Another Hero Moves On

The following is the Medal of Honor citation for Technical Sergeant Russell Dunham, U.S. Army, Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. At about 1430 hours on 8 January 1945, during an attack on Hill 616, near Kayserberg, France, T/Sgt. Dunham single-handedly assaulted 3 enemy machineguns. Wearing a white robe made of a mattress cover, carrying 12 carbine magazines and with a dozen hand grenades snagged in his belt, suspenders, and buttonholes, T/Sgt. Dunham advanced in the attack up a snow-covered hill under fire from 2 machineguns and supporting riflemen. His platoon 35 yards behind him, T/Sgt. Dunham crawled 75 yards under heavy direct fire toward the timbered emplacement shielding the left machinegun. As he jumped to his feet 10 yards from the gun and charged forward, machinegun fire tore through his camouflage robe and a rifle bullet seared a 10-inch gash across his back sending him spinning 15 yards down hill into the snow. When the indomitable sergeant sprang to his feet to renew his 1-man assault, a German egg grenade landed beside him. He kicked it aside, and as it exploded 5 yards away, shot and killed the German machinegunner and assistant gunner. His carbine empty, he jumped into the emplacement and hauled out the third member of the gun crew by the collar. Although his back wound was causing him excruciating pain and blood was seeping through his white coat, T/Sgt. Dunham proceeded 50 yards through a storm of automatic and rifle fire to attack the second machinegun. Twenty-five yards from the emplacement he hurled 2 grenades, destroying the gun and its crew; then fired down into the supporting foxholes with his carbine dispatching and dispersing the enemy riflemen. Although his coat was so thoroughly blood-soaked that he was a conspicuous target against the white landscape, T/Sgt. Dunham again advanced ahead of his platoon in an assault on enemy positions farther up the hill. Coming under machinegun fire from 65 yards to his front, while rifle grenades exploded 10 yards from his position, he hit the ground and crawled forward. At 15 yards range, he jumped to his feet, staggered a few paces toward the timbered machinegun emplacement and killed the crew with hand grenades. An enemy rifleman fired at pointblank range, but missed him. After killing the rifleman, T/Sgt. Dunham drove others from their foxholes with grenades and carbine fire. Killing 9 Germans–wounding 7 and capturing 2–firing about 175 rounds of carbine ammunition, and expending 11 grenades, T/Sgt. Dunham, despite a painful wound, spearheaded a spectacular and successful diversionary attack.

T/Sgt. Dunham passed away today at the age of 89. Stay safe, soldier.

The revolution is at hand. Will you be a leader or a follower?

The Real War Effort

While we all sit around and fee sorry for ourselves, while we bitch about the media and its obvious bias, how we are not as well off as the guy down the street, remember that there are those putting much more on the line than we.

Our troops are spoken about with reverence(usually). Every politician (mostly) tells about the great job the men and women of our fighting forces are doing. I would hazard a guess that well over 90% of America talks positively about them.

But talk is cheap. What are you actually DOING to help our troops? If you truly want to make a difference, then watch this video and learn.

The revolution is at hand. Will you be a leader or a follower?

Nine Year Old Steals The Show

Did you attend the Orlando, Florida Tea Party? If you did, then you know as well as I that the highlight was not the host Bud Hedinger, or internet radio blogette Andrea Shae King, any of the many fine speakers gathered, nor even Lloyd Marcus, creator of the theme song An American Tea Party.

No, what was most exciting was the Freedom Forum, where average, everyday people got the chance to stand up and make their voices heard. There were many passionate and patriotic speeches made (each one within the thirty second time limit) but in my opinion there was one that took the cake.

Nine year old Chelsi stood up there and proudly stated her case, “I’m an nine year old girl. I don’t have a job yet. So stop taking my money when I haven’t even earned it yet!

A raucous crowd of some 5,000 erupted into cheers at that simple statement and my own heart filled with pride. It was, after all, my own daughter who had made the comment. I could not have felt more pride in my child than I did right then (though I have to admit I am proud of all of my children in every thing they do).

The event was a massive success, I believe, and we were sad to have to leave about a half-hour before the closing ceremony. Even so, the comraderie I felt with all of those gathered was extremely moving and I had the sense that this was the beginning of the revolution I have so proudly tagged in the closing of all of my blog posts.

If you did not attend, never fear. There are many places to meet like-minded fellows and I am hopeful that these first seeds of dissent will spark many others to have similar, if a bit smaller, events. Every journey begins with a single step, and the Orlando Tea Party was one great step today.

UPDATE: As promised, the video of Chelsi telling it like it is:

The revolution is at hand. Will you be a leader or a follower?

Revolution Is At Hand

3/24/2009 UPDATE: Michelle Malkin lets us know that these Obamabots are not even making a blip on congressional radar.

The establishment (congress) has turned its eyes and ears from the people it presumes to serve. They have, for too long, shunned us, making laws and regulations contrary to the will of the people. They have begun the war in earnest, crafting shadowy plans and movements in the effort to shout down and turn attention from the freedom fighters who, across the country, have been meeting in houses, at local town halls, in private businesses and along the shores of lakes.

With the rapid outcry just scarcely gaining momentum, the knee-jerk reaction of the administration is predictable. They fear us, for We Surround Them. Arm in arm, side by side we stand to make our voices heard. We shall not and cannot be silenced or dimmed, for whatever tactic they choose, we are prepared to retaliate a hundred fold. We are a government of, by and for the People, though they in the hallowed halls of our forefathers seem to think that this ‘passing fad’ and all shall return to the status quo shortly.

Let me be not the first nor last to respond by saying fear not, sirs, we are here for the long haul. You shall listen and you shall take heed, or you shall be removed from your precious throne of power. This is not some trivial collective bargain to which you can so easily dismiss us to the handling of your lower servants. This is a war to take back what is constitutionally ours. Battles shall be waged, and some lost for sure. But take heed now, lest you miss the point- there is no price we are not willing to pay in wresting from you the very freedom you wish to subvert.

The revolution is at hand. Will you be a leader or a follower?