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At the Angels - Orioles game last night, I caught this C17 Globemaster III flyover. Sorry about the wobbly camera as my kids were pulling on my shirt as they were looking at the plane.

So that you will know "the Rest of the Story": He wanted to be a Marine fighter pilot. The US was building up their military force, but they were not at war yet and the Navy required all its potential Navy and Marine pilots to have two years of college. So Ed started classes at Boston College. When Pearl Harbor was attacked the Army and the Navy both dropped the college requirement and Ed applied to the Marines. His primary flight training was in Dallas and then he went to Pensacola, Florida. He was carrier qualified, which means he knew...

> Now that he's home in Fort Worth he said his boxers will be displayed in the 1st Infantry Division museum at Fort Riley, Kansas. >

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Kodiak prepares the rescue of a French kayaker from the Bering Sea Saturday July 4, 2009. The crew hoisted Jean Gabriel Shelala, 28, from his kayak 40 miles north of St. Lawrence Island at about 4:15 p.m. The 28-year-old is attempting to circumnavigate the world using a specially designed kayak. He departed from Emmonak on June 27. Chelala is reportedly in good condition, but asked for the assistance Saturday. (AP Photo/US Coast Guard - Brian Myers)

Wisconsin's "Cheese Lady" says she's marrying a retired Navy commander enamored by her efforts to sculpt an aircraft carrier out of cheddar. Professional cheese sculptor Sarah Kaufmann, 57, first caught the eye of retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Bill Parry, 67, as they were aboard a plane and she was poring over the plans for her 6-foot-long sculpture of the USS Ronald Reagan, which was unveiled at the ship's home-porting ceremony, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Saturday. The two were to wed Saturday in Manitowoc, Wis., on the shores of Lake Michigan, dressed in pirate costumes. "(Kaufmann) was looking at a...

With a fattened GI Bill covering full tuition and more, the number of veterans attending college this fall is expected to jump 30 percent from last year to nearly half a million. That's left many universities looking for ways to ease the transition from combat to the classroom.

Hiya FR Gun Club members, I received the following email today, with the attached pics of the new STG-556 E4. Looks like a kewl new toy to go shoot!!!! The email: From: guns@ratworxusa.com To: al@ratworxusa.com Subject: New STG-E4 Date: Sat, 4 Jul 2009 00:45:34 +0000 Hey, we just thought we would share with everybody some photos of the new MSAR STG-E4. We received our shipment of rifles today. We demo'd the very first production gun to leave the factory to 11 L.E. Departments, and the gun worked flawlessly all day. For those of you who had pre-oders, right now we...

(snip) In 1995 Colin Powell said that if the North dared to use its missiles and weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. would turn North Korea into "a charcoal briquette." Clearly North Korea cannot use its missiles without risking its own complete destruction. Now that Powell is Secretary of State, he appears to grasp the importance of the missile deal that Bill Clinton nearly pulled off. Once others in the Bush administration understand that the alternatives to negotiating with the North are all worse than agreements that have been gotten (in 1994) and can still be gotten today, one hopes...

Does this this video make you say: A. Sigh, women in the military.... B. Where do I sign up?!!! C. Leave her alone, she's fighting for you!

Hi Everyone, My name is Brad Strittmatter and we have a new TV show on Fox Sports called Hunts for Heroes' Veteran Outdoors. The sole purpose of Veteran Outdoors Television is to honor our service members that have been wounded in combat by giving them a platform to tell their story in their own words. We also give them a little something back by surprising them with their dream adventure as our way of saying “Thank You!” for all they’ve done for us. Taking our wounded heroes on these trips has changed our lives. We are just a small group...

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The number of tanks belonging to the Russian armed forces will be cut to 2,000, a Russian Defense Ministry source told Interfax on Wednesday. "As part of the armed forces reform, the General Staff endorsed the organizational structure of the Armor Forces within ground brigades and the Navy's coast forces. The Armor Forces will include two independent tank brigades and over 20 tank battalions within permanent alert brigades," the source said. The independent tank brigades will be stationed in the Siberian and Moscow Military Districts, he said. "The overall number of tanks of various versions,...

Note: The following text is a quote: General Counsel Looking Into ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ Gates Says By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service ABOARD A MILIARY AIRCRAFT, June 30, 2009 – A day after President Barack Obama reaffirmed his pledge to overturn the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today he has Defense Department lawyers exploring ways to make it more flexible until the law is changed. The law prohibits officials from inquiring into a servicemember’s sexual orientation in the absence of statements or acts that indicate the servicemember is homosexual, but allows...

The human body, much like a computer, contains myriad data processors. They include, but are not limited to, the chemical-electrical activity of the brain, heart, and peripheral nervous system, the signals sent from the cortex region of the brain to other parts of our body, the tiny hair cells in the inner ear that process auditory signals, and the light-sensitive retina and cornea of the eye that process visual activity.[2] We are on the threshold of an era in which these data processors of the human body may be manipulated or debilitated. Examples of unplanned attacks on the body's data-processing...

The breaking of the sound barrier is not just an audible phenomenon. As a new picture from the U.S. military shows, Mach 1 can be quite visual. This widely circulated new photo shows a Air Force F-22 Raptor aircraft participating in an exercise in the Gulf of Alaska June 22, 2009 as it executes a supersonic flyby over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. The visual phenomenon, which sometimes but not always accompanies the breaking of the sound barrier, has also been seen with nuclear blasts and just after space shuttles launches, too. A vapor...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--If there are two things that drive the folks at the world-famous Cheyenne Mountain complex crazy, it's the widely held public perceptions that, for one, the complex has shut down altogether, and that it is synonymous with NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. After visiting as part of my Road Trip 2009 project Friday, I'm here to report that both perceptions are quite incorrect.

Can anything be Christian if it is not scriptural? and Can anything be politically right if it is morally wrong? I find that the more conservative a person is in his understanding of biblical truths, the more likely he is to belong to the right-wing politically. It should, however, be understood that the terms, "right wing" and "left wing" are actually socialist terms used to describe American politics - but the word, like the word "Christian" stuck and became a descriptive label. Conversely, the less certainty that people place in the Bibles, the more likely they are to embrace a...

I have been reading the stories about Mark Sanford who had a error in judgement this past week. I understand that his wife is upset and many conservatives are disappointed. My question is what is the Air Force saying? He was an Air Force Reservist. I did not know that until today reading other posts. He could be court martialed for adultry which is against the UCMJ. Does anyone know if there is anything about this?

This is one battle that will probably be decided by whichever side is most "distressed" -- officials of the VA Medical Center in West Los Angeles, or a group of protesting veterans. On Sunday, demonstrators plan to gather by the VA grounds and display an upside-down American flag "as a signal of dire distress." They contend that agency policies have placed the VA property in "extreme danger." But if that act upsets VA officials, protesters could find themselves facing off with federal police, who view the upended banner as a sign of disrespect to Old Glory.

Rob Finch/The Oregonian/2002U.S. Marine Corps Col. Kenneth L. Reusser (center) is joined by Marine Staff Sgt. Marvin Harper (left) and Air Force Staff Sgt. Kim Nickerson on the Freedom Train, a string of cars honoring Oregon veterans, firefighters and disaster-relief workers who flew to New York City after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. CLACKAMAS -- They came by ones and twos Friday, quietly slipping into the pews at New Hope Community Church. They smiled at the words honoring a man whose faith made him an inspiration and whose exploits in three wars made him a hero. And when the...

Some dogs will try to eat anything - but for dogs like Toby, based in Afghanistan with the military, swallowing things on the ground can be extra dangerous. Last week Toby ate what experts think may have been an explosive. After ingesting the toxic substance when sniffing out Taliban improvised explosive devices on the front line, he was picked up by a medical emergency helicopter and whisked back to Camp Bastion. Army vet Captain Matt Clark gave him oxygen through a child's mask during the journey. Toby was then treated on a drip with charcoal to soak up the poison...

James May always wanted to be an astronaut. Now, 40 years after the first Apollo landings, he gets a chance to fly to the edge of space in a U2 spy plane. But first he has to undergo three gruelling days of training with the US Air Force and learn to use a space suit to stay alive in air so thin it can kill in an instant. He discovers that during the flight there are only two people higher than him, and they are both real astronauts on the International Space Station.

Official Believes Dog Belongs To Member Of MilitaryA "sweetheart" of a dog now in a California shelter may be really, really far from home. His microchip says the knee-high, light tan Saluki came from Saudi Arabia. The neutered male dog brought to a Carlsbad animal shelter last week has an implanted microchip that was sold to the U.S. Military Training Mission, headquartered in Riyadh, said Lt. Dan DeSousa of San Diego County's Animal Services Department. The dog was found June 15 near Escondido, about 30 miles north of San Diego. DeSousa said he believes someone in the military owns the...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Challenger asks Murtha to return donations By MICHELLE GANASSI Daily American Staff Writer Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:50 PM EDT JOHNSTOWN — Republican businessman Tim Burns delivered a letter to Rep. John Murtha’s office Tuesday, asking the longtime congressman to return campaign donations from Kuchera representatives. Burns, 41, of Eighty Four has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the 12th Congressional District seat in 2010. He said Kuchera Industries employees and family members have donated $68,300 to Murtha’s campaign. Kuchera, a Windber defense contractor, was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service...

The Pentagon will create a Cyber Command to oversee the U.S. military's efforts to protect its computer networks and operate in cyberspace, under an order signed by Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday. The new headquarters, likely to be based at Fort Meade, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., will be responsible for defending U.S. military systems but not other U.S. government or private networks, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Asked if the command would be capable of offensive operations as well as protecting the Department of Defense, Whitman declined to answer directly. "This command is going to focus on the protection...

LOS ANGELES, June 23, 2009 – “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” hits theaters nationwide tomorrow as the culmination of more than a year of Defense Department support, ranging from script and uniform notes to C-17 aerial maneuvers and jumps from the Army's Golden Knights parachute demonstration team. The first Transformers film released in July 2007 used a variety of Air Force assets. In the latest film, DreamWorks and Paramount studios partnered with all four services to highlight America's military members and combat power on the big screen. Deciding how and why to work with the services was essential in making...

More than 50 years after a 7,600lb (3,500kg) nuclear bomb was dropped in US waters following a mid-air military collision, the question of whether the missing weapon still poses a threat remains. In his own mind, retired 87-year-old Colonel Howard Richardson is a hero responsible for one of the most extraordinary displays of aeronautic skill in the history of the US Air Force. His view carries a lot of weight and he has a large number of supporters - including the Air Force itself which honoured his feat with a Distinguished Flying Cross. But to others, he is little short...

One of the last two Flying Boats from World War II -- a 747-sized airplane that can only land on water -- will be floating on Lake Elsinore this summer, ready to dump tons of water on Southern California wildfires. The 'Mighty Martins' One of the last two Flying Boats from World War II -- a 747-sized airplane that can only land on water -- will be floating on Lake Elsinore this summer, ready to dump tons of water on Southern California wildfires, it was reported today. A Martin Mars JRM-3 flying boat -- with a wingspan greater than a...

David Borden Jr. was wounded in Iraq on January 19, 2008. A suicide bomber rushed him and detonated, and Borden was hit by over 200 pieces of shrapnel. He lost right leg (below the knee) and his left arm was severely damaged. He was in a coma for over a month. He's inspired more than a few people while recovering. The NY Giants football team reports that he's the grandson of a NY Giant. According to the email below from his father, David Borden (Sr.), David Jr. had an uninspiring visit from the President of the United States: Since Dave...

KABUL – The top U.S. general in Afghanistan will soon formally order U.S. and NATO forces to break away from fights with militants hiding in Afghan houses so the battles do not kill civilians, a U.S. official said Monday.

Two men were indicted by a Walker County Grand Jury last week for the April shooting of a dog owned by a local war hero. Alfonso Garcia Hernandez, 24, and Michael John Edmonds II, 21, were indicted on June 10 on one count each of cruelty to non-livestock animals after allegedly shooting and killing DASY, a Labrador retriever belonging to Marcus Luttrell, a highly-decorated Navy SEAL and veteran of the war in Afghanistan.

There were a lot of things we couldn't do in an SR-71 Blackbird (The Air Force/NASA super fast, highest flying reconnaissance jet, nicknamed, "The Sled"), but we were the fastest guys on the block and loved reminding our fellow aviators of this fact. People often asked us if, because of this fact, it was fun to fly the jet. Fun would not be the first word I would use to describe flying this plane - intense, maybe, even cerebral. But there was one day in our Sled experience when we would have to say that it was pure fun to...

THE war in Iraq is officially moving to an end. Six years after Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled, several coalition members have ended their missions in Iraq - including Australia, which pulled out its troops 12 months ago - and the US is preparing to wrap up its military involvement in the country. If we examine the question from an American, British or Australian perspective, then it would be difficult to present an answer that could convince all critics. For the coalition members this was a war of opportunity, not a war of necessity. Going to war or not was...

A colleague is requesting if anyone has trajectory info on a 55 grain, .223 caliber bullet from the guns muzzle out to 300 yards or so from a (Colt if that matters) 20" Heavy Barrel AR15 using a scope mounted about 2- 2 1/2" above the bore of the barrel..

Posted By McQ Georgia recently sent elements of its 48th BCT to Afghanistan. Within 3 weeks 3 of their warriors were killed by an IED explosion. The following video is simply magnificent. It's 12 minutes long, but it makes an incredible point - the people of America love and honor their warriors and appreciate the sacrifice they make. The video is shot from inside the procession which picked up the remains of SSG John Beale and shows the crowds which turned out to honor him as it traveled through various parts and towns in Henry County, GA, where SSG Beale...

Under the pretext of the war on terror and through initiatives such as the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), as well as other commitments, there has been an ongoing effort to further harmonize North American security priorities. The militarization of the continent, along with U.S.-Canada integration is taking place in areas of law enforcement, border services and the armed forces. More is being done to better protect the northern border, but somehow government needs to strike a balance between security and the movement of goods and people

Israeli defense researchers are working on a robot snake that can sneak through cracks and into buildings to send back sound and video of enemy movements — or even plant explosives. That's according to the Jerusalem Post, which cites a news report from Israel's Channel 2. A video clip shows the six-foot-long robot, covered in camouflage, winding its way through rocks and tree stumps, its "head" a flat camera lens ringed by LED lights. The "snake" can also prop up its front sections vertically to peer over obstacles. It's remote-controlled by a soldier, who uses a laptop both to guide...

INDIANAPOLIS — A rare leather-bound book that played an influential role in America's early history could bring a windfall for a soldier training for his second tour in Iraq. Indiana National Guard Capt. Nathan Harlan was a high school junior when he paid $7 for a 1788 first edition of volume one of "The Federalist" — a two-volume book of essays calling for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Harlan, a 35-year-old from Granger, Ind., said he always thought his find might be worth about $500, not the thousands it could fetch when it's sold online Tuesday by Heritage Auction...

You're the emblem of the land I love, the home of the free and the brave," sang more than 75 patriots celebrating Flag Day on Sunday morning at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale. The song "You're a Grand Old Flag" was just one of the presentations honoring the Stars and Stripes at the event that the Antelope Valley Service Organization Association and city of Palmdale organized together. The crowd at the square included Boy Scouts, veterans, city officials and seven Post 311 American Legion members who rode in on flag-bearing motorcycles and the C Company 1-185 Armor Battalion of the California...

Indiana National Guard Capt. Nathan Harlan was a high school junior when he paid $7 for a 1788 first edition of volume one of "The Federalist" — a two-volume book of essays calling for the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

With all the bad news floating around I thought I would take time to wish the US Army a Happy Birthday today. 234 years of keeping our country safe and free from invasion. The Army carries the load in all our wars, from the American Revolution to todays War on Terrorists. So thank an Army veteran today for their service and wish the US Army a Happy Birthday. HOOAH!!! (RLTW)

Is there any grain of truth in this squib I received from a contact? I don't cotton to posting rumor but this is kinda like the attempt to make wounded vets pay for their own medical care. Date: Thursday, June 4, 2009, 12:06 AM Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is extremely frustrated with orders that the White House is contemplating. According to sources at the Pentagon, including all branches of the armed forces, the Obama Administration may break with a centuries-old tradition. A spokesman for General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of the Jo int Chiefs of Staff, states that...

U.S. military hopes robotics can save soldiers' lives

The three brothers grew up during the depression in a hard steel mill town. The older brother was a brilliant academic, star athlete, and he was a father figure to his younger siblings. He taught them honesty, honor, courage, and respect. He was proud of them, and they were proud of him. In fact, they freely admitted in later years that they had worshipped him. They grew to be solid young men, bright with prospect, even tempered, and religious. When World War 2 broke out, the older brother joined the Army Air Corps, and was trained by the Royal Air...

I think I need a barf bag. My head is spinning after watching this footage of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s ridiculously precise stunt pilot team. No, I’m not talking about another home movie of the fliers, shot from an air show. This raw video is taken from inside a Blue Angel cockpit, as the jets scream through the air. Personally, it’s as close as I ever want to get from stepping inside one of those planes. Closer, actually.Video

Captivity In Print “Tears In The Darkness: The Story of the Bataan Death March and Its Aftermath,” by Michael and Elizabeth Norman, is the story of GI/POW artist Ben Steele, a survivor now 91 years old and a professor of art emeritus, illustrated with his recreated sketches from Japanese prison camps, the originals having been lost in the war. Extensively reviewed at the Moderate Voice. An author “op-art” at The New York Times, Memorial of the Mind. Washington Times editorial, Remembering Bataan, Americans Who Know What Torture Really Is. More of the art here. An interview with Steele and more...

Born on the French island colony of Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte admired the American Revolution and wrote of George Washington: "His cause is that of humanity." But he modeled his reign after the Roman emperors', appropriating their imagery, pursuing European domination, and sponsoring great public works projects, a new legal code and a classical renaissance in the arts. Drawn from the extraordinary collection of Pierre-Jean Chalençon, the exhibition "Napoléon" is rich in objects denoting Napoleon's imperial ambitions and stature: the gilded bronze sword used, in 1804, to proclaim him emperor; a red velvet coronation foot cushion embroidered with bees, his favorite...

LANCASTER [California] - The end of the school year is often marked by classroom celebrations, barbecues, talent shows and field day events. Bethel Christian preschool students play in a Dad's T-Ball tournament each spring because "fathers aren't as involved during the year and we want them to be a part of their children's activities," said classroom teacher Janice Zark. This year's game, held Wednesday on the softball field behind the school, included a special guest, Army Staff Sgt. Todd Usack , who arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday afternoon from his second tour overseas, then drove in early...

I am picking up the vibe that some powerful people want to have Defense Secretary Robert Gates move over to the White House to replace retired Marine Gen. James Jones as national security advisor. Maybe this is the reason Gates made pro-Jones comments to Washington Post columnist David Ignatius the other day. "I think of Jim as the glue that holds this team together," Gates said.

WEBSITE Google Earth has launched a map to honour brave servicemen and women who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. Each yellow pin represents one of the 5,700 fallen coalition troops. A line around the globe connects their hometown to the place where they died. The site includes a picture and information on each hero, such as Corporal Bryan Budd, 29. The Belfast-born dad of two, of 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, got a posthumous Victoria Cross after he was shot saving pals in clashes with the Taliban in Helmand in 2006. Google engineer Sean Askay spent four years creating Map...

I've been doing some searching and haven't come across this anywhere on the internet so I wanted to declare myself the first to make this observation. If anyone knows of a post or article that beat me to the punch please let me know. The Left, (i.e. Statists, Liberals, MSM,& progressives) are now coming full circle in their attitudes toward the US military. Whereas last election The Left had no use whatsoever for George Bush's troops, suddenly The Left are now coming to respect them. Of course the reason is with 00 at the helm they are really only capable...