Oklahoma need a Dale Peterson to tell it like it is!

Only two things are certain: (1) He is about to become the most famous agricultural commissioner candidate in America, and (2) Alabama politics are awesome.

Dale Peterson, Alabama Agriculture Commission, candidate fighting the fight to save our country. Some people recognize the enemies from within & without. We need fighters today, people that are not afraid to stand & tell the Government NO!!! Help Dale Stand & Defend our Country, it starts 1 state at a time.

RIP COL. ED MCMAHON USMC Ret.

Hat Tip Blackfive

I know you probably knew him better as Johnny Carson's side kick, but Ed McMahon, who died today at the age of 86 was a proud former Marine.

He enlisted in the Marines for WWII and became a fighter pilot and served as an instructor pilot and test pilot. In 1946 he left active duty for the reserves and went to college. After college he returned to active duty and in 1953 he went to Korea where he flew 85 tactical air control and artillery spotting missions in an unarmed O-1E Bird Dog. After Korea he remained in the reserves retiring as a Col.in the Marine reserves in 1966.

In an interview in 1999, McMahon was asked what he would be remembered for. His answer?

"Two things. That I was a good broadcaster and a great Marine."

Semper Fi, Col McMahon and God Speed.

Tuition Reimbursement for Soldiers Passes Committee

Oklahoma soldiers called to duty may get tuition reimbursement thanks to state Rep. Fred Jordan.

House Bill 1301, by Jordan, provides for a 100 percent refund of tuition and fees if a member of the Oklahoma National or Air Guard or the five branches of military reserves gets deployed during the school year.

“It is not fair to make these young men and women pay for classes they never got to finish because they were called to fight for our country,” said Jordan, R-Jenks. “This bill is a small way to show our appreciation to these men and women for their service during difficult times. They are great Americans that all legislators can be proud to support.”

Jordan, who served as a Captain in the Marine Corps, filed legislation last year that would have increased the income tax deduction for military income from $1,500 to $5,000 for all active, reserve, and National Guard service members. The bill passed the House but did not pass the Senate.

HB 1301 passed out of House Appropriations and Budget Committee today.

American Minute - Feb. 16 - Muslim Barbary Pirates of Tripoli

American Minute
with
Bill Federer

"From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli"-the Marine anthem recalls when Muslim Barbary Pirates of North Africa committed terrorist acts on American ships, selling crews into slavery.

Tripoli demanded tribute and a treaty was attempted, but it was not honored as the Koran prohibited friendship with infidels:

"Infidels are those who declare 'God is Christ, the son of Mary'"-Surah 5:17;

"Infidels are those that say 'God is one of three in a Trinity'"-Surah 5:73;

"Infidels are your sworn enemies"-Sura 4:101.

The Koran continued:

"Make war on the infidels"-Sura 9:123;

"When you meet the infidel in the battlefield strike off their heads"-Surah 47:4;

"Muhammad is Allah's apostle, those who follow him are ruthless to the infidels"-Surah 48:29;

"Take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends"-Surah 5:51.

President Jefferson finally sent in the Marines, and in what Admiral Horatio Nelson described as the "most bold and daring act of the age," Lieut. Stephen Decatur sailed his ship, the Intrepid, on the night of FEBRUARY 16, 1804, into the pirate harbor, burned a ship and escaped unharmed amidst fierce enemy fire.

The Marines captured Tripoli and forced the Pasha to make peace on U.S. terms.

Lt. Gen. Victor Krulak R.I.P.

Lt. Gen. Victor Krulak, who headed all Marine forces in the Pacific during part of the Vietnam War, has died. He was 95.

Lt. Gen. Krulak died Monday at the Wesley Palms Retirement Community in San Diego, The cause of death was not immediately known.

Krulak commanded about 100,000 Marines in the Pacific from 1964 to 1968 — a span that saw the United States dramatically increase buildup in Vietnam.

Krulak, nicknamed "Brute" for his direct, no-nonsense style, was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

After retirement, he often criticized the government's handling of the Vietnam War. He wrote that the war could have been won only if the Vietnamese had been protected and befriended and if enemy supplies from North Vietnam were cut off.

"The destruction of the port of Haiphong would have changed the whole character of the war," he said two decades after the fall of Saigon.

Krulak once summed up the U.S. dilemma in Vietnam by saying, "It has no front lines. The battlefield is in the minds of 16 or 17 million people."

Before assuming command of Fleet Marine Force Pacific, Krulak served as principal adviser on counterinsurgency warfare to then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and the joint chiefs of staff.

"I never got enthusiasm out of war, and I'm convinced that the true pacifists are the professional soldiers who have actually seen it," Krulak said many years after retiring from the post.

During World War II on the island of Choiseul, Krulak led his outnumbered battalion during an eight-day raid on Japanese forces, diverting the enemy's attention from the U.S. invasion of Bougainville.

Krulak's troops destroyed hundreds of tons of supplies, burning both camps and landing barges. He was wounded on Oct. 13, 1943, and later received the Navy Cross for heroism along with the Purple Heart.

At age 43 he became the youngest brigadier general in Marine Corps history up to that time. Krulak received the second of two Distinguished Service Medals when he retired from the military.

He wrote the book "First to Fight," an insider's view of the Marine Corps.

His son Charles Krulak served as commandant — the Marines' top post — from 1995 to 1999.

Hoo-ah: KWTV: Portrait of a Soldier

Ken Younkin of Norman was looking for something to do when he came across an article, "Portrait Freedom Underway" in one of his woodcutting magazines.

"Portrait Freedom Underway" is made up of members of the MSN Scroll Saw Portraits group who are creating custom wooden portraits of every U.S. service member that has died during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The portraits are donated to their families.

There is no charge to the family requesting a portrait.

The Scroll Saw Portrait Freedom Project group includes scroll saw artists and hobbyists from across the U.S.

The finished portrait is posted on the Internet and once it is approved by a moderator, the cutter is notified that the portrait can be sent to the family. Several quality control measures ensure the family receiveshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif a quality product.

All labor, materials and shipping are donated.

Their biggest challenge right now is contacting family members and getting photographs to work with, he said.

Younkin was able to do one of Oklahoma Marine Scott Vincent. He has wanted to cut a portrait of an Oklahoman since he began the project. More than 750 portraits have been cut, but only 10 of the 62 deceased Oklahoma troops have been memorialized so far.

"This has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I have ever had the opportunity to do," Younkin said. "I believe that all the members of Portrait Freedom have a common interest in wanting to honor the memory our fallen military service members and recognize the sacrifice each soldier's family has made."

For more information, send an e-mail to PortraitFreedom@hotmail.com

http://groups.msn.com/PortraitFreedom/homepage

HOO-AH: On my watch tonight

Video made by II MEF. Song by Maj. Mike Corrado (USMC). Please visit www.mikecorrado.com

Hoo-ah: Labor of Love: Portrait Freedom Underway part 3

With the Iraq War still raging and more and more U.S. troops not returning, some people at home are finding ways to show support for the troops.

Ken Younkin of Norman was looking for something to do when he came across an article, "Portrait Freedom Underway" in one of his woodcutting magazines.

"Portrait Freedom Underway" is made up of members of the MSN Scroll Saw Portraits group who are creating custom wooden portraits of every U.S. service member that has died during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The portraits are donated to their families.

There is no charge to the family requesting a portrait.

The Scroll Saw Portrait Freedom Project group includes scroll saw artists and hobbyists from across the U.S.

The finished portrait is posted on the Internet and once it is approved by a moderator, the cutter is notified that the portrait can be sent to the family. Several quality control measures ensure the family receiveshttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif a quality product.

All labor, materials and shipping are donated.

Their biggest challenge right now is contacting family members and getting photographs to work with, he said.

Younkin was able to do one of Oklahoma Marine Scott Vincent. He has wanted to cut a portrait of an Oklahoman since he began the project. More than 750 portraits have been cut, but only 10 of the 62 deceased Oklahoma troops have been memorialized so far.

"This has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I have ever had the opportunity to do," Younkin said. "I believe that all the members of Portrait Freedom have a common interest in wanting to honor the memory our fallen military service members and recognize the sacrifice each soldier's family has made."

For more information, send an e-mail to PortraitFreedom@hotmail.com

http://groups.msn.com/PortraitFreedom/homepage

Hoo-ah: Labor of Love, Portrait Freedom Underway

http://groups.msn.com/PortraitFreedom/homepage
For more information, send an e-mail to PortraitFreedom@hotmail.com

Hoo-ah: Scroll saw cutter honoring fallen heroes

Hoo-ah: Norman woodcutter helps remember fallen

Hoo-ah: Norman woodcutter helps remember fallen

Norman woodcutter helps remember fallen
Sun January 27, 2008

NORMAN — With the Iraq War still raging and more and more U.S. troops not returning, some people at home are finding ways to show support for the troops.

Ken Younkin of Norman was looking for something to do when he came across an article, "Portrait Freedom Underway” in one of his woodcutting magazines.

"Portrait Freedom Underway” is made up of members of the MSN Scroll Saw Portraits group who are creating custom wooden portraits of every U.S. service member that has died during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The portraits are donated to their families.

There is no charge to the family requesting a portrait.

The Scroll Saw Portrait Freedom Project group includes scroll saw artists and hobbyists from across the U.S.

The finished portrait is posted on the Internet and once it is approved by a moderator, the cutter is notified that the portrait can be sent to the family. Several quality control measures ensure the family receives a quality product.

All labor, materials and shipping are donated.

Their biggest challenge right now is contacting family members and getting photographs to work with, he said.

Younkin was able to do one of Oklahoma Marine Scott Vincent. He has wanted to cut a portrait of an Oklahoman since he began the project. More than 750 portraits have been cut, but only 10 of the 62 deceased Oklahoma troops have been memorialized so far.

"This has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I have ever had the opportunity to do,” Younkin said. "I believe that all the members of Portrait Freedom have a common interest in wanting to honor the memory our fallen military service members and recognize the sacrifice each soldier's family has made.”

For more information, send an e-mail to PortraitFreedom@hotmail.com

HOO-AH: Scroll saw cutter honoring fallen heroes

Scroll saw cutter
honoring fallen heroes

By Peggy Laizure
For The Transcript

With the Iraq War still raging and more and more of our soldiers not returning, people at home are trying to find more ways to do their part.

That includes donating money to bring the 45th Infantry Brigade home for the holidays before their deployment to Iraq in January. Ken Younkin of Norman was looking for something to do when he came across an article “Portrait Freedom Underway” in one of his woodcutting magazines.

“Portrait Freedom Underway” is made up of members of the MSN Scroll Saw Portraits group who are creating a custom wooden portrait of every fallen soldier of the Afghan/Iraqi war and donating it to the families.

Their goal is to create and cut a wooden portrait of every fallen soldier, currently numbering more than 3,500. It is something they want to do to show their support of military personnel and to honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedom. There is no charge to the family for requesting a portrait.

The Scroll Saw Portrait Freedom Project group has scroll saw artists and hobbyists all across the United States.

“The entire SSP (Scroll Sawn Portrait) organization is very efficient and well organized,” Younkin said. “A family must request a portrait through the Portrait Freedom Web Site. A pattern is developed from the picture the family provides and is posted on the Web site for approval.

“Once the pattern is approved a cutter is contacted via the Internet to see if they are interested in cutting the portrait. A cutter close the where the portrait is to be sent is usually contacted. The finished portrait is posted again on the Internet and once approved the cutter is notified that the portrait is approved for sending to the family. There are several quality control measures along the way to insure the family receives a quality product.”

“The cutter is not provided the address that the portrait is to be shipped to until the portrait is approved for sending,” Younkin said. “Another quality control measure.”

The cutter cuts two portraits usually from birch plywood, a clear finish is applied, black felt backing is applied to both portraits. The portraits then must be approved by a moderator before the families address in provided to the cutter. The cutter then frames one portrait and ships both finished portraits to the family. There is no charge to the family. All labor, materials and shipping are donated.

“Their biggest challenge right now is contacting family members and getting photographs to work with,” Younkin said. “Some families are just not ready. Others think it may be a scam or they will have to pay something later.”

Younkin is working on his fourth portrait and guarantees there is no scam. The first one he did was of Chad Powell, U.S. Army, from Louisiana. Powell’s son is 5 years old and when he saw the portrait he immediately said, “That’s my daddy,” Younkin said.





















Other portraits Younkin has done are Nickalous Aldrich, Marines and Brandon Smitherman, Army, both from Texas. He finally was able to do one of an Oklahoma soldier, Scott Vincent, a Marine. He has wanted to cut a fellow Oklahoman since he began the project. Younkin said the organization wants to do a portrait of every fallen soldier from the Iraq or Afghanistan conflict. More than 750 have been cut so far, but only 10 of the 62 deceased Oklahoma soldiers have been completed.

Contact with Portrait Freedom members after the portraits are delivered is up to the families. The Powells were appreciative, Younkin said, and they exchanged Christmas cards. They sent Younkin a photo of Powell just before he went to Iraq, his son Elijah and Chance, Elijah’s 7-month-old stepsister.

“I try to talk to each family at least once to verify their delivery address and also to verify that the portrait was received timely and in good condition,” Younkin said. “The two Texas families have all been by e-mail. The Powells in Louisiana was by phone and the Oklahoma family was by telephone and e-mail. Then the confidential family information is destroyed by the organization.

“This has been one of the most satisfying endeavors I have ever had the opportunity to do. I believe that all the members of Portrait Freedom have a common interest in wanting to honor the memory our fallen military service members and recognize the sacrifice each soldier's family has made.”

Anyone who is a family member or knows of a family member who has lost a son, daughter, husband or wife in the Afghanistan or Iraqi war can e-mail PortraitFreedom@hotmail.com. Due to the magnitude of the project, portraits are only available to the immediate family of the fallen soldier, said Gary Browning, manager of MSN Scroll Saw Portraits group.

Military bases also are encouraged to get in contact with the group if they can help gather photographs of personnel they have lost from their base. A contact person who can get the word out about the Portrait Freedom project to families who may not be aware of the project and can gather photographs and coordinate getting the completed portrait to the families would be an immense help to the project.

Vincent’s mother also has posted the information on MarineParents.com. She said she also will try to get information out to other Marine Corps families who have lost a family member.

Younkin was in the U.S. Army Reserves for 30 years. He received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant when he graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business. He also holds a bachelor’s in accounting and an MBA from the University of Oklahoma. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves in 2000 at the rank of colonel.

“During most of my career I held several different positions as I advanced in rank as a member of the 95th Division in Midwest City,” Younkin said.

He became comptroller of the J.D. McCarty Center in July 2001. He also is an adjunct professor in the accounting department at Rose State College and usually teaches three evening classes in the fall and two classes in the spring.

For more information on Project Freedom, visit groups.msn.com/SSPSoldierPortraits/homepage.

And remember — “Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes. Then you have his shoes and you’re a mile away from him,” Vincent always said.

A Soldier's Christmas

A Soldier's Christmas

Twas the night before christmas,
he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of
plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
with presents to give,
and to see just who
in this home did live.

I looked all about,
a strange sight i did see,
no tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
on the wall hung pictures
of far distant lands.

With medals and badges,
awards of all kinds,
a sober thought
came through my mind.

For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier,
once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
silent, alone,
curled up on the floor
in this one bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
the room in such disorder,
not how i pictured
a United States soldier.

Was this the hero
of whom I'd just read?
curled up on a poncho,
the floor for a bed?

I realized the families
that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.

Soon round the world,
the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate
a bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year,
because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.

I couldn't help wonder
how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve
in a land far from home.

The very thought
brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees
and started to cry.

The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don't cry,
this life is my choice;


I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more,
my life is my God,
my Country, my Corps."

The soldier rolled over
and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it,
I continued to weep.


I kept watch for hours,
so silent and still
and we both shivered
from the cold night's chill.

I didn't want to leave
on that cold, dark, night,
this guardian of honor
so willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, "Carry on Santa,
it's Christmas Day, all is secure."

One look at my watch,
and I knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend,
and to all a good night."


USAF Lt Col Bruce Lovely wrote this poem Christmas Eve 1993 while assigned to US Forces Korea. (Printed in the Fort Leavenworth Lamp, 1995)