Hmmm

Is it just me, or is this not even remotely cute?:

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Damn

As I've written many times, the wounded servicemen and women who come back from war and conquer their gargantuan new challenges are an inspiration, a testament to the human spirit. A reminder that much of what we do and don't do is "all in our heads."

We celebrate those who successfully conquer physical challenges and remake their lives in defiance of supposed "limitations." When we see how far they've come we start to breathe easier, believe that they really are the lucky ones, settle into looking forward to a future instead of worrying about survival in the present, cheer them as they reach back to help those who are walking the same path.

They are the success stories, our bittersweet joys amid all the war and suffering.

Ryan Job was one of those guys. Which just makes this all the worse:

Blinded by a sniper's bullet in Iraq, Ryan Job retained his characteristic determination and persistence. He climbed Mount Rainier, trained for a triathlon and became a spokesman for an organization that helps wounded veterans transition to civilian life.

"He didn't back down from any challenge," said a friend, Tyler Lein, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mr. Job, who grew up in Issaquah, died Thursday morning after major reconstructive surgery at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix. He was 28.

When he was blinded in 2006, his fellow SEALS and milblog connections reached out to ask Valour-IT to speed a laptop to him, knowing that as a real "go-getter" he'd have a very hard time accepting the slow pace of learning to function as a blind man. We were happy to oblige--I remember emailing back and forth to secure entrance to his hospital room for our SA representative.

I never met him, but his name meant something to me and this news pierced my heart. A double loss--first to the SEALs, and then to his fellow wounded warriors and the rest of us.

By all indications, we were blessed to have him for at least a little while. But it's never enough.


My thoughts and prayers for his family, who are dealing with the horrifying shock of finding that instead of cheating death in 2006, he had merely received a brief reprieve.

I'm reminded once again that the world isn't fair. Damn.

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Commander in Chief

I suppose part of why I'm not blogging right now is that the big military-related issue right now is Afghanistan, and it's a political snake pit. I hate writing about politics.

But a couple of other people have been saying it well without turning into the raving, foaming-at-the-mouth lunatic I'd be if I started on the topic...

Marine Wife Cassandra: Take Your Time, Mr. President

Retired Naval Officer Lex: Walk Back

Former Marine and current military/foreign policy analyst Steve Schippert had a couple of very pointed Tweets today:

On the news that Biden is offering a different plan for Afghanistan (Reportedly Obama's had ONE meeting on the topic since he received McChrystal/Petraeus' report on August 1) -- Mr. President, it's essentially come down to Petraeus or Biden on war, insurgecy, terror. You're pondering what, exactly?

After Obama's speech to the UN, followed by Netanyahu's defense of Israel before the same body -- Dear Mr. President, Please study Bibi Netanyahu to learn how a leader speaks of the nation he leads. Remedial classes available @ office.

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Alive

I'm still here... I think.

I just really don't have anything military-related to say these days. And I hate how I've been making this blog about me instead of the troops. Thing is, I spend all my day doing troop-related stuff, and I feel like my life has been kind of interesting lately, so my ego would rather talk about me than about them.

This is just embarrassing. This blog used to be something--used to have meaningful things to say, used to be read by people with reach and power, used to have impact.

Ugh. Don't know what I'm going to do about this...

In the meantime, go read some people worth reading--like the Greyhawks, Cassandra, John, Pinch, Salamander, Maryann... Just click on one of them and keep scrolling.

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Here

I've been on vacation, but fighting mild migraines (yes, there is such a thing, fortunately). I wanted to write about John and his father, but I can't wrap my hurting head around it.

In the meantime, read this:

Some people talk about how brave or heroic this attitude is, but for me it is simply practical. I refuse to let this keep me from living my life to the fullest, and you would too. It's not heroic, it's realistic. I admit, I look forward to moving through this adventure with others who are traveling the same path that I am. Thus far, many have helped me and guided me, and I look forward to inspiring future wounded Soldiers. Leadership doesn't stop at the hospital door.

It's what I was talking about here:

They're inspirational, not because they have it so hard (they do) and succeed in spite of it (they often do), but because they are proof of the indomitable human spirit, a living lesson for all who struggle and fight, a reminder that regardless of your circumstances, life really is what you make of it.

John, you've been on my mind.

Now to go lay down, as I am obviously not made of the same stuff as our wounded warriors.

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Dropping Off the Kids

This time of year, doting parents are seeing their kids off to the first day of school. Many of those with young adults are leaving their dear ones in the rear view mirror and wondering how their how their kids will do at college so far away from home...

This past week? The president addressed a joint session of Congress, the war in Afghanistan took an evil turn, throngs converged on Washington to protest the vast new expansion of the federal government, and yours truly missed it all, absorbed in an even bigger event: the departure of a child for college.

Every year it happens to tens of thousands of parents. This year, it happened to us.

But there's another group saying goodybe, too...

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Dammit!

Today I wasn't going ot mention the links below. I didn't want to make this political.

But just now I turned on the radio and they used brief excerpts of news reports from 9-11-01 as a lead-in to the local talk show. Those sounds still chill me, make my stomach turn and my hair stand on end... they still make me cry. Because I'm the kind of girl who cries when anger becomes overwhelming, and those sounds are still a sudden blast of fuel to that pilot light of righteous anger in my soul.

I keep thinking the heat of memory will be a little cooler each year, but no, it isn't.

Apparently others don't have the same reaction. But then again, to them it was just a "tragedy..." almost an accident... a crime.

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The National Squadron

Over at Lex's house, a commenter had a fascinating analogy to explain and illuminate the meaning of the congressman who shouted out in anger (frustration?) during Obama's speech last night. He compares it to the subtleties of leadership and chain of command (two very different things) in a naval aviation squadron, and what happens when the lower levels rebel:

So, it is like a squadron. If the troops ever think the CO thinks he is better than them, that his job is to command, and their job is to shut up and do what he says, then don’t be surprised when it grinds to a halt. There has to be mutual respect – a recognition that while the jobs and responsibilities may be different, they are all valuable, and everyone deserves to be listened to, respected, and appreciated.

That’s where we are — the line, av/arm, and a/c divisions are all convinced. Admin, CMC and the ready room are on board, and cheering. Those closest to the front office are ebullient, but downstairs they are pissed — and since the CO went straight from first cruise to the front office, he is occludo. Wilson is just "AD3 Jones" — a lower impulse control level than most, willing to say what many others were thinking. The CO doesn’t realize, and frankly doesn’t care, that Jones is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bingo.

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9-11-09

Today my biggest worry is that the ant scouting party in my kitchen is the harbinger of a third full-scale insect assault in 10 days.

For that lightly-borne concern, I owe a lot of people more than could ever be adequately expressed, much less repaid. Exactly eight years ago, my worries were a lot more primal.

Some of our heroes fell that day, but those who remain have proven over and over again they are cut from that same cloth of courage, audacity, perseverance and pure sheepdog protectiveness--I discovered yesterday that my new "adopted soldier" is a 31-year-old infantryman bearing the rank of Specialist, an indication that he enlisted relatively recently at an older age than most. On the strong backs and valiant hearts of him and his brothers, both civilian and military, we live today.

We are very blessed.

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Another One

Is it possible to be a mentally-healthy female AND a misogynist?

Between this and this and this, and now this, I could easily end up hating most of my sex. At the very least, if this is a true representation of a majority of women these days, I certainly better-understand the attitudes of some of the men I encounter...

From relieving boredom, to keeping the peace or curing a headache, women have sex for many reasons but romance and passion come rather low on the list, a new book has revealed. [snip]

"Research has shown most men find most women at least somewhat sexually attractive, whereas most women do not find most men sexually attractive at all," Why Women Have Sex authors Cindy Meston and David Buss said.

--AND--

...84 per cent admitting to having sex just to ensure a quiet life or to bargain for household chores. One woman said: "I have sex to relieve the boredom because it's easier than fighting. Plus it gives me something to do."

I'm struck with a mixture of pity and horror... and gratitude that I'm apparently wired differently than those 84 percent. I'm sure every relationship has its rough spots, but that last quote in particular speaks to a kind of emotional torpor and lifeless relationships that are utterly tragic for those involved. If this study really is a window into the majority of male-female "romantic" or spousal relationships, I'm surprised the suicide rate isn't higher. Seriously, how do people maintain their self-worth in that kind of relationship?

Yikes!

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Sunday Funnies*

Yes, the title is shamelessly stolen from CDR Salamander. Hey, it's a good one!

Somewhere in my surfing yesterday, stumbled into the vast store of funny videos created by America's military service members. Some of it is downright dangerous--warning: don't search some various of "bored soldier" on YouTube. You'll come up with some funny but very "scary" stuff.

Here's what happens when soldiers get bored while their leaders are meeting with the locals. According to the poster, no one ever knew they were being "shadowed."

This one is interesting on its own, but the title is the kicker. When I was the age of the youngest of those in this video, guys like that were just annoying. Now let's just say I've changed my mind... As often happens at the USO, when I watch this video I am reminded of playful, rambunctious, enthusiastic puppies. And how can you not love puppies?:



What do you say about guys who, especially when they're bored, think it's fun to find out how/if they can hurt each other in creative and unusual ways? There's something programmed into the male mind to do this kind of stupid thing. I don't understand it in the least, but I also know that there's a flip side to that very characteristic it that enables them do the great things they do that require creativity, courage and tenacity. I'm also reminded that a bored young man is one of the world's most dangerous creatures. Often to himself (language alert):



And just in case you thought mechanized infantry types were all masculine tough guys... (His buddy's expressions are just priceless. How scary is it that he knows all the words?).



Finally, I stumbled across this gold-standard of modern aircraft carrier squadron videos again, for the first time since I was overnight on a carrier. It's an awesome video on it's own, but it's so cool to look at it now and have that flash of familiarity--"Oh! I understand where that scene was shot, now!" I can't stop grinning while I watch.

Anyway, enjoy:

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APpalling

That's what the SECDEF called it, and that's powerful language for someone in his position.

Others are thoroughly documenting this repugnant story, so just allow me to add that the argument that publication was justified because it "shows the truth of war," more clearly than otherwise is ridiculous (that was reportedly the photographer's justification: to get people to "think about the war").

It doesn't take a photo that adds additional distress to families to understand the "truth" of war. We see the truth in the tear-stained faces of families tenderly touching a flag-covered casket as it is lowered into the ground, we hear it in the voices of friends who watched their brothers fall, we feel it in our stomachs when we contemplate another parent who has outlived their child or another girl who will grow up without a father (something I know a bit about myself). Anyone who thinks it takes a photo to bring home "the truth," is lacking some basic skills in empathy and general humanity.

The AP's publication of this photo was gratuitous and--considering that they showed it to the family beforehand to get a reaction--heartless.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, Mudville Gazette has all the details.

UPDATE: Army veteran John says it well.

The AP defended itself in that it decided to make the image public anyway because it “conveys the grimness of war and the sacrifice of young men and women fighting it.”

Because, of course, none of us understand that, apparently, and they felt the need to share, because, well, we're uninformed, donchaknow.

From Marine wife Cassandra, another who says it better than I:

Oh, but you see that is different. Journalists, unlike Marine Lance Corporals and their grieving families, are real people (not tools to be used to further your political agenda). Those of us who are shocked and grieved beyond measure by the callous and cynical exploitation of a young man who died in the service of his country will no doubt be comforted to know that the Fourth Estate, unlike public servants, need not obey the rules of common decency that govern the rest of humanity.

A military mother speaks from the heart (received by email):

No parent should ever be subjected to the cruelty of the photo. That may not have been her intent, but that (to me) was the effect. Isn't it bad enough that this young man is dead? Wasn't it enough that those parents had to answer the door? And not only is that dead Marine subject to the disgust and contempt and ridicule of some in the world (one would be more than he deserved), his death is being used to undermine the very thing he died for! And who the hell is the so-called journalist to decide that??

Now, if she wants to volunteer to stand in front of a gun and die to make the point, and have HER death photo published, I'm sure I can find a s***load of volunteers to help her!

A commenter at Neptunus Lex (a woman who viewed WWII through adult eyes) offers an insightful observation:

The great war correspondents of the past, like Ernie Pyle and Edward Murrow would be appalled. They assumed that we were their equals in compassion and understanding. These people don’t.

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