Big Bubba's Take On War Heros in the News
Representative John Murtha, D-Pa, was the first war hero to appear on the radar screen recently. He expressed his opinion about our American Fighting Men and the war in Iraq. Drill Sergeant Big Bubba used to inform his trainees that "opinions are like noses - everybody has one." I believe that we may have actually used another part of the human anatomy than noses.
I have not been able to determine very much specific information about Senator Murtha's military service. He volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1952. He rose through the ranks to Captain. He left Marine Corps active duty in 1959 for the Marine Reserve.
He remained a Marine Reservist until he volunteered for a tour of duty in the Republic of Viet Nam. It appears that unlike Hanoi John he actually served for 12 months and then returned to the Marine Reserves.
Senator Murtha retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1990 as a Colonel. I very much admire the fact that Colonel Murtha volunteered for an active duty tour in the Republic of Viet Nam.
What is significant about Senator Murtha's service? Most of his service was spent in the Reserves. He was a Colonel, a rank of special trust and responsibility. But, that was in the reserves. Old soldiers often joke that at the Pentagon the Lieutenant Colonels' job is to make the office coffee. Senator Murtha rose above that level, but never served at the Pentagon or any high position of trust and responsibility.
I don't believe that it was ever reported that Colonel Murtha was sighted conferring with Abrams, MacNamara, President Johnson or any other President or high ranking official about military affairs when he was in the Marines. I am sure that he was never responsible for proposing national policy and strategy. His command level would be brigade which is not remarkable.
I respect Senator Murtha and admire his accomplishments, however, basically he did what a few million other guys did. He served in uniform.
Senator Daniel Inouye, D-Hi, is a genuine war hero. He also rose through the ranks from Private to Captain in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the famous "Go for Broke" regiment. The 442nd RCT will always have a special place in the heart of members of The Great State of Texas' Fightin' 36th Infantry Division because of their famous rescue of the "Lost Battalion" in Italy during WWII.
The 442nd was an all Japanese unit that not only had to avoid death in combat, but also the racism of the Army of that day. Senator Inouye endured specific acts of racism best exemplified by being the recipient of a Distinguished Service Cross for an act of bravery that was absolutely incredible. He should have received a Medal of Honor. Senator Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for that act of bravery in 1990.
His act of bravery cost him his arm and twenty months in military hospitals before he was discharged back to civilian life. Senator Inouye became a lawyer and has spent his life in the service of his country.
He did serve, however, he was not on General Marshall's staff at the Pentagon. He didn't sit down with Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at Yalta. He was a foot soldier in Italy like many, many others.
It is being reported that Senator Inouye in a press release critical of the Republican "white flag" advertisement stated ,"As a Veteran of World War II, I know what it’s like to fight a war and put your life on the line every day. I also know what it takes to win a war, and I know that politics and an attack machine like the President’s plays no part in it."
Senator Inouye is either very naive, or he thinks we are very naive, if he believes that politics do not play a part in winning any war. If Senator Inouye had attained high military office he undoubtedly would have been introduced to Vom Krieg by General Carl Phillip Gottfried von Clausewitz (1780-1831). General von Clausewitz tells us that,
"War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means."
Senator Inouye and Murtha are fine gentlemen and I respect their military service. They undoubtedly have insights into military service that only those who have served will have. That is all very special, however, if this country ever had to depend on Captain Inouye, Private Kennedy, Colonel Murtha, Sergeant Rangel, or Captain McCain for the military expertise necessary to conduct the operations of our military forces we would be in trouble.
It is a dangerous trend that we are on to worship at the feet of those who merely served and treat them as sacred cows beyond reproach or questioning. Military service remains an asset when seeking a job in civilian life, or in running for political office. We need to keep such service in perspective for what it actually represents.
I have not been able to determine very much specific information about Senator Murtha's military service. He volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1952. He rose through the ranks to Captain. He left Marine Corps active duty in 1959 for the Marine Reserve.
He remained a Marine Reservist until he volunteered for a tour of duty in the Republic of Viet Nam. It appears that unlike Hanoi John he actually served for 12 months and then returned to the Marine Reserves.
Senator Murtha retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 1990 as a Colonel. I very much admire the fact that Colonel Murtha volunteered for an active duty tour in the Republic of Viet Nam.
What is significant about Senator Murtha's service? Most of his service was spent in the Reserves. He was a Colonel, a rank of special trust and responsibility. But, that was in the reserves. Old soldiers often joke that at the Pentagon the Lieutenant Colonels' job is to make the office coffee. Senator Murtha rose above that level, but never served at the Pentagon or any high position of trust and responsibility.
I don't believe that it was ever reported that Colonel Murtha was sighted conferring with Abrams, MacNamara, President Johnson or any other President or high ranking official about military affairs when he was in the Marines. I am sure that he was never responsible for proposing national policy and strategy. His command level would be brigade which is not remarkable.
I respect Senator Murtha and admire his accomplishments, however, basically he did what a few million other guys did. He served in uniform.
Senator Daniel Inouye, D-Hi, is a genuine war hero. He also rose through the ranks from Private to Captain in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the famous "Go for Broke" regiment. The 442nd RCT will always have a special place in the heart of members of The Great State of Texas' Fightin' 36th Infantry Division because of their famous rescue of the "Lost Battalion" in Italy during WWII.
The 442nd was an all Japanese unit that not only had to avoid death in combat, but also the racism of the Army of that day. Senator Inouye endured specific acts of racism best exemplified by being the recipient of a Distinguished Service Cross for an act of bravery that was absolutely incredible. He should have received a Medal of Honor. Senator Inouye was awarded the Medal of Honor for that act of bravery in 1990.
His act of bravery cost him his arm and twenty months in military hospitals before he was discharged back to civilian life. Senator Inouye became a lawyer and has spent his life in the service of his country.
He did serve, however, he was not on General Marshall's staff at the Pentagon. He didn't sit down with Churchill, Roosevelt, and Stalin at Yalta. He was a foot soldier in Italy like many, many others.
It is being reported that Senator Inouye in a press release critical of the Republican "white flag" advertisement stated ,"As a Veteran of World War II, I know what it’s like to fight a war and put your life on the line every day. I also know what it takes to win a war, and I know that politics and an attack machine like the President’s plays no part in it."
Senator Inouye is either very naive, or he thinks we are very naive, if he believes that politics do not play a part in winning any war. If Senator Inouye had attained high military office he undoubtedly would have been introduced to Vom Krieg by General Carl Phillip Gottfried von Clausewitz (1780-1831). General von Clausewitz tells us that,
"War is not merely a political act but a real political instrument, a continuation of political intercourse, a carrying out of the same by other means."
Senator Inouye and Murtha are fine gentlemen and I respect their military service. They undoubtedly have insights into military service that only those who have served will have. That is all very special, however, if this country ever had to depend on Captain Inouye, Private Kennedy, Colonel Murtha, Sergeant Rangel, or Captain McCain for the military expertise necessary to conduct the operations of our military forces we would be in trouble.
It is a dangerous trend that we are on to worship at the feet of those who merely served and treat them as sacred cows beyond reproach or questioning. Military service remains an asset when seeking a job in civilian life, or in running for political office. We need to keep such service in perspective for what it actually represents.
posted by BigBubba at 10:50 PM
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20 Comments:
BB
The Democrats problem is they surround themselvs with the far left and need Murtha and others to deflect the obvious. I am glad Charli Rangel served in Korea. However that does not mean that he gets a free pass for hosting parties for Fidel Castro.
There have been a few articles recently about how much coverage Murtha's comments received vs. how much Lieberman's recent comments received.
Sen. Lieberman and I have spent about no years in military service, which may explain our mutual lack of insight in believing it is not time to call for the removal of troops from Iraq.
Some of Lieberman's friends have responded with the ultimate insult: they have called him a Republican! Couldn't they have just called him homely and left it at that?
I admire Murtha for his dissenting opinion. It is not his fault it has been issued through the media as if it were tablets from the mountain.
The moment I knew Kerry lost: his "reporting for duty" salute at the convention.
Mr. Ducky, after twenty six years of service you may retire from the Army if you want. You do know that General Franks is actually an Oklahoman. The people of the Great State of Texas are proud to note the connection, however, General Franks currently has a home in Florida and a ranch in Oklahoma.
Mr. Ducky, military experience is still considered an extremely valuable asset in the private sector because of demonstrated leadership, devotion to duty, and a can do attitude.
I find the "can't cut it in the private sector" sentiment a helpful indicator that you are dealing with an intellectual defective.
Mr. Ducky, please provide us with some examples of Big Bubba's "patriotic jingoism." Tell you what. To get the ball rolling here is verification of your status as just another mindless twit,
"Man thumpers do love their guns. My take is that their gutter religion does not allow progress towards a more economically just society and they are content to see themselves as "chosen"."
That's a good'un, Duck.
Our favorite mindless twit said,
"It is up to you to explain why a job in the military gives you standing to comment on ANYTHING as an expert beyond the conduct of military affairs."
Big Bubba sez, "Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Murray Hopper." It is so easy it is almost boring to counter your hyperbole and polemics. The only thing keeping me in the game is the endless opportunities for amusement, smiles and giggles that Mr. Ducky provides me.
"Combine it with your apparent belief that the military can be an instrument of God's work and you have a gutter religion."
Provide proof that I have ever uttered, or implied, such a sentiment. That statement is a direct result of your knee jerk reliance on the national media to provide you with your viewpoint of Evangelical Christians. The mark of a true intellectual defect - inability to think for yourself.
"bring bounty to the elect"
It is called prosperity gospel. Again, offer proof that I have ever uttered, or implied, a belief in that theology, I don't.
I tell you what. Prove that I said, or implied, anything your delusional mind led you to write about me. Excuse me for not being impressed that the master of the anecdote, polemic and hyperbole thinks that I have provided limited anecdotal evidence. You probably do not have the faintest idea who Grace Hopper is. She certainly is not an anecdote in history. I could provide hundreds if not thousands more to refute your mindless statement that "..why a job in the military gives you standing to comment on ANYTHING as an expert beyond the conduct of military affairs." Such childish statements make me wonder who you really are.
“It's very difficult to determine what you belive Bubba.”
That’s because you have a reading comprehension problem and do not effectively use logic and reason.
“You obviously hold military service in extremely high esteem and I have to believe that you therefore consider the use of military force to be efficacious and a critical instrument for good.”
Is there something wrong with holding our military/military service in extremely high esteem? Your conclusion does not logically follow your premise.
“I say it is only of value as a defensive tool and has brought no good to the world in the last 50 years.”
So, you do recognize the value of the military at least to the extent it has allowed you to live in peace and prosper. I don’t believe that the people of Korea would agree with you about the U.S. Army not bringing good to the world.
“You profess to Calvinism which maintains a doctrine of the elect. Preordained elect if I remember. How can you expect anyone to respect that belief (if in fact it is yours, I have no good way of knowing).”
Calvinism is not a “living religion.” It is belief system formulated by John Calvin based on five high principles. The acronym “tulip” is commonly used by theology students to remember Calvin’s principles.
T - total depravity
U- unconditional election
L - limited atonement
I - irresistible grace
P - perseverance of the saints
All Baptists believe in some of these five principles of Calvinism. There are some Baptists who believe in all five. Big Bubba strongly believes in the principles of total depravity, irresistible grace and the perseverance of the saints. I strongly disagree with unconditional election (predestination) and limited atonement. Does that make me a Calvinist?
“Plus you did defend the Texas record of state murder. True, that really isn't here nor there and capital punishment is my personal hobbyhorse but I am very suspicious of people who defend it.”
My brother-in-law is serving a forty year sentence for murder. He is over forty so it will effectively be a life sentence. Texas has capital punishment and I defend it to the extent that it is the law of the land for Texas. I have no moral reservations about executing the convicted. Those convicted, in most cases, showed no mercy for their victims, allowed no appeals to a higher authority, and served as judge and executioner. Comparatively they are getting a real break in the justice system.
“Fact remains that you are a Bush apologist. A DeLay apologist and they are vulgar human filth. You seem to find no fault in them.”
I have no need to be a President Bush apologist. He has served with an honor and dignity that his predecessor was incapable of achieving. He served his country honorably in the Texas Air National Guard. He responded to the unprecedented attack on America exactly like I wanted him to respond. I wish he would do the same to Iran before they get totally out of hand.
I have no need to be a Tom DeLay apologist either. It is not against the law to irritate pseudo intellectual progressive liberal demoracist mindless twits. It also was not illegal for him to influence the redistricting of the Great State of Texas. It happens every ten years according to the Constitution. This time around the Republicans happened to be the majority party for the first time in 100 years. This made the progressive liberal demoracists so crazy angry they wanted to take their football and go home. Only problem was that it was no longer their football so they petulantly fled to Oklahoma instead.
Mr. Ducky I really appreciate your intellectually defective hyperbole and polemics. People who engage in irrational Bush hating and calling him vulgar human filth will only serve to solidify Red States against the likes of Hanoi John and Hillary. If people like you and Howard Dean keep it up I don’t give the progressive liberal demoracists much of a chance in 2008.
What's with this "attacks on Christmas" business? Who comes up with this stuff?
If a store, or the White House, says "Happy Holidays," what sort of petty little nutjob do you need to be to take offense? Certainly of the same petty nutjob ilk as those who are offended by manger scenes.
I propose the petty nutjobs of each team get together on a quaint snowy field and have themselves a good ol' fashioned Christmas bloodbath.
Norm, after years of Christian admonitions to the faithful to put Christ back in Christmas we now face this separation of the secular from the religious. This latest controversy is a real paradox.
Observing some of the participants in this argument I don't believe they can be labeled "petty little nut jobs." They are people who recognize that this is a nation founded on Judeo-Christian principles. To call their opposition, the secular humanist crowd, "petty little nut jobs" I believe is equally demeaning.
The culprits here are the political correctness petty little nut jobs. These petty little nut jobs are going to destroy the intellectual life of this country unless they are reined in.
You can't really call it "cafeteria Calvinism,” Mr. Ducky. Calvinism was part of the post Luther brew and strongly influenced early Baptists, Puritans and others.
Predestination has been a topic of discussion in the religious South for as long as I can remember. Many Southern families (like mine) consist of several different Protestant denominations. My family, other than Baptist, includes Presbyterians and Methodists.
Some Baptists very strongly agree with Calvin's five points. In my estimation most do not agree with all five points. I think what I told you I believed represents the Baptist mainstream.
The Baptist faith can seem quite anarchic to outsiders because we are distrustful of authority of governing bodies over individual churches, we strongly believe in the priesthood of the believer, and in the principle that the individual believer is perfectly capable of independently understanding what the Bible "says" to them.
Come on, you guys don't need to be in a battle of the sect-ses, do you?
Bubba, more power to anyone who wants to put the "Christ" back in "Christmas," who wants to wish anyone a "Merry Christmas," or who wants to acknowledge New Years or that Jews and others celebrate the season in similar fashion if not in name and say "Happy Holidays" or whatever. That's the spirit.
"Political correctness" goes under many stripes, vehemence about "Merry Christmas" and being angry at stores or the White House for saying so is just another form of p.c. Furthermore, as Ducky points out, there is no historical basis in this country for the complaint--its just a dopey little divisive game. Rove and his cabal cooked it up while scheming to hurt black gay people Similarly, those offended by Nativity scenes have no constitutional basis for their offense of the egregious public display of manger and crib. Same p.c. douchebags, just on different teams. Thinking people know Santa Claus and the Separation Clause aren't actually related to each other.
Norm,
I agree w/ just about everything you say, but...
No historical basis? The ACLU's war on Christmas and religion has been raging for nearly a century. This is a simply a neo-post-modern "backlash" to a modern ACLU "reaction"...in an historical political process and culture war over the role of religion that started way back in the Renaissance.
And people who think symbols aren't important in this culture wars are idiots. It's about time we started emphasizing the "free exercise" clause over the "establishment clause" again.
And could you explain to me again how Christmas hurts black gay people and not ALL gay people (even Log Cabin Republicans)?
-FJ
"Divide et Impera"-- Phillip of Macedon (Alexander's papa)
Farmer, the "black gay" people was an attempt at humor.
I knew the "no historical basis" bit was hazy--I think Bubba mentioned this thing as "paradoxical." It kind of is, because once upon a time on these shores it was the Puritans who were against the celebration of Christmas. Most of our holidays, I'm sure you know, have pagan roots. (That's the part that makes them "fun," heh heh)
Our Puritanism has fragmented into many interesting forms, including secular, over the last three centuries, one of which is political correctness.
mr. ducky,
I don't suppose the ACLU would be willing to adopt a similar policy of celebrating their "secularity" in the privacy of THEIR own homes, do you?
Nope, that "ain't" the secular way.... it's more the "religious" one.
The secular way is to ALWAYS use the expedient of government's threat of "force" and make sure that the personal is made political
You need a new motto, "In government force we trust".
And you chastise Big Bubba for his use of "military" forces. What about your efficacious use of "police", "government", and especially "judicial" force in support of your secular totalitarian ideals... like banishing the creche from the public square?
-FJ
The "holiday" secularists in America around the time of the Revolution were much like the ACLU today in preferring force to vocal persuasion...
The New Years Chant (a condensation of the Sermon of the New Years Shooters; aka - Philadelphia's Mummers")
"Good morning to you, Sir.
We wish you a happy New Year,
Great health, long life,
Which God may bestow
So long as you stay here below.
May he bestow the house you are in
Where you go out and you go in
Time by moments steal away
First the hour and then the day
Small the lost days may appear
But yet they soon amount to a year.
This another year is gone
And now it is no more of our own
But if it brings our promises good
As the year before the flood
But let none of us forget
It has left us much in debt
A favor from the Lord received
Since which our spirits hath been grieved.
Marked by the unerring hand
Thus in his book our records stands.
Who can tell the vast amount
Placed to each of our accounts?
But while you owe the debt is large
You may plead a full discharge.
But poor and selfish sinners, say'
What can you to justice pay?
Trembling last for life is past
and into prison you may be cast
Happy is the believing soul.
Christ for you has paid the whole.
We have this New Year's morning called you by your name
And disturbed you from by your rest.
And if it be your desire
Our guns and pistols they shall fire.
Since we hear of no defiance
You shall hear the art of Science.
When we pull trigger and powder burns
You shall hear the roaring of guns.
Oh, daughters of righteousness, we will rise
And warm our eyes and bless our hearts,
For the old years gone and the New Year's come
And for good luck we'll fire out guns
NY's Shooters traditions
-FJ
mr ducky,
You are definitely correct when you state...
Rather than a "war on Christmas" we have Christmas becoming a bit of self mocking kitsch but that's been going on for a while.
The Mummers (New Year's Shooters)would agree with you. This mocking of Christmas HAS been going on for quite a while.
A view from Shooter's Hill in DC.
-FJ
Celebration of Christmas in America dates to at least as early as Christmas 1621 by non Pilgrim immigrants. Governor Bradford was not happy that day with the non Pilgrims.
Christmas has been continuously celebrated in this country since that time. Just because it wasn't declared a legal holiday until 1894 does not mean that people were not taking the day off to celebrate. Christmas, 1621 the non Pilgrims famously took the day off and did not work.
You can add to your list of people talking about the war against Christmas Jackie Mason and Raoul Felder who were in Manhattan today using bullhorns to encourage passerbys to say "Merry Christmas." Jackie Mason's position is that this is a great country that has allowed Jews to live in peace. No one has told him not to say "Happy Hanukkah" so why should he tell someone not to say "Merry Christmas." This is irrefutable logic that the political correctness police will have trouble comprehending.
I love financial chit chat. Here is a great place for financial discussion forums. You could find a Big Bubba fribble if you looked close enough and remembered a popular Southern adage that Big Bubba has used on occasion.
Selected quotes from Henry David Thoreau...
For what are the classics but the noblest thoughts of man? They are the only oracles which are not decayed, and there are such answers to the most modern inquiry in them as Delphi and Dodona never gave. We might as well omit to study Nature because she is old.
Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all.
To read well, that is, to read true books in a true spirit, is a noble exercise, and one that will task the reader more than any other exercise which the customs of the day esteem. It requires a training such as the athletes underwent, the steady intention almost of the whole life to this object.
Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations.
What is once well done is done forever.
The cost of a thing is the amount of what I will call life which is required to be exchanged for it, immediately or in the long run.
There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.(Samwich's favorite)
There is no odor so bad as that which arises from goodness tainted.
Things do not change; we change.
To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
-FJ
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