C 21- C 25

(C-21)

News Heard Round the World

9/11

‘If you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.’

-Thumpers Mom- Movie Bambi.

“The terrorist organization Al-Quida has launched an attack on America, it started about thirty minuets ago with the hijacking of four commercial jet airliners, about the time we started to gather for this special meeting.” Xo’s words completely silenced the Standing Committee. “That is why I asked you to meet me here at this late hour. Last month we informed this committee that there were plans to attack in September. Less the an three hours ago I received word from our informants, that New York and Washington are the intended targets. They hope to crash the financial, Military, and lawmaking centers in one stroke. ”

Xo turned and motioned to the aide who was setting at the communication’s panel, who pushed a button, and three panels on the sides of the meeting room slide open to reveal the large flat panel screens behind. An American or European news commentator was on with a background of one of the Twin World Trade Centers In New York City. The building upper-stories were bellowing smoke and you could see papers floating in air, and other derbies falling. The Chinese translator was saying that some how a jet airliner had gone off course and slammed in to the tower only a few minuets before, the number of casualty might number in the thousands as the building housed up to twenty-thousand workers. No reports yet on how many injured or dead.

Xo continued, “In a few minuets another plane will crash into the other tower, more death and ruin on America. At about the same time two other planes will destroy the Pentagon and the Capital buildings in Washington DC. Killing most of there top military officers and completely stopping their federal legislative branch.”

“How can you stop the American legislative process,” a voice behind him asked?

“It is far easier then one would think,” Xo replied. “The American election system is simple, on one hand but very complex on the other. Their Senate can be replaced in days by appointments from the State Governors. There is no provision in their Constitution to replace the members of the House of Representatives, there will have to be special elections and that can take up to almost six months. No new laws can be passed and all money apparitions must come from the house, so there Government will come to a standstill. Al-Quida was going to attack the American President to kill him to, but he moves around to much, is weak, simple, and not popular.”

“As far as there top military leadership being destroyed, that is unimportant, good Generals always come to the forefront during a crises. It’s the procurement, oversight and development process that will take them time to rebuild and replace.”

Xo continued, “Al Quida hopes to crash the world’s economy, destroy the Americans military leadership and it’s legislative abilities. In the ensuing weeks and the chaos that will follow, they will use other attacks to further cripple and destroy the moral of the people of the west. They have asked us not to interfere or help our common enemy, which is why I asked for this meeting.”

Xo could see that this leadership council was completely enthralled, with the events unfolding on the television sets, he knew when to keep quiet, but he couldn’t stop thinking and planning. The Americans who stood in their way of achieving complete control of the Asian world, was being attacked and weakened by an enemy who also threatened them. Let them fight and when they are exhausted, or too distracted to watch China, we will attack and defeat them both.

The Secretary General turned to Xo and asked, “You briefed us a month ago that America would be attacked. And last week you told us that it would happen soon.”

Xo nodded his head in acknowledgment.

The Secretary General Continued, “If we know, what is to stop America from learning that we had prior knowledge. Did we not tip our hand with the incident between our jet fighter ramming their spy plane over the South China Sea, early this year?

Xo knew that the Secretary General always looked for some way to discredit him. He must have more then suspicions of what Xo plans were, but no proof. Carefully in what he said, “The Captain that ran into the American plane died and was lost at sea. His wingman, as well as his squadron commander both said he just got to close and the collision happened. We have been assured by the Air Force that it would not happen again. We have tried our best to allure the Americans that it was a pure accident caused by an over eager junior pilot. Did we not offer to pay them for the aircraft, and go out of our way to apologize?”

“We can not,….” Xo was cut off by the Secretary General his sarcasm coming across as he said, “the Air Force assures…”

The Secretary General is surprised by the Premier who interrupted him by stating, “You asked Xo a question please give him the courtesy to answer?”

“You may continue, Xo.”

“Thank you sir. We can not make them accept our apology, but our continued demonstration of restraint, but watching them and their spying on us speaks volume’s of the guarded relationship we are trying to maintain.” Xo added, “the decision that we will control our air space is the same that this council, and all previous councils have endorsed since the Korean War. To change that stance now would raise suspicion as to why. We would be better off, if they don’t look into the why?”

With a bitter irony in his voice Xo launched into the Secretary, “I trust the Military, and the people who work for a greater China. My people are loyal and regularly checked on, the information that comes to this council from the Military and our spy sources is strictly controlled on who gets to see what. Out side of a few people who compiled this information, the members of this council, and the staff present, to use an American term, whom are you accusing of leaking secrets?”

The Secretary’s nosed flared, and his eyes narrowed a little. He wasn’t use to someone whom he considered his inferior not a true Chinese, no Mongol had the right to talk to him like that. His answer wasn’t sharp but it was baited, “With all of the troops being trained and the equipment being stockpiled. The modernizing of the Navy and development of a sophisticated Air force, are they not signals to the West that we are preparing for something?”

Xo could have laughed, didn’t the man read the reports sent to him, he almost guffawed and had to turn his head and cough to hide his smile. Preparing for something, we are making ready for global war, he can’t be that stupid Xo thought. Regaining his composure he said, “We have money coming into our country, more than we could ever imagine. If we don’t modernize our armed forces, and our industrial sector now we might never have the chance again. We have to catch up with the west, we mustn’t squander this opportunity. The Americans have known for years we are modernizing our armed forces, they can see that. They just don’t suspect the magnitude; we show them less then twenty percent, and they double that figure and think they are smart. They don’t realize by even half of what we are capable of,” not until it was too late, he mentally added.

Setting forward in his seat he continued, “If the Arabs are successful in shacking the western financial world, which has been in trouble for the last two years, there will be a recession. If they raise enough trouble and scare the western consumer’s the world will see a depression. We receive our money for the goods the West buys from us, stop that buying and we will be hurt. The last World Depression saw the demise of the Nationalist Government, they were so weak that they couldn’t stop the Revolutionary forces of Mao Zedong nor fight the Japanese at the same time. That is why we are using the money now, to build up our countries industrial strength and our armed forces.”

With a smug look on his face, the Secretary General thinking he had Xo boxed in relaxed and set back in his seat, asked. “Then while the Americans are distracted with the terrorist, now is the time we should strike.”

Xo could see the trap set for him but refused to be caught. Standing up, he answered, “We are not fools; you do not attack an enemy who is aroused with passion and ready to fight. Besides our plans will take almost five more years of preparation and constant work to be ready for success. Let the Americans fight whom ever, where ever. When they start to weary of war and there streets are full of protesters, the political opposition will gain in strength opposing the use of force. There will be elections in progress, even more distractions, then the time will be right.” Xo set back down, the weak smile and relaxed composure he excluded showed that his point had been made

The communications officer had changed the three screens to three different networks under the urging of Admiral Lousan; he also knew about the other plane and wanted everyone to see when it drew nearer to its fate. On one of the Television set you could see that at the base of the burning tower more and more emergency vehicles arriving. The announcer was stating that the second tower had also been mostly evacuated, but the all clear had been sounded and people were starting to re-enter the building.

The second screen had the view of the burning tower against a blue almost cloudless sky. As Xo turned to see what the third screen was showing, Suddenly the second camera turned to show an extremely fast moving commercial plane entering the air space over southern Manhattan. Now all three screens were showing the same picture all from different angles. The voices of the other committee members who had been speaking to each other all hushed at once.

The plane was now about to strike the building at a point lower then the other tower had been hit. At the last second the pilot tipped one wing to cut into the building at an angle that would cause the most damage. You could see the reflection of the plane on the building just before it strikes, like a reflection on a lake.

Time seemed to slow down, Xo had known what would happen but still his heart was pounding in his chest. Even if this is his enemy, he hoped that their God would have compassion on all the souls about to join him, and pity on those about to be maimed and disfigured for life, in body and mind.

The plane literally disappeared in a huge fireball as it struck the building and as if the building had opened up to swallow it. Then you could see fire coming out the back of the tower, and the building sway from the force of the plane’s impact, but still standing.

Xo shook his head in disbelief that the two towers could take such blows and still remain up right. The American engineers had designed well and their construction crews defiantly built strong structures, he already knows they are not a lazy easily pushed around people. Maybe our spies, and the tame American politicians we were paying have underestimated the average American?

The room remained silent for almost ten seconds each person was wrapped in their own private thoughts. The Premier suddenly burst into cheering and clapping his hand loudly followed by the General Secretary and the rest of the members in attendance.

They all stand up and continue clapping as if this was a political rally. The Premier says, “This is a great day, our enemy takes a blow in a war he has failed to realize he is in. The longer he is asleep we will be assured of victory. Xo you are to be commended; I know the hour is late but I feel rejuvenated as if I were a young man.”

You could see the scorn in the Secretariats face at the mention of Xo being given credit for the events unfolding before their eyes. Or so Xo thought, this one I have to watch, closely and he must be neutralized very soon.

The clapping and praising continued for several minuets, as the committee continued to watch the two burning towers.

Again the screens changed with out warning as the noise in the room was too loud to hear the translator. They had missed the announcement that a plane had hit the Pentagon. When the scene switched they all recognized the building from its shape, and that part of it was on fire, only then did the silence return, to hear what was happening.

The announcer was saying, “Another commercial jet has just been flown into the Pentagon causing a massive fireball and destruction, we are not sure but there must be some connection to the events in New York City but why? Why? How could this happen and how many more planes will be crashed into other buildings? Why is this happening? It just doesn’t make sense.”

The laughter, cheering and clapping again burst out from all of the people in the room at once, and the Primer was leading the praise heaped on the terrorist, as if it had been Chinese patriots who had attacked America. Looking directly at Xo the primer mouthed a ‘well done,’ and continued to stand and clap and laugh at the scenes unfolding on the television sets.

The cameras switched and the scene from the Pentagon showed that only a small part of the building was on fire and the damage less then what had first been shown. You could hear the moans from some of the select committee members, they thought most of the building had been on fire. Xo knew they had no idea the size of the building or how it was constructed in rings within rings. That would protect it from such a small-scale attack.

The Premier held up his hand to regain control of the meeting and to silence the members, this took over a minuet because all eyes were on the television sets. Once a few realized that silence and their attention was needed they turned to the people on their right and left and got them to be quiet, this took a few seconds as most acted as if they were at a soccer match and they were drunk with excitement.

With a smile the Premier said, “They have no idea of what is happening.” His mood changing to somber he continued, “we of course will offer help to America on the diplomatic front.”

Turning to the Secretariat he said, “Let our UN Ambassador know he is get a hold of his American counter part and offer assistance. Express our condolences for the dead and injured and assure them that China will do its part as a member of the Security Council, leave it vague so they can assume what they wish. We can always say later, no this is what we meant.”

The Premier not waiting for a reply turned back to the assembled council and said, “I am not the least bit tired and I’m sure there is more to follow with these attacks.” Turning his head side to side and looking at each member present, “I wish to take a short break and to eat a light meal, does anyone wish to join me?” There were several yeas in agreement as it had been several hours since the evening meal and it looked like they would be up well into the early morning. “Good I see we are in agreement on a meal, please have the communications director turn on the televisions sets in the lounge and dining room.”

The Premier continued, “I see our friend Admiral Louson Ju, sets with you Xo. Admiral I haven’t been able to find the time to read your report on troop and transport deployment in the SongBird plans. When we return please give us a summery with some detail, you don’t have be exact with the numbers or dates. But in how we will attack an enemy that is separated from us by the Pacific Ocean, with out fear of an Atomic War?” With a smirk he added, “ That will be an interesting plan indeed.”

The Premier, stood up turned and walked out the door, no doubt headed to the committee’s private dining room. His security advisor and several of the committee members followed him.

Xo turned to Admiral Ju Louson, before he could say anything the party secretary was standing in front of them and said, “You forget yourself and the position you hold Xo. If you wish to continue your membership on the committee and as the Deputy PLA commander, I the party Secretary, not the Premier run the government. I set the policy and the funding for each department and I have the backing of the Politburo and the Central committee. You know this so beware, if you continue down this path you will be removed, placed on trial for crimes against the people and shot.” He then turned and walked out the door.

Xo held his tongue; the walls have ears, this he knew.

Admiral Louson was red with anger, how could such a pompous ass dare speak to his friend in such a tone or manner, he stood up to follow the secretary, but Xo said, “Hold Ju let him go. I do not wish for a scandal or a test of wills; it is not worth the trouble or the energy necessary to argue. We have our request from the Primer and I will help you with your briefing.”

Thinking to himself Xo knew that the removal of the Secretary will be necessary, it will take time but it will happen. He will have to hold a meeting with his Kurultai, his secret military council of generals and decide when they could make that move without showing their whole hand.

Xo turned to his new aid and said, “General Chu please direct two of the waiters in the dining room to bring us a plate each of sliced fruit and some bread and cups of tea, we have work to do and need to stay here to complete it.”

Picking up the phone from the desk Xo called Major General Dim’s night operations center. When the duty Colonel answered the phone Xo gave a few brief instructions to have some secure files unlocked in the computer system so he could down load them to his present location.

Xo didn’t wait for a reply, he hung up the phone and turned to pick up his briefcase and placed it on the desk in front of him. He opened it and took out his laptop computer turned it on and pulled up the plans on Songbird. “Things are going well, the new officers on your staff have picked up on the plan and the improvements they suggest cost almost nothing, they take almost no time for the work crews to complete in fact most are just everyday used items, like the water drums and then converting them into toilets once empty. Now let me show you another idea Ju, today one of my engineering officers drew up these plans on the containers. Its very ingénues, you can see here where the air vents are hidden under…”

(C-22)

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Winter

01/02

‘You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.’

-Bob Dylan

Ayman was in a near panic, everyone on the street was watching him and after he had walked by he could see all of the people following him, spying on him. He had been found out and they were walking behind him, if they caught him he would first be beaten, then tortured. The scenes going through his mind of the things they would do to him were unspeakable. As he knew that he would tell them everything, he wouldn’t be able to help himself. And when they were finished breaking him and had all the information, they would start again. No quick clean death; just more and more pain, he knew because that was what he would do to them, if he had the chance.

I must run, run as fast as I can, they are after me.

What is wrong with my legs, I can move but it’s as if I am running in honey.

Looking back Ayman can see the spies closing in on him and the panic raises to shear terror, I mustn’t stop I will run until my lungs are burning with fire, as my heart bursts from my chest. Allah I pray help your steadfast servant. Then on my right about ten meters away is a drop off, a step cliff, if I can get there I will throw myself over and be free, a quick death.

But it is so hard for me to move my legs; the weight is almost impossible to lift. Only a few more steps, now two more, one more step I can make it. I feel their hands behind me about to grab my coat I must jump now.

There hands almost have me but I make it, I laugh at them they have failed. As I start to fall I twist myself around and I can see the spies faces looking down as I fall, and they are smiling and laughing at me why, I have escaped them I will die and they will never know my secrets, but my own laughter at them now turns to concern, what do they know?

I keep falling and it’s a pleasant feeling, my death will be sudden and I won’t feel a thing. I must have been on the edge of a tall cliff, I can’t see the spies anymore, and I’ll turn myself over to look for the bottom. No can’t see that either, maybe I have already hit the ground and I’m dead and on the way to heaven? But I still feel that I’m falling down not up, how can this be? Now I can see the base of the cliff and I know that I’m still falling, praise be to Allah, the infidels will only find my body broken and dead, no spirit to torture or harm.

Things are coming into focus and I am falling fast, there is a large rock and several smaller rocks around it, what’s that beside the rocks, a smoking lake? As I fall closer I can see that it’s not rocks at the base of the cliff.

No it’s a big gray and brown hairy creature, and smaller ones all around that are of the same color.

As he falls closer he recognizes them as a pack of varkan, just wolves. Ha the kaffiers, they wont even have my broken body to gloat over as the wolves will eat the remains. The wolves are looking up at me as I fall, and, and they are laughing, laughing at me. What is happening I am falling slower and slower, the lake is not water but a pool of acid, and the little wolves have wicked claws that they are holding up to catch me. My fall has slowed to where I am floating down like a feather, what science is this how can the west control gravity. I can hear the big wolf talking to the others, telling them how I will suffer and scream, I hear all of their terrible plans to make me talk, and what they will force me to endure.

All of the paws are now raised to grab me as I float down to them, now only a few feet are left and I see that some of the paws are holding chains, some pipes and others red-hot irons to inflect pain. I must fight the panic and fear growing in me, Allah help me I don’t won’t to scream, I can’t, I can’t hold it in, I can taste my own bile and the fear with it. I start to pray, Allah help your faithful servant…

As there paws grab me I scream, I scream as loud as I can, “Allah have mercy on me. Mercy I beg…”

“Ayman, Ayman wake up you are making a terrible racket, you will wake up the entire apartment complex, let alone just our building, Ayman wake up.” Kalidia has a hold of Aymans right arm and gives him a not too gentle slap on the side of his face. Ali Jizer is behind him with a bucket of water to throw on him if necessary. “Ayman wake up this is madness.”

Ayman has stooped screaming and is setting straight up in his bed, he is covered head to toe in sweat and his sheets and blankets are all twisted around him. “Kalidia I had that same terrible dream again, that nightmare with the spies and the wolves, but this time the wolves had a hold of me. I knew I would tell them everything, anything just to stop the torture before they had even started.”

“Nonsense, it is just a dream.”

“No it is more then that, I must leave, I am ashamed, I am weak, a weak and pitiful excuse for a Mujahideen. My presence here places our entire organization in jeopardy, please let me go home, Kalidia let me go! If you are my friend you will do this for me? Oh Ali help him to understand,” You could hear the panic in Aymans voice, see it in his expressions as he addressed his friends.

“Ayman we have had this conversation several times, and the answer stays the same, NO. We have nothing to fear, as the son of the Ambassador to the European Union working for the UN, and as agents of the UN we have diplomatic immunity. That immunity also applies to my driver and my bodyguards. We are safe from arrest and especially questioning, as for torture the west gave that up long ago, do not believe the propaganda put out by some of the mullahs. If caught you would be questioned not tortured, No my friend we are safe, they are looking for Al Qadia, not us,” Kalidia said trying to reassure him. he won’t remind them about the Spanish they are too much like us, they will get the information and they don’t care how.

“Ayman it’s OK we are here, listen to Kalidia,” Ali said as he set the bucket of water down. “You mustn’t watch any more news about Afghanistan and what goes on there, that is why you have these bad dreams.”

“But I have to know how the Americans fight, to learn their weaknesses. When we attack I will know how to defeat them.” Ayman answered weakly in his own defence.

Kalidia seeing that his friend now had control of himself, turned to go back to his own room, stopping at the door he said. “Ayman we will not have to worry, when the time comes we will rely on our training and preparations. Our plans are only a small part of what our organization will do to the unbelievers’ worldwide when we are let loose. I have faith in you and the people we have helped train. Now go back to sleep and no more nightmares, or next time Ali will soak you with the bucket of cold water. Then we will tie you to the bed and open the window, it is six degrees Celsius outside, and you will be very miserable and not able to dream, this is a torture we will do. Now no more bad dreams go to sleep…”

Ayman sat in bed, his sheets sticky from his fear-induced sweat, he knew sleep would not come again tonight, it never did after the dream. This was the third or forth time he had the same dream in the last two years, it must have a meaning. Each time the dream becomes more and more real, and each time his terror is harder to overcome, if he was attacked by eagles he would know that it was the Americans who were behind his dreams. And if it was bears that would be the Russians, but wolves he had no idea who that portrayed? And the worst part of all, every one of the wolves had human faces, and they were the faces of terrible men filled with a vengeance that would not be easily filled. He knows in his heart these nefarious wolf men will be his undoing their worst nemesis, one that their attack will awaken.

His uncle had told him once that good dreams come from what may happen, but bad dreams, or nightmares as they are called do come from our future warning us to beware. As a little boy he had never paid much attention to his dreams, he almost never had nightmares until recently. If this was his future warning him then this was his fate, it is written and no man can change that. But there must be a way to stop the nightmares, if not they would lead to madness. The constant thought of his future in the hands of wolves, how could he outwit them he must think of a plan to keep from being caught and tortured?

(C-23)

Hard work and dedication

Spring

.

‘If you aren’t fired with enthusiasm, you’ll be fired with enthusiasm.’

-Vince Lombardi

To say that post 9/11 in Korea had been extremely tense, would be an understatement. The constant stand-by, from 75% alert then to 100%, ready to go 24/7 sure took its toll on the men. Who knew what the North Korean’s would do if they thought they could get away with and launch an attack because they said they felt threatened.

Being named as one of the three in the Axis of Evil, though true, would cause trouble, Captain Dix had been told. I answered back to anyone who cared to listen, they may be crazy but they aren’t stupid. They will wait and pick there time, when we aren’t watching. Oh well, who listened to a Captain anyway, besides the troops he commanded and lead, same story they didn’t have a say in the matter either.

The winter hadn’t been to bad: I think the old hands here that told us how bad it could get, were just warning us to expect the worst. Either that or our equipment is better, the temperature had dropped for a few days to twenty below zero, and the wind chill to almost forty below. During the Korean War having only wool and heavy cotton coats, not the new synthetics, it must have been really tough.

The new Gortex and its bear skin liner helped cut that wind, again thank goodness I’m not in the infantry. Being in Armor has more advantages then drawbacks, Captain Dix said to himself, for at least the one-thousandth time.

One thing the old timers said was true; you did get use to the smell, or just forget about it. His first few months had been hectic, trying to establish his command, and learning his way around a line Division, somewhere along the way there he adjusted.

Getting a good First Sergeant had helped, all commanding Officers needed good Sergeants to learn from and in turn, good Sergeants needed good Officers to help make first class soldiers from the troops assigned to them.

Capt. Dix wondered how much longer they could stay on constant alert. Since 9/11 the entire division had stayed at the ready, and training had taken on a more realistic meaning. But you can stay at the edge, ready to go no holds barred, focused for only so long. Either accept more accidents from the mental fatigue that was starting to creep in, or back off and relax a little and allow some down time, just to recharge our mental batteries if nothing else.

The Battalion commander Lt. Colonel O’Neil knew he wasn’t going to be promoted to full bird Colonel so he had asked to finish out his last year in the Army stationed here in Korea. To the surprise of everyone his request was granted by the Army and he would also continue as their Battalion commander, until his replacement arrived.

Even though his days in the Army were numbered Lt. Col. O’Neil was determined to continue helping the careers of his officers, sergeants, and the troopers under his command especially the one’s who deserved it. One suggestion was to have Capt. Dix ask for an extension of one year to his posting in Korea. If he did so he would take over as the battalions S-3, training officer, normally a Majors slot, not unheard of for a Captain to fill, in combat, but in a peacetime role almost never.

Capt. Dix felt humbled yet honored by the offer, he had worked hard, trained his men and earned their respect the old fashioned way. By being fair and working as hard as they did, in sharing the hardships and constant endless drills with out complaining or looking for the easy way out as some officers did. He also had the respect of his fellow officers, his hard work and willingness to help others as a team member paid off.

When asked for his opinion by his superior officers he was always courteous, yet truthful and honest, with an insight that got attention. Not a blow hard with a loud mouth that knew little and did even less, but a man who did the work and fulfilled his responsibilities and others as needed a person who could be counted on.

Jim knew that if he accepted the S-3 job he would spend less time in the field, and not have the command time at the company level, which he really liked. But two tours as a line company commander at two different post did look good on his record, and the job had been rewarding. Plus he would be in charge of the training for the five companies in the battalion, and that would look good on his record too, not to mention marking him as a potential early candidate for promotion to Major. Hell, he had even called the Captains desk at armor branch in the Pentagon asking them for advice; the Lt. Col. there had laughed with him seeing the dilemma he was facing.

“Take the job,” was the answer, “you won’t fall flat on you face, at least that’s not to be expected with your record, besides it would look real good in your portfolio. Remember this; ‘experience if it doesn’t kill you, it will make you stronger and wiser’, besides your next posting will be state side for a while and a plum one to boot. So go ahead and take the job, at least I would have if it had been offered to me years ago.”

Capt. Dix wasn’t the type of person to worry about future jobs, just do the best job that you can everyday. Still he had been hoping for a posting to Kuwait, especially if we went after the big paymaster of the terrorists, old Saddam. He wanted to see action and the chance to see if what he had been training soldiers for worked in combat. And of course to chance to command troops in a combat situation. But with this job offer that was not to be. Just what was the next job the Lt. Col. at armor branch had hinted at, and in what position was he being considered for next year?

The job at BP wasn’t thankless; the pay was good and the average workload of fifty to sixty hours per week sure was a lot less then a normal training week at the SF school. And the quality of the men at the patrol level he worked with, was top notch, professionals all. What bothered D most was the attitude of Washington. Time after time and report after report he wrote had warned them that something had to be done to help secure the southern border. Especially after 9/11, to many men from the middle east were slipping across, not in his sector anymore, but in others where the informers south of the border weren’t motivated like his were.

Since the rescue of Jon by Eli, and the implied warning D gave to Fillip, Roberto, and their brother, the drugs coming across and most of the people traffic had slowed to a trickle, again in his area at least, that just meant other areas where being swamped.

We are short of man-power, equipment, and a willingness on the part of higher INS officials to set a good examples, to send the illegals back as fast as they come across. Yeah he knew that it was a political decision, but the law is the law, either enforce it or change it. Don’t ignore it, or act as if it doesn’t matter, that only breeds contempt for us within the criminal element’s of the population, and a lose of moral among the border agents.

As if our agency didn’t already didn’t have enough problems. It’s sure hard to look at the face in the mirror each morning; when its common knowledge that three of the hijackers on that fateful day had crossed the border illegally only weeks before 9/11, how many others were crossing now and planning similar acts, or even worse? If we’re in such a state of heightened security that airport screeners have carte blanche for as much public humiliation as possible, how is it that the borders are in such a poor state of security?” D had asked in more then one meeting. His boss just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Do the best that you can, I don’t get any better answers then that, when I ask the same question to the head of the department.”

D had told his wife that it was nothing new for the INS to release known criminals, criminals who then went out and committed murders. * When they were caught for these crimes and prosecutors found out that INS officials were aware of their previous record and had released them, the question was asked. “Why would you release these people, the law states they are to be deported immediately?”

The INS would answer, “It’s political, and refer them to Washington.” And as usually all comments would be lost in the paper shuffle, and the indifference that followed had become the normal answer the past few years from Washington.

“Every American is a soldier, and every citizen is in this fight.” The President, George W. Bush had said on 30 October 2001, if that was the standard the president was setting then the people at the top in INS had better get their act together. Because D and the rest of border agents were getting fed up and it was only a matter of time before one of them went public.

D knew he wouldn’t be the one, he would continue to work within the system, he was too much the professional. But several of the older agents close to retirement with nothing to lose had been doing a lot of complaining, one of them would air this dirty linen in public and soon too.

* “It’s nothing new for the INS to release criminals onto the streets and for them to commit murder. There’s been hundreds murdered in the United States at the hands of illegal aliens.”

-- Daryl Schermerhorn, Senior US Border Patrol Agent, in an interview on The O’Reilly Factor, 29 October 2002

(C-24)

I am not your enemy.

Fall

2002

‘Man is the only animal that blushes-or ought to.’

-Mark Twain

Al-Abdul asked for the second time, “Can I leave now. You keep asking the same questions time and again. Last fall I was pulled out of classes for a week and had to walk a tight rope of questions of why I was in flight school. The answers are the same now as then.”

“Did I know that some former students turned out to be some of the hijackers? I said yes, they had been in some of my classes.”

“No, they didn’t let others know what they were planning.”

“No, I didn’t hang around with them.”

“No, none of the other Muslim still at the school got along with them.”

“No, no one suspected anything when they left the school, we had assumed they were expelled for poor skills and grades.”

“Yes, I’m from Afghanistan; but my parents live in exile in Saudi Arabia. And once it is stable at home, they might return to our country. My mother is a professor of teaching, and my father a doctor. Skills that will be needed to rebuild our homeland.”

“Yes I know they have applied to immigrate to America, because they do not like living among the Arabs.”

“Yes my schooling is paid by a grant from the UN, again it is a skill that will help my country. That is if I am not expelled because you keep interrupting my studies and training, and keep me from attending all of my classes.”

“Will you pay for classes and flying time that I am missing out on?”

“No, you are just doing your job and this hassle you are placing on me is really for national security.”

“Now for the last time, let me go or arrest me, then I can call my lawyer, and then you may direct your questions to him.”

FBI special agent Willis knew from Al Sayahayas body language that he wasn’t bluffing. Just because the hijackers had trained at this flight school didn’t make the rest of the Muslim students guilty. All of the interviews for the last three-months had pointed out that Atta and company hadn’t tried to fit in or even want the friendship of their fellow Muslim students.

The Justice Department wanted answers, soon the Senate and House oversight committees would want answers, and hell I’d like some answers too. Such as why the last few years of the previous administration, they had direct orders to ignore any mid-east leads to terrorist activities. In fact if any thing was found to direct all information straight to Washington, to do nothing else, we will call you back, Right!

That attitude had cost us over three thousand Americans dead, if they hadn’t dismantled the mid-east counter terrorism desk at the FBI we might have had a chance to stop some of those guys. And now here he was in Florida asking asinine question again and again to honest hard working flight qualified foreign students. Just to cover the butts of some lawyers/agents, guys who weren’t even Quantico qualified, just ass kissers left over from the previous FBI director’s stint. At least the new director was weeding them out, if they don’t know their job they either take a demotion or got out of the bureau, there choice. Thank the lord most of them were leaving, still what a mess to have to clean up and work with.

“All right you may go, I hope not to have to bother you again,” Willis stood up and took one of his business card from its holder. He walked over to his office door and opened it, then turning to Al Sayahaya, who had gotten out of his chair and turned to leave. Willis offered his card, “Please if you remember any thing that would be of help, give me a call. Unless I am directed by Washington or new evidence comes to light I won’t bother you again.”

Al-Abdul took the card and mumbled his thanks, heading to the elevators thinking, if I had known anything I would have told them the first time. I told them repeatedly the Saudi’s, had gone out of their way to insult the other Muslims at the school, ridiculed them, and even tried to pick a fight at one time. An elevator door was open and he stepped in pushing the button marked G.

Atta had believed they were the only ones who know the Koran and its true meaning, how absurd. If you didn’t think as they thought, they wanted you to shut-up and they would enlighten you. They were just as bad as the Taliban back home or worse, our way or die. That type of thinking is ruining the Muslim world, in fact most of our countries were sliding toward a religious regime much like Iran’s or as bad as Afghanistan had been. No Freedoms, not in ideas, in learning, or tolerance, just a country of spite and hate and fear, with the leaders saying do as I say, not as I do.

Most of those leaders lived the life they preached against, color TV, liquor, even music, all the pleasures for them, but denied to the average man, hypocrites all of them.

In fact our lack of freedom in the Arab world has given us a profound lack of basic human development. Compare us to any free country what have we to show, a culture that blames the West for its own self-inflicted dysfunction, a breeding ground for terrorism, ignorance, blind corruption, irrationality, poverty, and more extremist Islamic movements. A Muslim world that fears individual freedom and creativity, the very foundation needed for political and economic success was not to be found in the Arab world. And just what do we have to show the world, a suicide culture where the only sure way to heaven is by killing yourself and taking non-believers with you.

That’s not the recipe for moving forward, it’s a plan to stay slaves of a selected few, that want only to control others and have all for themselves. The Americans have a word that describes these people too well, control freaks. They only care about themselves, me, myself, I, and to hell with anyone else.

People wouldn’t, couldn’t live like that for long, once the Americans had cleaned out the Taliban, his country would return to its former self, at least that is what I hope will happen.

The elevator door opened onto the ground floor and Al-Abdul made his way out of the building and to his pickup in the parking lot. Looking up into the clear blue afternoon sky he smiled maybe I can get in a hour of flying yet today. And soon, real soon I hope I would be back home flying missions to help my people, just like the medical companies he worked with helping all Americans, that would be something to be proud off.

One never knows what tomorrow will bring; sometimes I think about staying in America, this is the land of the free. No war, no petty people telling you how to live down to the last item of clothing to wear. If I want to grow a beard or shave it off my choice, and most of all how much of your time to be devoted to religion. I pray every day and attend worship serviced as often as I can. I do not use drugs or drink or consort with lose women.

America and the freedom its represents, many long for it, very few ever get to taste it. Since you have helped my country to be free I owe you one America, for now I thank you.

(C-25)

April showers bring Mays flowers.

And Tornadoes!

Spring

03’

‘People don’t care how much you know,

until they know how much you care…

about them.’

- St. Francis Xavier

Humans are strange creatures, ask some one what they ate for dinner two days ago, most people will have to think a bit before they answer. But ask them what they were doing at the exact time that President Kennedy was shot or when they heard about 9/11? They can tell you every little detail, enough facts and material to write chapters.

Weather related acts of God, get the same results.

Another beautiful early day in May, a little overcast and a chance for thunderstorms later but still a real nice day. At least that what Dan was thinking, as he drove the family home after the church service. A little rain for latter in the afternoon, and boy we still needed it, and even more; to help recover from the drought that had lasted over a year now.

Again looking at the sky Dan thinks, we should be able to finish mowing the lawn after lunch and maybe plant a few onion sets. Still too early to put out any tomatoes, cucumbers or eggplants, have to wait until after the 10^th. of the month, any chance of a late frost will be completely gone by then.

Turning off the county highway into the sub addition he slowed down and the family waved at the Thortons, who returned the wave. They were getting home from church at the same time, real nice folks. I just wish that Jacob Thorton hadn’t written that opinion column about how the concept of the militia was out dated, and the people involved were just a bunch of old fashioned narrow minded Constitutionalists.

As if there was something wrong in believing in the ideals and concept of the Constitution? Dan knew it wasn’t personal, it was just Jacob’s opinion, but he hadn’t even talked to him or any of the other leaders in our group. Just dug into them as a lot of want-to-be’s, wanting to run around and play solider. His articles were always good reading, except that one. Dan was a regular reader of Jacob’s, he didn’t miss much and was very astute, if nothing else he made you think. Can’t say that about a lot of opinion page writers, most just spewed hate and venom at anyone who didn’t support their view.

The funny thing was, last year Jacob had written a real good piece on the re-en actors, who dressed up as civil war soldiers, both sides, and the WWII people too, that it was a good way to preserve history. To teach the young people that history was alive and that freedom was worth fighting for. In Dan’s opinion they were the ones just play-acting, they might be preserving history but were they really helping in the fight for freedom?

“I’ll have to invite him to a disaster training drill,” he told himself. That way he can see that we are here to help, not just to play soldier as he had written. Pulling off the street into his driveway and up the short hill to the garage, he told his family. “Honey will you and sissy make the boys and me a sandwich? Were going to change into some work cloths and then get started on the yard, OK?”

She said yes, no problem “Would you guys like some chips and ice-tea with that?”

“Yes thank you,” shutting off the engine of the SUV, he took the keys out of the ignition as he opened his door. Looking toward the southwest and the darker clouds gathering there he turned and told the two boys, “Let’s go change or we will miss our chance to finish up the mowing today.”

It only took a few minuets to change and Dan beat both boys to the garage and opened the over head door, he got down the weed eater from the overhead rack and filled its tank full of fuel. He then checked the push mower and the riding mower the grasshopper’s oil levels and then filled both fuel tanks. The two boys came in just as he was getting the earmuffs and safety glasses, he handed a set to the oldest one Gavin and asked, “Do you want the weed eater or the push mower?”

With a look of, ‘thanks for the choice’ on his face he said, “I’ll take the weed eater.”

Turning to Neil the younger son and handing him a set of ear protectors and safety glasses, “Looks like you get to drive the grasshopper, be real careful around the Irises, we don’t want to make Mom mad, right!”

“Dad I’m always careful,” Neil answered with a questioning frown on his face. “I couldn’t help it the last time, those bumble bee’s were making a nest under the lilac bush, and I had to get out of there as fast as I could.”

With a chuckle Dan said, “Oh do lighten up a little Neil, I’m just kidding you. Don’t worry about the flowers they will grow back. Besides if that’s the worse thing you ever run over in the yard you’ll be OK.” With a little laugh he said, “Your mom could tell you a couple of good stories of the bone head things I’ve done.”

“Hey guys, don’t start yet. I’ve got your sandwiches made, and I’m bringing them down with the tea, so give me a sec,” Mom called out from the window above the garage.

The two boys said in unison defiantly and with enthusiasm “Yeah, let’s wait.”

And good to her word Evelyn brought us lunch.

It took us only a few minuets to eat; yet it was nearly 1 PM, man the whole day was sure flying by. Just as the three guys were getting ready to start again, Sissy came and said, “We are under a tornado watch.”

Dan then realized how muggy and close the air felt, the humidity must have been rising since we had gotten home, looking toward the west and south you could see the thunder heads forming, one of the many warnings you see, but they didn’t register until later. I told the boys “Less hurry guys and finish before it rains,” as all three of use were looking up at the darkening sky. It took us a little under an hour and a half to do the job, and just as we were heading back to the garage you could hear thunder off in the distance. The sky to the southwest looked pretty bad, very dark, a real nasty thunderstorm was moving in, the wind was steady from that direction. After we put the mowers up I pulled the SUV inside the garage to protect it from any hail.

Evelyn came outside just after and said, “Andy called.”

Reaching up to pull the garage door closed, “Do I need to call him back,” I asked?

“No, I told him you were mowing, he said to tell you when you finished that he had called a couple of the Militia Ham radio weather spotters out, they will be on the stand bye alert net if you wanted to contact them.

Walking together up the sidewalk to the front of the house Evelyn continued, “Sissy has been watching the local weather channel, and all the reports say that this is a pretty rough storm, it has a history of damaging winds and hail, and a possible twisters or two with it.”

Both of us then looked to the southwest, you could see the lighting in the dark menacing wall clouds that were forming, they were a lot closer now and had a green cast to them like the ocean waves, you could feel the air had that static charge to it. You knew that the rain could start to fall any minuet.

Stepping inside the house Evelyn said, “Here’s your binoculars and Ham radio, I didn’t turn it on but I knew you would want it. I also got out the flash lights, and closed all most all the windows,” Evelyn was not the type to worry, but she had made sure we were ready just in case.

Taking a seat in the covered porch, I was about to turn on the radio when a thunder bolt split the sky overhead with a burst of stunning light instantly followed by the deafening clash of thunder. Then the rain came, just like from a fire hydrant, loud and hard.

I looked at Evelyn she was as startled as I was. “Our timing was excellent, we finished the yard and got everything under cover with at least two minuets to spare,” I teased.

Sissy came rushing out the door, a apprehensive look to her eyes, “Man that one was a close one. You could hear the rumbling in the distance then wham, a close one. And now the rain starting all at once, don’t you guys want to come inside,” she was talking about as fast as the rain was coming down hard.

Evelyn stood up and answered her with a smile, “Sure I’ll come inside, your dad wants to call the weather spotters.” Stopping by my chair she leaned down and gave me a light kiss on the cheek, and whispered “that one gave me a fright too.” As she followed Sissy inside, she said over her shoulder, “we’ll check the weather on TV, if any thing is coming our way I’ll call you in.

“Thanks,” I said as the screen door shut, I know she didn’t hear the rest of my reply, “it made me jump to.” I then turned on the Ham radio to the proper channel and listened to one of the guys, it sounded like Sam Willie talking to some one else out of my range. It’s difficult to make out what was being discussed when you could hear only one side of the conversation.

The Battalion signals Officer Capt. Paul Rider, who also must have been on the net to, because he transmitted after a short pause, “I’ll relay that information to the weather bureau. Your sure it touched down in open fields and there was no damage, over?”

That one short phrase made the hair on the back of my neck stand up, ‘it touched down,’ that can only mean a tornado has been sighted on the ground. I couldn’t hear the spotter’s answer he was too far away, I was only using my hand held unit, and it had an average range of about ten to twelve miles.

Sam must be able to hear the other spotter because he spoke after about a fifteen-second pause. “He said he’s sure there’s no damage Paul, he’s behind the storm and the rain has let up, he’s about ten miles west of me. He said the funnel cloud lifted back up after less then ten seconds on the ground.”

Sam paused for a second looking out of his windshield then said, “from where I’m sitting the only thing I can see right now is a lot of rain and lighting. Its pretty dark for two-forty five, and the wind is still from the south west gusting up to around thirty-five miles an hour, and with a few really stronger gust maybe up to forty-five max, over.”

“I copied,” Paul replied, “if its hopping and skipping as reported, your first indication will be a wind shift, and you might not see it at all. I’ve plotted the sightings and I pray that your position is south of its line of advance, over”

“Don’t worry Paul, I’m a big chicken, right now I’m sitting at the Fry’s old home site. I checked out the root cellar, its dry and the door is still good, and it can be secured from the inside.” Sam added with a chuckle, “I already placed my emergency break down pack inside. If the wind shifts to the southeast or it gets real quiet, I’ll be out of the truck and into that storm shelter with my hand held in less then a second, over.”

“Well we don’t want any hero’s, just good spotters, stay safe, I’ll be monitoring, out,” Paul’s answer indicated he was busy, end of conservation.

Waiting a full thirty seconds and not hearing any one transmit I gave my call letters then, “Calling,” Sam’s call sign, “this is Dan, I just tuned in what’s happening, over?”

“Hey, boss man good to hear ya.” Sam intoned his good-natured outlook sounding in his reply. “We’ve got some real nasty cell’s out here in one big storm. So far it has generated at least three tornadoes, or three sightings of the same one, the weather bureau hasn’t been able to confirm it with radar yet. So far no major damage, except to a few old out buildings, over.”

“Glad to hear that, give me a run down, how long have you been called out, and how many spotters are with you, over,” I asked?

“I’ve been out for almost forty-five minuets, and I guess there are four or five other Militia members out to, and probable a good dozen other non-members. I’m guessing on the last number, as some of the Hams are quiet a way out and I can just barely hear them. We are under a tornado warning, the storms started out past Salina, north-northwest of there in a line stretching southwest of Hutchinson, and on down into Oklahoma. The worst cells developed along a line, oh I’d say just north of Topeka, the Rock Corner area down to the middle of Osage county, and all of it is headed our way, over,” Sam answered.

I continued, “I heard you talking to Paul Rider, it sounds like he’s doing the coordination with the weather bureau.” There was some sharp static on the net, a flash of white across the sky, and then wham, another close one. After a short pause I said, “I think I’m going to head inside we just had another close lighting strike, and sitting in a covered porch isn’t the best place right now. Also the wind is getting stronger from the southwest and its starting to blow the rain in on the porch, I’ll call you when I get in and turn on my base station, out for now.”

I got up and went in the screen door, I fastened it then I shut the front door and locked it too. Evelyn and the kids were all watching the TV and had the local news on. The radar showed a mean looking storm line just to our west, “I was just going to call you in, the weather man says it might be a good idea to take shelter,” Evelyn said. And as if on Queue, the sirens to the west of us started to wail; then the phone rang at about the same instant, being closest I picked it up, “Hello,” I answered.

It was Paul on the line, with out any introduction he launched into his message. “Dan I’ve called Steve Price, to alert his platoon since most of them live just to the west of you. The storm cell with the tornado in it will be in their neighborhood area about, now, and pretty close to you soon after. Oh good I can hear the sirens over the phone, I was just calling to let you know in case they hadn’t gone off.”

“Well thanks for the concern Paul we were just getting ready to head to the basement, any thing else?”

“Nope, I have several other calls to make I’ll talk at you later, bye,” and we both hung up the phones.

Before I could say anything there was another white flash, followed instantly by the thunderclap, you couldn’t even have said ‘duck’ between the two. Then a loud pop as the transformer down by the road flicked its circuit breaker off. Our lights and the TV quit just like that putting us in darkness. It was real hard to believe it was so dark, and it wasn’t even three in the afternoon yet.

“Well that settles that, grab you purse and the cell phones, and everyone gets a flashlight.”

“It looks like I’m the only one with out one,” I said as the four each held up a flashlight, Neil then handed me my big Brinkman. “Thank you, looks like our practice disaster drills have us all prepared,” I said with satisfaction in my tone.

Neil asked, “OK to use a couple of light sticks,” with a smile on his face, he already knew my answer?”

“Sure, why not,” I agreed.

Neil and Sissy must have had the light sticks in their pockets, because they both snapped them in unison and shook them to produce their cold glowing light. Then more sirens to the east of us in town started to wail.

Evelyn said, “Alright by the numbers now, everyone to the basement,” mocking a good command voice, as we all made our way down the stairs. She turned to smile at me “I’d make a good sergeant, wouldn’t I.”

“Yes but not just any sergeant, your the First Sergeant,” I laughed and with a smile then kissed her on the check, and gave her arm a gentle squeeze.

Gavin turned on the battery-powered radio by my desk for the weather conditions. He then took out the extra hand held Ham radio, and its ear and mike head set, looking at me he said, “Just in case.”

I nodded my head in agreement; being prepared and together having ran through several disaster drills before had made him confident, not just how to react and take things in stride, but to think ahead, ‘just in case.’

Seeing him with his radio, I realized that I had left mine by the phone upstairs, “I’ll be right back I left my hand held up stairs.”

I turned around and started climbing the stairs when Evelyn who was right behind me said, “I’m coming with you. I think I left the back door open and it needs to be shut!”

We both raced up the stairs, we didn’t want to be up here any longer then necessary, as the wind had really picked up, it was howling and the rain was like a monsoon on the roof, just drumming away, hard. Behind all that noise you could still hear the deep moaning, the wailing of the sirens.

As I grabbed my Ham unit, Sam was on the air giving a good description of what he had seen from his vantage point about three miles or so to the southwest of our home, “It touched down twice both times for only ten to fifteen seconds, then lifted back up into the clouds. The last time it damaged two houses pretty bad, and did lesser damage to five others or so. I need to drive down and see if I can be of any help, I’ll get back to you as soon as I know more, over.” as Evelyn went to close the back door, I heard her call “Come here Dan, the wind has blown the furniture off the open patio!”

Walking to the back of the house I stood beside her looking out the glass doors. Sure enough the wind had blown the heavy wrought iron chairs, and the recliner on to the grass. The rain, which had been pounding the house, was letting up as if one were turning off a tap at the sink. Without even thinking what I was doing, I opened the door and said, “I’ll set them back on the patio then we will head back down to the kids.”

The wind was still blowing in fitful gust of maybe twenty or so miles an hour, and a few large drops of rain were still coming down, you could hear them hit the windows and the house plop, plop. They looked and sounded like some one was throwing soaked cotton balls. I picked up the first chair and set it back on the concrete and started to pick up the next when I got hit by several of these large rain drops on the back. I let out a whoop, “Man those are cold, just like ice water.” There hadn’t been any hail in them, but man were they cold.

The wind which had been blowing from the west as the storm approached but then it had shifted and now came from the east and that’s why the furniture blew off the patio and those cold raindrops had been hitting me on the back. The wind then shifted once again and it now was coming from the southwest, and blowing in my face.

Then it stopped, and I mean stopped. It quit blowing, and I mean it just quit; it was like some one had shut the door in front of a large fan.

Then you heard it. Well maybe not hear it with your ears but you could feel the dead silence; at first I didn’t recognize what, as I was surrounded by the silence, it was quiet, as quiet as a cave, no birds singing nothing, silence except for the sirens in the distance letting out their moaning wale. You should have heard leaves rustling in the trees only they weren’t; there was no wind at all not even a breath blowing. Evelyn standing in the open door whispered loudly, “I don’t like this.”

I was standing on the patio looking to the west at the clouds trying to see if trouble was bearing down on us, you could sense something but what? That old combat sixth sense had kicked in and I was listening with my whole body at the ready.

Then my ears felt something, it was more then just hearing a sound, and these are the first signs of something approaching. Then you actually hear it a very deep sound, one that you feel more then hear at first, but then it got louder and louder and you know trouble is headed your way!

It really does sound like an approaching freight train, in fact like several trains all moving your way. It starts low then it builds and gets louder and louder really fast. You know that its time to take shelter, right now! During this whole time since the rain drops hit me and I had hollered, ten to fifteen seconds had gone by but it seems longer, and still not a breath of wind from any direction, just the sound, getting louder and closer.

I turned and hustled to the door that Evelyn was holding open for me, “Head back down to the basement, I’ll lock this door and open two or three windows here on the south side of the house an inch or two, and then a couple on the north side.”

As she headed down the stairs I heard her say to Gavin who had followed us up, “Open two windows a couple of inches on the east side of the house then wait for you father right here, he’s doing the same in the kitchen and dining room.”

Gavin asked, with a slightly excited pitch to his voice, “I can hear the rumble, did you see the twister?”

“No we didn’t, but it’s coming,” Evelyn said as she hurried down the stairs to answer the same question by the other two children.

I opened four windows about two inches each and figured that’s enough, I checked the two Gavin had opened on the north side. By now the sound coming out of the southwest was a deep and strong rumble, and the train noise was getting closer, you could feel the noise as it was making the house shudder just a little.

I’m being serious when I say you could feel the air vibrating and throbbing, looking out the window at our trees you could see the leaves were moving again as the wind blew them about but nothing compared to what was going on about six hundred yards to our west.

Just over the next hill and past the main power lines south west of us I could see things flying in the air, boards and large pieces of tin, all types of paper and even a large sofa on its end flying through the air, corkscrewing in slow motion. I didn’t take my eyes off the flying debris, trying to see the funnel as I said to Gavin, “Come see this. Our neighbors on the highway and down by the bridge are getting hammered and will need help.”

He came over to look, in a glance that took only seconds but seemed longer, he summed it up when he said, “That’s’ the debris field ahead of the funnel, we better head down stairs now Dad.”

With out answering we both started moving to the door, and back down the stairs. I took my Ham radio off my belt to call in a report.

The sound from outside wasn’t just the noise a large freight train makes as it’s comes toward you. It was now the combined sound of a dozen freight trains rushing past at high speed, not only do you hear it but also you can feel it too even in the basement. As the wind slams the debris into your home and the windows and doors all start to feel the strain. I said a silent pray ‘Oh lord what ever happens please keep my family and neighbors safe, possessions can be replaced but not loved ones.’

Strengthened by my prayer, I then broke into the net, I know I didn’t use my call sign just a straight, “This is Dan. We just saw lots of debris in the air to our southwest. I say again the tornado was a half-mile to our southwest just a few seconds ago, it looks like the homes along 16 highway down by the creek are getting hammered. I could not see the funnel cloud, there was too much stuff flying a head of it. We have taken shelter as we’re not sure if we are directly in its path, over.”

As I was talking on the radio the family had all moved into the vault, a completely enclosed concrete room that had been built under the front porch when the house was made, a perfect place to be when you lived in tornado alley. I remained just out side the door as the radio couldn’t transmit or receive once inside.

The noise coming from outside the house was loud now, not as deafening as it had been seconds ago. And it was starting to fade fast as the tornado moved off to the north and east. Paul answered my call, “Dan we have two sightings on this one both are just west of your location. It has a main trunk about a hundred yards across, then a smaller arm trailing to its south side. The base of the smaller one is less then twenty yards across. It’s moving along the south side of the highway with the smaller arm skipping mostly through the tree tops, over.”

Another spotter broke in, “Paul this Pete, I was following the twister but I had to stop just before crossing the bridge, there are several large trees across the road, and a lot of debris on the bridge. I can see several houses damaged on this side of the bridge and the old gas station is gone, almost all the damage is on the north side of the highway…. Oh my gosh, two houses on the low hill about a mile past the creek just took a hit,” Pete paused. “Both are still standing but just, it looks like they were both knocked loose from their foundations. The tornado is still on the ground I can’t see the base behind the hill but it’s kicking up a lot of stuff from the houses there, over.”

“Roger, Pete I’ve copied,” Paul answered. “If you could, take your hand held unit, cross the bridge and check the first houses, see if there are any injured people that need medical assistance, over?”

“Paul I can’t cross the bridge, the trees pulled down the power lines, and they, are still live. We are going to need a power and light crew, and some fairly large chain saws, one tree, a big old cotton wood is over four feet thick, and it is lying across the road just before the bridge, over.” You could tell he was getting a little agitated; he was now talking faster and a lot louder.

“OK Pete, there are crews on the way, now take a deep breath and try to stay calm. Until the Funnel is past Dan’s house and he can come out you’re my eyes their, I need you to remain calm, over.”

Pete answered with a calmer and less loud voice, “Roger Paul, this is the first time I’ve ever saw a tornado doing its damage, and it has been a real struggle to make myself follow as close as I did.”

“Just seeing the damage they can do in seconds to homes and businesses, it’s hard to stay in control, I apologize. Right now the funnel is now going up the next hill over and it has hit a few more houses. OK it just crossed over the road again and is now on the north side of the highway. I can no longer see the base… wait it looks like the funnel just lifted back in to the clouds, over.”

“That’s OK, how many homes can you see damaged, over,” Paul knew the best help he could give would be to have Pete concentrate on getting information for the rescue and follow up.

“I have six, no seven homes here on the west side of the bridge that have roof and window damage, two of them right here by the bridge have lost most of their roofs. Across the bridge the damage really starts, I can see four houses that lost most or all of their roofs, and another three that had walls blown in. Then there’s the two on the crest of the first low hill that are in really bad shape, with just a couple of interior walls and a room or two standing. There’s some dead ground there that I can’t see into, and up the next hill, I see five maybe six homes that are severely damaged, over.”

“Paul this is Dan, while you guys were talking, the funnel passed by us. I’m just now getting my pickup loaded with a couple of chain saws and a medical bag. I’ll take the two boys and try to get down to the highway; I’m to the east of you Pete on the other side of the bridge. There isn’t any damage that I can see from my house, though all of our yards back here have a lot of trash and debris in them, over.”

Paul said, “Roger I copied you, Dan unless you or Pete need an Ambulance call me, I have to get on the other channel, it sounds like the town is getting hit and I’m needed, out.”

The boys and I only drove about three hundred yards around the S curve before we started to see damage to the trees, lots of branches down but the houses looked OK. After that you could see some gutters and siding damage to two houses and then it just got worse. The next house had shingles missing and several windows blown in, the next even more damage. Just as we got to the small hill before the highway the house on the right had three of its south facing windows blown in and a lot of roof damage, the top six foot of the brick chimney was laying on the roof. The house across the road had the whole back end of it blown in; I stopped the pickup and sent the two boys to see if any one was hurt.

I got out of the pickup and walked down to the Thortons house, or I should say the pile of debris that had been their house, I could only pray that they had taken shelter in the basement. Seeing the destruction all up and down the highway is a numbing experience, very numbing. In fact I had to make a mental effort to overcome the shock of just seeing this end of our neighbor hood torn up. Then a lifetime of training took over; accept and deal with the shock, its now time for action, people counted on us to help them.

Yes my training helped, but to see friend’s homes destroyed, the roads completely blocked with downed trees, and the amount of trash everywhere, trash that had been part of neighbor’s homes and possessions only minuets ago and now tossed all about has a very humbling effect.

Those trees not directly in the path of the twister, the branches were full with large pieces of plastic, sheets, towels and torn cloths. A couple a trees had large pieces of tin roofing folded around the trunks and larger branches; the tin must have come from a barn roof. The trees that had been directly in the path of the tornado if not blown over were just a trunk and a few branches twisted mangled and splintered, it was devastating to look at.

The two boys ran to catch up and told me that the people at the house said they were all OK. Watching our steep as there were many boards with nails sticking up all over the place we got up to the pile off trash that until minuets ago had been one of the show pieces of our neighborhood. I called out, “Jacob, Jacob Thorton it’s Dan Marion are you and Sally OK.”

I heard an answer from under the pile, we moved around to the south side and saw probable the only window left in the house slid opened. It was the basement window below ground level protected by the casement and recessed into the concrete wall.

“Dan, were down here in the basement, were not hurt too bad just a few cuts and bruises, but the door at the top of the steps is jammed we can’t open it. The same goes for the walk out door a tree must have blown down onto the deck, collapsing it and blocking the door under it. We can open the door but the way out is complete blocked. We locked the outside doors upstairs when we came down, but you have my permission to break a window here on the back side and then you can reach in and unlock the back door and move what ever is blocking the basement door.”

Jacob had no idea that his home had fallen down, temporarily trapping them. I didn’t have the heart to tell him his home was blown over, and it was part of his house and not just the deck blocking the one outside exit, and that it would take some time to get them out. “You said a few cuts, how bad and to whom?”

Jacob answered, “I took most of the cuts to my left arm and to the side of my face, Sally has a cut to her left leg that does need some attention, so please break the window and let us out of here.”

“Jacob my friend, you don’t understand; your house has been damaged it will take some time and I’ll need a lot of help to move enough debris to get you out. Take the screen window out and I’ll have Gavin slide in to take a look at Sally’s leg and your arm.”

Jacob answered with a little anger in his voice, “Dan don’t mess around, we heard things breaking and falling down upstairs, but it can’t be that bad. And what can your boy do, he’s what, only fifteen or so?”

Gavin answered before I could, “Mr. Thorton, I’ll be nineteen this fall and a sophomore at state, I have my Eagle Scout medical badge. And I’m a trained paramedic with my state license, trust me sir I know I can be of assistance. Besides my dad is trying to be nice about telling you, but your house is a complete wreak. You are trapped until we can either get you out through this window, or move a lot of wreckage to free you. I don’t mean to sound short or be curt with you sir but those are the facts.”

Jacob’s answer was subdued; “OK but I can’t reach the release tabs to open the screen, you’ll have to kick in the screen window.”

Taking my leather-man tool I opened it and used the blade to cut the screen all the way around its edge and pulled it out of the way. Gavin had his head band mounted lamp on, and stuck his head and shoulders into the casement to look at the interior of the basement. He pulled back out looked at me and said, “Dad I’ll lower myself feet first and you can hand me the medical bag. I’ve got my radio and I can call you if I need any help, OK!”

I nodded my head in agreement.

Gavin then set on the edge of the casement with his feet through the window; he lowered himself through until his legs were completely inside, then shifting around as he rolled over onto his belly to lower himself the rest of the way. From inside he said “I’m down, hand me the bag please.”

I handed the bag in and said, “I need to radio for some help to clear the roads, call me if you need any thing.”

“OK Dad, before you go Mrs. Thornton has a cut to her right thigh just above the knee and Mr. Thornton has several cuts to his left arm and the left side of his face. It doesn’t look like they have lost a lot off blood and there are no signs of shock, it won’t take me long to stop the bleeding and bandage them. I’ll then improvise a ladder or a step and try go get them out through the window.”

“Good, call if you need help.” Saying that I got up and walked with Neil back to the pickup. Then like a firecracker going off in you hand; it hit me, my son Gavin was a man. Maybe I hadn’t seen it before now, but I just realized that he was a man, someone who could assess the situation make a logical decision and then act, especially when someone needed help. Only with fire and pressure are you able to temper iron into steel, something to be proud of, in the midst of all the damage and destruction from the tornado, to realize my son was a man.

Taking the mike of my pickup mounted Ham radio I gave my call letters and asked, “QSO, is there any one from the militia out side of the damaged area monitoring this net, over?”

Immediately, I got a response with call letters I didn’t recognize but I knew the voice. “Dan, its Jeff Green here, how can I help, over?”

“Glad your there Jeff, call the Battalion Sergeant Major and tell him I need some manpower to help clear the highway of downed trees, both to the east and the west of my housing addition. We are complete cut off here, a dozen or so volunteers and a rubber tired loader would help, over.”

Paul broke in, “Hold that call Jeff, its Paul, I already called and asked the Sergeant Major to have the phone tree alert activated by county for those close in. The tornado has hit the town to the east of you pretty hard Dan, its moving fast now and has damaged several large neighborhoods in Kansas City Kansas, it looks like it will continuing on into Missouri. So far I’m just getting the initial damage reports in but I think we are going to need all the available manpower we can muster, to assist the local authorities in clearing roads and searching in the damaged homes. We can stqnd down once the Guard gets deployed.”

“In your case Dan, you’ll just have to start working your way out, I know you’ll have your hands full there in the middle of the damage area, so if it’s all right I’ll coordinate, as I can see the whole picture. That way we can use our limited resources to help where it’s needed the most, over.”

“Your right Paul, I’ll handle the details in my immediate area, you take care of the overall coordination, over,” I replied with mental sigh. It would be impossible for me to direction the effort with the limited radio range I was using. Besides I was going to be needed using a chain saw to help clear the roads and highway.

Paul then taking charge said, “Jeff I’ll give you an area to work in as soon as we muster the man power, so hold for a minuet. Dan I want you to monitor this net but use channel B for your local needs, over.”

I acknowledged, “Will do Paul, I’ll call in from time to time and check with you. And thanks, it’s kind of hard to direct traffic when your part of the wreckage. I have neighbors driving up so we should be able to start from the inside and clear some of the local roads and to check some of the damaged homes for any one injured. Changing to channel B now, out.”

Bill Zane one of my neighbors whose house hadn’t been damaged drove up with his daughter’s boy friend, getting out of his car he said, “What should we do Dan?”

Turning to them I said, “Would you mind taking one of my chain saws, both are gassed up and ready to go, you can start working on cutting the branches off the trees that are blocking the road leading down toward the highway. Do you both have work gloves?”

“Yes we do,” he answered as he took one chain saw from the back of the pick up and grabbed two sets of safety glasses and hearing protectors.

Bob Rolins a new neighbor drove up then with a bobcat loader on its trailer, “Think this thing would be of use,” he asked me with a grin on his face.

“That thing is worth eight or nine men with chain saws, were going to try to open the way to the highway first. After that we will work our way east towards town, thanks for lending your bob-cat and helping,” I said.

“Hey that’s what neighbors are for, I’ll pull into the last driveway before the highway and unload there,” he said as he drove down to the Thornton’s house.

“Dad what about me, I want to do something,” Neil asked thinking I had forgotten about him?

Turning to my fourteen, almost fifteen-year-old son I took out a notebook and wrote the frequency for the B channel on it and handed it to him. “Neil I’ve got a very important job for you, you’re going to have to be my ears when someone calls me on either radio channel. You remember how I showed that you can listen to two channels at the same time?”

Neil replied with his ‘that’s easy’ voice, “Yap, and I also know how to switch back and forth so I can talk on each one too Dad.”

“Good, you know Sam Willie, and Jeff Green they will call on the first channel as well as a man named Pete, I don’t know him, but have all three change to this frequency so we won’t tie up the primary net. Take this note pad and right down as much as you can when some one calls, if its real important come get me OK.”

“OK,” he replied.

“Good, I also want you to call Mom on the cell phone and ask her to bring the Video camera, the five-gallon water cooler and the paper cups that go with it. Also two or three cases of the plastic 16oz. water bottles that we have, to hand out.”

“Gotcha Dad,” he answered with a bit of sarcasm in his voice?

“Neil,” I said looking him straight in the eye, “this is a very important job I’m asking you to do, one that needs doing. I will be using the chain saw and I won’t be able to hear the radio.”

Pointing toward the highway covered with large downed trees, “You see Mr. Zane cutting off those large branches. And as soon as Mr. Rolins unloads his bobcat he will start pushing them off the road, if you were down there you would be good help, but not able to hear the radio. That’s why I would like you to stay here and listen in, that is just as important; and I know you can do it well.”

“All right, you talked me into it,” he answered with a twinkle in his eye!

“Thanks,” I answered relieved, as I took the other chain saw from the back of the pickup and walked down to the Thornton’s house to check on Gavin.

When I got around to the side of the wrecked house, Gavin had Jacob and Sally out of the basement, both were sitting in the shade next to their battered home in some lawn chairs he had found. Jacob’s left arm was bandaged and in a sling, and the whole left side of his forehead and ear were covered with a large bandage. Sally had a large bandage on her left thigh just above the knee. Gavin must have added some short splints to keep her knee from bending, as there was surgical tape around her thigh, calf and shin.

I said, “Looks like you have everything under control Gavin.”

He replied, “They will be OK Dad,” as he was closing up the medical bag then stood up. “I gave both of them some Tylenol to take the edge off the pain. They are going to be black and blue from all the bruises, but I don’t think there are any broken bones. A doctor will have to stitch the major cuts on both of them, but that can wait several hours if necessary. And they both have mild shock from their injuries and from seeing the damage to their home, but Mr. Thornton said its only material damage, as long as they are both healthy, a home can be rebuilt. A very good attitude to have, especially seeing the damage that’s all around them.”

“You did good son.”

“Thanks Dad, now I need to go across the road and check the house over there; a man came across and said there several hurt people, none of them with life threaten injuries, just a lot of cuts and bruises, but he asked if I could come over and help them out.”

“Keep giving help where its needed,” I answered placing my hand on his shoulder, “also change your radio to the backup frequency B. I’ve got Neil acting as radio relay for the neighborhood, when you go from house to house call him the address. And let him know what you find, or need to do, he will write it down. He wants to be of assistance so bad he can’t sit still, and that way I’ll know where you are if we do find someone else who needs urgent medical attention.”

“I’m glad Neil’s their Dad, he can handle the job, I’ll call him as soon as I change channels.” Gavin replied as he headed across the road to the next damaged home.

Turning to Jacob I said, “As soon as we get the road opened, we will get you and Sally to the hospital. The town has been hit hard and I don’t think they will be able to spare an ambulance for minor injuries. I can call Evelyn and have her come sit with you until then if you feel that its necessary.”

“If she wouldn’t mind bring us some water, otherwise I think we will both be fine.” you could hear the hurt in her voice as Sally replied. Maybe not just hurt, more like sorrow at the loss of their fine home.

Taking my hand held radio I called Neil and told him to have his Mother bring the Thornton’s some bottled water.

He said “OK. She called just a minuet or so ago, almost finished loading the SUV and was about ready to leave the house.”

Turning to Jacob I said, “Well since you guys are OK I’m going to go and help clear the trees from the highway.”

“Dan,” Jacob said, “that’s a good man you have in your son. When he got in to look at us, he didn’t hesitate to clean and dress our wounds. He talked to us with respect and was very much a professional, as good as any nurse or doctor I’ve ever talked too.”

“I hope you told him so, it would really mean something coming from you Jacob,” I answered?

“I did tell him so, and he was a little embarrassed by my comment. When I asked him where he learned such good manners, and how to dress wounds and help people. He answered. Mom and Dad for the manners, and the Medical training from the people in your Militia.”

Taking a pause to draw in a deep breath Jacob continued, “Dan, I can see that I was wrong in my assessment of the local militia, and maybe about most Militia’s too. If this is what they are training for, I’m sorry I wrote about them in such disparaging and derogatory terms. I offer you my humble apology, if you will accept it,” as he held out his hand for me to shack.

Now it was my turn to fill a slightly embarrassed flush, and as I took his offered hand to shack it in return I said, “Apology accepted. The Militia it’s all about we the people, neighbors helping neighbors, it’s about ordinary people being prepared for anything and trained to help. Part of our training is about rescue, now I have to run Jacob, I must get down to the road and lend a hand.”

As I turned and walked away I heard Jacob say to Sally, “I’m going to write a retraction to my editorial of a month ago. I think I’ll start with, We are the Militia, neighbor-helping neighbor, local or state wide, a good foundation to make even better communities….”

Good to his word Jacob wrote a column the following month; it took up over half a page of the local paper. It was so well written that several of the wire services picked it up, and may have been printed in your local paper,

Support your Local Militia,

and you support yourself, and your community.

Who are the MILITIA?

Two months ago I thought I knew and wrote an article on them. Since then I have found out I was wrong and I apologize.

Now, Who are the Militia?

A Real simple and easy to answer question, look in the mirror it is you, look around you, It is your neighbors and friends. Who are the first people at the scene of accidents, or those who show up first in a local disaster, You and me, the average man, that’s who!

The militia is a voluntary force not associated or under the control of the States except when called out; [when called into actual service] a permanent or long standing force would be entirely different in make-up and call.’ – Alexander Hamilton in Federalist Paper No. 28

Or

‘I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.’---George Mason

And three more quotes by former Presidents of the United State’s

An armed and trained militia is the firmest bulwark of republics -- that without standing armies their liberty can never be in danger, nor with large ones safe,---James Madison

For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well organized and armed militia is their best security,---Thomas Jefferson

This last one will surprise you. ‘Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.’

--John F. Kennedy

I don’t think I could say it any better, our founding fathers made it pretty clear, and the theme has been echoed down through the ages.

The Militia is all of us pure and simple. For now they are only a few brave souls willing to step forward and be accountable, with the majority of us too fat and happy, or too dumb and lazy to be willing to help if called on? I use to be in the latter category. Only you can answer which category you wish to be listed under?

But a few people can’t carry the burden for us all, Support them in training, and being prepared yourself. Write to your local state and federal representatives, asking them, no demand from them to fulfill their oath of office, to do their duty.

Both the State and Federal Constitutions say they are to provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the Militia, let’s make the elected officials do their job. They asked for our vote after all, and took an oath to fulfill those duties assigned to them. Now its time for them to live up to that promise and do their job as proscribed in those Constitutions.

The Militia’s, are every one of us, able-bodied men women and ones who aren’t so able, we should all be active and trained. If needed in an emergency we would all be ready, willing and able to assist.

I know now from first hand experience the value of the Militia, you see my house was destroyed by the May tornado and my wife and I were trapped in the basement. Within a few minuets after the twister struck, one of their trained medics crawled down through a window to treat our wounds and to assist us in escaping the rubble of our demolished home. He is one of our neighbors and was on hand, able to respond immediately after the disaster, he then helped and assisted several others, injured neighbors doing what he had trained for, to be ready when needed. It was over an hour after the storm had passed before an ambulance arrived to treat injuries. Our neighborhood was fortunate we didn’t have to wait for treatment the Militia was already there, ready to lend that helping hand.

Contradicting what I had written before, The Militia our neighbors were organized ready to help. They, not the government were able to clear the highway within that hour, opening it for the county emergency services and power companies to enter our streets, the Government and private utilities response teams were the second people to arrive and render assistance.

The Militia your neighbors, they were the first ones to help, not the government.

Does this sound like some one who wants to overthrow the government, NO. It sounds more like someone who wants good responsible government, to let the people take care of themselves, not for America to become a nanny state.

Government can’t and shouldn’t, be the answer for every problem in America, its time for us all to stand up and take responsibility to be the spirit in the, Ameri-Can do attitude again.

This is one editorial writer who had written and openly disparaged the Militia. I had disavowed them as my neighbors and not worthy of any praise.

Again I apologize, I was wrong;

It took a disaster for this man to wake up to the truth. I hadn’t opened my eyes before disaster bite me hard, to look or allow my ears to listen, one of the first lessons a journalist must never forget.

The people of the Militia are the salt of the earth, as good and decent as anyone else, maybe better. Because they not only accepted my apology, they again asked me to come to a meeting and observe a training session, to see first hand what they are doing. This time I went to see with my own eyes, to hear with my own ears, I didn’t take the easy way out this time and listen to na-sayers.

Before I went I asked for a copy of the By Laws and other handouts offered and read them. Then I went to that meeting and training session, to find out first hand, and was I impressed. They might not all be professional medics and firemen but they are proud of what they can do and they all can do something, to help when needed.

I found that their values and mine have a common theme, that to have a strong, independent and kind America you need strong, self-reliant good individuals.

I asked to join and again was surprised when they accepted me as I’m not a young man. There are no dues or any obligations for a term of service, they do ask you to contribute what you can. To attend as many meeting as possible so you can get the maximum benefit from the training offered and to be an asset. In the next month’s I’ll be writing about the first medical classes and training I will attend.

Even at the age of fifty-eight, I feel like a youngster at school again presented with a challenge I want to master. Because I want to make a difference, and I want to learn how I can help you, my fellow Americans if needed, to be trained and ready to be a part of the solution. I bought a set of the required BDU’s and Sally sowed on the patches and then ironed the uniform for me.

When I put them on for her to see I saw a gleam of pride show in her eyes, looking at myself in the mirror I felt the same pride, a sense of self worth that’s hard to describe, and a good feeling in knowing I want to show other people I’m here for them.

In parting I ask you to be open minded to take a look at how you the average Jill or Joe can be of help in an emergency. See what they have to offer and if you can, Join your Local Militia, don’t wait for a disaster to catch you unprepared. Who wants another 9/11 or a tornado that destroys your home to see that we need each other, to help your Neighbors helping Neighbors team, the Militia.

'I am a citizen--soldier,' so are you.
Come join us ---Freedom calls!

Sincerely, Jacob Thornton.

I have included the Following State and Federal laws, items that are relevant, to show all that doubt that we all are in the Militia.

Constitution of the State of Kansas

Article 8. —MILITIA

§ 1: Composition; exemption. The militia shall be composed of all able-bodied male citizens between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five years, except such as are exempted by the laws of the United States or of this state; but all citizens of any religious denomination whatever who from scruples of conscience may be adverse to bearing arms shall be exempted therefrom, upon such conditions as may be prescribed by law.

§ 2: Organization. The legislature shall provide for organizing, equipping and disciplining the militia in such manner as it shall deem expedient, not incompatible with the laws of the United States.

§ 3: Officers. Officers of the militia shall be elected or appointed, and commissioned in such manner as may be provided by law.

§ 4: Commander in chief. The governor shall be commander in chief, and shall have power to call out the militia to execute the laws, to suppress insurrection, and to repel invasion.

Federal Statutes

From the U.S. code online via GPO Access

[wais.access.gpo.gov]

[ Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001 ]

[ Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between Jan. 2 2001 and Jan. 28, 2002 ]

[ CITE. 10 USC311 ]

TITLE 10—ARMED FORCES

Subtitle A—General Military Law

PART1—ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS

CHAPTER 13—THE MILITIA

Sec31]. Militia. composition and classes.

The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at

Least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title

32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of

intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens

of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

The classes of the militia are—

the organized militia, which consist of the National Guard and the

Naval Militia, and

the unorganized militia, which consist of the member of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

[Aug 10,1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 14, Pub. L.85-861, Sec. 1(7), Sept. 2, 1938. 72 Stat. 1439; Pub. I. 103-160.div. A. title V, Sec. 524(a). Nov. 30 1993, 107 Stat. 1656.]

Historical and Revision Notes

1956 Act

Revised section Source (U.S.Code) Source (Statues at Large)

311(a) 32:1 (less last 19 words) June 3, 1916, ch. 134. Sec. 57, 39

311(b) 2:1 (last 19 words) Stat. 197; June 28, 1947, ch. 162, 7 (as

applicable to Sec. 57 of the Act of June 3,

1916, ch. 134), 61 Sat. 192.

In subsection (a) the words “who have made a declaration of intent are substituted for the words, “who have or shall have declared their intention”. The words “at least 17 years of age and*** under 45 years of age” are substituted for the words “who shall be more than seventeen years of age and *** not more than forty-five years of age”. The words “except as provided in section 313 of title 32” are substituted for the words “except as hereinafter provided”, to make explicit exception as to maximum age.

In subsection (b), the words, “the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Navel Militia” are substituted for the words “ the National Guard, the Naval Militia” .since the National Guard and the Naval Militia constitute the organized militia.

1958 Act

Revised section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large).

311(a) 32 App. 1. July 30, 1956, ch. 789 Sec. 1. 70 Stat. 729

The words “appointed as… under 4 of this title” are omitted as surplusage.

1993—Subsec. (a). Pub. 1.. 103-160 substituted “members” for “commissioned officers”.

1958 Subsec. (a). Pub. 1..85-861 included female citizens of the United Stated who are commissioned officers of the National Guard.

P.S. Thank goodness for the federal, “except as provided in section 313 of title 32” are substituted for the words “except as hereinafter provided”, to make explicit exception as to maximum age.

That would exclude a lot of good and highly qualified people, and myself. I have found out that I want to be of help, and not just with my pen either. JT