From this week's Time Magazine:
Baghdad - Networks Scale Back in Iraq
AS violence increases in Afghanistan, not only are troops being redirected there, but so are journalists - at the expense of news coverage in Iraq. A New York Times report noted that the three major U.S. networks - ABC, CBS and NBC - have quietly stopped sending full-time correspondents to Iraq despite the fact that about 130,000 U.S. service members are still there. While the networks declined to discuss specific staffing changes, representatives said the switch reflects a change in the nature of the Iraq mission from pacification to reconstruction.
My thoughts:
Reconstruction = good news = no news.
Tell that to the family members and friends who still loved ones deployed to Iraq.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
From the NY Times
Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 37 Near Shrine
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: January 4, 2009
BAGHDAD — A woman wearing an explosive belt blew herself up near the entrance of a revered Shiite shrine Sunday morning in Baghdad, killing at least 37 people, many of them Shiite pilgrims, according to the Ministry of the Interior. As many as 53 others were wounded in the attack, which occurred during a Shiite holy month.
The suicide bombing outside the Imam Moussa Al-kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiyah neighborhood came nine days after a Dec. 26 car bomb killed 24 people and wounded 46 others after it had exploded on a busy road near the same shrine.
The timing and location of each bombing appeared to be intended to reignite sectarian violence, from which Iraq had shown signs of emerging in recent months.
Sunday’s attack, which occurred at about 11:30 a.m., came during Muharram, among the holiest months for all Muslims but particularly for Shiites, who prepare to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Hussein was killed during a battle against the forces of a Sunni caliph in 680.
The entire story can be found here.
This was Mark's AO (area of operations) for 10 months during the "surge." It was a very, very tough neighborhood when Bravo Co. arrived. But during the last year, it has been very quiet there. It would be tragic to seen the gains made lost in an attempt to reignite the sectarian strife.
By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS
Published: January 4, 2009
BAGHDAD — A woman wearing an explosive belt blew herself up near the entrance of a revered Shiite shrine Sunday morning in Baghdad, killing at least 37 people, many of them Shiite pilgrims, according to the Ministry of the Interior. As many as 53 others were wounded in the attack, which occurred during a Shiite holy month.
The suicide bombing outside the Imam Moussa Al-kadhim shrine in the Kadhimiyah neighborhood came nine days after a Dec. 26 car bomb killed 24 people and wounded 46 others after it had exploded on a busy road near the same shrine.
The timing and location of each bombing appeared to be intended to reignite sectarian violence, from which Iraq had shown signs of emerging in recent months.
Sunday’s attack, which occurred at about 11:30 a.m., came during Muharram, among the holiest months for all Muslims but particularly for Shiites, who prepare to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Imam Hussein was killed during a battle against the forces of a Sunni caliph in 680.
The entire story can be found here.
This was Mark's AO (area of operations) for 10 months during the "surge." It was a very, very tough neighborhood when Bravo Co. arrived. But during the last year, it has been very quiet there. It would be tragic to seen the gains made lost in an attempt to reignite the sectarian strife.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year
I, for one, am glad to see 2008 go away. There were many memorable, historic, and very personal moments. The collapse of the economy dealt us a tough blow. At any rate, it's over, everyone is healthy and we look forward to a good 2009.
Over at La Florida, there is a wonderful collection of photographs from SGT Mark and his trip to Cumberland Island, Ga. Given all the chaos around the world, there are still quiet places to go to contemplate.
Happy New Year.
Over at La Florida, there is a wonderful collection of photographs from SGT Mark and his trip to Cumberland Island, Ga. Given all the chaos around the world, there are still quiet places to go to contemplate.
Happy New Year.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Cumberland Island, Ga.
Dungeness
Photo by Mark M. M.
12.26.08
Please click on photo for best viewing.
This is one of the photos from SGT Mark's camping trip. They were very lucky with the weather.
Cumberland Island is a barrier island in Southern Georgia owned primarily by the National Park Service. Here are some of the historic attractions on Cumberland Island.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Greetings from Florida
We have had spectacular weather in North Florida recently. Have some other photos up at La Florida. SGT Mark picked a great weekend for camping.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Grand dogs drop by for a visit
Of course, Mike and Tara were along for the ride. Now that they have three-hour commute to see the grandparents, the grand dogs wear doggles to protect their eyes when they hang their heads outside the windows. They are quite the attraction on I-95.
Of course, this marks the official end of Christmas in our household. Mark comes back tomorrow and I am back to work.
Please click on the photos for best viewing.
Of course, this marks the official end of Christmas in our household. Mark comes back tomorrow and I am back to work.
Please click on the photos for best viewing.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Empty nesters
Gayle and I are experiencing a little of what the future will bring us: an empty nest. Mike and Tara are down in Port St. Lucie, Jon is at work (yesssss!!!! finally!!) and Mark and Company are camping on Cumberland Island.
No football on TV.
No History Channel.
No Entourage.
No Discovery Channel.
It's eerily quiet.
We are very fortunate that none of our son's are in harm's way. We have too many that are.
No football on TV.
No History Channel.
No Entourage.
No Discovery Channel.
It's eerily quiet.
We are very fortunate that none of our son's are in harm's way. We have too many that are.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday with family and friends. We are scattered about this year but grateful for what we have.
Prayers to the families who sons and daughters and spouses are deployed overseas.
Prayers to the families who sons and daughters and spouses are deployed overseas.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
A home for the military blogs?
U.S. Military Academy at West Point Launches
“Center for Oral History”
WEST POINT, N.Y., December 2, 2008 – The United States
Military Academy at West Point, whose graduates are
commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army, has launched
an ambitious Center for Oral History to serve as a living archive
on the experiences of American soldiers in war and peace.
The Center aims to be a powerful learning tool for West Point cadets
and an important research center for historians, as well as a
destination for the public to gain greater understanding of the
essential and unique calling of the U.S. soldier.
The Center for Oral History will exist largely online, with high definition
video and digital audio files, easing access for
everyone from campus cadets to scholars, journalists and
interested students half a world away.
One of the Center’s first projects has been to interview members
of West Point’s Class of 1967, who, upon graduation, were sent
almost immediately to the war in Vietnam. Another has been to
interview soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as
part of a comprehensive, anecdotal account of those current
campaigns. Researchers are also gathering material from
veterans of World War II, Vietnam and the so-called “forgotten
war” in Korea.
By definition, the Center will be a work in
perpetual progress, continuously updated as history unfolds.
The objective is to assemble an unrivaled video, audio
and text record of military life – in the field, as well as in the
classroom and also the “war room,” since the Center hopes to
include interviews with senior Pentagon strategists and former
Secretaries of Defense and State who have helped shape
military and foreign policy.
But its core mission is to capture the personal narratives of those
who have lived the military life. As stated on the Center’s home
page: “Every soldier has a story. Here is where the story is told.”
For more information, click here.
“Center for Oral History”
WEST POINT, N.Y., December 2, 2008 – The United States
Military Academy at West Point, whose graduates are
commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the U.S. Army, has launched
an ambitious Center for Oral History to serve as a living archive
on the experiences of American soldiers in war and peace.
The Center aims to be a powerful learning tool for West Point cadets
and an important research center for historians, as well as a
destination for the public to gain greater understanding of the
essential and unique calling of the U.S. soldier.
The Center for Oral History will exist largely online, with high definition
video and digital audio files, easing access for
everyone from campus cadets to scholars, journalists and
interested students half a world away.
One of the Center’s first projects has been to interview members
of West Point’s Class of 1967, who, upon graduation, were sent
almost immediately to the war in Vietnam. Another has been to
interview soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan as
part of a comprehensive, anecdotal account of those current
campaigns. Researchers are also gathering material from
veterans of World War II, Vietnam and the so-called “forgotten
war” in Korea.
By definition, the Center will be a work in
perpetual progress, continuously updated as history unfolds.
The objective is to assemble an unrivaled video, audio
and text record of military life – in the field, as well as in the
classroom and also the “war room,” since the Center hopes to
include interviews with senior Pentagon strategists and former
Secretaries of Defense and State who have helped shape
military and foreign policy.
But its core mission is to capture the personal narratives of those
who have lived the military life. As stated on the Center’s home
page: “Every soldier has a story. Here is where the story is told.”
For more information, click here.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Last of the Topps
From The Florida Times-Union:
Loyal Jaguars fan earns salute from Topps NFL cards
He's among 11 military members to be featured.
By Timothy J. Gibbons
Story updated at 9:39 AM on Monday, Dec. 22, 2008
When Army Spc. Mark Middlebrook finished up a day in Iraq, one of the first things he'd often do is call home to talk to his parents.
Part of that was being a dutiful son. Other times he had, well, a more important reason for calling.
"All I'd want to know is if the Jags won," he said.
This is a guy who went to every home game the Jaguars played for the first four or five years the team existed. A guy who stayed up all night to watch the team play the Colts.
Now he's a guy with his own Topps NFL trading card.
Middlebrook was one of 11 people selected to be an Armed Forces Fan of the Game, a tribute by the trading card company to members of the military.
It's given the 23-year-old a certain level of fame, at least among card collectors.
"A sergeant calls me up out of the blue and says, 'I've got your card,' " Middlebrook said. "Three or four other people have said that to me."
The 11 Armed Forces Fans are scattered randomly among the 440 cards that make up the NFL set, which are sold in packs of 10.
The Jags selected Middlebrook after the NFL approached them about participating in the program. The team already has strong ties to the military, forged by sending players out to visit the area's bases, setting up special events for veterans and arranging for flyovers.
The rest of the story can be found here.
Loyal Jaguars fan earns salute from Topps NFL cards
He's among 11 military members to be featured.
By Timothy J. Gibbons
Story updated at 9:39 AM on Monday, Dec. 22, 2008
When Army Spc. Mark Middlebrook finished up a day in Iraq, one of the first things he'd often do is call home to talk to his parents.
Part of that was being a dutiful son. Other times he had, well, a more important reason for calling.
"All I'd want to know is if the Jags won," he said.
This is a guy who went to every home game the Jaguars played for the first four or five years the team existed. A guy who stayed up all night to watch the team play the Colts.
Now he's a guy with his own Topps NFL trading card.
Middlebrook was one of 11 people selected to be an Armed Forces Fan of the Game, a tribute by the trading card company to members of the military.
It's given the 23-year-old a certain level of fame, at least among card collectors.
"A sergeant calls me up out of the blue and says, 'I've got your card,' " Middlebrook said. "Three or four other people have said that to me."
The 11 Armed Forces Fans are scattered randomly among the 440 cards that make up the NFL set, which are sold in packs of 10.
The Jags selected Middlebrook after the NFL approached them about participating in the program. The team already has strong ties to the military, forged by sending players out to visit the area's bases, setting up special events for veterans and arranging for flyovers.
The rest of the story can be found here.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Editing history
The digital age came too late for me. I could have used it about 30 years ago. Wading through the left over stuff from our spare storage unit, I've come across box after box after box of negatives.
Why am I not retiring early? Because we spent at least $3 million in photo processing in our early days.I don't think there was a second in my kids' lives that hasn't been memorialized. Yikes.
And you know those cool little, see-through sleeves that the negatives came in after they were processed...that promised easy storage and retrieval? Well, they dry up and crack into bazillions of little plastic grains of sand.
All of this work has left me in charge of editing my photo family history.
:)
Any photo that is suitable for embarrassing my sons at such times as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.....those are KEEPERS.
Any photo that embarrasses Mom or Dad.....GONE!
Any photo suggesting that Dad may have a weight problem ....GONE!
Photos of the pets....KEEPERS.
Photos of the kids and pets .....DOUBLE KEEPERS.
Any photo suitable for black mailing our children (such as the purple hair days)....KEEPERS.
And who thought that taking a camera into the Mom's labor room was a good idea? Those photos are going to be seriously EDITED.
It took 34 years to shoot them all and it will probably take 34 years to sort them all out.
The digital age is so much easier, delete, delete, delete.
Why am I not retiring early? Because we spent at least $3 million in photo processing in our early days.I don't think there was a second in my kids' lives that hasn't been memorialized. Yikes.
And you know those cool little, see-through sleeves that the negatives came in after they were processed...that promised easy storage and retrieval? Well, they dry up and crack into bazillions of little plastic grains of sand.
All of this work has left me in charge of editing my photo family history.
:)
Any photo that is suitable for embarrassing my sons at such times as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays.....those are KEEPERS.
Any photo that embarrasses Mom or Dad.....GONE!
Any photo suggesting that Dad may have a weight problem ....GONE!
Photos of the pets....KEEPERS.
Photos of the kids and pets .....DOUBLE KEEPERS.
Any photo suitable for black mailing our children (such as the purple hair days)....KEEPERS.
And who thought that taking a camera into the Mom's labor room was a good idea? Those photos are going to be seriously EDITED.
It took 34 years to shoot them all and it will probably take 34 years to sort them all out.
The digital age is so much easier, delete, delete, delete.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Dumpster
We've been downsizing as a result of the recession, so we closed down one our storage units (when you live in one place for 26 years, you accumulate a lot of crap). Found lots of old stuff from my days in the Army, which may make for some fun posts.
But today, we were at the remaining storage unit retrieving 17,000 boxes of Christmas ornaments and lights when I found my street map of Baghdad and a National Geographic map of Iraq. Both were nicely mounted and well used.
Now they are in the dumpster. Don't I will need them any more.
But today, we were at the remaining storage unit retrieving 17,000 boxes of Christmas ornaments and lights when I found my street map of Baghdad and a National Geographic map of Iraq. Both were nicely mounted and well used.
Now they are in the dumpster. Don't I will need them any more.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
News and notes
For those who are actually doing Christmas shopping this year, here's a reason to go to Sears. Despite declining sales and profits, Sears has remained steadfast in its support of its employees who are members of the Reserves or the National Guard, says NBC News.
We will probably have one more Topps story to post here. The local paper has interviewed Mark and I dropped off two cards to the newsroom yesterday. Stories of the card have spread through Ft. Bragg and he is receiving a fair amount of grief (there's a more specific Army term for this) from his fellow troopers.
Gayle relived her trip to the White House last year as one of the creators of a National Park Christmas Tree ornament. She presented to the Museum of Contemporary Art Guild here in Jax. I was in charge of the Power Point, which choked and crashed the computer. Luckily, someone had a backup and all went off well. Gayle donated three handmade ornaments ala the White House, which fetched $100 at auction for the Guild.
Things are looking well for SGT Mark to attend the University of North Florida next year. With the cooperation of the Army, he could be in school by July.
Oldest son Mike has moved to St. Lucie County where is now a biologist for the county's land preservation program. This will be our first "split" Christmas that I can remember. Even with Mark deployed to Iraq, he was home for Christmas both times.
We will probably have one more Topps story to post here. The local paper has interviewed Mark and I dropped off two cards to the newsroom yesterday. Stories of the card have spread through Ft. Bragg and he is receiving a fair amount of grief (there's a more specific Army term for this) from his fellow troopers.
Gayle relived her trip to the White House last year as one of the creators of a National Park Christmas Tree ornament. She presented to the Museum of Contemporary Art Guild here in Jax. I was in charge of the Power Point, which choked and crashed the computer. Luckily, someone had a backup and all went off well. Gayle donated three handmade ornaments ala the White House, which fetched $100 at auction for the Guild.
Things are looking well for SGT Mark to attend the University of North Florida next year. With the cooperation of the Army, he could be in school by July.
Oldest son Mike has moved to St. Lucie County where is now a biologist for the county's land preservation program. This will be our first "split" Christmas that I can remember. Even with Mark deployed to Iraq, he was home for Christmas both times.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Palm Valley boat parade
An annual tradition in this neck of the woods. We liked this one the best.
Please click on the image for best viewing. It was very creative.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
More Topps
We are starting to receive cold calls regarding the Topps card, everyone wanting to send Mark back his card. Had one from Huntington, IN, and a note from a detective from West Monroe, LA. And I was the successful bidder on the a full set of the 11 service men and women on Ebay. $1.50. Seems like it should have been more than that.
Friday, December 12, 2008
More heros
For some reason, the mainstream media has picked up a story about about 10 Green Berets receiving the Silver Star for their actions in Afghanistan. I am hopeful that maybe the war coverage is improving but it's more likely that this story is so incredible that it can't be ignored:
NBC News
Washington Post
NBC News
Washington Post
Thursday, December 11, 2008
News and notes
Baby boomlet: We've had this story up before but NBC News had a "feel good" piece on the Ft. Bragg baby boom. It's still a neat story.
The Fayetteville Observer covered the Special Forces awards ceremony yesterday:
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Staff Sgt. Morgan Ford had never been in combat before Nov. 2, 2007, when he was manning a .50-caliber machine gun on a truck, and his unit came under attack in Afghanistan.
“That was the first time I had ever been shot at,” Ford said. “It was an experience. I wouldn’t say I was scared. I think I was ready for it.”
On Wednesday, Ford received a Bronze Star for valor for that incident and two Purple Hearts for his service in Afghanistan with the 3rd Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg.
Ford, a 22-year-old communications sergeant, received three of the 116 combat-related awards given to 3rd Group soldiers at a ceremony at John F. Kennedy Auditorium, adjacent to the JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
The rest of the story can be found here.
And I am happy to say that I found an Army SGT asleep on the couch this a.m. He has a four day pass and got home of the really nasty weather that soaking the Beaches today.
The Fayetteville Observer covered the Special Forces awards ceremony yesterday:
By Henry Cuningham
Military editor
Staff Sgt. Morgan Ford had never been in combat before Nov. 2, 2007, when he was manning a .50-caliber machine gun on a truck, and his unit came under attack in Afghanistan.
“That was the first time I had ever been shot at,” Ford said. “It was an experience. I wouldn’t say I was scared. I think I was ready for it.”
On Wednesday, Ford received a Bronze Star for valor for that incident and two Purple Hearts for his service in Afghanistan with the 3rd Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg.
Ford, a 22-year-old communications sergeant, received three of the 116 combat-related awards given to 3rd Group soldiers at a ceremony at John F. Kennedy Auditorium, adjacent to the JFK Special Warfare Center and School.
The rest of the story can be found here.
And I am happy to say that I found an Army SGT asleep on the couch this a.m. He has a four day pass and got home of the really nasty weather that soaking the Beaches today.
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