[December 23, 2024] An old-timer in the Army once said to me, “If you come back dry, they hate you.” I was a new Infantry Second Lieutenant and fresh out of the Officer Basic Course. The unit I was in had just returned from a three-week brigade-sized Field Exercise. My platoon was washing their Armored Personnel Carriers on… Read More »
[December 22, 2024] One of the most useful abilities of a good leader is to take a highly complex idea (or set of ideas) and put into a few short words the meaning that best describes that idea. So it was with Frederic J. Stimson, who took a formal challenge to debate a then-famous Socialist, James F. Carey.… Read More »
[December 21, 2024] I arrived at college after completing my enlisted tour of duty with GI Bill in hand. My goal was to finish the last two years of my degree in engineering and return to military service. But I needed more money. Taking a job in a security firm the following summer, I was assigned to one… Read More »
[December 20, 2024] The story of Christmas is an old story going back to ancient times. More recently, we’ve created a wealth of ideas about enjoying each Christmas season. One of those ways is to watch the classic “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The show is loved by children and adults alike. Something about it gives us a good… Read More »
[December 19, 2024] One of the terrible self-inflicted tragedies of the modern era is young men (and others) who are addicted to illegal drugs and alcohol. According to NCDAS, half of all teenagers have misused drugs and over 60 percent abuse alcohol. We also know that young men are dying at a faster rate than ever from drug… Read More »
[December 18, 2024] Each year in December, usually close to Christmas, Pope Francis gives moral guidance on those things he believes are most important for all Roman Catholics and others. A recurring theme is his stance against abortion, which he calls “ending a young life.” It is easy to point out the mistakes of senior leaders like Pope… Read More »
[December 17, 2024] The recent cold-blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson is testing our morality. Unfortunately, we Americans have largely failed that test when someone can be murdered and it somehow makes us feel vindicated. Many in our nation believe they are morally superior to and better at making moral judgments than ever before. And they believe… Read More »
[December 16, 2024] In 2006, the Coalition Strategic Plan in Iraq was to reduce the number of U.S. bases and personnel, consolidating them into larger bases near Baghdad. The Iraqi military would take over those bases and increasingly engage in combat, doing so slowly as they gained numbers, experience, and a professionalized force. This plan was feasible and… Read More »
[December 15, 2024] Here in New Jersey, we’re celebrating the overflight of unidentified drones, some which may turn out to be a bad boy neighbor. If this were Texas, I’d already have an extensive collection of nonfunctional drones in my backyard. BTW, I’ve been ordered not to shoot at them or I might make the Aliens mad and,… Read More »
[December 14, 2024] The Big Band Era was in full swing and growing up in the 1950s and 60s, my parents made us all watch The Lawrence Welk Show. And they made me polka dance to the music. I hated it more than anything. Broadcast on black and white television until about 1965 (and then in Living Color),… Read More »