As always...

At this time of year, as always, I yearn for "cold weather", similar to what we had last winter. Not so much all that snow to shovel, but the low temperatures, for days, with the gas logs in our family room putting out nice cozy warmth, and with me sitting in a comfortable chair nearby with fleece vest on, wearing a hat to keep my balding head warm. Ah yes, I remember it all so well. And then...

I return today from my daily 2-mile walk, all sweaty, and look at the thermometer reading near 80 degrees still early in the morning. Yesterday we maxed out in the upper 90s, with very high humidity. July this summer has, in two words, been "stinkin HOT". But what can we do...endure and remember those freezing days last winter when we wished for a hot summer. Well, we got it. Now I wish for cold...as always, we're never satisfied with the weather.

Arlington Cemetery Testimony

I have to weigh in on the congressional hearing now underway, pertaining to the apparent gross mis-management of burial operations by those previously in charge. While the individual who was overall in charge of operations at the time provided some details, his deputy invoked the "Fifth Amendment" and was asked to leave the hearing. 'Booted out" according to an Army Times article.To invoke the 5th is his "right" but in this case it seems a less than honorable thing to do

First Class Retirement Speech

I was sent a text copy of the full retirement speech given recently by General Stan McChrystal. I'm fully aware of the controversy generated by the Rolling Stone interview, which led to his retirement, but from what he said at his retirement ceremony, the way he said it, and his overall service as a warrior in defense of our country, I wished I would have been able to serve with him in some capacity. Here's a portion of what he said—the part I liked the best. His sense of humor is great.


"Let me thank everyone for being here. This turnout is truly humbling. Here tonight are my wife and son, my four brothers, two nephews, mentors, comrades from countless phases of my career, and some special guests whose service and sacrifice are impossible to describe with words. But because this crowd is pretty big, for good order and discipline, I've divided you all into four groups. Please remember your group number. Group 1 are all the people who accepted responsibility for making this ceremony work from the planners to the soldiers on the field. My apologies for all the time you spend in the heat. You're special people. And in my mind, you also represent soldiers all over the world. You have my sincere appreciation. The second group is distinguished servants of all nations who have taken time from your often-crushing schedules to be here. And thanks for your years of support and friendship. I got you out of the office early on Friday. Group 3 are warriors of all ranks, and that includes many who don't wear a uniform but defend our nation with whom I have shared aircraft, VTCs, remote outposts, frustrations, triumphs, laughs and a common cause for many years. You are not all here. Some of you are deployed and in the fight. Others rest across river in Arlington. Most of the credit I've received actually belongs to you. It has been your comradeship that I have considered the greatest honor of my career. Finally, Group 4 is all those who've heard we're having two kegs of beer in the backyard after my ceremony. This group includes a number of my classmates from West Point, old friends, most of the warriors from Group 3, and some others who defy accurate description. Anyone already carrying a plastic cup might be considered the vanguard of Group 4. Everyone here today is invited to join."

Car Show

We went to a car show in Crown Point Indiana last week while on vacation. The town is unique in that it has a center square, with historic court house in the center. Cars were on display parked along the street around the square. Can you identify this? It was very popular back in the early 1970's when "muscle cars" were everywhere. And, they were VERY fast!

I had a bright red new1970 Pontiac GTO with a "plus" 400 cc engine and it literally plastered me to the seat when it accelerated. Unfortunly, some dope ran into the rear of us one day and that took care of my beauty. Traded it in on a new Toyota 4 cylinder, "family" car. My racing days were over.

After it's all Over

We arrived back home in SW Virginia about 11PM last night after driving 13 hours, concluding our two week trip. Not a bad drive home actually, as the traffic was very light for a Saturday. Still, we're tired. Now it's time to reflect on the past two weeks, given that our summer 2010 road trip is all over.

For me, the first week essentially was a bust. I did get some nice lighthouse photographs in Western Michigan, but a lot of the other stuff that happend during that first portion of our journey was not that special—for me. The last week spent with my brother-in-law and his wife, however, was great and I enjoyed it very much. He and my wife come from hardy stock, and in many ways he is someone I look to for inspiration. He makes the best darn coffee around, and his wife is a super host.

So, all in all it was fun, albeit way too hot in Michigan and Indiana most of the time. We're glad to be back home and the best part of that is our 19 year old grandson Michael was our "house sitter" for two weeks while we were away, and he did a super job. He's getting paid well, but after seeing all the extra stuff he did on his own initiative, I'll give him a big bonus.

War Memorial in the Midwest

We visited an exceptionally nice war memorial in Munster, Indiana the other day. The five-acre site contained individual memorials complete with impressive symbolic sculptures and other military oriented displays from WWI through the first Gulf War period. One unique aspect of it were the labeled bricks laid along the long winding path that led you through the various war periods, many with brief descriptions of events which had occurred at various times. Thus, you not only paid respect to those who had fought and given their lives during these wars, but you learned a bit about history along the way. I especially liked this large Vietnam era display with stacked M-16 rifles complete with "flowers" in their barrels, in front of a destroyed village structure. Symbolic to say the least.

Surprise from a Relative

My wife and I are staying a few days at her brother's home in Indiana, and this morning at breakfast my sister-in-law told me about her now deceased father's WWII service. She brought out a family scrapbook she had put together and it contained the service record and other documents about her father, along with a few WWII era photographs he'd saved. When I read through the documents, I immediately noted a connection between her father and me.

He had been a lithographer in an Army engineer topographic unit, and the unit's group photo he was in showed an engineer flag for Charlie Company. Unfortunately there was no record of the unit designation of the company's higher headquarters. But, seeing that engineer flag present brought a smile to my face. I told my brother-in-law, "Now I see one reason why you were so lucky to have married her, she comes from an "Army engineer" background!"

I took some close up photos of several of the documents she had in her scrapbook, so when I get back home I might be able to do some personal research within the "Army engineer network" to try to find out more on her father's wartime service.

This simple but very meaningful event was all a nice surprise for me, and a wonderful way to begin the day.

Back Online

My brother-in-law has wireless. Yea! We're in Munster, Indiana now, near Gary. Arrived yesterday afternoon from Michigan and stayed up later than normal last night talking with him, his wife and my wife. I'm glad to be out of Michigan. Traveling to see different lighthouses  there was nice, but long drives each day, and less than desirable lodging for several nights made it not so nice. If I could describe the state in one word it would be "detour". There is an incredible amount of highway and bridge construction going on, using federal stimulus dollars, and that made for some bumpy and stressful rides. Overall, Michigan is in pretty sad shape as far as highway infrastructure is concerned. I remember a time when its roads were among the best in the midwest. Not so today.

Vacation Report Part 2

In a very nice Days Inn in Traverse City, MI. It's 0625 and I'm sitting in bed with my Apple laptop running, while my wife sleeps. Spent yesterday driving around looking at several lighthouses. See my photo blog at the link to the right. I'm posting one photo per day there, so long as I have an internet connection. To adapt to spotty internet connections while traveling, I've pre-scheduled photo posts for the next several days now that I have a good connection today.

This Days Inn has free wireless and it's very fast. Best I've experienced while traveling. Only down side to this room is that it's not cold enough for my wife. She wants the room air conditioning set on "freeze me", and this window unit can't meet her demands.

Lots of summertime tourists around this part of Michigan, but perhaps a bit fewer than normal. Case in point was us being able to actually find a motel room at a decent place. Traverse City is a pretty popular destination for many mid-westerners. Lots to see around here and we'll continue that today. One more lighthouse to visit, and a couple of wineries. Then, we take a 200 mile drive south to Pontiac, MI where my wife's cousin lives. Stay there a few days and then we're headed to Northern Indiana to visit my brother-in-law, before we head back to Virginia.

After today, my internet connection will cease for awhile, unless I visit some wireless friendly establishment somewhere along the way. If my brother-in-law has a wireless network in his house I'm all set, but have to wait to see how all that goes.

Vacation Report

If you wish, you can check my photo blog (link at the right) to view some pics from Michigan while we're on our vacation. Weather has been hot for here, but way cooler than in SW Virginia when we left. Seeing lots of "small town" America. One thing I've noticed is that the city centers are more vibrant business wise that are larger towns. But, all over we can see the effects of the sad state of the economy in Michigan...and the high unemployment. It is especially bad around Detroit, where we saw whole mall shopping areas totally closed. More later as we get internet connections.

Summertime Road Trip And Summer in General

Beginning next Monday, my wife and I are taking a 12–day road trip to Michigan, where she grew up, and where I went to college (Michigan Tech) and where I met and later married her.

For the past two weeks the temperatures both here in Southern Virginia and in portions of the mid–west have been brutal. This week we topped 100 degrees on a couple of days, but thankfully the humidity was low so it did not feel that bad. But, it was still HOT. We hope it cools down when we're in Michigan but we'll take (obviously) what we can get.

Speaking of summertime heat, I am reminded of when I was a boy growing up in Little Rock Arkansas—a long way from Michigan. We had no air conditioning in the simple house where we lived, but we did have small electric fans which we used all the time to try to keep cool when we were in bed. During the day and early evening until around 9PM, most of us kids kept cool by staying outside, finding shady spots where we could, by wearing only shorts no shirt no shoes, by jumping into a local creek seeking crawdads and minnows, and by drinking as much cool aid as our Moms would allow. We also had the ice cream man who came by every evening except on weekends, and he sometimes let us have a chunk of ice to suck on in addition to whatever ten cent goody we bought. Being "outside" was then something everyone did during the summer. And, my family often took road trips ourselves to cooler locations in the Missouri Ozarks where my uncle had a resort near a lake and stream. While there, all of us cousins slept on sleeping pads on a screened porch, while the adults sweltered inside.

One thing we did certainly did not have back then was the internet. But today it's a part of our daily life. For me and this blog, that means I may not be providing updates until we return on July 23rd. But, if I get a connection, I will try to do so. I might even post a photo or two if I can.

So, back atcha later.

Only in America

I have to "rant" a bit. I find it interesting, disgusted is a better word, that we have a "star" pro basketball player who has scheduled an hour TV show tonight, just to announce what team he is going to play for next year. The announcement itself will take less than 15 seconds. The rest of the hour will be spent telling us what a great person this guy is. This is why I have zero use for pro basketball. But, I'm sure others feel much differently.

The COs Wife

Army Times online had a story this week about a brigade commander's wife being banned from the brigade by the corps commander at Fort Bragg. I will let you read the story to get the full details, but in sum, she apparently often used her husband's rank to get what she wanted, especially with rear detachment personnel and battalion commanders' wives.

I won't say where and when, but to a much less degree as in the Bragg story, I've seen commander's wives sometimes stray into areas they ought to remain clear of. For what ever reason, some felt they were entitled to more "respect" than others based entirely on the level of command (or rank) of their husband. I've seen it with senior NCO wives as well, so it's not just an "officer" thing.

The sad thing about this whole situation at Fort Bragg, is that it may lessen the perceived importance by the public of the numerous critical roles being played today, and in the past, by Army spouses everywhere. It also adds credence to some Hollywood and TV portrayals of what an "Army Wife" is all about.

My first question is, why in the world would the brigade commander at Bragg himself allow this all to transpire as it did. I can guess what the reason is, but will hold that to myself. Anyway, check out the story at the link above.

Fireworks 2010

This is just one of the bursts I saw last night. Took my Nikon D300 camera along to see what I could get. Had fun in the process and it made for a wonderful night—except for the delay in getting out in traffic afterwards. We went to Eden NC just a short drive from our home in Martinsville, VA. Have been going there for years. Nice show. Hope you all had an equally good time celebrating our nation's birthday!

Happy 4th of July

Except for those deployed in combat, many men and women in the military and their families will celebrate the 4th of July with a long holiday weekend this year. Even those deployed will celebrate the 4th in some fashion.

The key is to be safe no matter what you do—especially those driving some distance away from home and back to their duty station.

This poster is from a collection of such located here. It's a World War One period version obviously, given the dates depicted (1776-1918). I like the way Uncle Sam is charging with bayoneted rifle in hand, while fireworks explode overhead. Not unlike what those in the trenches faced during that deadly war.