Semper Gratus!

Thanks to the American Legion, Jeff Davis Post 18 and America’s Wounded Heroes, 4 Wounded Warriors from Walter Reed were treated to a very special Veteran’s Day this year.

SGT Josh Sparling, SSG Sean Cannon, CPL Robert Schubert, SPC Chase Matthews with their ducks and shotguns.

4 shotguns were donated for the guys! A Charles Daly from Ducks Unlimited, an H&K from Bass Pro Shop and 2 Brownings from Safari International and MD Waterfowl Association.

Action shot!

Chase shoots with his dad, Rudy, looking on.

Josh concentrating.

The Times Herald of Port Huron, MI, did a really nice article this weekend about the charity America’s Wounded Heroes and the duck hunt event. Unfortunately, we didn’t get all the pics edited and uploaded in time for them to be included in the article. For all the fun stuff and some serious photos, check it out here.

Josh and Mike Sparling.

The great Veterans and spouses of the American Legion Jeff Davis Squadron and Post 18, Centerville, MD made the whole weekend wonderful! They made our young heroes feel like superstars (which, of course, they are!). There will be more news and updates on the AWH website once I get it updated IS more news and stuff on the New, the Improved, America’s Wounded Heroes website!

Rather than standing out front with the FReepers getting rained on, I accepted an invitation to spend the evening indoors watching a very cool band.

Gary Sinise, bassist and front man for the LT Dan Band.

The band

The concert was sponsored by the USO which had volunteers scurrying everywhere! They gave out bagged meals (sandwiches, salads, chips & soda) followed by some really yummy key lime pie. There were also people handing out sample cans of Right Guard X Body Spray which Mike Sparling kept telling everyone I needed more of. *jerk*

Intro to Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (of Co ‘B’)

As viewed from the balcony

My cutiepie neighbor and her parents. Daddy won an XBox in the door prize drawings.

Iraq and Vietnam Vets

The Vietnam Vet pictured above is Murphy Neal Jones, Colonel, USAF (Retired). He spent 7 years in POW Hell during that war (1966-1973)

There were times when I wanted to die to end this ordeal, but my faith in God, my country, my family and the American people gave me the strength to endure it. I considered myself very patriotic when I was captured, but the patriotism I felt at that time is only a fraction of what I feel now. There is no denying that we have some problems in our country, but it is still by far the greatest country in the world.

Col Jones is a wonderful, gracious man who was obviously in heaven being around these young guns. His pride in the new generation of warriors just spilled out as he worked the crowd before and after the concert. Talk about a hero!

A Tired pup

Mike is showing Gary and crew member the back of the “Major League Infidel” shirts. The crew member was waaaay happy about getting a 2XL for himself and a bunch more for the band. My stash is now officially gone.

The band came early and toured the wards. Gary then stayed late and shook hands/had pictures taken with everyone. There were probably 200-250 people there. One kid looked like he should not have been out of the hospital yet, but he stayed thru most of the concert!

Gary and the band were very, very nice! It was obvious that their hearts really went out to the wounded warriors and the crowd was very appreciative.

Cross-posted at the Vox site.

OOOOORAAAHH! Look who’s been visiting his boys!

The General made a special trip to see this special young man. Sgt Rich is the son of Super FReepers Mr. and Mrs. Trooprally. Can’t tell you much about him (or I’d have to kill you, etc, etc) but his folks are at Walter Reed every Friday night supporting the wounded warriors and then out on the corners in Olney, MD supporting the troops on Saturday mornings, too! Click the link to Olney for more pics and info on this fine young Marine.

And here’s General Pace greeting the whole gang.

Chuck Norris recieves “Honorary Marine” designation. The story on WorldNetDaily has lots of info on the honorarium, and on the phenomenon of “Chuck Norris”isms that can be found on almost any grafitti laced surface in Iraq.

The best info and insight on this legendary hero comes from a military forum. Here are a few highlights:

• Chuck Norris once ate an entire ream of rice paper and shat out origami swans and Mister Miyagi from Karate Kid.
• Chuck Norris ordered a Big Mac at Burger King… and got one.
• Chuck Norris was the fourth Wiseman. He brought baby Jesus the gift of “beard”. Jesus wore it proudly to his dying day. The other Wisemen, jealous of Jesus’ obvious gift favoritism, used their combined influence to have Chuck omitted from the Bible. Shortly after all three died of roundhouse kick related deaths.
• Chuck Norris built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, Chuck Norris met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK’s head exploded out of sheer amazement.
• I golfed 18 holes w/ Chuck Norris last summer…..he shot a 9.
• Police draw white lines around only those bodies that are victims of Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kick. Ever notice every body has one?
• Some kids can piss their name into the snow. Chuck Norris can piss his name into the concrete!
• Chuck Norris doesn’t have heart attacks because his heart isn’t stupid enough to attack him.
• Scientific theories of plate tectonics and continental drift were finally affirmed when Chuck admitted to kicking and punching the once large solemn land mass into the shapes we now have.
• Chuck Norris once challenged Lance Armstrong to a “who has the most testicles” contest…Chuck won by 5.

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Marines foil robbery on base (Camp Pendleton), or “Robber with a Green Death Wish”.

A story on April 13, 2007 by Lcpl Geoffrey P. Ingersoll, tells of a not too bright thief who decided to it was a good day to die (or come as close as possible!)

Having run out of a store with armloads of shoe boxes and ladies purses, the would be robber had to throw his ill-gotten goods in the path of a store employee who had given chase. Then the boys in Green heard the commotion:

“I was just standing in the parking lot with my friend when I heard somebody yell,” said Cpl. Chaz A. Prothro, machine gunner, Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, and a witness to the event.

Prothro and his friend headed toward the ruckus and saw a man running away from MCX employees.

Prothro’s friend reached the thief first, but couldn’t get good grasp on him. Prothro just lowered his shoulder and went in for the kill.

“It was a little bit of a fight, so I just hit him and drove my legs, until he was on the ground,” Prothro said. “Then when I looked up, I saw a wall of green coming toward us.”

That wall of green was a group of other Marines closing in to help subdue the alleged criminal. Prothro described the man as young, muscular and willing to fight.

“He uppercutted a gunny during the struggle,” Prothro said. “Then we really put the pressure on him.”

The military police with the Provost Martial’s Office arrived on the scene a few minutes later to apprehend the man. Even around civilian shopping areas there’s a hero factor, there’s going to be people who are willing to step it up if something like that happens, Prothro said. On a Marine base, multiply that by 200-percent, he added.

The Marines offered the thief one bit of advice before turning him over to police.

“You’re in the wrong place to be doing this type of stupid stuff,” Prothro said.

Ouch! You can say that again!

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Next in the news comes from VaJoe.com.

Leatherneck wins Grand Prize ($2000) in VAJoe’s 1st Annual NCAA Pool.

Click the pic to go to the story of how the SSG won and who this lovely lady on his arm might be.

VAJoe.com representative Lane Barnholtz has my great thanks as well for sending me a box full of VAJoe T-shirts to take to Walter Reed. As soon as the box was opened in the lobby of the Malogne House, the shirts were gone! All snapped up by guys and gals who love to wear any civilian cloths with a military message.

Thanks Lane, and thanks VAJoe for all the info and support on your site!

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Lastly, a message from our Spiritual Leader, The Right Reverend Big Bro Jim I:

ITS THE GRUNTS,THE GROUND POUNDERS THAT ARE THE BACK BONE OF OUR MILITARY.THE REST ARE GREAT SUPPORT . MY HATS OFF TO OUR MARINE PILOTS, THEY COULD DROP A BOMB AND KNOCK A PIMPLE OFF OF A GNATS ASS. THEY WERE THAT GOOD. OUR HUEY PILOTS WERE ALSO THE GOODS, THOSE GUYS DIDN’T F%#*K AROUND.THEY DROPPED ROCKETS AND EMPTIED THOSE 50 CALS BEFORE YOU SAW OR HEARD THEM.LETS NOT FORGET OUR COOKS THAT WOULD COME OUT AND SET UP A FIELD MESS FOR A SELDOM HOT MEAL.BUT MOST OF ALL MY BIGGEST HEROES WERE THE NAVY CORPS MEN.IMAGINE GOING ACROSS BACK AND FOURTH THE BATTLE AREA TO TEND THE WOUNDED, MANY OF THOSE MEN EARNED THE SILVER STAR OR NAVY CROSS, THE NEXT HIGHEST TO THE M.O.H..
I SALUTE ALL MY TROOPS.
THE REVEREND BIG BRO JIM I SAID THAT

Amen, RRBBJI!

The putrid stench of treason and hatred for this great country is whafting in to D.C.

ANSWER (Asshats Against America) is holding the first of it’s “We Hate the Troops” protests outside Walter Reed THIS AFTERNOON (Thursday, March 15). If you can stomach it, here’s their little Encampent to Stop The War site.

Anyone who’s already here in town for the Gathering of Eagles and Moonbat Monkey Stomp Weekend is invited to come on down to WR this afternoon and Friday evening to see if the points on their jackboots are sharp enough.

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UPDATE: The chicken s**ts didn’t show up! Stoopid anarchists. I guess you can’t expect much else from low-lifes who don’t bathe or wear watches. They probably don’t even know what date it is…

The only cool thing is that it’s now near freezing, raining and these ‘tards are camping out in the open on the Mall in front of the Capitol building. Schweeet!

I’ve been brooding over the anti-Military hit piece for two days. There’s so much that needs to be explained and the current MSM hysterics need to be tempered with a dose of reality, but I haven’t come up with the right words.

Andi has said everything in three posts that I’ve been thinking since the WaPo story broke, starting with Let’s Discuss “The Other Walter Reed”.

Yesterday, the Washington Post featured a sensational front-page story on the dirty little secrets of Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Secrets they would have you believe were previously only known to those on the inside. After some stomach-churning accounts of the trials that face wounded soldiers assigned to Walter Reed, the authors stated:

This world is invisible to outsiders.

Are the problems revealed by the Post reporters real? Yes, indeed they are. See this first-hand account. But, as with most things that the media expose, there is much more to the story than meets the eye.

When the story broke, my inbox began chirping. Many people know that over the past two years, I’ve spent a lot of time at Walter Reed. What did I think? How could this be? Look at what the MSM is doing. Have you seen this? Is it true?

Any reasonable person reading the WaPo story would be outraged, as they should be, but after I read the story, I accurately predicted what would soon follow. While there is merit to this story, I knew that this issue would become a hot, political baton used by some to beat the Bush administration, and our military, over the head. I’ll bet the Washington Post did too.

I hate the smarmy, tabloid manner in which the WaCompost stories were written, but having been a regular volunteer at the hospital for a year and a half, I’ve known about the same problems that Andi and all the other folks have heard or dealt with personally and I am glad that the situation is getting some badly needed attention. Just remember that the problems are in the administration, NOT the quality of health care.

I’ve heard some rather off-topic and hysterical pronouncements about the Walter Reed story. It’s important to distinguish between medical care and administrative issues. Walter Reed does indeed provide first-class medical care. I can attest to this firsthand.

While writing the 1-year anniversary AAR for FreeRepublic’s/Protest Warrior’s victory over the minions of darkness at Walter Reed, I ran across a couple of comments on the old thread that I really liked.

From freema’s comment at 1131:

When God created a United States Marine, it was into the sixth day of overtime. An angel appeared and said, “You’re having a lot of trouble with this one. What’s wrong with the standard model?”

And the Lord replied, “Have you seen the specs on this order? It has to be able to think independently, yet be able to take orders; have the qualities of both a military mind and a compassionate heart; be a leader of junior Marines and learn from seniors; run on black coffee; handle critical ops without a Military Procedure Manual; be able to manage a difficult subordinate, an irate supervisor and a demanding OIC; have the patience of a saint and six pairs of hands, not to mention the strength of three its size.” The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands - no way!”

And the Lord answered, “Don’t worry, we’ll make other Marines to help. Besides, it’s not the hands which are causing the problem. It’s the heart. It must swell with pride when other Marines do well, sustain the incredible hardship of combat, beat on soundly when it’s too tired to do so, and be strong enough to continue to carry on when he’s given all he’s had.”

“Lord,” said the angel touching the Lord’s sleeve gently, “Come to bed!”

“I can’t,” said the Lord. “I’m so close to creating something unique. Already I have one who can complete a 26-mile forced march with full pack, handle a 9mm and an M16 with astounding accuracy, conduct land navigation in the dark, and operate field communications.”

The angel circled the model of the Marine very slowly. “It’s too serious,” she sighed.

“But tough,” said the Lord excitedly, “You cannot imagine what this Marine can do or endure.”

“Can it feel?” asked the angel.

“Can it feel!” replied the Lord. “It loves the Corps and country like no other!”

Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the Marine’s cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you you’re trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “That’s a tear.”

“What’s it for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, frustration, pain, loneliness and pride.”

“You’re a genius!” exclaimed the angel.

The Lord looked at her somberly and replied, “I didn’t put it there.”

Olney Golf Park was supposed to host this event on October 7, but because of impending inclement weather it was postponed until the 14th. The weather couldn’t have been better! Unfortunately, I think a lot of people missed the fund raiser because of the change in schedule.

My contact, Sgt. Mark Kreisher, was in New York for the whole weekend fullfilling obligations that couldn’t be cancelled. So I went alone, knowing no one, feeling intimidated and out of place and then … DOGS!!!!!

Giovanni


18 month old Hank


Beautiful Burmese Cordelia-Mae


Cute little Rocky


Corgis Callaway, Hogan and Clementine

Not just any dogs, but People Animals Love (PAL) pets! The furry gang is part of a group that also visits the wards at Walter Reed. Joe Cavarreta is the Executive Director of PAL, and “Rocky’s” Dad. Laurie Collins, “Tori’s” Mom, gave an introductory speech describing the organization’s mission and how they love going to WR. She’s gotten to know many of the wounded warriors and which dogs are their favorites. She makes a schedule ahead of time so she can make sure each soldier gets to have a visit with the “right” dog. What a nice lady she is!!!

Next to speak to the audience was Jim Estes, one of the golf Pros who has been very involved in the event and with assisting and teaching the wounded vets how to play. He’s also the corgis Dad. The corgis aren’t PAL dogs, but they are one of my favorite breeds!

Anyhoo, Jim introduced SSG Gary Jackson of the VT National Guard and current “Prisoner of Walter Reed.”

SSG Gary Jackson and Golf Pro Jim Estes

Gary’s a great public speaker! He likes telling stories and relating his experiences and using them to motivate others.

Gary was wounded by mortar fire inside a bunker in camp. It seems the mujahadeen had spotters working inside who were directing fire onto his position which took a total of 13 rounds. It left 2 KIA and 3 severely wounded, including Gary. The lower part of his left leg was in bad shape but the medic chose not to use a tourniquet to staunch the bleeding. Gary credits this insight as the reason he’s not using a prosthetic today. I don’t understand the medical reasons, but I believe him!

21 surgeries later, he’s missing 10 inches of his shin bone but he’s walking. 12 surgeries were performed on his eyes, but the left one still has no sight.

Side note: one of the first soldiers I met at Walter Reed was SPC Ben Perez, who was sent as part of the VT National Guard to replace Gary.

Gary lines up a shot

Gary credits the pros at Olney Golf Park with giving him a wonderful tool to aid in his recovery. Learning the mechanics of the game has helped with learning to balance on his wobbly leg and depth perception using one eye. Another very important benefit is that it got him out in public and interacting with people outside the hospital and family. This sentiment was echoed by Sgt. Mark Kriesher through whom I learned of this program.

Jim explaining something about a club to Capt. Lionell Walton.

One story Gary told was of the time Snoop Dog came to Ward 57. You’d think a major star like Snoop would have a big crew in tow along with some fawning reporters, but just the opposite happened. No entorage, no media, just this regular guy who talked to the wounded and their families as if he were a nobody. Snoop spent about 10 minutes talking to Gary’s wife, consoling her and recognizing the tough times she was facing. Everyone on the ward was very impressed with Snoop. Whodathunkit? Thanks Snoop!

Capt. Walton and SSG Jackson working on their swings.

These guys can hit!

Some of the vets

The upper deck of the facility

This is the end of the table that contained the donations that were auctioned. There’s a certain fleece blanket with a familiar USMC logo that went home in my car.

When I asked before leaving how much they thought they had made, the Pro said $4 to $5K, but looking at the web site (Olneygolfpark.com) it says they made $9,000! The money raised will be used to purchase complete sets of clubs and bags to be GIVEN to the wounded warriors who show a real interest in the sport.

Any wounded vet can get free lessons and all the tee time they want at the park. Mark tells me that it doesn’t matter what the disability is — the pros will find a way to get him/her swinging a club at a ball! It was great to find another local business here in the People’s Republic of Maryland that actually supports the troops in such a grand way.

Thank You Olney Golf Park!

Mark won’t be there to use all the free stuff and lessons ’cause HE’S FINALLY HOME!!! I know he’s picked out a course that will be seeing a lot of him in the coming years!

Major Pain and Crew, Iraq, Dec 2005.
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There are hundreds of thousands of young veterans among us today, most whole and healthy and some of them a bit banged up. I imagine this new generation of Vets is a lot like their brothers and sisters back through the ages. They maintain a warrior spirit through the best and the worst of times and continue to make all of America proud and thankful for their service and sacrifices.

The wounded warriors are no exception to this. They may complain about being bored, missing home, or general things that all soldiers bitch about but they still have that will to keep going because the future holds too many experiences that they want to have.

Visiting with a young Marine Sgt and his sweetheart of a wife at Bethesda Naval Hospital, I couldn’t have been happier. The Marine’s legs had been shredded by shrapnel but didn’t require amputation. He’s been thru several surgeries and a big skin graft which must be really painful, but this man was as upbeat and excited about things as if it were Christmas! The couple had been watching the Animal Planet’s “Ugliest Dog” competition and when I left we were joking about him participating in the Marine’s “Ugliest Legs” contest!

At Malogne House a strapping-huge Soldier told of a job offer he had as an assistant coach at the University of Maryland!!! His wife was also offered a job in a bank in the area and the couple is seriously considering staying here. The person who made the offers specifically sought Veterans who had sacrificed themselves for this country. Ain’t life grand?

The best and the brightest is an understatement: These guys rock!

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And way to go Valour-IT and Team Marine!

I would like to thank Markus from CA and Michael from CT for flanking me on the tote board. (I’m Lynn from MD). What a wonderful bunch of generous people!!!

Thank all of you Marine Team supporters for making such it such a Happy Birthday for Marines and for Valour-IT! We started with $30,000 and by noon had $35,000! That’s twice as much as I expected to raise in the whole day! WHOOPIE!!!

Since I don’t have to be near a computer at midnight tonight, I thought I’d go ahead and make my matching donation now, then spend the rest of the day with a whole bunch of patriots and wounded warriors at Bethesda Naval and WRAMC.

THANK YOU!

and

OOOORRRAAAAHHH!

If you are in the D.C. area, please come down to the corners of Georgia Ave. and Elder Streets this evening and celebrate our wonderful troops on the eve of Veterans Day with the patriots of FreeRepublic.com! This will be the 82nd consecutive Friday that FReepers and FRiends have gathered to show our support of the troops outside Walter Reed Army Medical Center and to counter the scummy CodePink assholes who try to discourage the wounded warriors.

See this for more info if you’re interesting in joining us!

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OMG! Step away for a little bit and *pow* - look how much the Marines have now!

Everyone has seen this, except for a few wounded warriors who have other things to worry about.

These two vets (Neil and Jody) had NOT heard the slanderous remarks by F’ing Kerry. Once they were filled in on the details they had some choice and unprintable things to say about the idiot Senator. They were more than happy to pose with their brothers and sisters in arms by holding the huge banner made by FReeper StayTrue.

Freeper Tropprally and CJ

CJ and family stopped by after handing out a zillion Girl Scout cookies in the hospital, Malogne House and Fisher Houses. What a great bunch of folks!

Our sign left at Malogne House

Just so there would be no doubt as to how the rest of the world felt, FReeper Cindy-True-Supporter made a special sign that we all added our thoughts and signatures to.

Hey! Looky here! It’s actually a post about Friday nights at Walter Reed Army Medical Center! HOOAH!

OK, ok, so it’s no big deal. I just haven’t done a blog post in several months, I guess. Or at least since all the Big Dogs came out to play with us. Anyhoo, a lot of soldiers and a Marine came out to “the corners” this week and let us thank them in person for their service and sacrifices.

British soldier SPC James W. hams for the camera as SPC DJ V. looks on.

James, DJ, SPC Jaime C. and SPC Richie P. were going out to eat and stopped long enough for us to get pics and hugs. We warned them about the Pink scum down the block and sure enough, they couldn’t wait to go waaaaay down there and have a “dialog” with the creeps. The Pink Pansies didn’t want to have anything to do with them (as usual) because the “support” they show is the “Bring them Home and Make Them Shut Up” type (quote thanks to Donna, Los Osos).

Jordan posing with FReepers as his fiance takes a pic.

Jordan B. was an engineer in Ramadi whose job it was to defuse IEDs. In the 11th month of his tour he fell prey to one. Just like most of the Wounded Warriors we meet, he’s got an incredibly optimistic outlook and a joy to be living.

Other troops included Brad, Neil, Jim, Lety, Kari, Marrissa (double-amputee) and boyfriend, Todd and Martin. I got pics of most of them, but two are non-wounded active duty and came out to hang with us in civilian cloths and I’m NOT getting them in trouble!

A priest drove by about midway through the evening and blessed the crowd under the MOAB (Mother Of All Banners). How cool is that?!?

It was a terrific evening and not counting the troops we outnumbered the CodePink ‘tards 28 to 8. heh!
If you want to see all the non-crappy pics, go here.

Tomorrow night at the regularly scheduled Walter Reed “Support the Troops by Stomping CodePink ‘Tards” celebrations, there will also be the second of three events in this year’s Support the Troops Weekend in D.C.

From FreeRepublic.com:

Support the Troops and Their Mission Weekend kicks off Friday morning, September 22 with a delegation of military families and supporters visiting congressional offices to urge Representatives and Senators to not cut and run from the war on terrorists. We will gather at the horseshoe entrance to the Rayburn House Office Building at 10 a.m. on South Capitol Street just below Independence Avenue.

Friday evening, we will gather at the main gate to Walter Reed Army Medical Center from 6:30 p.m. until the dinner buses return (between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.)

WRAMC is located at 7200 Georgia Avenue, NW. The cross street is Elder Street.

Saturday, September 23, we will hold the Support the Troops and Their Mission Rally from noon to 3 p.m. at the Sylvan Theater on the grounds of the Washington Monument. Please plan to arrive by 11:30 a.m. as the drive-by media always undercounts attendance by doing a crowd estimate just before the rally starts and then never changes that number as the crowd grows.

The next announcement is for an event that will take place in a little more than two weeks. On October 7th in Olney, MD there will be an event at Olney Golf Park to raise funds for golfing equipment for Wounded Warriors.

The organizer of this event is himself an injured OIF veteran who I met last Friday. Mark Kreisher is an incredibly enthusiastic guy who is intent on helping his fellow wounded brothers and sisters by getting them involved in an activity that has been an immense benefit to his own recovery.

I have been a patient at WRAMC for 9 months. One of the hardest things I have faced during my recovery (both physical and mental) was getting myself back out in public and trying to resume doing some of the things I did before my injuries. Thanks to some GREAT individuals, groups, and organizations I was offered the chance to learn and play the game of golf. Golf became a big part of my physical and mental therapy and I’m afraid without the opportunities afforded to me I would still be sitting in the lonely confines of my room feeling sorry for myself. I (along with dozen of my friends) have been provided golf equipment at no charge, free lessons from a PGA instructor, and unlimited range time at no charge! The instructors do not care if we have lost an eye, two legs or an arm, they help us develop our golf games dispite our “limitations”. They have donated their time to instruct us, and treat us as if we were paying customers.

I’m not going to pull any punches on this matter and I’m not the type of person that finds it easy to ask for help, but I DESPARATELY need HELP from each and every one of you, as well as your friends and coleagues! I have been asked to coordinate a fundraising event that is very near and dear to my heart! The Disabled American Veterans and Yellow Ribbon Fund, in conjunction with Olney Golf Park and local PGA instructors Jim Estes and Matt Kayson, have set up a fund dedicated to their goal to provide quality golf and recreational opportunities for military personnel injured while on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The fund that has provided me and numerous other soldiers with these opportunities is running dangerously low, and it tears me up inside to think that it won’t be around to HELP my fellow SOLDIERS in the future, as it has helped me and my friends in the past year.

My HOPE is that through donation of items and cash, 100% of the money raised will go directly to helping soldiers. I NEED EVERYTHING!! DOOR PRIZES, SILENT AUCTION ITEMS, CONTEST PRIZES and CASH DONATIONS. If you can donate something, no matter how small, I can use it.

Mark is still recovering at Walter Reed and new folks are still coming in that will need the same kind of challenging activities to help get them get back to good physical and mental health. If you’d like to be part of this effort and make some heroes happy, here’s how you can help.

For Cash donations make checks payable to Disabled American Veterans.

Items and donations can be sent to:
Olney Golf Park
Attn. Mark Kreisher
3414 Emory Church Rd.
Olney MD 20832

You can also contact me, of course. I’ll be covering the event (I’m REALLY looking forward to it!) and I promise to post the usual crappy pics that people using IE can’t see anyway.

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Well, I’m outta here! It’s the last Club race of the season and that means I’ll have no internet access until I get home Sunday night. Y’all be good and you have my permission to squash any trolls that show up here.

Super Troop Supporter Donna, Los Osos is up today! Good luck, lady!

Tomorrow I’ll also be starving with Leta (the Great!) but I won’t be able to tell about it. (And NO! Ms. Smartypants I won’t be racing while starving no matter how much you’re willing to pay!)

Mr. SMASH came to Washington on official gummint business but he did not leave his passion for pestering Pinkos in San Diego. Week after week he’s joined the FReepers at Walter Reed celebrating and thanking our wounded heroes. He’s also been winning “hearts and minds” among the commies waaaaay down the block by assuming a passive attitude and allowing them to spew whatever’s on their minds into his little recorder. SMASH has amassed quite a collection of audio moonbattery in which the ‘tards consistently claim to support the troops. Last week, we were witness to the most blatent display of Pinko hypocrisy to date — the commies turning their backs on wounded soldiers and telling them to leave the Pinko area!

This week the gloves came off. It was time for SMASH to confront the asshats and maybe, just maybe, convince some of them of the error of their ways.

To execute his plan, SMASH recruited the wily and witty Tantor to soften up the enemy.

Tantor, with his back to the camera, has a conversation with Pinko Bruce.

Next, he brought out the big gun: Major Pain!

The big Marine flanked by Taco’s Mom and Blackfive who was in town to publicize his great new book The Blog of War.

Upon arriving at the protest site the Major wasted no time. He waded in amongst the smelly commies and gave them a few pointers. I didn’t get any pics of this engagement even though I was right across the street, but tgslTakoma may have it on video. I saw what I thought was a new moonbat, but then noticed he was smoking a cigar. Pinkos hide when they smoke cigs and none of them would be caught dead with a big ole stoagie! Then I noticed that the commies weren’t acting exactly friendly towards the new guy and there were some raised voices (couldn’t hear the words over the traffic). Next thing I know he’s loping across the street and the mystery is solved.

Introductions are made all around, the Major hands out glow-sticks (so we’ll be visible crossing the street)(hey, that’s what he said!) and the plans for Operation SMASH Code Pink are laid out. With yours truely playing the part of Pinko Bruce (yech! what an odious assignment) we rehearsed the mission in the church parking lot. When all was ready we set out to take up our positions. tgslTakoma and I set up as observers/FReeper Media just outside the enemy’s perimeter as SMASH and Maj Pain took a longer route to approach the commies from the opposite side.

The pink commies are afraid to even acknowledge Maj Pain’s presence behind their lines.

With the Major watching his back, SMASH launched in to his prepared speech. In a loud, clear voice unmistakable above the traffic din he told the Pinkos how their brand of “support” was hurting the brave men and women in the hospital on the other side of the fence. The audio of the lecture can be heard here. The following is from a soon-to-be post from SMASH:

SOMETIMES you see a man with a short haircut, athletic build and a military bearing, and you think to yourself, “I bet that man is a Marine.”

With Major Pain, there is no question. You know he is a Marine. Which makes him an ideal wingman for me when it’s time to confront Code Pink and friends about their rude and disrespectful treatment of our soldiers outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

There are about a dozen or so protesters there on Friday night. On any given evening, one or two of them might have enough spunk to face off against a “lone warrior” confronting them on the sidewalk. But very few will take on two of us. And nobody wants to get in Major Pain’s face.

We approach, quietly, from the rear. Major Pain takes up a blocking position, and I start talking.

“Good evening.”

Several of them turn around. One man starts to approach me. Then he sees Pain, and has second thoughts.

“You know, for the past few weeks, I’ve come down here, and listened politely and respectfully to any of you who would talk to me.”

“Tonight, you’re going to listen to me.”

SMASH delivering his stinging lecture to the Pinkos.

The pair observed a few of the lefties debate whether or not they should turn around and talk to the men, but the only ones with enough nerve to give it a brief try were “Weasel” and Kevin McCarron (of “Enlist here and die for Halliburton” fame).

McCarron and “Weasel” don’t see real men very often.

With a purposely derisive “Goodnight, ladies”, SMASH ends his speech and the engagement comes to an end. Next week we’ll see how many casualties the Pinkos took.

UPDATE (9/18): tgslTakoma has put SMASH’s audio together with her fantastic video and you can see the whole thing here.

These two milbloggers were intent on “smashing” some Pinko psychos with the “painful” truth that they are not welcome outside Walter Reed.

Stand by for damage assessment… it’s here!