Knee Deep in the Hooah!

Mr.Hooah here again. I was reading through my favorite blogs this past holiday weekend when I came across this on “Kaboom“:

Sunday, 6 July 2008
Important Name Change

I had hoped to break this news sooner, but it seems certain readers have spoiled the surprise in their comments. LT G is no longer a lieutenant. On July 1, he was promoted to the rank of captain. Yes, despite the drama with the blog and his turning down the XO position, LT G is now CPT G. I suppose his pseudonym is sort of useless now, huh?
 

Some of you may remember LT G’s great blog as well as its untimely demise. This new blog was started by his fiancee. [Read more →]

Tags: Army, Iraq, Mr. Hooah! Writes, communication, family life, military, well wishes by Mr_Hooah
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Catchy headline, no?
This story ran a couple days ago in the Army Homepage:

Violence in Iraq Drops to Four-Year Low
Jun 24, 2008
BY Fred W. Baker III
WASHINGTON (AFPS, June 23, 2008) - Violence in Iraq dropped in May to its lowest level in four years, according to a Defense Department report released to Congress Monday.

The quarterly report, feared required by Congress, measured progress in the country in March through May of this year. The report highlighted that all major violent indicators dropped during the reporting period by as much as 80 percent.

My own home town news station ran this under their “Eye on Iraq” segment:

American deaths in Iraq at a high for the week!”  OMG!!! Pull Out NOW!!

Ok, I added that last part.

But I didn’t make up the weekly high part. I don’t have to. Truth is stranger than fiction. Look up the crime stats on East St.Louis and you’ll be shocked, shocked I tell you. We should immediately withdraw our brave firemen, policemen, and health care types … its just too dangerous.

OLD DRUM:OLD BEAT

Mr.Hooah!, out.

Tags: Army, Good News (Iraq), Iraq, Main Stream Media, Mr. Hooah! Writes, communication, military, politics by Mr_Hooah
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I am not sure how well known this resource is, so I wanted to pass it along here.

Together We Served: [Read more →]

Tags: Army, communication, military, reunification by Claire
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I have finally been able to get the art work that Mike sent home scanned and into electronic format. The pictures contained in the album are works of art that the Iraqi children drew as a “thank you” to all of those who contributed to the Operation School School Supply drive last year.

My first inclination as an MSW with a background in children’s mental health was to look at the pictures with an evaluative eye. It won’t take you long to see the positive images that I picked up on right away. I see smiling sun shines, lots of color, and even rainbow colored helicopters.

I thoroughly enjoyed looking through their artwork and appreciating their talent. I will have Mr. Hooah! write a “Cliff Notes” version for you of Art History and Islam. It will help you better understand some of the perspectives in the drawings. Also, look for the picture with an Army vehicle (maybe a Humvee?) and a Stryker — on the same road with a Donkey Cart. Of course the sun is smiling in that picture too.

These pictures will be ready to ship to their rightful recipients in the next few days. [Read more →]

Tags: Army, Army Mom Posts, Art, Good News (Iraq), Iraq, Morale, Op. School Supply, Shack Pack news, Things I love, communication, deployment, pictures, updates by Claire
4 Comments »

I spotted this piece today and just can’t help myself … I have to link to it for you from Fox News:

Junk Science: Anatomy of a Chemical Murder
Thursday, April 24, 2008
By Steven Milloy
Wal-Mart announced last week that it would stop selling baby bottles made with the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA.

In the past, I would have laid the blame for this junk science-fueled shame at the feet of anti-chemical environmental jihadists, their pseudo-scientist henchmen at universities and government regulatory agencies and Wal-Mart’s knuckleheaded executives, who seem to be more interested in appeasing eco-pressure groups than reassuring consumers the products the retailer has sold for decades are safe.

But the banning of baby bottles made with BPA is so mind-bogglingly baseless that I just have to lay the blame where it truly belongs — with the lame-o chemical industry, which utterly failed to defend its product against activist claims and a regulatory process so specious it would cause voodoo practitioners to shudder.

Oh my. Now you see why I had to read this one. I wasn’t dissappointed. I won’t give the ending away but it made me stop to think a little about the timing on this one.

Surely, surely, there are not those in corporate America that would willingly sacrifice polycarbonate and sound science on the alter of the left in order to steal that market and increase their own profits. Would they? Really!? I hate sounding like a lefty but I do think there is a money trail to be followed here.

Mr.Hooah!, out. (probably for the weekend)

Tags: EcoHype, communication, politics, updates by Mr_Hooah
3 Comments »

My wife was originally asked to review this book. She really didn’t have the time to read it, nor, I think, the inclination to finish it once she attempted the read. Good thing I was around to pick up the slack. I do that with leftovers at the dinner table and in the fridge as well. I’m the garbage disposal around my house. ‘Tis my lot in life. It’s not a lot. But it’s a life.

Let me give you the bottom line first concerning this book. I don’t recommend it. It just isn’t worth the read except and unless you are curious about West Point trivia as concerns literature or literary reading lists. Even then, I can think of better ways to get the reading list. Calling a West Point graduate would be one way. Calling the West Point literature department would be another.

I don’t think I’m the first milblogger to “dis” this book. As I recall, the milblogger “Gazing at the Flag” pretty much said the book stunk too. My guess is that the book’s anti-war flavor ruined the book too much for most milbloggers to take it seriously. I have to admit the anti-war flavor tasted bitter for myself as well but I had more important reasons for not enjoying the book.

First and foremost, it was inappropriately titled. “soldier’s heart (note the lack of capitalization – a kewl marketing ploy I guess), Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point” really should have been named “Professor’s Heart, My personal encounters and observations while instructing at West Point“. The book had not so much to do with future soldiers as it did the professor’s personal adventures and anecdotes.

The reviews on the rear jacket of the book are equally misleading. Try this one on for size:

Not since John Gardner’s “On Moral Fiction” has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined. In “soldier’s heart” the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book – exactly as it should be.” – James Carroll, author of “House of War” and “An American Requiem”.

Oh my. What heady stuff. This is clearly worth a peace prize or two, right? I mean. Gosh. Just look at who endorsed this book. James Carroll. THE James Carroll!! In case you’re wondering; I’m being sarcastic here. James Carroll is no friend of the military. He’s a complex, sanguine, and leftist author whose book “House of War” is complex, interesting, and ultimately wrong. Look him up. He has a nice website. I won’t link it here.

The book he reviews for Elizabeth Samet is, sadly simple, uninteresting, and ultimately sends a mixed message. For mister Carroll to tell us that “Not since” blah, blah, blah, has “literature and morality been so powerfully examined” says more about paid announcements than it says about what to expect upon reading Ms. Samet’s book.

Ok, I’m sure you get the point. What the book purports to be versus what it actually is causes such a mental discord as to be a significant detraction.

There are other problems with the book. The author’s political correctness shows through in her forced gender usage. It is very discordant to read along a pleasant flow of thought only to be tripped up by an obviously forced change of a “HE” for a “SHE”. Why bother to turn a nice phrase (which authors are supposed to do, right?) then ruin it for the sake of politically correct gender neutrality. Bah. That sort of thing is dishonest to the craft.

Let me see. What have I covered? Ms. Samet’s book shows her anti-war thought, and is not about a soldier’s heart but rather her own. It is not about reading literature but rather about her teaching literature (sort of), and it is endorsed by those not so friendly with the military. The endorsements are as misleading as the title.They claim much more for the book than is present, the book is rather simple, the writing is pretty good but spoiled for the sake of political correctness, and what else? Oh yeah!

Ms. Samet’s adventure at West Point, while mildly interesting and revealing some West Point trivia, is simply not worth the length of a book. No more than my adventure at OCS is worthy of a book. Both adventures, mine and hers, are worthy of a short account or some such (a blog?) but NOT a book. Come on.

To Ms. Samet’s credit she really has begun to understand and care for the individuals who make up her student body at West Point. I also think that in spite of her leftist background she is drawn to the military. She seems a woman with a foot in both worlds being pulled most strongly in the direction of the military community. Perhaps this book is her cathartic method of justifying to herself her presence in both worlds? If so then maybe, just maybe, she needs to let go of her past and join the Army as a full fledged member. It seems from reading her book that she would be happiest if she were fully engaged in that world.

But what do I know. I’m biased.

Mr.Hooah! out.

Tags: Army, Mr. Hooah! Writes, communication, literacy, military by Mr_Hooah
3 Comments »

Well, ok. So no real dandelions died, but I surely do wish to kill all the dandelions in my front yard. They are weeds. Some think they are pretty little weeds, but they are weeds none the less. They spread like wild fire. Just like the ‘common knowledge’ put out by our friends in the media; friends such as a Anne of Gearan Gables. I’m not going to say she lied out right. After all, I’m a private citizen who doesn’t have the right to voice my unfounded opinion in the same manner as a “professional journalist” does. I do not have freedom from slander charges. She and her ilk do. I do have free speech though, but the MSM is freer by far. I hope that means I can get away with my headline. We’ll see.

Now I bet your wondering what is sending me off onto this strange little rabbit trail. Well, I saw this headline while cruising the news during my lunch hour: “Rice frames al-Sadr as coward in Iran” – Washington Times.

I just had to stop and look.

I was sorely disappointed.

The article started out well enough:

Rice frames al-Sadr as coward in Iran

By Anne Gearan
April 21, 2008

BAGHDAD (AP) — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice mocked anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as a coward yesterday, hours after the radical leader threatened to declare war unless U.S. and Iraqi forces end a military crackdown on his followers.

But it slowly degraded into the usual media all-hype-no-substance-with-a-bogus-conclusion (how do you like ‘dem hyphens?) No where in the article does the author conclusively prove Miss Rice does anything but state the obvious facts. Big deal. The most invective language is actually put in play by the author. Not Dr. Rice. Then we begin to get little gems like this one:

“Miss Rice praised Mr. al-Maliki for confronting Sheik al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army, which had a choke hold on Basra, Iraq’s second-largest city. The assault was Mr. al-Maliki’s most-decisive act by far against Sheik al-Sadr, a fellow Shi’ite and once a political patron. Kurdish and Sunni politicians, including a chief rival, have since rallied to Mr. al-Maliki, and the Bush administration argues he could emerge stronger from what had appeared to be a military blunder.”

A military blunder? Standing up to the militia was a blunder? The militia had a choke hold on Basra? So does that mean my friends who blog from Basra lied to me about what’s going on? Does that also mean the al-Maliki caused all of this to happen? Oh but it gets better. Our intrepid reporter ends the article thusly:

“During five days of heavy fighting last month, Iraqi troops struggled against militiamen, particularly the Mahdi Army. The ill-prepared Iraqi military was plagued by desertions and poor organization and U.S. troops had to take over in some instances. The offensive was inconclusive, with Iran helping mediate a truce.”

Even if we limit the whole Mahdi confrontation to just Basra the authors conclusions are worth ridicule. The struggle was not against militiamen. It was against the Mahdi. A few criminals and other freaks joined in but quickly melted away once they saw how things were going to end. The Iraqi military was not ill prepared. It was less prepared than we would have liked but that is a far cry from ill prepared. Desertions happened. Sure. But it wasn’t a plague. Reinforcements arrived and acquitted themselves very well, thank you. The police experienced more desertions by far. However those folk have been sacked. And poor organization? Wrong. The IA was organized enough to call in air strikes, execute joint operations, provide their own reinforcements, and usually provided their own resupply as well as medivac. Those tasks are not easily organized. Were they organized as well as we would have liked? No. But they are a far cry from “plagued”.

Finally, the “offensive was inconclusive”. Oh? I thought it was a blunder? Maybe it was an inconclusive blunder … except that other headlines today reveal that the IA has successfully completed an initiative aimed at destroying the last Mahdi stronghold in Basra. So, the IA turn the initiative around in their favor, forced Sadr to back down, then completed an offensive that cracks the Mahdi stronghold … but that’s inconclusive. Good thing the Iranian’s are there to mediate a truce. If Maliki’s lucky they’ll send in Citizen Carter next cause he obviously needs the help. I hear he’s an alien robot with lasers for eyes. He wants to take over the world. (h/t veggie tales)

What kind of crack does the MSM smoke? The kind that spreads pretty little weeds as far afield as the winds will carry them. They’re going digital next year or so

Bah. Mr.Hooah!, out.

Tags: Army, Mr. Hooah! Writes, Terrorism, combat, communication, military, politics, war on terror by Mr_Hooah
2 Comments »

The State of Tennessee has declared March 29 “Vietnam Veterans Day” and this weekend was the first celebration of our new State holiday. I was not able to attend any of the festivities happening in Crossville (where the first celebration was sponsored) due to a sick toddler and a very busy family schedule, but from what I have read it sounds like it was celebrated well.

While watching the local news this morning I saw parades, confetti, flags, bands, and the “welcome home” celebration that these Veteran’s did not get when they came home from the Vietnam War. A reporter asked one of the young children in attendance if she knew why she was there, and the child said “When the Veterans came home they were treated badly, so we are treating them the right way now!” The statement was poignant and right on track.

Continue reading below to hear how one Veteran fought for this day, and now other states are taking up the challenge to declare March 29 as their own day to celebrate our Vietnam Veterans. The following news excerpts are taken from the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

After suffering through name-calling in the early 1970s, and then the years of denial that followed, Roger Rahor finally is ready to own up to his Vietnam veteran status with pride.

The Signal Mountain resident plans to march as a veteran for the first time on Saturday, which marks a first for Tennessee and the nation: the first official Vietnam Veterans Day.

…

“When we came home, not only did we not get a welcome, but we were mistreated,” said Mr. Dunham, who recalls being called a “baby killer” upon his return from the combat zone. “A lot of veterans couldn’t get past it.”

So Mr. Dunham, who was deployed with the Coast Guard, has been working since February 2007 to petition for the new holiday. He got his wish in May 2007, when Gov. Phil Bredesen signed a proclamation declaring March 29, 2008 — exactly 35 years after the country’s last 2,500 troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam — Vietnam Veterans Day.

The proclamation was the first of its kind in the nation, said Mr. Dunham, adding that since then it has spurred a national movement as efforts have been launched in 26 other states to enact similar measures.

…

“It’s through their service that we are reminded once more that to each generation falls the duty of spreading liberty, of protecting democracy and of safeguarding our security,” the governor said during a Veterans Day ceremony last November.

The Proclamation that Governor Bredesen signed to acknowledge the day officially is worded as follows:

WHEREAS, thirty five years ago, on March 29, 1973, the last 2,500 troops were withdrawn from South Vietnam thus ending military involvement in what is now the longest war in our country’s history, and

WHEREAS, it is important and appropriate to honor the men and women who survived and the 58,195 brave souls who fought and died, were never given the respect and gratitude they deserved for serving their country, and

WHEREAS, 1,293 of the names listed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall are from the Great State of Tennessee, let us honor their memory and thank them for their unselfish devotion to duty.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Phil Bredesen, Governor of the state Tennessee, do hereby proclaim March 29, 2008 as

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY
in Tennessee and encourage all citizens to join me in this worthy observance.

…

Mr. Dunham said he expects from 50,000 to 100,000 veterans to attend, more than 600 of them from the Chattanooga area. Some will travel from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii, and one from Australia, he said.

…

Charlie Hobbs, president of the Chattanooga chapter of Vietnam Veterans of America — the largest chapter in Tennessee and third largest in the country — is leading a bus and four trailers to the event. Chapter members plan to set up their Tennessee Vietnam Memorial Wall, which pays tribute to the 1,291 Tennesseans killed in action in Vietnam.

“We’ve got a bond that won’t ever be broken,” Mr. Hobbs said. “Our founding principle is that never again will a generation of veterans abandon another.”

…

“This is going to be the most patriotic thing Tennessee has ever seen,” he said.

Believe me, Tennessee has a bend toward being pretty patriotic as it is, but I can only imagine how beautiful it must have been to see these Veterans, our sons and daughters, finally given the welcome home they deserved 35-years ago. Our Vietnam Veterans fought hard, lost many and came home to face the same! They did not come home and rest, they came home, fought hard and have lost many to the home front battle. I pray that as a Nation we will never allow another Veteran’s mistreatment to go unchallenged. We should always remember Coolidge’s words, that “A Nation which forgets its Defenders will itself be forgotten.”

There are currently other states on board. Here is a list I found on TN City Data page… is your state listed? If not, find out why! This list was posted in December of last year:

The following states are now in the process of going for proclamations making March 29th Vietnam Veterans Day.
Tennessee (the first to celebrate)
Alaska
Arkansas
Arizona
Connecticut
Georgia
Iowa
Indiana
Minnesota
Missouri
Mississippi
Montana
North Carolina
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
Texas
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Tags: American Flag, Army, Army Mom Posts, Army Wife Posts, Morale, Troop appreciation, combat, communication, deployment, history, holidays, memorial, military, politics, veterans, well wishes by Claire
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