A planet where apes evolved from MAN?!?

Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior…

I got a call last night while getting ready to leave the office. One of the knights from my council called to inform me that our DGK's son, Joe, was killed by an IED in Iraq May 30, 2007.

I did not know Joe on a personal level. His parents, whom I consider to be good friends, are some of the most solid and loving people I know. I cannot begin to express the loss I saw in his father's eyes last night. And the strength I saw in his mother as she marshaled their family and friends.

Joe is survived by his wife, Jennifer, married on September 1^st of 2002.

 

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
-George S. Patton.

 

 

Sanity in the Pentagon

Marine taped by Kevin Sites won't face court martial (hat tip, LGF)

Well, considering the kid gloves that deserters like Pablo Parede's have been handled with (Lt. Smash has the best coverage, btw, of patético  pablo) and the recent mistrial of Lynndie England, this is pleasant news.
I was concerned for this young man.  And this is the main fear I had about embedded journalists.  Some will be not be all that friendly to our soldiers, and just might be more interested in finding or creating an embarrasing situation to exploit than in honest reporting.
So, it is good to see that it was decided that this marine was doing his job, and not out slaughtering the defenseless for kicks.  Lets leave the war crimes to the professionals, like John Kerry.

Next up: getting Lt Pantano his day of redemption.

Defend the Defenders

By now, you've likely heard about Marine Lt. Pantano.
He served as one of Uncle Sam's Misguided Children in the first gulf war.  He came home, and started a family.  Then he saw the towers fall.  In his 30's, he went back to the Corps and Officer Candidacy School, and rejoined as a 2nd Lt.
Now, he's facing charges of murder, 10 months after the alleged incident.  His mother, his men, and his CoC think he was doing his duty. A malcontent thought otherwise.
His mother has a a website, to get his story out there, and to raise money for his defense.
Check it out, and if you agree with her (I do), contribute.

UPDATE:

If you are a blogger, and you agree with Mrs. Pantano, blog this.  If you know of a blogger blogging in support of this, let me know via email or comments.

I've sent emails to some of the more prominent bloggers, but as you know, the further up the ecosystem, the less likely they read every mail.  If you have a direct line to prominent blogger (and yes, I have sent a few along unpublished paths), and you thing he/she/they would support Lt. Pantano, please contact them.