betterment of this county! Have they voted on issues or skipped town when they thought the vote might hurt their chance for re-election? If they have put themselves before the betterment of this country. I say Vote them OUT! We don't need do nothings guiding this country. What do they stand for? If you don't stand for something you'll fall for anything! (Garth Brooks)

IMHO these last two that are running for President of the United States should resign NOW! Getting paid while being absent from your job to campaign is an insult to every American working man and women.

"..my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961

God Bless America & Happy 4^th of July

General Electric, Who do you Support?

This just really upsets me! I would use stronger words but my mother taught me better. It is OUTRAGEOUS! I heard it on O'Reilly again last week and it triggered something in the ol' grey matter. I finally found it and can't believe it is happening. It was originally reported in January of this year and apparently continues.

Several of us bloggers have sons currently serving in the GWOT, Global War on Terror. It has been reported that General Electric continues to do business with Iran. This after it has been proven that Iran continues to train, fund, and equip terrorists in Iraq.

Why this information is not aired in a big way is beyond me. On the O'Reilly show he stated that several states have divested all interests in investments in Iran. Has your state, or your, pension fund? Have you contacted your Congressman or Senator to find out why they have allowed this to continue? This is truly a "do nothing congress" and as long as our sons and daughters fight for this county major corporations in this county need to put their lives before the stockholders interest. If it weren't for our sons and daughters there wouldn't be any company or stockholders.

Boycott General Electric in everything and every way you can.

Supporting Links

www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/22/60minutes/main595214.shtml

doctordalai.blogspot.com/2008/01/general-electric-is-doing-business-with.html

And.... thanks for your support!

OH MY!!!

OK,

Gotta get this going before I start to work replacing what was so carefully constructed over the past week. You see, the boys were here for a little weeks vacation while mom and dad went to Atlantic City, compliments of the in-laws, to gamble the milk money away. Well not really the milk money but to have a good time after 15 months in the City of Sadam and 2 months home at Fort Bragg waiting to go on the well deserved 30 day leave. So ol’ ABNPOPPA and my better half to quote Subvet, “she who must be obeyed”, ABNMOMMA were re-activated to the parental guidance role.

What was once a nice efficient, passive solar house and homestead was transformed by two of the three grandsons in to the Skateboard/bicycle Track of Champions while I was at work performing my super secret government operations, so secret I can’t even tell myself what I do. Zak, and Evan the 11 and 10 year olds without help from any adult or older sibling constructed the park you see in the pictures.

The good news is that after 4 days of riding and boarding in various stages of construction no trips were made to the hospital. ABNMOMMA was pressed into nursing duty for several scraps and abrasions but no broken bones. If you are wondering were the bricks came from if you look at the background you will see a partially dis-mantled flower garden wall. This wall must be rebuilt as the boss said it makes the ranch look trashy. Like the skateboard park is aesthetically appealing?

Oh well, I better get to work, the real boss is due home shortly and if it looks like I did something I might just get dinner.

Grandkids, you gotta love ‘em!!!

Hooah!

Flag Day

Hi Folks,

My post is short and sweet this time. I borrowed it from a man named Red. In these times of trouble and tribulation maybe we ALL need to remember what it means to ALL of us who live in the best county in the world. Clik onthe link, The Pledge, on the left. You may have to paste it to your browser but it is worth it.


http://unknownprogrammer.home.comcast.net/~unknownprogrammer/index.html

Hooah!