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| Col. Curt Castillo at Claude Hick's grave |
"This is a heart-breaking story.
Our favorite cousin, Claude Hicks, was in the navy and scheduled to invade Japan. But two weeks before, the BOMB ended the war.
He was in a nursing home, and we were not allowed to visit.
When he died this May (2020), his wife was in a nursing home and wasn’t allowed to attend his funeral because of the virus. Claude Hicks was buried at Dallas Forth Worth National Cemetery that has 41,000 graves.
There were no “Taps”, no flag to be given to a loved one.
The number allowed to attend was six.
All we could see from 200 yards, was a backhoe digger, and men lowering a coffin."
Col. Curt Castillo read Rex's comment on my blog.
Col. Castillo and Rex do not know each other.
Curt was so moved by Rex's comment, that today - on Curt's day off - he drove to DFW National
Cemetery to pay his respects to Claude Hicks. Col. Curt Castillo took the time to locate Fireman First Class (F1) Claude Hicks (United States Navy) final resting place. At the grave, he paid his respects.
Col. Curt Castillo texted me just a few minutes ago:
"As my parents age, I really appreciated your blog yesterday. However, Rex Ray's comment struck a nerve. Rex not being able to attend his cousin's funeral up close and personal is sad and unnecessary. I don't know Rex, nor do I know where Rex lives, but if you could tell him that I have visited his cousin's final resting place and paid my respects to a man who served his country with honor."
This is why I love America. Our country is filled with men and women with the character of the Castillos, the Rays, and the Hicks.
There is no stranger when it comes to sacrifice and honor. Thank you, Col. Castillo, for illustrating what makes America such a great country.
44 comments:
An amazing testament to the grace and love that can bind strangers together. Surely, God was orchestrating it all.
A beautiful post, WADE.
Thank you so much for you visit to my Uncle Claude's grave site and your service to our country, Col. Curt Castillo. I drove my cousin Rex Ray to the burial back in May and my uncle deserved so much more as many do that have passed during the pandemic. It does warm my heart to see the grave stone in place now and the pictures that you have provided. Our family will have some type of celebration of life at the site when the pandemic has passed to provide a better tribute for our family. Thank you again for the time and respect, and for Rex pointing me to this blog post.
Sincerely,
Wesley Hicks
Wade,
Just got in from 300-mile trip visiting relatives. Brought your post up and saw: “A Tribute of Honor for Navy Veteran Claude Hicks”
I thought: ‘That guy has the same name as my cousin.’
Could hardly believe what Colonel Castillo did. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.
I called and texted Claude’s family. Two nephews live a mile from us. They’ve never seen your blog. I gave one your name and was telling him how to find you, he said, “Never mind, I’m reading it.”
When I first married, my uncle, Rex Ray (‘Cowboy Missionary to China’) was the preacher, and Claude was my best man.
I was going to make the comment above, and saw Wesley Hick’s comment. (He’s the one that said, “Never mind, I’m reading it.”)
Wade,
Needless to say none of this would have happened if it wasn’t for you. THANK YOU
Wesley and Rex,
Like both of you, extremely proud of what Curt did, and delighted you now have pictures of the headstone. Blessings to you both and all of the Hicks extended family.
"There is no stranger when it comes to sacrifice and honor."
Comes to mind the phrase: 'band of brothers'
Wade,
This post is like ripples made by a rock on water; how far do they go?
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the best Sunday School teacher I’ve ever had. He replied, “This made my eyes leak.”
The daughter of Claude’s wife texted: “This is so lovely! Thank you for sharing it with me.”
On the other hand, 19 years ago; 2,977 people died on 9-11. Do we remember?
Rex Ray,
9/11 is like Pearl Harbor, both are events that define a generation. So while the public ceremonies may ebb and flow in size, exposure, and the like over the years, I do not think people who are still alive when it happened ever really forget. On this day, people are thinking and remembering what they were doing when it happened. Just like for Pearl Harbor, the assassination of JFK, etc.
So the question is not so much that do we remember, but rather what we remember.
CM,
Yes, when I heard, “The President has been shot”, I asked, “What’s the punch line?” because there were so many jokes about JFK.
When my Dad heard JFK was dead, he told our mother, WE HAVE A TEXAN FOR PRESIDENT.
In my opinion of years later, he should have said, we have a murderer for a President.
My ‘bucket list’ is to change in Dallas the LBJ Freeway to JFK Freeway.
OFF TOPIC
https://www.baptiststandard.com/news/texas/baylor-and-southwestern-sue-foundation-tied-to-patterson/
“WASHINGTON (RNS)—Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary have sued a charitable foundation they say is trying to misuse millions of dollars in assets.
The two Baptist institutions filed suit Sept. 8 against the Texas-based Harold E. Riley Foundation and its board of trustees.
According to the lawsuit, the foundation was set up in 2002 by Riley, a wealthy businessman who died in 2017, for the benefit of the two schools. The schools were granted the freedom to name a majority of the foundation’s board and the foundation’s stated charitable purpose was to provide support for the schools.
In 2018, that changed, according to the suit. The lawsuit alleges the foundation’s board of trustees rewrote its bylaws—without notifying Baylor or Southwestern—and changed the charitable purpose of the foundation. As part of the changes, the two schools were also stripped of their ability to name board members, removing the foundation’s only beneficiaries from any governance role.”
Rex Ray,
LBJ was quite the sob (to be blunt). Think Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard and Buford T. Justice from Smokey and the Bandit combined and increased by about 2 orders of magnitude.
I am sure JFK and LBJ hated each other's guts but JFK needed LBJ to win in 1960, so their ticket was just business. I am sure there was no love lost between them. Renaming the highway in Dallas as you suggested works for me.
Hello REX RAY,
in response to your previous inquiry concerning what I knew on an older post, I can point you to this information:
"Viktor Shokin, who was forced out of the job of general prosecutor in 2016 following an intervention by then-Vice President Joe Biden, told Giuliani that he had been investigating a Ukrainian gas company that had given a position on its board to Biden’s son Hunter. Giuliani then fed this story to right-wing media. What was left out of his account was that Biden’s intervention was part of a broad campaign by Ukrainian reformers, European governments and international financial institutions to oust Shokin, who was blocking prosecutions of corrupt officials and oligarchs.
The prosecutor who replaced Shokin, Yuriy Lutsenko, subsequently stated publicly that the gas company was not under investigation at the time of Biden’s intervention, and that there has been no wrongdoing by either Joe or Hunter Biden. But Lutsenko had his own ax to grind. He, too, was at war with liberal activists, including a nongovernment anti-corruption organization as well as Serhiy Leshchenko, a liberal legislator and journalist. They charged that this prosecutor, too, was blocking corruption probes, and they had the support of the U.S. ambassador in Kiev, Marie Yovanovitch, a career member of the Foreign Service."
https://www.the-review.com/opinion/20190925/guest-view-in-ukraine-trumps-allies-are-corrupt-oligarchs-and-russian-stooges
I recommend reading the entire article which helps connect the dots between the corrupt cronies of Putin which the Ukraine no longer wanted to be in power. It's always good to know where Putin has his hand in the world and who he is controlling and manipulating. I caution American evangelicals to be aware that Putin is NOT a 'friend' to our country or to the Church.
As to what Putin is capable of, I can offer this:
"Secretary of State Mike Pompeo acknowledged Wednesday that there is a “substantial chance” senior Russian officials were behind the poisoning of the Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny."
(Navalny, the victim, was a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin)
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/09/pompeo-russians-navalny-poisoning-411249
CHRISTIANE,
I see you’re like me in checking any new comments on old post of Wade’s. (That’s good.)
On Wade’s post of 9-7-20: “Jesus and Christian Involvement in 2020 Politics”, I showed a video of Joe Biden telling two men on a stage in front of an audience that he told Ukraine they’re not getting the billion dollars unless the prosecutor that was investigating the company that hired his son was fired.
You gave two links that I should read to “connect the dots”. The last link was about a critic of Putin being poisoned. (What’s that got to do with the subject?)
The first link tells there was another ‘force’ that fired the prosecutor.
You don’t deny Biden told Ukraine: “Unless you fire the prosecutor, you’re not getting the billion dollars.”
Let’s put it another way. If two guys shoot at your son, but one (Biden) misses, is he innocent?
Good Morning, REX RAY
actually it looks more like Giuliani got the facts of the case wrong:
https://www.factcheck.org/2019/09/trump-twists-facts-on-biden-and-ukraine/
REX RAY, there are two sides to most political controversies;
but as far as taking up for our country against Putin, I would think Biden is the more reliable. And I've got military in my family, so I'm going with Biden.
Soon Nov. 3 will come and go.
And we will go into the Advent Season and towards Christmas, and hopefully a blessed New Year where there will be a vaccine developed to put an end to all this virus trouble. Hopefully.
We have to look towards the future with some hope, I think. And in the meantime, we need to pray for those who are in harm's way or suffering.
May we set Christ always before us, the One who shows us the path of life. :)
Rex Ray,
Of course you don't mention the fact that Japan, Germany, the IMF, and a host of other countries also wanted that corrupt prosecutor gone, not just Obama and Biden. By the way, the billion dollars was a loan, not a grant or aid gift. A distinct and important difference.
Put it another way Rex, should a bank give you final approval for a home loan to close a sale when they discover later on that you had you were using someone else's financials and pretended that information was yours?
CM,
Welcome to the discussion. With your knowledge of facts, would you tell the dealings of Joe Biden’s son with China, and how Joe’s two brothers became wealthy?
And please don’t start on Trump like Christiane has done in trying to change the subject.
Rex,
Perhaps you can enlighten me with your further Ukraine information and please provide references as I have done in my rebuttal. References which you have conveniently ignored. You highlighted something Biden said regarding the billion dollars. I was responding not "what about Trump" but rather information germaine to the topic. But your assertion that this something to be done to help Hunter Biden. It is farcical on its face if you consider the actual timeline of Hunter at Burisma, the investigation, the prosecutor, and loan. Your theory only works is if you have a time machine. I will be more than happy to provide a detailed timeline and references to back that up.
As for dealings of China and the Bidens and how they became wealthy, sure (and while I am at it, I will preemptively shoot down whatever the standard lines you will present from your so-called information sources). But its readily apparent that your whole Ukraine line of argument is fatally flawed and you suddenly decide to switch to China (when the topic at hand was Ukraine). You can't deal with the fact that you have nothing more to back up your Ukraine assertions. So it seems obvious here that YOU are the one who trying to change subject from Ukraine to China.
Rex Ray,
Of course, should you bring up Giuliani's and Sen. Ron Johnson's investigations with regards to Ukraine and the Bidens, I shall point out that their source was no other than Andriy Derkach.
Andriy Derkach was recently sanctioned by Trump's own Treasury Department for being guess what, a Russian agent. The same guy who had been the source all kinds of dirt on Biden for the your narrative about the Bidens and Ukraine (and all the pundits and media people you favor):
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/10/treasury-designates-anti-biden-ukrainian-lawmaker-for-sanctions-for-election-interference-411750
And here is the actual information the Department of the Treasury:
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm1118
Both Secreatary of State Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Mnunchin stated that Derkach was sanctioned for elections interference. It should be obvious that his election inference was intended to damage Biden and NOT help him. And you fell whole narrative hook, line, and sinker.
The same Andriy Derkach, by the way, featured quite prominently in Giuliani's, John Solomon's, OANN's (aka Russian media front company), and others' supposed "bombshell reports" on the all the antics of the Bidens in the Ukraine. Nothing like using a confirmed Russian peddler of dezinformatsiya right of out of a KGB op in the Cold War.
You know what's fun to do sometimes is to tune in on "Russia TV" and their "news" and commentaries. They are very "American" sounding and you can almost imagine them being another American mainstream news media source. Of course they are biased but you can't really tell if they are worse than all the American news sources we have.
You know guys, I think we are ALL dupes. We allow ourselves to be influenced and brainwashed by sources totally biased either "one" way or the "other". We have ZERO credible "news" sources that earnestly strive to present objective, non-opinionated "news reports".
Our juices get all stirred up about the ridiculous "POLLS" that are absolutely WORTHLESS in terms of genuinely assessing ANYTHING regarding the status of American opinion.Polls are made to be slanted one way or the other. They are extremely biased according to "who" is polled, the "manner" in which questions are asked, if indeed questions are "asked" instead of manipulating the respondent with what they are supposed to answer in order to be pleasing to the pollster. Time and time again, polls have proven to be bogus and less credible than Las Vegas "odds makers".
Yet look at us! We are ALL idiots! Me too! I, like ALL of you, tune in to the whatever information source I know is going to feed me the same swill I always prefer. I know where to find my fried chicken and will not go to a hamburger joint to feed on their swill because it gives me indigestion.
Then "we" all go on social media and battle it out and get offensive and address others who have opinions different than ours as being stupid, lame brain puppets programmed by whatever sources spew out misinformation slanted the way we like, and are less intelligent, compassionate or insightful than the other.
We are a joke, in my estimation. It's scary because it portrays just how we ALL are susceptible to being manipulated and programmed by power players bent on controlling the population. It is not difficult to see how enough people can be brainwashed into falling into goose-step marching right into the ovens as though we were going to the circus as the Pied Piper flutist on CNN and Fox News play the enchanting tune that tickles our fancy.
Time I "got a life" and cut the umbilical cord!
Which brings up another question for consideration, CM and Rex Ray: "At this day and time, just what difference would it make if Putin was President of the United States? What real differences would we see take place in the USA from what it is moving toward under the power and influence of those activists who seem bent on implementing revolutionary changes now?"
There was once a day when the ideologies of Russia, China, and the United States stood in sharp contrast in terms of their basic premises, principles, perspective on spiritual faith in God and Jesus Christ. Given the extremist, radical, activists operating in the United States today, those differences have become VERY blurred.
Don't know about CM, but Rex Ray remembers Nikita saying, "We will bury you." and his prophecy, "We will take America without firing a shot!" Glad that guy is not living today and could say, "I TOLD YOU SO!"
Now that we have more and more radical politicians boldly proclaiming that they are socialists, are for state ran everything, are anti-individual freedom and anti-capitalist, anti-God,and totally opposed to the principle of the value of individual life, the differences between us and them have diminished to the point of not being very distinguishable.
I've been in communist ran nations and one can sense the oppression and recognize the risks involved in venturing to speak in opposition to the government when walking the streets and visiting in the shops. I've lived in one country where you would go to jail for years if you even hinted anything negative about their monarchy. So I do recognize those countries still maintain a level of the oppression of freedoms greater than the USA, right now.
However, one can see just how tentative our amazing freedoms have become and how the value for the life, liberty and freedom of individuals have become less and less a factor in the way government and society in general, view things and operates. Things could easily be stolen and in just a few short years, we could wake up and wonder, "Hey, Comrade, are we in San Francisco or Moscow?"
RB Kuter,
I believe you will find the link below to be true how relatives of Joe Biden became wealthy.
https://nypost.com/2020/01/18/how-five-members-of-joe-bidens-family-got-rich-through-his-connections/
CM,
You probably know about the link I gave to RB Kuter on how Biden’s influence got five of his relatives rich, but you’d have us chasing rabbits with your words and links. Am I wrong in concluding you’re a Democrat?
Mr. Kuter,
we Americans are NOT as 'gullible'as all that IF we have learned to think critically and 'consider the sources' of information, which means instead of sitting for three hours on one channel that 'tickles our ears',
we survey MANY different sources of media and do our homework and check out the sources we cover . . . which takes time.
When I suggested to people to 'widen their sources of information', it was to that end: that they begin to survey the wider field and take note and think critically . . .
and this means I have some RESPECT for our citizens to bring up their common sense and begin to THINK FOR THEMSELVES and to do it for the sake of the country, which is now in a bit of trouble, but has STRONG ROOTS in trying to work problems out and eventually to do the right thing to survive as a country which has strong allies and resources of NATIONAL CHARACTER that lately haven't been celebrated by our representatives, with some notable exceptions.
In short, we are not stooges or 'useful fools' for Putin and the oligarchs; and it DOES MATTER to us if Russian aggression harms our sworn allies, and our military IS SHAMED STILL when it is commanded from on high to desert its allies in the field of battle, to leave them to be slaughtered by the Turks. We are still BETTER THAN THIS. It's in our DNA to ask questions, to protest unfairness, to PEACEFULLY protest against unAmerican treatment of our own by those in power. And, we also are better than being cowered into not facing our problems straight on and doing what we can to resolve them in good faith upon honor and conscience to protect our integrity as a nation.
'Widen your sources of information'
'Do your 'homework'.
'What is 'the other side(s) of an issue'?
none of this is 'ear tickle-ing' no; and no one 'likes' the hard work involved to 'think critically'
except that now, we must.
Mr. Kuter, you raise some good points. Consider my comment to be in agreement with many of them, when we begin to use our strong heritage of good common American sense, and figure out from all that is 'known', what is the way to go forward in a good direction.
Your comments were a breath of fresh air. We are not 'comrades' yet, we are not fools for Putin, no. Not yet. Not yet. Nyet. :)
"we Americans are NOT as 'gullible'as all that IF we have learned to think critically and 'consider the sources' of information"
Case in point.
Rex Ray,
Do you know what they say about assuming?
Second, I no point in this conversation (or anywhere really) have gave any indication that I supported Biden anywhere. Same with other topics. If you must know, I have not voted either major party candidate since 2004. In 2008, 2012, and 2016, I have done 3rd party and write-in (and 2020 will be no different). Both TEAM RED and TEAM BLUE candidates in many election cycles have been utterly worthless. For many years now, I have said we have some 300 million people in the country and the final 2 choices boil down to these 2 ? I have also said that in other posts in this blog. But continue to be mired your binary thinking (D or R), and the fallacy that if you oppose one, you must support the other. How about neither? Has that ever crossed your mind?
Third, I pointed out from Trump's own hand-picked people that Derchak was a Russian asset (with a link from Trump's own people and agency sanctioning him). Do you still think it is reasonable to use him as a credible source of any information regarding Biden and Ukraine, like Giuliani, OAN, and others have done? This is apparently why you changed the topic and did not address that salient point.
In regards as to 'who controls the narrative', that game has been played for hundreds of years, and political satire from long ago explains the way the game is played:
"“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’
’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”
(Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass)
fast forward into the twentieth century and you can find THIS gem, which the power have taken to heart:
"“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
And today, we are blessed with foreign interference to stir up trouble between us Americans on our social media . . . and with that comes some whopper conspiracy theories . . .
but NOT to be outdone by the Russian Security Forces and their hackers, comes now a mystery 'source' called Q - anon (German word for 'source' is 'Quelle', hence the letter 'Q', no doubt borrowed from the same term used in connection with the unknown 'source' of the synoptics)
So it DOES require for American citizens facing an important national election to evaluate closely first their OWN values and what is important and meaningful to them; then to evaluate where the country is at and what its greatest needs are now; and what is on offer from the political parties and their candidates for high office and for the Senate, etc.
Remember:
'being manipulated' is NOT in our best national interests in this country,
so it does pay to sort out one's choice deliberately, and carefully, and yes, even prayerfully. Our civic duty calls us to an honorable account, as our nation's soldiers have fought and even died in battle to preserve our right to vote in this free land, lest we forget.
I believe our comments on Wade's blog represent the extreme polarization that has evolved in our nation.
We are incapacitated (in particular, government, in a dysfunctional, "shut-down") due to our demonizing those holding a position opposite of ours. We are incapable of objectively assessing the performance/proposal of "both" sides and acknowledging anything positive upon which we might pursue as mutually benefiting "we" as a whole. Our comments and responses on this site and all social media reflect this.
There has always been an element of this "polarizing", of course, but I personally don't recall it being as extreme as it is today. It has increased in its intensity to the point of rebellion against the system with revolt and attempting to overthrow our entire political structure. Example: two LA policemen ambushed while sitting in the patrol car and then crowd of protestors outside the hospital where they are being treated screaming, "We hope they die".
It is all about the "polarization" between the two sides, not racism or injustice, as evidenced by the identification of activists according to their political affiliation, not their race or ethnic origins.
The question arises in my mind, at least, whether this extremism will subside or can this more accurately be assessed as being the beginning of the end for society bringing us closer to the imminent time of tribulation.
I believe our comments on Wade's blog represent the extreme polarization that has evolved in our nation.
We are incapacitated (in particular, government, in a dysfunctional, "shut-down") due to our demonizing those holding a position opposite of ours. We are incapable of objectively assessing the performance/proposal of "both" sides and acknowledging anything positive upon which we might pursue as mutually benefiting "we" as a whole. Our comments and responses on this site and all social media reflect this.
There has always been an element of this "polarizing", of course, but I personally don't recall it being as extreme as it is today. It has increased in its intensity to the point of rebellion against the system with revolt and attempting to overthrow our entire political structure. Example: two LA policemen ambushed while sitting in the patrol car and then crowd of protestors outside the hospital where they are being treated screaming, "We hope they die".
It is all about the "polarization" between the two sides, not racism or injustice, as evidenced by the identification of activists according to their political affiliation, not their race or ethnic origins.
The question arises in my mind, at least, whether this extremism will subside or can this more accurately be assessed as being the beginning of the end for society bringing us closer to the imminent time of tribulation.
CHRISTIANE,
Are you afraid to watch Judy’s favorite program, “Outnumbered” because it’s on Fox?
Outnumbered has four women and one man, who is a guest. They discuss politics and current events. They consist of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents.
Todays program showed in California, a young Black man five feet from a police car that had two Policemen. He shot five times, hitting them in the face. (There’s a $100,000 reward for his capture.) A group of protesters blocked the emergency entrance to the hospital, yelling they hoped the policemen died. (Doctors believe they will survive.)
Biden made a statement that guns should be taken away, then later said violence must stop.
Trump said the death penalty should be put on people trying to kill police.
Mr. Kuter,
the police shootings remind me of the recent shootings of police by an extremist group that is trying to start another 'civil war' . . . the group is called 'the Boogaloo Bois'
What do you think about the similarities? :
https://www.foxnews.com/us/2-boogaloo-bois-attempted-to-join-forces-with-hamas-to-overthrow-us-government-prosecutors
CHRISTIANE,
It’s a given, if guns were taken away, only bad people would have them.
If you were a police officer (one of the officers shot in the face was a woman), would you like the death penalty for those trying to kill you, or to hear “Violence must stop” ?
Rex Ray,
Do you mean to imply that the death penalty should be applied for attempted murder (and only of police officers and nobody else)?
Hello REX RAY and Mr. Kuter
I am thinking about two other incidents recently where police were shot, not by BLM but by extremist right-wing groups intent on starting a new 'civil war';
so I am withholding judgment on who did the shooting of those two officers and of the several in the group who shouted 'hope they die' outside the hospital.
Black Lives Matter is much denigrated by the right, but they are now composed of Americans from many races, and ethnic groups, including our white citizens who were horrified by the manner of death of George Floyd. Colin Kapernick began protesting peacefully and was 'crucified' for his 'stand', though his protest was within legal limits and was not 'violent'.
So I would ask that people examine what IS KNOWN about the incidents of the shootings of police involving extremist groups that want to START fighting between 'sides'. I recommend examining this site as one that for over a century has spoken up to stop the persecution of innocent people:
https://www.adl.org/blog/extremist-related-shootouts-with-police-soar-in-first-half-of-2020
Right now, it is most important TO CHECK SOURCES and to examine 'methods of operation' among extremist groups and to learn more about those groups who work to begin a new 'civil war' in our country.
At least consider the possibility that who shot the police officers was connected with one of these extremist groups and that the 'taunts' outside the hospital were also a part of the effort to 'stir the pot' of hatred which is ALREADY at boiling point, sadly.
Being 'manipulated' by extremist groups is NOT in the interest of our country right now, no. We need to examine what IS KNOWN from recent events and also understand that attacks on peaceful protesters in our nation are unAmerican, as the Constitution does allow for our citizens to peacefully protest.
Check out the site. Do some more research on extremist groups and their goals, and come to your OWN conclusions about who is behind these horrific attacks on innocent police men and women. My conclusion is that this incident is similar to other recent incidents conducted by extremists who want to start a 'war' between our citizens. If you want me to name these groups, just ask. The site gives information about who they are. Take a look for yourselves.
Wade,
I don’t know what happened but my last comment (Mon Sept 14, 05:04 PM) makes me sound like an idiot because my comment before that wasn’t printed. So, I’ll print part of it again:
“Today, showed in California, a young Black man five feet from a police car that had two Policemen. He shot five times, hitting them in the face. (There’s a $100,000 reward for his capture.) A group of protesters blocked the emergency entrance to the hospital, yelling they hoped the policemen died. (Doctors believe they will survive.)
Biden made a statement that guns should be taken away, then later said violence must stop.
Trump said the death penalty should be put on people trying to kill police.”
I said “Biden made a statement that guns should be taken away”, but he didn’t say that. He said assault weapons should be taken away.
Why did Biden jump on that band wagon when the shooter used a regular pistol?
Wade,
Old friend, (I try to say something nice but true when I try to get something done.)
‘All comments must be approved by the blog author’ reminds me of Moses wearing himself out in hearing the complaints of the people. (Exodus 18:14-23)
while considering sources of violence, take a look at these groups also:
https://www.adl.org/education/resources/glossary-terms/defining-extremism-white-supremacy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqRP3_9weRM
time-out for joy
Wade,
I believe this story is a ‘farewell’ to Claude Hicks. It’ a long story that will always be in our memory.
In 1954, my twin brother, Hez, and I were 22 and our cousin, Claude Hicks, was 27. We decided to visit our parents who taught school to Eskimos at Quinhagak, Alaska which was a mile from the Bering Sea.
Eskimos told us bears lived on a nearby mountain. We got the fever to shoot a bear. Dad, Dave Ray, borrowed three rifles. He was 57 and tough as a boot. He didn’t take a gun but went for fun. Our directions were to go a mile to the Bering Sea, turn left two miles, and go five miles up a river made by melted snow to a mountain. We weren’t told the river was hidden by entering the Sea at a sharp angle. We left after eating lunch.
We went in a heavy iron river-boat with a ten-horse motor. We added an 8-inch board to the low sides, and hoped that would keep ocean waves out. Constant bailing was required because there was a gap between the steel and the wood. The main problem was, we were so heavy the boat went through waves instead of over them. That got us pretty wet and cold because it was about 40 degrees. Claude said we were in the ‘mouth’ of the river because the water on his face wasn’t salty. We went a little past the river before putting the boat on the beach.
Claude had matches and started a fire to dry-out and get warm for over an hour. My partners got in the boat. Since I was the only one with hip boots, I pushed off to reach water deep enough to run the motor. I pushed and pushed but gave up after fifty yards because the tide went out. In a little while, as far as our eyes could see, there was nothing but mud except for the water spreading out two inches deep from the river.
The mud was knee-deep as we went to the beach and ate supper. They had their bed-rolls. Mine was in the boat where I would sleep.
We had six hours for the tide to come back. I worried the heavy boat might stick in the mud and not float. I stayed awake so long, I was asleep when it came in. When Claude’s shooting failed to wake me, Dad told him to shoot closer.
We loaded the boat and started up-river. The current was so strong, I looked at the bank to see if we were moving. We helped the motor out with some paddles. After seeing fish in the clear water, we agreed with Claude to catch some with his fishing pole. We caught enough for supper and spent our second night on the river.
We’d never seen the mountain because of clouds. There were two rivers that joined. After six hours, we knew we’d chosen wrong when water got too sallow to run the motor. The clouds lifted and the mountain looked near because it was huge. We decided to walk. We knew when we returned, it would be hard to find the boat so we made a tall pole by tying paddles together and Claude tied his red bandana on top. We tied the pole so it could be seen in some bushes.
Tundra is hard to walk on. You have to lift your feet two feet to get over it and then sink in mud. We divided our stuff to be carried. After an hour of walking, Dad said, “I don’t know why you guys are complaining; I have the heaviest load.”
I said, “I’ll trade with you.” (He had a back pack and I had a duffel bag that required walking in a leaning position.) I don’t know how he did it, but he threw the duffel bag in the air saying, “Light as a feather!”
After six hours we’d gone about three miles. We stopped at 10:00 P.M. There was still light enough to see. Half an hour later, Dad staggered in and threw the duffel bag down saying, “What’s in this?”
We ate and went to sleep, but some strange noise woke us up. Dad asked if the rifles were loaded. Next morning, the mountain didn’t look any closer. We ate the last of our food, and started back to the boat. We didn’t even discuss our unanimous decision.
Claude ran out of energy. He’d lay down until we were almost out of sight. When he started walking, we’d lay down and rest until he reached us. Then we’d start walking. At each ‘meeting’, Claude used his binoculars to look for the red flag.
As the day went on, our stops got more frequent, and the distance covered got shorter. At last, Claude yelled, “I see the flag!” We became delirious happy; knowing our ordeal was over.
Going with the current, got us to the ocean really fast, but there was only mud. We pulled the boat up the bank, and left everything in it.
Compare to tundra, the beach felt like an escalator to Quinhagak. The next morning, I retrieved the boat. Without their weight, the boat went OVER the waves very fast.
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