http://www.politicollision.com Working to Restore the Constitutional Republic Tue, 21 May 2013 19:38:40 EDT en http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=world-war-ii-vet-gets-shot-at-graduation
Bailey Jo Bartlome and other Kuna High seniors conspired to make sure he got it.

Jones, now 88, went from a farm at Black Cat and Columbia roads to the Pacific theater and into banking. ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 19:38:40 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 12 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=world-war-ii-vet-gets-shot-at-graduation http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=the-mayaguez-incident-a-farewell
On May 12 of that year, the USS Mayaguez was traveling in international waters bound for Thailand when Khmer swift boats fired on the ship with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, forcing it to stop. Before being boarded by 20 heavily armed soldiers, however, the crew was able to broadcast SOS and mayday calls picked up by a nearby ship.

Word of the hostage situation quickly reached Washington ]]> Tue, 21 May 2013 02:19:34 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 12 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=the-mayaguez-incident-a-farewell http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=remembrance-day-canada By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. ]]> Mon, 20 May 2013 22:59:44 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 13 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=remembrance-day-canada http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=letters-from-navy-founding-father-rediscovered
For example, Jones, as a founding father of the Navy, was quite vocal about the quality of leaders needed at the time.

“I am determined never to draw my sword under the command of any man, who was not in the Navy, as early as myself, unless he hath merited a preference by his Superior Services and abilities,” Jones writes in one of 11 letters housed at the Charleston Library Society in South Carolina. ]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 18:47:16 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 15 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=letters-from-navy-founding-father-rediscovered http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=marine-daughter-seeks-dignity-for-devil-dog-pups
Like Blakely, many of those buried in this lonely section of Onslow Memorial Park known as "Babyland" were the children of Marines stationed down the road at Camp Lejeune. How many of these fellow "Devil Dog pups," she wondered, died because they or their pregnant mothers had swallowed or bathed in the base's toxic water?

"These are my peers," she cried as cars and trucks rushed by on busy U.S. 258 one recent blustery day. "I'm a Marine Corps brat. And this could be me."

The 49-year-old homemaker lived on the southeast North Carolina base during the 1960s and '70s — at a time when levels of certain cancer-causing chemicals were among the highest ever recorded in a public drinking water supply.

Federal health investigators have been studying the effects of those chemicals for two decades now. After numerous fits and starts, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hopes to issue a long-delayed study on birth defects and childhood cancers later this spring.

In mid-January, Blakely traveled to the agency's Atlanta headquarters, where she handed over two plastic tubs containing 2,500 death certificates.

It may be impossible to know how many — if any — of those deaths were due to the poison in Lejeune's water. But Blakely wanted to make sure that the occupants of this and other babylands would not be forgotten.

"Most of them would have grown up and become Marines," Blakely told the health officials gathered there, her voice trembling with emotion. "All we want is the truth." ]]> Sun, 19 May 2013 00:08:27 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 15 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=marine-daughter-seeks-dignity-for-devil-dog-pups http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=-marine-reunited-with-dog-he-handled-in-afghanistan-in-surprise-ceremony-
"I promised her if we made it out of alive, I'd do whatever it took to find her," Gundlach said.

On Friday, he made good on that vow with help from some sentimental state officials in Iowa who know how to pull off a surprise.

Since leaving active duty to take classes at the University of Wisconsin this summer, Gundlach, of Madison, Wis., had been seeking to adopt 4-year-old Casey.

The 25-year-old learned Casey had finished her military service and had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, where she was used to detect explosives.

Gundlach wrote to State Fire Marshal Director Ray Reynolds, explaining the connection he felt with the dog. He even has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting Casey with angel wings and a halo, sitting at the foot of a Marine.

"He's been putting a case together for the last two months, sending me pictures ... it just tugged on your heart," Reynolds said.

Reynolds decided to arrange a surprise. First, he got in touch with the Iowa Elk's Association, which agreed to donate $8,500 to buy another dog for the agency.

"We have a motto in our association that as long as there are veterans, the Elks will strive to help them,"


]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 17:41:03 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 12 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=-marine-reunited-with-dog-he-handled-in-afghanistan-in-surprise-ceremony- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=iphones-ipads-get-pentagon-approval-for-military-use-
The U.S. Department of Defense gave its approval Friday to Apple's mobile devices that run iOS 6, giving the Cupertino, Calif., company its first opportunity to have a role in U.S. military information systems, Mac Observer reported.

The department issued a Security Technical Implementation Guide, clearing the way for iOS 6 devices to "connect to Defense Department networks within current mobility pilots or the future mobile device management framework."

After years of limiting itself to BlackBerry devices, the Pentagon has moved to offer military personnel more choices in the devices they use.

In addition to BlackBerry and, now, Apple devices, the Pentagon has approved Samsung devices running a version of Android hardened with add-on "Knox" software.

Currently, the Department of Defense has deployed more than 600,000 mobile devices; 470,000 BlackBerry devices, 41,000 Apple devices and another 8,700 Android devices.

]]> Sat, 18 May 2013 01:23:57 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=iphones-ipads-get-pentagon-approval-for-military-use- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=urban-combat-hits-three-states-over-nine-days-
Marine Expeditionary Units like the 13th and 26th provide a sea-based rapid-response force all over the world. These task forces are called on for crisis response, reinforcing embassies, amphibious and other operations, as well as humanitarian aid, supporting evacuations and disaster relief.

In Realistic Urban Training (frequently called RUT) they're taken out of their comfort zone, often placed in unfamiliar environments and required to overcome a series of realistic challenges that they may encounter in combat. It involves a combination of aviation, ground combat and logistics applied to urban warfare, meant to prepare the “Fighting 13th" for deployment this fall to the western Pacific.

These exercises give them an opportunity to refine individual skills -- close-quarters battle training, for example, using explosives to breach doors and non-lethal and live fire.

During the tasks, Marines also get the chance to work on small unit tactics through to company and higher-level command and control.

To succeed in this exercise, the unit must combine command, air, ground and support assets to perform a wide range of missions, from combat to humanitarian assistance:


]]> Fri, 17 May 2013 18:02:27 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=urban-combat-hits-three-states-over-nine-days- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=glock-donates-100000-to-special-operations-warrior-foundation
Those attending the ceremony included Josh Dorsey, GLOCK Vice President; retired Air Force Col. John T. Carney Jr., and Tricia Simmons, the surviving spouse of Army Master Sgt. Shawn Simmons who lost his life in Afghanistan in 2008 while assigned to the 7th Special Forces Group. Simmons’ son, Justin, 15, will be receiving funds for a college education through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

“GLOCK, Inc. is proud to continue its support of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation with our annual donation,” shared Dorsey. “We are tremendously grateful for the sacrifice and dedication of the armed forces, and relish the opportunity to contribute to honoring the men and women on the front lines.”

This year’s donation brings GLOCK’s total contribution to $800,000.

“We are deeply appreciative of the men and women at GLOCK,” said John T. Carney Jr. “These funds will go a long way to providing a quality college education for the children of fallen special operations heroes.” ]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 16:20:55 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 16 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=glock-donates-100000-to-special-operations-warrior-foundation http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=us-navy-tests-anti-mine-drones-in-gulf-drills-
The U.S.-led exercises, which began last week, include operations by the unmanned SeaFox devices, which are equipped with sonar and an explosive charge designed to shoot and destroy mines. It is part of the Navy's plans to increasingly deploy automated surveillance and protection systems, including aerial drones.

Navy commanders insist the exercises, comprising more than 41 nations, are not intended solely against possible Iranian threats. But Iran has previously warned it could block critical Gulf oil routes in retaliation for Western sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program.

In apparent response to the U.S.-led drills, Iran last week staged its own minesweeping operations.

The information surfaced one day after a drone the size of a fighter jet took off from the deck of an American aircraft carrier for the first time in a test flight that could eventually open the way for the U.S. to launch unmanned aircraft from just about any place in the world.

]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 15:57:54 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 13 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=us-navy-tests-anti-mine-drones-in-gulf-drills- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=army-chief-of-staff-describes-force-of-the-future-
“Throughout time, our Army has been given one major mission, and that is to win our nation’s wars,” said 38th Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno. “We are not going to walk away from that … but we have to do more. We have to be able to shape other areas around the world to prevent conflict, so we don’t have to go to war.”

During several engagements with 1st Infantry Division Soldiers and Family members, the general described the force of the future as “globally responsive and regionally engaged,” meaning that units will have the ability to deploy specially tailored units anywhere in the world on short notice to meet whatever the need might be.

Those needs, Odierno said, will not necessarily involve a combat situation.

Going forward, units will be “regionally engaged” and deployed to train and build partnerships, with the ultimate goal of providing countries within their region the tools they need to secure themselves and bring stability to what the general called, “the most uncertain security environment he has seen in his 37-year Army career.”

The globally responsive, regionally engaged concept is already being put into practice within the “Big Red One,” with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, the Army’s first Regionally Aligned Force. Since the “Dagger” Brigade was aligned with U.S. Army Africa in late spring this year, Soldiers have deployed to countries throughout Africa to train partner security forces on everything from logistics to noncommissioned officer education.

“This is the kind of work we will see during the next few years,” Odierno said. ]]> Thu, 16 May 2013 04:42:38 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 16 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=army-chief-of-staff-describes-force-of-the-future- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=iranian-ship-pulls-up-for-a-closer-look-at-us-led-exercise-in-gulf Wed, 15 May 2013 21:04:11 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=iranian-ship-pulls-up-for-a-closer-look-at-us-led-exercise-in-gulf http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=emotional-documentary-honor-flight-thanks-wwii-veterans-for-their-service
Directed by Dan Hayes, the poignant film chronicles a Midwest community racing against the clock to fly thousands of veterans to Washington, DC to see the memorial constructed for them in 2004, decades after their epic battle. In particular, “Honor Flight” highlights four former servicemen: Stars and Stripes Honor Flight Ambassador Joe Demler, Orville Lemke who fights to hold off terminal cancer to make the trip, 89-year-old poet Julian Plaster and Harvey Kurtz, who saw the iconic flag go up at Iwo Jima.

“It was important to make this film to educate Americans on the amazing lives of the greatest generation and create awareness for the efforts of the Honor Flight Network non-profit, which flies veterans to see the memorial built in their honor,” director Hayes told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “These ‘Honor Flights’ are often the first time they’ve been thanked and the last trip of their lives. The 24-hour journey is full of surprises that deeply move all who are involved.”

And for veteran Demler, it was one of the best – albeit emotional – days of his life.


]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 19:40:02 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=emotional-documentary-honor-flight-thanks-wwii-veterans-for-their-service http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=the-few-the-proud-the-tortoises-marines-protect-endangered-species-
The troops were "running up the hill and firing at targets," Mr. Henen said. "Some of the tortoises like the hill also. The Marines don't want to hurt the tortoise, so they call us and we go in and move it."

Mr. Henen, who has a doctorate in biology, is part of a little-known army of biologists and other scientists who manage the Mojave desert tortoise and about 420 other threatened and endangered species on about 28 million acres of federally managed military land.

"There's a lot of people who don't recognize the amount of conservation the Marine Corps does," said Martin Husung, a natural-resource specialist on the base. "A lot of people think we're just running over things." ]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 16:43:34 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 15 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=the-few-the-proud-the-tortoises-marines-protect-endangered-species- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=navy-launches-unmanned-aircraft-from-carrier-for-first-time-
Called the X-47B, the drone is considered particularly valuable because it's the first that is designed specifically to take off and land on an aircraft carrier, allowing it to be used around the world without needing the permission of other countries to serve as a home base.

There has been increasing pushback against the use of drones from some nations that say the strikes cause widespread civilian deaths and operate with only limited oversight, eroding the U.S. image overseas. Navy officials say the drone will provide around-the-clock intelligence, surveillance and targeting capabilities.
]]> Wed, 15 May 2013 16:38:37 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=navy-launches-unmanned-aircraft-from-carrier-for-first-time- http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=why-the-battle-of-gettysburg-still-captures-our-imaginations-150-years-later
At Gettysburg in 1863, more than 160,000 Americans in blue and gray grappled with each other in a life-and-death struggle — not just for themselves, but for the two nations they represented. For the troops of General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army, the struggle might have determined whether the South would win independence and nationhood; for the soldiers of General George Meade’s Federal army, the battle determined the fate and future of the American Union.
]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 22:59:56 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 12 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=why-the-battle-of-gettysburg-still-captures-our-imaginations-150-years-later http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=warriors-sustaining-warriors
Marines with Headquarters and Service Company, 2nd Maintenance Battalion, 2nd Marine Logistics Group participated in a field training exercise, or FEX, here May 7 through 10.

Approximately 70 Marines with the company trained for patrols, firefights and improvised explosive device, or IED, detection.

“[HqSvc. Co.] is mostly made up of supply and maintenance Marines,” said Staff Sgt. Jose D. Gonzalez, the company’s chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense chief. “[We] rarely get to [use basic Marine skills] because we mostly just do [administration] jobs during field exercises. This shows the Marines there is definitely more to the Marine Corps than just turning wrenches.”

Approximately 20 Marines from the company were chosen to train with .50-caliber M2 machine guns, which they plan to use in future deployments. Three Marines with 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division taught the HqSvc. Co. Marines the basics of firing the machine guns. ]]> Tue, 14 May 2013 19:01:10 EDT JAFO Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=warriors-sustaining-warriors http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=free-to-veterans-weeklong-vacation-by-the-bay
Phoebe's Cottage, tucked away on Robbins Hill Road and a five-minute walk from the beach, could be a veteran's dream come true.

Pamela Lloyd-Baker, a Brewster resident, came up with the idea of building the cottage as a way to give back to veterans and their families. Once work is complete, she plans to offer them a free week of respite at the cottage, located just a few hundred feet from Cape Cod Bay. ]]> Mon, 13 May 2013 02:50:59 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 15 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=free-to-veterans-weeklong-vacation-by-the-bay http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=mother%E2%80%99s-day-blessings-with-heart-from-gold-star-marine-mom It is everyday that my family and I honor Aaron’s life: he was truly a “Beacon” in this world. These times we live in, there has been too many of our “WHITE KNIGHTS” Men of Honor and Valor lost to the consequences of war, stellar life snuffed out as payment toward a hidden “AGENDA”. ]]> Sun, 12 May 2013 19:18:42 EDT dtwentytwenty Military & Vets 17 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=mother%E2%80%99s-day-blessings-with-heart-from-gold-star-marine-mom http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=nd-army-national-guard-soldiers-deploying- Sat, 11 May 2013 17:57:16 EDT gbudavid Military & Vets 14 http://www.politicollision.com/story.php?title=nd-army-national-guard-soldiers-deploying-