In Memoriam

Whether you observe Remembrance Day, Armistice Day or Veterans Day take a moment today and give thanks to those who came before, served your nation honorably, asking for nothing but a chance to return home and resume their lives. Our's is a debt we can only repay forward; by honoring our obligations and not misusing or taking for granted the daily sacrifices made by the men and women of our armed services and their families.

Buy a poppy from the VFW guy at the mall or supermarket. Wear it proudly, honor those who currently wear the uniform, and give thanks to those who served.

II. General George Patton

Today would have been Gen Patton's 128th birthday.  The few men I remember talking to, from when I was a small boy, who served under the General loved him, hated him and feared him all at once.

Most of us only know George from the the movie Patton.  If you stayed awake long enough to see the end you'll recall that George was nearly killed by a runaway wagon.  In fact he died when a troop carrier hit his staff car on December 21, 1945.   Supposedly he was assassinated by US and Russian agents, under orders from the chiefs of the US OSS, later the CIA, and Russian NKVD the forerunner to the KGB.

The story of Patton's death is neatly told in Robert Wilcox's Target Patton.  If you are a conspiracy theorist, the cover up of the events surrounding Patton's death looks and feels like a rehearsal to those in 1963.

III. Bond, James Bond

Trivia buffs may recall that today is Commander James Bond's 93rd birthday. Born in Wattenscheid, to Andrew Bond and Monique Delacroix. Bond is a descendant of Brigadier Gerard on his mother's side.

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