Open Thread Wednesday

Audie Murphy…. a hero's hero.

God bless all who serve, and have served in the American Military. We owe them and their families, an eternal debt of gratitude, this great country rest on the foundation of their sacrifices. Check out the CMH on Mr. Murphy, a true American hero, wow!

I mean this is in a good way…Make no mistake. This guy was one of
the baddest dudes to ever walk the planet

I heard that Audie Murphy had to tone down "To Hell and Back " because some of the actual things he did would not be believed by the public.

You'll have to wait a while. He's busy tossing salad with the Messiah.

A man who died far too young, and an enduring hero.

Oh I'm not holding my breath. It's much easier to fawn over a media creation like Obama than to honor a true hero like Audie Murphy.

Thanks to all the veterans, past and present. God knows where the country would be if not for all those who served in the military, those willing to give their lives for the USA.

(cont.)

One of the scenes in the original miniseries that has stuck with me since I first saw it is when the old jew holocaust survivior showed a young man how to tag a Visitor "Friends" recruitment poster with the letter "V". At the time, I thought the show was a metaphor for how the Nazis gained power in Germany.

The new "V", just like the old "V", is not about the Nazis or "Obamania". It is a remake of the "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" fable. Instead of a wolf infiltrating the sheepherd's flock to take away his source of food and income, "V" is about a general oppressor coming to take away your freedom, your source of food and income, under the guise of bringing safety and prosperity. It is about the strategy used, not a specific incident.

If parallels can be drawn between both the Nazis and the Obama Administration, it is their own fault. There is an end to that fable and it is the same end that the Nazis met.

I don't remember his character in "No Name on the Bullet" as being villainous. It's been a couple of years, and I thought it was pretty good.

He was also good in "The Quiet American."

John Kerry's got a lot of medals too. Yet somehow I don't think you'd want to compare him to a true war hero like Audie Murphy; a contrast would be more appropriate, not a comparison.

Happy Veteran's Day, to all vets!!!

hurry CUT IT OFF, It won't stup untill you kill it!!

How many of today's liberal politicians, MSMers, and celebrities who would tower over him? But the stature of size is deceiving. The stature of heart is what's proven in actions. The guy had stature, and heart, and guts to spare. Wasn't a bad actor, either!

Now, please let's have a moment of silence for today's veterans who have gone on to serve our country:

John Kerry
Al Gore
John Murtha

Wait…those guys hate our military, our country, and our heritage. What gives? It's almost like they never served at all or were wounded by flying rice.

And, if I'm not mistaken, don't we have a president who not only never served in any capacity (unlike George W. Bush, whose service was just never good enough for the likes of liberal haters), but doesn't even salute our flag?

Behold, folks, the imposters, the wannabes, the never weres. They are not men. They are most certainly not men.

My former neighbor pasted away over a year a go. When we went to the funeral, we learned that he was WWII bomber pilot. I had no idea he was veteran. There are fewer and fewer of these quiet heroes each year.

Sometimes when you say something many times, the impact of the message becomes diluted. This is an exception, we can not say it enough, because the sacrifice far outweighs any words we can express. It is said many times, it can't be said enough, with the deepest respect-
Thank you.

Dogs welcoming home soldiers – something to put a smile on anyone…

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40324

Happy Veterans' Day, everybody. Thank you to all those who have served and put themselves in harm's way so that I might not have to.

Soldiers who are short of stature can sometimes throw huge shadows. I found this documentary on archive.org that includes coverage of Audie Murphy: http://www.archive.org/details/1955-09-01_USS_For...

It's interesting to see how interested the public used to be in things military (of note, the Forrestal wasn't decommissioned until 1993 and is now being prepared to be sunk in deep water as an artificial reef for a fish habitat, per Wikipedia; the bit about the Berbers seems more like propaganda–less than 2 weeks before this filmed incident a Berber tribe had raided 2 settlements and killed 77 French nationals; up til then, the Berbers had actually been kind of a pillar of support to the French; more raids happened, and without Berber support the French finally granted Morocco independence the following year, in 1956).

I hope it would be okay to mention here another "short" hero from another war, the Vietnam War, although he also served in World War II. I had the pleasure of hearing him address officials in little Northport, Alabama, who had given him the key to their city in the early 2000s. I was surprised to see how old he looked in the pictures of the event because when you saw him up close, there was such a spirit there that he looked much, much younger and very vital. His name was Michael Novosel, and he died in 2006, I just found out. What a soldier, though – he piloted a Black Widow bomber in World War II and pretty much kept on going as a military pilot, because especially proud of his role as an Army aviator, until the late 1980s. His book "Dustoff" was still in print several years ago and I highly recommend it, for he was a good storyteller, as well as a lion in combat.

Here is the Arlington Cemetery link to more information on him:
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mjnovoselsr.htm

He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, and in "Dustoff" are some amusing stories of how he fought to become a pilot because of his height and how he coped with the big machines once he became one. In Vietnam, later in his career, besides the action that led to his Medal of Honor, he was awarded, I believe, a Distinguished Flying Cross for another hairy medevac mission during his Vietnam years that is described in detail in "Dustoff." It has to be read to be believed – wow.

Heroes — they are everywhere, and we are all buoyed up by their giant shoulders. With Veterans Day coming up, thank you all, ladies and gentleman, for your service.

If there's a Valhalla you know Audi Murphy is sitting at the head of the table. Because where he sits is the head of the table. God Bless him and All who have served.

Audie Murphy- a coward turned hero…

Young Murphy- after basic training became terrified of possible combat- went AWOL. Caught, retuned to the base and given brig time, he repented.

Boy, did he ever…

Diminuitive in size but big in heart, he became a terrific battlefield leader. His accounts are there for all to see in
'To Hell and Back'. Far less known is his terrible bout with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Back when it was casually referred to as 'shell shock' he suffered mightily after the war.

Slept always- even on the film sets- with a .45 under his pillow. Alcohol helped cover the pain- for a while.
However, the depths of dispair were an eventuality. He did pull out, though.

Only to then die in a small plane crash. The sad, tragic- and yet heroic life of Audie Murphy.

He and the others like him rest with God…

"Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have grown not only gray, but almost blind in the service of my country." –George Washington

Thumbs up! Michelle is such a hypocrite – she left her big law firm for a public sector job that was created for her and paid her big bucks. It was hardly a cut in pay.

Chuck Norris makes Audie Muphy tough comments.

On the way to work this mormning I got pissed off at the traffic. All I could focus on was how this was going to effect my day and my mood.

Thanks for this quote, it kinda puts things in perspective….

Take your hand into a private room, close the door, and let it slap you a couple of times.

Better to get it out of it's system now.

Here's a list of all of them…

http://www.history.army.mil/moh.html

I stumbled across a medal of honor recipent's grave several years ago while tending family graves one Memorial Day several years ago. Quite the story.

PETERS, LAWRENCE DAVID

Actually I think he only got three. I'm not a member of the military, but as I understand it there's a difference between being awarded a medal, and receiving a ribbon or a commendation for participating in a theater of war.

And vets here who can educate me? I've been wondering about this since 2004.

Just because the show is in some ways a close remake of the original doesn't mean you can say parallels to the Obama administration are entirely coincidental. Talk of a V remake has been going around for years, but maybe someone saw this as the perfect time to bring it back. A friend of Scott Peters' wrote here that he is a big lib and it is unintentional, but he is at the very least tapping into current events without realizing it. Last night, the Vs praised Japan for being the first to establish diplomatic relations with them, while privately fretting that it meant nothing if the US didn't follow suit. It was an obvious Kyoto parallel, and when the US acquiesces and the main character says, "I felt sick to my stomach," I think many in the audience know we would feel the same way (which is the way we felt Saturday night).

Another way of saying it: "A Christmas Carol" is not a critique of the American capitalist system at all, but stories here show that Jim Carrey thinks the current version in which he stars is. I haven't seen it, I suspect he's wrong, but an old idea can be brought forward to intentionally comment on current events.

The current issue of Smithsonian Magazine has an article on how Arlington became a cemetery.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology...

Another reason I loved that man…

Kinda puts those melodious splutters coming out of Obama's mouth in sharp perspective, don't it?

Just watched Audie in "To Hell and Back" on AMC today…

I was doing a weed burnoff the other day, and had to shy away from the heat a little patch made about five or six feet away…

And here's this little Texan, on top of a Sherman that's BURNING from gasoline and ammunition, engaging and defeating two reinforced rifle companies with the tank's pintle mount .50 cal M2…

That was one crazy, very brave man…and I am a wimp…

Veteran's Day always makes me think of my late Uncle Ray, who fought in WWII in the Army's 36th Division.
His combat experience parallels those shown in the fine WWII film The Big Red One.
Uncle Ray's outfit was featured in the John Huston documentary The Battle of San Pietro.

He never talked about his war experience. He just came back to farming in West Texas and had a fine family.
His modest laugh exuded ease, vitality, and quiet joy; appreciation for the basic good things about living.

"Hometown Boy Makes Good"

Fred de Cordova directed Audie Murphy in a movie called "Column South". De Cordova recalled how increadably intense Murphy could be at times. While shooting one time and had to tell Murphy to lighten up a bit as the look on his face would frighten every child in the theater.

A fine actor and a great American.

Not to quibble, or put too fine a point on it, but the Medal of Honor is not actually called the "Congressional Medal of Honor." It is simply the "Medal of Honor." The misnomer comes from the award being created by act of Congress. It is awarded directly by the President. The reason more MoHs were awarded in the Civil War than in any other war is because it was created during the Civil War and was the ONLY award for valor that existed at the time. (As further clarification, the MoH and other combat medals are awarded for valor, not for meritorious service – though, from an Army perspective, both the Bronze Star and the Army Commendation Medal may be awarded for either.)

Thanks. Now I will retire back to my military nerdery.

John Kerry would have extreme difficulty sporting this hardware on his chest……………… ____

Medal of Honor
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster and Valor device)
Purple Heart (with two oak leaf clusters)
U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (with First Oak Leaf Cluster), American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)), World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany Clasp), Armed Forces Reserve Medal, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor – Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre (with Silver Star), French Croix de Guerre (with Palm), Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre (with 1940 Palm).
As well as the Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, and Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar.

Audie Leon Murphy didn't have any trouble though.

Floydada (south east of Plainview).

How about you?

"Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin join California as those most at risk of fiscal calamity, according to the report by the Pew Center on the States."

They forgot New York.

Great pic selection today.

To all me fellow squids…Happy Veterans Day!

Doing the Audie Murphy story with today's graphical effects would be huge. Someone should run this that one. This guy was unbelievable.

The first job I ever had was working in a movie theater (it actually closed down on Sept. 7, 2001, so I had lots of time to watch the news coverage of the next few weeks). When we had Pearl Harbor showin, we got a lot of Vets coming in wearing their old uniforms. We'd always be sure to give them free concessions items and to have a chat with them, and make sure they got everything they needed. One of my strongest memories of working there was talking to a man who had gone to the latest showing. Since the movie was so long, it was the last movie that got out before we closed for the night, and my manager and I, and a few co-workers, sat and talked to one man for a good hour after the movie let out. He told us all about the missions he'd been on in WWII, and we must have asked him a million questions. It was so fascinating, we were all just hanging on his every word. He enjoyed playing to an audience, too. Amazing guy.

To that man, and to all the other Vets out there, thank you so much for your service. I can't begin to tell you how grateful I am for the work you've done.

I didn't know that John Birch was a real American hero, not just a name of a conservative organization.

No Veterans Day should go by without the mention of John Birch: a Christian missionary in China, helped rescued Lieutenant-Colonel Jimmy Doolittle and his crew after the Tokyo raid, and was murdered by one of Mao's boys after WWII had ended.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-12541208...

Didn't rate 2 min on the evening news when he died in that plane accident. Never the less he was a Giant among Giants. When ever I am in the DC area, I go to Arlington, I visit his grave, along with Col Greg Boyington, another Marine by the name of Lee Marvin, and a British Field Marshall. Orde Windgate. As a whole Audie Murphy as an actor, may have been fair to midden for the time, but he was a lot better that given credit for and well a dam sight better that what passes these days. Sgt Smiths MOH Citation reads very similar. He was 3rd ID too. Lots of good soldiers in the 3rd ID.

Hi ED, if you purchase a copy of my DVD of FORGOTTEN HEROES we are making a $5.00 donation to the AMERICAN VETERANS DISABLED FOR LIFE MEMORIAL FUND you get yourself a fine little pro Vietnam Vet film and help out with a great cause. my site is http://www.fogottenheroesthemovie.com its an idea for you to think about

Cool! Enjoy. It seems to be highly regarded.

ABC announced that the Kelsey Grammer show, Hank, has been canceled.
Too bad but it was a run of the mill show.

I don't think you were unclear or that I misunderstood. I just have a slight disagreement. I think you're right that it's a timeless template that can fit several real situations. My slight disagreement is that I allow that there may be direct, intentional commentary behind this version. You may be right that the administration is just falling into the classic totalitarian pattern and they are the ones giving new weight to the template. The production certainly denies it's intentional, so all evidence is on your side. I'm just holding out hope.

If I'm missing anything this time, I'm recovering from last night's migraine and may still be a little out of it.

remember murphy's medals were as a result of his mettle. kerry's medals were a result of his politics and his crews wanting enough metal material around his neck so that if he fell in the river, his ass would surely drown

Wow! An even greater hero than John Effin Kerry!