Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, U.S. Third Army commander, pins the Silver Star on Private Ernest A. Jenkins of New York City for his conspicuous gallantry in the liberation of Chateaudun, France. October 13, 1944

Photo Story and Quotes

A local Army pilot has earned one of the nation's highest military honors for saving more than three dozen of his fellow troops during violent combat in Afghanistan. Captain Matthew Kaplan, a 2001 graduate of Lakota West High School, has been awarded the distinguished Flying Cross for what the Army calls tremendous valor, tactical skill, and leadership ... actions which directly saved the lives of 37 U.S. soldiers.

Matt Kaplan's father served in Vietnam, his grandfather was at Guadalcanal in World War Two, and Matt's parents could tell that, even at a young age, Matt wanted to be in the military. It's not unusual for a mom to have pictures of her son on the office wall or on her computer. But not every mom has pictures of a son who has won the distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in combat.

Kaplan is a helicopter pilot. Last October, he was stationed in Afghanistan and ended up leading a rescue support mission at what a British journalist described as one of the most dangerous places in the war
Combat outpost Keating was overrun by Taliban insurgents on October 3rd. Captain Kaplan gave up his fully operational helicopter to another crew, and flew a damaged aircraft to the rescue, frequently putting his chopper between enemy fire and other helicopters evacuating American soldiers.

Knowing he didn't have a fully functional helicopter or weapons system, Captain Kaplan flew in and saved 37 lives.

Well Done Captain Kaplan !

Soldiers Surprising Their Loved Ones: PART TWO

Please visit the Welcome Home Site

http://www.welcomehomeblog.com/

PVT Eric Shipp

US Army

1997

My youngest Son~Eric

December 1997

US Army

Ft. Leonard Wood

http://www.nragive.com/ringoffreedom/index.html

As we enter this weekend lets remember what Memorial Day stands for ........Thank you to the men and women who served and who serve our country!

Today is Armed Forces Day

Please Honor Our Troops

My Grandson~Airborne Ranger (Joey Shipp) deploys for Afghanistan this Friday

See Something ~ Say Something

T-Shirt vendor/Vietnam Vet-Duane Jackson,  in NYC, saw something and spoke up; 

 This is what it is all about America !

 ~Terrorism Awareness and Prevention ~

Early Sunday morning, Gov. David Paterson issued a statement commending the police department.

"Tonight, we owe an incredible debt of gratitude to the heroic actions of the New York City Police Department and to a single vigilant New Yorker who identified a suspicious vehicle near Times Square in New York City," he said.
This Bloggers Comment:
The Mayor and Police Chief stated that they are investigating this as a Terrorist Act;  Guess what, Any time someone attempts to or completes an act of fear, intimidation, injury, or death, it is Terrorism.  Terrorism come in all forms, it does not have to be a Muslim. 
Mr. Duane Jackson~Vietnam Vet;  Thank You, You are a true "American" Hero !

Corporal Matthew Bradford is sworn in by Lt. Col. David Barnes as he re-enlists in the Marines at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas April 7, 2010. Tom Reel/Staff
He has no legs and no eyesight, but Marine Cpl. Matthew Bradford has four more years of military service ahead of him after becoming the first blind double-amputee to re-enlist.
The rifleman was injured in January 2007 in Iraq when a roadside bomb exploded right under him.
But after years at the Center for the Intrepid, a privately funded, cutting-edge rehabilitation center, Bradford, 23, has learned to walk with prosthetic limbs and navigate without his vision, and he only regrets that he can’t return to combat duty in Iraq, the paper reported.
Instead the Kentucky native will head to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he will work with other wounded Marines in hopes of helping them cope with anger, depression and other issues.
"I'm paving the road for the rest of them who want to stay in but think they can't," he told the Express-News. "I'm ready to get back to work."

If you are ashamed to stand by your colors, you had better seek another flag

A man's feet must be planted in his country, but his eyes should survey the world.


George Santayana

God Bless Our Finest ..!!

God Bless The U.S.A.

Spent a wonderful weekend at Ft. Benning, Ga. with my Grandson (Airborne Ranger) Joseph Shipp, his Mom and Dad (Toby and Cathy), and his Sister (Catie).

The 75th Ranger Regiment, composed of three Ranger battalions, is the premier light-infantry unit of the United States Army. Headquartered at Fort Benning, Ga., the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. The three Ranger battalions that comprise the 75th Ranger Regiment are geographically dispersed. Their locations are:

lst Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash.
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.

• Joey has now been assigned to the 1st. Battalion and will be transferring to Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah Ga. on Tuesday.

The Army maintains the Regiment at a high level of readiness. Each battalion can deploy anywhere in the world with 18 hours notice. Because of the importance the Army places on the 75th Ranger Regiment, it must possess a number of capabilities.

These capabilities include:

Infiltrating and exfiltrating by land, sea and air
Conducting direct action operations
Conducting raids
Recovery of personnel and special equipment
Conducting conventional or special light-infantry operations

Blogging from Ft. Benning today.
This proud Grandfather is spending the weekend with my Grandson, Airborne Ranger Joseph Shipp.

Bellevue icon Jeff James dies at 54

BELLEVUE - There was no bigger Bellevue High School sports fanatic than Jeffrey Lee James. For 37 years, he charged onto the field as head manager of Tiger football.

"Bellevue has truly lost an icon in the passing of Jeff James," Bellevue Independent Schools Superintendent Wayne Starnes said. "There is no doubt he was loved and respected by the entire learning community of Bellevue."
The school will show its appreciation when it opens the Ben Flora Gymnasium for James' visitation from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday. A funeral follows the visitation, with interment at Highland Cemetery.
James, 54, formerly of Bellevue, died Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Florence.
He was an inspiration because he never allowed his Down syndrome to be an obstacle, said Starnes, who first met James as an assistant football coach in 1977.
James was embraced by subsequent coaches and witnessed his team win several state championships. He was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.
A scholarship fund was established in his name in 2005.
Bellevue Mayor Jack Meyer said James also earned the respect of residents. He said James' mother, Jill Freppon James, included him in all activities.
"Ms. James was ahead of her time," Meyer said. "She mainstreamed Jeff before people knew what mainstreaming was. It was unique back then to see people with Down syndrome to be as involved as Jeff was in the community."
He marched in the Bellevue-Dayton Memorial Day parade with city council members for more than 25 years. James was chosen as an honorary mayor and also earned a proclamation for "Jeff James" day in Bellevue.
Meyer said he was motivated by James' strong work ethic. He worked for New Perceptions of Edgewood for 35 years.
"He was as much of a support and friend to us as we were to him," said Bob Ryan of New Perceptions, a non-profit serving people with disabilities in Northern Kentucky. "After so many years, he became part of our family."
After burial Saturday at Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, there will be a reception at Bellevue Vets, where James celebrated his 50th birthday.
"There was an Elvis impersonator," Ryan said. "Jeff was an avid Elvis fan. Needless to say, he got up and helped Elvis sing his own songs."
Survivors include his mother and brothers, Greg James of Highland Heights and Chris James of Cincinnati.
Dobbling, Muehlenkamp-Erschell Funeral Home, Bellevue, is handling arrangements.
Memorials: New Perceptions Inc., 1 Sperti Drive, Edgewood, KY 41017; or Bellevue High School, c/o Jeff James Scholarship Fund, 201 Center St., Bellevue, KY 41073.

Thanks Jeff, You helped prove that:  "This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in"

God Bless You Jeff