Book Review: LONE SURVIVOR

Lone Survivor is the story of Marcus Luttrell, the one surviving Navy SEAL of a reconnaissance mission gone bad. On 27 June 2005, a four man Seal Team was inserted into the Hindu Kush (eastern Afghanistan) in order to conduct surveillance on a HVM (high value miscreant) of the Taliban/al Qaeda; their intent was to locate and then either capture or terminate the HVM or call in a larger force to conduct that mission. The story will sound familiar if you recall the SEAL Team that was discovered by locals; the team then had to decide whether to kill the locals or to let them go and risk compromise. After some heated discussion, they decided to let the goatherders go and try to exfil ASAP. Other than the attacks which the team had to endure, THAT is most intense part of the story. The fact that four Americans, well behind enemy lines and with no commo, had to factor in crucifixion in the American media made their decision that much more painful.

Luttrell tells a fascinating story, beginning with his preparations for and attendance at SEAL training. Although we've all read of the hardships of that school, it is still amazing to see what SEAL candidates must undergo. The book then transitions to Afghanistan, and the missions of SOF. When the recon mission goes to hell, the 4 SEALS have to fight up to 200 miscreants armed with AK-47s and RPGs. Another gut wrenching portion occurs when the QRF is launched, and the aircraft is shot down by an RPG. Even as you root for the SEALS, you know the tragic end. Or you think you do. Luttrell covers his own fortunate survival, and the friendly tribesmen that risked all to help him.

Throughout the book, Luttrell skewers the lefties and the liberal media. When you read this story, you'll know why. With hardass training, a lot of faith and some luck, Marcus Luttrell made it home to tell his story. It is engrossing, reveals details that few know, and is a quick page turner. I HIGHLY recommend it. And I'm not plugging wally world here, but the jacket price is $25.00 and I picked it up for $17.00.

The ANTI-Communist Manifesto

The situation today with the USA militarily involved in Iraq and Afghanistan is often lately and frequently compared to Vietnam. The most tragic and heartrending comparison is that of parents that may think that their child died ‘for nothing’. In the last 60 years, as now, nothing could be further from the truth.

When addressing the Cold War, it is often referred to as the war that was won “without firing a shot”. It is nothing like that. While the superpowers did not directly face off against each other, their “proxy” armies DID fight. Two conflicts particularly stand out.

In the Korean War, the first major conflict of the Cold War, western forces repelled the Communist invaders. Even as the war stalemated and innumerable soldiers from both sides died, the free South was protected from Communist domination. The mere existence of South Korea and its economic superiority prove that we WON that war.

The Vietnam ‘conflict’ is often called a lost war. While tragic and divisive, the fact that we stood up to the Communist monolith for all those years made them reconsider the will of the free world. No American life was lost in vain; the conflict was bigger than what happened on the ground. Had we allowed the Communists to take over countries at will, THAT would have been the loss.

Quite frankly, and stated somewhat parochially, our determination to fight in those conflicts are directly responsible for our continued freedom; reasons why we are NOT ruled by Soviets or Communist China.

The same applies today. Terrorists that would love nothing more than to destroy our way of life continue to stream into Iraq and Afghanistan to fight us. How simple is that? Let’s kill them over there, before they come over here. Because they WILL come over here. NO American life is “wasted” over there; the fight is the good fight for freedom. Our will to stand up to the Communists ended the Cold War; our will to stand up to the terrorists will preserve our freedom.

Faith

We are building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. We forge our spirits in the tradition of our ancestors. You have our gratitude.

High School Reunion

Who really wants to go to a high school reunion? I wasn't overly enamored of those people in 1982, and I sure as heck don't worry about them in 2007. My indifference to their existence today is much as it was then. I'm guessing that most of the kids from then are now living mundane and boring lives. How many divorces have those poor folks experienced? I really don't care to find out. They can all just go on growing old, fat and bald, as far as I'm concerned. Attending a reunion of those people? I think I'd rather watch paint dry.

Why Jumpmaster K?

When I first started actively posting on bulletin boards on the internet, I needed to have a good and descriptive user name. Around the same time, I'd been watching "Married With Children" when Bud wanted to be the evil rapper "Grandmaster B". Even as Bud was trying to achieve a name of fame, Kelly and others often mangled "Grandmaster B":

Abdomenizer B (Bud, 0723)
Bass Master B (Al, 0604)
Bellringer B (Kelly, 0607)
Buckminister B (Al, 0603)
Burgermeister B(Peggy, 0603)
Bushwacker B (Kelly, 0603)
Butt-wagger B (Kelly, 0616)
Court Jester B (Peggy, 0603)
Dustbuster B (Jill, 0603)
Gas-passer B (Al, 0604)
Ghostbuster B (Kelly, 0603)
Grand Bastard B (Kelly, 0614)
Grand Flasher B (Jill, 0603)
Grand Marshall B (Peggy, 0603)
Grandmaster One (Bud, 0614)
Grasshopper B (Al, 0604)
Grinchmaster B (TV Host, 0619)
Mixmaster B (Jill, 0603)

So anyway, I thought it would neat to mirror that. Being a Jumpmaster, and named Kurt, it just seemed natural: Jumpmaster K.

And now you know.

End of an Era

My old personal webpage at expage.com will be gone in March when expage shuts down. Therefore, I chose to come here and blog in order to preserve the old information, some as old as going back to 1997.


God Bless the United States of America!

Freedom of speech is one of the greatest gifts Americans have. America Rules!

I like Classic Heavy Metal, jumping from airplanes, professional sports, and current events.

My favorite Heavy Metal bands:

Black Sabbath
Iron Maiden
Judas Priest
Rainbow
Deep Purple
AC/DC
Dio
Ozzy Osbourne
Motorhead
Metallica
Megadeth
Queensryche
Mudvayne
Rob Zombie
Ted Nugent

People think I'm insane because I am frowning all the time - Paranoid

My favorite aircraft to exit while in flight:

C-130
MC-130
C-141
CH-47
DHC-6 (Twin Otter)
CASA-212
UH-60
DC-3T (C-47)

The MC1-1C parachute offers a far superior ride to the T10C.
C-130 tailgate exits are the best!

Remember; regardless of what the doubters say, there is no such thing as a perfectly good aircraft.

My favorite professional sports teams:

Miami Dolphins
Denver Broncos
Dallas Cowboys
Colorado Rockies
Oakland A's
Denver Nuggets
Dallas Mavericks
Colorado Avalanche
San Jose Sharks
Tacoma Rainiers
Memphis Maniax

Great Milers:

Roger Bannister
Jim Ryun
John Walker
Sebastian Coe
Steve Scott
Noureddine Morceli
Hicham el-Guerrouj
Alan Webb

Favorite Movies:

Go Tell the Spartans
Apocalypse Now
A Bridge Too Far
The Blues Brothers
Halloween II
The Rock
Caddyshack
Stripes
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Repo Man
The Cable Guy
Beavis & Butthead Do America
Ace Ventura: Pet detective
Heavy Metal
Kentucky Fried Movie
Horse Feathers
Duck Soup
They Died with their Boots On
The Roaring Twenties
Grease
Animal House
Glory
Die Hard Trilogy
Star Wars Trilogy
Strange Brew
Independence Day
Saving Private Ryan
A Patch of Blue
Band of Brothers
We Were Soldiers
Blackhawk Down

Top TV:

Late Show with David Letterman
Star Trek: Voyager
Seinfeld
Friends
MASH
Beavis & Butthead
The Simpsons
X-Files
Scrubs

"Catch-22" (Joseph Heller) should be required reading for all Americans.

The Greatest President of the twentieth century:

Ronald W. Reagan

God Bless Ronald Reagan!