March 2010 - Argghhh!

...B-2 autopilot babysitters crewmembers.The late Corky Trinidad drew a strip called "Nguyen Charlie" back during my war. My favorite 'toon depicted a VC commander vanishing from the middle of his squad -- in the last panel, the squad was staring skyward, with Charlie saying, "First time I ever saw a helicopter sneak up on somebody."There's no such thing as a *quiet* helicopter.Until now....

As long time readers know, I have ranted in this space before about "The Medal of Posthumous Honor" and how, upon reading citations (risky, as they are a pale excerpt of the recommendations) for Distinguished Service Crosses with some holders of the Medal of Honor that I know - and we were all wondering what the heck it took with earn a Medal these days.Comes now Bennett Dickson, combat veteran, retired Infantry Colonel, to ruminate on the subject - this time with some numbers.At the Naval...

...*and* it's in context!Now, for those of you who just got here *waving hiya at the weekend visitors*and jumped to the picture without actually reading the text, expecting to see another pic of one of John's bullet launchers, and have bactracked to the header in utter confusion and bewilderment (much like an independent voter who opted for HopenChange a lifetime sixteen months ago), take a quick trip here for the first pic.No hurry. I'll wait.And for those of you who have already seen...

...so that every time you encounter a Lefty decrying TEA Party "thugs" acting inappropriately, you can read this to him/her...

There are two Medals awarded for actions on this day. One is a naval lifesaving Medal, the other a hard-earned posthumous award.Interim Awards, 1871-1898KYLE, PATRICK J.Rank and organization: Landsman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1855, Ireland. Accredited to: Massachusetts. Citation: For rescuing frdrowning a shipmate from the U.S.S. Quinnebaug, at Port Mahon, Minorca, 13 March 1879. World War II. Technical Sergeant Crain was a very tough soldier.*CRAIN, MORRIS E. Rank and organization: Technical Sergeant,...

News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.

Carborundum's colleague in East Anglia was kept VERY busy, recently...

Regarding the previous whatziss... you were right, and you were wrong, those of you who said it was an M6 survival rifle. You were wrong, those of you who said it was one of the more recently manufactured clones, but hey, you couldn't have known.You are all to be forgiven in that regard, since this rifle is in fact a variant rifle, of the type characterized by the "FrankEnfAusers"... the Turkish Mauser barrelled, Enfield receivered, and mixed stock rifles.This double-gun started life...