"All the news that's fun to print."

I surprised myself last week, getting a Tuesday post out while on vacation to Southern Oregon.  I guess visiting family isn't as much of a time-sump as I thought it would be.  That can be good or bad I suppose- good in that I had time to relax and gather my thoughts into a post, but bad that I wasn't doing more exciting stuff like in the picture above.

The Rogue River runs through the city of Grants Pass on its way to the Pacific Ocean in Gold Beach.  It's a beautiful part of the country, (mostly) green mountainous landscapes, pine trees all over, wildlife everywhere, including in front of my car.  Fortunately for both my front end and the two deer I almost collided with, my brakes were good enough to ensure the wildlife stayed beautiful.  We usually go rafting on the Rogue, but the trip was a quick one and time was short, with school starting up again yesterday.  The drive is a pain though- too close and too expensive to fly, but also too far away to make it an easy day of it.  It's 838 miles door to door, which is tough to do in one day by myself, and the finish line is so close when I do wind up getting too tired to continue.

Sure, I've got two other drivers in the car, but the teenangster is still under a learners permit and drives far too slow for my taste, and my wife can't keep a steady pace so the speedometer is constantly fluctuating 5-10 mph in either direction which drives me nuts.  They're usually asleep anyway by the time I get tired so I'm pretty much the only control freak driver I can stand available.

If you do the math, the required distance should take between 10 and 11.5 hours depending on what speed limit one chooses to follow- the legal one, or the Californian one.   That doesn't include stops of course, but if you ensure that you eat, refuel and offload any beverages at the same time, you can make the trip in 13.5 hours like I did.  Don't tell the CHP please, or better yet, don't tell the FAA.

While I was up there, I completely ignored politics and the news, unless it had to do with Oregon fires, or whatever headlines my friends my have posted on Facebook.  So for today, I'm going to share what I saw, read, or found humorous as it relates to current events after I returned.

The GOOD:

I'm sure you heard about the three Americans that thwarted a terrorist attack on a French train.  While the Corps was beaming with pride of the report that it was three Marines, the adage that the first version of a story is always wrong was proven yet again.  As it turns out, it was an Oregon National Guardsman, An Airforce Senior Airman, and a civilian.  That made my brother snicker as he's an Oregon National Guardsman himself who thinks that the Marines aren't any better than the Army, but they're just blessed with better PR.

One of the heroes was injured in the act of subduing the terrorist.  While it was actually due to a box cutter, the first reports had him listed as being shot during the take-down.  And twitter was exceptionally funny while documenting it.

Did you see that the Little League World Series was underway?  For the second time in three years, a team from San Diego made it to Williamsport PA.  So those of us on the left coast have more than just a passing interest.

#NBC7 San Diego ‏@nbcsandiego  Aug 21

#SVLL tied #LLWS record for most homeruns in one inning per @ESPN #NBC7SportsWrap

It's been removed from Twitter, but LA Angels All-Star Mark Trout even commented that these kids were putting on a home run derby.  After beating Kentucky 14-2, they lost their next game 8-4 to a team from Texas, but rallied yesterday to beat New England 10-3 to stay alive in the double-elimination tourney.

There's a great video here that shows what Little League is all about.

The BAD:

Source

Texas Police Captain Linked to Ashley Madison Leak Commits Suicide

I suppose that if you want to remain anonymous while cheating on your wife, Ashley Madison is a way to do it.  Minus the anonymous part though.  The site was hacked and names of clients are coming out fast.  This cop was no exception, but he wound up taking his own life vice face the humiliation and embarrassment from the exposure.

Of course I don't condone infidelity, or hacking for that matter, even if it gets some cheaters on the straight and narrow.  But I will also say that if you're doing something wrong, and keeping it secret is more important than your life- that you'd rather die instead of having your secret be known, rethink what you're doing in the first place.  Suicide is not an answer because it doesn't solve anything- it only ends everything.

Source

The American M5 were battle-tested killing machines during WWII, in Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, France (Normandy and Provence campaigns in the summer of 1944), and Germany.  They also served in the Pacific after being replaced in Europe by newer tanks.

Well, apparently they're still deadly:

World War II-Era Tank Runs Over, Kills Man In Fairfield

California Highway Patrol says 55-year-old Kevin Wright of Suisun City was riding on the front edge of a 1944 M-5 tank at a reunion when the vehicle started going downhill. Wright fell off and was run over.  Source

I really enjoyed the movie FURY, but I never thought that it would be fun to re-enact scenes from it.

The UGLY:

Another couple of videos detailing the horrors inside Planned Parenthood Clinics were released, including one that pretty much confirms that PP is trafficking in fully intact baby cadavers, possibly born alive, then killed.  The videos have proven that certain organs are worth different amounts and if PP wants to transfer or sell parts to StemExpress, chemicals can't be used, otherwise the organs would be ruined.  That likely means that babies are being born alive, or so close to alive that a slight tap on the heart starts it beating again.  It's long past time for America to consider for a moment that PP might not be as above reproach that the left wants us to believe.

Source

Speaking of hearts, or the lack thereof, I offer you the following video.  It's along the same lines as those Hitler videos, but this one is only just over 90 seconds and has a wonderfully hilarious punchline regarding Hillary's fashion choices.



That's enough of the news for today.  

End of Summer

Summer is officially over! 

Yes, I know the Autumnal Equinox isn't until September 23rd this year.  Yes, it is still hot as blue blazes here in Texas (and will be until late October).  

But...Summer is officially over.  So, Juvat, are you saying it's over because school started today?

No.  Although School DID start today. The kids are in their places with bright shiny faces and brand new computers and other assorted technology.  Now comes the test of how well the forklift of our network really went. 

(Actually, I'm writing this on Sunday as I watch a Powershell script create 3053 student logins (for the second time), so I'm assuming that school WILL start tomorrow.  I'm also betting the first help request regarding Windows 8.1 will arrive in the system prior to the school bell ringing.)   

 Anyhoo..... (To quote a great Rhode Islander.)

Summer is officially over because this weekend was County Fair Weekend!  Gillespie County is home to the oldest, consecutive annual Fair in the State.  There seems to be some bragging rights contention with some other Fair.  Seems theirs started in an earlier year, but they couldn't keep it up every year.  Ours has been going consecutively for 127 years, which means it started in 1888 and always signified the end of Summer.

County Fair weekend is kicked off with one of the three TXDOT allowed parades.  (Main Street is actually a US Highway and they get annoyed if the trucks with the giant windmill blades are interrupted as they barrel through town.  So, we get three parades a year.  Fourth of July, County Fair and the Lighted Christmas Parade, which is held at night when no trucks will be annoyed.)

 Anyhoo..... (To requote a great Rhode Islander.)

This year's parade was held on Friday and was a lot of fun.  Prior planning is a necessity.  Arrival on Main Street on Friday Morning and expecting to find a parking space is foolish.  People park their pickup truck on Thursday Afternoon then walk there for the parade.  

Parade preparation is quite elaborate at times

I loved the Supervisor!

Portable Garage for your Pickup

The Royal Fredericksburg Mounted Police perform their pre-parade sweep in search of water guns, because having fun and squirting people can't be tolerated.

Finally the Parade starts with the Navy leading carrying the colors.

How come the Captain is walking?

While the Chief is riding?

One of the mysteries of life I guess.

Mrs. Juvat watches as the local High School Band Performs

There were Bands.

And Beauty Queens.

and Beauty Queen Hopefuls.

Farm Equipment is always a big hit in the Parade.

Is this the Fire Truck Sarge is always mentioning?

There was support for the First Amendment.

As well as the Second.

There were more Bands.

And Adult Recreational Beverages.

 The parade goes down one side of Main and back on the other side.  When this float came back by on our side, the guy in the dark shirt asked Mrs. Juvat if she wanted a beer.  She said OK, thinking this was a gimmick.  He reaches in to a cooler and hands her a cold one.  Pretty nice Porter actually.

LBJ's Lincoln Continental

Politicians made their appearances.  Our state rep rode.  The guy running against him in the Republican primary walked and shook hands.  Our Congressman was a no show.  The guy running against him walked.  Guess who's getting my vote.  (Not just because of that.  My voting rubric is No Democrat, no Incumbent, no unopposed.)

More Bands.

Mounted Posse's (yep, we still got em.  At least two as there was a second one in the parade, but the pic didn't turn out very well.)

Even a little First and Second support from former Texas Rangers.

Old NFO even put in an appearance, which is appropriate since he was at the first fair in 1888 and is now moving back to the Lone Star State.

There was even a guy riding a longhorn.

There was a very interesting float in the parade.  Interesting enough to warrant a post of its own once I get a bit of time to research.

But as with all good things, it finally came to an end (after 1 hour and 15 minutes of holding up the windmills)  with a Stanley Steamer  as the last sight.

The Friday Flyby - August 2015 (La Deuxième Partie) On a Sunday No Less!

Fleet Air Arm Corsair Is at NAS Quonset Point, 1943. (Source)

After some protestations from two of the peanut gallery, er I mean, Loyal Readers, about my not including their favorite aircraft in the inaugural my favorite aircraft Friday Flyby, I have, with graciousness, patience and humility (well, not so much that last one) decided to devote a my favorite aircraft post to the most magnificent and awesome Corsair.

And she is a favorite of mine!

Yes, Old NFO and Murphy, your pleas have been heard at the highest levels here at Chez Sarge, so I hereby grant your wish. (Anyone else who has a favorite aircraft which is not in this post, read that first paragraph again. No, "Hey, I don't see the P-38 in this post! That's a great aircraft!" Once again I would counsel patience. If it ain't a Corsair, or Corsair related, you will not see it in this post. FWIW, I do take requests. But not right now. Also, I did sneak a P-38 in, see the videos...)

So that first photo was an "I had no ideer" sort of thing (with the appropriate tip o' the hat to my dear departed buddy Buck). Fleet Air Arm Corsairs out at Quonset, in Little Rhody? No, really. Too cool. Apparently the Brits would train their Nasal Radiators over there and then they and their birds would ship out on escort carriers. You can read about that here.

Before we proceed, I know that this is a Sunday and the Friday Flyby is, well the name says it all, a Friday kind of thing. But I could not ignore the cries of my people begging for Corsairs. So, this is Part Two (the French bit in the title) of the Friday Flyby from Friday last. Just for Old NFO and Murph. I mean I like those guys, how could I ignore their whining pleas?

Now I've seen Corsairs in person, these guys:

This bird is at Udvar-Hazy. I feel sad that she hangs from the ceiling.

Now this beauty is at Pungo. Note the drip pans, yup she still flies!

And I've seen them in the air as well, most memorably this one at the VE Day flyover in DC back in May.

Missing Man Formation
While the P-40, Avenger and P-51 hold formation, the Corsair does the honors.

I have done Corsair posts before, including this one, dedicated solely to that mighty bird. While researching this post I ran across a few interesting sites dedicated to the Corsair:

• The Military Factory's page on the Corsair. (There's a lot of good stuff at that site!)
• F4UCorsair.com (Of course!)
• Ace Pilots website's page on the guys who flew her in combat. Specs and history. Gotta love it!

Among the other things I found while researching were a crap ton of good videos. I narrowed the field down to four, which one to choose, which one to choose...

Ah, what the heck. Here's all four!

A great aircraft, the Wiki entry on this bird is pretty good. Check it out.

So Old NFO, Murph, we good?

I love this next pic, the old showing the way forward to the new. It's also The WSO's old air wing and Big Time's current air wing, CAG-2.

Lynn Garrison in F4U-7 133693 – N693M leads Corsair IIs of VA-147, over NAS Lemoore, CA, 7 July 1967 prior to first deployment to Vietnam on USS Ranger. The A-7A "NE-300" is the aircraft of the Air Group Commander (CAG) of Attack Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2)

Stuff

While wandering about the grounds of the palace the other day, I noticed that lovely, perfect little rose. I took another photo for comparison, so you could see just how small it was.

Yes, smaller than my watch it was. (Excuse the blur, you try holding your watch next to a small flower and fumble with the cell phone camera to get the shot. I know, I know, I could have done better.)

Small and dainty and such a bright and bold red. It really struck me, such perfection yet ephemeral.

Much like my patience with this whole convalescing thing.

Yes, I need time to heal up before returning to the fray. Yes, I understand that what I had was major surgery, but still, convalescing is a rather sedentary activity. As much as I'd like to drive down to the harbor or perhaps down to the Atlantic (for to snap some photos), it is actually uncomfortable to wear a seat belt.

Not to mention which my lack of patience with my fellow occupants of the highways and byways of Little Rhody.

I've done a couple of short missions down to the store (roughly a half mile by road) and noticed almost immediately that my temper is a bit shorter than usual. I shouldn't be raging at the other drivers because I might bust something dontcha know. That would not be good.

For you see Dear Readers, getting a good night's sleep has not been in the cards lately.

I believe I mentioned in the series of hospital posts that I have a great deal of trouble sleeping on my back. On long plane rides across either of the ponds I was able to manage by having a couple, maybe even five or six, adult beverages, you know, for medicinal purposes. While I am under no prohibitions regarding alcohol (as long as I stay off the pain killers, which I have) it just seems, I dunno, not good to consume alcohol while I'm laid up "in ordinary," so to speak.

I am to the point where I can lie on either side and, if I am really careful, can kind of lie on my belly. While I did learn, after a fashion, how to doze on  my back in the hospital, at home that's not a good idea. My cat, Anya, takes great joy in playing "carrier landing" on my stomach when I recline on my back.

She always sticks the landing (normally an OK-3) but from time to time she comes down a mite hard. Causing me rather a lot of, shall we say, discomfort.

So lack of sleep, some intestinal discomfort and my temper is rather short. Truth be told, as I age my temper seems to get shorter and shorter. Then again, I've always been prone to short outbursts of anger. I usually keep it bottled up, only those who really know me can tell, but the occasional "fire truck" will leak out, from time to time. Saying that pithy little Anglo-Saxon epithet is strictly forbidden around The Missus Herself.

So I need to tread lightly there.

Another joyous thing happened on Friday which I need to relate.

I have very good short term disability insurance through my employer. Well, it's good if the folks on that end actually do their jobs.

I filed my claim while still in the hospital, some two weeks ago. Puzzled as to not having heard anything further (after receiving letters and emails from them to send things out to doctor's officers and other "fax this now" paperwork) I called the number they gave me.

Keep in mind, this claim was filed two weeks ago.

The automated system showed nothing, based on the claim number they gave me and which I parroted back to them on demand.

Social Security number? Nope, nada, I was not in "the system."

Finally I had the opportunity to talk to a human. Seems (according to her) that in their system you need to explicitly save what you enter into the computer at the end of the session. She claimed "that's probably what happened."

I suppose it's possible to have the claim go "off wi' the fairies" after generating the correct snail mails and such. I found it to be somewhat, disconcerting.

I suggested that the company seriously needs to think about getting a different software provider. The one they use now sucks. I mean lose an entire claim because the system needs a human to hit "Save"? As opposed to doing it auto-magically?

Sigh.

So I did the dance (again). Filed the necessary permission documents with my various doctors' offices and await the magic form asking if I'd like the money deposited directly to my account and please fax this form back to us. (Hhmm, seems to be no place on the form to say "No, just send me a check." Modern times.

So I remain more or less "med down" and continue to do stuff to keep my brain busy.

Hopefully all the right buttons were pressed and hoops jumped through.

Stuff.

Annoying at times but we all have to deal with it.

The Friday Flyby - August 2015

Spitfire AB910, built in 1941, she is painted in the colors of the Polish 303 Squadron; the Donald Duck symbol is the personal logo of Squadron Leader Jan Zumbach.
(Photo by Adrian Pingstone - Source)

It struck me on Thursday that it had been a while since I had offered up a Friday Flyby, the last one was back in April according to my archivist.

Okay, my archivist, she's a cat. But she works cheap and has a pleasant disposition...

Anyhoo, it's been a while. While thinking about what to base the Flyby on, I saw a picture of a Spitfire. The Spit is my favorite aircraft, bar none. For it's aesthetics and it's role in history. While the Spitfire does get most of the glory, we shouldn't forget the Hurricane. Not as glamorous but that bird downed a lot of Jerry aircraft in its time. I have grown to love this bird as well. Without further ado...

Here's a little bit of what I like to call "A Few of My Favorite Things"

Hurricane IIC at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

There are approximately 55 Spitfires and a few Seafires in airworthy condition worldwide, although many air museums have examples on static display, for example, Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry has paired a static Spitfire with a static Ju 87 R-2/Trop. Stuka dive bomber.

The oldest surviving Spitfire is a Mark 1, serial number K9942; it is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in Shropshire. This aircraft was the 155th built and first flew in April 1939. It flew operationally with No. 72 Squadron RAF until June 1940, when it was damaged in a wheels-up landing. After repair, it was used for training until August 1944, when it became one of several Battle of Britain aircraft veterans that were allocated to the Air Historical Branch for future museum preservation.

What may be the most originally restored Spitfire in the world is maintained in airworthy condition at Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida. Over a six-year period in the 1990s, this aircraft was slowly restored by Personal Plane Services in England using almost 90% of its original aircraft skins. Owner Kermit Weeks insisted that the aircraft be restored to original condition as closely as possible. Machine guns, cannon, gun sight and original working radios are all installed.

Two MK 1 Supermarine Spitfires originally restored remain in a flying condition at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, England. Both restored by American billionaire Thomas Kaplan, one has been donated to the Imperial War Museum and the second was auctioned in July 2015 at Christie's, London. Being only one of four flying MK 1 Spitfires in the world, the aircraft fetched a record £3.1 million at auction on 9 July, beating the previous record for a Spitfire of £1.7 million set in 2009. W

As for the Hurricane...

Of more than 14,583 Hurricanes that were built, only 12 (including three Sea Hurricanes) survive in airworthy condition worldwide, although other non-flying examples survive in various air museums. (List of surviving Hurricanes.) W

Now as an American, not to mention a retired Air Force MSgt, I am often chastised by my fellow Yanks as to my placing of the Spitfire higher in my affections than the next aircraft on my list, the P-51 Mustang. To be sure, the Mustang is an awesome aircraft, the sound of that engine sends a shiver up my spine every time I hear it. 'Tis a lovely bird indeed.

There are a number of Mustangs still around, here's a list. That list has airworthy and static examples of this magnificent warbird. (Over 200 I believe.)

A beautiful aircraft, deadly with long legs. Berlin and back, broke the Luftwaffe's back.

What's that? You want to hear that engine sound? Well, sure, why not?

Want to know something, listen to the engine sound in this next video, yup Spitfires and Mustangs were cousins of a sort.

Both aircraft were powered by variants of the Rolls Royce Merlin engine. (The P-51D used a Packard V-1650 which was a version of the Merlin built under license in the U.S.) As were a number of other WWII aircraft, to include the mighty Lancaster and another favorite of mine, the Mosquito.

"Avro Lancaster B I PA474" by Kogo - Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Commons (Source)

Sounds familiar doesn't it?

Now the the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito (or Mossie as her crews dubbed her) was fast and could reach high altitudes in her photo-reconnaissance versions. The Jerries couldn't catch a high flying photo-recon Mossie. She was also called "The Wooden Wonder" being built nearly entirely of wood (except for the engines and such, of course).

Another of the Sarge's favorites.

"De Havilland Mosquito 11" by Rudolph89 - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Commons (Source)

Sadly there aren't that many Mossies left.

There are approximately 30 non-flying Mosquitos around the world with two airworthy examples. The largest collection of Mosquitos is at the de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre in the United Kingdom, which owns three aircraft, including the first prototype, W4050, possibly the only initial prototype of a Second World War aircraft design still in existence in the 21st century. W

Here's one of the still flying ones...

I suppose I should have mentioned that the Hurricane was also powered by a Merlin engine.

Listen...

Like he's just come back from beating up the Huns over Dunkirk!

Altogether now!

Mossies and Lancs and Spits and Hurricanes! Oh My!

Of course, I have other favorites than these. I guess you could say, "These are my favorite aircraft which are powered by Merlin engine variants." Not a bad criteria to go by is it?

Next time I'll take a look at some of my Axis favorites, or maybe World War I favorites, or Naval Air favorites, or, or, you just might get a post on my favorite modern birds.

We'll see.

For now I'll leave you with this...

One of these things is not like the others, one of these things just doesn't belong...

Spitfire Mk IX PL344, Spitfire Mk IIa P7350, Hurricane Mk I R4118, Bf 109 G-4 (D-FWME). Photo by tataquax (Source)
Sarge Note: This guy has a lot of great aviation photos, check him out on Flickr.

Some Things You Just Can't Forget, Nor Forgive

Rusk, Johnson and McNamara
Do I hold these guys responsible for the deaths of over 58,000 Americans in Vietnam?
Yes, partially. The generals of that era have to shoulder a lot of that debt as well.

In a recent post, I mentioned the new books I have to read, one, Dan Hampton's The Hunter Killers I started just the other day. It's a good read, Lt Col Hampton puts you right there in the cockpit Up North. A scary time.

It's tough reading this book. Vietnam dominated my teen years on the television, radio, magazines and newspapers. Many of my generation grew up with that dark cloud, out there on the horizon. It felt like we'd all go there, someday, in some capacity. The war seemed never ending.

It's also a tough read because the topic is the Wild Weasel program (Juvat wrote about Col Thorsness, a Wild Weasel pilot, recently), some of the first aircraft I worked on in the Air Force were the F-4C versions of the Wild Weasel. Much of the equipment Lt Col Hampton writes about rings a lot of bells. While my shop didn't maintain that equipment, we knew how the stuff worked and guys from that shop would show us what it could do.

So there's two personal reasons why this book has an effect on me. There's another.

One of the projects I've been associated with in a professional capacity over the past decade is the Zumwalt-class destroyer project. There are three ships planned.

The names of the first two hulls I don't have a big problem with - USS ZUMWALT and USS MICHAEL MONSOOR.

The first hull (DDG-1000) is named for an admiral, Elmo Russell "Bud" Zumwalt, Jr. who had a stellar naval career. Kind of a political move naming a ship after him, but there are many names that could have been much worse. (Stand by for heavy rolls!)

Admiral Zumwalt, namesake of DDG-1000

DDG-1000 at Bath Iron Works, still a work in progress. (Source)

The name of the second hull (DDG-1001) follows all the traditions of the Naval Service. The USS MICHAEL MONSOOR is named for MAA2 Michael A. Monsoor, a Navy SEAL who was killed in action in Iraq and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there.

MAA2 Monsoor, namesake of DDG-1001

MAA2 Monsoor's Medal of Honor and SEAL trident

"The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

MASTER AT ARMS SECOND CLASS, SEA, AIR and LAND

MICHAEL A. MONSOOR

UNITED STATES NAVY

For service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as Automatic Weapons Gunner for Naval Special Warfare Task Group Arabian Peninsula, in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM on 29 September 2006. As a member of a combined SEAL and Iraqi Army sniper overwatch element, tasked with providing early warning and stand-off protection from a rooftop in an insurgent-held sector of Ar Ramadi, Iraq, Petty Officer Monsoor distinguished himself by his exceptional bravery in the face of grave danger. In the early morning, insurgents prepared to execute a coordinated attack by reconnoitering the area around the element's position. Element snipers thwarted the enemy's initial attempt by eliminating two insurgents. The enemy continued to assault the element, engaging them with a rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire. As enemy activity increased, Petty Officer Monsoor took position with his machine gun between two teammates on an outcropping of the roof. While the SEALs vigilantly watched for enemy activity, an insurgent threw a hand grenade from an unseen location, which bounced off Petty Officer Monsoor's chest and landed in front of him. Although only he could have escaped the blast, Petty Officer Monsoor chose instead to protect his teammates. Instantly and without regard for his own safety, he threw himself onto the grenade to absorb the force of the explosion with his body, saving the lives of his two teammates. By his undaunted courage, fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of certain death, Petty Officer Monsoor gallantly gave his life for his country, thereby reflecting great credit upon himself and upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

At left, DDG-1001 under construction at Bath Iron Works
(To the right is DDG-115 under construction, to be named for Sgt Rafael Peralta, USMC. Posthumous Navy Cross)
(Source, there are a number of good Zumwalt pics at that link)

Now what really sticks in my craw is the name of the third ship in this class. The name of DDG-1002 bugs the Hell out of me, even more so based on things I'm reading in Lt Col Hampton's book.

The third hull will be named for the guy who was President after JFK and before Nixon. This was a very political naming and is right up there with Murtha, Chavez and Giffords. While all three of those ship names make me want to projectile vomit, naming a ship after Johnson is, in my opinion, a travesty.

The clown was a consummate politician. Rigged things to get himself a commission in the Navy (Lieutenant Commander no less), went on to fix it so he could be awarded a Silver Star from another consummate politician (Douglas MacArthur, at least he was qualified for his position) for a mission where he was essentially a passenger.

His piss poor decisions in the Vietnam War cost a lot of lives. Domestically his policies were not all that hot either. The man was a disgrace.

Naming a ship after him?

Good Lord. What's next?

I shudder to think.


If this post seems a tad incoherent and somewhat disjoint, my apologies. Nothing quite sets off the old temper like that cad Johnson and his idiot SecDef McNamara. I am quite beside myself with rage at the moment.