You Are Citadel Men

"You are Citadel Men, you have no pension for failure, you wear the Ring, you never let a friend down, you will be good fathers, husbands, and leaders in the armed forces and industry, you are strong in heart, body, and mind. You protect such things as Honor and Fidelity. Your virtues will matter ... you are the last of the knights." --Ronald Reagan

Counting the Cost

Excerpt from "Mere Christianity" -C.S. Lewis

The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.

We can only do it for moments at first. But from those moments the new sort of life will be spreading through our system: because now we are letting Him work at the right part of us. It is the difference between paint, which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He never talked vague, idealistic gas. When He said, 'Be perfect,' He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment.

That is why He warned people to 'count the cost' before becoming Christians. 'Make no mistake,' He says, 'if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for. Nothing less, or other, than that. You have free will, and if you choose, you can push Me away. But if you do not push Me way, understand that I am going to see this job through. Whatever suffering it may cost you in your earthly life, whatever inconceivable purification it may cost you after death, whatever it costs Me, I will never rest, nor let you rest, until you are literally perfect - until my Father can say without reservation that He is well pleased with you, as He said He was well pleased with me. This I can do and will do. But I will not do anything less."

It's a great day to be alive!

Ahh, life is wonderful, nothing better. I love enjoying every second of every day. There is nothing ever to worry about. YEEHAW. I am feeling goo - oo - oo - ood. mmmmhmmmm. The past two days have been some of the greatest in my life. Oh how sweet, yes how sweet! What better to post on a happy day then... happy-song lyrics: muahaha, more lyrics, MORE!!

I'm Just Me - Charley Pride

Down at the railroad station, there's people gettin' on.
Some are goin' north, and some are goin' south.
I'm just goin' to be gone.
Some people are born to be takers
Others just want to give.
Some people live just to love
I just love to live.

Well I was just born to be,
Exactly what you see.
Nothing more or less
I'm not the worst or the best.
I just try to be,
Exactly what you see.
Today and every day,
I'm just me.

Some people say that life is rough,
I wonder compared to what.
Some are wantin' more and more's gettin' less
I just want what I got.
Some wanna live on a hill,
Others down by the sea.
Some wanna live inside high walls
I just, want to live free.

Well I was just born to be,
Exactly what you see.
Nothing more or less
I'm not the worst or the best.
I just try to be,
Exactly what you see.
Today and every day,
I'm just me.

A Little Girl Just Four

This is a poem I wrote about a year ago. It might sound a little weird at first, but I think when you realize what I'm talking about, it'll make more sense.

A little girl just four,
Quietly reading a book.
Laughing, playing, caring
So innocent, so lovable.
She grows
Every look, every glance;
Motion, dead and act,
Cursed.
Yelling hatred.
Trampling, tramping.
No thanks from this girl
No love, no caring
Just hate, hate, hate.
Her heart
So bent on control.
Direction is hers.
Happiness is hers.
She's found her love.
She is complete.
Complete in destruction.
Every drop of rain,
So plenishing to life's needs,
Are tears to this girl.
She licks and drinks them.
Happily she plays in the pools.
Pools of grief.
Pools of sorrow.
She delights in it's satisfaction.
She laughs at the rain,
Devouring its pain.
Uttering hate, even more.
Encompassed by sadness,
She loves it!
All the more hate, is
All the more happiness.

Where is the Justice?
A mockery of this she makes.
What Justice?
There is none.
She hates, she receives.
No Justice.
None, it has vanished.
Alas, this is her way.
Who is this girl?
Oh, why is Justice forgotten?
She is I, yet she is you.
She lives in you.
All day she's calling.
Emersed by pain,
Loving its harsh reality.
Enjoying its every sting.
She lives on.
Never to die.
Never to be justified.
Some say there's an end.
But is there?
For so long she torments.
For so long she is victorious.
Is there an end?
Is there an end?
Perhaps,
But never for us.
Not while we are living.
We must kill ourselves.
She must die within us.
Her-our happiness must end.
Or forever, with her, spend.


Just in case you took it the wrong way... I'm talking about the sinful nature inside us and how we have, in a way, bit the hand that feeds us. God has given us life, breath... and then we turn on Him, we neglect his love, we hate Him. The rain in the poem signifies the tears God is crying over his lost people, over the rebellious ones. The sinful self relishes in God's sorrow...sinning more and more, without care or caution. There seems as if there is no Justice. Like it is lost. Why should this girl, this sinful nature, go on without any just punishment? She torments us. The only way to get rid of her, is to kill her within ourselves. To essentially, kill ourselves and become a new man...one who is thankful and forever committed to the God that so graciously created us and adorned us with so many blessings. One weakpoint in the poem, something I failed to bring out... was I never really mentioned how there will be Justice one day. One day the wicked, those who never turn from their sinful selves and continue to neglect God's offer of life and love, will suffer the eternal consequences and join the pitiful millions of souls who never knew God. Another note: I portrayed our sinful self as a little girl... and later as a girl, to kind of emphasize, at first, how innocent and caring a little four year old girl is...and then show the transformation into a devilish girl. Anyway, kind of a depressing poem I know... I'm not much for depression, but I think I did a pretty good job of showing the wretchedness of our sinful state... and the dire need to rid ourselves of it.

RANDOM LINE FROM 12:35AM

"And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time."

Can anyone tell me who sang that line in that song?... ouch, tough one.

Make my life a prayer to You.

Ok, I've been pathetic about writing anything of substance lately... just been throwing out lyrics and paragraphs...

Well, had my first track practice today. We will be training this season at Winter Park High School again... which is a great track and an awesome environment. Their team is over a hundred-strong, compared to our measly 20 athletes. During our practices there are runners from several other high schools and colleges from around the area practicing all kinds of events... from sprints to long jump or discus. We even have a few world-class athletes training for the World Championships or somethin'. But anyway, yeah, we have over 10 new people on our team, which is over half of our team...which is a really great and unexpected turnout. Several of last years athletes graduated, so we are left with only 9 returning runners, and 10+ new ones. I will be running the 800 meters this season, or the half-mile. I've been training consistently over the offseason and I really feel as if I'm ready to break it loose...and make it to State. Last season, when I won districts, I ran a 2:09.76 half-mile, lengthening my school record and of course, setting a new PR. This season, I plan on decreasing my time by AT LEAST 10 seconds. I'm hoping to break two minutes. Yeah, that's right... that means two sub-60 quarters. I'm up for it baby.. it will be done.

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer." --Romans 12:9-13

Let love be without hypocrisy. Getting called a hypocrite is really tough to swallow. It hurts. Sometimes, although we deny it at first, we find ourselves realizing the truth in being called a hypocrite. So many times, more regrets than anything else, I feel as if I've done so much damage to the God I stand for, rather than any real good. However, I should never find myself becoming low or depressed because of the mistakes of my past. I have to constantly be looking forward and not allow the Devil to tempt me to despair. I love the line in the old hymn, "Before The Throne of God Above," it says: "When Satan tempts me to despair, and tells me of the guilt within. Upward I look and see Him there, who put an end to all my sin. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free. I know that while in heaven He stands, no tongue can bid me thence depart, no tongue can bid me thence depart." I think that is so important! While we should learn lessons from the mistakes we make in the past, never, ever let it overtake you in grief, regret, or make you feel hopeless. There is always hope, because God is always there. So many times I've just wanted to give in. Just throw up my hands and take the easy way. The easy way of sinning and living a life away from God, neglecting his care and love...and living my own life. Appeasing the devil, only to be ensnared in the trap that he is setting...the trap of eternal destruction. So many times, people ask, why do the wicked prosper? Why does it always seem like they are prevailing... Where is God? But, we have to remember, that the earth is the devil's territory. The Devil knows God is coming, he know's he can't stop Christ's second coming. God will come back and free all the faithful on this earth. He'll set them free to live with Him forever... to enjoy the true goodness of Christ, to forever and eternally worship in ecstacy and awe the pure holiness and splendor of our Lord. Oh how I wish that day were today! Think about the amazement of standing before the glory of God, beholding the Creator of the universe, the eternal God. I cannot even imagine it. To be in the presence of the most perfect being, the one and only God. To see the most unreal, yet truly real being that has ever been or will ever be. But most of all... to see a God, who for some reason, came down to this earth, and lived among men. He came here and loved us, when we spat upon him, killed him, trampled his work on earth, and now despise His name in so many ways in this world... in spite of all this, he had compassion on us, and sent His son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for what we had done. And for what? What does God gain out of this, afterall, he is God, what more could he need or want? I'll never understand it... but for some reason too high for me to understand, God had compassion and desired to have a relationship with men and women on this earth. So now, we can come to God daily, at any time...and He's always there. Always caring, always watching... always loving. He teaches us lessons, He grieves in sorrow when we sin and neglect the blessings He freely bestows upon us. When we fall, He is the one who picks us back up. When we turn away, He is the one who convicts us, who sends that someone, or that event, or that experience, that turns us around and brings us back to communion with Him. When we love Him, he loves us back... when we hate him, He loves us just the same. And so, all we can do is try to wake up each morning, and renew our commitment each day to live for Him. To grow in that relationship... to somehow, someway give our lives to Him each day. To constantly make an effort to thank Him for what He has done, and is doing, and WILL do! God's Word is always there, there is always something new that is revealed to me each day... something more amazing than I ever thought it could be. So as I grow as a Christian, and mature in my relationship with Christ, I can constantly grow in fellowship with God, through His word, through prayer, through serving others, through giving our lives as a sacrifice to Him. I am so excited about what God is doing and will continue to do in my life. I must live for Christ, or I will live for nothing at all.

"Make my life a prayer to You. I want to do what You want me to. No empty words and no white lies, no token prayers, no compromise. I want to shine the light You gave, through Your Son, You sent to save us from ourselves and our despair. It comforts me to know You're really there. Well, I want to thank You now, for being patient with me. Oh it's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me. I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say... Oh, You're coming again, coming to take me away. I want to die and let You give, Your life to me, that I might live, and share the hope You gave to me, the Love that's set me free. I want to tell the world out there, you're not some fable or fairy tale, that I've made up, inside my head, You're God the Son, You've risen from the dead. Well, I want to thank You now, for being patient with me. Oh it's so hard to see, when my eyes are on me. I guess I'll have to trust and just believe what You say... Oh, You're coming again, coming to take me away."

Fall Out -- Train

Goodnight, my love.
Goodbye, the feeling of leading you into my life.
I ran with the wind in my face, I was proud.
I flew with my father when I was allowed.
I felt like a hero when I was with you.
Those days I felt God,
They were far, they were few,
They were mine.

Goodnight, my babies.
Goodbye the memories of showing you, my pride and my joy.
You are the angels
the worlds spinning for.
You are the reason I'll never need more.
I felt like a great man when I was with you.
Those days I felt, daughter,
They were far, they were few,
They were mine.

Fall out.
Fall in.
Fall out.
Fall in.

Goodnight, my friends.
Goodbye, the dreams that all danced their way into my life.
The horse of forever
We rode in our youth
We walked into heaven through hell in these boots
I feel a great love while I'm here in your arms.
You were all brothers
And fathers and sons,
You were mine.

Now I can finally see the light.
I can finally see you in the night.

Fall in.
Fall out.
Fall in.
Fall in.

I can finally see the light.
I can finally see you in the night.
I can finally see.
And I can finally see the light.
I can finally see you in this night.

(From the "We Were Soldiers" soundtrack)

33rd Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

33 years. Millions of innocent babies, murdered. The most innocent members of our society and they are allowed by law to be killed. What in God's name have we done. How can we smile ever again? I'm asking you, how can we ever smile again? Ever.

The We(a)k in Review

Well, this week has been good. I have gotten alot accomplished: went to my medical, ear, and eye exams for my NROTC Scholarship, read alot in Ben-Hur, enjoyed Daniel in the Bible, did two days of 400/500 pushups/situps, went running about 20 miles, and swam three days this week. Today's been pretty sucky, but hopefully that'll change here soon when I get some food in me and clean my room... which needless to say, is horrendous. There are papers and books and clothes and shoes and anything and everything strewn everywhere across the floor, dressers, bed... it's awful. I think I'm going to start writing down goals, or to-do lists for each day during the week. lol, Yeah I know I sound like I'm 60, but that's what it's coming down to. I need to get a little bit more organized.

Priority #1... GET BETTER AT FLUTTER-KICKS. I lost in a flutter-kick competition with another guy in my Sea Cadet Unit...absolutely inexcusable. I guess I did do 500 situps earlier in the day...but I still should have beat him. I gotta start seriously practicing flutter kicks 2-3 times a week. Hmmm, what else do I need to improve on... pullups, side-stroke, treading water, one-handed pushups, and I think I'm gonna start working with weights this week, or the next. Oh, and of course, I need to get better at eating. I HAVE to eat more. There is no way I can be exerting so much energy each day and not give my body enough nourishment, to not only sustain my muscles and strength, but to increase it.

Oh yes, haha, well I woke up on Thursday morning and I thought to myself, "Ya know what, I'm sick of my hair." So later that day, yep, that's right... I shaved it all off. Bald. I am now officially bald. When I first saw myself I was literally rolling, but not I'm starting to like it. I think it looks just fine, and I can see myself keeping it like this for awhile. Now, it's not skin-bald... as in, I didn't take shaving cream and a razor and get ride of the little spiky hair that's left. But I got it as close as it could go with the electric clippers... and well, that's pretty darn close. It's definately considered bald. My dad got pretty mad at me when I suggested shaving it skin-skin bald... but I'm gonna keep working on him and see if, after awhile, he'll let me shave it completely off. Anyway, that was an interesting occurence this week.

Well my brother is about to be deployed overseas somewhere. I don't know for sure where he's going but I have a general idea. He'll be second in command on the submarine during the mission, which will last about 5 months. Other than the CO, he is the guy in charge of making sure the mission is completed successfully. And I also heard that there might be some, special "baggage" aboard... if ya know what I mean. lol, I don't know how much I should disclose over the internet, I'm weary of really saying anything. Who knows what the terrorist scum might be looking at. But anyway, basically he'll be engaged in some sort of intelligence-gathering operation. He has a wife and two kids, and of course, it's going to be hard for them while he's gone, but they've done it before, and I'm sure they'll be able to manage for another five months. But I know its really hard on my brother to be away for so long without seeing his family.

Well, I sure have taken off on this blog thing. I think I've had a-blog-a-day for about two weeks now... not bad. I just need to be careful not to spend too much time on this thing, but so far, I think I'm doing pretty good. Alright, gotta get the food outta the oven..................................

God is good, ALL the time

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth."

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Father and Son

I can't get over how great this song is... anyway here it is.

Father and Son - Johnny Cash

(Father)
It's not time to make a change,
Just relax, take it easy.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to know.
Find a girl, settle down,
If you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy,
To be calm when you've found something going on.
But take your time, think a lot,
Why, think of everything you've got.
For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.

(Son)
How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again.
It's always been the same, same old story.
From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

(Father)
It's not time to make a change,
Just sit down, take it slowly.
You're still young, that's your fault,
There's so much you have to go through.
Find a girl, settle down,
if you want you can marry.
Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.

(Son)
All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside,
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it.
If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them you know not me.
Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away.
I know I have to go.

400 PUSHUPS 500 SITUPS

I'M SO AMPED RIGHT NOW! AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! NEW RECORD.... FOUR-HUNDRED FREAKIN' PUSHUPS, FIVE-HUNDRED FREAKIN' SITUPS. I am feeeeeeelin' goo-oo-ood. But man am I tired... out of my mind. My entire body is buzzing from fatigue... I was going to go run 7 miles and then go swimming... buuut I'm not sure about that now. We'll see. I'm pumped. Man, what a feeling. And I felt good the whole time too... felt very strong. The only thing - and this surprised me - the left side of my chest and arm was hurting a little today. Usually the pushups are the easiest for me... but today it was the other way around. After not being able to seemingly build up in my situps... I finally broke through today and had a GREAT situp workout. My pushups were great too..just I felt alot more fatigue. 400/500... oh ya.

"Yes, I Was a Singer of Songs"

Laziness has overtaken me. I sat down to write a post and now I don't feel like it. Hmmm, what does my conscience tell me. It is telling me to be lazy and just copy and paste some excerpt, lyrics, or quote.... so I'll follow my conscience. I'm going to post my all-time favorite song ever. This is the real deal... this has been my favorite song ever since I heard it about five years ago. It is by, of course, Johnny Cash and the title is.... "Sunday Morning Coming Down." A song that I believe portrays the life of Johnny Cash, the struggles he went through... yet it contains an unmentioned ray of hope, through the simple knowledge of Cash's life, and what he overcame. It is indeed, the greatest song ever written and sung. The writer, Kris Kristoferson, the singer... the one, the only, the Man in Black... Mr. J.R. "Johnny" Cash.

Sunday Morning Coming Down --Johnny Cash

Well, I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.
Then I fumbled in my closet through my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt.
Then I washed my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day.

I'd smoked my mind the night before
With cigarettes and songs I'd been picking.
But I lit my first and watched a small kid
Playing with a can that he was kicking.
Then I walked across the street
And caught the Sunday smell of someone frying chicken.
And Lord, it took me back to something that I'd lost
Somewhere, somehow along the way.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,
I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothing short a' dying
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.

In the park I saw a daddy
With a laughing little girl that he was swinging.
And I stopped beside a Sunday school
And listened to the songs they were singing.
Then I headed down the street,
And somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing,
And it echoed through the canyon
Like the disappearing dreams of yesterday.

On a Sunday morning sidewalk,
I'm wishing, Lord, that I was stoned.
'Cause there's something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone.
And there's nothing short a' dying
That's half as lonesome as the sound
Of the sleeping city sidewalk
And Sunday morning coming down.


Ok, I couldn't resist. I'm going to write a song review...

From the beginning you can tell this is a hangover song. This guy lives alone, never does his laundry, and has beer for breakfast and dessert. His life is obviously in a mess. It's sunday morning, right from the start you can tell that sometime, maybe a long time ago, in his childhood, Sunday morning was a day that he spent dressing up and going to church with his family. Now he's living alone in a small apartment, putting on his "cleanest dirty shirt" and stumbling donw the stairs to meet the day.

Along the sidewalk, the writes and singer takes you through the sights and sounds of a Sunday morning. In an almost dream-like, surreal narrative, Johnny Cash brings in the solemnity of a lost, dead-end life. It's almost as if he's behind bars, keeping him from experiencing and truly feeling those moments of "kicking the can" or "smelling fried chicken" that he'd lost somewhere, somehow along the way.

Faced with the realization and the depression of having lost it all... he goes to the one thing he depends on to forget it all. "On a Sunday morning sidewalk, I wish it, Lord, that I was stoned." He's alone, afraid, lost, regretful... he has to forget it all. But the Sunday Morning sidewalk keeps calling him... haunting him, reminding him of everything he's lost.

Again, he sees the laugh of a little girl, enjoying her time with her father... he longs to enjoy the laugh, to feel the laugh, to know what it's like to be that father, or to be that young child... so innocent, so free from worry and despair. Notice how the writer continually brings in the actions of children. The boy kicking the can, a little girl swinging with her daddy, children singing in Sunday school class. This shell of a man longs to be fulfilled with the simple joys of life the way he used to be. The way it was when he'd go to church with his brother Jack, the way it was when he would play kick the can, swing his kids, or have backyard cookouts.

And then the most piercing lines in the song. "Then I headed down the street and somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringing. And it echoed through the canyons, like the dissapearing dreams of yesterday." Through the emptiness of his soul, the lonely bell rings and reverberates the dreams that were lost and forgetton through the confusion of life and fame and despair. Through Cash's rusty, mono-tone, rough voice, you can painfully feel the yearning for those long lost days. For those days that are gone forever... doubtful to return. His nostalgic voice is too honest to not realize the truth in this song, the truth in his own life. After growing up a poor farm boy, having his mentor-brother die at age 10, become a famous singer, plummet into drugs, pills, suicide, drinking, divorce, and anger, have his life melt away before his very eyes as the pills became more frequent, the drinking more rampant, the vanity - overwhelming. So, here he is... on a Sunday morning, stumbling along the sidewalk... wishing he was stoned. His body is alone... is there hope? Is there a future?

Well if you don't know anything about Johnny Cash, know this. He crawled into a cave outside of Chattanooga, TN and had decided that it was all going to end there. He would just stay in that hole until his life was gone. And then, Cash later testifies, God showed him a light and gave him a second chance. After marrying June Carter, he began to quit his pills, stop the drinking, and began a long road to recovery. In the late 1990's, as his body began to grow older and more feeble... he had a severe case of arthritis and blood disease. He had a choice to either live with the pain, or to take pain-killers, but by taking the pain-killers, he would put himself in danger of becoming addicted again to the pills. He chose the pain. And he went on to record several more albums... singing and fulfilling his legacy to the last breath. He always said that, even if he had been in pain all the day long... when he walked into that studio room, and began to sing, his pain went away.. feeding off his passion for singing. Well after a longer than expected post... I'll leave you with another great song that Johnny Cash released...actually after his death. He worked on this album up until the time of his death and I think this song puts it all right.

Singer of Songs --Johnny Cash

I’m not a savior, and I’m not a saint.

The man with the answers I certainly ain’t.

I wouldn’t tell you what’s right or what’s wrong.

I’m just a singer of songs.

But I can take you for a walk along a little country stream.

I can make you see through lovers’ eyes and understand their dreams.

I can help you hear a baby’s laugh and feel the joy it brings.

Yes, I can do it with the songs I sing.

I’m not a prophet, and I’m not a priest.

I’m not a wise man who’s come from the East.

I wouldn’t tell you what’s right or what’s wrong.

I’m just a singer of songs.

But I can take you to a city where a man was crucified.

I can tell you how He lived, and I can tell you why He died.

I can help proclaim the glory of this mighty king of kings.

Yes, I can do it with the songs I sing.

I’m not a great man.I don’t claim to be.

But when I meet my Maker and He questions me,

I won’t hang my head. I’ll stand proud and strong

and say, “I was a singer. Lord, I was a singer.

Yes, I was a singer of songs."

Mountains and Rocks I've Hiked...

This my friends, is Mt. Elbert. Standing at 14,433 ft above sea level, this mountain is the second highest mountain in the mainland United States, and the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains. I hiked this in the Spring 2005 with my best friend. It was an 11 mile round trip hike, that we started at noon, and returned around 5:30. It was not too difficult, the beginning was really steep, and the winds were at around 40 mph along the ridge to the top. On our way up, three hikers were on there way down and they said that they turned around when they were 200 yards from the top because of a snowstorm. What a bunch of wimps... so of course my friend and I went on. And to make a long story short... we almost died a couple of times, cause of the blistering wind and the pelting snow and the treachorous, icy slopes... but is was incredible.
This here is Hallett Peak, this 12,713 footer was a very enjoyable hike. After the first three miles, the snow was so thick that we lost sight of the trail and we literally blazed our own trail through the snow... following our footprints back down.
Pikes Peak, 14,110 ft, was our first 14er that we did when we arrived in Colorado. It was 13 miles to the top... and we hitched a ride on the way down. It's a very popular mountain, you can drive to the top or take a train, or hike... few hike, but lots drive and take the train to the top, where there is a gift shop, train station, etc... its really quite demoralizing when you reach the top, after hiking 13 miles and gaining 7,800 feet in elevation, and you see all these people who just drove up.
This is Half Dome, 8,836 ft, is the landmark rock at Yosemite Ntl. Park. Again, my best friend, his dad, and I hiked this back in 2002. It was alot of fun... especially the 400 foot ladder that you have to climb to reach the very top.
At 14,255 ft, Long's Peak was quite a biggie. We probably could have made it to the top if it wasn't lightning, and a hail storm didn't hamper our efforts. But we got quite a ways up the trail, but then decided to turn around once we got above tree line because of the lightning that was striking right above our heads... literally.
And this little rock is Angels Landing. It's in Zion Ntl. Park... it's only 5 miles round trip. But the hike is very steep and at some points near the top you have to hold onto a chain to keep from falling off the trail. Oh yeah.. did I mention we ran UP the mountain... and back down.

"Pick The Wildwood Flower" --Johnny Cash

"Pick The Wildwood Flower"

Written by: J. Allen
Sung by: Johnny Cash


Those cottonfields were hot,
And that tractor never was my kind of livin'
And when I hit 16, I had my size and hit the road to freedom
And I'm glad I wasn't there to see my momma,
Cause she must have cried for hours.
I still hear her saying to me,
"Get your guitar and pick the 'Wildwood Flower'."

Now Memphis was big
And it was hard to find a job and so I didn't.
And it was easier to go back to the country
And it was more like livin'
Now I've been down every road
And I've stood on every porch where they were givin'
And if they had a dime or an hour, I would pick the 'Wildwood Flower'.

It's hard to turn around
And look back down the roads that I have traveled
Cause like a never-ending ball of twine,
My dreams have come unraveled.
Now as evening lays it's shower
Across the shoulders of my life, I find:
I couldn't tie my life together with guitar strings and a poet's heart-felt lines,
And I'm glad I wasn't there to see my momma
Cause she must have cried for hours.
I still hear her sayin' to me,
"Get your guitar and pick the 'Wildwood Flower'."



I LOVE this song. It was on the CASH: The Legend Box Set that I got a couple of months ago, this song really is amazing. That line, "I couldn't tie my life together with guitar strings and a poet's heart-felt lines" is indescribably perfect and amazing... When I first heard this song I almost had a heart-attack it was so good.. yeah and I'm 18.

Cash did not allow himself to be tied down by a genre of music, he transcended genres, he immortalized his voice and his music as simply his own... as simply, Johnny Cash.

Football Blues

Ah, I'm so pissed. Pittsburgh just beat the Colts. I hate no team more than I hate the Steelers. With Bill Coward, and Jerome-I-Can't-Breathe-Bettis, and all these stinkin' punks on Defense. Did I mention I don't like them. Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Green Bay are probably my most hated teams... well I don't really like Carolina or Atlanta. Anyway, I guess I can only talk so much, my Bucs didn't make it out of the first round. Pathetic. We need OFFENSIVE LINEMAN. So I'm 2-1 this weekend in predicting football games. I predicted that Seattle would beat Washington and that the Broncos would upset the "reigning champs" New England.. But I got todays game wrong. What a great 4th quarter though. That fumble at the end was mind blowing. That's the thing you dream of whenever you're down and the other team is trying to run out the clock with 2 min or less to go. You dream of somehow, someway that ball coming loose, and they always seem to hold on to it... But today, it actually popped loose.. too bad Indy couldn't take the fumble all the way for the score. Uh well.. such is life. Time for the Carolina-Chicago game... GO BEARS! but I picked the panthers to win..........

Life's too short - eternity's too long

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." Romans 12:9

It's time to stop screwing around. As the pastor today at church preached on, "Life's too short - eternity's too long." What we decide to do right here, right now during this short time on earth, will have eternal ramifications. Either abhor what is evil, completely and totally, or embrace it with every ounce of your being. So I go to church every week. So I read the Bible, so I say I'm a Christian. Well, what am I doing about it? Who am I witnessing to? When will I start praying as I should? When will I start acting like a man who has been redeemed by a God who has shown compassion to someone as lowly as myself? Why don't I start giving something back to God... how about giving Him everything I am.

Yeah, so here I am writing about what I need to do, on this meaningless blog, but three hours from now... a day, a week, a month.. what kind of a commitment am I really willing to make. I need to be constantly reevaluating myself. I'm sick of having the attitude that, "I've arrived." I'm here, I've done it, I'm a good person, "hey God, look at me!" Pride causes a lot of problems... namely complacency. Complacency leads to self-righteousness, which in turn leads to a neglect of God, which then leaves me alone to myself, wallowing in my sinfulness... right where I want to be, away from God. But no, I won't let that happen. I have to constantly and consistently fight for what I believe... fight against that sin in my own self that keeps dragging me down, producing guilt, fear, and despair.

God is faithful. Today's sermon was so fitting. God has blessed me so much with His message brought through Rev. Thompson today. The sin will always be there. But never should I let that fool me into thinking that I can just give into sin since it will always be present. Rather, I need to have a constant state of hatred for my sins, along with a zealous desire to pursue those things which are truly, inherently, purely good. I cannot arrange those two goals (hatred of evil, love of good) into: "Well first I'll start hating evil... and then I'll work on loving good." NO, those things go hand in hand. Through my desire to cling to what is good, I will start to hate sin and abhor evil. God is coming. Life is too short. I have to decide now... either to continue and be a complacent Christian, or be a Christian who is fervently in love and passionate about the God he serves.

"Yet the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair." O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord God. "Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the trangressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord God. "Therefore turn and live!" --Ezekial 18:29-32

"It's fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A"

Well, I've finally done it. Today I got a membership to the YMCA. FINALLY. Thank God. I've gotten fed up with not having a reliable location to swim, workout, etc. I'm really excited to be getting into the pool everyday now. I'm gonna be working on endurance... after about 12 weeks I'll be at non-stop breast or side-stroke for 75 minutes a day. This is the missing link I've been waiting for... I've got the running down, the pushups, situps, pullups down... and now I can get in the swimming, weightlifting, and if i want, bicycling. I want to someday try to compete competitively in the Ironman competition. Ya know, where you swim 2.4 miles, bike 107 miles, and then run a marathon. The biking part would be the toughest for sure... actually, the whole thing would be a killer. Anyway, right now I'm gonna just try to get to where I can swim 75 minutes, non-stop - a day. I still need to work on my side-stroke, I read the Navy's online instruction manual on how to do the stroke, but it would kinda help to have someone watch me and show me exactly how to do it. I also need to learn how to turn around at the end of the pool, like do that twist thing. That's a big problem... I know it's not hard; but again, I just need someone to teach me. Running has been great this week. I've gotten in 25 miles in four days so far. Today I'll be adding on another six, and same tomorrow.. so I'm looking at 37-38 miles this week. Nooot bad.

I NEED TO EAT MORE. I don't eat enough... in fact I need to go make myself a tuna-sandwich right now... but in closing... I need to foce myself to take the time and make myself vast amounts of food. Yesterday was my boiling point. For breakfast I had a bowl of cereal... WOW such nutrition!! Then for lunch.. guess what! An egg-salad sandwich.. now that is filling.. hah! Then I kinda.. but not really, made it up at dinner, where I had a fried-chicken breast and thigh, and some potato salad from Publix. But still.. absolutely no excuse. So this morning I ate a HUGE breakfast... I'm talking four eggs, a big bowl of grits (that's right you Yankees GRITS! lol), 8 slices of bacon, four slices of bread, three chocolate chip cookies, and a big glass of milk.

Ah, finally friday... I'm free again, I got my motor runnin' for a wild weekend. It's finally Friday I'm outta control.. forget the workin' blues and let the good times ro-o-o-o-o-ll! (from George Jones, "Finally Friday")

*** Happy Friday all ya'll ***

I was just surfin' the net today when I stumbled upon this article, or essay this guy wrote... I found it interesting and TRUE.

Boxing, Coffee, and Popping My Cherry

by Aaron Luhning

Three hours ago, I would have disputed the idea that drinking coffee can be good for a boxer. I have long been of the belief that coffee causes all sorts of maladies from hypertension, to irritability, to heart disease, and it can even stunt your growth (as my grandma used to tell me). My not drinking coffee is even part of who I am and of the type of person I'm known to be. I am one of few infantry officers or military personnel of all trades for that matter who doesn't drink coffee. Even in the field after being awake for days on end, I have vehemently denied myself the pleasure of downing a cup of java.

In terms of my effectiveness, and staying awake, it may have made things harder - I don't know, because I never succumbed to the temptation. I am a freak of nature in the military, a world where the daily trip to Tim Horton's is an orgiastic ritual. (Tim Horton's, for those of you not from Canada, is supposed to have the best coffee in the world, and every military base has one. To own a Tim Hortons next to a Canadian Forces military base is like printing money.)

It is impossible for people to believe I don't drink coffee when they ask if I want to go for a cup - "What! You're in the infantry, how can you not drink coffee?" I have always had the will power to resist based on my assumptions that it was doing nothing for me physically.

That was three hours ago, then I picked up a copy of Time that arrived at our house today and read the article "Measuring IQ Points By The Cupful" by Michael D. Lemonick. That article led to three hours of reading various scientific journals and the latest research on caffeine consumption as it relates to athletic performance. Guess what, right now, I am sipping on a cup of black coffee. My cherry has been popped, I am no longer a coffee virgin. After 31 years of abstinence, here's why:

The General Benefits of Coffee:

1. Memory Enhancing Ability: Evidence has shown coffee can significantly boost short term memory. ^1,2
   
2. Protection Against Disease: There is evidence coffee can protect against a host of health maladies and diseases such as liver damage, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, gallstones, depression, and even some forms of cancer. ¹
   
3. Brainpower Boost: It can heighten mental performance whether you are well rested or sleep deprived. In each state of sleepiness, tests have proven beyond a reasonable doubt, that coffee signficantly improves the brains ability to function. It is especially effective, and this may be obvious, when you are very sleepy. It gives you an extra boost of alertness, but most you probably already knew that.

Benefits of Coffee for Boxers:

1. Reaction Time Decreases: Coffee affects the CNS (Central Nervous System) and has been shown to increase neuronal excitability which heightens one's reflexes. ⁴ That's good news when you're trying to slip a flurry of punches.
2. Increases Endurance: Coffee increases lipolytic activity (fat breakdown) and increased fatty acids. These fatty acids are readily used as energy by your body in the place of muscle glycogen. Basically your body is able to last longer because it uses fat as energy as well as the energy found in your muscles - thus you don't burn out as soon. ⁴
   
3. Reduces Muscle Pain During Exercise: If you've done the workouts here or boxing workouts anywhere, you know your muscles take a beating. Tests have shown that people with caffeine in their systems during workouts have reported less muscle pain afterwards. ³
4. Increased Oxygen Consumption: One test showed a small but significant increase in oxygen consumption after 15 minutes of exercise. For a boxer, this means that you need to warmup at least 15 minutes before a fight in order to reap the benefits from your coffee in terms of your bodies ability to absorb more oxygen. ⁵
   

Alrighty, those are the major benefits I found, but isn't coffee a drug, and aren't drugs bad and addictive for you. Some studies have shown that caffeine behaves differently from other stimulants. The addiction isn't there. Tell that to a regular coffee drinker and they may disagree. But seriously, what are the bad things about coffee.

Coffee's Bad Side:

1. Increase in Blood Pressure: Coffee can increase blood pressure temporarily. If you are a normal, healthy person, this isn't a problem.
2. Problems in Females: Some studies have suggested coffee presents a higher risk of miscarriage in pregnant women and benign breast cysts. (highly controversial)
3. Heart Rate: Some studies seem to support an elevated heart rate, some don't (inconclusive). Too much coffee, though, does increase the heart rate, cause irritability, and can be harmful because of its diuretic and vasoconstricting properties. (means you have to pee and your arteries and blood vessels shrink

That's it. That's all I found worth mentioning. There were numerous older studies which suggested coffee might lead to bladder cancer, high blood pressure and heart disease, but every one of them has since been shown to be wrong. Being a healthy, male, boxer, I saw no reason not to try out the benefits of caffeine, so I popped my cherry.

How Much Coffee Should a Boxer Drink and When?

According to the research, ideally, you reap the most performance benefit from coffee if you drink 2-3 cups 1 hour before your match.⁴ There is also a benefit to having 2-3 cups of coffee spread throughout the day to keep you alert and focused (increased mental performance). Here's where it gets a little tricky. The human body will build up a tolerance (physiological tolerance) to the caffeine which means if you use it regularly, it eventually will not be as effective.

Here's the solution:

• When you are just training, have 2-3 cups a day spread throughout being careful to drink some an hour before your workouts to maximize the benefit there.
  
• When you are scheduled for a fight, go cold turkey for 2-3 weeks before the fight. (you will be motivated to train hard anyways.). Then an hour before your fight, drink maximum 2-3 cups. As well, be sure to warmup for at least 15 minutes prior to your fight to stimulate the oxygen absorbing enhancement.

There you have it. Disagree? I'd love to hear it before I do something evil to my body, but in the meantime, I'm giving coffee a chance.

References
¹Lemonick, Michael D., "Measuring IQ Points by the Cupful", Time Magazine: Canadian Edition, 16 Jan 2006.
²Radiological Society of North America, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/12/051212091544.htm, 12 Dec 2005.
³University of Georgia, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/09/030916073934.htm, 16 Sept 2003.
⁴Johnston, Syd, "Caffeine: More Than Just Your Morning Juice", http://www.afpafitness.com/articles/CaffeineAthletes.htm.
⁵American Physiological Society, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/07/020716075936.htm, 16 Jul 2002.

It's Time We Drill in the Gulf

The United States relies on foreign oil imports for over 60 percent of oil consumption in an average day. As a result of unstable foreign relations and natural disasters, gas prices have soared well above three dollars a gallon, creating a burden on consumers across the nation. Our country contains more natural resources than many Americans realize, yet we are not using them to their full potential. According to the Mineral Management Service (MMS), there are 44 billion barrels of oil that are technically recoverable in the Outer Continental Shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. It is time we utilize our own natural resources through expansion of the drilling program in the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmentalists and opponents of expanding the drilling program argue that increased drilling, particularly off the west coast of Florida, would create an environmental hazard and would hurt the tourism business for the state of Florida. They claim that thousands of birds, aquatic animals, and ecosystems would be damaged or destroyed if an oil spill were to occur in the Gulf of Mexico. Florida’s economy would suffer, they argue, by the hit the tourism business would take if such a disaster were to occur. To the common voter and apparently to Governor Jeb Bush, these all sound like strong and reasonable arguments. However, I will outline and explain several reasons how and why environmentalists and others have exaggerated and distorted the risk of an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Since 1982, the Gulf of Mexico has accounted for 20 percent of the United States’ oil production, pumping out approximately 25.3 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum. Since 1950 there have been 267 major oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico. A major oil spill constitutes a spill of at least 10,000 gallons or more. There are 42 gallons in a barrel. Therefore, using history as a basis of which to work from, we can conclude that an average barrel of oil being transported in the Gulf of Mexico has a .003% chance of being spilled.

Since 1992, NASA has been collecting altimetry data using four satellites which orbit the earth continuously. Altimetry is the study and analyzation of sea surface height and is the best way to map ocean currents from space. Utilizing this data, ocean currents are the strongest in the central part of the Gulf, directing their course in circles away from land and/or out towards the greater Atlantic. West Florida beaches are not in danger whatsoever of ocean currents carrying oil spills to their shores. In 2001, a request for expansion of the drilling program was denied and defeated by Governor Jeb Bush on fears that a possible accident or oil spill would ruin the thriving tourism business along Florida’s West Coast beaches. This action by the governor left the majority of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico free from offshore drilling. However, the proposed drilling sites are located hundreds of miles from the coast of Florida, and because of the contour and direction of the ocean currents, no threat is posed to Florida’s beaches or ecosystems.

The bottom line is that the oil drilling industry is much safer than many believe. Oil is a natural resource which comes from the environment. The environment has several ways in which it takes care of itself. Biodegradation and dispersing agents are highly effective in warm water environments such as the Gulf of Mexico. Micro-organisms, such as bacteria, feed off of the oil and eventually cause it to disperse and/or evaporate. Often gelling and dispersing agents are added to the affected area in order speed the process. Many oils, such as kerosene and gasoline contain a large amounts of flammable substances known as light ends, causing the gas to float on the surface of the water. Wave action and micro-organisms using biodegradation then break down the heavier components to lighter ones, and continue the process until the oil evaporates, greatly reducing and often times eliminating the toxic effects to the environment.

In an increasingly unstable world economy, the United States must finally look to its own natural resources for the supply that it so desperately needs. Self-sufficiency in oil and gas would lower energy prices, boost our economy, and release us from the political and economic ties we are forced into with major oil-producing countries. Call or write your representatives in the Florida State Government and let them know that their constituents believe we need to expand the drilling program in the Gulf of Mexico and finally utilize 44 billion barrels of our own natural resources.

The Pros and Cons of Protectionist Policies

The increase in tariffs for particular imports are actions taken by governments to stimulate failing domestic industries in order that they become more competitive in the world market. This policy, known as trade protection, has been the subject of many debates and critiques by economists and politicians for years. Those in favor of such policies believe that imposing harsh tariffs on foreign goods will shield domestic workers from foreign competition, nurture infant industries until they can be competitive in the world market, and help domestic firms establish global monopolies. However, opponents argue that the most economical, efficient, and beneficial method of growth is acquired not by protecting the more costly, burdensome domestic industries with their higher prices, worker unions, and lack of productivity, but rather by trading with foreign industries who provide mass amounts of quality, manageable and cheaper goods and services.

In order for domestic jobs to be retained, advocates argue that governments must “protect” these jobs from foreign companies and industries. If free trade was allowed, protectionist advocates argue, then trade relations with foreign businesses would force domestic firms and industries to shut down, leaving the jobless workers untrained and unprepared for work in another field. However, under protectionist policies, prices would inevitably rise and the availability of goods and services would decrease, resulting in inefficiency and financial losses as a whole. The question then becomes, “Is it worth protecting the interests of the few, while damaging the interests of the whole?” Those in favor of protectionist policies usually would favor protecting the interests of the minority, the few, as opposed to benefitting the whole of the population.

Another argument made in favor of trade protection, is the argument that in order to “nurture” infant industries, trade tariffs must be imposed on foreign goods temporarily, until those industries become competitive enough in the world market to survive without tariff protection. Although this sounds logical, history has proven this policy to be difficult and unsuccessful while prospects for future successes are bleak and doubtful. Some Latin American countries employed this practice in the 1950s and 1960s by imposing tariffs on foreign goods to stimulate their young manufacturing industry. However, the industries were never able to become efficient enough to be competitive and their attempts to “nurture” these industries ultimately failed.

Lastly, protectionist policies are often enacted to allow domestic firms to form monopolies in the world market, completely shutting out foreign competition and collecting all revenues in that particular industry. Again, this risky and expensive policy has not been proven to truly work in reality. This policy would allow for governments to fund certain domestic firms in order that they form a monopoly. However, often times, other countries will counteract protectionist policies and create a “trade war” by greatly increasing funding of their domestic firms in the same industry, causing both countries to suffer financially and economically. Often the opportunity cost is greater to “share” the market with foreign suppliers than to attempt to create a monopoly for domestic firms.

Trade protection is a complex and hotly debated policy that has been the focus of many groups and organizations. The North American Free Trade Agreement’s (NAFTA) goal is to eventually reduce and eliminate trade tariffs between North American countries over a period of several years. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is attempting to do the same, yet is facing a much more difficult and strenuous task of eliminating tariffs globally. Often times political views decide whether protectionist policies should be enacted or not. The question arises again, “Is it worth protecting the interests of the few, while damaging the interests of the whole?” Conclusively, protectionist policies as a whole have not been proven reliable and successful enough in the past to be enacted and employed in the future

Darn... I'm it.

Two Parts of Your Heritage
1. Pure-Bred American
2. Florida/Indiana
Two Things That Scare You
1. Howard Dean
2. Diving deep underwater (Exactly why I want to be a Navy Diver)
Two fears you overcame
1. Running through this forest near my house at night
2. Swimming across an alligator-infested lake in the middle of the night, with all my clothes on.
Two of Your Everyday Essentials
1. COFFEE
2. PT
Two things you are Wearing Right Now
1. blue polo
2. SHOES! surprise.
Two things you wore too much this year
1. jungle boots
2. shoes in general
This year's Favorite Bands or Musical Artists
1. Johnny Cash
2. Waylon Jennings
Two Things You Want in a Relationship
1. talking, talking, talking
2. marriage
Two of your favorite Movies of the Year
1. Walk the Line
2. Band of Brothers (yeah so what if its a mini-series)
Best movies of all time
1. Happiest Millionaire
2. We Were Soldiers
Two things You hate
1. disrespectful young people
2. abortion
Two of Your Favorite Hobbies
1. hiking 14'ers in the Colorado Rockies.
2. laying out on the beach, that's a hobby right?
Two things you learned this year
1. That I've always wanted to join the Navy
2. God is faithful all the time.
Two Accomplishments You are Proud of
1. Climbing the 2nd highest mountain in the mainland United States.. Mt. Elbert 14,433 ft.
2. Getting accepted to the Citadel and getting it all paid for by the US NAVY.
Two Things You Want Really Badly
1. To be retired... as in be around 60-70. But I'll settle for just getting respected by older folks.
2. To see my family every day... My sisters in Mexico, my brother who's deployed, my sister in Chattanooga.
Two place you went this year.
1. Road trip to Colorado and California
2. Road trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Vermont.
Two Places You Want to go on Vacation
1. Grand Teton Ntl. Park, Wyoming or really anywhere out west
2. New Zealand
Two Things You Want to Do Before You Die
1. Retire from the Navy as an Admiral
2. Get married and raise a big family.
Two Ways that you are a Stereotypical Example of your Gender
1. I hate fags, especially fags who try to erase the masculinity of my gender, like being a DARN COWBOY. THAT'S RIGHT COWBOYS ARE STRAIGHT MASCULINE MEN.
2. I live and breathe for football.
Two things that make you stand out.
1. haha... my cheerfulness and constant state of happiness and my trademark greeting: "HOWDY!"
2. my eagerness to work hard
Two Things You Normally Wouldn't Admit
1. I sometimes find it easier for myself to have conversations of substance with girls than with guys. Alot of guys my age are just plain stupid.
2. I sometimes only brush my teeth once a day, lol.
Two Goals for the New Year
1. Become a stronger Christian than ever before
2. Become incredibly physically fit in every way, shape, and form.


I TAG NO ONE.

God's Invasion

Excerpt from C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity"

This is a must-read. I am reading this book for the second time in a row, I will probably start it over again as soon as I am done the second time. He puts Christianity plain and simple, yet doesn't dumb it down whatsoever. He was one of the greatest apologists of the 20th Century.


"Another possible objection is this. Why is God landing in this enemy-occupied world in disguise and starting a sort of secret society to undermine the devil? Why is He not landing in force, invading it? Is it that He is not strong enough? Well Christians think He is going to land in force; we do not know when. But we can guess why He is delaying. He wants to give us the chance of joining His side freely. I do not suppose you and I would have thought much of a Frenchman who waited till the Allies were marching into Germany and then announced he was on our side. God will invade. But I wonder whether people who ask God to interfere openly and directly in our world quite realise what it wil be like when He does. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on the stage the play is over. God is going to invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else--something it never entered your head to concieve--comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left? For this time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it has become impossible to stand up. That will not be the time for choosing it: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realised it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave it."

NROTC Scholarship Papers

The Navy's core values are Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Please discuss a situation where you demonstrated one or more of these qualities and why that value is important to you.

While growing up, my Grandma had an enthusiastic motto for our family. She would often say, “We’re the Spalding Do-Its, we don’t talk about it, we don’t think about it, we don’t dream about it, we just do-it, do-it, DO-it!” That family motto exhibits two of the values that have deeply influenced my life: commitment and honor.
With my family behind me every step of the way, my commitment has led me to passionately persevere through all my challenges and to accomplish all of my goals. An excellent example of my commitment would have to be this past election year. I volunteered my time and efforts with several political organizations, even though I was not old enough to vote. Nearly every single day of the months leading up to election day I consistently assembled and distributed thousands of signs and bumper stickers, called hundreds of my fellow citizens, went door-to-door for weeks, and aided in organizing rally’s and meetings with constituents. I would not allow my inability to vote to discourage me from making a difference in my local, state, and federal governments.
The unbreakable bond which runs through my family deserves nothing less than my honor and commitment. My parents wise counsel, discipline, and guidance have instilled in me a sense of pride, honor, and appreciation for their sacrifice. My last name is more to me than just something to be identified as or a name to be written on forms or documents. I am honored to be a part of a family that has meant so much to me. I was born a Spalding and will always be one. Honor is important to me because it reflects and rewards true character by imparting respect and reverence to those individuals and ideas which contain knowledge, wisdom and authority that must be considered, respected and eventually applied. Most importantly, my parents and family have instilled in me a desire to serve others with the same commitment and dedication their example has taught me, an example of honor and of a strong commitment to “do-it.”


Explain your greatest influence in applying for NROTC Scholarship Program.

My greatest influence in applying for the NROTC Scholarship Program has been my desire to receive a college education while becoming a Naval Officer. I strongly believe that I have the qualities and characteristics to successfully complete NROTC and serve my country through my leadership and diligence. The opportunities of the NROTC Scholarship Program would provide me with an excellent, disciplined education, while molding my body and mind into a U.S. Naval Officer. I have considered enlisting at my local recruiting office, but I also have a desire to continue my education further through college. Also taken into consideration, has been the possibility of going to college and enlisting afterwards. However, after much thought and examination, I strongly feel that with my passionate desire to serve my country, along with my desire to attend college, the NROTC Scholarship Program is the perfect opportunity to fulfill both of my ambitions.
I believe that discipline through college is the perfect method to receive a well-rounded education, one that goes beyond academic standards and instills qualities and values into the hearts and minds of students. Without a doubt, this is the perfect environment that I want and need. The influences that have led me to apply for this scholarship have come to me so many times and in so many ways. Most definitely, the NROTC Scholarship Program will allow me to fulfill my full potential as a student, a person, and an aspiring Naval Officer.


Discuss your reasons for wanting to become a Naval Officer.

My roots and simply, my love for the Navy, have inspired and influenced me to pursue the career and commitment of being a US Naval Officer. In 1994 and 1996, my two brothers enlisted in the Navy. One has been out for five years, the other was just recently commissioned as an Officer in the United States Navy. The Navy has been in my heart and on my mind since I was very young. I still remember ironing on stripes and bars onto my blue dress shirt, shining my shoes, and wearing my brother’s sailor’s hat. In my room is a cabinet full of folders and notebooks loaded with information that I researched and wrote about the Navy and military history. In a 4th grade class contest, I won first place for my presentation on the US Navy and for the surprisingly intelligent summaries and narratives I wrote on Naval ships, planes, history and traditions. I have aspired to join the Navy ever since these early days as a child. From reading letters written from my brother in Bahrain, to watching him proudly be commissioned as an officer, my desire to join him in the US Navy has only grown and grown.
I have given so much consideration and thought to pursuing a career as a Naval Officer. This is not a fleeting desire, but a deeply-rooted goal that I have had for years. I believe that this goal will lead me to make a profound difference in the US Navy. As a US Naval Officer, I believe that through my example, I will inspire others to passionately pursue and conquer every challenge and every obstacle that we will encounter during the task of protecting this country.


What do you feel has been your greatest accomplishment to date?

My involvement and service during four missions trips to the South American country of Peru has undoubtedly been the greatest accomplishment of my life. During those four summers, my church and I had the opportunity of holding a basketball camp for orphaned street children. These children are treated like trash on the streets of Peru, often resorting to theft, prostitution and drugs to stay alive and to ease the pain of their miserable lives. Each morning we taught the kids the basic fundamentals of basketball, began drills, and split-up teams. I had the privilege to be able to coach one of those teams. I’ll never forget those moments with my team, when somehow, someway I could see a faint glimpse of a person without the scars, without the pain and without the loneliness. When actually loved and cared for, these kids, who have grown up in the most wretched and horrific conditions, have just as much compassion, ambitions and interests as any other normal child or teenager would have. The opportunity to be able to make and sustain relationships for four straight years, was an experience and an accomplishment unlike any that I have ever known. I truly believe that we changed lives through our yearly trips to that street child center. For us to be able to break the stereotype of Americans, and to show that we are human beings who care and love just like them, was an accomplishment unlike any other. The ability to go out on the streets of Peru and to feed and care for the sick, the homeless, the prostitutes, the children, and the outcasts gave hope and the possibility of a future to those who had none. Building relationships and creating cross-cultural friendships with those kids through a simple game of basketball, was an accomplishment in my life that will never be forgotten and never taken for granted.



...I believe that these papers were the reason I got accepted for the Four-year NROTC Scholarship. I didn't have that great of SAT or ACT scores, I'm not that great in math or science, but I really, really worked hard on these papers and I'm sure they helped alot towards getting that scholarship.

"A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood."

Ok, i'm getting addicted to posting constantly, this is keeping me from reading and doing homework and blah blah blah.. but hey I'm a senior i can do whatever i want, right? right? wrong. Hmm, let's see just did a new record 300 pushups and 400 situps in one hour. I tell you what, situps are a killer, I just can't seem to get comfortable. Pushups I can bang out easily, but I always get tired after my 2nd or 3rd set of situps and it's tough through all the sets. So this week, 15x20 pushups and 15x25 situps. Like I said in my last post, i love PT.

I'm tired, I need to go read "Ben Hur" and "The Bible" and "Mere Christianity" and "The FairTax Book" and yeah.

"A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood." -- General George Patton

Life is good... all the time.

Today I was elected editor of our school newspaper. Yay, whoop-dee-do. I was running against two others who were assistant and layout editors during the last issue. They did a terrible job of working together with newer students to the class, and did not manage our newspaper well AT ALL. For example, we started working on last semester's paper in August, and guess what... it STILL is not out. It's because they (the editors and layout editors who were in last years class) think they don't need to work with the new students... therefore miscommunication and lack of organization resulted, hence the paper is still not out. But after being elected in a landslide, lol... I believe I will bring stability and order to this process, and actually work with everyone on their stories and make sure that everything is perfect BEFORE we try to put it into the computers. So yeah, that was pretty cool. I didn't even know we were having the election today and I wasn't sure if I even wanted to run. But after I saw that no one else, other than the dictators from the previous regime, wanted to run, I decided to give it a shot.

GREAT RUN today. Ran for 7 miles in about 58 minutes. Still tonight I got about 300 pushups, 400 situps to do... so that should be fun. Something to look forward to. I've really been enjoying doing two finger pushups, one-handed, wrists-bent-back pushups, lol.. and "attempting" knuckle and one finger pushups. Ah, I about broke my knuckles today trying to do it on my two main knuckles, lol... that was humorous. I love PT.

Went to Lake-Dumpster today... lol, aka Lake-Sumter Community College. Probably the worst community college in the country (they must REALLY be awful). This place is a dump, but the teacher I have is OK. I'm dual enrolling there and taking College Algebra. My teacher over-explains everything though. That'll be good when we get to the tough stuff, but right now we're on review, and she is taking way too much time on this simple stuff.

Ok, I'm gonna try and do this every day. Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books. This passage is amazing, so convicting and true.

Passage of the Day: Ecclesiastes 2

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds.

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And this was my reward from all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?—

So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me.
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them.
I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,
For my heart rejoiced in all my labor;
And this was my reward from all my labor.
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done
And on the labor in which I had toiled;
And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind.
There was no profit under the sun.
Then I turned myself to consider wisdom and madness and folly;
For what can the man do who succeeds the king?— Only what he has already done.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly
As light excels darkness.
The wise man’s eyes are in his head,
But the fool walks in darkness.
Yet I myself perceived
That the same event happens to them all.
So I said in my heart,

“ As it happens to the fool,
It also happens to me,
And why was I then more wise?”
Then I said in my heart,

“ This also is vanity.”
For there is no more remembrance of the wise than of the fool forever,
Since all that now is will be forgotten in the days to come.
And how does a wise man die?
As the fool!

Therefore I hated life because the work that was done under the sun was distressing to me, for all is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to the man who will come after me. And who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule over all my labor in which I toiled and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity. Therefore I turned my heart and despaired of all the labor in which I had toiled under the sun. For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; yet he must leave his heritage to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, without God. For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

Zoomie, Rambo, Top Gun, *grunt*

US Air Force "Oath of Enlistment"

I, Zoomie, swear to sign away 4 years of my useless
life to the United States Air Force because I know
I couldn't hack it in the Armyand because the Marines
frighten me.

I swear to sit behind a desk and take credit for
the work done by others more dedicated than me who
take their job seriously.  I also swear not to do
any form of real exercise, but promise to defend our
bike riding test as a valid form of exercise.  I
swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the
United States, even though I believe myself to be
above that.  I promise to walk around calling everyone
by their first name because I know I'm not really in
the military and I find it amusing to annoy the other
services.

I will have a better quality of life than those
around me and will at all times be sure to make them
aware of that fact.  After completion of my *snicker*
"Basic Training", I will be a lean, mean, donut-eating,
lazy-boy sitting, civilian-wearing-blue-clothes,
Chairborne Ranger.  I will do no work unless someone
is watching me (and it makes me look good), will annoy
those around me, and will go home early every day.

I consent to never getting promoted (EVER) and
understand that all those whom I made fun of yesterday
will probably outrank me tomorrow. So help me God.

___________________ _______________________
Signature           Date


=====================================================

US Army "Oath of Enlistment"

I, Rambo, swear to sign away 4 years of my mediocre
life to the United States Army because I couldn't
score high enough on the ASVAB to get into the Air Force,
I'm not tough enough for the Marines, and the Navy won't
take me because I can't swim.

I will wear camouflage every day and tuck my trousers
in my boots because I can't figure out how to use blousing
straps.  I promise to wear my uniform 24 hours a day even
when I have a date.  I will continue to tell myself that
I am a fierce killing machine because my Drill Sergeant
told me I am.

I acknowledge the fact that I will make E-8 in my first
year of service, and vow to maintain that it is because
I scored perfect on my PT test.  After completion of
Basic Training, I will attend a different Army school
once every other month and return knowing less than I
did when I left.

On my first trip home after Boot Camp I will walk around
like I am cool and propose to my 9th grade sweetheart. 
I will make my wife stay home because if I let her out
she might leave me for a smarter, better looking Air
Force guy.

While at work, I will maintain a look of knowledge while
getting absolutely nothing accomplished.  I will arrive
to work every day at 1000 hrs because of morning PT and
leave every day at 1300 to report back to the "COMPANY." 
I understand that I will undergo no training whatsoever
that will help me get a job upon separation, and will end
up working construction with my friends from high school. 
I will brag to everyone about the Army giving me $30,000
for college, but will be unable to use it because I can't
pass a placement exam.  So help me God.

_________________________ ___________________________
Signature                 Date


=========================================================

US Navy "Oath of Enlistment"

I, Top Gun, in lieu of going to prison, swear to sign
away 4 years of my life to the United States Navy because
I want to hang out with Marines without actually having to
BE one of them, because I thought the Air Force was too
"corporate," and because I thought, "Hey, I like to swim...
why not?"

I promise to wear clothing what went out of style in 1976
and to have my name stenciled on the butt of every pair
of pants I own.

I understand that I will be mistaken for the Good Humor
man during the summer, and for Waffen SS during the
winter.  I will strive to use a different language than
the rest of the English speaking world, using words like
"deck, bulkhead, cover, and head" when I really mean
"floor, wall, hat, and toilet."  I will take great pride
in the fact that all Navy acronyms, rank, and insignia,
and everything else for that matter, are completely
different from the other services and make absolutely
no sense whatsoever.

I will muster (whatever that is) at 0700 hrs every
morning unless I am buddy-buddy with the Chief, in
which case I will show up around 0930 hrs.  I vow to
hone my coffee cup handling skills to the point that
I can stand up in a kayak being tossed around in a
typhoon, and still not spill a drop.  I consent to being
promoted and subsequently busted at least twice per
fiscal year.  I realize that, once selected for Chief,
I am required to submit myself to the sick, and quite
possibly illegal, whims of my new-found "colleagues." 
So help me Neptune.

______________________ _______________________________
Signature              Date


======================================================

US Marine Corps "Oath of Enlistment"

I, state name here, swear...uhhh...high-and-tight...
*grunt* cammies...ugh...Air Force women...  HOORAH! 
So help me Corps.

_______________________ _____________________________
Thumb Print             Date

Is life worth living?

Bucs lost today. Hence the depressing title. That's basically ruined my day, a day that was pretty darn good considering I spend 5 hours washing cars in 40-50 degree weather. So I have to wait an entire year for a new start. We killed ourselves... Interception resulting in a touchdown, a fumble resulting in a touchdown. We allow Washington to gain a MEAGER 122 yards of TOTAL OFFENSE. That's like going down the field one time plus a lil... and we still found a way to beat ourselves. Edell Shepherd drops a game tying touchdown pass placed perfectly in his arms with 2 min to go. Yeah, I guess you could say we killed ourselves. Ridiculous. Absolutely appalling. Our first pick in the next draft has GOT to be an offensive lineman. Then the 2nd, then the 3rd. Don't get me wrong, I'm not losing faith, I'm just... just giving some frustration-filled-constructive-criticism (man double-alliteration). Anyway... just forget that part of my day ever occured and the rest was just fine.
[Picture: Edell Shepherd drops the potential game-winner]

Well I had an ok time washing cars with our Sea Cadet Unit. It wasn't all that cold... even though I was in shorts and a t-shirt for the majority of the day. We had an awesome ex-marine stop by and talk for awhile... man I tell ya, he was hardcore. But when it came to washing... it was at times, chaotic. There was little or no coordination during most of the day. I was amazed at how people think they can just get by without doing a complete, efficient and honest job. What ever happened to integrity? Most of the guys (and our only-gal) are great cadets and do their jobs with integrity and enthusiasm, but there are a few, I have witnessed, that just think they can half-ass their way through everything, taking and snatching every opportunity to cut a corner, or refusing to admit error or take correction (I'm not just talking about the car wash now). I guess the best way to change that is to lead by example, I might just be a Seaman-Apprentice, but being the oldest one in the unit I feel like I can have some sort of positive influence on these guys. And so tomorrow, that's what my mission is, to try to exercise some "leadership skills," oh boy!

When we got back to the AL (American Legion), we had a great, great time. Through some subtle hints (haha through me), I go our PT Midshipmen to run us through some drills and runs. We did some indian runs, some group pushups... wow those were fun and uh, well interesting. Ah what else, lots of flutter kicks, knockout drills, more pushups. Hopefully we'll do more PT tomorrow... much to the dismay of my fellow ... at least most of them. There's really only one or two other guys who take pleasure in PT cadets, or at least can hangle it. Again, same thing here, people gripe and complain about doing a few pushups. And mind you, this is a high school organization. I'm talking doing 20 pushups is difficult to some of these guys. PATHETIC! And we are one of the best units in the country! I wish so badly that I would have joined this unit earlier and could have been senior in rank to everyone and lead PT. I would make these guys beg... beg like a dog... for mercy. "No, no sir, not another 5 miles." Ok, that's true, 5 miles is too short, make it 10! lol... one day maybe. Although I gotta be careful how much I love PT. I just recently watched the "Band of Brothers" series, and I most certainly do not want to turn into a Captain Sobel, now Captain Winters, he was a good leader.. there's a role model.

Hmm, a friend just called and said they have a fire going and hot dogs and marshmellows. Ah I'm tired though, I want to collapse on my bed. Hmm, what to do... what to do. We'll see, I'll do whatever I sporadicly and spontaneously decide to do at whatever time tonight. AH, I've written too much, this blog thing is really taking a hold of me.. I should go read more.



... ok bed wins... goodnight.

FINAL WWII TIMELINE

WORLD WAR II AMERICAN CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES

1941
- Philippines Islands Dec 7 – May 10, 1942 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/pi/PI.htm
- Burma (First Phase) Dec 7 – May 26 1942 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/burma42/burma42.htm
- Defense of Wake Island Dec 8-23 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Wake.html


1942
- East Indies Jan 1 – July 22 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/eindies/eindies.htm
- Java Sea Campaign Jan – Feb http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/index.html
- Battle of Balikpapan Jan 24-25 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/USN-CN-JavaSea-6.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/balikpapan.htm
- Battle of Madoera Strait Feb 4 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/USN-CN-JavaSea-8.html
- Battle of Banka Island Feb 13-14 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/USN-CN-JavaSea-9.html
- Battle of Badoeng Strait Feb 18-19 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/USN-CN-JavaSea-12.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/badung_strait.htm
- Battle of the Java Sea Feb 27 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Java/USN-CN-JavaSea-15.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/java_sea.htm
- Battle of Sunda Strait Feb 28 – March 1 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/sunda_strait.htm
- India-Burma Campaign April 2 – Jan 28 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/indiaburma/indiaburma.htm
- Battle of Coral Sea May 7-8 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Coral/index.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/coral_sea.htm
- Aleutian Islands Campaign June 3 – Aug 24 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/aleut/aleut.htm
- Battle of Midway June 4-7 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Midway/index.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/midway.htm
- Egypt-Libya Campaign June 11 – Feb 12 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/egypt/egypt.htm
- China Defensive Campaign July 4 – May 4 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/72-38/72-38.HTM
- Papua Campaign July 23 – Jan 23 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/papua/papua.htm
- Landing on the Solomons Aug 7-8 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Solomons/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003122-00/index.htm
- Guadalcanal Aug 7 – Feb 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/GuadC/GC-fm.htm http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Guadalcanal.html http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/72-8/72-8.htm http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Guadalcanal/index.html
- The Battle of the Eastern Solomons Aug 23-24 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/eastern_solomons.htm
- Battle of Savo Island Aug 9 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Savo/index.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/savo_island.htm
- Battle of the Eastern Solomons Aug 23-25 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-ESols/index.html
- Battle of Cape Esperance Oct 11 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Esperance/ http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/cape_esperance.htm
- Battle of Santa Cruz Islands Oct 26 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-SantaCruz/index.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/santa_cruz.htm
- Landings on North Africa (TORCH) Nov 8-11 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/algeria/algeria.htm
- Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Nov 11-15 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-CN-Guadalcanal/index.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/naval_battle_guadalcanal_1.htm
- Buna-Sanananda Campaign Nov 16 – Jan 23 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/papuancamp/papcpn-fm.htm
- Tunisia Campaign Nov 17 – May 13 1943 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/tunisia/tunisia.htm
- The Battle of Tassafaronga Nov 30 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/tassafaronga.htm
-

1943
- New Guinea Campaign Jan 24 – Dec 31 1944 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/new-guinea/ng.htm
- Battle of Kasserine Pass Feb 19-25 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/Staff-Rides/kasserine/kasserine.htm
- Northern Solomons Campaign Feb 22 – Nov 21 1944 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/northsol/northsol.htm
- First Battle of Kula Gulf March 5 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/first_kula_gulf.htm
- Battle of the Komandorskis March 26 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Aleutians/USN-CN-Aleutians-9.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/kommandorski_islands.htm
- Invasion of Attu May 8-31 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Aleutians/USN-CN-Aleutians-11.html
- Bizerte April 23 – May 13 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/bizerte/bizerte-fm.htm
- Second Battle of Kula Gulf July 6 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/kula_gulf.htm
- Invasion of Sicily July 9 – Aug 17 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/72-16/72-16.htm
- Battle of Kolombangara July 13, 1943 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/kolombangara.htm
- Battle of Vella Gulf Aug 6-7 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/vella_gulf.htm
- Invasion of Kiska Aug 15 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Aleutians/USN-CN-Aleutians-13.html
- Battle off Horaniu Aug 18, 1943 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/horaniu.htm
- Capture of Central Solomons Aug 30 – Sep 23 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-CSol/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003121-00/index.htm
- Naples-Foggia Campaign Sep 9 – Jan 21 1944 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/naples/72-17.htm
- Invasion of Italy at Salerno Sep 9 – Oct 6 http://www.army.mil/cmh- pg/books/wwii/salerno/sal-fm.htm
- Volturno to Winter Line Oct 6 – Nov 15 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/volturno/volturno-fm.htm
- Battle of Vella LaVella Oct 6-7 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/vella_lavella.htm
- Bougainville and the Northern Solomons Nov 1 – March 1944 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NSols/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003141-00/sec1.htm
- Battle of Empress Augusta Bay Nov 2 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/empress_augusta_bay.htm
- Winter Line Campaign (Italy) Nov 15 – Jan 15 1944 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/winterline/winter-fm.htm
- Capture of Makin Nov 20-24 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/online/Bookshelves/WW2-Pac.htm
- Tarawa/Gilbert Islands Nov 20-24 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Tarawa/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003120-00/index.htm
- Battle of Cape St. George Nov 25 http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/cape_stgeorge.htm
- The Battles for San Pietro Dec 8-19 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/winterline/winter-II.htm
- Bismarck Archipelago Campaign Dec 15 – Nov 27 1944 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/bismarck/bismarck.htm
- New Britain Dec 26 – March 10 1944 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-NBrit/index.html
- Cape Gloucester Dec 26 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Gloucester/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003128-00/index.htm
-

1944
- Rome-Arno Campaign Jan 22 – Sep 9 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/romar/72-20.htm
- Anzio Campaign Jan 22 – May 25 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/anziobeach/anzio-fm.htm
- http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/anzio/72-19.htm
- Eastern Mandates Jan 31 – June 14 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/eastman/eastman.htm
- Battle of the Campoleone Salient (p. 44) Feb 3-5 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/anziobeach/anzio-enemy.htm
- Marshall Islands Jan 31 – Apr 6 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Marshalls/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003124-00/index.htm
- Kwajalein Jan 31 – Feb 3 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Marshalls/USMC-M-Marshalls-6.html
- Eniwetok Feb 17 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Marshalls/USMC-M-Marshalls-8.html
- The Admiralties Feb 29 – May 18 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/admiralties/admiralties-fm.htm
- Battle for Los Negros Beachhead Feb 29 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/admiralties/admiralties-ch2-losnegros.htm
- Walawbum (Burma) March 3-7 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/marauders/marauders-first.html
- Seeadler Harbor March 6-10 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/admiralties/admiralties-ch3-seeadler.htm
- Shaduzup and Inkangahtawng (Burma) March 12 – April 22 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/marauders/marauders-second.html
- Attack on Manus Island March 15-18 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/admiralties/admiralties-ch4-manus.htm
- Attack on Lorengau/Rossum March 18-25 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/admiralties/admiralties-ch5-lorengau.htm
- Myitkyina (Burma) May 17 – August 3 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/marauders/marauders-third.html
- Normandy June 6 – July 24 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/normandy/nor-pam.htm
- Omaha Beachhead/Cotentin Peninsula June 6-13 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/100-11/100-11.htm
- Utah Beachhead June 6-27 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/utah/utah.htm
- Battle for Carentan June 8-15 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/utah/utah5.htm
- Western Pacific Campaign June 15 – Sep 2 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/westpac/westpac.htm
- Saipan June 15 – July 19 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/index.html http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Saipan/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003123-00/index.htm
- Battle of the Philippine Sea June 18-20 http://ussessex.bravepages.com/philsea.html http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/philippine_sea.htm
- Battle for Cherbourg June 19-27 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/utah/utah9.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/utah/utah10.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/utah/utah11.htm
- Battle for Saint Lo July 7-19 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/100-13/st-lo_0.htm
- Recapture of Guam July 21 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Guam/index.html http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Guam/index.html http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/guam/guam77div-fm.htm http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003126-00/index.htm
- Battle for Tinian July 24 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Tinian/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003127-00/index.htm
- Northern France Campaign July 25 – Sep 14 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/norfran/norfran.htm
- Southern France Campaign Aug 15 – Sep 14 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/sfrance/sfrance.htm

- LORAINE CAMPAIGN Sep 5 – Dec 18 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-content.html
- XII Corps Crossing of the Moselle Sep 4-30 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch02.html#b2
- XX Corps Crossing of the Moselle Sep 6-24 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch03.html
- The XV Corps Advance Sep 11-20 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch04.html
- The Attack at Lunéville (p.220) Sep 18 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch05.html#b3
- The Arracourt Tank Battle (p. 222-244) Sep 19-29 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch05.html#b4
- The Forêt de Grémecey Battle (p. 244) http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch05.html#b7
- XII Corps Loraine Offensive Nov 8-17 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch07.htm
- Battle for Metz Nov. 3-19 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch08.htm - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch09.html
- Drive Towards Sarre Nov 18 – Dec 3 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch10.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch11.htm
- Battle at the West Wall Dec 1-18 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch12.htm - http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/lorraine/lorraine-ch13.htm

- North Apennines Campaign Sep 10 – April 4 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/nap/72-34.htm
- Rhineland Campaign Sep 15 – March 21 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/rhineland/rhineland.htm
- Battle for Peleliu Sep 15 http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003137-00/index.htm
- Battle for Leyte Island Oct 17 – July 1 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/leyte/leyte.htm http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003140-01/index.htm
- Battle of Leyte Gulf Oct 24 – Nov 1 http://ussessex.bravepages.com/leytegulf.html http://www.angelfire.com/fm/odyssey/LEYTE_GULF_Summary_of_the_Battle_.htm http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/leyte_gulf.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/new_look_leyte.htm
- Battle for Luzon Dec 15 – July 4 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/luzon/72-28.htm
- Ardennes-Alsace Campaign Dec 16 – Jan 25 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/ardennes/aral.htm
- Battle of the Bulge Dec 16 – Jan 28 1945 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_cont.htm
- Battle for St. Vith Dec 17-23 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_12.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_17.htm
- Battle of Bastogne Dec 18-26 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/Bastogne/bast-fm.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_19.htm
- Battle Before the Meuse Dec 18-27 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_22.htm#p562
- The Battle Between the Salm and the Ourthe Dec 24 – Jan 2 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_23.htm
-

1945
- Central Burma Campaign Jan 29 – July 15 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/centburma/centburma.htm
- Iwo Jima Feb 19 – March 27 http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-IwoJima/index.html http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003131-00/index.htm
- Southern Philippines Campaign Feb 27 – July 4 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/southphil/southphils.htm
- Central Europe Campaign March 22 – May 11 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/centeur/centeur.htm
- Ryukyus Campaign March 26 – July 2 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/ryukyus/ryukyus.htm http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/okinawa/chapter2.htm
- Okinawa April 1 – June 21 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/okinawa/index.htm http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003135-00/index.htm
- Po Valley Campaign April 5 – May 8 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/po/72-33.htm
- China Offensive Campaign May 5 – Sep 2 http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/brochures/chinoff/chinoff.htm