NORKORCOM UPDATE

North Korea naval forces seized four South Korean fishermen and their boat Thursday after the fishermen apparently drifted into North Korean waters.

North Korea's military said in a written message to the South that "the issue of crew members and the vessel will be dealt with according to the outcome of the investigation," according to the Unification Ministry in Seoul. The message provided no word on the fishermen's condition or any other details, the ministry said.

A North Korean navy patrol boat is seen amongst North Korean fishing boats near disputed waters with South Korea

North Korea has a long history of taking South Korean citizens, Japanese, and citizens of other Asian nations and holding them against their will for long periods of time.

A South Korean employee of the two Koreas' joint industrial park in the border town of Kaesong was detained in March for allegedly denouncing Pyongyang's political system. Seoul repeatedly has demanded his release but the North has not allowed access to him.

It is significant to note that as of this time, there is no news update on the fate of US journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, held by the North Koreans since March of this year and recently sentenced to 12 years hard labor. Their fate was commented on 19 July.

Laura Ling and Euna Lee: You Are Not Forgotten.

Video: Marines in Helmand 2009 - NPR

MISSION STATEMENT

STORMBRINGER provides direct reporting from military sources, analysis, cultural phenomena and unique anecdotes from all around our amazing modern world.

A long-term project of Team STORMBRINGER is to explore strategy and tactics, the principles and philosophy of conflict as applied to the dynamics of the marketplace and the modern corporate environment.

The writings and inspired quotes of the great Captains of History are presented: Sun Tzu, Thucydides, Julius Caeser, Von Clausewitz, Washington, Jackson, Rommel, Patton, Churchill, Giap, and more.

Occasional forays into spiritualism, the arts, travel and adventure round out the STORMBRINGER experience.

A READER ASKS

The following appeared in May 2009:

Q: What is the mission of your blog?

A: The intent of Blog Stormbringer is to stimulate thought, to explore history and philosophy with a military approach, and to sometimes launch a bit of humor . . . I especially enjoy the history of Ancient Greece and Rome, and drawing parallels to our modern experience, hence the submissions Caligula’s Horse and View From Within the Phalanx.

I have visited Greece and Rome several times, and other locations throughout these ancient empires and what is known as the "Holy Land". In high school I studied Latin under a very impressionable Italian woman whom to this day I am convinced was a secret admirer of Benito Mussolini.

Q: Did you develop a charter for your blogs, is it just observations, or a journal?

A: In the early stages of the Global War on Terror I used to get involved in heavy email political discussions / arguments; over time this became tiresome and since the ’08 election it is simply redundant. After firing funny jokes and other material his way, Theo Spark over at Last of the Few suggested I get into blogging. There are still some technical hiccups I am working out, and Theo is providing guidance. I might lighten up on politics and concentrate more on history, philosophy and military themes. The crude humor stays; I hope we never get to the point where we cannot laugh, especially at ourselves.

Q: What is the origin of the name Stormbringer?

A: One of my favorite bands is Deep Purple, of course, and one of their great songs is Stormbringer - inspired by the science fiction / fantasy novels of Michael Moorcock. A good friend who is also a reader introduced me to these books a long, long time ago. Whenever I went to the desert I always named my GunVee “Stormbringer” - I’m not really into the swords & fantasy genre, I just like the sound of that name; STORMBRINGER. It's got a ring to it like some kind of heroic Viking saga. That’s my GunVee in the photo across the top of the blog.

Q: Who IS Sean Linnane - the man behind the pseudonym?

I am not a hero, but I have served with heroes . . .

For legitimate reasons involving my current employment, I use the pseudonym Sean Linnane - for the same rationale I studiously AVOID commenting on certain subjects. It is probable that I will reveal my identity at some future point; the situation is dependent on my work. There are some issues I will never discuss, of course; unlike some, I take the non-disclosure statements I signed seriously.

One thing about me is that I am not politically correct. Another thing about myself: I am a practitioner of a mystical desert sect which happens to be the most persecuted religion on Earth; that is, I am a Christian. But I don't discriminate: when I was in Jerusalem, in '86, I visited the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, up on the Temple Mount, on a Friday. There I was, wearing the robes and surrounded by Arabs at prayer, contemplating on how this place was the site of the original Temple, and also served as the first headquarters of the Knights Templar. On Saturday I attended services at the Great Synagogue on King George Street, and on Sunday I went to St. George's, the Anglican Cathedral (which looks like a Crusader fortress, complete with Crusader flag flying over it) in East Jerusalem, because I am an Anglican. Personally, I don't see any contradiction in this; like the Arabs say, "We are People of the Book".

Q: What am I the reader, to take away from reading it?

A: Philosophy is the study of concepts such as existence, justice, knowledge, truth, beauty, mind, and language. The original Greek meaning of the word is "love of wisdom". Individual character development is essential to our society, if we are to prevail over the destructive forces that are not only out there on the far-flung fringes of the Empire, as it were, but also within the gates. Stormbringer is about education, information, and thought-provoking opinion, based on the experiences of my life and the extraordinary people I've encountered along the way.

A theme I wish to explore is Leadership, which I define as Planning, Decision-Making and Risk Management. Immediately after I retired from active duty, I found there was a great thirst in the business world for the kind of management and organizational skills that are formally taught in military leadership schools. Encouraged by a friend who is also a sort of mentor, I wrote a series of articles on the subject and developed Military Leadership Applications for Small Business Owners & Mid-Level Managers, which I’ve already presented at seminars. I presented Murphy’s Laws of Combat last week as introductory background material for my readership, in the Leadership department. There will be more material like this forthcoming.

43 Things Actually Said in Job Interviews

Hiring managers shared these interview responses from 43 memorable job interviews:


"I'm not wanted in this state."

"How many young women work here?"

"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."

"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"

"I've never heard such a stupid question."

Why did you leave your last job?
"I have a problem with authority."

Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it
"The resolution was we were both fired."

What kind of computer software have you used?
"Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it."

What are your hobbies and interests?
"Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'"

Why should we hire you?
"I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time."

Do you have any questions?
"Cross-dressing isn't a problem is it?"

"If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?"

"What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?"

I was a chamber of commerce executive once hiring a secretary. The candidate asked, "What does a chamber of commerce do?"

"Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go."

"What is your company's policy on Monday absences?"

"If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?"

"How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash."

"Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him." –

"If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?"

"When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?"

"Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast-feed and would want to use that room."

"So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?"

Why are you leaving your current job?
"Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building."

"I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes."

Why are you looking for a job?
"Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job."

"My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here."

Why do you want to work for us?
"Just for the benefits."

"My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!"

"I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?"

What are your strengths?
"Well, I do own a bike."

What are your weaknesses?
"I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you."

"I often oversleep and have trouble getting out of bed in the morning."

"I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job."

"I'm really not a big learner. You know . . . some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot."

When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
"Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that."

Is there anything else I should know about you?
"You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends."

When can you start?
"I need to check with my mom on that one."

Use three adjectives to describe yourself
"I hate questions like this."

Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it.
"I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement." –

Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?
"What is two weeks' notice? I've never quit a job before, I've always been fired."

Random responses:
"One guy said 'it would probably be best' if I didn't run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement."

"A guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport."

"Wow -- I'm not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?"

During a telephone call to schedule the interview: "Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated."

A candidate asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, "Well, I don't like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn't put that school above the others."

DOUBLETAPPER

DOUBLETAPPER is a Friend of STORMBRINGER. He serves in the IDF; I served in Israel 1984-1986 (US Army 82d Airborne, Multinational Force & Observers, Sinai). It was the proudest episode of my career, what a great honor to be an American soldier in the Holy Land.



ISRAEL FACTS
تنسيق-ا

I get lots of emails from readers asking about Israel.

What it's like to live here, Israel's history, the Arab-Israeli conflict, dealing with Islamic terrorists on a daily basis, how it feels to serve as a reserve officer in the IDF, what it's like to live in the only democracy in the Middle East, etc.

I always try to email back with answers and sometimes post the information here.

Here are some undisputed facts about Israel that may help you understand what we deal with.

1. Israel became a nation in 1312 B.C.E., two thousand years before the rise of Islam.

2. Arab refugees in Israel began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, two decades after the establishment of the modern State of Israel.

3. Since the Jewish conquest in 1272 B.C.E. the Jews have had dominion over the land for one thousand years with a continuous presence in the land for the past 3,300 years.

4. The only Arab dominion since the conquest in 635 C.E. lasted no more than 22 years.

5. For over 3,300 years, Jerusalem has been the Jewish capital. Jerusalem has never been the capital of any Arab or Muslim entity. Even when the Jordanians occupied Jerusalem, from 1948 until 1967, they never sought to make it their capital, and Arab leaders did not come to visit.

6. Jerusalem is mentioned over 700 times in Old Testament, the Jewish Holy Scriptures. Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran, ever.

7. King David founded the city of Jerusalem. Mohammed never came to Jerusalem.

8. Jews pray facing Jerusalem. Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem.

9. Arab and Jewish Refugees: In 1948 the Arab refugees were encouraged to leave Israel by Arab leaders promising to purge the land of Jews. Sixty-eight percent left without ever seeing an Israeli soldier.

10. Since 1948, over 630,000 Jewish refugees were forced to flee from Arab lands due to Arab brutality, persecution and pogroms.

11. The number of Arab refugees who left Israel in 1948 is estimated to be around 630,000.

12. Arab refugees were INTENTIONALLY not absorbed or integrated into the Arab lands to which they fled, despite the vast Arab territory. Out of the 100,000,000 refugees since World War II, theirs is the only refugee group in the world that has never been absorbed or integrated into their own peoples' lands. Jewish refugees were completely absorbed into Israel, a country no larger than the state of New Jersey.

13. The Arab - Israeli Conflict: The Arabs are represented by eight separate nations, not including the self named Palestinians. There is only one Jewish nation. The Arab nations initiated all five wars and lost. Israel defended itself each time and won.

14. The PLO's Charter, and the PA's constitution still calls for the destruction of the State of Israel.

15. Under Jordanian rule, Jewish holy sites were desecrated and the Jews were denied access to places of worship. Under Israeli rule, all Muslim and Christian sites have been preserved and made accessible to people of all faiths.

16. Of the 175 UN Security Council resolutions passed before 1990; there were 97 directed against Israel.

17. Of the 690 UN General Assembly resolutions voted on before 1990, 429 were directed against Israel.

18. The UN was silent while 58 Jerusalem Synagogues were destroyed by the Jordanians.

19. The UN was silent while the Jordanians systematically desecrated the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives.

20. The UN was silent while the Jordanians enforced an apartheid-like policy of preventing Jews from visiting the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.

Let me know if you have any questions.


Originally posted on DOUBLETAPPER 14 June 2009:

WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!

H1N1 VIRUS

I still don't know whether or not to take this thing seriously . . .remember how a couple of years back the chicken flu was going to take us all out?

A Pandemic Is Declared
On June 11, 2009, the World Health OrganizationExternal Web Site Icon. (WHO) signaled that a global pandemic of novel influenza A (H1N1) was underway by raising the worldwide pandemic alert level to Phase 6. This action was a reflection of the spread of the new H1N1 virus, not the severity of illness caused by the virus. At the time, more than 70 countries had reported cases of novel influenza A (H1N1) infection and there were ongoing community level outbreaks of novel H1N1 in multiple parts of the world.



SOMEBODY is taking this thing seriously, however . . .


From Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. military wants to establish regional teams of military personnel to assist civilian authorities in the event of a significant outbreak of the H1N1 virus this fall, according to Defense Department officials.

The proposal is awaiting final approval from Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The officials would not be identified because the proposal from U.S. Northern Command's Gen. Victor Renuart has not been approved by the secretary.

The plan calls for military task forces to work in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. There is no final decision on how the military effort would be manned, but one source said it would likely include personnel from all branches of the military.

It has yet to be determined how many troops would be needed and whether they would come from the active duty or the National Guard and Reserve forces.

Civilian authorities would lead any relief efforts in the event of a major outbreak, the official said. The military, as they would for a natural disaster or other significant emergency situation, could provide support and fulfill any tasks that civilian authorities could not, such as air transport or testing of large numbers of viral samples from infected patients.

As a first step, Gates is being asked to sign a so-called "execution order" that would authorize the military to begin to conduct the detailed planning to execute the proposed plan.

Orders to deploy actual forces would be reviewed later, depending on how much of a health threat the flu poses this fall, the officials said.

MIND OF THE ENEMY

"If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles." - Sun Tzu




Perhaps it is a byproduct of the distance between America and the old world - not only across the oceans but a vast, yawning gulf between two very different cultures - that contributes to such a misunderstanding and ignorance of the people we are squaring off against in Afghanistan and the Middle East. To us this is a justifiable conflict, a righteous cause; it is a war of self-defense - they attacked us first. Indeed, it is their charismatic leader's stated goal that if they could have their way, they would kill each and every one of us.


The Islamist enemy is determined and committed to Jihad. He is willing to give his life for the cause of martyrdom. How do we fight such an enemy? Or rather, how do we prevail against an enemy that no matter how hard we clobber him, will pop up again and again and again like Whack-A-Mole?

Short of committing ourselves to a Hundred Years War, let us stand back and try to look at the world from the mind of an Afghani or Pathan.



Your average tribesman of the Kybher region probably has about one year of classroom schooling. He is practically illiterate; if he can read he has read only one book in his life, and he continues to read it everyday. He lives in a mud hut or a tent. If he's lucky he will see the age of 45. A skilled tradesman - a carpenter, or an arc welder, makes about $15 a month (OK maybe the war economy has taken off: $25 a month).

To him, we are Crusaders. He listens to what the mullah tells him, and has no reason to disbelieve what he hears: the Crusaders have invaded his homeland with the intent of corrupting the purity of his women. His village has a satellite TV where he watches American string bikini girls on Spring Break in Cancun throwing hotdogs at each other. To him this is like watching a pornographic movie.


Every villager in those parts has a father, or a brother, or a cousin (or a MOTHER) who was killed by the Crusaders' sinister Predator-launched Hellfire missiles. Many of extended families have lost their homes; such is the cowardly way the dastardly Crusaders wage war. When you think about it, is it any wonder they are inspired to go the jihad way?


But IS there another way? Can we turn this thing around? Or are we committed to a Hundred Years war in the Graveyard of Empires?

There is talk of negotiations with the Taliban . . . at the surface this seems madness; how can one negotiate with a committed fanatic whose goal is to martyr himself and gain the 72 virgins in Paradise?

Think about it; we don't talk to the leadership. They are isolated, and half of them are dead. We continue to hunt them ruthlessly. We talk to the the mid-level troops, the rank and file who are sick of the Predator coming and laying a FGM-172 SRAW (Short-Range Assault Weapon) egg on their families; the guys have gotten their jihad on and survived, and now just want to get on in life.


It's the ultimate carrot & stick. We buy them out, offer them a leadership slot in the new hierarchy. The system's as old as the Roman Empire, and it worked for them . . . they called it the Pax Romana, and it lasted five hundred years . . .

WORLD's THIRD LARGEST NAVY . . .

. . . just got a little larger:

INDIA LAUNCHES FIRST DOMESTICALLY BUILT NUKE SUB

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

Every now and then I whup up some chow for the troops. It's been awhile since I cooked a meal for a battalion but I've thrown down for some company-sized formations a couple times since then. Tonight I'm prepping some chow - sausage biscuits from scratch - to throw at a platoon before we go out and do an ambush, tomorrow morning.

Normally I'd be slamming some beers when I cook, but because we're handling weapons within 12 hours that makes it a no go. Yes, we are still Stateside and yes, it is training. Doesn't make any difference - can't show up with booze on your breath and handle the M240B; those days are long gone. Train the way you fight, fight the way you train.

SPECIAL EMBEDDED MESSAGE TO JOHANNA GUSTAFFSEN: if you are looking at my blog from somewhere out there in InternetLand - my Momma bought that jug with the cow on it from your Momma's store Scandia, way back when in the 70's. - LINNANE SENDS

BLOODSHED WITHIN 30 DAYS

My buddy Erik got back from the Sandpile just last night. They live just across the street and his wife was at our place when he pulled into the driveway. We had a few beers before we cut them loose. Welcome back, Warrior.

Erik was in the southern part of the country, from Basra to just south of Baghdad.

"How is it over there?"

"Well, I got mortared almost every day. There were some rocket attacks . . ."

"STILL?"

"Oh YEAH man, STILL."

So then I asked him, "What have you got for STORMBRINGER?"

"Well, let me tell you - I predict within the next month there will be blood shed between the Americans and the Iraqis."

"What do you mean?"

"The Americans pulled out of the cities, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi police, they're carving out their turf. They're they're having turf wars, and they're running into the Americans. It's hotter than hell over there right now, people are losing their tempers. Already there have been shoving matches. You wait and see; it's going to get bloody. There will be bloodshed."

He gives it a month . . .

WHAT A CONCEPT

Counterterrorism Strategies Could Work in Our Schools by Thomas Gibbon


"Gangs are too often dismissed as a result of urban issues such as bad schools, lack of job opportunities, institutional racism, broken homes, drug addiction and the like. They ought to be treated more as a cause of these things.

"The counterterrorism strategy our military uses in Iraq and Afghanistan is “clear, hold, build.” Something similar is needed to sweep out gangs in this country, particularly in our inner cities, where huge numbers of residents feel they are held hostage by hot-headed, violent, destructive and angry young men and women . . ."

This incredible concept was crafted by a teacher who serves on the front lines of one of America's most gang-ridden neighborhoods: Baltimore, Maryland. Read it all here.

HERO of NORMANDY

BENJAMIN FLOYD LEAVELL joined the militia in Collingwood, Ontario as a teenager. At the age of 21, his unit, part of the Grey and Simcoe Forresters, was called into active duty on June 1, 1940. The Forresters were originally scheduled to go to Hong Kong. They moved from their base at Camp Borden to Nova Scotia to ship out, but the fall of Hong Kong precluded this so they were converted to a mechanized regiment and were sent back to Camp Borden for further training been prior to leaving Canada.

A Canadian regiment marching off to war in 1940.

When he arrived in England in August of 1943 Leavell was transferred to the First Hussars. He was assigned to “C” Squadron of the 1st Hussars, where he met his crew: Roger Pilon, Gaston Pilon (no relation – Roger was from Cornwall and Gaston was from Timmons, Al Messer and John “Maddie” Paterson (Maddie was from Saskatchewan but later lived on Vancouver Island). Roger Pilon named their tank “Cherchez Les Femmes” (Looking for Women). They trained together for about 10 months prior to D-Day and like so many Normandy vets in those small, tight units, they became lifelong friends, practically brothers.

A 1941 poster showing Canadian support for Allied British troops.

On 5 June they loaded onto a tank landing craft along with 2 other tanks and 2 trucks and made the voyage to Juno beach through heavy seas. When the Landing Craft doors opened and the ramp lowered, a wave hit the craft and broke the chains holding the ramp. The ramp collapsed under the landing craft making it impossible to launch the tanks. A couple of large men were able to close the doors and the water on board was pumped out but the ramp remained unusable. Ben spent D-Day watching the action from off-shore and it was not until the tide was out on the 7th that he was able to get his tank off the landing craft.

Canadian soldiers landing on Mike Beach, Juno sector of the Normandy beachhead. June 6, 1944.

As Corporal of 3d Troop Ben had his driver, Roger Pilon, ease the tank into the water but even still had a steep drop into deep water. That night he re-joined the regiment. The Regiment had re-organized after D-Day and all C Squadron tanks were assigned to B Squadron. On the night of 10 June reinforcements arrived and C Squadron was reformed - Ben and his crew returned to C. That was fortunate because on Sunday 11 June the regiment, in support of the Queens Own Rifles (QOR), left the railway line at Brettville and entered Norrey-en-Bessin. B Squadron went along the road to Le Mesnil Patry while C Squadron supported them on the left (there were British on the right).

The task was to go through the village of Le Mesnil Patry; there were expectations that opposition would be light. SS General Kurt Myers had other ideas and had decided to launch a Division strength attack with the 12th SS Panzer Corp in an attempt to split the Canadians and British and get his tanks to the beach. Had he done so the outcome of the war may have been very different. When B Squadron entered the village with the QOR riding atop their tanks they met the German attack and a fierce battle ensued that cost the lives of 61 Hussars and 96 QOR.

The Canadians were outnumbered and outgunned and sustained appalling losses in what one historian called the Hussar's and QOR's own version of the 'Charge of the Light Brigade.'

Leavell was on the flank in support of B Squadron when German 88s opened up on them. Receiving no information or instructions from his Troop Commander (who was a replacement) he backed up his tank towards Norrey-en-Bessin and ended up in an orchard just outside of the town. He stopped before the minefield laid by Canadian troops the night before to protect them from a German attack.

From their position in the orchard Leavell saw two Panther tanks which had by-passed Le Mesnil Patry and were heading for the coast. He gave his gunner, Maddie Paterson, the range and they opened fire on the lead tank and then on the second. Both tanks were destroyed; Ben saw the crew of each bail out and head back towards the German lines. When they attempted to move out, the tank stalled and would not restart.

Leavell dismounted and walked into Norrey-en-Bessin, which was under heavy fire. There he talked to an officer, then returned to his tank. Roger (his driver) did not want to get back into the tank but Ben took his elbow and directed him towards the turret, the tank started this time and they were able to move back towards Brettville.

The regiment laid-up for about 3 weeks in Happy Valley (outside Buron) while they re-fitted and received replacements. On 8 July they attacked Buron, Authie and L’Ancienne Abbey. Ben Leavell’s Troop Commander Lt. Caw had his tank disabled (3 pads were blown off one tread); Caw took Leavell’s tank “Cherchez Les Femmes” and crew. Leavell was able to get the Lt Caw’s tank back for repairs.

Canadian forces in combat in the European Theater of Operations, World War II.

On the night of July 17/18 C Squadron headed towards Colombelles in OPERATION CHARWOOD. They drove over temporary pontoon bridges (just south of Pegasus Bridge) across the Orne river and the canal north of Caen. Once over the bridges their tank hit a mine but they were able to continue for a while. When they stopped to repair the tread the driver and gunner were injured so Leavell had to drive the tank.

They headed back, although they were not supposed to drive back across the pontoons, and found HQ where Leavell got a replacement crew and headed back towards Colombelles and Ifs. It took him 2 days to find the regiment; he met them as they were assembling for a push south through Verreries - OPERATION SPRING. On the night of 24 July they were heavily bombed in Ifs - even though they were sleeping in their tanks the ground shook.

July 25th 1944 was one of the bloodiest days for Canadians of World War II. 450 Canadian soldiers were killed, and 1100 were wounded in the French town of Verrieres, during the Anglo-Canadian battle for the city of Caen.

On the morning of 25 July they had to maneuver around the tank in front of them, as it had been hit the night before. They advanced towards Verrieres and as usual were directed to fire at many targets. As German fire became more accurate they backed into a hedgerow for cover but were soon spotted and heavily shelled by 88s. Ben Leavell’s tank was hit and he was severely wounded - he took several rounds from a German machine gun in his left leg.

Ben's daughter Helen says: “My father told me the tank hit by a German shell, and they all jumped out. Then he thought his gunner was still in it, so ran back and that's when he was shot. His gunner, Roger Pilon, confirmed that to me a few years ago.”

Leavell was taken by jeep to an aid station where he talked to Trooper J.J. McLeod, whose wounds was about the same as his. He spent time in hospital in England before being shipped home. On his trip home Ben Leavell remembers Mcleod coming to visit him one time. When later asked about him, Leavell said that McLeod was alive because he saw him on the ship. Later he knew it was a dream because he only saw him one time on the 3-week voyage home. He still remembers the dream meeting in detail.

Ben Leavell spent several months in hospital, and to this day still suffers pain and disabililty from his wounds. He subsequently spent 28 years working in the Collingwood Shipyards before retirement.

Ben Leavell was a fresh-faced young man of 21 when he shipped over to England to fight in World War II.




Ben Leavell lives in Collingwood, Ontario with his wife of 60 years Florence. Their four kids (three girls, one boy) five grandchildren, and six greatgrandchildren live in Ontario and Alberta. His daughter Helen Leavell, a moving force behind Project STORMBRINGER, contributed to this post.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY: JULY 25th, 1944

July 25th 1944 was one of the bloodiest days for Canadians of World War II.


450 Canadian soldiers were killed, and 1100 were wounded in the French town of Verrieres, during the Anglo-Canadian advance toward Caen, part of the Normandy campaign.

Canadian soldiers display a Nazi flag captured during the Battle of Normandy.

Following the D-Day landings 6 June 1944, the Normandy campaign continued until 25 August. During this time some of the bloodiest combat experienced during World War II took place in and around the major objective towns and cities Caen, Bayeux, St. Lô, Carentan, and Cherbourg.

At various phases of the Normandy campaign, casualties approached World War I proportions. Because of the continual increase of Allied forces as they moved across the beaches to the battle fronts, and a similar dynamic commitment of Wehrmacht forces, it is difficult to put a measuring rod on the troop numbers involved in the Normandy campaign.

The total number of casualties suffered by the Allied forces up to the end of August: 36,976 killed, 153,475 wounded and 19,221 missing. (Anglo-Canadian: 16,138 killed, 58,594 wounded and 9,093 missing; American: 20,838 killed, 94,881 wounded and 10,128 missing.)

These figures represent a little over 10% of the 2,052,299 Allied forces present in northern France by 21 August.

The Canadian cemetary at Beny-sur-Mer, Normandy.

German Wehrmacht casualties during the Normandy campaign were approximately 240,000 killed or wounded, 210,000 taken prisoner. This is represents about 55% of the estimated 1 million committed to the Normandy Campaign

As many as 70,000 French civilians may have been killed during the liberation of France in 1944. 19,860 French civilians were killed during the liberation of Normandy, and an even greater number were wounded. Furthermore, in preparation of the invasion 15,000 civilians killed and the 19,000 wounded in the bombings of Normandy from January to June of 1944. Many cities and towns in Normandy and northern France were totally devastated by the fighting and the bombings.

The strategic crossroads of St. Lô was so thoroughly destroyed it was even questioned whether to rebuild it or to leave the ruins intact as a testimony to the bombing.

Following the landings, securing the beachheads and the initial objectives, the Normandy campaign developed into two sub-theaters; American and Anglo-Canadian. Some historians have criticized the British Commonwealth forces for failing to seize one of their initial objectives - the city of Caen - until July 9th. This criticism is undeserved; British forces tied down major German armor formations to the eastern side of the battlefront, which assisted Americans in seizing their key objectives of Carentan on 14 June, and Cherbourg on 26 June.

It is also significant to note that despite American maneuverability, German forces investing the hedgerows of the Norman bocage countryside were able to keep Amercan forces from liberating the critical road junction at St. Lô (a D-Day objective) until July 18th. American forces did not reach the western end of the Cotentin Peninsula until 28 July

Key phases of the Normandy campaign include:

Battle of the Hedgerows: July 7-15, 1944
American military units encountered stiff resistance from German armed forces in the broken farmlands around St. Lo. Progress was slow. Costly German counterattacks continued.

US 1st Army Advance to St. Lô: July 10-18, 1944
American efforts to breakthrough to St. Lo remained slow. German armed forces put up a determined defense. The US armed forces advanced at less than one mile per day.

Operation Goodwood: July 18-20, 1944
British armored forces attempted to outflank Caen from the left while Canadian units continued to press forward through and and to the right. German military units, primarily of the Waffen SS, fought an aggressive defensive battle and withdrew before being trapped by Allied advances.


Operation Spring: July 25, 1944
Canadian forces advanced towards Verrieres.

The final two major phases of the campaign represent the American and Anglo-Canadian forces working toward the final breakout from the Normandy, and the beginning of the drive toward Paris:



Operation Cobra: July 24-31, 1944
Benefiting from the British-led operations around Caen, American armed forces made somewhat better progress in the effort to breakout on the right flank of the Allied line. German counterattacks continued, however, and progress remained relatively slow.

Operation Totalize: August 7-11, 1944
Canadian II Corps drove southwest from Caen in the direction of Falaise. Royal Air Force heavy bombers provided support for the effort.

RIGHT ON!

PALIN: "Let us continue to love our country, be proud of our country . . . NEVER APOLOGIZE FOR OUR COUNTRY!"

Sarah hits the nail right on the head again!

Read the rest of it here.

LAST POST

Last UK Veteran of WWI Trench Battles Dies at 111 - AP

Harry Patch, Britain's last survivor of the trenches of World War I, died today at 111. Patch was wounded in 1917 in the Battle of Passchendaele, which he remembered as "mud, mud and more mud mixed together with blood."

"Anyone who tells you that in the trenches they weren't scared, he's a damned liar: you were scared all the time," Patch said.

This man has witnessed horrors of war the likes of which today's warrior generation can barely imagine.


His most vivid memory of the war was of encountering a comrade whose torso had been ripped open by shrapnel. "Shoot me," Patch recalled the soldier pleading.

The man died before Patch could draw his revolver.

"I was with him for the last 60 seconds of his life. He gasped one word — 'Mother.' That one word has run through my brain for 88 years. I will never forget it."


There are no French or German veterans of the war left alive. The last known U.S. veteran is Frank Buckles of Charleston, West Virginia, 108, who drove ambulances in France for the U.S. Army.

During World War II, Patch volunteered for the fire service and helped in rescue and firefighting after German bombing raids.

In recent years he and his dwindling band of fellow survivors became poignant, and much-honored, symbols of the conflict. At 101, he received the Legion d'Honneur from the French government. At a remembrance ceremony in 2007, Patch said he felt "humbled that I should be representing an entire generation."


"Today is not for me. It is for the countless millions who did not come home with their lives intact. They are the heroes," he said. "It is also important we remember those who lost their lives on both sides."

Honor him.

IRON VIKING SENDS

well it was a ruff one today. first i had a rpg go over my head followed with some pk mg fire. then had a mortar land about 50 meters from me. so all and all a normal day here at fb cobra. im using one of those supersmall laptops so the buttons are really close together thats why i am not capitalizing any of my letters.

its my opinion that the taliban spent it self on this last spring offensive and are currently trying to stock up on more cannon fodder for their warped insurgency. probably going to resume major attacks in a couple of months.

anyways dude ill let you know about anymore exciting days as they come.

My buddy Mike, the Iron Viking from Hell, sends from Firebase Cobra in Central Afghanistan - S.L.

TRAITOR

America has had traitors in every war we've been in - here is the latest to betray his country:

AMERICAN CHARGED WITH GIVING AL QAEDA NYC SUBWAY INFORMATION
- Associated Press, 23 July 2009



NEW YORK - An American man charged with giving Al Qaeda information on the New York transit system and attacking a U.S. military base in Afghanistan has been a secret witness in the fight against terror both here and overseas, authorities revealed Wednesday.

Court papers unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn identified the defendant as Bryant Neal Vinas, nicknamed "Ibrahim" or "Bashir al-Ameriki," who grew up on Long Island.

The official described Vinas as a militant convert who was captured last year in Pakistan. Prosecutors charged Vinas in a rocket attack on U.S. forces in Afghanistan in September 2008. Court papers allege he also gave "expert advice and assistance ... on the New York transit system and Long Island Railroad."

For five months last year, Vinas received "military-style training" from Al Qaeda, according to court papers.

More details here.


The only crime worse than murder is treason - S.L.

KEYWORD SURVIVAL

Keyword "SURVIVAL" is the opening chapter of U.S. Army Field Manual 21-76, Survival.
Whenever faced with a survival situation, remember the keyword "SURVIVAL." You may some day have to make it work for you.

* S - Size Up the Situation
* U - Use All Your Senses, Undue Haste Makes Waste
* R - Remember Where You Are
* V - Vanquish Fear and Panic
* I - Improvise
* V - Value Living
* A - Act Like the Natives
* L - Live by Your Wits, But for Now, Learn Basic Skills

Click on the above links to learn the meaning of each letter of the word "SURVIVAL."

Pimped out Drug Cartel Guns Siezed

Incredible, simply as works of art -









It's sad to consider the source of these magnificent pieces . . .



- from my good buddy's excellent site DOUBLETAPPER

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN

It is important that the stories of Americans held captive overseas do not fade from the front pages.

Since I updated last week’s post about the captured American soldier depicted in the Taliban video - identified as PFC Bowe Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, member of 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment – I received some comments from various sites.

I usually don’t reply to comments - the template is to post, generate discussion and move on. But this issue is somewhat personal: I am a US Army soldier, retired, and half my family is Korean.

Red, White & Blue trumps politics and opinions for all of us in situations like this. Bergdahl, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, myself - and I’m assuming most of the readership - we are all Americans; politics ends at the water’s edge.

It is not correct to armchair quarterback these situations.


I don’t know how or via what misadventure Bergdahl ended up in enemy hands; I have heard some scuttlebutt directly out of Afghanistan re Bergdahl but at this time it is simply impossible for us to know the truth of his situation.

The Taliban are terrorist scum with a world view straight out of the 13th century. However Bergdahl arrived in his circumstances, it is not incorrect to hope & pray for his safe return.



As for Laura Ling & Euna Lee, yes it seems they are guilty of faulty judgment - but The North Koreans are capable of unimaginable intolerance and harsh cruelty. Whether Laura Ling & Euna Lee are in a labor camp or a “guest house” in Pyongyang, I can assure you their current circumstances make Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo look like a Sunday School picnic.


In both cases it is the height of poor taste to offer some of the opinions expressed.

They are Americans, held against their will by people who regard them as “bargaining chips”; insane savages who see fit starve & torture their own people into submission, via state-sponsored terrorism.

Regarding the suggestion of negotiating with the Taliban - the reason why our official policy is that we do not negotiate with terrorists, is because it only encourages them to kidnap more Americans. As for the thought that because we liberated their country by military force, the Taliban possess some kind of moral high ground over us; this is laughable and pathetic all at the same time.

- LINNANE SENDS

HOW DID I MISS THIS?

In the news yesterday: Missouri Car Dealer Offers Free AK-47 with New Truck - AP

It works like this: the AK-47 is an upgrade on a previous promotion; vouchers for the price of a Caltec pistol.

The retail value of an AK-47 is $450 dollars but customers can spend their voucher on the gun of their choice.

I guess I know where I'm buying my next truck - S.L.



"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." - Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.

THIS IS AMAZING

What we're looking at here is a 1:1000 scale model that happens to be possibly the most accurate model of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in existence - all the work of a retired property-developer named Alec Garrard, who has been working on it for nearly 30 years.

The 1,800-square foot project is located in a one-street village named Needham in eastern England. The model Temple in the English countryside town is built of thousands of tiny clay bricks and tiles, all of which Garrard fashioned, baked, and painted manually.

For historically accurate sources Garrard consulted Josephus, the Mishna, and more. Garrard began building his Holy Temple for his own pleasure, and “didn’t realize the great interest it would attract.”

Source: Arutz Sheva, Israel National News