Beirut and Remembrances

 

Remember the Beirut bombing! On the 23rd of October 1983, 305 servicemen of the U.S. and France, and civilians, were killed when a vehicle with a 21,000-pound TNT bomb ran into their barracks in Beirut, Lebanon.
We need to remember these cowardly acts and the brave men and women who defend us!

This incident has been used to train and secure U.S. military and civilian members for years. At least their senseless sacrifice was not in vain.

Pray for the families of those who lost loved ones and for our current military members and first responders in harm's way! They need our support and prayers.

I know that I am biased from my own experiences, but I felt this way about the military ever since I was a little boy.  My grandfather was in the Navy reserves building ships for the Navy during WWI.  He was in his 40's and had a family.  My Father served in the Navy during WWII in the pacific.  He told me he got his draft notice for the Army infantry 2 days after he enlisted.  I served several years in the military and have worked on military bases for 40+ years.  I should be retiring soon. 

So, my respect of those who serve is highly regarded.  My wife worked in a hospital when I married her, and I have a son who is an EMT and a son-in-law who works in mental health. My regard of first responders is equally as high.

Please remember their sacrifices. 

Godspeed brothers and sisters!

Defense Wisdom From Porter Rockwell

 A young gunslinger got the drop on Porter Rockwell. “Say your prayers,” he demanded. Rockwell replied, “You wouldn’t try and shoot a man without a cap on your pistol, would you?” The instant the man glanced at his gun, he was blown from his saddle by Rockwell, who had a gun hidden in his pocket. Port understood concealed carry. He also understood the OODA loop and how to use it effectively.

We too can be as wise as Porter Rockwell.

 

Conceal Carry.  Take the time to think about your family's and your personal defense.  When I was going through some weapons training in the military I shot in a shoot house.  If you ever have the opportunity to shoot in a shoot house take that opportunity.  It is a very real type of training.

 

 

One day a Sheriff Reynolds came to the jail and offered Porter a large sum of money if Porter would take him to Joseph Smith so that the Prophet could be captured. “I will see you damned first,” responded Porter.  Not only did Porter defend himself, but he defended Joseph and the Church.  Men and brethren, be like Porter.

 

The philosophy basically is that there are 3 types of people. They are described as Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs. The sheep are mostly people that you know and see. They are good, productive members of society who would not hurt anyone or anything. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a sheep. Then there are wolves. Wolves are evil, selfish near-humans intent on taking what they want. They are not interested in who they hurt in this process. They are a large minority and many are locked up. Then there are sheepdogs. Sheepdogs care about the sheep even though sometimes the sheep don’t appreciate them. The sheepdogs want the sheep to be safe and to be rid of the wolves. I’ve read so many writers who don’t believe that sheepdogs exist. They think that those who believe themselves to be sheepdogs are camo wearing wanna-bes. I’m sure some Rambo camo wearers do exist. (After all, my favorite color is camo) But I know enough people who, when confronted with violence, go toward it.  They have trained and had experience of warding off violence.  Many are in law enforcement and the military already.  But many were, or lean toward, these sheepdog traits.  I’m not bringing this up to recruit, but to let some closet sheepdogs know that we are out there.  We are everywhere.  One of the problems of those who would subvert our freedoms is that we are there, and they know we are there.  President Biden said we cannot fight F-15’s and tanks.  He is mistaken.  What happened in Viet Nam and Afghanistan?  The former President does not understand.  I believe one of the reasons the Japanese did not invade the U.S. is there is a sheepdog behind every blade of grass.  Now more than ever.

Sheepdogs defend the weak and fight against evil. Sheepdogs in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints should also defend the church.  I’m not saying pick up a weapon and stand a post but fight against those that would disparage and destroy the church.  As of now, I don’t think we need to worry about someone attacking the Church physically.  Although that is increasing. But there are those Zarahemna’s out there.  They are ex members who have “intimate knowledge” of what it’s like to be an "oppressed" member of this Church.  They are usually the same as most exmos (ex-Mormons) I’ve seen since the 70’s.  The Tanner’s, the Dehlin’s, the Kelly’s.  They all have an axe to grind and think they can get their whining way by pulling, oh sorry, “saving” those trying to get out of the Church.  I wonder what they would do if the Church went away?  They would stop making all the money they make from fighting against the Church.  Then they would have to get real jobs.  As you can see, I’m not very charitable to these lowlifes.  I have a hard time dealing with people who leave the church but can’t leave the church alone.  Or those who are more enamored with their cause than the truth.  It’s easy to be an exmo.  Just whine and the woke of the world will follow.  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about those who honestly leave the Church and move on with their lives.  I’m talking about those activists who don’t believe anymore but are so offended by those who do.

So what do these disgruntled ex-members have to do with the OP Rockwell philosophy?  I think there are certain enemies of the Church we need to keep our eye on.  Some evangelical Christians, fit this category.  But the exmos are an enemy that could turn, or influence others to turn, violent.  The Grand Blanc Michigan shooter had a bad experience with a member that turned him into a killer. But at the same time evangelical leaders were spewing the same "Mormons are anti-Christ" rhetoric that the killer in Michigan had expressed.  Members need to be prepared.  The "run, hide, fight" policy may have killed members in Michigan as the building was set on fire. To the credit of the Grand Blanc Police Department, officers were on site 30 seconds after the 9-1-1 call.  Yet 4 people died and 8 were injured.  8 people were either killed or wounded by the shooter.   4 of the deaths and injuries were from smoke.  I have searched, but not found, the reason the 2 died from smoke inhalation instead of just leaving the building.  I don't know if they were hiding.  But regardless, we need to be prepared in all things.  No one thinks this will happen in their Church until it does.  

According to the Family Proclamation:   

“By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.”

Protection for their families.  We as Americans give away this responsibility for physical protection to the police.  Yet the police are not, I repeat, not responsible for our safety.  The Supreme Court said that police have no obligation to protect citizens. In 1989 and 2005 the Supreme Court made that ruling regardless of what it might say on their cars. 

If we are legally responsible and divinely responsible, then I think we should be trained and actually be responsible. 

Think about this and pray about it.  You will reach the conclusion that the U.S. Constitution was inspired, the 2^nd Amendment allows us to fulfill the responsibility to protect ourselves and our families. 

Get trained and be a force to be reckoned with.  Be as Porter Rockwell.  Use the OPR Philosophy.

Semper Paratus

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The Gun Known as the Mormon Avenger

 Never a factory option, the “Mormon Avenger” was a style of heavily modified single-action percussion revolver that appeared sometime after the Civil War and had both a ton of swagger and a good bit of history associated with them. In addition to being one of the forerunners of today’s snub-nosed revolvers.
Mr. Samuel Colt, with his early Paterson and later Dragoon series wheel guns of the 1830s and 40s ushered in revolvers. By 1851, his 36 caliber Navy-pattern six-shooter cap and ball revolvers were among the most popular combat handguns in the world. And his .44 caliber 1860 Model found adoption with the Union Army (while the Confederates used a good number of 1851s and unlicensed clones made in the South during the Civil War.)
By the late 1860s, over a half-million Colt wheel guns had been made and, in a country with only about 1/10th the population that we have today, a glut of Adams revolvers imported from England and domestic designs by Savage and Smith and Wesson, the market was flooded.
Which meant war surplus Colt percussion revolvers were cheap in the Old West and inexpensive guns can be readily modified without a lot of heartburn to the owner. Especially if they are carrying several of them about their person.
The history of the American West has a thread of Mormonism sewn through its fabric. Early Mormon settlements and pilgrims could be found extensively in all points west of Missouri from 1850 onward. As noted in “On the Mormon Frontier: The Diary of Hosea Stout, 1844-1861,” those headed to the frontier were often given a pistol to carry with them by the church and in many cases trained by those with experience on how to use them.
Mormon leader Brigham Young even kept as his personal bodyguard one Orrin Porter “Old Port” Rockwell who is often called the “Avenging Angel” and “Mormon Avenger.” Rockwell, a renowned mountain man and scout, was a Deputy U.S. Marshal and long-time marshal of Great Salt Lake City. Involved in numerous gunfights for various reasons (Some still controversial today), he once told a crowd; “I never killed anyone who didn’t need killing.”
He died of natural causes at age 64 in 1878 and is reputed to have carried several chopped down Colt cap and ball guns for personal defense.
Shortened to a 2-ish inch barrel, the cylinder-loading rod was removed and a new sight mounted on the end of the abbreviated barrel.
Other minor changes, including trimming the heel and toe of the wooden grips and adding a lanyard are also seen in these types of modified guns. While there are a few 1860 models that pop up, most tend to be the 1851 Navy gun, which coincidentally had a shorter trigger guard and smaller caliber which may have contributed to their choice.
Porter knew how to conceal-carry.  His stories are varied but many of his gunfights end with the deployment of a concealed carry gun.
One day a Sheriff Reynolds came to the jail and offered Porter a large sum of money if Porter would take him to Joseph Smith so that the Prophet could be captured. “I will see you damned first,” responded Porter.  Not only did Porter defend himself, but he defended Joseph and the Church.  Men and brethren, be like Porter.
 
Semper Paratus
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Patriots: Special Forces Underground

 Last year I got a cryptic message I thought was a scam.  It involved a friend of mine from my military days.  He was having difficulty with his adult daughter.  She had a stalker, and he had tried to take care of this stalker the right way.  He first dealt with the campus police where his daughter went to college and also with the local PD of the town his daughter’s college is located.  This yielded very little but frustration.  He tracked down this stalker who was arrogant about what anyone could do to him.  He hadn’t crossed certain lines otherwise law enforcement could move on him. He started to stalk in earnest to where my friend’s daughter wanted to withdraw from school and go home.  My friend is an ex-green beret and took matters into his own hands.  He was assisted and the stalker was neutralized. (No not in the traditionalized sense.  He was not killed or hospitalized.  Just scared.)  My friend told me he couldn't see any other way to persuade the stalker of the error of his ways.  Fear works.

Some people talk about a special forces underground.  This is touted as a crazy organization that will rise up and save us from the oppressive UN commies who will take over the country.  This is a great cover for the truth.  Often conspiracy theories work as a good cover.  The underground exists and it is made up of many special operations personnel.  Some of them active, most dormant.  When I was younger we had a group that I served with who ran some “missions” several times.  My assignment was logistics.  Most guys had no idea what anyone else was doing, or who was doing it.  Plausible deniability.

As we got older, we were called less and less.  My last mission was in 1997.

The best way that I can describe it is a scene from the old TV series called “The Unit” 2006-2009. The scene is Jonas Blaine talking to a reporter about a particular story she was going to report.

 

Reporter: I have a job to do.

Jonas: I want you to postpone it.

Reporter: Why should I?

Jonas: [Takes a card from his pocket and writes his number down] Take this card. Hold on to it.

Reporter: What is that?

Jonas: No matter how blessed our lives, how charmed our existence, things still, inevitably, irrevocably, go wrong. Your mother is swindled out of her savings. Your estranged husband runs off with your kids. Your best friend goes on vacation in a foreign land and disappears. Eventually, bad things find us all. You ever hear of the Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card? This is a Get-Out-of-Hell card. At some point in your life, God forbid, you have nowhere else to turn, call that number. That is why you are going to postpone your job.

This is the purpose of this brotherhood.  To right wrongs and to defend each other and still, this country.  Will that mission change one day?  Quite possibly.  Will it be to defeat the new world order or UN troops or some other questionable group?  I do not know.  The group that I was affiliated with had a “committee”.  This committee decided what missions needed to be taken and for whom. Committee members rotated and usually only for a period of a year.  I’ve asked several present and past members of this underground if I can share this info and I’ve been given the green light.  I’ve written about this briefly before also. (2019 and more recent 1-17-20)

The ”PS” from 2019 and 2020 are here. 

PS I asked several SOP members including Green Beret if I should write this article, and was given their blessing. All of this information can be found on the internet except my personal experiences.
 
Burn


PPS Update 2/20/2019

I was contacted by 2 operators and ex-operators who confirm this brotherhood. They say they do not mind anyone being aware of the Underground's existence, as long as "official" agencies keep their distance, which they have since the original investigation in 1996.
Judge as you will the veracity of all of this.

Burn

 Support your VA groups and any SO (special operations) groups in any way that you can.  Remember there are those among us who would continue to support this country and uphold the codes of conduct and oaths we took long ago.

 

Semper Paratus

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Celebrating Annie Oakley

 Today the 13^th of August is Annie Oakley’s birthday.

She began trapping animals at age seven and shooting and hunting at eight—though some sources have her doing both by the time she was six—in order to put food on her family’s table.

By age 15, she had paid off her mother's mortgage with her earnings from hunting.

At 15, she defeated traveling marksman Frank E. Butler in a shooting contest, who later became her husband.

She adopted the stage name "Annie Oakley" after joining Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in 1885.

Her shooting skills earned her the nickname "Little Sure Shot" from Chief Sitting Bull.

She could shoot a dime tossed in the air from 90 feet away.

 

Born Phoebe Ann Moses, Annie Oakley became a legendary sharpshooter and performer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for her incredible marksmanship, she joined Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, captivating audiences with her shooting skills. Annie Oakley could hit targets while riding a horse, shoot dimes tossed in the air, and even split playing cards edge-on from a distance. Her talent wasn't just for show; she advocated for women's rights and taught over 15,000 women how to use firearms for self-defense. Despite facing numerous challenges, Annie Oakley left an indelible mark on American history, proving that skill and determination can break barriers.

We remember Annie and honor her on her birthday!

Semper Paratus

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The Porter Rockwell Tour

June has been pronounced Porter Rockwell month.  At lease on this website it has.  So in commemoration of one of my heroes I give you the Orrin Porter Rockwell tour.  I plan on taking the Utah part of this tour this Summer so stay tuned.

I do not live in Utah. I keep my location and other personal things vague on here for privacy reasons. If someone wanted to find out who I am I’m sure they could. It’s really not a big state secret. But, just because I don’t live in Utah doesn’t mean I have no ties there. My sisters live there. Most of their kids live there too. Some of my kids live there courtesy of BYU. I don’t hate Utah. But there is a different culture there. I grew up in Arizona in a very LDS city. So I understand that culture some and I prefer to live in the “mission field”. It’s just a preference. One of my kids who lives there asked me the other day where I would live when I retire. Other than where I am now, I probably would live in Southern Utah. As usual, I’m rambling. I only mention Utah because I have created a tour, so to speak, of sites that anyone interested in Orrin Porter Rockwell should see.
As a notorious gunslinger, wanted man, and devout Church member, Orrin Porter Rockwell led a life of paradox. His lethal accuracy with a shotgun and policy to “always shoot first . . . that way they know you’re armed” made his time as a lawman controversial at best. Charged with murder or attempted murder on three occasions, Porter was acquitted twice and died before the last charge could come to courts. Despite his rough-and-tumble attitude, Porter Rockwell remained unshakably faithful to the Church and its leaders until his death in June 1878, serving as a body guard to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.
I have relatives who knew Ol’ Port and served with him. He is one of my heroes. So I’ve created a tour, or at least a bucket list, of places having to do with the historical figure.
I have never been to any of these places so my description of location and other details may be slightly skewed.
My kids live near Provo in Utah so I am starting this tour from the South and working my way up Interstate 15. There are also two locations that are not in Utah.
First on my list is Eureka, Utah.
Porter's Place, 321 Main St, Eureka, Utah
Porter’s Place used to be located in Lehi, Utah but because of a problem with the building they were in, they relocated.
This restaurant is devoted completely to Porter Rockwell and his fame and legend. Porter’s Place is an independent family owned restaurant that is dedicated to honoring the heritage of Mormon Pioneer Orrin Porter Rockwell.
In 2018, after nearly 50 years operating on Lehi Main St, the restaurant moved to Eureka Utah.
This is a great first stop. Eat lunch and ask about the historical items they have in their restaurant. Take pictures!
Porter Rockwell Cabin
229 Main St, Eureka, Utah
Another great historical site is the cabin of Porter. It was moved from The Porter Rockwell Ranch near Cherry Creek, Juab County, Utah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRE2ivawJi4
Here is a video walking through Porter's Cabin

Update:  Porter's Place has since closed for good!  So sad!

Next on the list is Lehi, Utah. It was said that Porter lived in Lehi at one time. Check out the John Hutchings Museum, 55 N Center St in Lehi. There are many items from Porter in this museum. Also in the Lehi town square N Center and about E 100 N is a statue of Ol' Port himself. Get lots of pictures!

Now head to “the point of the mountain” Bluffdale, Utah
In Harold Schindler's biography, "Orrin Porter Rockwell", it states: “On July 29, 1858, Orrin Porter Rockwell counted out $500 and purchased from Evan M. Green sixteen acres of real estate at Hot Springs near Point of the Mountain (on the road between Salt Lake City and Lehi). The trail was traveled by every city bound trooper in Johnston's Army. Mr Rockwell had it in mind to build a place where a man could buy a glass of home brewed beer, stable his animals, stay overnight, or just stop to pass the time of day. He called it the Hot Springs Brewery Hotel. In its prime this property included a hotel with dining facilities, stable, brewery and a Pony Express station.”
As far as I have found, there is nothing left of the Hotel and Brewery. If there is, I can't find any information about it. There is, however, a Porter Rockwell Boulevard in Bluffdale. State Route 131 is a Utah state highway, routed entirely on Porter Rockwell Boulevard. It is currently a 0.8 miles spur southwest from 14600 South, but it will extend west to Redwood Road once an extension is complete. I'm not sure it has been completed.
There is a memorial called The Porter Rockwell Center at I15 and Highland just outside of Bluffdale. There is another, of only two that I know of, statue of Porter Rockwell.
Rockwell's Station (14600 S Street, Bluffdale, UT) is on the Pony Express National Historic Trails list. There is a large stone memorial to Porter's station there.  The original monument was erected in 1934.  This monument included stones from the foundation of Rockwell's stable and has been relocated at least twice since it was dedicated. 
Then we leave Bluffdale and head to Draper to visit Porter Rockwell Trail
The Porter Rockwell Trail begins at Draper City Park in Draper, Utah.
To reach the park from I-15 in the Salt Lake Valley:
Take Exit 291 for 12300 South.
Turn east onto 12300 South and continue for 2.2 miles to 1300 East.
Turn right (south) onto 1300 East and continue 0.3 miles to Park Road.
Turn right (west) onto Park Road and then immediately left into Draper City Park.
This looks like a great trail for hiking, or biking. Again, take lots of pictures!

Finally the last Utah location is Salt Lake City. Porter Rockwell's grave is in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 N St E, Salt Lake City, Utah
His grave location: Plot C, Block 5, Lot 9, Grave 1, Tier E.
There are also many prophets and apostles buried there.

The first out of Utah location is Independence, Missouri
Missouri Mormon Walking Tour
Beginning at Walnut and River, across the street from the Community of Christ Auditorium, the trail is one-mile-long with 14 plaques depicting key early Mormon sites.
1827 Jail Lot 2
The 1827 county jail was located at the back of the lot at the southeast corner of present-day Main and Truman. An outside stairway to the upper room was the only way to enter the 16 X 16-foot-square hewn-log structure. Prominent Mormons, A. Sidney Gilbert, William McLellin, John Corrill, and Isaac Morley, were jailed in the lower dungeon in Novemeber 1833. A decade later, Orrin Porter Rockwell was held in the second jail built on this site. The present building on this site was a fire station and today serves as the Truman Home ticket office.

Nauvoo Illinois home site
There is a monument there that marks the site of the Porter Rockwell Nauvoo home. Porter was raised in Manchester, New York and was a boyhood friend of the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was ever loyal to the Prophet and his successor, President Brigham Young.

I have never visited any of these sites but I will do the Utah tour the next time I’m in Utah.
Orrin Porter Rockwell’s 147th birthday is on June 28th. I hope we can remember him as the tough, defender of the prophet and defender of the faith. That’s how I remember him.
Semper Paratus
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Remembering Jeff Cooper

 May 10, 1920, Is the birthday of Lt. Colonel John Dean “Jeff” Cooper.  I had the privilege of being taught by Jeff himself in the 80’s for a portion of a military small arms instructor’s course.  He was a great teacher and easy going.  He had great stories that applied to his teaching.  I learned much from him.  I asked him about the Big Bear Leatherstrap matches that he started, and he was surprised I had even heard of them!  They started before I was born.

While his accomplishments and contributions to shooting were nearly incalculable, here are just a few:

 

Developed the Four Safety Rules

 

Developed the Color Code of Awareness, and literally wrote the book on mental conditioning for combat and self-defense

 

He had started the Leatherslap matches at Big Bear (CA), the first open combat-style competitions

 

Helped refine and promulgate the Modern Technique of the Pistol.  He is the father of Combat Pistol techniques.

 

Founded Gunsite Academy, the first top-tier shooting school to admit armed citizens

 

Founded the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC), the grandfather of all action/practical shooting sports

 

Developed the Scout Rifle concept. The scout rifle is a conceptual class of general-purpose rifles. Defined and promoted by Jeff Cooper in the early 1980s that bears similarities in the design and functionality of guide guns, mountain rifles, and other rifle archetypes. With more emphasis being placed on comfortable portability and practical accuracy, rather than firepower and long-range shooting.

 

Almost single-handedly popularized the 1911 as a defensive sidearm.  He loved the 1911!

 

Please remember Jeff for his concepts and foresight.  Not only that, but he was a nice guy!

 

Semper Paratus

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Witness and Testimony: How I Remember

 Being a witness is very important.  A witness in a criminal case can make all the difference in the world in the outcome of that case.  Bearing your testimony is being a witness of a gospel principles or of Christ Himself.  But I’ve learned that surviving a combat experience is leaving a witness of that experience.  Those that did not survive combat need those who did survive to be their witness.  My experience left me feeling guilty of being alive.  At the end of the movie “Saving Private Ryan” an older Ryan asks questions of his wife.  He first asks her to tell him he’s a good man.  He asks her to tell him he lived a good life. He also talks to the grave of Captain Miller, the guy sent to find him.  Captain Miller told him before he died to “Earn this!” meaning to earn the privilege of living.  That is exactly what it feels like to survive a combat experience.  Survivors guilt tells you that it should have been you who died.  It makes you feel like scum for living.  This is why Private Ryan wants to be assured he was a good man who lived a good life.  It has been 35 years for me, and I still feel the pangs of guilt. 

But lately I have felt the need to tell others about the guys who didn’t make it.  To be their witness.  Now it is awkward to just blurt out to someone “I want to tell you about the guys we lost in Panama!”  So, I need to do this in a different way.

I met Jerrell “Quaker” Oatman in SERE school in 1984.  He was a big black guy from Ohio.  He was in the SP (security police).  He and I would shoot together whenever we could, along with Ray Rittenhouse.  He was not married but had a beautiful girlfriend, Savannah.  She was stunning!  She cared about and loved Quaker so very much and they were talking about marriage.  Jerrell loved chili.  He said they didn’t make chili in Ohio like they did in Texas.  I saw Quaker physically move other brothers out of harm's way.  He had great physical strength, but his heart was big too.  He sent money to his Mom every paycheck.  He was a good man and a great brother.

I met Jim “Banger” Walling in Jump school and SERE in 1984.  He was a FAC (Forward Air Controller).  My original job was FAC so I made it my purpose to make sure he was successful where I would not.  He was in the other bunker when he was hit.  He was a very thoughtful guy.  He thought of others usually before himself.  He said his parents taught him that.  I’m pretty sure they taught him by example more so than words.  He was also concerned at his death that his brother knew he was honorable and there was honor in his death.  He was also very concerned for how his death would affect his family but especially his parents.  I could tell his family were very close.

I met Davis “Jefferson” Keinton in Jump school, and we took a tactical driving course and a shooting instructor course together.  He loved eating steaks.  During our combat experience we were hit by a lucky mortar team.  Jeffy was in the thick of the fight next to me when he got hit by a mortar.  It hit to his left about 40 feet away.  The blast knocked me down and shrapnel tore through Dave’s body putting several holes in him.  Doc did his best at patching him up but he only lived about 30 minutes before his body gave up.  He spoke about his home.  He was sorry he had never met the right girl.  He said he was going to miss eating steaks.  He said he is glad to have given himself honorably.  His last words were “I love my country and I love you guys.”

Ron “Tex” Ritter was a good-old-boy from Texas.  He was a hunter and a Dad.  He had 2 small kids, a girl and a boy.  He was quiet but mischievous.  He liked a good, harmless prank.  We would constantly find our boot laces tied together!  He was nuts and delighted in little jokes.  He loved his wife completely.  He was very true to his wife.  He also was a true patriot.  He was never happy about hearing news reports of those desecrating our flag.  He would have been livid at someone kneeling during the National Anthem. We were always around each other, and I liked his sense of humor.  His favorite saying was “Embrace the Suck!”  He also loved tacos.  We met in SERE.  He was also a force to be reckoned with in combat.  A fierce warrior.

Each of these men were special in their own ways.  The thing with them was that they could be depended on in a crisis.  I can’t think of a single guy that I was in combat with that I would not go back into combat with.  Some of them started out a little rocky but when they got used to the adrenaline and fear, they “embraced the suck” and fought to their last breath as the four above did. 

I can remember meeting George Martinez at an Air Force base 13 years after our combat experience.  It was as if we had just stepped off the C130.  I could tell he had moved on with his life, but I could see in his eyes the wear the years of that incident had put on him.  Even so, I could hear the sincerity in his voice as he said he was glad to see me.  I took a driving course with him in 1986 and then our combat moment was in 1988.  Many things had changed in his life, yet I could put my life in his hands and his in mine.   

I am here to bear witness of the greatness of these men.  They had many faults but the connection and bond we shared will live on until the day we die and probably beyond.  Their patriotism in spite of background, culture, and even some political differences, was unmatched.  They lived up to the honor of their oaths.  They had valor and honor that was shone in their daily lives right up to the end.  I am in awe of their sacrifice and don’t want to forget them, and many like them.  When we have days like Memorial Day, I hope you will pause in your activities of the holiday and day off, and remember the witness that I, and many like me, have of the lives of those who gave their “last full measure of devotion” to each of us and to the country they so loved.

I thank God for these guys and for people like you that appreciate their service.

Semper Paratus

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