Trick or Treat

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Corporal John Hughey (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865, at Sailors Creek, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag of 38th Virginia Infantry (C.S.A.).

Lieutenant Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 1, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His citation reads:

While engaged in repelling an attack of the enemy, received a severe wound of the right arm, but instead of retiring remained at the front in command of the regiment.

Private Henry Lewis Hulbert (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1899, at Samoa, Philippine Islands. His citation reads:

For distinguished conduct in the presence of the enemy at Samoa, Philippine Islands, 1 April 1899.


We at I’m just sayin… would like to wish all of you as happy and safe Halloween. Watch out for all the little ones out there trick-or-treating… and be a sport and give out more than just one little piece of candy when they come to your house. And really, if you’re going to put out a basket of apples, don’t bother leaving a sign saying “Just take one”.


The I’m just sayin… Quote of the Week

Never mistake activity for achievement. - Coach John Wooden

Picture Time...

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Captain John Arthur Hughes (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 21-22, 1914. His citation reads:

For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Capt. Hughes was in both days' fighting at the head of his company, and was eminent and conspicuous in his conduct, leading his men with skill and courage.

Second Lieutenant Lloyd H. Hughes (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 1, 1943, at Ploesti Raid, Rumania. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry in action and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. On August 1943, 2d Lt. Hughes served in the capacity of pilot of a heavy bombardment aircraft participating in a long and hazardous minimum-altitude attack against the Axis oil refineries of Ploesti, Rumania, launched from the northern shores of Africa. Flying in the last formation to attack the target, he arrived in the target area after previous flights had thoroughly alerted the enemy defenses. Approaching the target through intense and accurate antiaircraft fire and dense balloon barrages at dangerously low altitude, his plane received several direct hits from both large and small caliber antiaircraft guns which seriously damaged his aircraft, causing sheets of escaping gasoline to stream from the bomb bay and from the left wing. This damage was inflicted at a time prior to reaching the target when 2d Lt. Hughes could have made a forced landing in any of the grain fields readily available at that time. The target area was blazing with burning oil tanks and damaged refinery installations from which flames leaped high above the bombing level of the formation. With full knowledge of the consequences of entering this blazing inferno when his airplane was profusely leaking gasoline in two separate locations, 2d Lt. Hughes, motivated only by his high conception of duty which called for the destruction of his assigned target at any cost, did not elect to make a forced landing or turn back from the attack. Instead, rather than jeopardize the formation and the success of the attack, he unhesitatingly entered the blazing area and dropped his bomb load with great precision. After successfully bombing the objective, his aircraft emerged from the conflagration with the left wing aflame. Only then did he attempt a forced landing, but because of the advanced stage of the fire enveloping his aircraft the plane crashed and was consumed. By 2d Lt. Hughes' heroic decision to complete his mission regardless of the consequences in utter disregard of his own life, and by his gallant and valorous execution of this decision, he has rendered a service to our country in the defeat of our enemies which will everlastingly be outstanding in the annals of our Nation's history.

Corporal Oliver Hughes (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 24, 1864, at Weldon Railroad, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag of 11th South Carolina (C.S.A.).


Picture Tuesday

Daniel after I picked him up on a rainy day from school...

Susie on that same rainy day...

I think I posted the video of this a week or so ago.

The girls at the Fair this past Sunday.

Mary Ruth singing in Church this past Sunday...

Daniel giving Scooby a hug... before riding him like a pony

Daniel wearing something that Susie made at school.



Ouch

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Private James W. Huff (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions during the Winter of 1872-1873. His citation reads:

Gallant conduct during campaigns and engagements with Apaches.

Corporal Paul B. Huff (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on February 8, 1944, near Carano, Italy. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, in action on 8 February 1944, near Carano, Italy. Cpl. Huff volunteered to lead a 6-man patrol with the mission of determining the location and strength of an enemy unit which was delivering fire on the exposed right flank of his company. The terrain over which he had to travel consisted of exposed, rolling ground, affording the enemy excellent visibility. As the patrol advanced, its members were subjected to small arms and machinegun fire and a concentration of mortar fire, shells bursting within 5 to 10 yards of them and bullets striking the ground at their feet. Moving ahead of his patrol, Cpl. Huff drew fire from 3 enemy machineguns and a 20mm. weapon. Realizing the danger confronting his patrol, he advanced alone under deadly fire through a minefield and arrived at a point within 75 yards of the nearest machinegun position. Under direct fire from the rear machinegun, he crawled the remaining 75 yards to the closest emplacement, killed the crew with his submachine gun and destroyed the gun. During this act he fired from a kneeling position which drew fire from other positions, enabling him to estimate correctly the strength and location of the enemy. Still under concentrated fire, he returned to his patrol and led his men to safety. As a result of the information he gained, a patrol in strength sent out that afternoon, 1 group under the leadership of Cpl. Huff, succeeded in routing an enemy company of 125 men, killing 27 Germans and capturing 21 others, with a loss of only 3 patrol members. Cpl. Huff's intrepid leadership and daring combat skill reflect the finest traditions of the American infantryman.

Captain Eli L. Huggins (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 1, 1880, at O’Fallons Creek, Montana. His citation reads:

Surprised the Indians in their strong position and fought them until dark with great boldness.


Make sure you check out Sonny’s last sermon for the year.

While it is true that I grew up a Clemson fan, I have started following USC a little more closely the past few years. Part of this is due to my friends Cory and Danny (yes, that Danny) and part of it is because I really like some of the players the Revolutionary War Heroes have brought in. One such player is Marcus Lattimore. I remember seeing him get hurt last season and thinking “Ouch, that’s gotta hurt”. It was a knee injury, no doubt, but one that unfortunately isn’t all that uncommon in football. When I saw him get hurt this past Saturday, I got sick to my stomach. I held out hope that somehow, someway, it wasn’t as bad as it looked at first. At the time, Danny (yes, that Danny) wanted to know if it was a knee injury or a broken leg. Honestly, it looked like both to me. I have seen 3 injuries in football that made me sick… LT breaking Joe Theismann’s leg, Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Tim Krumrie breaking his leg against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII and now this injury. This is why Daniel is going to be a punter. I don’t know if Lattimore will ever play football again. Then again, maybe he’ll recover and go on to have a long career in the NFL. Who knows… All I know is that I hope he’s able to recover and not have this be a problem for the rest of his life, because he seems to be a good guy. We at I’m just sayin… will be pulling for him.


The I’m just sayin… Weekly Weigh-In

Greg 237

Mary Ruth 49

Susie 28

Daniel 25

PSALM 23

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Lieutenant Thomas Jerome Hudner, Jr. (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 4, 1950, at the Chosin Reservoir area of Korea. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a pilot in Fighter Squadron 32, while attempting to rescue a squadron mate whose plane struck by antiaircraft fire and trailing smoke, was forced down behind enemy lines. Quickly maneuvering to circle the downed pilot and protect him from enemy troops infesting the area, Lt. (J.G.) Hudner risked his life to save the injured flier who was trapped alive in the burning wreckage. Fully aware of the extreme danger in landing on the rough mountainous terrain and the scant hope of escape or survival in subzero temperature, he put his plane down skillfully in a deliberate wheels-up landing in the presence of enemy troops. With his bare hands, he packed the fuselage with snow to keep the flames away from the pilot and struggled to pull him free. Unsuccessful in this, he returned to his crashed aircraft and radioed other airborne planes, requesting that a helicopter be dispatched with an ax and fire extinguisher. He then remained on the spot despite the continuing danger from enemy action and, with the assistance of the rescue pilot, renewed a desperate but unavailing battle against time, cold, and flames. Lt. (J.G.) Hudner's exceptionally valiant action and selfless devotion to a shipmate sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Private Aaron R. Hudson (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions during April 1865, at Culloden, Georgia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag of Worrill Grays (C.S.A.).

Sergeant Michael Hudson (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864, on board the USS Brooklyn. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. Despite severe damage to his ship and the loss of several men on board as enemy fire raked the decks, Sgt. Hudson fought his gun with skill and courage throughout the furious 2-hour battle which resulted in the surrender of the rebel ram Tennessee.


The I’m just sayin… Bible Verse of the Week
PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

RIP Melvin Bessinger

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Private Thomas Hubbard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 17, 1870, at Little Blue, Nebraska. His citation reads:

Gallantry in action.

Captain William S. Hubbell (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 30, 1864, at Fort Harrison, Virginia. His citation reads:

Led out a small flanking party and by a clash and at great risk captured a large number of prisoners.

Machinist’s Mate William Russel Huber (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 11, 1928, on board the USS Bruce at the Naval Shipyard, Norfolk, Virginia. His citation reads:

For display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession on 11 June 1928, after a boiler accident on the U.S.S. Bruce, then at the Naval Shipyard, Norfolk, Va. Immediately on becoming aware of the accident, Huber without hesitation and in complete disregard of his own safety, entered the steam-filled fireroom and at grave risk to his life succeeded by almost superhuman efforts in carrying Charles H. Byran to safety. Although having received severe and dangerous burns about the arms and neck, he descended with a view toward rendering further assistance. The great courage, grit, and determination displayed by Huber on this occasion characterized conduct far above and beyond the call of duty.


I know I'm a couple of days late with this, but RIP to Melvin Bessinger... a local hero if you ask me. Among other things, he was the co-founder of Joe's Diner in Holly Hill, co-founder of Piggy Park Drive-Ins, co-founder of Bessingers Bar-B-Q and Founder and CEO of Melvin's Legendary Bar-B-Q. Mr. Bessinger was a WWII Veteran who served in the U.S. Army during the Invasion of Normandy, D-Day 2 where he was a part of the Battle of Saint Lo. He was a POW and successfully escaped captivity and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. So suck on that, Germany.

How 'bout that Clemson game Thursday night? I know some of you are saying, "Big deal, it's just Wake". To you, I would say ask Tommy Bowden how big a deal it is to walk out of there with a win. Is it special to beat Wake in football? No... but I've seen Clemson lose to them, so to see the Tigers play like they did felt good. I will share with you a little text exchange between me and Sonny during the game.

Me: Looks like a full house at the game. Probably 25k strong.

Sonny: I'm at practice right now. Hope the Tigers have it in hand by the time I get home.

Sonny: Just got home. Like what I see. (Note: I think Clemson was up 21-0 at this point).

Me: So far, so good... But if things start to go bad, you'll have to go back out to the football field. I'm sure you understand...

Sonny: I do...

(After Wake scored their first TD)

Me: Hope you haven't taken your jacket off yet...

Sonny: Headed out the door...

(After Wake scored their second TD)

Me: I don't care if this is the second half... You aren't off the hook for this.

Sonny: Need a TD here. (Note: That Sonny... ESPN should hire him).

I won't say much more except to say that I am 100% behind Adam Humphries. In my eyes, he's the next Tony Elliott. I don't know him like I know Tony, but from what I've seen, the kid is a winner. I say let him play WR and CB. He was in at CB at the end of the game and on the first play he made a tackle. I wouldn't be shocked to find out there are some guys on the defense who have played 100 snaps and not made a tackle. I say put him in... but also let him keep playing WR, because he's a dang good WR too (but right now they have a good many WRs). Anyway, let it be known that I'm just sayin... is a fan of Adam Humphries.

Let it also be known that we fully expect the Revolutionary War Heroes to get back into the win column today. While Rocky Top can grow on you the same way Call Me Maybe can, we feel USC will crush the Vols. I have to admit, I also thought they'd win at LSU and Florida (though I did have doubts about 2 minutes into the Florida game). Still, this game is in Columbia and unless USC gets rid of their defense, I'm going to pick them to win a good many games. I know they've got a lot of good players, but Clowney is a game changer. I'm sure I'm not telling you anything you don't know... but still, that dude is one bad mother(shut yo mouth).


The I’m just sayin… Kid Show of the Week

Our Kid Show of the Week this week is ALF. ALF is a science fiction sitcom that originally aired on NBC from 1986 to 1990, created by Paul Fusco. It is the very first television series to be presented in Dolby Surround sound system. The title character is Gordon Shumway, a friendly extraterrestrial nicknamed ALF (an acronym for Alien Life Form), who crash lands in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family.

The series stars Max Wright as father Willie Tanner, Anne Schedeen as mother Kate Tanner, and Andrea Elson and Benji Gregory as their children, Lynn and Brian Tanner. The character of ALF is portrayed by a live-hand puppet operated and voiced primarily by Paul Fusco. It ran for four seasons and produced 102 episodes. The final episode, which aired on March 24, 1990, left the series at cliffhanger.

ALF (Paul Fusco) follows an amateur radio signal to Earth and crash-lands into the garage of the Tanners. The Tanners are a suburban middle-class family in the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles, CA) area. The family consists of social worker Willie (Max Wright), his wife Kate (Anne Schedeen), their teenage daughter Lynn (Andrea Elson), younger son Brian (Benji Gregory), and their cat Lucky.

Unsure what to do, the Tanners take ALF into their home and hide him from the Alien Task Force (a part of the U.S. military) and their nosy neighbors Trevor and Raquel Ochmonek (John LaMotta and Liz Sheridan), until he can repair his spacecraft. He generally hides in the kitchen. It is eventually revealed that ALF's home planet Melmac exploded because of a catastrophe involving nuclear war. The alien was a gardener on his planet. In Episode Four of Season One, ALF tries to convince the President of the United States to stop the nuclear program, as ALF fears that Earth might suffer a fate similar to Melmac's, though miscalculating his words causes the President and National Security to call the FBI to arrest the Tanners. ALF was off the planet when it was destroyed because he was part of the Melmac Orbit Guard. ALF (a.k.a. Gordon Shumway) is homeless, but he is not the last survivor of his species. He becomes a permanent member of the family, although his culture shock, survivor guilt, general boredom, despair, and loneliness frequently cause difficulty for the Tanners. Despite the problems and inconveniences his presence brings into their lives, they grow to love him, though some episodes make it clear they're also afraid of how their lives would be turned upside down if word that he's been living with them gets out.

While most of the science fiction of ALF was played for comedic value, there were a few references to actual topics in space exploration; for example, ALF uses a radio signal as a beacon in the pilot episode. In the episode "Weird Science", ALF told Brian, who was building a model of the solar system for his science project, that there were two planets beyond Pluto called "Dave" and "Alvin", which gets Brian in trouble at school. However, after ALF makes a call to an astronomical organization and states that "Dave" is known by the organization, Willie comes to believe that "Dave" could have been the planetoid Chiron, or "Object Kowal", after its discoverer. ALF then shows Willie exactly where "Dave" is on an intergalactic map of the universe. This occurred in the first season episode "Weird Science" and was one of the first instances of other worlds beyond Earth, and Melmac being given any focus verbally or physically.

The original series spans four seasons and 102 episodes (each episode's name is also the name of a song relevant to the episode's plot), in which ALF learns about Earth culture and makes new friends both within and outside of the Tanner family, including Willie's brother Neal (Jim J. Bullock), Kate's mother Dorothy (Anne Meara) (with whom ALF has a love-hate relationship — he refers to her as the Wicked Witch of the West or the Witch of Endor, and she in turn threatens to either make ALF a rug or chauffeur him to an Army base), her boyfriend (later husband) Whizzer (Paul Dooley), the Ochmoneks' nephew Jake (Josh Blake), a psychologist named Larry (Bill Daily), and a blind woman named Jody (Andrea Covell) (who never quite figures out that ALF is not human, though she is aware through touch that he is short and very hairy). Changes occur within the Tanner household over the course of the series, including the birth of a new child, Eric (the reason for adding a baby in the series being that Anne Schedeen was pregnant at the time); ALF's move from his initial quarters in the laundry room to the attic, which he and Willie converted into an "apartment", and the death of Lucky the cat; in this instance, ALF finds that despite his occasional attempts to catch Lucky with the intention of making the cat a meal, as cats are the equivalent of cattle on Melmac, he has come to love and respect the family pet too much to do anything untoward with Lucky's remains. When ALF acquires a new cat with the intent of eating it, he actually grows fond of it and allows it to be adopted by the family, although he admits to the Tanners he has become the worst kind of Melmackian, a "cat lover".

In the series finale, ALF is about to be rescued by other survivors of his home planet but is instead captured by the U.S. military, and the viewer is left to ponder ALF's ultimate fate. This was apparently not supposed to be the finale, as the original airing ended with the words "To Be Continued" on the screen. The producers supposedly had a verbal agreement with NBC to produce at least one more episode to resolve the cliffhanger. NBC never made good on the deal, and the series was canceled. However, the story was concluded in the TV movie Project ALF.

As a result of the show's success, ALF made guest appearances on a number of television programs, such as a Season 2 episode of NBC's Matlock in 1987, NBC's Blossom, UPN's The Love Boat: The Next Wave, and the 1980s version of Hollywood Squares, where he also memorably hosted part of one episode in March 1987. The animated version of ALF also made an appearance in the "all-star" animated drug-prevention television special Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue in 1990. In the early 2000s (decade), ALF appeared in a series of commercials for the 10-10-220 telephone service with former Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw and wrestling legend Hulk Hogan. In November 2007, ALF appeared as "TV Icon of the Week" on The O'Reilly Factor. In October 2011, the ALF character appeared on Good Morning America during their Totally Awesome '80s Week.

Trust me when I tell you that ALF is a GREAT show to watch with your kids.

Thanks again Wikipedia!

Terry Kinard

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Musician Orion P. Howe (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 19, 1863, at Vicksburg, Mississippi. His citation reads:

A drummer boy, 14 years of age, and severely wounded and exposed to a heavy fire from the enemy, he persistently remained upon the field of battle until he had reported to Gen. W. T. Sherman the necessity of supplying cartridges for the use of troops under command of Colonel Malmborg.

Sergeant William H. Howe (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 25, 1865, at Fort Stedman, Virginia. His citation reads:

Served an abandoned gun under heavy fire.

Second Lieutenant Robert L. Howze (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on January 1, 1891, at White River, South Dakota. His citation reads:

Bravery in action.


The I’m just sayin… Know Your South Carolina Athlete

The South Carolina athlete you should know today is Clemson great Terry Kinard. Alfred Terance "Terry" Kinard (born November 24, 1959) is a former college and professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League for eight seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. As I said, he played college football at Clemson University, and was a two-time consensus All-American. He was a leader on the National Championship team and I guarandamntee you the Clemson secondary didn’t suck as bad when he was there as it does now. Kinard was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the NFL's New York Giants and Houston Oilers. Interestingly, Kinard was born in Bitburg, Germany. He attended Sumter High School in Sumter, South Carolina.

As I said before, he attended Clemson University, where he played for the Clemson Tigers football team from 1979 to 1982. Not only was he a two-time consensus first-team All-American he was also the CBS National Defensive Player of the Year in 1982 and selected to the USA Today All-College Football Team in the 1980s. Kinard is the all-time Clemson leader in interceptions with seventeen and tackles by a defensive back with 294. Terry was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

The New York Giants selected Kinard in the first round (tenth pick overall) of the 1983 NFL Draft, and he played for the Giants from 1983 to 1989. He played his eighth and final season for the Houston Oilers in 1990. In his eight NFL seasons, Kinard played in 121 games, started 115 of them, made thirty-one interceptions and recovered seven fumbles.

Congrats to Terry Kinard for being the South Carolina Athlete you should know this week.

Thanks Wikipedia

Thankful for...

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

First Lieutenant Robert L. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 30, 1968, in the Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. 1st Lt. Howard (then Sfc .), distinguished himself while serving as platoon sergeant of an American-Vietnamese platoon which was on a mission to rescue a missing American soldier in enemy controlled territory in the Republic of Vietnam. The platoon had left its helicopter landing zone and was moving out on its mission when it was attacked by an estimated 2-company force. During the initial engagement, 1st Lt. Howard was wounded and his weapon destroyed by a grenade explosion. 1st Lt. Howard saw his platoon leader had been wounded seriously and was exposed to fire. Although unable to walk, and weaponless, 1st Lt. Howard unhesitatingly crawled through a hail of fire to retrieve his wounded leader. As 1st Lt. Howard was administering first aid and removing the officer's equipment, an enemy bullet struck 1 of the ammunition pouches on the lieutenant's belt, detonating several magazines of ammunition. 1st Lt. Howard momentarily sought cover and then realizing that he must rejoin the platoon, which had been disorganized by the enemy attack, he again began dragging the seriously wounded officer toward the platoon area. Through his outstanding example of indomitable courage and bravery, 1st Lt. Howard was able to rally the platoon into an organized defense force. With complete disregard for his safety, 1st Lt. Howard crawled from position to position, administering first aid to the wounded, giving encouragement to the defenders and directing their fire on the encircling enemy. For 3 1/2 hours 1st Lt. Howard's small force and supporting aircraft successfully repulsed enemy attacks and finally were in sufficient control to permit the landing of rescue helicopters. 1st Lt. Howard personally supervised the loading of his men and did not leave the bullet-swept landing zone until all were aboard safely. 1st Lt. Howard's gallantry in action, his complete devotion to the welfare of his men at the risk of his life were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

First Sergeant Squire E. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on January 14, 1863, at Bayou Teche, Louisiana . His citation reads:

Voluntarily carried an important message through the heavy fire of the enemy to bring aid and save the gunboat Calhoun.

Lance Corporal James D. Howe (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1970, in the Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with Company I, during operations against enemy forces. In the early morning hours L/Cpl. Howe and 2 other marines were occupying a defensive position in a sandy beach area fronted by bamboo thickets. Enemy sappers suddenly launched a grenade attack against the position, utilizing the cover of darkness to carry out their assault. Following the initial explosions of the grenades, L/Cpl. Howe and his 2 comrades moved to a more advantageous position in order to return suppressive fire. When an enemy grenade landed in their midst, L/Cpl. Howe immediately shouted a warning and then threw himself upon the deadly missile, thereby protecting the lives of the fellow marines. His heroic and selfless action was in keeping with the finest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the U.S. Naval Service. He valiantly gave his life in the service of his country.


Thankful Thursday

As I’m sure you can imagine, it’s hard being me sometimes. I’ve got kids climbing all over me and wanting me to carry them and, of course, The Wife hits me like I’m a punching bag whenever I make her mad… so let’s go with just about all of the time. Anyway, my neck and shoulders… and lower back… and knees have been killing me for the past 15 years or so. Ok, my knees and lower back have been hurting/bothering me since high school… but not so bad that I couldn’t live with it. But about 5 years or so ago I noticed that I couldn’t turn my head very far to the right. I could turn it a little with some pain but then I couldn’t really turn it any farther. So I learned to turn using my shoulders. About a week ago my neck and shoulders started really killing me to the point that I said to The Wife “My neck and shoulders are killing me”. She said I needed to a chiropractor. I said I wasn’t going to pay for someone to push around on my back and tell me to lose weight. So she got me an appointment with someone who she’d been to before. I’ve been twice and I think it’s safe to say that Dr. Tara Chellis is some kind of miracle worker. She snapped my neck around a couple of times and now I can turn it to the right. There is still a touch of pain… but not nearly as much as before. She’s also been working on my shoulders and lower back and I’m sure it won’t be long until they’re fixed. And speaking of my lower back, she said that being overweight (my words, not hers) wasn’t the cause of my pain. She said having a wife and 3 kids was. HA! I kid because I care. Really, she said my back pain was most likely due to having to carry Sonny and Teresa Lynn around their whole lives (figuratively and, in the case of Sonny, sometimes literally). 

My point in all of this is that The Wife made me go to the chiropractor and for that, I am VERY thankful.

Quote of the Week

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Landsman Martin Howard (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on October 31, 1864, on board the USS Tacony. His citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Tacony during the taking of Plymouth, N.C., 31 October 1864. Carrying out his duties faithfully during the capture of Plymouth, Howard distinguished himself by a display of coolness when he participated in landing and spiking a 9-inch gun while under a devastating fire from enemy musketry.

Brigadier General Oliver O. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 1, 1862, at Fair Oaks, Virginia. His citation reads:

Led the 61st New York Infantry in a charge in which he was twice severely wounded in the right arm, necessitating amputation.

Boatswain’s Mate Peter Howard (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 14, 1863, on board the USS Mississippi. His citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Mississippi during the action against Port Hudson, 14 March 1863. Running aground during the darkness and in the midst of battle while exposed to a devastating fire from enemy shore batteries, the Mississippi was ordered abandoned after a long and desperate attempt to free her. Serving courageously throughout this period in which a steady fire was kept up against the enemy until the ship was enveloped in flames and abandoned. Howard acted gallantly in his duties as boatswain's mate. Soon after the firing of the Mississippi and its abandonment, it was seen to slide off the shoal, drift downstream and explode, leaving no possibility of its falling into enemy hands.


The I’m just sayin… Quote of the Week

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill

Party Pictures

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Sergeant James Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 2, 1865, at Battery Gregg, near Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

Carried the colors in advance of the line of battle, the flagstaff being shot off while he was planting it on the parapet of the fort.

Lieutenant Colonel James H. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on January 11, 1944, Over Oschersleben, Germany. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Oschersleben, Germany, on 11 January 1944. On that day Col. Howard was the leader of a group of P51 aircraft providing support for a heavy bomber formation on a long-range mission deep in enemy territory. As Col. Howard's group met the bombers in the target area the bomber force was attacked by numerous enemy fighters. Col. Howard, with his group, and at once engaged the enemy and himself destroyed a German ME. 110. As a result of this attack Col. Howard lost contact with his group, and at once returned to the level of the bomber formation. He then saw that the bombers were being heavily attacked by enemy airplanes and that no other friendly fighters were at hand. While Col. Howard could have waited to attempt to assemble his group before engaging the enemy, he chose instead to attack single-handed a formation of more than 30 German airplanes. With utter disregard for his own safety he immediately pressed home determined attacks for some 30 minutes, during which time he destroyed 3 enemy airplanes and probably destroyed and damaged others. Toward the end of this engagement 3 of his guns went out of action and his fuel supply was becoming dangerously low. Despite these handicaps and the almost insuperable odds against him, Col. Howard continued his aggressive action in an attempt to protect the bombers from the numerous fighters. His skill, courage, and intrepidity on this occasion set an example of heroism which will be an inspiration to the U.S. Armed Forces.

Gunnery Sergeant Jimmie E. Howard (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 16, 1966, in the Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty. G/Sgt. Howard and his 18-man platoon were occupying an observation post deep within enemy-controlled territory. Shortly after midnight a Viet Cong force of estimated battalion size approached the marines' position and launched a vicious attack with small arms, automatic weapons, and mortar fire. Reacting swiftly and fearlessly in the face of the overwhelming odds, G/Sgt. Howard skillfully organized his small but determined force into a tight perimeter defense and calmly moved from position to position to direct his men's fire. Throughout the night, during assault after assault, his courageous example and firm leadership inspired and motivated his men to withstand the unrelenting fury of the hostile fire in the seemingly hopeless situation. He constantly shouted encouragement to his men and exhibited imagination and resourcefulness in directing their return fire. When fragments of an exploding enemy grenade wounded him severely and prevented him from moving his legs, he distributed his ammunition to the remaining members of his platoon and proceeded to maintain radio communications and direct air strikes on the enemy with uncanny accuracy. At dawn, despite the fact that 5 men were killed and all but 1 wounded, his beleaguered platoon was still in command of its position. When evacuation helicopters approached his position, G/Sgt. Howard warned them away and called for additional air strikes and directed devastating small-arms fire and air strikes against enemy automatic weapons positions in order to make the landing zone as secure as possible. Through his extraordinary courage and resolute fighting spirit, G/Sgt. Howard was largely responsible for preventing the loss of his entire platoon. His valiant leadership and courageous fighting spirit served to inspire the men of his platoon to heroic endeavor in the face of overwhelming odds, and reflect the highest credit upon G/Sgt. Howard, the Marine Corps, and the U.S. Naval Service.


Below are some pictures from Susie’s birthday and birthday party.


Picture Tuesday

Susie at her birthday party

Susie the day she turned 3

Aunt Yvonne and Uncle George took us out to eat at Applebee's for Susie's birthday (Susie picked the place).  This is a picture of Susie eating her ice cream while Daniel was crying for some.

Mary Ruth, Susie, Aunt Yvonne and Daniel

Susie on her new big puppy (she named him Scooby Dooby)

He's kind of a big puppy

Real big...

Susie blowing out her candle

Daniel stuffing his face

Susie and Nana

Susie opening her gift from Nana and Da

And boots from The Wife's parents

Me and Lucas at the party

Family picture at the party... Daniel wasn't happy

For weeks leading up to her birthday, we asked Susie what she wanted.  She said a big puppy and an alligator purse.  She got both (and loved them).  

Weekly Weigh-In...

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Commissary Sergeant William Houlton (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 6, 1865, at Sailors Creek, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag.

Corporal Henderson C. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 30, 1862, at Glendale, Virginia. His citation reads:

While pursuing one of the enemy's sharpshooters, encountered 2 others, whom he bayoneted in hand-to-hand encounters; was 3 times wounded in action.

Private Hiram R. Howard (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on November 25, 1863, at Missionary Ridge, Tennessee. His citation reads:

Scaled the enemy's works and in a hand-to-hand fight helped capture the flag of the 18th Alabama Infantry (C.S.A.).


Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to Susie’s birthday party yesterday. Big shout out to our friend Travis (and his daughter Caroline) for making it to the party after getting back from Clemson (same for my cousin Alan, I think). I doubt I’d made it to the party after having to drive that far. I know a lot of people wanted to be there who couldn’t make it. You were missed… but we had enough people there that Susie had a great time. I’ll try to get some pictures up tomorrow.

Check out Sonny’s sermon from yesterday. It’s good to see he didn’t slack off on the disclaimer this week.


The I’m just sayin… Weekly Weigh-In

Greg 238

Mary Ruth 49

Susie 29

Daniel 24

GALATIANS 3:26-28

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Captain Charles H. Houghton (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 30, 1864 and March 25, 1865, at Petersburg, Virginia. His citation reads:

In the Union assault at the Crater (30 July 1864), and in the Confederate assault repelled at Fort Haskell, displayed most conspicuous gallantry and repeatedly exposed himself voluntarily to great danger, was 3 times wounded, and suffered loss of a leg.

Ordinary Seaman Edward J. Houghton (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on October 27, 1864, on board the US Picket Boat No. 1. His citation reads:

Houghton served on board the U.S. Picket Boat No. 1 in action, 27 October 1864, against the Confederate ram Albemarle, which had resisted repeated attacks by our steamers and had kept a large force of vessels employed in watching her. The picket boat, equipped with a spar torpedo, succeeded in passing the enemy pickets within 20 yards without being discovered and then made for the Albemarle under a full head of steam. Immediately taken under fire by the ram, the small boat plunged on, jumped the log boom which encircled the target and exploded its torpedo under the port bow of the ram. The picket boat was destroyed by enemy fire and almost the entire crew taken prisoner or lost.

Private George L. Houghton (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 2, 1863, at Elk River, Tennessee. His citation reads:

Voluntarily joined a small party that, under a heavy fire, captured a stockade and saved the bridge.


The I’m just sayin… Bible Verse of the Week
GALATIANS 3:26-28

26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Kid Show

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Master Sergeant Charles Ernest Hosking, Jr. (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 21, 1967, at Phuoc Long Province, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. M/Sgt. Hosking (then Sfc.), Detachment A-302, Company A, greatly distinguished himself while serving as company advisor in the III Corps Civilian Irregular Defense Group Reaction Battalion during combat operations in Don Luan District. A Viet Cong suspect was apprehended and subsequently identified as a Viet Cong sniper. While M/Sgt. Hosking was preparing the enemy for movement back to the base camp, the prisoner suddenly grabbed a hand grenade from M/Sgt. Hosking's belt, armed the grenade, and started running towards the company command group which consisted of 2 Americans and 2 Vietnamese who were standing a few feet away. Instantly realizing that the enemy intended to kill the other men, M/Sgt. Hosking immediately leaped upon the Viet Cong's back. With utter disregard for his personal safety, he grasped the Viet Cong in a "Bear Hug" forcing the grenade against the enemy soldier's chest. He then wrestled the Viet Cong to the ground and covered the enemy's body with his body until the grenade detonated. The blast instantly killed both M/Sgt. Hosking and the Viet Cong. By absorbing the full force of the exploding grenade with his body and that of the enemy, he saved the other members of his command group from death or serious injury. M/Sgt. Hosking's risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest tradition of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.

Private Solomon J. Hottenstine (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 19, 1864, at Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad, Virginia. His citation reads:

Captured flag belonging to a North Carolina regiment, and through a ruse led them into the arms of Federal troops.

Private Ira Hough (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on October 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek, Virginia. His citation reads:

Capture of flag.


So, I’ve started watching Morning Joe (hosted by former Republican Congressman Joe Scarborough) on MSNBC. I don’t get to see much of it because it’s on when I’m getting ready for work, but the parts I do get to see are pretty good. I have to admit, I started watching the show because Tony Kornheiser started talking about it the other day on his radio show. I like the show because it kind of reminds me of his radio show. A group of adults sitting around a table talking about news/sports/politics… I like it. As far as news type shows go, it seems to be as close to the “middle” as anyone could hope. Let’s be honest here, no news shows are really completely in the middle as far as politics go. Still, this one isn’t too bad. From what I’ve seen, most of the group seem to be a little to the left, but not too much. Anyway, I tell you this to say that later in the day when I get home I turn on the TV and it’s still on MSNBC. From what I see on that station in the afternoon/night, I can only hope the DNC is paying for all of that air time. I mean WOW. Even some of the MSNBC commercials (with their “talent”) are ads telling people to vote for President Obama. Is there anywhere on TV where I can just get news? Or at least have people be honest? I know that smart people know that FOX leans to the right and MSNBC/CNN/ABC/CBS/PBS/NBC/etc. lean to the left (some more so than others)… what worries me is that some people who are allowed to vote are too stupid to know who is telling them what to think. If I want to know what to think, I’ll call Jeremy and ask him. But not everyone has a Jeremy. So I guess I can only hope that everyone who votes is able to think for themselves.


The I’m just sayin… Kid Show of the Week

Our Kid Show of the Week this week is Walker, Texas Ranger. Walker, Texas Ranger is an action crime drama series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis, and starring Chuck Norris as a member of the Texas Ranger Division. The show aired on CBS in the spring of 1993, with the first season consisting of three pilot episodes. Eight full seasons followed with new episodes airing from September 25, 1993 to May 19, 2001 and reruns continuing on CBS until July 28, 2001. It was broadcast in over 100 countries, and has since spawned a made-for-television movie, entitled Trial By Fire. The movie ended on a cliffhanger, which, as of 2012, has not yet been resolved. DVD sets of all seasons have been released (with the three pilots packaged with the first regular season). At various times since 1997, reruns of the show have aired, in syndication, on the USA Network and Action in Canada. As of September 13, 2010, the series is shown on WGN America. The show was known for its moral values. For example, the characters refrained from the use of drugs, and they participated in community service. Martial arts were displayed prominently as the primary tool of law enforcement and occasionally as a tool for Walker and company to reach out to the community.

The show was initially developed by executive producer Allison Moore and supervising producer J. Michael Straczynski when the series was still being produced by Cannon Television. While Straczynski had to depart to get his new series Babylon 5 on the air, executive producer David Moessinger remained to finish developing the series. The show is centered on Cordell Walker (Norris), a Dallas-Fort Worth–based member of the Texas Rangers, a state-level bureau of investigation. Walker was raised by his paternal uncle, a Native American named Ray Firewalker (Floyd Red Crow Westerman). Cordell, prior to joining the Rangers, served in the Marines' elite recon unit during the Vietnam War. Both Cordell and Uncle Ray share the values characteristic of Wild West sheriffs. His partner and best friend is James "Jimmy" Trivette (Clarence Gilyard… of Matlock fame), a former Dallas Cowboys player, "Go Long T", who takes a more modern approach. Walker's young partner grew up in Baltimore and used football as his ticket to college education. He was dropped from the team after he tore up his shoulder in a major game, which led to his career in the Rangers (often making references to watching the "Lone Ranger" and how C.D. Parker mentored him as a Rookie Officer). Trivette also works inside the office using computers and cellular phones to collate information of the people who have been taken into custody. Walker also works closely (and shares a mutual attraction) with Alexandra "Alex" Cahill (Sheree J. Wilson), a Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney, who on occasion puts up a frown if Walker does not obtain results in time. He also gets advice on cases from C.D. Parker (Gailard Sartain (pilot season), Noble Willingham (seasons 1–7)), a veteran Ranger (later inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame) who worked with Walker until retiring to operate a small restaurant and bar called "CD's Bar and Grill", a restaurant widely known in the series for its chili. In Season 7 two rookie Texas Rangers, Sydney Cooke (Nia Peeples) and Francis Gage (Judson Mills), are assigned under Walker and Trivette's command.

It’s hard to go wrong with a TV show that has Chuck Norris in it. Which is why this is a great show to watch with kids.

Thanks Wikipedia

Art Shell

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Captain of the Top James Horton (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on February 13, 1879, on board the USS Constitution. His citation reads:

Serving on board the U.S.S. Constitution, at sea, 13 February 1879, Horton showed courageous conduct in going over the stern during a heavy gale and cutting the fastenings of the ship's rudder chains.

Seaman Lewis A. Horton (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on December 30, 1862, on board the USS Rhode Island. His citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Rhode Island, which was engaged in saving the lives of the officers and crew of the Monitor, 30 December 1862. Participating in the hazardous task of rescuing the officers and crew of the sinking Monitor, Horton, after rescuing several of the men, became separated in a heavy gale with other members of the cutter that had set out from the Rhode Island and spent many hours in the small boat at the mercy of the weather and high seas until finally picked up by a schooner 50 miles east of Cape Hatteras.

Private William Charlie Horton (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 21 – August 17, 1900, at Peking, China. His citation reads:

In action against the enemy at Peking, China, 21 July to 17 August 1900. Although under heavy fire from the enemy, Horton assisted in the erection of barricades.


The I’m just sayin… Know Your South Carolina Athlete

The South Carolina athlete we are going to look at today is the great Art Shell. Arthur "Art" Shell (born November 26, 1946) is a former collegiate and professional football player in the American Football League and later in the NFL. He is a Hall of Fame offensive tackle and a two-time former head coach of the Oakland Raiders. He holds the distinction of becoming the third-ever African American head coach (after Fritz Pollard and Wayne Fontes) in the history of professional football, and the second in the sport's modern era.

Shell is from the Charleston area. He attended Bonds-Wilson High School in North Charleston, SC. After high school, Art headed up to Maryland State College (now known as The University of Maryland Eastern Shore, located in Princess Anne, MD).

Shell was drafted by the American Football League's Oakland Raiders. Playing offensive tackle, Shell participated in 24 playoff contests, including Super Bowls XI and XV, and was named to eight Pro Bowls. Shell was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1999, he was ranked number 55 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. He was also named to the NFL’s 1970s All-Decade Team. Art has also been inducted into the South Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

Congrats to Art Shell for being our SC Athlete You Should Know.

Thanks Wikipedia

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSIE!!!!!!!!!

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Staff Sergeant Freeman V. Horner (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on November 16, 1944, at Wurselen, Germany. His citation reads:

S/Sgt. Horner and other members of his company were attacking Wurselen, Germany, against stubborn resistance on 16 November 1944, when machinegun fire from houses on the edge of the town pinned the attackers in flat, open terrain 100 yards from their objective. As they lay in the field, enemy artillery observers directed fire upon them, causing serious casualties. Realizing that the machineguns must be eliminated in order to permit the company to advance from its precarious position, S/Sgt. Horner voluntarily stood up with his submachine gun and rushed into the teeth of concentrated fire, burdened by a heavy load of ammunition and hand grenades. Just as he reached a position of seeming safety, he was fired on by a machinegun which had remained silent up until that time. He coolly wheeled in his fully exposed position while bullets barely missed him and killed 2 hostile gunners with a single, devastating burst. He turned to face the fire of the other 2 machineguns, and dodging fire as he ran, charged the 2 positions 50 yards away. Demoralized by their inability to hit the intrepid infantryman, the enemy abandoned their guns and took cover in the cellar of the house they occupied. S/Sgt. Horner burst into the building, hurled 2 grenades down the cellar stairs, and called for the Germans to surrender. Four men gave up to him. By his extraordinary courage, S/Sgt. Horner destroyed 3 enemy machinegun positions, killed or captured 7 enemy, and cleared the path for his company's successful assault on Wurselen.

Drummer William H. Horsfall (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 21, 1862, at Corinth, Mississippi. His citation reads:

Saved the life of a wounded officer lying between the lines.

Gunner’s Mate James Horton (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 21, 1864, on board the USS Montauk. His citation reads:

Served as gunner's mate on board the U.S.S. Montauk, 21 September 1864. During the night of 21 September, when fire was discovered in the magazine lightroom of the vessel, causing a panic and demoralizing the crew, Horton rushed into the cabin, obtained the magazine keys, sprang into the lightroom and began passing out combustibles, Including the box of signals in which the fire originated.


Today we’d like to wish my sweet little Susie a VERY HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY!!! It seems like it was just yesterday that I was standing in that “hospital” (their word, not mine) holding The Wife’s right leg thanking God for the fact that it was Sunday and the room had a TV with a NFL game on. Even better, the Vikings were playing… so I didn’t have to worry about my Mother-in-Law giving me any dirty looks (she’s a Vikings fan… don’t ask why). Anyway, when all was said and done our sweet little girl joined us at 4:25pm weighing in at 8lbs, 9oz. while stretching out to 19 inches long. Happy Birthday Susie Grace!!! I love you!!!!


Thankful Thursday

I believe I’ve said this before but it is worth saying again, I’m pretty lucky in that I got to know 3 of my 4 grandparents before they passed away. I was lucky to have two of the best grandmothers anyone could hope to have. They were different, but both were great. So when The Wife got pregnant the first time and we found out we were having a girl, I tried long and hard to figure out a way to work Ruth and Susie into her name (and I also wanted a double first name like Mom has, if possible). I couldn’t really get the names to fit like I wanted and The Wife kind of wanted to use the name Mary because of her mom and grandmother, so we decided on Mary Ruth. Fast forward to 2009 and we are again finding out that we’re having a girl. This may have been the fastest we picked a name. I don’t think we even had a second choice. Susie Grace. It just seemed like the perfect name. It’s fun to sit and watch siblings grow and to see them have different personalities. I’m sure it’s like that for every parent. Heck, just look at me and my siblings… When we were growing up Teresa Lynn was sweet and loved everyone, Sonny was quiet enough that our parents probably thought he was dumb and I talked enough that our parents didn’t have to guess if I was dumb or not. My kids are also different… Mary Ruth is sweet and wants everyone to be happy. Right now, Daniel is just along for the ride… trying to keep his sisters from killing him (with kindness, of course). Susie just wants to be happy… if you’re happy to, that’s fine, but she’s going to make sure she’s happy. Sometimes she wants to play with others, but she’s also fine just playing by herself. Sometimes she’s sweet… but she’s also willing to crack the whip around our house if she feels like she needs to. We call her Sergeant Susie because she’s not afraid to bark out any orders to her brother and sister that we have given. It’s not uncommon for her to open the bathroom door and yell at Mary Ruth to get out of the shower NOW. She also tells Daniel when it is time to eat or clean up. She is able to make me laugh without really trying to… it’s a gift she has. And even though she loves her cousin Ansley waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than she loves me, I still love her very much and I can’t imagine how boring my life would be without her in it. She is a great daughter and for that, I am thankful.

Wooden Quote

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Sergeant Thomas Horan (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. His citation reads:

In a charge of his regiment this soldier captured the regimental flag of the 8th Florlda Infantry (C.S.A.).

Private Elisha Simpson Hornaday (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on April 23, 1875, at Sappa Creek, Kansas. His citation reads:

With 5 other men he waded in mud and water up the creek to a position directly behind an entrenched Cheyenne position, who were using natural bank pits to good advantage against the main column . This surprise attack from the enemy rear broke the ir resistance.

Captain Samuel B. Horne (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 29, 1864, at Fort Harrison, Virginia. His citation reads:

While acting as an aide and carrying an important message, was severely wounded and his horse killed but delivered the order and rejoined his general.


For the record... the "blacked out" pictures in my post yesterday were taken in the car during our 6 hour trip to North Myrtle Beach on Friday.  Honestly, if Michael ever gets a speeding ticket I'll be shocked (SHOCKED!).


The I’m just sayin… Quote of the Week

Discipline yourself and others won't need to. - Coach John Wooden

Oh what a weekend!

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Corporal William B. Hooper (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on March 31, 1865, at Chamberlains Creek, Virginia. His citation reads:

With the assistance of a comrade, headed off the advance of the enemy, shooting two of his color bearers; also posted himself between the enemy and the led horses of his own command, thus saving the herd from capture.

Bugler Samuel Hoover (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on May 6, 1873, at Santa Maria Mountains, Arizona. His citation reads:

Gallantry in action, also services as trailer in May 1872.

Corporal Charles F. Hopkins (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on June 27, 1862, at Gaines Mill, Virginia. His citation reads:

Voluntarily carried a wounded comrade, under heavy fire, to a place of safety; though twice wounded in the act, he continued in action until again severely wounded.


Click here to read Sonny’s sermon from this past Sunday. It’s a sermon post, so I won’t say anything about that slackass being too lazy to copy and paste his disclaimer from last week’s post to the post this week. Still, it looks like it was pretty good. Along the cancer lines, you’ll remember my (and Teresa Lynn’s) friend Chuck Towne has a son (Chase) who has beaten cancer (for now, at least). Anyway, go read his sermon and then come back to see what I did last weekend.

As you know, I went to Myrtle Beach last weekend (actually, North Myrtle Beach… there’s about a 2 hour difference when my friend Michael is driving) for Ross’ bachelor party. I had a blast. Here’s a rundown of what we did:

First we  __                                                                                                                      _ and then we                                                                                                                                                           after that we decided to have a cab take us ___                                                                                                __. We then got back and ____                                                                                              _____. Oh, I almost forgot, there was a great story from the ride there when ____                                                                                     ____. But back to our time there, on Saturday we ___                                                                                                              _________. I can now check off “Ride a ski lift to a golf course” from my bucket list. But I digress… We then _____                                                                                                                                                      _____________. Some of the things we talked about during the game included ____________                                                                                                                                               __________. Danny (yes, that Danny) was sad. But still _________                                                                                                                                   ________. On Sunday ___________                                                                                                                              ________. We got home around __________                                                                                                                                      _____. I'm sure I'm leaving something out, but like I said, I had a blast.

Below are some pictures. Note, some classified information may be blacked out on some of the pictures.


Picture Tuesday

What does the inside of a jail cell look like with the lights off?  Haha... just kidding (as far as you know).

This was Ross before the drinks got to us...

Ross on the golf course... We told him not to worry, married guys always get to play golf whenever they want.  Sucker.

Michael... screwing up my shot of the lift that we had to ride. 

If the sun wasn't so bright in this picture, you could see the course was pretty nice.  I've seen better... but I've also see a lot worse.

 

Going back to the parking lot...

Danny (yes, that Danny) promised Ross' future brother-in-law Matt that they could go throw the football on the beach if he (Matt) ate all of his veggies at dinner... so I took a few pics (of the beach, not them) while they were out there.