Duffield, SASS #23454

One of the older Speer manuals (i think it was number 9) had a section about why ballisticians have gray hair that addressed this subject. Duffield

Prayers for Ken and his family.

I have rescued two dogs and one cat. First was Gretchen, a beagle-terrier mix. She was with us 19 years and was my son's comfort through a lot of stress and turmoil. Next was Sweet Pea, a Siamese that had ben left at the pound because her owner had married and wife and cat did not get along. She lasted 21 years and slept curled around my head. Last rescue was Fred, a Weimaraner that had been left at the pound because he could not walk. He hobbled across his pen to me, our eyes met and I was hooked. They tried to talk me out of adopting him. My vet checked his hips and said he had weak muscles and stretched tendons, probably from being kept in a crate all the time. He lasted ten years until the deformed spine caused him to loose control of his legs.. All of them added to my life more than i ever deserved. Duffield

Summer, my first lab, learned to fetch the newspaper early on. When she got too old, her son Bandit took over. One Halloween the dogs were helping me pass out treats. One youngster told his friends: "That's Bandit. Every morning he comes out and picks up the newspaper. Then he looks up the street and down the street and then takes it inside." Summer and Bandit were also first class retrievers of ducks, quail and doves. I sure miss them. Every Day. Duffield

Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936). Verse: 1885–1918. 1922. The Sons of Martha THE SONS of Mary seldom bother, for they have inherited that good part; But the Sons of Martha favour their Mother of the careful soul and the troubled heart. And because she lost her temper once, and because she was rude to the Lord her Guest, Her Sons must wait upon Mary’s Sons, world without end, reprieve, or rest. It is their care in all the ages to take the buffet and cushion the shock. 5 It is their care that the gear engages; it is their care that the switches lock. It is their care that the wheels run truly; it is their care to embark and entrain, Tally, transport, and deliver duly the Sons of Mary by land and main. They say to mountains, “Be ye removèd.” They say to the lesser floods “Be dry.” Under their rods are the rocks reprovèd—they are not afraid of that which is high. 10 Then do the hill-tops shake to the summit—then is the bed of the deep laid bare, That the Sons of Mary may overcome it, pleasantly sleeping and unaware. They finger death at their gloves’ end where they piece and repiece the living wires. He rears against the gates they tend: they feed him hungry behind their fires. Early at dawn, ere men see clear, they stumble into his terrible stall, And hale him forth like a haltered steer, and goad and turn him till evenfall. 15 To these from birth is Belief forbidden; from these till death is Relief afar. They are concerned with matters hidden—under the earth-line their altars are: The secret fountains to follow up, waters withdrawn to restore to the mouth, And gather the floods as in a cup, and pour them again at a city’s drouth. They do not preach that their God will rouse them a little before the nuts work loose. 20 They do not teach that His Pity allows them to leave their job when they damn-well choose. As in the thronged and the lighted ways, so in the dark and the desert they stand, Wary and watchful all their days that their brethren’s days may be long in the land. Raise ye the stone or cleave the wood to make a path more fair or flat; Lo, it is black already with blood some Son of Martha spilled for that! 25 Not as a ladder from earth to Heaven, not as a witness to any creed, But simple service simply given to his own kind in their common need. And the Sons of Mary smile and are blessèd—they know the angels are on their side. They know in them is the Grace confessèd, and for them are the Mercies multiplied. They sit at the Feet—they hear the Word—they see how truly the Promise runs. 30 They have cast their burden upon the Lord, and—the Lord He lays it on Martha’s Sons!

Outlaws in Vietnam By David Eastman An excellent book about flying helicopters in combat. Reading it was like reliving my tour. The Sky Soldiers by Victor Beaver Hard to find, and I don't always agree with the author, but this gives a good look at day to day operations of an assault helicopter company supporting the ARVN 9th Infantry Division. Also covers Warrant Officer training and transitioning to the Hueycobra. Duffield

Yes. I wore my Army aircrew wings on my Navy uniform, it drove one Chief crazy. Duffield

Since the Reformado was introduced in 1867 and the change to .43 Spanish was 1871 it appears that the bore size was not the reason for the Reformado cartridge. Duffield

It is a wonderful thing when prayers are answered. We will keep praying, with a big THANK YOU to the Lord. Duffield

I noticed the notch for the slide lock had worn to a rounded corner on many of the 1911s that the Texas National Guard was armed with. Those pistols were old and had been abused. I saw a lot of soldiers close the slide by pressing down on the "device". Duffield

You may not qualify for free treatment, but they should have issued you an ID card stating that you are a veteran and what your treatment status was on your first visit. That would get you treatment at a VA facility, even if you or your private insurance had to pay for it.

Go to your nearest VA Hospital and get one. Even if you never use their facilities it is a backup to what you have. All Veterans should have one. Duffield

My wife is using zoom for her Master Gardener classes. My old computer does not have built in microphone or camera, so I got her a logitech headset. She still needed a camera. I bought a cheap ($20) camera/microphone from Wal Mart that works just fine. Duffield

Your Veteran's Administration Healthcare Enrolment card should do. Duffield

I have a hat that says: "Disfunctional Veteran LEAVE ME ALONE" on the front. Every other vet that sees it wants one. Amazon has them. Duffield