It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that Colonel Bill Dabney, one of VMI’s most distinguished graduates and a highly decorated Marine, shed the mortal coil today. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Among his greatest achievements was his spirited defense of Hill 881 South during the siege of Khe [...]
“Leave the A-10, Take the Cannoli”
An interesting take on the venerable A-10 Warthog, the “Vito Corleone of CAS”: I am going to do something for which I feel very bad; bang an additional nail into the coffin of the A-10 Warthog. I feel bad about this because I hold a deep affinity in my robotic heart for this unspeakably ugly [...]
Crossing the Helmand River with the 6th Marines
Watch and listen. No better friend, no worse enemy.
Minuteman Rifle Course, 31 Mar – 1 Apr
The most excellent John R. Murphy of FPF Training has posted his 2012 calendar. He’s running a Minuteman Rifle Course on 31 Mar-01 Apr. I’m signed up for it. There are ten (10) seats left. It would be a blast to get a group of loyal readers in that class. Go sign up, now. And [...]
Rescue in Somalia
GREAT NEWS. I’ve heard some differing details, but the outcome is the same– two good people rescued, alive. And better still, nine dead Somalis. One of the things I love most in the world is a dead Somali. There’s no one on earth more worthy of a righteous bullet between the eyes than the snarling, [...]
Adding “Optics” to Your Guns
Talk about coincidences. Last friday we did a branch range day; I brought not only the daily carry piece, the 1911 .45, but the AK clone with the red dot sight (aka Vlad the Impaler) and the S&W M4gery. I wanted to double-check the 50m zero on the first, and put some long overdue rounds [...]
Let’s Latinize That
Attention all Latin scholars. In recognition of the recent bladder voiding in Afghanistan (gasp!) who can come up with the catchiest new Latin motto, either for that battalion or– in extremis– Our Beloved Corps itself, in case it is forced to prostrate itself before the false gods of political correctness? My entry: “Micturimus Inimicis” or [...]
Not Very Helpful
Putting aside the gross irony of the Taliban calling anything barbaric, this is an unwelcome development at an inopportune moment.
A Capability Worth Having
This is making the rounds, and it’s worth watching. Having seen a det of six Harriers operate off that same ship for six months, I can tell you it is a potent capability to have. I am not at all wedded to the F-35B, but need something that can do what this thing does.
