Memorial for Vietnam War heroes may get upgrade
Spot left for Medal of Honor marking could get use soon
By Michael Hoffman Air Force Times • and John Andrew Prime jprime@gannett.com • November 2, 2008 2:00 am
A recently rededicated memorial to overlooked heroes of the Indochina War could get a significant overhaul soon.
A marker at the 8th Air Force Museum honoring the sacrifice of 19 airmen who served with the Barksdale-based 1st Combat Evaluation Group, also known as Combat Skyspot, soon could bear a symbol denoting that one of the lost airmen, Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger, was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for bravery.
Etchberger lost his life saving three fellow service members fighting off waves of North Vietnamese commandos advancing on a top-secret U.S. radar station in the Laotian mountains in March 1968, but those details were omitted.
Instead, Pentagon officials told Cory Etchberger, then 9, that his father died in a helicopter accident. But he knew something was wrong when he and his family were secretly whisked into the Pentagon to accept the Air Force Cross his father was awarded posthumously.
But the United States wasn't openly fighting a war outside the Vietnams at that time, and so an act of bravery that clearly merited the Medal of Honor was downgraded, and efforts over the year to restore the request for the highest honor ran into bureaucratic roadblocks, including a statutory deadline on how long after an event a request can be made.
But last month, the House and Senate passed, and President George W. Bush signed, a Defense bill that waived the militations in this instance. Air Force Secretary Michael Donley has recommended Etchberger's Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. Now it is up to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Bush to approve a renomination for the medal, first recommended in 1968 but denied by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson, said Col. Gerald H. Clayton, then the commander of 1043rd Radar Evaluation Squadron, Detachment 1.
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Monday, November 3, 2008
PTSD Virtual Reality Therapy:Fraudulent High-Priced Boondoggle
Nov-02-2008 18:59
PTSD Virtual Reality Therapy:
Fraudulent High-Priced Boondoggle
Dr. Phil Leveque Salem-News.com
Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I was abjectly stunned and stupefied when I first read of Virtual Reality Therapy for PTSD Veteran victims. What it first suggested to me was that the VA Psychologists (and Social Workers) didn’t have the slightest comprehension of who and what they were presumed to be treating.
In the first place, the terms surrounding the definition of PTSD are ambiguities and arcane with battle fatigue, shellshock, homesickness, “miss their mothers”, war neurosis, psychoneurosis, sexual repression, battle anxiety, eight balls and malingerer terms. There are probably a few other terms but most require explanation.
Battle fatigue is inexact.
By definition, Infantry soldiers are always exhausted. They work our butts off with little sleep to make us TOUGH. "Terror fatigue" or "horror fatigue" is more appropriate. If your buddy at your side is blown apart you may feel horror and terror that the next shot is for you.
"Shellshock" is concussion from mortar or artillery. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is probably the current term. Psychoneurosis was invented in World War Two and is a general inclusive term. Dr. Freud said all neurosis were from sexual repression. (He never was in a barrage).
"Battle anxiety" – hell yes – who wants to get wounded or killed? Eight balls and malingerers? Some people just didn’t want to be in the service, especially most of the Army Infantry – 8 million of us draftees.
The Draft Boards rejected about 15 percent. Basic training rejected about 7 percent. Good, I wouldn’t want those guys near me in battle.
Ok, lets get to PTSD.
These Shrinkologists seem to think this is a specific entity. IT IS NOT. PTSD is on a Bell Curve like IQ’s – Intelligence Quotients – with a standard deviation of about 3. Some guys pee their pants in basic training. These are the most sensitive or grade ONE.
click post title for more
PTSD Virtual Reality Therapy:
Fraudulent High-Priced Boondoggle
Dr. Phil Leveque Salem-News.com
Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - I was abjectly stunned and stupefied when I first read of Virtual Reality Therapy for PTSD Veteran victims. What it first suggested to me was that the VA Psychologists (and Social Workers) didn’t have the slightest comprehension of who and what they were presumed to be treating.
In the first place, the terms surrounding the definition of PTSD are ambiguities and arcane with battle fatigue, shellshock, homesickness, “miss their mothers”, war neurosis, psychoneurosis, sexual repression, battle anxiety, eight balls and malingerer terms. There are probably a few other terms but most require explanation.
Battle fatigue is inexact.
By definition, Infantry soldiers are always exhausted. They work our butts off with little sleep to make us TOUGH. "Terror fatigue" or "horror fatigue" is more appropriate. If your buddy at your side is blown apart you may feel horror and terror that the next shot is for you.
"Shellshock" is concussion from mortar or artillery. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is probably the current term. Psychoneurosis was invented in World War Two and is a general inclusive term. Dr. Freud said all neurosis were from sexual repression. (He never was in a barrage).
"Battle anxiety" – hell yes – who wants to get wounded or killed? Eight balls and malingerers? Some people just didn’t want to be in the service, especially most of the Army Infantry – 8 million of us draftees.
The Draft Boards rejected about 15 percent. Basic training rejected about 7 percent. Good, I wouldn’t want those guys near me in battle.
Ok, lets get to PTSD.
These Shrinkologists seem to think this is a specific entity. IT IS NOT. PTSD is on a Bell Curve like IQ’s – Intelligence Quotients – with a standard deviation of about 3. Some guys pee their pants in basic training. These are the most sensitive or grade ONE.
click post title for more
The elusiveness of PTSD diagnoses argues for more flexibility, not less.
Service issue: The elusiveness of PTSD diagnoses argues for more flexibility, not less.
If ex-Sgt. Frank Wheeler has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, his less-than-honorable discharge from the Army won’t make him better.
That’s one reason officials at Womack Army Medical Center should take another look at Wheeler’s case, outlined in an Oct. 26 news story by Observer reporter Michael N. Graff.
They might also usefully revisit the idea of ignoring diagnoses by off-post providers. If the hospital had Wheeler pegged right the first time, his troubles will continue or even worsen until the condition and the diagnosis catch up with him and Womack gets a shiner for its handling of a decorated war veteran.
Another reason is an e-mail in which the hospital’s ranking officer overturned the PTSD profile issued by a Womack behavioral health psychologist. That action came five days after Wheeler was arrested for a violent incident involving his wife.
Whether it was intended that way or not, the e-mail came across as boastful. The colonel who wrote it said a miscoded diagnosis enabled her to stop his transfer to the Warrior Transition Battalion, where he would have enjoyed “not working and being heralded as a War Hero.”
go here for more
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=309280
If ex-Sgt. Frank Wheeler has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, his less-than-honorable discharge from the Army won’t make him better.
That’s one reason officials at Womack Army Medical Center should take another look at Wheeler’s case, outlined in an Oct. 26 news story by Observer reporter Michael N. Graff.
They might also usefully revisit the idea of ignoring diagnoses by off-post providers. If the hospital had Wheeler pegged right the first time, his troubles will continue or even worsen until the condition and the diagnosis catch up with him and Womack gets a shiner for its handling of a decorated war veteran.
Another reason is an e-mail in which the hospital’s ranking officer overturned the PTSD profile issued by a Womack behavioral health psychologist. That action came five days after Wheeler was arrested for a violent incident involving his wife.
Whether it was intended that way or not, the e-mail came across as boastful. The colonel who wrote it said a miscoded diagnosis enabled her to stop his transfer to the Warrior Transition Battalion, where he would have enjoyed “not working and being heralded as a War Hero.”
go here for more
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=309280
Struggling vets: 'It’s hard to get back into society’
Struggling vets: 'It’s hard to get back into society’
Sunday, November 2, 2008 1:33 AM EST
By RONALD DEROSA
TORRINGTON — Respect, reverence and acknowledgment of those who serve in the military has been a platform of great attention in recent election seasons and continues to be so this year.
Life after being discharged, however, isn’t always easy, and a number of transient veterans are living at homeless shelters and eating at soup kitchens right here in Torrington.
Four veterans sat down with The Register Citizen this week at the Community Soup Kitchen, 220 Prospect St., where some receive their only hot meal of the day.
"When you get out of the service, and you’ve killed a couple of people, it’s hard to get back into society," said Dennis Frenette, 54, who was born in Waterbury and served in the Air Force. "I think they should help in the transition."
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Sunday, November 2, 2008 1:33 AM EST
By RONALD DEROSA
TORRINGTON — Respect, reverence and acknowledgment of those who serve in the military has been a platform of great attention in recent election seasons and continues to be so this year.
Life after being discharged, however, isn’t always easy, and a number of transient veterans are living at homeless shelters and eating at soup kitchens right here in Torrington.
Four veterans sat down with The Register Citizen this week at the Community Soup Kitchen, 220 Prospect St., where some receive their only hot meal of the day.
"When you get out of the service, and you’ve killed a couple of people, it’s hard to get back into society," said Dennis Frenette, 54, who was born in Waterbury and served in the Air Force. "I think they should help in the transition."
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Efforts under way to create Veterans Court in the Valley
Efforts under way to create Veterans Court in the Valley
KTAR.com - Phoenix,AZ,USA
Jim Cross/KTAR
Many United States soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have been unable to leave the battlefield behind them, and now an effort's underway in the Valley to help soldiers get through the court system.
Several groups are working to create a Veterans Court in Maricopa County. It would handle criminal cases involving all soldiers, but primarily it's designed to address the unique needs of combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries suffered on the battlefield.
"They haven't gone off of being on full alert," said Bill Richardson, a former Mesa police officer and Marine veteran who is behind the idea.
Retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields is spearheading the effort.
Fields said veterans face special problems.
"These are people who were civilians, signed up to be part-time warriors, if you will, but now they're full-time warriors and part-time civilians... We're trying to get basically ahead of the curve, unlike we did for Vietnam, Korea, World War II."
Fields and Richardson said the Arizona Supreme Court, Superior Court, police departments and others are on board with one exception, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
click link for more
KTAR.com - Phoenix,AZ,USA
Jim Cross/KTAR
Many United States soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have been unable to leave the battlefield behind them, and now an effort's underway in the Valley to help soldiers get through the court system.
Several groups are working to create a Veterans Court in Maricopa County. It would handle criminal cases involving all soldiers, but primarily it's designed to address the unique needs of combat veterans with post traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries suffered on the battlefield.
"They haven't gone off of being on full alert," said Bill Richardson, a former Mesa police officer and Marine veteran who is behind the idea.
Retired Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Fields is spearheading the effort.
Fields said veterans face special problems.
"These are people who were civilians, signed up to be part-time warriors, if you will, but now they're full-time warriors and part-time civilians... We're trying to get basically ahead of the curve, unlike we did for Vietnam, Korea, World War II."
Fields and Richardson said the Arizona Supreme Court, Superior Court, police departments and others are on board with one exception, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.
click link for more
Portland VA says personal info of patients posted online
Portland VA says personal info posted online
The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
11/2/2008, 3:01 p.m. PST
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Veterans Affairs officials say personal information from more than 1,500 Portland patients was mistakenly posted on a Web site.
Portland VA spokesman Mike McAleer says the breach involved patients who had stayed in local lodging at the VA's expense while undergoing treatment at the Portland VA Medical Center.
No medical information was disclosed, but some Social Security numbers were.
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The Oregonian - OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
11/2/2008, 3:01 p.m. PST
The Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Veterans Affairs officials say personal information from more than 1,500 Portland patients was mistakenly posted on a Web site.
Portland VA spokesman Mike McAleer says the breach involved patients who had stayed in local lodging at the VA's expense while undergoing treatment at the Portland VA Medical Center.
No medical information was disclosed, but some Social Security numbers were.
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Def Jam exec dies of self-inflicted gunshot, police say
Def Jam exec dies of self-inflicted gunshot, police say
Story Highlights
Shakir Stewart was found Saturday afternoon in the bathroom of his Georgia home
He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital
Police described the shooting as self-inflicted
ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- The executive who succeeded Jay-Z as the head of hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near Atlanta, police said Sunday.
Executive vice president Shakir Stewart, 34, died on Saturday, his New York-based label said in a statement.
Stewart was found Saturday afternoon in the bathroom of his home in the Atlanta suburb of Marietta, Cobb County police spokeswoman Cassie Reece said Sunday. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Police described the shooting as self-inflicted and would not say who discovered Stewart.
go here for more
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/03/defjam.suicide.ap/index.html
Five homeless shot dead in Los Angeles
Five homeless shot dead in Los Angeles
Five homeless people -- three men and two women -- were found shot dead on Sunday in Los Angeles area, a police spokesman said.
The five bodies were found under two major highways north of Long Beach, 50 kilometers south of Los Angeles, said police sergeant Dina Zapalski.
She said police were alerted to the apparent murder victims by an anonymous caller Sunday morning. She offered no additional details about the grisly discovery.
"There's two female adults and three male adults," said Los Angeles County Coroner's Office Assistant Chief Ed Winter.
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I wonder if the person or people who did this realize Christ Himself was homeless?
I CAN'T RECALL WHEN THE WORD VETERAN... CAME TO MEAN WORTHLESS FREELOADER
Subject: I CAN'T RECALL WHEN THE WORD VETERAN... CAME TO MEAN WORTHLESS FREELOADER
TO ALL VETERANS FROM AGNES M "IRISH" BRESNAHAN US ARMY CAPTAIN SICG/MI 10 SEPTEMBER 1971 TO 10 JUNE 1977
T&P SC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE STATESIDE EFFECTIVE DATE 11 JUNE 1977 SITE OF CHEMICAL EXPOSURE FORT MCCLELLAN ALA, FORT RITCHIE MD AND FORT DRUM NY DIAGONESED AT WALTER REED MEDICAL CENTER 1973.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ON TUESDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2008... VETERANS ARE VISABLE AT THE POLLING STATIONS AS VETERANS... WEAR YOUR DOG TAGS, HATS, ETC... ALL OF US MEN AND WOMEN NEED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE VETERANS VOTING... VOTING FOR WHAT WE EARNED, VOTING THAT ALL VETERANS THEIR WIDOWS/WIDOWERS CHILDREN.. ALL ERAS.. RECEIVE THE PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT AND DIGINITY OF KEEPING OUR OATH... THE US GOVERNMENT HAVE NOT KEPT THEIR PART OF THE OATH... INSTEAD DEIND EVEN BASIC MEDICAL CARE... TOO MANY OF US HAVE DIED KEEPING OUR OATH. ALL OF US WOULD PROUDLY WEAR THE MILITARY UNIFORM OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY AGAIN. WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY EVEN THOUGH THIS GOVERNMENT THOWS US AWAY.... PLEASE PLEASE... ALL BRANCHES ALL ERAS LET ANYONE WHO SEES YOU ON 4 NOVEMBER 2008 KNOWS YOU OFFERED YOUR LIFE FOR OUR COUNTRY....STAND PROUD....
I SALUTE YOU YOUR FAMILY AND CHILDREN .... AS WE WILL BE KNOWN AS THE NOBLE GENERATION.
WELCOME HOME SIMPER FI... VOTE
IRISH BRESNAHAN
Toby Keith killed PTSD video When War Comes Home Part Two
Dear NamGuardianAngel,
Video Disabled
A copyright owner has claimed it owns some or all of the audio content in your video When War Comes Home Part Two. The audio content identified in your video is Yesterday's Rain by Toby Keith. We regret to inform you that your video has been blocked from playback due to a music rights issue.
To think that when this nation faces losing more of our men and women serving this country after they come home than we do while they are deployed because of PTSD, and this man finds it necessary to have this video blocked from reaching them! What an outrage!
National Guards and Reservists are presenting with higher rates of PTSD, families are falling apart and suffering because they don't know what PTSD. They lack the proper support, educational outreach and hope more than the regular military does, and their numbers are skyrocketing as well.
I actually buy the music I use for these videos, spend countless hours looking for the right songs to reach as many different people as possible knowing everyone's taste in music is different. It takes days on end of hard work to put these videos together for the sake of all who serve and our veterans. Now I have to turn around and find someone else's music to use!
Now I get to go to the music store again, spend hours searching for a song that will mean as much, spend money I don't have buying another CD when I don't make any money off what I do. He makes a bundle. I wonder if he would work 16 hours a day for free out of love while worrying about bills I can't pay because the troops, the National Guards and Reservists, their families and our veterans need as much help as they can get?
I do all of this because I remember what it was like with my Vietnam Veteran husband were going thru all of this with absolutely no support at all, feeling alone and lost. I don't want any other family or veteran to have to go thru any of this the way we did but I guess Toby Keith just doesn't get it. No wonder Country Music Awards passed him by! He sure has the talent but I wonder if he has the heart after something like this.
The PTSD videos I do are non-political because PTSD doesn't care if you are a Democrat or a Republican. It only cares you are a human exposed to trauma. I don't know what Toby Keith's problem is when it comes to using his music on a video like this or the label that produces his CD, but I think it's pretty disgraceful that a video like this would cause them to object. You'd think they would take it as a compliment that the words in the song meant so much out of thousands that it would be selected for a video for the sake of those who serve.
To those who loved this video, I'm sorry you can no longer pass it on. I'll rework it with someone else's music and will never again use Toby Keith for any video I create. I really hope if you buy his music you consider what just happened and think twice about spending any money on his music when he just killed a PTSD video that was helping thousands of families who serve this country and need our real support.
Senior Chaplain Kathie Costos
http://www.namguardianangel.org/
http://www.woundedtimes.blogspot.com/
"The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." - George Washington
Sunday, November 2, 2008
On the Couch Online: Does Tele-Therapy Work?
Forgive me for really cutting this one down but there isn't much new in this. Online mental health help works for some but not for others. That's what this all boils down to. Mental health problems and treatments are never one size fits all. What works for some people, doesn't work for other.
When I help people understand what PTSD (which is the role I determined to stay in) the people emailing me have nothing to gain by being dishonest. I help them understand what PTSD is, support them until they are ready to go for help and then make suggestions for them to get it. I cannot diagnose them or treat them or provide medication. That is not what I do but there are some great therapists I've been posting about doing great work online. People tend to be a lot more open and honest when they aren't looking at someone face to face, but I can see how this could be a problem. When you read this article, keep and open mind and understand, what works for some doesn't work for everyone.
When I help people understand what PTSD (which is the role I determined to stay in) the people emailing me have nothing to gain by being dishonest. I help them understand what PTSD is, support them until they are ready to go for help and then make suggestions for them to get it. I cannot diagnose them or treat them or provide medication. That is not what I do but there are some great therapists I've been posting about doing great work online. People tend to be a lot more open and honest when they aren't looking at someone face to face, but I can see how this could be a problem. When you read this article, keep and open mind and understand, what works for some doesn't work for everyone.
On the Couch Online: Does Tele-Therapy Work?
By Alice Park
That's why, despite its obvious benefits, even advocates of online therapy don't consider it a substitute for in-the-flesh sessions. "Hell, no," says Dr. Alexander Obolsky, a psychiatrist at Northwestern University School of Medicine and a proponent of remote services. "Nothing is going to replace a well-trained psychiatrist providing face-to-face treatment. But it may bring a different set of patients to mental health who can benefit." Patients like the women Stark has reached. Even if the only advantage of telemental health were to bring like-suffering people together on the Web, say experts, that's an essential first step in mental healing — recognizing that you need support.
Returning troops faced the airport screening from hell
After 15 months in Iraq, servicemembers face an arduous process of returning to ‘normal’
By Heath Druzin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 3, 2008
ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait — It was midnight and home was within grasp, but after 15 months of grueling battle and fleeting sleep, the soldiers of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment now faced the airport screening from hell.
After carefully packing their bulging bags with clothes, body armor and trinkets picked up in Iraq, 305 soldiers had to empty everything for security officials who picked through shirts, underwear and socks looking for contraband. The check came between two X-ray scans and two metal detectors, a process that took about three hours.
Graffiti on the wall of the screening room summed up the grumbling of many of the bleary-eyed troops.
"The government treats me like I’m the terrorist," it read.
Staff Sgt. Douglas Reynolds mulled over what he saw as a contradiction.
"People coming from India to the United States can get into the country easier than this," he said with a resigned smile.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58578
By Heath Druzin, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Monday, November 3, 2008
ALI AL SALEM AIR BASE, Kuwait — It was midnight and home was within grasp, but after 15 months of grueling battle and fleeting sleep, the soldiers of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment now faced the airport screening from hell.
After carefully packing their bulging bags with clothes, body armor and trinkets picked up in Iraq, 305 soldiers had to empty everything for security officials who picked through shirts, underwear and socks looking for contraband. The check came between two X-ray scans and two metal detectors, a process that took about three hours.
Graffiti on the wall of the screening room summed up the grumbling of many of the bleary-eyed troops.
"The government treats me like I’m the terrorist," it read.
Staff Sgt. Douglas Reynolds mulled over what he saw as a contradiction.
"People coming from India to the United States can get into the country easier than this," he said with a resigned smile.
go here for more
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58578
John Ripley, Vietnam War hero, dies at age 69
John Ripley, Vietnam War hero, dies at age 69
Marine John Ripley dies at age 69, credited with holding off North Vietnamese tanks in 1972
AP
Nov 2, 2008
(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) Retired Marine Col. John Ripley, who was credited with stopping a column of North Vietnamese tanks by blowing up a pair of bridges during the 1972 Easter Offensive of the Vietnam War, died at home at age 69, friends and relatives said Sunday.
Ripley's son, Stephen Ripley, said his father was found at his Annapolis home Saturday after missing a speaking engagement on Friday. The son said the cause of death had not been determined but it appeared his father died in his sleep.
In a videotaped interview with the U.S. Naval Institute for its Americans at War program, Ripley said he and about 600 South Vietnamese were ordered to "hold and die" against 20,000 North Vietnamese soldiers with about 200 tanks.
"I'll never forget that order, 'hold and die'," Ripley said. The only way to stop the enormous force with their tiny force was to destroy the bridge, he said.
"The idea that I would be able to even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous," Ripley said. "When you know you're not going to make it, a wonderful thing happens: You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save your butt."
Ripley crawled under the bridge under heavy gunfire, rigging 500 pounds of explosives that brought the twins spans down, said John Miller, a former Marine adviser in Vietnam and the author of "The Bridge at Dong Ha," which details the battle.
go here for more
http://www.newsweek.com/id/167102
Colonel John W. Ripley is a revered Marine Corps legend, one of the most decorated Marines of the Vietnam War and an acclaimed authority on performance under extreme adversity. Col. Ripley, a U.S. Marine combat commander, who also commanded the British Royal Marine Commandos in combat, single-handedly blew up the Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam, thus blunting the largest North Vietnamese Army offensive (the 1972 Easter Offensive) of the Vietnam War. His heroic action at Dong Ha Bridge was chosen to memorialize and symbolize the entire history of all Naval Academy graduates who fought in that war, dramatized by a diorama in the Academy's memorial hall entitled "Ripley at the Bridge."
Marine John Ripley dies at age 69, credited with holding off North Vietnamese tanks in 1972
AP
Nov 2, 2008
(ANNAPOLIS, Md.) Retired Marine Col. John Ripley, who was credited with stopping a column of North Vietnamese tanks by blowing up a pair of bridges during the 1972 Easter Offensive of the Vietnam War, died at home at age 69, friends and relatives said Sunday.
Ripley's son, Stephen Ripley, said his father was found at his Annapolis home Saturday after missing a speaking engagement on Friday. The son said the cause of death had not been determined but it appeared his father died in his sleep.
In a videotaped interview with the U.S. Naval Institute for its Americans at War program, Ripley said he and about 600 South Vietnamese were ordered to "hold and die" against 20,000 North Vietnamese soldiers with about 200 tanks.
"I'll never forget that order, 'hold and die'," Ripley said. The only way to stop the enormous force with their tiny force was to destroy the bridge, he said.
"The idea that I would be able to even finish the job before the enemy got me was ludicrous," Ripley said. "When you know you're not going to make it, a wonderful thing happens: You stop being cluttered by the feeling that you're going to save your butt."
Ripley crawled under the bridge under heavy gunfire, rigging 500 pounds of explosives that brought the twins spans down, said John Miller, a former Marine adviser in Vietnam and the author of "The Bridge at Dong Ha," which details the battle.
go here for more
http://www.newsweek.com/id/167102
Colonel John W. Ripley is a revered Marine Corps legend, one of the most decorated Marines of the Vietnam War and an acclaimed authority on performance under extreme adversity. Col. Ripley, a U.S. Marine combat commander, who also commanded the British Royal Marine Commandos in combat, single-handedly blew up the Dong Ha bridge in Vietnam, thus blunting the largest North Vietnamese Army offensive (the 1972 Easter Offensive) of the Vietnam War. His heroic action at Dong Ha Bridge was chosen to memorialize and symbolize the entire history of all Naval Academy graduates who fought in that war, dramatized by a diorama in the Academy's memorial hall entitled "Ripley at the Bridge."
He is the subject of dozens of books and the recipient of a host of honors, including the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two awards of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars with Combat "V," a Purple Heart and the Cross of Gallantry. He and one other Marine share the distinction of more combat experience than any other active duty Marine. He has held professorships at The Naval Academy, Virginia Military Institute and Oregon State.
He served as Director of Marine Corps History and Director of the Marine Corps Historical Center. Col. Ripley has served before the Justice Department and on a Presidential Commission as an expert witness on women in combat. He is regularly asked to testify before both Houses of Congress and is called to address the FBI regularly on issues related to the military. A renowned authority on gound combat, he has appeared on national networks FOX, CNBC and CNN and is often quoted in the National Review. He is also a highly sought-after speaker before professional audiences as an expert in combat leadership, high performance and the value of humanities, classics and liberal arts in corporate life.
Lieberman calls McCain "Independent" over and over again?
McCain rally in Peterborough NH is on CNN. Liebermann just introduced McCain and said McCain was a "true Independent" over and over and over again. When did McCain switch parties? Why is it in the last few months McCain is suddenly ashamed of being a Republican when he supported the party with all his heart and soul all the other years before? Shocking! Wonder if Cheney wants to take his endorsement back? No I don't think so because Cheney knows, Halliburton wins if McCain wins. All the defense contactors win if McCain does, but the troops, the people they send to war don't have the same kind of support and neither do the veterans. One more thing that is standing out is the faces in the small crowd. McCain talks about brining people together but the lack of diversity at his rallies show he can't even get a diverse group together at a rally so it's very unlikely he can get anyone together on anything.
He talked about Stevens being convicted but didn't mention his name or the fact he's the Senator from Alaska and a Palin pal. He attacked Congress, as usual, as if he had no part in any of it.
He talked about regulatory bodies, even though he's been against all of them, yet again, acting as if he had nothing to do with it.
McCain stumbled over every sentence he had to say, stuttering and trying to figure out what that next word was supposed to be.
He talked about Reagan working with Tip O'Neil to fix social security, then he said it was his record? Ok, so how did that work out to be his record?
"We cannot raise anyone's taxes in a bad economy" but he doesn't say a single word about how he is supposed to pay for anything that has to be fixed or to pay for what they blew or to help out the middle class that has been suffering all these years.
"I've always put my country first" but he picked Palin without thinking about what the country deserved. He only thought about himself.
Q & A
Honest elections question from woman
"Concerned by reports from the media" he then brought up Acorn and Mickey Mouse, even though none of the fake applications will bring in any votes. Said FBI is conducting and investigation.
Economic crisis question by man on stock market loss and taxes
"I don't think there's any doubt there's affects in decreased revenue." He then said he wants to "scrub" every agency.
"7 years 40% increase in the size of government." Which he voted for every single one of them.
"Immigration is a federal responsibility" temporary worker program, drug cartels just as dangerous as illegal immigration. "These are God's children and need to be handled in a humane way."
Man was talking about "One" volunteers and Bono. Crowd did not look to impressed.
Man said McCain took unfiltered questions unlike another candidate and McCain let him get away with that even though Obama takes all questions. Ask "Joe the Plumber"
Energy question. He talked about coal and nuclear power. He didn't say anything about "drill baby drill."
Tax credit question for green businesses.
"Federal buildings need to be energy efficient." Tax credits for businesses.
"50% tax increase on small businesses will be done by my opponent."
College student question on student loans.
"Give break on paying back loans" Didn't McCain vote against grants for student loans?
Education question was asked McCain said No Child Left Behind was not funded, then switched the question over to autism and brought up Palin saying she would take that over.
All in all, not great for the GOP when suddenly McCain wants to avoid being linked to any of them.
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live_asx.html?stream=stream3
He talked about Stevens being convicted but didn't mention his name or the fact he's the Senator from Alaska and a Palin pal. He attacked Congress, as usual, as if he had no part in any of it.
He talked about regulatory bodies, even though he's been against all of them, yet again, acting as if he had nothing to do with it.
McCain stumbled over every sentence he had to say, stuttering and trying to figure out what that next word was supposed to be.
He talked about Reagan working with Tip O'Neil to fix social security, then he said it was his record? Ok, so how did that work out to be his record?
"We cannot raise anyone's taxes in a bad economy" but he doesn't say a single word about how he is supposed to pay for anything that has to be fixed or to pay for what they blew or to help out the middle class that has been suffering all these years.
"I've always put my country first" but he picked Palin without thinking about what the country deserved. He only thought about himself.
Q & A
Honest elections question from woman
"Concerned by reports from the media" he then brought up Acorn and Mickey Mouse, even though none of the fake applications will bring in any votes. Said FBI is conducting and investigation.
Economic crisis question by man on stock market loss and taxes
"I don't think there's any doubt there's affects in decreased revenue." He then said he wants to "scrub" every agency.
"7 years 40% increase in the size of government." Which he voted for every single one of them.
Illegal immigration question from woman
"Immigration is a federal responsibility" temporary worker program, drug cartels just as dangerous as illegal immigration. "These are God's children and need to be handled in a humane way."
Man was talking about "One" volunteers and Bono. Crowd did not look to impressed.
Man said McCain took unfiltered questions unlike another candidate and McCain let him get away with that even though Obama takes all questions. Ask "Joe the Plumber"
Energy question. He talked about coal and nuclear power. He didn't say anything about "drill baby drill."
Tax credit question for green businesses.
"Federal buildings need to be energy efficient." Tax credits for businesses.
"50% tax increase on small businesses will be done by my opponent."
College student question on student loans.
"Give break on paying back loans" Didn't McCain vote against grants for student loans?
Education question was asked McCain said No Child Left Behind was not funded, then switched the question over to autism and brought up Palin saying she would take that over.
All in all, not great for the GOP when suddenly McCain wants to avoid being linked to any of them.
http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live_asx.html?stream=stream3
Vermont State Police need help after National Guardsman was attacked
Assault at Guard firing range investigated
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 2, 2008 10:37:48 EST
JERICHO, Vt. — Police are looking for two suspects who allegedly assaulted a Vermont Army National Guardsman at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho.
Police say 23-year-old Jordan Paquette of St. Albans was assigned to keep trespassers off the firing range while drills were taking place on Saturday when two men in dark clothing approached the post around 6 p.m.
Police say when he asked them to stop and identify themselves, they refused and assaulted him. Paquette received minor injuries.
The two men then fled.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_guard_assault_110208/
The Associated Press
Posted : Sunday Nov 2, 2008 10:37:48 EST
JERICHO, Vt. — Police are looking for two suspects who allegedly assaulted a Vermont Army National Guardsman at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho.
Police say 23-year-old Jordan Paquette of St. Albans was assigned to keep trespassers off the firing range while drills were taking place on Saturday when two men in dark clothing approached the post around 6 p.m.
Police say when he asked them to stop and identify themselves, they refused and assaulted him. Paquette received minor injuries.
The two men then fled.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_guard_assault_110208/
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