Honoring a Fallen Hero--NICK MASON

RIP Nick Mason, 1984-2004

My friend Mike Rhodes sent me this information on his close friend, Nick Mason, who died serving his country in Iraq. I quote Mike's words here, and ask all readers to honor this fine young man.

Nick Mason 1984-2004

"Nick Mason was a soldier who gave his life in the service of his country. He was my friend in elementary school and I maintained that friendship up until graduation of high school. He enlisted in the National Guard and left for basic training only days after graduating. When I was in iraq during my second tour, I found out that my friend Nick had died. It was a horrible shock. Nick had been in a mess hall eating with his comrades when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside of the enclosure, killing nick and and 18 other U.S. Soldiers. This happened on December 21, My birthday is on the 22nd. The only thing worse then finding out that a friend of mine had died around my birthday, is the thought that the family was finding out around Christmas.

Nicholas Conan Mason should never ever be forgotten.This is all that I really have to tell. This is my experience of what happened."

Thanks, Mike. Well-said.

Further information about this fine man is available here: http://www.somegaveall.org/page.php?9

One More Vet's Day Honoree---My Great-Grandfather John Richards

I don't have a photo of him handy, but I'd like to honor my great-great-grandfather John D. Richards of Switzerland County, Indiana, who enlisted at Muscatine, Iowa into the Union Army with the 11th Iowa and fought in the Civil War. John was wounded seriously at the Battle of Atlanta after fighting in all the major battles of the western war, including Shiloh, Vicksburg and Pittsburgh Landing. John survived, though crippled, and fathered eight children, one of whom was my dad's grandmother Birdie Richards. John passed away in 1917. He had been shot through the groin and had severe pain the rest of his life, making it hard for him to plow his fields.
I never knew you, great-grandfather, but I honor you. I'll post a photo of you as time permits.

Visit From a Hero on Veteran's Day

Marshall tells of his experiences. The gentleman at center is my student teacher, Jim Jones, who is a veteran of the First Persian Gulf War.

Marshall talks about his years as an Air Force airman from WWII through Korea.

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States, and I invited my friend Marshall Dullum to come in and speak to our high school about his experiences as an airman in World War Two, the Berlin Airlift, and Korea. Marshall was a B-29 radio operator during the Korean War, flying 26 missions over enemy territory and having numerous adventures in his years in the Air Force from WWII through Korea. He gave a fascinating talk to about 90 students and staff at Emerson High School.

Marshall Dullum, bottom row, second from left, when he was a radio operator on the giant B-29 Superfortress directly behind the crew. This plane flew out of Japan over Korea.

It was an honor to have Marshall come to our school, and to have him share his experiences with us.

Thanks, Marshall. We'll never forget what you and so many did so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted.

For more on Marshall Dullum, please see my story about him at this link:

http://untoldvalor.blogspot.com/search?q=dullum

A New President

Congratulations to our future President Barack Obama. This was an inspiring election, and both candidates were worthy; in fact, I was a very early supporter of Senator John McCain's back when it appeared his campaign was dead in the water. Senator McCain is a true American hero who has served his nation with honor for many years. Senator Obama managed to inspire a nation that was willing to vote in record numbers and stand in polling lines for hours just to cast a vote. Both men strengthened my faith in our democracy.

May the next four years be good ones, and may the nation unite as one to work together to solve our common problems. The time for divisiveness is thankfully over. It's time to give President-elect Obama our support and our prayers.

God bless America.

Vote--It's the American Way

Thousands paid the ultimate price so that we can elect our leaders.

Don't let these great men and women down.

Vote today.

And The Greatest of these is....

Ammon Sky

I took these photos this morning. On what had been a depressing morning (two funerals this week) plus a very hard work schedule and a bad book review, God sent me something to remind me of the things that really matter.