Essay Contest: What Does Patriotism Mean to You?

[Mikey]

First prize:
A four year contract with a four year option.

Keep in mind...you are going up against the best of the best here.

Entry #1:
http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade/patriotism/mccain" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Entry #2:
http://news.yahoo.com/page/parade/patriotism/obama" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The judges panel will comprise mvscal, Pikkkle, Dr. Phibes and that guy in Invictus' avatar.

[Dinsdale]

How about "What does it mean to be a warrior"?

If that was the question, I'd rip off my buddy's essay, since his entry won a contest for the whole freaking Air Force.

[Dinsdale]

Warriors in the Air Farce?!?

I laughed.

I believe it's "Chair Farce."


Who the fuck else is going to put a pen to paper for hours on end to formulate an epic essay besides a Master Sgt. Desk Pilot?


Same Desk Pilot who went to Iraq, was handed a rifle, and informed them "Uh, you're going to have to show me how one of these things works again."


Who I've spoken of before -- and the VA/DoD/USAF finally quit fucking him, and actually settled after 3 years and started sending him his retirement and disability... FINALLY... after he damn near starved to death.

[War Wagon]

Warriors in the Air Farce?!?

I laughed.

Yeah, but even you'll have to admit that the grunts in the trenches are damn glad to have that air support softening up the enemies front lines before they have to go take that ground.

[Dinsdale]

Yeah, but even you'll have to admit that the grunts in the trenches are damn glad to have that air support softening up the enemies front lines before they have to go take that ground.

Since it's a time for patriotism...


Above mentioned old old buddy was compelled to join the USAF after considering the USMC by his father (RIP Jim), who was In the Rear With the Gear during the Battle of the Bulge.


If you're not familiar with it (sup not even you morons), Jim couldn't find the words to describe the sight of the Army Air Corps coming to save their imminet-toast asses.


As easy as it is to ridicule the Chair Force, it's the 4th of July Weekend, motherfuckers...


RACK the fucking USAF.


Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;
Here they come zooming to meet our thunder,
At 'em boys, Give 'er the gun! (Give 'er the gun hey!)
Down we dive, spouting our flame from under,
Off with one hell of a roar!*
We live in fame or go down in flame. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

Minds of men fashioned a crate of thunder,
Sent it high into the blue;
Hands of men blasted the world asunder;
How they lived God only knew! (God only knew then!)
Souls of men dreaming of skies to conquer
Gave us wings, ever to soar!
With scouts before And bombers galore. Hey!
Nothing can stop the U.S. Air Force!

[Wolfman]

Dirack Ocheney's essay was "all about me." McLoon's was about the country.
I'd have to say, McLoon has a firmer grasp of the concept.
I didn't even read the links and guessed what the content would be. BarryO typifies the left and all that is wrong with their policies. President McCain has my support.

[Dinsdale]

There were no Marines at the Battle of the Bulge in the rear or anywhere else. The Marines had no role the ETO.

I apologize for shitty phrasing.

My friend was strongly considering the Marines out of HS. His father thought the Air Corps/USAF was quite the noble branch since that glorious morning in 1944, when he served in the Army. Jim kinda talked him into joining the USAF because he always thought they were pretty fucking cool after that.

[Mikey]

I didn't even read the links and guessed what the content would be.

Figures.

[Mikey]

Above mentioned old old buddy was compelled to join the USAF after considering the USMC by his father (RIP Jim), who was In the Rear With the Gear during the Battle of the Bulge.

If you're not familiar with it (sup not even you morons), Jim couldn't find the words to describe the sight of the Army Air Corps coming to save their imminet-toast asses.

RACK the fucking USAF.

Funny you should mention that.

My Father in Law (RIP Patrick) was an aviation mechanic in the Air Corps in WWII. He got to Okinawa about 3 weeks before the end and was immediately trapped in a foxhole for the duration. He couldn't find the words to describe the sight of the Marines coming to save their imminent-toast asses.

He passed away, BTW, about 5 weeks ago and was interred next to his wife (also a WWII vet) at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma. What an incredible place. She passed about a year ago. She rated full honors from the Navy and he from the USAF. Those two flags now have places of honor, one in our house and one in the brother in law's.

RACK the fucking Marines.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Rosec ... l_Cemetery" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Wolfman]

Good thing you married "up" !



This was presented to me at the ceremony at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio for my Uncle Hugh--
WW2/Korea/Viet Nam. Prominently displayed in my den.

[War Wagon]

My father guarded German POW's at Fort Leavenworth during WWII. I don't think he ever fired a shot in anger.

He died in 1971 when I was just 9 years old and had a full military honors funeral/burial ceremony with a 21 gun salute (7 soldiers firing off 3 rounds each). Even though it was a long time ago and me being so young, I still vividly remember the soldiers respectfully folding the American Flag draped over his casket and then presenting it to my Mom when they were done. Still brings a tear to my eye.

Not sure how it was that I wound up with that flag, being as how I'm the youngest of 4 siblings, but it's proudly flying outside of my humble abode on this special day.

RACK all of our Armed Forces, regardless of which branch they serve(d).

[Dinsdale]

Or so the military funeral dude told me.

My sister made a decent Army career out of playing the bugle at military funerals.


Hey, the In The Rear With The Gear crowd needs someone to make fun of, right?


Wasn't much room for that after Poppy Bush trimmed a lot of the fat from the military personell budget, which was about the time she was ready to move on to greener pastures.


But I think if an actual war breaks out, those cushy musician jobs have to trade in the horn for a rifle and decontamination bunny-suits, all of a sudden making it much less gravy.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

My sister made a decent Army career out of playing the bugle at military funerals.


Wasn't much room for that after Poppy Bush trimmed a lot of the fat from the military personell budget...

Look on the bright side. I hear grieving families can now download Taps and Last Post form iTunes.
25% discount, courtesy of a caring Uncle Sam.

[Mister Bushice]

My sister made a decent Army career out of playing the bugle.

Tailhook, right?

Oh no, wait. That was a flyboy thing.

Still, I imagine she wasn't the first female in the military to make a career "playing the bugle"

Time to get up, soldier.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

My sister made a decent Army career out of playing the bugle.

Tailhook, right?

Oh no, wait. That was a flyboy thing.

Still, I imagine she wasn't the first female in the military to make a career "playing the bugle"

Time to get up, soldier.

That's nothing. In the Navy, AP played the rusty trombone...

Hello?.......*tap* ...*tap*...Is this thing on?..........

[BSmack]

But I think if an actual war breaks out, those cushy musician jobs have to trade in the horn for a rifle and decontamination bunny-suits, all of a sudden making it much less gravy.

My father in-law got out of Viet Nam playing trumpet in the Army Band and Bugle at Arlington. He also played Nixon's 1st Inauguration with the Army Band. There was some real pressure trying out for the Army Band back in those days. A few of the guys that washed out of his class came home in body bags.

[smackaholic]

To this day you have to be the best of the best to be a full time musician in one of the military bands. And no dins, they don't get sent off to the front lines when the shit hits the fan. These fukkers are professional musicians from the day they enlist. They are technically in the military, but not really. There are real military members who might serve in unit bands as a colateral duty, but, they aren't in the same league as the pros.

Steve Gadd did a stint as a drummer for an army band before having a bit of commercial success.

[Dinsdale]

Alls I knows, is that my sister's unit used to do decontamination shit as well, at least twice a year.

Pretty sure she wasn't making that part up.


And the "best of the best" get full ride music schollies. The next tier tries to make the military bands.

[Dinsdale]

She was an expert marksman, FWIW (Which I'm guessing in a band unit, marksmanship is worth about squat).


Don't remember hearing of any tragic broken nails. She got a hell of a hobo spider bite in Tacoma, which put her out of the savage combat between serviceperson and the sheet music for awhile, though.

[Wolfman]

"expert marksman" ?
When I was in the Army there were three designations for firearms proficiency: Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert.
Marksman was the lowest of the three. I believe all US services use the same levels even back in the War of 1812 when i served.
sayin'

[Goober McTuber]

"expert marksman" ?
When I was in the Army there were three designations for firearms proficiency: Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert.

That reminds me of an old adage.....

[Cuda]

My sister made a decent Army career out of playing the bugle.

Tailhook, right?

Oh no, wait. That was a flyboy thing.

Still, I imagine she wasn't the first female in the military to make a career "playing the bugle"

Time to get up, soldier.

That's nothing. In the Navy, AP played the rusty trombone...

Hello?.......*tap* ...*tap*...Is this thing on?..........

^^^ did NOT get the Rack! it deserved