Good morning,







Quote of the day:


“In the past I worried why my penis bends slightly to the left, and finally I read in a book that this is quite normal, but then wondered, what sort of person would read books like that?”


Garrison Keillor






I normally would be leaving on for a month long visit to the paradise known as The Emerald Coast of Florida with an overnight stop in Montgomery. The Emerald Coast is from the Perdido Key eastward to just past Panama City Beach. I would have been staying on Pensacola Beach. I would have had my laptop packed but alas, I have medical issues that I must resolve before going on that road trip.






Last year a local radio station here in Greenville has cut a deal with the Westboro Baptist Church to prevent them from demonstrating at the funeral of an American soldier from this area that was killed in Germany. Westboro had promised a demonstration because they believed that God is taking the lives of American soldiers because America is “soft” on homosexuality. Perhaps these morons have not read the history of Germany in WWII. The Nazis forbade any and all homosexuality and slaughtered thousands that were. Yes, they were “hard” on homosexuality but lost 7 million men and women that were annihilated during the war. Make up your mind Westboro, which is it?






Here is a reminder as to the heart of the American soldier. We all need to read this and then examine your own heart and the depth of your pride in this great nation. The lesson follows.






Congressional Medal of Honor


EVANS, DONALD W, JR.


Rank and organization: Specialist Fourth Class, U.S. Army, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division


Place and date: Tri Tam, Republic of Vietnam, 27 January 1967


Entered service at: Covina, California


Born: 23 July 1943, Covina, California


Citation:


For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, he left his position of relative safety with his platoon which had not yet been committed to the battle to answer the calls for medical aid from the wounded men of another platoon which was heavily engaged with the enemy force. Dashing across 100 meters of open area through a withering hail of enemy fire and exploding grenades, he administered lifesaving treatment to 1 individual and continued to expose himself to the deadly enemy fire as he moved to treat each of the other wounded men and to offer them encouragement. Realizing that the wounds of 1 man required immediate attention, Sp4c. Evans dragged the injured soldier back across the dangerous fire-swept area, to a secure position from which he could be further evacuated. Miraculously escaping the enemy fusillade, Sp4c. Evans returned to the forward location. As he continued the treatment of the wounded, he was struck by fragments from an enemy grenade. Despite his serious and painful injury he succeeded in evacuating another wounded comrade, rejoined his platoon as it was committed to battle and was soon treating other wounded soldiers. As he evacuated another wounded man across the fire covered field, he was severely wounded. Continuing to refuse medical attention and ignoring advice to remain behind, he managed with his waning strength to move yet another wounded comrade across the dangerous open area to safety. Disregarding his painful wounds and seriously weakened from profuse bleeding, he continued his lifesaving medical aid and was killed while treating another wounded comrade. Sp4c. Evan's extraordinary valor, dedication and indomitable spirit saved the lives of several of his fellow soldiers, served as an inspiration to the men of his company, were instrumental in the success of their mission, and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.






This Date in History March 30






1775 On this date King George III of England endorsed the so-call Restraining Act. Parliament had proposed this abomination and the King liked it. Now y'all listen to this. This act declared that the colonies must trade exclusively with Great Britain and that ain’t all, the Act forbade the American fishing fleet from fishing in the North Atlantic. Are you mad yet? This meant that all the most eaten fish in the colonies such as cod and salmon would have to be bought from Great Britain even though the Danes and Dutch fished the North Atlantic also and the American fleet had no problem with supplying its people with these fish. The British Prime Minister, Lord North, knew that this act would stir up a hornets nest in the colonies and tried to calm things down by stating that if a colony paid the salary of the Royal Governor of their Colony, they would be taxed less. But Lord North knew this would have little or no effect and sent the Military Commander General Thomas Gage to Boston to become Governor of Massachusetts. This was just the first step toward martial law and the colonists knew it. In July Gage sent a British regiment to destroy a cache of arms and ammo known to be in Concord, Massachusetts and arrest firebrand Patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock. It was during this event that the first shot was fired at the British in anger and the Revolutionary War was under way. Considering what humiliation burdens the British put on the colonists, I am amazed it did not start before now.






1825 Samuel Bell Maxey is born in Kentucky. Maxey went to West Point and graduated next to last in his class of 59 in 1846. As with many West Point officers of this era, he went to fight in the Mexican War. Maxey resigned his commission after the war and moved to Kentucky to practice law. In 1857 he moved to Texas. After the outbreak of the Civil War he offered his services to the Confederacy and helped organize the 9th Texas Infantry. The 9th Texas was sent to fight in Mississippi with Maxey in command as a Brigadier General. Maxey was present at the battles of Vicksburg, Port Hudson and Chattanooga. It was here that Maxey was promoted to commander of the Indian Territories. Maxey began to train Cherokee, Creek and Choctaw Indians into Confederate combat troops. Maxey’s Indian troops attacked a Union wagon train near Poison Springs, Arkansas that was driven by a Black Kansas regiment. The Union troops were routed and many fled, but of those black troops that surrendered or were wounded there were no survivors. Maxey’s troops killed them all. After the war Maxey continued to support the Native Americans and as a United States Senator he introduced legislation in behalf of them. He died in 1895.






1980 In the stormy North Sea the oil companies provided apartments for the drilling platform workers on their off time. The apartment had room for about 220 workers and was afloat on gigantic pontoons. On this night while most of the workers were watching a movie with a gale howling outside, a gigantic rogue wave estimated to be over 100 feet high slammed into the apartment and capsizes it. Most of the workers were Norwegian but there were a few Brits and Americans aboard. The apartment was about 220 miles from Dundee, Scotland and soon Royal and Norwegian helicopters were on site but the gale was still howling and rescue was difficult if not impossible. Of the 208 that were aboard the apartment, 123 of those that were unable to reach a life boat were drowned. Eight years later there was a fire and explosion on a drilling rig in the North Sea took the life of another 167. The oil platform workers make a lot of money but it isn’t worth the risk.






1855 On this date the first legislative election is held in the state of Kansas. The only problem was that the so-called “Border Ruffians” were interfering with election. The Border Ruffians were pro slavery advocates from Missouri near the Kansas border. Kansas came into the Union as a “free” state meaning slave free and Missouri came in as a slave state. Even though more votes were counted than were registered voters and a pro-slavery legislation was elected, the Governor of Kansas ratified the election to avoid more bloodshed. It did not help that much because there was continued fighting between the pro and anti slavery advocates until the end of the Civil War in 1865. There was so much fighting in Kansas that it became known as “Bleeding Kansas”.






1867 On this date the United States Secretary of State William Seward coughed up $7.2 million dollars and gives it to Russia for what is now Alaska. Seward caught a large ration of shit for this deal. His detractors called Alaska a “huge stump of ice “or “Seward’s Icebox.” Little did they know what a plethora of minerals lay under ground including gold, silver, coal, and iron ore not to mention oil. I would say that the $7.2 million was a good investment for these United States.






Born today:






1135 Spanish philosopher Moses ben Maimon. He said “The risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of no decision.” I think we all agree to this.






1880 Irish writer Sean O’Casey. He said “The world is just a stage and we are woefully unrehearsed.”






Died today:






1986 US writer John Ciardi. He said “Early to bed early to rise usually indicates unskilled labor.” I guess that means the majority of us.






Quotable quotes:






“The Cardinal rule of politics is don’t get caught in bed with a live man or a dead woman”. Larry Hagman...How about a semi-dead woman, Larry?






“Any party that takes credit for the rain should not be surprised if their opponents blame them for a drought.” Dwight D. Murrow






“If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.” Harry Truman    I have known several, Harry.






                     Thanks for listening I can hardly wait until tomorrow