This week’s Pearls strip. For the record, your Editor spends far, far too much time doomscrolling Twitter/X, he feels this strip on a very deep level. . .
This week’s Political commentary:
MEMES!!!
Really, do notpet the fart squirrels. Or the danger kitties. . .
For this week’s photos I’m doing something a bit different for the Army photos. There were two big events in the Army this week. First, a 100 year old WWII Vet got his Green Beret. Ellsworth “Al” Johnson was a member of the OSS during WWI, and was presented with his Beret and Tab as a ceremony on 1 September. Second, Captain Larry Taylor was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Vietnam. Taylor used his AH-1 Cobra gunship to extract a 4 man LRRP team from a hamlet near Ap Go Cong, Republic of Vietnam.
World War II Army veteran Ellsworth “Al” Johnson receives an Army Special Forces’ tab and Green Beret during a ceremony at an assisted living center in Zeeland, Michigan, Sept. 1. Johnson was recognized for his contributions during the war while serving in an Office of Strategic Services’ operational group, a precursor to Army Special Operations, and became eligible for the honor after an update to the Army awards regulation in 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dominique Cox)Photo captions L-R: 1st Lt. Larry L. Taylor in his UH-1 “Huey” helicopter. Taylor served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968 with D Troop (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division. He flew over 2,000 combat missions in UH-1 and Cobra helicopters. (Photo courtesy of Lewis D. Ray.):Larry and Toni Taylor are retired now and live in Signal Mountain, Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family.);1st Lt. Larry L. Taylor at his base camp north of Saigon. He served in Vietnam from August 1967 to August 1968. (Photo courtesy of Lewis D. Ray.)ADRIATIC SEA (Sept. 6, 2023) Lt. Bryan Goodman, left, from Wellington, Florida, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Sum, from Panorama City, California, both assigned to the air department of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), signal to launch an E-2D Hawkeye attached to the “Bear Aces” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124 during flight operations in the Adriatic Sea, Sept. 6, 2023. VAW-124 is deployed aboard CVN 78 as part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, representing a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jackson Adkins) U.S. Marines with Force Company, 2d Reconnaissance Battalion, 2d Marine Division, under tactical control of Task Force 61/2, and soldiers with a long-range reconnaissance platoon in the Norwegian Army conduct a simulated beach insertion in Norway on August 11, 2023. Task Force 61/2.5 provides naval and joint force commanders with dedicated multi-domain reconnaissance and counter reconnaissance capabilities. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Emma Gray.Two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron taxi on the runway at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Sept. 5, 2023. In coordination with regional allies, partners and the U.S. Navy, the F-35s partnered with A-10 Thunderbolts and F-16 Fighting Falcons in the U.S. Central Command theater to monitor the Strait of Hormuz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Leah Ferrante)
For those unaware of the context of the last one, a Pauite tribal cop in Nevada went all GTA on some climate protesters earlier this week. They blocked a highway on Tribal lands that was packed with vehicles trying to get to this year’s Burning Man festival. They found out at a pretty high level.
Soldiers sling-load an M777 howitzer onto an Army CH-47 Chinook during Fireball at Fort Liberty, N.C., Aug. 22, 2023. The exercise is designed to prepare, train and execute a mission to measure readiness and lethality. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lilliana Magoon) (It will always be Bragg to me)PACIFIC OCEAN (Aug. 25, 2023) An E/A-18G Growler from the “Cougars” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 139 makes an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is underway conducting routine operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin McTaggart) U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. Bruno, the mascot of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego, conducts a pull-up on the training grounds at MCRD San Diego, Aug. 28, 2023. The mascots job is to boost morale, participate in outreach work, and attend events and ceremonies. (U.S Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Dreher)Three F-22 Raptors assigned to the 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, fly next to a KC-46A Pegasus assigned to the 133rd Aerial Refueling Squadron, Pease Air Force Base, N.H., during exercise Red Flag-Alaska 23-3 over the Joint Pacific-Alaska Range Complex, Alaska, Aug. 18, 2023. The JPARC provides more than 77,000 square miles of airspace, one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Andrew Britten)
Got a meme, pic or joke to share, drop it in the comments below.
While we’re (tangentially) on the subject of wildlife, there’s a story out of Germany that I found amusing. It seems that the raccoons there have taken to stealing beer. ‘Coons aren’t native to Germany, or the rest of Europe for that matter, having been introduced in the mid 1930’s. Called waschbären (washing bears) by the locals, the masked nuisances have raided their kitchens, causing thousands of dollars worth of damage in the process, including killing household pets and stealing any beer they can find. On less frustrating occasions, the raccoons have been seen at city parks, knocking over discarded beer bottles so they could drink whatever booze was left inside.
Here’s some Pearls Before Swine:
A bit of political commentary:
And now some memes:
What do we say to the god of death? Not today. . .For those who don’t know, both India and Russia had scheduled landings on the moon this week. India successfully landed near the lunar south pole. Russia left a 10+ meter crater. . .
Now here’s this week’s Mil Pics:
A Soldier launches an RQ-11B Raven small, unmanned aircraft system during tactical training at Fort Irwin, Calif., Aug. 22, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Jason Elmore)PHILIPPINE SEA (Aug. 24, 2023) An F/A-18E Super Hornet from the Eagles of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 115 launches off the flight deck of the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during flight operations in the Philippine Sea, Aug. 24, 2023. VFA-115 conducts carrier-based air strikes and strike force escort missions, as well as ship, battle group, and intelligence collection operations. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Daniel Providakes)U.S. Marines with 3rd Littoral Combat Team, 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, conduct a Multi-Purpose Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapons Systems range at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 21, 2023. The purpose of this training is to sharpen the LCT’s weapons handling skills and increase their readiness for future exercises and operations.Master Sgt. Chase Plumley, 235th Air Traffic Control Squadron chief of operations, walks on the landing zone in front of a KC-130F Hercules at the Holland Drop Zone Pass in Vass, N.C., July 19, 2023. The 235th ATCS led a two-week Landing Zone Safety Officer course for Airmen across the Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech Sgt. Mary McKnight)
Instead of a strip from Pearls this week, we’re gonna have a strip from Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley.
Now for some memes:
And wrapping up are this weeks Mil Photos:
Search and rescue Soldiers and Airmen attached to Hawaii National Guard CERF-P unit conduct search and recovery efforts to assist in the Lahaina wildfire response, Maui, Hawaii, Aug. 10, 2023. Guardsmen mobilized after the wildfire, assisting in the sweep of the affected area before access can be restored. (U.S. Air Force National Guard photo by Sgt. Andrew Jackson)MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Ayg. 14, 2023) The world’s largest aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the Blue Ridge-class command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), Hellenic Navy frigate HS Elli (F450) and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) steam in formation in the Mediterranean Sea, Aug. 14, 2023. Gerald R. Ford is the U.S. Navy’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, representing a generational leap in the U.S. Navy’s capacity to project power on a global scale. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly)U.S. Marines with Charlie Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and Mexican Infantería de Marina personnel practice steering combat rubber raiding craft into the well deck of the Armada de México tank landing ship ARM Usumacinta during rehearsals as part of Exercise Phoenix/Aztec Alligator 2023 off the coast of Santa Margarita Island, Mexico, July 9, 2023. Exercise Phoenix/Aztec Alligator 2023 is the first iteration of a biennial, bilateral amphibious operations training exercise to develop operational compatibility between Mexico’s Secretaría de Marina and U.S. Marines.Two U.S. Air Force 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron pilots approach a B-2 Spirit during Bomber Task Force 24-4 in Keflavik, Iceland, Aug. 15, 2023. BTF operations are U.S. Strategic Command’s means of conducting Dynamic Force Employment in support of the National Defense Strategy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Heather Salazar)
Click thru and read the alt text, trust me it’s worth it.
Dunno how many of you have been following the story out of England where the Bobbies arrested a 16yo Autistic girl for saying one of the officers looked like her lesbian Nan. It seems the cop in question is now pictured as the exemplar on the Lesbian page of Wikipedia:
That’s funny right there, I don’t care who ya are. . .
Anyway, here’s some memes
A bit of political commentary
Some Pearls Before Swine
Time for some Mil pics:
A tank assigned to the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division arrives in Poland, August 3, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Trevares Johnson)SUEZ CANAL (Aug. 6, 2023) A Sailor stands watch as the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) transits the Suez Canal with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), Aug. 6, 2023. Components of the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU are deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Nayelly Nieves-Nieves)U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Austin Phelps, a radio operator with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, fires an M240B machine gun during a live fire range at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, August 3, 2023. The purpose of this exercise is to sharpen the LCT’s weapons handling skills and increase their readiness for future exercises and operations.The sun sets on a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor from the 199th Air Expeditionary Squadron, known as the Hawaiian Raptors Squadron, comprised of the 19th and the 199th Fighter Squadrons, after a day of flying during Talisman Sabre 23 at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal, Northern Territory, Australia, July 24, 2023. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Australia and demonstrates the capability to rapidly deploy and operate to accomplish a wide range of missions alongside joint and allied partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Robert H. Dabbs)
That means it’s time for another edition of Friday Fun here at MilVets and Patriots.
As has become tradition, we’re kicking off this week’s episode with a tweet, or X or whatever it’s called this week, from my personal fave account the OKDWC.
Back when newspapers were a thing, I used to read the comics every day. I really liked Pearls Before Swine. And it turns out the author/artist Stephan Pastis has a Twitter account and posts a strip almost every day. Here’s today’s: (you might have to click to see the full strip)
I happen to agree with that sentiment. So here’s a few pics of the bestest bois:
You go in the cage, cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark’s in the water, our shark.Farewell and adieu you fair Spanish ladies. . .
This one is specifically for AuntiE:
There’s a lesson in that, DO NOT let your significant other get hangry. . .
Now for some cool Mil photos.
Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment ‘Red Currahee,’ 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, supporting the 4th Infantry Division, return fire during a platoon situational training exercise at Nurispalu Training Area, Estonia, July 25, 2023. The training enabled soldiers to engage in simulated combat scenarios, refine their tactical skills in real-world conditions, and enhance their adaptability to handle challenges on the battlefield. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Oscar Gollaz)
Just a little rant about this one. Why on God’s green earth is it acceptable to have BFAs (Blank Firing Adapters) on a rifle during a Photo op? That shit has always bothered me. Rant over. . .
ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 22, 2023) Sailors aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) prepare an AV-8B Harrier from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) for take-off. Bataan, along with the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) and the Harper’s Ferry class amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), is currently on a scheduled deployment to the U.S. 5th and U.S. 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. The U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps routinely participate in scheduled deployments to improve combined combat readiness, increase operational capacity, and strengthen relationships among allies and partners throughout the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Riley Gasdia) U.S. Marine Corps Pfc. Justin O’Neal, a team leader and Lance Cpl. Ignacio Aguinaga, a machine gunner with 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, fire a M2A1 .50-caliber machine gun during a littoral live fire exercise for Marine Aviation Support Activity 23 at Punta Baja, Palawan, Philippines, July 15, 2023. MASA 23 is a bilateral exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps, aimed at enhancing interoperability and coordination in support of U.S.-Philippine mutual defense. O’Neal is a Beaumont, Texas native. Aguinaga is a Ennis, Texas native.A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon joins a South Korean F-35A Lightning II to conduct combined flight operations July 28, 2023, employing munitions at a live-fire training area off the west coast of South Korea. The U.S. remains committed to peace and prosperity through the region to secure a free and open Indo-Pacific and its ironclad commitment to the defense of South Korea. (South Korea air force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Kwan-Young Hong)
It’s another Friday, and time for another fun post.
Let’s start out with a little trivia for you. Etymologically speaking we are celebrating Frigg’s day today. Frigga, also spelled Frila, was the Norse/Germanic goddess of fertility and Odin’s wife. Friday isn’t the only day name derived from the Scandinavian gods. Tuesday (Tyr, god of War and Justice), Wednesday (Odin or Woden if you were from Northern Germany), and Thursday (Thor, god of Thunder and War) are all based in the Norse Pantheon.
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of the darkness. For he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you.”
I been sayin’ that shit for years. And if you ever heard it, it meant your ass. I never really questioned what it meant. I thought it was just a coldblooded thing to say to a motherfucker ‘fore you popped a cap in his ass. But I saw some shit this mornin’ made me think twice. Now I’m thinkin’, it could mean you’re the evil man. And I’m the righteous man. And Mr. .45 here, he’s the shepherd protecting my righteous ass in the valley of darkness. Or is could by you’re the righteous man and I’m the shepherd and it’s the world that’s evil and selfish. I’d like that. But that shit ain’t the truth. The truth is you’re the weak. And I’m the tyranny of evil men. But I’m tryin’. I’m tryin’ real hard to be a shepherd.
An Army Special Forces team sergeant spots a high-altitude release point as other soldiers watch during military free-fall training operations in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina, June 22, 2023. (This photo has been altered for security purposes.) (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Laura Bauer)INDIAN OCEAN (July 28, 2023) A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, two RAAF F-35B Lightning II aircraft, two RAAF F/A-18F Super Hornets, U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet, U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet, RAAF EA-18G Growler and a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler fly in formation over the U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), in support of Talisman Sabre 23, in the Indian Ocean, July 28, 2023. Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the United States, and supports alliances, partnerships and collective maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral military exercise between Australia and the United States, advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships and interoperability among key Allies and enhancing our collective capabilities to respond to a wide array of potential security concerns. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Caroline H. Lui)Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, commands military working dog Graco, a 3-year-old German Shepherd patrol and explosive detection dog with direction control over obstacles on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, July 10, 2023. “I am very blessed,” said Phelan, a 22-year-old Prior Lake, Minnesota native. “I have one of the best, if not the best job in the United States Marine Corps, because I get to come to work every day and there is a little four-legged friend that is just so beyond ecstatic to see me. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” Over the last three years Phelan has been the handler for two military working dogs. From 2020 to 2022, he was the handler for MWD Yyasko, a 4-year-old Belgian Malinois patrol and explosive detection dog. Phelan is currently the handler for MWD Graco.A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon and a Commemorative Air Force P-51 Mustang fly in formation Sep. 6, 2018, while flying over areas of Alabama. This dissimilar formation flight, honoring the Tuskegee Airmen past, present and future, included the 301st Fighter Squadron F-22 (piloted by Maj. Paul “Loco” Lopez), 100th Fighter Squadron F-16 (piloted by Maj. Rich “Sheriff” Peace) and Red Tail P-51 (piloted by CAF member and Tuskegee Airman descendant Brad Lang). The 100th Fighter Squadron was one of the Tuskegee Airmen squadrons during World War II, a famous all African-American squadron from the 332d Fighter Group, activated on Feb 19, 1942 at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama. It was returned to duty in 2007 as a replacement of the Alabama Air National Guard’s 160th Fighter Squadron so the state could honor the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Clayton Cupit)
