From the back of Eddy Creek and Tranquilla 2 --- Happy 4th of July. Let us remember the importance of this day and the many who have fought and died for our freedom. In this day and time, let's not allow those who would rewrite our history forget that all of us who have defended our country do so - so they may have their freedom of speech.

The following was shared with me by my friend Lynn in St. Louis. An interesting essay from Mr. Hollrah entitled "The General and the Community Organizer".

Simper Fi and May God Bless America,

Dr. D.

PBO Dumps The General

From the Back of Eddy Creek Bay - Tranquilla 2 --- Some of you will be shocked by this but I agree with the President's decision to accept the resignation of the General. Frankly, I would have fired him.

"Gen. Stanley McChrystal, under fire for comments made in a Rolling Stone profile, has resigned as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan. Gen. David Petraeus, presently head of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees the operation in Afghanistan, has been nominated to take over the position but must first face Senate confirmation hearings."

First, like him or not the President is the Commander in Chief. If you have ever been in or associated with the military you know there is a chain of command. The General knows this as does his staff. You always show respect for your command - if you can't you keep your mouth shut when dealing with the press and deal with these issues behind closed doors or you find another job.

Second, although I think this is a strategic mistake in the "War of Terror" excuse me "An Overseas Engagement", because for this action you need a General who has earned his stars in the covert world, you also need a unified front of respect from top down.

Third, any aide-de-camp that was dumb enough to allow Rolling Stone near his commander should have been fired and rightly was. That also goes for all his staff who had diarrhea of the mouth. However, any General that does not have enough media savvy to understand that a writer for RS would not be out to do him and his command in is naive at best.

General we thank you for your service. You are a decent and honorable man that allowed your staff to screw things up. Your staff is under your command and they are your responsibility. Go now knowing that many of us still believe you to be a man of honor and integrity. In civilian life coming out fighting for us all.

Do I think PBO really knows what he is doing as CIC? Well, let's see how he handles this latest crisis. Harry Truman he is not - CIC he still is.

Simper Fi, Dr. Darryl

"Tank"

From Tranquilla 2 - The Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- The following story according to snopes.com is not "true" and yet I quite suspect that many men and women who have deployed have faced similar situations and feelings. This is just a reminder of how much we do truly owe those who would defend our country at a time of war. My friend Lynn Beckman and Stephanie Farhie both sent the story to me on the same day. Lynn in her note to me says ...

"I imagine these circumstances really happened, some time, some where. If you have ever been so blessed to be on the receiving end of the unconditional love of an animal, have your tissues handy, because this is..... A really great dog story! ~Lynn Beckman" I agree.

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.

But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. he shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys (almost all of which were brand new tennis balls), his dishes, and a sealed letter from his previous owner. See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too. Maybe we were too much alike.

For some reason, his stuff (except for the tennis balls - he wouldn't go anywhere without two stuffed in his mouth) got tossed in with all of my other unpacked boxes. I guess I didn't really think he'd need all his old stuff..... that I'd get him new things once he settled in.... but it became pretty clear pretty soon that he wasn't going to.

I tried the normal commands the shelter told me he knew, ones like "sit" and "stay" and "come" and "heel," and he'd follow them - when he felt like it. He never really seemed to listen when I called his name - sure, he'd look in my direction after the fourth of fifth time I said it, but then he'd just go back to doing whatever. When I'd ask again, you could almost see him sigh and then grudgingly obey.

This just wasn't going to work. He chewed a couple shoes and some unpacked boxes. I was a little too stern with him and he resented it; I could tell. The friction got so bad that I couldn't wait for the two weeks to be up, and when it was, I was in full-on search mode for my cellphone amid all of my unpacked stuff. I remembered leaving it on the stack of boxes for the guest room, but I also mumbled, rather cynically, that the "damn dog probably hid it on me."

Finally I found it, but before I could punch up the shelter's number, I also found his pad and other toys from the shelter. I tossed the pad in Reggie's direction and he snuffed it and wagged, the most enthusiasm I'd seen since bringing him home. But then I called, "Hey, Reggie, you like that? Come here and I'll give you a treat." Instead, he sort of glanced in my direction - maybe "glared" is more accurate - and then gave a discontented sigh and flopped down. With his back to me.

Well, that's not going to do it either, I thought. And I punched the shelter phone number.

But I hung up when I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that, too. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice.".........

To Whoever Gets My Dog: Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. If you're reading this, it means I just got back from my last car ride with my Lab after dropping him off at the shelter. He knew something was different. I have packed up his pad and toys before and set them by the back door before a trip, but this time... it's like he knew something was wrong. And something is wrong... which is why I have to go to try to make it right.

So let me tell you about my Lab, in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hordes them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after it, so be careful - really - don't do it by any roads. I made that mistake once, and it almost cost him dearly.

Next, commands. Maybe the shelter staff already told you, but I'll go over them again: Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals: "back" to turn around and go back when you put your hand straight up; and "over" if you put your hand out right or left. "Shake" for shaking water off, and "paw" for a high-five. He does "down" when he feels like lying down - I bet you could work on that with him some more. He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

I trained Reggie with small food treats. Nothing opens his ears like little pieces of hot dog.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, once about seven in the morning, and again at six in the evening. Regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Call the clinic on 9th Street and update his info with yours; they'll make sure to send you reminders for when he's due. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car - I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. I've never been married, so it's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.

Which means that this transition is going to be hard, with him going to live with someone new. And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you....

His name's not Reggie.

I don't know what made me do it, but when I dropped him off at the shelter, I told them his name was Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it; of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. For me to do that, it seemed so final, that handing him over to the shelter was as good as me admitting that I'd never see him again. And if I end up coming back, getting him, and tearing up this letter, it means everything's fine. But if someone else is reading it, well... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. It'll help you bond with him. Who knows, maybe you'll even notice a change in his demeanor if he's been giving you problems.

His real name is Tank.

Because that is what I drive.

Again, if you're reading this and you're from the area, maybe my name has been on the news. I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. See, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter... in the "event"... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my colonel is a dog guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Well, this letter is getting to downright depressing, even though, frankly, I'm just writing it for my dog. I couldn't imagine if I was writing it for a wife and kids and family. But still, Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family.

And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

That unconditional love from a dog is what I took with me to Iraq as an inspiration to do something selfless, to protect innocent people from those who would do terrible things... and to keep those terrible people from coming over here. If I had to give up Tank in order to do it, I am glad to have done so. He was my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. I don't think I'll say another good-bye to Tank, though. I cried too much the first time. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,

Paul Mallory

_____________________________________

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure I had heard of Paul Mallory; everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.

The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.

"C'mere, boy."

He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months.

"Tank," I whispered.

His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek. "So whaddaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?" Tank tore from my hands and disappeared in the next room.

And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.

Freedom Isn't Free - Staff Sgt. John Beale's Arrival Home

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- It is Sunday morning in Kentucky in the summer. Hot and humid. Kay is taking the early hours to do some weed-eating. I did some 2-hours of yard work yesterday and today decided I needed to catch up inside. While checking my e-mail I came across a video and a new blog site. I will share both with you in a moment, however, first I have somethings to get off my heart.

I am over all the political correctness.

Bottom-line: I don't like this President, this Congress or either of the two parties - Republican or Democrats.

No one up there represents me or my viewpoints. I am not alone. I know that from talking to my friends and acquaintances on both sides of the political spectrum. Our country is running amuck!

We have allowed our country to be turned over to a bunch of thugs and pantywaists in Congress on both sides of the aisles. Some of our country elected a President on the basis of something other than common sense.

This is not to suggest that either candidate was that worthwhile frankly.

Somehow we have totally gotten away from what I believe our Founding Fathers intended our country to be.

A once great America, "The Shining City on the Hill" is turning into a version of the socialist Europe and Canadian model; neither of which do I believe is sanctioned by the vast majority of people in the "Real America."

I told my wife the day of 9-11 that all that fawning and singing on the steps of the Capitol and how all of Congress was going to hold hands and have tea together and work united was a bunch of crap - a political show and nothing more.

Was I wrong? No! I wasn't wrong.

I also told her at that time that I wanted to be a part of the fight on the war on terror.

Well, in a small way I contributed but not to the extent and level I wished. I was too old I was told to re-enlist. I was too out-of-date to assist in the intel area. I could not speak any of the languages and had never fought on the desert battlefield.

Yet, I believe that many of us even at our "advanced" age (yes, 59 is looming now) will soon be faced with having to protect what little freedoms we will have left after this President and Congress finishes looting them

It was our "younger men" such as Staff Sgt. John Beale, the 39-year old from Riverdale, Ga. who fought for us in Iraq.

S/Sgt Beale was with the U.S. Army,1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.

He was killed by a IED on June 9th.

They brought Sgt Beale home for burial recently and it was videotaped.

What you will see, if you watch this video, will reaffirm for some the values that we as Americans out here in the "Real America" hold dear.

I believe that the vast majority of American still hold the values of freedom, liberty, and a country where we will be left alone to pursue our own dreams without benefit of continuing government intervention or oversight very dear.

A country where we will choose to work for our benefit and not for the benefit of other men.

I have known a number of Sgt. Beales over the years and I can tell you that every one of them without exception believed in the principles and values stated above and in our Constitution.

That is why they voluntarily enlisted.

That is why they chose to defend our country against terrorists. And they do understand that freedom is not free.

Often I have said to my liberal and progressive friends, "We fought for your right to say and do whatever you wish as part of your freedom of expression but it doesn't mean I agree with it or that I condone it."

Frankly, too much of what is going on in our country now is beyond my ability to understand or condone and therefore I choose not to do so.

And having said that I will acknowledge right now that you will hear the pundits on both sides of the political aisle make their audacious commentaries on the "war" and those that fight it.

Those pundits from the progressives on MSNBC, NBC, ABC, and CBS will malign and wring their hands over the war while having thrills run up their legs about the new President.

The Washington Post will solemnly list S/Sgt Beale on their casualty page.

Then you will see the so called conservatives those on the "right" wave their flags and talk proudly how they support the troops and America but how they are now in exile and have to fight their way back into political power.

Both sides are full of it.

The blow-hard blustery crap they spew day in and day out is worthless chatter and noise. Their interest is in ratings and getting and keeping power ladies and gentlemen it is that simple.

What you won't see (except in the video below) is the sincere and deeply felt emotions of the everyday Americans who understand the sanctity of life, the value of freedom and liberty, the intent of the Founding Fathers who said that "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights and that among these are the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ..."

No, you won't see this type of video on MSNBC, or if you did you would have Keith Olberman or Chris Matthews making some kind of snide comments about us "hillbillys" or "rubes" showing our patriotic fervor.

You probably won't ever see it on Fox News either but if you did it would be to further their ratings and their own vanity.

What you are about to see is the "Real America" yes, the "Red States" showing their respect for a fallen hero - one of their own as it is.

One person remarked that they didn't think they would see this very often where ever it was they lived.

Well sir, you are mistaken when it comes to thinking that about the South.

Most of us who had parents that raised us right especially in the South still pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession passes. Many of us even get out of our cars and bow our heads in reverence.

There is a "Real America" out here Mr. President and Congress.

In this "Real America" we are the taxpayers that you want more money from to pay for your global warming, your housing and car company bail-outs, your single payer health insurance travesties, your trips to Chicago and Paris and the luxuries that you in Congress think you are entitled to by being there.

And yes Congress (both sides of the fence boys and girls - both sides), you bunch of fawning sycophants, there is a "Real America" out here. An America where we still honor our fallen heroes.

The vast majority of us still believe we have to fight and die for our freedom and liberty and an America that believes it is better to take the war to the bastards than to fight it on our on soil.

No, I don't expect this President and Congress, or those that want government to be their "Sugar Daddy" would understand much of this.

In reality I don't really care if they do or not but now and then you have to get this stuff off your heart and chest.

Now, if I haven't bored you to death with my commentary, or upset you so much you can't think straight, then sit back, turn up the speakers and get you a tissue.

This video was shared by Dr. Ignatius Piazza
(http://www.ignatius-piazza-front-sight.com/)

The video was taken by Rep. Steve Davis from the front seat of a patrol car that escorted the body of S/Sgt Beale home.

Thank you S/Sgt Beale. May you rest in peace.

Simper Fi, Dr. Darryl

Lt. Col. Ty Edwards - A Hero Amongst Heroes

Tybee Island, Ga. --- Many of the readers of this blog will recall that our family member L/C Ty Edwards, Marine Corps was wounded during an ambush while serving in Afghanistan and thankfully has been recovering remarkably well due to the commitment of his PT nurses, his lovely wife and family, and his parents. Kay, Penelope and I had the distinct privilege of visiting Ty while we were in Florida working earlier this year.

Recently Ty awarded a Bronze Star to a fellow Marine and was honored to also be awarded himself a Jefferson Award. Below you will find his television debut.

http://www.abcactionnews.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoId=15689@wfts.dayport.com&navCatId=105

We are very proud of Ty and all his men. And we want all the men and women who serve so valiantly and with such dedication to protect our country in this war on terror to remember the overwhelming majority of the American people support your efforts. We believe in the value of taking the war to the enemy and we send each of you our prayers daily and God's speed for a safe return to your home and family.

Oooray! Dr. D.

Obama Beach?

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- Is the entire world so enamoured with the POTUS they get tongue-tied? PM Brown you owe every single veteran an apology immediately. My WWII veteran friends knowing he won't I will tell you I am embarrassed for our British friends and allies and I know they would all issue their personal apology given the opportunity.

Ben Stein's Last Column - The Real Heroes

Ben Stein's final column --

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- I have always liked this fellow Ben Stein. For some reason he just strikes me as the kind of guy you would like to sit and have a drink and some good conversation with maybe over a hunk of grilled steak. So, when my friend Dave Sturges sent me Mr. Stein's "Last Column" and I read it I was compelled to share it with all my readers as well.

I concur Mr. Stein that the real heroes, especially in today's society and world, are not the Hollywood or Eastern Seaboard elite. In fact one of my real heroes is Lt. Col. Ty Edwards, a fine Marine, who like many is now recovering from wounds he suffered while on duty to protect the world in the "War on Terror." Oops, I forgot, that's no longer the politically correct term but alas before I regress into some inane commentary on my part let me share with you Ben Stein's last column ... Dr. D.

For many years Ben Stein has written a biweekly column called 'Monday Night At Morton's.' (Morton's is a famous chain of Steakhouses known to be frequented by movie stars and famous people from around the globe.) Now, Ben is terminating the column to move on to other things in his life. Reading his final column is worth a few minutes of your time.

How Can Someone Who Lives in Insane Luxury Be a Star in Today's World?

As I begin to write this, I 'slug' it, as we writers say, which means I put a heading on top of the document to identify it. This heading is 'eonline FINAL,' and it gives me a shiver to write it. I have been doing this column for so long that I cannot even recall when I started. I loved writing this column so much for so long I came to believe it would never end.

It worked well for a long time, but gradually, my changing as a person and the world's change have overtaken it.. On a small scale, Morton's, while better than ever, no longer attracts as many stars as it used to. It still brings in the rich people in droves and definitely some stars. I saw Samuel L. Jackson there a few days ago, and we had a nice visit, and right before that, I saw and had a splendid talk with Warren Beatty in an elevator, in which we agreed that Splendor in the Grass was a super movie. But Morton's is not the star galaxy it once was, though it probably will be again.

Beyond that, a bigger change has happened..? I no longer think Hollywood stars are terribly important. They are uniformly pleasant, friendly people, and they treat me better than I deserve to be treated. But a man or woman who makes a huge wage for memorizing lines and reciting them in front of a camera is no longer my idea of a shining star we should all look up to.

How can a man or woman who makes an eight-figure wage and lives in insane luxury really be a star in today's world, if by a 'star' we mean someone bright and powerful and attractive as a role model? Real stars are not riding around in the backs of limousines or in Porsches or getting trained in yoga or Pilates and eating only raw fruit while they have Vietnamese girls do their nails..

They can be interesting, nice people, but they are not heroes to me any longer. A real star is the soldier of the 4th Infantry Division who poked his head into a hole on a farm near Tikrit, Iraq. He could have been met by a bomb or a hail of AK-47 bullets. Instead, he faced an abject Saddam Hussein and the gratitude of all of the decent people of the world.

A real star is the U.S. soldier who was sent to disarm a bomb next to a road north of Baghdad. He approached it, and the bomb went off and killed him..

A real star, the kind who haunts my memory night and day, is the U.S. soldier in Baghdad who saw a little girl playing with a piece of unexploded ordnance on a street near where he was guarding a station. He pushed her aside and threw himself on it just as it exploded. He left a family desolate in California and a little girl alive in Baghdad.

The stars who deserve media attention are not the ones who have lavish weddings on TV but the ones who patrol the streets of Mosul even after two of their buddies were murdered and their bodies battered and stripped for the sin of trying to protect Iraqis from terrorists.

We put couples with incomes of $100 million a year on the covers of our magazines. The noncoms and officers who barely scrape by on military pay but stand on guard in Afghanistan and Iraq and on ships and in submarines and near the Arctic Circle are anonymous as they live and die.

I am no longer comfortable being a part of the system that has such poor values, and I do not want to perpetuate those values by pretending that who is eating at Morton's is a big subject.

There are plenty of other stars in the American firmament...the policemen and women who go off on patrol in South Central and have no idea if they will return alive; the orderlies and paramedics who bring in people who have been in terrible accidents and prepare them for surgery; the teachers and nurses who throw their whole spirits into caring for autistic children; the kind men and women who work in hospices and in cancer wards.

Think of each and every fireman who was running up the stairs at the World Trade Center as the towers began to collapse. Now you have my idea of a real hero.

I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters This is my highest and best use as a human. I can put it another way. Years ago, I realized I could never be as great an actor as Olivier or as good a comic as Steve Martin or Martin Mull or Fred Willard--or as good an economist as Samuelson or Friedman or as good a writer as Fitzgerald. Or even remotely close to any of them.

But, I could be a devoted father to my son, husband to my wife and, above all, a good son to the parents who had done so much for me. This came to be my main task in life. I did it moderately well with my son, pretty well with my wife and well indeed with my parents (with my sister's help). I cared for and paid attention to them in their declining years. I stayed with my father as he got sick, went into extremis and then into a coma and then entered immortality with my sister and me reading him the Psalms.

This was the only point at which my life touched the lives of the soldiers in Iraq or the firefighters in New York. I came to realize that life lived to help others is the only one that matters and that it is my duty, in return for the lavish life God has devolved upon me, to help others He has placed in my path. This is my highest and best use as a human

Faith is not believing that God can. It is knowing that God will. - Ben Stein

Reflections on Sunday Before Memorial Day Monday

UPDATE: I was mistaken. The ceremony was Friday not Saturday and my friend Rachel Vickery was kind enough to send a photo to reassure me there was a crowd. My apologies for jumping to an inappropriate conclusion based on lack of sufficient data. Dr. D.

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- When one of my ole buddies contacted me today to wish me a good Memorial Day and to concede, “They forget us” I was saddened again by what I saw, or maybe what I didn’t see, yesterday in Oak Grove.

The “Traveling Wall”, a replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall came to Oak Grove just outside Fort Campbell, Ky this weekend. Yesterday at 10 a.m. there was to be a welcoming ceremony. I debated going but woke up early and convinced myself that I would. I have seen and visited the traveling version two other times to pay my respects to two of my brothers and I believe for some reason any chance I get I should again.

I got to the Wall 15-minutes ahead of schedule. There were six of us there not including spouses. Four WWII veterans and two of my age and I waited until 10:30 and no one showed up to do the ceremony nor did any other members of the public or any politicians.

Surely I must have been mistaken about the time the ceremony was to be held. I have never known a goldbrick politician that didn’t go out of their way to wrap themselves in the flag and praise the military especially when it was to their advantage or they were in campaign mode. Whatever mistake I made no one was there at 10 a.m. or even 10:30 a.m. Did they show up later? Probably so and I just had the time wrong. However, the empty feeling that my ole Balmer buddy had about “being forgotten” – well, I can understand how he and so many others might feel that way.

Finally though after walking through the traveling museum called the “Last Fire Base” I wrapped it up went to the Waffle House and had breakfast with a couple of old vets who were as disappointed as I was in the lack of interest. Then I went home and me and my dog curled up in the recliner and watched old sci-fi movies from the 50s and had a couple of cocktails and we got through another day.

Let it be known veterans many of us don’t forget you and appreciate all you gave and still give for our country it is just sometimes we don’t do a very good job of letting you know that and for that I am profoundly sorry.

Simper Fi to you all,

Dr. Darryl

Memorial Day - Charlie Brown and Franz Stigler - When Warriors Had Honor

(L-R) German Ace Franz Stigler, artist Ernie Boyett, and B-17 pilot Charlie Brown.

Look carefully at the B-17 and note how shot up it is - one engine dead, tail, horizontal stabilizer and nose shot up.. It was ready to fall out of the sky. (This is a painting done by an artist from the description of both pilots many years later.) Then realize that there is a German ME-109 fighter flying next to it. Now read the story below. I think you'll be surprised.....

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- Memorial Day is upon us again. A day when most people tend to forget what it is truly all about and why we set it aside as a Federal holiday other than to grill, drink beer and enjoy the day off. However, two men recently came to my attention thanks to my friend and colleague Chuck Howell from over in East Tennessee that helps to place the importance of Memorial Day into perspective.

I had never heard of them before. Well maybe the one man's name rang a bell --- Charlie Brown --- when I consider the late great Charles Schultz's work and his characters in his famous Peanuts comic strip.

Two men.

World War II.

One an American -- Charlie Brown -- flying a B-17 or what remained of it. You can see the artist rendering above.

The other a German - Franz Stigler, who is sent out by his commanding officer to shoot the Americans down. (Sounds eerily similar to Snoopy and the Red Baron doesn't it?)

What ultimately happened that day resulted in a reunion of these two great warriors before they both passed away in 2008. This type of honor must be strange and foreign to the current generations who have fought "asymmetrical" wars yet at one time there was honor among most of us who served.

We have to remember, as Chuck writes, "...this was back in the days when there was honor in being a warrior...they proudly wore uniforms, and they didn't hide in ambush inside a mosque, or behind women and children, nor did they use mentally retarded women as suicide bombers to target and kill innocent civilians...how times have changed......"

And what follows is the rest of the story ...

Charlie Brown was a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot with the 379th Bomber Group at Kimbolton , England . His B-17 was called 'Ye Old Pub' and was in a terrible state, having been hit by flak and fighters. The compass was damaged and they were flying deeper over enemy territory instead of heading home to Kimbolton.

After flying the B-17 over an enemy airfield, a German pilot named Franz Stigler was ordered to take off and shoot down the B-17. When he got near the B-17, he could not believe his eyes. In his words, he 'had never seen a plane in such a bad state'. The tail and rear section was severely damaged, and the tail gunner wounded. The top gunner was all over the top of the fuselage. The nose was smashed and there were holes everywhere.

Despite having ammunition, Franz flew to the side of the B-17 and looked at Charlie Brown, the pilot. Brown was scared and struggling to control his damaged and blood-stained plane.

Aware that they had no idea where they were going, Franz waved at Charlie to turn 180 degrees. Franz escorted and guided the stricken plane to, and slightly over, the North Sea towards England . He then saluted Charlie Brown and turned away, back to Europe . When Franz landed he told the CO that the plane had been shot down over the sea, and never told the truth to anybody. Charlie Brown and the remains of his crew told all at their briefing, but were ordered never to talk about it.

More than 40 years later, Charlie Brown wanted to find the Luftwaffe pilot who saved the crew. After years of research, Franz was found. He had never talked about the incident, not even at post-war reunions.

They met in the USA at a 379th Bomber Group reunion, together with 25 people who are alive now - all because Franz never fired his guns that day.

When asked why he didn’t shoot them down, Stigler later said, “I didn’t have the heart to finish those brave men. I flew beside them for a long time. They were trying desperately to get home and I was going to let them do that. I could not have shot at them. It would have been the same as shooting at a man in a parachute.”

Both men died in 2008.

Franz Stigler

Charlie Brown

So, there you have it. This Memorial Day I would ask that each of you reading this take the time to simply reflect on the many men and women that have given their lives that we might live free in a country that is still envied by most of the rest of the world --- even if some in power these days don't see it that way.

And when our politicians this Memorial Day lay the wreaths on the graves of those who sacrificed it all so they could be politicians - and nothing much more - let's just remember that many of us still believe in the basic goodness of all our men and women in the military that stand up and fight daily for our freedoms.

For ever faithful my Brothers and Sisters. We stand by you.

Dr. Darryl

P.S. For those of you who need the references or question the validity of the story - go here:
http://www.snopes.com/military/charliebrown.asp

Some Thoughts By Me

This is my friend, and an outstanding and remarkable lady, Carlana Stone, author of "Never Give In, Never Give Up" - her life story about being paralyzed when she was 17-years old and not letting that stop her from skydiving, riding her specially outfitted Harley, learning to fly and scuba diving among just a few of her talents. I highly recommend her book.

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley ---

Finally after what seems forever I have returned home to Lake Barkley! An almost three week business/professional jaunt out into the world and I had these experiences:

1. Arrived in Iowa to find my business associate hospitalized. Rush to ER and find her and we spend two days trying to figure out her issues. The doctor did, Fixed it and we continued our workshop on Leadership Development for the City of Storm Lake. Kudos to Hertz Rental Car Company's Manager at Omaha Airport - Donna - she turned on the utmost in customer service for me when I really needed it. Thanks to her and everyone at Hertz for getting me a car with a GPS system. And whether Dawn and Patti like you or not "Edith" you are my favorite GPS system!

2. Assisted the Storm Lake Community Health Center in getting focused on developing a strategic plan of action - a mandate and simply good business! Great work they are doing and becoming focused will make them even better.

3. Went to Arizona from Iowa to see a dear friend who is scheduled for at least one "mega dose" of radiation following removal of malignant tumors on her vocal chords and removal of thyroid. We enjoyed the Phoenix Zoo on a bike carriage, some good Mexican and Thai food, and did the spa thing - yep, got another manicure and pedicure and massage! Glenn Nesbitt at Tybee is responsible for getting me hooked on this pedicure thing!

I also confronted, and maybe defeated my anxiety, (if not fear) of the dreaded Spider Monkey, hell all monkeys, and I called my friend Tim to let him know of my efforts to resolve this! He didn't volunteer, of course, to come out and help but then that's another story. Don't get me started. Cute? Hmmmm, I have another word for these peeing monsters but will not use it here.

4. Returned to Kentucky briefly while we packed up to then went to Riverside, California to do the 12th annual Space Day for our client Lockheed Martin at Longfellow Elementary School. Probably the best one ever. Kay did magnificent job of organizing - she always does. I was the "grunt" labor along with my "conservative daughter" Penelope. Enjoyed lots of Mexican food and staying at the Mission Inn. If you have not been there go! Ask for Raul, the waiter with personality and utmost customer service. He knows how to fix the bacon that Penelope and I like so well.

5. Finally home. Gathering data and information for a proposal with Battelle and intel gathering for a client in Kentucky. Soon though it will be Memorial Day, or as Mom called it when I was a kid, "Decoration Day."

6. The "Traveling Vietnam Wall" will be in Oak Grove this Memorial Day weekend. I plan to go down and pay my respects and I encourage all of you who know veterans to offer your thanks to them this weekend. We are free men and women - albeit we are losing our freedoms more daily - thanks to the veterans many of whom gave the ultimate sacrifice.

And if the Sec of Homeland Security doesn't appreciate them I damn well do! THANKS to all the men and women, gruntled or disgruntled, that have kept this country free so that political jerks like Janet N., Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha and John Kerry (D-Vietnam Veteran) can speak their simple minds whether I agree with them or not.

Simper Fi Brothers and Sisters - Simper Fi,

LPG, Dr. D

Update on Lt. Col. Ty Edwards

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek - Lake Barkley -- Kay wrote up this summary to post all our friends and family following our visit to see Ty yesterday at the VA Hospital in Tampa. ---Darryl

Hi all,

After our Space Day event this week, Darryl and I and our friend/colleague Penelope were able to spend about an hour with Ty and Tommy was there with him at the VA hospital. It was a wonderful time, and great to see the significant progress he has made, and continues to make. This time he clearly recognized me, and said he remembered my visit in Bethesda (when I didn't think he knew me), but said he just couldn't communicate then. I know it had looked like he was working hard, and I thought it was to try to piece together who I was -- evidently it was to communicate.

He also said he didn't recognize Darryl, but thought the last time he had seen him was at W.L.'s funeral (which is exactly correct), and asked if he had been Special Forces (which they had talked about at that time). Amazing, eh?

And he seemed glad to meet Penelope (as I said when I introduced them - I knew he would enjoy meeting a pretty lady - and we all got good smiles from that).

His communication skills are remarkable. He still hesitates over picking out words, and spitting out a name like Penelope required work for him, but he knew what he was trying to say, and got it out with a little time.

When we arrived, he was sitting at his computer, in his wheel chair. He had received an answer to his first email, sent to Hakimi (his Afghani interpreter and friend, and who also saved his life). So he seemed to be glad to be back in action on the computer. His left hand has good control, it seems, and that's how he motivates his chair.

His left leg has begun to work better and better. He can lift it (he has good and improving core body strength). He has better days and less good days working on the walking machine. I guess his hip on the left side has increasing flexibility. His right side is still not cooperating, leg or arm. However, he begins water therapy this week, and that is hopefully going to allow all the parts to get more fluid (no pun intended), and start getting some control in a more easily facilitated way. So they seemed very eager to get that therapy underway.

I didn't realize it until afterward, but saw that there was no longer a catheter, so that tells me he has control there too, I assume. Another miracle!

Tommy was staying there with them, and Debbie was in B'town making sure that Inez and M.C. were getting fed.

Tommy said they eat if it's put in front of them. I spoke with Anna and they have had company 3 times this week, and Mason was getting his soccer photo done on Saturday, so they have been staying busy.

Ty was showing us pictures of various folks he's met, and his recall amazes me. He did remember all the folks that came by in Bethesda, celebrities and friends/family alike. He was aware the President Bush asked to hug his pretty wife (smile).

I mentioned his new friendship with our other cousin John/Jake Miller, and he smiled and said what a great person he is, and how he enjoyed his regular weekend visits in Bethesda. I mentioned Jane's visit too, and he struggled to remember that. Tommy said it was while he was still in intensive care, and that's the reason he didn't recall her. He seemed disappointed not to be able to recall that, but looked forward to meeting her and their great family addition - Suzanna.

He recalled all the Miller side of his family, asking where everyone was and what they were doing, and saying please say hello to everyone. I told him when they got ready for a road trip, to please come to Kentucky, and I knew Mason would enjoy fishing at the lake, and playing in the woods. I hope that can happen one day soon!

He spoke of his wonderful Anna, and said she was making the ultimate sacrifice .... taking him to an Auburn Alumni gathering there in Tampa! Ha.

Ty also wanted to show us his 'skull'. He has a plastic model of his head -- what bones are there now, and where the bullet entered. It's astonishing he's alive! And to have made such progress is a pure gift from God. That will make some 'show-and-tell' for the kids to bring to school!

Ty's spirits seemed great, and he was eager to do all the hard work it takes to get better, and better, and better. It was a blessing to we three to be able to experience his joy of life and gifts from God.

I asked if there was anything in the world he wanted or needed, and he said no. They all seem to be doing well.

Love to you all,

Kay

Special Forces - The New Sniper Genre