Category Archives: Military
A Memorial Service for HM1 David Graney and the End of a Long Week
This has been a busy week. It began with an unexpected emergency to baptize the grandchild of a dear friend injured in a terrible household accident. I drove from North Carolina on Sunday to Virginia Beach and returned Monday evening. … Continue reading
Filed under faith, Military, remembering friends, shipmates and veterans
Thoughts after a Walk on the Beach: The Tapestry of Navy Life and Relationships
I walked Molly down to the beach tonight as she insists on every night that it is not raining. In the dark sky the stars twinkled and I pondered the events of the past few days. The roar of the … Continue reading
Filed under faith, Military, remembering friends, shipmates and veterans
Padre Steve Reviews “The Wounded Giant: America’s Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity” by Michael O’Hanlon
The Wounded Giant: America’s Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity (An eSpecial from The Penguin Press) • Format: Kindle Edition • File Size: 1685 KB • Publisher: The Penguin Press (November 15, 2011) I was recently asked to do … Continue reading
God in the Empty Places: Four Years Later
Four years ago I was leaving Iraq for Kuwait, the first stop in the process of coming home. At that point I wanted to go home but I didn’t want to go either. It was the beginning of a new … Continue reading
Filed under History, iraq,afghanistan, Military, PTSD, Tour in Iraq
A Weekend of Old Navy Movies: Mister Roberts, The Caine Mutiny and In Harm’s Way
Well I have the duty pager for the hospital this weekend so I have been hanging out at the Island Hermitage with my dog Molly watching classic Navy movies. Friday night I watched the classic film Mister Roberts. Yesterday I … Continue reading
Filed under film, leadership, Military, movies, US Navy, world war two in the pacific
Atrocity in War: The Afghanistan Video
“Our men can’t make this change from normal civilians into warriors and remain the same people … the abnormal world they have been plunged into, the new philosophies they have had to assume or perish inwardly, the horrors and delights … Continue reading
Filed under iraq,afghanistan, Military, national security, News and current events
The Last Troops Leave as Sunnis Quit Iraqi Parliament
The final contingent of American Soldiers except those assigned to the US Embassy. The last US military installation in Iraq, Camp Adder near Nasiriya during the cover of night to avoid traffic jams and for their security. As the 500 … Continue reading
Filed under History, iraq,afghanistan, middle east, Military
GO NAVY! BEAT ARMY! Padre Steve is Passionate About Navy
I have always been a fan of Navy. I was born in a Navy hospital and grew up as a Navy Brat. My dad was a Navy Chief Petty Officer and retired from the Navy in 1974. However my dad … Continue reading
Filed under Just for fun, Military, sports and life, US Navy
The First Shot: USS Ward at Pearl Harbor
LT William Outerbridge was new to command. The Lieutenant and veteran of 14 years of service had taken command of the elderly destroyer USS Ward (DD 139) less than 24 hours before she began her weekend Anti-Submarine patrol of the … Continue reading
Filed under History, Military, Navy Ships, world war two in the pacific
Marking the Illusion of Peace: December 6th 1941
A great war was already going on in Europe, Asia and the Middle East but most Americans lived as if war would never happen. It didn’t seem to matter that that Nazi Germany had conquered all of Western Europe and … Continue reading
Filed under History, Military, national security, world war two in the pacific
