Updated 6 January 2010

I like the fact that if you are a self-declared enemy of America ,
Running into a Marine outfit in combat is your worst nightmare...
And that your health record is either about to get a lot thicker, or be closed out entirely.

I like the fact that Marines are steadfast and consistent in everything they
Do... Regardless of whether you agree with them or not.

I like the fact that Marines view the term 'politically correct' with
Nothing but pure disdain.

I like the fact that Marines stand tall and rigid in their actions, thoughts,
And deeds when others bend with the direction of the wind and are as confused as
A dog looking at a ceiling fan.

I like the fact that each and every Marine considers the honor and legacy of
The Corps as his personal and sacred trust to protect and defend.

I like the fact that most civilians don't have a clue what makes us tick.
And that's not a bad thing. Because if they did, it would probably scare the
Hell out of them.

I like the fact that others say they want to be like us, but don't have
What it takes in the Pain-Gain-Pride department to make it happen.

I like the fact that the Marines came into being in a bar, named Tun Tavern. And
That Marines still gather in pubs, bars and slop chutes to share sea stories and
Hot scoop.

I like the fact that Marines do not consider it a coincidence that there are
24 hours in a day and 24 beers in a case.. Because Marines know there is a reason
For everything that happens.

I like our motto... SEMPER FIDELIS, And the fact that we don't shed it
When the going gets tough, the battlefield gets deadly or when we hang up our
Uniform for the last time.

I like the fact that Marines take care of each other... In combat and time of
Peace.

I like the fact that Marines know the difference between 'Chicken
Salad' and 'Chicken Shit' and aren't afraid to call either for
What it is.

I like the fact that the people of America hold Marines in the highest esteem
And that they know that they can count on us to locate, close with, and destroy
Those who would harm them.

I like the fact that people think we are cocky.... Yet we know that we have
Confidence in everything we do and the fact that they don't know the taste
Of that makes them look at us as if we are arrogant.

I like that fact that we know the taste of freedom and would give our very
Lives for it. And that it is a taste the protected will ever know.

I like the fact that Ronald Reagan said... 'Some people spend an entire
Lifetime wondering if they made a difference... Marines don't have that
Problem!'

I like the fact that we are brothers to the end.... And that no matter what
Happens in life, we know that we have one another's 'six'.

I like the fact that an elected member of congress felt compelled to
Publicly accuse the Marine Corps of being 'radical and extreme'. And I
Also like the fact that our Commandant informed that member of congress that she
Was absolutely correct and that he passed on his thanks for the
Compliment.


I like the fact that Marine leaders - of every rank - know that issuing every
Man and woman a black beret - or polka-dotted boxer shorts for that matter -
Does absolutely nothing to promote morale, fighting spirit or combat
Effectiveness..

I like the fact that Marines are Marines first... Regardless of age, race,
Creed, color, sex, and national origin, or how long they served, their former
Rank, or what goals they achieve in life.

I like Marines...and I love the fact that I am humbled to walk among the ranks
Of other Marines.

I like the fact that you always know where you stand with a Marine. With
Marines, there is no middle ground or gray area. There are only Missions,
Objectives and Facts.

In closing...if you aren't a Marine, the next best thing is to have a
Marine for a husband, wife, and father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, best friend, or friend.


SAEPE EXPERTUS, SEMPER FIDELIS, FRATRES AETERNI
(Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever)

THE WARRIOR’S CODE OF HONOR

at www.militarycodeofhonor.com

As a combat veteran wounded in one of America ’s wars, I offer to speak for those who cannot.  Were the mouths of my fallen front-line friends not stopped with dust, they would testify that life revolves around honor.  In war, it is understood that you give your word of honor to do your duty -- that is -- stand and fight instead of running away and deserting your friends.  When you keep your word despite desperately desiring to flee the screaming hell all around, you earn honor.

Earning honor under fire changes who you are.  The blast furnace of battle burns away impurities encrusting your soul.  The white-hot forge of combat hammers you into a hardened, purified warrior willing to die rather than break your word to friends -- your honor.  Unbeknownst to civilians, some things are worth dying for.

Combat is scary but exciting.

You never feel so alive as when being shot at without result.

You never feel so triumphant as when shooting back -- with result.

You never feel love so pure as that burned into your heart by friends willing to die to keep their word to you.  And they do.

The biggest sadness of your life is to see friends falling.  The biggest surprise of your life is to survive the war.  Although still alive on the outside, you are dead inside -- shot thru the heart with nonsensical guilt for living while friends died.  The biggest lie of your life torments you that you could have done something more, different, to save them.  Their faces are the tombstones in your weeping eyes, their souls shine the true camaraderie you search for the rest of your life but never find.

You come home but a grim ghost of he who so lightheartedly went off to war.  But home no longer exists.  That world shattered like a mirror the first time you were shot at.  You live a different world now.  You always will.

Your world is about waking up night after night silently screaming, back in battle.

Your world is about your best friend bleeding to death in your arms, howling in pain for you to kill him.

Your world is about shooting so many enemies the gun turns red and jams, letting the enemy grab you.

Your world is about struggling hand-to-hand for one more breath of life.

You never speak of your world.  Those who have seen combat do not talk about it.  Those who talk about it have not seen combat.

The hurricane winds of war have hurled you as far away as Mars, and you can never go back home again, not really. 

After your terrifying – but thrilling dance with death, your old world of babies, backyards and ballgames seems deadly dull.   

People you knew before the war try to make contact with you.  It is useless.  Words fall like bricks between you. 

Serving with warriors who died proving their word has made prewar friends seem too untested to be trusted – thus they are now mere acquaintances.  Earning honor under fire has made you alone, a stranger in your own home town. 

The only time you are not alone is when with another combat veteran.  Only he understands that keeping your word, your honor, whilst standing face to face with death gives meaning and purpose to life.  Only he understands that spending a mere 24 hours in the broad, sunlit uplands of battle-proven honor is more satisfying to a man than spending a whole lifetime in safe, comfortably numb civilian life.

Although you walk thru life alone, you are not lonely.  You have a constant companion from combat -- Death.  It stands close behind, a little to the left.  Death whispers in your ear: “Nothing matters outside my touch, and I have not touched you...YET!”

Death never leaves you -- it is your best friend, your most trusted advisor, your wisest teacher.

Death teaches you that every day above ground is a fine day.

Death teaches you to feel fortunate on good days, and bad days...well, they do not exist.

Death teaches you that merely seeing one more sunrise is enough to fill your cup of life to the brim -- pressed down and running over!

Down thru the dusty centuries it has always been thus.  It always will be, for what is seared into a man’s soul who stands face to face with death never changes.

Writer’s Note (1):

This work attempts to describe the world as seen thru the eyes of a combat veteran.  It is a world virtually unknown to the public because few veterans talk about it.  This is unfortunate since people who are trying to understand, and make contact with combat veterans, are kept in the dark.

I offer these poor, inadequate words – bought not taught – in the hope that they may shed some small light on why combat veterans are like they are.

It is my life desire that this tortured work, despite it’s many defects, may yet still provide some tiny sliver of understanding which may blossom into tolerance – nay, acceptance – of a Warrior’s perhaps unconventional way of being due to combat-damaged emotions  from  doing his duty under fire.

MOPH member number L63550.

Dedicated to absent friends in unmarked graves.

CONTACT

Your invited to discuss how the Warrior's Code makes you feel, how it describes your experience.  All feedback is welcome, both positive and negative.  The writer may be emailed at 10625@cox.net

STRESS

A lecturer when explaining stress management to anaudience,

raised a glass of water and asked

'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged fro m 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.

It depends on how long you try to hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem .

If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm .

If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,

'And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,

as the burden becomes increasingly heavy,

we won't be able to carry on.'

'As with the glass of water,

you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down 

Don't carry it home

You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,

let them down for a moment if you can.'

So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now.

Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,

  and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,

  just in case you have to eat them .

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again,

  it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,

  because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.

  Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way,

  you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.

  The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names,

  and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

I really am tired of this "politically correct" bullcrap.  It's nothing more than a liberal ploy to attack our basic Christian values.  Christianity is an open target for anyone to slur and demean while every other sect or group is off limits to any form of discussion.  We are considered "racist" if we disagree with government handouts to blacks or Hispanics or any other group whom the liberals keep dependant upon themselves.  We are "homophobes" if we believe in our spiritual souls that gay marriage is against our core values.  We are castigated as "wacky" Christians if we question any of the liberal agenda on abortion, the death penalty for those who cold-bloodedly kill first and have "remorse" afterward.  I am not religious by any means, but I believe in the basic tenets of the Bible and I believe there is a God and that His plan does not include acceptance of those actions or ideologies that are in direct opposition to those basic biblical tenets.  While it is my belief that God exists and watches over us, I also believe He is there to guide us while we take up "arms" against these attacks.  Our basic ammunition is words and our weapons are the keyboard and the telephone.  We all need to get active in having our voices heard over the roar of the liberals via emails and phone calls to our Senators, Congressmen/women and special interest groups.  Christians are still the MAJORITY but are being drowned out by an insidious minority bolstered by the slanted, biased media.  I hope you all join me in writing and/or calling our representatives'.  They are easily found by Googling their names or the Senate and Congress.  It takes only a few moments but will do a world of good if we all join the battle and save this country from following the fates of previous powers.  America is still a good country with lots to give the world if we continue to save the best of her from the degenerate ! designs of those who hate us.

Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.  God Bless all of you with love and hope, peace and health.

Ray "Frenchie" Quesnel

Very scary and very important.....

This is an article written by Charlie Reese, a former columnist for the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. Very interesting perspective on the state of our Nation!

545 PEOPLE
by Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations.

The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.

If the Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone, are responsible.

They and they alone, have the power.

They and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you, though you appear to have several choices.

1. You can agree to vote against everyone that is currently in office, knowing that the process will take several years.

2. You can decide to run for office yourself and agree to do the job properly.

3. Lastly, you can sit back and do nothing, or re-elect the current bunch.

Ray "Frenchie" Quesnel

"I favor the policy of economy, not because I wish to save money, but because I wish to save people. The men and women of this country who toil are the ones who bear the cost of the Government. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. Every dollar that we prudently save means that their life will be so much the more abundant. Economy is idealism in its most practical form.” —Calvin Coolidge

The American Sacrifice

World War 11 began Sept.3, 1939 when Adolph Hitler's Nazis Germany invaded Poland. We Americans did not get involved until Dec. 7, 1941 when the Imperial Japanese fighter planes bomb Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Every able bodied man from age 18 to 45 was drafted or enlisted in the American military. Our American women were ask to work out side the home for the first time to work at the jobs that our men had to leave so they could once again defend our homeland and our freedom. Americans were still trying to recover from the Great Depression so we were use to not having much.

Everything of any account went to the war effort. We stopped manufacturing automobiles and farm machinery and started building ships, airplanes, tanks and military weapons of all kinds. And for the first time since 1929 Americans had steady jobs that paid around $35 a week. And Americans were asked to buy war bonds and we did. Children were asked to bring a dime to school to help fight another enemy, Polio and they did and we eventually won the war against Polio. Americans all pulled together to do what was necessary to win World War II. Every American had to register for books of food stamps, gasoline stamps and shoe stamps. If you did not have any sugar stamps left you could not purchase any more sugar that month.

All of the beef, pork, bacon, bananas, butter, and candy bars went to the military. Americans back home learned to eat lamb if they had a meat stamp they could purchase it. We ate a lot of chicken. Once a week while they lasted if you had a meat stamp and you stood in a long line you could get a beef roast for Sundays dinner. In the 1930's and 1940's the standard American Sunday dinner was roast beef baked with carrots and onions served with mash potatoes made with real butter served with roast beef gravy over the mash potatoes.

School Children were ask to collect newspapers and bring to school for paper drives. The Children were asked to collect aluminum cans and aluminum pots and pans to be melted down to make weapons with. We collected glass bottles, aluminum foil was rolled into balls, and we collected string. We did what ever our government asks us to do. All Americans were patriotic. All Americans loved President Roosevelt who was a Polio survivor himself. He was crippled from Polio. Americans pulled together to win this World War II.  And we did win World War II on Sept. 2,1945. Every American hated the Germans, Japanese and Italians. The newsreels at the picture show would show pictures of Japanese soldiers throwing babies up in the air and catching them on their bayonet blades.

The Japanese during World War II were afraid of the US Marine because they had been told that in order to join the US Marine Corps you had to kill your mother first to prove you were tough. The Japs held their mothers in high regard and were terrified of our Marines.

America has been in a war for almost eight years. We have not had to make any sacrifices at home, no draft, no food stamps, no rationing of any kind. We can purchase new cars, buy shoes made from real leather without a shoe stamp. We can go to any grocery store and purchase all the beef, pork, bacon, and bananas, candy bars that we can afford. Most Americans are not affected by this war!
We have an all-volunteer Military. The families who have men and women in the military are the only ones making sacrifices in this war. The rest of the people go about their business like they didn't have a concern in the world. Those people owe that attitude to the ones that serve our country and paid for their freedom to feel as they wish.

Americans need to unite and show their support of our men and women in uniform of our country. One simple thing they could do is wear a red shirt every Friday to show the world that we Americans stand by our Military people. The Red stands for the blood that they shed to pay for our freedom. Over 6,000 of America's finest heroes have paid for our debt for Freedom in Iraq. We should never forget what these brave men and women like my Heroes US Marine Cpl. Jeffry Rogers of Yukon, Ok., US Marine Cpl. Joshua Ware of Apache, Oklahoma, and LCpl Lamont Wilson of Lawton, Oklahoma.  I can never thank them enough for my freedom that I enjoy each and every day. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

By Paul L. Odle, Sr.
Popular Yukon Author, Humorous, and Special Veteran Correspondent
Literary Historian and Ardent Promoter of Yukon, Oklahoma and Veterans Centers
2008 Yukon Wall Of Fame Recipient
Proud To Be An American Veteran
Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center
P.O. Box 849
Lawton, Oklahoma 73502 1-800-354-3287 Paul_Odlesr@Yahoo.com

Republican or Democrat?

Who Cares?

Stop blaming the problems of the Nation on a party. The problems are with the people of the system. Regardless of who we send to Washington, they quickly become personal lap dogs of the special interests. We have to protect ourselves by watching over those who we have sent to do our work. It seems as soon as our elected official arrive in Washington, they forget why they where sent there.

Legislation is being passed without even being read. Agendas are being followed even though it is exactly against what they said they would fight for. Good Bills are being weighed down with so much special interest fat they are so expensive that defeat the entire reason for their composure to begin with.

Bureaucrats are making deals with foreign Nationals without our knowledge and/or consent. The thought of selling our highways is unimaginable. The every earth that our fathers and mothers and some of us have fought and died for being sold to those who could not kill us for. It makes me furious. Those who do this or even attempt to are committing High Treason. These people know that they are hidden behind a curtain of anonymity. No one is watching the store. The deals are made and only caught at times by accident. How many are missed or just covered up and haven’t been found yet. The Bureaucratic system needs to have a watch dog in place just make sure they know that they serve the people of the United States and not the insulated Bureau Chief.

Guys, I guess this is our "Day of Infamy". I don't know if it's a day to be grateful for or a day of shame. I'm not ashamed of anything I did in those terrible times but I am ashamed of our leadership then and
pretty much since (other than Ronald Reagan's years). The whole situation left us and our generation so scarred yet it seems no lesson was learned from it as we see where we are today in Iraq. Our
leadership is anything but decisive in our approach to this war. They are tearing apart the country rather than uniting and forging a commitment to bring peace and accord into the world. I'm being
partisan here as both parties are equally at fault. While the Democrats rale against Bush simply for he being he, the Republicans are shaming themselves with malfeasance and greed in office. Politics has
become synonymous with corruption, immorality and egotism beyond the pale. Politics has overwhelmed leadership. Fred Thompson dropped from the presidential race not because of a lack of effort or money or belief, but because of the circus that our presidential campaigns have turned into. YouTube and Face book played major roles in our presidential debates. They made a mockery of the seriousness of the process. The media refuses to cover the campaigns without bias and full truths. The foundation of campaigning was changed to Super Tuesday and early caucuses and hyped like an upcoming reality show.
Campaign finance bills passed the House and Senate to make sure these politicians didn't "break the law". MaCain-Feingold, what a laugh. It completely ignores the First Amendment and doesn't do anything to prevent special interest groups from making illegal contributions but won't allow Mr. & Mrs. America to express an opinion publicly 30 to 60 days prior to an election. A joke perpetrated against America by our "leaders". When's the last time you heard any mention of the borders? We had a law passed to build a wall, what happened there? Another promise from our politicians to gain the favor of some and no action to curry favor from the rest. They play us like fools and we just keep voting them in. Anyway, other than that, Happy Retreat From Vietnam Day!

Frenchie


(This has been an unpaid political announcement that will go nowhere just like all the rest of them.)

Soon To Be Gone - From A Military Doctor

I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level One-Trauma Centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel. San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here. As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work. Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash.

There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an octogenarian, he had a minor cut on his head from a fall at his home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet. He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.

I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.

The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World War I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam Corps Commander.

I remember these citizens.

I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.

I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such sacrifice.

It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.

My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note.

We should all remember that we must "Earn this."

Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D. US Army !

ALL EUROPEAN LIFE DIED IN AUSCHWITZ