Stan R. Mitchell's Blog, page 62

Let’s not forget the Coast Guard…

Recently, I crossed paths with CWO3 William H. RaVell III, a retired Chief Warrant Officer from the United States Coast.

Besides being a great guy to get to know, RaVell has been pointing out to me several instances of where the Coast Guard has been overlooked in tributes to military service. (And since he’s pointed this out to me, I now see instances quite regularly, as well.)

Marines holding a sign thanking the Coast Guard during WWII. (Photo credit: Brandmeister)

RaVell said it best when he told me: “Those publicly honoring the military should be made aware that the Coast Guard, while under the Department of Homeland Security and not the Department of Defense, is indeed an armed military service. The Coast Guard is not only tasked with highly demanding and dangerous peace time responsibility, they have fought in every war since its founding in 1790 through today. Our sister services acknowledge what the Coast Guard has accomplished and contributed to the defense of our nation at home and abroad. Perhaps if enough people point out the failure to include the U. S. Coast Guard in tributes such as this, the general public will learn the Coast Guard is also a fighting armed force and should be acknowledged as such.”

In the post, Marine Corps ranked worst service branch to join, and I love it, Harry T. Imoto Sr. CWO3, USCG, Ret. weighed in with the story of a Medal of Honor winner from the Battle of Guadalcanal, as well as his service along some dangerous rivers in Vietnam.

“Do the USMC Old Timers remember the name Douglas Albert Munro, Signalman First Class, USCG? He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at the battle of Guadalcanal on 27 September 1942. Yes, the USCG is one of the Armed Forces. I am proud to have served in the USCG from 1952 to 1976. Oh! I did time in Vietnam also and was in enough action to be awarded the Navy/Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon along with 8 other medals and ribbons for service I Vietnam. I’m not showing off my awards, but just trying to emphasize that we Coasties are also a fighting service.”

As one 8404 Navy Corpsman commented in the link above, he worked with the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Army, and he had the highest respect for the Coast Guard.

“The only thing I can really say about the Coasties is what I saw of them on their 100-foot patrol boats in the Gulf, they were pretty damn squared away. If I were to have been planning a fast boat attack I’d have steered clear of the Coast Guard boats, they were really jumpy and didn’t hesitate a millisecond when it came to putting warning shots across another boats bow.”

So, when you think of those serving our country in harm’s way, let’s not forget the Coast Guard. They’re interdicting drugs, preventing infiltration by terrorists, and rescuing lots of people trapped in storms and the worst conditions imaginable. And this is just some of their more high-profile missions.

Enjoy the video below and remember to respect our fellow service members in the Coast Guard.

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

Persistence. Life’s most important lesson?

This blogpost really moved me. It’s about a writer chasing their author dream, and I know that may not apply to many of my readers, but the story really lays out one of life’s most important lessons.

And when you read about her love of writing and how it gets tested by companies going bankrupt, opportunities falling through, and her career field losing that shine it started with, I’m confident it will make you think of whatever career you’re in. (And probably struggling with.) And while the easy thing to do is just switch careers or start with something else, this article helps remind you that:

A) You’re probably closing to succeeding than you think.

B) All career fields start out fun until you realize their dirty secrets and shortcomings.

Just one great quote from the article:

It’s persisting in the game after you know what it’s really all about. After the shine wears off. It’s persisting after all your hopes and aspirations bang head first into reality.

Below is the full article. It’s a tad long, but well worth the read! On persistence, and the long con of being a successful writer. (Warning, there is some profanity.)

 Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

This looks more fun than a roller coaster…

This video made my day.

One question though… Would you ride it?

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

Uncontested U.S. control of Pacific is ending

The four-star commander of U.S. Pacific Command acknowledged some pretty startling facts at a Naval conference.

Here are some key points from the article, PACOM chief: Uncontested U.S. control of Pacific is ending.

First, the Admiral admitted the U.S. will no longer be dominant in certain instances.

“We need to think about all scenarios, not just the ones we’ve been dealing with over the last several years where we’ve enjoyed basic air superiority and basic sea superiority. There are places in the world where in this century we won’t have them.”

And he made the argument, as best as I’ve seen, as to why we must stay engaged there.

“For one thing, the region “from Hollywood to Bollywood” is “the economic engine that drives the global economy,” he said. “The region also is becoming increasingly militarized and has no NATO-like security structure to prevent conflicts. And the rise of China’s military spending and capability is upending the status quo that took root after World War II.”

Go read the whole article. It’s well worth the read. Here’s the link again: PACOM chief: Uncontested U.S. control of Pacific is ending.

And as always, I would love to hear any of your all’s thoughts about it.

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

How to release disappointment and thrive when life isn’t fair

Here’s a good article I came across that I thought I might share. I’m hoping none of my followers or readers are experiencing anything too rough right now, but I know that life can sure test and break you, if you’re not careful.

How to release disappointment and thrive when life isn’t fair.

Much love to you all, and I hope you all have a great day!

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

Beware the gummy bears, according to these reviewers

My wife posted this on facebook and I had to share it. It’s too funny not to…

(Warning: This does discuss violent bodily functions.)

From Danah Mitchell: Just the first review alone took me about a half an hour to read to Stan because we were both laughing so hard. By about the 3rd sentence of said review, Stan had succumbed to a series of painful hiccups, and by the end of it I felt like I had just finished a vicious set of ab blasts….which is weird, because I wasn’t aware that I even had abs.

This one is definitely a sharer, people. But it might be a good idea to have some spare oxygen handy, because the first review is just one of many. Enjoy!

LINK: Beware Of The 5 lb. Bag Of Sugarless Gummy Bears On Amazon.com – The Reviews Are Priceless!

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron. And “Soldier On,” a short novel, follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to make it through the final, miserable months of World War II.

I’m going to do my best to remember Sam Berns…

This Sam Berns story nearly brought tears to my eyes:

We won it for Sam! Patriots fans dedicate play-off victory to brave teen, 17, who died of rare aging disease a day before he was due to be team’s honorary captain. (Make sure you watch the video at the bottom of the story. It’s short and so unforgettable.)

And the statement by team owner Robert Kraft, who donated $500,000 to the foundation started by his parents in search of a cure, is a must read, as well:

Robert Kraft: “I loved Sam Berns and am richer for having known him. He was a special young man whose inspirational story and positive outlook on life touched my heart. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and to get to know his incredible family. Together, they positively impacted the lives of people around the world in their quest to find a cure for Progeria. The HBO documentary ‘Life According to Sam’ shared his incredible story with a national audience. It was so beautifully done. It made you laugh. It also made you cry. Today, it’s the latter for all who knew Sam or learned of his story through that documentary. Earlier this week, I had extended an invitation for Sam to be the Patriots’ honorary captain for tonight’s playoff game. I was looking forward to spending more time with Sam and his family. News of his passing came as a complete surprise. It is another reminder that we can’t take anything for granted. Be sure to give your loved ones hugs and kisses and tell them how much you love them. My heart aches for his parents, Scott and Leslie, his aunt Audrey and the rest of Sam’s extended family. Words cannot express the sadness or the depth of sympathy I feel for them today.”

I think we can all learn a lot from Sam Berns, and his attitude toward life. And his Mother’s words about how we all take time for granted are spot on.

Today, I will hold my wife a little longer, write a little more, and take more time than normal to count my blessings, all in honor of Sam Berns.

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Soldier On” follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to survive the final, miserable months of World War II. And, “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron.

The drug war south of our border and in our hometowns…

As my regular followers know, my next book that I’ve nearly finished is called “Mexican Heat,” and it’s about Marine Sniper and big-time hero Nick Woods, who gets dragged into a military mission as part of the drug wars in Mexico. (The book is the sequel to “Sold Out,” by far my best-selling book to date, and the one that introduces you into the unforgettable and incomparable Nick Woods.)

I’ve done a lot of research for this book, in the hopes it can be as authentic and accurate as possible. And even well over a year into researching the topic and writing it, I still haven’t grown numb to the mind-blowing numbers and over-the-top acts of terror committed by the cartels and gangs involved in the drug trade.

This article I came across the other day really succinctly puts much of my research into perspective. And it even goes so far as to ask if the war on drugs compares to the atrocities of the Nazi’s in World War II or American Slavery.

Read it if you get a moment. It will help open your eyes to what’s happening just south of our border, and probably in the corner of the very community you live in.

The gruesomeness of the drug trade rivals any atrocities in history.

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. If you enjoy fast-paced books, you just might like my works. “Sold Out” tracks the life of a legendary Marine Sniper after a CIA unit decides to kill him for reasons of national security. “Soldier On” follows the lives of several German soldiers in a depleted infantry company trying to survive the final, miserable months of World War II. And, “Little Man, and the Dixon County War” tells the uphill fight a young deputy faces after surviving three years of war only to find himself in the sights of a mighty cattle baron.

What to do when you’re stuck at the airport… (Or just plain unhappy.)

About thirty minutes ago, I got a text from a friend who’s stuck at an airport, with family she doesn’t want to be with, on a trip she didn’t want to take. (You know how that goes.)

She’s on layover because of the storms, and while she has books, she can’t read them because of all her family talking. (And of course her family is saying all manner of stupid things that is upsetting her, and frustrating her, to no end.)

So, my heart went out to her and in typical Stan fashion, I wanted to help. I confirmed she could get to her email, so I fired off this email to her, which she said actually helped.

In the off chance that it might help others, I’ll post it below…

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Stan Mitchell 

Date: Sun, Jan 5, 2014 at 12:47 PM

Subject: Re: Layover

To: Xxxxxx

 

So, I’m wondering if we can get that Zen-like, living-in-the-moment feeling to take place in the worst situation ever. (The one you’re in on a layover, and with the people you’re with…)

So, here’s the challenge. First, take a super deep breath, hold it for a sec, and then blow it out nice and slow. And as you exhale the air out, try to smile and say, “My life is only this moment. There is no tomorrow, there is no next week.”

Then take another super deep breath, hold it for a sec, and then blow it out nice and slow. And this time think to yourself, “I am beautiful, and God loves me.”

Repeat both of these several times and then when you’re relaxed, look around for something beautiful. Maybe it’s some architecture. Maybe it’s an ad on a billboard on the wall. Maybe it’s your Dad, in all his shortcomings. 

Be aware of what’s around you, look for the kid smiling and laughing. Kids know best how to live. 

Try to live in the moment and pretend you only have five minutes to live. If you only had five minutes, what would you do? Maybe email a friend you haven’t talked to in a while? Maybe thank a mentor for being the best person ever. Maybe go up and talk to that guy standing alone, who looks as unhappy as you are. 

Anyway, I think if you try this, there’s a chance your time stuck there will be less painful. 

Stan

——————–

Stan R. Mitchell

Author of Sold Out, Soldier On, and Little Man, and the Dixon County War

Web site: http://stanrmitchell.com

Also, catch me on Twitter!

Hold my beer… Watch this… So, what’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever tried?

So, I retweeted this earlier from someone else on Twitter… And I’m still laughing about it.

RT @WATCHTHlS ''Son, you're just 4 years old!'' Hold my beer… and watch this! http://t.co/Q65wur9Ssz—
Stan R. Mitchell (@StanRMitchell) January 04, 2014

And it occurred to me… (Yeah, this could be dangerous…) Anyway, it occurred to me that this would be a fantastic chance to tell something embarrassing on yourself. Like, what’s one of the dumbest things you ever tried to do?

Of course, I know I must go first. So, deep breath, here goes…

Back when I was in the Corps, we used to always have to do forced marches, with all our gear, i.e. flack, weapon, helmet, and overloaded pack. (For the non-Marines out there, we call it humping, or going on a hump. Not sure why. And definitely not as fun. Oops. Sorry.)

So, I was a really small guy back then. Like, 135 pounds. And I hated humps. My worst fear was falling out, so I’d do pack runs at night and work out like crazy to keep from having this happened. (With small guys, it was harder  since we have shorter strides and they put us in the back of the formation — not to mention, a 135 pound guy humping 80 or 90 pounds of equipment is WAY different than a 185 pound guy carrying 90 pounds…)

Here’s what we used to carry. I never weighed it, but I’d say it was between 60 and 80 pounds worth of gear. Maybe 90 depending on how much food we were carrying. ( This photo is from 1997, and is of a Marine in my former unit, 1/8, aka 1st Battalion, 8th Marines.)

But through sheer determination, lots of working out on my own, and a fair amount of praying, I got pretty good at it.

Fast forward from a scared guy afraid of finishing a hump to me being a Corporal and a Squad Leader. We had just gotten in a bunch of Boots, (or new Marines), and we were on our first tough hump.

These guys had just finished their School of Infantry training, and they thought they were tough. But, of course, the Fleet (or Fleet Marine Force) is much tougher than just SOI. So, these dudes are dying. And starting to drag back. And it was like a hundred degrees and a super, tough hump, thus even I was getting a little worried I might not finish.

But we long-time vets are yelling at these stupid boots and acting all tough. (Hey, we’re Marines… Fake it till you make it, right?)

And I was Squad Leader, so I’m really yelling at these stupid Boots. And lo and behold one starts falling out of formation because he can’t keep up.

I follow typical Marine protocol. Since it was clear he might not make it, I try to encourage him…

But, that doesn’t work.

Then I start shaming him, and that helps for a while.

But soon, even that’s not working.

And then I do what had been done to me and dozens of other Marines.

I start telling him to drop his pack. That he can’t hack it and he’s a piece of shit. He’s a disgrace to the Corps. He should have joined the Army. You name it, and most of it I can’t print her… 

Well, unfortunately for me, and probably for the first time in Marine Corps history, this piece of crap finally says, “Yes, Corporal,” as loud as he can. And he drops his pack. YES! HE DROPPED HIS PACK. HE QUIT.

WORSE. He THEN hands his weapon to a fire team leader that had been yelling at him, as well.

Me, at right, just a few months before that hump, back in ’97. I thought I was invincible… Yeah, right…

Well, a hundred men had seen this all occur so I was too startled to know what to do. I mean this, this never happens. I had never seen it happen and didn’t know what to do, but I can’t look like I’m not in control…

So, I yell at two squad members to grab his pack and throw it on top of mine. They do and the weight crushes me immediately. I mean, I’m 135 pounds. And I was worried BEFORE I got this second pack as to whether I could finish.

My mind tells me there’s no way. I know it’s not going to be possible, but I refuse to lose face. And so I tell them to rush forward and get back with the formation and I start on with both packs.

I couldn’t come close to keeping up and I carry both packs maybe a mile and a half. (And it’s all I can do to even do that.The pain was just so much on my back and even my lungs could barely open and close beneath so much weight.)

Frankly, I only make it that far — a mile and a half — because the company had stopped and I figured I’d give him his pack back, and could catch my breath before they picked up and moved again. Well, I trudge in, drop the extra pack, try to stop hyperventilating, and drop mine.

I’m dripping sweat and gasping like a fish thrown down on the bank.

Actually, it’s worse. I’m panicking, too, because I’m really worried now with how my back feels as to whether I can finish the hump.

And then our Captain orders everyone on their feet. I was destroyed that I wouldn’t get that break, which normally lasts up to ten minutes on a good day.

I manage to grab my pack and take my position in the lead as Squad Leader, but once they step out and the pace is full-speed,  I don’t last long. I quickly fall out.

And it was so embarrassing. The only hump I fell out of in the fleet. (I did, however, fall out of one in SOI.)

And to make matters worse, when we arrived, the CO — a Captain I would have taken a bullet for — watches me trudge in. And he shakes his head, disgusted. And I, in classic Marine tradition, refuse to make any excuses. So, I meet his eyes and just say, “No excuse, sir.”

The next twenty minutes or so was one of the low points of my career. I felt like such a failure and even some of my squad seemed to wonder why I couldn’t keep up, and I wanted to say, “Did you not see the two packs?! A mile and a half?!”

But, I don’t. I just hold it in and take like two 800 mg Advil to try to get my back to stop cramping up and seizing in fits of shock. (At the time, I thought I had hurt my back, and I sort of hoped I had. I desperately needed that Red Badge of Courage.)

But thankfully, mercifully, wonderfully…

About an hour later, my Captain came up to me and said, “Cpl Mitchell, how ’bout next time you don’t try to carry two packs?”

I can only assume he asked my Lieutenant what had happened.

Regardless, it completely made my day and I think had he not found out the truth, me letting him down would have bugged me to the end of time.

One upside to the story is that the piece of shit Marine turned out all right, and carrying those two packs helped build up my reputation. But it did mess up my back for a while. I’m still not sure what I did to it, but like most injuries, it healed with time.

So, I’ve shared my story. Me trying to carry two insanely heavy packs, as if that’s possible. (Or least not for me.)

What’s yours? Think about it a bit. I’d love to hear some good ones…

Keep the faith,

Stan R. Mitchell

Oak Ridge, Tenn.

P.S. Please, consider following me and joining our small community. And, also, make sure you leave a comment. I love hearing from you guys and I try to answer each and every comment. No need to sign in or use your name.