Dark Matters Radio

Another Memorial Day is about to hit us, the start of summer and hot weather. I am sure that many are looking forward to firing up the grill, slapping a steak or hot dogs on it and perhaps relax with a cold one. My lovely wife brought me home a steak I am looking forward to cooking on our grill, so I am one that enjoys Memorial Day, what many see as the first weekend of summer! But it is much more than that.

Originally Memorial Day was celebrated as Decoration Day. It was a date set after the American Civil War to honor the fallen men from that terrible war. Fully over 600,000 men wearing both the Blue and the Grey had died during that conflict. The American people wished to honor them. After the first World War, in an effort to honor all the soldiers who had died the name was changed to Memorial Day. Today, we can look forward to the American President laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery each year. This honors all of the American war dead, and in these days that includes American Women who serve. God Bless each and every one of those brave men and women.

Today we have many thousands of young (and not so young) men and women serving all over the globe. Of course when we think of our wonderful American Military we mostly think of those in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is war and killing going on even as I write these words. Those brave men and women are the shield between we American’s and ruthless murdering bastards  that would love to do harm to every one of us. It is not hyperbole when I say “God Bless the American Military”, by God I mean it. And while thinking about this new posting I thought about my time in the American Army during another war, Viet Nam. Of course like any war there were times of absolute terror but there were more “down times” when not much was going on. What did we do in that down time? I recall reading, playing chess and checkers with my buddies, throwing a football or baseball, you know … stuff to keep you busy.  We didn’t have email, You Tube, or video cameras then.  Oh, sure we had the old 35 MM cameras but then what do you have? A snapshot, gotta get it developed, get it back then mail it home … or whatever. Well … Not Today! I was doing some research and “rooting around” and found the following by our troops in Iraq. Some of these vid’s cracked me up and some brought a tear to my eyes. I include them here hoping you will take the time to check them out. God Love these Guys and Girls on this Memorial Day. Hell, it makes me damn proud to be an American! What more needs to be said?

Iraq Dance Party! These guys had a little spare time on their hands!

The Ding Dong Song Okay, done tongue in cheek … but these guys need to get home to see their ladies!

GI and Marching Ducks! This is one very cute video! A real “quack-up”

Techno in Iraq This speaks for itself.

The Path of the Warrior For those who gave a last full measure.

The United States Military For all the Men and Women in our Armed Forces!  U RAH!

The last couple of weeks have been rather nice … and somewhat low-key.  Now with the weather really turning nice, we’ve been doing some outside work around the ol’ homestead. Now a couple of updates.

This past weekend my “better half” and I went to the flicks and saw “STAR TREK.”  Now, I’ve been a fan of the Trek franchise for many .. many Moons.  I never watched the original series back in the 60’s but after I came back from Nam watched the series in re-runs. I got hooked! I mean what’s not to like? Kirk got all the chicks, Mr. Spock was cool and cerebral and Dr. McCoy kind of represented the common man. He was humane, caring and compassionate.  Mr. Scott was the consummate professional engineer. Whenever Kirk had to “book outta Dodge”, Scotty made sure the Enterprises engines were up to the job.

Over the years I had the opportunity to meet a number of actors that starred in the various “Trek” series. Back in 1995 while I was hosting a Disney PR 2 week dog and pony show I briefly met Jimmy Doohan.

Jimmy Doohan & Family

He was down in Orlando with his family and agreed to my taking a photo of him.  Back in those days my best buddy was Dwight Schultz. Dwight is best known as “Howlin’ Mad Murdock” on “The A Team” and as Lt. Barclay on “Star Trek- The Next Generation.” He went on to star in a number of episodes of “Voyager” also as Lt. Barclay. When he was on a “shoot” in the Los Angeles area he would often invite me to drop over, knowing what a big Trekkie I was. I would ask Vicki if she wanted to go and she almost always did. It was fun. I got a chance to meet Jonathon Frakes and Bob Piccardo among others. So did Vickster.

Vicki-Dwight-Bob Piccardo

But back to the new movie …. WOW! It doesn’t matter if you were a fan of the old series or not … This IS ONE ROCKING Popcorn munching movie! Why do we go to movies anyway? To be entertained Bunky! And this fills the bill  … Fur Shure!  Actually there have only been two movies I cared one whit to see this year … so far. Trek, check .. did that … and the Upcoming “Terminator Salvation”.  (This one opens May 21, check.)

Beware The Terminator!!

I first heard about the original James Cameron movie  “The Terminator” … with ARNOLD … way back in about 1983. There was a feature article about Terminator in … ready for this ? … Soldier of Fortune Magazine. I read the article and wasn’t sure I totally grokked what the guy was talking about, but thought “what the hell” … it might be interesting. Okay, when it opened I went to see it and … was hooked. I was still a cop then and when going to the range would ask each target …. “Are you Sarah Connor?” before blasting them.  Oh yeah … great fun. When Terminator 2 was ready to start, I told Vicki we would be at the first showing on Day 1 at whatever theater in Burbank was showing it. We were and I loved it! Hell, I also love the current “Sarah Connor Chronicles” TV series and think Lena Headey is a PRIMO Sarah Connor. Who couldn’t love a Gal that handles a shotgun like that? Skynet … Beware!

The Sarah Connor

So, last evening I am banging around the house and the phone rings. I answer it and low and behold it is a buddy from Viet Nam calling. Larry Smith, who I last saw in Nam in 1972 is calling me to catch up. We spoke about 10 or 12 years ago and then lost touch again.  He pretty much brought me up to date with what is happening with him and told me another guy from Nam was asking about yours truly. It was Mike, forgot his last name. Apparently Mike is now a Doctor living in Modesto, California but Larry is gonna send him my contact information so perhaps he will call me.

It took me a long time to come to grips with my Nam experience. After returning, the first several years especially, not a day went by that I didn’t think about Nam. Later, as more time went by, I was proud of the fact that months would pass and I never even had a thought about that damn place. 10 or 12 years ago when Larry first contacted me I wasn’t as nice as I could’ve been. As I told him then, I spent almost 30 years trying to forget Nam. When I spoke to him last night I told him how sorry I was I wasn’t more gracious then. All I can say about how I felt is this, if you’ve had the experience then you know what I mean and if you haven’t … you never will. And … for those that haven’t … I envy you.

Well, I think I have rambled on long enough. Shortly it will be Memorial Day and the first of the summer holidays. I urge you to think about what Memorial Day means while you are out on the grill with your hotdogs and steaks. Memorial Day is when we recall the men and women that have given their all for this country. Keep those Hero’s in the back of your mind when you are enjoying that Bar-b-que. They kept you in theirs.