Great Americans

[Primemuscle]

I admire this person. And to think Roman McConn is only 10 years old. Amazing!

Lucy, my 16-year-old Rat Terrier is deaf like me only worse because, as far as I know, there are no hearing aids for dogs. On the plus side, Lucy used to be an annoying barker. Since losing her hearing she never barks. I know she still has a voice because when she doesn't like something or slips and falls, she yelps.

A cousin of mine is a retired airline piolet. He has his own small craft airplane with he uses to rescue pups from all over the country and bring them to Colorado which is a no-kill state. Although many of these dogs are seniors, they find homes and are either permanently adopted or in foster care until a permanent home can be found for them.

My good friend Nancy adopted a senior Golden Lab who is such a sweet dog. Because of her experience, if Lucy passes before I do, I may decide to adopt a senior dog. It makes more sense than starting out with a puppy that would likely need to be housebroken and require a lot of exercise.

At no time in my life have I not had a pet - almost always dogs, save for one cat, a couple of horses, some rabbits, two goats, turtles, tropical fish (boring), briefly a baby alligator and multiple Peruvian guinea pigs. I prefer dogs as pets. They are truly man’s best friend.

[Dos Equis]

I admire this person. And to think Roman McConn is only 10 years old. Amazing!

Lucy, my 16-year-old Rat Terrier is deaf like me only worse because, as far as I know, there are no hearing aids for dogs. On the plus side, Lucy used to be an annoying barker. Since losing her hearing she never barks. I know she still has a voice because when she doesn't like something or slips and falls, she yelps.

A cousin of mine is a retired airline piolet. He has his own small craft airplane with he uses to rescue pups from all over the country and bring them to Colorado which is a no-kill state. Although many of these dogs are seniors, they find homes and are either permanently adopted or in foster care until a permanent home can be found for them.

My good friend Nancy adopted a senior Golden Lab who is such a sweet dog. Because of her experience, if Lucy passes before I do, I may decide to adopt a senior dog. It makes more sense than starting out with a puppy that would likely need to be housebroken and require a lot of exercise.

At no time in my life have I not had a pet - almost always dogs, save for one cat, a couple of horses, some rabbits, two goats, turtles, tropical fish (boring), briefly a baby alligator and multiple Peruvian guinea pigs. I prefer dogs as pets. They are truly man’s best friend.

I have a Border Collie.  Incredibly smart and athletic.  He's a handful.  Like having two dogs.  He's like a human.  And dogs are often better than people.  I would kill for my dog. 

[Dos Equis]

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson BREAKS INTERNET With Fiery Speech Slamming Biden, BLM, and ANTIFA

[Dos Equis]

Honorary Great American Ricardo Montalban.

[SOMEPARTS]

Now that Hunter's laptop has been proven 100% real by US Dept of Justic filings...the guy with the computer shop that turned it in should be recognized as a patriot instead of being hunted by the various alphabet agencies.

[Dos Equis]

Lou Conter, last survivor of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, dies at 102
April 3, 2024
By:  Vanessa Romo


Lou Conter, pictured at the 75th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, in 2016, died on Monday. He was the last living survivor of the USS Arizona battleship that exploded and sank during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. / AP

Lou Conter, the last known survivor of the attack on the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor, has died at the age of 102.

Conter, who was a 20-year-old quartermaster at the time of the naval assault, was on the back decks of the battleship on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japanese forces decimated the U.S. Pacific fleet. The unprecedented attack killed 1,177 on the Arizona, with over 900 of those individuals never recovered.

As the bombs rained down on the naval base, one landed between two main guns at the front of the Arizona. The explosion ignited a huge store of TNT black powder that was used for the ship's battery guns.

"There went a million pounds of powder," Conter recalled in a 2018 interview with the American Veterans Center. "It blew up!"

The explosion was so intense that it split the ship in two, "and the bow came up about 30, 40 feet out of the water and fell straight back down," he remembered.

The strike was catastrophic and it only took about 10 minutes for the ship to sink, David Kilton, a spokesman for the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, told NPR.

Meanwhile, amid the chaos, Conter abandoned the ship and eventually made it to safety, only to be ordered onto a rescue boat to help pull bodies from the water. "Some of those were individuals in distress, trying to figure out how to swim around the huge quantities of oil that had leaked out and the flames that were on the water," Kilton said.

"Guys were coming out of the fire, and we were just grabbing them and laying them down," Conter later said. "They were real bad. You would pick them up by the bodies, and the skin would come off in your hands."


The battleship USS Arizona belches smoke as it topples over during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Dec. 7, 1941. The attack drew the U.S. into World War II. / AP

Conter's life mantra in and out of battle was simple: Don't panic
Shortly after the horrors in Hawaii, Conter was selected for flight training and became a Navy aviator. He flew some 200 combat missions in the Pacific throughout WWII.

Ed Bonner, a family friend who wrote the foreword for Conter's autobiography, The Lou Conter Story, described the war veteran as a warm man who never lost his cool — even when being shot down during a mission.

In September 1943, Conter was given orders to drop flares over the Japanese fleet off the coast of New Guinea to keep them awake, Bonner told NPR, sharing one of his favorite war stories of Conter's. But as they were flying over the base, Conter's plane was struck, crashing into the ocean. "And as they hit the water – about six miles off of New Guinea — the co-pilot tells the 10-person crew, 'Say your prayers, boys. We are all going to die.' "

But Conter wasn't having that, Bonner laughed.

Instead, he ordered the terrified crew not to panic. In fact, Bonner said, that was Conter's life mantra: Don't panic.

So, as they were going down, Conter tried to calm his men with a plan. "He said, 'Get ready to swim. We're going to just paddle slowly and if a shark comes up to you, punch it in the nose.' "

That's exactly what they did, escaping about a dozen sharks on their way to the shore, according to Bonner.

"Eventually, they got rescued. They had dinner, went to sleep and got up and flew another mission the next night. And that is how we won the war. It was men like that," Bonner declared with admiration.

After WWII, Conter went on to serve in the Korean War. Later, he became the Navy's first SERE officer — an acronym for survival, evasion, resistance and escape. For years, he helped establish the program, training Navy pilots and crew how to survive if they were shot down in the jungle and captured as prisoners of war.

By the end of his 27-year career in the Navy, in 1967, he'd risen to the ranks of lieutenant commander. He then moved to California, became a real estate developer, and married his second wife, Valerie. They were together for 47 years.

Conter passed away on Monday at his home in Grass Valley, Calif., following congestive heart failure.


Lou Conter's death prompted a a statement from President Biden, who said, "He never forgot all the brave men he served with on board the Arizona. Until he was nearly 100 years old, he attended annual memorial services at Pearl Harbor." / AP

The nation mourns Conter's passing
On Monday, President Biden reacted to Conter's death.

"He never forgot all the brave men he served with on board the Arizona. Until he was nearly 100 years old, he attended annual memorial services at Pearl Harbor," Biden said in a statement.

The president added: "The women and men who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces are patriots in the highest sense. Like Lou, they risk their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans. Like Lou, they bravely undertake dangerous missions to defend our nation's freedom and future. Like Lou, they believe deeply in their duty to their country and their fellow service members and will go to the ends of the earth to fulfill that duty. Our nation owes them all a debt of gratitude we can never repay."

Pearl Harbor National Memorial Superintendent Tom Leatherman also mourned the loss of Conter

"The passing of Lou is the end of an era and so hard for the many of us who have gotten to know him over the years," Leatherman said.

"Now more than ever we must find a way to keep the legacy of Pearl Harbor, that Lou championed for so many years, alive. We owe it to him and all those who served and lost their lives to make sure they did not die in vain," he added, noting that the flag at over the USS Arizona Memorial will be flown at half-staff in honor of Conter's life and service until the day of his interment.

Conter's family said funeral arrangements are being made, and there will be a ceremony with full military honors.

https://www.gpb.org/news/2024/04/03/lou-conter-last-survivor-of-the-uss-arizona-in-pearl-harbor-dies-at-102

[Dos Equis]

A hero’s surprise: WWII POW who survived D-Day, Battle of the Bulge celebrates 100 years
Ken Axelson spent three months as a prisoner of war in Germany until April 2, 1945 — his 21st birthday.
By Liz Collin -April 11, 2024


Ken Axelson marks his 100th birthday earlier this month in Rochester. (Alpha News)

At Golden Living Center in Rochester, Ken Axelson’s 100th birthday earlier this month was for much more than marking a century. It was a day of reflection, on a life of selflessness and service from southern Minnesota.

“You can’t ask for much more of that service than what he gave in his time,” family friend Brian Danielson remarked about Ken’s incredible story of survival.

After graduating from Red Wing High School in 1943, Ken Axelson was inducted into the Army.

“I guess if you go back a little bit, you’d say that someone who knows so much about guns would make a good infantry man, so the Army made him a medic,” Danielson joked to the crowd that gathered for Axelson’s birthday celebration.

But that assignment may have saved his life. His first medic mission came a year later — Omaha Beach on D-Day where more than 2,500 American soldiers died in the Allied invasion of Normandy in WWII.


Ken Axelson spent three months as a prisoner of war in Germany until April 2, 1945 — his 21st birthday. (Alpha News)

Two weeks and five practice jumps later, he went on to be a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division. He then survived the Battle of the Bulge where 19,000 American soldiers lost their lives and Axelson was taken captive.

He spent three months as a prisoner of war in Germany until April 2, 1945 — his 21st birthday.

“Once the Allies came and liberated him from that camp, he sent a telegram to let his family know that he was OK. He told me on that day that his dad was walking to the church to plan Ken’s funeral. And he stopped by the post office, and he got the telegram that said Ken was alive and coming home,” Danielson remarked.

“My mother was a person who prayed a lot and that was a comfort to me in the fox hole. Knowing that she was praying for me,” Axelson said.

Danielson is certain Ken Axelson is a real-life hero.

“I also know him as Ken from Wanamingo who spent the rest of his life serving his community that I got to take advantage of as a kid growing up. My dad was an MIA from Vietnam and Ken was a POW. He was just very understanding of me as a kid struggling with knowing answers and loss in war. I never forgot that. It meant a lot to me,” Danielson said.

A retired Navy fighter pilot himself, Danielson wanted to make sure his hometown hero received a proper celebration when he turned a century.

“He told me one day last fall that his favorite pair of boots were his jump boots and he had to turn them in, and he never got a replacement pair,” Danielson recalled of the conversation.


Ken Axelson marks his 100th birthday earlier this month in Rochester. (Alpha News)

“I called the Army, and I told them you missed your jump boots … the Army was able to find a pair of jump boots to give you,” Danielson told Axelson.

Axelson was delighted to see a fresh pair of jumpers that were just the right size.

“These will last me the rest of my life,” Axelson joked.

Larry Van De Walker also considers Axelson a good friend.

“Can you imagine what mom and dad went through thinking they’re going to plan that funeral? And here he comes walking in, for goodness sakes. I just say never forget, that’s kind of the deal with all of this. Some gave all, he came close to being one of those guys who gave all. He gave more than some. Never forget,” Van De Walker said.

Update: Alpha News has learned that Axelson passed away peacefully Thursday, April 11.

“Ken lived an amazing life and how wonderful to know that the significant historical events that marked his service were only a small part of a larger legacy of raising a wonderful family and giving back to his community,” Danielson said.

“I was very lucky to know him and enjoyed all of our conversations. It was an honor to share his story with others and I am happy for those who got to find out how special he was.

“I think the perfect comment would be one from Ken himself. As he witnessed so much carnage and destruction in war and in a German Stalag, he said, ‘What came to mind was the question: What is truly important in life? At the top of the list is to love and be loved.’

“A very good reminder for us all. And if you knew him at all, you can see his infectious smile to accompany that quote. RIP, Albert ‘Ken’ Axelson. Your legacy lives on and thank you for your honorable and faithful service.”

https://alphanews.org/a-heros-surprise-wwii-pow-who-survived-d-day-battle-of-the-bulge-celebrates-100-years/

[Dos Equis]

[Dos Equis]

Navajo Code Talker John Kinsel Sr. passes away at 107

Special to the Times | Bazhnibah
With his Pendleton red shirt and red Navajo Code Talker cap, John Kinsel is celebrated at age 106 in Lukachukai, Ariz., on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.

By Donovan Quintero | Oct 19, 2024 | News |     

TUBA CITY

The Navajo Nation is mourning the loss of John Kinsel Sr., a revered Navajo Code Talker who passed away peacefully at the age of 107. Kinsel’s remarkable life and contributions to both his community and the United States during World War II will forever be remembered.

Born in the heart of Lukachukai, Arizona, Kinsel dedicated his life to his family and his heritage. He built a home for his loved ones in the very land where he grew up, embodying the values of resilience and commitment to family that are central to Navajo culture. Remarkably, he never left his hometown, becoming a steadfast figure in the community.

Kinsel served as a Navajo Code Talker, using his knowledge of the Navajo language to create an unbreakable code that played a crucial role in securing victory for U.S. forces in the Pacific Theater during World War II. His courage and dedication helped save countless lives and contributed significantly to the military’s efforts during one of history’s darkest periods.

In a poignant announcement, his son Ron Kinsel shared the news of his father’s passing early Saturday morning, noting that his father died peacefully in his sleep. According to Ron, the howling wind seemed to signal the arrival of their ancestors, as they came to escort his father in the early dawn hours.

‘Not just a hero’
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed deep sorrow at the news of Kinsel’s passing.

“John Kinsel was not just a hero; he was a pillar of our community and a testament to the strength of our people. His contributions during the war and his dedication to his family and culture will always be remembered. I am saddened to hear of the news, of his passing,” said President Nygren.

Jonathan Nez, the former Navajo Nation president and current Arizona Congressional District 2 candidate, said he remembers Kinsel cheering on runners in the Navajo Code Talker run during the Navajo Nation Fair in Window Rock.

“I always remember Code Talker Kinsel, giving back to his community after his service. And when I was the president, to see the younger generation be inspired by a living code talker, was such a great feeling to see because young people also recognize Mr. Kinsel. And all the Navajo Code Talkers’ contribution to America by utilizing our beautiful language to help win battles and to help win World War Two,” Nez remembered. “On behalf of my family and the Western Navajo people and the Navajo people, our condolences are with family. His legacy will always continue through every one of us.”

Speaker Crystalyne Curley offered her words of condolences as well on Saturday.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Kinsel Sr., one of the last remaining Navajo Code Talkers. His legacy goes well beyond that of a warrior, but of a proud Navajo man who upheld the values of his heritage while serving his country with distinction. As we honor his life, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family, loved ones, and the entire Navajo Nation. May his spirit rest in peace, and may his memory continue to inspire generations to come,” said Speaker Curley.

Roots in Lukachukai, symbol of bravery and pride
After the war, Kinsel returned to his roots in Lukachukai, where he not only raised his family but also became an active participant in local events and initiatives aimed at preserving Navajo traditions and language. He was a fierce advocate for the rights and recognition of Indigenous peoples and often shared stories of his experiences as a code talker with younger generations, ensuring that the legacy of the Navajo Code Talkers would live on.

In recent years, Kinsel was celebrated as a symbol of bravery and cultural pride. He attended numerous events and ceremonies honoring the Navajo Code Talkers, inspiring many with his enduring spirit and wisdom. His passing marks the end of an era, as he was one of the last remaining Code Talkers, leaving behind a profound legacy of service, sacrifice, and love for his homeland.

As the community of Lukachukai and the wider Navajo Nation come together to honor John Kinsel Sr.’s life, they remember not only a brave soldier but also a loving husband, father, and friend whose legacy will endure in the hearts of many. Services to celebrate his life are being planned in the coming days, allowing friends, family, and members of the community to pay their respects and share their memories of this extraordinary man.

Kinsel was Kinłichíi’nii and born for Tábąąhá and recalls his life journey through the lens of both Diné Bizaad and English. His son often assisted by repeating questions clearly, allowing Kinsel to maintain his independence and agency during their discussions.

Born in 1917 in Cove, Arizona, Kinsel’s early life was marked by hardship. He attended Fort Defiance Boarding School at 6. Arriving without knowledge of English, Kinsel was given the name John Williams but later reclaimed his grandfather’s surname, Harvey. Shortly after his departure, the school was transformed into a trachoma hospital, reflecting the grim realities faced by many Native American children in boarding schools.

Lukachukai remained Kinsel’s cherished home, situated close to the picturesque red sandstone cliffs of the Ch’óshgai Mountains, embodying a lifetime of memories and legacy.

https://navajotimes.com/reznews/navajo-code-talker-john-kinsel-sr-passes-away-at-107/#google_vignette

[Dos Equis]

Oldest Living Pearl Harbor Survivor Dies At 105
Pearl Harbor Commemorates 78th Anniversary Of World War II Attacks

(Photo by Kat Wade/Getty Images)
Fiona McLoughlin
Contributor
December 28, 2024

Warren Upton, the oldest living survivor of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack died Wednesday at age 105.

Upton died after suffering from pneumonia, Kathleen Farley, the California state chair of the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors told the Associated Press (AP). The Pacific Historic Parks said on Facebook the 105-year-old died after a short hospital stay surrounded by his family. Upton was also the last remaining survivor of the USS Utah.

The USS Utah battleship was moored at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 when Japanese planes began bombing the naval base in Hawaii, leading to the U.S. involvement in World War II. (RELATED: One Of Pearl Harbor’s Last Remaining Survivors Dies At The Age Of 102).

In a 2020 interview with the AP, Upton recalled he was about to begin shaving when the first torpedo hit the Utah. He said no one on board the battleship knew what caused the ship to start shaking and then, the second torpedo hit, causing the ship to capsize.

Upton was 22 at the time of the attack, the AP reported. He swam ashore to Ford Island where he jumped into a trench to avoid the planes surrounding the area. He waited for roughly 30 minutes before a truck passed by and rescued him.

He told the AP he didn’t mind discussing what happened that day and rather, what upset him was how many shipmates he lost over the years. In 2020, only Upton and two other crew members of the Utah were alive.

Military historian J. Michael Wenger said there was an estimated 87,000 military personnel on Oahu on Dec. 7, 1941 and after Upton’s death, only 15 are still alive, the AP reported.

During the Pearl Harbor attack, 2,390 Americans were killed, according to the National Park Service. One Japanese solider was taken prisoner following the attack and 129 Japanese soldiers died, records from the National WWII Museum show.



https://dailycaller.com/2024/12/28/warren-upton-oldest-living-pearl-harbor-survivor-dies-105/

[Dos Equis]

Medal of Honor recipient faced down 100 enemy troops to cover his men
By Jon Guttman
Thursday, Feb 6, 2025


Robert Craig. (Army)

As the Germans launched their last, desperate offensive on the Western Front in mid-1918, a relatively new United States Army unit, the 3rd Infantry Division, would earn the nickname “Rock of the Marne” for its refusal to give an inch of ground against the overwhelming and advancing German forces. The Germans failed to break through the division’s defenses, turning the tide of the battle.

Despite its heroic stand, not one member of the 3rd Division was awarded the Medal of Honor throughout World War I, but that would change in the next conflict. Not only would the 3rd produce 61 Medals of Honor — the most of any division — but one of them, Audie Murphy, would be the most decorated soldier in the U.S. Army.

Although Murphy fought a long and agonizing war before receiving his Medal of Honor, one of his comrades-in-arms, 2nd Lt. Robert Craig, was destined for a much shorter, though no less violent, tour of duty.

Both men served in the 1st Battalion, 15th Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division when they came ashore in Fedala, French Morocco on November 8, 1942, but at that time Murphy was a private in Company B, while Craig was in Company L.

Craig, born in Scotland in 1919 before immigrating with his family to Toledo, Ohio, in 1923, had enlisted in the U.S. Army in February 1941 as the likelihood of the United States entering the global conflict grew.

The following month Craig and the 15th Infantry Regiment left for Europe, participating in the November 1942 Operation Torch landings, cutting their teeth in Vichy-held French Morocco.

On July 10, 1943, however, the 3rd Division was place under the command of Gen. George S. Patton Jr.’s Seventh Army and tasked with job of taking Sicily during the Allied Operation Husky.

By day’s end, the 3rd Division had secured Licata and drove back a counterattack by the Italian 528th Coastal Defense Battalion while suffering less than 100 casualties.

On July 11, the division resumed its advance. Near the town of Favorotta, L Company encountered serious resistance on terrain short on cover or concealment, where a well-placed Italian machine gun position drove its troops to ground.

Three attempts were made to eliminate the obstacle, only to result in three failures with a lieutenant falling wounded during each attempt.

It was after the third failed attempt that Craig volunteered to have a go. In short order, his citation reads, he “snaked his way to a point within 35 yards of a point within 35 yards of the hostile position before being discovered.”

As he came under fire, Craig, armed with an M1 carbine, charged headlong at the machine gun nest and swiftly killed all three crewmen.

With the initiative back in their hands, Craig and his platoon advanced down the forward slope of the next ridge, only to encounter roughly 100 Italian troops.

Craig’s response was to signal his men back to the modest cover of the hill crest while he advanced, firing his carbine to divert enemy attention his way. At 25 yards, he dropped to one knee and, in quick succession, killed five enemy and wounded another three before being shot down himself.

“While the hostile force concentrated fire on him,” Craig’s citation continues, “his platoon reached the cover of the crest. Second Lt. Craig was killed by enemy fire, but his intrepid action so inspired his men that they drove the enemy from the area, inflicting heavy casualties on the hostile force.”

On May 26, 1944, Craig posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his valiant actions on the Italian coast. His father, William Craig, accepted the award on behalf of his son.

Buried in the Toledo Memorial Park in Sylvania, Craig’s name was subsequently commemorated on a Victory ship, the USAT Lt. Robert Craig, as well as a drawbridge, the Craig Memorial Bridge, spanning Route 280 over the Maumee River.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/02/06/the-medal-of-honor-recipient-who-lived-and-died-next-to-audie-murphy/

[deadz]

Trump, of course!