Saturday, April 06, 2013

In Obama's Army - Catholics and Evangelical Christians Are Listed as Extremists


Extremist Catholic Priest (above and to the right) Posthumous Recipient Congressional Medal of Honor
Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center: Thoughtful, caring, and well-funded influential American.
As Isaiah the Prophet said [Isaiah 5:20-24]:
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
and shrewd in their own sight!
Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine,
and valiant men in mixing strong drink,
who acquit the guilty for a bribe,
and deprive the innocent of his right!
Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble,
and as dry grass sinks down in the flame,
so their root will be as rottenness,
and their blossom go up like dust;
for they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts,
and have despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.


WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) issued the following statement today on the mischaracterization of  “Catholicism” as an example of “religious extremism” on slide #24 of this U.S. Army Reserve training brief:

I got an e-mail from a board member for Brother Rice High School who practices law in Georgia.
This e-mail included a link to the website for the Bishop of Military Chaplains.  


The Archdiocese for the Military Services and Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty recently became aware of a U.S. Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief that expressly listed “Catholicism,” “Evangelical Christianity” and other religious groups as examples of “religious extremism” alongside groups such as “Al Qaeda”, “Hamas” and the “KKK.”  
The Archdiocese is astounded that Catholics were listed alongside groups that are, by their very mission and nature, violent and extremist. 
According to an investigation and reply from the Army Chief of Chaplains office, the training in question appears to have been an isolated incident not condoned by the Department of the Army. The Archdiocese and the Chaplain Alliance explained that the Army can and should take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Archdiocese calls upon the Department of Defense to review these materials and to ensure that tax-payer funds are never again used to present blatantly anti-religious material to the men and women in uniform.

A new Army Reserve program warns officers to be on the look out for terrorists, gang-bangers, political extremists, church going Evangelicals and Roman Catholics ( page 24.) as domestic and international terrorists.

From the introduction to the training brief, it appears that President Obama as Commander-in-Chief reached out to the Southern Poverty Law Center for guidance in identifying bad guys and girls.


The number of hate groups, extremists and anti‐govt organizationsin theU.S. has
continued to grow over the past three years, according to reports by the Southern Poverty Law Center. They increased to 1,018 in 2011, up from1,002 in 2010 and 602 in 2000.
The striking rise is fueled by the superheated fears generated by economic dislocation, a proliferation of demonizing conspiracy theories,the changing racialmake‐up of America and the prospect of 4 more years under a black president who many on the far right view as an enemy to their country country. The rise in hate crimes and extremism outside the military may be an indication of internal
issues all services will have to face
On one hand America has an extremist like Padre Grunt





On the other hand you have this runt


Gee, Mark almost to the word of the Army Brief.



There have been many Roman Catholic and Evangelical Christians who went to extreme measures to preserve our democracy.  

Barack H. Obama is the Commander in Chief and not the clowns of the Southern Poverty Law Center, whatever the hell that means?

Here's a few, just the Irish American Extremists:

Civil War

      This along with the *, indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
James AllenArmyPrivateSouth Mountain,MarylandSeptember 14, 1862Single-handed and slightly wounded he accosted a squad of 14 Confederate soldiers bearing the colors of the 16th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.).
Robert AndersonNavyQuartermasterOn board the USS Crusader and theUSS Keokuk1863Served on board the USS Crusader and the USS Keokuk during various actions of those vessels.
Augustus BarryArmySergeant MajorUnknown1863 – 1865Gallantry in various actions during the rebellion.[9]
David L. BassNavySeamanFort FisherNorth CarolinaJanuary 15, 1865On board the U.S.S. Minnesota in action during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865.
William R. D. BlackwoodArmySurgeonPetersburg, VirginiaApril 2, 1865Removed severely wounded officers and soldiers from the field while under a heavy fire from the enemy, exposing himself beyond the call of duty, thus furnishing an example of most distinguished gallantry.
Profile of a balding white man with bushy, drooping mustache wearing an ornate military jacket with shoulder boards, shoulder cords, and a lanyard hanging from the chest.John Gregory BourkeArmyPrivateCompany E, 15th Pennsylvania CavalryMurfreesboro, TennesseeDecember 31, 1862 – January 2, 1863Gallantry in action.[10]
James BradyArmyPrivateBattle of Chaffin's FarmVirginiaSep 29, 1864Capture of flag[9]
Felix BranniganArmyPrivateBattle of Chancellorsville,VirginiaMay 2, 1863Volunteered on a dangerous service and brought in valuable information.
John BrosnanArmySergeantCompany E, 164th New York InfantrySecond Battle of Petersburg,VirginiaJun 17, 1864Rescued a wounded comrade who lay exposed to the enemy's fire, receiving a severe wound in the effort.[9]
Denis BuckleyArmyPrivateBattle of Peachtree Creek, Ga.Jul 20, 1864Capture of flag of 31st Mississippi (C.S.A.).[9]
John C. BuckleyArmySergeantBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.May 22, 1863Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."[9]
E. Michael BurkArmyPrivateBattle of Spotsylvania Court HouseVirginiaMay 12, 1864Capture of flag, seizing it as his regiment advanced over the enemy's works. He received a bullet wound in the chest while capturing flag.[9]
Thomas BurkArmySergeantBattle of WildernessMay 6, 1864At the risk of his own life went back while the rebels were still firing and, finding Col. Wheelock unable to move, alone and unaided, carried him off the field of battle.[9]
Daniel W. BurkeArmyFirst SergeantBattle of Shepherdstown,VirginiaSep 20, 1862Voluntarily attempted to spike a gun in the face of the enemy.[9]
John H. CallahanArmyPrivateBattle of Fort Blakely, Ala.Apr 9, 1865Capture of flag.
William CampbellArmyPrivateVicksburg, MississippiMay 22, 1863Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
Hugh CareyArmySergeant82nd New York InfantryBattle of Gettysburg, Pa.Jul 2, 1863Captured the flag of the 7th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.), being twice wounded in the effort.[11]
Patrick ColbertNavyCoxswainAboard theUSS Commodore HullOctober 31, 1864Served on board the U.S.S. Commodore Hull at the capture of Plymouth, 31 October 1864[9]
Charles H. T. CollisArmyColonelPetersburg, VirginiaDecember 13, 1862Gallantly led his regiment in battle at a critical moment.
Dennis ConlanNavySeamanAboard theUSS Agawam,First Battle of Fort FisherDecember 23, 1864Conlan served on board the U.S.S. Agawam, as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 23 December 1864.[9]
Thomas ConnorNavyOrdinary SeamanFort FisherNorth CarolinaJanuary 15, 1865On board the U.S.S. Minnesota, in action during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865.
James ConnorsArmyPrivateBattle of Fisher's HillVirginiaSeptember 22, 1864Capture of enemy flag.
John L. M. CooperNavyCoxswainMobile Bay,Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
August 5, 1864
April 26, 1865
Double MOH recipient
John CorcoranArmyPrivateThird Battle of Petersburg,VirginiaApr 2, 1865Was one of a detachment of 20 picked artillerymen who voluntarily accompanied an infantry assaulting party, and who turned upon the enemy the guns captured in the assault.[12]
Head of a white man with a drooping mustache and short hair, wearing a dark suit over a light-colored shirt and tie. The portrait is surrounded by a shield-shaped decorative frame.Thomas E. CorcoranNavyLandmanVicksburg, MississippiMay 27, 1863Served on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and at the time of her sinking
John CreedArmyPrivateBattle of Fisher's HillVirginiaSeptember 22, 1864Capture of the enemy flag.
A white man with a mustache standing with his left arm resting on an object to his side and his right hand inside his jacket. A star-shaped medal is hanging from a ribbon on his left breast.Cornelius CroninNavyChief QuartermasterAboard theUSS Richmond,Battle of Mobile BayAugust 5, 1864On board the U.S.S. Richmond in action at Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864[9]
Richard J. CurranArmyAssistant SurgeonAntietam, MarylandSeptember 17, 1862Voluntarily exposed himself to great danger by going to the fighting line there succoring the wounded and helpless and conducting them to the field hospital.
Michael DoughertyArmyPrivateJefferson, VirginiaOct 12, 1863At the head of a detachment of his company dashed across an open field, exposed to a deadly fire from the enemy, and succeeded in dislodging them from an unoccupied house, which he and his comrades defended for several hours against repeated attacks, thus preventing the enemy from flanking the position of the Union forces.
Patrick DoughertyNavyLandsmanAboard theUSS Lackawanna,Battle of Mobile BayAugust 5, 1864As a landsman on board the U.S.S. Lackawanna, Dougherty acted gallantly without orders when the powder box at his gun was disabled under the heavy enemy fire, and maintained a supply of powder throughout the prolonged action. Dougherty also aided in the attacks on Fort Morgan and in the capture of the prize ram Tennessee.
Edmund EnglishArmyFirst SergeantWilderness, VirginiaMay 6, 1864During a rout and while under orders to retreat seized the colors, rallied the men, and drove the enemy back.
Thomas T. FallonArmyPrivateWilliamsburg,VirginiaMay 1862 andJun 1864At Williamsburg, Virginia, assisted in driving rebel skirmishers to their main line. Participated in action, at Fair Oaks, Virginia, though excused from duty because of disability. In a charge with his company at Big Shanty, Ga., was the first man on the enemy's works.[6]
Thomas FitzpatrickNavyCoxswainAboard theUSS Hartford,Battle of Mobile BayAugust 5, 1864As captain of the No. 1 gun on board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford, during action against rebel gunboats, the ram Tennessee and Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864.
Augustin FlanaganArmySergeantBattle of Chaffin's FarmVirginiaSep 29, 1864Gallantry in the charge on the enemy's works: rushing forward with the colors and calling upon the men to follow him; was severely wounded.
James FlanniganArmyPrivateNolensville, Tenn.Feb 15, 1863Was one of a detachment of 16 men who heroically defended a wagon train against the attack of 125 cavalry, repulsed the attack and saved the train.
Christopher FlynnArmyCorporal14th Connecticut InfantryBattle of Gettysburg, Pa.Jul 3, 1863Capture of flag of 52d North Carolina Infantry (C.S.A.).[11]
James E. FlynnArmySergeantBattle of Vicksburg, Miss.May 22, 1863Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
Head of a white man with a bushy mustache wearing a dark suit and bow tie. The portrait is surrounded by an oval-shaped frame decorated with stars and stripes.Michael C. HorganNavyLandmanPlymouth, North CarolinaOctober 31, 1864"[D]istinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under a devastating fire from enemy musketry."
Samuel B. HorneArmyCaptainFort Harrison,VirginiaSeptember 29, 1864While acting as an aide and carrying an important message, was severely wounded and his horse killed but delivered the order and rejoined his general.
Michael HudsonMarine CorpsSergeantMobile Bay,AlabamaAugust 5, 1864On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864
Thomas R. KerrArmyCaptainMoorefield, West VirginiaAugust 7, 1864After being most desperately wounded, he captured the colors of the 8th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.).
Edward M. KnoxArmySecond LieutenantGettysburg,PennsylvaniaJul 2, 1863Held his ground with the battery after the other batteries had fallen back until compelled to draw his piece off by hand; he was severely wounded.[13]
Bartlett LaffeyNavySeamanYazoo City, MississippiMarch 5, 1864Served on board the U.S.S. Marmora off Yazoo City, Miss., 5 March 1864. Landed ashore with his howitzer gun and crew in the midst of battle and contributed to the turning back of the enemy.
Hugh LoganNavyCaptain of the ForecastleMobile Bay,AlabamaDecember 30, 1862On board the U.S.S. Rhode Island which was engaged in rescuing men from the stricken Monitor in Mobile Bay, on 30 December 1862.
John LonerganArmyCaptain13th Vermont InfantryGettysburg, PennsylvaniaJuly 2, 1863Gallantry in the recapture of 4 guns and the capture of 2 additional guns from the enemy; also the capture of a number of prisoners.[11]
Michael MaddenArmyPrivateMason's Island,MarylandSeptember 3, 1861Assisted a wounded comrade to the riverbank and, under heavy fire of the enemy, swam with him across a branch of the Potomac to the Union lines.
Richard C. MangamArmyPrivateBattle of Hatcher's RunVirginiaApril 2, 1865Capture of flag of 8th Mississippi Infantry (C.S.A.)
James Martin IIMarine CorpsSergeantMobile Bay,AlabamaAugust 5, 1864Despite damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked her decks, Sgt. Martin fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious 2 hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee and in the damaging and destruction of batteries at Fort Morgan.
Peter McAdamsArmyCorporalSalem Heights,VirginiaMay 3, 1863Went 250 yards in front of his regiment toward the position of the enemy and under fire brought within the lines a wounded and unconscious comrade.[14]
Charles McAnallyArmySecond LieutenantSpotsylvania County, VirginiaMay 12, 1864In a hand-to-hand encounter with the enemy captured a flag, was wounded in the act, but continued on duty until he received a second wound.
Patrick H. McEnroeArmySergeantWinchester, VirginiaSeptember 19, 1864Capture of colors of 36th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).
Martin McHughNavySeamanAboard theUSS Cincinnati,Operations against VicksburgMay 27, 1863Serving on board the USS Cincinnati during the attack on the Vicksburg batteries and at the time of her sinking, 27 May 1863.[15]
Framed portrait of a white man with a very long beard, neatly trimmed hair, and a dark jacket.Hugh MolloyNavyOrdinary SeamanHarrisonburg, LouisianaMarch 2, 1864Served on board the USS Fort Hindman during the engagement near Harrisonburg, La., 2 March 1864.
Patrick MonaghanArmyCorporalSecond Battle of Petersburg,VirginiaJun 17, 1864Recapture of colors of 7th New York Heavy Artillery.
John G. MorrisonNavyCoxswainOn board the USS CarondeletJuly 15, 1862Serving as coxswain on board the USS Carondelet, Morrison was commended for meritorious conduct in general and especially for his heroic conduct and his inspiring example to the crew in the engagement with the rebel ram Arkansas, Yazoo River, 15 July 1862.
Portrait of a white man with wavy hair and a long, forked beard, wearing a suit.St. Clair A. MulhollandArmyMajorChancellorsville, VirginiaMay 4–5, 1863In command of the picket line held the enemy in check all night to cover the retreat of the Army.
Dennis MurphyArmySergeantCorinth, MississippiOctober 3, 1862Although wounded three times, carried the colors throughout the conflict.
Michael C. MurphyArmyLieutenant ColonelBattle of North AnnaVirginiaMay 24, 1864This officer, commanding the regiment, kept it on the field exposed to the fire of the enemy for 3 hours without being able to fire one shot in return because of the ammunition being exhausted.
Christopher NugentMarine CorpsSergeantOn board the USS Fort HenryJune 15, 1863For his actions while serving on board the USS Fort Henry, Crystal River, Fla., 15 June 1863.
James R. O'BeirneArmyCaptainBattle of Seven PinesVirginiaMay 31-June 1, 1862Gallantly maintained the line of battle until ordered to fall back.
Henry D. O'BrienArmyCorporalBattle of Gettysburg, Pa.Jul 3, 1863Taking up the colors where they had fallen, he rushed ahead of his regiment, close to the muzzles of the enemy's guns, and engaged in the desperate struggle in which the enemy was defeated, and though severely wounded, he held the colors until wounded a second time.
Oliver O'BrienNavyCoxswainAboard theUSS John AdamsNovember 28, 1864Served as coxswain on board the U.S. Sloop John Adams, Sullvan's Island Channel, 28 November 1864. Taking part in the boarding of the blockade runner Beatrice while under heavy enemy fire from Fort Moultrie, O'Brien, who was in charge of one of the boarding launches, carried out his duties with prompt and energetic conduct. This action resulted in the firing of the Beatrice and the capture of a quantity of supplies from her.
Peter O'BrienArmyPrivateBattle of Waynesboro, VirginiaMar 2, 1865Capture of flag and of a Confederate officer with his horse and equipment
Thomas O'ConnellNavyCoal HeaverAboard theUSS Hartford,Battle of Mobile BayAug 5, 1864On board the flagship USS Hartford, during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864.
Timothy O'ConnorArmyPrivateUnknownUnknownDate and place of act not of record in War Department.
John O'DeaArmyPrivateVicksburg, MississippiMay 22, 1863Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party"
Menomen O'DonnellArmyFirst LieutenantBattle of Vicksburg,Mississippi and Fort DeRussey, La.May 22, 1863 andMar 14, 1864Voluntarily joined the color guard in the assault on the enemy's works when he saw indications of wavering and caused the colors of his regiment to be planted on the parapet. Voluntarily placed himself in the ranks of an assaulting column (being then on staff duty) and rode with it into the enemy's works, being the only mounted officer present, was twice wounded in battle.
Timothy O'DonoghueNavySeamanAboard theUSS SignalRed River CampaignMay 5, 1864Served as boatswain's mate on board the USS Signal, Red River, 5 May 1864.
Stephen O'NeillArmyCorporalBattle of Chancellorsville,VirginiaMay 1, 1863Took up the colors from the hands of the color bearer who had been shot down and bore them through the remainder of the battle.
George C. PlattArmyPrivateFairfield, PennsylvaniaJuly 3, 1863Seized the regimental flag upon the death of the standard bearer in a hand-to-hand fight and prevented it from falling into the hands of the enemy.
Thomas PlunkettArmySergeantFredericksburg, VirginiaDecember 11, 1862Seized the colors of his regiment, the color bearer having been shot down, and bore them to the front where both his arms were carried off by a shell.
Head and shoulders of a white man with a drooping mustache, wearing a cavalry hat and a double-breasted military jacket with two medals pinned to the left breast.James QuinlanArmyMajorSavage's Station, VirginiaJune 29, 1862Led his regiment on the enemy's battery, silenced the guns, held the position against overwhelming numbers, and covered the retreat of the 2d Army Corps.
John RannahanMarine CorpsCorporalFort FisherNorth CarolinaJanuary 15, 1865On board the USS Minnesota in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865.
George ReynoldsArmyPrivateWinchester, VirginiaSeptember 19, 1864Capture of Virginia State flag.
James S. RoantreeMarine CorpsSergeantMobile Bay,AlabamaAugust 5, 1864On board the USS Oneida during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864.
Peter J. RyanArmyPrivateWinchester, VirginiaSeptember 19, 1864With one companion, captured 14 Confederates in the severest part of the battle.
George SchuttNavyCoxswainSt. Marks, FloridaMarch 5–6, 1865
William J. SewellArmyColonelChancellorsville, VirginiaMay 3, 1863For assuming command of the brigade, rallying the troops, and remaining in command though wounded.[6]
William SmithNavyQuartermasterOn board the USS KearsargeJanuary 15, 1865Served as second quartermaster on board the USS Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864.
James SullivanNavyOrdinary SeamanBattle of Fort FisherNorth CarolinaDecember 2, 1864On board the USS Agawam as one of a volunteer crew of a powder boat which was exploded near Fort Fisher, 2 December 1864.
John SullivanNavySeamanUSS MonticelloJun 23, 1864 –Jun 25, 1864Served as seaman on board the USS Monticello during the reconnaissance of the harbor and water defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina 23 to 25 June 1864.
Timothy SullivanNavyCoxswainUSS LouisvilleVariousServed on board the USS Louisville during various actions of that vessel. During the engagements of the Louisville, Sullivan served as first captain of a 9 inch gun and throughout his period of service was "especially commended for his attention to duty, bravery, and coolness in action."
John M. TobinArmyFirst LieutenantMalvern Hill,VirginiaJuly 1, 1862Voluntarily took command of the 9th Massachusetts while adjutant, bravely fighting from 3 p.m. until dusk, rallying and re_forming the regiment under fire; twice picked up the regimental flag, the color bearer having been shot down, and placed it in worthy hands.
John WalshArmyCorporalBattle of Cedar CreekVirginiaOctober 19, 1864Recaptured the flag of the 15th New Jersey Infantry.
Thomas M. WellsArmyChief BuglerBattle of Cedar CreekVirginiaOctober 19, 1864Capture of colors of 44th Georgia Infantry (C.S.A.).
Edward WelshArmyPrivateVicksburg, MississippiMay 22, 1863Gallantry in the charge of the "volunteer storming party."
James WelshArmyPrivateBattle of the Crater, Petersburg,VirginiaJul 30, 1864Bore off the regimental colors after the color sergeant had been wounded and the color corporal bearing the colors killed thereby saving the colors from capture.[12]
Patrick H. WhiteArmyCaptainVicksburg, MississippiMay 22, 1863Carried with others by hand a cannon up to and fired it through an embrasure of the enemy's works.

[edit]Indian Wars

      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Richard BarrettArmyFirst SergeantCompany A,1st U.S. CavalrySycamore CanyonArizonaMay 23, 1872Conspicuous gallantry in a charge upon the Tonto Apaches.
James J. BellArmyPrivateBig Horn, MontanaJuly 9, 1876
Thomas BoyneArmySergeantCompany C,9th U.S. CavalryMimbres Mountains, N. Mex. and Cuchillo Negro River near Ojo CalienteNew MexicoMay 29, 1879andSep 27, 1879Bravery in action.[9]
Edward BranaganArmyPrivateCompany F,4th U.S. CavalryRed River, TexasSep 29, 1872"Gallantry in action."
James BroganArmySergeantCompany G,6th U.S. CavalrySimon Valley, ArizonaDec 14, 1877Engaged singlehanded 2 renegade Indians until his horse was shot under him and then pursued them so long as he was able.
James BrophyArmyPrivateCompany B,8th U.S. CavalryArizona1868Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.
James BrownArmySergeantCompany F,5th U.S. CavalryDavidson Canyon near Camp Crittenden,ArizonaAug 27, 1872In command of a detachment of 4 men defeated a superior force.[9]
Patrick J. BurkeArmyFarrierCompany B,8th U.S. CavalryArizona1868Bravery in scouts and actions against Indians.[9]
Richard BurkeArmyPrivateCompany G,5th U.S. InfantryCedar Creek, etc., MontanaOct 1876 –Jan 1877Gallantry in engagements.[9]
EdmondButler.jpgEdmond ButlerArmyCaptainCompany C,5th U.S. InfantryWolf MountainsMontanaJanuary 8, 1877Most distinguished gallantry in action with hostile Indians.[9]
Denis ByrneArmySergeantCompany G,5th U.S. InfantryCedar Creek, MontanaOctober 1876 - January 1877Gallantry in engagements.[9]
Thomas J. CallanArmyPrivateCompany B, 7th US CavalryLittle BighornMontanaJune 25–26, 1876Displayed conspicuously good conduct in assisting to drive away the Indians
Surname misspelled "Callen" on citation
John ConnorArmyCorporalNear Wichita RiverTexasJuly 12, 1870
William EvansArmyPrivateBig Horn, MontanaJuly 9, 1876
Daniel FarrenArmyPrivateArizona TerritoryAugust - October 1868
James FeganArmySergeantNear Plum Creek, KansasMarch 1868
John H. FoleyArmySergeantNear Platte RiverNebraskaApril 26, 1872
Nicholas ForanArmyPrivateArizona TerritoryAugust - October 1868
Patrick GoldenArmySergeantArizona TerritoryAugust - October 1868
Henry HoganArmyFirst SergeantCedar Creek, Montana
Bear Paw MountainsMontana
October 1876 - January 8, 1877
September 30, 1877
Double MOH recipient
Bernard J. D. IrwinArmyAssistant SurgeonApache PassArizonaFebruary 13–14, 1861
John KeenanArmyPrivateArizona TerritoryAugust - October 1868
Patrick J. LeonardArmySergeantLittle Blue, NebraskaMay 15, 1870
Patrick T. LeonardArmyCorporalNear Fort Hartsuff, NebraskaApril 26, 1876
John McHughArmyPrivateCompany A,5th U.S. InfantryCedar Creek, etc., MontanaOct 21, 1876 –Jan 8, 1877"Gallantry in action"
John NihillArmyPrivateWhetstone MountainsArizonaJuly 13, 1872
Richard J. NolanArmyFarrierWhite Clay CreekSouth DakotaDecember 30, 1890
Moses OrrArmyPrivateWinter of 1872/1873
John F. O'SullivanArmyPrivateStaked PlainsTexasDecember 8, 1874
William R. ParnellArmyFirst LieutenantWhite Bird Canyon, IdahoJune 17, 1877
Patrick RoganArmySergeantBig Hole, MontanaAugust 9, 1877
Edward RooneyArmyPrivateCompany D, 5th US InfantryCedar Creek, etc., MontanaOct 21, 1876 –Jan 8, 1877"Gallantry in action."[9]
David RyanArmyPrivateCompany G, 5th US InfantryCedar Creek, etc., MontanaOct 21, 1876 –Jan 8, 1877"Gallantry in action."
Dennis RyanArmyFirst SergeantCompany I, 6th US CavalryGageby Creek, Indian TerritoryDec 2, 1874Courage while in command of a detachment.
Thomas SullivanArmyPrivateCompany E, 7th US CavalryWounded Knee Creek, South DakotaDec 29, 1890Conspicuous bravery in action against Indians concealed in a ravine.[6]
Rescue of Lt. Charles King.jpgBernard TaylorArmySergeantCompany A, 5th US CavalryNear Sunset Pass, ArizonaNov 1, 1874Bravery in rescuing Lt. King, 5th U.S. Cavalry, from Indians.
John TracyArmyPrivateChiricahua MountainsArizonaOctober 20, 1869Born as Henry G. Nabers

[edit]Korean Expedition

      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
John ColemanMarine CorpsPrivateOn board the USS ColoradoJune 11, 1871
James DoughertyMarine CorpsPrivateKoreaJune 11, 1871
Patrick H. GraceNavyChief QuartermasterOn board the USS BeniciaJune 10, 1871 - June 11, 1871
Michael McNamaraMarine CorpsPrivateOn board the USS BeniciaJune 11, 1871

[edit]Spanish-American War

      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Head and torso of a young black man wearing a suit and tie with a watch chain hanging from a jacket button. He has a cap pushed high up on his forehead and tilted over his left ear.Dennis BellArmyPrivateTayabacoa, CubaJun 30, 1898Voluntarily went ashore in the face of the enemy and aided in the rescue of his wounded comrades; this after several previous attempts at rescue had been frustrated.[9]
George F. BradyNavyChief Gunner's MateCardenas, CubaMay 11, 1898
Thomas CavanaughNavyFireman First ClassBahamasNovember 14, 1898
Thomas C. CooneyNavyChiefMachinistCardenas, CubaMay 11, 1898
Thomas M. DohertyArmyCorporalSantiago de CubaJuly 1, 1898
John FitzgeraldMarine CorpsPrivateCuzco,CubaJune 14, 1898
Philip GaughanMarine CorpsSergeantCienfuegos,CubaMay 11, 1898
Michael GibbonsNavyOilerCienfuegos,CubaMay 11, 1898
Michael KearneyMarine CorpsPrivateCienfuegos,CubaMay 11, 1898
Thomas KellyArmyPrivateSantiago de CubaJuly 1, 1898
John MaxwellNavyFireman Second ClassCienfuegos,CubaMay 11, 1898
Daniel MontagueNavyChief Master-at-armsSantiago de CubaJune 2, 1898
John E. MurphyNavyCoxswainSantiago de CubaJune 2, 1898
Edward SullivanMarine CorpsCorporalCienfuegos,CubaMay 11, 1898

[edit]Philippine-American War

      This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Bernard A. ByrneArmyCaptain6th U.S. InfantryBobong, NegrosJuly 19, 1899Rallied his men on the bridge after the line had been broken and pushed back.[9]
Cornelius J. Leahy*ArmyPrivateCompany A, 36th Infantry, U.S. VolunteersLuzon,PhilippinesSeptember 3, 1899”Distinguished gallantry in action in driving off a superior force and with the assistance of 1 comrade brought from the field of action the bodies of 2 comrades, 1 killed and the other severely wounded, this while on a scout.”
Thomas F. PrendergastMarine CorpsCorporalLuzon,PhilippinesMarch 25, 1899 -March 29, 1899 andApril 5, 1899”For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy in battle”
Patrick ShanahanNavyChiefBoatswain's MatePhilippinesMay 28, 1899

[edit]Boxer Rebellion

      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
James CooneyMarine CorpsPrivateTientsinChinaJuly 13, 1900
Daniel DalyMarine CorpsPrivate15th Company of MarinesPeking, ChinaJuly 19, 1901Double MOH recipient
Head of a white man with brown hair and a drooping mustache wearing a blue military jacket. The man is looking off to the side.Alexander J. FoleyMarine CorpsSergeantnear TianjinChinaJul 13, 1900"[For] distinguishing himself by meritorious conduct"
Martin HuntMarine CorpsPrivateBeijingChinaJune 20, 1900 - July 16, 1900
Joseph KillackeyNavyLandmanChinaJune 13, 1900 - June 22, 1900

[edit]United States occupation of Haiti

ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
DanielDaly.jpgDaniel DalyMarine CorpsGunnery Sergeant15th Company of Marinesnear Fort Liberte, HaitiOctober 24, 1916Double MOH recipient

[edit]World War I

      This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Three-quarters shot of a middle-aged man in a plain military uniform, standing almost at attention. He is wearing a campaign hat and two medals on his chest.Michael A. DonaldsonArmySergeantSommerance-Landres-et-Saint-Georges Road, FranceOct 14, 1918Rescued six wounded men despite intense fire
Head and shoulders of an older man with neatly combed and parted gray hair wearing a suit and tie.William J. DonovanArmyLieutenant Colonelnear Landres-et-Saint-Georges,FranceOct 14, 1918 –Oct 15, 1918Exposed himself to fire in order to lead and organize his men, remained with them after being wounded[16]
Richard W. O'NeillArmySergeanton the Ourcq RiverFranceJul 30, 1918Continued to lead an attack despite being repeatedly wounded[16]
Michael J. Perkins*ArmyPrivate First ClassBelleu Bois, FranceOct 27, 1918Singly-handedly attacked and captured a pillbox[17]
Joseph H. ThompsonArmyMajorApremontFranceOctober 1, 1918

[edit]World War II

      This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Frank BurkeArmyFirst LieutenantNuremberg, GermanyApril 17, 1945Also known as Francis X. Burke.[6]
Head and shoulders of a man in a white jacket with black shoulderboards with binoculars hanging from around his neck. His eyes are shaded by a white peaked cap with a black visor.Daniel J. Callaghan*NavyRear AdmiralNaval Battle of Guadalcanal, Savo IslandNovember 12, 1942 –November 13, 1942[18]
Robert Craig*ArmySecond Lieutenantnear Favoratta,SicilyJuly 11, 1943[19]
Michael J. DalyArmyFirst LieutenantNuremberg, GermanyApril 18, 1945
Charles E. KellyArmyCorporalnear Altavilla, ItalySeptember 13, 1943[20]
black and white headshot of Joseph McCarthy in his military uniformJoseph J. McCarthyMarine Corps ReserveCaptain2nd Battalion24th Marine Regiment4th Marine DivisionIwo JimaFebruary 21, 1945Risked his life to eliminate several enemy troops so his men could move forward
Cadet Thomas B. McGuire.jpgThomas B. McGuire, Jr.*Army Air ForcesMajorover Luzon, Philippine IslandsDecember 25, 1944 –December 26, 1944The second leading air ace in World War II before being killed in action in January 1945. McGuire Air Force Base is named for him.[6]
Audie Murphy uniform medals.jpgAudie L. MurphyArmySecond Lieutenantnear Holtzwihr,FranceJanuary 26, 1945Highest number of decorations for US combatant.
William J. O'Brien*ArmyLieutenant ColonelSaipan, Marianas IslandsJune 20, 1944 –July 7, 1944
OCallahan JT h47538.jpgJoseph T. O'CallahanNavyCommandernear Kobe, JapanMarch 19, 1945Chaplain aboard aircraft carrier USS Franklin.
Edward Ohare.jpgEdward H. O'HareNavyLieutenantoff Papua New GuineaFebruary 20, 1942O'Hare International Airport in Chicago was named in his memory.
RichardOKane.jpgRichard H. O'KaneNavyCommanderPhilippine IslandsOctober 23, 1944 –October 24, 1944For submarine operations against two Japanese convoys.[21]
Walsh KA.jpgKenneth A. WalshMarine CorpsFirst LieutenantSolomon Islands areaAugust 15, 1943 andAugust 30, 1943

[edit]Korean War

      This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Thomas J Hudner 1950.jpgThomas J. Hudner, Jr.NavyLieutenant, Junior GradeFighter Squadron 32, attached to U.S.S. LeyteBattle of Chosin ReservoirKoreaDecember 4, 1950Risked his life to rescue a downed pilot
Murphy RG.jpgRaymond G. MurphyUSMCRSecond LieutenantCompany A, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines1st Marine Division (Rein.)KoreaFebruary 3, 1953Although wounded he refused medical care to fight the enemy until all his men and casualties had been taken care of.
OBrien GH.jpgGeorge H. O'Brien, Jr.USMCRSecond LieutenantCompany H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines1st Marine Division (Rein.)KoreaOctober 27, 1952Provided cover and care for wounded while his unit was attacking the enemy

[edit]Vietnam War

ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Head and shoulders of a white man with dark hair wearing a military jacket with a round patch on the upper sleeve, and oak leaf emblem atop the shoulder, and ribbon bars and pins on the left breast.Patrick H. BradyArmyMajornear Chu Lai,Republic of VietnamJanuary 6, 1968Flew multiple missions against heavy fire to evacuate 51 wounded men[22]
Head and shoulders of a white man with short hair, wearing a military jacket with a star-shaped medal hanging from a ribbon around his neck.Roger H. C. DonlonArmyCaptainnear Nam Dong,Republic of VietnamJuly 6, 1964Rescued and administered first aid to several wounded soldiers and led a group to defeat an enemy force causing them to retreat leaving behind 54 of their dead, many weapons, and grenades.
Kern W. DunaganArmyCaptainQuang Tin Province,Republic of VietnamMay 13, 1969Although wounded he directed fire onto enemy positions and rescued several wounded soldiers
Portrait of a middle-aged white man in a formal military uniform in front of a U.S. flagRobert F. FoleyArmyCaptainnear Quan Dau Tieng, Republic of VietnamNovember 5, 1966Despite his painful wounds he refused medical aid and persevered in the forefront of the attack on the enemy redoubt. He led the assault on several enemy gun emplacements and, single-handedly, destroyed three such positions.
A black and white image showing Kelley from the waist up in his military dress uniform.Thomas G. KelleyNavyLieutenantOng Muong Canal, Kien Hoa Province,Republic of VietnamJune 15, 1969Successfully relayed commands through one of his men until an enemy attack was silenced and the boats he was leading were able to move to safety
A black and white headshot of a young McMahon wearing a suit and tie. He is turned slightly to the right with his head down and he is smiling.Thomas J. McMahon*ArmySpecialist FourQuang Tin Province,Republic of VietnamMarch 19, 1969While attempting to rescue three wounded soldiers despite heavy enemy fire, he was able to carry two of the men to safety but was killed while trying to rescue the third.
a colored image of an elderly McNerney in a business suit wearing his Medal of Honor around his neck. He is facing to the left.David H. McNerneyArmyFirst SergeantPolei Doc, Republic of VietnamMarch 22, 1967Despite being wounded after his unit was attacked, he assumed command of the unit when the company commander was killed, organized the defense, and helped arrange a helicopter evacuation of the wounded. He refused his own medical evacuation and instead stayed with the company until a new commander arrived.
A black and white headshot photo of Noonan in his military dress blue uniform with hat.Thomas P. Noonan, Jr.*Marine CorpsLance Corporalnear Vandergrift Combat Base, A Shau Valley,Republic of VietnamFebruary 5, 1969Killed while attempting to rescue a wounded man
Head and shoulders of a white man with a pointed mustache, wearing a star-shaped medal on a blue ribbon around his neck.Robert E. O'MalleyMarine CorpsCorporalCompany I, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marinesnear An Cu'ong 2,South VietnamAugust 18, 1965Risked his life and led his men to repeatedly attack the enemy, assist another Marine unit that had inflicted heavy casualties and led his unit to a helicopter for evacuation.
A black and white head shot of Shea in his military dress uniform with hat.Daniel J. Shea*ArmyPrivate First ClassQuảng Trị Province,Republic of VietnamMay 14, 1969Killed by enemy gunfire after assisting in the defeat of an attacking enemy force
A black and white image showing the head and upper torso of Sijan wearing his military dress uniform with ribbons.Lance P. Sijan*Air ForceCaptainNorth VietnamNovember 9, 1967For actions while as a prisoner of war
A color image showing Thornton from the waist up in a business suit. He is wearing his Medal of Honor around his neck, with his left hand over his heart.Michael E. ThorntonNavyEnginemanSecond ClassQuảng Trị Province,Republic of VietnamOctober 31, 1972Saved the life of his superior officer and allowed the other members of his patrol to escape

[edit]War in Afghanistan

      This with the * indicates that the Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously
      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland
ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
Top half of young man in circa 2000 dress U.S. Navy uniform of junior officer.Michael P. Murphy*NavyLieutenantSEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1Near Asadabad, Kunar ProvinceJune 28, 2005Led a four-man reconnaissance team in a fight against superior numbers, exposed himself to hostile fire in order to call for help

[edit]Peacetime

      This indicates that the recipient was born in Ireland

ImageNameServiceRankUnitPlace of actionDate of actionNotes
William AhernNavyWatertenderOn board the USS PuritanJuly 1, 1897
Thomas CaheyNavySeamanOn board the USS PetrelMarch 31, 1901
John J. ClauseyNavyChief Gunner's MateUSS Bennington (PG-4), San Diego, Calif.Jul 21, 1905For extraordinary heroism when boiler exploded on ship.[9]
John CostelloNavyOrdinary SeamanUSS Hartford, Philadelphia, Pa.Jul 16, 1876For rescuing from drowning a Landsman of the USS Hartford[9]
Thomas CramenNavyBoatswain's MateOn board the USS PortsmouthFebruary 7, 1882
Frank W. CrilleyNavyChief Gunner's Matewreck site of the USS F-4 (SS-23), off Honolulu, HawaiiApr 17, 1915For rescuing a fellow diver who had become tangled in the wreckage and trapped underwater[6][9]
Willie CronanNavyBoatswain's MateUSS Bennington (PG-4), San Diego, Calif.Jul 21, 1905Bravery shown during ship's boiler explosion[9]
John DempseyNavySeamanShanghaiChinaJanuary 23, 1875
John FlannaganNavyBoatswain's MateLe HavreFranceOctober 26, 1878
Edward FloydNavyBoilermakerOn board the USS IowaJanuary 25, 1905
Hugh KingNavyOrdinary SeamanOn board the USS IroquoisSeptember 7, 1871
John KingNavyWatertenderOn board the USS Vicksburg
On board the USS Salem
May 29, 1901
September 13, 1909
Double MOH recipient
Patrick J. KyleNavyLandmanPort MahonMinorcaMarch 13, 1879
John O'NealNavyBoatswain's MateGreytown, NicaraguaApril 12, 1872
Patrick ReganNavyOrdinary SeamanCoquimboChileJuly 30, 1873
Patrick ReidNavyChief WatertenderOn board the USS North DakotaSeptember 8, 1910
Thomas SmithNavySeamanParáBrazilOctober 1, 1878
Thomas StantonNavyChief Machinist's MateOn board the USS North DakotaSeptember 8, 1910
James ThayerNavyShip's CorporalOn board the USS ConstitutionNovember 16, 1879
Michael ThorntonNavySeamanOn board the USS LeydenAugust 26, 1881



Friday, April 05, 2013

Gresham Murder, Roger Ebert and the Great John McHugh

Auburn Gresham Homicide


Yesterday, when the guys got out of school for the day, I heard the news of the death of Roger Ebert.  I had met the celebrated film critic, while I was teaching at La Lumiere School in LaPorte, Indiana.  In 1990, Ebert was doing a joint book signing in New Buffalo, Michigan which is about five mile north of the school.  Ebert and Frank Sullivan, Mayor Richard J. Daley's press secretary were selling new books and autographing copies.

Over the previous year, I had come to know the editor of the New Buffalo Times and her genius of an opinion columnist - John McHugh.  Mr. McHugh wrote scathingly witty idictments of the small-town, small-time hustlers in real estate and township government that were the Mint Melt-Aways of local reportage.

His prose was acidic, to-the-point and enfiltered.  Instead of bemoaning the the less-than public-minded Wolverine bandits, John McHugh would label them 'thieving gobshites!'

I had to meet this man.  My wife Mary and I invited John to dinner in the residence attached to the dorm I supervised.  We exchanged biographies.  He ignored mine and turned his attentions to my lovely wife and the Yankee pot roast, " Jesus, Mary.  How did you ever settle on this sawed-offvinegary gent, when the world is swimming with heroically proportioned and romantic swains like myself?"

John became a regular visitor to the campus and on several occasions lectured the student body on the craft of writing which had the kids howling in the aisles. Writing is conversation without the noise, or without the immediate need to enjoy a response - that is conversation.  Mr. McHugh chronicled his life in Ireland and his love of songs and poems.  He told hilarious tales of his subterranean encounters with vermin biped and quadruped as a Pest Control Specialist in Indianapolis.  His peace time US Army career and his salad days with the Chicago Daily News.

The dessert in this feast of gab, McHugh served up NBC haircut news reader Ron Hunter, an ego unhitched from the diesel of good living.

John McHugh explained that a person must be humble to be a good listener, energetic to be a careful reader, generous to be a decent conversationalist and honest to be a good writer. Good writing must satisfy the need to know, the desire to enjoy what one has learned and the compulsion to share whatever one possesses.

Roger Ebert was a deep listener and an energetic writer. He wrote an account of his friendship with John McHugh including the great tale of unhorsing an arrogant dope:


John went to work for NBC News Chicago, as the assignment manager. At one time his two principal anchors were Maury Povich and the legendary Ron Hunter, who was possibly the model for every character in the movie "Anchorman." John liked Maury but found Ron unendurable: "He's so vain that instead of wearing glasses, he has a prescription windshield on his Jaguar."
Anchormen value stories when they can go on the street and be seen in the midst of the action. One day McHugh came up with a juicy assignment for Povich. "The next day, " he said, "Ron Hunter comes into my office, puts his feet up on my desk, and says, John, that was a good story you had for Maury yesterday. What do you have for me today? I tell him, Utter contempt."
A great heart always points to an expansive intellect.   A dope has no recourse but to be arrogant.  It is axiomatic that Ebert and McHugh would be great good friends.   The death of Roger Ebert sparked my recollections of time with John McHugh.

I was still in the Leo van with thirteen Canaryvillains and the Sox were yet losing to the Royals.   Some few miles behind, I later learned, a man was dying on the sidewalks of 1400 West 80th Street - south of 79th on Loomis.  Last year, at about this same time, one fella died and five other people were shot up by thugs with a Tech 9 at 79th Loomis.

Roger Ebert passed from this life at about the same time as some poor guy near 79th Street, blocks from Leo High School.

Roger Ebert knew John McHugh and lived according to that association.  The Gresham homicide victim, like most urban victims, will be the news and someone else will make the news.

How do we live?



Sox lost to the Royals 3-1.  I passed the  police activity on my way home.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Catholic Schools Could Become Ivory Towers of the Elite - Like Magnet, or Lab Schools



And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought; 39But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God. And they consented to him. Acts of the Apostles 5: 38-39


The longer I live the more I learn about how things should not be done.  At one time government was a help; now it is cross-dressing Spendaholic Nanny Uncle with truth issues. At one time Mainline Protestant Denominations were the home to Progressive Babbitry; now, they are segment of Bill Moyers-in-Drag on Sharia Law.

Catholic schools used be very economical, because Brothers, Priests and Nuns comprised a good percentage of the work-force; now, Catholic schools are either doomed to close, or be ivory bell-towers for elites.

It is the in-between  that tells the tales.  Government became a soup-kitchen, tent-city and Circus maximus from the late 1960's - 1990's.  Mainline Protestant Denominations squeezed out the bible-thumpers between Billy Graham and Rev. Barry Lynn while jumping ship from the tepidly pro-abortion Rockefeller GOP to the mad-dog infanticidal maniacs of the DNC.

Catholic schools are run and staffed by lay-persons with very few exceptions ever since Vatican II.

During the 1970's smart Catholic school leaders began to tap private foundations as sources of money that could help make up the gap between revenue and expense, due to declining vocations.  By the 1980's wormy creatures named Development Directors oozed from charity swamps - this slug is one.

 I first heard the term Director of Development in the mid 1980's and the school I worked for hired one.  He lasted about ten months, brought in no new revenue, but he had a stunning wardrobe and golfed like he jumped off the The Tour.

 He had come from the world of business, sales - radio sales to be exact.  He did not understand, or like high school kids very much as I recall, but he liked teachers even less. He drew a pretty handsome salary, but never wrote to Alumni, sent out grant proposals and seemed unable to adequately articulate the history, culture and mission of the school.

He was let go and went on to run a United Way Campaign in Central Illinois for three times what he made in a Catholic school.  This Fund-raising Professional was replaced by a sweet, funny and seventy year old Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame.  Sr. Madeline Lamar, CND.  She went through the records of the schools and developed the first Alumni Directory, followed by a raffle-calendar, a Spring Event with Dinner and Auction, a wonderful Alumni News letter, and the first annual direct mail campaign.

Prior to that Sr. Lamar worked in the offices answering phones, taking attendance, teaching religion and making students feel good. That was where I learned fundraising.  Watching a sweet-natured little French woman 'Try" stuff.  When Sr. Lamar approached with a her eyes popped in excitement, you were in for some work, " Hey, Pat!  You're Irish . . .and you are so good with words . . .You know what would be fun?  Designing our Raffle Calendar and writing up an Irish Theme for it. . . .AND you get a band going!  Yeah, your Irish band from Chicago . . .and you and Kenny, Jack, Rick, and Joel could do a rock'n roll show for the kids and . . . ! "

Scads of fun.  Months of fun!  Who needs weekends sucking up Rhinelanders and tossing horseshoes?  She had me hooked through the gills and my big mouth!


School fundraising can be brutally disappointing, exhilarating, flattering, embarrassing, rewarding and confusing all on the same day. You can help raise more than million dollars to aid a budget of $ 1.2M and find that it is not enough.  That's the job. . .read the fine print.

Catholic schools and families who need Catholic schools need substantial support.  Public schools hijacked many of the larger private and corporate  foundations by dint of political favors and intimidations.   Catholic politicians have done more to help public education, than they have to help the schools that educated them.
In the 1990's, my neighbor and friend Paul Vallas was CEO of CPS.   Kidding on the square, I often refered to the big talented Greek as the Prince of Darkness - Paul took Peoples Gas, Quaker Oats, Polk Brothers and other charities out of the reach of Catholic, Dutch, Jewish and Lutheran schools and established a Chicago Public Education Reform Foundation headquartered in . . .Evanston.

Leo had big hearted and heroic Bob Foster's name as 501 (c) 3 cache, but Paul Vallas had the crabby little guy who tossed tantrums and people under the CTA wheels with the bat of an eye-brow. Any business in Chicago became enthralled to padding millions of more dollars on to the hundreds of millions of tax-dollars being incinerated hourly by Chicago Public Schools.

School Choice? Vouchers?  Nope! Choice boiled down to Charters (Catholic Schools without God) or CPS havens for teachers without skills, or Magnet Palaces for the skilled and enthusiastic teacher and children of privilege.  That's Reform, folks.

Catholic schools, elementary and secondary, shuttered with regularity under Joseph Cardinal Bernardin - Joseph the Closer and continued until Cardinal George stopped the bleeding and appointed Sister Mary Paul McCaughey. However, the damage had been done.  Elementary feeder schools that had at one time been the recruitment pools for Catholic high schools.  The closer a high school happened to be to the inner city ( read South and West sides) the tougher the draw for students. Not only the fact that black Catholic parishes had been closed, but also the African American middle class Diaspora to the 'Burbs. Black flight had replaced White flight.

On top of that, Chicago City Hall saw the potential for a real estate boom and quickly shut down Chicago Housing Authority and the Projects.   With no affordable housing available families with Section 8 vouchers   took residence in formerly Black middle class apartments and houses.  The crime that had once been isolated along the east side Dan Ryan between 54th Street and Archer Ave. was now knocking on the doors of Ernie Terrell in Roseland and retired physicians and CPD Commanders in Pill Hill.

Through all of this, the economy tanked and layoffs became the order of the day.

A few Catholic high schools closed or were converted to Charter schools and the once powerful support by private foundations began to dry up almost as fast as the tuition payments slowed down.

Foundations, with boards dominated by lawyers, businessmen and accountants, do not want to fund schools that are doomed to close. They want schools run like like businesses - cut here, profit there. At the same time,Catholic schools that put    $10,15, or 25 thousand a year from grants into the budget were now seeing letters that said, " While our decision to longer fund your school is final, we continue to honor and value the very good and important work you continue without our annual support." Concern over that state of schools that might be closed, leads bottom-line sensible boards to pull funding from schools that really need it.
Now, that is a paradox.

Some of these foundations decided money would be better spent funneled through a university "Mentoring Program for Inner City Students Attending Inner City High Schools."

Catholic schools that operate like businesses have no trouble maintaining vigorous business and private support.  Those schools tend to be schools with a very competitive enrollment and placement program, provide competitive teacher salaries, sport magnificent campus, library and athletic facilities and students willing to travel many miles to earn the cache of association with that school.  These schools can demand       $ 8,000, 9,000 and up 15,000 per year, as well as a fund-raising commitment based upon family income.

Now, more working class and middle class families are finding the pink slip in the pay envelope.  An accountant formerly making $ 85,000 in a smart-sized City, or County Department awakens in his heavily mortgaged and taxed Chicago bungalow and struggles the thought of selling his home and taking his two daughters out of Queen of Peace High School.  A highly skilled cement finisher is no longer in demand to fix sidewalks, stairs and porches must wonder if ' Tommy, Mary and Liam will be happy at Clissold CPS on Western Ave. after so many years at St. Cajetan?'

Catholic schools should be only for those who can afford nose-bleed tuitions.  Catholic schools were established for poor and working class families.  The Office of Catholic Schools and the heroic Big Shoulders Fund are working 24-7 to maintain this historical mission.

Leo High School is and has always been a working man's school.  With Tuition set at $ 7,500 for next year, we know that very few of families can meet that cost.  Likewise, Leo High School wants families to know that a Catholic education is available for young men.  President Dan McGrath invites families to qualify for the Leo Advantage.

We'll see, as Gamaliel told the lads of the Temple who wanted to close down the first Christians,  " if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it."







Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Will CPS Rahm Go All Edwin Starr? And How Far?


Come on, Feet! Start Movin'!    Uh huh huh huh huh , Uh huh huh huh huh huh yeah It's twenty five miles from home Girl, my feet are hurting mighty bad/Now I've been walking three day, 'n two lonely night/You know that I'm mighty mad

With Saturday as the deadline for parents of CPS children to be ignored on the upcoming school closings, some CPS parents want Mayor Rahm Emanuel to diminish some leather from the sole-bottoms of his Florsheims:


CITY HALL —  Parents and community activists have formally invited Mayor Rahm Emanuel to "walk the walk" when it comes to the controversial plans to shutter 54 public schools in Chicago.
And they say they literally mean "walk the walk."
Parents and members of organizations, including Blocks Together and the Chicagoland Researchers and Advocates for Transformative Education, rallied on the fifth floor of City Hall, just outside Emanuel's office Tuesday morning to protest the proposed closures. 
The protesters invited Emanuel to join planned weekly walks from schools slated to close to the schools that would receive the displaced students.


 Ain't that something.  CPS and the educational geniuses they always tap with Progressive ideas on small schools* do studies aplenty but can not read gang graffitti, or bother to understand what constitutes a neighborhood demographic - it ain't all income disparities juxtaposed to more affluent communities.  It has to do with what three or four blocks are GD's, Stones, Vice Lords, Mikey Cobras, Four Corner Hustlers, or Latin Kings.


Fenger was 'smart sized' at this time. because Carver was turned into a military academy and kids that did not deire to, or could not possibly go all GI Joe were required to travel west from Altgeld Gardens/ Pullman to Roseland. Guess what? Different Stokes Hit Different Folks, or Peoples.

Fenger made national news when several lads went to the lumber. Even PBS saw the turn-around plan as the catalyst for violence:



An inner city kid can not walk Chicago streets - not because of Burge, or systemic racism, but because he, or she might cross a street that two days before had been the site of a murder.  If the kid is not known to be from those streets ('He stays with his uncle on Euclid') and happens to be walking to school, that child is a victim to be confronted, beaten, or murdered in response to the previous homicide.

School closings will happen.  It is planned and decided upon.

Parents should be worried about how their kids will get to school -damn worried.

Rahm and CPS and CTU have all the charts and figures and studies that ask if "students feel they are getting the Context of Support?"

If Rahm goes on a Mayoral perambulation, he should spund track the stroll -




The very simple to  solution to all of this nonsense - Send Your Kids To Catholic Schools!
*Chicago High School Redesign Initiative (CHSRI). In partnership with CPS, the effort was launched by the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation and local funders. It began
in September 2001 with a $12 million grant from the
Gates Foundation, matched by $6 million from foundations in Chicago, and ultimately will develop andsupport approximately 25 new small high schools. . . .

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Catholic Schools - It Ain't Just About the Bucks



Catholic schools operate on tuition ( which is brutal to budget and, in this economy, for families to meet) and on fund-raising.  The cost of educating a student in a Catholic high school runs in the pricey neighborhood of $15,000.  Most Catholic schools set tuition for families in the still burdensome area of $ 8,500.  Many schools will have a tuition exceeding $ 10,000 per year including books, fees and the bells and whistles like transportation.

Most people who send their children to Catholic schools are church going, religious Catholics, or church going, religious non-Catholics.  They are accustomed, or rather acculturated, to obligations of time, talent and treasure beyond the immediate necessities and desires of their family.  They give from the pew and write checks to charities and the schools their children attend over and above the required tuition payments.  Not only that they, as citizens of Chicago, Cook County and Illinois, pay the highest taxes in the United States in support of the sad and expensive public schools.

Many of these same tax-payers work for the very government agencies that vacuum their checking and savings accounts as well as provide a modest salary.  Many of these people are being down-sized.  I know of scores of Dads in my neighborhood who have been forced out of work in the last eight years and more who expect to be let-go in the next few months.  The other day, I spoke to one of my daughter's classmates at Mother McAuley, whose father is now entering his first year as an apprentice tradesman, after being a five-figure accountant for Cook County from the time he had gotten out of college twenty-five years ago. His bride works at Jewel on 103rd Street and has done so since he was 'smart-sized.'

His daughter will graduate in June and go on to college after being educated in Catholic grammar and high school.  They are blessed.

Other families with children still attending Catholic grade school are not so fortunate.  How will a family of modest income and monstrous taxes afford a Catholic education for its children?

We work on it.  This Sunday, the Catholic New World, reported on two initiatives that have been on-going these last three years. One is the strategic plan developed by the Cardinal, Sister Mary Paul McCaughey and the School Board and the other is the Big Shoulders Assistance Initiative. The Strategic Plan is a common sense setting of viability parameters and expectations for best practices.  The Big Shoulders Commitment is much sexier, because it answers the demands of the strategic plan -

The March 6 announcement was precipitated by donors calling and asking about the future of Catholic schools in the lower income communities that the Big Shoulders Fund serves.
“In contrast to what is happening to innercity Catholic schools nationally, enrollment has grown in our schools for three consecutive years through concerted efforts focused on marketing and need-based scholarships, while fundraising has increased each year,” the statement said. “This growth is evidence of increasing interest in the success of our schools and students.”
The Big Shoulders Fund currently provides $12 to $14 million in annual support for 93 inner-city Catholic schools educating nearly 24,000 children in Chicago. This support includes renewable and emergency scholarships coupled with strategic investments in marketing and development, in academic programs and resources and in enrichment programs for students. This year, Big Shoulders Fund will provide $6 million in scholarships to more than 5,000 children in preschool through 12th grade.
The amount of money Big Shoulders Fund provides for schools has grown to its current level from $5 million to $6 million a year only seven or eight years ago, Hale said. The new commitment relies on a continued increase in its fundraising capacity.
“We’re already out there raising the money,” he said.
The statement said the Big Shoulders Fund will invest directly in several schools to help them become more viable.

As I mentioned most Catholic schools are attended by the children of Catholics who have had a tradition of paying tuition.  Leo High School is not most Catholic schools.  Most of our students come from families who had opted for Chicago Public Schools to educate their boys in CPS elementary schools.  Our families found CPS to be most disappointing and the entrance scores of in-coming Leo students who attended CPS schools reflect that opinion.

Leo High School. like other Catholic schools in the African American neighborhoods of Chicago, is refered to as a "Pay School."  That is the CPS anti-marketing meme, I believe. e.g. - "If Raheem does not attend CVS, or South Shore, Mrs. Smith, you'd need to send him to a Pay School!"

Mrs. Smith is more than willing pay for a Catholic School.

Read the articles on the two initiative by committed people and the means by which families trying to keep their noses above the mortgages, taxes, repairs, expenses and tuitions can get a Catholic education.

I will be telling you how Leo High School is going to offer a very sexy opportunity for a Leo Catholic Education over next couple of weeks.  We are going to show a bit more ankle than our pals Jim O'Connor, Tommy Zbierski and Josh Hale of the Big Shoulders.  As Leo President Dan McGrath says, "This is how we roll!"

Catholic schools keep God in play.  Catholic schools teach core values of family and citizenship without blush.  Catholic schools teach the consequences and rewards of behavior.    Our students behave in a manner that reflects credit on their families, their race and their religion -Catholic, Evangelical, Muslim, or Jewish.  

Catholic schools are not only about the costs, they are about the values.

Monday, April 01, 2013

April Fools: Rahm's Mag Mile and Forrest Claypool's CTA: Nobody to Help Stop Well-Accessoried Teens



"There was nobody to help. There was no time, really. We were surrounded it happened in one stop, and then they got off the next stop, at Lake,'' she said. 27 year old woman victimized on Forrest Claypool's CTA

Was it a 'melee' as the Sun Times reports?  An altercation over smoker's rights?  A 'wilding'? 'Flash Mob?  

No, this was behavior rooted in the sad, secular, systemic mess we call public education.  This was not a storming of the Bastille, or Bolivarista Peoples Revolution that is so much a part of 'elementary education expert' Bill Ayer's doctrine.

The kids were well-clothed, nutritionally robust, energetic, focused and more than moderately accoutered with the latest Apple or Microsoft entertainment and communication applications and devices that would make Jobs and Gates glow with appreciation.  Both techno Edisons are icons of public education.

More so, from most accounts, these kids who look like the cast of a Disney series availed themselves of public transportation - the CTA.

The Sun Times feature leads off with the word melee, an innocuous sounding term for 'beating the supreme shit' out of another human being for no earthly good reason.

At least the Chicago Tribune account presented the facts of the attack as provided by the victim.

Now, a melee is a combat between two willing opponents - it is a term that arose from Middle Ages when knights and other men-at-arms squared off according to the rules of combat - most Catholic school kids know that.

The attack of a woman on the west side L smacks not of a melee -


A 27-year-old woman said she was returning home with her mother Saturday night on the Red Line after a dim sum dinner when a group of girls got on the train at the Monroe station and appeared to want to pick a fight.
"This girl started blowing smoke in my face, and she flicked her cigarette ashes at me,'' said the woman, who asked not to be identified. "I said: 'You need to put that out,' and the next thing I know there's all these girls that jumped on top of us.''
They began punching her face and then went for her hair. She believes their attackers had knives or box cutters and padlocks possibly placed inside socks."I put my head down between my legs so they would stop beating me in the face, but they were trying to pull my face up and hit me more,'' she said. "They ripped out chunks of my hair, and I've got a black eye and bruises on my face, and all over my back and shoulder.''
The 11 teenagers arrested in that incident at the CTA's State/Lake station in the Loop about 6:35 p.m. were among a total of 28 people arrested downtown Saturday night for disturbances that ranged from bumping into passers-by on sidewalks to the attack on the CTA train, authorities said.
The attackers were teenage girls, who have been taught under an educational rubric of entitlement.  I believe that these confused kids act out because they believe that they are entitled act out - after all they were encouraged to cheer on Occupy  idiots, NATO bomb-makers and their teachers who abandoned them last summer.  These kids have been taught, not the etymology and application of a word like melee, that personal empowerment is entitlement - what are they supposed to do?

What are you supposed to do?  Move.  Move out of Chicago.  It is all about real estate, Neighbors.  Real estate to be developed for green spaces, cultural entertainment and dining venues, fitness centers, and certainly no homes, apartments, or dwellings beyond the planned Urban Center Chicago  Urban Center Chicago is not for Stash, Wanda, Tony, Maria, Nacho, Teresa, Paddy, Nora, Clifton and Carmesha and their damn kids. It is for Aprile, Dak, E. Morton and Misty Salt, Spencer and Seth.

When public safety has lost all meaning; when basic city services are denied, or diminished by executive fiat, when schools become training grounds for thugs, it might be time to move.

That is why public safety has been purchased at the hands of the G. Flint Taylors, Jon Loevys, Locke Bowmans and the GDS, Vice Lords, Four Corner Hustlers, Mikey Cobras, and Latin Kings, as well as a grant or two for Ceasefire, while any and all public confidence in Chicago Police has been eroded.

That is why more people are alright with Privatizing Sanitation with the Garbage Grid. Seth and Spencer want those over-paid snoring louts fired. Seth and Spencer would be perfectly happy if the Fire Department were hired out and those tubby Mc911 heroes would leave for Romeoville.

That is why an otherwise unemployable good like Forrest Claypool keeps popping up and handed the wheel and throttle of public transportation - he is about Bombardier purchases, Red Line contracts and Ventra Cards and not the safety of a young lady and her mother who foolishly believe that riding the L should be violence free.

Don't think for minute that Forrest Claypool* gives a fat rat's ass about CTA riders, otherwise the CTA would  have addressed thuggery on public transportation long ago. Smart guy like Forrest could do just about anything to reform anything, if he really wanted to; at least that is what the news media always says.

That is why Mayor Rahm Emanuel can sleep nights after putting the bite on President Obama for a loan of $100 million buckeens to gussy up the Riverwalk, rather than hire more cops, improve their working conditions and really do something about melees by the kids.

He might even really try to improve public schools by demanding Vouchers.

Nope.  It is easier to wait for the frustrated, the frightened and the families to move the hell away, while his cheerleaders in the media wring-hands.


*



Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Easter, Christ Has Risen! Now, Let's Roll Back the Big Stone Keeping Schools in a Cave

A Chicago police officer takes several protesters into custody on Wednesday, during an act of civil disobedience during a march and demonstration of opponents to a plan to close 54 Chicago Public Schools.


Kids believe only what is taught to them.  Last night 28 kids, most under the age of 18, were arrested on Chicago's Mag Mile for intimidating people and another bunch were arrested following an assault on a woman who asked that the kids put out their cigarettes. I do not believe that the youngsters were engaged in civil disobedience demanding that CPS keep failing schools open, nor were they concerned with the plight of LGBTQ citizens.

From this same edition of the paper, the Opinion section of the Chicago Tribune was thick with opinions on both issues as being fundamental to life on our planet.  The school closings?  I see them them as part of the overall Rahm Plan to shrink the City of Chicago ( services) down to an Urban Center.  Likewise, the abhorrent incivility tolerated on Chicago Transportation systems by the Mayor and CTA Boss Forrest Claypool is a component in this plan.  Why else would a Mayor not do his utmost to light a fire under his appointee to interdict such behavior and provide the necessary police officers at his disposal to correct the situation?  Answer.  It is not part of the Plan.

The Plan includes a $ 100 million dollar loan to gussy up the River Walk, but not seek a loan to hire more cops.

Back to the schools. The closed schools, the largest school closing in American history, are  real estate.

Take a look at who is protesting the school closings ( CTU's Karen Lewis & Jesse Sharkey)  - they worked with Mayor Emanuel to engineer the closings.  Their Red-shirted Dragon Dance through the Loop last week provided Bill Ayers and opportunity to be described as an "elementary school expert' in the Chicago media, as well as swell venue for SEIU to play civil disobedience for cameras without the possibility of arrest.  Tickets were issued.

For the last thirty years Bill Ayers* and the well-camouflaged Mike Klonsky have trained a generation of radicals who now control Chicago Teachers Union through CORE.  Chicago Public Schools have nose-dived deeper into the tax-dollars from the moment the Annenberg Challenge was boarded and looted by Bolsheviks and took command of the Education Department at University of Illinois at Chicago.  Here's a challenge.  How many UICC disciples of Billy Ayers are CPS teachers?

The idea of schools has been entombed in a cave behind the boulder rolled by Ayers and Klonsky.

Schools should reflect the neighborhoods they serve.  Catholic schools most certainly do just that and graduates of Catholic schools, black, brown and white manage to avoid massive arrests on Mag Mile and intimidate passengers on the CTA.

Ayers and Klonsky made small schools (cadres) wholesome to lazy and not very bright editorial boards and columnists.   Schools fail, because they are supposed to do just that.

Chicago is a Catholic city.  No matter how much Eric Zorn, Mary Schmich, Neil Steinberg, Carol Marin, Clarence Page, Dawn Turner Trice, or WTTW try to obscure that fact, Catholics rub up against Baptists, Unitarians, AME, Lutheran, Jewish, Greek Orthodox, Dutch Reformed and atheist neighbors.  Schools should reflect that fact, but they are not allowed to do that.

Christ died on Friday, busted Hell's prisoners out on Saturday, and triumphed over death today, when he rolled back the big rock.

The big rock blocking real schools and the idea of a school is still wedged in pretty deep.   Kids are taught what to fear and given no means to conquer fear.  Behavior reflects what people are all about.


*"Elementary education expert and professor Bill Ayers — who has sparked controversy on the national political scene with his ties to President Obama — was in the crowd in support of teachers.
" 'The assault on public education and abandonment of these communities has to be resisted,' Ayers said." Chicago Sun Times

Saturday, March 30, 2013

The Bravest Easter Bunny Ever!


On Nov 16th 2012 our lives were completely changed forever, our 4 yr old daughter AVA was diagnosed with stage 3 neuroblastoma high risk, this is our journey with her... Ava's Family on Facebook
This Holy Saturday, the day when Christ Harrowed Hell, this old sob-sister was treated to a heroic little girl. Ava!

Ava was the inspiration of us south siders who attended the recent St. Baldrick's Fight for the Cure at Bourbon Street on Saturday, March 9th.

Ava had another surgery after the Fight Night and took her first step on the road back with the help of her Dad and Mom.Photo: Mommy and Ava walking :) <3

Tell me marriage does not matter.

Christ Jesus, Victor! This makes me happy!