Redstate

Posted at 8:09pm on Jul. 1, 2008 Good Stewardship Begins At Home

By Justin Case

The next time you are told that it's useless to drill off the Continental shelf because the oil would not be available for ten years, simply reply that trees planted today, to offset one's carbon footprint, won't make an real impact for about ten years. So why bother?

Don't get me wrong, my wife and I plant new trees or transplant young trees every year. We perform this chore in the dead of winter - which is the time of year that provides the most success. While I do not argue that trees are good for the environment and air quality, they also provide beauty and shade and help keep our precious soil from eroding. We have a stand of white pines that we planted twenty years ago. They make an excellent wind break and the wind blowing through them makes one take pause and just feel glad.

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Posted at 7:30am on Mar. 26, 2008 Clinton's Lie

By Justin Case

Senator Hillary Clinton's lie about Bosnia is one that should not be allowed to go away - especially among veterans.

Several years ago, a Pulitzer Prize winning writer and history professor, Joseph Ellis, told lies to his students at Mt. Holyoke College when he fabricated stories about Vietnam service. The truth is that during the Vietnam era Mr. Ellis was teaching history at West Point.

I would gladly have traded places with Professor Ellis many times during my tour of duty in Vietnam.

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Posted at 9:23pm on Nov. 9, 2007 Scout Dogs: A Veterans Day Tribute

By Justin Case

For the second night in a week we had come under attack by the Viet Cong. We were hit hard with mortars and rocket propelled grenades, and tear gas rounds for good measure. Sappers had blown a hole in our wire with satchel charges.

When the dust settled a bit, some of our guys got on line and began walking through the breach in the wire. They hadn't walked more than a few feet outside the perimeter when a bad guy jumped up and threw a grenade. A couple of men were badly hurt. I helped get them on a medevac chopper. When the chopper left I headed back to my platoon.

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Posted at 9:18pm on Nov. 8, 2007 Whatever Happened To The Donate Button

By Justin Case

on RedState?

Haven't seen it for a while and my plastic is burning a hole in my billfold.

Is donating a seasonal thing or can one make a contribution at any time?

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Posted at 8:22am on Oct. 17, 2007 A Matter of Principle

By Justin Case

This Republican election cycle is beginning to remind me of the Democrats in 1968.

First, in early '68 Eugene McCarthy did well in NH. Shortly afterwards, LBJ decided to not seek reelection. Then Robert Kennedy was assassinated.

None who were of age that summer will forget the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Remember Mayor Daley cursing Senator Ribicoff from the floor of the convention? Later on, Daley claimed that he was using the word, "Faker". It was the only time I can remember my staunch Republican father supporting Mayor Daley. He applauded "Hizzoner's" actions against those who vowed to "take over the city". (If you think our modern day Left is chilling, read a transcript of the Chicago Seven Trial).

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Posted at 1:45am on Aug. 19, 2007 We Will Never Forget

By Justin Case

Art played chess the same way he led our infantry company in Vietnam. Aggressively. In a few opening moves he threatened my bishop's pawn with his knight, his bishop and his queen. His son whispered to him, "You'll have him in two more moves." I moved one of my knights and covered the pawn and, a couple of moves later, I moved my other knight and threatened to fork his queen and his rook. He moved back his queen.

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Posted at 8:19am on Jun. 18, 2007 Republicans Eat Their Own

By Justin Case

In the past I've defended President Bush mainly because of his willingness to take the fight to terrorists in the GWOT.

I know of Libertarians who have managed to overlook his "spending money like a drunken sailor" in order to vote for a President who would keep us safe.

I've cut him slack for the war in Iraq simply because there is no such thing as a perfectly managed war.

There has been a laundry list provided by writers in this forum that deal with the mistakes he has made while President.

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Posted at 9:51am on May 26, 2007 "To Fallen Comrades"

By Justin Case

It's been thirty-seven years since the night Jerry and I shared guard duty in the 81mm gun pit. He was a radioman with the Command Post and I was in the mortar platoon.

Someone on the perimeter had called in a routine fire mission for illumination. I dropped a round down the tube, the shot was out, and we waited for the familiar pop and the subsequent intense light that the round provided as it drifted slowly back to the ground from several hundred feet in the air

The descending illumination revealed a nearby hillside covered in jungle. Jerry and I laughed as the flare drifted towards the hillside, waking a multitude of chirping birds who mistook the glow from the flare for a sunrise. The din from the birds stopped suddenly - as if a switch had been flipped - when the flare burned out.

Vietnam was a lonely place. Amusement came easy.

Read on . . .

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Posted at 1:26am on Apr. 30, 2007 April 30, 1975

By Justin Case

Tomorrow is April 30th. United States helicopters evacuated the last Americans from Saigon on April 30,1975.

The ghosts are a bit more noticeable on anniversaries. This is not unusual for veterans. Certain days stand out.

I recall working as a janitor at W.T. Grants in Kingsport, Tennessee on April 30, 1975. A Vietnamese woman was doing some shopping. She had to have been one of the first refugees of that war, or she was possibly married to an American.

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Posted at 8:50am on Feb. 23, 2007 Vietnam Deja Vu

By Justin Case

Democrats like Nancy Pelosi are a disgrace. They do not support the troops when they propose resolutions that express their unwillingness to reinforce them.

Republicans who go along with the resolution, although they initially voted to support our effort in Iraq, are no better.

When I returned from Vietnam in late 1970 I encountered silence.

A homecoming celebration was not expected to be provided by anti-war people. But was it beyond expectation to receive recognition for having fought for my country from those adults in my life who said I should go? Silence.

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Posted at 7:50pm on Jul. 28, 2006 From Two Digit Midgets To Long Timers

By Justin Case

Being a two digit midget in Vietnam was quite an accomplishment.

Less than 100 days.

When one reached two digits, or 99 days, a certain form of respect was granted by other soldiers - especially by those who were brand new in-country.  

The amount of days until DEROS from Vietnam were given daily contemplation - even by long time guys who had 350 days remaining on their tours.

I didn't seriously begin to count my days until I was down to 200. Rough arithmatic still equates 200 days with slightly more than six and a half months!

I reached my 200 day milestone quietly - even when among FNGs.

Guys serving in Vietnam counted days, as did their  loved ones at home.

I remember Sgt Bentley saying, "I'm so short I'd have to get on a stepladder to kick an ant in the ass." He probably had about 20 days to go. I felt extreme envy, as I had many many more days left.

My tour started in Jan 1970. This was about the time that Nixon was beginning the pullout of American forces in Vietnam.

The 1st Infantry Division and the Fourth Infantry division were among the first American units to fold up their colors and head for home.

My unit, the 23d Infantry Division (Americal) received a lot of the longtimers from those two divisions.

The word soon got around that the short timers in the 1st and the 4th were getting a good number of days knocked off of their tours - even as much as 30 days. The amount of time that was taken off of one's tour was called a "drop".

I didn't begin to think about a possible drop in my tour until I reached "two digit midget" status. The topic of drops was one of continual discussion among my fellow short timers.

The clerks in HHC 1/52  made a point of avoiding us, so as not to have to answer our questions.

"Have you heard anything yet?"

My orders for DEROS finally came. My tour of duty was dropped thirty days. I went from 56 days to 26 days.

I stood a good chance of making it home. I had to pinch myself.

It's funny how, 36 years later, the counting of days no longer matter to a person who is not "in harm's way". For I can't remember if it has been one day or two days since I heard the news that several thousand American troops, currently serving in Iraq, were to have their tours of duty extended.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2006/07/mil-060728-voa0
2.htm

There can be no forgetting the elation and relief I felt when I got the final orders that would help fulfill the raucous pledge we swore in the EM Club whenever the band played "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place".

At the same time there can be no realization or understanding on my part of the disappointment that is being felt among those of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team who have just now had their tours extended for up to four months.

My thoughts and prayers are for those heros who are protecting us and for their families who are equally sharing their burden.

Hang in there 172d.

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Posted at 9:31pm on Jun. 23, 2006 A Precedent to Iraq Amnesty: Vietnam

By Justin Case

From the Diaries

Senator Charles Schumer's statements about the Iraqi proposal to give those "insurgents" who may have American blood on their hands a "get out of jail free card" brought back visceral memories.

As a new RedState poster, I Googled some up-to-date information and found a headline from NY1 News:

"Schumer Calls On President To Stop Iraq From Granting Amnesty To Terrorists"

So now they are "Terrorists"?

Read on.

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