Lone Survivor

About a week ago, I saw the SEAL Trident on a the face of a book at one of the book stores in the mall. As it turns out, it was the cover of Lone Survivor, the account of Operation Red Wings from the only surviving SEAL involved, Marcus Luttrell. I didn't have the chance to start it till a couple days ago, but ever since I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.

Marcus starts off with a brief explanation of his early life, BUD/S (for any of us SEAL hopefuls out there, any information you can get from a guy who's been through the ordeal is invaluable) and his initial experience of life as a SEAL when he joined the teams.

Then, comes the story of Operation Red Wings. From insertion, to where it all when wrong. It's the gripping account of true heroism in the face of death. The love of one brother warrior for another. The desire of patriots, and the ferocity of the warrior elite. The struggle to stay alive, for the single surviving member of the mission. 

The more I read about Mikey, Danny and Axe, the more my hands started to shake in awe of these great men. Meet any one of their SEAL brothers on the streets today, and they'd doubtlessly give the same response as those fallen heroes: "Just doing my job, no recognition required". Truly amazing.

This is a MUST READ.




Iceman out.

Memorial Day 2012

"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

-Abraham Lincoln (16th President of The United States of America). 

What do we think of when Memorial Day Weekend comes to mind? Family and friends over for a barbecue for sure, right? Fireworks, a parade, the Indy 500 and television marathons?

Sadly, for a very large number of Americans, that would be their definition of the day. Memorial Day is when we come together to remember those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of their country, throughout the years.

From the Revolutionary War to the current conflict in Afghanistan, so many Americans have given their lives in the name of freedom, liberty and justice, and in defense of the United States against those who seek to tear it apart.

God bless those who've passed in service of the United States. As Abraham Lincoln put it so well, it is up to us to ensure that these brave men and women did not die in vain, and to preserve their memory for future generations.

Let us never forget.

100 years of Marine Corps Aviation

More like 100 years of kicking ass and taking names in the skies above some of the largest battles to every take place on the face of the earth.

100 years ago on the 22nd of May, 1912, a Marine 1st Lieutenant by the name of Alfred Austell Cunningham reported for flight-training to the Naval Academy where a training facility for aviators was set up. Thus, May 22nd was recognized as the birthday of Marine aviation.

In naval aviation, you'll hear of the exploits of Navy pilots and their daredevil stunts in the face of death. Lesser known are the accomplishments of their counterpart Marine pilots. Take for example Lt. Col. "Pappy" Boyington. That man had balls of steel. On one occasion, he and 24 fighters flew over a Japanese-occupied airfield (Kahili airdrome), during the Pacific campaign of WWII, taunting the guys on the ground into sending up a few planes. Turns out, the Japs weren't too happy with the sudden appearance of these Marines and sent up more fighters than the Black Sheep (Pappy's squadron) bargained for. In the ensuing battle, 20 Japanese pilots were shot down, forcing back their defensive force, while the Black Sheep returned home with not a single aircraft lost.

How about John Glenn... Marine fighter ace, first American to orbit the earth in 1962, US senator and the oldest human to fly into space in 1998? Or John Bolt, double-ace? Or, get this... TED WILLIAMS! Hell yeah, the legendary left-fielder for the Boston Red Sox was a decorated Marine fighter bomber in WWII and the Korean War!

Iceman and Maverick don't have s**t on the "Duke of Mukden"

Today, the Corps still flies their older F/A-18s, which will be replaced with the F-35s later on. They still fly their AV-8s (to be replaced by the STOVL F-35 variants) and their Sea Knights and Super Stallions. But the Air Wing's going through a major overhaul. Enter, the UH-1Y Venoms and the AH-1Z Vipers. Oh, and the super-awesome tiltrotor MV-22 Ospreys. This massive update will ensure that years from now, Marine aviation elements will still be relevant to America's war-fighting capabilities and will still be one of the leading forces at the tip of America's military spear.

The Canucks

Everyone makes fun of Canada's military. I'll admit, even Canadians make fun of them too. Does it consist of hockey players trained in the art of slapshotting explosive pucks at enemy combatants? Are its submarines really canoes with holes in them? Does it even exist?

Haha, well yeah. It exists. They're only hockey players in their spare time, and their submarines are real, modern diesel-electrics. Actually they don't get as much credit as they deserve. Though it's a small fighting defense force, Canada's military is among the most modern in the world, and its intense recruit training churns out highly-trained and qualified soldiers, airmen and sailors fit for service in their respective branch. Granted, there are a few things I'd personally like to see changed (along with a good number of others who'd support my notions, I'm sure), and yeah, it's definitely not comparable in terms of size, strength and technology that you'd find in the US or British armed forces, it can hold it's own for a while. 

Did you know that the Canadian Forces pioneered the use of digital camouflage patterning? Yep! In fact, the United States Marines wear a derivative of CADPAT.

Did you know that a Canadian Forces sniper broke the record for the longest kill in the world, in 2002? 2657 yards! It was later surpassed by a British sniper in 2009, however. 

“It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes up short time and time again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself a worthy cause; who if he wins knows the triumph of high achievement; and who, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat.”

-Teddy Roosevelt.

The Red Circle

Have you ever wondered what life as a SEAL is really like? You can find the sensationalized version in movies where the "SEALs" run around with shiny, futuristic weaponry, make things go boom and never have to reload once (Tears of the Sun, anybody? I don't think Bruce Willis and his platoon ever had to jack a new mag in, they just went cyclic with those poor guns).

You can find the real, gritty details of life in the Teams here. Brandon Webb was a former Navy SEAL sniper with service overseas, especially in the Middle East. Later on in his career in the Navy, he went on to become an instructor at the SEAL's elite sniper school. As you'll find out in the book, the SEAL sniper school is no joke. Compared to the other sniper schools around the world, it is one of the toughest, most grueling courses, designed to teach special warfare operators advanced sniping techniques, stalking, etc. in a variety of settings. Brandon Webb was not only a graduate of the course, but he went on to become an instructor later on, and was instrumental in reforming the school to adapt to 21st Century warfare.

His book is nothing short of inspirational. The lessons he has to offer us are invaluable, and throughout, you can learn the value of perseverance and dedication, traits of a true leader, and the importance of keeping your cool under fire.

It is a must read!

BUY IT HERE!

For God and country—Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo.

A year ago, on the 2nd of May, just after 0100 hrs in the morning, two teams of Navy SEALs from the elite and secretive US Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) were inserted by US Army Night Stalkers into a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Within that compound, was the world's most wanted man, his thugs and some of his family. Within minutes, the operators covered ground, methodically engaged and took out the armed hostiles and entered the private room of the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. The SEAL who pumped the rounds into the man's chest and head with his suppressed H&K 416 immediately radioed in, "For God and country- Geronimo, Geronimo, Geronimo" then confirmed "Geronimo E.K.I.A".

Within 38 minutes, Osama bin Laden was dead, and those who he brutally murdered in his attacks on the innocent were avenged.

38 minutes. Months of planning, and within a half hour, the operation was over and the teams were extracted.

Multiple units were involved, including Air Force CSAR helos and personnel, Army SOAR Chinooks loaded with SEALs and refueling bladders for the other helos involved in the raid, fighter jets and drones providing cover and aerial surveillance and a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) consisting of Army Rangers. All, loaded for bear, with the intent to take out the man who had cause the world so much grief.

View My Milblogging.com Profile

Fighter Pilot Music!

What do you get when you give two F-16 pilots a guitar and a recording studio? Raunchy, mega-awesome fighter-pilot music!

Check out Dos Gringos on Youtube! They have a new album coming out this month.

Dos Gringos