WHERE IS THE BLAME?

General Robert B. Neller, USMC, highly decorate combat "Jarhead", Commandant of the Marine Corps. now sits before a Senate Committee, the target of long winded politicians while they absorb as much of the limelight as they can while asking mundane questions (that have no answer).
The problem is not with the Corps. but with those who would allow themselves to be photographed in the nude in the first place.
General Neller rightly says "the buck stops here", but I fail to see how this can be anything but an irresponsible act by young individuals eager to attract attention!
Such hearings demean the service and dedication to duty of millions of men and women who have made the "Corps" what it is!....Medicineman!

HERO TO SCRAP!

She was just an old Italian Submarine in 1975, tired and worn out and now just $100,000 worth of scrap.  The USS Barb was given to the Italian Navy in 1953 after an incredible record in World War II service.
The USS Barb flew a battle flag unlike any other ship.  In addition to the Medal of Honor ribbon at the top of her flag identifying the heroism of her Captain, Cmdr. Eugene 'Lucky' Fluckey, at the bottom border she bore the image of a Japanese train locomotive.  Therein lies the story!
It was 4 A.M. July 18, 1945 in Patience Bay, off the coast of Karafuto, Japan.  Barb was on her twelfth war patrol, the fifth under 'Lucky' Flucky.  On January 8th they had sunk a large Jap Ammunition ship and then two weeks later in Mamkwan Harbor found more than 30 enemy ships.
In only 5 fathoms (30 feet) of water they launched the forward torpedoes, then turned and fired four from the stern tubes.  They recorded eight hits on six ships.
Now as they prowled slowly along the coast they noticed the trains that ran along the coastline, carrying supplies.  Cmdr. Fluckey decided to blow the rail line and a plan was designed to set a micro switch so that the train would blow itself up.
Billy Hatfield was a kid when he cracked walnuts under the pressure of trains on the ties and came up with this idea.  Eight sailors were picked, all single, except Hatfield, all departments represented, both USN and USNR and at least half had to have been Boy Scouts and experienced in medical emergencies.
July 23, 1945, the night was dark and the men went ashore in two rafts, set one of the subs 55 lb. scuttling charges and made there way back to the Bard, which now sat 600 yards off shore with only 6feet of water beneath her hull.  When they were only half way to the sub a train appeared on the scene and five minutes after the explosion lit up the sky they scrambled aboard and turned to watch the fireworks.  Moving at two knots it took them some time to reach deep water where they could submerge.  The Barb had sunk a Japanese Train!
The eight sailors who blew up the train conducted the ONLY GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese homeland during World War ll.  GO NAVY!......Medicineman!

HE LOST AND WON

He lost the popular vote, but he is still President.  Because he won the Electoral vote.  The press called him all kinds of names.  "He was not qualified to be President".  He would be an "embarrassment" and disgrace the office said the press.  He entered Washington surrounded by his enemies.  The opposition party vowed to see him fail and worked toward that end.
Yes, it sounds a lot like Lincoln.  He had the same political climate when he arrived in Washington.  As a matter of fact, Lincoln had to sneak into the Capitol like a thief in the night.  We all know the kind of President Lincoln became, and what it cost him.  Pray for our President!....Medicineman! 

THE GOOD NEWS IS NOT NEWS!

When a couple of evil-doers break into a home and are shot by an eleven year old child who has learned the art of trap shooting and used her father's trap gun to dispatch the evil ones it is not news and does not make the papers.  When a motorist stops to aid a HP Officer being assaulted on the highway and is forced to shoot the malefactor, it is not news.  It is not worth the ink when a woman, home alone, scares off a would-be rapist with a shot through the door.
To the news agencies the gun is only a tool of destruction and mayhem, never the life saver it is time after time, day after day.  It is only news when a stolen gun is used to shoot up the neighborhood or kill a cop or citizen.  Then is when all the energy of the 4th estate is brought to bare on the GUN.  The gun is the problem and must be done away with.  Ban 'em all! is the cry, the only way, ban 'em all!
If motor vehicles were treated the same as guns we would all be walking!...Medicineman!

"THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS"!

In 1943, with the assault of the island of Sicily pending, a plot was hatched to mislead the Germans as to the date and place of the invasion.  A plot so outrageous to be unbelievable.  An unclaimed cadaver was dressed in the uniform of a Major of Royal Marines.  He was given identity papers and various official letters along with detailed plans for the invasion (false of course) and delivered by submarine to a remote spot just off the coast of Spain and cast overboard.  The plan was for the body to wash ashore with the hope that the Spaniards would find the plans and turn them over to the German authorities.  To make it more believable his wallet contained a picture of fiancee, and 2 letters from her, book of stamps, identity card and pass, invitation to a club, one 5 pound note, three 1 pound notes, a half-crown, 2 shillings and 2 sixpence.  There was matches and cigarettes, keys and other pocket junk as well.  "The Man Who Never Was" worked!..............Medicineman.

IWO JIMA

This will not be my account of the famous struggle to gain a base less than two hours flying time from Japan.  A struggle that cost Americans 26,038 casualties and Japan over 18,000.  A struggle that would last from February 19 to March 26, 1945.  The challenge I am offering is simple: you dig, read, research and find the story for yourself.  There is enormous info to be found. Photojournalists like Joe Rosenthal, books like "Flags of Our Fathers", written by James Bradley, son of John Bradley, one of the Flag raisers.  I promise, you will find the effort most rewarding!.Medicineman!

ADVISE AND CONSENT?

Our founding fathers designed a system that has worked, if not perfectly, at least in an orderly fashion for some 200 plus years.  In our system the elected President nominates those people he believes can do a good job and the elected members of the upper house ask him/her questions about the job they are picked to do and then vote Yes or No for confirmation.  That is Advise and Consent and is their constitutional duty! 
Today, we saw the  Senate Democrats shirk their duty by not showing up at the confirmation hearings, resulting in "crocodile tears" because their questions were not answered.  How do the American people put up with such behavior? ............Medicineman!