I don't drink and I love to hear the most interesting man pitch ads they rank up there with the Budweiser Clydesdale commercials.

 

They sure try real hard - DON'T THEY?

~Now if that rings any bells (*shows how old I am* NIPSEY RUSSEL: "Do THAT strike a FAMILIAR CHORD???") As an interesting observation - they go to a lot of trouble and expense to represent themselves as something you really - really want...


*At this point when I was last online - my computer choked (froze up) and I went to bed. It does that...

 

COASTIES and All Those Who Go Out to Sea:
(BOOK REPORT)

There is a book I ran across by Jon Nappa. It is a work of "Historical Fiction" in that it draws from real
people and their writings/memoirs to recreate what was the origin of the British Coast Guard.
It is the story of Lionel Lukin (a coach maker by trade) who invented the English Lifeboat, and their
Lifeboat Crews.

The name of the book is: STORM WARRIORS.
It is a truly rivetting read.

The story is a knock-down knuckle busting adventure tale that I give FIVE STARS to. Regardless if you
are a weekend sailor, or a professional mariner - this book is a must have and a must read.

I couldn't put it down... I ripped through the whole thing in a single day, and wanted more

Published by NAVPRESS
It came out in 2008 - so it is still relatively new.

It is the first of a two book series - but the second book is a completely seperate story. The first is complete in and of itself.

The second is the story of the REVIVAL of life saving at sea and concerns Sir William Hillary, after the life boat cause suffered serious setbacks

The work is pre-dated by the book:
"Storm Warriors: or Life Boat Work on the Goodwin Sands"
by Reverend John Gilmore
Published by McMillan & Co, London in 1875


~I found my copy in a dollar store, believe it or not
Wolfie

PS: The Goodwin Sands are a largish sand bar formation off of Ramsgate England in the English Channel. To this very day one of the most heavily trafficked sea lanes in the world

 

Band of Brothers books: How T.I. Miller Healed

 

Another "COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN AFTER THE FIRST PAGE"

Story of an English Sniper platoon in Iraq, and the true one...

We tend to think of desert storm, and the other combats around seem to be submerged. THAT book is the ONE-ON-ONE account of British Sniper Sgt. Dan Mills, and has everything right in it

It raises many points, and ideas, also ethical considerations.

But you can't mistake it for anything but the real deal
(sorry I couldn't find a better link than a bookseller)

IT IS NOT fiction.
If you object to foul language don't go there....

At risk of exposing myself as the REMF I am:
Sgt. Dan Mills is all of that and a bag of chips!


AT1 J. USN,
Rear Echelon Mother (F)er, RET'd

"NEVER FORGET THE PEOPLE ON THE FRONT LINES!"

 

 

Leading up to this story, in a nutshell:

In the late 80's, I was discharged from the USMC under a medical (honorable) due to having been found unfit for active duty by the PEB. Diagnosis was Bi-Lat PFPS (blew my knees out.)

Recently I moved to an area where I have my aunt and step-uncle; cousin and her family; and my 86-year old grandmother...

My uncle came to visit recently - he's an Air Force veteran from the Vietnam era...

Now, I consider myself to be moderate in my political views, but both my grandmother and my uncle can only be described as "Liberals" - My grandma thinks Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread... I don't happen to agree...

I get invited over for a "Fish Fry" - my Polish uncle-in-law is a fine cook so, I agree to come over. As soon as I get over there, I get waylaid by my uncle, whom I haven't seen in years, and don't really have any reason to see, and I get a lecture (in front of everybody, mind you) about how I should be going through the local VFW hall in order to get through the VA in claiming what little bit of "disability" I should have been getting since 1987... I've already gone through all this before so, I already know it's a lost battle...

This has my grandmother written all over it and everyone there knew it. It took every bit of self control in order for me to restrain myself - I was fighting a migraine that morning and did not need that to happen...

Here's how I see it:

I blew my knees out because of biological/genetic issues. I am not permanently disabled nor am I incapable - It just didn't work out well for me being that I was Infantry... the knees don't work as they should some days, but it's manageable... The cartilage has actually grown back and seems to have healed itself, to some degree...

There are those who have had their legs blown completely off their bodies...

What right do I have to to claim any kind of "disability" when there are so many others more deserving of those funds and resources than I am?

How do I explain that to people like my uncle or grandmother?

Am I wrong?

 

ATTENTION FANS IN THE FORT SAM HOUSTON AREA! ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH B NEGATIVE BLOOD!!! This was sent to us by our friends at F'N BOOT and has been verified!

A 22-year-old service member is currently being treated at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston for severe IED blast and burn injuries received in Afghanistan; he is in urgent need of B Negative blood. Only 2% of the population have this blood type.

Because of the extent of his injuries and numerous surgeries those injuries will require, it is estimated that he will need 40 to 50 units of blood each week.

The Akeroyd Blood Donor Center at Fort Sam Houston is asking all service members, family members, DOD civilians and retirees with B Negative blood type to please contact the center at (210) 295-4655 or Mark Salcedo at mark.t.salvedo.civ@mail.mil. The center is open Monday - Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon for walk-ins.

SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

I just want to say the outpouring of support for the Soldier in need of blood is awesome. The post has reached more than half a million people since we posted it earlier. I am sure the clinic is going to be overwhelmed in the morning with those willing to give their blood.

Looking at the comments on the status, and reading your email responses makes it more than an honor to run this page and be among some of the greatest fans on Facebook. It is times like these that make the hours upon hours I spend on here and the website more than worth it.

I want to say thank you, you are what makes America! You are the reason our country is the greatest on earth!

 

I've been trying to post a video and keep getting the wrong item.

 

Well done! I salute that -
Q: If other types of blood are donated, can they be considered in trade for the rare one?

Terry, all I can say is that the right to make your own choice is yours alone. I could have chased a number of VA issues myself, but there seems to be little enough to go around for those truly in need.

I keep thinking of that old Tom Cruise movie "Born in the USA", and how crappy the wards looked. If I can take care of myself, and that leaves extra for others - I too am happy with it.
Certainly nothing I have going on is life threatening, and a lot of it is probably my own fault.

 

Speaking of books, I read a book named "Iron Coffins" back in the early 80's while serving aboard my first submarine. It's a harrowing story of Germany's WWII U-boat campaign, it's victories and it's ultimate decline and failure.

 

Any vets looking for garden seeds to make a victory garden with - I'm harvesting seeds now for a lot of stuff, and will keep you posted.

I hope to have a whole truckload of heritage LARGE tomato's (weeks seeds) as soon as I have a couple more ripe big ones.

It makes sense to share the seeds of veggies that grow the best for us - because then we can reduce our commissary bills

*I'm getting a lot of fennel and Genovese Basil seeds even as I type this on here. The Basil is the most aromatic I ever grew...

 

Hey Dutch, things are getting colder here now. I've been wanting to build some elevated garden beds (I got the idea from the Boise VAMC garden area) for my wife. Tomato, Fennel, and Basil sounds like the beginning of a great salad to me.

I haven't done much gardening in a long while now, but wouldn't mind starting up again. How much you looking to get for the seeds? I'd rather get them from another veteran, instead of going to nursery.

 

I've been spending some time at the Boise VA Medical Center (VAMC) in the Radiology Department. I got the Work-Study position I wanted. Yea me!

Today was my first "official" day, but it was actually my second day of work. I am having a BLAST working with these veterans.

 

Has anyone else gotten a letter from the VA informing them that, if they are enrolled in the VA Health Care System, they are exempt from the ACA (Obamacare)?
My letter arrived yesterday.