It looks like the harsh temperatures and dusty environment has taken its toll on my old laptop. I honestly didn’t think it would endure the trip over here but took a chance anyway (a memorial service is scheduled for tomorrow). If anyone out there knows where I can pick up a laptop cheap (operative word being cheap) and have it sent to an APO please let me know. Thanks. Sgt Hook out.
A quick thank you for all the comments and emails welcoming me back. I have several (understatement) emails that I will respond to as soon as I get a free moment, I appreciate your patience. You also may have noticed that comments are all having to be approved prior to posting. I apologize, but currently I’m receiving upwards of about 3,000 spam comments a day. Hopefully I haven’t missed anyone, but if I did please know it was not intentional. Sgt Hook out.
A big thank you to all who emailed in with suggested remedies to mySql woes, and an even bigger THANK YOU to the folks over at BlogsAbout Hosting. There is no better host available today, especially for bloggers. It looks like all’s well (knock on wood) and comments are working as advertised. Thanks Chris and Lisa, you guys rock! Sgt Hook out.
As many of you know, I’m damn near WordPress illiterate and am looking for a little help with the whacky error message that seems to be showing up in my posts. If you think you can assist, shoot me an email. Thanks. Sgt Hook out.
America meet Private Stephen C. Sandford of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment a recent recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in combat in Mosul, Iraq.
Although shot in the leg during his squad’s initial assault attempt, he still accompanied his squad during its second assault. Once inside the house, Sanford provided a heavy volume of suppressive fire while the casualties were evacuated. He continued to engage the enemy while escorting wounded soldiers from the house, according to the award citation.
Sanford returned to the house a second time to provide covering fire for the final withdrawal of casualties. When the last soldier leaving the house was shot in the neck, Sanford began performing CPR. Sanford was shot twice more in the back while trying to revive the other soldier. He returned fire and killed an insurgent while receiving two more potentially fatal gunshot wounds, the citation stated. He continued returning fire while helping his wounded comrade until he was incapacitated by his own loss of blood.
“I have had the distinct honor of participating in many award ceremonies,” Pace told the audience of family, friends and fellow soldiers. “This is the first time I have ever had the honor of awarding a Distinguished Service Cross.
The chairman said each of the soldiers would probably say they don’t think they deserve the awards. “If you asked them, they’d say they were doing their jobs,” he said. “But if you asked their fellow soldiers, they’d say they went above and beyond the call of duty.
I’m damn proud of PVT Sanford, well done soldier. Sgt Hook out.
My apologies for not posting much as of late. First I’ve been incredibly busy with the Army…something I enjoy by the way. Secondly, and somewhat frustrating to me, my cable company which also provides my internet service, was recently bought out by another cable company, a name I’ve not previously heard of, and since the takeover my internet connection has been hit and miss. When I finally got through to tech support I was informed that they are “aware of the problem and that a new, rare, piece of hardware was required for my area and should be installed by the 26th, but in the mean time, my internet access will be hit and miss.” I’m thinking about sicking Drill Sgt. Bleu on them. I’ll try to squeeze in a post when hitting, and sip egg nog I guess when missing. Sgt Hook out.
My thanks to all who have emailed or commented in my absence, my apologies for not responding sooner. The Hook band is alive and well, though not yet into a house. Yes, we’re still living out of our suitcases in a hotel but not for too much longer.
I’m off on an official trip later this week where I hope to finally meet the man called Greyhawk, I’ll update as soon as I can get online. Sgt Hook out.
The Hooks have arrived at our new undisclosed location safe and sound. Unfortunately, internet access is sketchy at best. In fact, you’d chuckle if you could see me sitting in my car, laptop on the dash, trying to acquire a Wifi signal strong enough to post this. Thanks for your patience. Sgt Hook out.
America, meet another one of your soldiers, 26 year old Sergeant Gene Braxton. Sergeant Braxton survived the deadly blast of a road side bomb in Iraq, twice.
A year ago, as Iraqi fighters detonated a bomb that shattered his convoy, Army Sgt. Gene Braxton led survivors scrambling out of their Humvees in the hot dusty haze to hunt for the triggermen.
Five months later, a bigger roadside bomb rocked the armored vehicle Braxton was in. Reeling from a concussion, he dragged a wounded buddy to safety.
Sergeant Gene Braxton, along with 639 of his comrades in arms, just reenlisted in your Army. I’m proud of this young sergeant, I hope that you are too. Sgt Hook out.
This site is a collection of my writings, thoughts, and ramblings and in no way reflects the official positions of the United States Army or the Department of Defense. OPSEC trumps everything.
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In view of a recent tendency to identify characters in fiction with real people, it seems proper to state that there are no real people in this volume: both the characters and their names are ficticious. The names or designations of any military units are ficticious. There are no living people nor existing military units presented in this book.
-Ernest Hemingway
Halfway down the road to hell,
In a shady meadow green,
Are the souls of all dead troopers camped
Near a good old-time canteen.
And this eternal resting place
Is known as Fiddler's Green.
-Author Unknown
The Blog of War
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Winner of the 2006 Gold Medal for Anthologies - Military Writer's Society of America
"This collection is an excellent introduction to an emerging form of war reporting." - Booklist
