Category: New Book Discussion

I will discussing the book, Close Enounters of the Heavenly Kind: Through Bumper Stickers. I will shae my feeling on why it got started, and my feelings as I wrote it.

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There Are Actually Happy Stories Coming From Vietnam Veterans

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Military news…

Army’s top civilian defends Russian deterrence program, predicts more US troops could deploy to Europe
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth told House lawmakers that the European Deterrence Initiative might not have stopped Russian President Vladimir Putin from ordering a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, but it positioned the U.S. military to respond quickly to it.

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US soldiers model river crossing in contrast to Russians’ Donbas disaster

Days after dozens of Russian armored vehicles were obliterated during an attempted river crossing in eastern Ukraine, US and allied soldiers launched a training version of a similar maneuver.

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Air Force successfully fires hypersonic weapon after multiple failures last year

The service said the weapon traveled five times faster than the speed of sound.

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US Navy ship makes $39 million meth bust in Middle East waters

A Navy destroyer patrolling in the Gulf of Oman this week seized $39 million in methamphetamine from a fishing ship in waters used to smuggle people, weapons and narcotics, U.S. 5th Fleet said Tuesday.

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A Lesser-Known Group At Risk of Suicide—Children of Servicemembers

Military kids can suffer from emotional stressors, that left unaddressed, can increase their risk of taking their own lives.

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US Left Behind $7 Billion of Military Equipment in Afghanistan After 2021 Withdrawal, Pentagon Report Says

About $7 billion of military equipment the U.S. government provided to the Afghan government over the course of 16 years was left behind in Afghanistan after the military withdrew from the country in August.

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Western Artillery Surging Into Ukraine Will Reshape War With Russia

Ukraine is receiving artillery and training from Western allies that will likely set off a deadly battle of long-range weapons as fighting intensifies in the Donbas.

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Here is another interview with combat veterans. This is a rare one with a Vietnam veteran. It was extremely hard to get Vietnam veterans to talk.

I know you are not willing to say too much about your experiences in Nam, what can you Share?

I will share a happy time while I was there. Me and a buddy were sitting in an opening in the jungle. I looked up and saw hundreds of monkeys playing in the trees. I told my buddy if I could just have one of those guys for a pet, I would be very happy.

He said he knew what to do to make that happen. He got a coconut and cut a whole in it. He put a shiny quarter in there and sat it the middle of the opening. He said, “Now Watch.”

Sure enough the monkeys started gathering around the coconut. They were curious about the shiny thing in the coconut. One finally put his hand in there to try to pull the quarter out. His hand got stuck and we went and picked up the monkey.

I loved the little guy. I even made a home for him. It had an area to sleep. Food readily available, and limbs to climb on.

The monkey loved his new home. I didn’t keep good track of what he was doing in the cage, and he dug a hole big enough for him to get out.

He went into the other soldiers tents and stole goodies from them. One of the soldiers caught him doing it and complained to me. I tried to find how the monkey could get out, but apparently the hole was so small I couldn’t find it.

This went on for a few days. The monkey would be in his cage with new goodies he had stolen for the guys.

One soldier had enough. He made a miniature parachute; caught the money and attached to him. He then took the monkey to a near cliff and threw him over it.

I couldn’t find my monkey and got very upset. The soldier finally told me what he had done. I was very mad at him.

Then a couple days later I looked at a path that went through the jungle and here comes my monkey with the chut still attached to him. He came right up to me. We had many months of joy with my monkey.

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It made me feel so good to interview someone from the Vietnam war that had some happy moments. Come back often to read some more interviews. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you do all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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My next interview will be with another Vietnam veteran that was not such a happy story. Don’t miss it.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,745 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

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If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Many Soldiers Had Near Death Experiences While Serving Their Country.

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Military news…

USS George Washington suicides raise alarm on Capitol Hill as defense secretary admits problem with sailor housing
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a subpanel of the House Appropriations Committee that the Pentagon is awaiting the results of two investigations into the George Washington and figuring out how to lodge sailors in the future after three of the ship’s crew members died in less than one week in April.

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First US Navy cruiser to pass through Taiwan Strait in 2 years ‘troubles’ China

The guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal steamed through the 110-mile-wide waterway separating China from Taiwan as part of a “routine transit,” U.S. 7th Fleet spokesman Lt. Mark Langford said in a Wednesday news

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North Korea to continue developing nuclear and missile programs in 2022, intelligence chief says

North Korea will “continue its nuclear, missile, and military modernization efforts” throughout the year and “leverage” its capabilities during potential negotiations with the United States, intelligence officials testified to lawmakers on Tuesday.

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Russia pounds vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines

Russian troops pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday, apparently as part of efforts to disrupt the supply lines and weapons shipments that have been critical to Kyiv’s defense.

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Finland, Sweden move closer to seeking NATO membership
The Finnish Parliament is expected to endorse the decision in the coming days. A formal membership application will then be submitted to NATO headquarters in Brussels, most likely at some point next week.

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Small wins buoy Ukraine; West says Russians losing momentum

Ukraine said it held off Russian offensives Sunday in the east, and Western military officials said the campaign Moscow launched there after its forces failed to seize the capital of Kyiv has slowed to a snail’s pace.

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Russia actually isn’t as good at information warfare as everyone thought

Russian memes are working about as well as Russian tanks.

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Here is another interview with a WWII veteran. Ira Friedman fought in WWII and Korea. His story has two near death experiences:

I sat with Ira Friedman for a short interview that was loaded with drama:

Tell me of some of your moments that you faced death.

I was getting ready to head to Korea to help fight the war. We were in a hanger in formation, when I saw an old friend from WWII. I wanted to be on the same plane leaving as he was. I raised me hand and requested to be moved from plane one to plane two and the sergeant barked out, NO!

I looked around the hanger and saw a man that looked like he was in charge. He was a captain. I asked him the same question and he refused at first, but I persisted. He shouted, “Get on the damn second plane and get out of my hair.”

I was excited and even sat next to by buddy. About half way to our destination we heard from the pilot that the first plane had crashed killing everyone on board. I was suppose to be on that plane. (Near death experience # 1)

I asked him if there was another time he felt he faced death.

He said that when he was at a briefing in Korea, a Lt. said there was need to have seven men go on a reconnaissance mission. He pointed at me and said, “You are one of them.” I quickly told him none of the men had ever been on reconnaissance. He shouted as he broke his point stick. “That is an order!

Seven of us went on that mission and only three of us came back alive. (Near death experience # 2)

I asked him how he got in two wars

I had just gotten out of the military after WWII when the Korean conflict erupted. They drafted me again because of my experience.

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Come back often to read more amazing interviews with veterans . Many had near death experiences. Better yet, click on the Subscribe tab at the top of this page. When you do all future posts will come directly to your inbox.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,710 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

Posted on

Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels are more than just lucky hits

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.

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Military news…

Soldier who ran into burning helicopter in Vietnam War honored with street name

Sgt. Gary McKiddy was a member of the 1st Squadron, 9th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division, when he was killed in action May 6, 1970, at age 20 in Cambodia after pulling fellow soldier Spc. Jim Skaggs from a burning helicopter.

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The Navy is unprepared to fight in two conflicts at once with current fleet size, the service’s top officer tells senators
The current fleet of about 298 ships “is not sized to handle two simultaneous conflicts,” Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations, said during a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Ukrainian strikes against Russian vessels are more than just lucky hits

The destruction of at least eight Russian vessels in recent weeks points to an emerging strategic effort to break a Black Sea blockade that is strangling the Ukrainian economy.

North Korea fires 3 ballistic missiles off its eastern coast, South’s military says

North Korea launched three short-range ballistic missiles off its eastern coast on Thursday, according to South Korean military officials.

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Finland will apply to join NATO in decision welcomed by US and allies

Finland’s announcement of its intent to join NATO, prompted by Russia’s war on Ukraine, reverses Finland’s quasi-neutral status, which dates to the Cold War.

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US intelligence officials warn of prolonged war in Ukraine as Russia expands territorial goals
Fighting in Ukraine will be “significant” in the coming months as Russian President Vladimir Putin sets his sights beyond conquering the eastern Donbas region to building a land bridge across the entire Ukrainian Black Sea coast, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Here is another “interview” with WWII veteran. I sat down to interview him, and after the first question, he never stopped talking.

I sat down with WWII veteran Bob Kosta, who is still alive at 97 years old recently, and had a very pleasant surprise. After I asked him one question, he talked for an hour about his experiences:

What rank did you have?

CPL.

I was sent to France to fight in the war with Germany. On the way there our ship’s propellers broke down, and we were dead in the water. There were German subs in the area. We were very lucky to get the propellers fixed before we were spotted. (Near death experience # 1)

Once we landed we pushed our way into the center of France.

While we were maneuvering we came across a cave full of Russian lady’s, who were hiding from the Germans. If they would have been found, they all would have been killed. We got them to safety.

Then at another spot we were pinned down by enemy fire. A buddy and I could only find one spot to hunker down. It was in a furrow. Whereas trenches are over six feet deep. a furrow is only about 12 inches deep, so some of your body was still sticking up. My buddy and I figured we were goners at that time.

Then we heard some equipment making noise behind us. It was two tanks. They came over the top of both of us and they opened the hatch and pulled us in. (Near Death Experience # 2.)

Then we came to some concentration camps. One was full of military people. We set them free. We also came to another centration camp full of Jews. We set them free too.

At another time our vehicle was lost. We tried to find our convoy, and saw one up ahead that we got in behind a followed. After a while we realized it was a German convoy, and exited left. (Near death experience # 3)

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Talk about a wild ride! Bob is a hero in my book. A true greatest generation person. Come back often, because I have at least two other WWII interviews. The both had near death experiences as well. Better yet…go to the top of this page and click on Subscribe. When you all future posts will come directly to you inbox.

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This Military Appreciation Month, I hope you will take an extra minute to recognize the sacrifices made by our Nation’s service members.

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Checking in on you. How are you doing? Is everything going OK, or are you struggling?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 14,700 veterans on this site who have your back.

Here is what I am asking you to do…please share this site with as many other veterans as you can. It has helped so many.

______________________________________________________________

If you are battling mentally, but you are losing, GET HELP!!

Here is a toll free number that you can call 24/7. There are highly qualified counselors there to help you, and they will not hang up until they know you are OK.

1-800-273-8255…texting 838255.

_______________________________________________________________

Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

________________________________________________________________

+If you like what you see, please subscribe at the top of this page where it says, “subscribe.” When you do, all future posts will come directly to your inbox. Also, if you know some else who could benefit from this site, please let them know.