Despite $300 Million/6 Year “Optimism” Campaign Army Morale Is In The Dumper

Army Morale Low Despite 6-Year, $287M Optimism Program

 

 

 

 

” More than half of some 770,000 soldiers are pessimistic about their future in the military and nearly as many are unhappy in their jobs, despite a six-year, $287 million campaign to make troops more optimistic and resilient, findings obtained by USA TODAY show.

  Twelve months of data through early 2015 show that 403,564 soldiers, or 52%, scored badly in the area of optimism, agreeing with statements such as “I rarely count on good things happening to me.” Forty-eight percent have little satisfaction in or commitment to their jobs.

  The results stem from resiliency assessments that soldiers are required to take every year. In 2014, for the first time, the Army pulled data from those assessments to help commanders gauge the psychological and physical health of their troops.

  The effort produced startlingly negative results. In addition to low optimism and job satisfaction, more than half reported poor nutrition and sleep, and only 14% said they are eating right and getting enough rest.

  The Army began a program of positive psychology in 2009 in the midst of two wars and as suicide and mental illness were on the rise. To measure resiliency the Army created a confidential, online questionnaire that all soldiers, including the National Guard and Reserve, must fill out once a year.

— Forty-eight percent or about 370,000 soldiers showed a lack of commitment to their job or would have chosen another if they had it to do over again. Only 28% felt good about what they do.

— About 300,000 soldiers or nearly 40% didn’t trust their immediate supervisor or fellow soldiers in their unit or didn’t feel respected or valued. Thirty-two percent felt good about about bosses and peers.”

 

USA Today

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Bergdahl Charged With Desertion , Obama Unrepentant Over Terrorist Trade

The Bergdahl Desertion

 

 

 

 

” The United States Army intends to charge Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl with desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. That was Wednesday’s news, but the bigger story is the extravagant price the U.S. has paid because President Obama wanted to score political points.

  Readers will recall that then-Private First Class Bergdahl went missing from his post in Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan in June 2009. Fellow soldiers suspected desertion, though the Army conducted a risky manhunt to recover him. The sergeant was quickly captured by the Taliban and held for five years.

  The Associated Press has reported that an internal Pentagon investigation in 2010 found “incontrovertible” evidence that he had walked away from his post. Journalists also uncovered an exchange of letters in which the soldier wrote to his father “the title of U.S. soldier is just the lie of fools,” that he was “ashamed to even be american,” and that “the future is too good to waste on lies.” Replied father Robert: “OBEY YOUR CONSCIENCE!” “

 

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Army Cronyism Results In Halt To M4 Replacement Trials

Army Quits Tests After Competing Rifle Outperforms M4A1 Carbine

 

 

 

 

” A competing rifle outperformed the Army’s favored M4A1 carbine in key firings during a competition last year before the service abruptly called off the tests and stuck with its gun, according to a new confidential report.

  The report also says the Army changed the ammunition midstream to a round “tailored” for the M4A1 rifle. It quoted competing companies as saying the switch was unfair because they did not have enough time to fire the new ammo and redesign their rifles before the tests began.

  Exactly how the eight challengers — and the M4 — performed in a shootout to replace the M4, a soldier’s most important personal defense, has been shrouded in secrecy.

  But an “official use only report” by the Center for Naval Analyses shows that one of the eight unidentified weapons outperformed the M4 on reliability and on the number of rounds fired before the most common type of failures, or stoppages, occurred, according to data obtained by The Washington Times. “

 

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New Document Release Details Army Plans For War On Unarmed Citizenry

Document: Army Preparing To Use Lethal Force Against “Unarmed Civilians” During “Full Scale Riots” In U.S.

 

 

 

 

 

” A document released by the U.S. Army details preparations for “full scale riots” within the United States during which troops may be forced to engage in a “lethal response” to deal with unruly crowds of demonstrators.

  The appearance of the document amidst growing unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, with the National Guard now being called in to deal with the disorder, is an ominous coincidence.

  The 132-page document, titled U.S. Army Techniques Publication 3-39.33: Civil Disturbances (PDF), was written in April 2014 and recently obtained by Public Intelligence.

  The document makes it clear that the techniques detailed therein are to be applied both outside and inside the “continental United States (CONUS)” in the event of “unruly and violent crowds” where it is “necessary to quell riots and restore public order.”

  The training manual outlines scenarios under which, “Civil unrest may range from simple, nonviolent protests that address specific issues, to events that turn into full-scale riots.”

  The most shocking aspect of the document is the fact that it describes the deployment of a “lethal response” directed against “unarmed civilians,” including “sniper response” and “small arms direct fire.”

  Under the heading “sniper response,” the document states, “Ensure that target leaders or troublemakers are targeted,” in addition to a passage which states, “Exploit the psychological effect of an attack.” “

   This is exactly why the Founder’s feared the creation of a standing army  . Download and save the entire PDF document here …

” Whenever people…entrust the defense of their country to a regular, standing army, composed of mercenaries, the power of that country will remain under the direction of the most wealthy citizens…” – “A Framer” in the independent gazetteer, 1791″ 

Read more

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Army To Force Out 550 Majors Including Battlefield Commanders

Army To Force Out 550 Majors; Some In Afghanistan

 

 

 

” About 550 Army majors, including some serving in Afghanistan, will soon be told they have to leave the service by next spring as part of a budget-driven downsizing of the service.

  Gen. John Campbell, the vice chief of the Army, acknowledged Friday that telling troops in a war zone that they’re out of a job is a difficult task. But he said some of the soldiers could join the National Guard or the Army Reserve.

  The decision to cut Army majors comes on the heels of a move to slash nearly 1,200 captains from the ranks. Army leaders were criticized at the time for giving 48 of them the bad news while they were deployed to Afghanistan.

  The Army declined to say how many majors will be notified while they are at the battlefront.

” The ones that are deployed are certainly the hardest,” Campbell told reporters. “What we try to do there is, working through the chain of command, minimize the impact to that unit and then maximize the time to provide to that officer to come back and do the proper transition, to take care of himself or herself, and the family.” “

 

 

 

More here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Another Shooting , Another Medicated Murderer

Army Admits Fort Hood Shooter Was On Psychiatric Drugs

 

 

 

 

 

 

” Lt. Gen. Mark A. Milley acknowledged that Fort Hood gunman Ivan Lopez was taking psychiatric medication before the shooting, underscoring yet again the clear and consistent connection between mass shooting incidents and SSRI drugs.

“ Was he on any sort of medications….SSRI’s, anti-depressants, anything of that nature,” an Infowars reporter asked Milley, to which the General responded, “He was on medications that’s correct.”

  In a subsequent report, officials also admitted that Lopez had been prescribed Ambien, a sleeping pill associated with accidents and aggressive outbursts.

  34-year-old Lopez, who shot dead three colleagues and injured 16 others before turning the gun on himself, returned from Iraq suffering from “mental problems,” according to officials.

  The obvious link between psychiatric drugs and violent outbursts is a common theme that crops up in almost every mass shooting incident, yet the media is routinely loathe to make the connection.

  After it emerged that Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis “had been treated…. by the Veterans Administration for his mental problems,” the press showed little interest in discovering what drugs Alexis had been taking. The only medication currently offered by the VA for mental problems are SSRI drugs.

  Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was also taking anti-depressant drugs when he massacred 16 Afghan civilians in 2012. SSRI medication, which is known to cause violent outbursts, is routinely used to treat PTSD, which goes some way to explain why there are so many stories about both active duty and returning troops carrying out acts of inexplicable violence on a regular basis.”

Continue reading

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Meet Rachel Washburn … Role Model

You Know What I Love?

 

Rachel went from this :

 

 

 

 

” I love it when I see a story about a chick who’s a good role model for young girls.  One who’s not naked on a wrecking ball and licking a mallet like an idiot.” 

 

 

To this :

 

 

 

 

” Take Rachel Washburn, age 25, a Philadelphia Eagles former cheerleader:

  Rachel was an Eagles cheerleader from 2007 to 2009 while she was also a student at Drexel University.  She graduated, joined the Army, did paratrooper training, and has now served two tours in Afghanistan as an Army intelligence officer.  “She’s a 1st lieutenant based out of Fort Stewart, Ga., served as part of a Cultural Support Team designed to attach women to existing special ops units with the express purpose of relating more effectively to local women.”

 

 

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AR15 M16 Operation And Functioning Cycle

Cool Old Video From The US Army

 

 

Published on Jun 22, 2012

” US Army film detailing the operation and function of Eugene Stoner’s AR15/M16 rifle design.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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FBI : Anonymous Regularly Hacking Into Government Data

Report: FBI Warns Of US Govt Breaches Linked To Anonymous Hackers

 

 

 

” In a memo it distributed this week, the FBI warned that a breach of US government systems was “a widespread problem that should be addressed,” according to a Reuters report.

Activist hackers linked to the collective known as Anonymous have secretly accessed U.S. government computers in multiple agencies and stolen sensitive information in a campaign that began almost a year ago, the FBI warned this week.

The hackers exploited a flaw in Adobe Systems Inc’s software to launch a rash of electronic break-ins that began last December, then left “back doors” to return to many of the machines as recently as last month, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said in a memo seen by Reuters.

The memo, distributed on Thursday, described the attacks as “a widespread problem that should be addressed.” It said the breach affected the U.S. Army, Department of Energy, Department of Health and Human Services, and perhaps many more agencies.”

 

We Are Anonymous

We Are Legion

We Do Not Forgive

We Do Not Forget

Expect Us

 

 

 

 

 

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Capt. William Swenson To Be Awarded Medal Of Honor Today

Long Wait Ends This Week As Swenson Receives Medal of Honor

 

 

” It’s sadly fitting that William Swenson’s Medal of Honor ceremony at the White House on Tuesday has been overshadowed by the government shutdown and the looming debt ceiling crisis.

That’s because Swenson’s heroism at the Battle of Ganjgal in September 2009 has already been overshadowed by the mistakes of his superiors and bureaucratic delays. The former soldier waited more than four years for his recognition, much to the chagrin of his friends and military advocates.”

 

 

 

 

” Swenson, who left the Army in 2011, is the sixth living Medal of Honor recipient for action in Afghanistan, and the second for that fight in the Ganjgal Valley. Former Marine Dakota Meyer was awarded the medal two years ago for his part of that fight, dodging gunfire in another part of the steep terrain before meeting up with Swenson for the final push against the enemy.”

 

 

 

 

” Swenson declined media interviews in the lead-up to the White House ceremony and has been mostly silent since the battle. In an Army release, he called the medal an honor for “those I served with” and “my family and my teammates.” “

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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TALOS Suit Will Give Soldiers “Iron Man” Capabilities

US Army Plans ‘Iron Man’ Armor For Soldiers

 

 

” The US Army is working to develop “revolutionary” smart armor that would give its troops “superhuman strength”.

It is calling on the technology industry, government labs and academia to help build the Iron Man-style suit.

Other exoskeletons that allow soldiers to carry large loads much further have already been tested by the army.

The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (Talos) would have such a frame but would also have layers of smart materials fitted with sensors.” 

 

 

Here is a video from a demonstration held in July 2013 . 

 

 

 

 

” This video is a recap of the July Demonstration for the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS). This demonstration has led to the following press release from USSOCOM about the TALOS Broad Area Announcement (BAA).

USSOCOM Seeks Ideas for Advanced Assault Suit Development

Tampa, Fla.–U.S. Special Operations Command issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for proposals and research in support of the development of Tactical Light Operator Suit (TALOS) TALOS is a USSOCOM effort to provide special operation forces (SOF) with enhanced mobility and protection technologies in a fully integrated assault suit. Some of the potential technologies planned for TALOS research and development include advanced armor, command and control computers, power generators, and enhanced mobility exoskeletons.

“USSOCOM is interested in receiving white papers from a wide variety of sources, not just traditional military industry but also from academia, entrepreneurs, and laboratories capable of providing the design, construction, and testing of TALOS related technologies,” said Jim Geurts, USOCOM acquisition executive. “The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative TALOS capabilities to the SOF operator.”
The BAA goal is to foster collaboration with government, academia, and industry representatives on the TALOS effort. Prior studies and analysis have determined a number of technical challenges exist for the SOF equipment that require improvements for missions into the future. Those challenges include trade space between weight, protection, power, and mobility, cost, and system component integration
BAA will remain open until September 3, 2014. 

For more information on the the TALOS BAA, go to: 

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportuni… .”

 

 

 

    And here is another video of the TALOS system , this time from a gamer’s eye view .

 

 

        This revolutionary new combat system is in it’s infancy and the publicity is provided by the Army in an effort to get private industry to step up with the most needed technological advances necessary to make “Iron Man” a reality on the battlefield .

    While we relish the idea of giving our soldiers every possible advantage on the field of battle , one must also realize that , that which makes the State more powerful against it’s foreign enemies can also be used against it’s enemies on the domestic front . Drones anyone ?

Or perhaps Robocop ?

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Government Sponsored War Against Our Rights Continues To Expand … Prosecuting Soldiers For Their Political Beliefs

Soldier Who Read Conservative Books Now Faces Charges

 

 

 

 

” A member of the U.S. Army Band who said he was reprimanded for having anti-Obama bumper stickers on his personal car, serving Chick-fil-A sandwiches at a party and reading books written by conservative authors like Sean Hannity is now facing Article 15 charges – which cropped up shortly after he went public with his complaints.

Master Sgt. Nathan Sommers, a decorated soloist with the Army Band, is being charged under a federal law that permits commanding officers to conduct non-judicial proceedings for minor offenses.”

 

 

 

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• UNBELIEVABLE! Soldier Told Not to Read Levin, Limbaugh or Hannity in Uniform (thelastgreatstand.com)

 

 

 

 

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The M16 (Assault Rifle) – Modern Marvels – History Channel Documentary

” The M16 rifle, officially designated Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16, is the United States military version of the AR-15 rifle. The rifle was adapted for semi-automatic, three-round burst, and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. The rifle entered United States Army service and was deployed for jungle warfare operations in South Vietnam in 1963, becoming the U.S. military’s standard service rifle of the Vietnam War by 1969, replacing the M14 rifle in that role. The U.S. Army retained the M14 in CONUS, Europe, and South Korea until 1970. Since the Vietnam War, the M16 rifle family has been the primary service rifle of the U.S. armed forces.

The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the world. Total worldwide production of M16s has been approximately 8 million, making it the most-produced firearm of its caliber. In 2010, the M16 began to be phased out in the U.S. Army and is being supplemented by the M4 carbine, which is itself a shortened derivative of the M16A2.

The history of the m16 that held the 5.56mmx45mm round. Talks about the development of the firearm through the vietnam era to modern day.”

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120mm Mortar You Won’t Believe The Ending!

120mm Mortar You Won’t Believe The Ending!

” Just about everything you are not suppose to do as an Assistant Gunner. No this isn’t my unit. Nice unexpected surprise at the end! “

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New Army MOS – Internment Specialist 31E

INTERNMENT/RESETTLEMENT SPECIALIST (31E)

 

 

 

 

OVERVIEW

Internment/resettlement specialists are primarily responsible for day-to-day operations in a military confinement/correctional facility or detention/internment facility.

JOB DUTIES

• Supervision of confinement and detention operations

• External security to facilities

• Counseling/guidance to individual prisoners within a rehabilitative program

• Records of prisoners/internees and their programs

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In Honor Of George Washington’s Birthday We Present A Second Helping Of Firepower … Meet The Ripsaw

World’s Fastest Tracked Vehicle: 0-60MPH In Around 4 Seconds…This Is The Ripsaw (37 Photos)

 

 

 

And another teaser 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General , Thanks For Your Service , You Are Dismissed

 

Gen. McChrystal Wants Tighter Restrictions on Civilian M4s

 

 

 

” Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal joined the growing ranks of talking heads speaking out on the current gun-control debate on MSNBC. McChrystal appeared on the show to talk about his new memoir ”My Share of the Task” but was quite clear about his position on the private ownership of weapons such as M4-style carbines. McChrystal was the commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan before he resigned in the wake of a scandalous Rolling Stones article in 2010. I’m surprised he didn’t side-step the issue.”

 

 

  What kind of army officer doesn’t support our constitutional liberties ? This is a clear demonstration of the PC rot that has infested the upper echelons of all sectors of government including the military . Seeing this blatant statism from a supposed defender of our freedoms has to make one wonder where the Army’s loyalties will lie when the SHTF . 

 

Related articles

• McChrystal: Assault Rifles Aren’t for Civilians (newser.com)
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• TRAITOR: Gen. McChrystal Throws Weight Behind Effort to Ban Firearms [W/ VIDEOS] (secretsofthefed.com)
• Tree-Hugging Peacenik Gen. Stanley McChrystal Calls For More Gun Control (thedailydolt.com)
• Former Gen. McChrystal: Assault rifles are for battlefields, not schools (tv.msnbc.com)
• McChrystal backs ‘serious’ gun laws (funandgood.com)
• Stanley McChrystal on the intersection of politics and the military (video) (washingtonpost.com)
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• McChrystal has the solution… (fellowshipofminds.wordpress.com)

Happy Birthday Elvis

Elvis Presley – Hound Dog (Live)

Elvis Presley – All Shook Up

ELVIS PRESLEY’S PRIVATE HOME MOVIES 1

discography

• MAIN ALBUMS
• COMPILATIONS
• SINGLES & EPS
• DVDS & VIDEOS
• OTHERS

Year		Title	Label	Editors’ Rating
1956		Elvis Presley [1956]	RCA/BMG / BMG
1956		Elvis [1956]	BMG International
1957		Loving You	BMG International
1957		Elvis’ Christmas Album	RCA Victor
1958		King Creole	RCA
1959		For LP Fans Only	RCA Victor
1959		A Date with Elvis	BMG International
1960		Elvis Is Back!/Something for Everybody	DCC Compact Classics
1960		G.I. Blues	BMG
1960		His Hand in Mine	RCA
1961		Something for Everybody	RCA
1961		Blue Hawaii	RCA Victor
1962		Pot Luck with Elvis	RCA / BMG International
1963		It Happened at the World’s Fair	Follow Dream
1963		Fun in Acapulco	Bmg / Sony Music Entertainment
1963		Girls! Girls! Girls!	BMG / Custom Marketing Group / Sony Music Entertainment
1964		Kissin’ Cousins
1964		Roustabout	BMG / Custom Marketing Group / Sony Music Entertainment
1964		Viva Las Vegas	Sony Music Entertainment
1965		Girl Happy	BMG / Sony CMG / Sony Music Entertainment
1965		Elvis for Everyone!	RCA Victor
1965		Harum Scarum	RCA Victor
1965		Tickle Me
1966		Frankie and Johnny	BMG / Sony Music Entertainment
1966		Paradise, Hawaiian Style	Follow That Dream
1966		Spinout
1967		How Great Thou Art	RCA
1967		Double Trouble
1967		Clambake	BMG / Sony Music Entertainment
1968		Speedway
1968		NBC-TV Special [’68 Comeback]	RCA
1968		NBC-TV Special	RCA
1968		Shake, Rattle & Roll [MBop Direct]	MBop Direct/Sound & Vision
1969		From Elvis in Memphis	RCA
1969		From Memphis to Vegas/From Vegas to Memphis	RCA
1970		Elvis in Person at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada	RCA Victor
1970		On Stage	RCA
1970		Back in Memphis	RCA Victor
1970		That’s the Way It Is	RCA
1971		Elvis Country	RCA
1971		Love Letters from Elvis	RCA Victor
1972		Elvis Now	RCA
1972		He Touched Me	RCA
1972		As Recorded at Madison Square Garden	RCA
1973		Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite	RCA
1973		Raised on Rock	RCA
1974		Good Times	RCA
1974		Elvis Recorded Live on Stage in Memphis	RCA
1975		Promised Land	RCA Victor
1975		Today	BMG / Bmg
1976		From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee	BMG Japan / RCA
1977		Moody Blue	RCA
1977		Elvis in Concert	RCA
1978		Memories of Elvis	RCA
1997		Elvis: The Fool Album	RCA / BMG International
2003		Elvis Sings the Wonderful World of Christmas	RCA
2010		Viva Elvis: The Album	Legacy / RCA
		Elvis Presley: Live!	RCA
		Loving You [Into U]	INTO U
		The American Music Heritage, Vol. 2: 1956-1957	Frémeaux

Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock 1957 colour

Movies

Actor (31 titles)

1969Change of Habit
Dr. John Carpenter

1969The Trouble with Girls
Walter Hale

1969Charro!
Jess Wade

1968Live a Little, Love a Little
Greg Nolan

1968Speedway
Steve Grayson

1968Stay Away, Joe
Joe Lightcloud

1967Clambake
Scott Hayward/’Tom Wilson’

1967Double Trouble
Guy Lambert

1967Easy Come, Easy Go
Ted Jackson

1966Spinout
Mike McCoy

1966Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Rick Richards

1966Frankie and Johnny
Johnny

1965Harum Scarum
Johnny Tyronne

1965Tickle Me
Lonnie Beale / Panhandle Kid

1965Girl Happy
Rusty Wells

1964Roustabout
Charlie Rogers

1964Viva Las Vegas
Lucky Jackson

1964Kissin’ Cousins
Josh Morgan / Jodie Tatum

1963Fun in Acapulco
Mike Windgren

1963It Happened at the World’s Fair
Mike Edwards

1962Girls! Girls! Girls!
Ross Carpenter

1962Kid Galahad
Walter Gulick

1962Follow That Dream
Toby Kwimper

1961Blue Hawaii
Chad Gates

1961Wild in the Country
Glenn Tyler

1960Flaming Star
Pacer Burton

1960G.I. Blues
Tulsa McLean

1958King Creole
Danny Fisher

1957Jailhouse Rock
Vince Everett

1957Loving You
Deke Rivers

1956Love Me Tender
Clint Reno

 Don’t Be Cruel

Happy Birthday To The King

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A Way-Back Machine Visit With Mr Eugene Stoner And The AR-10

Is This The Next GI Rifle? (1957)(9 Photos)

Read the entire article at the link , including more pictures .

Battle Of The Bulge – Memories Of A Participant

Not Many Survive So Enjoy The Reminiscences Of One Veteran Who Is Still Around To Tell Of It

 

 

 

” NEW BERN, N.C. — It was probably all over but the dying in late 1944, but no one could convince Germany’s Adolf Hitler of the fact.

In the seas, he was sending orders that virtually turned his once-feared, but now miniscule U-boat fleet into kamikazes; on land, he was pressing a mixture of his best warriors and some untrained teenaged soldiers to make a last great offensive to break the incoming Allied forces before they crossed the Rhine.

He chose to assault the American line along the Ardennes mountains in Belgium because he believed Americans would be the quickest to run. On Dec. 16, a surprise attack opened one of the longest battles of the war (it would last through late January 1945) — a battle that, at times, looked dark for the Yanks.

Its official name was the Ardennes Counteroffensive. But when newspapers ran maps showing the deep curvature of the American battle lines as a result of the offensive, the battle was popularly renamed “The Battle of the Bulge.”

Retired U.S. Army Col. Abbott Weatherly, now 96, remembers the battle well. He was in the thick of it, a young artillery major overseeing a battery with the 113th Field Artillery — a unit raised, in part, from Battery D, National Guard, in New Bern.

Abbott, born in 1916, graduated from the New Bern school system in 1935, when he signed up with the National Guard armory — located then where the New Bern police station is today. “

Related articles

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• Charles Durning, D-Day and Ardennes Veteran, German POW, Character Actor, dies at 89 (xbradtc.com)
• A Very Sad Christmas – The Battle of the Bulge (1944) (davidmixner.com)

Rest In Peace-Charles Durning … War Hero

Charles Durning, US Army Ranger – D-day and WWII Veteran A True BAMF And ‘King Of Character Actors,’ Dies At 89

 

 

 

 

” Durning’s impressive 50-year acting career has been crowned by a Tony Award and nominations for two Oscars and four Emmy awards, yet he never lost sight of his wartime experiences. In 1990, when he was making his Tony-winning star turn as Big Daddy in the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, he opened up in a People Magazine feature. “There’s only so much you can witness,” he said of his time overseas. Indeed, his war decorations were hard-earned. Durning was the only man to survive a machine gun ambush on Omaha Beach – and he had to rise above serious wounds and kill seven German gunners to do it.

In late June 1944, Charles was seriously wounded by a mine at Les Mare des Mares, France but refused to seek a military discharge and spent almost 6 months recovering .

Months later in Belgium, he was stabbed eight times by a German teenage soldier wielding a bayonet; Durning eventually bludgeoned him to death with a rock.  He was released from the hospital in time to fight in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was taken prisoner. After escaping a subsequent massacre of the other prisoners, he was obliged by American forces to return to the scene and help identify bodies. Finally, a bullet in the chest a few months later ended his relentless tour of duty – and began four years of repeated hospitalizations for his physical and psychological injuries. ”

 

 

Related articles

• Remembering Jack Klugman, Charles Durning: Two lovable mugs (jacksonville.com)
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• Celebrities Honor Jack Klugman and Charles Durning on Twitter (hollywood.com)
• Actor and WWII hero Charles Durning, R.I.P. (twitchy.com)
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The Art , Science and Carpentry of Explosives

From Michael Yon

  ” There is much to know about explosives. A wealth of art, science, and carpentry has developed around uncountable blasting concoctions. Explosives range from highly sophisticated scientific “achievements,” such as neutron bombs, to crude mechanical devices that any teenager can build, such as the relatively harmless bottle bombs that undoubtedly are exploding in backyards and vacant lots around America today. In Afghanistan, the principle enemy weapon is the IED: Improvised Explosive Device. Just an hour ago, on 26 August, a bomb detonated nearby, hitting our Afghan Army allies. The charge weighed perhaps 250lbs and was hidden in a culvert under a road that our Soldiers drive over routinely. A command wire was attached, and when Afghan soldiers drove by, it was detonated. Three men were wounded and a fourth was killed. Earlier this week, US troops nearby suffered loss of limbs from similar bombs, and loss of American lives is on average a daily occurrence. “

Toe The Line … Or Else

Obama to nominate Army Gen. Rodriguez to lead AFRICOM

  ” WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will nominate Army Gen. David Rodriguez to succeed Gen. Carter Ham as commander of U.S. Africa Command and Marine Lt. Gen. John Paxton to succeed Gen. Joseph Dunford as assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced Thursday.

Both appointments must be confirmed by the Senate.

Rodriguez is the commander of U.S. Army Forces Command and has served in a “variety of key leadership roles on the battlefield,” Panetta said.

He’s “a proven leader” who oversaw coalition and Afghan forces during the surge in Afghanistan, and “was the key architect of the successful campaign plan that we are now implementing,” Panetta said.

In announcing Ham’s successor, Panetta also praised the work Ham has done with Africa Command.

“Gen. Ham has really brought AFRICOM into a very pivotal role in that challenging region,” Panetta said. “I and the nation are deeply grateful for his outstanding service.” ”

Posted by John Galt

M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System (SASS) Improvements

A Replacement For The Venerable M24 ?

“First fielded [first unit equipped] in the 1 st quarter of FY 08, the M110 SASS is a lightweight, direct gas operated, semi-automatic, box magazine fed, 7.62 x 51 mm
rifle intended to engage and defeat
personnel targets out to 800 meters. The weapon is manufactured by Knight’s
Armament Company , based in Titusville, Fla. The weapon’s associated Leupold Mark IV 3.5-10X scope provides field of view options to suit the specific tactical range applications. Using 10-round or 20-round detachable magazines, the semi-automatic M110 SASS greatly exceeds the rate of fire
and lethality of the previous M24 Sniper Weapon System. “