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U.S. government spending is out of control, and much of it swirls down the military's bottomless sinkhole. The FY 2010 federal budget is $3.55 trillion, of which $663.7 billion (18.74%) is earmarked for the Department of Defense. The U.S. spends 4.3% of its GDP on defense, more than double that of our nearest competitor, China (2.0%). With 4.5% of the planet's population, we account for over 40% of world military expenditures. As a country, we are $14 trillion in debt. Many defenders of our global military posture and permanent War on Terror insist that every penny spent on defense is...

On March 10, 2009, SSgt. Zachary Rhyner, USAF, of Medford, Wisconsin, received the Air Force Cross from Michael B. Donley, Secretary of the Air Force (SecAF), in the presence of General Norton Schwarz, Chief of Staff, USAF (CSAF), at Pope AFB, North Carolina, adjacent to Ft. Bragg, for his role in employing air power to support the ODA 3336 special forces and their Afghan allies on April 6, 2008. The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. He is an air combat controller from...

Today two fruits on the 9th circus court ruled it's ok to wear any medals you want. Lying is ok now. The Stolen Honor Act was ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL. EBAY has plenty of MOH's for sale! Any takers? I doubt it here.

There is a current politician and candidate running for reelection here in SW Ohio who is a peacetime Air Force veteran. She served honorably for 6 years as an officer. She never saw combat nor was in theater. What is troubling is that this politician goes around wearing a chest full of military ribbons as if she were some sort of war hero. She wears them on her shirts, jackets, and other articles of clothing at public events. She almost resembles General Patton. She also let's you know that she is a veteran over and over and over again. She...

The announcement that Glenn Beck would host a rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and on the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream Speech" was bound to attract critics. In an editorial featured on The Huffington Post, Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke takes aim at the "Restoring Honor" rally, which is co-hosted by the National Rifle Association (NRA). "Most jarring is the sad irony of all of these people at the podium," writes Helmke, "with their supporters spread across our National Mall, celebrating, in part, their worship of guns, while invoking, quite blatantly,...

Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal ended his 34-year career as an Army officer in an emotional retirement ceremony, marking the last chapter of his swift and stunning fall from grace. [...] (This is a slide show of photos, with commentary on each photo, of Gen. McChrystal's retirement ceremony at Fort McNair yesterday afternoon. It was Gen. McChrystal's request that his ceremony be conducted in ACUs (Army Combat Uniform) rather than Ceremonial Blues.)

President Obama has signed a sweeping financial services reform bill approved by Congress. Thanks to the support of USAA members, employees and friends, the new law provides consumer protections while preserving the way USAA serves its members. USAA believes the amended Volcker Rule provision – the most critical aspect of the law for USAA – will better serve consumers and our members. You can learn more about the Volcker Rule in USAA's Newsroom. We're gratified that congressional leaders clearly heard your voices in crafting this legislation. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and, in particular, Sen. Kay Hagan,...

COLORADO SPRINGS — A Vietnam veteran has fulfilled his 44-year-old battlefield promise to return a rosary to a wounded comrade. Frank Heidel gave the rosary back to Chuck Doole on Wednesday night during an emotional reunion of the two veterans and their families. Doole had been shot in an ambush and feared he was going to die. The rosary was a gift from his grandmother and he didn't want it to be lost, so he gave it to Heidel. Heidel promised to return it when both were safe, but they lost touch. Heidel periodically tried to find Doole without success,...

This from a Fighter Pilot chat group hosted by Tom Weeks about the memorial service held at the Air Force Academy honoring the recently deceased legendary fighter pilot, ace, leader Robin Olds:Read the article (with picture) at the source, you won't regret it.

Take some names this morning, people. "Tell 'em they can kissm'a$$." Ooorah.

Military video showcasing it smany helicopters. ah-64 apache, uh-60 blackhawk, and the kiowa

A group of eight wounded warriors have returned to the combat zone in Iraq where they were injured, to find a sense of closure. This second group of “Operation Proper Exit” will spend a week in Iraq, thanks to the Troops First Foundation and the USO. In June, six amputee combat veterans went back to Iraq as part of “Proper Exit” and visited seven military installations. This week the veterans are also traveling to many of the places where they received injuries, to see firsthand what progress their sacrifices and those of their comrades have brought to Iraq. At Camp...

When I was wandering around the socialist paradises of the workers and peasants with free medical care for all during the 1990s, of course I made a great many acquaintances. What follows was one of them, a guy I met on a train. He had recently been fishing, and insisted I join him in his meal. Normally, I am a laid-back, mellow, easy-going sort of person, and I had no problems accepting the hospitality of Russians, Ukrainians, White Russians, and Moldavians, but this was, uh, dead fish. I however got the impression I had better eat, and so for the...

50th Anniversary Tattoo - Part 1 Share / Bookmark (53:37 min) Featured: The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) Continental Color Guard, National Anthem, Army Superior Unit Award Ceremony, Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg, City of Washington Pipe Band, American Originals Fife and Drum Corps, U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps "The Commandants Own". 50th Anniversary Tattoo - Part 2 Share / Bookmark (59:24 min) Featured: U.S. Military Academy Band "Hellcats", 1st Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps, Federal City Brass Band, U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, Tattoo finale.

6/15/2010 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office announced June 14 that the remains of four Airmen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are; Capt. Peter H. Chapman, II, Centerburg, Ohio; Tech. Sgt. Allen J. Avery, Auburn, Mass.; Tech. Sgt. Roy D. Prater, Tiffin, Ohio; and Sgt. James H. Alley, Plantation, Fla. Sergeant Prater is to be buried in Columbia City, Ind., June 19. Other burials are being scheduled individually by the families of the Airmen. April 6,...

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I have someone who claims to have served two tours in Vietnam and he says that he was in the Special Forces and 82nd Airborne. We all think he is a phony, because there is nothing in his makeup that would indicate this. He also claims to be a PHD and a whole slew of other things. Is there any way to verify his military history without him knowing?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., June 8, 2010 – World War II-era Coast Guardsman Harry Milton Daube, 88, the last living survivor of the sinking of the USS Leopold, was presented the Purple Heart Medal during a June 4 ceremony at his home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jensen pins a Purple Heart Medal onto the chest of World War II-era Coast Guardsman Harry Milton Daube, 88, during a June 4, 2010 ceremony at Daube’s home in New Smyrna Beach, Fla. Daube is the last living survivor of the sinking of the USS Leopold during World...

When D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, the Arizona Daily Star had the news in the paper of the same date thanks to time differences. The news of the invasion came over the wire, and a two-page extra was printed. The main headline couldn't fail to attract attention: ALLIES LAND IN FRANCE. Other headlines called it the greatest military action in history. All of the headlines had a winning tone to them including "Allied paratroopers strike first blow at Axis vitals" and "Berlin acknowledges deep penetrations by glider-borne troops." Much of the news came from the Germans: The Germans said...

When our land is illumined with liberty's smile, If a foe from within strikes a blow at her glory, Down, down with the traitor that tries to defile The flag of the stars, and the page of her story! By the millions unchained, Who their birthright have gained We will keep her bright blazon forever unstained; And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave, While the land of the free is the home of the brave.