In modern times, when radio and television hastened the spread of news and views, criticism of public figures became more than a newspaper delight.             

Each President of our country has had to endure the barbs, the insults, the often unsubstantiated accusations, the outrageous challenges of “talking heads,” and the ingrained derision of political opponents.           

Think back a bit to FDR, Truman, IKE, FORD, JOHNSON.  They all took their hits.  JFK, having been crowned King of Camelot by a strangely enthralled press, escaped the heavy stuff because of a short reign.  Nixon made his own batter and it collapsed on him.  Carter smiled his way through his slow four years.  Clinton was a master of escape from it all until a titillating bit of transparency in the Oval Office.  The first George Bush had to overcome “Read My Lips” with a quick victory in the Persian Gulf.           

With the arrival of George W. Bush on the national scene, the niceties of the honeymoon period gave way to irreconcilable differences when George W decided to go after that part of the world which had spawned the savagery of modern religious zealotry.  The massacre of the innocents on 9/11 became W’s Day of Infamy and he acted accordingly.  He didn’t act alone, of course.  Much of Congress was party to the same intelligence and supported him in his determination to keep us from further harm.           

It wasn’t long before Congress wilted.  Grudging European support waned.  The media led the way.                     

Hatred for George W. Bush grew in intensity.  The public view of him became that of the radical Left.  It became almost fashionable to belittle him, to mock his sometimes awkward delivery of his speeches, to blame him for the world’s dislike of our country, to blister him for the economic-financial disaster of our day. (He had warned Congress about the two Fannies as early as 2001-2002, but Barnie Frank prevailed.)           

Worst of all, he was labeled “a liar.”  The charge was made by and through the media.  Evidence was not substantiated.  Half-truths were made whole.           

Through it all, George W. Bush did not show public anger.  He did not take his critics to task.  He simply noted that he “made tough decisions based on principle, not on politics.” He called on Congress and the courts to give a green light to Homeland Security measures to protect us.  He did not deprive us of our freedoms, only of some of our conviences.            

He deserves at least a tip of the hat or a snappy salute. History will treat him more kindly, more respectfully, than those who booed his departure at President Obama’s inauguration.

Neil Diamond’s 1969 tune, “Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” may not register with today’s age group, but for the Vietnam generation and Lt Col (Ret) Rick Lester, the words and melody were a “direct hit.” Flying UH-1C Huey gun ships, then CWO2 Lester was on his 2nd tour in Vietnam.  Assigned to the “JOKERS” in the 48th Assault Helicopter Company (AHC), his gun platoon’s main mission was to protect the Huey’s transporting the infantry into battle and provide security for their base camp.

The 48th AHC’s base camp was located adjacent to a mountain peninsula, just west of highway 1 near the village of Ninh Hoa.  The mountain, which the troops called “Big Charlie”, was the high ground from which the VC and NVA had been launching early morning mortar and rocket attacks into their compound.  The Jokers would respond to the attacks, but since the enemy forces could observe the launch, they would cease fire and move back to cover. The Jokers were frustrated that they were forced to be “reactionary” in response to the attacks on their base.

The 48th AHC deployed Rick Lester and his Joker fire team to support the 155th AHC on a six-day operation near the Cambodian border.  The team was released late in the evening, but Lester decided they would delay their departure until the early morning hours the next day in hopes of arriving back at their base camp around the time the mortar and rocket attacks had been occurring.  As the team neared their base camp, they climbed to ten thousand feet and flew south of the peninsula.  Once abreast of the eastern most portion of the peninsula, Lester and his trail aircraft entered auto rotation and began a quiet  “gliding” left turn around the back of  “Big Charlie” and there on the beach they saw a group of sampans and medium sized boats being unloaded by NVA soldiers. 

The shrieking sound of inbound Joker rockets caught the enemy by surprise as Lester fired a pair of rockets with seventeen pound, high explosive warheads into the largest boat.  The impact triggered a long and violent series of secondary explosions encompassing all the boats and personnel on the beach!  The explosions continued as ammunition blown into the air, onto the beach, and out to sea detonated like a fireworks display.  As Lester fired his second pair of rockets into the cluster of debris, his crew chief shouted over the intercom, “Sir, check out the sounds!”  Lester was directing his trail aircraft into the attack as his crew chief shouted again telling him to listen to Armed Forces Radio Network which was tuned in on the ADF radio and simultaneously flipped up the switch so Lester could hear.  It was Neil Diamond singing “Brother Love’s Travelin’ Salvation Show!”  “That’s you sir, Brother Love!” His crew chief shouted, and then added, “That’s what we should name our ‘bird,” Brother Love’s Travelin’ Salvation Show!”  “Hey, it’s your aircraft!” Lester responded and, later that evening the crew chief and door gunner came to Lester’s “hootch” carrying the avionics compartment door with the freshly painted name just below the Joker face standard to all the platoon’s aircraft! 

That door was brought home by Lester’s brother, Jim who served with the USAF in Nam, but spent much time with the Jokers on his days off.  The door was a gift from his crew and unit commander.  Lester cherishes this keepsake as a reminder of all the hero’s with whom he was so lucky to serve.  He has taken this door to many of his unit’s reunions and proudly acquired signatures from fellow 48th AHC crewmembers, family members of those who were lost or missing, as well as Eric Burdon, Adrian Cronauer, LTG Hal Moore and Joe Galloway. 

Fast-Forward 38-years from Lester’s last tour in Vietnam, and you’ll find a Neil Diamond concert coming to The Gwinnett Arena. Mr. Diamond had graciously donated 200 tickets to the 94th Airlift Wing two days before his concert. Explaining to PA that this would be a “Telling Story” they ensured that Rick and I would receive four tickets for the show. I put the bug in Rick’s ear about the tickets and how it would be a great idea if Neil Diamond could sign the back of the Huey’s nose door. Working his magic, Rick received the phone call at 3 PM the day of the concert. “Be here by 4 PM and Mr. Diamond will see you.” Noting he only had one hour to make it from Douglasville to the Gwinnett Center in a driving rainstorm, Rick made mention to the publicist that, “I’m not flying a Huey you know.” Hanging up and making the trek proved no problem for this aviator. Rick got his door signed and enjoyed a fine concert that included a 22-song set which didn’t originally include one song special to Lester.  The lights went down and then came back up for the encore; Neil Diamond had added a song, saving the best for last for a Vietnam Era helicopter pilot.  Singing the lyrics, “Pack up the babies, Grab the old ladies, Everyone goes, Everyone knows, Brother Love's show. Amen.”

2/10/2009 - DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- Editor's note: The 700th Airlift Squadron hosts Air Warrior Briefings each Unit Training Assembly where a guest speaker is invited to talk about aviation history.  Mr. Bill Price, B-29 waist gunner and POW will speak Mar 8^th @ 1400.  Contact Todd by Mar 5^th if interested.

Every day we hear or read about in the NY Times a “best seller list” of newly published material. But did you ever realize that there are some short and truly literary gems that have stood the test of time and popularity? They too need to be resurrected occasionally. Some are poems, articles, or short speeches but all are noteworthy. Whenever you are down in the dumps or feel the need for “recharging your batteries”, or want some inspiration, hope and uplift, or for just the plain enjoyment of reading, go to the internet, the public library, or your own library and look for these gems. They will give you the moral re-armament, reaffirmation of your beliefs, and sustenance to keep up the faith and the good fight that will give you a greater fulfillment in life. The list is certainly not all-inclusive and you may have your own favorites. Tell us about them.

* The Preamble – U.S. Constitution
* The Star Spangled Banner (all verses) – Francis Scott Key
* God and the Soldier – Duke of Marlborough (Churchill’s forefather)
* The Bells – E.A. Poe
* Charge of the Light Brigade – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
* Abou Ben Adhem – Leigh Hunt
* Trees – Joyce Kilmer
* Polonius’ Advise to His Son, Laertes – Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
* Hamlet’s Soliloquy – Hamlet, Act 3, Scene1
* In Flanders’ Fields – John MacRae
* Tommy Atkins – Rudyard Kipling
* God Give Us Men – Josiah G. Holland
* I am An American (Immigrant Version)  – Elias Lieberman
* I Am An American (USA Born Version) – Elias Lieberman
* Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death – Patrick Henry
* Comrades In Arms; Come With Me Into Macedonia
* Old Soldiers Never Die; The Corps – Speeches by Gen. D. Mac Arthur
* Old Ironsides – Oliver W. Holmes
* The Gettysburg Address – A. Lincoln
* The Cremation of Sam McGee – Robert W. Service
* Invictus – Wm. Ernest Henley
* Barbara Fritchie – John Greenleaf Whittier
* Sail On, Oh Ship of State – Henry W. Longfellow
* The Strenuous Life – Teddy Roosevelt
* The Village Blacksmith – Henry W. Longfellow
* Good Name in Man and Woman – Othello, Act 3, Scene 3
* Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson et al
*Sonnet 29 – Wm Shakespeare

Read and Enjoy!   

HE DID IT AGAIN!
The most amazing Dr. WILLIAM H. (BILL) GRIMES Jr. hosted another magnificent Christmas Party at the Druid Hills Country Club.  For those of you who could not attend you truly missed a special time.  There was good food, good entertainment, a good word from Reverend SMITHMIER, an M.C. who might go on the speaker’s tour this year, and best of all good friends enjoying good friends.  He makes it look easy, but there is a great amount of work and planning and follow thru for which we are very grateful. THANK YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE. 

Did you know that the young BILL GRIMES started out in Colquitt, Georgia?  His father, a R.R. Station agent, bought him a ticket to Macon, Ga., where he graduated Mercer University, then on to Emory in 1934 to study medicine. He was expected to return of Colquitt to be the local “country doctor” but a couple of his professors recognized a special talent in this young man and convinced him to become an OBGYN. He interned at the old Grady.

 Uncle Sam called in 1940 and he spent the next four years at Ft. Bragg using his specialty to help deliver some 700 babies.  There was also time to study  pigeon eradication which he used to keep the top brass happy.  After WW II, he returned to Atlanta and became a founding member of the Bartholemew Group.  Doctors affiliating for a common purpose is accepted practice today, but at the time they were breaking new ground. 

 This soft spoken man who always has a smile and a good word for everyone is in all ways a gentle man.  Dr. Grimes was 96 years strong on December, 30, 2008. He regularly attends Post meetings.  He is Past Commander of Post 134, recent past Chaplain, and current member of the Executive Committee. He is an active member and past President of the Druid Hills Civitan Club, a member of the Decatur Baptist Church and the Alert Sunday school class.  He still drives his own car and works out on a regular basis.  He attributes much of his good health and happiness to Eleanor who does her very best to keep up with the good Doctor.   

COME ONE, COME ALL 
Our February meeting falls just two days before Valentines Day this year, February 12th at noon at the Petite Auberge to be precise. So to honor those in our lives who keep us on the straight and narrow, a special VALENTINES DAY meeting has been planned.  Bring your wife or sweetheart, as your guest of course, and let’s treat them to a special time away from the house. 

Congratulations to P. C. JIM IVEY.  Not only is he lucky enough to be married to CHARLOTTE for 60 years, she took him on a cruise to see the Panama Canal as a very special celebration. 

H.T. MARSHALL took a fall in the lobby of his bank in December, but seems to have shaken it off very well thank you.  We heard of a fellow who went to the store to  purchase a toaster and they gave him a bank. 

MARSHAL COOPER is keeping Eastside Hospital in the chips having made several trips there lately.  Last word is he is doing better. 

BOBBY ATWATER’S twin sister died in December in Macon, Ga. 

RALPH MOOR attended funeral services for PHYLYSS BONNELL in January.  She was the wife of JOHN BONNELL who was a long time member of our Post.  John died last fall. Both lived at Canterbury Court. 

Thanks to the good work of HERMAN ABERNATHY, Post 134 is in good stead with the Area and National Legion authorities.  We now have a working Constitution and by-laws that were accepted by both groups.  They did have some suggestions for the Post to discuss at the next executive committee meeting. 

Our Post Oratorical contest is chaired this year by RAMON GARCIA.  He has scheduled the Post contest to be held at 9 AM on February 14th at the Garcia Group offices, 5154 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Chamblee, Ga.  At this writing, we have two young men to compete.  Judges will be VIC MAHONEY, GEORGE HOOTEN and TOMMY THOMPSON.  The winner of the local contest will continue on to area and state competitions with the state winner going onto Indianapolis for the national finals.  The contestants will win dollars and scholarship money at each stop.  The first place winner at national will win $18,000.00.  Second place is $16,000.00 and third place is $14,000.00.  All Post members are welcome at the local contest. Call Ramon to let him know you will attend.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 
The BUGLE CALL RAG, with this issue, begins it’s 21st year. The post had 181 members in January, 1988 and needed a better method of communicating with the members than sending a post card once a month.  GEORGE HOOTEN sold the idea of a monthly newsletter with the stated purpose “to attempt to keep you up to date on the plans and doings of our Post, of the Department, and of the National organization”.  That year George became the editor of the newsletter. He also was the Post Adjutant, the State Legion Historian and the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the American Legion Press Association.  He later became the Executive Director of NALPA retiring last year after 28 years of service.

 George found a willing accomplice in VIC MAHONEY, who wrote the entire paper in the beginning and for several years after.  In that first issue, Vic wrote of George “he’s a willing soul who can’t say NO.  If he were a female, he’d always be in trouble”!  Some people don’t change.

 Vic also wrote in that first issue “that this is your Newsletter…Use it to tell us what you want to know, what you want done.  Don’t worry about the language.  That’ll be taken care of.  Just send your words to the address provided in the Newsletter”.  That also hasn’t changed.  Keep us informed so we can spread the good word.     

That old saw about the shoe fitting took on a more serious and somber twist when we saw the tape of the Arab journalist hurling his dirty shoes and insulting remark at President Bush at a press conference in Baghdad.

        It was a relief for Americans generally to see how our President reacted.  He showed awareness, agility, and  a good sense of humor.       

For the kooks here and abroad, the incident was a source of glee, a sign of conviction that the entire world despised Bush.  For them, a fellow kook had performed an act of pure heroism by hurling a pair of shoes at a tyrant.        

A more serious study of the incident should make us ask ourselves: what if those shoes had been hand grenades?  The gleeful satisfaction of the haters should pale in our eyes as the tragic results of such a possibility occur to us.         

The physical safety and dignity of our President , both at home and abroad, must be paramount, no matter the political stance he may represent.  What he represents is the dignity of the office.  Protection of the person is a given.  Respect for the office is mandatory.       

Guarding the President from harm is the task of the Secret Service.  They do a superb job, often under difficult circumstances.  There are gaps in the care, unfortunately.  In our lifetime, we have  witnessed the assassination of JFK, the wounding of Ronald Reagan, the attempt on Ford.  Threats are constant .  Every kook has to be taken seriously.  The demands on the Secret Service will increase dramatically when the new President, the first bi-racial , takes office.  Kooks will be salivating on that.       

The dignity of the office, however, is in the hands of the people.  They have to set aside their personal politics as they protect that dignity.  They have to sift through the media’s constant blather and bias.  They have to remind themselves that the cartoonists often major in nasty humor.  In short, they have to see free speech as a tool for themselves as well as for the kooks.       

Yes, we depend upon the Secret Service to protect our President , but the dignity of the office is our assignment.  If we don’t, the shoes of contempt can become missiles of harm.