We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:52:29 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification That's the acronym of a veteran's organization I was completely unaware of. Totally.Oblivious. Why? Because it never occurred to me that a group with this common characteristic was large enough to support a veteran's organization. I mean, I *knew* that these people served, and served honorably and well, and have throughout our history. I just didn't know there were enough of them to form a veteran's organization with this one particular qualification. And if you want to know what that is - check below the fold, in the Flash Traffic/Extended Entry.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:37:25 -0600 ..back when you were a kid you had to give your age in Roman numerals. (btw, i was only XVII) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58960 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58960 Mon, 16 Apr 2007 08:28:12 -0600 And, while I am sure exceptions still abound... I'm thinking kids were "harder," in general, back in the day, than they are now. As in being able to pull off the looking and acting older part. Of course, I just said what every gruff old soldier has said ever since there were armies - "Kids today are soft! Why, back when *I* was a kid..." There. I gave you a straight line. Let's see who drops by to use it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58925 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58925 Sun, 15 Apr 2007 09:25:41 -0600 Back before this country was such a police-mommy busybody proctoscopic enterprise with cradle-to-grave records about everyone, this was much easier. A common ploy during The War (1861-1865, all other wars would be "a" war) was to write the number 18 on a piece of paper and put it into one's shoe before donning same. Then the aspiring soldier could semi-truthfully say to the recruiter who asked his age, "I am over 18." http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58922 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58922 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:41:58 -0600 I think there was a guy at Iwo who got a Medal of Honor for throwing himself on not just one, but two grenades at once. And he lived. He was underage, I believe. After he got out of the hospital, he went home and finished high school. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58921 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58921 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:26:38 -0600 A special salute is due ADM Boorda, a good, decent, honorable and effective leader dedicated to serving his country, his Navy and his sailors. The Navy's mission as he defined it was to "put ordnance on target," not putz about with politically correct crapola. His tragic decision to end his life after chicken sh!t hectoring by scumbag politicians and "journalists" over murky minutae related to personal awards "V's" remains a sad commentary on the cess pool that is within the beltway. Boorda was one of the good guys, and when there are so few, each is truly missed even more. "Naval Operations. Departed." http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58918 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58918 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 23:01:14 -0600 If it were anything other than chronological, John, the membership would be *huge*. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58914 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58914 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:58:28 -0600 My Great-Uncle Jules could have joined that. Lied about his age to get in on WWI. I'm glad there is a memorial. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58913 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58913 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:55:43 -0600 Chronological or intellectual age? Mental age? Emotional age? Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58911 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/04/vums.html#comment-58911 Sat, 14 Apr 2007 16:11:23 -0600