Posted on 07/10/2012 6:50:37 PM PDT by maggiesnotebook
Marine Lance Cpl. Hunter Hogan was laid to rest in York, Nebraska on Friday, July 6th, 2012. He was 21 years old when he was killed in Afghanistan during operations in Helmand province with the Patriot Guard Riders on June 23, 2012. His hometown was Norman, Indiana. Hunter's father, Steve Hogan, says his son was "fearless," "brave," and "he sure could Cowboy." He loved to rodeo, had opportunities to do so in college but wanted to serve his country for four years and then get back to the rodeo arena. Mr. Hogan has sharp words for the media, accusing them of "coddling this Teflon-coated administration," and he blames the Military's Rules of Engagement for the dangerous circumstances the most powerful Military on earth faces every day.
We as family and friends of Lance Cpl. Hogan and other service members, want to know why the media in our country has coddled instead of covered this Teflon coated administration!We listened every night on the news for 8 years with the previous administration the casualty reports. With the present administration nothing is reported!
With the news of our recent loss of H.D. and others in his battalion, many people have made statements like “I didn’t think anything was going on there anymore.” “I thought the Marines were leaving there.” Etc. etc.
Here’s the statistics in Afghanistan for the 8 years of George Bush. The total killed in action under him is 660. Barack Obama in 3 years and 5 months the total killed in action is a total of 1,398.
Wounded under George Bush is 2,637 in 8 years. Wounded under Obama up to January 31st of this year is 11,529.
Why isn’t the media covering this instead of covering the protesters of these brave service men and women’s funerals?
The policies of this current administration and the rules of engagement are a huge factor with these casualty reports. The limited air and artillery support our men receive. The limited company level support such as motors, as well as the approval to return fire are hampering and adding to the danger they are in daily. Not to mention the severely limited night operations, that is approved, because it scares the Afghan people.
Let the military run the war. They are the professionals. Or get our people out of there.
Rules of Engagement are an emotional topic for our Military, when they dare speak about it:
But this isn't the first time that a Nebraskan or Iowan close to the war has expressed frustration with the rules of engagement.Click the link above for the remainder of the Wimer's story. Notice the last paragraph. As we've long known, winning the war is not the mission.In April 2011, a roadside bomb exploded under an armored vehicle carrying Iowa National Guard troops as they patrolled north of Kabul.
Almost immediately after the explosion — which destroyed the vehicle's front half but resulted in no injuries — the Iowa soldiers spotted a man sprinting away from where they believed the blast had been triggered.
“We've got a triggerman running towards the valley,” reported an Iowa voice over the radio.
The gunner frantically and forcefully asked for permission to shoot — he had the runner in his sights — but that permission was denied after a quick and heated back-and-forth with the truck commander.
The incident left the gunner and others in the convoy suspecting that they had just let an insurgent scamper away after trying to kill them.
The incident was witnessed and reported by a World-Herald reporter and photographer embedded with the Iowa Guard. Iowa guardsmen involved in the incident couldn't be reached for comment this week.
Ross Wimer, a Marine from West Point, Neb., also can recall situations where the complexity of a situation — and the caution of military leaders — seemed to make life more dangerous for American troops.
If you are in the area of McCook, Nebraska on July 20th, Hunter's family invites you to a Memorial Bull Ride in the name of their son:
We would like to invite everyone out on July 20th and 21st to Junction Motor Speedway in McCook, Neb. where the H.D. Hogan Memorial Bull Ride will be held on that Friday and Saturday night. A huge tribute to the Armed Forces will be held both nights with donations made to the H.D. Hogan Memorial Rodeo Scholarship Fund with Cornerstone Bank.Joined the Marine Corps in October 2009 was a rifleman assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine division, II Marine Expeditionary Force. He achieved the rank of lance corporal in December 2010 and has be awarded he Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign medal Global War on Terrorism service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.I hope you will take a few minutes to watch this slideshow of Hunter's funeral, the beautiful White horse "down" beside the casket; the riderless horse - the flags, his beautiful wife. Such sorrow is incomprehensible for those not going through it.
The stories and accolades about this young man are many and they are stored in the hearts of the many who knew him. For those of us who did not know him, the message from the family is one we must dwell on, must not forget, must grieve over, because other than the ballot box, you and I are helpless.
To Barack Obama, who is running for re-election on the death of Osama bin Laden, after spending days to screw-up the courage to let the SEALs do what the SEALs do so exceptionally, we know you are a fraud and a pawn and a disgrace to your office. (Thanks to Free Republic here and here - read the comments!)
Disgraceful.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Wow. This needs to be talked about in every possible outlet.
Sorry for the multiple posts. My IPad acts oddly at times.
I have a son in USMC just back from Helmand Province. I know exactly what this Father is going through. The rules of engagement and poor supply lines starting the lastc couple of years put a lot of Marines in danger and continue to put a lot of Marines in danger not to mention the other services. Pray that God helps them and protects them.
Slight correction for the purposes of clarity and better understanding: the word is “mortar(s)”, not “motor(s)” in the comment about the lack of company-level support.
Helmand Province has become a killing ground, especially for the NG troops sent there. The Oklahoma contingent returned this spring after experiencing significant losses to IEDs.
As a former artilleryman, I’m appalled by the stories of the rules of engagement are removing the normal use of fire support: mortar, artillery, helicopter.
TO ALL, please help get the message out. Not only is the MSM bias in their support of O, but they are negligent IMO in not reporting the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Omission is sometimes worse then lying.
Since “motors” was a quote I couldn’t change it, but thanks for the clarification. BTW, I’m in Oklahoma.
Since “motors” was a quote I couldn’t change it, but thanks for the clarification. BTW, I’m in Oklahoma.
Thank you hossiermama!
Sorry, meant hoosiermama:-( My apologies.
Check out this thread and comments.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2904976/posts
Note the boarder agents fighting back with BEAN BAGS.
We have NO Commander in Chief... We must get this information out...Where is Rush, Hannity, Oli North. Who will stand up to 0 for our brave young people?
I’ve been talking about Brian Terry and those pitiful bean bags since I learned of his murder. It made it into the press, and then disappeared. I continued to put it into every post I wrote. So despicable - it’s beyond words.
I’m betting those bean bags are still out there protecting illegals from Border Security.
I thank God that your son is home, and will continue prayers for those still in danger. We must never do this again unless we intend to win big and swiftly.
rules of engagement.....see tagline.....
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