Battle of Mogadishu Anniversary - 1993

"Dear Lord, 
Lest I continue
My complacent way,
Help me to remember that somewhere,
Somehow out there
A man died for me today.
As long as there be war,
I then must
Ask and answer
Am I worth dying for?"
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Operation Gothic Serpent, Battle of Mogadishu, 3-4 Oct 1993

1st SFOD-Delta:
SFC Randy Shughart
MSG Gary Gordon
MSG Tim Martin
SFC Earl Fillmore
SSG Daniel Busch
SFC Matt Rierson

160th SOAR:
CWO Raymond Frank
SSG William Cleveland
SSG Thomas Field
CWO Clifton Wolcott
CWO Donovan Briley

75th Ranger Regiment:
SGT Casey Joyce
SPC James Cavaco
CPL Jamie Smith
SGT Dominick Pilla
PFC Richard Kowalewski
SGT Lorenzo Ruiz

10th Mountain Division:
SGT Cornell Houston
PFC James Martin

Not Quitting

I am guilty of quitting sometimes. More times than not I quit mentally. Or don't even try.

Here is an AWESOME article on not quitting. Read the whole article. It is worth the 3 minute read. Excerpts below.

Here is my simple question to you: Would you rather go without a meal for a day, or without a breath for two minutes? The brain has special circuits to warn you that you are dying and cause panic. Key West teaches you to turn them off. That is what killed Chuck.

......

Chuck didn’t remember much about crossovers that day, so I got another version from one of the cadre I knew. As the class was crossing the pool, they somehow provoked the ire of whistle guy. Probably displaying too much affinity for normal breathing. He was blowing the whistle pretty fast. I am sure they had procedures and limits, but I never figured out what they were. Safety cadre guy missed a head count because the pace was so quick. The second count was one guy short, but the class was back underwater before he could stop them. Chuck died peacefully at the bottom of the pool. He had no breathing, no pulse, and water in his lungs. His airway was completely obstructed by a swimming pool full of water. They finally stopped the drill and pulled the lifeless body of Chuck Gates from the bottom.

......

Chuck didn’t quit. You can’t beat a man like that; you have to kill him. Men like Chuck are exceptionally hard to kill, and Special Forces is filled with them. Be like Chuck.
 

My Mom and a Rescheduled Eagle Board of Review

There are a lot of things I am embarrassed that I did as a kid. One of them is the way I treated my Mom. I was horrible to her especially as my Dad was away on assignments for the military. She broke a handful of wooden spoons on my behind. I deserved it plus more. I even punched my Mom in the arm once. Not my most shining moment. It wasn't premeditated but that in no way excuses my behavior at all. You don't ever, ever hit your Mom. I yelled at her constantly and raised my voice often. Often my Mom would call my Dad and then hand the phone to me so he could "talk to me" in a very loud tone. Never fun. 

Recently I climbed out of my car to do an Eagle Board of Review. In the parking lot a boy was yelling at his mother. My gut reaction was "If this is my Eagle Board, we need to reschedule so he can think about what he did." This boy was my candidate. I called my boss, I talked to Mom and Dad and I talked to the Scout. I explained I was concerned about his actions. He took no accountability for his actions and explained it was his Mom's fault. Either way I asked Mom and Dad multiple times if rescheduling would hurt or help this boy. Both said help.

6 days later I met this boy again with Mom and Dad to hold his Eagle Board of Review. This boy was totally different. I met with Mom and Dad again ahead of time and explained some of the things I had done to my Mom and just wanted to get their son's attention. His Mom and Dad started crying thanking me for trying to help. Both explained that this has been a wake up call for their son. I hope the lesson sticks. I also hope I continue to get those gut feelings to help others.

After talking with Mom and Dad I went to talk to the Scout to tell him we was going to get a fair Eagle Board of Review. And he did. His Scout Spirit was different on try #2. He is a good kid. Hopefully he changes for good.

I know I have.

My Mom, a wood spoon and I!

A Guy with real priorities

This guy has all his priorities in the right place......and probably could kill me.

1. God.
2. Family.
3. Country.
4. Hook 'Em!!

Paying It Forward

I like soda. I like soda a lot. Like a lot a lot. Like more than I should. I would be healthier if I could give it up. It does have water in it though so that is how I hydrate. :)

When I go to pick up a fountain drink I usually pay for someone else's drink. I don't tell you this get you undying love. I am sure I already have that. The reason I do it is because it is usually very early in the day and people are still asleep when they show up to get liquid caffeine. It also takes them a minute to realize someone else has paid for their drink and by that time I am usually out the door or in my car pulling out. Sometimes I get caught though. I started this about a year ago and especially love paying for drinks for our police and firefighters. It doubles the price of my drink but for me paying such a small price to brighten someone's day is priceless. Especially when it is so unexpected.

This morning I paid for a guys coffee. He was very well dressed and after our conversation he climbed into his very expensive car. Before I could get out the door our conversation went like this:

Him: Why did you pay for my drink?
Me: Just wanted to.
Him: You paying it forward?
Me: Something like that. I just like doing it.
Him: I guess this means I have to do something nice for someone today. Oh man......
Me: It would be nice. It might brighten someone's day! Have a good day brother!

For me the small things are usually the things that matter to me most. Those who know me, usually family and close friends, know the things I like. I often feel selfish when people serve me or do something nice for me - I almost feel guilty and unworthy. It is something I am personally trying to work through and feel worthy of - others serving me.

I did get my drink free one day. The clerk went to ring me up and asked "Aren't you the guy that usually buys other peoples drinks?" I told her I sometimes do that and she sent me away with a free delicious, ice cold, sugar infused Mountain Dew Code Red. So I guess I have received blessings for doing something nice. I don't often get this returned blessing of a free soda until just recently. It is greatly appreciated!

Pay it forward friends. Selflessness is such a wonderful thing and so uncommon these days!! There are rewards for doing it. So my recommendation is get in line behind me and make sure I know you are there. I will pay for your drink.

Don't Give Up - Marathon Style

While competing in the marathon in Mexico City, Akhwari cramped up due to the high altitude of the city. He had not trained at such an altitude back in his country. At the 19 kilometer point during the 42 km race, there was jockeying for position between some runners and he was hit. He fell badly wounding his knee and dislocated that joint plus his shoulder hit hard against the pavement. He however continued running, finishing last among the 57 competitors who completed the race (75 had started). The winner of the marathon, Mamo Wolde of Ethiopia, finished in 2:20:26. Akhwari finished in 3:25:27, when there were only a few thousand people left in the stadium, and the sun had set. A television crew was sent out from the medal ceremony when word was received that there was one more runner about to finish.

As he finally crossed the finish line a cheer came from the small crowd. When interviewed later and asked why he continued running, he said, "My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race."

DFQ - Don't freaking quit. Put your head down and just keep moving.

Advice from a Navy Seal - Admiral William H. McRaven

Here is some advice from a Navy Seal:

1. Make your bed each morning.  If you can't do the little things right, you might not be able to do the big things right.
2. Find someone to help you paddle through life.
3. Measure a person by the size of their heart, not their flippers.
4. Get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving!
5. You will likely fail; you will likely fail often.  Don't be afraid of the circus.
6. Sometimes you have to go head first.
7. Punch a shark in the snout.  Don't back down from a shark.
8. You must be your very best at the darkest moments.
9. Start singing when you are up to your neck in mud.
10. Never, EVER EVER ring that bell!!

This is powerful message especially to our Scouts.

HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!

Encouragement

This guy lives in my neighborhood.  He has grown on me.  He is EVERYWHERE trying to share his message.

Watching out for each other

This past month I attended my son's District JV Wrestling match.  Wrestling tournaments are 6 minutes of action followed by hours of waiting around for your son's next tournament.  There were about 6 other schools there.

It was an interesting school night meet that didn't end until almost 11 PM.  I left about 8 PM after my son lost his last match.  I am very proud of him.  He again tried a new sport and you can see a real huge difference in skill from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.

I brought a magazine to read but at some point I was bored.  I started looking around.  I noticed a wrestler who obviously had some kind of disability.  He was sitting off in a corner.  His teammates each took turns sitting by him and talking with him.  It was great to see this team surround one of their members and make sure they feel like they are part of the team.  When this boy wrestled one of his own teammates, his teammates scored just enough points to win while allowing the boy to score points himself.  He didn't just let him win; he made him work for it.

Sometimes winning isn't anything.

You are a Scout wherever you are........even if you think no one is watching.

This story is touching and I hope all my Scouts grow up into this kind of man.  Once a Scout, always a Scout.

Powerful - Derrick Coleman

I think this says a lot about being able to speak to our Scouts in the way they needs to hear instead of the way we want to tell them.

What is in your backpack? - John Bytheway

These are very applicable to Scouting.....

This is another one called The Power of Choice.....

I choose to be happy........with a wicked sense of humor.  It is hard for me but I choose to be happy.

I did a hard thing - I climbed Tabletop

Growing up in southern New Mexico there were mountains around - not real mountains with snow but they were mountains.  One of my friends invited me on a very short day hike to a place the locals called Tabletop.  I over-packed (how I will never know but I guess I thought worse case scenario being a Boy Scout - it was the desert).  I won't lie; as a Scout I thought I was all that and a bag of chips.  So a group of us teenagers got dropped off at the foot of Tabletop.  Soon I was out of breath and had convinced myself that I couldn't make it to the top.  My friends encouraged me.  They told me I could do it but I gave up and sat beside the trail while they finished their hike and I sulked about not being the Scout I thought I was.  I was heartbroken.  Pretty lame thinking back about it now but at the time it was who I was.  I would like to think I am a bit tougher than that now.

Fast forward another year and I had the opportunity to climb Tabletop again.  My ego had been mended.  I packed a little less stuff and mentally prepared myself for the difficult climb.  I watched the spot on the trail where I gave up come and go while I continued on.  Within minutes I was at the top of Tabletop amazed by how close to the top I had given up on my previous trip.   Granted I wasn't 500 feet but I felt just like this Scout in this previous post but I had given up close to the top.  Maybe I am more like my Scouts than I am willing to admit. 

I look back today at my life and am able to recognize which things in my life have been hard.  Some still seem hard and some seem very easy.  I am a stresser and I recognized I spend more time than I need to worrying about things I just don't need to.  

David L. Beck talks a lot about doing hard things with our Scouts.   Scouting should not be a cake walk.  Scouts should always be challenging themselves and sometimes they won't succeed.  If we properly prepare them they should at some point be able to accomplish those things which are hard to do.  Maybe not the first time like my first assent to Tabletop.  I was prepared the second time.  I was mentally ready.  I was more physically ready.  I had fine tuned what I needed for the climb instead of putting everything in my back pack.  Maybe as leaders we should be fine tuning our Scouts.

Scout Spirit showed by my daughter

Thanksgiving week I had possession of all 5 of our kids.  I shuttled one son back and forth to his high school for wrestling practice Monday through Wednesday.  Wednesday evening we were planning on leaving to go to Houston to see my sister and her family and my parents were also driving in with my other sister.  My brother was going to be visiting his first granddaughter and my niece in Florida.  It was a full house.

On the last trip of the week to wrestling practice my youngest daughter asked to come with me to pick up her brother.  We stopped on the way home to pick up some over the counter medications because part of the family was dealing with colds.  My daughter asked to purchase a small bag of chips with $5 she had.  I agreed and followed her to the counter with my purchases.  As some stores do they ask each customer to donate $1 to some charity that helps and I cringed as the cashier asked if my daughter would like to donate.  I only cringed because my daughter has limited funds compared to most adults so I was hoping this would not embarrass her (I am generally more of a "lets do some service or spend some time" kind of guy instead of cash).  She said "Well of course!" and the cashier let out an audible "Awwwwwwwww....." as my daughter forked over the extra dollar.  It was a great example for me especially of living with Scout Spirit -- kind and thrifty and charitable.  Granted it was only a dollar but the percentage of money she "makes" each year makes that dollar look like a lot of money!!  CVS Drugstore will probably never know how hard it was (or maybe it was easy) for her to give up that $1 but my youngest daughter is a good kid with a great spirit about her.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner with commercialism and consumerism at all time highs as can be seen by stores opening actually on Thanksgiving.  Soon they probably won't even close.  My daughter's small act of giving $1 to help someone in need really set me into the holiday spirit.  Yes, I have plenty to be thankful and grateful for but I have more now to be grateful for knowing that she knows giving to those in need can help even if it was only $1.  

Jacqueline to Khrushchev

Washington, December 1, 1963.

Dear Mr. Chairman President,

I would like to thank you for sending Mr. Mikoyan as your representative to my husband’s funeral.  He looked so upset when he came through the line, and I was very moved.

I tried to give him a message for you that day—but as it was such a terrible day for me, I do not know if my words came out as I meant them to.

So now, in one of the last nights I will spend in the White House, in one of the last letters I will write on this paper at the White House, I would like to write you my message.

I send it only because I know how much my husband cared about peace, and how the relation between you and him was central to this care in his mind. He used to quote your words in some of his speeches-”In the next war the survivors will envy the dead.”

You and he were adversaries, but you were allied in a determination that the world should not be blown up. You respected each other and could deal with each other. I know that President Johnson will make every effort to establish the same relationship with you.

The danger which troubled my husband was that war might be started not so much by the big men as by the little ones.

While big men know the needs for self-control and restraint—little men are sometimes moved more by fear and pride. If only in the future the big men can continue to make the little ones sit down and talk, before they start to fight.

I send this letter because I know so deeply of the importance of the relationship which existed between you and my husband, and also because of your kindness, and that of Mrs. Khrushcheva in Vienna. I know that President Johnson will continue the policy in which my husband so deeply believed—a policy of control and restraint—and he will need your help.

I read that she had tears in her eyes when she left the American Embassy in Moscow, after signing the book of mourning. Please thank her for that.

Sincerely,
Jacqueline Kennedy

Quote - Character is not learned on the playing field - Coach Bryan Kenney

This story was awesome!  Please watch the video.  The code isn't working to embed the video.

Wakeland Wrestling Coach Bryan Kenney shared this message with many in the Northwest Independent School District: 

"We have all heard the quotes on how athletics builds character. I disagree. Athletics builds men and women by giving them a 'playing field' to reveal their character," he wrote. "Chris made all of the hard work the 'Wrestler from Wakeland' has put in, all worth it. They BOTH WON a medal at the J.J. Pearce Mustang Showdown. Thank you Chris and Coach McCready from the entire Wakeland community."