HAPPY BIRTHDAY UNCLE GEORGE!!!!!

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Staff Sergeant Peter S. Connor (US Marine Corps) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on February 25, 1966 in Quang Nag Province, Republic of Vietnam. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against enemy Viet Cong forces at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Leading his platoon on a search and destroy operation in an area made particularly hazardous by extensive cave and tunnel complexes, S/Sgt. Connor maneuvered his unit aggressively forward under intermittent enemy small-arms fire. Exhibiting particular alertness and keen observation, he spotted an enemy spider hole emplacement approximately 15 meters to his front. He pulled the pin from a fragmentation grenade intending to charge the hole boldly and drop the missile into its depths. Upon pulling the pin he realized that the firing mechanism was faulty, and that even as he held the safety device firmly in place, the fuse charge was already activated. With only precious seconds to decide, he further realized that he could not cover the distance to the small opening of the spider hole in sufficient time, and that to hurl the deadly bomb in any direction would result in death or injury to some of his comrades tactically deployed near him. Manifesting extraordinary gallantry and with utter disregard for his personal safety, he chose to hold the grenade against his body in order to absorb the terrific explosion and spare his comrades. His act of extreme valor and selflessness in the face of virtually certain death, although leaving him mortally wounded, spared many of his fellow marines from death or injury. His gallant action in giving his life in the cause of freedom reflects the highest credit upon the Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of the United States.

Ordinary Seaman Thomas Connor (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 on board the USS Minnesota. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Minnesota, in action during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. Landing on the beach with the assaulting party from his ship, Connor charged up to the palisades and, when more than two-thirds of the men became seized with panic and retreated on the run, risked his life to remain with a wounded officer. With the enemy concentrating his fire on the group, he waited until after dark before assisting in carrying the wounded man from the field.

Boatswain’s Mate William C. Connor (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on September 25, 1864 on board the USS Howquah. His citation reads:

Served on board the U.S.S. Howquah on the occasion of the destruction of the blockade runner Lynx, off Wilmington, 25 September 1864. Performing his duty faithfully under the most trying circumstances, Connor stood firmly at his post in the midst of a crossfire from the rebel shore batteries and our own vessels.


We at I’m just sayin… would like to wish my Uncle George a very Happy Birthday! Uncle George, you should know, was the only person to offer to let me live in his house after I graduated from college. This act of kindness will be remembered. We would also like to wish my cousin John a happy birthday!

We would also like to take a moment to remember my grandfather (Da) who died on this day in 1995. The calendar says it’s been 17 years, but it doesn’t really feel that long ago. He was probably the funniest person I’ve ever known. I bet he’d love playing with Mary Ruth, Susie and Daniel. And, of course, he would have loved The Wife. We’d also like to take a moment to remember our first-born dog, Lucy, who passed away on this day last year. I wish she could have lived long enough for Daniel to play with her. She was the best dog with babies.


The I’m just sayin… Bible Verse of the Week
Proverbs 17:17

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Happy Weekend

Know Your Medal of Honor Recipients:

Ordinary Seaman Michael Connolly (US Navy) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 7, 1876 on board the USS Plymouth. His citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Plymouth, Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, 7 August 1876. Acting gallantly, Connolly succeeding in rescuing a citizen from drowning on this date.

Sergeant James P. Connor (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on August 15, 1944 at Cape Cavalaire, southern France. His citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 15 August 1944, Sgt. Connor, through sheer grit and determination, led his platoon in clearing an enemy vastly superior in numbers and firepower from strongly entrenched positions on Cape Cavalaire, removing a grave enemy threat to his division during the amphibious landing in southern France, and thereby insured safe and uninterrupted landings for the huge volume of men and materiel which followed. His battle patrol landed on "Red Beach" with the mission of destroying the strongly fortified enemy positions on Cape Cavalaire with utmost speed. From the peninsula the enemy had commanding observation and seriously menaced the vast landing operations taking place. Though knocked down and seriously wounded in the neck by a hanging mine which killed his platoon lieutenant, Sgt. Connor refused medical aid and with his driving spirit practically carried the platoon across several thousand yards of mine-saturated beach through intense fire from mortars, 20-mm. flak guns, machineguns, and snipers. En route to the Cape he personally shot and killed 2 snipers. The platoon sergeant was killed and Sgt. Connor became platoon leader. Receiving a second wound, which lacerated his shoulder and back, he again refused evacuation, expressing determination to carry on until physically unable to continue. He reassured and prodded the hesitating men of his decimated platoon forward through almost impregnable mortar concentrations. Again emphasizing the prevalent urgency of their mission, he impelled his men toward a group of buildings honeycombed with enemy snipers and machineguns. Here he received his third grave wound, this time in the leg, felling him in his tracks. Still resolved to carry on, he relinquished command only after his attempts proved that it was physically impossible to stand. Nevertheless, from his prone position, he gave the orders and directed his men in assaulting the enemy. Infused with Sgt. Connor's dogged determination, the platoon, though reduced to less than one-third of its original 36 men, outflanked and rushed the enemy with such furiousness that they killed 7, captured 40, seized 3 machineguns and considerable other materiel, and took all their assigned objectives, successfully completing their mission. By his repeated examples of tenaciousness and indomitable spirit Sgt Connor transmitted his heroism to his men until they became a fighting team which could not be stopped.

Corporal John Connor (US Army) received his Medal of Honor for his actions on July 12, 1870 at Wichita River, Texas. His citation reads:

Gallantry in action.


It’s the start of another 3 day weekend! What a great time of the year. Mary Ruth and I are planning on going to the SPCA on Monday to take the dog food, treats, and toys to the doggies. She’s pretty excited (and, I must admit, so am I). So… here’s hoping we don’t come home with another dog.


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

Today’s Special: Other than Michael J. Fox, Today’s Special might be the best thing to have come out of Canada. This is a great show that I grew up watching on Nickelodeon. The show ran from 1982 – 1987 and was set in a department store. The main characters were Jeff, Jodie, Sam Crenshaw, and Muffy Mouse. Jeff is a mannequin who comes alive when someone says “hocus pocus alimagocus” while he’s wearing his magic hat. He becomes a mannequin again if his hat falls off. He can’t leave the store because if he does he’ll permantently become a mannequin. Jodie is a store employee who is usually the leader of the group. She mainly works at night after the store is closed (setting up displays and all that). Sam is a puppet who is the security guard. He is the oldest of the group as he was born in 1919. He is a retired member of the merchant marine and is also a widower who has a pet cat (Penelope). Muffy Mouse is also a puppet who lives in the store and speaks in rhymes. She’s afraid of Penelope and doesn’t even like the mention of cats. She likes to ride her scooter and eat snacks. The last time I looked, I couldn’t find this show on DVD. If I could find it, I’d buy it. I don’t know how well it’d hold up after all of these years, but it was one of my favorite shows growing up. Note: I got most of the info for this from Wikipedia… look it up if you want to know more about the show. Here is a clip of the show intro that I found on YouTube:




The I’m just sayin… College Football Playoffs (Playoffs!?) Championship Game:

2 Oklahoma St. (Big 12 Champion) vs. 4 Stanford (At Large) – The BIG GAME is tonight with the Big 12 Champion, #2 Oklahoma State, hosting at large, #4 Stanford. The Cardinal and Andrew Luck look to end the season on a high note as they square off against the Cowboys and their head coach Mike Gundy (he’s a man… he’s [over] 40!). The “experts” didn’t think this game would ever happen (after all, neither school has “SEC speed”)… I guess you never know what will happen when you actually play the games and don’t just pick who gets to play for a title. Oklahoma State has a great team, but I’m going with Luck on this one. I’m picking Stanford to win this game.