gunnerbob

Deal with it, some can't!

2010-10-16T16:28:00.003-06:00

It is extremely difficult for those of us that live in the comfort of these United States to appreciate the sacrifices of our military personnel. We are protected from the outside world from the kinds of stresses and horrors our military personnel face on a day-to-day basis. We are not talking about the physical scars from roadside IEDs or from bullets of enemy weapons. We are talking about the mental scars from watching your comrade get his leg blown off or seeing your military brother lying beside you with his life’s blood pouring out of a bullet wound that is taking his life. The scar inflicted when he sees his comrade’s lifeless eyes wide open when he has taken his last breath. Think about walking down a dirty, dusty road and seeing an Iraqi or Afghani child lying lifeless from a roadside bomb their own countrymen set to kill Americans and NATO forces.

These are the kinds of horrors that our American military men and women face daily and then must try to sleep at night (or when they can). Finally the day arrives and they have their orders to come home, back to the land of the free. Back to civilization as they remember it! But, what the average U.S. citizen does not carry everyday are those memories of the horrors of war. How do these brave men and women deal with what they have witnessed? How do they try to erase the sadness and guilt of being a part of this tragic war?

Thankfully, the greatest percentage of them somehow come to grips with it, but there is a small percentage that just cannot let it go. It eats away at them like a terrible disease. Their minds become continually twisted and tormented until they reach the breaking point. Mental therapy helps many, but there are a few that cannot find a way out of the twisted mental environment their mind has put them. The only way out is to end the torment with suicide. Such tragedies are happening far too often for our heroes. Pray for them and their families. God bless our American military men and women and God bless America!

We are veterans

2010-10-15T10:13:00.001-06:00

We are American teenagers from big cities, small towns, and farms. We are high school and college graduates from country schools and huge universities. We are white, black, Asians, Latinos, Catholics, Protestants, Jews, atheists. We joined the Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine. We fought in World War II on the sands of Iwo Jima and watched thousands of our friends die. We were in South Korea in rice patties and watched our comrade’s step on land mines and saw their limbs torn from their bodies. We were in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base loading bombs on airplanes to stop the enemy on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We were on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf during the Gulf War kicking Suddam Hussein out of Kuwait. We are in Iraq where wefreed people from the dictator Hussein that murdered his own people with biological warfare. We are in Afghanistan fighting terrorism on their home ground instead of in New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles. Our souls are in the shadows of the Twin Towers. We are the American men and women that put our lives on the line for our family, our friends, and our American brothers and sisters to ensure the freedom we enjoy in our United States. We are the proud, the strong, the resilient, the trustworthy, the steadfast, and the brave. And now, we are veterans trying to put our lives back together. Don’t just remember us on November 11th, but know that we were there; 24/7/365 for you. Can you be there now for us? Please NEVER FORGET! God bless our military men and women and God bless America.

The Pain Never Stops

2010-10-10T12:29:00.001-06:00

Try to think of a situation in your life when you have cut your finger with a knife or some other sharp object. Now consider that the wound festers and never heals. It hurts constantly and just never gets any better. No matter what kind of pain medication you take, the pain never stops. It is incessant. You try prescription drugs, alcohol, medical marijuana, hypnosis, but nothing stems the pain and the wound never goes away. You’ve prayed, you’ve cried, you’ve cussed, you’ve blamed somebody else, and you’ve blamed everybody else, and still no relief.

Now you begin to understand the pain and heartache that a parent or spouse is going through when they have lost their loved one who voluntarily joined the military service to serve their country. You watched them grow up or you fell in love with them and became life partners and now they are gone. Physically they are not here, but in our hearts and minds, they are present every day and night for the rest of our lives. Our hearts are breaking with sadness and pain and nothing provides relief. You’ve had counseling and friends and family have come to your side. Your spiritual advisor, pastor, priest, or other religious person has tried to bring you comfort, but the pain just persists as you keep asking yourself why? Why did my son, daughter, husband, wife have to join the military. Why did they solemnly swear to God that they would support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that they would bear true faith and allegiance to the same?

Nowhere in that oath does it say that you will die and cause pain for your loved ones the rest of their lives. The oath does not say that a pain pill will be provided your family in the event that you meet your demise on the battlefield and their pain will instantly be relieved. Life for our beloved military personnel doesn’t work that way. When that military stranger arrives at your front door and says, “It is with deep regret,” the wound is created. Nothing will ever close it until the day you join them in heaven. Life is not fair! The pain never stops. God bless our military men and women and God bless America.

Wakeup America!

2010-08-23T13:26:00.003-06:00

Great grandfathers watched as their friends died in the Civil War. My father watched as his friends died in WW II. And I watched as my friends died in Vietnam. None of them died for the Mexican Flag. Everyone died for the American flag.

Texas high school students raised a Mexican flag on a school flag pole, other students took it down. Guess who was expelled...the students who took it down! California high school students were sent home on Cinco de Mayo, because they wore T-shirts with the American flag printed on them.

Enough is enough.

This blog needs to be viewed by every American; and every American needs to stand up for America. We've bent over to appease the America-haters long enough. I'm taking a stand. I'm standing up because of the hundreds of thousands who died fighting in wars for this country, and for the American flag. If you agree, stand up with me.

And shame on anyone who tries to make this message racist. AMERICANS, stop giving away YOUR RIGHTS! Let me make this clear! THIS IS MY COUNTRY! This statement DOES NOT mean I'm against immigration! YOU ARE WELCOME HERE, IN MY COUNTRY, welcome to come legally:
1. Get a sponsor!
2. Learn the LANGUAGE, as immigrants have in the past!
3. Live by OUR rules!
4. Get a job!
5. Pay YOUR Taxes!
6. No Social Security until you have earned it and paid for it !

WAKE UP AMERICA ! ! !
If this offends you, please comment! If you agree, please comment!

OUTRAGE

2010-08-20T15:24:00.002-06:00

I'm in an OUTRAGE!!!! From the Denver Post Wednesday, August 18, 2010 - Pasadena, CA - "A Federal appeals court panel in CA says people have a right to LIE about receiving military medals. Xavier Alvarez. who falsely claimed in 2007 to have won the Medal of Honor, was charged with violating the federal Stolen Valor Act, which makes it a crime to falsely claim to have won a military medal. He challenged the law on appeal as a violation of his free speech rights. A panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with him saying there is no evidence that such lies harm anybody." So my fellow Americans, I presume it is no longer illegal to perjure yourself in court????? What is happening in our country? I think I will send my Navy Commendation Medal back to Washington because I failed to tell the proper LIE to earn it. OMG - dear God help us!!!!!!

Historical Help

2010-05-10T18:40:00.002-06:00

I am at a standstill with my second book because of a lack of historical information. I have been trying very hard to locate any former Navy SEALs that took their training 1962 - 1964. I am trying very hard to make the fiction book I am working on as historically correct as possible. I'm not sure the SEAL training you can research today on the Internet was the same back in that time frame. I could be wrong, but I need verification. Someone please contact me at bob@thankyouamericabook.com and let me ask you some questions. I will be glad to give you research credit in the front of the book if you want it!

1960's SEALs

2010-05-01T07:42:00.002-06:00

I have been desperately tying to contact any former Navy SEAL that did training in the early 60's. I am writing a second book and my hero took training early in 1964, BUD/S Class 32. There is plenty of info on the web about current SEAL training, but I want my book to be accurate and authentic for the 1964 time frame. If there is anybody out there that is willing to chat with me, I would really appreciate it. Contact me at: bob@thankyouamericabook.com. If you read this and know of somebody, please contact them. Thank you and thank you for your service to America!

Positive Reviews

2009-11-24T09:10:00.003-07:00

I have heard from many readers about my book and they have all had great things to say. Of course, I guess, if you weren't happy with it, you probably wouldn't tell me. I have learned that there are a few errors. You would think after proof reading it a million times, there wouldn't be a single mistake, but that wouldn't be human. One of the biggies is the title of Chapter 1 - Boot Camp. I tell people in the Forward that I graduated and joined the Navy in 1959. But the title says - July 29, 1979 to October 1979! DUH! You mean I waited 20 years to join the Navy??!! A friend of mine from church discovered the error. I felt so stupid. Oh well, I never claimed to being perfect! Happy reading and Fair winds and smooth seas! Let me hear from you!

Book in Hand

2009-10-13T08:39:00.003-06:00

Unless you have authored and published a book, you cannot know the feeling of exhilaration I had when I opened that box from my publisher. To see and feel the finished product almost brought me to tears I was so thrilled. A lot of work had been put into the book, but I will be first to admit that is has been a labor of love. I can't encourage you enough, especially veterans, to take the time to write down your life's experiences. When you pass on to greener pastures, all of your stories are gone unless you put them on paper. Some friend or relative may be able to tell a couple of things about you, but you are the best story teller of your own life. Take the time to do it even if you never publish it, your family will love you for it. Just do it!

Finally an Author

2009-10-02T18:10:00.005-06:00

I have wanted to write a book for many years, but I just couldn’t seem to get started. Then we moved from Sarasota, FL to Castle Rock, CO and I was introduced to the Douglas Country Writer’s Group which meets at the Grange (The Meadows) the third Thursday every month. I attended my first meeting back in the spring of 2006. I met a wonderful inspirational lady, Kara Stewart. She has run this small gathering of fledgling authors and writers for a long time and is an author, editor, and writer professionally.

At the first meeting, I introduced myself, telling them that I was a retired Naval Officer and had also retired from working Defense Department contracts as a Technical Writer. I told them that I had always had a yearning to write a book about my naval career. They all encouraged me to write some short stories (five hundred words) about some of my experiences and publish them on YourHub.com. The concept was simple: if I wrote enough of these short vignettes, that at some point, I would begin to have enough to begin to put a book together.

Fast forward to 2009 and my book is finished and is available from Wheatmark publishing out of Tucson, AZ. I just can’t believe that I have gotten to this point of a lifetime dream.

My primary purpose for wanting to write an autobiography was to leave a legacy to my two sons. However, after I had several former shipmates and non-military friends read the manuscript, they all encouraged me to publish it. I thought my primary marketing focus would be veterans; however, my publisher pointed out that my real market should be young adults who are thinking about their future. Perhaps reading my book, they will recognize what a wonderful career I had serving my country and that may be something they would want to do, at least for four years to test the waters.

I hope you will take the opportunity to read my book. Check out my web site at: www.thankyouamerica.com. Read some of the excerpts. Not all of the vignettes in the book are comical. Some will touch your heart, but every story is true I can attest! Fair winds and smooth seas!

First review

2009-08-25T14:56:00.002-06:00

Well, I got my first review copy from my publisher. I have got to tell you that I have read my manuscript at least twenty times; however, on this reveiw, twenty-eight more errors were found that were mine. Three my publisher made, but they were insiginificant. I can't believe that I found that many more errors. It helps when reviewing that the text looks a little different and is laid out differently than the original draft, but still, twenty-eight errors! Wow! I'm blown away, but that is what a review is for and I'm glad that I have had the opportunity to do another read on it. Perhaps being away from it for a couple of months has helped my reviewing skills.

Now I am anxious for the next time around. I'll keep you all posted!

Patience is tough!

2009-08-17T19:39:00.002-06:00

I can hardly wait seven more days to review my first draft of Thank You, America. My publisher, Wheatmark, tells me that I will have an electronic copy and a hard copy mailed to me on the same day. I feel like a kid waiting on Santa to show up. You would think a person of my "advanced" years would show a little more patience, but even though patience is a virtue, it ain't one of mine.

Fair winds and smooth seas!

Another Book!

2009-08-06T14:40:00.004-06:00

I can't believe I have started another book. I haven't even gotten the first one on the street yet (hopfully October 1) and I am already starting to write another book. I think at my advance years, I must have a short circuit in my brain somewhere!

Anyway, I have started to write a fiction about Black operations in our country. The world of intel is facinating and because of the nature of the security surrounding black operations, you the reader don't know if what you are reading is factual or not. My purpose in writing this second book is to simply provide entertaining reading and nothing more. Who knows, maybe I'll never even finish it, but I will have fun writing.

I have told my wife that I have a vivid imagination, but she says it is just scattered brain matter from the many batterings she has given me over the years. She might be right. Did I mention that she might be right! Later!

Michael Jackson is dead! An American hero! NOT

2009-07-19T13:20:00.003-06:00

I thought the following was better than I could have written myself. This is written by a young man serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting. Thanks for your service to our country Isaac!

Subject: SOLDIER RESPONDS TO MJ'S DEATH.....

Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?

Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?" I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them.

But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen to. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have. Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military; "So that others may live..." Isaac

Dick Cheney

2009-07-17T16:51:00.002-06:00

A little off of my normal blog subject!

I just wish that I had the opportunity to appear before the entire Congress of the United States. No visitors in the gallery, no congressional aides, nobody else but Congressional men and women. I would tell them that I am going to tell them a piece of classified information that if leaked, will change the course of the world. The example I am going to use is: The moon is made of green cheese!

I guarantee you that within 48 hours after my disclosure, the word would have been spread by some of our honorable congress people and the whole world would have this information. That is why the folks that deal in the deep recesses of the intelligence community cannot trust that congress can keep their mouth shut and that there are things the American people do not need to know let alone the rest of the world.

I spent twenty years of my life in the military defending the wonderful freedoms we have in this great country and by golly, I want to continue to have those freedoms. It won't happen if we blab every single intel item to congress and basically to the entire world.

Let VP Cheney alone! As far as I am concerned, he is a loyal American and he did what he thought was the right thing for America.

Getting started to write a book!

2009-07-15T21:24:00.003-06:00

When I moved to Colorado nearly four years ago, I joined the Douglas County Writers Group. I had always had a yen to write a book, but I didn't have a clue how to start. Keep in mind that my professional career after my military career was Technical Writing.

Several people in the group said that I should just start writing short stories no longer than 500 words. I had told lots of stories of my navy career, but had never put any of them down on paper. The idea was that as I accumulated short stories on the same subject, I would soon discover that I had enough short stories to create a book. Bingo, that is I what I did! It can work for you too.

Writing a book!

2009-07-13T13:20:00.003-06:00

Haven't we all had that aspiraton one time or another to write a book? It not an easy undertaking. If you are a journel person, you probably have some pretty good notes to get you started, but if not, you just can't seem to make a go of it. I'll tell you tomorrow how I got started.

After the first 4!

2009-07-12T17:09:00.004-06:00

How do you decide after the first hitch to stay in the military? It is not an easy decision, but I have no regrets. I think for me, it was the feeling of camaraderie I had with my shipmates that gave me such a sense of belonging. That is also why I wanted to share my experiences with others by writing my book, Thank You America! My target audience was fellow veterans who have had similar experiences; however, my publisher convinced me that there was a wider market. Veterans will buy the book, but they will give it to their children and grandchildren so they can read and identify with the sense of camaraderie that each of us felt in the military service. I would like to hear what you think of this!

Twenty Years

2009-07-11T12:17:00.000-06:00

Twenty years is a fairly good chunk of an adults life! Why would a person choose to use that chunk of their life to serve their country in the military? Good question and I hope in the coming months, I can answer that question. I'll be anxious to hear from some of you that choose to do that as I did in the United States Navy.