D Day-June 6, 1944: Then and Now

Sixty-five years ago today, my uncle (my father's brother) jumped off a landing craft and waded ashore at Normandy Beach to begin the D Day invasion of France. He was in his 20s and must have been filled with so much fear and terror. I cannot imagine how he felt; his emotions; his feelings

Growing up the son of a veteran of World War 2, Korea, and Vietnam, I was schooled from a young age the importance of honoring those who picked up a weapon and fought to defend our country.

Today, Barack HUSSEIN Obama (aka Little Barry Soetoro, Oprah's Love Child, The Boy Wonder, BO, The Big ZERO, P Bo. The Cult Leader, The Current Temporary Resident of the White House) will visit the Normandy area of France to commemorate the Invasion.

I cannot express my disgust for his audacity to visit an honored place in our history with his visible hatred of the military. I have poised the question before. "How can he give orders to a military person when he never wore a uniform and stood a post in defense of the United States?"


I understand as the POTUS, he is expected by tradition to honor those who served our country. It is the right thing to do. It is the proper thing to do.

What I cannot accept is the fact that he says one thing and believes another. He will very eloquently deliver the words and phrases that make people believe he cares. He spoke during the election about his great uncle liberated concentration camps during World War 2.

It was later learned that the facts he gave as to his relative's involvement were inaccurate. In fact, his great-uncle states recently that Little Barry Soetoro was never interested in the his involvement until the election.

He further stated that The Boy Wonder's visit to Buchenwald was a political move. I could not agree more.

The lenghts to which BO will go to further his rock star status is unparallelled in modern history. The Big Zero is only interested in his own agenda. He is only interested in the revision of America in the model of his mother's socialist-Marxist beliefs.

So today, as true red-blooded Americans honor the efforts and sacrifices of those who landed at Normandy Beach, I will reflect on the veterans; their stories and exploits.

The actions of The Big Zero today will be seen by some as moral, truthful, and heartfelt. Others will view P Bo's performance as self serving. The readers of this forum know how I view it.

As in everything The Cult Leader does; it is for HIS benefit. It is not for the benefit of those he is sworn to serve or those who served long ago.

To cheapen the memory of my uncle and those who stormed the beaches of France and faced heavy Nazi gunfire on that day sixty-five years ago by giving The Current Temporary Resident of the White House any mileage from the exploits his wrong.

"The men of Normandy had faith that what they were doing was right, faith that they fought for all humanity, faith that a just God would grant them mercy on this beachhead or the next. It was the deep knowledge -- and pray to God we have not lost it -- that there is a profound moral difference between the use of force for liberation and the use of force for conquest." - Ronald Reagan

Tribute to the Victims of Pearl Harbor

Today is December 7, 2008 and the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

We should NEVER forget those who served and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and way of life.

When I first watched this, tears came to my eyes.

I shutter to think where this country is headed. It scares me. It scares me a great deal. I am very worries that the best days of our great country are behind us. I do not wish to dishonor this solemn day, but this country is in grave danger. I do not know if we will survive.

I will discuss more on this later. For now, listen to the words of FDR in his address to Congress. It was delivered on December 8, 1941.

The video clip is posted below the transcript of the speech

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."

Paul Tibbets Interview Before His Death

Paul Tibbets, the man who commanded the B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, has been dead for a little over one year. I did a post on his passing on November 10, 2007. You can read it by clicking here.

I was surfing late this evening and found the below clip and information on General Tibbets.

He believed until the end that the bombing, which killed over 100 thousand Japanese people (most of them civilians), was justified. In a 1975 interview he said: “I’m proud that I was able to start with nothing, plan it and have it work as perfectly as it did… I sleep clearly every night.”

In 1976, Gen Tibbets was criticised for re-enacting the bombing at an air show in Texas. A mushroom cloud was set off as he over flew in a B-29 Superfortress in a stunt that outraged Japan. Gen Tibbets said it was not meant as an insult but the US government formally apologised.

In 1995, General Tibbets denounced as a “damn big insult” a planned 50th anniversary exhibition of the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian Institution that put the bombing in context of the suffering it caused. He and veterans groups said too much attention was being paid to Japan’s suffering and not enough to its military brutality.

Tibbets had requested that he be buried without a headstone or funeral ceremony, since he feared that opponents of the bombing would use them for protests.

Here is an interview conducted with Tibbets before he died, in which he questions the loyalty of Americans who speak out against the bombing.

"I knew when I got the assignment it was going to be an emotional thing, ... We had feelings, but we had to put them in the background. We knew it was going to kill people right and left. But my one driving interest was to do the best job I could so that we could end the killing as quickly as possible." - Paul Tibbets

Patton's Russian Policy

General George Patton(as played by George C. Scott) expresses his policy on post-war Russian-American relations.

"Let's keep our boots polished, bayonets sharpened, and present a picture of force and strength to the Russians. This is the only language that they understand and respect. If you fail to do this, then I would like to say that we have had a victory over the Germans, and have disarmed them, but we have lost the war." - General George S. paton (actual quote)

"Saving Private Ryan" Omaha Beach Landing: Part 2

They were "The Greatest Generation."

[last lines]
Old James Ryan: Tell me I have led a good life.
Ryan's Wife: What?
Old James Ryan: Tell me I'm a good man.
Ryan's Wife: You *are*.

"Saving Private Ryan" Omaha Beach Landing: Part 1

This is the most realistic battle scene in any war movie! It is powerful, horrific and disturbing. I cannot believe my father and his generation when through this.

It made me appreciate their sacrefices even more.

I will post part two tomorrow.

" I'm a schoolteacher. I teach English composition... in this little town called Adley, Pennsylvania. The last eleven years, I've been at Thomas Alva Edison High School. I was a coach of the baseball team in the springtime. Back home, I tell people what I do for a living and they think well, now that figures. But over here, it's a big, a big mystery. So, I guess I've changed some. Sometimes I wonder if I've changed so much my wife is even going to recognize me, whenever it is that I get back to her. And how I'll ever be able to tell her about days like today. Ah, Ryan. I don't know anything about Ryan. I don't care. The man means nothing to me. It's just a name. But if... You know if going to Rumelle and finding him so that he can go home. If that earns me the right to get back to my wife, then that's my mission." Captain John H. Miller as played by Tom Hanks in the movie "Saving Private Ryan"

"Kelly's Heroes" Trailer

Here is the movie trailer from "Kelly's Heroes." This is a classic movie with a superb cast. This is another one of the movies that they do not make any more.

"We see our role as essentially defensive in nature. While our armies are advancing so fast and everyone's knocking themselves out to be heroes, we are holding ourselves in reserve in case the Krauts mount a counteroffensive which threatens Paris...or maybe even New York. Then we can move in and stop them. But for 1.6 million dollars, we could become heroes for three days." - Oddball as played by Donald Sutherland in the movie "Kelly's Heroes."

"Combat" Opening

"Combat" was one of my favorite shows of my early youth. It was one of the earliest television show I remember watching.

Enjoy!!!

"World War II was the last government program that really worked." - George Will

Paul Tibbets Dead at 92

I was surfing the net this afternoon and came across the sad information that Paul Tibbets had died. For those of who whom are historically challenged, Paul Tibbets was the commander and pilot of the Enola Gay, which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in the closing days of World War 2.

Below is an excellent post I found about Tibbets on the SonicBomb website.

Paul Tibbets, the commander of the B-29 that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima in 1945, has died at the age of 92 after several months of failing health. Paul Warfield Tibbets Jr died at his home in Columbus, Ohio..

The five-ton "Little Boy" bomb was dropped on the morning of 6 August 1945, killing about 140,000 Japanese, with many dying later from injury and disease.

Gen Tibbets had asked for no funeral nor headstone as he feared opponents of the bombing may use it as a place of protest, the friend, Gerry Newhouse, said.

On the 60th anniversary of the bombing, the three surviving crew members of the Enola Gay said they had "no regrets".

On the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima, the surviving members of the Enola Gay crew - Gen Tibbets, Theodore J "Dutch" Van Kirk (the navigator) and Morris R Jeppson (weapon test officer) said: "The use of the atomic weapon was a necessary moment in history. We have no regrets".

Gen Tibbets said then: "Thousands of former soldiers and military family members have expressed a particularly touching and personal gratitude suggesting that they might not be alive today had it been necessary to resort to an invasion of the Japanese home islands to end the fighting."

In a 1975 interview he said: "I'm proud that I was able to start with nothing, plan it and have it work as perfectly as it did... I sleep clearly every night."

In 1976, Gen Tibbets was criticised for re-enacting the bombing at an air show in Texas.

A mushroom cloud was set off as he over flew in a B-29 Superfortress in a stunt that outraged Japan. Gen Tibbets said it was not meant as an insult but the US government formally apologised.

In 1995, Gen Tibbets denounced as a "damn big insult" a planned 50th anniversary exhibition of the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian Institution that put the bombing in context of the suffering it caused.

He and veterans groups said too much attention was being paid to Japan's suffering and not enough to its military brutality.

I consider Tibbets to be one of the "true" heroes of World War 2. He was given a mission and carried it out to success. The dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan brought about the end to the war and saved countless American lives.

It has always bothered me that revisionists attempt to put a negative spin on the use of atomic bombs in WW2. It was a necessary action and brought and end to the war.

In the above quote from SonicBomb, Tibbets denounced as a "damn big insult" a planned 50th anniversary exhibition of the Enola Gay at the Smithsonian Institution that put the bombing in context of the suffering it caused.

I couldn't agree more. Hell, the Japanese started the war and we ended it. That is all that needs to be said.

Perhaps if we had some politicians of recent generations that had the balls to do something similar, we would not have the problems we have today.

Rest In Peace General Tibbets. I, for one, am thankful for what you did.

The Worst/Most Painful Game Show Of All-Time

I was still surfing on Tuesday evening and came across this video clip on YouTube. This has to be the worst and most painful game show of all time. I wonder what would make a man get on stage on allow this to be done to him?

I can only hope the prize money was substantial. In any case, I wonder how much they did receive? My only though was it would take at least 5 figures for me to do that.

This from the county that brought us Toyota, Fuji Film and World War Two. Oh my, how times have changed!