Wednesday Hero

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Capt. Glenn BlackFrom Idana, Kansas



From his Silver Star citation: For gallantry in action while participating in aerial flight in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations as pilot and flight leader of a B-25 type aircraft. On 22 June 1944, Lieutenant Black led a flight on a mission against shipping and harbor installations at Leghorn, Italy. On the bomb run intense, accurate anti-aircraft fire was encountered by the formation, holing many aircraft, as a result of the heavy defenses, Lieutenant Black sustained a shattered right arm, his co-pilot was painfully injured in the hip, one engine and the hydraulic lines were shot out and gasoline flooded the ship due to a direct hit on the gas tank. Despite his severe and painful wounds, Lieutenant Black, with the aid of his co-pilot, held the plane on course in to the target, enabling his bombardier to drop his bombs on their objective. By the time a friendly field was reached, the effects of the co-pilots hip wound seriously compromised the strength of his legs and, although almost at the point of complete exhaustion from the loss of blood, Lieutenant Black manipulated the rudders while his co-pilot handled the other controls, still at Lieutenant Black's directions. In spite of the feathered propeller, and without flaps or wheels down, a successful crash-landing was completed. By his great determination and outstanding heroism, Lieutenant Black has reflected the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.



You can read more about Capt. Black here


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 Look
This 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.

The 'religion of peace' keeps spreading the gospel

Islamists kill 27, burn houses in Nigerian village attack

(AGI) Maiduguri, Nov 4 - At least 27 people were killed and 12 were injured when their village in northeast Nigeria was attacked by Boko Haram militants, local government sources have reported. At least 300 houses were burned. The gang arrived in trucks and motorcycles near Bama, which Boko Haram has attacked in the past. . .
(source)

On a DAILY basis, stories like this surface.. From JihadWatch:   

 

Nigeria: Islamic jihadists murder 30 in wedding convoy, including the groom

"Islamophobia is the biggest threat to peace in the world today." -- U.S. "academic" Kevin Barrett in Iran's state-run PressTV


"Nigeria official: Gunmen kill 30 in wedding convoy," by Ibrahim Abdulaziz for the Associated Press, November 3 (thanks to Lookmann):


YOLA, Nigeria (AP) — Suspected Islamic militants attacked a wedding convoy in northeast Nigeria and killed more than 30 people including the groom, a state government spokesman said Sunday. 

Military spokesman Lt. Col. Muhammed Dole said only five people were killed in Saturday’s attack on the highway between Gama and Gwoza towns in Borno state. That road runs alongside forests that are a known hideout of Islamic militants of the Boko Haram terrorist network.


But a minibus taxi driver said he passed many bodies on the road near Firgi village, where the wedding ceremony took place Saturday....

Yes, there is more here. 

In Kenya, another:

Kenyan pastors ask for AK-47s to counter Islamic jihad attacks

Christianity has never opposed self-defense. "Kenyan Pastors Ask for AK-47s Amid Radical Muslim Persecution," by Fredrick Nzwili for RNS, November 1 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):

As attacks on Christians mount in Kenya’s coastal region, some evangelical pastors in the Mombasa area may no longer be willing to turn the other cheek.

 

Worried about attacks against their churches and congregations, some pastors are asking for rifles to protect themselves from suspected Islamic extremists.

The violence intensified on Oct. 20 and 21, when two evangelical church pastors were killed inside their churches. Pastor Charles Mathole, 41, was killed Oct. 20 as he prayed inside his Vikwatani Redeemed Gospel Church. The following day, East African Pentecostal Church pastor Ibrahim Kithaka was found dead in Kilifi, about 35 miles north of Mombasa.

Christian leaders blame the attacks on increased radicalization of Muslim youth. The attacks have occurred amid protests by Muslims that they were being targeted in Nairobi’s war against terrorism....

Details here. 

In Egypt, the 'religion of peace' continues to attack any and all 'infidels':

The nonstop kidnapping and plundering of Egypt's Christian Copts

The kidnapping and plundering of Egypt’s Christian Copts continues unabated. As recently revealed on CTV, in a village called Maghlaga, in the district of Malawi—where Muslim Brotherhood supporters earlier ransacked and plundered a museum housing Egyptian antiquities—a Muslim gang leader known as “Saddam” has been going to every one of the approximately 80 Coptic households in the village demanding jizya/extortion money from them....

[...]

Such hate for Egypt’s Christians is hardly unprecedented. Earlier another Muslim man kidnapped a 6-year-old Christian boy and, after the family paid the ransom, still killed the child and threw his body in his sewer....

Much more here.

There are those who insist that what happens over there is nothing to do with us, and if we just mind our own business, *they* will leave us alone.  Read on:

Afghan, Iranians found on Canada flight with fake tickets

November 3, 2013  

Caracas (AFP) - A Toronto-bound flight was stopped shortly before departure from Caracas when four Iranians and an Afghan were found aboard with fake tickets and no visas, Venezuelan officials said Saturday.

The captain of Air Canada Flight 075 discovered there were five extra passengers aboard his flight as it was scheduled to depart late Friday, said Luis Graterol, the head of the Simon Bolivar Maiquetia International Airport.

All those on board were forced to disembark and military officials identified the suspicious passengers, Graterol told the state-run Venezuelan News Agency.

The Iranians and the Afghan "did not have a visa to enter Canada, nor legitimate tickets," Graterol said.

He added that the flight had been delayed for five hours due to the incident. 

The office of Venezuela's prosecutor general said that charges will be pressed against four people in the case: a member of Venezuela’s immigration office, an Air Canada employee, and two workers with an airport security company...

More here with H/T to JihadWatch.

 

  "Islamophobia is the biggest threat to peace in the world today." -- U.S. "academic" Kevin Barrett

Really?????  No, the biggest threat to peace in the world today is ignoring the loud and very clear threat by the religion of peace.  The threat IS global, and it is coming to a neighbourhood near you.

UK shelter dog becomes K9 cop

I just LOVE these stories...

From the Beeb:

Rescue dog's new life catching criminals

31 October 2013

A dog rescued by the RSPCA because of fears he was being beaten by his owners has been given a new life helping to catch criminals.

The German shepherd was found living outside a Bradford house in a small, dark kennel with no food or water. 

Because of his mistreatment, the dog, renamed Chance, had behavioural issues and could not be rehomed.

A West Yorkshire Police dog handler spotted him at the kennels and he was taken on and trained as a police dog.

Chance's handler PC Mick Kilburn said: "He immediately demonstrated some of the raw ability needed to become a general purpose police dog and was allocated to me, to replace my current police dog who is due to retire."

'Friend and protector'
 
He added: "As a police dog handler these dogs become your life - it's not a 9-5 job - you take them home with you, care and look after them 24/7.

"They aren't just a tool that is used by the police, they become your work partner, friend and protector.

"I couldn't be more proud of how well Chance has done."...

Go read the rest here.

Bratdog and Gabe would be so proud.

Snowden to Germany: Fact or Fiction?

As the MIC administration continues to paint  Edward Snowden as a traitor,  others hail him as a hero whistle-blower.  Stuck in Russia for months despite a US request to send him back to America, comes word this morning that he is going to Germany.

From the EU Times:

Snowden ready to go to Germany under asylum as his letter to Berlin revealed 

Nov 2nd, 2013

NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden, is ready to go to Germany and testify over the US wiretapping of Angela Merkel’s phone on condition of granting him political asylum, a German MP who met Snowden has said. He also revealed the text of Snowden’s letter.

Former contractor of the US National Security Agency, Snowden on Friday indicated he is ready to testify over the facts about the American snooping revealed in leaked documents, but only after his “humanitarian situation” is resolved, according to a letter handed over by Snowden to German Greens lawmaker, Hans-Christian Stroebele.

“Though the outcome of my efforts has been demonstrably positive, my government continues to treat dissent as defection, and seeks to criminalize political speech with felony charges that provide no defense. However, speaking the truth is not a crime,” Snowden said in his letter to German officials.

The whistleblower added he is “confident” that, with the support of the international community, the US government will have to renounce its “harmful behavior.”

Snowden, who has been granted temporary asylum in Russia and is wanted in the US, said he will be able to “cooperate in the responsible finding of fact regarding reports in the media, particularly in regard to the truth and authenticity of documents, as appropriate and in accordance with the law,” as soon as the details of his situation are resolved.

Addressing the German government, Snowden said he looks forward to speaking on the facts he revealed on Germany, also thanking Berlin for its “efforts in upholding the international laws that protect us all.”...

Much more, including a copy of a letter supposedly from Snowden, here.

Sampson: Running Free Beyond The Rainbow Bridge

Very early this morning I woke to find that Sampson's Mom -  and  our Fallen Hero SSG Brian Cowdrey's wife - Jill,  had written  on her social media page:

[...]  I am thankful for Sampson. He came into our lives a scared neurotic nervous mess. He had some adjustment issues but soon fell into his role in our family. We discovered he loved to walk, and loved to run even more. I believe there are permanent trails in the backyard of our NC house from his patrol routes. 

He loved Brian so much and  lived to please his master. When Brian died he became even closer to me. One day I was going through one of Brian's tough boxes that we'd gotten back from Afghanistan & had tears just coursing down my face. Sampson was in the room with me sleeping & as I sat back on my heels to compose myself I felt Sampson behind me. He laid his head on my shoulder, whined a bit and waited until I stopped what I was doing & acknowledged him. He gave me the comfort, in those moments, that I needed. The strength I needed to continue....

[...]

A few weeks ago he got sick. At the vets, X-rays confirmed he had eaten a rope toy. He had surgery to remove the obstruction & came home to begin his recovery. He started to feel better but as the days went by he was looking more & more emaciated. We changed his meds, gave him new ones to help him absorb the nutrients he needed but nothing worked. Through this all there was that constant Sampson spark.

Today when we let him out of his kennel there was a drastic change. His spark was gone, throughout the morning he continued to deteriorate. Refusing food, acting disoriented and finally tripping & falling when trying to turn around. The final straw was him repeatedly wandering away from the house but being confused when he reached the fence. He was looking for a place to go to.

Around four this afternoon we took him to the vet. We sat with him while he took his last breath. My Sampson, my bubba boy was gone.  

[...]


So today I am thankful for the six years we had with him. The joy, the laughter, the companionship. I will never forget you and neither will anyone who was lucky enough to be touched by your life. — feeling devastated.

 Jill (from Remembering SSG Brian Cowdrey - Family Man):


If you know Brian at all you know that he was a HUGE dog lover. German Shepherds in particular! He dreamed about working with them & was always honored to be able to medevac a working dog! We went to the hanger one day with Sampson & Brian got the dream he had dreamed to be in his bird with his dog!

I take a small measure of comfort in knowing that Brian met Sammy when he crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I also have NO doubt that Brian, Sammy and Bratdog are all going to have a fine old time, until we all get to join them.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. 


When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. 


There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. 


There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. 


All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.


The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. 


They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. 

Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 


Author unknown...

B & B for Vets

For our Canadian and American Veterans:

BBCanada is pleased to be participating in B&Bs for Vets, a Canadian tribute to our veterans and military personnel. First developed in the USA in 2008, this promotion has grown to over 750 North American Inns and B&Bs offering FREE rooms on Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day in 2013. 


Canadian B&Bs will be offering the night of November 11, 2013 FREE to a veteran or a member of the military as listed below. Please contact the B&B operator directly to book your stay by e-mail or telephone as online reservations are not applicable. Proper identification is required and a charge card number may be required in order to reserve a room. Please note that participating B&B for 2013 will be displayed as of August 1, 2013. For more information about this special invitation, please visit our FAQ.


On behalf of BBCanada.com and all its members we would like to thank our veterans and military personnel for their commitment to our country.

More details - including locations - HERE. 

 

Red Shirt Friday? Yes!