Sunday, April 5, 2015

Is God Done with America?

American Thinker
. . . " God is never done with His creations -- humanity, in particular -- but He does grant free will, and with free will comes consequences. Among right-thinking Americans, who doesn’t see the cultural rot, the unraveling mores, and societal disintegration? This disintegration has been in the making for decades and is accelerating in recent years. The cliché goes that older generations see things getting worse with the coming of younger generations. America’s woes are more than older folk misperceiving. Societies and civilizations do decline. " . . .  Full article
http://www.pharmainfo.net/files/images/cartoons/cartoon3godblessamerica.jpg

Liberals Becoming the Bullies They Claim to Hate

Tammy Bruce defends Memories Pizza of Indiana.
 "Talk radio host Tammy Bruce has come to the defense of Memories Pizza, the Indiana restaurant which was forced to close due to threats.

"In a recent appearance on FOX and Friends with Tucker Carlson, Bruce said that although she is gay, she doesn’t approve of the tactics being used by gay marriage activists.

"Bradford Thomas of Truth Revolt:

Openly gay conservative radio host Tammy Bruce appeared on Fox & Friends Thursday to discuss the “frenzy” over the Indiana Pizzeria who said hypothetically that they would not cater a same-sex wedding due to religious convictions. Bruce defended the pizza shop, warning the LGBT community against becoming the very “bullies” and “fascists” they should be fighting against. . .

Judge Orders IRS to release Tea Party target list

"The Department of Justice may have let Lois Lerner off the hook, but a judge has ordered the IRS to release the names of the Tea Party groups that were singled out for scrutiny."
. . .

Judge orders IRS to release list of tea party groups targeted for scrutiny

A federal judge ordered the IRS this week to turn over the list of 298 groups it targeted for intrusive scrutiny as the agency defends against a potential class-action lawsuit by tea party groups who claim their constitutional rights were violated.

The IRS had argued it shouldn’t have to release the names because doing do would violate privacy laws, but Judge Susan J. Dlott, who sits in the Southern District of Ohio, rejected that claim and ordered the tax agency to turn over any lists or spreadsheets detailing the groups that were targeted and when they filed their applications.

Judge Dlott also ordered the IRS to say whether a partial list of targeted groups reported by USA Today is authentic as a number of tea party groups try to win certification for a class action lawsuit against the IRS.
"The great Jazz Shaw of Hot Air has more:" . . .

Denver Bakery Wins Right To Refuse To Make Anti-Gay Wedding Cakes

 It is so regrettable that this individual becomes an example of Christians, assuming, of course that this not somehow a manufactured incident.  The left has shown itself capable of doing just this kind of thing.
I cannot think of a single Christian in my sphere who would ask for a cake like this, but many who would  be upset over this repulsive cake being at an event. TD


7NEWS & TheDenverChannel.com  . . . "The agency's decision found that the baker did not discriminate against Jack based on his creed. Instead, officials state the evidence shows Silva refused to make the cakes because the customer's requests included "derogatory language and imagery."

"The baker said "in the same manner [she] would not accept [an order from] anyone wanting to make a discriminatory cake against Christians, [she] will not make one that discriminates against gays," according to the decision." . . .

Walking the Via Dolorosa and Stations of the Cross in Jerusalem: A Guide

Landlopers

 


. . . "Station I
"With my guide book in hand, I left the hotel and walked the short way to the Old City and the entrance to the Lions’ Gate, the starting point of the Via Dolorosa. Walking through the gate, the first station is a few yards ahead at the present day Umariya Elementary School. Each station is marked with a medallion indicating the station in Roman numerals. You have to pay attention though, because they are easy to miss. As you walk through the souks in the Muslim Quarter, the first station is on your left. It is believed that it was here where Jesus was condemned to death." . . .
Hat tip to Jeff Hayden, Plano, TX

Saturday, April 4, 2015

Updated, Dec. 2016; The death of George R. Bodyfelt of the 77th Division on Okinawa

 This is early research on Mr. Bodyfelt, whose death is told here by a relative, Larry Bodyfelt. Mr Bodyfelt has likely visited many of these sites, so our hope is to find info on George at more specialized sites in the very near future.
Larry Bodyfelt: As reported by the Infantry Journal Press, PFC George R. Bodyfelt was a member of Company B, 307th Infantry Regiment, 77th Infantry Division. He was KIA on April 30, 1945. According to that publication, “Company B of the 307 Infantry (on that date) was engaged in the assault of the (Shuri) Escarpment climbing up ropes and ladders to gain the summit. Company B blew a pillbox at the top which was one of three pillboxes in line. It was difficult to keep the 307th fighting men supplied with food, water and ammunition during the attack. All supplies had to be hand-carried under fire in the ascent from the base of the ridge to the top, about 350 yards high at a 30 degree angle.” The Infantry Journal Press had a copyright date of 1947 and provided good detail about the action of Company B. I read the
post-mortem courtesy letter from Uncle George’s commanding officer to his mother. Being necessarily censored, little if anything was said about the location or military action taking place at the time of Uncle George’s death. The letter did say he was killed by an enemy mortar hit. Interestingly, Uncle George’s headstone inscription and the Tillamook Headlight-Herald obituary has his rank listed as Pvt. The History of the 77th Infantry Division and his commanding officer list him as a PFC. Prior to his Okinawa KIA, he experienced infantry combat on Leyte and Ie Shima. Ie Shima is a small island a few miles west of Okinawa. Ernie Pyle, the renowned “dog face” journalist of WWII, was killed by enemy machine gun fire there on April 18, 1945
Did you know the famed Lost Battalion of WW1 was from the 77th Division?
More on the Lost Battalion here.


Okinawa 77th Infantry Division

Concise history of the 307th Infantry Regiment. And of the 77th Division
1920: FROM UPTON TO THE MEUSE WITH THE 307th INFANTRY . . . "No division suffered greater hardships, had greater losses during the time it was in line, nor was better disciplined and trained than this cosmopolitan division of New York City-the 77th, New York's Own." . . .

 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment   Not a lot here,  but could have been a good source.


Assaulting The Second Shuri Defense Ring (Excerpts from a lengthy and detailed battle report)    . . . "On 29 April the 307th Infantry of the 77th Division took over the Maeda Escarpment part of the line from the 381st Infantry, and the next morning the 306th relieved the 383d Infantry on the 96th Division left. At noon on 30 April, General Bruce, Commanding General of the 77th Division, assumed responsibility for the former 96th Division zone of action on the Corps front. The end of April also witnessed a regrouping among the Japanese units on the line.



 
. . . "During the night of 30 April-1 May, the 1st Battalion, 307th, brought up to the escarpment four 50-foot ladders and five cargo nets, the latter borrowed from the Navy. On 1 May Company A troops mounted the ladders at the eastern end of the escarpment, but every man who stood up was killed or wounded. Farther to the west, however, Company B, using the cargo nets, had two platoons on the edge of the escarpment by nightfall. About midnight Japanese counterattacked in this area and drove the men off the escarpment." . . .
. . . "The losses in the escarpment battle had been heavy. In the 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry, no less than eight company commanders were wounded in one 36-hour period. It had gone up on the escarpment on 29 April with a strength of about 800 men; it came down on 7 May with 324. The 77th Division estimated that it had killed upwards of 3,000 Japanese in the 7-day battle for the escarpment.




 Wikipedia discusses the effects of the fighting on soldiers' morale.
It caused President Truman to decide on using the atomic bomb.
 
77th Division comrade locator  "Many families of former 77th soldiers are looking for information and contacts. We will publish their requests and would greatly appreciate if you can directly contact them if you can help them with any news or information."
 http://www.77thinfdivroa.org/comradelocator/11-12-11luther_holmes_group.jpg
 "My email address is: toolnbama@charter.net . May God bless these heroes, their families, their sacrifice, and our blessed United States of America."
"To view historical videos, including originals shot by Army combat photographers go to: http://www.criticalpast.com. The Website contains many clips of the 77th Infantry Division, and may be useful in tracing family members."

HillaryToons

Hillary’s Poll Numbers Slipping In Swing States. . . " Even though it is early, Hillary cannot be too pleased about some recent polling data that shows her numbers falling:" . . .

Hillary Clinton slipped in the polls Wednesday after admitting she wiped her server clean of all her e-mails after she did business as Secretary of State on her private e-mail account. It'll all work for her. Already, Control-Alt-Delete is a subliminal ad for Hillary the same way dry cleaners signs were for Bill.  Comedian Argus Hamilton
Political Cartoons by Robert Ariail

This Woman’s Job Is to Recast Hillary Clinton’s Image  . . . Having helped shape Mrs. Obama’s public image into that of an accessible everywoman, Ms. Schake is about to face what may be her toughest challenge yet: working to get another first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, elected president." . . .

 Political Cartoons by Michael Ramirez

...Political Cartoons by Glenn McCoy

Angry White House Press Corp Sending List Of Demands To President Obama

Daily Caller
 U.S. President Barack Obama reponds to a question during his end of the year press conference in the briefing room of the White House in Washington

"The White House Correspondents’ Association is reportedly crafting a list of demands to be sent to the White House, after an incident last week in which a pool of reporters covering the president’s visit to Salt Lake City were turned away from a meeting between Obama and Mormon leaders. (VIDEO: State Department Lashes Out At Reporters For Paris March Questions)

"The list of demands is not yet complete, but will contain a series of written promises the press corps wants the White House to commit to. “We’ve been working on that document for almost a year now and will have more to say about it when we release it later this spring,” Association President Christi Parsons told the Washington Examiner’s Eddy Scarry.

"Although the Salt Lake City incident appears to be the immediate cause, Obama has long had a troubled relationship with the White House press corps. Reporters have openly complained about the White House’s lack of transparency, with some even claiming to have been on the receiving end of “profanity-laced tirades” from White House officials." . . .

Via Dolorosa: "Way of Grief", "Way of Sorrows", "Way of Suffering" or simply "Painful Way"


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Dolorosa

A song for Resurrection Day   Sung by Peter, the disciple who denied Jesus three times on the night of His arrest.


Sung by Don Francisco

Friday, April 3, 2015

.@CBS employee (who hopes to call herself a "journalist) files false fraud report


 Political Cartoons by Michael Ramirez
  Red State   "who is .@alixbryan? why is she filing a false fraud report? does .@CBS care?"  She says "just in case"!
  

This is Alix Bryan  Note how many times the word "journalism" appears in this paragraph. Lord help us.
. . . "I graduated in 2010 with a Master’s in Multimedia Journalism from Virginia Commonwealth University. The program focus was truly multimedia; covering web design and development, online community management, social media, online journalism, data mining and database management skill-sets, photography and video–in addition to cornerstone classics of traditional journalism." . . .
Contact her station here should you feel so inclined.

 "Progressives: Violence against #MemoriesPizza is good"
 Posted on 01 April 2015
Progressive liberal fascists are cool if Memories Pizza get vandalized or burnt to the ground. You know why? Because only conservatives recognize violence. It’s all good!

 Political Cartoons by Nate Beeler

 

Let's Fake A Deal

"In absolutely stunning news, Iran has agreed to a nuclear deal with the United States and a small consortium of other nations that hate Israel.

"Well, it's not a deal deal. It's a deal to agree on a framework for a deal which will happen in the near future. And what could possibly go wrong with that?

"We'll tell you. Or better still, we'll make this a little quiz! We'll present two facts about the (ahem) "deal" and see if you can catch a little problem that John Kerry seems to have overlooked. Ready?

"According to the details of the agreement, "Iran’s breakout timeline – the time that it would take for Iran to acquire enough fissile material for one weapon – is currently assessed to be 2 to 3 months. That timeline will be extended to at least one year, for a duration of at least ten years, under this framework."

"And when will Iran agree to the framework? In 3 months.

"If you're vigorously smacking yourself in the forehead right now, congratulations! You're better qualified to handle nuclear arms negotiations (and basic math) than anyone in the Obama administration!

"Understandably, Bibi Netanyahu isn't too happy about all of this - especially since a high-ranking member of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard recently said that "erasing Israel from the map" remains "non-negotiable."

"Maybe not, but thanks to the tireless efforts of Barack Obama and John Kerry, Israel's destruction at the hands of Iran is very, very, very unlikely. For the next 2 to 3 months, anyway."
The inevitable comparison to Chamberlain and Hitler:


Well, perhaps this was the real account:

The Bergdahls and the Foleys


The Foley's son, James

Political Cartoons by Chip Bok