Words from 1947 that have come back to reverberate again today. They are good, sound and relevant. May God grant I never need to follow them.
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Recent Comments
- In The Mailbox: 02.28.23 (Afternoon Edition) : The Other McCain on Hey, longtime pw readers…
- In The Mailbox: 12.23.22 : The Other McCain on Patrick J. Carroll truly IS a sad, embittered psychopath
- Danger on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
- Danger on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
- In The Mailbox: 07.18.22 : The Other McCain on Patrick J. Carroll might be a psychopath
Wise words, MJ, froma wise man. I pray that you will never have to that advise into practical use.
Major John – Your thoughtful, rational and introspective approach surely provides a solid foundation to those you lead, and provides a level of confidence in you by those leading you.
I do not know you, but to a certain extent, you can get to know someone online. I am without a doubt that I would have been privileged to have been under your command during my service.
Since you and I comprise approximately 2 percent of the conservatives in Illinois, you take care, and godspeed.
More like 2.5%.
Thanks for the kind words. I think that a little further on, SLA Marshall hit the point that reminds me why I hate what Harry Reid is doing:
It is the opposite of “a little intelligent moral treatment by a superior.” Instead of the “pat on the back” my comrades in Iraq get the extended middle finger. That gets me upset on behalf of the CPTs and LTs, the PSGs and 1SGs that might experience
Come now, Major John, doesn’t it make better sense to swarm that young officer with CNN journalists and ambitious Congressmen, then hire gummy old retired generals to take some time off from stealing money from enlisted men to rake his every decision over the coals, while tenured professors openly mock his returning troops in their classrooms and the third-generation disasters who’ve inherited our dwindling newspapers rail against the obscene comfort they’re living in overseas?
I mean, we put so much effort into doing that, it must be the appropriate course of action…
Major John – I was going to say that with people like you out on the tip of the spear, there is no doubt that we will succeed, but – 1) that is self evident and just a brilliant statement of the obvious. my only fear is that people like Reid and Pelosi manage to drag us away from a historic accomplishment and endeavor.
In short, I have unwavering trust in those in uniform. Those in DC, not so much.
GEN Patton, Mrs.,
It seems like the preferred COA, doesn’t it? What should be shoved into every one of those gummy general’s faces is Marshall’s descrition of MG Archiblad V. Arnold – he made sure to see that younger subordinates got the type of encouragement that helped with such a shock. But then again, he didn’t have a CNN or MSNBC contract waved at him, did he?
Sometimes I breathe a word of thanks that I will never make flag rank.
Careful now – I think Marshall showed, and still shows, that we sometimes relearn lessons the hard way. I just hope we remain worthy of your trust.
Given the track record of those in uniform, especially when compared to those in DC, it is generally a no-brainer.
I grew up with a retired Brig. Gen. living across the street, a father and grandfather who were Majors. My younger brother reached Major as well. From my ezperiences, my trust is well founded.
I just wanted to thank you. I am in an RV on our way home from Talladega. We have 6 Air Force Academy grads in our group, 2 FBI, 2 KBR, an ATK guy, and a couple active duty pilots. Prior to your post, we were in a heated debate over which set of tits we saw today was the best. Now, we will be discussing the media’s role in shaping a defeatist narrative, and what in the world Reid could have been thinking.
Hey now, I don’t want to be the cause of a good conversation derailing…
These are concepts that are lost on Rick Moran, it seems.
No worries … eventually we will just refer back to the pictures and videos to determine which ones were best. I vote for all of the women from Dallas a couple of RV’s over from us.
Actually, given the variety of experience and disciplines of the folks with me, it is a fascinating conversation. In short, Reid and his ilk will be getting no votes from this group.
Rick does seem a bit contradictory in his post, but I wouldn’t put him in the Harry Reid category by a long shot.
I’m just bitter.
It must be particularly difficult to maintain fighting morale when under constant attack from opportunistic politicians and a sadly misinformed public.
Hang in there and know that a whole bunch of us out here are rooting for all of you!
I would love to figure out a way to record these guys discussing the war in general, and the media and politicos specifically. My inferior language skills would not do them justice. it is interesting that some would be in the “displeased with the war” category, but because they think it should be pursued far more aggressively. Also, not many fans of President Bush, but to a man, and woman, they prefer him over the alyternatives.
Dr. Seuss on Harry Reid…
JD, could you record it for a podcast?
I am trying to figure out how to record it onto my memory card on my Treo. With much Bud Select, and many active duty folks, I suspect they would not prefer a recording … but at the very least, I will paraphrase and email it to you.
JD-
So Reid does not have the best rack?
Rick does seem a bit contradictory but I wouldn’t put him in the Harry Reid category not by a long shot.
Maybe not the Reid, but you could put the Moran in the Murtha category.
I will say this at least Kurdistan is in the immediate area I’ll give the Moran that much but no more than that.
Heh. I understand. Completely.
If we give up on Iraq today by giving into the Democrat’s demands, it will be the third time we screwed royally the Iraqi people.
Either America is about Liberty or it is about self-serving narcissism, I’m going for the former since the latter is worthless.
Major John – I figured I would not have to explain it to you. Knowing everybody in your audience well allows one to speak much more freely, especially when you have shared common experiences.
This is really fascinating stuff. The pilot on my left (BAC .25) is talking about dropping off planes in Israel. The gentleman on my right is counter-terrorism for some agency, but nobody really knows (or asks) who he works for. I really wish everyone could hear these stories.
Major John – I will try to email ypu a narrative summary after we get back home. With much editing, maybe you could post it.
MayBee – Dirty Harry lost out to the women from TX on the best rack contest, but is the hands down winner in the “Biggest Vagina” category.
My typing skills are a bit impaired at this point, so I shall refrain from commenting further. We can thank BJ from TX for people spewing pulled pork all over our RV. Thanks !
JD—for a guy posting from the carpool lane, I thought you did very well…
I think Woman’s Day described them as “undecisively floppy”.
Interesting stuff. I agree with the general approach. I’m always leery of SLA Marshall, however. He got into a spot of bother with some truthy fabrications at one point… His insights are usually pretty decent, but I would advise that you you get SLAMmed, do so with a grain of salt.
TW: Aaaaaaaaarmy training42, Sir!
”You you”? Looks like I sent that before it was TW: set44.
I take Marshall for his observations, and the data his group gathered. I skip on by his advocacy of his training program, as we are a number of decades past that point…
Major,
Do you think you could put together a reading list for my son, Matt the Marine?
He’s a LCPL, and will be deploying at the end of July for 6 months, sea duty to the Med and the Red Sea.
I want to get him some reading material for him and his buds.
N.O’Brain—try the novels of John Ringo, if he doesn’t mind reading stuff written by a Ranger colonel…
Hmmm. Let me think about that for a moment.
Guadalcanal Diary by Richard Tregaskis.
Any of the stuff off this list.
And for fun, Neal Stephenson: The Diamond Age, Cryptonomicon, and the Baroque Cycle. Maybe some John Scalzi (Old Man’s War, etc.)
Oh, and Mask of Command by John Keegan.
N. O’Brain,
The Marine Corps actually has a reading list for all hands. I believe you can access the list (and buy the books) at the Marine Corps Association website.
If he’s on sea duty, the Master and Commander series by Patrick O’Brian are great for recreation—superb writing, entertaining as hell, and good lessons in leadership as well.
Almost forgot—Semper Fi to Matt the Marine from a sea-going bellhop who is old enough to have been standing firewatch and flip the switch when God said, “Let there be light.”
N O’Brain,
The Marine Corps does have a reading list. (I’m probably provoking fits of laughter, but it’s true. Full Disclosure, I spent most of my time with the Air Wing.)
Have him try Sand in the Wind by Robert Roth – I’m not positive of the first name. Best novel about Vietnam ever written.
Let me know if he’s interested in fiction, or history/biography and I can send you a list from my home e-mail. I have at least 100 in my bookshelves. My wife would swear 1000 but she exaggerates.
MarkD, why in God’s name would anybody laugh? More to the point, who would have the cojones?
Jamie, you weren’t in any of the other services were you? I’m partial to Navy jokes myself. RTO’s brother was a squid. hee hee. Let’s just say the Marines aren’t exactly known for their smarts. ;D
MarkD—I didn’t know they published Big Little Books anymore…