Free Republic

With Monday marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Ronald Reagan's son Michael tells Newsmax that his father was deeply troubled by the wall from the night it was first erected. Michael Reagan also said President Barack Obama's decision not to attend the anniversary ceremonies in Berlin is "sad," but "completely consistent" with Obama. On June 12, 1987, President Reagan delivered a rousing speech near the Berlin Wall in which he challenged the leader of the Soviet Union: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Less than 2 1/2 years later, on Nov. 9, 1989, the wall...

Pfc. Marquest Smith, a former Fort Worth resident who joined the Army just over a year ago, was in a small cubicle inside the Soldier Readiness Center when he heard popping sounds. A bullet tore through the cubicle wall and lodged in the heel of his boot. Within 15 minutes, the 21-year-old soldier was rushing through the chaos in the huge processing center to pull four wounded victims to safety and help take them to the hospital. The gunman fired toward him from across the room as Smith was fleeing the building. Other tales of heroism spread throughout this grief-stricken...

However complete her training or rounded her experience, Sgt. Kimberly Munley may be forgiven if she never expected a scene quite like the one Thursday, when she found herself in a courtyard facing an Army major apparently gone berserk and a body count that would keep rising unless she stopped him. Two quick shots from her Beretta 9 mm — pop, pop — and now Munley had the attention of the gunman. She had missed. He was angry. Now his Belgian-made 5.7 mm pistol was pointed not at the already wounded soldier he was chasing, but at Munley, a civilian...

A police officer who intervened to stop a shooting spree at America's biggest military base was hailed today a heroine as she received treatment for the wounds received in a shoot-out with the gunman. Major Nidal Hasan, an army psychiatrist due to be posted to Afghanistan, shot dead 13 people and wounded 30 others after opening fire with two handguns at Fort Hood yesterday afternoon. But the death toll from the rampage could have been far worse had it not been for the actions of Sergeant Kimberly Munley, a civilian police officer stationed at the base who was the first...

Fort Hood, Texas (CNN) -- The police officer who ended the Fort Hood massacre by shooting the suspect was known as the enforcer on her street, a "tough woman" who patrolled her neighborhood and once stopped burglars at her house. "If you come in, I'm going to shoot," Kimberly Munley told the would-be intruders last year. It was Munley who arrived quickly Thursday at the scene of the worst massacre at an Army base in U.S. history, where 13 people were killed. She confronted the alleged gunman, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, and shot him four times. Munley was wounded in...

Good shooting Sergeant. Wishing you a speedy recovery. For the whole series of Zero dollar bills, go here: " Flickr Archive of Zero Bills"

On Monday, Dr. Christopher Thompson, the driver who abruptly stopped his car in front of two cyclists last summer, was found guilty of six felonies and a misdemeanor. The trial, which lasted three weeks and captivated the cycling community, revealed a particularly virulent form of road rage. Christian Stoehr suffered a separated shoulder and Ron Peterson shattered several teeth and broke and nearly severed his nose when the two hit the back of Thompson's Infiniti sedan on Mandeville Canyon Road. Thompson, a former emergency room physician who lives along the winding five-mile road, claimed that he was merely trying to...

Kimberly Munley shown in a photo from her Twitter page. The civilian police officer credited with stopping the shooting rampage that killed 13 people at Fort Hood is a Carolina Beach native and graduate of Hoggard High Fort Hood police Sgt. Kimberly Munley and her partner responded within three minutes of reported gunfire Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gen. Bob Cone said Friday morning. Cone said Munley shot the gunman four times despite being shot herself. “She happened to encounter the gunman. In an exchange of gunfire, she was wounded but managed to wound him four times,” Cone said. “It was...

Kimberly Munley: The hero cop who ended the bloody rampage at Fort Hood by pumping four bullets into the crazed gunman even though she was wounded is known for her toughness, friends say. Before relocating to Texas, civilian police Sgt. Kimberly Munley spent about five years as a cop in North Carolina where she forged a reputation as a no-nonsense officer. "I'd like to say I'm surprised, but I'm really not," said close friend Drew Peterson, 27. "She was born and bread to be a police officer. If you were ever to be in a fight, she'd be the...

TAMPA - The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will lead a full escort on Thursday for the procession carrying the casket of U.S. Army Spec. Eric Lembke, who died last month while serving in Afghanistan. Lembke was raised in Plant City and graduated from Plant City High School. He was 25. The casket will arrive at MacDill Air Force Base at around 2:30 p.m. Thursday.

Hawaii Celebrates Saint Who Cared For Lepers Huge crowd takes part in service for canonization of Saint Damien [Pic in URL] A relic of Father Damien — now Saint Damien — is carried in a procession to the Iolani Palace in Honolulu on Sunday as part of the interfaith celebration of his canonization. HONOLULU - Hawaii feted the canonization of Saint Damien with a Mass and an interfaith celebration that underscored the 19th century priest's enduring popularity in the islands. More than 1,200 people attended Sunday's Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, where Damien was...

Who are your living heroes of today?

Nearly half the members of a powerful House subcommittee in control of Pentagon spending are under scrutiny by ethics investigators in Congress, who have trained their lens on the relationships between seven panel members and an influential lobbying firm founded by a former Capitol Hill aide.

I don’t have the details yet on Chris’ death. I was told it was an IED. Chris is my oldest son, 28 years old and a father for his little boy Ryan and husband to Caroline, his wife. I have attached a picture of Chris and Ryan, who turned one year old last month while his daddy was in Afghanistan. The picture was taken on the day of his departure. This was Chris’ 4th tour in harm’s way-once to Kosovo, twice to Iraq and now Afghanistan.

A 10-year-old New Zealand girl has been honoured for recognising the approach of Samoa's deadly tsunami and running up and down a beach to warn people. Wellington schoolgirl Abby Wutzler has been presented with a certificate of commendation for her actions in warning of the approach of the tsunami on September 29. The honour was bestowed by New Zealand's Ministry of Civil Defence. The tsunami, triggered by a 8.0 magnitude earthquake, killed at least 143 people in Samoa, as well as 32 in American Samoa and nine in neighbouring Tonga. Abby was on the beach at the village of Lalomanu...

Christopher Columbus' stature in U.S. classrooms has declined somewhat through the years, and many districts will not observe the explorer's namesake holiday on Monday. Although lessons vary, many teachers are trying to present a more balanced perspective of what happened after Columbus reached the Caribbean and the suffering of indigenous populations. "The whole terminology has changed," said James Kracht, executive associate dean for academic affairs in the Texas A&M College of Education and Human Development. "You don't hear people using the world 'discovery' anymore like they used to. 'Columbus discovers America.' Because how could he discover America if there were...

These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth, a Tahchemonite, chief of the Three [heroes], known also as Adino the Eznite; he wielded his spear and went against 800 men, who were slain at one time. (2 Sam. 23:8)

Petraeus Has Prostate Cancer By ERIC SCHMITT Published: October 5, 2009 WASHINGTON — Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of American military forces in the Middle East, received a diagnosis of early-stage prostate cancer in February but has undergone “successful” radiation treatment to deal with the illness, according to a statement issued late Monday. Stephen Crowley/The New York Times Gen. David H. Petraeus, the commander of American military forces in the Middle East, at the Newseum in Washington last week. He received a diagnosis of early-stage prostate cancer in February. General Petraeus, 56, who as head of the United States...

A Nebraska military officer who has battled Hurricane Katrina and al-Qaida will spend his final deployment searching for a sticky black substance that might be the key to victory in Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Thomas Brewer will soon head to Kabul, capital of the war-torn country, where he will serve as a military adviser to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration as it tries to slow the production and movement of crudely processed black tar heroin. ...Military leaders recognize that insurgent groups in southern Afghanistan use drug money to buy weapons, upgrade their communication systems and bribe politicians... Brewer has spent most...

Review "A raw, heartfelt story of how a man of valor lost his bearings and eventually found the courage to share his story. Shadow of the Sword leaves you hoping and cheering for the happy ending that Workman deserves."-Bing West, author of The Strongest Tribe "In writing this moving and incredibly honest book, Workman shows at least as much courage as he did in Fallujah. His story gives hope to anyone who struggles that they, too, can overcome if they just keep fighting-one day at a time, one battle at a time, one victory at a time."-Donovan Campbell, author of...

These remarkable individuals have been selected by our Blue Ribbon Panel as our Top 10 CNN Heroes. Now, you can help choose the 2009 CNN Hero of the Year. Click on the photos below to learn more about them, then select the CNN Hero whose accomplishment, impact and personal story inspires you the most. http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/vote/

Hudson Hero 'Sully' Sullenberger Returns to New York Skies: Watch Live

The intruder carried a silver gun when he opened the door and walked into Tabitha Billings’ home Tuesday night. A white bandana covered the lower portion of his face. Another covered the upper portion. Only his eyes were visible. Billings said she thinks he may have known her, and that he likely intended to rob her of her college loan money. Billings attends Brown Mackie College, and she’d recently received her tuition check. Only a few knew. The intruder left without it. But not before shooting her pregnant dog in the head. Billings said the medium-sized, mixed-breed dog she calls...

Alone in a crowd of rugged men, nursing his drink in the far corner of the old post town's only tavern: Kaim. A single man strides in through the tavern door. Massively built, he wears the garb of a warrior. His soiled uniform bespeaks a long journey. Fatigue marks his face, but his eyes wear a penetrating gleam—the look of a fighting man on active duty. The tavern's din hushes instantly. Every drunken eye in the place fastens on the soldier with awe and gratitude. The long war with the neighboring country has ended at last, and the men who...

BRANCH MANAGER REPORTEDLY ORDERS REMOVAL OF FLAGS PLACED TO HONOR FALLEN MARINE A South Carolina Bank of America branch is drawing criticism Thursday after an employee reportedly ordered the removal of American flags placed to honor a fallen Marine over fears that people would be offended.

LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Across just a few deadly yards of rocky terrain, the private’s cries grew weaker. Even though bullets came pouring in like hail, Staff Sgt. Jared Monti made a break for it. The enemy was strong — maybe 50, to the 16 Americans. But Pvt. Brian Bradbury was Monti’s guy. He was isolated and bleeding badly on this grim mountain ridge in northeastern Afghanistan’s Nuristan province. Monti didn’t get far. A barrage of fire cut down the 30-year-old moments before air cover he’d requested arrived. Exhausted and reeling from a desperate fight that left Monti and another...

A Moore High School graduate who attended the University of Oklahoma on a track scholarship before joining the military has died in Afghanistan. Featured Gallery Advertisement Army 1st Lt. David Timothy Wright II, 26, died Monday. Details of his death were not available from the Department of Defense. His parents, Tim and Michele Wright, issued a statement through Primrose Funeral Service. "We want to say how much we appreciate the prayers and support that has been shown to our family during this very difficult time. David was a true soldier, who cherished the opportunity to fight for his country. "We...

PASS CHRISTIAN — Gail Nicholson chokes back tears talking about how close to death her stepson came while serving in Iraq. “I can’t think about it without even crying,” she said. “The specifics are a little bit more than I can accept without getting upset.” Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Nicholson, a 1992 graduate of Pass Christian High, received the Bronze Star on Saturday in Jackson for saving as many as 20 troops on Feb. 16, 2005. On that day in Iraq, the Mississippi National Guardsman volunteered to walk in front of patrol units and search for explosive devices. He and...

Here is inspiring video of a Mississippi High School Quarterback who potentially saved 22 children on a school bus by tackling a 14 year-old girl wielding a loaded gun and threatening to kill students. Kaleb Eulls was on the bus, and when he realized she had the gun he tackled the girl getting the gun away from her. He is now being hailed as a hero for his bravery. The video is grainy, but shows him tackling the girl, and also contains an interview with the hero. . . . (Watch Video)

Tuesday morning began just like any other morning for football star Kaleb Eulls. Eulls and his three younger sisters were among 22 passengers on a school bus bound for Yazoo County High School in western Mississippi until a 14-year old female student boarded the bus armed with a .380 semi-automatic handgun threatening to shoot and ordering the bus driver to pull over. Eulls had fallen asleep at the back of the bus listening to his mp3 player and did not realize what was happening until one of his sisters woke him up. "My sister that was in front of me...

The mayor of Mount Vernon has made it official. Mayor Bud Norris says he will give the key to his city to conservative talk show host Glenn Beck on September 26. Norris says Beck will deliver a short talk that night and become the first person to receive a key to the city in the six years Norris has been mayor. Protesters from the Skagit County Young Democrats walked outside city hall Tuesday with protest signs, one reading "Change the locks!"

An heroic army medic treated seven injured comrades after a Taliban attack in Afghanistan despite being wounded with shrapnel herself, it emerged today. Lance Corporal Sally Clarke, of 2 Rifles, ignored the searing pain caused by the shards embedded in her shoulder and back and set about treating the rest of her patrol. The worst hit was Corporal Paul Mather who incredibly managed to radio instructions for jets circling above to open fire on Taliban insurgents despite bleeding heavily from wounds the size of his fist. Corporal Mather, 28, and Lance Corporal Clarke, 22, from Cheltenham, were on patrol south...

FReep a poll in support of Glenn Beck. Currently, there are 48,800 votes with 75% in support of Beck.

S.I. baseball-bat wielding neighbor rescues girl from abductor in woods A baseball bat-wielding Staten Island homeowner was hailed as a hero after he chased away a man who dragged a 15-year-old girl into the woods, police and witnesses said. Patrick Klatt, 51, was inside his Great Kills home Thursday night when he heard the young girl's screams from a wooded area across the street. "He kept telling her to be quiet," Klatt said about the sicko. "[But] she yelled just loud enough for me to hear." Klatt grabbed a baseball bat and ran out his door. As he crossed the...

I know this has been posted before, but we have had so much bad news lately, dealing with corrupt politicians and criminals it's good to hear there are real heroes out there. This is officer Ally Jacobs, the woman who saved 3 young girls from further torture. Let's find out where she works and bombard their switchboard with thanks.

In the heat of an ambush in Afghanistan's most lawless province, a 19-year-old Nebraskan jumped in front of a grenade to shield other Marines in his platoon. Richard Weinmaster was critically wounded by the blast. But the bloodied Cozad native stayed in the fight, firing his machine gun at the enemy position until he collapsed from his wounds. Looking back at the July 8, 2008, engagement, Weinmaster says he was “just doing my job.'' But his bosses in the Marine Corps — and the Secretary of the Navy — felt otherwise. Advertising On Thursday, they awarded the now 20-year-old Weinmaster...

Being a member of the largest graduating class in the history of the State of Florida means that Scott Speicher's remains were received by large number of my former classmates today. His memorial procession traced through my childhood streets and high school, past the familiar bastions of Naval Bases--familiar but never taken for granted-- and to a final home of rest in his native country. Although I may have had a passing acquaintance with Scott within the walls and classes of my school, I cannot claim a long-past connection with him in the close confines of a small west-side community...

Lt. Col. Gregory Gadson (right) promoted a former battle buddy, Sgt. Eric Brown, to his present rank during the 22nd Chemical Battalion's organizational day activities at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. Gadson credited Brown with saving his life after an improvised explosive device destroyed both of his legs in Iraq in 2007. WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 11, 2009) – A wounded warrior came to Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Aug. 6, to promote a Soldier who saved his life. Lt. Col. Gregory Gadson, currently an Army War College Fellow at the Institute for World Politics, drove to the 22nd Chemical...

A pet cat is being hailed a hero after saving a man from his burning home. Engineer Andrew Williams was asleep when the fire broke out at his bungalow in Bracknell in Berkshire [UK]. As black smoke filled the property, his neighbour's cat Hugo came through a cat-flap and raised the alarm by clawing at the father-of-two's face. Rescuers said that the fire could have killed Mr Williams if he had not been awoken by Hugo. A smoke detector had been moved during work on the bungalow. The fire, which broke out at the family home in Birch Hill at...

Yolanda Segovia heard a knock on her door one morning, just before 8 a.m. Her neighbor was on the porch, with a dog and a story. Stacey Savige had found the little dog in front of an elementary school. He wasn't very big, looked like some sort of terrier. Burrs clung to his belly. His honey fur was caked in mud. He didn't have a collar. Stacey had taken him to the vet and he didn't have a chip, either. ~snip~On Saturday, Azaiah went to his dad's house. Christian retreated to his room to watch a Barney video. The dog...

Those were the words of Kenneth Gladney. These words however were spoken by his lawyer since Gladney was under heavy medication as a result of the beating he took at the hands of SEIU thugs. (See pictures and a recap after the link below)

Once again a family is separated by the broken system we call our national immigration policy. The family of US Border Patrol Agent Robert Wiley Rosas will no longer have their husband, father, son, or brother with them as he was senselessly murdered by illegal aliens crossing an unsecured border near San Diego, California. Agent Rosas (aged 30) leaves behind a wife and two young children. He had no choice about this separation. He was simply out doing the job that you and I hired him to do: That of defending the security of the borders of this nation. He...

Sergeant Charles “Leo” Wilson returns home to Ava, Missouri tonight. He has been escorted by the Patriot Guard Riders. (Thank you!) Ken just heard about this on the way home from work today. Ava is our home town. Upon checking the Funeral Home web page, we discovered that his niece was in our graduating class and Ken worked with his nephew. The funeral will be Saturday and God willing, we will be there. Thanks, once again, to all our veterans and their families. We don't have words to adequately tell how we appreciate your sacrifice. Link below gives more information...

GULFPORT — The Patriot Guard Riders are preparing to honor Army Staff. Sgt. Johnny Roosevelt Polk as a hero when he is returned to Gulfport for burial. The Department of Defense Monday said Polk, 39, who grew up in North Gulfport, died July 25 at a German hospital from wounds he suffered when his vehicle was struck by an anti-tank grenade on July 23 in Kirkuk, Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas, and died supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Funeral arrangements are incomplete....

The story of Corp. Benjamin Kopp's life is one about completely dedicating yourself to your country and others. Kopp, of Rosemount, gave his life serving his country. The 21-year-old died July 18 from injuries he suffered after being shot in the leg in Afghanistan while saving the lives of six of his fellow soldiers on July 10. If giving his life wasn't the ultimate sacrifice, even after his death, Kopp kept on giving. Judy Meikle, of Chicago, says she has been long awaiting a heart transplant. Two weeks ago the 57-year-old got a call from her close friend Maria Burud,...

Jim Nicholson knew he should have just handed over the cash. But when the thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter and demanded money, Nicholson says his instincts took over. After more than two years working as a teller at the Key Bank branch in Lower Queen Anne, Nicholson clearly understood the bank's strict policy of quickly complying with robbers' demands and avoiding confrontation. Instead, Nicholson threw the bag to the floor, lunged toward the robber and demanded to see a weapon. Surprised, the would-be bank robber backed up...

SEATTLE – A Seattle bank teller has lost his job because he ran down a would-be bank robber and held him until police arrived. Jim Nicholson, 30, who had worked for more than two years at a Key Bank branch near the Seattle Center, says he understands the bank's strict policy that employees comply with robbery demands and avoid confrontations. But he told The Seattle Times that instinct took over when a thin man in a beanie cap, dark clothing and sunglasses pushed a black backpack across the bank counter on Tuesday and demanded money. Nicholson threw the bag to...

Calif. man pulls girl from burning SUV on freeway The Associated Press Jul. 23, 2009 LOS ANGELES -- The California Highway Patrol is calling a Southern California man a hero for rescuing a 3-year-old girl from a burning vehicle on a Los Angeles-area freeway. John McDonald of West Covina was driving on Interstate 10 in El Monte Wednesday when he saw an overturned sports utility vehicle engulfed in flames. Video footage shows him running to help as three people who escaped the burning SUV ran away. The CHP says the driver of the SUV shouted that her granddaughter was still...

AN Australian Army combat medic dashed 60 metres under intense insurgent fire to treat a mortally wounded Australian soldier, an inquiry has revealed. But despite the medic's efforts at resuscitation, Corporal Mathew Hopkins succumbed to a bullet wound to the head regarded as so severe that no medical help could have saved his life. Corporal Hopkins, 21, a member of the Darwin-based 7RAR, was the ninth of 11 Australian soldiers to die in Afghanistan since 2002. He was also the first member of an Australian training team to die in action since Vietnam. ..... With assistance from ANA soldiers, Corporal...

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ EAST, Iraq, July 23, 2009 – Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel L. Mayfield is a Vietnam veteran with 39 years of service. But when he re-enlisted here earlier this month, his mind was on the future and the young people he serves with. Army Sgt. 1st Class Hershel Mayfield, right, receives his re-enlistment certificate from Army Capt. Irvin Morris at Contingency Operating Site Marez East, Iraq, July 7, 2009. Mayfield has served 39 years in the Army, including 37 with the 158th Maintenance Company of the Alabama Army National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt....