Author Scott Carmichael Completing Book on Captain Geary Bundschu - Guam Hero and My Father's Skipper

After my Dad passed away on April 25th, I was contacted by author Scott Carmichael. Mr. Carmichael is the author of two books - one about the return of Apollo 11 and the other about a Cuban spy. Scott Carmichael has been doing research on the horrific fight for Bundschu Ridge - part of the Chorito Cliff system near Guam's Adelup Point. Ir was here on July 21, 1944 that the 21st Battlion, 3rd Marines of 3rd Marine Division landed on Red Beach One and lost more men that day than the entire 3rd Division in the Bougainville Campaign.

Mr. Carmichael had interviewed a gentleman from Michigan who had been a close friend of my father and had intended to speak with my father's platoon commander who had died in January of this year. The subject of the book is the battle and the man for whom the men of Able Company named the ridge systen - their "Skipper" ( WWII Marines refered to the Company Commander as The Skipper) - Captain Geary Bundschu, USMCR - recipient of the Navy Cross ( post.). The gentleman in Michigan and I talked shortly after my father's funeral. He and the platoon commander were badly wounded and evacuated on the first day of the battle. My father and very few of his comrades survived that fight and continued through the Guam campaign and later Iwo Jima.

I saw this news article about SCott Carmnichael's book on Apollo 11 -click my post title for more.


Carmichael, meanwhile, already has completed most of the research for his next book, tentatively titled "Bundschu Ridge." He said the book is a "nonfictional account of an effort by USMC Capt. Geary R. Bundschu* to seize a prominent ridge located inland of the Asan Beach landing zone during the July 21, 1944, liberation of Guam."

Four men in the company were left behind; known to have been killed in action, their bodies never were recovered.

Carmichael thinks he has located the body of one of the Marines whose body remains on Bundschu ridge. He said he hopes he and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii can retrieve it within the next few months.

*B

UNDSCHU, GEARY R.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Geary R. Bundschu (0-8276), Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of Company A, First Battalion, Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan-Adelup Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands, on 22 July 1944. With his company pinned down by bitter hostile machine-gun, mortar and rifle fire during an advance up a vital enemy ridge, Captain Bundschu unhesitatingly exposed himself to an intense barrage from Japanese guns and, fearlessly proceeding forward, observed and sketched the enemy position retarding the advance of his unit. Again making himself a target for hostile weapons, despite painful wounds in the shoulder, he continued to observe enemy defenses and skillfully reorganized his men in preparation for another fierce assault against the Japanese-held ridge. Although his right arm was rendered useless by a grenade fragment when his platoon was caught in a hostile machine-gun crossfire and simultaneously subjected to a vicious grenade attack, Captain Bundschu courageously directed his men to take cover then, valiantly pressing forward succeeded in destroying the nearest Japanese machine-gun position with grenades before he was mortally wounded. His great personal courage and inspiring leadership in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
Commander In Chief, Pacific Forces, Serial: 004424 (December 18, 1945)
Home Town: Oakland, California

Vendredi Soir - Doug Kershaw!!!!!!! Play Real Loud!!!!!!!!

Bonjour Mes Amis!!!Laisser les bons temps rouler! Lache pas la patate & C'est tout!

Friday Night Noise - John & Steppenwolf - Play Loud!

Three best chords in Rock . . .well, today anyway.

Obama White House Set to Kick Israel's Butt in United Nations

Amateur Hour White House Part MCXKVIII.

Mr. President, Israel? You are shafting Israel to make nice with UN thugs? Well, you're the President . . .for a while anyway. Call Mayflower before 2012 - get the toys and nick-nacks wrapped and boxed, well before moving day. You know that.

THE WEEKLY STANDARD has learned that senior Obama administration officials have been telling foreign governments that the administration intends to support an effort next week at the United Nations to set up an independent commission, under UN auspices, to investigate Israel's behavior in the Gaza flotilla incident. The White House has apparently shrugged off concerns from elsewhere in the U.S. government that a) this is an extraordinary singling out of Israel, since all kinds of much worse incidents happen around the world without spurring UN investigations; b) that the investigation will be one-sided, focusing entirely on Israeli behavior and not on Turkey or on Hamas; and c) that this sets a terrible precedent for outside investigations of incidents involving U.S. troops or intelligence operatives as we conduct our own war on terror.

While UN Ambassador Susan Rice is reported to have played an important role in pushing for U.S. support of a UN investigation, the decision is, one official stressed, of course the president's. The government of Israel has been consulting with the U.S. government on its own Israeli investigative panel, to be led by a retired supreme court justice, that would include respected international participants, including one from the U.S. But the Obama administration is reportedly saying that such a “kosher panel” is not good enough to satisfy the international community, or the Obama White House.

Burge Trial - Gangbanger Remembers Tyburn Jack Ketch as Part of Midnight Crew

The hearsay parade of witnesses pointing the finger at Jon Burge - the long-ago media Popular Front convicted Chicago Police Detective continues:

Gangster Disciple Henry Fauntleroy ( deceased) returned from the grave and offered this compelling narrative, "I remember this Irish #$%%^#$ came in an tortured and put me to death so I confessed."

Compelling.

I heard that The Midnight Crew made runs to Col. Chicken, Mickey D's, and Popeyes and never once offered the Denzel Washington look-a-likes even a taste. Chilling.

John (Jack) Ketch (died 1686) was an English executioner employed by King Charles II. An immigrant of Irish extraction, he became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumults of the 1680s, when he was often mentioned in broadsheet accounts that circulated throughout the Kingdom of England. He is thought to have been appointed in 1663. He executed the death sentences against William Russell, Lord Russell in Lincoln's Inn Fields on July 21, 1683, and James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth on July 15, 1685, after the Monmouth Rebellion. He was either very awkward or sadistic with his beheading technique, and his victims were known to have suffered at their deaths.[citation needed]
Ketch's execution of Lord Russell on July 21, 1683, was performed clumsily, and a pamphlet is extant which contains his Apologie, in which he alleges that the prisoner did not "dispose himself as was most suitable" and that he was interrupted while taking aim. On the scaffold (see gallows) on July 15, 1685, the Duke of Monmouth, addressing Ketch, referred to his treatment of Lord Russell, the result being that Ketch was quite unmanned. He had to deal at least five strokes with his axe (which he threw down, shouting "I cannot do this thing!") and finally use a knife to sever Monmouth's head from his shoulders.[citation needed] In 1686, Ketch was deposed and imprisoned at Bridewell. His successor, Paskah Rose, a butcher, was hanged at Tyburn after four months in his office.[citation needed] Ketch was reappointed in his place. He died towards the close of 1686.[citation needed]
As a result, the term Jack Ketch is also used:
as the name of every hangman after Ketch, to hide their identity;
as a proverbial name for death or, sometimes, Satan;
as a euphemism for the gallows;
as the name of the hangman in the traditional version of Punch and Judy.
The knot more commonly known as a hangman's knot is also sometimes known as Jack Ketch's knot.
As a figure of death in folklore "Jack Ketch" is also known as "Hanging Jack" and "Mister Graball".

Saturday June 12th -Step up to the Plate for Special Kids at Bourbon Street

Join your neighbors, family and friends and Step Up to the Plate for Special Children and the Special Olympics. Watch the Chicago White Sox and Cubs tangle in the Crosstown Classic. Enjoy great food and drink.

Help Special Kids! That's why we are all here at Bourbon Street. Drop Thirty Bucks $30) and have a great day doing some good for Special Children.

Bourbon Street reaches out to help people all the time. This palce is the Chicago Charity Mecca!

Tickets are $30 (available at the door) and include free parking, a full buffet and open bar from 2:30pm-6:30pm. (Game starts at 3:10pm). More than 600 people joined in the fun last year!

Great time, great game and a great cause! 4 hours of fun - be sure to bring your friends and make this an annual tradition!

Thanks to incredible donations from True Value's booth at the Hardware Show, we have an assortment of prizes. Something for everyone - including the kitchen sink!


SILENT AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE:
(4) tickets to Chicago Blackhawks game during 2010-11 season, Blackhawks commemorative mini street pole banner and autographed Stan Mikita photo

Foursome (includes cart fees) at George Dunne National Golf Course

Weber Gas Grill ($790 value)

Patio heater

(4) Jim Beam Club tickets and parking pass for Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore. August 26 ($1000 value)

Firepit, log holder, ash bucket, fireplace tool kit - Break out the smores!

Driveway alarm, garage door opener kit, remote control

Beautiful collection of household mirrors

Foursome at Green Garden Golf Course in Frankfort, Illinois

(2) beautiful bathroom vanities

Step up to the Plate!
When
Sat, June 12, 2:30pm – 6:30pm
Where
Bourbon Street, 339 W. 111th Street (map)
Description
It's the Crosstown Classic! Come watch the Sox vs. Cubs and support Special Olympics Chicago! $30

Thank You Representative Kevin Joyce !

Kristen McQueary wrote a sober and fitting shocker in the Southtown Star this morning. My State Representative Kevin Joyce announced his planned retirement from elective office.

Local Democrats are looking for a candidate to compete for a soon-to-be open Illinois House seat after state Rep. Kevin Joyce announced Wednesday he's planning to end his re-election efforts and may not finish out his term.

The move comes fewer than five months before the fall election, and leaves a question mark as to who will represent Democrats in the fight to maintain the 35th House District seat. Joyce (D-Chicago) said he's uncertain whether he will finish out his term but will file paperwork soon to remove his name from the Nov. 2 ballot.

Kevin Joyce is the best example of what an elected official should be - honest, hard-wroking, responsive and principled.

Kevin Joyce learned these qualities from his parents and his career belies the belly-ache-ers who whine and moan about families in public service.

Kevin is a rock-ribbed Roman Catholic, as are most of his neighbors and constituents. His record reflects his genuine principles and his courageous fight for vouchers with Senator Meeks stands as a tribute to political courage in a Democratic Party marked by cant and unctious hypocrisy, beyond the Ward.

Kevin and Krista are expecting their eighth child. Talk about principles. Kevin Joyce will take a position with Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida.

God Bless, you both for your service to our District!

Rocky Wirtz- He Didn't Step Over a Buck to Pick up a Penny

The Beverly Theater at 95th & Ashland had, what I believe, might have been the first 'pay-to-iew' operation in America.




In about 1968, Bill Wirtz set up infancy simulcast technologies that allowed the Blackhawk Home games to be broadcast on the movie screen of the old air-conditioned and regal Beverly Theatre. That must have been one of the first Big Screen Viewing operations as well.

Not only that, they sold beer.

My Dad and his brothers Bart, Sy and Donnie worked at the Beverly as engineers, sharing the hours to augment their regular jobs.

Local news and sports journalists Bill Gleason and Dave Condon were frequent attendees, as both could walk to Beverly from their homes.

Bill Wirtz was an interesting and nice man, as far as I could tell. He became known as Dollar Bill among Chicago sports know-it-alls. Like George Halas and Charlie Comiskey, Bill Wirtz was tar-brushed with the stain of being a cheap-skate. They were working-class guys who wanted to bring sport to working men and women at a reasonable price. They were like our fathers - the guys who told us what could and could not spend.

Rocky Wirtz and I are the same age - we are baby-boomers. Our Dad's told us that we did not understand the value of a buck. Dad's worry.

I went to Loyola (twice) on my own dime, became a teacher, bought homes, raised kids,and somehow made a living, because I guess I did get the message.

Rocky Wirtz, I am sure does not still have his 1st Communion money. When his Dad passed away, Rocky made the Blackhawks his own.

He paid for Patrick Kane*. That must have resurrected his Dad and given him a massive post-mortem and resurrection coronary and sent him back to the turf.

Last night, the lessons of value paid off. Rocky Wirtz brought the Stanley Cup back City of Chicago. His Dad helped give Chicago one in 1961. Bill Wirtz paid for Bobby Hull, I guess was not as much of a cheapskate after all. Rocky Wirtz reconnected Bobby Hall and Stan Mikita with the tough and heroic kids who are cold steel on ice.

Thank you, Rocky. You learned the value of buck and refused to step over a buck to pick up a penny.

Rocky Wirtz:

On October 22, 2007, Rocky announced that the team was in negotiations with Comcast SportsNet Chicago (of which he is part-owner) to begin televising home games. That season, they began to show a select amount of home games, with Wirtz citing pre-existing agreements Comcast had with other programming as a reason why not all of the remaining 2007-08 home schedule could be shown. Wirtz also hired John McDonough, formerly with the Chicago Cubs to become the new President of the team.[5] Many believe that McDonough's presence, along with the young talent on the Blackhawks team, will improve the team's marketing ability and reverse what has been a long drought in popularity. This is evident in the fact that the Blackhawks were tops in the NHL for attendance in 2008-09 [6] while making it to the Western Conference Finals.

Former players Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita, who were not on good terms with Bill Wirtz, have worked with the team in the role of "ambassadors," [7] another sign that Rocky Wirtz has been able to undo the damage to the franchise many attributed to his father. A big step showing that this damage had been coming undone came when the Chicago Blackhawks celebrated Hull and Mikita in a joint celebration at the United Center on Friday, March 7, 2008. Met with more mixed reaction was Wirtz's decision to lessen the use of the United Center's organ in favor of more prerecorded current music to attract new, younger fans. This ended up being a blessing in disguise as the goal song "Chelsea Dagger" became a song other teams loved to hate.[8]

The changes made by Rocky Wirtz and the improvement of the team have been remarkable. After missing the playoffs for six straight seasons, the Blackhawks finally broke through in 2009. With a young and inexperienced team, few predicted the Hawks to go very far but they defeated the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks in the first two rounds before bowing out to the defending Stanley Cup Champions, Detroit Red Wings, in the Western Conference Final. In the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Blackhawks have defeated the Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks to advance to their first Stanley Cup Final since 1992. They went head to head with the Philadelphia Flyers in the NHL final and won the Stanley Cup.

Marathon Pundit Goes All Street on Shorebank Scammers

My Man John Ruberry - Jack That Cat is Clean!

Hezbollah and Jan Schakowsky Think Helen Thomas "Awesome!"

Congresswoman and Illinois Nitwork Jan Schakowsky and the swell folks at Hezbollah will miss Helen Thomas:

Hezbollah stands by disgraced US reporter Helen Thomas
Published: 06.09.10, 21:09 / Israel News
Hezbollah on Wednesday saluted veteran US reporter Helen Thomas's "courage" for her controversial comments against Israel, which sparked a furor and forced her to retire.

"Respected American journalist Helen Thomas's answer shows ... a courageous, bold, honest and free opinion which expresses what people across the globe believe: that Israel is a racist state of murderers and thugs," Hezbollah MP Hussein Moussawi said in a statement. (AFP)

Having Elephant Man's Mother as her featured headliner* was inspired . . . by a 40 Watt Intellect, Room Temperature I.Q. and the personality of a dial tone.

Jan Schakowsky - she keeps giving and giving. Hey, what's up with Jan Schakowsky's Turkish intrigues these days - she never really answered thos equestion raised last Fall? Gotta ask. Carol Marin will not.


*

Thomas headlined Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s big campaign fundraiser, the “9th Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch” in Chicago. The list of guests included all of the major Democratic candidates for federal office, including Senate candidate Alexi Giannoulias and 10th district contender Dan Seals. Senator Dick Durbin was also there, as were representatives of J Street, the new lobby for left-wing policies on Israel.
Rep. Schakowsky and her guests were well aware of Thomas’s record of anti-Israel rhetoric, and were invited to distance themselves from her views. None did. Instead, Rep. Schakowsky declared proudly of Thomas: “She’s so awesome!”

Joel Pollack

Cry Wolf Project - Marxist PACs like SEIU v. The Shrinking American Middle Class

How many academics does it take to screw in a light bulb ? Six: One to write the grant proposal, one to do the mathematical modelling, one to type the research paper, one to submit the paper for publishing, and one to hire a student to do the work, and the one to Cry Wolf - Racist Crisis Looming. Oh, you mean mean screw in a light bulb? Crew IN a light bulb, that's sexist or homophobic! Or do you mean 'screw the light bulb into the required light bulb socket? Light bulbs are a danger to a Green Planet!

American Academics want to be power players. They want solidarity with the working class.

Since the 1970's when the bow-tied Federal Judge Prentice Marshall put into motion the complete hand-cuffing and undermining of law enforcement, academic "Centers" for Justice have piled on the Chicago Police. Close on the heels of Prentice Marshall's short-sighted and 'touchy-feely' ruling that stripped the Chicago Police Department of the right to hire qualified candidates for the police academy and possible employment as police officers, race based hiring trumped everything.

In 1976, ruling in a discrimination suit, he ordered the Chicago Police Department to hire women as officers on the beat and to open its doors to more blacks and Hispanics. When the city failed to comply, Judge Marshall directed the United States Treasury to withhold federal money until the department changed its policies.

It did not matter that women are physically less robust than what law enforcement requires, nor did it matter that test scores on the entrance examination might be an indication of future qualification, a Federal judge knew more than the officers placing themselves in harm's way everyday.

Since Prentice Marshall academics and lawyers know more about police work and what it takes to protect citizens, because everything gets laundered by race, gender and feeling really good. Parents of dead teenagers, however, do not feel good and neither do police officers. G. Flint Taylor, Locke Bowman, and Jon Loevy feel great, as do the "Centers" for anything at Northwestern and University of Chicago.

American labor - real labor - skilled trades and industrial trade unions are going the way of law enforcement and American criminal justice, because Academics cry wolf.

SEIU and other Political Action Committees that the corporate media call Big Labor are focused on the elimination of the American Middle Class. In order to accomplish that end, SEIU and their paid helpers in the media and academia must undermine any and all confidence in American Labor - the skilled trade and industrial unions. The skilled trades and industrial unions built the American Middle Class as much as American business.

The middle class in America owes its once robust good health to labor.

Yesterday SEIU spent 10 million dollars to defeat one candidate in Arkansas - Blanche Lincoln. Blanche Lincoln won. SEIU spent millions of dollars to elect the President of the United States. Barack Obama won in 2008. Since then, Andy Stern was selected to serve on the Obama Deficit Reduction Commission, has been implicated in the Illinois Blagojevich corruption trial and has quickly resigned his position as head of SEIU.

Andy Stern came to SEIU via University of Pennsylvania. He is an academic.

Recently the active role of college academics in the work of SEIU to kill the American Middle Class have come to light.
It is no secret that progressives have created a self-cloning machine by hijacking our educational system. Their indoctrination efforts are well documented. But we rarely think of research institutions as propaganda factories. A Request for Proposal (RFP) — see document above — recently obtained by Big Journalism gives us a rare look at how progressives and labor unions attempt to manipulate the national media narrative.
And their process? you may ask. Use the credibility and resources of the American higher education system to create research prop – biased collegial research papers that serve as propaganda to support political policies.
Entitled Cry Wolf, the RFP proclaims a desire to look “for faculty and graduate students… interested in writing short (2,000 word) policy briefs” that “construct a counter narrative that demonstrates the falsity or exaggeration” of conservative claims. Writers of briefs selected by the project coordinators will receive 100,000 pennies for their thoughts.
Their hopes with this researchprop is for these papers to “become the basis for opinion pieces designed to run in the mainstream media, on line, on the air, or in the press,” with the end outcome of building the following narrative in the public consciousness: that conservative objections to their policies are just the old dirty tricks of the right-wing.
If executed successfully, the “first reaction of millions of people, as well as opinion leaders, will be, ‘there they go again’,” reads the RFP – a clear attempt to label any right-leaning objection to progressive policy as another case of crying wolf.

Distributed by Peter Dreier, Professor of Politics and Director of the Urban & Environmental Policy program at Occidental College, the request for proposal asks for help “in an important project in the battle with conservative ideas.” Drier is a frequent collaborator with the California AFL-CIO and the infamous ACORN.
The project’s union and progressive ties are seen throughout the bios of its coordinators and advisory board. It is sponsored by the Center on Policy Initiatives, a San Diego based non-profit headed by co-founder and Cry Wolf project coordinator Donald Cohen – a 25-year community organizing veteran and former Political Director for a division of San Diego’s AFL-CIO.
In fact, every person associated with this project has either spent a lifetime glorifying the work of labor unions through their writings, or has published work that supports the policies that further Big Labor’s agenda.
Labor historian Nelson Lichtenstein, Professor of History at UC Santa Barbara and Director of the Center for the Study of Work, Labor, and Democracy — and “America’s foremost Wal-Mart expert” — is also a Cry Wolf project coordinator. He is the author of numerous books designed to raise the awareness of the labor cause. While at the University of Virginia, Lichtenstein was involved in an organization known as Labor Action Group. “Our task was to insert and raise the labor question into the consciousness and politics of the university,” wrote Lichtenstein in the preface of his book State of the Union: A Century of American Labor.

Click my post title for more.

SEIU is thick in Illinois politics, as the Blagojevich trial will reveal.

Skilled Trades unions and industrial trade unions need to become aware of the wolves -academics and SEIU leadership -in their midst.

SEIU will, as it tried to do so in Illinois in 2004, to strip Trades of their apprenticeship admissions, schools and certifications and turn that right over to elected officials - they will cry wolf -race, social justice and high sounding cries in the night and the media.

A Federal Judge Prentice Marshall damaged forever the Chicago Police Department with help from academics and lawyers.

SEIU has forever damaged American Labor with help from academics, gutless politicians and of course lawyers - but it is not too late.

Look to Blanche Lincoln.

Planned Parenthood's Global Genocide -Names It's Cover Girl!

A Masters Degree i public administration from Harvard comes with a solid core belief that more children killed in the womb is a Global Imperative.

Planned Parenthood has ginned up a paeon to the Pill and stepped up its Abortion Mill work in Africa and Asia. With help of President Obama, Planned Parenthood's #1 President in American history, and his pal in Venezuela, Jefe Hugo, Planned Parenthood will be set to launch a full global genocide.

Actress Ashley Judd has been named Abortion's Cover Girl!

Thanks to her academic endeavors, Judd had a greater appreciation of Melody’s experience. “I wouldn’t have realized that Melody was hoping to make a transition from the informal to the formal economy without having taken Martha Chen’s class,” the actress said, giving a shout-out to her professor, an expert on women, poverty and employment.


Still, Judd said the program taught her as much about the power of emotions as that of policy.


“I learned that the greatest leadership must come from the heart,” she said.


In addition to talking about global maternal health during her days at the conference, Judd will tackle an issue closer to home while she’s in Washington, too: On Wednesday, the native Kentuckian will speak at the National Press Club against the practice of mountaintop-removal coal mining.

Judd has nice features I guess, but her brain pan? She's as baffled as Adam on Mothers Day!


Man! and you thought Helen Thomas was ugly!~ Ashley Judd is appealing a used and thoroughly squeezed colostomy bag.

http://psi.org/about-psi/board

Father (Lt.) Vincent R. Capodanno, USN, CMOH Cleared for Path to Sainthood

from The Lair of the Catholic Laymen

Father (Lt.) Vincent R. Capodanno, USN, CMOH, Servant of God
FINALLY, a Patron Saint for the Marine Corps?

Excellent article concerning the cause for Sainthood has formally been opened for Medal of Honor awarded "Grunt Padre". I know that my eldest brother will be happy to hear this... he was a 0331 (Marine Corps machine gunner) in Viet-Nam, who served more than one Mass for Fr. Capodanno.

The second posting I ever did on this blog was concerning Father Capodanno and his possible Canonization. Deo Gratis his cause has been officially opened. If you're curious, there I have posted his Medal of Honor citation.

Unfortunately, the news story from Catholic News Service has some errors. Father Capodanno wasn't killed by a sniper... he was killed by a communist North Viet-Namese machine gunner less than 5 feet away from him, as Fr. Capodanno was trying to save the life of a dying comrade. Also the writer committed a cardinal sin against Marines... he referred to Marines as "soldiers".

Anyhow, to read about Fr. Capodanno in the words of those who served with him, go here. Below is a bit of the recollection by Former Marine Ray Harton, Mike Company, 3/5 (3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment).

If this doesn't bring a tear to your eye, there's something wrong with you.

Sometime late afternoon we heard scattered fire, we had stopped close to a small hill. Sgt. Peters came running up and told us 1st Platoon had been hit hard and we were going to help them. We ran some, walked some and approached the top of the hill and the carnage started. All I can remember is Sgt. Peters screaming, "Get that Gun!" and I was hit in the left arm that spun me to the ground, another shot shattered my rifle. I was screaming, along with other members of my squad, we were being shot at every move we made.

The machine gun was close, 15 to 25 yards away, in a thicket, part way down the far slope of the small hill or knoll I called it. This very hard for me. I can remember seeing the North Vietnamese troops moving and coming toward me, there were Marines lying all around me, and I was calling for help, while with every beat of my fast pumping heart, my life blood was spurting on the ground. I could hear someone holler "Corpsman!" but every time I would move, that gun would shoot at me, and the other Marines. At a distance, I could see Doc Leal moving from Marine to Marine, and he was looking at me. I knew I was going to die, I was not able to defend myself, and the NVA were coming after me, that was my fear.

Through all the noise and hearing myself scream, someone touched me. I had rolled myself on my left side to put pressure on my left arm and elbow, and someone touched me, it was Fr. Vince. As I looked into his eyes, all things got silent. Not a sound could be heard. No screaming, nothing but the sound of his soft voice, and the look of compassion in his eyes. "Stay calm Marine, someone will be here to help, God is with all of us this day!"

I could see Sgt. Peters laying on the ground, blood coming from his mouth, Corpsman Leal moving in my direction, but I was not scared any longer. I was at peace. Fr. Vince was bare headed, blood on his face and neck, his right hand was mangled with a bloody compress hastily attached. He cupped the back of my head in an attempt to raise me off my arm, when all of a sudden I heard a scream, "my leg, my leg!" and I was back in the war. I glanced over and Corpsman Leal was sitting on the ground screaming about 25 feet from me. Fr. Vince blessed me with his good hand and leaped up and darted to Corpsman Leal. I had come to my senses and was ready to fight, the words "Get that gun!" were still ringing in my head. I made an attempt to move when that gun opened up once more, not at me, but had caught Fr. Vince and Corpsman Leal and ended their lives, a long burst killed my savior, and my friends. Fr. Vince was gone, that image remains foremost in my mind today. And the guilt of being the cause of this God-Like Soul's death haunts me today. I got mad at God and mad at the enemy. I will not go into what happened later between me and that gun [crew].
posted by Vir Speluncae Catholicus at 12:51 PM

Kalamazoo Thighs Not Tingling - "Make No Excuses," or " Find Some Ass to Kick!"

President Barack Obama is telling high school graduates in Michigan not to make excuses, and to take responsibility for failures as well as successes.

In excerpts of remarks to be delivered later Monday at Kalamazoo Central High School, Obama says that it's easy to blame others when problems arise. "We see it every day out in Washington, with folks calling each other names and making all sorts of accusations on TV," the president says.

As the President said Earlier,


"I don't sit around just talking to experts because this is a college seminar, we talk to these folks because they potentially have the best answers, so I know whose ass to kick."

What's that running up your leg? Chris Matthews? Not in Kalamazoo - it's irony.

Max Wesimann Happy Birthday - The Pump Room's "Most Interesting Man"

Happy Birthday to Max Weismann*, philosopher, classicist, architect, bon vivant, raconteur, discerning pintsman, and Director of The Center for the Study of Great Ideas.

Max Weismann is also the Commodore of Chicago's Ambassador East Pump Room. His Station is at the northeast corner of the elegant horse shoe bar and from his perch he dispenses good will and jambs his long athletic arm deeply into his pockets - to the elbows mind you - to bring coin of the Republic in saloon largess only matched by Boz O'Brien -owner of Midway Airport's Reilly's Daughter Pub.

Max makes Henry Kissinger go bashful

Brian Erlacher was sacked by Max

Jim Thome asks Max to watch him in the cage

Mayor Daley opens his mail

The Lincoln Park Zoo sings to Max at Christmas

The Black Hawks sing Chelsea Hammer whenever Max drops a cocktail napkin to catch the eye of a Swedish Stewardess

Max gets tips from bartenders

Max Weismann uses only the vowels he truly needs

Max never needs Tom Skilling - clouds part with his advent


When it is raining, it is because he is sad.

Even his parrot's advice is insightful.

If there were an interesting gland, his would be larger than most men's entire lower intestines.

His shirts never wrinkle.

He is left-handed. And right-handed.

Even if he forgets to put postage on his mail, it gets there.

He once knew a call was a wrong number, even though the person on the other end wouldn't admit it.

You can see his charisma from space.

Max Weismann is my friend - Happy Birthday, Max!


*

Max Weismann is an American philosopher and a long time friend and colleague of Mortimer Adler, with whom he co-founded the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas in Chicago. He is director and president of the Center and has dedicated his time and talents to promoting the philosophical and pedagogical ideas of Dr. Adler. He also compiled, edited and published, How To Think About the Great Ideas: From the Great Books of Western Civilization, a 600 page tome of never published work from Adler’s television series, The Great Ideas. Weismann serves as chairman of the Great Books Academy [over 3.000 students] and is professor of philosophy at Rushmore University.[1]

Prior to his career in philosophy and education with Dr. Adler, Mr. Weismann was a consultant in the field of architecture, construction management and exhibit design and fabrication. He worked on famous projects like the Century 21 Exposition, 1964 New York World's Fair and Expo 67, with such notables as Walt Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright, Buckminster Fuller, Mies van der Rohe, Louis I. Kahn, Paul Rudolph, Marcel Breur, José Luis Sert, Edward Durell Stone, Minoru Yamasaki, Harry Weese, Moshe Safdie, Jacques Yves Cousteau, Alexander Calder, and Edward L. Barnes. Mr. Weismann oversaw the development and construction of the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Weismann also invented a revolutionary color imaging system, that was used worldwide in the fields of color proofing and printing, graphic design, television and advertising.

italics - http://symbii.com/stories.php?sid=618

After Retirement, Helen Thomas Will Go Home

In the world of political journalism, it's the end of an era: Helen Thomas has retired just months shy of her 90th birthday.

The longtime White House journalist has covered every president since Dwight Eisenhower and broke several barriers for female journalists but stepped down from her latest role -- a columnist for Hearst Newspapers -- in the wake of controversial remarks made in late May about the need for Jews to "get the hell out of Palestine" and return to Poland and Germany.

"Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately," read a statement from Hearst Newspapers on Monday. "Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet."

Thomas said in a statement that, "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.’’

A Tail of Old Erin's Isle

A rough and weathered Kerry farmer pulled the rope leash that harnessed a black faced sheep.

With razor rain pelting his weather- leathered sixty-five year old vissage, the rough rustic Moses pulled the baying and bleating Ovis Bovidae to and manfully through the green painted door of his one room cottage on the lee-ward side of the hill that crowned his farm. The last embers of turf glowed a gold-smoky hue to the spartan room with walls adorned with framed photos of JFK, RFK, MLK and Bono.

From the thick woolen blankets and home-spun covers of the queen-sized bed, came the voice of his bride of thirty-two years, " Pissed are ye?"

Pulling himself to the full 65" majesty of his agarian frame, our peat-digging yeoman retorted," This is the cow . . .that I am having sex with!"

There was somewhat of a pause. Had years of drink and labor destroyed the once careless and song-slinging swain who had charmed and conquered her heart with this revelation of madness?

"You've a skinfull of Poitín and porter - that's a sheep you amadaun!"

The woolly creature cowered and the sheep was taken aback, as well. After a pause of some seconds the Culchee villein spat back, " I was talking to the mutton, so!"

Ah, as Catullus lyred -Qvearis, quot mihi basiationes tuae, Lesbia, sint satis superque. . . .

From the file of Mr. Gerry O'Carroll

Here Come the Blackhawks - You 'Hawks Sing on Ice!

My Philly Buddy Christine Flowers calls her Philly Flyers - The Icemen of the Apocalypse -

The Apocalypse Cometh - Meet the Real Icemen Christine Flowers' Flyers and these birds can sing:

Forwards
# NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE
12 KYLE BEACH 6' 3" 202 JAN 13, 1990 20 NORTH VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
29 BRYAN BICKELL 6' 4" 223 MAR 9, 1986 24 BOWMANVILLE, ON, CAN
36 DAVE BOLLAND 6' 0" 181 JUN 5, 1986 24 MIMICO, ON, CAN
22 TROY BROUWER 6' 2" 214 AUG 17, 1985 24 VANCOUVER, BC, CAN
37 ADAM BURISH 6' 0" 189 JAN 6, 1983 27 MADISON, WI, USA
33 DUSTIN BYFUGLIEN 6' 4" 257 MAR 27, 1985 25 MINNEAPOLIS, MN, USA
28 JAKE DOWELL 6' 0" 199 MAR 4, 1985 25 EAU CLAIRE, WI, USA
55 BEN EAGER 6' 2" 230 JAN 22, 1984 26 OTTAWA, ON, CAN
46 COLIN FRASER 6' 1" 190 JAN 28, 1985 25 SICAMOUS, BC, CAN
81 MARIAN HOSSA 6' 1" 210 JAN 12, 1979 31 STARÁ LUBOVNA, SVK
88 PATRICK KANE 5' 10" 178 NOV 19, 1988 21 BUFFALO, NY, USA
82 TOMAS KOPECKY 6' 3" 203 FEB 5, 1982 28 ILAVA, SVK
16 ANDREW LADD 6' 2" 200 DEC 12, 1985 24 MAPLE RIDGE, BC, CAN
11 JOHN MADDEN 5' 11" 190 MAY 4, 1973 37 TORONTO, ON, CAN
10 PATRICK SHARP "A" 6' 1" 199 DEC 27, 1981 28 WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
20 JACK SKILLE 6' 1" 215 MAY 19, 1987 23 MADISON, WI, USA
19 JONATHAN TOEWS "C" 6' 2" 210 APR 29, 1988 22 WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
32 KRIS VERSTEEG 5' 10" 182 MAY 13, 1986 24 LETHBRIDGE, AB, CANDefensemen
# NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE
24 NICK BOYNTON 6' 1" 218 JAN 14, 1979 31 NOBLETON, ON, CAN
51 BRIAN CAMPBELL 6' 0" 189 MAY 23, 1979 31 STRATHROY, ON, CAN
56 BRIAN CONNELLY 5' 10" 167 JUN 10, 1986 23 BLOOMINGTON, MN, USA
34 JASSEN CULLIMORE 6' 5" 235 DEC 4, 1972 37 SIMCOE, ON, CAN
6 JORDAN HENDRY 6' 0" 197 FEB 23, 1984 26 LANIGAN, SK, CAN
4 NIKLAS HJALMARSSON 6' 3" 205 JUN 6, 1987 23 EKSJO, SWE
8 KIM JOHNSSON 6' 1" 193 MAR 16, 1976 34 MALMO, SWE
2 DUNCAN KEITH "A" 6' 1" 196 JUL 16, 1983 26 WINNIPEG, MB, CAN
42 SHAWN LALONDE 6' 1" 192 MAR 10, 1990 20 OTTAWA, ON, CAN
44 DANNY RICHMOND 6' 0" 192 AUG 1, 1984 25 CHICAGO, IL, USA
7 BRENT SEABROOK 6' 3" 218 APR 20, 1985 25 RICHMOND, BC, CAN
5 BRENT SOPEL 6' 1" 201 JAN 7, 1977 33 CALGARY, AB, CANGoalies
# NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT DATE OF BIRTH AGE BIRTH PLACE
50 COREY CRAWFORD 6' 2" 200 DEC 31, 1984 25 MONTREAL, QC, CAN
39 CRISTOBAL HUET 6' 1" 205 SEP 3, 1975 34 ST-MARTIN-D'HÈRES, FRA
31 ANTTI NIEMI 6' 2" 210 AUG 29, 1983 26 VANTAA, FIN
30 HANNU TOIVONEN 6' 2" 200 MAY 18, 1984 26 KALVOLA, FIN

Super le truc, merci! From Max Weismann - Bon Vivant & Commodore de Pump Room

I tried this on a Blatz Tall Boy - to no avail.

Vous avez soif, pas de tire bouchon mais une paire de chaussure? Parfait ! vous pouvez ouvrir votre bouteille de vin !! REGARDEZ ;)

Local 399 Host Benefit for Natasha McShane

Here's another opprtunity to help coming up soon!




Stationary Engineer Local # 399 hosted an estimated 600 great people who attended Friday night's benefit for beating victim Natasha McShane. The event was put together by former Cook County Sheriff Michael Sheehan and his brother James "Skinny" Sheehan along with Chicago Sun Times owner James Tyree, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart and Mayor Daley. Chicago's great Skilled Trades Unions were thick in the giving especially Pipe Fitters Local 597. There is not a benefit in this City that is not aided by the Carpenters, Electricians, Hoisters, Cement Finishers, Plumbers, or Laborers Locals. I can see 597 Leader Tom Kotel dropping an envelop thick with 'Hundos.'

I could not attend but most of my large extended family were there - you can contribute to the Fund for Natasha McShane, as I did by clicking my post title.

Cousins, Mike Brennan, Hank Walsh, Brian, Mike, Red Pat, Sy, Marc Hickey and the many Winters Lads Willie, Bart, Mark, Vince, Brendan, Tim, Marty, Jack and Nat along with my brother-in-law Larry DiMateo scooped up cash for the poor Girl.

Old buddy and Pulitzer Prize Winning Cartoonist Jack Higgins and his beautiful bride Missy wondered ( and well they should) about my absence to which, Chicago Renaissance Man and Radio Legend Mike Houlihan replied, " I think it was Hickey's night to tape the Kardashian Saga on Cable." The burn on the treasured CD did not take, alas. Bernard Callaghan of Keegan's Pub no doubt nodded with dour and sober understanding of my absence from this throng of worthies.

No, I was not having a breast reduction, liposuction or any other elective cosmetic surgery . . .thank you very much.

High School pals Bobby Sheehy and Pat Byrne of the Mulliganeer's gave cousin John Winters a check in the amount of $ 2,500 to help Natasha McShane. The Mulliganeers are dedicated to helping Chicago families suffering from illness and unexpected financial tragedies of this kind and have presented hundreds of thousands of dollars to that mission.

Mark Konkol of the Chicago Sun Times must be credited with boosting the news on this great benefit! I am sure the Dooley Brothers, Terry McEldowney, Cathy O'Connell,John Williams and Liz Carroll provided music.

My Neighbors,Cops, Fireman and Catholic and Public Teachers larded the giving! I know Leo Men Jerry Schmitt, Chico Driscoll, Harry Valadez, Larry Lynch, Rich Doyle, Tom Lynch and so many others were on hand. State Sen. Ed Maloney, State Reps. Kevin Joyce, Mike Carberry, Rep. Elect Kelly Burke and her husband Terry were all there making this a full basket for Natasha. The Great Mike Doorhy a Master of throwing a benefit for aid was there! I can see the ghosts of John Hickey, Martin Ford, Johnny Neary, Jigs Donahue, Old Jack Reedy and my grandfather Lawrence, an old Local 399 Founder, tough guy and Kerry Bogman smiling with approval and wondering "Why the Hell, Patsheen was not there . . . Christ Jesus Almighty!!!?"

I am so proud of Chicago's great hearted people. Below is CBS 2's Krystin Hartman's fine report.

CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Natasha McShane
CBS

A young woman has a tough recovery, but she's not going it alone. Supporters packed a benefit Friday night in honor of Natasha McShane. She's one of two women who survived a vicious baseball bat beating in Bucktown in April.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports.

It was everything Irish for a young woman from Northern Ireland who came to the Windy City to study. Her name is Natasha McShane. She's fighting her way back to everyone who cares about her.

A young woman has a tough recovery, but she's not going it alone. Supporters packed a benefit tonight in honor of Natasha McShane. She's one of two women who survived a vicious baseball bat beating. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman has the story.

Everything Irish in Chicago tonight for a young woman from Northern Ireland who came to the windy city to study. Her name is Natasha McShane. She's fighting her way back to everyone who cares about her.

"Natasha is slowly progressing every day, she's even beginning to talk," longtime family friend Mark Campbell said.

That's good news considering all that's happened.

"She was a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time," said Campbell.

One early morning in April, Natasha was walking along a busy street with her friend, Stacy Starl Jurich, when police say Heriberto Viramontes attacked them with a bat in Bucktown. The injuries were serious. Mary Dunne read about it.

"How will I ever say I'm from Chicago?" she said. "I was so embarrassed. Then I thought, 'I can do something.'"

Dunne rallied her brothers Mike and James "Skinny" Sheahan and other local leaders to help Natasha and her parents, who traveled so far to be by their daughter's side.

The benefit to raise money for her considerable medical care was the result. Hundreds of people from the Irish community answered the call.

"Now I'm proud to go to Ireland because, quite frankly, everybody over there knows now how Natasha is loved in our city," Dunne said.

She says the McShanes are grateful for the outpouring. Natasha's father attended the benefit, but declined comment. A family friend said: "Keep the prayers going. Keep believing in this beautiful Irish girl, that she can get better 100 percent. "

One hundred percent of Friday's proceeds went to the McShane family. Everything from the food to the space, was donated.

On Friday, Heriberto Viramontes and his alleged accomplice, Marcy Cruz, both pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the Bucktown beatings. They will appear for a status hearing on July 7.

Cruz, 25, told her boyfriend, co-defendant Viramontes, to "look at all those drunk a------- coming out of the bar'' moments before Viramontes attacked the women, Asst. Cook County State's Atty. Erin Antonietti said during bond proceedings.

Jurich needed 15 staples to the outside of her head and McShane was initially in a drug-induced coma, the prosecutor said.

About 18 minutes after the robbery, Viramontes and Cruz were captured on surveillance video at a nearby gas station trying to use the victim's credit card, a source said.

Viramontes, a Spanish Cobras gang member, has been arrested more than 30 times and convicted of burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and domestic battery, police said.

Cruz has a record of arrests for minor crimes but has never been convicted, police said.

McShane was transferred from Northwestern Memorial Hospital to the Rehab Institute on May 14, a spokeswoman for Northwestern Memorial said. She opened her eyes for the first time on April 30 as doctors slowly pulled her from a drug-induced coma. She also spoke her first words and now understands her condition.

Jurich is now receiving outpatient treatment.

Sun-Times Media Wire contritubed to this report.
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