Memorial Day

For John, BLUF:  Another Memorial Day, but our duty continues.

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Memorial Day

Which Used to be known as Decoration Day

Because this was the day we used to decorate the graves of Civil War Veterans.

On this day, especially, I mourn those I have know who were lost, including two roommates who were subsequently killed. One was Alan Trent, from Conneticut, my Freshman Year Roommate at the Air Force Academy. Subsequently he died flying a Close Air Support mission in South Viet-nam.  The other was my Pilot Training roommate, Aado Kommandant, from Estonia originally, who dies on his first mission out of Cam Rahn Bay, in 1966.

For almost 59 years I have been married to an Air Force widow, and have raised her two original children as my own.  He dies on a training sortie while on day 179 of a 90 day deployment to Okinawa to provide air defense while the original F-102s were deployed to Southeast Asia, for the same purpose.  His plan was never found and he was designated as missing and presumed dead.

I never met Robert Harlan, but I subsequently served with some of his friends, includin Greg Smith, Waynr Bechler and John Brennan.  I believe adopting his children gave me a special responsibility to a fellow comrade, who I never met.  But, all of us alive owe some debit to those who gave their last full measure of devotion to our Nation.

Regards  —  Cliff

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Doing One's Duty

For John, BLUF:  How do we restore ethical credibility at DOJ?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Elitists’ Trump Excuse

Here is the sub-headline:

His critics may be more corrupting to democracy and decency than he is.

From The Wall Street Journal, an Opinion Piece by Mr William McGurn, 23 April 2018.

Here is a bullet point from Mr McGrun which I find pointing to an especially unethical approach:

• When Sally Yates was acting attorney general and President Trump issued an executive order on immigration she objected to, Ms. Yates ordered the entire Justice Department not to obey, despite a finding from the department’s Office of Legal Counsel that the order was lawful.  She was applauded in her insubordination by Andrew Weissmann, then a Justice attorney, who now serves on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team.  But it’s all for a good cause, right?

I don't dispute Ms Yates' right to find something to be illegal, although the finding of the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel should have given her pause.  And, if she felt something was unethical or immoral she would have been within her rights.  And, every employee owes the boss a "But, Sir".  It is a duty one owes to one's supervisor.

It seems that this is not what we got from Acting Attorney General Yates.  It appears she decided that she should just say no to the President.  Not the kind of thing one should expect from Executive Branch Civil Servants, let alone those filling appointed positions.  This was just wrong.  She should have just submitted her resignation.

What is equally disturbing is that DOJ Attorney Andrew Weissmann applauded the activities of Ms Yates in circumvention of a lawful Presidential Order.  Having thus demonstrated an animus toward President Trump, he then failed to recuse himself from the work of the Special Counsel.  Mr Weissmann's actions may not violate the ethical rules of DOJ, but I find it to be unethical in a larger sense.  Why would I place any faith in Mr Weissmann's work for the Special Counsel?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Do Your Duty

For John, BLUF:  Know the difference between what you do out of duty and what you do because someone tells you to do it.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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What You Owe

Author Sara A Hoyt, 1 August 2017, on what is a duty and what is just acceptance of compliance.

Here is how it ends:

Fulfill those duties you freely assumed, yes, even unto death, because that’s the price of your honor and your adulthood.  But those obligations imposed on you by force majeure?  Accept the need to do it, if there is no other alternative, but do NOT under any circumstances internalize it as your duty or feel guilty for not fulfilling it.  Down that path lie socialized medicine and your obligation to die when the government wants to guarantee your “death with dignity.”

Living and dying free demand a lot of sacrifice, and for those of us of an honorable disposition, taking care of the weaker people in our sphere influence.

But they prevent your being a sheep for your betters’ shearing.  And they allow you self-respect.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Robbie Risner (RIP)

For John, BLUF:  Great men come from all walks of life.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Here, from The American Interest is an appreciation of Fighter Pilot Robbie Risner by Chuck Boyd, himself an American POW in North Viet-nam.

Regards  —  Cliff

Do Your Duty

For John, BLUF:  Don't look the other way.

The safe course is to avoid situations which are disagreeable and dangerous.  Such a course might get one by the issue of the moment, but it has bitter and evil consequences.  In the long days and years which stretch beyond that moment of decision, one must live with one's self... It is not merely a question of peace of mind, although that is vital; it is a matter of integrity of character.

Dean Acheson, U.S. Secretary of State

Regards  —  Cliff