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Monthly Archives: November 2011

James M. Darrough

A 101st Airborne Division soldier was killed Saturday in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

SGT James M. Darrough, 38, of Austin, Texas, died of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked a vehicle with a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, according to a Department of Defense news release on Tuesday.

Three other soldiers died in the attack, which took place in Kabul Province.

Darrough was assigned to 101st Finance Company, 101st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Sustainment Brigade, Fort Campbell, the release said.

He joined the Army in February 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in July 2009.

His awards and decorations include: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Meritorious Unit Commendation; Army Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal with service star; Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; United Nations Medal; North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal; Expert Field Medical Badge and Combat Action Badge.

Darrough is survived by his wife, Isaura Darrough of Clarksville; sons Justin and Jared Darrough and daughters Julianna and Jenna Darrough, all of Clarksville; his father, Robert Darrough of Charlotte, N.C.; and his mother, Janelle Darrough of Livingston, Texas.

A memorial service will be held for Darrough in Afghanistan. Fort Campbell holds a monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony to honor fallen Screaming Eagles. The next ceremony will be held Nov. 9 at 4 p.m.

SGT Darrough is the 1,825th American killed in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in War on Terror

 

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Carlo F. Eugenio

SGT Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, an Army National Guardsman and a graduate of Etiwanda High School, died in Afghanistan on Saturday when a suicide bomber attacked a NATO convoy in Kabul.

Eugenio is the first California National Guardsman to be killed in action during combat operations in Afghanistan.

On Monday, Eugenio’s relatives were at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to attend to the arrival of his remains. Family members returned Tuesday evening, arriving at the L.A./Ontario International Airport and greeted by the veterans group Patriot Guard Riders and family of fallen soldiers. The Eugenio family is awaiting word on when his remains will be flown to Ontario.

Four other service members and eight International Security Assistance Force civilians along with Eugenio were killed in Kabul on Saturday when the car bomb crashed into their convoy.

This was Eugenio’s second deployment as an Army soldier. His first was to Kuwait, said Eugenio’s sister Cynthia Valdez.

Valdez remembers her brother as upbeat and surrounded by friends.

“He was always happy. It took a lot for him not to be sunny,” she said. “He didn’t just know people, he had relationships with everyone.”

Eugenio was the youngest of five children. The family resided in Fontana before moving to Rancho Cucamonga about 10 years ago.

He was a guy’s guy who loved the excitement of the outdoors.

“Motorcycle, dirt bike, snow boarding, any kind of extreme sport, he was into,” Valdez said.

Eugenio’s military banner was hung in front of the family home on Tuesday. The city gave the banner to the family after Eugenio’s first deployment.

It has been more than four years since a California National Guardsman was killed in Iraq, according to a California National Guard news release. Eugenio is the 28th California Guardsman to be killed in the conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001.

In a statement, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, adjutant general for the California National Guard, said, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Sgt. Eugenio’s family and commit to them our unwavering support. Sgt. Eugenio’s death, the first of a California Guardsman in Afghanistan, is a painfully wrenching testimony to the bravery, service and sacrifice of our state’s National Guardsmen.”

Eugenio was assigned to the Lancaster-based 756th Transportation Company, 746th Combat Sustainment Service Battalion and 224th Sustainment Brigade. His unit left in August for its one-year mission to Afghanistan.

Last month, the war in Afghanistan entered its 11th year. The conflict in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of two young men from Rancho Cucamonga. Army Spc. Ronnie Pallares, 19, a graduate of Alta Loma High School, died October 2010 from a roadside bomb.

Pallares’ mother, Brenda Pallares, was at the airport to greet Eugenio’s father, sister, brother and girlfriend on Tuesday as they returned from Delaware.

“This day is the hardest,” said Brenda Pallares. “All I could do is give back.”

The parents of Matthew Creed, an Army specialist from Covina who was killed during combat in Iraq, were also at the airport.

“I want families to know they’re not alone,” said Kim Creed, mother of Matthew Creed, now a Rancho Cucamonga resident. “October is just a horrible month.”

The Creeds marked the fifth year of their son’s death on Oct. 22. The Pallares family marked the one-year anniversary of Ronnie Pallares’ death on Oct. 23.

Read more: http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_19239944#ixzz1car4efm5

SGT Eugenio is the 1,824th American killed in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in War on Terror

 

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Stephen J. Dunning

Marine SSG Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, was killed Thursday in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Department of Defense said Dunning was an explosive ordinance disposal technician, and was killed while attempting to disarm an explosive device in the Helmand province when he was killed.

Dunning has been awarded a posthumous Purple Heart.

During his career, he also collected many other service awards, including the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, and the NATO Medal-ISAF Afghanistan. He also received two letters of appreciation and a certificate of commendation, individual award.

Dunning joined the Marine Corps on April 19, 1999. At the time of his death, he was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, which is normally based in Okinawa, Japan, where he had been serving since June of 2009. His unit was recently sent to Afghanistan to support Operation Enduring Freedom.

Dunning was a graduate of Milpitas High School.

SSG Dunning is the 1,823rd American killed in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in War on Terror

 

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John A. Lyons

An Army sergeant from Seaside Park is the latest casualty in the war in Afghanistan, Pentagon officials announced Friday.

SGT John A. Lyons, 26, a 2003 graduate of Central Regional High School in Berkeley, died Wednesday of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan.

He was assigned to the 8th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, according to the Defense Department.

Lyons’ death comes a week before the scheduled announcement next Wednesday by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai of a plan for Afghan troops to take over all or parts of 17 of 34 provinces — among them the capital of Ghazni. The move — to take place in December or January — is the second step in a transition that Karzai hopes will leave his forces in control of the entire nation by the end of 2014.

Lyons was scheduled to arrive home in December, just three days before his 27th birthday, according to his aunt, Beth Merle of Ramsey, a spokeswoman for the family, who stood outside the Seaside Park home where Lyons’ mother, Susan Smiley, resides.

“We were all expecting to have him home for the holidays and his birthday,” Merle said.

She said Army soldiers arrived at Smiley’s home on Friday morning to bring news of her son’s death. Merle said the family is extremely close and family members had been arriving throughout the day to be with Smiley.

Lyons graduated Rutgers University, where he majored in political science and Latin, Merle said. She said he had enlisted for three years in the Army.

Lyons would have completed his three-year tour of duty in June 2012. Merle said this was Lyons’ first 12-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Lyons is the youngest of three children, and is survived by a brother and a sister, Merle said.

Lyons joined the Army in February 2009 as a combat engineer and was assigned to the battalion and brigade at Fort Hood since June 2009, according to a statement issued by the Fort Hood Public Affairs Office. Lyons deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December 2010, according to the Army.

Lyons’ awards and decorations include the NATO Medal, three Army Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and Combat Action Badge, according to the statement issued by the Army.

SGT Lyons is the 1,822nd American killed in Afghanistan … Ich hatt’ einen Kameraden

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in War on Terror

 

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Our blacks are so much better than their blacks?

Conservative thought courtesan Ann “Banshee” Coulter has been making the cable talk show rounds attempting to defend Herman “Pizza Man” Cain against sexual harassment allegations. Earlier this week she appeared on FOX PAC, telling Sean Hannity black conservatives are better than black liberals. “Our blacks are so much better than their blacks,” she said.

Appearing on the “Joy Behar” show, the banshee was given a chance to clarify the remark, but of course being who she is, she chose not to.

“I’m saying Google Maxine Waters, Cynthia McKinney and John Conyers, or Google Allen West, Michael Steele or Herman Cain,” Coulter said. “Ours are more impressive. There is no question about that.”

“When Michael Steele was running for Senate, liberals showed up and rolled Oreos down the aisle at him,” Coulter added. “The only racism you hear is against conservative blacks–and it is vicious.”

The problem with her little story about Michael Steele being assaulted with Oreos is that isn’t true (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=&sid=622881) or at best is greatly exaggerated by the likes of Coulter and Hannity as evidence of “liberal racism” (http://mediamatters.org/mmtv/200604260015).

But the banshee was finished with her racially charged commentaries, earlier she tweeted a comment regarding the Kim Kardashian divorce, “Kim Kardashian inspires slogan for 2012 presidential campaign,” she tweeted. “[Once] you go half-black, you CAN go back.”

Coulter is firing off half-thought commentary falling in line with Rush Limbaugh that the accusations against Cain are part of a process to tear down a black Republican. “Liberals detest, detest, detest conservative blacks,” she said. “…This is now the second time a conservative black has had outrageous and what appear to be false allegations leveled against him.”

Hannity said that, while he was not downplaying the seriousness of sexual harassment, he felt that everyday office banter was being misconstrued too often as inappropriate. “These people are humorless,” he said.

So, here we have Sean Hannity supporting sexual harassment victims as being humorless? Problem with guys like Hannity is they just don’t get it; there are serious limits on what someone can and cannot say to someone – anyone – in a professional environment, and certainly inviting a woman to your private corporate apartment (as Cain allegedly did) is one of the things you cannot do.

Hannity was confused – hard to believe I know – as to why liberals were, in his words, so “threatened” by Cain. Coulter was blunt in her response.

“Our blacks are so much better than their blacks,” she said, speaking of Democrats. “To become a black Republican, you don’t just roll into it. You’re not going with the flow…and that’s why we have very impressive blacks in the Republican party.”

“Our blacks are so much better than their blacks”? Really? Did you really just say “Our blacks are so much better than their blacks”? There are so many different rabbit holes this comment could send everyone into, such as, is Coulter somehow claiming ownership over conservative blacks? At best her comment demonstrates an incredible amount of ignorance regarding race; at worse it shows a racist sub current flowing below the peroxide.

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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All Americans should pay taxes?

The Associated Press (AP) is reporting Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential hopeful Michele “Krazy” Bachmann is telling college students in politically important Iowa that all Americans should pay taxes since they all benefit from services such as roads and bridges, national defense and the courts.

You know what? That’s one of the first things I’ve agreed with her on, but lets be fair, all Americans should pay their fair share of taxes Krazy.

Bachmann evidently decided it was time to talk about the economy since she’s plummeted into political oblivion trailing way, way, way behind other contenders in Iowa; however, there’s not a snowball’s chance in Hell she’ll win any of the caucuses or primaries, much less the GOTP nomination.

Krazy won an early test vote in Ames in August but ever since she’s been steadily slipping further and further behind as the fickle GOTP uber-conservative electorate first rallied around Perry and then Cain. Somehow she’s hoping to climb back to the top of the political car wreck which is the GOTP nomination cycle, especially as “the Reverend” Rick Perry appears to be drunkenly stumbling through speeches and Herman “Pizza Man” Cain tries to get past allegations of sexual harassment.

Reportedly, an outline of her speech shows Krazy being prepared to criticize the current federal tax code as too complicated and corporate tax rates as unreasonably high; basically saying she’ll raise taxes on the lower classes while proposing increased tax breaks for the wealthy and for corporations; wow, another uber-conservative nothing tax plan pandering to the ultra wealthy and the economic ignorant of the Tea Party base.

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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And then there were three?

Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential candidate Herman “Pizza Man” Cain is reportedly facing a third woman accusing him of sexual harassment; more of those “unsubstantiated personal attacks” and “thinly sourced allegations” everyone was warned would be coming no doubt.

Of course the allegations are remarkably similar to accusations of unwanted behavior which led to separate settlements in the late 1990s with two other women, but the latest allegations come from a woman who said in interviews with The Associated Press (AP) that Cain was aggressive and inappropriate with her, even extending a private invitation to his corporate apartment when she worked with him at the National Restaurant Association. The woman said Cain’s behavior occurred at the same time two co-workers had settled separate harassment complaints against him while he was leading the association.

This third woman was located and approached by the AP as part of its investigation into harassment complaints against Cain that were disclosed in recent days. This is the type of scrutiny people face when they run for national political office, and with these kinds of skeletons in his closet it’s surprising no one on his staff knew about them. Doesn’t anyone vet candidates anymore? One thing is probably sure at this time, Cain has to win the nomination – he has to win it all – because with this albatross around his neck he’s not likely to be offered the VP nod if Romney emerges victorious.

The latest accuser said she didn’t file a formal complaint against Cain because she began having fewer interactions with him. She said Cain told her he had confided to colleagues how attractive she was and invited her to his corporate apartment outside work.

His actions “were inappropriate, and it made me feel uncomfortable,” the woman said.

The AP’s confirmed the woman worked at the restaurant association with Cain during his time there.

So, is this the smoking gun which derails the 999 express, or does it create the opposite effect and rally uber-conservatives behind Cain?

The problem for Pizza Man however is there’s more than just the women’s accusations floating about; Chris Wilson, a pollster who worked for the restaurant association during Cain’s tenure, said in an interview he witnessed the businessman making inappropriate comments and gestures toward a young woman who worked for the group during a dinner at a hotel in Arlington, Va., in the late 1990s. Wilson declined to discuss more specifics without the woman’s permission, but said it was not one of the two women who settled complaints against Cain and it was not the third woman interviewed by the AP.

Cain’s behavior with women was well known, Wilson said.

“I’m surprised that it hasn’t come up before,” said Wilson, whose firm, Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research, does polling for a political action committee backing a Cain rival, Rick Perry. Wilson said he has not been the source of information on the accusations against Cain.

Now, of course the fact Wilson is employed by the Reverend Rick Perry’s organization does throw some doubt on his credibility, but it also shows these claims are not part of a vast left-wing liberal conspiracy to put Cain out of the race because of the left’s fear of running against him, in spite of what mental midgets Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter think.

Cain – of course – calls the two sexual harassment complaints “totally false” and baseless; which is beginning to sound a lot like, “I did not have sex with that girl”.

Meanwhile back in reality land, the AP’s confirmed the identity of the two women who received settlements from the restaurant association but isn’t revealing their names.

Cain’s campaign’s saying it’s all a “smear campaign” because he’s riding high in opinion polls and accused Perry’s operation of being behind the original stories.

Perry’s campaign’s denied any involvement – and is pointing the finger at Mitt Romney, whose campaign is of course saying it isn’t true. The problem for Mitt being a close “democratic” associate has said he’s doing “whatever it takes to get elected” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/romney-democrat_n_1072008.html?1320260639&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009) which makes his group prime suspects, as well as Michele “Krazy” Bachman’s.

The opportunity for real damage control has come and gone; if the allegations are true, Cain should’ve owned up to them and moved on because now Pandora’s box has been opened and there’s no getting away from a picture of cover up and being just like every other scum ball politician out there. For the GOTP it’s appears he’s just one more “family values” candidate claiming to be the fine upstanding “Christian” who can’t seem to keep from practicing the laying on of hands on women other than his own wife.

 
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Posted by on November 3, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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No Right Turns

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2011 in Humor

 

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Latest 2012 Presidential Polls – 02 Nov 11 Edition

A new Quinnipiac poll conducted 13 – 31 Oct 11 (before Herman Cain’s sexual harassment storm appeared on the horizon) has been released concerning the Republican Tea Party (GOTP) nominating circus; the current poll results are:

Herman “Pizza Man” Cain 30; Mittens Romney 23; Newter Gingrich 10; Reverend Rick Perry 8; Ronny Paul 7; Michele “Krazy” Bachmann 4; Jon “I can’t believe it’s not butter” Huntsman 2 and Ricky “The Ric” Santorum 1

The GOTP Little Shop of Horrors continues and the Pizza Man’s lead in the polls (at least temporarily) has expanded nationally, making Mittens no doubt apoplectic. Reverend Ricky appears to have achieved a small bounce, but he’s running fourth behind Newter; Paul is in stable condition in the middle of the frenzy while Krazy’s hanging in her rubber room of political purgatory continuing to teeter on the edge of unknown status two points above Huntsman and Santorum.

In Iowa, a new Des Moines Register poll conducted 23 – 26 Oct 11: Cain 23; Romney 22; Paul 12; Bachmann 8; Gingrich 7; Perry 7; Santorum 5 and Huntsman 1 …

In New Hampshire, the CNN/Time poll conducted 20 – 25 Oct 11: Mittens 40; Cain 17; Paul 11; Gingrich 8; Huntsman 7; Perry 4; Bachmann 4 and Santorum 1 …

In South Carolina, the Rasmussen Reports poll conducted 01 Nov 11: Cain 33; Romney 23; Gingrich 15; Perry 9; Paul 5; Bachmann 2; Huntsman 1 and Santorum 1 …

In Florida, the Suffolk/7News poll conducted from 26 – 30 Oct 11: Romney 25; Cain 24; Gingrich 11; Perry 9; Paul 5; Huntsman 2; Bachmann and Santorum 1 …

In Nevada, the PPP (D) poll conducted from 20 – 23 Oct 11: Romney 29; Cain 28; Gingrich 15; Paul 7; Perry 6; Bachmann 3; Huntsman and Santorum 2 …

In the five states with the lead off primaries – or caucuses – Romney leads Cain 3-2 – but barely; Cain continues to lead nationally, and if he can maintain his momentum it will become harder and harder for Romney to pull off the nomination – I’m still sticking with my thought that it’s highly doubtful Cain can stay on top, especially now with his “sexual harassment” allegations – but that may actually propel him higher in the polls with GOTP hardliners who are buying the explanation for the likes of Hannity and Coulter that it’s a vast left wing conspiracy; coupled with the Mormon factor amongst Evangelical Christians and Mitt may find himself being the bride’s maid yet again.

Concerning how the GOTP “candidates stack up against the President; according to the above mentioned Quinnipiac poll, if the general election were held today:

President Obama 47/Romney 42

President Obama 43/Cain 38

President Obama 52/Perry 36

President Obama 52/Gingrich 37

As always, no one else matters because none of the remaining candidates will ever win the GOTP nomination – on the bright side, they’re still providing entertainment …

So, if the GOTP clown car had finally stopped spinning, and the general election was held today, the Pizza Man would still be the GOTP candidate, and once again he would have lost to President Obama.

 
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Posted by on November 2, 2011 in 2012 Election

 

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Do’H!


 
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Posted by on November 2, 2011 in 2012 Election, Humor

 

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