Got Freedom? Thank A Vet!

It's Veterans Day 2008...

"Thank you" to all who served before me and protected my freedoms...


"Thank you" to everyone who is serving at this time - both near and far - your sacrifices will not go unnoticed or without reward...


And lastly, "thank you" for the future men and women of the military who will continue to serve our country and protect our freedoms long after the memory of my endeavors will have passed into history.


"Thank you" to all who serve!

Happy 233rd Birthday to The United States Marine Corps

If you ever had a chance to look at the history of the Marine Corps, you'd find that they were born of beer and bravado in Tun Tavern in 1775, baptised in fire during the Revolutionary War and came of age during World War I where they earned the moniker "Teufel hunden" or "devil dog"

During World War II, when asked about the United States Marine Corps, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was quoted as saying “The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!”

Today we pause to reflect back upon 233 years of a legacy, legend and history. As Marines and sailors, we can only hope to live up to or surpass the standards that have come before us. Here is to the Corps! Happy Birthday and Semper Fidelis!

Frost Call

Well, it's "Frost Call" time once again...

Frost call?!?!? What is a frost call anyway?

Quite frankly, I never could understand what exactly a "frost call" truly is. I guess it would be safe to surmise that it is a call placed to someone or something lying in a dormant state and then being prompted or politely " convinced" to "thaw out" and prepare themselves to be grilled, baked, stewed, boiled, broiled or fried during the upcoming drill weekend!

Hmmm....now that I have had a moment to think about it and allow this military quip in question to simmer a bit on my back burner, it would be accurate to state that the term is relative to any member of the active drilling Reserves who finds themselves scrambling out of their civilian model of business and turning their brains and bodies over into a military mode of thought process and adaptability.

If you really think about it ( I mean REALLY think about it) you can equate the expression in the literal sense toward a civilian who has been "chilling" at work or school for the past 18-25 days who ten received a phone call from his or her "military boss" asking about their preparation and willingness to participate in the upcoming weekend drill festivities.

Hmmm...too much thinking once again. I guess it's time to thaw this entry and get on to calling the outstanding men and women that accompany me each week to drill!

Let the "frost call" commence!

The "frost call" term is an accurate term, for there have been many a drill weekends where I felt grilled, backed, stewed, boiled, broiled and fried!