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Archives for May 2013

May
29

Basil Plumley “America’s soldier” depicted in We Were Soldiers Once… and Young

By | H.U.A. Blog

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Basil Plumley as a young man

Basil Plumley as a young man

Books and films featured on “Words on Wednesdays“ might center on a particular individual or maybe an epic battle in a particular war.  Today’s “WoW” focuses on a story that had both, and more.

Command Sergeant Major (ret.) Basil L. Plumley was a real flesh and blood man yet also a larger than life character. He was a warrior who served in three wars: Korea, World War II and Vietnam in the Airborne Infantry, as parachutist and in the Cavalry (Airborne).

Cover of 1st edition

Cover of 1st edition

Plumley was at the heart of the book, We Were Soldiers Once… and Young. 

He was not a man to tell war stories, nor did he give interviews even though he surely could have told many. Each ribbon and award on his heavily decorated uniform no doubt represented substantial moments in history and military experiences.

When he was presented a Combat Infantry Badge with Two Stars he joined the only 325 men to receive this award, even rarer than the select 3,400 or so Medal of Honor recipients.

He has been called “America’s Soldier.”    [Read more…]

May
22

Doolittle Raiders post sparks memories in advance of Memorial Day on MilSuccessNet

By | Guest Posts, History

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In advance of Memorial Day 2013, the WoW – Words on Wednesdays post touches on only one of the many layers of service and sacrifice that will be remembered by its spotlight of The Doolittle Raiders.

Doolittle Raiders, 1st crew set for take off

Doolittle Raiders, 1st crew set for take off

A major “Navy and Army show”, much has been written about this group of 80 courageous men. They took on the death defying mission to fly 16 B-25s in 5-man crews to retaliate against Japan for Pearl Harbor from the only possible launch, a US Navy carrier. Their actions sent a strong message to the world and helped restore America’s fighting spirit. The basic details of their story are so well written by author and journalist Bob Greene, that we are reposting his CNN article of April 14, 2013 below.

The Raiders’ stories have been presented in books as wells as movies, the first of which had great impact on America in Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo. It is immediately accessible in its entirely on YouTube starting with this 1st 10 min segment. 

We are grateful to Isaac Cubillos, for his original photo of 3 of the 4 surviving Raiders to accompany this tribute. Cubillos traveled to what is understood to be the last public reunion of the Doolittle Raiders in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. One Raider was not well enough to travel and a 5th died at the age of  96, in only February of this year.

Cubillos, journalist, military reporter, editor and significant friend of Military Success Network.com has informational pages of both his written and photographic work on Facebook, other social media and on his website. 

The MilSuccessNet editorial team also acknowledges past guest contributors, some of whom  are veterans of active duty, and others the children of veterans who brought the impact of war into their home. 

Now, onto CNN contributor Bob Greene, and more than 500 comments by his readers following his article link.………in his own words [Read more…]

May
18

Armed Forces Day observed in 2013 on May 18

By | H.U.A. Blog, History

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This content on the basics of Armed Forces Day was taken “off the wire” as it were, from the time and date website .

We like that it is a day to honour ALL armed forces.

And if you noticed the “U” in honour it’s because it is a symbolic extension to H.ear, U.nderstand and A.cknowledge YOU dear reader. Also..it’s our Canadian editor’s long weekend to mark more than 65 years on the job for Queen Victoria, in her day. Canada marks Armed Forces Day in June and that covers Navy, Army, Air Force.  And now…. on to the celebration of the dedicated military members of the U.S. of A!

What do people do?

Many events across the United States take place on Armed Forces Day to honor Americans in uniform who served their country in times of war and peace. [Read more…]

May
17

“Late love” found at a distance in mail order bride

By | Guest Posts, H.U.A. Blog

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Can love leap over all barriers? Age? Culture? Language? The stuff of life columnists Pam and Shaun Collins tackle                                     “The case of the  concerned buddy on the topic of his friend’s mail-order bride-to-be.” 

Is it a blunder or a bonus? You decide and tell us what you think!

OK then. With a week to go before Memorial Day in the US and into the Victoria Day long weekend now in Canada we’ve got crossing international borders on our minds…so on to the QUESTIONS:  

Q: No joke, my buddy has gotten himself a mail-ordered bride. We’re both retired and both single (I am a widower, he was divorced.) We both joked about finding a woman this way, but I’ll be, he up and got himself a young gal from the Philippines.

Custom dress on China Made Gowns, online.

Custom dress on China Made Gowns, online.

She’s sweet, seems to like him, but I just don’t know what to say. Apparently they wrote back and forth for a couple months and then he up and flew her here. Now he wants me to be his best man, but I just don’t see this working out.

He’s 60 and if she’s 30, you could knock me down with a feather. Do these things work out? Should I get involved at all? Seems like it might be too late at this point. Should I just keep my mouth shut and enjoy the lumpias?…………………..and now the answers…. [Read more…]

May
15

By the book biz & other survival lessons on WoW

By | Guest Posts, H.U.A. Blog

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WoW-features two sets of Words on Wednesdays today:

Book influenced skills to survive student & civilian life.

Jesse Hughes recovers from part 1 with Lessons of Sunk Costs and then he recommends a book of value as he learned to navigate his newly civilian and student role:  

Sunk Costs, pt 1

The time Ms Tardy put into her proposed plan was truly a sunk cost.  She attempted to base a decision on expenditures that could not be recovered.  It’s tough to recognize when it’s your own idea, plan, opportunity but you have to learn to separate your work product from your sense of self and associate it with an outcome.  [Read more…]

May
15

Sunk costs and lessons to keep team progress afloat

By | H.U.A. Blog

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One of our fave Go To ‘business guys’ on the MilSuccessNet guest writer roster is Jesse Hughes. We like that his point of view is a mash up of his military mindset and on the ground experience with the light infantry with his fresh look at business theory through the added lens of his Economics B.A. and an MBA.(Read his post on his college registration experience here)

Jesse Hughes (photo supplied)

Jesse Hughes (photo supplied)

 

His posts for our readers, offer a mix of business theory and practical examples as well as a parallel experience with his  military training. (Catch up on his bio here)

Most importantly is that like you, dear reader, he has expectations that have transitioned with him into the civilian world. See if you have some of these same thoughts, and let us know the solutions YOU have would suggest, or scenarious you experienced.

So now, what you need to know and might have been afraid to ask about Sunk Costs, in Jesse Hughes’ own words….

What is Sunk Costs? [Read more…]

May
13

Jonathan Raab reports from Denver ACP event

By | Guest Posts, H.U.A. Blog

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Military veterans in the Denver area met with mentors from American Corporate Partners (ACP) in a unique social setting at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in downtown Denver. Sullivan’s provided  drinks and finger foods for the group while they mingled just beyond the restaurant’s front dining room in their own networking space.

Veterans network at Sullivan's (Jonathan Raab)

Veterans network at Sullivan’s (Jonathan Raab)

Over the sounds of mid-week diners’ conversations and a two-piece blues band, veterans from the different services shared their experiences with one another and several ACP mentors who were present. The event’s aim was for veterans to learn more about the mentorship program offered by ACP. [Read more…]

May
10

Single file…Dude with a blind date disaster

By | Guest Posts, H.U.A. Blog

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Well, can’t say this editor has been in either situation, at least not publicly manifested, anyhooo. What about you?  Gives me shivers as I consider accepting a blind date on a Saturday night!

Gina Bonnie-Jill Laflin Sailor

Pin-ups for Vets (fun photo of Bonnie-Jill Lafflin via their calendar)

Q:  I was set up on a blind date that could not have been worse for me. Unfortunately, my date thinks she has found Mr. Perfect … me. I tried to tell her politely that this relationship had zero chance and she thought I was joking. She asked why and I told her that I just didn’t feel the connection. She is now determined to make that connection. She calls me constantly…and I just turned my phone off, but then she called my work. She shows up at my barrack room (I live in single Soldier housing with a roommate that thinks this whole thing is hilarious.) She actually waited across the field from our physical training one morning and brought me coffee. The guys (and gals) in my unit tell me she’s a “keeper,” but I think she’s more of a creeper. Short of screaming “go away” how do I make this person realize that I am just not for her. [Read more…]

May
08

John Holmes illustrates service life and transition, frame by frame

By | H.U.A. Blog, Reviews

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Sweat, as in equity and hard-won military experience, paint, line drawings and bubbles of text comprise our WoW today as Words on Wednesdays spotlights John Holmes – creator of Power Point Ranger, EZKGTB and The Longest War. 

John Holmes, PPR creator

John Holmes, PPR creator

The comic strip, zombie tales book and story collection, respectively originated with John Holmes. When I interviewed him near his home and work in Saratoga, New York, we spoke of his having spent half his 44 years in the service of his country. Of those 22 years, 14 were in the army and the balance in the National Guard.

As of this publishing time, only days after our long-awaited phone call, Holmes announced that he had officially chosen to enter civilian life, full time. It appeared shortly after the fact on his social media page. 

Transition, while it does reach deeply into our personal and professional lives, is not always, for most of us, immensely public. The process for Holmes has been graduated in his shift from one service to another and now the big leap into life as most of America knows it.

And, it has been very public. Holmes has folded a lifetime of experience along with humor and relevant commentary into his creative efforts frame by frame and chapter by chapter.

His tips on transition next time. Today, a peek into his creative side, via a May 2013 interview, in John Holmes’ s own words…… [Read more…]

May
05

Petraeus joins the team of veterans in transition

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Gen. Petraeus is in transition. It’s something we all experience, most especially Veterans who meet the challenge of moving from a strong military identification to the sometimes vague and just a touch confusing civilian work and life situation.

General David Petraeus prior to transition

General David Petraeus (US Military photo 2011)

 “He’s a little lonely and trying to figure it out like other returning veterans. I met with him and it just dawned on me that he’s looking for a new mission and a new sense of purpose, and he went back to something that he was comfortable with.”

Kaj Larsen, a former Navy Seal and advocate for returning veterans, is quoted in this excerpt from BuzzFeed.
Headlines in the story hint at other motives. Well orchestrated comebacks. Polishing of image and restoration of prestige. [Read more…]

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