We will Never forget December 7, 1941 and 911

USS Arizona


On Sunday, December 7th, 1941 the Japanese launched a surprise attack against the U.S. Forces stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Continued

Original Rare Pearl Harbor Photos
Also linked on the USS Arizona page.

Military / Veterans Report

VA Home Loan Rules Change
Qualified veterans and active-duty military personnel have been able to buy a home for as much as $417,000 without a down payment or private mortgage insurance for some time now. However the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) has changed its rules to allow larger VA loans if the veteran or servicemember is willing to make a down payment of at least 25 percent of the portion of the home's price that exceeds $417,000. Veterans and active-duty servicemembers can learn more about VA home loans at Military.com

Military / Veterans Report

GI Bill Benefit Expiration Date
Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use all of your benefits. Although separating from service "starts the clock" on your 10-year time limit, you should know that if you rejoin active-duty service for more than 90 days, during the 10-year period, your 10-year clock is reset. In other words, you get 10 years from your last discharge. Visit the GI Bill FAQ page for more information.

In addition to using your GI Bill, Military.com has more than $300 million worth of scholarships in our database geared specifically for servicemembers, veterans, and their families. Take a look and find the right scholarships for you.

VA Annual Report Available
VA's Fiscal Year 2007 Performance and Accountability Report, which describes the department's progress toward reaching its performance goals, was published on Nov. 15, 2007. To see how well VA has succeeded in providing benefits and health care services to America's veterans, read the report at the VA Budget Report webpage.

Compare military pay against civilian jobs

Learn How Military Pay Stacks Up
How does military pay stack up against civilian jobs? Money may not be the only reason you are thinking about joining the military but it can be an important consideration. Let's compare what you would make in a civilian job to what you can make in the military.

Helicopter Rescue

If you don't think our military pilots earn their pay, you need to take a look at this picture...and then look again and realize what you're seeing.
This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helo rescue mission. The pilot is a PA Guard member who flies EMS choppers in civilian life. Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the ass end of a chopper down on the roof top of a shack on a steep mountain cliff and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear?! If this does not impress you, nothing ever will. It gives me the chills and a serious case of vertigo. I can't even imagine having the nerve--much less the talent and ability. God Bless our military! The original source for the picture above.

Veterans Day

VETERANS DAY: A TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVED

Click graphic

MAF Veterans Day Tribute

To all Veterans, Active Duty, Reservists and Guard
Thank you for your service to our country. Your sacrifices and dedication to the ideals of our country are honored, especially on Veterans Day. We encourage those not on active duty to wear your medals on 11/11 and 11/12 to show your veteran pride so others will join us in expressing gratitude for all you've done to keep us safe and free. Find ways to celebrate Veterans Day

“We’re gathered today, just as we have gathered before, to remember those who served, those who fought, those still missing, and those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country... One of those who fell wrote, shortly before his death, these words: ‘Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.’ Well, today, Veterans Day, as we do every year, we take that moment to embrace the gentle heroes of Vietnam and of all our wars. We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause... Our liberties, our values, all for which America stands is safe today because brave men and women have been ready to face the fire at freedom’s front. And we thank God for them.”
Ronald Reagan
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“Throughout our history, America has been protected by patriots who cherished liberty and made great sacrifices to advance the cause of freedom. The brave members of the United States Armed Forces have answered the call to serve our Nation, ready to give all for their country. On Veterans Day, we honor these extraordinary Americans for their service and sacrifice, and we pay tribute to the legacy of freedom and peace that they have given our great Nation.”—President George W. Bush, 2007 Veterans Day Proclamation
Veterans Day Profile: Point Man, Roger Helle

On 10 November 1775, the Second Continental Congress resolved to create two battalions of Continental Marines for the War of Independence from Britain. In 1798, President John Adams signed the Act establishing the United States Marine Corps. The 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General John A. Lejeune, issued Marine Corps Order No. 47, Series 1921, directing that on 10 November every year, in honor of the Corps’ birthday, the Order’s summary of the history, mission and tradition of the Corps be read to every command. Happy Birthday, Marines!

Microsoft Salute to our Troops: Above and Beyond Awards

Monster Bash Aboard The USS Hornet / Prez Chopper

Next President's Tricked-Out Supercopter
Even the president's ride can be hot-rodded. That's the best way to describe the 23 choppers scheduled to replace the current fleet of Marine One VH-3Ds and VH-60Ns. Outfitted with a kitchen, a bathroom and a White House-worthy high-speed communications suite, the VH-71 is closer in capabilities (and amenities) to Air Force One than to its short-hop predecessors.

Saturday, October 27, 2007 Monster Bash
Is the USS Hornet Haunted? Bring the whole family and find out. The USS Hornet Museum holds its annual Monster Bash from 7:30pm to midnight onboard the historic aircraft carrier. Visitors will get a good fright throughout the evening with haunted tours, costume contests, and other treats. This family event features 70’s and 80’s dance music by Livewire Dance Band.

Military Report / Humor

Military Declares Victory Over Al-Qaida
The al-Qaida presence in Iraq is severely crippled, prompting some to declare victory over the group. But as military and administration leaders plot the next phase of the war in Iraq, others warn such a declaration could be premature because the group is resilient....More

Announcing the Military Spouse Network
Milspouses around the world now have a place to share experiences, find military discounts, apply for spouse-friendly jobs, get info on new neighborhoods and more. Tell your friends and join now....More
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Humor
Hello, Senator Kennedy
After numerous rounds of "We don't know if Osama is still alive," Osama himself decided to send Ted Kennedy a note in his own handwriting to let him know he was still in the game.

Kennedy opened the note, which appeared to contain a single line of coded message: 370HSSV-0773H.

Kennedy was baffled, so he E-mailed it to John Kerry. Kerry and his aides had no clue either, so they sent it to the FBI. No one could solve it at the FBI, so it went to the CIA, then to the NSA. With no clue as to its meaning, the FBI finally asked Marine Corps Intelligence for help.

Within a few seconds, the Marines cabled back with this reply: "Tell Kennedy he is holding the message upside down."

Towel Heads
This received from an unidentified correspondent in the Department of Defense.

"Towel Heads"

Recently I received a warning about the use of this
politically incorrect term.

Please try to pay attention.

We have been informed that the Islamic terrorists do not
like to be called "Towel Heads" since the item they wear on their heads is actually a small folded sheet.

Therefore, from this point forward, please refer to them as
"little sheet heads."

Thank you for your support on this delicate matter.

Military Report / code pink

Recon Marines Destroy Terrorist Cell
Marine infantrymen have a knack for understating the spectacular. When scout snipers with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, destroyed a group of insurgents emplacing roadside bombs, the sniper team leader summed it up simply.

Then there's this from the code pink anti-American traitors
You might cry after you read this, and that's OK, I promise I won't tell anyone. I'm referring to this letter from Marine Captain Richard Lund, who is the target of a harassment campaign by anti-war protestors who are trying to chase the military out of the greater San Francisco Bay Area.

The anti-war protestors called Captain Lund a "traitor" and defaced the U.S. Marine Recruiting Center where he works in Berkeley, California.

This letter below is the response Captain Lund gave to those who have been harassing him - it's an absolute must read, and you should also share it with others. Catherine Moy - Move America Forward

Captain Lund's Open Letter to Code Pink - READ HERE

Military Report

Come to the Military.com Career Fair in San Antonio
The Military.com Career Fair is coming to San Antonio on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. Employers seek the valuable skills you learned in service to your country. Register here and get a reminder of the event as well as a final and up - to- date list of the companies attending.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Every three minutes a woman in the United States becomes diagnosed with breast cancer. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The most common sign of breast cancer, a new, hard and painless lump, can be discovered during regular self-examinations. Other symptoms include swelling of part of the breast, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness of nipple and breast skin, nipple discharge (other than breast milk) and a lump in the underarm area. Although primarily found in females, males can be diagnosed with breast cancer and suffer similar results. For more information, including educational materials, visit http://www.breastcancer.org/.

Group is Here 4 You
The Silver Star Families of America supports wounded servicemembers and their families by offering troops a friendly ear with its newest program, "Hear 4 You." The no-cost program aims to develop a network of volunteers to listen to military personnel and their families affected by post-deployment stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. Military personnel or family members wishing talk to a volunteer through the Hear 4 You program can follow the link from the Silver Star Families of America website. The program's website shows which volunteers are online at any given moment.

Military / Veterans Report

Fleet Week San Francisco October 4-9
Since 1981, San Francisco Fleet Week has been an annual opportunity for Northern Californians to honor the men and women serving in the United States Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps. This year we are fortunate to have increased participation from the Coast Guard and the Canadian Navy. In so doing, we expand the scope of Fleet Week internationally as well as across the armed services.

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September 15, 1950
Veterans Commemorate Inchon Landing
Stars and Stripes reports that hundreds gathered at the Inchon Landing Operation Memorial recently to mark the 57th anniversary of the daring U.S.-led invasion into the port city of Incheon, South Korea, which split communist troops and changed the course of the Korean War. Among them were several dozen U.S. veterans, most of whom had not been to South Korea since the war ended with an armistice in 1953. The Korean War

Move America Forward

Friday, September 14, 2007
Posted By:
Melanie Morgan
MAF Confronts Senator Reid’s Office on Betrayal of Troops
Reid’s spokesman, Jim Manley, wanted to hear nothing of the criticisms of Senator Reid. Cross-armed, he ordered the news crew covering the meeting to leave the office, and had the gall to tell the Move America Forward delegation that, “the one thing we all agree on is that we all support our troops.” Numerous Photos

Friday, September 14, 2007
Posted By:
Catherine Moy
Permalink Sen. Harry Reid Refuses to Meet with Grieving Mother
Debbie Lee and Deborah Johns stopped by Sen. Hary Reid’s Senate office Friday, but the senator refused to come out of his office to meet the women.
Lee carried a picture of her son, the first Navy Seal to give his life in Iraq. Both she and Johns carried a message to Reid: Support U.S. troops and allow them to win the war in Iraq before coming home.

Johns son has served three tours in Iraq and has signed up for a fourth.

The two Debs were with a few people represnting Move America Forward, the largest nonprofit, protroops organization in the country.
Chairman Melanie Morgan and Vice Chairman Buzz Patterson were disappointed and frustrated that Reid would not come out of hiding. Instead, he sent out a spokesman who said Reid does support the troops and he wants the home.

Reid has a strange way of showing his support. He has said they are losers - that U.S. troops have already lost in Iraq.

Then he refused to condemn a vile advertisement a radical leftwing group published in the New York Times calling their Iraqi commander, Gen. David Petraeus, a betrayer.

If that’s showing support, I wonder what Reid would do if he didn’t support our troops!

FOX News filmed the discussion among the military mothers, Morgan, Patterson and Reid’s aide.

Military / Veterans Report

Video * All Video Clips
New Documentary on WWII Debuts
The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) presents "The War," a Ken Burns film, beginning Sun,, Sept. 23, 2007 on most PBS stations. The seven-part series documents World War II through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. Throughout the series, the indelible experience of combat is brought vividly to life. Please check your local television listings for the exact air time and date in your area. For more information, including educational materials, visit "The War" website

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Toys for Tots Makes Special Request
In response to recent events within the toy industry regarding unsafe toys manufactured in China, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is asking its loyal supporters to screen toys prior to purchase to ensure that only safe toys are donated to the upcoming 2007 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign. The toys identified as potentially unsafe can be found at the Mattel toy recall list at http://service.mattel.com/us/ and the CBS News Detailed SKU's website. For more information, call Mattel toll-free at (888)597-6597. Marine Toys for Tots Foundation does not purchase any toys directly from overseas vendors or manufacturers.

Gathering Of Eagles

Moon Bat Commie Pinkos deface Vietnam Memorial
Moonbats Threaten Move America Forward-GOE Caravan
By Kit Lange
Eagles! Don’t let these people interfere with Melanie and her Move America Forward caravan!

It has come to our attention that our good friends at Move America Forward are being targeted by the anti-American left. It is not enough that these ultra-liberal forces think it fine to disparage our men and women in uniform. They are now targeting our supporters as they make their way to stand with us in Washington, DC, on 15 September.

They have threatened Melanie Morgan personally and have used the vilest language to harass our friends. Obviously, they have underestimated our resolve and the resolve of our friends in Move America Forward. This is their last-ditch attempt to derail the
counter-protest we have in store for A.N.S.W.E.R.

Turn out in force to welcome Move America Forward as they make their way across the country. These people must be reminded that the silent majority is silent no more!

DoD News Briefing

DoD News Briefing with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Peter Pace at the Pentagon Briefing Room, Arlington, Va.

Feinstein's Earmark / Bush Visits Iraq / VA Health Care

Feinstein's $4 Billion Beverly Hills Earmark
By Kimberley Strassel
Move over Bridge to Nowhere. Congress is back in town, and clearly back to business even uglier than usual.

It takes hard work to come up with an earmark more egregious than that infamous Alaskan bridge, but California's Dianne Feinstein is an industrious gal. Her latest pork--let's call it Rambo's View--deserves to be the poster child for everything wrong with today's greedy earmark process.

The senator's $4 billion handout (yes, you read that right) to wealthy West L.A. (yes, you read that right, too) is the ultimate example of how powerful members use earmarks to put their own parochial interests above national ones--in this case the needs of veterans. It's a case study in how Congress uses the appropriations process to substitute its petty wants for the considered judgments of agency professionals. And it's just the latest proof that, no matter how much outrage the American public might display over these deals--and no matter how often Congress promises to clean up its act--the elected have no intention of reforming the process.

The pork here revolves around the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, though this is no average veterans' facility. Donated to the government in 1888, the center is 387 sprawling, prime real-estate acres in the middle of tony West L.A. More than twice the size of the National Mall, it is surrounded by the mansions and playgrounds of the city's elite, including the Bel Air Country Club and the Beverly Hills estates of Sylvester Stallone, Barry Bonds and Tim McGraw (to name a few). Entire Article
What is clear is that if this pork stands, no senator should again be allowed to bemoan a lack of veterans' funds without having this week's vote waved in his face.

Bush Surprise Visit to Iraq
Bush last night made a surprise detour to Iraq on his way to Australia as part of a strategy to seize the initiative in the country before the US Congress possibly changes the course of the war.

Bush received a "hoorah" when he said he would not base his deployment decision on "nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media."

"When we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from a position of fear and failure. To do so otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home," Bush said.

The temperature topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit as Bush stepped off Air Force One. The president stopped at a small building where a Marine Cobra pilot briefed him about the positives and negatives of current troop rotations.
"Morale?" asked Bush. "How's morale?"
"Very high, sir," the pilot, Capt. Lee Hemming, said.

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All Veterans are Potentially Eligible
Eligibility for most veterans’ health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

VA Health Care Eligibility & Enrollment
VA operates the nation’s largest integrated health care system with more than 1,400 sites of care, including hospitals, community clinics, nursing homes, domiciliaries, readjustment counseling centers, and other facilities.

Enrollment For most veterans, entry into the VA health care system begins by applying for enrollment. To apply, complete VA Form 10-10EZ, Application for Health Benefits, which may be obtained from any VA health care facility or regional benefits office, on line at http://www.va.gov/1010ez.htm <- Scroll to bottom to Start Application for Enrollment Benefits or by calling 1-877-222-VETS (8387). Once enrolled, veterans can receive health care at VA health care facilities anywhere in the country.

My HealtheVet (MHV)
is the gateway to veteran health benefits and services. It provides access to:

trusted health information

links to Federal and VA benefits and resources

the Personal Health Journal

online VA prescription refill

In the future, MHV registrants will be able to view appointments, copay balances, and key portions of their VA medical records online, and much more! My HealtheVet is a powerful tool to help you better understand and manage your health.

Rosie the Riveter

Rosie The Riveter Web Site

Rosie The Riveter Became An Icon
I never was thanked for helping to change society. I never needed a thank you. I just wanted a career that allowed me to defend my country.

This Labor Day weekend, Stop & Shop Supermarkets and the American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport on Long Island are sponsoring me and a half-dozen other Rosie the Riveters for a flight aboard a World War II bomber, as a way of saying "thank you" to every one of us who ever exchanged a kitchen apron for a factory smock.

When I fly, I'll be carrying with me a photo of my two sisters who worked with me at Republic Aviation and who have since passed on. I'll be thinking of them and all of the women who reported to work and created the weapons that brought to a close one of the most horrific wars in history. WOMEN, WORK & WWII
By JOSEPHINE RACHIELE

Military / Veterans Report

VA Announces Modernization Plans
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced several major enhancements at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center in New York state to include new construction and renovation. VA has officially opened its National Suicide Prevention Hot Line at Canandaigua, which will provide round-the-clock national assistance for veterans. The hot line is staffed by mental health professionals taking toll-free calls from veterans across the country. The number is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Veterans in need of assistance are connected with on-call professionals, then referred for follow-up treatment at their local VA facility.

Station Seeks WWII Stories
World War II veterans and their families are requested to supply KETC-TV (Channel 9) in St. Louis with information, letters and memories. Creation of the project "Your Stories: St. Louis Remembers World War II" began this spring in anticipation of Ken Burns' 15-hour epic documentary, "The War," which will be broadcast on PBS affiliate stations during a two-week span beginning Sept. 23, 2007. The station invites the sharing through postal mail and e-mail on the KETC website. The "Your Stories" project will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2007. The mailing address is: Your Stories, KETC, 3655 Olive St., St. Louis Mo. 63108. Check out Military.com's History Channel to read Veterans' Stories from past conflicts.

Personal Information Stolen From AXPOW Headquarters
On August 11 or 12, 2007, there was a break-in at National Headquarters for the American Ex-Prisoners of War, 3201 East Pioneer Parkway, Suite 40, Arlington, Texas 76010. All computer hard drives were stolen, along with several days of mail, checks and cash awaiting deposit and assorted paper files and records. These records include National Service Officer work, protected under Federal law.

The Arlington Police Department, IRS, Department of Veterans Affairs, the United States Federal Attorney in Dallas and the USPS Postal Inspector were all notified.

The concern is the database of members. These records, approximately 35,000, have social security numbers, dates of birth and VA claim numbers in them, along with names, addresses and other personal information. AXPOW members need to be alert for any fraudulent activities concerning their finances.

Did You Know?
The term "the whole 9 yards" came from W.W.II fighter pilots in the South Pacific. When arming their airplanes on the ground, the .50 caliber machine gun ammo belts measured exactly 27 feet, before being loaded into the fuselage. If the pilots fired all their ammo at a target, it got "the whole 9 yards."

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Only in America can a homeless combat veteran live in a cardboard box and a draft dodger live in the White House. (1993-2001)

V-J Day, 8th Of November, Coming Home Salute

V-J Day

8th Of November

Coming Home Salute

I know. It's a commercial performed by actors.
It aways bring a tear to my eye.

Veterans Report

5 Must Know GI Bill Facts
The GI Bill is a benefit you earned. Here are 5 must know facts that will help you better understanding how it works.

1) You have 10 years to use your benefits. Once you have separated from the service you have 10 years to use it - or loose it.

2) The GI Bill is not Federal Financial Aid. College and University financial aid departments do not consider the MGIB financial aid because it is normally paid directly to you, not the school. This also means that you are eligible for student loans, scholarships, and Pell Grants along with the GI Bill.

3) You can stop and start using the MGIB as needed. Unfortunately, many people believe that once you apply for benefits you have to remain enrolled in school to get the full benefit. Thankfully that's not true.

4) A "month" of benefits doesn't always mean a month. The GI Bill benefit provides 36 months of education benefits. The term "months" can often be confusing. The "36 months" of benefits does not mean you have only 36 months to use it, nor does it mean you must use it all in one 36 month period.

Learn more about the way payments are broken down here.

5) The GI Bill pays according to the number of credits you take. The GI Bill payment rates are based on several factors, the biggest being your credit load. For example a fulltime student will get up to $1075 a month while a half-time student will only get half that amount.

Don't let your benefit expire. Take the first step and

request free information from schools that match your education needs and schedule.

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Sign up for the Freedom Walk
In 2005, Pentagon employees created The America Supports You Freedom Walk to commemorate the attack on the Pentagon and honor all lives lost on September 11. What began as a small gesture has become a new national tradition. Last year, over 135 Freedom Walks of all types and sizes were held across the U.S. to honor the victims of September 11, reflect on the freedoms we have in America, and pay tribute to our veterans, past and present.

The National Freedom Walk will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, September 9, 2007, at 9:00 a.m. Local Freedom Walks will be held across America from September 8-11 in cities, workplaces and schools. Anyone is welcome to host or organize a Freedom Walk, or participate in a walk in their local community. Interested walkers can log on to AmericaSupportsYou

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Military Humor
Navy Navigation
This is the transcript of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a U. S. naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October, 1995. Radio conversation released by the Chief of Naval Operations on 10-10-95.

Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."

Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."

Americans: "This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, DIVERT YOUR course."

Canadians: "No. I say again, you divert YOUR course."

Americans: "This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north...that's one-five-degrees North, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship."

Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."

Note: The Navy has issued a press-release stating that this incident never happened -- but that doesn't make it any less humorous. http://www.about.com/

Military / Veterans Report

Marine's Parents Want Murtha Censured for Haditha Remarks
Roger Hughes, chairman of the Presidential Watch Political Action Committee -- the umbrella organization for the "Boot Murtha" and "Expose Murtha" campaigns -- told Cybercast News Service that he -- "unlike Murtha" -- would not comment on the Haditha investigations.

He did say, however, that "Murtha's remarks about the guilt of these people having killed civilians in cold blood is very reminiscent of John Kerry's Senate testimony" in 1971, when the current senator from Massachusetts stated he'd heard Vietnam veterans say they had "randomly shot at civilians" and "razed villages in a fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan."

General Praises Exonerated Haditha Marine

Charges Against Haditha Marine Sharratt Dropped

August 8, 2007 Another anti-military fantasist bites the dust.



Video: F-15 School
Do you have what it takes to be an F-15 Fighter Pilot? Check out this documentary to find out.


United We Stand Photo Gallery
On this page you'll find powerful, often surprising images of the American flag -- big flags, small flags, painted flags, lots of flags. Let us all be inspired by the Stars and Stripes and its representation of freedom and democracy!

Humor Courtesy Swapmeet Dave
CIA Assassin test
The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews, and testing were done, there were three finalists. two men and a woman.

For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun. "We must know that you will follow our instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room, you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill Her!!!"

The man said, "You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife." The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the man came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can't kill my wife." The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow. "This gun is loaded with blanks", she said. "I had to beat him to death with the chair."

Whining Sound

Original Cartoon

Military / Veterans Report

VA Develops New Prosthetic Ankle
Veterans with lower-leg amputations can look forward to having a prosthetic ankle-foot that matches their natural ease of motion, due to research funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and conducted by researchers from the Department and two of the nation's top universities. Researchers say the new ankle-foot prosthetic is the first in a new family of artificial limbs. It will replicate natural motion by propelling people forward using tendon-like springs powered by an electric motor. VA operates about 60 orthotic-prosthetic labs across the country that fabricate, fit and repair artificial limbs or oversee limbs provided by commercial vendors.

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Humor Courtesy Swapmeet Dave
Communication Breakdown...
The reason the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines squabble among themselves is that they don't speak the same language.
For example, take a simple phrase like, "Secure the building."
• The Army will put guards around the place.
• The Navy will turn out the lights and lock the doors.
• The Air Force will take out a 5-year lease with an option to buy.
• The Marines will kill everybody inside and make it a command post.

Military / Veterans Report

President Bush Discusses War on Terror in South Carolina
Some note that al Qaida in Iraq did not exist until the U.S. invasion -- and argue that it is a problem of our own making. The argument follows the flawed logic that terrorism is caused by American actions. Iraq is not the reason that the terrorists are at war with us. We were not in Iraq when the terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. We were not in Iraq when they attacked our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. We were not in Iraq when they attacked the USS Cole in 2000. And we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001.

In ancient times there were no statistics so they fell back on lies.
In modern times there are statistics so Liberals fall back on lies.
Just blame Bush: “[George W. Bush is] the worst president we ever had... When you have a president who is so unpopular... it really reflects poorly on Congress. None of [Congress’ approval ratings] are real high and we acknowledge that, but most of it relates to the unpopularity of the president.” - Harry Reid x The War Is Lost x Reid Warped x Create A Warp

Our action to remove Saddam Hussein did not start the terrorist violence -- and America withdrawal from Iraq would not end it. The al Qaida terrorists now blowing themselves up in Iraq are dedicated extremists who have made killing the innocent the calling of their lives. They are part of a network that has murdered men, women, and children in London and Madrid; slaughtered fellow Muslims in Istanbul and Casablanca, Riyadh, Jakarta, and elsewhere around the world. If we were not fighting these al Qaida extremists and terrorists in Iraq, they would not be leading productive lives of service and charity. Most would be trying to kill Americans and other civilians elsewhere -- in Afghanistan, or other foreign capitals, or on the streets of our own cities. President Bush Discusses War on Terror Video x Transcript

Radio Program to Give Troops a Voice
Mike Broomhead, host of the "Mike Broomhead Show" on News Talk KFYI in Phoenix will dedicate one hour of his two-hour Sunday evening show to "Voice of the Troops," which will also be sponsored by Operation Homefront of Arizona. The segment debuted July 15 and will begin as a monthly feature. Those with Internet access will be able to hear the program on the station's website at http://www.kfyi.com/. The program will provide a way for servicemembers to share their stories from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan. For more information, visit the
Operation Homefront of Arizona website.

Military Retirement Pay Cap is Lifted
Retiring military personnel - who have had due 30 years of service or more - will no longer have their retirement pay capped at 75 percent of base pay thanks to changes in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. For example, a member who served 32 years will receive 80 percent of their retired pay base and a member who has served 42 years will receive 105 percent of their retired pay base. More detail about the new retirement pay schedule is available from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.

Military etiquette
Officer: Soldier, do you have change for a dollar?
Soldier: Sure, buddy.
Officer: That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again.
Do you have change for a dollar?
Soldier: No, SIR!

V.A. Medical Center Lobby Portait

V.A. Medical Center lobby you'll see the portrait on the right.
In 2009 do you want to see the portrait on the left? I don't!
Since she's a socialist liberal the background will probably change.
A Taxpayer Voting for Hillary is like a Chicken Voting for Col. SANDERS.
Click to enlarge.

Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson said Tuesday that he will step down from his post on October 1. If she's elected, God help us, whose portrait will adorn the lobby wall as Veterans Affairs Secretary?

Military / Veterans Report

THE GRIM REAPERS
The war on terror will soon get even scarier for America's enemies - the United States is on the verge of unleashing its best pilotless aircraft yet, the Reapers.

The robot killers from the sky - a step up from the current Predators - will be tracking down enemy fighters from 50,000 feet up.

The Reaper is outfitted with infrared, laser and radar targeting capability and packs a ton and a half of guided bombs and missiles. The Reaper is loaded, but there is no one on board. Its pilot, as it bombs targets in Iraq, will sit at a video console 7,000 miles (11,265 kilometers) away in Nevada.

Bigger Military Raise, Better Benefits Hit
With President Bush's popularity scraping bottom in opinion polls, with U.S. casualties rising in Iraq in a force surge that has stretched soldier tours to 15 months, the Bush administration July 10 said it "strongly opposes" key military pay and benefit gains tossed into their fiscal 2008 defense bill. Initiatives the administration "strongly opposes" include:

• A military pay raise for next January of 3.5 percent versus 3 percent endorsed by the White House.
  
• Lowering the age-60 start of reserve retirement annuities for reserve component members by the length of their future mobilizations.
  
• Expanding eligibility for Combat-Related Special Compensation to service members forced by combat disabilities to retire short of 20 years.
  
• Directing pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide the Department of Defense with same price discounts for TRICARE retail pharmacy network that are provided already on medicines dispensed from base pharmacies. To learn more, read the article

Iran May Go Nuclear in 6 Months

NATO: Go It Alone
(IsraelNN.com) According to the IDF, Iran will be able to produce nuclear weapons within six months. NATO says Israel must ‘go it alone’ according to Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

The IDF Military Intelligence (MI) assessment was reported Tuesday to the Knesset and included a concrete assessment determining that Iran could cross the technological threshold required to produce nuclear weapons in the next 6-12 months and possess an operational warhead by the middle of 2009.

Another Lieberman in Favor of Iran Strike
US Senator Joseph Lieberman has been publicly calling for US strikes on Iran.
Full Story
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Military / Veterans Report

Thank You Foundation
The Thank You Foundation is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to expressing gratitude and appreciation to the men and women in the United States Armed Forces past and present. The Foundation has developed high-quality business cards that can be presented to any individual who is on active-duty, in a reserve unit or a veteran of the armed services, as a means of saying "Thank You." The Foundation also recently started the Tickets for Troops program where complimentary tickets to professional sporting events, concerts, amusement parks and art events are presented to these servicemembers. For more information, visit the
Thank You Foundation website.

Navy Knowledge Online Alerts Users
The Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola warns users of the Navy Knowledge Online (NKO) Web portal to watch out for an Internet phishing scam. The current phishing scheme claims to be from the NKO administration department and advises users of a non-existent server outage. The phony e-mail directs NKO users to a false mirror site in order to obtain users' legitimate log-on information. NKO users should not reply to the phishing e-mail or click on any associated links or buttons in the e-mail/false NAVADMIN. Further guidance and assistance is available from the NKO home page.

Panel Approves VA Care for All Vets
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), approved legislation recently that would re-open the Department of Veterans Affairs health system to 1.7 million veterans in Priority Group 8, those who have adequate incomes and no service-connected ailments. The Group 8 provision is in the Traumatic Brain Injury and Other Health Programs Enhancement Act (S 1233). For more information, read the article on the Military.com website.

White House Against Boosting VA Budget
Moves in Congress to give the Department of Veterans Affairs as much as $3.8 billion more than the Bush administration proposed has drawn an indirect veto threat from the White House.

"If Congress increases VA funding above the president's request and does not offset this increase with spending reductions in other bills, the president will veto any of the other bills that exceed his request until Congress demonstrates a path to reach the president's top line of $933 billion," the Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the House veterans affairs appropriations subcommittee, said, "This bill is about respect, and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation's uniform." To learn more, read the article at Military.com.

"This bill is about respect, and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation's uniform."
Since when do liberals respect veterans? When it's a political talking point. (We (Democrats) tried to get veterans more health care money, but Bush vetoed it.) Another reason for the liberals to blame Republicans in 2008.
Read these Comments posted on Military.com

Operation Iraqi Freedom: Stay the course...

“America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier, exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited, with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.” - James Madison

Amid all the political posturing regarding OIF—specifically the Democrat’s largely successful efforts to undermine American will to stay the course in Iraq, one fact is obscured by the bitter debate. Elements of Radical Islam remain determined to strike Western targets in an effort to thwart democratic influence in the Middle East, and if we drop our guard, they will hit us hard. pdf file

Military / Veterans Report

Mirage Jet flying through the Swiss Alps

House Approves Record VA Budget
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a record budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). H.R. 2642, the 2008 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, would increase the VA budget $6.7 billion above 2007 levels. It would hire 1,100 more VA claims adjudicators and would provide $600 million for three "Centers of Excellence" in mental health care and five polytrauma centers to care for the needs of thousands of men and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with serious mental and physical conditions.

Lowe's Offers 4th of July Discounts
Lowe's Companies, Inc. announced today it will offer all active, reserve and retired military personnel and their immediate family members a 10 percent discount on in-store purchases made during the July 4th holiday. The discount is available June 28-July 8. The discount is available on in-stock purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID or other proof of service such as a VA card, VFW card, veteran's ID or discharge papers. Excluded from the discount are online sales, previous sales, installation and delivery fees, extended protection plans, gift cards, select Fisher & Paykel appliances and John Deere.

Power Wheelchairs for Veterans
ClickOnHealth works with Medicare and your secondary insurance providers to get you a new Power Wheelchair at little or not cost. They will take care of all the details and work directly with your doctor to find the wheelchair that's best for you. You won't be bothered with confusing insurance paperwork and they offer free home delivery. Get more info here

Jihad in Britain

The terrorists don't seem to care that Tony Blair is gone.

Barely 48 hours on the job, Britain's new Prime Minister Gordon Brown got a lesson in the realities of the post-9/11 world.

Terrorist plots in London and Glasgow pushed the U.K.'s security alert up to the highest level--"critical"--for the first time in a year. In fortunate contrast to the London subway bombings two years ago this July 7, neither attack came off as planned. Two cars packed with gasoline, gas cylinders and nails were discovered early Friday in the British capital and defused. At Glasgow airport, a similarly rigged SUV crashed into security barriers, barely failing to get inside the departure hall. Except for an attacker who set himself ablaze yelling "Allah, Allah," no one was seriously hurt. Police arrested five suspects.

On Thursday, his first full day in office, the Prime Minister sought to distance himself from just-retired Tony Blair's unpopular commitment to the "global war on terror" by unveiling a cabinet with prominent Blair critics. But Mr. Brown appears to be a quick study. Yesterday, in an interview with the BBC, he was nothing if not resolute: "We will not yield, we will not be intimidated, and we will not allow anyone to undermine our British way of life." Welcome to the fight. *

Veteran Takes On Chris Matthews In Coulter Debate

VETERAN: No, no, no, no, no, I want to know why politicians are off limits, but US troops are not. People who actually put on the uniform, go out and fight and die. Okay, she is calling in and complaining about one person that said something in a book. Ann Coulter is not elected to the senate, okay, John Kerry is, Dick Durbin is. Ok, and if we want apologies and personal attacks to stop.

MATHEWS: Wait, who has been attacking the soldiers?

VETERAN: Okay, let’s see, Dick Durbin has compared them to the Nazis, "Abu Ghraib is now open under new management." Okay, but our soldiers are not out there blowing them damn selves up, and I as a veteran take a genuine--

MATHEWS: So you don’t think they should have criticized Abu Ghraib?

VETERAN: No, hey, look, policy is made by civilians. Troops only do what they can.

MATHEWS: I'm going to tell you something. This administration has denied that was a policy from the top. I believe it was, you don’t agree.

VETERAN: I believe--

MATHEWS: No, you believe--

VETERAN: Wait, wait, wait. Wait a damn minute Chris, if you want to talk about policy made from the top, let’s talk about the mess made over in Rwanda.

Arrowhead Ripper

“The biggest battle since the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein’s regime is under way in Iraq. Its outcome could determine whether the war is won or lost... The heart of the offensive is Operation Arrowhead Ripper, in Diyala province northeast of Baghdad, involving some 8,000 American and 2,000 Iraqi troops...[I]f Arrowhead Ripper succeeds, you may not hear much about it. A U.S. victory would be too embarrassing for those in the media and the Democrats who have staked their reputations on defeat.” — Patriot Post

Arrowhead Ripper: Surrender Or Die

Military News / Veterans Report

4th of July Celebration on the USS Hornet
Celebrate this exciting patriotic holiday on a ship that affected the course of history. The USS Hornet Museum in Alameda hosts its annual Independence Day Party on July 4 from 10:00am to 9:30pm. The family event features live music on the flight deck, interactive games for all ages, and a bounce house for kids. Tours of the famous aircraft carrier will be available throughout the day. In the evening visitors can watch panoramic views of Bay Area fireworks from the flight deck. Tickets are $25 for adults ($20 in advance) and $10 for children ages 5-17; museum members receive free admission. Family Membership for one year is $75. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 510-521-8448 x 282 or visit USS Hornet.org.

Changes Coming for Air Force Uniform
The Air Force uniform board is working to resolve Airmen's issues with the Air Force physical training uniform. The board received nearly 500 inputs from Airmen including suggestions on ways to improve the uniform, and some of those changes are in the works. One of the biggest issues is the lining in the shorts. Another issue Airmen addressed was the weight of the PT running suit. The Air Force Clothing Office is making changes to these items. The board has also decided to introduce other optional PT uniform items within a year, including shorts geared for long-distance runners, a long-sleeve T-shirt, medium-weight sweatshirt and fleece vest with a zipper.

Air Force Marathon Coming in September
The eleventh annual United States Air Force Marathon will take place on Sept. 15, 2007, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. One change to the marathon this year is the date and location of the five-kilometer race, will take place on the evening of Sept. 14. Marathoners will also experience an altered race route this year, which is a Boston Marathon qualifier. For more information, visit the USAF Marathon website.

USS New York

Artist Rendering of the USS New YorkThe Navy's amphibious assault ship USS New York has already made history. It was built with 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center.

USS New York is about 45 percent complete and should be ready for launch in mid-2007 . Katrina disrupted construction when it pounded the Gulf Coast last summer, but the 684-foot vessel escaped serious damage, and workers were back at the yard near New Orleans two weeks after the storm.

It is the fifth in a new class of warship designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft.

"It would be fitting if the first mission this ship would go on is to make sure that bin Laden is taken out, his terrorist organization is taken out," said Glenn Clement, a paint foreman. "He came in through the back door and knocked our towers down and (the New York) is coming right through the front door, and we want them to know that."

Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite, La., to cast the ship's bow section. When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003, "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there."

Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up."

"It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back."The ship's motto? - 'Never Forget'

Kindness and goodness of U.S. Troops

Received via email from Move America Forward
Here's a heart-warming, wonderful story of the decency, kindness and goodness of U.S. Troops. It comes from a somewhat surprising source - CBS News - and shows some of the good things our troops are doing in Iraq.

No matter what else you do today, you MUST watch this video segment and then send it on to everyone you know:

WATCH THE PRO-TROOP STORY HERE

Military / Veterans Report

V.A. Medical Center and Facility Locator

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San Diego Air and Space Museum
Situated in the heart of San Diego's Balboa Park, the San Diego Air and Space Museum offers active-duty servicemembers and their family members a free look at the evolution of aviation. Created in 1935 by the Ford Motor Company, the museum's exhibits feature various aircraft from the Wright Brothers first gliders to spacecraft from the Apollo missions. The museum pays special tribute to some of the military's most renowned aces and heroes. The museum is open daily 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information call
619-234-8291 or visit http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/.

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War Wounded Underpaid
Disability compensation for veterans severely wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly the youngest, is set too low, creating a lifetime earnings gap with non-disabled peers, according to a draft study on disabled veterans' incomes prepared for the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission. The same study found that disability compensation probably is set too high for veterans who first begin drawing the disability payments at age 65 or older, having already retired from post-service careers.

This imbalance in disability compensation paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was a point of contention at a June 8 commission hearing. Congress created the commission to examine the appropriateness of benefits being paid to veterans and their survivors.

While some commissioners expressed satisfaction that "average" VA compensation was adequate, and others challenged the notion of elderly veterans being over compensated, Commissioner Dennis V. McGinn, a retired Navy vice admiral, said something must be done to raise compensation of younger veterans.
To learn more, read the article at Military.com.

Military / Veterans Report

Databases List Missing Servicemembers
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) now has an electronic database listing the names of servicemembers still unaccounted for from World War II that is available for family members and researchers. The database lists nearly 78,000 names and was compiled by researchers from DPMO and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. This WWII database, along with databases listing the missing from the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War and Gulf War, are available on DPMO's website. For additional information on the Defense Department's mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO website or call (703) 699-1169.

Come to the Las Vegas Career Fair on June 16th
Military.com Career Fair is coming to Las Vegas on June 16, 2007. This event will feature up top employers seeking the valuable skills you learned in service to your country. You can also attend employment workshops focused on helping you leverage your military experience in the civilian job market. Every attendee will receive a free copy of the Veteran Career Guide full of tips on how to interview, translate your military skills, evaluate potential employers and more.

The event is this Wednesday, June 16th at the Palace Station Hotel, 2411 W. Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Doors open at 11am and close at 3pm. Register For Free Here.

New Navy Program Educates Recruits
"Accelerate to Excellence" is a new program that allows enlistees to enroll in community college while in the Delayed Entry Program (DEP) and get paid a monthly stipend by the Navy. The enlistees are expected to eventually earn an associate degree prior to reporting to their first permanent duty station. The initial pilot program is being focused on recruiting from Texas and Florida. An added element of the program is the potential for top performers to be considered for application into officer commissioning programs. The pilot program is planned to run for three years. More information on the program is available in . pdf format.

Remember: Not applying for scholarships is like turning down free money. Get started on your search for scholarships today - visit the Military.com Scholarship Finder.

Military / Veterans Report

Remember June 6, 1944
Step back in time to that fateful morning of June 6th, 1944 and join the brave souls of the Allied Expeditionary Force on the beaches of France to begin a final, desperate assault that would be the knife point of a thrust into the heart of German Occupied Territory....More



Video: D Day Tribute To Troops
We Remember D Day Tribute to Troops and the power behind the force.



Helicopter Air Show in SF Bay Area -- June 16th
On Saturday June 16th, the 8th annual Hiller Aviation Vertical Challenge, the nation's largest all-helicopter air show, will feature more than 50 helicopters including the incredible Red Bull BO-105 helicopter, the only aerobatic helicopter that can fly upside down, as well as perform loops and rolls. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 5-17 and seniors 65 and older and free for kids age 4 and younger. Attendees will enjoy helicopter rides (45pp), refreshments, live entertainment, kid amusements and more. The event starts at 9am and is located at 601 Skyway Road, San Carlos, CA 94070. Click here to find more information.

Red Bull Helicopter

Palm Springs International Airport USO

Among the baggage claim carousels at the Palm Springs International Airport, a safe haven is tucked away in a corner room. Young men and women in uniform munch chips within the fully stocked kitchen and doze off in a comfy recliner.

This conveniently located airport facility features all of the amenities, flair and comfort of a modern commercial airline VIP lounge—and all of the services are provided to America’s brave young warriors and their families free of charge! We do everything possible to ensure our troops have a safe and comfortable place to relax while on the move through Palm Springs to US or worldwide locations.

Services such as Internet-connected computers, video games, magazines and cable television with a DVD library are available at no cost.

"Some of them are so surprised this is all free," said David Lutes, public relations coordinator for the USO. "They will tell me, 'thank you sir,' but I reply, 'No, thank you for serving your country.' We're able to give them a safe, clean place to relax while making them feel at ease and sometimes play the part of a mother or father figure when they need it." Palm Springs International Airport USO

A MONUMENT TO AMERICA'S HEROES

"A MONUMENT TO AMERICA'S HEROES"
Friday, June 1st - 4:35 AM Eastern:
Move America Forward is announcing today its plans to acquire the 5 acres of land in Crawford, Texas that had been used by anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan and her supporters.



------- _,,,^._.^,,,_
I'm having a difficult time typing this.
I'm all broken up.
Tears are streaming from my eyes.
I just don't know how I will cope.
Want a piece of Texas? Camp Casy is for sale. Cindy (Parody) will accept any reasonable offer.
-------------Cindy Packing Up and Going Home