What if....... the Infantry, the Marines, the SEALs and the various CIA guys who, lately, suited up, humped ammo & rode helicopters hither & yon were replaced [at first] by:

THESE GUYS & their missile keys that can launch one or two instructive warheads from Ballistic Missile Submarines... "erasing" say Kandahar & Ghazni, not policing or pacifying, as did the ridiculous Lord Roberts & his ignorant long line of British, Indian, Pakistani, Russian successors?

Would all of our honored dead be running around & doing fun camping stuff in Fort Bragg NC. Virginia Beach, VA. San Diego, CA. Williamsburg, VA. Tampa, FL. - and a hundred other places --- safe & sound since about the third week of October 2001?

Why do we even have 12? 15? goddamn fucking Ballistic Missile Submarines?

Is humanity so in need of the latest goat-meat cuisine contribution of the Pashtun people?

Or have the Pashtuns demonstrated a capacity for mass suicide
---which we should oblige---
when they unwisely welcome and conspire with
rich, violent Arabs in their safe haven?

Since we haven't destroyed their wonderful cultural inheritance, can they now be expected to build schools, improve roads and plant trees... or will that take another 3000 years of careful meetings by the elders of the tribes?

Whether or not one was expected to perform Navy Cross-level acts of heroism... in FY2005, US Navy Petty Officers were paid about $100 per day & encouraged to shoot all the ammunition they could carry along Eurasia's most unlikely goat-trails...

During the fire fight, Axelson was shot in the chest and head but continued to fight alongside Luttrell until a blast from a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) separated them.

Along with injuries sustained from the blast, Axelson died of bullet wounds to the chest and head.

When U.S. Navy personnel arrived to retrieve his body for burial, they found that it was a few hundred yards away from the RPG blast location.

Axelson was reported by Luttrell to have had three magazines remaining when the blast took place, however, when his body was found, he had only one magazine remaining, which indicated that either Axelson continued to fight even after the blast or the ammo reserves were picked by insurgents.

born: June 25, 1976

killed in action: June 28, 2005

age 29.

Citation:

For extraordinary heroism in actions against the enemy

while serving in a four-man

Special Reconnaissance element with

SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team ONE,

Naval Special Warfare Task unit,

Afghanistan from 27 to 28 June 2005.

Petty Officer Axelson demonstrated extraordinary heroism

in the face of grave danger in the vicinity of

Asadabad,

Konar Province,

Afghanistan.

Operating in the middle of an enemy-controlled area, in extremely rugged terrain, his Special Reconnaissance element was tasked with locating a high-level Anti-Coalition Militia leader, in support of a follow-on direct action mission to disrupt enemy activity. On 28 June 2005, the element was spotted by Anti-Coalition Militia sympathizers, who immediately revealed their position to the militia fighters.

As a result, the element directly encountered the enemy.

Demonstrating exceptional resolve and fully understanding the gravity of the situation, Petty Officer Axelson's element bravely engaged the militia, who held both a numerical and positional advantage.

The ensuing firefight resulted in numerous enemy personnel killed, with several of the Navy members suffering casualties.

Ignoring his injuries and demonstrating exceptional composure, Petty Officer Axelson advised the teammate closest to him to escape while he provided cover fire.

With total disregard for his own life and thinking only of his teammate's survival,

he continued

to attack the enemy, eliminating additional militia fighters,

until he was mortally wounded by enemy fire.

A champion of

freedom,

Petty Officer Axelson will be remembered for his self-sacrificing actions in the continuing Global War on Terrorism. By his undaunted courage, fortitude under fire, and unwavering dedication to duty, Petty Officer Axelson reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

He gallantly gave his life for the cause of freedom.

 

...be careful his bow-tie is really a camera...

cathy i'm lost

i said though

i knew she

was sleeping

...players couldn't get a drink at the table...

...He was bangin' cocktail waitresses two at a time... what's WRONG with you?

...the moderate to high-cost pacification of the Eurasian landmass...

Citation:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the

risk of his life

and above and beyond the call of duty as the leader

of a special reconnaissance element with

Naval Special Warfare

task unit Afghanistan on 27 and 28 June 2005.

While leading a mission to locate a high-level

anti-coalition militia leader, Lieutenant Murphy

demonstrated extraordinary heroism in the face of

grave danger in the vicinity of

Asadabad,

Konar Province,

Afghanistan.

On 28 June 2005, operating in an extremely rugged

enemy-controlled area, Lieutenant Murphy's team

was discovered by anti-coalition militia sympathizers,

who revealed their position to Taliban fighters. 

As a result, between 30 and 40 enemy fighters

besieged his four member team. 

Demonstrating exceptional resolve, Lieutenant Murphy

valiantly led his men in engaging the large enemy force. 

The ensuing fierce firefight resulted in numerous

enemy casualties,

as well as the wounding

of all four members of the team.

Ignoring his own wounds and demonstrating exceptional

composure, Lieutenant Murphy continued

to lead and encourage his men. 

When the primary communicator fell

mortally wounded, Lieutenant Murphy repeatedly

attempted to call for assistance for his beleaguered teammates. 

Realizing the impossibility of communicating

in the extreme terrain, and in the face of almost

certain death,

he fought his way into open terrain

to gain a better position to transmit a call.

This deliberate, heroic act deprived him of cover,

exposing him to direct enemy fire. 

Finally achieving contact with his headquarters,

Lieutenant Murphy maintained his exposed position

while he provided his location and requested

immediate support for his team.

In his final act of bravery, he continued

to engage

the enemy until he was mortally wounded,

gallantly giving his life for his country

and for the cause of

freedom. 

By his selfless leadership, Lieutenant Murphy

reflected great credit upon himself and upheld

the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.