Free Republic

Why So Depressed?BY CHRIS PUPLAVAPhil Gramm, economic advisor to Presidential candidate John McCain, said last month that the U.S. consumer was in a mental recession and that the economy’s fundamentals didn’t warrant the low consumer confidence numbers. Mr. Gramm made the following comments in a Washington Times interview: McCain adviser talks of ‘mental recession’ (07/09/2008)We have sort of become a nation of whiners.You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline.We've never been more dominant; we've never had more natural advantages than we have today. We have benefited greatly (from the globalization of the...

...Obama says that as president he will “set a goal for all American middle and high school students to perform 50 hours of service a year, and for all college students to perform 100 hours of service a year.” What he doesn’t say is that he’ll make such voluntarism compulsory by attaching strings to federal education dollars. The schools will make the kids volunteer. It’s called plausible deniability. In a commencement speech at Wesleyan University, Obama advised graduates not to pursue the American dream of success, but to serve others. “You can take your diploma, walk off this stage and...

On July 20th, Julianna's (delayed) Delta flight landed in Atlanta at 7:30pm, with a connecting flight scheduled for 8:05pm. Julianna, who has muscular dystrophy, missed the connecting flight because nobody came with a wheelchair until 8:05—the same time the connecting flight took off. To make matters worse, the plane crew told Julianna she might make the flight anyway if she stopped waiting for help and got off the plane right now, so she crawled down the stairs on her own. When the wheelchair came she was "wheeled into a back room and advised" that her plane had taken off. But...

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2008 – Order 9981 on July 26, 1948, he set the end to segregation and the integration of the armed forces into motion. For the Brunson family of Fayetteville, N.C., Truman’s order paved the way for Army service to become a family tradition. Six members of the Brunson family -- retired Sgt. Maj. Albert Brunson; his sons, Lt. Col. Xavier Brunson, and Majs. LaHavie Brunson and Tavi Brunson; and his daughters-in law, Lt. Col. Kirsten Brunson and Capt. Miryam Brunson -- have made a career of Army service. Five members of the family came together last week...

Local scouts donate to Little Sioux camp The Boy Scouts of Troop 66 on Fort Leavenworth were recognized Wednesday for donating $1,074 to help rebuild the Little Sioux Scout Ranch near Little Sioux, Iowa. The ranch was nearly destroyed when a tornado touched down in the camp on June 11, leaving at least four people dead and more than 40 injured. Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, commanding general of Fort Leavenworth, congratulated the scouts on a job well done. Lt. Col. Chip Bircher said his son, Brion Bircher, wanted to help the scouts affected by the tragedy after seeing...

...The professor, Howard Gardner, hopes the seminars will encourage more students to consider public service and other careers beyond the consulting and financial jobs that he says are almost the automatic next step for so many graduates of top colleges. “Is this what a Harvard education is for?” asked Professor Gardner, who is teaching the seminars at Harvard, Amherst and Colby with colleagues. “Are Ivy League schools simply becoming selecting mechanisms for Wall Street?”

The gethuman Great Customer Service Club consists of enterprises that have been selected as having superior customer service. This week we've added the airlines that have been selected for membership in the gethuman Great Customer Service Club. Visit our blog and Share your call center stories; Share your opinions on controversial call center topics; Request New gethuman numbers; Report gethumans that no longer work; and read what other have to say..

Obama Effectively F-Bombed His Own Church with Improper Campaign Speech The Internal Revenue Service has cleared the United Church of Christ of accusations that it violated its tax exempt status by hosting Barack Obama’s “A Politics of Conscience.” The IRS’s letter to the United Church of Christ cites the same points that we did: even though Barack Obama’s “A Politics of Conscience” contained campaign-related content, the UCC did everything possible to prevent the Obama campaign from misusing its resources for electioneering. It would therefore be hardly fair to hold the United Church of Christ accountable for Barack Obama’s decision to...

[Placed in the public domain, copying and widespread circulation are encouraged] Obama’s Sword of Damocles: October Surprise Won’t Surprise UsLooming Scandal Will “Toricelli” Barack Obama After Democratic National ConventionThe Democratic Party’s superdelegates, even those who have endorsed Barack Obama, need to do some serious reconsideration between now and the convention. Should Obama become the nominee, the Democrats are likely to find themselves in the same situation as they did with Robert Toricelli (D-NJ) in 2002. As described by Wikipedia (more information at the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A20602-2001May12), In the middle of an increasingly competitive race against Republican Doug Forrester, Torricelli decided...

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2008 – A 13-year-old patriot from New Jersey received the Defense Department’s top award for public service at a Pentagon ceremony today. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert T. Hastings, left, presents the certificate for the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Exceptional Public Service to Joey Rizzolo, a seventh grader from Paramus, N.J., at the Pentagon, May 6, 2008. Rizzolo was awarded the medal for his support of Americas's servicemembers and his ASY Freedom Walk contributions. Defense Department photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess  (Click...

Recent high profile bankruptcies of mainstay American retailers, such as The Sharper Image and Linens ‘n Things, as well as the proposed mergers between Blockbuster/Circuit City and Delta/Northwest, and the admissions from the nation’s leading student lenders that their business models are no longer viable, mark the beginning of a long overdue overhaul of the American economy. In short, the economy will be getting smaller and more expensive. The success of all of these seemingly disparate sectors depends, to a large extent, on the ability of Americans to continue to borrow cheaply and easily. Now that home equity extractions and...

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2008 – Since April 23, 1908, the men and women of the U.S. Army Reserve have answered the nation's call to service at home and around the globe. Next week, the reserve will mark its 100th birthday with ceremonies in and around the nation’s capital. The U.S. Army Reserve will celebrate a century of service on April 23, 2008. The reserve will mark the historic 100-year anniversary with a mass re-enlistment and rememrance ceremonies in and around Washington, DC.  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. To celebrate a century of service, the Army Reserve will hold...

4/10/2008 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) -- MH-53 Pave Low helicopter tail number 68-10357 flew its final mission and last flight supporting special operations forces March 28 in Iraq after 38 years of service. The helicopter was the lead command and control helicopter for a mission to rescue approximately 50 American prisoners of war from the Son Tay prison camp in North Vietnam in 1970, which became a significant event for Air Force special operations. From Iraq, the MH-53 known as 357 will be transported to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, where it will...

Dear Senator Obama: Our common denomination, the United Church of Christ, has a suddenly serious legal and financial problem with the Internal Revenue Service. You, personally, are the cause of this problem. Candidly? I think you owe it to those of us who are your fellow congregants to help repair the damage that you have done. ...UNSURPRISINGLY, ALL OF THIS resulted in a complaint being filed with the IRS following your presentation. In addition to your speech and the stories featured by the UCC's own website, the complaint cites numerous media accounts describing your appearance as a campaign event. This...

In addition to widening revelations about racist and/or anti-Semitic hate speech not only from his pastor, his associates like Al Sharpton, and even bloggers at his official campaign Web site, there are very credible allegations that he misused the tax exempt resources of the United Church of Christ to promote his candidacy: a malicious and self-serving action that may put his own church’s tax-exempt status in jeopardy. The story centers on "Obama’s General Synod speech prompts IRS to investigate UCC’s tax-exempt status," which is posted at the UCC’s own Web site. [http://www.ucc.org/news/obama-speech-in-2007-prompts-1.html] The Internal Revenue Service has notified the United...

Hey, remember four years ago how we needed a vet at the top of the ticket since only people who’d seen the horrors of war could appreciate the human cost of sending men into battle? Late-breaking caveat: Having seen the horrors of war isn’t quite as valuable experience-wise as picking out White House china patterns. Would a man who endorsed Waffles in 2004 explicitly on the basis of his military service really dare try this double standard vis-a-vis, of all people, John McCain? Believe it: In the national security business, the question is, do you have — when you have...

Britain can no longer depend on being cool By Wolfgang Münchau Published: February 24 2008 19:12 | Last updated: February 24 2008 19:12 Axel Leijonhufvud, the Swedish-born economist, once made an insightful observation about inflation targeting. It worked better in practice than it did in theory, he said. I feel the same about the UK economy. Given what we have long known – about the country’s relatively low productivity growth rate and the erosion of its scientific and engineering excellence – the British economy should clearly not have performed quite as well as it did for the past 15 years....

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2008 – Military families have long used the U.S. Postal Service’s flat-rate shipping boxes to send care packages around the globe. Beginning March 3, they’ll get a price break. The discount applies only to the new “Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box,” which normally carries a $12.95 price tag for shipping. However, when the 12-by-12-by-5.5-inch box is sent to an AFO or FPO address, a $2 discount applies, dropping the cost to $10.95. “This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price for our armed forces serving overseas,” said Postmaster General John Potter....

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12, 2008 – Since the birth of America, African-Americans have been fighting and dying alongside their countrymen as the United States has struggled for freedom and peace at home and abroad. African-American soldiers have fought in every war the United States has participated in, including the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the current war on terror. African-Americans, both free and slaves, participated in all the conflicts in the early days of America. About 5,000...

WASHINGTON, DC (AFPN) -- Planning to send a care package to a military service member serving abroad? Send it after March 3 to take advantage of a new flat-rate box from the Postal Service that is 50 percent larger and delivered for $10.95 to an APO/FPO address -- $2 less than for domestic destinations. "This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price for our armed forces serving overseas," said Postmaster Gen. John Potter. "We're proud that family and friends will be able to use this new larger-sized box to send much appreciated packages from home to our dedicated troops overseas."...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2008 – Even as a child playing “G.I. Joe,” Army Staff Sgt. Gary Heffernan always thought one day he would wear the uniform himself. Army Staff Sgt. Gary Heffernan is participating in the Defense Department's Why We Serve public outreach program. Defense Department photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “I always kind of knew … I was going to be a soldier,” he said. Years later, the cavalry scout is bruised but battle-hardened by the life he chose. In Iraq, his up-armored Humvee was bombed 12 times during endless patrols up and down the mean...

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14, 2007 – Six members from three generations of Tabitha White’s family have served in the military, so her service in the Marine Corps is a point of pride she takes seriously. Marine 1st Lt. Tabitha White is one of 10 servicemembers selected to tell the military’s story to the American public at community and business events, veterans organizations and other gatherings as part of the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” public outreach program. Defense Department photo  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “I consider it a privilege to be an American, and I realize we have...

[excerpt] Remember that big pine tree right in the front as you walk out the front door. It pretty well got cooked in the fire. ... Last week a brother in the Del Sur ward sent me and email and said he and some others would like to do something to help. I told him that one of the things on my "to- do" list was to remove a tree stump from my front yard, but it was a pretty big job! He said they wanted to come and do it. I reluctantly said OK, but, "I do not expect...

11/30/2007 - HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFPN) -- Kyle Causey fulfilled a lifelong dream Nov. 20 when he left Massachusetts for Texas to attend Air Force Basic Military Training. It took him more than six years and had to defeat cancer to reach this milestone. The former Hanscom Air Force Base pool lifeguard had always dreamed of following his father's example by serving in the armed forces. His father, John Causey, a former Army Soldier now works at Hanscom AFB as a contractor for the 66th Medical Support Squadron. Currently an airman basic at Lackland AFB, Texas, Airman Causey...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2007 – U.S. troops in Iraq are anxious to come home, but also want to ensure that they don’t leave too soon for their efforts to take hold, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today in Manhattan, Kan. Speaking at Kansas State University’s Landon Lecture series, the defense secretary said the first troops not to be replaced in Iraq have already returned home, and more will follow in December. He noted that Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, has laid out a proposed timetable to return one Army brigade combat team home...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2007 – The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard each honored one of their own at a Pentagon ceremony today with an award named for actor-comedian Bob Hope. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. hosted the Spirit of Hope Awards ceremony. The award honors Hope’s values of duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication, said Michael Kagin, the award’s originator. It recognizes individuals or organizations who have “selflessly contributed an extraordinary amount of time, talent or resources to significantly enhance the quality of life of servicemembers around the world,” he...

Thousands of young Poles are moving to Britain to avoid being drafted into their country's army. All Polish men over 18 must serve nine months' national service. But since Poland joined the EU in 2004 thousands have come to the UK to get out of it. Now Poland has ordered a crackdown on the draft-dodgers and they face up to three years in jail if they return home. Scroll down for more...Duty: Polish men are expected to complete nine months' national service Colonel Wojciech Ozga, a spokesman for the Polish Army, said: "Poles of conscription age who do not inform...

I had the privilege of attending the veteran's day parade yesterday and decided to share some thoughts with you about it. As we watched them march by I was taken by how humble these soldiers were. The crowd was applauding and yelling thank you, God bless you, and other things such as this. Over and over the soldiers pointed back to the crowd and called back no, thank you. To understand the position of a soldier you must know that these are men and women who have made a promise to give their lives in defense of the constitution, our...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2007 – This weekend Americans will celebrate the service and sacrifice of tens of millions of citizens who have donned a military uniform for their country, the top two defense leaders said in their Veterans Day messages to the troops. “We owe each and every one of them a debt of gratitude,” said Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. “Today, volunteers are once again deployed on distant battlefields against those who would terrorize and intimidate the civilized world.” Veterans Day was originally created to commemorate the ending of World War I. “We now set aside Nov. 11...

KADENA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan, Nov. 9, 2007 – If there is a decrease in support from community influencers due to the war on terror, Craig Billingsley hasn’t noticed. Craig Billingsley and Ann Brown, both participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, try out Army field rations at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Michael D. Heckman, USN   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The vice president of Billingsley Holding Corp. in Lawton, Okla., is part of the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference, which landed here today on its fourth day of a week-long...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12, 2007 – The Army National Guard has launched a new recruiting effort that officials hope will tap into a market that has steadily decreased since the war on terror began -- prior-service soldiers. Dubbed “Active First,” the program targets new recruits who want to serve on active-duty but then are willing to return to the Guard to finish out the remainder of their initial military service obligation. Officials hope to recruit as many as 2,000 soldiers into the program this year, said Army Lt. Col. Gregg Bliss, branch chief for the National Guard Bureau recruit sustainment...

Recently I saw a story that seems, at first, to be a heartwarming tale of a selfless American sacrificing, if only in a small way, for one of our soldiers in uniform. But, upon reflection, the story does more than tell the tale of one American doing something nice for a soldier. It tells the tale of American priorities that are warped, if not turned entirely on their head. As writer Roddy Stinson of the San Antonio Express-News relates the tale, the story is a disarmingly simple one. A woman on an airliner gives up her seat in first class...

I am writing this to give some kudos to a company for outstanding service. While it is easy to offer claims of lifetime warranties and 24/7 service when trying to sell a product, too often a consumer finds that those claims are well neutered by fine print and long wait times to call centers based in exotic places with names like Bangladesh and Mumbai. Once you do get through there comes the  game of twenty questions which you must indulge in order prove to the person on the other end that you are not an idiot or a criminal...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2007 – Nearly 40 years ago, Lynne Pace dedicated her life to her family. Little did she know at the time that her family ultimately would include the nation’s 2.4 million servicemembers. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his wife Lynne are introduced during an evening parade hosted by Pace at the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., July 13, 2007. DoD photo by Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen, U.S. Air Force  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Little did she know that the young Marine officer she married would go...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21, 2007 – Five military members received the USO’s Service Hero award last night before an audience of hundreds who gathered at the National Building Museum here for the 66th annual USO World Gala. Army Spc. Marion D. Pettus III, left, the USO's Soldier of the Year, poses with Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. at the 66th annual USO World Gala held Sept. 21, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Defense Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The United Service Organizations, which has provided morale and recreational services to military members worldwide since...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2007 – The success that Marine Gen. Peter Pace has had in a 40-year military career has been based “on my listening to the incredible enlisted leaders who have been my partners,” the soon-to-retire chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today at the Pentagon. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace thanks enlisted troops for their service and bids them farewell at the Pentagon, Sept. 20, 2007. Photo by Cherie A. Thurlby  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Pace thanked the enlisted force for their service. The Pentagon Channel broadcast...

Of all the useless classes foisted on California's high school students, few are as academically irrelevant as service class. Never heard of it? Maybe it's called "teacher's assistant class" at your neighborhood school, or perhaps it's listed as "independent study." Students' duties in these electives are, by and large, similar: makingcopies, running errands, taking attendance, sometimes grading papers. Other electives are borderline irrelevant -- manicuring and cosmetology come to mind, particularly when they fail to prepare students to obtain licenses in those fields. But service classes are universally without instructional value. So if they don't benefit students, why do schools...

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2007 – A 17-year Air Force veteran who led vehicles more than 20,000 miles across Kuwait and Iraq during 18 missions -- rolling over streets often flanked with armed insurgents and littered with roadside bombs -- is sharing the message of his service with the American people. Tech. Sgt. Howard L. Watkins served as a convoy commander with the 70th Medium Truck Detachment based at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Through the Defense Department’s “Why We Serve” speakers program, he carries the lessons of his military experience and shares them with the American public at speaking events across...

Are We Hypocrites for Not Enlisting?asked Mitt Romney why none of his five sons enlisted in the military. It’s a popular form of “gotcha” that the Left likes to play in order to bring out their favorite cat call – Hypocrite! Romney responded, “My sons are all adults and they’ve made decisions about their careers and they’ve chosen not to serve in the military and active duty and I respect their decision in that regard. One of the ways my sons are showing support for our nation is helping me get elected because they think I’d be a great president.”...

SOUTH AFRICA: JOHANNESBURG - Rural fires that blazed for weeks in South Africa killed at least 26 people, marking the worst loss of life from such infernos since the 1980s, a government spokesperson said on Wednesday. Ten deaths have been confirmed in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga and 16 in Kwazulu-Natal, where veld and forest fires broke out on July 2, Department of Provincial and Local Government spokesperson Zandile Ratsitanga said. Most of the fires have been contained and were no longer a threat, officials said. Another two deaths were still unconfirmed by police in Mpumalanga. "Work is still continuing...

139 members of the Armed Forces have received honours and awards for their bravery and service on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the World. The full list, published below, details honours and awards for service on operations in Northern Ireland, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other operations for the period 1 October 2006 to 31 March 2007. Notably it includes one Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and 12 Military Crosses awarded for actions in Afghanistan. Additionally there are seven awards in recognition of non-combatant gallantry. Operational Honours and Awards: 19 July 2007 NORTHERN IRELAND Commander of The Order of The British...

ANGOLA, Ind. -- A waitress got more than a $5 tip for her friendly service. She also got a $10,000 gift. Jessica Osborne was so overcome she cried so hard she could barely breathe. When she told a co-worker what had happened she called her a liar. ''I got that a lot,'' Osborne said. The money came from a mother and her two sons who want to remain anonymous. The three were regular customers at the Pizza Hut in Angola and she remembered their order: two Mountain Dews, a cup of hot water for a bag of tea the woman...

WASHINGTON, July 10, 2007 – Anyone who watched the final episode of HBO’s “The Sopranos” series understands what the Army is up against as it works to fill its ranks with high-quality recruits. When young Anthony Soprano Jr., “AJ” to his family and friends, expressed an interest in joining the Army, he met opposition from all corners. His girlfriend balked. His mother, Carmela, tried to dissuade him for fear he’s be deployed to Iraq. His father Tony, New Jersey’s mob boss, ultimately distracted him with a new BMW and an opportunity to make a movie. The story may be fictitious,...

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2007 – The Washington Nationals baseball team saluted the U.S. military during an evening pre-game program May 11 that featured fireworks, a group enlistment and servicemembers tossing ceremonial pitches. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England shakes the hand of new Air Force member Stefon Brown, 20, during pre-game Military Appreciation Night activities at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C., May 11. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Military Appreciation Night activities held at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium here also included Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England, who met with Army,...

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2007 – Much to her parent’s chagrin, when Jessica Murphy was in fourth grade she joined the boy’s flag football team. “I was a little 4-foot, 50-pound string bean,” she said. “I loved playing, but once I got to the age where the team started tackling, my mom made me quit.” The Milwaukee native said her can-do attitude and tendency to buck stereotypes carried through to her college years when, unbeknownst to her parents, she applied for and was awarded an ROTC scholarship. After earning a degree in political science from the University of Minnesota, Twin...

'BBC Arabic Service anti-western' By Tom Leonard in New York Last Updated: 2:17am GMT 17/03/2007 The BBC's Arabic language service operates a separate editorial system to the rest of the corporation that is "anti-Western and anti-democratic", an American academic said yesterday. Frank Stewart, a Jerusalem-based Middle East expert, said that the World Service's Arabic radio service - which is soon to be supplemented by a television version - has been consistently hostile to the US and British governments while treating Arab leaders with kid gloves. Writing in the New York Times, Prof Stewart claimed that the 60-year-old Arabic service was...

HAMPTON, Va., Feb. 22, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized 11 African-American servicemen and women for their service in the global war against terrorism at a ceremony held at Hampton University here yesterday. Left to right: Air National Guard Lt. Col. Mary-Thom Williams, Francis L. Horne, and Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Cleveland Wiltz pose for a photo at the Defense Department’s African-American History Month observance at Hampton University, Va., Feb. 21. Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The servicemembers received certificates signed and presented by Clarence A. Johnson, DoD’s principal director and director...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2007 – The Defense Department recognized a California high school at the Pentagon today for supporting one of its students and a program she undertook for the nation’s servicemembers. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Dorrance J. Smith (right) presents the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award to Gregg Pinick (left), principal of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif., for its support of Shauna Fleming's "A Million Thanks" program and the Defense Department's America Supports You program. Pinick accepted the award on the school's behalf. Photo by William D. Moss  '(Click...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2007 – Ask Army Staff Sgt. Jerome MacDonald why he serves in the military, and he doesn’t talk about pay raises, tuition assistance or job security. “My biggest reason for serving is my family,” said MacDonald, a combat medic who returned in 2006 from a deployment to Iraq. “I looked at my family, and I realized that I want them and their way of life to be protected,” he said. “And one of the only ways to do that is to go overseas and take the fight to the enemy who are perfectly willing to come...

Mary Kochan  Other Articles by Mary KochanPrinter Friendly Version   A Parish of Lepers January 2, 2007 January 3, 1840, was the birthday of Joseph de Veuster in Tremelo, Belgium.  Joseph was the son of farmer.  He and his brother were both training to be missionaries and Joseph's brother was assigned to go to the South Sea Islands. When his brother became ill, Joseph insisted on taking his brother's place as a missionary. He was ordained a priest, Father Damien, at Honolulu, on May 24, 1864.Of all the districts he visited on the islands, the plight of the leper...