ChopperGunner died Saturday ............................

Patrick Hayes was one of the kindest, most honorable men it's been my pleasure to call "friend".  He welcomed me with open arms when I joined a Marine message board 13 years ago.

When we finally met face-to-face {back in 2000}, it was merely a continuation of the friendship we had developed on the 'Net.  He showed me his home there in Massachusetts, taking me around an area I had not visited before.  We got into some mischief, but laughed about it for years ................................. he told me things, about combat in VietNam, that as a WM, I couldn't fully comprehend, but non-REMFs would surely understand. 

He received excellent care via the VA there in Massachusetts; unlike other VAs, the one in Bedford, Massachusetts seems to really care about their Veterans.

He joins my Dad, my uncle, BullDog, Nomad, AWACS, DittyChaser, Darby and others, guarding Heaven's streets, answering to Chesty Puller ........................................





Semper Fi', my noble Costello!

And when I get to Heaven,
St. Peter I will tell,
"Another Marine reporting, Sir -
"I've served my time in Hell!" 

 *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

If the Army and the Navy 
Ever look on Heaven's scenes
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.





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For Gecko, KG & all others who love Oz

I'm Fair Dinkum :
Chorus
I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am
I've loved the smell of gum leaves, since I was in a pram
Some places may be greener, but I don't give a damn
'Cause I'm Fair Dinkum, bloody oath I am.
Now I was in the doctor's just the other day
He told me take an aspirin, the pain would go away
So I pulled out my chequebook, 'cause sickness doesn't pay
I said, "Are you fair dinkum?" - what did the doctor say?

He said, "Ah so . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Chinese accent)
I said, "Well can you recommend a nice little Chinese restaurant?"

Then I whistled down a taxi cab and headed for the east
A bad case of the munchies, I was ready for a feast
The driver said "Indian?" - I said, "Oh well, I'd rather not"
He said, "Why don't you come around to my place,
My curry's rather hot".

I said, "Are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Oh . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Indian accent)

Well, I tipped the nice cabbie so he wouldn't make a fuss
I shot out like a bullet and I grabbed a Bondi bus
I said, "Take me to the waves mate, I'm dyin' for a dip"
He said "Now you be very careful and watch you don't slip.

"Oh, are you fair dinkum?"
He said, "Ah by gum . . ." (Repeat Chorus with Pommy accent)

Well everybody's claiming Australia as their own
I'm no aborigine, so I won't point the bone
It shows good taste mate, so I shouldn't moan
If you got a problem, get Al Grassby on the phone.

Bridge
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are
We all love Koalas and singin' round the bar
And con somebody's missus to drive the flamin' car
Yeah, we're Fair Dinkum, bloody oath we are.

Now give me a home where life is what you make
Where I can walk about, just for walking's sake
Where I can tell our leaders to go jump in the lake
But I'll never knock Australia, you make no mistake.

(Repeat Chorus to tune of bridge)
(Repeat Chorus)



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The day I took the Oath

Funny thing about that Oath - as a friend notes, it does NOT come with an 'expiration date'; it also has this little bit about 'supporting and defending the Constitution of the United States'.

SOPA/PIPA are bills intended to whittle away at our Constitutionally-guaranteed RIGHTS as American citizens - so, in solidarity with others out here in the blogosphere, nothing further will be posted today.

Oath of office:  I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.  

The Constitution in full.

A couple of take-aways: 
We the People  of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Article [I]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Article [IV]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.  {Emphases added - DM}

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Not just for men .......................... ;-)

Today started off badly ...............................

some neighbors moved out before Christmas, left their dog {~ 2 year old, Yorkie/Silky mix} behind, tied up; I'd seen him wandering the neighborhood, so someone set him free, so he could hopefully find something to eat/drink {cat food I put out for the strays} - this morning, he's laying in a patch of sunshine, at his "home", gets up when I approach - right hind leg is dangling {skin intact, but bones turned to mush, probably hit by a car} - I enticed him close enough to lay hands on with the FodGuy's's last hamburger - brought him in & the FodGuy palpated the leg - the dog NEVER EVEN GROWLED, much less bit - WE are just in no position financially to go the distance for his orthopod work {minimum of possibly setting the leg, & the resulting care/rehab, up to & including amputation}, so I gritted my teeth & took him to the shelter - when I told Animal Control his story, they immediately took us over to the surgery, where he was put in a kennel to await a local rescue organization, which will foot the bill for his surgery {-ies} & then find him a forever home.  I was in tears on the way to the shelter, 'cause I was certain I was taking him to be euthanized; I was petting him as I was driving, and he'd just look at me with these soft brown eyes, very patient with everything I did with/to him.    I've been involved in humane work for 41 years, and this kind of ignorance/apathy/indifference NEVER gets easier to accept.

Now, his "owners" {may they rot in hell!!} got him as a puppy, for an animated toy for their 3 little monsters - several times, when he was no bigger than a kitten, I had to rescue him, because they had him tied on their front porch, and he'd fall off the steps & hang there by his neck.  They ultimately moved him from near the front door, and basically ignored his existence.  The rescue is going to have to socialize him, because all he expects from humans is apathy or cruelty - his gentleness and patience with me were absolutely amazing, considering what he's known from humans.  The veterinary nurse was amazed that he had never snapped/bit at me, after I told her the history.  St. Francis of Assisi was truly smiling on my efforts today .........................................  

I let it be known, to anyone who may still be in contact with the "owners" that I had better NEVER see them again ........................







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