The Fifth of May Celebration

On this day and every other day, the symbol of freedom around the world remains the same. The American Flag. If you wish to fly another countries flag while you are living under the protection provided by the nation she represents, may I strongly suggest (no actually make that a demand) that you go to […]

The Sinking of the SS McKeesport

April 29th marks the anniversary of the sinking of the SS McKeesport by a German U-boat Like they have for many years, aging veterans and their families come to the shores of the Youghiogheny at a place called the Palisades to remember the proud little cargo ship that served its country well from 1919 to […]

“Love, Your Son Butch” – Chapter 2

Just a short note before I return to the book. Today (April 27 2013) is the twentieth anniversary of the day John C. MacPherson met Jesus face to face. I’m not sure what time of day it was and frankly at this point it doesn’t matter. On the morning, I was up well before the […]

Love, Your Son Butch, Chapter One

Twenty years ago this month, my Dad finally lost his battle with heart disease and went to be with his Lord. The week after his death, I found a box in the basement of our old house that had all of his letters home from World War 2. Over the next ten years, I plugged […]

“Love, Your Son Butch” – Introduction (April 2013)

Introduction John C. MacPherson, Jr. was seventeen years old when he joined the United States Navy. Over the next seventeen months, he wrote a number of letters to his family. The letters were signed with John’s many names: Sonny, Foo, Butch, and Goofer. But in most cases they ended with two common phrases: “God be […]

USS Omaha (SSN 692) Memorial Park

April 19 is a special day for all former Omaha Crew members and the city of Omaha. There will be a dedication ceremony for the park at 3:30. I wish them well in recognizing this proud ship and crew. Navy’s USS Omaha Destined for New Memorial Park Ketv.com, April 18 OMAHA, Neb. – Key pieces […]

This was a good day for America… and I hope it lasts

Whether you are a gun owner or not, this was a good day for America. The law triumphed over manipulation by those who would seek to circumvent it. The Constitution has been pulled, pushed, prodded, poked and pissed on by people who don’t like the things it says. Despite that, it has managed to survive […]

Submarine Force Issues 2013

Its probably no coincidence that submarines are the focus of this article during a week that marks the highs and lows of US Navy submarine history. Save Our Subs: Prioritizing The Attack Submarine By Rep. Randy Forbes and Rep. Joe Courtney AOL Defense, April 9, 2013 For a host of security and economic reasons, […]

It’s just a little scar

For fifty years, I have had a little scar on my forehead that is a reminder of an incident that happened in the woods near my home. I’ve talked before about how much fun it was venturing into the woods with my friends and fellow siblings but that scar is a gentle reminder that not […]

A day to remember … coming soon

The U.S. Navy’s involvement with the submarine dates from 1888 when the Bureau of Construction and Repair (BUC&R) sponsored a design competition that brought John Holland a naval contract to build the experimental Plunger. As the new century dawned, prominent American naval leaders like Admiral George Dewey called the submarine a real threat to international […]