A group of US Marines hand-carried a 13-foot cross to the top of a hill at Camp Pendleton, California, in honor of their comrades killed in action:
Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times
At precisely the date and time when World War I officially ended, giving rise to Armistice Day — the forerunner to Veterans Day — the group erected a 13-foot cross. The cross replaced one Read more
Despite Michael Weinstein’s continuous ridicule of the US Air Force Academy, Jason Torpy and his Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers paint quite a different picture — and Torpy looks like a calm foil to Weinstein’s blustering grandstanding:
Continuing what is now nearly a year of collaboration, the Air Force Academy has made significant changes to training as a result of reviews by the Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers… Read more
The last “scandal” at the US Air Force Academy, regarding Operation Christmas Child, was reportedly initiated by a USAFA cadet forwarding an email to Michael Weinstein. Prior to that, the scandal-circuit had been pretty quiet — but not for lack of trying on Weinstein’s part. When there isn’t something to complain about, Weinstein has gone looking.
The law firm of Jones Day — which has assisted Weinstein in other cases — has been looking for information on “The Airman’s Bible and the Airman’s New Testament.” The Airman’s Bible was previously discussed; the “Airman’s New Testament” is similar. It seems the target is some indication, somewhere, that the Air Force was directly or indirectly involved in the production of the Air Force-themed Bibles.
The acknowledgements in the Bible do mention military members, and the Bible carries Air Force symbols, so the target is probably something, somewhere, that will incriminate someone…about something. Naturally, this hunt for an as-yet unknown smoking gun about an unknown problem will prove the obvious fact Christianity is preferred in the US military. Somehow.
In another case, Pam Zubeck of the CSIndy recently publicized a portion of a Weinstein fishing expedition: Weinstein is asking for names and processes surrounding the “Falcon Clips” published last year. Previously, the ominous observation was made that Weinstein seemed to be headhunting for people corresponding with this site.
That has now been confirmed by Read more
The Air Force Times reports on the Air Force investigation into the June crash of an F-16C out of Nellis AFB, Nevada. Capt Eric Ziegler was killed in the mishap.
Investigators found no maintenance problems or other issues that could have caused the accident.
Ziegler apparently experienced a G-LOC, or G-induced loss of consciousness. He blacked out and did not recover prior to impacting the ground.
The report had an interesting comment that reflects on the fighter pilot culture: Read more
A variety of websites reported 8 US servicemembers have sued the US government for failing to recognize their same-sex relationship as a marriage, as prohibited by the Defense of Marriage Act, thus denying them the benefits of married military members.
“This case is about one thing…justice for gay and lesbian servicemembers and their families,” said Aubrey Sarvis, executive director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay-rights group that filed the lawsuit. “These couples are in long-term, committed and legally recognized marriages, and the military should not be forced to turn its back on them because the federal government refuses to recognize their families.”
Sarvis leaves out the fact the relationships are not Read more
The second anniversary of the massacre at Fort Hood passed quietly on 5 November 2011. The trial of US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, the wheelchair-bound accused who faces execution if convicted, is scheduled to begin in March.
On Saturday in a small private ceremony, some victims’ relatives planned to place wreaths on the fence that now surrounds the boarded-up building where the shootings occurred. Michael Cahill’s widow, Read more
Some may have forgotten that Veterans’ Day actually began as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I on 11 November 1918. Through the years it developed a meaning for all veterans, though it continues to recall the cost of The Great War.
Right now hundreds of thousands of US troops are stationed around the world in support of the military’s mission. Many more have returned home from war Read more
The Rev. Billy Graham has a syndicated daily newspaper column called “My Answer.” He recently addressed a question from a US servicemember in Afghanistan reconsidering their calling in life:
DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: Right now, I’m in the military deployed in Afghanistan, and I’ve really grown closer to God during my time here. Do you think God wants me to be a pastor or something like that when I get out? How can I know? — M. M.
Graham thanked the servicemember for their service and noted the Read more