From the Dallas Morning News, he’s filing a lawsuit over the fact that the dealer didn’t remove the decals as promised, and the poor guy has been getting death threats, etc. since…
It’s an interesting ‘trail’ as to how the truck made it all the way to Syria.
PPP was telling me one of their old ambulances is now in Africa, still in her company’s livery…
I was reminded there is a company out of India that apparently buys used medical ‘equipment’ and then resells it in various third world countries. I don’t know that ‘I’ would want to ride in one… Just sayin…
When one of my cousin’s daughters fell out of a tree and broke her arm in Uganda earlier this year, they wanted to send her by ambulance to Ethiopia. My cousin said they took one look at the ambulance, and hired a car and driver for the 28 hour round trip in a Land Rover.
He said it was slow and uncomfortable, but they got there and back in one piece.
I’m getting together with Murph and Proud Hillbilly at Hooters by the Dulles Gun show at noon on Sunday. Sorry for the short notice, and doing it on a Sunday, but I just got back off my last road trip.
Last chance for cheap shots at me… 🙂
We’re going to Wally World afterward and buy some toys for Toys for Tots.
If you can’t make it, I understand, and I’ve really enjoyed all the interactions with you folks local to the DC area. It’s been real, and has actually been FUN! We’re all part of the ‘tribe’ so to speak, and I will miss the shoots, gun show runs, and the dinners and lunches. Borepatch is coming to the area, and I’m sure he’ll fill my place and y’all will be better for it! 🙂
If y’all get down to Texas, you’re more than welcome!
Couldn’t get out the door without getting hooked one last time… Sigh…
Stopped off on the way south and I had to grab a quick lunch with LL from the Virtual Mirage. We pretty much decided we’re a couple of old dinosaurs who don’t play well with others in this politically correct environment today.
We also decided we were adrenalin junkies, based on our respective careers…LOL
Gotta admit he’s taken it to a new level, his new toy is a Ducati Diavel bike. It’s a damn beast!!!
Anyhoo, spent yesterday doing turnover with my relief, gave my last brief and slogged back to LAX. FIVE hours 15 minutes to go 113 miles… You folks that live on the left coast can KEEP this s**t… I thought it was bad in the late 90’s when I worked out here, but today it’s ridiculous!
I know I’m kinda beating the military drum this week, but if you have a bit of money to spare, or have a toy to donate, please remember Toys for Tots.
Started in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks, USMCR in Los Angeles, California. 5,000 toys collected during a campaign before Christmas 1947. The first toy is a handmade doll.
Today, they are up around 7 million toys a year donated to the program and delivered free to kids.
I put a baseball glove in. Can you spare a toy? Ladies, can you buy a toy for little girls? Us guys, well… We seem to be failures at buying for little girls.
What I’ve done in the past, was to have my kids and grandson pick out one toy each and I’d buy them and let them put the toy in the bin.
Or they will take a direct donation at their home page, HERE.
One last video from Saturday’s visit to the Tomb. This was a Boy Scout Troop laying a wreath.
Interestingly, the bugler is known as Sergeant ‘B’ for bugler, as it seems they almost never get the same bugler from the Army Band twice in a row. Also, you’ll note the Tomb Guard is in the ‘phone booth’. This is the only time s/he’s allowed to leave the mat during their walk.
Thanks to all who commented, and yes, it IS a worthy stop if you’re in DC.
This is from 2007, but still worth the couple of minutes…
The Navy Hymn, verses one and four.
Verse 1: Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 2: O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked’st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 3: Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Verse 4: O Trinity of love and power! Our brethren shield in danger’s hour; From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe’er they go; Thus evermore shall rise to Thee Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
A few survivors are left today, many in their late 90’s. All of them remember it as if it was yesterday…
I had never seen this color video, apparently it was ‘stored’ for almost 60 years…
It is up to us to never forget.
The attack on Pearl Harbor was the start of America’s entry into the war, first on Japan, then after Germany and Italy declared war on us, a true world war. HERE are memories of some of the Arizona survivors…
Don’t let PCism and revisionist history cause Pearl Harbor and WWII to fade from our history books. This was what the greatest generation gave their lives for. To keep America free, and defeat those who threatened our way of life.
Yesterday I was privileged to get a private tour of Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknowns by a former Tomb Guard and badge holder who did three years there.
This video is 7 minutes long, but shows the changing of the guard and the inspection.
If you noted the brown streaks in the marble, those are actually tracks worn in the marble by the countless thousands of changing of the guards over the years. The lighter streaks to each side are where the sergeant of the guard walks.
Everything is based on 21. 21 steps, 21 seconds, like a metronome. 30 minute shifts in the summer, 1 hour shifts in the fall, winter and spring. My guard did it 1967 times…
He, and all the other guards are also experts on Arlington in general and the Tomb in specific. Where select people are buried, when various things were built, how much it cost, and on and on. SEVENTEEN pages, single spaced of information. Four hundred pieces of information. And one chance to pass the test and get the Tomb Guard badge, minimum score required is a 98.
The amount of detail he still remembers fifteen years later is amazing, to put it mildly.
We were also allowed into the guard’s area beneath the Amphitheater, and I got a chance to meet some of the current crop of guards.
This is the sergeant of the guard’s ‘ready’ gear. The flag you see under the hat is that individual’s flag where they record the number of tours walked, and various other functions performed as sergeant of the guard. The holstered pistol is an M-9.
Here’s a closer picture of one. Note the wooden grips, inlaid with the Tomb Guard’s badge. These were donated by a gentleman as a way to thank the guards for what they do.
This is the ready locker of the next guard in rotation. The white bands are used to strap the white gloves on so that they don’t slip.
And this is one of the M-14’s carried by the tomb guards. Bonus points if you pick out what is different about this rifle.
One other thing, they do what they call the ‘three minute’ drill. If something happens ‘up top’ as they say, they can be in uniform and out the door in three minutes. Dressing is a team effort, it takes three guards to prep each one. Measuring emblems, belt stays, ensuring no irish pennants, no stray lint, etc.
Their uniforms are highly modified to allow them to be as perfectly presented as possible. Interestingly, the pants and blouse don’t match in color. This is due to the cavalry beginnings, and the fact that the cavalry seldom wore their blouses, hence the lighter color of the pants.
The shoes are also rather unusual, in that the soles are about an inch thick, and they have both heel and toe taps, in addition to taps on the inside heels of each shoe.
Sorry for the lousy picture, but this shows a fully uniformed guard, note the difference in color of the pants and blouse. The Tomb Guard Badge is the silver badge on the right blouse pocket. Only 622 of them exist. The medals you see in the display case to the left are medals earned in combat by former tomb guards.
And one last picture…
The story of this plain headstone is worth repeating. According to my guide, Audie Murphy did not want any ‘special’ headstone, apparently to the point that he didn’t even want the specific Medal of Honor tombstone that is available, with the medal etched in gold or the Medal of Honor mentioned on his stone. He got half of his wish.
And Murph, I did go by and put a nickle on Ras’ headstone.
