Tuesday, April 20, 2010

For sale

I was googling around this weekend and found a website that was selling Mark's Armed Forces Fan of the Game card by Topps. They wanted 60 cents. Seems to me he is worth more than that.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

The greatest generation

Photos by Mark M.

On a recent trip to Washington, I was doing on National Mall crawl when I happened upon a group of veterans from Ohio. Through Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime Foundation arranged a three-day bus trip to D.C. Most of the vets and their spouses had never been to Washington D.C. so they had never seen the World War II Memorial.  On hand to greet them was the former commander of the USS Cole and a Marine two-star. It was touching event and hundreds of Spring Breakers and cherry blossom tourists gathered to honor them.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

The volcano

from the NY Times:

The United States military has already been affected. Supplies for military operations in Afghanistan have been disrupted, and a spokeswoman for the Pentagon said that all medical evacuation flights from Iraq and Afghanistan to Germany, where most injured soldiers are typically treated, were being diverted directly to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

SSG Murphrey: a true hero

"On 4 APR 09, SSG Murphrey performed above and beyond his duties during the broad spectrum of combat operations his squad endured. Securing a defensive position, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under heavy direct enemy fire that impacted in his immediate vicinity causing his Squad to drop behind cover in shallow ditch.

SSG Murphrey, with no regard to his personal safety, moved through the hail of enemy fire, positioned himself where he could provide an effective support by fire, for his Squad to follow. SSG Murphrey screened the enemy with smoke, and laid down accurate fires, simultaneously emplacing his squad behind cover, and then assigned sectors of fire to be covered by his multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey then provided Support by fire so his Platoon Leader could move through open terrain to conduct link up with the other element of his platoon. SSG Murphrey then courageously led the assault forward to clear the enemy’s strong point that his
platoon was pinned down from, drawing enemy fire himself.

He coordinated the entry on the movement forward and secured the foothold to the house the insurgents were occupying. SSG Murphrey was the key element that allowed the platoon to clear the first objective without flaw, with very little support by fire do to the open terrain.

After clearing the first objective nearly single-handedly, he continued to lead his element towards a tree line that more suspected insurgents were occupying. After bounding around the base of a hill, SSG Murphrey’s squad came under direct enemy heavy machine gun fire, later identified as a NSV. Once again, without regard to personal safety, SSG Murphrey bounded forward, through the imminent danger ensuing to his front, placing effective small arms fire upon the enemy, enabling his Squad to take cover in the open field.

SSG Murphrey then valiantly maneuvered his element through the enemy’s wall of fire, returning fire leaving him in exposed, and in jeopardy for the safety of his Soldiers. Once behind cover, he marked obscured enemy targets with precise accuracy exposing their position. This enabled A-10 aircraft to fix, and finish the insurgent forces with their heavy volume of multiple weapon systems.

SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day allowed the safe exfiltration of all members of his platoon, simultaneously weakening the insurgency network in this Global War on Terror and strengthened the political future of the Nation of Afghanistan. SSG Murphrey’s actions on this day reflect great credit upon himself, the Army, The Geronimo Battalion, and The Spartan Brigade. "

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Another friend

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
 
Sgt. Sean M. Durkin, 24, of Aurora, Colo. died April 9 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device near Forward Operating Base Wilson, Afghanistan, on March 27. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Carson, Colo.

Monday, April 12, 2010

World War II Memorial

3.31.10
Photos by Mark M.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Nurses' Memorial

Washington D.C.
3.31.10
Photo by Mark M.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Vietnam War Memorial

3.31.10
Photo by Mark M.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Korean War Memorial

3.31.10
Photo by Mark M.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Jefferson Memorial

Photos by Mark M.
3.31.10

Monday, April 5, 2010

Space shuttle Discovery: Last night launch

Photos by Mark M.
4.5.10

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Washington Monument

3.31.10
Photos by Mark M.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Arlington National Cemetery

April 1, 2010
Photos by Mark M.