Rest In Peace Sir!

Sergeant

Jeffrey Wayne Greene

Killed today in what appears to be a freak accident. 

RIP Sir and thank you for your service to my community. 

Independence Day REPOST

Today marks the founding of our Country. Brigid comments on the sacrifice of many for us to be who we are as a Nation.

For me today was somewhat therapeutic. Remembering those that gave all. How sad that the politically correct term for today is now "the 4th of July" instead of what it is. A turn away from tyranny won with blood.

So I finished up on this:

This mark is the Imperial Japanese chrysanthemum. It was placed on this rifle to state that it was the personal property of the Emperor. Much like the Enfield that bore the mark of the Crown. 

It is interesting to note that this battle rifle had the mark of a person upon it, an allegiance to one man. This one does not.

The M1 Garand nomenclature bears no mark of a person, just a Nation. Simply put it says: "US Rifle".

My friends that gave me the Japanese battle rifle sent me an Email today: " I gave my Uncle a little heaven shout out this morning in honor of the 4th and his time served to this country". That is where it came from. The "mum" is not defaced, meaning that the rifle was not formally surrendered, some young man brought it back from horrible places and the worst of times. 

Let us never forget.  

More commentary on the M1 here.   

USS Laffey (DD-724) Work Party!

From the USS Laffey Association:

"ALL HANDS:

We are booked on the Yorktown for our fall work party.

Arrival date: Sunday October 19. Compartment available after 0900.

Depart date: Saturday October 25.

Please let me know if you plan to attend so I can keep track of how many will be there.

Sonny Walker

soncher724@verizon.net"

 

 I don't know if work will allow this or not, but I'm going to try!

I Have a Surveillance Drone!

So guess what is going down range tomorrow for some live fire video?  This thing that sports an HD camera that stores to a USB drive on board.  It is controlled via iPhone, iPad, or Android device. This is a AR Drone.  I took it outside today, but no USB video was captured.  There is a specific boot up procedure I was not following.  Further testing after dark in stately manor however was rewarded with this. 




It appears that Pearl Harbor was bombed today.  I have some video.




This was from the range parking lot!  I really had a hard time moving here over 20 years ago.  I missed the "City".  Guess what. After watching B-24's, P-51's, C-47's and almost any other vintage aircraft from my porch, the range, filling my car up, for once a year I am really happy to be here!  




 

  

Indeed!

They serve too.

Friends. Does not matter if two legged or four. They are priceless.

All Hands!

Another warrior from the USS Laffey (DD-724) has gone to his final rest.

Obituary posted on the USS Laffey Association Website here.

Funeral will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery Administration Building, 1:00PM, 29 June 2012

Godspeed and requiescat in pace Captain. Thank you for your service to this Nation. 

Many have posted on it....

The USS Laffey DD-724 is home. I look forward to seeing her again. I was not able to get down there. Here is the E-mail from the President of the USS Laffey Association:

ALL HANDS:

THE LAFFEY IS HOME.

I was called to do a 0630 "live" news interview on channel 4. When I parked my car at Pats Point channel 2 news grabbed me for an interview. It was great, even before the sun came up.

The sun DID come up and it was a beautiful, clear day.

It was a very emotional time, watching her from the flight deck of the Yorktown. She was out in the channel and looking good and it brought tears to everyone's eyes.

As she was passing under the bow of the Yorktown I called Joe Folino....it was 0530 in California......and we cried

together. It was a beautiful thing.

They finally got her docked about 0900. The old girl took to her new home and looked very proud to be "FRONT AND CENTER" on display on the main pier. She is the first ship you see in front of the Yorktown.

The news media was all over the flight deck interviewing various shipmates. Associated Press, Channel 2 news Charleston, Channesl 4 and 5 Charleston, The Patch of Mt. Pleasant, Mount Peasant Magazine, and many other independents.

Lee Hunt was our only WWII vet here. He stayed on the pier to watch the arrival and was interviewed after the ship was tied up.

Mac Burdette supplied us with little air horns and a champagne toast. Everyone tooted the horns and toasted the arrival from the flight deck of the Yorktown.

Check out Yahoo news, USA Today website and the news stations in Charleston's websites for the videos and still pix of the move.

Everyone in town has been so excited about this move. We were congratulated everywhere we went.

Did I say that it was a beautiful thing???

I want to thank Mac Burdette, Bob Howard and the entire staff at Patriots Point for saving the "SHIP THAT WOULD NOT DIE" One More Time!!!

Be proud to be a Laffey Sailor today.

We are all heading home tomorrow.

We are emotionally drained and have to go to bed....it 10 PM........what a wild bunch.

Love you all.

Sonny

USS Laffey UPDATE! She is coming home!

ATTENTION ALL HANDS:

THE LAFFEY WILL BE RETURNING TO PATRIOTS POINT THE SECOND WEEK OF JANUARY, 2012.

 

The bad news is.....due to USCG Regs, we will not be allowed to ride her home. But ... WHO CARES....THE SHIP WILL BE BACK AND OPENED TO THE PUBLIC.

 

She is going to be put where the Clamagore is now. They are pulling the sub out and putting her where the INGHAM was and the LAFFEY will now be front and center for all to see.

 

This operation will take a few days to complete. They have to remove a section of the pier, pull the shub out and pull the Laffey back into that berth. This means cutting all power, water, internet connections and sewer connections to the Yorktown. This will shut down Patriots Point during that period. People will be allowed to watch from the shore.

 

Further details to follow.

Sonny Walker

President

Thanks

To all the Veterans out there I want to express my humblest  thanks for what you did and still do!

Especially to my family members that served:

I don't know if it is more appropriate to thank whoever brought these items back now or Memorial Day, but thanks.

If you are still active duty I hope you don't see a lot of these on a regular basis:

Again my thanks to all that took the oath and wore the uniform!

USS Laffey

Many have asked why I post about her. The answer is simple. I visited her several years ago. I was impressed by the story of her. The most devastating Kamikaze attack on a single ship ever. She served a long time. She was in good shape cosmetically. I came to know that was because of the "work parties", veterans that volunteer to clean, paint, and maintain her to this day. I joined the Association.

I have conversed with Ari and others who served on her.   I am humbled to be in the presence of these Men, even on this electronic media.

Thank you Sir!

From the president of the USS Laffey (DD-724) Association sad news. Brigid also has an excellent post about this.

ALL HANDS:

We have lost another of our WWII heroes.

On November 14, 2010 another plankowner has passed.

George Rusk WT3, Plankowner and survivor of Okinawa has moved on to join his shipmates. George was 90 years old.

Please remember him in your prayers and thoughts.

George will be honored at our memorial service at the reunion in Savannah.

Sonny

Fair seas and following winds Sailor. Your service will not be forgotten!

Memorial Day

I cannot by my own talents compare with B.'s talent as well as others with the written word. I can however offer this. It brought me to tears. Remember always.

Armed Forces Day

Link to Operation Resolve and the Honor Flight. God bless them and all that serve this great country.

News from DD-724 USS Laffey

Again a hero has passed:

"It is my sad duty to inform you of the passing of another hero.
William "Bill" Schmidt MM2, Plankowner and survivor of Okinawa passed away on March 13, 2011.
Our sympathy goes out to Rita and her family. 
Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Sonny Walker
President"

Fair winds and following seas Sailor. Your service will always be remembered.  

From the USS Laffey Association

Sad news indeed. The passing of a plankowner of DD-724:

"I am so sorry to pass this information but, our shipmate Glen Radder has been transferred to the ULTIMATE DUTY STATION.
After a long illness, Glen passed away this morning, March 28. 
Glen loved the Laffey and all of his shipmates.
Tom, Glen's son, called me this morning and told me that Glen was resting beneath a his Laffey wall display and alongside was his Laffey coffee cup that he used every morning.
Glen was a true Laffey sailor. He always had a smile on his face and spread good times wherever he went.
I had the honor of knowing Glen after I joined the association. We had a lot of good talks at reunions and a work party that he attended aboard the ship. I shall miss Glen a lot, as will his shipmates. 
Tom told me this morning that Glen has joined many of his shipmates and he knows there is a big party planned. Glen will probably read some of his poems.........???
Please remember Glen and his family in your prayers. 

Sonny Walker
President"

Fair winds and following seas sailor. Thank you for your service...

They fought for us.....

Veterans Day

A moving video from the NRA. Thanks to all that have served.

Air Show!

Warriors and Warbirds Air show here today. Got to watch a lot of it from my porch! Beautiful Fall day for this and they will do it again tomorrow. The Tora, Tora, Tora show was here and they really put on a great show, see them if you get a chance!

Here are some snippets, sorry for the quality, this came from my PhD camera (push here dummy).



Oh, look! 2 of the 4 P-51 Mustangs at the show showing their stuff!




And yes that is a B-25 on the Tarmac.

Great fun!

Here is a recreation of sounding of General Quarters on an AA gun on the USS Kidd.



Veterans Day is this Thursday, go thank one!

Very moving story

I can't believe this was on CBS. How very touching to see it. When the elderly woman was presented with the flag, I lost it. God bless Marvin!