9/11 anger?...

This past weekend I was up in New Jersey to visit with friends who I was with during the terrorist attack on 9/11 ten years ago as well as to meet with members of the Dive \ Rescue who recovered the two men who drowned at the Manasquan Inlet during hurricane Irene...

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During that time I stopped by the beach in BayHead and was surprised to see so many people on the beach after Labor Day weekend. While standing on the small boardwalk area looking out on the Atlantic, I heard a older lady say "Can you believe that they continue to press this fear ten years after 9/11"?... She also said we will be seeing this fearmongering for the next 25 years.

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As I looked over I saw that she was reading the Daily News (above) with the front page photo of a NYC Police officer with a search dog leading up to the 10th year date after the terrorist attacks on NYC, Pentagon, and another airplane in Pennsylvania...

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She went on to rant how the terrorist attacks has become nothing but a reason for the media to keep the citizens in fear and it is a big business to many who write books, promote shows, and go on the talkinghead shows perpetuating the fear so as to make money. I attempted to converse with her on the topic but it was obvious that she did not want to hear what I was saying if it did not follow the direction of her rant. No matter what it kept coming back to how the "War on terrorism" and cautionary actions like the ones on the front page of the Daily News, were nothing but a major inconvenience to the citizens and not necessary since there have been no further terrorist attacks....

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Knowing better than to continue this conversation for there was no way to convince her, or even bring up other valid points or questions, I bid her farewell and moved down the beach to check out the surf conditions. It would have been interesting to have had the opportunity to point out to her that just 60 miles East of where she was sitting on the beach, there is a German U-boat (U-869) that sunk while patrolling up and down the east coast during World War II sinking many merchant ships....

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The U-869 sunk towards the end of the 2nd World War but there was an even more coastal intrusive action along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico called "Operation Drumbeat" were numerous German U-boats hunted and destroyed many merchant ships since they were running with Nav lights on, no blackouts along the coast which backlit their targets, and no concern for precautionary actions along the coast during the early years of the war... People, like the one described above, did not want to be in-convenience by the fear mongers out there.....

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Marine shows us all...

Obama: Soldiers and family can sit in the back....

A military salute ~Gene Simmons~

1976...

I was a freshman in high school...

mod 9 Study hall with Ms. Janerick...

Good friend Jeff Mcgee who was a smart kid and studied hard...

Then Jeff found Kiss and was never the same...

Was not sure what to think of Gene Simmons after that...

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Gene Simmons today and his support of our military....

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My... How things have changed....

It is amazing how much things have changed over the past few years...

Remember when the Democrats with Moveon.org attacked General Petraeus
and now his is confirmed with a 99-0 vote?...

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Remember Hillary's comments?

1:03 into the video...

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Three Flags for Three U.S. Marines Warriors from the Shenandoah Valley...

Three Flags now on a overpass bridge along Route 81 near Verona Virginia in memory of the three USMC Lance Corporals from the Shenandoah Valley lost in the war on terrorism while serving their country in Iraq...

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel Scott R. Bubb
19, of Grottoes, Va.; assigned to the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; attached to 2nd Marine Division, II MEF

Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Morris
19, of Crimora, Va.; assigned to 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Marine Lance Cpl. Jason C. Redifer
19, of Stuarts Draft, Va.; assigned to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C

Shenandoah Harley Davidson will once again be hosting "Rides to The Wall" in Washington D.C. on both Saturday and Memorial Day Monday...

VMI Cadets at McDonnell Inauguration....

On Jan. 16, the Corps of Cadets will travel to Richmond to participate in the inaugural parade for Gov.-elect McDonnell. The parade, which begins at about 12:45 p.m. following the swearing-in ceremony, passes in front of reviewing stands at the State Capitol Building. Viewing of the parade is available along its entire length. The parade route is along Grace Street between 5th and 9th Streets and then enters Capitol Square.

Rockbridge weekly...

Staff Sergeant First Class John C. Beale

Killed in action the week before, the body of Staff Sergeant First Class John C. Beale was returned to Falcon Field in Peachtree City, Georgia, just south of Atlanta, on June 11, 2009. The Henry County Police Department escorted the procession to the funeral home in McDonough, Georgia. A simple notice in local papers indicated the road route to be taken and the approximate time."


"Nowadays one can be led to believe that America no longer respects honor and no longer honors sacrifice outside the military. Be it known that there are many places in this land where people still recognize the courage and impact of total self-sacrifice. Georgia remains one of those graceful places. But only watch this if you wish to have some of your faith in people restored. Please share widely.

"Operation Welcome Home ~MD~ "

"Hundreds of our Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers and Marines return from the War on Terror every week though the gates of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Since March 2007, Operation Welcome Home volunteers have greeted 55 flights and more than 12,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines."

Thats it... Next time I'm flying I'm going with BWI...

"Dear Mr. Obama"

Sharp Top Mountain ~ B-25 Bomber Wrecksite ~

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A few weeks back I read about a plane wreck on the mountain located near my house and just off an Appalachian Trail section that I hike often. A little internet research and numerous e-mails later I was trusted with the location of the wreck and posted photos and description of the incident and wreck site…

While conducting research on this wreck site I found information about another airplane wreck located on Sharp Top Mountain near Bedford Virginia. I have also hiked this area several times and was able to pinpoint the wreck site this week and took these photos…

This plane was a B-25 Bomber and went down in 1943 during a training mission. Following are pieces of information taken from numerous articles I have found on this incident with links provided...

"On Feb. 2, 1943, a B-25 bomber on a training mission out of South Carolina crashed into the southeast flank of Sharp Top Mountain, killing all five servicemen aboard. The cause of the crash is still somewhat of an enigma, as a war-stressed military could not devote many resources to solving the mystery of the crash. Nor, did it have the time or inclination to remove the wreckage from the steep mountainside at 3,000 feet elevation. Most of it remains to this day, a true-to-life memorial to World War II sacrifice amid the Blue Ridge grandeur."

"The Mitchell bomber (the B-25 design was called the Mitchell in honor of a once maverick Air Force General) looked sleek and deadly. It was a versatile design which served in every front of the war. No stranger to action, the B-25 was personally selected by Jimmy Doolittle for his famed raid on Tokyo, Japan from the pitching deck of the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet. It flew as if on rails and was fairly forgiving, but just like any big warbird, it had to be flown precisely. From nose to tail, it measured out just under 53 feet. It stood an imposing 16 feet and four inches high. Each wing held a powerful wright R-2600 engine. Perhaps its most distinctive feature was its twin boom tail. Grossing out at 35,000 pounds, the B-25 could hit 272 miles per hour when called upon to do so."

"On the evening of February 2, 1943 the war landed rudely on our doorstep. At approximately 9 p.m. Lt. Pitt's B-25 pierced the darkness over Bedford. Heading from the south, the distinctive silhouette of his bomber filled the sky. It was illuminated by its exterior marking beacons, and landing lights imaging forward from the wings. The interior lights were also all on. The greenhouse nose canopy was a radiant ball of light in the surrounding darkness. To witnesses on the ground, the massive wright engines sounded out of synchronization. The plane was in trouble. The pilots wheeled their long bomber over our town at a low altitude just skirting over the trees. Visibility in the higher elevations, the Peaks of Otter, was obscured by dense fog. The plane continued to circle and flew onward in a northeasterly direction. Altitude was everything. An extra 500 feet would have meant a safe passage across the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it was not to be. The plane did not clear the mountain. Tree tops were severed by the propellers. A violent impact followed. Unyielding, Sharp Top claimed its first casualties from the air. "

Both of these articles are very good and describe the incident in detail. This piece of history has been written about numerous times over the past 65 years and in fact one of the articles tells how there was no monument to the fallen at the time of writing. Below is the memorial that I found at the wrecksite...

As described in one of the articles the exact location of the wrecksite is not provided due to the damage and scavenging that has taken place over the years. Below is an example of some of this damage to the wrecksite and resting place...

Plane Wreck on Humpback Mountain... T-28 Trainer...

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Last week, while talking politics with friends & eating shrimp at the local pub, I picked up a copy of the Nelson County Life magazine and read an article about a lost T-28 Trainer on Humpback Mountain. As I read the article I found it interesting where the wreck is located and so close to the Appalachian Trail that I have hiked numerous times in that area.




The article described information researched by Henri Weems of Nellysford where he found that the plane wreck occurred in 1964 during a training flight. It appears it was a training flight with two Marine colonels flying from Andrews Air Force base to Memphis, Tennessee and the T-28 developed engine problems. Both Colonels bailed out when the engine began to fail and lost oil pressure 15 minutes east of their checkpoint in Montebello. Both Colonels survived while the plane crashed on the eastern side of Humpback mountain. The article also described confusion with another plane wreck in the area of Humpback Rocks which I have already done a post here on Rightside at Dobie Mountain Wreck. It turns out that these wreck near Dobie Mountain was also in 1963 but was a civilian Beechcraft Bonanza where the three men aboard perished.


After corresponding with Mr. Weems by email he provided me with a website that provides information on both military and civilian wrecks. http://wreckchasing.com/ This site also provides information on several other plane wrecks along our mountain range and future hikes are already in the planning.

Upon approaching the wrecksite area I came along members of Scout Troop #735 out of Glen Allen Virginia who were hiking the Appalachian Trail. Knowing that I was in the general area and after talking with the Troop leader, it was decided to turn the "Scouts" loose on a search pattern. It took little time for the Scouts to locate the wreckage on the side of the mountain....

Before hiking up to the T-28 site I asked around the county here for information from any of the “Old-timers” at the local 7-Eleven and heard stories of several other wrecks over the years.

T-28 Trainer

Max Range 1,706 km / 1,060 miles

Dimensions: span 12.22 m / 40 ft 1 inlength 10.06 m / 33ft 0 inheight 3.86 m / 12 ft 8 in

Weight: empty 2,914 kg / 6,424 lbmaximum take-off 3,856 kg / 8,500 lb

Powerplant: one 1063-kW (1,425-hp) Wright R-1820-86 Cyclone radial piston engine

Armament: none; the T-28D features provision for up to 544 kg (1,200 Ib) of disposable stores, including Minigun pods, rocket-launcher pods and light bombs, carried on six external hardpoints.

Update   Unfortunately this site has been PICKED over by people who have taken instead of preserved the site. I hiked it a few weeks ago and sad how some people have taken items and left graffiti in their place.... Almost sorry I posted this.....

The Future State of the U.S. Carrier Force?...

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The Washington Times has an interesting article by Ed Feulner that describes the present state of the United States Navy aircraft carrier force and what we have to look forward to in the future.

"The rest of the ship is a marvel, too. It's like a floating city, one able to generate a virtually unlimited amount of power from its nuclear engines. It creates enough electricity to light 100,000 homes. It can purify 400,000 gallons of water daily. It carries enough food to feed its crew for three months at sea. In short, a carrier is a critical tool in our military arsenal, an irreplaceable asset that allows our military to project power anywhere, any time."

"During the 1980s, the Navy estimated it would require 15 carriers to keep the high seas secure. Today, though, our carrier force is dwindling. Last year Congress decided the U.S. could maintain only 11 carriers. Now, in another attempt to save money, the Navy says it can probably get by with just 10 carriers for awhile before it finally adds a new ship in 2015. Overall, today's Navy boasts only 280 deployable vessels."

"It's not as if other countries are standing still. China is building submarines at a frantic pace. By 2025, it could have five times as many subs in the Pacific as the U.S. There's no reason for China to become our enemy — but there's also no excuse for Congress to allow our Navy to be so outgunned, just in case the Chinese become aggressive."

"The Constitution gives lawmakers the power of the purse, so it's their responsibility to provide for the common defense. That means maintaining a powerful Navy. Lawmakers should insist the Navy keep 12 carriers in service."

"For The Heroes" Concert ~Churchville Volunteer Fire & Rescue~

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CHURCHVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE & RESCUE

Is proud to present

"For The Heroes" Concert...

Featuring 5 Nashville Recording Artists

Nathan Neff * Heather Necole * Mike Kidd * Charis * Elisha & Deana

Saturday June 14th, 2008

Flag Day

Two Shows 3:00pm & 7:30 pm

Buffalo Gap High School

Reserved Seats $12

General Admission $10

For Event Sponsorship Information, Reserved Tickets, or Questions Contact:

Sara Reed (540) 430-2146 or support4@live.com

Recognize YOUR Hero

in the concert program for only $5...

Recognition includes YOUR Hero's Name listed under the section of your choice with YOUR personalized message...

Sections Include:

*Firefighters * EMS * Law Enforcement * Air Force *

* Army * Coast Guard * Marines * Navy * or "MY Hero"

Show your support with by sponsoring a "Program" advertisement...

Military losses, 1980 through 2006... Facts you don't always hear of...

This was sent to me by a friend and it is a report published by Congressional Research Service showing actual data that shows "The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006:"

Note the information on demographics and think back on several media and Democratic Party members who claimed that it is a vast majority of minorities who are serving and dying in the present war on terrorism...

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These are some rather eye-opening facts.Since the start of the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sacrifice has been enormous. In the time period from the invasion of Iraq in March 2003 through today, we have lost over 3,000 military personnel to enemy action and accidents. As tragic as the loss of any member of the US Armed Forces is, consider the following statistics: The annual fatalities of military members while actively serving in the armed forces from 1980 through 2006:

1980 .......... 2,392 (Carter Year)
1981 .......... 2,380 (Reagan Year)
1984 .......... 1,999 (Reagan Year)
1988 .......... 1,819 (Reagan Year)
1989 .......... 1,636 (George HW Year)
1990 ......... 1,508 (George HW Year)
1991 .......... 1,787 (George HW Year)
1992 .......... 1,293 (George HW Year)
1993 .......... 1,213 (Clinton Year)
1994 .......... 1,075 (Clinton Year)
1995 .......... 2,465 (Clinton Year)
1996 .......... 2,318 (Clinton Year) Clinton years (1993-2000): 14,000 deaths
1997 ............. 817 (Clinton Year)
1998 .......... 2,252 (Clinton Year)
1999 .......... 1,984 (Clinton Year)
2000 .......... 1,983 (Clinton Year)
2001 ............ 890 (George W Year)
2002 .......... 1,007 (George W Year)
2003 .......... 1,410 (George W Year)
2004 .......... 1,887 (George W Year) George W years (2001-2006): 7,033 deaths
2005 ............. 919 (George W Year)
2006.............. 920 (George W Year)

If you are confused when you look at these figures, so was I.Do these figures mean that the loss from the two latest conflicts in the Middle East are LESS than the loss of military personnel during Mr. Clinton's presidency; when America wasn't even involved in a war? And, I was even more confused; when I read that in 1980, during the reign of President (Nobel Peace Prize winner) Jimmy Carter, there were 2,392 US military fatalities!

These figures indicate that many members of our Media and our Politicians will pick and choose. They present only those 'facts' which support their agenda-driven reporting. Why do so many of them march in lock-step to twist the truth? Where do so many of them get their marching-orders for their agenda?

The latest census, of Americans, shows the following distribution of American citizens, by Race:

European descent .......................... 69.12%
Hispanic ......................................... 12.5%
Black ............................................. 12.3%
Asian .............................................. 3.7%
Native American ............................. 1.0%
Other .............................................. 2.6%

Now... here are the fatalities by Race; over the past three years in Iraqi Freedom:

European descent (white) .............74.31%
Hispanic .................................... 10.74%
Black .......................................... 9.67%
Asian .......................................... 1.81%
Native American .......................... 1.09%
Other ........................................... 0.33%

The point here is that our mainstream media continues to spin these figures (for liberal political gain). Nothing more...its all about politics and the libs are famous for turning American against American for a vote.

(These statistics are published by Congressional Research Service, and they may be confirmed by anyone at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL32492.pdf )

Now ask yourself two questions:'Why does the mainstream Print and TV Media never print statistics like these?' and...'Why do the mainstream media hate the (world wide) web as much as they do?'Ensure you do your homework before you place your vote.

*** An Anonymous person has commented and pointed out that the above stats comes from just one of the tables provided in the report and readers should look at the entire report to determine combat related stats as compared to non-combat totals. Additional info can be found in the comment section for the reader to determine on their own. Not everything passed around in e-mail is 100% accurate and readers should determine accuracy for themselves.***

Continue to "Support the Troops" in your own way...

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Stopped by T-Bonetooters in Churchville the other day and had the opportunity to talk with one of the owners, Dianne, who was instrumental in organizing and providing the logistics of sending packages to local troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both Dianne and her husband Benny were responsible for sending hundreds of packages stuffed full of items needed and wanted by troops serving our country.

I had the opportunity on several occasions to work with Dianne and her crew on this project and their dedication and efforts were always very impressive. Information and photos can be found at the “From Our Hearts” site. Unfortunately due to economic and other conditions this program has been suspended at this time. As I talked with Dianne she told me that she continues to get calls from local organizations looking to donate or get information on continuing support of the troops in this manner.

There are numerous sites out there that are still providing links and services that will send packages to Troops still serving in foreign countries. They can be found at here, here, and here.


In my discussion with Dianne I found that many local people as well as organizations wish to show their support to local citizens who are serving in the military. Many supporters turned out last month for the return of the 116th National Guard unit in Staunton and this was appreciated by the troops but we must not forget those who are still serving their tours.


Like many,I have also continued to support other “National” organizations that provide packages to the troops but like people described above by Dianne, I enjoy knowing that my efforts are going towards someone local that I know personally or know of their families. It is easy to assemble and send small packages of items requested by the troops and will describe the procedure here for anybody wishing to send their own package from home…

There are many items that could be sent to the troops but I have found some to be requested more then others. Overwhelmingly many troops have requested candy or small toys to give out to the children that they encounter during their tours. Following are some of the items that I have seen requested often:

“Priority Mail” boxes can be obtained at local Post offices and will be delivered at a flat rate of $8.95 no matter what the weight is. These boxes can hold many items if packed carefully. Snacks are much preferred and candy is always welcomed to be passed on to the children in the communities they are serving in.

Small travel size sundries are also requested often and help make time in the field more comfortable for the troops. I have found that including a local newspaper with the package is always welcomed in providing local information to the serviceperson receiving the package.

It is not hard to find a local Service member and contacting the local National Guard office will provide leads to local citizens now serving in country. Many people know of families with members serving and welcome the effort and packages sent. We must not forget the troops still serving no matter what the “Situation” is back here at home while they continue to serve in country. Photos and flag waving is always welcomed but lets not forget when and where the “Rubber hit’s the Road”…

SM-3 missile... Several "Direct" hits....

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Rich Lowry makes several good points about the recent incident where a SM-3 missile was used to take out a disabled spy satellite. This example of missile technology also sent other messages to some...

"The Chinese commitment to "outer space security" was recently exemplified by their shooting down an aging weather satellite with no warning, then denying that they had done it for two weeks, and doing it at an orbit so high that 1,600 pieces of space debris will clutter Earth's orbit for years".

"The real agenda of the Russians and the Chinese is to keep us from ever putting missile-defense interceptors in space. That would enhance our capability against their intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) arsenals."

"They want to have the option of launching ICBMs out into space where they will travel undisturbed until they re-enter Earth's atmosphere on their way to visiting untold devastation on a target. The Chinese could make a genuine gesture toward peace in space by ending their rapid buildup of ICBMs, but their true interest is in preventing us from checking their missile threat to us and our allies."

"Space isn't a pristine last frontier unsullied by human competitiveness and ferocity, but an extension of our flawed world down here below. It can be dangerous, which is why it's a comfort that we are building defenses against threats more serious than a tank of hydrazine."

Virginia National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... Arrives in Staunton...

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