JFaye's Best Text From Last Month Dot Com

Andres J. Contreras, Army Sergeant -- Rest In Peace

Andres J. Contreras, 23

Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Polk, La.
519th Military Police Battalion, 1st Combat Support Brigade
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 15, 2006
Baghdad (southern part), Iraq
Single, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: Huntington Park
High School: Bell Senior High (Bell)
Burial: Riverside National Cemetery

As an 11-year-old, Contreras took charge of his five younger brothers every day when his father left their Huntington Park home at 6 p.m. for his job as a security guard.
He changed diapers and helped his mother clean up after dinner. He chased his brothers into the bathroom in order to brush their teeth and tucked them in with bedtime stories.
It was the same in Iraq, where Contreras made a habit of putting the welfare of his fellow soldiers ahead of his own.

Read more about Sergeant Andres J. Contreras here, visit his Guest Book here and MySpace page here and watch his brother's video tribute here:

In Loving Memory of my brother: Andres J. Contreras

Danny | MySpace Video

Andres J. Contreras was previously mentioned by Boom3 here.

This Book Has A Trailer -- Imperial Bedrooms -- Less Than Lit

Perhaps many books have trailers like movies have trailers. Dunno.
This is the first one I've seen.
Has Random House sold me with this trailer to the book?
Well, yeah. Maybe.
I don't only read literature.
I read trash. Too. Sometimes.
And I may read this.
Some bleak afternoon.
In one eye and out the other.
And it may not be literature.
It may be less than lit.
And LA has an element of trashiness.
This I know.
And I still live here in trashville.
Thousands of miles from civilization. Heh.
And it does not feel like home here in LA,  but that trailer looks like home to me.
Imperial Bedrooms.
Ellis.

Thomas B. Turner Jr., Army Sergeant -- Rest In Peace

Thomas B. Turner Jr., 31

Army, Sergeant
Based: Ft. Campbell, Ky.
1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 14, 2006
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany
Married, 2 children
Gender: Male
Hometown: Cottonwood
High School: Mercy Catholic High School (Red Bluff)
Burial: Cottonwood Cemetery, Cottonwood, Calif.

Growing up in San Francisco, a bashful Turner played checkers and helped his dad tinker with motorcycles. "Him and his dad were inseparable," family friend Cindy Lopes-Sykes said. "There was a bond and a strength between them."

Turner was buried next to his father, Thomas B. Turner Sr., at a cemetery in Cottonwood, the Northern California town where he and his wife, Jennifer, planned to raise their 21-month-old son, Ethan, and her 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Cantrell.

Turner had doted on Sarah, guiding her through homework and playing the game Memory as many times as she wanted. He sent her a birthday card early in July, even though she didn't turn 8 until month's end -- Turner wanted to make sure it arrived on time. After his death, Coghlan said, "My sister had to explain to my niece that Daddy is sleeping and he won't wake up. Sarah's comment was, 'Does this mean he won't e-mail me back?' "

Find pictures and read more about Thomas B. Turner Jr. here and here.

Valley Girl Punks Congressman Brad Sherman

My astute neighbors, their silly Congressman.

Tea Parties Town Meetings here in the Valley. 

Via Powerline 

Via Provocateur

H/T Contentions

My Congressman is Howard Berman, I think.

My congressman-to-be: Merlin Froyd. 

Yeah, he sold me a car. Gave me a good deal. He gets my vote.

Art Interlude -- Bosch Fawstin -- Lemon

Israel Garcia, Army Sergeant -- Rest In Peace

Israel Garcia, 24

Army, Sergeant
Based: Vicenza, Italy
2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: July 13, 2008
Wanat, Afghanistan
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Long Beach
High School: Polytechnic High (Long Beach)
Foreign Country of Birth: Mexico

Just set aside some time and go here to Israel Garcia's website.

Army Sergeant Israel Garcia is survived by his wife, Lesly Garcia; parents, Victor and Mari Cruz Garcia; brother, Ramsses, all pictured here; and many more family members and friends.

"He was going to return home in a few weeks and we had already booked reservations for a special vacation," Leslie Garcia said. "The last time we spoke on the telephone, he said, 'Babe, can you believe we're going to Spain?' "

*****

I was blessed enough to have the opportunity to coach Israel in soccer at Poly High School. He was a wonderful young man who knew what he wanted to do with his life. I remember how proud he was when he told me he would be entering the service, and that same pride he had when he visited with me on one of his leaves. My prayers go out to his family. Should we all be so fortunate to have know such a special person.
— Coach Cameron Beaulac
July 26, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.

More about Israel Garcia here and here.

Tad Trueblood
Honoring 'Heroes of Wanat'
On November 13, 2008, Tad Trueblood wrote an article about the battle in which Israel Garcia gave his life. Read it all here:

There are many lessons from what's now called the Battle of Wanat. Among them are the nature of our enemies in Afghanistan, and the urgent need for more U.S. troops and a better strategy there. But this week let's remember those 48 American warriors who repulsed a determined, well-planned assault by 200 to 300 enemy fighters.

And let's never forget those who paid the ultimate price to defend their brothers - and our liberty:

1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, of Hawaii.

Sgt. Israel Garcia, 24, of Long Beach, Calif.

Spc. Jonathan R. Ayers, 24, of Snellville, Ga.

Spc. Jason M. Bogar, 25, of Seattle.

Spc. Jason D. Hovater, 24, of Clinton, Tenn.

Spc. Matthew B. Phillips, 27, of Jasper, Ga.

Spc. Pruitt A. Rainey, 22, of Haw River, N.C.

Spc. Gunnar W. Zwilling, 20, of Florissant, Mo.

Spc. Sergio S. Abad, 21, of Morganfield, Ky.

BDS -- Down Argentine Way

I'll have to look it up because I forget what Argentinian movie I was watching when this bit of true derangement took place in the Buenos Aires nut house troubled folk group home during the open-mike therapy session.

God love nuts.

Marcus M. Cherry, Lance Corporal -- Rest In Peace

Marcus M. Cherry, 18

Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Camp Pendleton
2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: April 6, 2004
Ramadi, Iraq
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Imperial
High School: Imperial High (Imperial)



Update, March 4, 2011:

I was just sittin here thinkin about you brother. You cross my mind all the time. The inspiration you gave me to make it through the hard times we had still carries in my heart. And it always will. Not a day goes by i dont think of you. I love you bro and miss you like crazy.
— Cpl William Marr

March 4, 2011 at 8:55 p.m.

After his brother Andre joined the Marines, Marcus followed. Each was sent to Iraq. By sheer chance about a week ago, Marcus spotted Andre outside a mess hall in Fallouja. The two lance corporals chatted happily for two hours.
Marcus Cherry, 18, was killed Tuesday during a battle in Al Anbar province. He was among 24 Camp Pendleton Marines killed last week, the majority, like Cherry, from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. An infantryman, he recently was promoted to team leader...
Andre Cherry will accompany his brother's body home to Imperial, in a desert corner of southeastern California.

*************

After Marcus graduated from boot camp, he left a note on his stepfather's door along with his picture in his Marine dress-blue uniform. It said, in part: "I want to thank you for being there for me and participating in raising me to the best of your ability. I will do my very best to make you proud and uphold the Corps’ values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment to Corps and Country."

In addition to his mother and older brother, Marcus Cherry is survived by his father, Andre Cherry Sr. of San Diego; a half sister, Monique Tyler, 12; and a half brother, Stephen Tyler, 9.

Read more about Lance Corporal Marcus M. Cherry here and here and here.

Musical Interlude -- Benny Goodman and Carmen Miranda

The Gang's All Here

Paducah

Pedro A. Barboza Flores, Lance Corporal, Marines -- Rest In Peace

Pedro A. Barboza Flores, 27

Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Camp Lejeune, N.C.
2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: July 11, 2009
Helmand province, Afghanistan
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Glendale
High School: Hoover High (Glendale)
Foreign Country of Birth: Mexico

Barboza Flores was born in Durango, Mexico. At age 2, he moved with his family from Zacatecas to Los Angeles. When he was 12, his family moved to Glendale.
Barboza Flores was a mellow and light-spirited guy, who carried around a sketchbook everywhere he went, loved to collect comic books and play action video games, especially "Metal Gear Solid." He enjoyed science fiction and history books.

Among the comments left at the LATimes:

Barboza was a good friend of mine.. i met him in crewmans course in california.. we came to camp lejeune 2d lar bn in november 2008.. we hung out every weekend with the rest of our friends... he was much older then most of us and we all looked up to him not only as a fellow marine but as a father.. he was always callin me his son... always helping people out when ever he could... boza will always be in my heart and i will never forget him.. i love you bro and we all miss you very much
— LCpl Andrew Cavell
March 12, 2010 at 9:02 a.m.

Pedro; todos te recordaremos con carino y sobre todo ese gran valor que demostraste. Que Dios te tenga en su gloria.
-- tu prima Angelita

Read more about Lance Corporal Pedro A. Barboza Flores here and here.

Pedro Barboza Flores with his sisters, Aurora Alamillo and Lizet Barboza Flores, on a skiing trip in December 2007. Lizet visits her brother's grave in Glendale two to three times a week.

Pedro A. Barboza Flores' mother and father, Aurora and Nolberto Barboza Flores, center, are flanked by Tuskegee Airman Oliver Goodall, left, and WWII Bombardier Louis Zamperini, right. (John McCoy/Staff Photographer ) Story here.

First Nag Obama -- High Maintenance, Low Class

This in recently from Admin Girl at I Own The World

First Nag Michelle Obama meangirls Lady Laura Bush for not writing enough pages about her in Mrs. Bush's autobiography Spoken From the Heart:

Admin Girl says the National Examiner
story 

goes on to talk about how Michelle referred to Laura as “Mrs. Bozo” and said it looked as though she’d decorated the White House from a “very bad garage sale,” recalls another source.  She also said that once they replaced the Bushes in the White House, she was going to “give all the furnishing to the homeless–if the homeless would take that junk!

Admin Girls advises:
If you wanna know more, buy the tabloid!  I encourage it, if anyone says anything, just say it’s because you’re an Andy Griffith fan and need to know more!

I'm certain every word is true.
Don't you -- yes, you -- miss the whole story and additional fashion pics provided by AG.

Speaking of trashy bozinas: Compare and contrast.

Remember when we had a real First Family?

Matthew G. Axelson, Navy Seal -- Rest In Peace

Matthew G. Axelson, 29

Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class
Based: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: July 10, 2005
Hindu Kush mountains, Afghanistan
Married
Gender: Male
Hometown: Cupertino
High School: Monta Vista High

Axelson, a 29-year-old petty officer 2nd class, was part of a four-man SEAL unit ambushed June 28 in the Kunar province of Afghanistan while searching for Taliban and Al Qaeda forces.

Read more about Navy Seal Matthew G. Axelson here, visit the Axelson web site here, the Axelson Navy Seal page here and information about the Cupertino Axelson/Navy Seal memorial here.

Previous Boom3 picture and Boom3 post mentioning Matthew G. Axelson here.

Don't miss:
Marcus Luttrell's
Lone Survivor
The Eyewitness Account
of Operation Redwing and
the Lost Heroes of
Seal Team 16

Shabbat Shalom -- Zdarzyło się w Jeruzalem

Zdarzyło się w Jeruzalem review can be found here.

Jason A. Tetrault, Marine Lance Corporal -- Rest In Peace

Jason A. Tetrault, 20

Marines, Lance Corporal
Based: Twentynine Palms, Calif.
7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 9, 2003
Not reported, Kuwait
Gender: Male
Hometown: Moreno Valley
High School: Moreno Valley High (Moreno Valley)
Burial: Riverside National Cemetery

Tetrault was already planning out his month of leave back in Moreno Valley. He wanted to go bungee jumping and skydiving and couldn't wait to see the Pacific Ocean again, his mother said. He planned to spend a week at the beach and wanted to see family and friends again.
"He didn't like having to sit; he liked to go, liked to play," Carriere said. "He was just always on the move. He liked being outside."
Tetrault planned to join the football team at the base in Twentynine Palms and to study computer programming in college. But his mother said he hadn't been looking too far into the future.

"Jason was the type of person that didn't make long-term plans," she said. "His theory was: You never know what life is going to throw at you."

Please go here for photographs and remembrances of Lance Corporal Jason A. Tetrault; and here to read more and visit his guest book here.

New Black Panther Black Cracker

Sneaky Little Devil

H/T NRO

Chronicles Interlude: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Krista Branch
I Am America

Second Chronicles 7:14
King James Bible
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Crónicas 7:14 Spanish: Modern
si se humilla mi pueblo sobre el cual es invocado mi nombre, si oran y buscan mi rostro y se vuelven de sus malos caminos, entonces yo oiré desde los cielos, perdonaré sus pecados y sanaré su tierra.

I Am America



Via Texas For Sarah Palin -- where else?

Available on iTunes.

Sarah Palin's Mother Grizzies and Pink Elephants

Standard refrains around here are:

"Hope is for chumps,"
and
"Hoping ain't coping."

That's partly because we strive to remain in reality, in the here and the now, eschewing the hopeful for the real.
Still, sometimes we admit to getting a little hopeful.
Texas For Sarah Palin posted this pleasing vid today, and like Jerry Lewis gives hope to some on Labor Day, Mrs. Palin is giving us hope everyday.

Devout Dames Don Palin Wig -- Posh Beckham and JAniston Dumped Into The Wig Crypt

Jennifer Rubin Reports in Contentions:
Sarah Palin wig proves to be a hit among Orthodox Jewish women

In Brooklyn's Borough Park, an area heavily populated by Hasidic men wearing black hats and long beards and women dressed in long skirts and long-sleeved shirts, stylist Gail Rosenzweig said half of her Orthodox Jewish clients want Palin's style.
"It's a fashion statement," said Rosenzweig as she worked on a Palin wig. Even though Palin is a Christian from Alaska, where Jews make up less than 1 percent of the state's 670,000 population, Rosenzweig said her clients "like her classic look. It can be worn up or down."
Shlomo Klein, an Orthodox Jew and vice president of wig maker Georgie Wigs, said he sold more than 50 of the "Sarah P" wigs across America in recent weeks to women wanting wigs either for medical or religious reasons.
Married Orthodox Jewish women do not show their real hair in public for modesty reasons and can spend between a few hundred to several thousand dollars on wigs, he said.
The Palin look had replaced previous popular looks among Orthodox Jewish women such as Victoria Beckham's "Posh Spice" look and Jennifer Aniston's "Friends" cut, he said.
Esther Melamed said she paid more than $700 for the human hair Palin wig to wear for a recent Jewish holiday

Read the article from Haaretz.

No demand for any of the sporadic Hilary Rodham unwomanly wiggery. Whew.

William River Emanuel IV, Army Specialist -- Rest In Peace

William River Emanuel IV, 19

Army, Specialist
Based: Schweinfurt, Germany
1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 8, 2004
Samarra, Iraq
Single
Gender: Male
Hometown: Stockton
High School: Enterprise Alternative (Clovis)
Burial: San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, Stockton

"I was a single parent and I worried a lot," his mother said. "... He knew he and his sister were the world to me, and they were very protective of me. I wanted them to be happy, but as a mother, I always had that fear. I wanted them to come home, to keep them safe with me."
Two weeks ago, Emanuel left a message on her voicemail, telling her that he was sending money, that he was fine and that he loved his family.
His mother tried to recover the message from her answering machine Thursday, a week after the 19-year-old Army specialist and four other soldiers were killed.
"I try to listen to it, but I can't get it back," his mother said, weeping. "I don't even have my last message from my son. I'll never hear his voice again."
Emanuel was killed when insurgents attacked a military headquarters with mortar rounds in the town of Samarra, north of Baghdad. The five soldiers killed were members of the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, based in Schweinfurt, Germany.

Read more about Army Specialist William River Emanuel IV here, here and here.

NPR Reaches 57 States -- One More To Go

Obama voters.
Hey, some of my closest friends voted for Obama.
And though none are in this video, some of them could be and most claim they'd do it again.



Hat Tip to Don Surber, via Grouchy Old Cripple.
Other Obama voters in the news here.
How Obama Got Elected.

And who is Barney Frank anyway? Oh yeah, the Congressman who's kept boyfriend Stevie Gobie ran a call boy service out of the Congressman's house.

retlouC ennA

I had to spell that backwards. A couple of my faithful readers' heads explode when they see the shedevil's name.

Obama hasn't ramped up the war in Afghanistan based on a careful calculation of America's strategic objectives. He did it because he was trapped by his own rhetorical game of bashing the Iraq war while pretending to be a hawk on Afghanistan.

At this point, Afghanistan is every bit as much Obama's war as Vietnam was Lyndon Johnson's war. True, President Kennedy was the first to send troops to Vietnam. We had 16,000 troops in Vietnam when JFK was assassinated. Within four years, LBJ had sent 400,000 troops there.

In the entire seven-year course of the Afghanistan war under Bush, from October 2001 to January 2009, 625 American soldiers were killed. In 18 short months, Obama has nearly doubled that number to 1,124 Americans killed.

Republicans used to think seriously about deploying the military. President Eisenhower sent aid to South Vietnam, but said he could not "conceive of a greater tragedy" for America than getting heavily involved there.

As Michael Steele correctly noted, every great power that's tried to stage an all-out war in Afghanistan has gotten its ass handed to it. Everyone knows it's not worth the trouble and resources to take a nation of rocks and brigands.

Based on Obama's rules of engagement for our troops in Afghanistan, we're apparently not even fighting a war. The greatest fighting force in the world is building vocational schools and distributing cheese crackers to children.

There's even talk of giving soldiers medals for NOT shooting people, which I gather will be awarded posthumously. Naomi Campbell is rougher with her assistants than our troops are allowed to be with Taliban fighters.

Read all of Miss Coulter here.

Grandpa John's -- New Signs In The Heartland

See it at Grandpa John's, please.

Alternate versions available, among them are these:

que no marque el 911

prohibido el paso ... los infractores se rodará ... sobrevivientes se disparó de nuevo

Money For Nothing -- Anime Interlude

H/ T Lucianne.

Roberto "Junior" Causor Jr., Army, Specialist -- Rest In Peace

Roberto "Junior" Causor Jr., 21

Army, Specialist
Based: Ft. Bragg, N.C.
2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division
Supporting: Operation Iraqi Freedom
Died: July 7, 2007
Samarra, Iraq
Single, 1 child
Gender: Male
Hometown: San Jose
High School: William C. Overfelt High (San Jose)
Burial: Oak Hill Memorial Park, San Jose

Causor occupied a special spot in the family hierarchy. Not only was he Roberto and Rocio Causor's firstborn, and their only son, he was the first grandchild on his mother's side of the family, so he never lacked for attention.
Growing up in San Jose, he was the giggling, outspoken boy who loved to play with toy guns and argued, fruitlessly, for his father to let him buy a real one. The kid who never liked to do his homework but who studied hard the last two years of high school so he could graduate early and join the Army. The tough but loving mentor to his younger sisters, Ruby, Mitzy Yareli and Wendy.
The plan was for Causor to return in October for good, to marry Contreras and then move together to New Mexico to live for a time with his parents. In March, he gave his father $11,000 to help him pay some of the bills that had accumulated since his parents' clothing store was forced to close.

*****

The son of Mexican parents, Causor was born in San Jose and spent many of his childhood and teen years here. He was proud of his roots and his family's adopted country where several relatives started their own construction and electrical businesses, said his uncle Francisco Causor.
By joining the military when he graduated in 2004 from Overfelt High School, "in a way that was kind of a payback, in gratitude," for the success and freedom many of his relatives enjoyed in the United States, Francisco Causor said.
Read the rest here.

More about Army Specialist Roberto "Junior" Causor Jr. here and guestbook here

He was my soldier and a good one at that. Never complained and always did as he was told. He has a beautiful baby girl that he never got to meet. We all miss him. Here is a picture so he will not be forgotten.
SSG Jason Wheeler

Sarah Palin -- Levi Johnston -- Gay Heartthrob Admits He Lied

TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2010

Levi Johnston admits he lied about the Palins

Levi Johnston has admitted in a statement via People magazine that he lied about Sarah Palin and her family in media quotes and magazine interviews:

"Last year, after Bristol and I broke up, I was unhappy and a little angry. Unfortunately, against my better judgment, I publicly said things about the Palins that were not completely true. I have already privately apologized to Todd and Sarah. Since my statements were public, I owe it to the Palins to publicly apologize."

"So to the Palin family in general and to Sarah Palin in particular, please accept my regrets and forgive my youthful indiscretion. I hope one day to restore your trust."

Like we didn't know he was troubled and bearing false witness.
Read it all at Texas For Sarah Palin.

Sharia Star Wars -- The Wrong Stuff

More on Stedman Holder Bolden and the Right Stuff

perhaps foremost, [Obama] wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering.
-- The idiotic NASA Chief Bolden

All praise to Stacy McCain for From Mecca to the Moon!

Previous to current.

Remember when real men were in abundance in America?

BP -- Beltway Punks -- Photo Evidence

Top 20 Photos From the Gulf that Obama Doesn’t Want You to See

POSTED AT 9:33 AM ON JULY 4, 2010 BY DIRECTORBLUE 


It’s Day 74 [76] and President Barack Obama is laser-focused — spending every waking moment — on the Gulf oil spill.
Uhm, plus comprehensive immigration reform.
And firing general officers who insult his battered image. Oh, and regulating CO2 emissions, too.
Although Obama appears to have ordered a media blackout of the Gulf disaster, a relative few shocking photos have leaked out thanks to enterprising area residents. You won’t be seeing these in your local paper, that’s for sure.
See 'em all here

.

H/T:
NRO Newsletters . . . Morning Jolt . . . with Jim Geraghty ... July 6, 2010 ... Subscription required.

Previous BP/Bellway Punks posts here, here, here and here.

Stupid Or Subversive, You Be The Judge

Some days it's difficult to discern the difference between ignorant and wicked evil.

NASA's new mission: Building ties to Muslim world
By: Byron York 
Chief Political Correspondent

July 6, 2010

"When I became the NASA administrator, [Obama] charged me with three things," NASA head Charles Bolden said in a recent interview with the Middle Eastern news network al-Jazeera. "One, he wanted me to help re-inspire children to want to get into science and math; he wanted me to expand our international relationships; and third, and perhaps foremost, he wanted me to find a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering."

Read more at the Washington Examiner:

More here from Bryan York,  in defense of formerly heroic Bolden.

You'd be hard-pressed to find an American who doesn't know that the "S" in NASA stands for "Space." Since the race to the moon in the 1960s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been one of the most storied agencies in the U.S. government. Now, under President Obama, its mission is changing -- and space isn't part of the story.

Me? I don't really care if the Muslim World feels good about itself -- or it's historic contribution to aviation.

_____________________

Updatery:
CB, over at Another Black Conservative, has a few choice words in his post: Houston, We Have A Problem:

For the life of me, I certainly cannot understand the need for the extra attention to the Muslim world. The Muslim world is still oppressing women, brutalizing people who exercise free speech and cannot get control of its own religious fanatics, yet making them feel good about their ancient contributions to math and science is suppose to be a priority for our space agency? It seems pretty clear to me that the Muslim world has a few more pressing matters that need attention then their self esteem.

Nicolas H. J. Gideon, Army Pfc -- Rest In Peace

Nicolas H. J. Gideon, 20

Army, Private 1st Class
Based: Ft. Richardson, Alaska
1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division
Supporting: Operation Enduring Freedom
Died: July 6, 2009
Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan
Engaged
Gender: Male
Hometown: Murrieta
High School: Chaparral High (Temecula)
Burial: Riverside National Cemetery

His family last saw Gideon in early June when he came home from Afghanistan on leave. "It was so awesome," his mother recalled. They celebrated his stepfather's birthday. And Gideon proposed to his high school girlfriend, Wendy Herman.
"We took so many pictures," Carol Tyndale said. "We had so much fun. Then a week and a half later, he was gone."
In addition to his mother, stepfather and fiancee, Gideon's survivors include five siblings and his father, Hugh Gideon of Las Vegas.

The convoy bringing young Nicolas Hugh Joseph Gideon home included 60 motorcycle escorts from the Patriot Guard Riders, a volunteer group that met the casket on its arrival from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The group accompanied the family home, then to Gideon's funeral at Cornerstone Community Church and burial at Riverside National Cemetery.
Read more about Pfc. Nicolas H.J. Gideon here and here.

As of July, 2009, Nicolas Gideon is the 13th service member from Southwest County to have died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The others are:
- Marine Capt. Aaron Contreras, 31, of Temecula
- Army Pfc. Daniel Parker, 18, a 2002 graduate of Elsinore High School
- Marine Cpl. Matthew Matula, 20, of Murrieta
- Marine Staff Sgt. Jorge Molina Bautista, 37, of Sun City
- Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Justin Hunt, 22, a 2000 graduate of Elsinore High School
- Marine Corps Maj. Kevin Shea, 38, of Temecula
- Army Sgt. Stephen Saxton, 24, a 1998 graduate of Temecula Valley High School
- Army Sgt. Nathan Bouchard, 24, a 1999 Elsinore High School graduate
- Marine Staff Sgt. Dexter Kimble, 30, of French Valley
- Marine Lance Cpl. Jeromy West, 20, a 2004 graduate of Hamilton High School in Anza
- Army Capt. Brian Freeman, 31, of Temecula
- Army Specialist Mary Jane Jaenichen, 20, of Temecula