The Joooos!

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OK, let’s get this on the table right now and then you can decide to read the rest of this or go do something else:  I stand by Israel. I like the Jewish people. I’d shed my blood for them if it came down to it. I hate anti-Semites and their little nasty minds.

Uh-oh, he hates Arabs and Iranians. Nope, got nothing against Arabs or Iranians. Nothing against the average Muslim on the street.  Been to their homes, lurked in their lands, wouldn’t mind living in a few places in the Middle East/North Africa. Can’t stand Islamic supremacists, can’t stand Sharia Law, love Hummus.  Go figure. One of my Arab friends once said, “you are an Arab in your heart.” He meant that in the best of ways.  I have always been honored that he felt that way. Nothing finer than Bedouin hospitality and honor. Continue reading →

A STATE FUNERAL

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I wrote this last fall and sent it off to Proceedings. Got my first real rejection letter yesterday! I’m told I’d best get used to them in the future.
I hadn’t published this until my fate with the magazine was determined, but since I’m not going to submit it elsewhere I didn’t want to delay any further on posting it on the blog.

Every day one of our brothers falls overseas. It was just 25 years ago this week that Ranger 12 crashed and I lost two classmates. For those of you who haven’t been in the military it’s hard to describe the feelings that brings out. My friends still choke up talking about it all these years later. The whole crew of that aircraft were lost, including Pat Price and Craig Rudolph. Both fine men. Both my comrades. Pat has a gymnasium named after him at the Defense Language Institute. It’s a nice gesture, but I’d rather see his post on Facebook about his new grandchildren. Craig doesn’t have a memorial yet. Except in our hearts.

Nicholas Spehar was one of the S.E.A.L. operators that died in Afghanistan last fall. I didn’t know him, but he’s my brother. We both wore Crackerjacks. This article is in tribute to him and the men that died in that CH-47 crash. It’s a tribute to all the fallen in every war and the peacetime incidents that train us to be ready for war.

A STATE FUNERAL

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Joseph R. Courtemanche Continue reading →