November 02, 2011
TV Series “The Rockford Files" Jim Rockford To The Occupy Wall Streeter ~ LOL GREAT Reply!
Your alternative lifestyle comes out of somebody else's pocket
If you’ve never watched “The Rockford Files,” then you have missed some of the greatest social commentary ever to come out of a sit-com. One of the best episodes is when Jim Rockford, played by James Garner, teams up with a New Age nut named Jane Patten who goes by the name Sky Aquarian (Valerie Curtin). If you ever want to know the answer to the question “What’s the sound of one hand clapping?,” then this episode of “The Rockford Files” is the one to see. It’s called “Quickie Nirvana.” It was first broadcast November 11, 1977.
H/T i own the world
Wild Thing's comment......
LOL so perfect. Good reply!!
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:55 AM | Comments (6)
November 03, 2010
Sly Stallone About Voting
This is from Nov. 2nd, yesterdayit is a Tweet from Sly Stallone: Vote to Get ‘Manchurian Candidate’ Out of Driver’s Seat.
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This video is from awhile back, but it is such a good interview with Sly about his film.
Wild Thing's comment........
Love the tweet that Sly did yesterday hahahaha good one.
I have not seen the movie yet, but I wanted to show you Sly's responses to Bill O'Reilly questions. LOL Sly is funny when he talks about how he would be with a date his daughter would have. hahaha
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:45 AM | Comments (3)
October 03, 2010
Teaser Of Rush Limbaugh on FAMILY GUY Airing Tonight
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Family Guy....FOX
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Rush On Why He Agreed To Family Guy Starring Role
While Rush Limbaugh is more than accustomed to incoming flak from the left, criticism from the right is a bit less common. A starring role in an episode of Family Guy, however, has turned the usual order of things upside down.
Due to air Sunday October 3, the plot centers around Limbaugh's "conversion" of far-left Brian, which subsequently goes awry:
When Brian learns that Rush Limbaugh (guest-voicing as himself) is going to be at the Quahog Mall for a book-signing, he decides to go down there and give him a piece of his left-wing mind. But when Rush unexpectedly comes to Brian’s rescue, Brian has a political change of heart in the all-new “Excellence in Broadcasting” episode of FAMILY GUY airing Sunday, Oct. 3 (9:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) on FOX
While this does have the potential to reach a large new audience not normally part of Rush's demographic, some conservatives are less than happy about his association with the Hollywood left. From Daniel Foster at National Review Online:
It is to Mr. Limbaugh’s credit that he can make fun of himself. But Seth MacFarlane, the whiskey-soaked Dada creator of Family Guy, is responsible for more sophomoric cartooning than the combined patrons of America’s truck stop and dive bar bathrooms. His shows are full of misanthropic, misogynist, racist, and anti-Semitic jokes admixed with just enough ironic distance and liberal cheerleading to stave off the blanket condemnation of the PC Left.
So, as someone who has in the past suggested that if MacFarlane really cared about liberal causes, he’d stop associating himself with them, I can only look at the Limbaugh-MacFarlane mash-up with a wary eye.
With that in mind, your Radio Equalizer asked Limbaugh for insight into his decision to appear on a notorious lefty program:
RADIO EQUALIZER: Rush, I'm getting emails asking why you're appearing "on that disgusting program."
My answer to one: He's reaching out to millions of young people who've only heard horrible things about him. He needs to lure them to the talk radio medium or we will eventually be winding it all down for good. These kids live in a world where that kind of content is all around them. The only way to reach out is to enter their environment long enough to invite them to our side.
RUSH LIMBAUGH: Exactly right. (It's the) same reason I did the Playboy interview in 1993. Same reason I took the Rush to Excellence Tour to a Vegas hotel. It's called crossover.
And this episode is not disgusting. It's hilarious. It's a CARTOON.
RADIO EQUALIZER: Did you get a lot of flak at the time for the Playboy interview? Similar to this? A question I've received: "why's he helping lefty Hollywood types who hate us?"
RUSH LIMBAUGH: Yes, I did. And on other occasions I can't recall. This is my third Family Guy but first as the star. Seth MacFarlane doesn't hate me. Or Andrew Breitbart, who he met on Maher's show and really liked.
Besides, it was a new career challenge, a new experience. It was a LOT of work. I sing, and I'm deaf! Getting the melody down was next to impossible. It was challenging on many levels. And it is an unpredictable thing to do. It will stymie critics. I'm a performer. This was fun. Seth wants to do even more.
Seth was among the FIRST to reach out to me in Hawaii when I had that heart scare. I am not helping the Hollywood Left. His show is going to be on the air regardless what I do.
BUT, the better way to look at this is that they bent for me. I did not bend to them. It's not as though I endorse or support libs on this show. The other way around. A huge lib character becomes a conservative.
RADIO EQUALIZER: Thanks, Rush, we'll be watching.
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Wild Thing's comment.......
Rush is having some fun and I am glad. Love the way Rush does things, it really ticks off the left more then anyone.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:55 AM | Comments (2)
September 16, 2010
Kelsey Grammer To MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann Thanks ~ LOL
Kelsey Grammer sending MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann a thank you message for recently naming him and his newly launched “Right Network” the “Worst Person in the World.”
Wild Thing's comment......
LOL good for Kelsey!!!
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:40 AM | Comments (1)
September 11, 2010
A Classic by Jay Leno Talking About Taxes, Economy and Jobs
Leno: Govt Workers Who Aren't There, Are Needed To Spend $ We Don't Have, To Create Jobs That Don't Exist
Wild Thing's comment............
LOL that was great. Leno has always been pretty fair in is attacks on both parties. At least he is not filled with total hate like Lettermen has been toward GW Bush.
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:50 AM | Comments (2)
August 13, 2010
James Caan Refuses to Be the Typical 'Hollywood Liberal'
James Caan came out last week at a film festival - “I’m an ultra-conservative.”
Veteran actor James Caan let people in on a little secret last week. After 46 successful years among Hollywood’s most outspoken liberal stars, he’s speaking up about breaking the mold.
“I’m an ultra conservative,” he said at Moet & Chandon’s 6th Annual Hollyshorts Film Festival Opening Night Celebration in Los Angeles.
“I’m not a G** damn Hollywood liberal, I’m not,” he said, adding he only watches Fox News.
Caan, who was at the event promoting his involvement with the online platform Openfilm.com, also added that he doesn’t think Hollywood actors need to comment on every single political issue. When Pop Tarts questioned him on California courts deeming Proposition 8, which bans same sex marriage, “unconstitutional,” he preferred to keep his lips sealed.
“I don’t want to comment on that. I’ll let those other geniuses do that – all those actors who like to find a stage to push their agendas,” he said. “They don’t have political science degrees… I certainly don’t. I’ll leave it to Sean Penn or Barbara Streisand to comment on that.”
Ouch.
But, Caan, who starred in the cult mob classic “The Godfather,” had no qualms in expressing his opinion regarding homeland security’s progress in controlling the presence of gangs and the mafia across the United States.
"The mafia has been well cracked down on. In terms of National Security, terrorists are our biggest problem,” the 70-year-old said. “The mafia made money doing the same job the cities were doing – cloning bids, building buildings... They only kill each other, not that I'm condoning it."
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Wild Thing's comment........
It is interesting that most of the macho guys in Hollywood are not Democrats. heh heh
LOL I love how he said that about Sean Penn.....hahahhaa
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:48 AM | Comments (6)
July 19, 2010
George Will Calls NAACP Resolution " Left-wing McCarthyism " ~ Nope More Like Alinsky
George Will nailed it on Sunday morning's show This Week.
He argued that the racist NAACP tea party resolution was “Left-wing McCarthyism.”
“Precisely. There’s nothing like name-calling and a kind of left-wing McCarthyism to enable the NAACP to make a desperate lunge for its vanished relevance. You say that this episode that he’s talking about and the Vice President made a brief reference to it, is a “he said-he said” whether or not the n-word was used. It’s a he said if four television cameras monitoring that event said it didn’t happen. A talk radio host if offering up $100,000 to anyone who can produce a shred of evidence that it happened. And, $100,000 is still on the table.”
Wild Thing's comment.......
Nope, Will is good but I would say McCarthy was right back then and is proven correct more every day this Regime is in power, the Communist and Socialist overtook this Nation, something he was trying to prevent.
Alinsky was the person Will should have mentioned instead. It’s worse than McCarthy, because there is less justification to the charge. And it’s an intentional smear done for purely political reasons.
McCarthy accused folks of being communists. And he usually had some evidence to support his argument.
These guys from the NAACP are just racist demagogues.
A decent performance by Will. But it’s telling about how out of touch he is with the cutting edge of the movement when he refers to Andrew Breitbart as “a radio talk show host”.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:45 AM | Comments (5)
July 07, 2010
LOL ....Does a former Drill Sergeant make a terrible therapist? You be the judge.
Wild Thing's comment........
Hahahahaha I love it. I love this guy, he is always good.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:55 AM | Comments (4)
March 01, 2010
Afghan: US Bomb Squad On The Frontlines Discuss Movie "The Hurt Locker"
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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joshua Rickert, from San Antonio, Texas, member of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, checks for concealed bombs in the Badula Qulp area, west of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010
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Afghan: US bomb squad on the frontlines
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
BADULA QULP, Afghanistan
Staff. Sgt. Joshua Rickert hasn't just seen "The Hurt Locker," the award-winning film about an American bomb disposal squad in Iraq. He's living it - in Afghanistan.
Rickert and his team work for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, unit of the U.S. Air Force. Soldiers summon these men by radio when they find concealed bombs, a deadly threat to NATO forces fighting the Taliban. On Tuesday, Rickert's metal detector squealed when he ran it over a patch of earth at a chokepoint between two mud walls, a natural avenue where troops on patrol might choose to walk.
It was an IED, or improvised explosive device. Rickert saw parts of it poking above the soil.
"We're going to blow that right there," he said. Kneeling, Rickert laid down a brick of C4 explosive. He activated the one-minute fuse. Then he straightened up, weighed down by his flak jacket, helmet and other gear, and walked away - not hurrying, but fast enough.
Soldiers nearby stuck their fingers in their ears. The blast threw up black smoke. Rickert walked back to make sure the job was done.
The IED menace is constant. The Taliban hide crude bombs in culverts, doorways, walls, wherever they think Western troops will pass. Sometimes, soldiers clear an area, and insurgents go back and plant another bomb. Just about every U.S. soldier operating in support of a Marine offensive in the southern Afghan town of Marjah knows someone who was hit by an IED, often in a Stryker infantry vehicle. That someone got lucky, or was wounded, or died. A lot of soldiers were blown up themselves, recovered and went back to their unit.
Finding and destroying IEDs is, of course, slower and more nuanced than the high-octane version portrayed in the movie thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow, which could make a run for the Oscars. In reality, Tuesday's operation in the village of Badula Qulp started well before the EOD team arrived at an area patrolled by a platoon of the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment of the 5th Stryker Brigade.
Afghan soldiers, coordinating with the Americans, had persuaded civilians to tell them about the location of suspected bombs.
Platoon leader Sgt. 1st Class Natividad Ruiz of Fort Smith, Ark., checked out a cluster around a crop field enclosed by walls. His men blew one up as the EOD team arrived. Ruiz showed off a "trophy" - a "pressure plate" device consisting of two pieces of flexible wood wrapped in plastic to keep out debris. Once buried and stepped on, the wood pushes metal contacts together. This completes an electrical circuit that sets off the explosives, which are often fertilizer-based.
"We find them, we verify that they're there, and then we take care of it, whether these guys do it or we do it," Ruiz said. "These little ones, they're probably not going to kill you. You might have a little Superman leg or a Bat wing, but that's about it."
The insurgents, he said, know that wounding, rather than killing, a soldier can slow down the entire unit because of the rush to evacuate him for emergency treatment.
Ruiz said his men sometimes used grappling hooks to pull away brush around suspected bomb sites. He, too, has seen and liked "The Hurt Locker."
"We don't dress up in that big old suit," he says of the heavy bomb gear worn in the movie.
Rickert, of San Antonio, Texas, said his job was about teamwork, and that the movie's portrayal of "an EOD guy gone rogue" was inaccurate, though he acknowledged its entertainment value.
He recalled a scene in which the main character pulls up cords leading to a cluster of buried artillery shells. "I would walk away at that point," he said, adding that an accurate depiction of EOD men would show "six days of us doing nothing and 10 minutes of us working our ... off."
Another EOD man, Senior Airman Kyle Brown of Toledo, Ohio, felt the same way.
"Some of the things he does in the movie - quite out there," Brown said. "I wouldn't say we were that undisciplined. It makes us look like rebels in the military." The bomb disposal team rolled up to the scene Tuesday in what they called a Cougar, a vehicle that can withstand roadside bombs far better than a Stryker. They didn't use the Talon, a robot with treads and cameras that is operated with a joystick, because it wouldn't have been able to approach and examine the IEDs on the rough terrain.
Rickert recognized the signature of the bomb maker operating in the area by the type of batteries and other IED components. He showed a degree of respect for his unknown adversary, saying the bombs were well hidden.
"I take my time, go slow, and make sure I do everything for a reason," he said. And his career choice?
"I can't imagine doing anything else. It would be too boring."
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'The Hurt Locker' sets off conflict within military
Many film critics — and awards voters — have praised "The Hurt Locker's" depiction of the U.S. military in Iraq, often singling out the bomb disposal drama for its authenticity. But as the film emerges as a favorite to win the best picture Oscar, a number of active soldiers and veterans are attacking the movie for the very things the film's supporters admire, saying "The Hurt Locker" portrays soldiers as renegades and that it fails to represent details about combat accurately.
The criticism, coming just before Oscar ballots are due Tuesday, highlights the delicate relationship between "The Hurt Locker" and the nation's armed forces.
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates says the film is "authentic" and "very compelling" and has recommended it to his staff. But the government says it pulled its "Hurt Locker" production assistance at the last minute in 2007, saying that the film's makers were shooting scenes that weren't in the screenplay submitted to the Defense Department, including a sequence that the government believed showed troops unflatteringly. The film's producers dispute elements of the account.
While "The Hurt Locker" has numerous supporters within the military — including Purple Heart winner Drew Sloan, who participated in a "Hurt Locker" panel discussion in Hollywood with other veterans and the film's makers Wednesday night — the movie's detractors share a consistent complaint about its representation of the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal team as they attempt to disarm improvised explosive devices.
The film, directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by journalist Mark Boal (who embedded with a bomb disposal team), stars Jeremy Renner as Staff Sgt. William James. Not deterred by protocol or his own safety, James is an adrenaline-addicted bomb defuser who occasionally puts his unit at risk, and at one point takes to the streets of Baghdad on a solo personal mission. Members of EOD teams in southern Iraq said in interviews arranged by the Army that "The Hurt Locker" is a good action movie if you know nothing about defusing roadside bombs or the military.
Sgt. Eric Gordon of San Pedro, Calif., an Air Force EOD technician on his second tour in Iraq, has watched the movie a few times with his friends. "I would watch it with other EOD people, and we would laugh," Gordon said.
He scoffed at a scene in which a bomb is defused with wire cutters. "It's similar to having a firefighter go into a building with a squirt bottle," Gordon said.
An EOD team leader in Maysan province, Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Phillips, "My interest is bringing myself and my team members home alive, with all of our appendages in the right place," Phillips said.
While he was glad the film highlighted their trade, he disliked the celluloid treatment of EOD units.
"There is too much John Wayne and cowboy stuff. It is very loosely based on actual events," he said. "I'm honestly glad they are trying to convey to the public what we've been doing, and I wish maybe they had just done it with a little bit of a different spin on it," he said.
Others are more supportive.
Sloan, a former U.S. Army captain, said at the panel discussion that "The Hurt Locker" offered a perfect snapshot of modern conflict. "This is what's going on for the men and women who are fighting this war," he said.
Jim O'Neil, the executive director of the EOD Memorial, which honors those who perish defusing bombs, was equally enthusiastic about the film's accuracy. "It's not just a movie," he said at the panel discussion. "It's something that's actually occurring as we're sitting in these chairs."
Some recent veterans, however, did not share the sentiment.
"The depiction of our community in this film is disrespectful," said Paul Rieckhoff, the executive director and founder of the 150,000-member Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "We are not cowboys. We are not reckless. We are professionals. And a lot of the film would make you think the opposite."
"I didn't really care for it," said Brian Siefkes, who served in Iraq and plays an Army soldier in the upcoming movie "The Green Zone." "There were many moments where I felt they were trying to portray the actual life of EOD in Iraq but over-sensationalized it," he said.
Boal, who also produced "The Hurt Locker," said the film was not intended to be a documentary or a training film. "We certainly made creative choices for dramatic effect," he said. "But I hope the choices were made respectfully and conscientiously."
At one point, "The Hurt Locker" might have been made with government cooperation. But just 12 hours before Lt. Col. J. Todd Breasseale was to fly to Jordan to serve as the Army's technical adviser to "The Hurt Locker," he said in an interview that he heard there might be problems.
A Jordanian official told him that scenes were being shot that were not in the script that the Army had agreed to with Bigelow. Breasseale accused the producer of shooting a scene where in which soldiers act violently toward detainees. (The military does not provide help to films depicting violations of the laws of war, unless the script shows their consequences.) He also charged that the production had driven a Humvee into a Palestinian refugee camp in order to film angry crowd scenes.
"Nice working with you," Breasseale said he recalled telling a producer before the military decided to stop working with the production. "Kathryn has a lot of talent, but I cannot trust that your company will honor its contract to the soldiers and government of the U.S."
Breasseale said the filmmakers had been solicitous of the Army's opinion "trying to get the look and feel right" and they had been allowed to film at an Army logistics base in Kuwait.
Breasseale, who is now deployed, saw "The Hurt Locker" on a laptop in Afghanistan along with a soldier from one of the Army's EOD teams. He conceded it was a great story and a "spectacular looking movie. But if you're looking for realism and how military relationships really work, I believe she missed the mark," Breasseale said of Bigelow.
Others in the Pentagon's office overseeing work with Hollywood agree. "The filmmakers' interest in drama and excitement exceeded what we felt were reasonable realistic portrayals," said Philip M. Strub, the Pentagon's special assistant for entertainment media.
Boal said that while the production initially worked with the U.S. military, it parted ways when it became clear they would not approve "The Hurt Locker" script. He said they did not film on a base in Kuwait and never signed a contract.
"The Department of Defense did not support the movie. And my understanding is that they did not support 'Platoon' or 'The Deer Hunter,' Boal said of two of the most revered movies about the Vietnam War. "I am OK with that outcome because I didn't want to change the script to suit them."
The top Pentagon official, Gates, has a very positive view of the movie. "This is the first Iraq war movie that he has liked, or for that matter seen," said Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell. "In looking at all previous films he thought they had too much of a political agenda.
"He just thought it was a very compelling, and what he thought was authentic portrayal of what life is like for many of our troops in Iraq. Of the films that have been done about this war, that is the most authentic."
Wild Thing's comment........
We have not seen the movie yet so I have no opinion about it yet. But I do like to know what our troops have to say about it. It seems to be divided in approval. My main concern is does the film put down or slander our troops.
From the guys I know that have been there they have said this in their emails to me:
The clearing scene at the IED factory was worth the price of admission alone. But many parts I had to laugh at how wrong there were and incorrect. But I just accepted it was Hollywood version and they had to entertain as well as tell the story.
There were lots of technical mistakes, but hey that's showbiz right? Chrissie go see it. It is not that bad and has some good stuff in it. Just know it is not exactly how it is over here. Hey to Nick and hugs to you.
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.... Thank you Jim for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:49 AM | Comments (2)
February 22, 2010
"The Pacific" March 14, 2010 - HBO ( the latest trailer)
This is the latest trailer for the 10-part miniseries "The Pacific" March 14, 2010 - HBO
The miniseries premiere will take place at San Diego’s USS Midway Museum on February 25. County Supervisor Greg Cox said some of “The Pacific” actors will be on hand for the invitation-only screening, to be attended by veterans and members of the local military community. San Diego will be one of 15 cities participating in the national launch of the miniseries.
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A Conversation With The Executive Producers
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Production Budget : $150 millions
Directors : - Carl Franklin
- David Nutter
- Timothy Van Patten
Writers : - Robert Leckie (Book)
- Eugene Sledge (Book)
- Bruce C. McKenna
Shooting places : Australia
CAST:
Joseph Mazzello... Eugene B. Sledge
William Sadler... Lieutenant General Lewis 'Chesty' Burwell Puller
Jacob Pitts...Hoosier
Isabel Lucas... Gwen
Ashton Holmes... Sid Phillips
Matt Craven... Dr. Grant
Jon Seda... John 'Manila' Basilone
Cariba Heine... Phyllis
Brendan Fletcher... Bill Leyden
Joshua Close... Edward Sledge
James Badge Dale... Robert Leckie
Rami Malek... Merriell 'Snafu' Shelton
Nathan Corddry... Pvt. Loudmouth
Matthew Dale... Sgt John Marmet
Jon Bernthal... Rodriguez
Nikolai Nikolaeff... Rear Echelon Man
Damon Herriman... Merrin
Gary Sweet... Haney
Martin McCann... R.V. Burgin
Betty Buckley
SYNOPSIS:
The intertwined real-life journeys of three U.S. Marines Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge and John Basilone across the vast canvas of the Pacific Theater during World War II, in an infantry division nicknamed "The Old Breed" for its position as the oldest and largest active duty division of the U.S. Marine Corps. With the support of their fellow Marines and comrades in the Navy, Air Force and Army, the 1st Marine Division was at the forefront of many of hardest-fought campaigns of the Pacific War.. The miniseries follows these men and their fellow Marines from their first battle with the Japanese on Guadalcanal, through the rain forests of Cape Gloucester and the strongholds of Peleliu, across the bloody sands of Iwo Jima and through the horror of Okinawa, and finally to their triumphant but uneasy return home after V-J Day.
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Wild Thing's comment........
I am really looking forward to seeing this 10 part series. I wanted to keep you up to date as to the newest trailer and the start date for it's appearing on HBO.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:55 AM | Comments (5)
February 08, 2010
Charles Krauthammer Setting Juan Williams Straight
Charles Krauthammer setting Juan Williams straight after Williams dared to compare "Obamanomics" to "Reaganomics." Williams had said Obama's tendency to propose spending he cannot pay for, "sounds like Reaganomics" to me.
Krauthammer responded to Williams with a short but direct answer:
"Reagan created the biggest economic expansion, and the longest in US history. I rest my case."
Wild Thing's comment.......
Juan just wants so desperately for Obama to be The One. And Krauthammer... he simply rocks.
Posted by Wild Thing at 12:55 AM | Comments (11)
January 31, 2010
Limbaugh Let's Loose
Rush during the preliminaries at the Miss Americva Pageant on Thursday night ( Rush was one of the Judges)
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Limbaugh gets down to Lady Gaga's "Poker Face".
In this pic look at the guy in the second row pointing at Rush...looks like they all had a great time.
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Rush Limbaugh is already creating buzz as a judge at the Miss America pageant: Seems the man knows how to bust a move.
On Thursday night, in between rounds of competition, the judges competed for their own crown: “Judge of the Night.”
While competing in the dance-off, Limbaugh stood up and boogied to Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” alongside fellow judge Vivica A. Fox.
“Rush Limbaugh has exceptionally impressive fist pumping skills,” tweeted Miss America Live.
Limbaugh’s moves won him the “Judge of the Night” title. His prize: a “Mr. New Jersey” sash bestowed upon him by the host, Miss New Jersey 1995 Dena Blizzard.
One question remains: Will the conservative talk show host be the favorite judge on the final night of the pageant?
The Las Vegas pageant airs live on Saturday night — when Limbaugh will presumably throw a few curve balls to top contestants during the interview portion of the competition.
Wow... listen to the applause from the crowd! Rush is getting so much love from the audience... it’s nice to hear.
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Wild Thing's comment........
This is GREAT! What a hoot. The MSM and Democrats must be having fits at the coverage Rush is receiving.
I loved it when there was such a healthy round of applause and cheers that Rush received when he was introduced.
Good to see Rush is back in full health.
Besides his eternal optimism, or perhaps because of it, Rush never fails to enjoy himself. This infuriates the liberals, which makes him enjoy himself even more!
This is a transcrpt from Rush about last Thursday night:
"Speaking of this Miss America Pageant, I was going to bring this up because I frankly had forgotten it until this guy’s call. They’ve had a different emcee each night of the preliminaries: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night. Last night was the final night of the preliminaries. Last night’s emcee was Dena Blizzard, comedienne from New Jersey. She involved, off the cuff, us six judges. She said, “You know, it’s time for us to judge the judges. The judges get to sit here and judge everybody else.” So we’re caught up in this, and we have to play along and there was only one thing we had to perform, and that is we all had to stand up on cue and dance — all six of us — and then the audience is going to vote as to which one of us was the winner. So I got up and I started dancing and I did the Jersey fist bump because that’s what she said she wanted, and I was doing the Jersey fist bump and I went kind of nuts there for 30 seconds. And, lo and behold, if I didn’t win it! I won the judge talent show last night, was called up on stage. The retiring current Miss America, Katie Stam, crowns the new Miss America on Saturday night, gave me a... They didn’t have a Mr. America sash, so they created one that said “Mr. New Jersey,” and there was a picture of me wearing that and they couldn’t find a coffee cup named Rush so they got me one with the name Roy on it and gave me that. Katie Stam, the current Miss America signed it, and all the Miss America Pageant contestants are on stage. This is at the end of the night. So I just wanted you people to know: I won a talent contest here at the Miss America Pageant, but I was not competing against the girls."
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:55 AM | Comments (6)
January 29, 2010
Rush Has A Heart To Heart With Obama
Rush Limbaugh yesterday giving President Obama some "Fatherly Advice" in a "heart-to-heart" talk he wrote on the heels of a State of the Union message he called "an embarrassment."
Limbaugh spoke as if he was speaking directly to Obama. He told Obama "it's time to man up - it's time to grow up."
He hammered Obama for attacking the Supreme Court during his State of the Union Address when they had no opportunity to respond or defend themselves.
Limbaugh asked Obama, "Has it occurred to you that you are not as cool as you think you are?" He called out Obama for being a "bully," as evidenced by his attack on the Court and his war against Fox News and others who dare to challenge him.
Limbaugh reminded Obama he was elected to "serve the people," not "dictate to the people."
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Wild Thing's comment.........
So GREAT, another good one by Rush!
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:49 AM | Comments (4)
January 11, 2010
"HOPE" - Obama Musical Story
This is SICK!
HOPE - Obama Musical Story
Stage is set for 'HOPE-The Obama Musical Story'
A preview of the new play "HOPE-The Obama Musical Story," was staged in Offenbach, Germany this week, and it looks like a rollicking good show.
The Broadway-style political biopic is sung in English, and all the major characters from the 2008 presidential race make an appearance, including (clockwise from top left) a scantily clad former Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, a gospel-crooning Rev. Jeremiah Wright, former Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), and former Democratic candidate Barack Obama (D-Ill.) along with his wife, Michelle.
Even Michelle Obama's mother, Marian Robinson, has her own number.
The show seems like the perfect formula for a hit, at least in Europe: Germans are notorious musical-theater lovers, and President Obama enjoys approval ratings in Germany that far outpace his U.S. numbers.
"HOPE-The Obama Musical Story" will debut in Frankfurt, Germany on Jan. 17.
'HOPE - The Obama Musical Story' Premieres In Germany January 17
He's been in office for less than 365 days, has the lowest approval rating of any president his first year, and someone has actually produced a musical about him
According to the official website of "HOPE - The Obama Musical Story":
The main character is presented less on a political level, but rather as an emotional person who fights for a new, more forgiving and peaceful world and a better future... Caused by the prevailing tight political and economic situation, societal and social frictions and emotions arise. The people are given new hope by the new spirit of the age.
"HOPE" shows in a compelling and modern musicals, the incredible story of the emergence of a new social movement to a new generation.
Seeing through the eyes of the inhabitants in an apartment-sharing community, we experience the American society which is distressed by the prevailing economical-political chaos, lost in social helplessness - disoriented. People of different origin and political parties find themselves united in the hope for a new beginning. Hence, the battle for the election of the 44th president of the US finds its way into their everyday lives and starts affecting the people in an unprecedented way, letting them share the hope for a better future, despite all the differences.
Interesting, in some cases dazzling characters appear who present the different cultural trends in the society in a charming way, impersonated by a first-class cast.
From the Puerto Rican Ricardo who has had enough of politics, has lost his job and his home, finding accommodation with the African-American Johnson family, to the ultra conservative widow Mrs. Shultz of German origin and the committed African-American political activist Elaine Johnson - all of them are suddenly caught by a wave of hope for change. This hope is triggered by the rise of the charismatic electoral candidate Barack Obama who restores the people's courage and confidence with his strive for a better world and makes them believe again.
Last but not least, not only do the African-Americans consider Obama as the man who finally unites the American society after all these years. With his message, Obama succeeds in enthusing and thrilling all people from different cultures, religions or skin colors.
The new presidential candidate restores the people's confidence, allowing them to believe in something again. It seemed that until quite recently, the people had given up hope.
„Yes we can!" - a simple slogan which has become THE ONE rallying cry representing courage and change and has united and changed generations worldwide.
Though a German production, much of the cast is American:
Jimmie Wilson as Barack Obama Jimmie Wilson is from Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Della Miles as Michelle Obama She was born in Houston, Texas and has already worked as an actress, musical actress and musician.
Dynelle Rhodes as Shirley Wickerson Dynelle Rhodes is the lead singer of The Wheater Girls. Who does not know her international successes like "It's Raining Men" or "Can U Feel It".
Love Newkirk as Elaine Johnson She is known for her own TV show "Groove" on VH-1 and was lead actress in Europe in the successful musical "Bubblin Brown Sugar "and" Sister Soul ". Tracy Plester as Hillary Clinton und Sara Palin
Tracy came to Europe with the musical "Cats" and played subsequently in "Les Miserables".
Boysie White as Reverend Wright He toured all over Europe with the musical "Hair," "The Best of Broadway", made as a singer in "The Golden Gospel Singers" and "The Harlem Gospel Singers talk" from him.
Timothy Riley as Ricardo Timothy Riley was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Harriett Lewis as Michelle Obamas mother Harriet opened concerts for Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Lisa Stansfield, Crash Test Dummies, Michael Bolton and many others.
ELLIOTT as Mama Johnson Elliott was born in Akron, Ohio.
Vanda Guzman as Bee Wickerson Vanda Guzman comes from New York.
Kevin Iszard as Marvin Johnson Kevin was a member of the R & B group Format and was on the stage with KC & JoJo, Dru Hill and Destiny's Child and legendary greats such as Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Mariah Carey.
The show is written, composed, and co-produced by American Randall Hutchins.
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Now THIS one is comedy........- Wild Thing
"Springtime for Hitler"
From the hilarious 1968 movie "The Producers" by Mel Brooks.
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Wild Thing's comment.......
It is a joke, isn’t it? Isn’t it? TELL ME IT’S NOT TRUE!....no it is for real. AUGH!
"...a scantily clad former Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin..."
What is it with the Left? They eat and sleep hate for such a wonderful person as Sarah Palin.
“...who fights for a new, more forgiving and peaceful world and a better future..”
I think that was part of the intro for Mighty Mouse.
If this kind of thing keeps up I really believe there will be more and more of the Obama-fatigue. I hope so anyway.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:55 AM | Comments (17)
January 08, 2010
Jay Leno Jokes About Rumor His Show Might Be Canceled
Jay Leno last night joked about rumors that his show will be canceled due to poor ratings.
Leno also got some jabs in at NBC, saying he felt his show was safe because NBC only cancels
shows with high ratings.
He also mentioned Fox by saying that if it does get canceled, he hears "Fox is beautiful this time of year."
David Letterman Skit Brings Up Transgender Obama Appointee
Gay Group Demands Letterman Apologize for Mocking Transgender Appointee Amanda Simpson
(Mitchell Simpson, now known as "Amanda" following a sex change)
Human Rights Coalition Calls David Letterman Joke 'Inappropriate and Incendiary'
The country's largest gay-rights group today demanded an apology from David Letterman, for making what it called "inappropriate and incendiary remarks" regarding President Obama's appointment of a transgender woman to the Commerce Department.
In his monologue Tuesday, Letterman remarked that Amanda Simpson, a transgender woman, had been appointed to work in the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, where she will monitor the export of military technology.
As a photograph of Simpson was shown, announcer Alan Kalter shouted, "What? Amanda? Amanda used to be a dude?"
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Wild Thing's comment.........
Jay Leno is the only late night talk show host that has joked about both parties. Unlike David Lettermen
that has a total obsessive hate for Bush and Sarah Palin. Jay is much funnier and actually has been
pretty fair considering he is a democrat.
I would hate to see him off the air, and I laughed at his comment about FOX, heh heh that was a real
dig at NBC.
Regarding Letterman's monologue, hahahaa The transgender people are too sensitive, what do they expect would happen after Obama picked this person. sheesh
This is the way of controlling without Debate..
You are against Global warming..So you want to destroy the planet.
You are against gay marriage...So you are a homophobe.
You are against Affirmative Action..So you are a racist.
I could keep typing all night long..
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....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:45 AM | Comments (3)
December 07, 2009
Rush Limbaugh Talks To William Shatner
Rush Limbaugh Talks To William Shatner On His Show ""Shatner's Raw Nerve".
In a refreshing interview with William Shatner Mr. Limbaugh talks about health care and what makes a person a conservative. Mr. Shatner describes a moment during his life where he almost becomes suicidal over tinitus. He asks Limbaugh about his own hearing issues.
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William Shatner And Rush Limbaugh Part 2-3
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William Shatner And Rush Limbaugh Part 3-3
Wild Thing's comment...........
For those that missed the show or do not have Biography chanel on their TV's.
Rush did great and Shatner was good too, very sincere.
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:50 AM | Comments (3)
December 05, 2009
Rush Limbaugh To Be Guest On William Shatner's TV Show " Raw Nerve"
When: Sunday, December 6
Time: 10PM ET
Where: Biography channel
Preview of Rush on the show.
Conservative radio talk-show legend, Rush Limbaugh will appear on the season debut of "Shatner's Raw Nerve", (as-in William Shatner) on The Biography Channel, this Sunday, December 6, at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time and 7:00 p.m. Pacific time. The interview, which took two hours to conduct, will be edited down to squeeze into the thirty minute edgy and off-beat celebrity interview program.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:49 AM | Comments (3)
November 23, 2009
'SNL' Skit Scorches Obama Policies
'SNL' scorches Obama policies
NBC comedy show ruthless in satire of president's plans
Saturday Night Live" opened its show last night with a comedy sketch that scorched President Obama over his economic policies including health care, "Cash for Clunkers" and borrowing billions of dollars from China.
The NBC program featured comic Fred Armisen portraying the commander in chief at a news conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, played by Will Forte, who spoke through an interpreter, comic Nasim Pedrad.
Jintao began by asking Obama about the success of his economic stimulus.
"I'm curious. How many jobs has it created?" asked the Chinese leader.
"None," answered Obama. "But our health-care reform plan, we're confident, is going to lead to enormous savings."
How exactly is extending health-care coverage to 30 million people going to save you money?" Jintao asked.
"I don't know," admitted Obama.
The foreign leader also ridiculed Obama's "Cash for Clunkers" car-incentive program, and issued a warning about the money the U.S. owes to China: "Just so there is no misunderstanding, you are not allowed to pay us back in clunkers."
"I assure you. You're going to get your money," stressed Obama.
Sensing he was being lied to, Jintao through his interpreter asked a similar question three times, including: "Do I look like Mrs. Obama? Then why are you trying to do sex to me like I was Mrs. Obama? Just do it. Get it over with."
Wild Thing's comment........
I have heard Rush say many times that when SNL and others start mocking and making fun of a politician, that politician is pretty much finished.
Dear God, let it be so.
Hats off to Saturday Night Live for their hilarious Obama skit.
Obama is at 48% at Gallup.com as of today.
Palin is at 51% at Rasmussen.com
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:50 AM | Comments (4)
November 13, 2009
HBO's "The Pacific" Trailer #2
HBO has just released a new trailer for the 10-part miniseries, which will chronicle the action in the Pacific Theater of the war as experienced by three Marines, Robert Leckie (James Badge Dale), John Basilone (Jon Seda) and Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello).
"The Pacific" is kind of a companion piece to HBO's fantastic 2001 miniseries "Band of Brothers" (and comes from the same exec producers -- Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman and Steven Spielberg), but based on the trailer below it won't look or feel quite the same. Even leaving out the obvious fact that the fighting in the Pacific was vastly different from that in Europe, it appears that we'll see a little more of the homefront and the soldiers' return after the war.
Wild Thing's comment.......
I have posted before about this and I am so glad they have another trailer. I am looking forward to seeing The Pacific when it airs on HBO.
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:40 AM
September 29, 2009
Singer Andy Williams Accuses Barack Obama of Following Marxist Theory
Andy Williams accuses Barack Obama of following Marxist theory
Williams, a lifelong Republican whose hits include Moon River and Music To Watch Girls By, told the Radio Times he thought Mr Obama wanted to turn the US into a "socialist country".
The 81-year-old was a friend of the Kennedy family during the 1960s and was present at the Los Angeles rally where Robert F Kennedy was assassinated in 1968.
"I was very close to Bobby and he asked me to be a delegate for him when he ran for president," he said.
"He knew about me being a Republican, but just laughed and said, 'Sign yourself in as a Democrat and then change back afterwards'. Sadly, I never got to do that.
"I was very close to Teddy Kennedy, too, and his death recently brought it all back. What a tragedy. Had he lived, I think Bobby would have been a great president."
But Williams had a less favourable opinion of the current president.
"Don't like him at all," he said, "I think he wants to create a socialist country. The people he associates with are very Left-wing. One is registered as a Communist.
"Obama is following Marxist theory. He's taken over the banks and the car industry. He wants the country to fail."
Politicians, media personalities and conservative activists have accused the US president of espousing socialist ideas.
Earlier this month, Jim Greer, the chairman of the Republican Party in Florida, said he was "absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama's socialist ideology", after the US leader appeared in a televised address to be shown in classrooms around the country.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Good for Andy Williams! God bless you!!!
There are others in Hollywood that think this too, and also have voted Republican. We just don't hear about many of them.
Andy Williams has the Moon River Grill and Theatre in Branson, MO. that is very nice and not expensive.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:47 AM | Comments (2)
September 25, 2009
ElRushbo on Jay Leno.....LOL and the Green Car
Here is Jay Leno's interview with Rush Limbaugh. After discussing Rush losing over 80 pounds, Jay and Rush discussed the issues:
Obama, nationalized healthcare, the bailouts, the government takeover of the auto companies, capitalism, wall street, executive pay and more.
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Rush driving a green car and running over Al Gore...TWICE......LMAO
Rush Limbaugh participated in the Green Car Challenge on the Jay Leno Show. Rush drove an electric model of the Ford Focus.
Jay instructed Rush that he would be penalized if he ran over Al Gore, so Rush decided to run over Al Gore, back up, and run him over again.
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Wild Thing's comment......
He did great, I loved how he talked to Leno about so many things too.
The car ride is sooo funny.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:55 AM | Comments (8)
September 18, 2009
"'Thank You ACORN': Leno Plays 'Commercial' Featuring Prostitutes Gratitude
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This is a perfect example of why Leno is 1000% better than that idiot Letterman. I honestly don’t know where Leno stands politically (As it should be). Here are some Leno Clinton jokes: “Things aren’t looking good for Hillary. Like a lot of women in Washington, I think she’s just starting to realize she may have slept with Bill Clinton for nothing.” —Jay Leno
“The $10 million Clinton is getting for his book beats the old record of $8.5 million paid to the Pope. How do you think this makes the Pope feel? The man dedicates his life to the 10 Commandments, he gets 8.5. Clinton breaks every one of them, he gets 10.” —Jay Leno
“Just like Clinton, the book will come with a jacket and no pants.” —Jay Leno
“This kind of seems like bad taste to me. A Giuliani fundraiser is now charging $9.11 ... in reference to 9/11. ... Isn’t that inappropriate? I mean, isn’t it like a Bill Clinton fundraiser charging $69 a head?” —Jay Leno
“A company has announced that they have come out with a solar-powered vibrator. Doesn’t it sound like something dreamed up by Al Gore while he was working with Bill Clinton.” –Jay Leno
“Looks like Barack Obama has won the nomination. Congratulations. And Hillary Clinton is about to drop out. She has not dropped out officially. That means Bill Clinton’s about to hear those three words he’s been dreading: ‘Honey, I’m home!’” —Jay Leno
Wild Thing's comment.......
heh heh
If Leno is doing this, the shine is definitely coming off the Obama tingle.
Obama’s world is crumbling down.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:48 AM | Comments (4)
September 15, 2009
HBO Mini-Series ...."The Pacific" .....Coming in March 2010
K CO - 3rd Battalion - 5th Marines - Finest Division
" The Pacific" is a TV series, it is not a prequel or a sequel but the complete story of 3 U.S. Marines in the Pacific during WW11. The experiences of these omen and their Marines buddies take them from training to their baptism of fire with the Japanese on Guadalcanal, through the jungle of Cape Gloucester, across Peleliu, Iwo Jima, Okinawa.....the Island hopping invasions of the USMC, till they get home after VJ-Day.
"The Pacific" is adapted from the memoir book of Eugene Sledge, "With the Old Breed" which was first published in 1981. The memoir is based on notes Sledge kept tucked away in a pocket-sized Bible he carried with him during battle.
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HBO Presents an epic mini-series from the creators of "Band Of Brothers"......they bring us "The Pacific".
"The Pacific telling the intertwined stories of three Marines during America's battle with the Japanese in the Pacific during World War II. "
Trailer #2 (Released: September 2009)
Please click the link below...thank you....
http://www.hbo.com/events/pacific/video.html
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Fan site......this site has a lot of information.
Other source of information from HERE.
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Jon Seda, the actor portraying John Basilone in the upcoming Pacific miniseries, will attend this year’s World War II festivities being held in Raritan Borough, New Jersey. HBO is sponsoring a portion of the festival which will include World War II-era music and a military parade.
Some of the cast and parts they play:
William Sadler……Gen. Lewis “Chesty” Burwell Puller
Jon Seda………………………………John ‘Manila’ Basilone
Joseph Mazzello……………………Eugene Sledge
James Badge Dale…………………Robert Leckie
Ashton Holmes……………………..Sid Phillips
Rami Malek………………………….Merriell ‘Snafu’ Shelton
Akos Armont………………………..O Crumpton
Joshua Bitton………………………..J.P. Morgan
Jon Bernthal……………………….Manual Rodriguez
Tom Budge………………………….Ronnie Gibson
Joshua Close……………………….Edward Sledge
Matt Craven……………………….Dr. Grant
Brenden Fletcher…………………Bill Leyden
Eamon Ferren…………………..W.E. Powell
Joshua Helman……………….Lou ‘Chuckler’ Juergens
Damon Herriman…………….Merrin
Isabel Lucas……………………Gwen
Martin McCann……………….Robert Burgin
Ian Meadows………………..R.E. Evans
Henry Nixon………………G.B. Corrigan
Keith Nobbs…………………Runner
Annie Parisse……………….Lena Basilone
Jacob Pitts………………….Bill ‘Hoosier’ Smith
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Leckie: God created everything, right? The Heavens, The Seven Seas, the Marine Corps...God created Japs too, right?
Sledge: So what do you believe in?
Leckie: I believe in Ammunition
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Wild Thing's comment......
My first post about this was June 25 of this year. I have been waiting for some updates and they just came out with the second trailer you see the link for above .
I wanted to let you all know the lastes on this what promises to be an awesome mini-series.
Trailer of Steven Spielberg's HBO Miniseries 'The Pacific'
Based on a true story, 'The Pacific' will chronicle the journey of three U.S. Marines who battle the Japanese during World War II. The series is expected to be released in March 2010 "The Pacific" is adapted from the
A total of 10 episodes at 60minutes each will be shown on all the major networks ranging from the UK, to Germany, Asia, Austria, Switzerland and beyond. HBO billed the production as, “the biggest thing HBO has ever done” but also “the biggest production in the history of television,” given the scale and scope of the miniseries. It’s like making 10 major movies at once.
There is some restoration of an LVT “Alligator” that is being restored for “The Pacific” HBO series .
This was in Leatherneck Magazine awhile back: ( thank you Mark..I took this from your comment in my first post about this)
In 1942, on a black October night in the steaming jungles of Guadalcanal, Basilone had single-handedly wiped out a company of Japanese trying to overrun his position on the Tenaru River. With a Colt .45 pistol and two machine guns - one cradled in his arms after the other was knocked out - he stopped a screaming banzai attack and held out until dawn, when reinforcements came up. Nearly a hundred sprawled enemy dead were around his cut-off outpost.
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Posted by Wild Thing at 05:55 AM | Comments (6)
September 14, 2009
Patrick Swayze Succumbs to Pancreatic Cancer ~ R.I.P.
Patrick and his wife Lisa writing an “inspirational book” together, and given all the triumphs in Patrick’s life it’s easy to see how his story will be inspirational. One of his biggest successes is his lifelong relationship with Lisa. Patrick and Lisa met 38 years ago when she was just 16 and was taking dance lessons from his mother. He joked that he “robbed the cradle” by dating her as he was 20 at the time. Their love has endured through good times and bad. Swayze told told Barbara Walters that “I have no greater respect for any other human being on this earth like I have for her.”
Patrick Swayze succumbs to pancreatic cancer
‘Dirty Dancing’ star, 57, battled disease since January 2008
Patrick Swayze passed away peacefully today with family at his side after facing the challenges of his illness for the last 20 months,” said a statement released Monday evening by his publicist, Annett Wolf. No other details were given.
He had kept working despite the diagnosis, putting together a memoir with his wife and shooting “The Beast,” an A&E drama series for which he had already made the pilot. It drew a respectable 1.3 million viewers when the 13 episodes ran in 2009, but A&E said it had reluctantly decided not to renew it for a second season.
Swayze said he opted not to use painkilling drugs while making “The Beast” because they would have taken the edge off his performance. He acknowledged that time might be running out given the grim nature of the disease.
When he first went public with the illness, some reports gave him only weeks to live, but his doctor said his situation was “considerably more optimistic” than that.
“I’d say five years is pretty wishful thinking,” Swayze told ABC’s Barbara Walters in early 2009. “Two years seems likely if you’re going to believe statistics. I want to last until they find a cure, which means I’d better get a fire under it.”
Red Dawn........WOLVERINES!
My favorite scene in "Ghost"
Wild Thing's comment......
He never got caught up in the Hollywood mindset. He was always Patrick Swayze from Texas.
Patrick was an excellent actor. He spared us from his politics for the most part, a rare and commendable use of restraint. He fought hard, put up quite a fight against a terrible disease. He tried to keep going including a series he did last season called " The Beast", where he played a policeman undercover.
Some other films:
The Outsiders, Road House, Point Break,Dirty Dancing and North and South just a few of them.
May he rest in peace.
Posted by Wild Thing at 08:40 PM | Comments (6)
July 05, 2009
Colonel Ed McMahon by Major Van Harl USAF Ret.
He wanted to be a Marine fighter pilot. The US was building up their military force, but they were not at war yet and the Navy required all its potential Navy and Marine pilots to have two years of college. So Ed started classes at BostonCollege.
When Pearl Harbor was attacked the Army and the Navy both dropped the college requirement and Ed applied to the Marines. His primary flight training was in D allas and then he went to Pensacola, Florida. He was carrier qualified, which means he knew how to perform a controlled crash of his single engine fighter, onto the rolling deck of a Navy floating runway.
It took Ed almost two years to get through all the Navy flight training. His problem was he was a very good pilot and the Marines needed flight instructors. He had a great command presence and public speaking ability, which landed him in the classroom, training new baby Marine pilots.
His orders to the Pacific fleet and the chance to fly combat missions off a carrier came in th e spring of 1945, on the same day the Atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Of course his orders where changed. He never went to sea and he was out of the Marines in 1946.
Ed stayed in the USMC as a reserve officer. He became a successful personality in the new TV medium, after the war. His Marine command presence helped. He was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He never got to fly his fighter aircraft, but he saw his share of raw combat. He flew the Cessna O-1E Bird Dog, which is a single engine slow-moving unarmed plane. He functioned as an artillery spotter for the Marine batteries on the ground and as a forward controller for the Navy & Marine fighter / bombers who flew in on fast moving jet engines, bombed the area and were gone in seconds. Captain Ed was still circling the enemy looking for more targets, all the time taking North Korean and Chinese ground fire.
He stayed with the Marines as a reserve officer and retired in 1966 as a Colonel.
The world knows Ed as Ed McMahon of the Johnny Carson, Tonight Show. One night I was watching the show when the subject of Colonel McMahon earning a number of Navy Air Medals came up. Carson, a former Navy officer, understood the significance of these medals, but McMahon shrugged it off, saying that if you flew enough combat missions they just sort of gave them to you. McMahon flew 85 combat missions over North Korea; he earned every one of those Air Medals. The casualty rate, for flying forward air controllers in Korea sometimes exceeded 50% of a squadron’s manpower. McMahon was lucky to have gotten home from t hat war.
Once a Marine, always a Marine.
When the public was spitting (taking their personal safety into their own hands) at Marines on the streets of Southern California during Vietnam, Colonel McMahon was taking Marines off the streets and into his posh Beverley Hills home. I spoke to a retired Marine aircrew member the day Colonel McMahon died and he personally remembered seeing McMahon at numerous Marine Air Bases in California in the 1960s. He=2 0was known for going to the Navy hospitals and visiting the wounded Marines and Sailors from this country’s conflicts, even in the last years of his life.
Colonel McMahon presented awards and decorations to fellow Marines and attended many a Marine ceremony and the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball. He stayed true to his Corps as a board member of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund and as the honorary chairman of the National Marine Corps Aviation Museum. After retiring from the Marine Reserve, one night on the Johnny Carson show, members of the California Air National Guard came on stage.
Colonel McMahon was commissioned a Brigadier General in the Air Guard in front of millions of Americans who watched it happen live. You will not see anything like that on TV anymore.
The three core values of a United States Marine are; honor, courage and commitment. This is what a Marine is taught from the first day of training and this is what that Marine believes. That was Colonel Edward P. McMahon Jr. USMCR Retired. Before he was a national figure he was a true combat hero and a patriot the nation needed then and this country needs now.
Your war is over. Thank you Colonel McMahon. Semper Fi sir.
23 June 2009
Major Van Harl USAF Ret.
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'Westboro Baptist Church' Protests Col. Ed McMahon Funeral there are a few Patriot Guard Riders there too to keep an eye on the vile Protest people
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Wild Thing's comment.......
I wish so much the media would get their act together. They really aren't giving the news and they sure as heck are not covering other stories in any detail. Ed McMahon dies, he gets a mention, Michael Jackson dies and he has been worshiped from that moment up to now and it will probably continue for awhile longer. grrrrrrrr
My other post about Ed McMahon passing away....from June 24th.
WW11 Fighter Pilot and ‘Tonight’ Show Sidekick Ed McMahon Dies
WW11 Marine Fighter Pilot . After several months of training at Miami and El Toro, McMahon arrived in Korea in February 1953. He flew 85 artillery-spotting missions in the Cessna OE Bird Dog before Sources Boston Herald Lowell Massachusetts
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:45 AM | Comments (15)
June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson dies in LA hospital
A person with knowledge of the situation says Michael Jackson has died in Los Angeles. The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, says the King of Pop died at age 50 in a Los Angeles hospital.
Wild Thing's comment......
Children in the world will be a lot safer now.
Posted by Wild Thing at 08:05 PM | Comments (2)
Farrah Fawcett Dies of Cancer at 62
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Farrah Fawcett, who skyrocketed to fame as one of a trio of impossibly glamorous private eyes on TV's Charlie's Angels, has died after a long battle with cancer. She was 62.
Blonde, blue-eyed and petite – and with a trademark mane as flowing and famous as the M.G.M. lion's – the Corpus Christi, Texas, native was born Feb. 2, 1947, the younger daughter of an oil-field contractor and his homemaker wife.
She's gone. She now belongs to the ages," O'Neal tells PEOPLE, also confirming that she received the last rites of the Catholic Church. "She's now with he mother and sister and her God. I loved her with all my heart. I will miss her so very, very much. She was in and out of consciousness. I talked to her all through the night. I told her how very much I loved her. She's in a better place now."
Added O'Neal: "She was with her team when she passed ... Her eyes were open, but she didn't say anything. But you could see in her eyes that she recognized us."
"I've watched her this past year fight with such courage and so valiantly, but with such humor," Fawcett's Charlie's Angels costar Kate Jackson told PEOPLE in November 2007.
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Wild Thing's comment......
It is sad, and she really fought hard to stay alive.
A very underrated actress...she was known for the blonde hair, Charlies Angles and that poster but if you’ve ever got to see any of the other movies she did, Burning Bed comes to mind, she did an excellent job as an actress.
Rest in peace Farrah
Posted by Wild Thing at 01:40 PM | Comments (9)
Trailer of Steven Spielberg's HBO Miniseries 'The Pacific'
Based on a true story, 'The Pacific' will chronicle the journey of three U.S. Marines who battle the Japanese during World War II.
The series is expected to be released in March 2010
"The Pacific" is adapted from the memoir book of Eugene Sledge, "With the Old Breed" which was first published in 1981. The memoir is based on notes Sledge kept tucked away in a pocket-sized Bible he carried with him during battle.
Executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, the team behind the Emmy-winning 2001 HBO miniseries Band of Brothers, this epic ten-hour miniseries tracks the intertwined odysseys of three U.S. Marines Robert Leckie (played by James Badge Dale), Eugene Sledge (Joe Mazzello) and John Basilone (Jon Seda) across the vast canvas of the Pacific, during their defense against Japanese attack in the Pacific during World War II.
As described on the press release:
"The extraordinary experiences of these men and their fellow Marines take them from the first clash with the Japanese in the haunted jungles of Guadalcanal, through the impenetrable rain forests of Cape Gloucester, across the blasted coral strongholds of Peleliu, up the black sand terraces of Iwo Jima, through the killing fields of Okinawa, to the triumphant, yet uneasy, return home after V-J Day."
The series which was shot in Australia, is expected to be released either in late 2009 or early 2010. James Badge Dale, Joe Mazzello and John Basilone star as Robert, Eugene and John respectively.
A total of 10 episodes at 60minutes each will be shown on all the major networks ranging from the UK, to Germany, Asia, Austria, Switzerland and beyond. HBO billed the production as, “the biggest thing HBO has ever done” but also “the biggest production in the history of television,” given the scale and scope of the miniseries. It’s like making 10 major movies at once.
For the military vehicle history buffs out there, you can check out some restoration pictures of an LVT “Alligator” that is being restored for “The Pacific” HBO series by going to this link.
The Marion Military Institute, where Marine Eugene Sledge attended school, will be shown in the film. Some key areas of the Institute such as the chapel will be rebuilt in Australia (the real location is in Alabama) and used for some key scenes showing Sledge in his early years at the nation’s oldest military junior college.
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Wild Thing's comment.......
I have been waiting for this HBO series to come out since I read they were making it. It should be excellent. I don't like the politics of Tom Hanks or Steven Spielberg but they know how to make awesome films first class when it comes to our military or about the war. Band of Brothers was so well done.
As it gets closer to the actual date that it will air I will post about it again.
......Thank you John 5 for sending this to me.
John 5 (VN 69/70)
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:48 AM | Comments (6)
June 24, 2009
WW11 Fighter Pilot and ‘Tonight’ Show Sidekick Ed McMahon Dies
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Sources
Lowell Massachusetts native Ed McMahon, the legendary "H-e-e-e-e-re’s Johnny" pitchman, has died following a long battle with cancer.
McMahon, 86, died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, his publicist, Howard Bragman, told the Associated Press today.
McMahon became a star on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson where the duo had a historic run from 1962 to 1992. He played Carson’s foil for decades, setting up jokes and skits and suppressing his trademark laughter through it all.
McMahon was also known for his commercials – from Publisher’s Clearing House to Budweiser – and as the host of "Star Search." His struggle with bankruptcy also pushed him back into the news and won him support -- and jobs -- from the industry.
McMahon said his first job behind a microphone was at 15 when he worked for a circus that had set up on Lowell Common.
His grandfather was a master plumber from Lowell, where McMahon spent many of his summers. His grandmother was also a cousin of Rose Kennedy, the matriarch of the Kennedy clan, according to a biography of broadcast pioneers.
But he got his big break behind the mic in Philadelphia where he landed a radio job and soon met up with Carson.
"You can’t imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson," McMahon said in 1993. "There’s the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon to a great star."
McMahon had bone cancer, among other illnesses, according to a person close to the entertainer, and had been hospitalized for several weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to AP because he wasn’t authorized to release the information.
McMahon was a pilot in World War II and during the Korean war serving with the U.S. Marines. He flew unarmed artillery-spotting missions while in Korea.
During World War II he was decorated as a Marine fighter pilot, and continued his military career in 1952 by flying 85 missions in Korea, and rose to the rank of full Colonel. He was commissioned with the rank of Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard in keeping with his family tradition, in which several of his ancestors, including the Marquis d'Equilly, had long and distinguished military careers.
He flew 85 artillery-spotting missions in the Cessna OE Bird Dog
When the United States began gearing up for World War II, McMahon wanted to become a Marine fighter pilot. Since the Navy's V-5 program required two years of college, he enrolled in Boston College. When the Navy relaxed the two-year requirement, McMahon dropped out of school and signed up. In early 1943, he first went to a civilian-run Wartime Training School in Texarkana where the Navy evaluated cadets' potential by checking them out in a Piper Cub. Then came the three-month Preflight School at Athens, Georgia. McMahon received primary training at Dallas and intermediate training at Pensacola. McMahon received the single engine carrier syllabus and was assigned to the Marines. After receiving his commission and wings in early 1945, McMahon was sent to the Corsair Operational Training Unit at Lee Field, Green Cove Springs, Florida. Upon completion of training, he was "plowed back" and became an instructor in the same unit. On the day the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, McMahon received orders to join the Marine carrier program on the West Coast.
He retired from the Marine Corps Reserve a full colonel and was named a brigadier general in the CA National Guard in 1982.
Wild Thing's comment........
Ed and Johnny remain the class of late night TV. One of the last survivors from the days when decent people worked on TV comedy shows.
Thank you for your service, Mr. McMahon. Ed McMahon was in the Marines and Johnny Carson served in the Navy.
This would make Mr. McMahon one of the very last Hollywood stars of the WWII and Korea era who actually stood up for America, support America and fought for America in the Armed forces.
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:50 AM | Comments (8)
June 16, 2009
David Letterman Apologizes...Sort Of
“All right, here – I’ve been thinking about this situation with Governor Palin and her family now for about a week – it was a week ago tonight, and maybe you know about it, maybe you don’t know about it. But there was a joke that I told, and I thought I was telling it about the older daughter being at Yankee Stadium. And it was kind of a coarse joke. There’s no getting around it, but I never thought it was anybody other than the older daughter, and before the show, I checked to make sure in fact that she is of legal age, 18. Yeah. But the joke really, in and of itself, can’t be defended. The next day, people are outraged. They’re angry at me because they said, ‘How could you make a lousy joke like that about the 14-year-old girl who was at the ball game?’ And I had, honestly, no idea that the 14-year-old girl, I had no idea that anybody was at the ball game except the governor and I was told at the time she was there with Rudy Giuliani … and I really should have made the joke about Rudy …” (audience applauds) “But I didn’t, and now people are getting angry and they’re saying, ‘Well, how can you say something like that about a 14-year-old girl, and does that make you feel good to make those horrible jokes about a kid who’s completely innocent, minding her own business,’ and, turns out, she was at the ball game. I had no idea she was there. So she’s now at the ball game, and people think that I made the joke about her. And, but still, I’m wondering, ‘Well, what can I do to help people understand that I would never make a joke like this?’ I’ve never made jokes like this as long as we’ve been on the air, 30 long years, and you can’t really be doing jokes like that. And I understand, of course, why people are upset. I would be upset myself.
“And then I was watching the Jim Lehrer ‘Newshour’ – this commentator, the columnist Mark Shields, was talking about how I had made this indefensible joke about the 14-year-old girl, and I thought, ‘Oh, boy, now I’m beginning to understand what the problem is here. It’s the perception rather than the intent.’ It doesn’t make any difference what my intent was, it’s the perception. And, as they say about jokes, if you have to explain the joke, it’s not a very good joke. And I’m certainly – ” (audience applause) “– thank you. Well, my responsibility – I take full blame for that. I told a bad joke. I told a joke that was beyond flawed, and my intent is completely meaningless compared to the perception. And since it was a joke I told, I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke. It’s not your fault that it was misunderstood, it’s my fault. That it was misunderstood.” (audience applauds) “Thank you. So I would like to apologize, especially to the two daughters involved, Bristol and Willow, and also to the governor and her family and everybody else who was outraged by the joke. I’m sorry about it and I’ll try to do better in the future. Thank you very much.”
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This probably had something to do with his half way apology as well:
Letterman's Palin Joke Costs CBS an Advertiser at CBS website, Spawns Campaign for His Firing
David Letterman's comments about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and one of her daughters has prompted a hotel chain to pull its advertising on CBS' website — and spawned a campaign to fire the Late Show host that includes a planned protest outside his studio.
Embassy Suites, part of the Hilton Hotels Corp., pulled advertising on CBS' site because of complaints, company spokeswoman Kendra Walker told TVGuide.com. The company was not an advertiser on Letterman's show.
"We received lots of e-mails from concerned guests and we assessed that the statement that he made was offensive enough to our guests and prospective guests that we elected to take the ads down," Walker said. She declined to release the cost of the ads.
CBS declined to comment Tuesday.
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Wild Thing's comment..........
Now that CBS has at least one sponsor dropping ad purchases on the show, Letterman feels the need to clarify. And the clarification is that he doesn’t blame you for ‘misunderstanding’ the joke.
It wasn’t a “joke”—it was an attempt at humiliating a politician he doesn’t like, i.e. a conservative. He pushed the envelope too far.
He never was sorry for the joke he made about Willow because if he was, he wouldn’t have called her a prostitute for Elliot Spitzer the very next day. He knew how old she was then, and still called her a hooker.
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:45 AM | Comments (5)
June 09, 2009
Bringing An End To This False Prophet Obama! by Jon Voight
FANTASTIC, this is a wonderful speech he made.
2009 GOP Senate-House Dinner
Addressing Monday nights 2009 GOP Senate-House Dinner, Fmr. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) will likely stress the GOP’s role as a “reform party.” Other speakers at the annual fundraising dinner include Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) and House Min. Leader John Boehner (OH), among others. Actor Jon Voight emcee’s the event.
Jon Voight:
"Certainly, at the outset, the democrats fulfilled their mission to paint President Bush as a war monger. And once they were able to reach out to the youth in colleges, on the internet with this lie, painting him as the evil one, never giving him credit for keeping us safe .. once they established that, then it would be easy to bring in The One, as Oprah Winfrey crowned him.
I’m also ashamed to say that Hollywood was a big part of tearing down President Bush."
Actor Jon Voight, who hosted the dinner, delivered a particularly harsh rebuke to Obama, saying he was "embarrassed" by the president and that Obama's leadership would cause the "downfall" of the country.
"We are becoming a weak nation," he said, calling Obama a "false prophet" and his administration the "Obama oppression."
And here are Voights closing remarks:
Wild Thing's comment.......
Voight also does special things to thank our troops too. This is one of them you might like to take perk at.
Jon Voight, James Caan and other celebrities served lunch and camaraderie to 1200 veterans and their families, at the Hollywood Canteen Veterans BBQ of The Beverly Hills Creative Arts Temple, on Sunday afternoon, May 18, at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration.
The committee drew their inspiration for the May 18th event from the famed Hollywood Canteen club that opened during World War II on Cahuenga Boulevard .
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:45 AM | Comments (7)
May 12, 2009
HBO New Film "Into the Storm" About Winston Churchill in World War II
HBO to Air New Film "Into the Storm" About Winston Churchill in World War II
For five years, Winston Churchill played perhaps the single most important role in thwarting the Nazis during WWII, with his intrepid leadership and rhetoric inspiring millions of Britons and other members of the free world to fight Hitler's Germany to the bitter end.
Continuing the story of Churchill told in HBO's award-winning film, "The Gathering Storm," INTO THE STORM is set against the backdrop of World War II, and offers an intimate look at the making of a nation's hero, whose prowess as a great wartime leader ultimately undermined his political career and threatened his marriage to his lifelong supporter, Clemmie.
Wild Thing's comment........
Obama should watch this, maybe he can learn a little about history. I have not seen this, it will air for the first time on May 31st. I am hoping this film will be as good as the series called " John Adams " was , because that was an amazing series.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:40 AM | Comments (6)
May 02, 2009
GI Film Festival
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The only film festival in the nation to honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women in uniform.
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The GI Film Festival is a non-profit organization, is the first film festival in the nation to exclusively celebrate the successes and sacrifices of the American military through the medium of film. They will present films from new and established international and domestic filmmakers that honor the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces and the worldwide struggle for freedom and liberty.
Some of the films screened will be fan favorites. Others will be screened for the first time. All will in some way express the courage and selflessness of our fighting men and women and the value of their work.
The GI Film Festival is open to filmmakers of every experience level, from first-timers to veteran directors and producers. Prizes will be awarded to winners of three main categories: feature, documentary, and film shorts.
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Warriors...In Their Own Words ( Trailer )
What does it take to be a Warrior? Who fights for our freedom? Why do they do it? Hear it in their own words. Stories of Courage, Honor, Love.
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The Artists in War
Eight World War II artists/veterans recount their service experience and their use of art for journalism, as a tactical tool and to preserve their own sanity. Their powerful imagery will enlighten, challenge, even amuse, showing that war is hell but that creativity can exisit in the face of destruction.
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Everymans War (Trailer)
As the seasoned infantry and tank units of the German 11th Panzer 'Ghost' division move silently into position on the snowy hills around Nennig Germany ,a battle weary GI and his unit stand ready to defend the small town, a key position in the Allied advance to win the war. Outgunned and outnumbered, Sgt. Don Smith (Cole Carson) struggles to find hope and courage against overwhelming odds in one of the decisive confrontations in the 'Battle of the Bulge'.
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Perfect Valor (Trailer)
Perfect Valor
Narration: Fred Dalton Thompson
Producer: David Bossie
Writer/Director: David C. Taylor
In 2004, coalition forces in Iraq launched Operation Phantom Fury, the battle for control of Fallujah. American troops fought through a city of enemy insurgents, moving house to house and street to street to seize control of the most dangerous city in the world. Perfect Valor is the story of the price paid by U.S. forces and the legacy of that campaign as seen through the eyes of the men and women who were there, risking their lives in service to their country.
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Let Freedom Ring ( Trailer )
George Ciampa, a veteran of five campaigns in Europe diuring WW II ,decided in 2006 at the age of 81 years, to take four Southern California high school history teachers and several WW II vets to Belgium, in the area of the Battle of the Bulge, for the purpose of exposing the teachers to stories from citizens and freedom fighters who lived during the Nazi occupation as well as stories from the vets who served there. The purpose was to film the event emphasizing the importance of FREEDOM and more specifically to show what it is like to lose one's FREEDOM.
Mr Ciampa served with the 607th Graves Registration Company that landed in Normandy during the Invasion and later served in the Battle of the Bulge as well as three other campaigns. For eleven consecutive months from D-Day to the end of the war in Europe, his company gathered the dead on the battlefields without reprieve. He was eighteen years old when he landed in Normandy and has never forgotten the experience of that duty.
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The Way We Get By (Trailer)
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Lioness (Trailer)
When I was a kid, it was considered a huge insult to say “your mother wears combat boots!” They even made a TV movie with the same title. And who can forget the bumbling 1980’s Private Benjamin where Goldie Hawn’s character was initially more interested in shopping and make up than conducting proper drill and ceremony. These were my first images of women in the military. (Naively, I entered West Point thinking it was going to be more like summer camp and less like Full Metal Jacket).
Fast forward 30 years post Judy Benjamin.
Enter the age of “Lioness.” In this gripping documentary, a female solider on foot patrol with the Marines in Iraq is caught up in a deadly firefight against enemy insurgents. In another scene, a female soldier in full combat gear, is searching house to house in enemy territory; patting down the Iraqi women looking for hidden weapons.
Filmmakers Meg McLagan and Daria Sommers bring us the incredible untold story of the first group of women soldiers who were sent into direct ground combat. Through intimate accounts, journal excerpts, and archive footage, this films follows five women who served together for a year in Iraq. With captivating detail, this probing documentary reveals the unexpected course of events that began when US women soldiers were used to defuse tensions among local Iraqi civilians, but resulted in them fighting in some of the bloodiest counterinsurgencies battles of the war.
Lioness bridges the gap between the perception and the reality regarding the role women in the military are playing in Iraq.
Lioness will premiere at the GI Film Festival in May in Washington DC. For more information about the GI Film Festival please visit our website at www.gifilmfestival.com. The GI Film Festival is a 501-c-3 non-profit organization whose mission is to honor the services and sacrifices of the men and women in uniform. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help support our mission.
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Wild Thing's comment..........
I posted about this GI Film Festival last year. I am so glad it is still going strong and they are doing it again this year.
There are many films that are entered, these are just a few of them, but I thought you might like to see the trailers of some of the films entered in the Festival.
....Thank you Marty for reminding me about the GI Film Festival this year.
Marty Rice
US Army
'71 to '74
" ex-treadhead tank commander"
Marty's A Tribute to Veterans....a GREAT article!
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:55 AM | Comments (10)
April 08, 2009
Singer Tony Orlando Turns Democrat Bob Beckel Speechless
Singer Tony Orlando reminds Far Left liberal Bob Beckel on how George Bush kept this country safe for 8 years. Beckel was speechless.
Wild Thing's comment.....
I saw this and he did great. Beckel is really horrible and if you asked him about the weather he would blame Bush for it. He is obsessed with blaming Bush.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:45 AM | Comments (12)
April 03, 2009
Actor Gary Graham on Cavuto
Actor Gary Graham: While Obama’s Out Of The Country Let’s Change It Back To ‘America’
Actor Gary Graham of Star Trek fame says--
"While Obama is out of the country let's change America back."
Right on!
The successful actor says he talks to people all the time who say "I'm mad as hell and I'm not goint to take it anymore."
Graham was on with Neil Cavuto this week:
Gary played the human cop on the “Alien Nation” TV series, and had a recurring role as the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth on “Star Trek: Enterprise”.
Source:
Breitbart
Other TV shows and films that Gary has been in.
http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0334048/
Wild Thing's comment......
Good for Gary, this has been a good week for a few actors speaking out. Angie Harmon the other day and now Gary Graham. Awhile back I posted Kelsey Grammar and what he said of his dislike for Obama as well.
Gary is also the person that wrote this that I posted on January 12th.
"One Pissed-Off Dude" by Gary Graham
I’m an American. This has always been my favorite label, but of late even that has seemed to mean less and less. Being called an American used to carry with it a certain pride and esprit de corps that now apparently is dated and passe. How else can one explain the rash of America-haters in our midst who only claim pride in America if a Leftist resides in the White House, and can only back a war effort if the decision to go to war was that of a Democrat.
I’m a Conservative. And I am also an actor who lives and works in Hollywood. Many of my friends advise me to keep that on the down-low, advise me to not speak up lest I scuttle any future employment prospects, so predominantly liberal is the entertainment biz. And yet I persist.
You see, I’m one pissed-off dude.
I’m told I’ll hurt my career if I continually spout off about Liberalism — which I see as a growing cancer in our society. Worldwide, I’ve seen Liberalism metastasize into virulent incarnations of Socialism, and, left unchecked, even into its malignant cousin, Communism. Only the arrogant or the somnambulist would think such a thing could never happen here. It’s a matter of increment. Once a group organizes into a coalition, it’s a short step to claiming the right to the property of another group. All that is necessary is for an individual’s right to personal property to become a secondary concern. The ‘needs’ of the group must supercede, dontcha know. It’s a vicious cycle – wants become needs become rights. The fact that the thievery is done at the behest of a ‘civilized’ government does not sanitize the crime.
“At least the highwayman has the decency to wear a mask.” – Author unknown.
So I’m told I should shut up. I make my living in the Hollywood community, and Hollywood is by and large run by Liberals. I’m told I need to stay quiet when the Left has their way over issues that affect my daily life. I’m told I need to learn how to get along with the Left, learn how to compromise. I need to be more open-minded. I need to be more tolerant.
I say F T S. Ask your 9-yr-old if you have trouble deciphering that. (No, wait, don’t.)
I don’t want to get along with the Left. I want to take them down. I want to expose their idiocy for what it is and reveal it as a harmful, dangerous succession of lies and deceptions. My friends say that that effort, aside from being fruitless, will cost me work. It will cost me my career. And I say Wait-a-minute, Bucko. Those folks who founded this country were willing to risk not only their careers, but their property, their families, their very lives…the least I can do in standing up for our precious freedoms is risk a silly television career. Not to compare myself with the brilliant thinkers who declared themselves independent of England and framed our Constitution…but those were some pretty pissed off dudes too. Compared to that, loss of a little TV or movie work seems pretty inconsequential. So in honor of Pissed Off Americans past and present, I rant.
I’m pissed off that everyone seems okay on having to press one for English. We’re supposed to be tolerant and understanding that maybe some folks who now live here (legally or not) might have trouble understanding what I’m saying to them if I speak in my native tongue, regardless of the extra cost to the rest of us. FTS.
I’m pissed that my sweet well-wishing friends and acquaintances now say “Happy Holidays” instead of Merry Christmas. Oh, we don’t want to offend the non-Christians, they’ll say. Again – FTS. ‘Happy Holidays’…nice and non-specific, soothingly generic. In keeping with the spirit of the season, I try not to show it – but I roll my eyes. Jeez, could you be any more spineless? Everybody walk on eggshells for the rest of your lives, living in perptual fear someone who holds a different religion, or sexual preference, or nationality is going to suffer some little offense if you actually wish them a lovely Christmas. “Oh we don’t celebrate Christmas.” “Oh, I’m so terribly sorry, I don’t mean to offend you. Please enjoy the Holiday of Winter Solstice and Earth Renewal Day or whatever your heart leads to celebrate, if indeed you are even feeling like celebrating anything.” Shut up! Smile and say thanks. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Ramadan, Soulful Kwanzaa…whatever. Smile and say Thanks.
Can we all stop taking ourselves so damn seriously for half a minute? Hey – life ain’t a popularity contest. So grow a pair. Speak your mind and if someone can’t handle it, request that they take a hike. How the hell did we ever survive life before the all-knowing, all-caring ACLU began to run interference for all our tender sensibilities? It’s a wonder any of us grew up without some crippling psychosis that drove us to chop up our grandmother. I’m old enough to remember when Common Sense ruled the day. (*cue the Cranky Old Man music)
It irks me that Democrats are always looking to raise my taxes. I’m patriotic if I take it up the bum and don’t squeal. What’s worse, they don’t even have the integrity to call them taxes. They call them ‘fees’, or even, ‘contributions’. As I learned the word, a contribution is a volitional act. Left to free choice, I say I choose to not contribute more than I already do. Let all those who say we are overtaxed stand up with me. Those who think different can form a line to the left…and we on the right will leave you completely free to contribute more. Raising taxes takes food off my family’s table. I regard people who advocate doing so in the same vein as I would the burglar I confront in the dead of night – an enemy.
I’m pissed that I study the political issues of the day, educate myself, stay informed daily by a multitude of news sources from all slants…and yet, come election day, my informed vote is cancelled by some numbskull who votes for the nicest smile, who doesn’t know who the current vice-president is, or which party controls Congress, and what’s more, doesn’t care. Am I the only one who thinks a basic intelligence and general knowledge test should be a prerequisite for voting for our leaders? No? Too radical a notion? Well, then, why not just make the winner of American Idol president and save all the drama? Everyone can text in their vote. And Paula, Randy, and Simon… the new cabinet. “Tonight the State of the Union speech will be sung by the President, backed up by Rascal Flatts…and special guest duet with Secretary of State David Archuleta…”
I’m pissed off by how soft many in our nation have become. How whimpy the tone, how spineless the resolve. What happened to that brutally real notion that people should be held responsible for his or her actions? Nowadays, it always seems to be someone else’s fault, whatever it is. Got a life of poverty, it’s rich folks doing it to you.
Alcohol addiction, substance abuse, your mother never said she loves you. Having trouble finding work, it’s the white, black, purple guys keeping you down. Your car company is going under, it’s the unfair business practices abroad and an economic downturn. Hey, nimrods – newsflash. LIFE IS HARD. The End. Get used to it, suck it up, get some spine, invent some if you have none, and GET ON WITH IT!!!! I’d like to offer, in utter compassion, and speaking on behalf of at least several like-minded bretheren out there, a class-action BITCH-SLAP to every mamby-pamby, limp-wristed douche-bag of a complainer who has the audacity to hope that we hard-working, God-fearing, America-loving taxpayers should be forced to give you one penny of our income to enable you further in your responsibility-shirking, self-destructive habits. Get your collective shiite together, friends. I am not, nor are my friends, my brother’s keeper. Though my heart is open enough to come to someone’s need should an honest and sincere calamity befall a brother or sister… when did destitution become a virtue? Did my snooze button malfunction causing me to oversleep a couple decades? When did begging become a noble venture? You see them standing there bravely, “God bless”and something about ‘can’t find work’ scrawled on their cardboard. Victims of society, of Bush/Cheney, of Ronald Reagan, of any heartless Republican administration. And worse – hey, I’ve seen the sign people on the offramps, I’ve seen the green flow as we assuage our prosperity guilt – these guys are cleaning up! Am I in the wrong business? When, dear friends, did panhandling become a lucrative industry? FTS!
(Side note: I’ve personally offered several of these beggars who had written “Will work for food” to buy them lunch if they’ll do some yard work and fence painting for me, and the reaction was always the same. Hell no! They just want cash, right now! Hmmm…and yet the sign said… Forget about the begging, whatever happened to truth in advertising?)
Who can identify virtue, when there is no shame?
And speaking of shame…have you on the Left no shame when it comes to calling evil EVIL? What’s in a name — a terrorist by any other name is a ‘Jihadist’. A freedom fighter. A rebel. But when are we going to admit that there is an evil movement out there dedicated to our destruction. And it ain’t Sarah Palin and George Bush. It’s radical Islam and they want to cut your personal head off simply because you’re not throwing in with them.
You’re not on your knees worshiping their boy Allah, so for this you and everyone like you all over the world must die and die now. But wait, it’s a ‘religion of peace’, we’re told. Wow, not the last time I looked. If Islam is a religion of peace, where are all the peace-loving Muslim leaders decrying the radicals’ murderous actions? The beheadings, the suicide bombings, the IED’s, the blowing up innocents on buses? Where are the peaceful Islamists’ protests against Hamas, Hezbollah, Al Queda, et al? You are a frog in a pot, Lefty – being boiled slowly, apparently too slowly for you to notice. Too much Climate Change on your mind to notice that the barbarians are at the gate. When the Nazis stormed into Jewish homes in 1939 I’m sure there were more than a few head-in-the sand myopic residents screaming about the troopers tracking mud on the carpet. If only they had had the ACLU to save the day… Human rights and clean carpets surely would have abound.
Speaking of climate change, while we’re at it…if the argument is over…and the facts are clear…how is it we can predict the climate twenty years hence, when we can’t even predict with much accuracy if my ass is going to get wet attending my friend’s kid’s Bar Mitzvah next weekend. When did we give the title to anyone with a PhD in front of their name the added moniker of ‘Soothsayer’? I read Paul Erhlich’s book, THE POPULATION BOMB in the early ‘70’s and it scared the begeebers out of me. By his prediction, each human being in 2008 would have less than a square meter of space to live in. (William F. Buckley voice: “Ahh…Mr. Erhlich was unavailable for comment, ahhh… but stressed the importance of keeping his line clear, lest the Nobel Prize committee call.”) And Mr. Gore – I do believe in Climate Change. It’s called summer, spring, winter and fall. Happens each year whether I drive my SUV or not. FTS!
Before I came up with the inspired notion of tossing my life away and becoming an actor…I was fully ensconsed in the science department at the University of California, Irvine. I know the way it works. The professors confided in me. You need a problem to study, better yet a crisis, or you don’t get funding for your research. It’s that simple. One professor of botany told me that these very high-tech ultra-violet cameras we were frolicking through the fields looking at flowers through cost the University $200 thousand dollars. Off my open-mouthed gape, he shrugged, “Gotta spend the money, or next year they cut us back.” So yeah, you’re going to find a ton of scientists who swear we’re killing the planet…and we desperately need another three million dollars to study the problem.
I’m confident I could find two hundred accredited scientists to join me in an exhaustive study to find out why belly button lint is demagnetizing the moon leading to global flooding…if only Bill Gates will step up with some coin. FTS!
Lastly…can we finally be done with all the hatred? George Bush is very soon to be out of a job. Time to let up on him a bit, don’t you think? Erase the hate, Lefties. You can stop proclaiming him to be the anti-christ, evil incarnate, the boogeyman, Darth Vader, or the Heartbreak of Psoriasis. The guy did his best. Like him, don’t like him, he kept us from attack for seven-and-a-half years so let it go. Your guy is in now, so relax. Have fun again. Laugh without derision. Smile without the snide. You remember how? Take off your flak jackets, it’s going to be okay. Our brave warriors did some serious ass-kicking in the Middle East, and though there’s no shortage of crazy Islamo-fascist bad guys yet to come, at least they know who they’re f*cking with.
Somehow along the way, so many of you forgot one simple, undeniable tenet: We’re the good guys. We’re not imperialists, or else we would’ve nuked the oil countries into radioactive dust, then moved in and taken the oil. We don’t ‘torture’ prisoners, or lawyers for the Gitmo ‘detainees’ would have CNN photographing the horrid scars and missing limbs. We don’t bully smaller, less developed nations. On the contrary, we expend our more precious asset: the blood of our brave, bright and courageous young men and women – all in committed effort to free them from despotic, brutal dictators. We are not brash. In 1991 we amassed a coalition of 34 nations before we acted to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, and this after months and months of negotiations and U.N. resolutions. Twelve years later after waiting six months and seeing fourteen U.N. resolutions ignored by Hussein, George W. Bush had accrued a multi-national coalition and a majority vote in Congress before sending troops into Iraq. We are the big dog on the block. And yet we ask no penance from lesser countries. Instead we offer aid in the form of cash, medicine, and humanitarian help. When we go after bad guys in war, we don’t carpet bomb, or blow up civilian-filled buses. We have smart bombs that pinpoint targets to limit collateral civilian casualites. We’re the good guys. Only an entrenched self-loathing hatred of America will prevent you from seeing that. If that’s the case, you have my sympathy. But don’t let the door hit you on the way out. And yes, this is our country, whether a Democrat of a Republican occupies the White House.
Yeah, a lot of things piss me off. But I’m a ridiculously happy guy. I’m blessed with a wonderful family, terrific friends (many, many of them Liberals, oh yes), a strong Faith in God and a sweet certainty that this nation is on the side of good in the world…and that that good will overcome the bad.
I was asked by the founder of this site to write an article… an ‘opening salvo’. Considering who might read it, and who in Hollywood might be incensed, the temptation to parse words and couch my opinions was strong. But the guy in the mirror counsels me the loudest. I was always impressed with John Hancock, when, reminded that signing one’s name to that Declaration in Pennsylvania could very well lead to their deaths…solemnly stepped forward and with grand flourish signed his name in huge, legible script. In that grand spirit…
I hereby declare my independence…from the small-minded, America-hating, race-bating, Christian-bashing, class-warfare-waging, politically-correct, collectivist, Liberal Hollywood establishment.
Anybody got a problem with that, I’ll mapquest you directions to my front door, we’ll settle it like men.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:40 AM | Comments (2)
March 10, 2009
" Brothers At War " Movie Trailer and Write Ups
This is a documentary that celebrates the courage and integrity of the American Soldier and the American military family. It is also a film about a man’s love and respect for his two brothers and his dedication to telling their story. A great film that I am proud to be a part of.” Gary Sinise, Actor, Presidential Citizens Medal Recipient
Brothers At War : by Jake Rademacher, sponsored by Gary Sinise and Jon Voight
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If Gary Sinise is involved, you can be assured it's a worthwhile project.
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“They deserve to see what our soldiers do, what the war is for and what it’s about for us as soldiers,” says Capt. Isaac Rademacher. “I’ve never seen anything that bears so much truth, and then just steps away.”
The film chronicles Jake’s two civilian deployments and four embeds with combat units around Iraq, including a weeklong stint with a reconnaissance unit monitoring the Syrian border, and with a group of Iraqi army soldiers as they are trained by U.S. Marines. Rademacher’s goal, he says, was to show the real war, without political bent or judgment — the daily grind, the heat and filth, the danger and, above all, the brotherhood.
“I think the film is really a film about brotherhood set against a backdrop of the war in Iraq,” Jake says. “I learn about what my brothers do through their brothers in arms.”
The filmmakers, including producer Gary Sinise, gathered Feb. 20 at a private screening in Washington, D.C., to talk about the film.
“It’s such a positive, positive portrait of our military families, the dedication of our troops have, what they’re doing over there, the love that a brother has for his two brothers,” Sinise says. “When they asked if I would actually get involved with the film, I was humbled and I was honored.”
A group of wounded warriors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center were also in attendance at the screening.
“This is probably the most accurate portrayal, besides the movie ‘Black Hawk Down,’ ” says Spc. Hien Tran of the 222nd Infantry, Fort Drum, N.Y. After being injured in Iraq, Tran says he avoids most war movies, but this one captures the realism of service better than most.
“I really thought the film was awesome,” says Pfc. Geraldo Badell, from the 230th Infantry in Fort Polk, La. “Since he missed his family so much, he wanted to go over there and see what his brothers were doing.”
“Brothers at War” begins with the emotional deployment of Isaac and ends with a similar departure by Joe. For the filmmaker, the space between attempts to answer the question: Why did my brothers go to war?
“I don’t know if I’ve earned a seat at the table with Joe,” he says as Joe boards a plane for Iraq in the film’s final frames. “But I do know that having walked a mile in my brothers’ shoes, I understand each of them better now.”
Brothers At War by Jake Rademacher (7 minute trailer this one has more in it then the trailer at the top)
"Brothers at War” is rated R for strong language. It opened in limited release March 13 in select cities near major military installations and will open in wider release March 27.
Documentary film
Director: Jake Rademacher
Cast: Jake Rademacher, Capt. Isaac Rademacher, Jenny Rademacher, Sgt. Joseph Rademacher, Danelle Fields
‘Brothers at War’: An Iraq Movie Worth Seeing
by Gabe Ledeen
"As a Marine veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I care a great deal about how Americans perceive the war and those of us who served in it. It is no secret that Hollywood has exclusively produced films opposing the war, portraying us as criminals, mental-cases, victims, and simpletons. By and large these movies failed to attract audiences, even as they were praised by the anti-American European fraternities and their L.A. and New York groupies. The success of HBO’s “Taking Chance” demonstrates that Americans are in fact interested in the Iraq War, are willing to watch movies about it, and want to know more about those who fought against incredible odds and proved the naysayers wrong.
I was recently privileged to attend a pre-screening of a film that shows Americans exactly what we’ve been missing. “Brothers At War” dares to give viewers an honest and intimate look at a family that supports two brothers on the front lines, from the perspective of a sibling who decided not to serve in the military. Freshman filmmaker Jake Rademacher follows his brothers to Iraq to try and understand their commitment, and to see for himself what they experience when they deploy “over there” for so many months at a time. Throughout the film we witness the tensions between the brothers as they try to discover a way to communicate with each other despite the ideological divisions. There are moments of frustration, anger, and skepticism as they confront each other, and there are moments of love, tenderness, and genuine respect as they come to understand one another through these shared experiences.
Jake brings the audience into the most intimate of moments, and allows unscripted access into the hearts of his family members and the soldiers he encounters. While out on a five day surveillance/reconnaissance patrol along the Syrian border, Jake documents the close fraternity of the team members and artlessly conveys their human qualities to viewers who may never have met men like these. He interviews several of the young men, and their sincerity belies a trust that is not easy to acquire in such a short time. They trusted him simply because he was not out there to prove some archetype of the American soldier, he was there to let them speak for themselves.
Most Iraq veterans will applaud the range of scenes portrayed in the documentary, which doesn’t fall prey to the temptation to go heavy on the action and skimp on character development. He shows us life on a large forward operating base, a duration patrol in the scorching desert heat, a family reuniting at a Midwestern airport, a sniper mission in an Iraqi town, a partnered patrol with Marines and Iraqi soldiers, and more. Each time, and with each new cast of characters, he allows his subjects to paint their own portraits in brilliant detail. It is evident that Jake is learning as he is filming, and he is not ashamed to show his own development from an action-seeking yet naïve journalist to one humbled and keenly aware of the courage and dedication of our servicemen and women. As I heard him say to another journalist, “I learned who my brothers were from their brothers-in-arms.”
The film tells the story of the Rademacher family on both sides of the ocean and chronicles the experience without an agenda. “There really didn’t seem to be an overt message,” said one viewer after the screening. “It’s just the story, and one that most people don’t know and really need to see.” It is this honesty and obvious lack of spin that elevates this movie and allows the audience to relax from the hyper-vigilance required to filter today’s media offerings. There is no need to come to this movie with an understanding of the “Anbar Awakening,” or the “surge,” and there is no cause to leave feeling angry or tricked. It’s a movie about Americans and their families, about who our soldiers and Marines are, and about what it’s like for them to go to war. It’s a movie that you should see, and a story that you need to hear."
Below is the current release schedule.
To check for local listings
http://schedule.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/films/brothers+at+war/
3/13/2009
Columbus, GA (near Fort Benning), Carmike 15 - http://www.carmike.com/
Fayetteville, NC (near Fort Bragg), Carmike 12 - http://www.carmike.com/
Jacksonville, NC (near Camp LeJeune), Carmike 16 - http://www.carmike.com/
Chicago, IL AMC River East - AMC - http://www.amctheatres.com/
Washington DC Landmark E Street Cinema - Landmark Theatres - http://landmarktheatres.com/
Arlington, VA AMC Shirlington - AMC - http://www.amctheatres.com/
3/20/2009
Akron (Ohio National Guard), Regal Interstate Park 18 - Regal Cinemas - http://regalcinemas.com/
3/27/2009
Augusta, GA (near Fort Gordon, US Army)
Savannah, GA (near Fort Stewart, US Army), Coming Soon
Shreveport, LA (near Barksdale AFB, US Air Force) Cinemark Tinseltown 17 - http://www.cinemark.com/
Clarksville, TN (near Fort Campbell, US Army) Carmike Governor’s Square 10 - Carmike - http://www.carmike.com/
Hampton, VA (near Langley AFB, US Air Force), AMC Hampton Towne Center 24 - AMC - http://www.amctheatres.com/
Newport News, VA (near Fort Eustis, US Army), AMC Kiln Creek 20 - AMC - http://www.amctheatres.com/
Norfolk, VA (near Norfolk Naval Station, US Navy), Coming Soon
Killeen, TX (near Fort Hood), Hollywood Stadium 14 - Hollywood Theaters - http://gohollywood.com/
San Antonio, TX - Bijou at the Crossroads - Santikos - http://www.santikos.com/
Cleveland Heights (Ohio National Guard), Cedar Lee Cinema
Dayton (near Wright-Patterson AFB, US Air Force), Regal Hollywood 20-Fairfield Commons - Regal Cinemas - http://regalcinemas.com/
Decatur, IL Carmike Hickory Pointe 12 - Carmike - http://www.carmike.com/
Tacoma, WA (near Fort Lewis), Coming Soon
Oceanside, CA (near Camp Pendleton) Regal Oceanside 16 - http://regalcinemas.com/
Monterey, CA (near Presidio of Monterrey, DOD), Osio Cinema
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Wild Thing's comment........
I am really looking forward to seeing this. This film received an enthusiastic response from some local veterans and service members at a preview screening last week in Chicago. I love that Gary Sinise is an Exec. Producer of the film. I’m sure he was a big help in getting this film distributed. God bless him.
"I didn't see a pro-war or an anti-war message in here," said Jim Nalepa, a West Point graduate who lives in Hinsdale. "I saw pro-soldier."
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:55 AM | Comments (6)
February 23, 2009
Actor Kelsey Grammer Talks About The Stimulus Bill
Kelsey Grammer: "Don't Penalize the Good Guys to Help Evil-Doers "
Wild Thing's comment......
Every now and again someone in Hollywood gets it right. I love how he calls the left ( Obama, Pelosi etc.) all those forcing this stimulus bill ....evil doers.
Posted by Wild Thing at 06:40 AM | Comments (4)
February 20, 2009
"Taking Chance" Airs This Sat, Feb 21st
In 2004, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl volunteered to escort home the body of a 19-year-old Marine killed in Iraq. It would prove to be a life-altering experience. Kevin Bacon stars as Strobl in this profoundly moving HBO Films drama that looks at the military rituals for honoring its war dead from the perspective of one fallen soldier named Chance Phelps. Strobl never knew Phelps before taking the assignment, but as he journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military handle such dark duties--and comes to grips with his own issues of guilt when he meets Chance's gracious family and friends.
DOVER -- A new HBO movie promises insight into how the remains of fallen service men and women are prepared and shipped for funeral and burial from Dover Air Force Base to locations around the country.
"Taking Chance,” which will premiere at 8 p.m. Saturday, is based on the first-person account of Marine Lt. Col. Michael Strobl, who volunteered in April 2004 to escort a fallen Marine from DAFB to Dubois, Wyo.
“USO Delaware staff and volunteers have an almost 18-year history of supporting the families, escorts, honor guard teams and commanders who provide dignity, honor and respect during the dignified transfers of our fallen heroes 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Cote said.
"Taking Chance"
HBO
Date: Saturday Feb. 21st
Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
23 Apr 04 – The enclosed article was written by LtCol M.R. Strobl USMC who is assigned to MCCDC Quantico, VA and served as the officer who escorted the remains of PFC C. Phelps USMC from Dover AFB, DE to his home. PFC Phelps was assigned to 3d Bn, 11th Marines – an artillery unit functioning as a provisional infantry battalion during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2. PFC Phelps was killed in action from a gunshot wound received on 9 Apr 04 during combat operations west of Baghdad. He was buried in Dubois, WY on 17 Apr 04.
Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.
Over a year ago, I volunteered to escort the remains of Marines killed in Iraq should the need arise. The military provides a uniformed escort for all casualties to ensure they are delivered safely to the next of kin and are treated with dignity and respect along the way.
Thankfully, I hadn’t been called on to be an escort since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. The first few weeks of April, however, had been a tough month for the Marines. On the Monday after Easter I was reviewing Department of Defense press releases when I saw that a Private First Class Chance Phelps was killed in action outside of Baghdad. The press release listed his hometown—the same town I’m from. I notified our Battalion adjutant and told him that, should the duty to escort PFC Phelps fall to our Battalion, I would take him.
I didn’t hear back the rest of Monday and all day Tuesday until 1800. The Battalion duty NCO called my cell phone and said I needed to be ready to leave for Dover Air Force Base at 1900 in order to escort the remains of PFC Phelps.
Before leaving for Dover I called the major who had the task of informing Phelps’s parents of his death. The major said the funeral was going to be in Dubois, Wyoming. (It turned out that PFC Phelps only lived in my hometown for his senior year of high school.) I had never been to Wyoming and had never heard of Dubois.
With two other escorts from Quantico, I got to Dover AFB at 2330 on Tuesday night. First thing on Wednesday we reported to the mortuary at the base. In the escort lounge there were about half a dozen Army soldiers and about an equal number of Marines waiting to meet up with “their” remains for departure. PFC Phelps was not ready, however, and I was told to come back on Thursday. Now, at Dover with nothing to do and a solemn mission ahead, I began to get depressed.
I was wondering about Chance Phelps. I didn’t know anything about him; not even what he looked like. I wondered about his family and what it would be like to meet them. I did pushups in my room until I couldn’t do any more.
On Thursday morning I reported back to the mortuary. This time there was a new group of Army escorts and a couple of the Marines who had been there Wednesday. There was also an Air Force captain there to escort his brother home to San Diego.
We received a brief covering our duties, the proper handling of the remains, the procedures for draping a flag over a casket, and of course, the paperwork attendant to our task. We were shown pictures of the shipping container and told that each one contained, in addition to the casket, a flag. I was given an extra flag since Phelps’s parents were divorced. This way they would each get one. I didn’t like the idea of stuffing the flag into my luggage but I couldn’t see carrying a large flag, folded for presentation to the next of kin, through an airport while in my Alpha uniform. It barely fit into my suitcase.
It turned out that I was the last escort to leave on Thursday. This meant that I repeatedly got to participate in the small ceremonies that mark all departures from the Dover AFB mortuary.
Most of the remains are taken from Dover AFB by hearse to the airport in Philadelphia for air transport to their final destination. When the remains of a service member are loaded onto a hearse and ready to leave the Dover mortuary, there is an announcement made over the building’s intercom system. With the announcement, all service members working at the mortuary, regardless of service branch, stop work and form up along the driveway to render a slow ceremonial salute as the hearse departs. Escorts also participated in each formation until it was their time to leave.
On this day there were some civilian workers doing construction on the mortuary grounds. As each hearse passed, they would stop working and place their hard hats over their hearts. This was my first sign that my mission with PFC Phelps was larger than the Marine Corps and that his family and friends were not grieving alone.
Eventually I was the last escort remaining in the lounge. The Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant in charge of the Marine liaison there came to see me. He had Chance Phelps’s personal effects. He removed each item; a large watch, a wooden cross with a lanyard, two loose dog tags, two dog tags on a chain, and a Saint Christopher medal on a silver chain. Although we had been briefed that we might be carrying some personal effects of the deceased, this set me aback. Holding his personal effects, I was starting to get to know Chance Phelps.
Finally we were ready. I grabbed my bags and went outside. I was somewhat startled when I saw the shipping container, loaded three-quarters of the way in to the back of a black Chevy Suburban that had been modified to carry such cargo. This was the first time I saw my “cargo” and I was surprised at how large the shipping container was. The Master Gunnery Sergeant and I verified that the name on the container was Phelps’s then they pushed him the rest of the way in and we left. Now it was PFC Chance Phelps’s turn to receive the military—and construction workers’—honors. He was finally moving towards home.
As I chatted with the driver on the hour-long trip to Philadelphia, it became clear that he considered it an honor to be able to contribute in getting Chance home. He offered his sympathy to the family. I was glad to finally be moving yet apprehensive about what things would be like at the airport. I didn’t want this package to be treated like ordinary cargo, but I knew that the simple logistics of moving around a box this large would have to overrule my preferences.
When we got to the Northwest Airlines cargo terminal at the Philadelphia airport, the cargo handler and hearse driver pulled the shipping container onto a loading bay while I stood to the side and executed a slow salute. Once Chance was safely in the cargo area, and I was satisfied that he would be treated with due care and respect, the hearse driver drove me over to the passenger terminal and dropped me off.
As I walked up to the ticketing counter in my uniform, a Northwest employee started to ask me if I knew how to use the automated boarding pass dispenser. Before she could finish another ticketing agent interrupted her. He told me to go straight to the counter then explained to the woman that I was a military escort. She seemed embarrassed. The woman behind the counter already had tears in her eyes as I was pulling out my government travel voucher. She struggled to find words but managed to express her sympathy for the family and thank me for my service. She upgraded my ticket to first class.
After clearing security, I was met by another Northwest Airline employee at the gate. She told me a representative from cargo would be up to take me down to the tarmac to observe the movement and loading of PFC Phelps. I hadn’t really told any of them what my mission was but they all knew.
When the man from the cargo crew met me, he, too, struggled for words. On the tarmac, he told me stories of his childhood as a military brat and repeatedly told me that he was sorry for my loss. I was starting to understand that, even here in Philadelphia, far away from Chance’s hometown, people were mourning with his family.
On the tarmac, the cargo crew was silent except for occasional instructions to each other. I stood to the side and saluted as the conveyor moved Chance to the aircraft. I was relieved when he was finally settled into place. The rest of the bags were loaded and I watched them shut the cargo bay door before heading back up to board the aircraft.
One of the pilots had taken my carry-on bag himself and had it stored next to the cockpit door so he could watch it while I was on the tarmac. As I boarded the plane, I could tell immediately that the flight attendants had already been informed of my mission. They seemed a little choked up as they led me to my seat.
About 45 minutes into our flight I still hadn’t spoken to anyone except to tell the first class flight attendant that I would prefer water. I was surprised when the flight attendant from the back of the plane suddenly appeared and leaned down to grab my hands. She said, “I want you to have this” as she pushed a small gold crucifix, with a relief of Jesus, into my hand. It was her lapel pin and it looked somewhat worn. I suspected it had been hers for quite some time. That was the only thing she said to me the entire flight.
When we landed in Minneapolis, I was the first one off the plane. The pilot himself escorted me straight down the side stairs of the exit tunnel to the tarmac. The cargo crew there already knew what was on this plane. They were unloading some of the luggage when an Army sergeant, a fellow escort who had left Dover earlier that day, appeared next to me. His “cargo” was going to be loaded onto my plane for its continuing leg. We stood side by side in the dark and executed a slow salute as Chance was removed from the plane. The cargo crew at Minneapolis kept Phelps’s shipping case separate from all the other luggage as they waited to take us to the cargo area. I waited with the soldier and we saluted together as his fallen comrade was loaded onto the plane.
My trip with Chance was going to be somewhat unusual in that we were going to have an overnight stopover. We had a late start out of Dover and there was just too much traveling ahead of us to continue on that day. (We still had a flight from Minneapolis to Billings, Montana, then a five-hour drive to the funeral home. That was to be followed by a 90-minute drive to Chance’s hometown.)
I was concerned about leaving him overnight in the Minneapolis cargo area. My ten-minute ride from the tarmac to the cargo holding area eased my apprehension. Just as in Philadelphia, the cargo guys in Minneapolis were extremely respectful and seemed honored to do their part. While talking with them, I learned that the cargo supervisor for Northwest Airlines at the Minneapolis airport is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves. They called him for me and let me talk to him.
Once I was satisfied that all would be okay for the night, I asked one of the cargo crew if he would take me back to the terminal so that I could catch my hotel’s shuttle. Instead, he drove me straight to the hotel himself. At the hotel, the Lieutenant Colonel called me and said he would personally pick me up in the morning and bring me back to the cargo area.
Before leaving the airport, I had told the cargo crew that I wanted to come back to the cargo area in the morning rather than go straight to the passenger terminal. I felt bad for leaving Chance overnight and wanted to see the shipping container where I had left it for the night. It was fine.
The Lieutenant Colonel made a few phone calls then drove me around to the passenger terminal. I was met again by a man from the cargo crew and escorted down to the tarmac. The pilot of the plane joined me as I waited for them to bring Chance from the cargo area. The pilot and I talked of his service in the Air Force and how he missed it.
I saluted as Chance was moved up the conveyor and onto the plane. It was to be a while before the luggage was to be loaded so the pilot took me up to the board the plane where I could watch the tarmac from a window. With no other passengers yet on board, I talked with the flight attendants and one of the cargo guys. He had been in the Navy and one of the attendants had been in the Air Force. Everywhere I went, people were continuing to tell me their relationship to the military. After all the baggage was aboard, I went back down to the tarmac, inspected the cargo bay, and watched them secure the door.
When we arrived at Billings, I was again the first off the plane. This time Chance’s shipping container was the first item out of the cargo hold. The funeral director had driven five hours up from Riverton, Wyoming to meet us. He shook my hand as if I had personally lost a brother.
We moved Chance to a secluded cargo area. Now it was time for me to remove the shipping container and drape the flag over the casket. I had predicted that this would choke me up but I found I was more concerned with proper flag etiquette than the solemnity of the moment. Once the flag was in place, I stood by and saluted as Chance was loaded onto the van from the funeral home. I was thankful that we were in a small airport and the event seemed to go mostly unnoticed. I picked up my rental car and followed Chance for five hours until we reached Riverton. During the long trip I imagined how my meeting with Chance’s parents would go. I was very nervous about that.
When we finally arrived at the funeral home, I had my first face to face meeting with the Casualty Assistance Call Officer. It had been his duty to inform the family of Chance’s death. He was on the Inspector/Instructor staff of an infantry company in Salt Lake City, Utah and I knew he had had a difficult week.
Inside I gave the funeral director some of the paperwork from Dover and discussed the plan for the next day. The service was to be at 1400 in the high school gymnasium up in Dubois, population about 900, some 90 miles away. Eventually, we had covered everything. The CACO had some items that the family wanted to be inserted into the casket and I felt I needed to inspect Chance’s uniform to ensure everything was proper. Although it was going to be a closed casket funeral, I still wanted to ensure his uniform was squared away.
Earlier in the day I wasn’t sure how I’d handle this moment. Suddenly, the casket was open and I got my first look at Chance Phelps. His uniform was immaculate—a tribute to the professionalism of the Marines at Dover. I noticed that he wore six ribbons over his marksmanship badge; the senior one was his Purple Heart. I had been in the Corps for over 17 years, including a combat tour, and was wearing eight ribbons. This Private First Class, with less than a year in the Corps, had already earned six.
The next morning, I wore my dress blues and followed the hearse for the trip up to Dubois. This was the most difficult leg of our trip for me. I was bracing for the moment when I would meet his parents and hoping I would find the right words as I presented them with Chance’s personal effects.
We got to the high school gym about four hours before the service was to begin. The gym floor was covered with folding chairs neatly lined in rows. There were a few townspeople making final preparations when I stood next to the hearse and saluted as Chance was moved out of the hearse. The sight of a flag-draped coffin was overwhelming to some of the ladies.
We moved Chance into the gym to the place of honor. A Marine sergeant, the command representative from Chance’s battalion, met me at the gym. His eyes were watery as he relieved me of watching Chance so that I could go eat lunch and find my hotel.
At the restaurant, the table had a flier announcing Chance’s service. Dubois High School gym; two o’ clock. It also said that the family would be accepting donations so that they could buy flak vests to send to troops in Iraq.
I drove back to the gym at a quarter after one. I could’ve walked—you could walk to just about anywhere in Dubois in ten minutes. I had planned to find a quiet room where I could take his things out of their pouch and untangle the chain of the Saint Christopher medal from the dog tag chains and arrange everything before his parents came in. I had twice before removed the items from the pouch to ensure they were all there—even though there was no chance anything could’ve fallen out. Each time, the two chains had been quite tangled. I didn’t want to be fumbling around trying to untangle them in front of his parents. Our meeting, however, didn’t go as expected.
I practically bumped into Chance’s step-mom accidentally and our introductions began in the noisy hallway outside the gym. In short order I had met Chance’s step-mom and father followed by his step-dad and, at last, his mom. I didn’t know how to express to these people my sympathy for their loss and my gratitude for their sacrifice. Now, however, they were repeatedly thanking me for bringing their son home and for my service. I was humbled beyond words.
I told them that I had some of Chance’s things and asked if we could try to find a quiet place. The five of us ended up in what appeared to be a computer lab—not what I had envisioned for this occasion.
After we had arranged five chairs around a small table, I told them about our trip. I told them how, at every step, Chance was treated with respect, dignity, and honor. I told them about the staff at Dover and all the folks at Northwest Airlines. I tried to convey how the entire Nation, from Dover to Philadelphia, to Minneapolis, to Billings, and Riverton expressed grief and sympathy over their loss.
Finally, it was time to open the pouch. The first item I happened to pull out was Chance’s large watch. It was still set to Baghdad time. Next were the lanyard and the wooden cross. Then the dog tags and the Saint Christopher medal. This time the chains were not tangled. Once all of his items were laid out on the table, I told his mom that I had one other item to give them. I retrieved the flight attendant’s crucifix from my pocket and told its story. I set that on the table and excused myself. When I next saw Chance’s mom, she was wearing the crucifix on her lapel.
By 1400 most of the seats on the gym floor were filled and people were finding seats in the fixed bleachers high above the gym floor. There were a surprising number of people in military uniform. Many Marines had come up from Salt Lake City. Men from various VFW posts and the Marine Corps League occupied multiple rows of folding chairs. We all stood as Chance’s family took their seats in the front.
It turned out that Chance’s sister, a Petty Officer in the Navy, worked for a Rear Admiral—the Chief of Naval Intelligence—at the Pentagon. The Admiral had brought many of the sailors on his staff with him to Dubois pay respects to Chance and support his sister. After a few songs and some words from a Navy Chaplain, the Admiral took the microphone and told us how Chance had died.
Chance was an artillery cannoneer and his unit was acting as provisional military police outside of Baghdad. Chance had volunteered to man a .50 caliber machine gun in the turret of the leading vehicle in a convoy. The convoy came under intense fire but Chance stayed true to his post and returned fire with the big gun, covering the rest of the convoy, until he was fatally wounded.
Then the commander of the local VFW post read some of the letters Chance had written home. In letters to his mom he talked of the mosquitoes and the heat. In letters to his stepfather he told of the dangers of convoy operations and of receiving fire.
The service was a fitting tribute to this hero. When it was over, we stood as the casket was wheeled out with the family following. The casket was placed onto a horse-drawn carriage for the mile-long trip from the gym, down the main street, then up the steep hill to the cemetery. I stood alone and saluted as the carriage departed the high school. I found my car and joined Chance’s convoy.
The town seemingly went from the gym to the street. All along the route, the people had lined the street and were waving small American flags. The flags that were otherwise posted were all at half-staff. For the last quarter mile up the hill, local boy scouts, spaced about 20 feet apart, all in uniform, held large flags. At the foot of the hill, I could look up and back and see the enormity of our procession. I wondered how many people would be at this funeral if it were in, say, Detroit or Los Angeles—probably not as many as were here in little Dubois, Wyoming.
The carriage stopped about 15 yards from the grave and the military pall bearers and the family waited until the men of the VFW and Marine Corps league were formed up and school busses had arrived carrying many of the people from the procession route. Once the entire crowd was in place, the pallbearers came to attention and began to remove the casket from the caisson. As I had done all week, I came to attention and executed a slow ceremonial salute as Chance was being transferred from one mode of transport to another.
From Dover to Philadelphia; Philadelphia to Minneapolis; Minneapolis to Billings; Billings to Riverton; and Riverton to Dubois we had been together. Now, as I watched them carry him the final 15 yards, I was choking up. I felt that, as long as he was still moving, he was somehow still alive.
Then they put him down above his grave. He had stopped moving.
Although my mission had been officially complete once I turned him over to the funeral director at the Billings airport, it was his placement at his grave that really concluded it in my mind. Now, he was home to stay and I suddenly felt at once sad, relieved, and useless.
The chaplain said some words that I couldn’t hear and two Marines removed the flag from the casket and slowly folded it for presentation to his mother. When the ceremony was over, Chance’s father placed a ribbon from his service in Vietnam on Chance’s casket. His mother approached the casket and took something from her blouse and put it on the casket. I later saw that it was the flight attendant’s crucifix. Eventually friends of Chance’s moved closer to the grave. A young man put a can of Copenhagen on the casket and many others left flowers.
Finally, we all went back to the gym for a reception. There was enough food to feed the entire population for a few days. In one corner of the gym there was a table set up with lots of pictures of Chance and some of his sports awards. People were continually approaching me and the other Marines to thank us for our service. Almost all of them had some story to tell about their connection to the military. About an hour into the reception, I had the impression that every man in Wyoming had, at one time or another, been in the service.
It seemed like every time I saw Chance’s mom she was hugging a different well wisher. As time passed, I began to hear people laughing. We were starting to heal.
After a few hours at the gym, I went back to the hotel to change out of my dress blues. The local VFW post had invited everyone over to “celebrate Chance’s life.” The Post was on the other end of town from my hotel and the drive took less than two minutes. The crowd was somewhat smaller than what had been at the gym but the Post was packed.
Marines were playing pool at the two tables near the entrance and most of the VFW members were at the bar or around the tables in the bar area. The largest room in the Post was a banquet/dinning/dancing area and it was now called “The Chance Phelps Room.” Above the entry were two items: a large portrait of Chance in his dress blues and the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor. In one corner of the room there was another memorial to Chance. There were candles burning around another picture of him in his blues. On the table surrounding his photo were his Purple Heart citation and his Purple Heart medal. There was also a framed copy of an excerpt from the Congressional Record. This was an elegant tribute to Chance Phelps delivered on the floor of the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Scott McInnis of Colorado. Above it all was a television that was playing a photo montage of Chance’s life from small boy to proud Marine.
I did not buy a drink that night. As had been happening all day, indeed all week, people were thanking me for my service and for bringing Chance home. Now, in addition to words and handshakes, they were thanking me with beer. I fell in with the men who had handled the horses and horse-drawn carriage. I learned that they had worked through the night to groom and prepare the horses for Chance’s last ride. They were all very grateful that they were able to contribute.
After a while we all gathered in the Chance Phelps room for the formal dedication. The Post commander told us of how Chance had been so looking forward to becoming a Life Member of the VFW. Now, in the Chance Phelps Room of the Dubois, Wyoming post, he would be an eternal member. We all raised our beers and the Chance Phelps room was christened.
Later, as I was walking toward the pool tables, a Staff Sergeant from the Reserve unit in Salt Lake grabbed me and said, “Sir, you gotta hear this.” There were two other Marines with him and he told the younger one, a Lance Corporal, to tell me his story. The Staff Sergeant said the Lance Corporal was normally too shy and modest to tell it but now he’d had enough beer to overcome his usual tendencies.
As the Lance Corporal started to talk, an older man joined our circle. He wore a baseball cap that indicated he had been with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. Earlier in the evening he had told me about one of his former commanding officers; a Colonel Puller.
So, there I was, standing in a circle with three Marines recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Iraq and one not so recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. I, who had fought with the 1st Marine Division in Kuwait, was about to gain a new insight into our Corps.
The young Lance Corporal began to tell us his story. At that moment, in this circle of current and former Marines, the differences in our ages and ranks dissipated—we were all simply Marines.
His squad had been on a patrol through a city street. They had taken small arms fire and had literally dodged an RPG round that sailed between two Marines. At one point they received fire from behind a wall and had neutralized the sniper with a SMAW round. The back blast of the SMAW, however, kicked up a substantial rock that hammered the Lance Corporal in the thigh; only missing his groin because he had reflexively turned his body sideways at the shot.
Their squad had suffered some wounded and was receiving more sniper fire when suddenly he was hit in the head by an AK-47 round. I was stunned as he told us how he felt like a baseball bat had been slammed into his head. He had spun around and fell unconscious. When he came to, he had a severe scalp wound but his Kevlar helmet had saved his life. He continued with his unit for a few days before realizing he was suffering the effects of a severe concussion.
As I stood there in the circle with the old man and the other Marines, the Staff Sergeant finished the story. He told of how this Lance Corporal had begged and pleaded with the Battalion surgeon to let him stay with his unit. In the end, the doctor said there was just no way—he had suffered a severe and traumatic head wound and would have to be med’evaced.
The Marine Corps is a special fraternity. There are moments when we are reminded of this. Interestingly, those moments don’t always happen at awards ceremonies or in dress blues at Birthday Balls. I have found, rather, that they occur at unexpected times and places: next to a loaded moving van at Camp Lejeune’s base housing, in a dirty CP tent in northern Saudi Arabia, and in a smoky VFW post in western Wyoming.
After the story was done, the Lance Corporal stepped over to the old man, put his arm over the man’s shoulder and told him that he, the Korean War vet, was his hero. The two of them stood there with their arms over each other’s shoulders and we were all silent for a moment. When they let go, I told the Lance Corporal that there were recruits down on the yellow footprints tonight that would soon be learning his story.
I was finished drinking beer and telling stories. I found Chance’s father and shook his hand one more time. Chance’s mom had already left and I deeply regretted not being able to tell her goodbye.
I left Dubois in the morning before sunrise for my long drive back to Billings. It had been my honor to take Chance Phelps to his final post. Now he was on the high ground overlooking his town.
I miss him.
Regards,
LtCol Strobl
Wild Thing's comment........
It's about Valor, Honor and Respect.
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:40 AM | Comments (17)
January 07, 2009
Andrew Breitbart Introduces " Big Hollywood" blog
Andrew Breitbart introduced "Big Hollywood" yesterday.
"Today, I launch Big Hollywood (bighollywood.breitbart .com), a big group blog that will feature hundreds of the big minds from the fields of politics, journalism, entertainment and culture.
Big Hollywood is not a "celebrity" gabfest or a gossip outpost - it is a continuous politics and culture posting board for those who think something has gone drastically wrong and that Hollywood should return to its patriotic roots.
Big Hollywood's modest objective: to change the entertainment industry. To make Hollywood something we can believe in - again. In order to give millions of Americans hope. "
A once-timid group of social outcasts is emerging from the shadows in Hollywood. If the past year is any indication, Tinseltown may have to get accustomed to the loud presence of a growing minority.
After years of silence, conservatives are coming out of the closet.
Andrew Breitbart, the conservative founder of Breitbart.com and author of "Hollywood Interrupted: Insanity Chic in Babylon," is launching a Web site he hopes will help challenge the status quo in what he believes has been a one-party, left-tilting town. Set to debut on Jan. 6, "Big Hollywood" will be a place where center, right and libertarian-leaning celebrities and industry-insiders can weigh in on Hollywood politics, offer film, television and movie reviews, and have an open forum for political discussion.
"Our goal," says Breitbart, who lives in Los Angeles, "is to create an atmosphere of tolerance — something that does not exist in this town."
Breitbart has invited a number of conservative politicians, commentators and journalists to write regularly about the cult of celebrity, liberalism in popular culture, and politics. Among the names who will be contributing, he says, are Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va), political commentator Tucker Carlson, and former Tennessee Senator and Republican presidential contender Fred Thompson.
The site will also feature the punditry of some well-known Hollywood actors, directors, producers, and writers, Breitbart says.
As celebrities like Jon Voight, Gary Sinise, Charlton Heston, Patricia Heaton, Stephen Baldwin and Kelsey Grammer came out publicly with their political ideas over the past few years, the news that there were, in fact, conservatives in Hollywood, had many wondering who would be next.
Recently, there have been rumors that Robert Downey Jr. is a closet Republican, though his publicist will neither confirm nor deny it, saying only, "We unfortunately have no comment, as RDJ does not comment on political matters."
But Breitbart says the goal of Big Hollywood is not to "out" conservative celebrities, and he will not pressure celebrities like Downey to jump into the fray. He says conservative celebs who aren't comfortable with full transparency will be allowed to write under an alias.
"I want them to come on their own volition," he says. "'Big Hollywood is going to have to be a compelling daily read that speaks to Hollywood conservatives' unique burden before some will stick their necks out and choose to speak up for what they believe."
Sticking their necks out has not always been good for business. Mark Vafiades, president of the Hollywood Congress of Republicans, says, "I'm hoping that one day politics won't make a difference in Hollywood. But because there is still subtle intolerance here, conservatives remain somewhat shy.
"If you come to an audition wearing a Bush or McCain button, the casting director will most likely pick another actor. Just being on a set you hear people bashing Bush and the right, because they assume everyone agrees."
Some have suggested the purported anti-conservative tilt in Hollywood is overstated — if it exists at all. Perez Hilton, the self-proclaimed "Queen of All Media" and author of his eponymous gossip site, said, "I think Hollywood is very tolerant. They may mock you for your political beliefs, but at least they'll do it to your face!
"It won't ever interfere with people getting a job. Kelsey Grammer still works!"
But some conservatives in the entertainment industry say there may not be a literal blacklist in Hollywood, but there is pressure to keep silent.
"Conservatives don't necessarily have to be covert about their politics, but in many cases they are because the liberals aren't fair and balanced towards those with differing points of view," says Jerry Molen, the Oscar-winning producer of big Hollywood hits like "Schindler's List," "Jurassic Park" and "Rain Man."
"In too many cases, conservatives are immediately labeled racist, homophobic, bigoted, hateful, demonic, or even un-American without the benefit of debate, and are locked out of the hiring process, with a few exceptions."
But the doors may be slowly opening "An American Carol," a conservative parody that lampooned liberal Hollywood this year, galvanized conservative celebrities like Robert Davi, Dennis Hopper, Kevin Farley, Voight and Grammer, all of whom had roles in the film.
And conservative film festivals, including the American Film Renaissance and the Liberty Film Festival, have also helped bring to market conservative projects that a few years ago might have had a difficult time getting made.
Some industry insiders credit John McCain with helping to embolden Hollywood conservatives during this year's presidential election. Andrew Klavan, a conservative author and screenwriter of psychological thrillers including True Crime and Don't Say A Word, said, "For people who had a lot to lose, McCain gave them some cover. He wasn't a true Republican like Bush was. He was someone even the left liked, whereas Bush was demonized. Hollywood conservatives could support McCain without necessarily supporting the GOP."
Klavan suggested that a spate of recent political movies like "Rendition" and "Redaction" also strengthened the conservative cause.
"These movies are genuinely anti-American. Never before have we had anti-war movies made while our troops were at war. Many people like me were ashamed of the industry, and there's been a bit of a backlash."
Vafiades says increasing numbers of conservatives have joined his organization in the past year, and more organizations like his are sprouting up.
But hush-hush groups like "Friends of Abe," a secretive society of Hollywood conservatives, still operate well under the radar. And the increased spotlight on conservative celebrities has not changed the political climate as much as Breitbart, Vafiades, Molen and Klavan would like.
They say liberal celebrities still have an easier time "being political" than conservatives do.
"Sean Penn is out dancing with dictators, and no one gives him flak. Instead they give him Oscar nominations," says Klavan. "Jon Voight may have some semblance of job security, but he still has to be careful about what he says."
Wild Thing's comment......
I am so glad to see this happening. A lot of good things start with the first step and this is one for sure.
....Thank you Lynn for sending this to me.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:44 AM | Comments (14)
January 05, 2009
"Taking Chance" HBO Film
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In 2004, Lt. Col. Michael Strobl volunteered to escort home the body of a 19-year-old Marine killed in Iraq. It would prove to be a life-altering experience. Kevin Bacon stars as Strobl in this profoundly moving HBO Films drama that looks at the military rituals for honoring its war dead from the perspective of one fallen soldier named Chance Phelps. Strobl never knew Phelps before taking the assignment, but as he journeys across America, he discovers the great diligence and dignity in how the military handle such dark duties--and comes to grips with his own issues of guilt when he meets Chance's gracious family and friends.
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23 Apr 04 – The enclosed article was written by LtCol M.R. Strobl USMC who is assigned to MCCDC Quantico, VA and served as the officer who escorted the remains of PFC C. Phelps USMC from Dover AFB, DE to his home. PFC Phelps was assigned to 3d Bn, 11th Marines – an artillery unit functioning as a provisional infantry battalion during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM 2. PFC Phelps was killed in action from a gunshot wound received on 9 Apr 04 during combat operations west of Baghdad. He was buried in Dubois, WY on 17 Apr 04.
Chance Phelps was wearing his Saint Christopher medal when he was killed on Good Friday. Eight days later, I handed the medallion to his mother. I didn’t know Chance before he died. Today, I miss him.
Over a year ago, I volunteered to escort the remains of Marines killed in Iraq should the need arise. The military provides a uniformed escort for all casualties to ensure they are delivered safely to the next of kin and are treated with dignity and respect along the way.
Thankfully, I hadn’t been called on to be an escort since Operation Iraqi Freedom began. The first few weeks of April, however, had been a tough month for the Marines. On the Monday after Easter I was reviewing Department of Defense press releases when I saw that a Private First Class Chance Phelps was killed in action outside of Baghdad. The press release listed his hometown—the same town I’m from. I notified our Battalion adjutant and told him that, should the duty to escort PFC Phelps fall to our Battalion, I would take him.
I didn’t hear back the rest of Monday and all day Tuesday until 1800. The Battalion duty NCO called my cell phone and said I needed to be ready to leave for Dover Air Force Base at 1900 in order to escort the remains of PFC Phelps.
Before leaving for Dover I called the major who had the task of informing Phelps’s parents of his death. The major said the funeral was going to be in Dubois, Wyoming. (It turned out that PFC Phelps only lived in my hometown for his senior year of high school.) I had never been to Wyoming and had never heard of Dubois.
With two other escorts from Quantico, I got to Dover AFB at 2330 on Tuesday night. First thing on Wednesday we reported to the mortuary at the base. In the escort lounge there were about half a dozen Army soldiers and about an equal number of Marines waiting to meet up with “their” remains for departure. PFC Phelps was not ready, however, and I was told to come back on Thursday. Now, at Dover with nothing to do and a solemn mission ahead, I began to get depressed.
I was wondering about Chance Phelps. I didn’t know anything about him; not even what he looked like. I wondered about his family and what it would be like to meet them. I did pushups in my room until I couldn’t do any more.
On Thursday morning I reported back to the mortuary. This time there was a new group of Army escorts and a couple of the Marines who had been there Wednesday. There was also an Air Force captain there to escort his brother home to San Diego.
We received a brief covering our duties, the proper handling of the remains, the procedures for draping a flag over a casket, and of course, the paperwork attendant to our task. We were shown pictures of the shipping container and told that each one contained, in addition to the casket, a flag. I was given an extra flag since Phelps’s parents were divorced. This way they would each get one. I didn’t like the idea of stuffing the flag into my luggage but I couldn’t see carrying a large flag, folded for presentation to the next of kin, through an airport while in my Alpha uniform. It barely fit into my suitcase.
It turned out that I was the last escort to leave on Thursday. This meant that I repeatedly got to participate in the small ceremonies that mark all departures from the Dover AFB mortuary.
Most of the remains are taken from Dover AFB by hearse to the airport in Philadelphia for air transport to their final destination. When the remains of a service member are loaded onto a hearse and ready to leave the Dover mortuary, there is an announcement made over the building’s intercom system. With the announcement, all service members working at the mortuary, regardless of service branch, stop work and form up along the driveway to render a slow ceremonial salute as the hearse departs. Escorts also participated in each formation until it was their time to leave.
On this day there were some civilian workers doing construction on the mortuary grounds. As each hearse passed, they would stop working and place their hard hats over their hearts. This was my first sign that my mission with PFC Phelps was larger than the Marine Corps and that his family and friends were not grieving alone.
Eventually I was the last escort remaining in the lounge. The Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant in charge of the Marine liaison there came to see me. He had Chance Phelps’s personal effects. He removed each item; a large watch, a wooden cross with a lanyard, two loose dog tags, two dog tags on a chain, and a Saint Christopher medal on a silver chain. Although we had been briefed that we might be carrying some personal effects of the deceased, this set me aback. Holding his personal effects, I was starting to get to know Chance Phelps.
Finally we were ready. I grabbed my bags and went outside. I was somewhat startled when I saw the shipping container, loaded three-quarters of the way in to the back of a black Chevy Suburban that had been modified to carry such cargo. This was the first time I saw my “cargo” and I was surprised at how large the shipping container was. The Master Gunnery Sergeant and I verified that the name on the container was Phelps’s then they pushed him the rest of the way in and we left. Now it was PFC Chance Phelps’s turn to receive the military—and construction workers’—honors. He was finally moving towards home.
As I chatted with the driver on the hour-long trip to Philadelphia, it became clear that he considered it an honor to be able to contribute in getting Chance home. He offered his sympathy to the family. I was glad to finally be moving yet apprehensive about what things would be like at the airport. I didn’t want this package to be treated like ordinary cargo, but I knew that the simple logistics of moving around a box this large would have to overrule my preferences.
When we got to the Northwest Airlines cargo terminal at the Philadelphia airport, the cargo handler and hearse driver pulled the shipping container onto a loading bay while I stood to the side and executed a slow salute. Once Chance was safely in the cargo area, and I was satisfied that he would be treated with due care and respect, the hearse driver drove me over to the passenger terminal and dropped me off.
As I walked up to the ticketing counter in my uniform, a Northwest employee started to ask me if I knew how to use the automated boarding pass dispenser. Before she could finish another ticketing agent interrupted her. He told me to go straight to the counter then explained to the woman that I was a military escort. She seemed embarrassed. The woman behind the counter already had tears in her eyes as I was pulling out my government travel voucher. She struggled to find words but managed to express her sympathy for the family and thank me for my service. She upgraded my ticket to first class.
After clearing security, I was met by another Northwest Airline employee at the gate. She told me a representative from cargo would be up to take me down to the tarmac to observe the movement and loading of PFC Phelps. I hadn’t really told any of them what my mission was but they all knew.
When the man from the cargo crew met me, he, too, struggled for words. On the tarmac, he told me stories of his childhood as a military brat and repeatedly told me that he was sorry for my loss. I was starting to understand that, even here in Philadelphia, far away from Chance’s hometown, people were mourning with his family.
On the tarmac, the cargo crew was silent except for occasional instructions to each other. I stood to the side and saluted as the conveyor moved Chance to the aircraft. I was relieved when he was finally settled into place. The rest of the bags were loaded and I watched them shut the cargo bay door before heading back up to board the aircraft.
One of the pilots had taken my carry-on bag himself and had it stored next to the cockpit door so he could watch it while I was on the tarmac. As I boarded the plane, I could tell immediately that the flight attendants had already been informed of my mission. They seemed a little choked up as they led me to my seat.
About 45 minutes into our flight I still hadn’t spoken to anyone except to tell the first class flight attendant that I would prefer water. I was surprised when the flight attendant from the back of the plane suddenly appeared and leaned down to grab my hands. She said, “I want you to have this” as she pushed a small gold crucifix, with a relief of Jesus, into my hand. It was her lapel pin and it looked somewhat worn. I suspected it had been hers for quite some time. That was the only thing she said to me the entire flight.
When we landed in Minneapolis, I was the first one off the plane. The pilot himself escorted me straight down the side stairs of the exit tunnel to the tarmac. The cargo crew there already knew what was on this plane. They were unloading some of the luggage when an Army sergeant, a fellow escort who had left Dover earlier that day, appeared next to me. His “cargo” was going to be loaded onto my plane for its continuing leg. We stood side by side in the dark and executed a slow salute as Chance was removed from the plane. The cargo crew at Minneapolis kept Phelps’s shipping case separate from all the other luggage as they waited to take us to the cargo area. I waited with the soldier and we saluted together as his fallen comrade was loaded onto the plane.
My trip with Chance was going to be somewhat unusual in that we were going to have an overnight stopover. We had a late start out of Dover and there was just too much traveling ahead of us to continue on that day. (We still had a flight from Minneapolis to Billings, Montana, then a five-hour drive to the funeral home. That was to be followed by a 90-minute drive to Chance’s hometown.)
I was concerned about leaving him overnight in the Minneapolis cargo area. My ten-minute ride from the tarmac to the cargo holding area eased my apprehension. Just as in Philadelphia, the cargo guys in Minneapolis were extremely respectful and seemed honored to do their part. While talking with them, I learned that the cargo supervisor for Northwest Airlines at the Minneapolis airport is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves. They called him for me and let me talk to him.
Once I was satisfied that all would be okay for the night, I asked one of the cargo crew if he would take me back to the terminal so that I could catch my hotel’s shuttle. Instead, he drove me straight to the hotel himself. At the hotel, the Lieutenant Colonel called me and said he would personally pick me up in the morning and bring me back to the cargo area.
Before leaving the airport, I had told the cargo crew that I wanted to come back to the cargo area in the morning rather than go straight to the passenger terminal. I felt bad for leaving Chance overnight and wanted to see the shipping container where I had left it for the night. It was fine.
The Lieutenant Colonel made a few phone calls then drove me around to the passenger terminal. I was met again by a man from the cargo crew and escorted down to the tarmac. The pilot of the plane joined me as I waited for them to bring Chance from the cargo area. The pilot and I talked of his service in the Air Force and how he missed it.
I saluted as Chance was moved up the conveyor and onto the plane. It was to be a while before the luggage was to be loaded so the pilot took me up to the board the plane where I could watch the tarmac from a window. With no other passengers yet on board, I talked with the flight attendants and one of the cargo guys. He had been in the Navy and one of the attendants had been in the Air Force. Everywhere I went, people were continuing to tell me their relationship to the military. After all the baggage was aboard, I went back down to the tarmac, inspected the cargo bay, and watched them secure the door.
When we arrived at Billings, I was again the first off the plane. This time Chance’s shipping container was the first item out of the cargo hold. The funeral director had driven five hours up from Riverton, Wyoming to meet us. He shook my hand as if I had personally lost a brother.
We moved Chance to a secluded cargo area. Now it was time for me to remove the shipping container and drape the flag over the casket. I had predicted that this would choke me up but I found I was more concerned with proper flag etiquette than the solemnity of the moment. Once the flag was in place, I stood by and saluted as Chance was loaded onto the van from the funeral home. I was thankful that we were in a small airport and the event seemed to go mostly unnoticed. I picked up my rental car and followed Chance for five hours until we reached Riverton. During the long trip I imagined how my meeting with Chance’s parents would go. I was very nervous about that.
When we finally arrived at the funeral home, I had my first face to face meeting with the Casualty Assistance Call Officer. It had been his duty to inform the family of Chance’s death. He was on the Inspector/Instructor staff of an infantry company in Salt Lake City, Utah and I knew he had had a difficult week.
Inside I gave the funeral director some of the paperwork from Dover and discussed the plan for the next day. The service was to be at 1400 in the high school gymnasium up in Dubois, population about 900, some 90 miles away. Eventually, we had covered everything. The CACO had some items that the family wanted to be inserted into the casket and I felt I needed to inspect Chance’s uniform to ensure everything was proper. Although it was going to be a closed casket funeral, I still wanted to ensure his uniform was squared away.
Earlier in the day I wasn’t sure how I’d handle this moment. Suddenly, the casket was open and I got my first look at Chance Phelps. His uniform was immaculate—a tribute to the professionalism of the Marines at Dover. I noticed that he wore six ribbons over his marksmanship badge; the senior one was his Purple Heart. I had been in the Corps for over 17 years, including a combat tour, and was wearing eight ribbons. This Private First Class, with less than a year in the Corps, had already earned six.
The next morning, I wore my dress blues and followed the hearse for the trip up to Dubois. This was the most difficult leg of our trip for me. I was bracing for the moment when I would meet his parents and hoping I would find the right words as I presented them with Chance’s personal effects.
We got to the high school gym about four hours before the service was to begin. The gym floor was covered with folding chairs neatly lined in rows. There were a few townspeople making final preparations when I stood next to the hearse and saluted as Chance was moved out of the hearse. The sight of a flag-draped coffin was overwhelming to some of the ladies.
We moved Chance into the gym to the place of honor. A Marine sergeant, the command representative from Chance’s battalion, met me at the gym. His eyes were watery as he relieved me of watching Chance so that I could go eat lunch and find my hotel.
At the restaurant, the table had a flier announcing Chance’s service. Dubois High School gym; two o’ clock. It also said that the family would be accepting donations so that they could buy flak vests to send to troops in Iraq.
I drove back to the gym at a quarter after one. I could’ve walked—you could walk to just about anywhere in Dubois in ten minutes. I had planned to find a quiet room where I could take his things out of their pouch and untangle the chain of the Saint Christopher medal from the dog tag chains and arrange everything before his parents came in. I had twice before removed the items from the pouch to ensure they were all there—even though there was no chance anything could’ve fallen out. Each time, the two chains had been quite tangled. I didn’t want to be fumbling around trying to untangle them in front of his parents. Our meeting, however, didn’t go as expected.
I practically bumped into Chance’s step-mom accidentally and our introductions began in the noisy hallway outside the gym. In short order I had met Chance’s step-mom and father followed by his step-dad and, at last, his mom. I didn’t know how to express to these people my sympathy for their loss and my gratitude for their sacrifice. Now, however, they were repeatedly thanking me for bringing their son home and for my service. I was humbled beyond words.
I told them that I had some of Chance’s things and asked if we could try to find a quiet place. The five of us ended up in what appeared to be a computer lab—not what I had envisioned for this occasion.
After we had arranged five chairs around a small table, I told them about our trip. I told them how, at every step, Chance was treated with respect, dignity, and honor. I told them about the staff at Dover and all the folks at Northwest Airlines. I tried to convey how the entire Nation, from Dover to Philadelphia, to Minneapolis, to Billings, and Riverton expressed grief and sympathy over their loss.
Finally, it was time to open the pouch. The first item I happened to pull out was Chance’s large watch. It was still set to Baghdad time. Next were the lanyard and the wooden cross. Then the dog tags and the Saint Christopher medal. This time the chains were not tangled. Once all of his items were laid out on the table, I told his mom that I had one other item to give them. I retrieved the flight attendant’s crucifix from my pocket and told its story. I set that on the table and excused myself. When I next saw Chance’s mom, she was wearing the crucifix on her lapel.
By 1400 most of the seats on the gym floor were filled and people were finding seats in the fixed bleachers high above the gym floor. There were a surprising number of people in military uniform. Many Marines had come up from Salt Lake City. Men from various VFW posts and the Marine Corps League occupied multiple rows of folding chairs. We all stood as Chance’s family took their seats in the front.
It turned out that Chance’s sister, a Petty Officer in the Navy, worked for a Rear Admiral—the Chief of Naval Intelligence—at the Pentagon. The Admiral had brought many of the sailors on his staff with him to Dubois pay respects to Chance and support his sister. After a few songs and some words from a Navy Chaplain, the Admiral took the microphone and told us how Chance had died.
Chance was an artillery cannoneer and his unit was acting as provisional military police outside of Baghdad. Chance had volunteered to man a .50 caliber machine gun in the turret of the leading vehicle in a convoy. The convoy came under intense fire but Chance stayed true to his post and returned fire with the big gun, covering the rest of the convoy, until he was fatally wounded.
Then the commander of the local VFW post read some of the letters Chance had written home. In letters to his mom he talked of the mosquitoes and the heat. In letters to his stepfather he told of the dangers of convoy operations and of receiving fire.
The service was a fitting tribute to this hero. When it was over, we stood as the casket was wheeled out with the family following. The casket was placed onto a horse-drawn carriage for the mile-long trip from the gym, down the main street, then up the steep hill to the cemetery. I stood alone and saluted as the carriage departed the high school. I found my car and joined Chance’s convoy.
The town seemingly went from the gym to the street. All along the route, the people had lined the street and were waving small American flags. The flags that were otherwise posted were all at half-staff. For the last quarter mile up the hill, local boy scouts, spaced about 20 feet apart, all in uniform, held large flags. At the foot of the hill, I could look up and back and see the enormity of our procession. I wondered how many people would be at this funeral if it were in, say, Detroit or Los Angeles—probably not as many as were here in little Dubois, Wyoming.
The carriage stopped about 15 yards from the grave and the military pall bearers and the family waited until the men of the VFW and Marine Corps league were formed up and school busses had arrived carrying many of the people from the procession route. Once the entire crowd was in place, the pallbearers came to attention and began to remove the casket from the caisson. As I had done all week, I came to attention and executed a slow ceremonial salute as Chance was being transferred from one mode of transport to another.
From Dover to Philadelphia; Philadelphia to Minneapolis; Minneapolis to Billings; Billings to Riverton; and Riverton to Dubois we had been together. Now, as I watched them carry him the final 15 yards, I was choking up. I felt that, as long as he was still moving, he was somehow still alive.
Then they put him down above his grave. He had stopped moving.
Although my mission had been officially complete once I turned him over to the funeral director at the Billings airport, it was his placement at his grave that really concluded it in my mind. Now, he was home to stay and I suddenly felt at once sad, relieved, and useless.
The chaplain said some words that I couldn’t hear and two Marines removed the flag from the casket and slowly folded it for presentation to his mother. When the ceremony was over, Chance’s father placed a ribbon from his service in Vietnam on Chance’s casket. His mother approached the casket and took something from her blouse and put it on the casket. I later saw that it was the flight attendant’s crucifix. Eventually friends of Chance’s moved closer to the grave. A young man put a can of Copenhagen on the casket and many others left flowers.
Finally, we all went back to the gym for a reception. There was enough food to feed the entire population for a few days. In one corner of the gym there was a table set up with lots of pictures of Chance and some of his sports awards. People were continually approaching me and the other Marines to thank us for our service. Almost all of them had some story to tell about their connection to the military. About an hour into the reception, I had the impression that every man in Wyoming had, at one time or another, been in the service.
It seemed like every time I saw Chance’s mom she was hugging a different well wisher. As time passed, I began to hear people laughing. We were starting to heal.
After a few hours at the gym, I went back to the hotel to change out of my dress blues. The local VFW post had invited everyone over to “celebrate Chance’s life.” The Post was on the other end of town from my hotel and the drive took less than two minutes. The crowd was somewhat smaller than what had been at the gym but the Post was packed.
Marines were playing pool at the two tables near the entrance and most of the VFW members were at the bar or around the tables in the bar area. The largest room in the Post was a banquet/dinning/dancing area and it was now called “The Chance Phelps Room.” Above the entry were two items: a large portrait of Chance in his dress blues and the Eagle, Globe, & Anchor. In one corner of the room there was another memorial to Chance. There were candles burning around another picture of him in his blues. On the table surrounding his photo were his Purple Heart citation and his Purple Heart medal. There was also a framed copy of an excerpt from the Congressional Record. This was an elegant tribute to Chance Phelps delivered on the floor of the United States House of Representatives by Congressman Scott McInnis of Colorado. Above it all was a television that was playing a photo montage of Chance’s life from small boy to proud Marine.
I did not buy a drink that night. As had been happening all day, indeed all week, people were thanking me for my service and for bringing Chance home. Now, in addition to words and handshakes, they were thanking me with beer. I fell in with the men who had handled the horses and horse-drawn carriage. I learned that they had worked through the night to groom and prepare the horses for Chance’s last ride. They were all very grateful that they were able to contribute.
After a while we all gathered in the Chance Phelps room for the formal dedication. The Post commander told us of how Chance had been so looking forward to becoming a Life Member of the VFW. Now, in the Chance Phelps Room of the Dubois, Wyoming post, he would be an eternal member. We all raised our beers and the Chance Phelps room was christened.
Later, as I was walking toward the pool tables, a Staff Sergeant from the Reserve unit in Salt Lake grabbed me and said, “Sir, you gotta hear this.” There were two other Marines with him and he told the younger one, a Lance Corporal, to tell me his story. The Staff Sergeant said the Lance Corporal was normally too shy and modest to tell it but now he’d had enough beer to overcome his usual tendencies.
As the Lance Corporal started to talk, an older man joined our circle. He wore a baseball cap that indicated he had been with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. Earlier in the evening he had told me about one of his former commanding officers; a Colonel Puller.
So, there I was, standing in a circle with three Marines recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Iraq and one not so recently returned from fighting with the 1st Marine Division in Korea. I, who had fought with the 1st Marine Division in Kuwait, was about to gain a new insight into our Corps.
The young Lance Corporal began to tell us his story. At that moment, in this circle of current and former Marines, the differences in our ages and ranks dissipated—we were all simply Marines.
His squad had been on a patrol through a city street. They had taken small arms fire and had literally dodged an RPG round that sailed between two Marines. At one point they received fire from behind a wall and had neutralized the sniper with a SMAW round. The back blast of the SMAW, however, kicked up a substantial rock that hammered the Lance Corporal in the thigh; only missing his groin because he had reflexively turned his body sideways at the shot.
Their squad had suffered some wounded and was receiving more sniper fire when suddenly he was hit in the head by an AK-47 round. I was stunned as he told us how he felt like a baseball bat had been slammed into his head. He had spun around and fell unconscious. When he came to, he had a severe scalp wound but his Kevlar helmet had saved his life. He continued with his unit for a few days before realizing he was suffering the effects of a severe concussion.
As I stood there in the circle with the old man and the other Marines, the Staff Sergeant finished the story. He told of how this Lance Corporal had begged and pleaded with the Battalion surgeon to let him stay with his unit. In the end, the doctor said there was just no way—he had suffered a severe and traumatic head wound and would have to be med’evaced.
The Marine Corps is a special fraternity. There are moments when we are reminded of this. Interestingly, those moments don’t always happen at awards ceremonies or in dress blues at Birthday Balls. I have found, rather, that they occur at unexpected times and places: next to a loaded moving van at Camp Lejeune’s base housing, in a dirty CP tent in northern Saudi Arabia, and in a smoky VFW post in western Wyoming.
After the story was done, the Lance Corporal stepped over to the old man, put his arm over the man’s shoulder and told him that he, the Korean War vet, was his hero. The two of them stood there with their arms over each other’s shoulders and we were all silent for a moment. When they let go, I told the Lance Corporal that there were recruits down on the yellow footprints tonight that would soon be learning his story.
I was finished drinking beer and telling stories. I found Chance’s father and shook his hand one more time. Chance’s mom had already left and I deeply regretted not being able to tell her goodbye.
I left Dubois in the morning before sunrise for my long drive back to Billings. It had been my honor to take Chance Phelps to his final post. Now he was on the high ground overlooking his town.
I miss him.
Regards,
LtCol Strobl
Wild Thing's comment........
It's about Valor, Honor and Respect. I have marked my calender so I don't forget that it will be airing. It is not going to be on HBO until February.
Posted by Wild Thing at 02:55 AM | Comments (25)
December 16, 2008
Gary Sinise:A man for all services ~ Thank you Gary For Supporting Our Troops
Actor Gary Sinise shows his Presidential Citizens Medal outside the White House in Washington, DC after receiving the medal from US President George W. Bush for his work supporting American soldiers on December 10, 2008.
Sinise: A man for all services
Since war became a geographically distant but very real way of life after Sept. 11, 2001, no Hollywood star has stepped up to support active duty U.S. military personnel and wounded veterans like Gary Sinise. There is no close second. And quietly, as is in his nature, he is becoming something akin to this generation´s Bob Hope.
One step in conferring this worthy title on the award-winning actor, director and producer occurred last week when President Bush bestowed on him the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation. Previous recipients include Henry "Hank" Aaron, Muhammad Ali, Colin L. Powell and Bob Dole.
While the White House ceremony flew under the radar of most of the media, most notably the entertainment press, word has trickled out to many of his countless admirers in and out of the military. And on the occasion of him receiving the award, they want America to take in their words of praise for, as Sharon Tyk in the USO of Illinois put it, this "gallant American patriot."
Michael Yon, a Special Forces vet and the pre-eminent war journalist of our time, communicated his admiration in a dispatch from Bahrain: "Gary is a true friend of the American soldier. He does not hesitate to travel into war zones to express his admiration and personal support for those who defend us. He visits wounded soldiers, some of whom I personally know. All love him.
"Soldiers from privates to generals admire Gary for his dedication to a cause greater than any of us. Gary's dedication went much further. He personally supported sending millions of dollars worth of school and clothing supplies to Iraqi children. I saw this effort with my own eyes. Gary Sinise is a Great American."
In 2004, "Seabiscuit" author Laura Hillenbrand with Mr. Sinise founded Operation Iraqi Children, a nonprofit group dedicated to helping the U.S. military distribute school supplies in the war-stricken country.
"For a lot of celebrities, charitable work equals photo opportunity and nothing more," Miss Hillenbrand wrote in an e-mail. "For Gary, giving of himself, and giving to his country, is what makes life meaningful and joyful. It is perhaps the most essential part of his character, and it is his passion."
Mr. Sinise not only "supports the troops," but he champions their mission as well.
"I have seen Iraqi kids climbing on our soldiers and hugging them and kissing them," Mr. Sinise said. "I have seen their smiling faces and their attempts to say 'I love you' in broken English. The folks I saw had hope in their eyes and gratitude in their hearts for what was done for them."
Mr. Sinise, who currently stars in "CSI: New York," is best known for his Oscar-nominated turn as Lt. Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump," which won the best picture Academy Award in 1994.
Lt. Dan - the iconic character who lost his limbs in the Vietnam War - created a connection between Mr. Sinise and veterans that reached far beyond the big screen.
"His superb performance brought awareness of the lifelong sacrifice of disabled veterans into the public consciousness in a remarkably positive way," said retired Maj. Gary Weaver of the U.S. Marine Corps and national director of communications for Disabled American Veterans.
In 2004, Mr. Sinise, wanting to do more, formed the Lt. Dan Band, a jam band created almost exclusively to entertain the troops in and out of war zones.
"It´s very important that you know we are grateful," the bass guitar playing Mr. Sinise recently said while performing at the Pentagon. "The sacrifice you and your families make - you are not forgotten."
Miss Tyk recalled their first performance: "There were only about 30 of us present - at tops - at the Great Lakes Naval Base. I said to my colleague, 'Oh, another actor band.' Then the magic happened. During the break, Gary took the microphone and addressed the troops from the heart. He spoke about his commitment to them, to our country and how much he appreciated their willingness to protect and fight for our freedoms. That is the moment I knew he was the 'genuine article.' You could actually feel his love for them."
Miss Tyk recalled another memorable experience with Mr. Sinise.
"We picked up Gary at 5 a.m.," she wrote. "I felt somewhat crabby because I had to get up very, very early to get him to the CBS studios. There he was in front of the residence waiting for us with a smile on his face eagerly waiting to help. I thought to myself, Sharon you need to learn a lesson from this man. Look at him, he´s honored and thrilled to help and he´s not even getting paid to do this and you are! His love for the mission that day completely changed my thought process. He is the perfect example of 'you teach what you live.' "
Lt. Col. Scott Rainey concurred: "If I have learned anything from over 25 years of being around troops it is that they are among the most perceptive of souls. It is virtually impossible to 'pull the wool over their eyes.' Insincerity and falseness are immediately recognized for what they are and those who demonstrate these characteristics are quickly marginalized and ignored. What I learned within the first 10 minutes of meeting Gary Sinise at a dusty airbase in Kuwait last July was that these character flaws are completely absent in this patriotic and selfless man."
Spc. Jason M. Hale, who encountered Mr. Sinise at Camp Ramadi, e-mailed: "He was the only celebrity that came to take pictures with us where we worked on base, and you had the feeling that if he could, he would have grabbed a weapon and gone on patrol with us. That's how much he connected with the troops. He's one of those Hollywood guys who doesn't act like he's from Hollywood, and to those who are living in the desert, putting their lives on the line, that's quite refreshing."
To get a sense of the scope of what Mr. Sinise means to soldiers like Spc. Hale, filmmaker and Army 82nd Airborne veteran Jonathan Flora followed him and his band to Afghanistan and Iraq in 2008. He recounts one time when he witnessed one of Mr. Sinise´s typical interactions with the troops.
"It was hot, Iraq hot when we stopped at a check point before entering an FOB (Forward Operating Base). Gary began speaking with a soldier through the window and soon we were all standing outside so he could have his picture taken with him and a few of his buddies. Soon there were at least fifty guys around him and he greets each one as he always does. This is an unscheduled stop and we are being urged to move on so as to be on time for his next stop, but Gary, still, meets with each one and gives them their time. Finally, we have to move on as he says good-bye to the last soldier.
"As we are about to get into the vehicle we hear the guys yelling and in the distance is one more soldier. He is dressed in full battle-rattle humping as fast as he can in this unbearable heat to get to Gary before he leaves. He had just been relieved from his point and heard that Gary Sinise had stopped by the check point, and he was determined not to miss him. Gary without hesitation stopped and waited and he greeted this young man as if he was the first man in line, full of enthusiasm and appreciation.
"When we did finally get into the vehicle I mentioned to Gary how I observe how he makes each and every man or woman feel special and appreciated, he paused in thought before answering, as he often does, and then says with a heavy heart, 'It's because we don't know what the next hour holds for them. As tired as I might get sometimes, and I do, it is nothing compared to what they go through day-after-day with the price they are so readily willing to pay.' "
Fox News will be broadcasting Mr. Flora´s one-hour special in prime time on Jan. 10.
Deb Rickert of Operation Support our Troops said it best about Mr. Sinise, the recipient of the Presidential Citizens Medal.
"In an age when the public often lavishes epitaphs of greatness on celebrities merely because they are famous, the military community bestows the simple title of friend on Gary Sinise truly because that is what he is to us."
VIDEO of Lt. Dan at Great Lakes Naval Base
In the video at the beginning part of it Gary introduces Kimo Williams Guitar. Kimo is a Vietnam Veteran.
Kimo Williams first worked with Gary as composer for a Steppenwolf production of Streetcar Named Desire. After learning of Gary's talents on the bass, Kimo encouraged him to do more playing, and over the years they enjoyed the occasional jam session. As Gary began what has turned out to be an extraordinary commitment to the USO, these jams eventually led to gigs in the Chicago area, gathering local talent and performing for troops and their families.
Following one of his many trips overseas to visit those serving our country, he decided it was time to bring the band with him! With Kimo's help a talented group of musicians came together to form "The Lt. Dan Band".
"Lieutenant Dan" is the character Gary portrayed in the 1994 film Forrest Gump, a role for which he earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. As Gary began visiting troops around the world, people (even little kids) who didn't know him as Gary Sinise, the actor, would recognize him as "Lt.Dan". Those in the military also seem to identify strongly with the character. And so the name for his group was an easy choice: Lt. Dan Band!
Wild Thing's comment..........
Gary is for real and a low key person, a lot like Nicholas. He takes life seriously but will not be the one to brag about his accompolishments or even this award. It will mean a lot to him, a tremendous thing, but Gary is not the type to blow his own horn. I think the troops see that too in the kind of person Gary is and that he is serious about his support for them. Just like the article says.
Bob Hope was like that as well . His home was filled with awards on the walls and sitting on end tables. He was very grateful for them but was not one to brag about getting them. Unless a person went to his home, few would have known the countless awards he received. He truly loved the troops as well. I love that Gary was compared to Bob Hope like the article has done.
I have posted about Gary several times and the troops reaction to him. It has been with a huge smile on my face and my heart smiling too to see someone that truly cares about our awesome troops, also the injured at the hospitals and our Veterans. He has been all over the world to see our troops. Iraq, Belgium (SHAPE military base), Ramstein AB, Germany, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, etc.
The Presidential Citizens Medal is well deserved by Gary Sinise for his support of our military and the Operation Iraqi Children program.
Gary also was given the Catholics In Media Award (CIMA) Humanitarian Award in 2005 for his work in Iraq. During his speech, this very humble man spoke about how his wife was the catalyst behind everything he does. He thanked her for everything. He is the man he is because of her. Then he thanked his partner in the relief efforts and said that it was because of her that they were so successful.
......Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion - 1st Aviation Brigade - Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
Posted by Wild Thing at 04:48 AM | Comments (18)
September 27, 2008
Actor Paul Newman Dies at 83
Newman, who had been battling cancer, passed away on Friday, at his home, Newman's Own Foundation said in a statement from Westport, Connecticut.
Newman was half of one of the most successful showbiz marriages -- to Joanne Woodward, whom he married in 1958. He observed that just because he was a sex symbol there was no reason to commit adultery.
"Why would I go out for a hamburger when [I] have steak at home?" he asked.
Newman's daughters said described him as a devoted husband, a loving father, an adoring grandfather and a dedicated philanthropist.
"Our father was a rare symbol of selfless humility, the last to acknowledge what he was doing was special," they said in a statement. "Intensely private, he quietly succeeded beyond measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity.
"Always and to the end, Dad was incredibly grateful for his good fortune. In his own words: 'It's been a privilege to be here.'"
Paul Leonard Newman was born on January 26, 1925, in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. His father owned a successful sporting goods store, but young Paul was taken with his mother's and uncle's interest in the arts and started acting while still in grade school.
"I wasn't running toward the theater but running away from the sporting goods store," he said later.
In recent years, Newman talked about doing another film with his friend Redford, but the two couldn't settle on a script. In 2007, Newman said he was retiring from acting, saying he'd lost confidence in his abilities. Still, he marveled at his own resilience.
"You can't be as old as I am without waking up with a surprised look on your face every morning: 'Holy Christ, whaddya know - I'm still around!' It's absolutely amazing that I survived all the booze and smoking and the cars and the career."
The Verdict - ( 1981)
Hud - An Unprincipled Man
From the movie The Hustler (1961) this scene is the final game
Paul Newman enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan 22, 1943, having attended college at Ohio U., in Athens. Sent to the Navy's V-12 program to become a pilot, they found he was color blind. So he was made into a radioman , where he qualified as a radioman/gunner in the TBM "Avenger" torpedo bomber, and was sent to the Pacific. While there, his pilot took ill, and Newman was grounded while his squadron suffered heavy losses during a kamikaze attack on his carrier. Operating off the Hollandia, Newman was about 500 miles from the explosion at Hiroshima, then was discharged the following January. He received the American Area Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. He attended acting school at Kenyon College on the G.I. Bill.
Wild Thing's comment............
He may well be a diehard liberal but he could sure act and drive a race car. He was one of the great in regards to acting and picked well on is movie choices to act in and be a part of .
His politics were not mine, but he did things well, including living far from Hollywood, staying married to the same woman for 50 years, raising a family that’s by show biz standards pretty normal, creating a real business (then giving profits to charities).
Posted by Wild Thing at 01:34 PM | Comments (17)
August 29, 2008
Identity Theft Actor James Woods Proves Crime Does Not Pay
Identity Theft Actor James Woods Proves Crime Does Not Pay
James Woods, who played an LA prosecutor on Shark, has set a great example for dealing with identity theft. Woods told Michael Glynn at The Enquirer that he was horrified to learn that someone had charged thousands of dollars on his credit card.
The crook had bought a computer and purchased two VIP tickets to the recent Dave Matthews concert at the Staples Centerin LA for $3,700.
The fraudulent charges were deducted from his bill, but James was determined to find the guilty party. He called the Staples center and cleverly told them he hadn't received his tickets yet - that he wanted to verify the correct name and address. Incredibly, the crook had used his own real name and address. James realized he'd eaten at a restaurant just blocks from where the crook lived.
He then called the restaurant and tracked down a guilty waiter. Woods handed the info to the Beverly Hills police and they arrested the guy.
Wild Thing's comment.......
Woods is a good guy.
When I saw this story about Wood's it reminded me of another thing that happened to him. He observed and reported four hijackers making a trial run on an airline flight before the September 11 terrorist attacks on America.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:50 AM | Comments (8)
April 20, 2008
Bush to Appear on 'Deal or No Deal' to Surprise US Soldier
In this image released by NBC, "Deal or No Deal" host Howie Mandel, left, is shown with contestant Capt. Joseph Kobes, right, and his supporter Laura Johnson during the taping of the game show in Los Angles. The program, scheduled to air on Monday, April 21,2008, features Kobes, as he attempts to win enough cash to pay off his parents' home.
Bush to Appear on 'Deal or No Deal' to Surprise US Soldier
President Bush has taped a surprise "good luck" video for a U.S. soldier, Captain Joe Kobes, who is a contestant on the popular television game show, "Deal or No Deal," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said Friday.
The president's video will air on Monday's episode of NBC's "Deal or No Deal," and the network will be previewing clips from the video over the weekend.
The president's video will thank Kobes for his military service and wish him luck on the game show, in which he will compete for a top prize of $1 million. "It really is actually an emotional moment for Captain Kobes and his family," Fratto told reporters at the White House press briefing.
The president agreed to make the video when he learned from the producers of "Deal or No Deal" that he is one of Kobes' heroes.
Army Capt. Joseph Kobes was blown away when host Howie Mandel segued to a taped greeting from President Bush, who thanked him for his three tours in Iraq and wished him good luck in the game show.
“He was definitely speechless, which is rare for him,” Ken Kobes said of his son.
The elder Kobes said Friday that he’s under orders from NBC not to divulge his son’s winnings from the show, taped last month at a studio in Culver City, Calif.
Kobes, 29, is a transportation officer in school at Fort Lee, Va. A few months back, he drove six hours to an open “Deal or No Deal” tryout in Philadelphia and got called back for a second audition. A month after that, the producers called again. He’d made the final cut.
The show put up his parents, Ken and Susan; his girlfriend; and his three brothers in a nice hotel for four days during the taping last month. The family enjoyed the impromptu reunion.
It was a nice departure from an intense past few years for the younger Kobes, a Sumner High School graduate who double-majored in nuclear physics and pre-med at West Point, Class of 2001.
He was in Iraq from March 2004 to March 2005. He led a transportation platoon in Iraq and volunteered for two other assignments from November 2006 to July 2007, a White House spokesman said Friday.
Kobes was twice awarded the Bronze Star for valor and has a Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds he suffered when his truck was bombed in 2004, his father said.
And what about that taped game show message from the president?
Kobes had an inkling something might be up, his father said, when he got a call from his assignment officer telling him his next job was on hold because the White House had been making inquiries about him.
Kobes thought maybe he was up for a White House fellowship or one of the other plum assignments there for military officers.
No such luck, but there’s some consolation in his next duty station: Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.
The elder Kobes said producers at the taping told him they’d been trying to get the president on the show for a long time.
“They said, ‘Your son must be somebody really special for the president to do that,’” Kobes said. “And I thought, ‘Yeah, he is.’”
Wild Thing's comment........
What fun and how wonderful for Capt. Joe Kobes. I hope he wins the million dollars.
Posted by Wild Thing at 03:50 AM | Comments (7)
December 17, 2006
"24" 6th Season To Begin January
A month from now the 6th season of "24" will start agan. It is an Emmy and Golden Globe award winning show and stars Kiefer Sutherland as Agent Jack Bauer, who heads a field operations unit of the Counter Terrorist Unit.
Each episode portrays one hour of that day, with one season comprising 24 episodes or a day in the life of Jack Bauer.
It is such a popular show that there is also a blogs for Bauer. I love it and it is such an excellent show. Many friends of ours have worked on the show so it is fun in that way too, to see them doing their stunts and acting.
Blopgs 4 Bauer has some fun examples of how to talk like Jack Bauer. hahahahaha Go check them out.
Posted by Wild Thing at 05:55 PM | Comments (4)
