Theodore's World

Lt. Col. Travis “Flak” Willis, an F-15E Strike Eagle weapon systems officer, sits in his ‘office’ after returning from a milestone mission here. Colonel Willis reached 1,000 combat hours March 31 while flying his 335th mission while deployed with the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. (Courtesy Photo)

Lt. Col. Travis “Flak” Willis is congratulated by Brig. Gen. Mike Holmes, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, after returning from a mission here. Colonel Willis reached 1,000 combat hours March 31 while flying his 335th mission while deployed with the 335th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. (Courtesy Photo)

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan
Rewind 17 years to 1991. Then 1st Lt. Travis Willis flew his first combat sortie in an F-111F Aardvark on night one of Operation DESERT STORM.
Fast forward 1,000 combat hours to March 31, 2008 when aircrew and maintenance members of the 335 Expeditionary Fighter Squadron congratulated Lt. Col. Travis “Flak” Willis. The F-15E Strike Eagle weapon systems officer achieved the aviation milestone on an Operation ENDURING FREEDOM mission over the skies of Afghanistan, which happened to be his 335th mission.
From his first combat hour to his 1000th, Colonel Willis credits his success to two things: training and maintenance.

“The way we train day to day is the key to our success in war” said Colonel Willis. “It takes about 2.5 years to train an F-15E pilot or WSO to be combat ready. We have folks on the deployment who just completed their training and are mission ready. I know for a fact because I see them flying over in OEF doing a fantastic job. Our success depends heavily on Air Education and Training Command teaching them their basic flying skills and earning their wings.”

The students then head to the 333rd Fighter Squadron and 334th Flying Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C, where they’re taught to fly the F-15E Strike Eagle.

“The job these two training squadrons do impact the entire F-15E fleet across the world. Finally, the young F-15E pilots and WSOs are trained on how to employ the F-15E in combat by the 335th. In fact, the pilots and WSOs today are better prepared than when I was a young WSO.”

It’s also the young maintainers who keep today’s aging aircraft in the air and in the fight. Throughout his career, Colonel Willis has always been impressed by Air Force maintainers.

“Even though our jets are starting to get a little long in the tooth, you know they are the best maintained aircraft in the world,” he said. “The crew chiefs, back shops, weapons loaders are all top-notch and have pride in their jobs. They go into combat with us every day. You have absolute faith in your maintainers and the aircraft.”

Previously, Colonel Willis was the VT-10 Wildcats Skipper, or squadron commander, at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Florida. VT-10 is a joint Navy and Air Force squadron that trains officers to be WSOs and naval flight officers for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps.

“It’s brilliant; some of the young WSOs I trained two years ago in VT-10 are flying here today with the 335th Chiefs, and it is great to see what a wonderful job they are doing,” said the Texas native.

“Flying in the Air Force is open to anyone and we need the best and brightest,” added the colonel. “A lot of people don’t imagine themselves flying jets in the Air Force. All you need is the desire, drive and focus…the Air Force will provide the training and the opportunity.”

Lt. Col. James Jinnette, 335 EFS commander, appreciates Colonel Willis’ influence in his unit.

“We’re a very young squadron, with 22 first-time deployers,” said Colonel Jinnette. “Flak’s incredible breadth of combat experience, gained over nearly two decades and multiple tours in two aircraft types really inspires our aviators at all experience levels. He’s a fantastic instructor, and I credit him with helping many of our youngest officers achieve remarkable things here in Afghanistan. They have been exceptional, and it’s due in no small part to his leadership.”

Colonel Willis has flown combat missions in Operations DESERT STORM, PROVIDE COMFORT, NORTHERN WATCH, DENY FLIGHT, ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM.
This breadth of experience has given the colonel a deep understanding of the importance of air power in the combat zone.

“We bring massive firepower into the fight quickly, with precision and flexibility. If needed, we can strike deep, well beyond the ground forces ability to project power or engage the enemy in conjunction with the ground forces. My hats off to the great job the folks on the ground are doing here in Afghanistan. The combined air-ground team is very effective.”

Over the years, Colonel Willis has not lost his enthusiasm for his job and looks forward to deployments.

“Everyone should want to deploy, regardless of your job,” he added. “Some of my best memories in the Air Force are from deployments.”

Wild Thing’s comment…….
Congratulations to Lt. Col. Travis “Flak” Willis! God bless you and thank you!

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Sergeant Merlin German (USMC) was born in Manhattan, New York on Nov. 15, 1985. He enlisted in the Marine Corps 08 September 2003 and received a meritorious promotion to Private First Class out of boot camp. in April 2004, Sergeant German transferred to his first permanent duty station, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, 1st Marine Division where he served as a Field Artillery Cannoneer.
Shortly after, Sergeant German was assigned to his unit, he was sent to Machinegunner’s Course. Among the Corporals and Sergeants, he was the only Private First Class to attend the course. Sergeant German’s outstanding leadership skills helped him to graduate second in his class.
In September 2004, Sergeant German’s unit was attached to 2nd Battalion, 11th Marines and became part of Weapons Platoon for convoy security. His unit was charged with safely transporting prisoners and cargo, and Sgt. German participated in over 150 successful missions. Sergeant German’s Platoon Sergeant and Company Commander applauded him for his keen sense of spotting improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In the first six months of deployment, Sergeant German found 8 IEDs without anyone sustaining injuries. On 21 February 2005, Sergeant German’s squad was on a mission to recon an unknown route from Jordan to Baghdad. While en route to Camp Ramadi, Sergeant German spotted an IED while standing in the turret at his Mk-19 machine gun. With no time to alert the driver, their HUMVEE was hit on a left side by a gas-fed shape charge explosive. Sergeant German was blown clear of the vehicle, and his fellow Marines helped extinguish the flames that had quickly burned 97% of his total body surface area.

Chuck Norris visiting Marine Sgt. Merlin German

NEW YORK
WABC
Marine Sgt. Merlin German, who became a symbol of resilience as he strove to recover from a roadside bomb blast in Iraq that blanketed 97 percent of his body with burns, has died, the Defense Department said.
German died April 11 at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, where he was continuing treatment for the injuries he suffered in combat on Feb. 22, 2005, the Pentagon said Thursday. He was 22.
A memorial service was held Friday evening at Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, N.Y., the school from which German graduated in 2003. In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that the state Capitol’s flags would be flown at half-staff in German’s honor, saying the sergeant’s “courage and unfailing loyalty serve as an inspiration to Americans everywhere.”
The former turret gunner was dubbed the “Miracle Man” for his determination in facing his wounds, which cost the former saxophone player his fingers and rippled his face with scars. He endured between 120 and 150 surgeries, spent 17 months in a hospital and had to learn to walk again.
Meanwhile, he started a charity, Merlin’s Miracles, to aid child burn victims, and considered college and a career.
For more on the charity, visit MerlinsMiracles.com

“Sometimes I don’t think I can’t do it,” he told The Associated Press last year. “Then I think: Why not? I can do whatever I want…Nobody has ever been 97 percent dead and survived, and lived to walk.”

Born in Manhattan, German moved to New York City’s northern suburbs as a teenager.
He enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2003, according to his charity’s Web site. He was medically retired four years later, the Defense Department said.

A llittle more from the San Antonio Express
Serving in the military is all that anyone can remember Merlin talking about wanting to do as he grew up.

“He always wanted to be in the military,” remembers Jedd Chesterson, his best friend from high school.

He joined the Marines after graduating from high school. When he went home after boot camp, his brother Fred teased him that the Iraqi soldiers would take his rifle away from him. Merlin grabbed a broomstick and challenged his brother to try to take it away from him, which Fred quickly did.

Surprised, Merlin said, “They’re not that strong in Iraq.”

He got stronger. On Feb. 21, 2005, Merlin had been in Iraq for nine months and was two weeks away from coming home.

“He’d already bought his ticket,” said his father, Hemery.

His Humvee hit a roadside improvised explosive device in Baghdad and he suffered burns over 97 percent of his body.

“Every part except the top of his scalp and the soles of his feet,” said his sister Lawren.

Whenever he was hospitalized he’d go to the rooms of other wounded veterans to encourage them to keep going and getting better.
He designed a T-shirt that in the front read, “Got 3 percent chance of survival, what ya gonna do?” The back of it read, “A) Fight Through, b) Stay Strong, c) Overcome Because I Am a Warrior, d) All Of The Above.” D is circled.
In October 2006, the artist Thomas Kinkade learned about Merlin and, impressed with his spirit, gave him a signed, limited edition of his painting, “Heading Home,” which shows a soldier walking toward a light.
Two months later, at BAMC’s Christmas Ball, Merlin, after weeks of agonizing practice with Guerra, surprised his mother by dancing with her to, “Have I Told You Lately.”
Merlin was featured in USA Today as well as this and other newspapers and became a bit of a celebrity magnet, meeting, among others, President Bush and, most recently, Dennis Miller during the Final Four.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
This is so sad. He fought such a long battle to stay alive. We have lost another Hero but he will never be forgotten. Prayers for his family and loved ones. Rest in peace Marine Sgt. Merlin German.
It’s really too bad the names of these great Americans are not on the lips of more fellow citizens.

….Thank you Lynn for sending this to me.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chairman of the Iranian Guardian Council: The Time for America’s Death Has Come
You can see the VIDEO HERE
Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chairman of the Iranian Guardian Council, which aired on Channel 1, Iranian TV on April 18, 2008.

Ayatollah Jannati: The military philosophy of Islam is to create a force with in Islam that will be the most powerful force, which no one can defeat.
We must aspire to having in the not so distant future, Allah willing, military forces that are better trained than any other force in the world, and the most powerful military equipment in the world, so that no one will dare to consider violating the sanctity of the Islamic Republic. We will safeguard not only the sanctity of the Islamic Republic, but of Islam too, and we will defend oppressed Muslims throughout the world, so that all the Muslims will know that they have a strong protector. Thus, the enemies will not even dare to consider attacking Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, or anywhere else. We will support all the oppressed people and the oppressed Muslims in the world. We must aspire to such a future.
Crowd chants: Death to America
Death to America
Death to America
Death to America
Death to America
Yes, I must tell you that the time for America’s death has come. You cried: “Death to the Shah,” and indeed, he died. You cried: “Death to Israel,” and it is now on its deathbed. You cry: “Death to America,” and before long, Allah willing, the prayer for the dead will be recited over it.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
hmmmmm well I guess everyone has their Rev Wright.
They sure have been acting nervous lately.
Yea, yea, yea… Listen up blowhard, the last bigmouth who promised the US a mother-of-all battles, was pulled out of a spidy hole after hiding like a little girl for months, had his head checked for lice on worldwide TV, and then swung from a gallows.

Top cleric vows crushing response if Iran attacked
TEHRAN (AFP)
A top cleric on Friday vowed that Iran would deal a knock-out blow to what he called maniacs in the United States and Israel if they ever attacked the Islamic republic.

“If maniacs in Washington or Tel Aviv seek to take action, the Iranian nation will slap them so hard they will not get off the floor,” hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami said in a Friday prayer sermon carried live on state radio.

The Pentagon on Wednesday denied reports of new plans for military options against Iran, which is accused by the United States of seeking nuclear weapons, sponsoring terrorism and meddling in Iraq.
Iran vehemently denies all the charges.
However, Washington has never ruled out a military option in a bid to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive, which Tehran insists is solely aimed at peaceful energy production.

The cleric said the fact that the United States had not yet attacked Iran was because it “has not been possible, not that it did not want to.”

“Death be upon” Israel for “celebrating the killing of innocent people” in the Gaza Strip, Khatami also said. Iran does not recognise Israel, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for the annihilation of the Jewish State.

“Israel should know that these pressures will pave the way for another Intifada which will turn the Israelis’ day into night,” Khatami said.

Israel, the Middle East’s sole if undeclared nuclear power, accuses Iran of seeking atomic weapons and has urged tougher punitive measures against Tehran, which is already under three sets of UN Security Council sanctions for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
Khatami also took a swipe at US Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton for her threat to “totally obliterate” Iran if it launched a nuclear attack on Israel.

“Shame on you that your presidents should be weak-willed servants of Israel,” he said.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Ever notice how they always are referred to as “Top cleric vows”……LOL
No matter who the person is they are called a TOP cleric and they are always vowing. hahaha
Ahmad Khatami is full of it. Iran has been sending weapons, and terrorists to Iraq to kill our American soldiers. FUGEDABODIT!!!! Ahmad Khatami, first of all Iran is killing our soldiers, sending the weapons and terrorists from Iran in Iraq…… hello Ahmad I said from IRAN. Then the nuke thang’ and you think America will sit by and just let this happen. Hello-o-o press ONE for a reality and press TWO for look up ….you will one day be seeing your sky light up like the 4th of July you freakazoid Moslem.

Amnesty International targets waterboarding
The advertisement can be also be seen starting at 50 cinemas from next month and onwards.
Source : CNN

“Amnesty International is leading the campaign to persuade the US to abandon the practice — a form of torture used as long ago as the Spanish Inquisition — and is stepping up its efforts with the release of a graphic and disturbing advertisement.
Kate Allen, the UK director of Amnesty International, said: “Our film shows you what the CIA doesn’t want you to see — the disgusting reality of half-drowning a person.
“For a few seconds, our film-makers did it for real. Even for those few seconds, it’s horrifying to watch. The reality — in a secret prison with no one to stop it — is much, much worse.”

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Does Amnesty International care about how our soldiers that were taken were mutilated?
Does Amnesty International care about the beheadings of contractors and others from our country?
no ..No… NO! …Amnesty International could care less!

…Thank you Linda for the link.

Northwestern rescinds honorary degree offer to Rev. Wright
EVANSTON, Ill.

Northwestern University has withdrawn its offer of an honorary degree to the former pastor of Democrat Barack Obama.

A university official says the school had offered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Theology.
But vice president for university relations Alan Cubbage now says the offer has been rescinded because of the controversy surrounding Wright. He also says the school wants “to ensure that the celebratory character of commencement not be affected.”
Wright is the former senior minister at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. His criticisms of the United States have drawn criticism to Obama’s presidential campaign.
A phone call to Wright’s home wasn’t answered.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Bwahahahahahaha!
Hey Rev. Wright, your chickens are comin’ hommmmmmme toooooooooooooo roooooooooooooosssssssttttttt!
Like Obama, they were fine with it until everyone found out.

Clinton blasts Bush for project Bill OK’d
McClatchy Newspapers …for complete article
INDIANAPOLIS
Hillary Clinton loves to tell the story about how the Chinese government bought a good American company in Indiana, laid off all its workers and moved its critical defense technology work to China.
It’s a story with a dramatic, political ending. Republican President George W. Bush could have stopped it, but he didn’t.
If she were president, Clinton says, she’d fight to protect those jobs. It’s just the kind of talk that’s helping her win support from working-class Democrats worried about their jobs and paychecks, not to mention their country’s security.
What Clinton never includes in the oft-repeated tale is the role that prominent Democrats played in selling the company and its technology to the Chinese. She never mentions that big-time Democratic contributor George Soros helped put together the deal to sell the company or that the sale was approved by her husband’s administration.

In response, the Clinton campaign said that Bill Clinton’s administration had gotten assurances at the time it approved the deal that production would remain inside the United States, and that the shift of jobs to China didn’t occur until under the Bush administration.

“Hillary Clinton must have been hoping we Hoosiers have short memories,” Ed Dixon of Valparaiso said in a letter to a local newspaper after a recent Clinton visit. “Her husband was president at the time and allowed this to happen.”

“They would have us believe Bush was behind this sale,” added Fred Sliger of Valparaiso in another letter, “when in fact the Clinton administration rubber-stamped this along with the sale of numerous other high-tech secrets to the Chinese. …Let’s get the facts straight.”

McClatchy Newspapers …for complete article

Wild Thing’s comment……..
Hillary’s gears are slipping. She is forgetting that there are those of us out here that know that she is full of crap.
What I want to know is WHY we are allowing an enemy nation to purchase our corporations AT ALL.

“Former London Sunday Times correspondent James Adams wrote a book in which he described the Chinese success with the Clinton crowd as “an espionage coup of epic proportions.”

• According to the New York Times, Clinton removed $2 billion in trade with China from national security scrutiny. Among the results: 77 supercomputers – capable of 13 billion calculations per second – that could scramble and unscramble secret data and design nuclear weapons. These were purchased by the Chinese without a peep stateside. At least some of them would be used by the Chinese military.

Where was the retribution and punishment at the the discovery by Energy Department officials poring over Chinese nuclear weapons data that had the chill of a classic Cold War scandal: Beijing, possibly working through a sympathetic scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, had stolen the technology needed to miniaturize nuclear warheads, making it easier, in turn, to deploy missiles that could threaten the United States.”

….Thank you Lynn for this article and link.

A Detroit City Council special investigative session into a police whistle-blower lawsuit settlement erupted into a yelling match when President Pro Tem Monica Conyers made claims that she was being disrespected.
The argument began when Conyers asked an independent attorney who was testifying if the council could be sued by Detroit residents for approving the $8.4-million lawsuit settlement.
Councilwoman JoAnn Watson said: “They can sue you; I voted no.”
Conyers told Watson to stop interrupting and disrespecting her. She added: “We all know how you voted; you don’t have to keep repeating it.”
Moments later, Conyers interrupted Council President Ken Cockrel as he was questioning Carl Edwards, the Detroit attorney. Cockrel reminded Conyers that he had the floor and banged his gavel repeatedly.
Conyers railed: “You’re not my Daddy. You’re not going to disrespect me. Grow up! Control your house and learn how to treat women.”
Cockrel told Conyers that she was “one to talk.”
Conyers also made repeated mocking reference to Cockrel as Shrek, the green, grumpy and rotund ogre from the animated film.
As the council members yelled at each other, residents attending the hearings yelled, as well. “You’re disrespecting the citizens!” and “This is a shame!”
Cockrel took a quick recess to regain order before then breaking for lunch.

Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers get taken to the woodshed by an eight grader. Monica Conyers is the wife of Michigan Congressman, John Conyers.
That girl was great! Conyers trying to deflect back to the kid “haven’t you ever done that?” Girl: “But we are children, you are an adult!”
I think that girl proved herself more an adult then Conyers . LOL! The young girl Kierra certainly had her number — and she recognized the BS as it flowed. I loved the look on her face at the end of the clip!

Luis Miranda, deputy communications director for the Democratic National Committee, addresses a group of people rallying for Florida’s Democratic primary to be counted during a demonstration at DNC headquarters April 30, 2008 in Washington, DC.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
A small but very fired up group of Floridians rallied in the street outside the Democratic National Committee’s headquarters here today, demanding that their primary votes be counted and threatening to literally block the doors of the Democratic Convention if they aren’t.
Peacefully chanting “Florida Must Count!’ and “Count Our Votes!” while carrying placards and miniature Florida flags.

“We will shut down the convention!” exclaimed Rep. Corrine Brown. “If we are not seated, then nobody is going to be seated!”

Brown, a superdelegate pledged to Clinton, addressed a crowd of about 250 who had been bused up to D.C. from Florida this week under the auspices of LULAC, an Hispanic advocacy group. Though Brown and another super who spoke — Rep. Hilda Solis — are in the Clinton camp, organizers went out of their way to remove any hint that they favored one or the other Democrat in the race.

“We’re not supposed to talk about that,” confided Harriet Meltzer, 83, a member in good standing of the Del Ray Democratic Club, though she allowed that she was, in fact, a Clinton supporter. “What’s he going to do when he goes to the Middle East?” she asked of Obama, who she deems to be lacking in experience. “Charm them?”

But others were adamant that this was about right and wrong, not Obama and Clinton. “We’ve been robbed. I didn’t get a say,” said Glenda O’Laughlin of Clearwater. “This is a betrayal of our rights as citizens,” added Branford Fambro, also of Clearwater.

This is a civil liberties issue – not a campaign or candidate issue,” said Jose Fernandez, the Florida state coordinator for the League of United Latin American Citizens, speaking to the crowd.

Standing in the crowd, Fred Araque, 66, a truck driver from Spring Hill, Fla., pointed to his wife Adela, 65, and said, “She is for Hillary, and I am for Hillary.”

“I think most of the people here are for Hillary,” said Araque.

Protesters eventually turned their ire on Howard Dean, literally calling him out with taunting chants of, “Be a man, Howard!” and “Where is Howard!?”
After organizers went inside to meet with DNC officials, who they got outside to address the crowd was not Dean but Luis Miranda, deputy communications director for regional and specialty media.
His promise of Florida representation in Denver was greeted with shouts of “When?” and “How?”
He had no details to offer.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
LOL Gosh this is priceless!
Let’s see they have Superdelegates that can in one vote of their own take away an entire voting block of citizens. Then they have this stupid fight about Florida and Michigan just because of dates for primaries not making the DNC happy. Amazing!
And STILL these idiot democrat voters want to vote democrat. haha They must like to be abused by their party.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is a day that has been set aside for remembering the victims of the Holocaust and for reminding Americans of what can happen to civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign.
The Holocaust is not merely a story of destruction and loss; it is a story of an apathetic world and a few rare individuals of extraordinary courage. It is a remarkable story of the human spirit and the life that flourished before the Holocaust, struggled during its darkest hours, and ultimately prevailed as survivors rebuilt their lives.
It has been over 60 years since the Holocaust. To survivors, the Holocaust remains real and ever-present, but for some others, sixty years makes the Holocaust seem part of ancient history. Year-round we try to teach and inform others about the horrors of the Holocaust. We confront the questions of what happened? How did it happen? How could it happen? Could it happen again?
On April 12, 1951, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) proclaimed Yom Hashoah U’Mered HaGetaot (Holocaust and Ghetto Revolt Remembrance Day) to be the 27th of Nissan. The name later became known as Yom Hashoah Ve Hagevurah (Devastation and Heroism Day) and even later simplified to Yom Hashoah.
This year, the Yom Hashoah will be on May 1, 2008.

“And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial… an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.” ( Isaiah 56:5)
The Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial is the Jewish people’s memorial to the murdered six million and symbolizes the ongoing confrontation with the rupture engendered by the Holocaust. Most of the art were created in ghettos, hideouts, camps, on the run, in forests, and in places where one would consider artistic endeavor impossible. While some works of art were lost, thousands more were preserved, against all the odds.

Approximately 1.5 million Jewish children perished in the Holocaust. They are specially remembered in the Children’s Memorial, an underground cavern in which the flickering flames of memorial candles are reflected in an infinity of tiny lights within the prevailing darkness. Next to the Museum of Holocaust Art lies an auditorium. Inside are shoes… empty shoes of women, men, and children whose lives were destroyed simply because they were Jews. There’s a similar exhibit at the U.S. holocaust memorial museum in D.C.

This is the Holocaust Memorial in Miami, Florida. I saw this one the last time I was in Miami and it is something that stays in your soul.

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….Thank you SSgt. Steve for letting me know the date for Holocaust Remembrance Day.