Honoring a Navy SEAL

The news this past week has been full of mentions about the United States Navy's elite SEAL Teams and the Special Operations community as a whole. But today, another SEAL in particular is remembered on what would have been his 35th birthday.

Dan and Maureen Murphy lost their son Michael to the Global War On Terror almost six years ago. On June 28th, 2005 Lieutenant. Michael Murphy was leading a team of four U.S. Navy SEALs through a remote mountainside ravine in Afghanistan when they encountered a large group of some 2500 Taliban fighters.

Outnumbered and outgunned, all four members of the team were injured in the ensuing firefight. Their radios were damaged beyond operability, but they still had a satellite phone.

"Michael realized the only way to save the team is to step out and get clear to make a satellite call to headquarters for reinforcements," said Dan Murphy.

Knowing his chances of surviving were beyond slim, he left the safety of the rocks to relay their position, putting himself directly in the line of fire. He was hit in the back and dropped the phone, but retrieved it and continued the call. Despite his wounds he still ended the phone call with the words, "Roger that, sir...thank you."

Tragically, the helicopter sent to help Lieutenant Murphy's team was brought down by the enemy and all 16 on board were killed.

Michael and three members of his team were also killed. Only one man survived, Marcus Luttrell, and he was able to provide an eyewitness account of Murphy's bravery that day. Later, that account of Operation Red Wings became the book . “Lone Survivor”.

From left to right, STG2 Matthew G. Axelson; ITCS Daniel R. Healy, QM2 James Suh, HM2 Marcus Luttrell, MM2 Eric S. Patton, and Lt. Michael P. Murphy. With the exception of Luttrell, all were killed June 28, 2005, by enemy forces while supporting Operation Red Wings. Healy, Suh, and Patton were on Turbine 33, the rescue bird that crashed. Axelson was on the ground with Murphy and Luttrell, along with another SEAL, GM2 Danny Dietz, below.

The courage and selfless sacrifice of Michael Murphy lead President Bush to posthumously award Murphy the nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.

The Navy has also chosen to honor Lieutenant Murphy in another way. Today, the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) will be christened at Bath Iron Works in Maine. Built by 5,000 workers with over 6,200 tons of steel, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer will have a crew of 279 and displace 9,200 tons total.

Maureen Murphy, left, and Edwin Bard of Bath Iron Works inscribe the signatures of Michael Murphy's family on an iron plate during a dedication ceremony during the ship's keel laying last June.

While the ship will bear Michael's name it was important to his parents that all the men killed that day be remembered. Each man has his own personal coin; 19 of them will be placed in a box and welded to the mast. Another keepsake on board the ship will be a patch that Murphy wore on his uniform from a fire station in Spanish Harlem that Murphy wore to commemorate the sacrifices of the FDNY.

Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy's Medal of Honor Citation reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as the leader of a special reconnaissance element with Naval Special Warfare Task Unit Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005. While leading a mission to locate a high-level anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of Asadabad, Konar Province, Afghanistan. On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged enemy-controlled area, Lieutenant Murphy's team was discovered by anti-coalition militia sympathizers, who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. As a result, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters besieged his four-member team. Demonstrating exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force. The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous enemy casualties, as well as the wounding of all four members of the team. Ignoring his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional composure, Lieutenant Murphy continued to lead and encourage his men. When the primary communicator fell mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly attempted to call for assistance for his beleaguered teammates. Realizing the impossibility of communicating in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost certain death, he fought his way into open terrain to gain a better position to transmit a call. This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover, exposing him to direct enemy fire. Finally achieving contact with his Headquarters, Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position while he provided his location and requested immediate support for his team. In his final act of bravery, he continued to engage the enemy until he was mortally wounded, gallantly giving his life for his country and for the cause of freedom. By his selfless leadership, courageous actions, and extraordinary devotion to duty, Lieutenant Murphy reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remember’d; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

And then there was one...

A couple months ago, the last surviving American veteran from World War One passed away, not quite a month after turning 110. In my humble yet correct opinion, the service and memory of Frank Woodruff Buckles should have been commemorated by his body lying in state at the Capitol rotunda but spineless jellyback politicians wouldn't allow an exception for the last member of an entire generation of American service members. You know, those people who go thousands of miles from home in harm's way to protect the American people and our way of life....not to mention keep 75% of the rest of this planet from being killed off by the other 25%. Way to go, Boehner & Company.


This week, the last surviving World War One combat veteran IN THE WORLD, PERIOD, passed away. Claude Stanley Choules, known as Chuckles to his friends and admirers, quietly left this life at a retirement nursing home in Australia after 110 remarkable years. He was only 14 years old when he joined the Nautical Training Ship Mercury, and then transferred to the Royal Navy in 1916. Choules was still a teenager at the end of World War I. He transferred to the Royal Australian Navy in 1926, and served during World War II as well. In fact, he remained with the Australian Navy until his retirement in 1956. Read more about him here.

Godspeed, Chuckles... rest in peace...


And now this leaves us with just one single, solitary 110-year-old person left alive who served during the First World War, born in February 1901. Her name is Florence Green, and she lives in King's Lynn, County Norfolk, England, about 100 miles north of London. Born in Edmonton, in the Enfield borough of London, Green joined the Women's Royal Air Force two months before the end of the war in September 1918 at the age of 17, where she served as an officers' mess steward. She worked in the officers' mess at RAF Marham and was also based at Narborough airfield. Come the 11th day of the 11th month, the Marham pilots greeted news of the German surrender by clambering into their planes and bombing nearby RAF Narborough airfield with bags of flour. Narborough, not to be outdone, retaliated with their own daring raid, this time dropping bags of soot.

When asked what it's like to be 110, Mrs. Green, who lives with her daughter May, quite the spring chicken at just 89, was rather philosophical: "It's not much different to being 109," she said, which seems plausible, though of course very few get to find out. Of the flying flour and soot war of Norfolk, 1918, she said simply: "It seems like such a long time ago now." To put it into context, she married her husband Walter, a railway porter, in 1920, and they had three children together. He died 50 years later, and that was 41 years ago.


This remarkable lady is the absolute last of her kind left in the world. Once she shuffles off this mortal coil, we will have lost all of our veterans worldwide from that conflict, along with their first-hand accounts, stories, anecdotes, and memories. And entire generation's legacy, worldwide, rests upon this lady's shoulders. Let's all help her out by making sure we never forget.

First photo in of Bin Laden's death....

Tugging on Superman's Cape

So, the Man of Steel, Superman himself, who for years has supposedly fought for Truth, Justice, and the American Way, wants to renounce his American citizenship? That’s nice. Screw him.

I was unaware that Superman even HAD citizenship. I mean, after all, when Krypton crapped out and Jar-El packed up his baby boy Kal-El into a wee bundle and floated him off to Earth to fend for himself, he arrived in Turdburgle, Arkansas, or wherever it was the Kents found him, as basically an illegal alien. And by alien, I guess we mean it both ways.

He posed as Clark Kent, assuming the identity of an all-American schoolboy, but there’s nagging questions that require answers. Where’s the birth certificate? I mean, how’d they get him into our Leftist-led public school indoctrination centers without a birth certificate? What about his vaccines? If bullets bounce off of him, how the hell is a vaccination needle gonna penetrate his arm or ass cheek? He’s an illegal alien with a false Social Security Number working in the mainstream news media. He even has a vacation cottage at the North Pole (the Fortress of Solitude) like Charlie Rangel has a place in the islands....

So if Superman now wants to be a “citizen of the universe” I suggest he best apply for a work visa and green card if he intends on staying here. I don’t recall an issue from DC (Democrat Comics?) where The Man of Steel (Hmmmm, wasn’t Josef Stalin the Man of Steel?) was granted United States citizenship. I’m surprised he’s still at the Daily Planet. I would have thought he’d be in the state-run Associated Press now, or bumped up to the news desk at PMSNBC, or hell, why not Al-Jazeera? Maybe this is all just the first step in Superman converting to Islam? With his origins in the heavens and super powers he could be the 13^th Imam they’ve been waiting for.

Will Lois Lane be forced into a burka? I dunno…she’s media-savvy too so she’d just be another scarf-wrapped lackey like Christiane Amanpour. Will we soon hear about poor intrepid Jimmy Olson being killed by a stray RPG in Benghazi covering the Libyan rebellion, or will it be even worse as Jimmy embeds with a NATO unit and then blows himself up for Superman?

So, now, how many other superheroes camped out at The Justice League in Metropolis or Gotham or wherever are going to follow suit and renounce their citizenship? For that matter, how many other superheroes who have taken up residence here are potentially illegals as well?

Wonder Woman—Hmmm..it seems that Wonder Woman is also known as Diana of Themyscira, a Princess of the Amazons of Greek mythology. I’m pretty sure Themyscira isn’t one of Obama’s 57 states.

Thor—Norse god from mythical Asgard, also not a state or territory.

Aquaman—Atlantis, wherever the hell that is.

Hawkman—not really a major player, but he’s supposed to get a movie soon. His origins are confused, as he is either an Egyptian god reincarnated as an American, or a dude from the planet Thanagar, depending on what version you follow.

However, most of the remaining big-name heroes are definitely American by birth. Batman, Spiderman, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Green Lantern, Iron Man, Wolverine…..and of course, Captain America. If it ever comes to Captain America turning his back on us, we’re doomed.

Last Week's Patriot Rally in Charleston, SC

This past Thursday I got a chance to take a break from the chaos & upheaval in my life to attend the Patriot Rally put on by the Charleston Tea Party. Considering how stressed out I have been as of late with work, this was a sorely needed break.

I don’t get to attend very many events like this, mostly because I live an hour away from Charleston and I generally work exceedingly stupid hours. In fact, the only other real function I’ve attended was a protest against Nancy Pelosi when she visited Charleston on a fundraising trip. There was only about 30 of us there that day and it was a very mellow, subdued affair.

This time, however, it was to be a full-blown event with guest speakers and a bigger expected turnout. I arrived early, hoping to mingle and make some new contacts. A quick look at the gathering crowd showed I was among My Kind Of People, evidenced by the booth selling all manners of bright yellow Gadsden Flag items; in fact I received a free Gadsden bumper sticker as I came through the gates. I chatted awhile with Stu Morris and Kelly Golden from WSC 94.3 radio and was introduced to Joseph Kurt, who does the weekly podcast for the Charleston Tea Party and was recording citizens’ messages to Congress at their Soundoff Booth. Within minutes we were quick friends.

Me and Kelly Golden from WSC 94.3FM

The sky was getting pretty dark & menacing so we received word that the festivities would be moving onto the USS Yorktown, up on the hangar deck. The race was now on to pack up all their gear and move it 250 yards up onto the ship, and we caught the first drops of rain about 50 yards out. It soon became a deluge the likes of which words like “monsoon” apply. However, folks were not to be deterred. A good 500 people filed on into the aft hangar deck area, and then the real fun began.

If there was a theme to the rally, it was “It’s not about taxes anymore”. Instead, the rally was all about Fiscal Responsibility, Limited Government, Rule of Law, Personal Responsibility, National Sovereignty and State Sovereignty; ie: taking back this country one conservative value at a time. In true patriotic form, we sang the National Anthem, we recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and we even ran through Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America”. 

The guest speakers were all excellent. It was great to hear proud Americans who could fire me up. First District Congressman Tim Scott came down off the dais and spoke from the floor. Retired Marine Corps Major General James E. Livingston, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, was inspirational. Another retired General, South Carolina’s State superintendent of Education Mick Zais, gave a great speech. We were also treated to New Gingrich, former Speaker of the House, who said of America’s current foreign policy, “We need one…”. 

Me and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich

Me and MG James E. Livingston, USCMC (Retired). Yeah, that's a Medal of Honor.

Me and Congressman Tim Scott (R-SC)

All too soon it was over. The only thing I didn’t get to do was give my own prepared statement for the sound-off booth. I was too busy absorbing everything to do it before we wrapped it up. I’ll include my notes, however, so ya’ll can see what I’d written:

I turn 42 next month, so I grew up in the 70s and 80s. While I spent my childhood waiting in gas lines on Odd & Even days during the Carter Years I was was really too young to understand just how inept ole’ Jimmy Earl was. I spent my carefree teen years under Reagan and life was good; I just never realized till much later in life how good we had it. I kinda took for granted things like low unemployment, a strong military, a thriving economy, international respect, and a belief in American exceptionalism.

I joined the Army fresh out of high school, and witnessed the fall of Communism first-hand with a ringside seat in Germany. We prevailed and The Red Boogeyman was vanquished. I went to college and dropped out after two years of spending my hard-earned money to learn almost nothing while surrounded by former hippies and foreign students on free scholarships taking their engineering degrees back to their own countries to compete against us.And somewhere along the way as my 20s became my 30s, the wheels fell off and the train derailed. Someone please tell me, where the hell is the country I grew up in?

We’re so broke that we now put the POOR in Standard & Poore and Uncle Sam’s credit rating is to the point now where he needs the Chinese to co-sign a loan from Gubmint Motors for a subsidized Chevy Volt. What used to be a Shining Light from the City on the Hill is now a Curly Fry Light Bulb full of mercury that will allegedly save the planet, unless it breaks and kills us all.

Illegal aliens qualify for in-state tution. 99 months of Unemployment checks are seen as a way to boost the economy and the unemployed are being handed superhero capes. Freeze Tag and Kick Ball are soon to be outlawed. The Left wants background checks on all gun sales and but doesn’t want anyone to verify voter IDs. They think we’ll never be out of money so long as the printing presses still have ink and even then all we have to do is forcibly take it from the rich.

Teacher Unions are backing convicted cop killer Mummia Abu Jimal and Liberals have nothing better to do than attack a one year old with Down Syndrome because they dislike his mother. While being bankrolled by George Soros, our so-called leader has a brother who lives in a hut and an aunt who’s an illegal alien living on welfare , but keeps his birth records and college transcripts locked up tighter than nuclear launch codes.

Dude…where’s my country?

(NOTE: Golly gee, a birth certificate finally surfaced...how convenient)