6-16-2024

What Father’s Day Means to Me

Traditionally Father’s Day is a day to honor fathers, yours and mine and at my age of 74+ my dad isn’t here so honor him with meatloaf, cake and ice cream. I miss stopping for that huge milkshake he loved on the way home after a doctor appointment.

It’s a day I can honor family and friends who are fathers in their own right. I salute the dads who stepped up to take their rightful place as heads of their respective families. Thank you for doing your best to raise your children to be good and honest members of society.

Father’s Day has a special place in my life as that Sunday in 1976 a single incident almost put my family on a different trajectory.  

This is my story Adrift in the Panama Canal is about two lost souls were almost literally that.

It was a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon and as was my usual practice after church we’d go home where I would gather up my diving gear and change before heading over to the home of my diving buddy Sidney “Scotty” Scott an army medic also stationed at Fort Davis in the Panama Canal Zone.

As we loaded our flat bottom John boat into the back of my 1973 Pinto station wagon, we made sure we had a full load of air for the diving tanks. We were usually in the water by 1 – 1:30 pm and back home before 4 pm. This day would be different.

We backed the car down the boat ramp, unloaded the boat and all of our equipment before parking and locking up the car at Gatun Station. This was our first time heading toward this stretch of water, a man-made lake called Gatun Lake. It took us around 20-25 minutes to get to the dock where we tied up the boat and went into the water.

The water was clear with plenty of visibility and we expected to get a stringer of fish during the next hour before our air ran out. Our dives were that of exploring and/or searching for fish while looking out for anything out of the ordinary. We had fish on the stringer and as we loaded our gear we decided to take a few minutes to explore with snorkels before packing up and heading back to the car.

As we began working our way toward Gatun Station we were passed by a convoy of US Army landing craft (LCMs) taking infantry troops out for a week of jungle training. As each craft passed it left a rippling wake. When the last craft had passed and gone into the distance our boat became a submarine, totally submerged under water and flipping over. It rose to the top minus all of our diving gear.

We struggled to upright the boat (still under water), gather one paddle that floated to the surface and focus on getting to the nearest island. As we moved toward land and unseen tree branch punched a hole in the boat. Eventually we made it to a nearby beach, where we drained the water and took stalk of ourselves. Plugging the hole with a piece of wood, helped but didn’t entirely the stop water.

At first we couldn’t get the outboard motor started, but finally it began running as well as could be expected. We left the island and headed straight into the shipping lane of the Panama Canal and fell in line right behind a huge ship. By now it was after 7 pm and we ran out of fuel.

We began inching our way toward the dock where we left the car, one island at a time, and then marker buoy to marker buoy until there was nothing between us and the car except open water. It was near midnight when a fisherman with a motorized boat heard our banging on the boat with an oar. After stopping his engine, flashing a light around in the dark he found and towed us to the Gatun dock. It was now after midnight.

As we entered the gate at Fort Davis, the military police guard instructed us to report to our unit’s duty sergeant and report that we had returned. I dropped Scotty and his boat at his quarters. I then went to the company duty sergeant to get logged in as having returned. I was told to be at the 0600 morning PT formation in uniform ready to go.

When I got to my quarters my wife was being attended to by a neighbor who was a Special Forces medic and his wife. They had all been told our boat had capsized and there were no survivors at the scene. In fact a local SF company had organized a diving rescue team to go at first light and recover the bodies.

After notifying them to cancel that mission I asked them to look for our diving gear on their next training dive. They later informed me that nothing was recovered as the water was 85 feet deep in that area.

That was my very last dive in Panama before returning to the USA assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado in 1977.

That weekend was almost the weekend that wasn’t.

I’m thankful that in spite of myself God had mercy on me and kept my head above water.

6-15-2024

All Men Are Created Equal

In the beginning when God created man it was so they could walk and talk together. There was only mankind, God’s creation of one until God created Eve (woman) out of Adam’s rib. There was no distinction or nationality among men. It was not until after the sinful fall of man who’s banishment from the Garden of Eden to populate the earth that God began creating ethnicity or races within mankind. When the Tower of Babel was being built God created languages to confuse man and cause the populating of the entire planet.

Over time man has sought to influence and control other men by any means available. We are at a point in time where men think like the Romans did and now we have convoluted the thought process by making “Being American” somehow elevated above being anyone else.

Isn’t that what religion does?

Do you know you can be proud to be an American and not be a US Citizen?

There are three main distinctions of Americans – North, Central and South Americans. Although comprised of many nations there is only one United States of America.

It is often and wrongly assumed that being called an American is referring exclusively to someone from the United States.

So why is it that we have allowed ourselves to be categorized into White-American, Black-American, Brown-American, Yellow-American, African-American, Mexican-American, Asian-American, Pacific Island-American, Puerto Rican-American, Anglo-American, European-American, Middle-Eastern-American, Alaskan-American, Native-American, etc. etc. etc.

In the United States we rally around and pledge allegiance to the Flag, yet balk at what we have been told it means or because some have said it is a racist flag. Men and women of many ethnicities, cultures and races have fought and died for and under the US Flag and for our freedom to honor it, yet we continue to bicker over nonsense.

The Flag of the United States should unite us identifiably as one people, one purpose and under one God to insure men and women remain free – from the womb to the tomb. – RTM

6-14-2024

Peace and Smiles

Fridays are days when you anticipate the weekend and need a stress relief. I got mine this morning at the gym where there are television monitors tuned to CNN, FOX a local station and sports stations.

While on the treadmill I often try to distract myself from the not so new or breaking news stories which are politically dependent upon current events – unless it’s an attention grabber like Comedians Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon, and more comedians meet Pope Francis at ‘the butt crack of dawn’ in their ill-fated attempt to spread peace and smiles. Why not take peace and smiles to Gaza?

The not so in your face headline is that President Biden is going to meet privately with Pope Francis during the first ever papal address to the G7 conference in Italy.

I’m compelled to ask the hard questions:

Did these comedians fly on their own dimes, hitch a ride on Air Force One or simply happen to be there?

Did the topics of abortion, human trafficking, illegal immigration or Donald Trump come up?

Or did they seek absolution for their conduct, speech and/or spreading hatred and lies before and during this US Presidential Election cycle? – RTM

6-13-2024

Soulmates

When mom died on 12 January 2016 it was obvious that part of dad died too. Dad often said he didn’t understand why he was still alive. He wanted oh so much to be with mom. There were times I had to remind him that God wasn’t done with him yet. His being around had a purpose, a Godly purpose.

It seems funny saying that to a retired licensed minister, who seemed to forget.

When mom and dad married in 1948 it was for better or for worse. Raising four boys and being surrounded by family, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews and numerous grandkids meant that there were plenty of both.

It’s a sure bet that whether fishing, hunting, raising vegetables, berries or just driving around you’d never see one without the other. Over the years they had never been apart except for their independent stays in Boise area hospitals.

I must admit that I hadn’t been around much during my military career, but I looked forward to doing what I could for them and visiting with my brothers and their families. After fully retiring I began frequent trips to Boise to assist them any way that I could. Take one or the other to and from medical appointments and hospital visits or to visit the other during their stays. One time I found mom crying as she feverously searched for her marriage license. She always stored her important papers in her metal box. She said without it her and dad weren’t really married. I kidded her about that made my brothers and I illegitimate offspring without realizing it may have been an early sign of Alzheimer. I contacted the county clerk where they had been married and soon a certified copy of the marriage license came in the mail. I showed it to her and placed it in her metal box, right beside her original marriage license.

When they moved in with my younger brother and his family it was obvious they still had that spark of being madly in love with each other “Soulmates”. You saw it in their eyes, their body language and yet their health began going downhill rapidly during the 3 years after moving out of their family home.

After mom died dad went to the Idaho state veterans home in Boise for 24/7/365 care. He made new friends, had visits from family members and enjoyed activities that helped him pass the time. Dad kept reminding me that he was ready to go when his time came. I told him not so fast, God isn’t done with him yet. Near the end as he became wheelchair bound and/or bedridden and with his COPD he needed oxygen all the time, even when he slept. He was in constant pain and at the ripe old age of 91 he went to sleep on 9 February 2019 and woke up in heaven with mom and Jesus.

Dad used to answer the phone with “Praise the Lord” and was not afraid to tell everyone about “Christ inside, the hope of glory” and ask if they knew Jesus? – RTM

6-12-2024

When Momma Crossed Over

January 12^th, 2016 was both a sad and happy day when momma went to her heavenly home. Mom was being cared for by my brother, his wife and his sister-in-law and visiting home care nurses. Her health began failing her for almost 2 years before her death.

Along with my eldest daughter and youngest grandson we made it to the funeral, but to tell you the truth I was at a loss for words and could only listen as my two younger brothers and dad’s brother spoke. Dad’s brother and my younger brother were both licensed ministers.

My youngest brother told of the days leading up to her passing. He had once stopped in front of her bed and wondered out loud what was holding her back? Mom beckoned him over so she could whisper “Be Patient” to his ear. He told us how dad had been praying for God to send angels to care for her and at some point he looked towards her bedroom doorway and began to see angels going in and coming out caring for her. I’m sure she had a smile on her face as she was prepared to meet her Lord and Savior.

At age 81 mom left behind a grieving husband, three sons, two sisters and their families and lots and lots of grandkids. I wasn’t there when she passed, but my wife and I had recently visited over the 2015 Christmas holiday.

When my uncle (dad’s younger brother) got up to spoke his words brought comfort and peace to my soul. He told us that when asked to speak he didn’t know what he could possibly say that would give us strength. The night before the funeral he prayed for guidance and words of wisdom. He said that in a vision he saw that Jesus had taken mom by the hand into heaven. He saw mom seated at what appeared to be an ornate grand piano play “How Great Thou Art” for Jesus.

What you must know is that mom had a small piano at home where she would play songs for weddings and sometimes during their home church meetings on Sunday mornings. Dad was a retired minister who performed weddings for just about anybody who asked. He would tell them that Jesus loved them and pray with them in the sinner’s prayer.

Almost everyone will tell you that mom was a quiet, timid person who rarely raised her voice. She loved God, her family and those she came in contact with. She was the ultimate mother hen who watched over her brood and had a willow tree in the back yard in case the grandkids got into the berry patch or garden. – RTM

6-11-2024

Raising Questions

Legal experts pointed out major differences in the trial of Hunter Biden and the “trials” of Donald Trump. Hunter Biden’s trial was in a federal court weighing evidence against 3 federal charges. Donald Trump’s trial was a New York state court weighing accusations of wrongdoing against undeclared charges which were bumped up to a non-existent federal charge where the jury was given leeway to choose which of many undeclared charges they could find a guilty verdict.

Both Hunter Biden and Donald Trump were convicted and sentencing for each will come prior to the upcoming election. Hunter Biden had been offered a plea bargain agreement which he declined and Donald Trump was not.

However some of the testimony from Hunter Biden’s trial hinged on what he wrote in his book about his addiction to cocaine and his drug use on a daily basis over the years. I’m thinking about while his father was vice president and they traveled together on Air Force Two a number of times and with secret service agents present was there some sort of dispensation or “discretion” given to Hunter while he had to have been using cocaine during those flights? What about international transportation of drugs when traveling between the US and other countries? Was he simply overlooked or ignored because of his father’s official position? I remember Joe Biden (D) saying his son Hunter is the smartest guy he knows. Doesn’t sound very smart to me……

And then going back to other presidents and their administrations I can’t help but think about John F. Kennedy (D) having a discrete “bedroom” above his brother’s Attorney General’s office for privacy. How was that possible?

Even Lyndon Johnson (D) had to have a bell system installed to warn him of Lady Bird’s presence near the Oval Office while he was having a “liaison de affair” on the couch.

And Bill Clinton’s (D) conduct with an intern in the red dress gave new meaning to meeting with the president. Don’t forget Jeffrey Epstein and his island, by now its common knowledge that Bill Clinton supposedly ditched his secret service detail and flew to the island and back without raising any questions or concerns. How did that happen?

Don’t forget Michelle Obama (D) claiming to go under cover at a Walmart store after midnight and nobody recognized her? How could they not miss the vehicles or the secret service detail escorting the first lady on her quest for ……. Ice cream or whatever she had to have that was not available in the White House?

When the special counsel prosecutor wanted to have a gag order on Donald Trump, I’m sure he thought if the judge can do it, so can he. What happened with that?

And when AG Merrit Garland (D) complained about those unwarranted attacks on the DOJ surely he didn’t mean unwarranted attacks BY the DOJ?

So may questions and so little time……… America Wake Up! – RTM

6-11-2024

Unwarranted vs Warranted attacks

A recent plea from US Attorney General Merrick Garland in part says “the unwarranted attacks on the DO[I]J must stop because they are dangerous.”

I wonder which unwarranted attacks he is referring to? Suing border states who uphold immigration and abortion laws the DOJ chooses not to enforce? Or the war on American citizens who hold differing political views than those of the Democratic Party? Or maybe standing by as illegal undocumented migrants invade our country specifically “authorized” and encouraged by the president and democratic legislators?

I didn’t hear this “unwarranted” argument championed or even voiced when ceaseless attacks on President Trump began in 2017 or since.

There was no uproar as senior citizens were rousted out of their homes because of their affiliation or contact with Trump or January 6^th 2021.

There was no thought of the implications of impropriety when using unmarked officers with lethal force (if necessary) to secure secret documents from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.

I guess it is only unwarranted when it happens to you sir or under your watch? No wonder you received no SCOTUS nomination by Trump. (I call that you being a sore loser). Oh but that has no bearing here. – RTM

6-5-2024

Why can’t we get it right?

Hollywood is notorious for taking real life events and embellishing them to the point that many movies and television shows are so far from reality that they become unbelievable.  It’s especially evident in war movies like Stripes (1981) and Platoon (1986) portray soldiers in a very bad light with drugs, disrespect of authority and the basic disrespect for life, making it almost impossible for anyone to see military service as patriotic.

The West Wing television series (1999 – 2006) gave a glimpse into the goings on of a Democratic White House while actually performing more like Republicans.

Well in the world we live in today it’s apparent that real life is far from Hollywood portrayals when it comes to New York City’s Police Department and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office as portrayed in the Blue Bloods television series where even the perception of impropriority is not to be tolerated, as we’ve watched the real life Trump Trials, episode one – NY vs Trump. Maybe real life should pay closer attention to the Hollywood script writers?

What I’ve seen or heard and read a few really bad apples have put a bad taste into the mouths of real life people because political power overcomes common sense.

Granted the bad apples (sorry New Yorkers) are far and few compared to the hardworking, honest and patriotic men and women who serve in law enforcement or the district attorney offices across the nation must have cringed while those who misused their elected offices just to get their names in the history books as the ones who “got Trump”.

There are more but if you’ve experiences anything like what has been launched against Donald Trump over the past 8 years, you have to sympathize as he “Stands in the Gap” for Freedom and his belief that America is worth saving – from itself and the Progressive Democratic Party ideology.

Watch carefully as the prosecution of Hunter Biden over some very serious felony charges meander through the legal system, which favors slapping him on the wrist with “Go forth young man and error no more – because your dad is president”.

Just remember nobody is above the law. – RTM

6-4-2024

Profiling is it Acceptable?

Have you ever been pulled over by police because of the car you drive, the clothes you wear, the color of your skin or racial ethnicity? How did it make you feel to just take it on the chin and offer no defense?

What if the armed IRS agents came after you because you owed back taxes? What if they took your finances; your home; your car and left your family on the street and locked you up – indefinitely?

A number of you may have faced those circumstances and continue to relive those horrific events that placed you in a state of virtual panic every time you see law enforcement officers doing their jobs, even doing the right thing – keeping the peace.

Would you feel comfortable going to them when trouble arises?

What about mistaken identity? It could happen you know.

What if they came after you because of where you were (reportedly or otherwise)? Maybe you’re in a bank waiting in line to do a normal transaction and people came in and committed a robbery. The surveillance cameras show you in the bank, but you looked like you were there for nefarious reasons.

Weeks or days later in the middle of the night you hear a banging on the front door and before you can react to what’s happening you awake to find yourself face down on the floor, in handcuffs wearing only your underwear, as are your wife, kids and entire family? You are placed in confinement in a dingy, unused portion of an unknown prison with no access to anything or anyone. If you’re lucky they tell you that you are charged with participating in an insurrection to prevent the change of presidents. Believe it or not there are people in this situation since January 6^th, 2021.

Now take it to another level – what if they went after you because of your name? Some people have a Middle Eastern sounding name or one that strikes fear just by saying it or because your name is Donald J. Trump the 45^th POTUS. You face unrelenting personal and professional attacks against your credibility, your family, your business and your Administration because you won the 2020 election. Now they have conspired to charge you with hindering the lawful change of power and have done everything imaginable and unimaginable to protect that power.

If you watched the two presidential impeachment trials, the January 6^th Special Prosecutor’s investigation or any number of state run trials aimed to ruin Trump politically and prevent him from becoming reelected you will begin to understand the lengths politicians will go to while breaching their lawful authority because it’s okay to target Trump and his MAGA supporters.

Now if you don’t think there was anything wrong with the way the New York City Manhattan Hush Money Trial was conducted, I ask what if they came after YOU with the full power of the DOJ.

Remember they are still looking for January 6^th “conspirators”.

Democratic politicians have determined early on that Trump was an illegitimate president because he won over Hillary Clinton. The people have spoken.

Since January 20^th, 2017 many have conspired to terminate the presidency of #45 and by any means necessary, including physical, emotional, private and public threats, yet very few (if any) have been held accountable or punished for their actions.

A great many Americans have no backbone for confrontation even when they know it is wrong.

I’m pleasantly surprised of the number of patriotic Americans who are stepping up politically to challenge the “status quo” of their city, county, state or federal elected officials. My hat is off to those who stand in the gap for ME and for YOU and more importantly for our COUNTRY.

To quote Merritt Garland, “I will not be intimidated” as he faced testifying before a House committee.

I too am not going to be intimidated. I will speak out at the top of my written voice that wrong is wrong and right is right – according to the Word of God.

President Trump had it right when he said “In this country we worship God, not government”.

GOD BLESS THE USA – RTM

6-4-2024

Lawfare in America

You may remember the old saying “all’s fair in love and war”?

Today it has morphed into “all on the line” or simply “Lawfare”.

We’ve seen it mostly in politics where the democratically controlled congress simply ignores constitutional law or make things up as they go, after all congress has the power to create their own rules and to create law constitutionally.

During the Obama years, congress created Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, universal healthcare “Obamacare”, car company bailouts, and a host of things which Obama signed into law without any guarantee that law makers had previously read or understood what was written down. We live with that fallout today. House Speaker Pelosi firmed her grip on congress and ruled with an iron fist while both democrat and republican members feared to confront.

During the Trump years, the congress who vowed not to put Pelosi back in power as House Speaker buckled under direct pressure from Pelosi and peer pressure from fellow legislators and she got the gavel, while American’s got the shaft.

Honing his community organizing skills, Obama organized a number of “grass roots” organizations which incorporated various government agencies and civilian groups for the first ever nationwide boycotts, public demonstrations, rioting and looting that led up to civil unrest and the silent insurrection (resistance movement) against all things Trump.

How else can one rationalize the “Free Zones” in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington where police were forbidden to enter and where police stations were firebombed as lawlessness abound.

Then Minneapolis, Minnesota after the George Floyd incident where mostly peaceful Black Lives Matter group was infiltrated by domestic terrorists who turned to looting, attacking and loss of life as their efforts picked up steam. Innocent people died, those who resisted were attacked and those who survived were prosecuted.

Public demonstrations irrupted across several state lines, into huge metropolitan urban centers as “defund the police” gained traction.

Just as with BLM and Minneapolis another target were Trump’s massive MAGA rallies and January 6^th, 2021 was icing on the cake as domestic terrorists disguised as MAGA supporters gained entry into the Capital Building and caused turmoil which interrupted the Electoral College Certification Process of the 2020 Election, to the point that Ashley Babbitt was killed by a Capitol Police officer inside the Capital Building. As blame was placed on President Trump, the police officer was called a hero.

What has befallen the nation is today called Lawfare – the weaponizaton of government against Americans for political purposes.

It is time for American’s of all backgrounds and political parties who love our country to take a stand against the abuse of power by government officials (elected or appointed). Not only hurt them at the ballot box by taking a stand running against them for election/re-election.

Elected officials must use all the tools of the trade of their elected office to insure the Constitutional-Republic survives this ultimate power grab and survives another 240 years or longer.

Christian believers must stand by the Word of God, praying diligently for the safety and protection of our nation, its leaders and for our families and for common sense to return to the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

What separates the United States of America from every third world country?

FREEDOM – RTM