Damsel and I are deeply saddened by the death of Lt. Cdr. Kevin Davis in the crash of Blue Angels F/A-18 Aircraft Six. We extend our thoughts and prayers for this amazing pilot and to his family and friends. We also stand with the Blue Angels Squadron in solidarity for the healing to come.
Damsel captured this photo of Angel Number Six at the 2006 MCAS Miramar Air Show.
Here is a short article about Lt Cdr. Davis:
Earlier today we were out doing errands and stopped at Zamperini Field in Torrance to see the EAA’s “Aluminum Overcast,” a restored WW2 B-17 (like the Memphis Belle). What a beauty! Damsel got this shot of this magnificent plane when it was on short final approach to TOA runway 11L.
I took some short videos of the event and spliced them together in the 90-second video below.
This week, we picked Task Force Phoenix 5 to be our Weblog of the Week (WOW). Todd is currently in Afghanistan but will be heading back to Oklahoma soon. We wanted to get him posted as our WOW before he heads back.
Todd’s website banner says all you need to know about his blog.
This site will focus on the good things we as soldiers and Americans do for other Nations and what it takes to improve the counrty of Afghanistan.. My name is Todd Larkin and Im with the 1-180th Infantry Battalion in Durant, Oklahoma. Our Battalion is on a one year deployment to Afghanistan with Operation Enduring Freedom and I want to show everyone or atleast who ever looks at this website what we do, what the tv and the paper doesn’t show.
We’ll put a link to Task Force Phoenix 5 in the footer of our Never Forget Tribute for the week.
U.S. Department of Defense Update: This just in from Angela French of the DoD:
The Department of Defense Office of Public Affairs has recently updated its “Heroes in the Global War on Terror” website, which includes profiles of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have received medals of distinction for their bravery and contributions to fighting the Global War on Terror.
Some of our heroes include Maj. Kim Campbell, aka “Killer Chick,” who flew her bullet-riddled Warthog 300 miles back to base after a close engagement with Iraqi Republican Guard soldiers; 1st Lt. Elliott Ackerman, who led his Marines through a series of ambushes and attacks during the battle of Fallujah; and Staff Sgt. Jo Turner and Spc. Cheryl Ivanov, combat medics who, through their skills, eventually earned respect from the Afghan soldiers they served with.
You can find all of our heroes at: http://www.defenselink.mil/home/dodupdate/heroes/index.html.
We thank you for your continued support of our men and women in uniform.
Best,
Angela
Angela French
Writers Group
Office of the Secretary of Defense
We have started what we hope to be a weekly recognition of individual weblogs that display our Never Forget Tribute. Since there are so many great weblogs, it’s going to be a challenge to make a selection. The weekly weblog will be featured in a link that appears just below the tribute on each weblog that displays it.
This week’s choice is SGT DUB. Sgt Dub is an Oklahoma National Guardsman currently serving our country in Afghanistan. He is a Police Officer back in Oklahoma when he’s not on active duty. There, he lives with his family (and a couple of horses) on a five-acre spread. Sgt Dub posted some great pictures of himself and the family in a recent article on his blog. The weblog also features photos of many of the soldiers on duty in Afghanistan.
Photo: Sgt Dub on duty (egregiously stolen from his website)
Wow! Sgt Dub is two of our favorite people — no, not bipolar disorder, but both a soldier and a policeman — defending our constitution and a first responder. Damsel and I are honored to select Sgt Dub as our inaugural Weblog of the Week.
Milblogger Pam writing at the MilBlog Iraq War Today wrote an excellent article that accounts for, in great detail, a view of America’s problems. She tells the history of how our politically left politicians and activists have eroded the American Spirit and she tells it without rewriting history as the left would like to do. My Two Cents: The Gathering Storm is a must-read article.
This beautiful Vendela rose is dedicated to our fallen and wounded military worldwide. Without the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform, we may not have anything to celebrate on Valentines Day. Show your support to those recovering from their injuries by supporting Wounded Warriors.
Also, check out the beautiful Cosmic Valentine Rose from Astronomy Picture of the Day.
