May 2014 - Argghhh!

Only one Medal today. WWII. Okinawa. One very tough and first class Private. CRAFT, CLARENCE B. Rank and organization: Private, First Class, U.S. Army, Company G, 382d Infantry, 96th Infantry Division. Place and date: Hen Hill, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 31 May 1945. Entered service at: Santa Ana, Calif. Birth: San Bernardino, Calif. G.O. No.: 97, 1 November 1945. Citation: He was a rifleman when his platoon spearheaded an attack on Hen Hill, the tactical position on which the entire Naha-Shuri-Yonaburu...

The Civil War: SAXTON, RUFUS Rank and organization: Brigadier General, U.S. Volunteers. P/ace and date: At Harpers Ferry, W. Va., 26 to 30 May 1862. Entered service at: Deerfield, Mass. Birth: Greenfield, Mass. Date of issue: 25 April 1893. Citation: Distinguished gallantry and good conduct in the defense. Brigadier General Saxton was an interesting man. As the war progressed Saxton was later appointed military governor of the Department of the South. In that position, he directed the recruiting...

I've been DVR'ing History Channel's "World Wars." I had hopes from the previews. O.M.G. I can't get past a slovenly Captain Patton using a not-yet-invented machine gun (with the frickin' plate glass windshield up on the car), after having failed to drop a Villista with his trusty Lee-Enfield, followed by the Enfield and Spanish Mauser using Germans, while Hitler lovingly slides his WWII version of the M1905 (the M1 bayonet) bayonet on his Springfield rifle, before he...

#freethecadets So, I've read the President's speech (still embargoed until delivery.) Here's the Cliff's Notes: I shall not go on to the end, we shall not fight in Iraq, I shall not fight on the seas and oceans, I shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in our hashtags, I won't defend our interests, whatever the cost may be, I won't fight on the beaches, but will draw red lines, I won't fight on the landing grounds, but will send stern warnings I won't...

WWII: This award was made in 2014, resulting from a review of awards for possibly having been downgraded due to racial prejudice that resulted in several new awards. The abbreviated citation is not unsual with those awards. *LARA, SALVADOR J. Then-Pfc. Salvador Lara is being recognized for his valorous actions in Aprilia, Italy, May 27-28, 1944. During the fight, May 27, he aggressively led his rifle squad in neutralizing multiple enemy strong points and inflicting large numbers of casualties on...

There are two Medals for this day. WWII, and Afghanistan. *MARTINEZ, JOE P . Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company K, 32d Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. Place and date: On Attu, Aleutians, 26 May 1943. Entered service at: Ault, Colo. Birth: Taos, N. Mex. G.O. No.: 71, 27 October 1943. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy. Over a period of several days, repeated efforts to drive the enemy from a key defensive...

I mean, you know, right? He's not wearing a reflective belt. Someone call the Sergeant Major!

[Since traffic will be light over the weekend, what with all of you out there doing the three-day weekend thing - I'm putting up the Memorial Day post today.] Here we are at Memorial Day again. The eleventh since these ramparts were erected here in cyberspace. Per the Governor's directive, the flags will fly at half-staff until noon, when they will head back up the pole. It was another mixed year here at the Castle. . We did fewer memorial posts this year than past years at the Castle, a...