[June 1, 2023] Did you ever see the face of a troop in a combat zone who sees, for the first time, a young beautiful Red Cross Donut Dolly? That troop is magically transformed from a mentally hardened, physically grubby and weary Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coastie into a smiling, joking, happy, jolly, friendly person you… Read More »
[May 31, 2023] By discussing U.S. Army values, selecting an organization that clearly articulates its values is easy. The U.S. Army has seven values that follow the acronym LDRSHIP. They are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Integrity, and Personal Courage. There is the expectation that every Soldier, regardless of rank, memorizes and lives by those values. The… Read More »
[May 29, 2023] From the stories told by my parents, my first doggie – Rusty – was my forever companion. He was there when I was born and lived with us for many years. I’m convinced our close, very close bond was the reason for many decades of wonderful relationships with animals throughout my lifetime, in particular, pet… Read More »
[May 29, 2023] Memorial Day is a time of recognizing those military men and women who have given their lives for our nation. It is also a time of parades, speeches, cookouts, and the unofficial beginning of summer. Below is the Memorial Day speech that I gave nine years ago, at my retirement from 40 years in the… Read More »
[May 28, 2023] If you don’t have the answer, don’t pretend you do. Yes, I know; the most hated words someone can say is, “I don’t know.” But the shortest way to lose credibility is to claim you do know. Nothing is more frustrating for someone pretending they know something when they do not. No one is expecting… Read More »
[May 27, 2023] I originally wrote this blog post with the title “Disrespect to Leaders” but realized that I was leaving out a big part of the picture by not including “anger.” What brought me to this conclusion was an article entitled “America’s Anger Epidemic: Why?” by Dan Bowens. It’s really about workplace dysfunction. To buy into the… Read More »
[May 26, 2023] In two weeks, I will be at the memorial and military funeral service for a U.S. Army Soldier who died during the Korean War. His remains were recently identified and are now being returned to his home in Mays Landing, NJ, just a short drive from my home. I was asked to say a few… Read More »
[May 25, 2023] Duty is the essence of humanness. No words written are more pointed to why modern men and women are so unhappy … unhappy because they fail to realize that not doing one’s “duty” is denying our obligation to act responsibly. For several weeks, I have watched President Biden’s trainwreck of an administration as it continues… Read More »
[May 24, 2023] Last year, during my township’s 4th of July parade, I saw a small child stand and salute our Veterans as they passed. These Vets were holding our American and service flags. Some folks came out to hug them, a few sang patriotic songs, and many thanked them for their service. This brought great comfort to… Read More »
[May 23, 2023] This hits close to home. I often talk about WWII and Korean War veterans being a significant part of my upbringing. And now, one who died in the war has been identified. The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has announced that unknown remains from the Korean War are identified as PFC Harry Hartmann, Jr. He… Read More »