Maj. William Edward Adams
31 years old from Kansas City, MO
A/227 Assault Helicopter Company, 52nd Aviation Battalion, 1st Air
Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division
June 16, 1939 - May 25, 1971
The President of the United States of America, in the name of
Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously)
to Major William Edward Adams, United States Army, for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the
call of duty while serving with A/227 Assault Helicopter Company, 52d
Aviation Battalion, 17th Aviation Group, 1st Aviation Brigade, in
action against enemy aggressor forces at Kontum Province, Republic of
Vietnam, on 25 May 1971.
On that date, Major Adams volunteered to fly
a lightly armed helicopter in an attempt to evacuate three seriously
wounded soldiers from a small fire base which was under attack by a
large enemy force. He made the decision with full knowledge that
numerous anti-aircraft weapons were positioned around the base and
that the clear weather would afford the enemy gunners unobstructed
view of all routes into the base.
As he approached the base, the enemy
gunners opened fire with heavy machineguns, rocket-propelled grenades
and small arms. Undaunted by the fusillade, he continued his approach
determined to accomplish the mission. Displaying tremendous courage
under fire, he calmly directed the attacks of supporting gunships
while maintaining absolute control of the helicopter he was flying. He
landed the aircraft at the fire base despite the ever-increasing enemy
fire and calmly waited until the wounded soldiers were placed on
board.
As his aircraft departed from the fire base, it was struck and
seriously damaged by enemy anti-aircraft fire and began descending.
Flying with exceptional skill, he immediately regained control of the
crippled aircraft and attempted a controlled landing. Despite his
valiant efforts, the helicopter exploded, overturned, and plummeted to
earth amid the hail of enemy fire. Major Adams' conspicuous gallantry,
intrepidity, and humanitarian regard for his fellow man were in
keeping with the most cherished traditions of the military service and
reflected utmost credit on him and the United States
Army.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so
others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them
Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When
There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more
information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on
your site, you can go here.
Cold Lake soldiers working second jobs to make ends meet
Cost of living sky-high in oil-and-gas region in northeast Alberta
The Canadian Press
Posted:
Jul 10, 2013
Junior members of the military at
the air base in Cold Lake, Alta., have to take second jobs to make ends
meet, says a new report from the military ombudsman.
The cost of living at Cold Lake has soared in recent years, driven by growth in the local oil-and-gas industry.(CBC) Pierre
Daigle investigated the sky-high cost of living in the resource-rich
region of Alberta after complaints from people posted to 4 Wing, a major
jet-fighter base. "I was surprised," Daigle said in an interview Tuesday. Some families are struggling to pay bills by selling off possessions,
and go to great lengths to keep their children in extracurricular
activities. The mostly non-commissioned members aren't trying to get ahead — they need the extra income to survive, said Daigle. "They are just trying to keep what they have, and what they have built up over their lifetimes," he said....
SO much wrong with this, but no, so not surprised. Read the rest of this here..
The Battle of Happy Valley is known as the forgotten battle of the forgotten war.
It
saw the Royal Ulster Rifles defending the city of Seoul on the night of
the 3rd January 1951 from Chinese attack. It allowed thousands of
residents to flee the city before it fell to the Chinese the next day.
One
hundred and fifty seven members of the Ulsters were killed that night.
In the second of our special reports in the build up to the 60th
anniversary on Saturday, we report on a group of veterans who went back
to Korea to revisit the battlefield.
I have been following the injustices heaped upon George Zimmerman since the night he encountered the 'child' Trayvon Martin. As anybody knows who has been paying even a smidgen of attention, a jury recently acquitted George Zimmerman: found him INNOCENT of the charges leveled against him by a politically motivated prosecution. Much 'ink' has been spent - and airwaves filled - as the MIC and his minions continue to lead the chorus to find Zimmerman guilty of SOMEthing, anything. The reactions, aided and abetted by the usual race-baiters Sharpton, Jackson et al, based on proven lies, understate the very UNcivil, paid, demonstrations and calls for "Kill Zimmerman" dutifully reported by the msm; all wrapped in the cries of 'what about Trayvon's civil rights?' all the while conveniently ignoring the FACTS, of course.
Bill Whittle put together a video based on the FACTS, which more than a few people sent to me. Whittle is far more articulate than I could hope to be. Of course, for all those screaming for 'Justice for Trayvon' - led by Barack "Trayvon could have been me" Obama, facts are irrelevant if they don't further their own agenda. However, the facts IS the facts.
Bloomberg vetoes bills aiming to curb NYPD’s stop-and-frisk
24 July 2013
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed two bills aiming to limit the NYPD’s
stop and frisk policy. The policy has been criticized by civil rights
advocates, and has also been highlighted by those opposing Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly’s candidacy to replace Janet Napolitano as DHS secretary.
New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed two bills aiming to limit the NYPD’s
stop and frisk policy. The policy has been criticized by civil rights
advocates, and has also been highlighted by those opposing Police
Commissioner Ray Kelly’s candidacy to replace Janet Napolitano as DHS secretary....
There is more here, but as usual, all is not as it appears. Educate yourselves before you do the usual knee-jerk reaction to the biased msm headlines...
SSgt. Erich R. Phillips
Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment,
173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of
Congress, July 9, 1918 (amended by act of July 25, 1963), takes
pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Staff
Sergeant Erich R. Phillips, United States Army, for extraordinary
heroism in action while serving as Mortar Platoon Sergeant with
Company C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment,
173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, in action at Ranch House in
Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on 22 August 2007.
Staff Sergeant
Phillips' gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without
regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions
of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit,
and the United States Army. NARRATIVE TO ACCOMPANY AWARD: On 22
August 2007, at 0455L, the Ranch House Outpost at Aranas, Afghanistan,
was attacked from all sides by a company-sized insurgent force,
simultaneously engaging every post in the perimeter by multiple RPGs
and small arms fire. Staff Sergeant Phillips was serving as the Mortar
Platoon Sergeant with Company C, 2d Battalion, 503d Infantry Regiment
(Airborne), 173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
On that morning he woke
up to the sound of intense small arms fire and RPG explosions. When he
moved outside of his quarters he came under effective small arms fire
and saw Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan Security Guard (ASG)
forces fleeing from their post, which had swiftly been overrun by the
insurgents. Staff Sergeant Phillips expertly positioned five soldiers,
Private First Class White, Specialist Baldwin, Specialist Chavez,
Sergeant Dirkinitis, and Special Schilling to defend the TOC, Aid
Station, Mortar Pit and ASP, and led the way by returning fire on a
quickly advancing enemy force from the vicinity of the ANA and ASG
post while under intense RPG and small arms fire.
He moved quickly to
the TOC and reported directly to his Platoon Leader, First Lieutenant
Ferrara, who told him that there was no communication with Post 3 and
Post 4. Staff Sergeant Phillips returned to the mortar firing point to
employ the 60-mm. mortars while staying in contact with Post 1, whose
element continued to engage the overwhelming enemy assault with hand
grenades and direct fire. With the insurgents within 15 meters of his
position Staff Sergeant Phillips directed fires and hand grenades to
suppress the enemy and protect the Platoon Leader, First Lieutenant
Ferrara, who was talking to the company from his Platoon Command Post
after the TOC had suffered several direct hits with RPGs rendering the
antennas inoperable.
Staff Sergeant Phillips' actions were essential
in securing First Lieutenant Ferrara's position allowing the platoon
leader to control indirect fire and CAS to thwart the enemy attack.
When he learned that there were casualties at Post 2, Staff Sergeant
Phillips took Sergeant Dirkinitis, the Platoon Medic, and assaulted
upwards, 30 meters towards Post 2. Recognizing that Post 2 risked
being isolated from the rest of the U.S. element he directed his team
to give covering fire as he moved up the hill. As they moved Staff
Sergeant Phillips and Sergeant Dirkinitis were pinned down by
insurgents firing from the high ground near Post 3 and from behind the
Class 1 shed 15 meters away. Soldiers at Post 2 told Staff Sergeant
Phillips that there were multiple enemy personnel behind the Class 1
shed which was about 10 meters behind him.
While under intense enemy
fire he ran to a position from which he could throw multiple hand
grenades to deter an enemy advance and continued to fire upon enemy
positions. His decision to move toward Post 2 spread out the friendly
line and was instrumental in preventing the enemy from overrunning the
mortar pit and the Platoon Command Post as well as Post 2. As Staff
Sergeant Phillips and Sergeant Dirkinitis continued to fight, Sergeant
Dirkinitis was struck in the shoulder by a bullet. Staff Sergeant
Phillips pulled him to cover while firing on the enemy. He recognized
that he had to move to another position to save the wounded medic. He
told Post 2 to provide covering fire while he dragged Sergeant
Dirkinitis 15 meters back down the hill to a defilade position so he
could be treated. Staff Sergeant Phillips then moved back to the
mortar pit and directed Specialist Chavez to treat the casualty. At
this point, First Lieutenant Ferrara had called in A-10s to strafe the
enemy occupied ASG and ANA posts. As the insurgents' fire became
sporadic, Staff Sergeant Phillips assembled a team to clear the Ranch
House perimeter and recover Private First Class Deloria who had been
isolated at Post 3. He lead the team up the hill and pulled Private
First Class Deloria from beneath the rubble of the shattered Post 3.
Staff Sergeant Phillips continued to organize the MEDEVAC of the
casualties from Post 3 (Private First Class Deloria) and Post 2
(Sergeant Gonzalez, Sergeant Relph, Specialist Bell, and Private First
Class Langevin) and moved them down the hill to the LZ to be
evacuated.
Through his quick thinking and total disregard for his own
safety, Staff Sergeant Phillips prevented the Ranch House Outpost from
being overrun by an enemy force three times larger and with superior
fire power. His quick reaction in employing all available soldiers
protected the Platoon CP from being overrun allowing external assets
to be employed to defeat the enemy. He quickly assaulted toward Post 2
spreading out the friendly lines and directed lethal blows against the
enemy halting their advance 10 meters short of the U.S. line. Absent
this assault the enemy would have been able to maneuver in between the
U.S. forces, isolating Post 2 from the mortar pit and breaking up the
U.S. line of fire.
Finally, he assembled an ad hoc force to clear the
perimeter and recover the severely wounded Private First Class
Deloria, who had been cut off for over 2 hours. His actions at Ranch
House yielded invaluable intelligence with the death of MVT Hazrat
Omar including enemy video tapes of attack plans, pictures of
insurgents, and payroll documents utilized by ACM commanders. During
the fierce three-hour battle at the Ranch House eleven U.S. soldiers,
half of the U.S. garrison, were wounded. One ANA and one ASG Soldier
were killed and one ASG Soldier was wounded. Eight insurgents were
killed and a dozen more were wounded.
A year later, SSGT. Phillips was awarded the Silver Star.
Staff Sergeant Erich R. Phillips, United States Army, was awarded the
Silver Star for gallantry in action in support of Operation ENDURING
FREEDOM, in Afghanistan, on 13 July 2008, while serving with Company
C, 2d Battalion (Airborne), 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment, 173d
Airborne Brigade Combat Team.
Staff Sergeant Phillips' valor and
competence under intense fire were instrumental in repelling an
overwhelming attack by an enemy force at least four times greater than
his own. He saved his fellow paratroopers from an unstable missile and
then led a relief force to save a beleaguered outpost. Staff Sergeant
Phillips repeatedly risked his own life to save the lives of
others.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so
others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them
Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When
There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more
information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on
your site, you can go here.
Armed Forces celebrate royal birth with gunfire and cheers
The Armed Forces are celebrating the birth of the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge's first child in fine style across the world today.
As is customary with the birth of a British prince, royal salutes
will be fired across the capital. In Green Park, members of the King’s
Troop Royal Horse Artillery will fire a 41-gun salute from their
13-pounder quick-fire guns, which were all used in action in the First
World War. The guns will be pulled into action by teams of 6 horses.
And, over at the Tower of London, the Honourable Artillery Company,
an Army Reserves unit, and the oldest in the British Army, will fire 62
rounds over the River Thames to mark the happy occasion.
The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41-gun royal
salute in Green Park (library image) [Picture: Sergeant Adrian Harlen,
Crown copyright]Major Mark Edward, Commanding Officer of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, said:
Celebrations are not confined to London however, as all of Her
Majesty’s Ships – in home or international waters – are flying the Royal
Navy Ensign from their main mast to mark the birth of the prince.
Ensigns were proudly flown by HMS Kent, on operations in the Middle East, and by HMS Lancaster,
currently deployed on Atlantic Patrol Task (North) in the Caribbean.
The 2 ships’ companies added their own special congratulatory message to
the Duke and Duchess by forming up to spell the word ‘BOY’ on the
ships’ decks.
Members of HMS Kent's ship's company celebrate the royal
birth on deck in the Middle East [Picture: Leading Airman (Photographer)
Joel Rouse, Crown copyright]
The first footprints on the Moon will be there for a million years. There is no wind to blow them away. (Much more from NASA here)
Portrait of the prime crew of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Left to right are Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot. (May 1, 1969)
Picture courtesy of NASA.
The sign the astronauts left on the moon says, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind." Image Credit: NASA
1969: Man takes first steps on the Moon
American Neil Armstrong has become the first man to walk on the Moon. The astronaut stepped onto the Moon's surface, in the Sea of Tranquility, at 0256 GMT, nearly 20 minutes after first opening the hatch on the Eagle landing craft. Armstrong had earlier reported the lunar module's safe landing at 2017 GMT with the words: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." As he put his left foot down first Armstrong declared: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." He described the surface as being like powdered charcoal and the landing craft left a crater about a foot deep. 'We came in peace'
Sgt. Richard W. O'Neill
82 years old from New York, New York
Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d
Division
August 28, 1898 - April 09, 1982
The President of the United States of America, in the name of
Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Sergeant
Richard William O'Neill, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism
on 30 July 1918, while serving with Company D, 165th Infantry, 42d
Division, in action at Ourcq River, France.
In advance of an
assaulting line, Sergeant O'Neill attacked a detachment of about 25 of
the enemy. In the ensuing hand-to-hand encounter he sustained pistol
wounds, but heroically continued in the advance, during which he
received additional wounds; but, with great physical effort, he
remained in active command of his detachment. Being again wounded, he
was forced by weakness and loss of blood to be evacuated, but insisted
upon being taken first to the battalion commander in order to transmit
to him valuable information relative to enemy positions and the
disposition of our men.
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so
others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them
Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When
There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more
information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on
your site, you can go here.
U.K. blocks flagship Islamic free school over links to terrorism
15 July 2013
The U.K.
education secretary pulled the plug on the Muslim-inspired Northern
Lights primary school in Halifax, Yorkshire, a flagship free school,
following a three-month investigation. The government ordered the
inquiry after complaints that a local Islamic center had circulated a
leaflet suggesting that Muslim parents who failed to support the free
school would be condemned. Free schools are state-funded but operate
independently of town halls and Northern Lights, which was to be run
with a Muslim ethos, was due to open in September.
'My
daddy, my hero': Two-year-old son of murdered soldier Lee Rigby arrives
at funeral service wearing T-shirt tribute to his father
The son of Fusilier Lee Rigby arrived at his father's funeral today wearing a t-shirt that said: 'My Daddy, My Hero'.
Jack, Rigby two, arrived at the funeral wearing a blue t shirt with 'My Daddy's A Fusilier. Lee Rigby' printed on the front.
He
was joined by hundreds of mourners at the service for the 25-year-old,
who was hacked to death outside Woolwich barracks in east London on May
22.
Around 1,000 people lined the streets to pay their respects to the soldier brutally killed in broad daylight. Members
of the public applauded Fusilier Rigby's comrades and forces veterans
as they arrived for the funeral service at Bury Parish Church, where
comrades had maintained a guard of honour overnight.
Applause
also greeted the father's heartbroken loved ones, who joined about 800
mourners inside for the private service just a couple of miles from his
home town of Middleton, Greater Manchester.
Members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers held a two-minute silence to honour the soldier, whose death shocked the nation...
Lance Cpl. Sean J. McSweeney
Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit
Lance Cpl. Sean J. McSweeney, an amphibious assault vehicle crewman
with Company G., Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines,
31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, and native of Palmyra, N.J., cleans
the barrel of a .50 caliber machine gun inside an AAV here, June 29.
The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU are constantly engaged in
training, education and gear maintenance while embarked aboard the
ship, taking advantage of their time at sea. The 31st MEU is the only
continuously forward-deployed MEU and is the Marine Corps’ force in
readiness in the Asia-Pacific region.
Photo courtesy U.S. Marine Corps
taken by Sgt. Jonathan Wrigh
These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives just so
others may get to enjoy freedom. For that I am proud to call them
Hero.
Those Who Say That We're In A Time When
There Are No Heroes, They Just Don't Know Where To LookThis post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more
information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on
your site, you can go here.
Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza
Strip have fired more than 12,000 rockets into Israel in the past 12
years. Listen to a few of the Israelis who have been living with this
reality for too long.
Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
Sometimes people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know I am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world.
-Woodrow Wilson
Where liberty dwells, there is my country. Benjamin Franklin
"...And I gladly stand up . . next to you and defend her still today Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land God bless the USA"