RIP Florence Green, the Very Last World War I Veteran

In the past year, we brought you the obituaries of Frank Buckles, the last U.S. veteran of World War I and Claude Choules, the last surviving combat veteran of that war. Yesterday, the very last member of the military from the War to End All Wars passed away. Florence Green was only 17 years old when she signed up for the Women’s Royal Air Force in 1918. She worked at the military airfields in Norfolk. Mrs Green spent her war days working ”all hours” serving officers breakfast, lunch and dinner and would often spend time wandering the base simply ”admiring the pilots”. Before her death she said: ”I enjoyed my time in the WRAF. There were plenty of people at the airfields where I worked and they were all very good company. ”I would work every hour God sent but I had dozens of friends on the base and we had a great deal of fun in our spare time. In many ways I had the time of my life. ”I met dozens of pilots and would go on dates. I had the opportunity to go up in one of the planes but I was scared of flying. ”It was a lovely experience and I’m very proud.” Mrs. Green was a couple weeks short of 111 years old. Link, Via: reddit | Via: Neatorama

Sgt. Chris Vinderslev: Interview

Sgt. Chris Vinderslev of the 134th Brigade Support Battalion with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division of the Minnesota National Guard talks about his responsibilities with the unit during the deployment, housing the transient Soldiers passing through the camp and his feelings on the draw down. The Minnesota National Guard has played a significant role in the war in Iraq. Since 2003, more than 8,000 Minnesota National Guard Citizen Soldiers and Airmen have been deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and operation New Dawn. Today, more than 2,700 members of the Minnesota National Guard are currently deployed in Kuwait, and are providing security for remaining convoys as they withdraw from Iraq, in addition to managing and protecting the military bases throughout Kuwait. Through the professionalism of the Soldiers and support of their hometown communities, employers, and families, the Minnesota National Guard completed all missions in Iraq with success and honor. LINK

Monument to the War of 1812

A short film about artist and writer Douglas Coupland's "Monument to the War of 1812" sculpture in Toronto. LINK: Vimeo

Gettysburg 75th Anniversary

This is an incredibly interesting old film made in 1938 on the 75th anniversary of the Battle at Gettysburg. It records some of the then still living survivors of that war. It's an amazing step back into history. Those old veterans gathered on that day in their own final years of life to remember those three days, July 1-3, 1863, where as young men they fought in one of the bloodiest battles of that war. It is a poignant visual reflection on the passage of time and how it heals all wounds. More Americans lost their lives in that war than have died in all the wars we have fought in since then.

Remembering our history is important. Someone once said that those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to live it over and over again. If you are moved by this short film use it as an opportunity to learn more about this battle and the history of the CIvil War. In two more years we will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg. America is what it is as much for the experience of the Civil War as for that of the Revolutionary War. We are our history. LINK, Via: Youtube

Historic Stone Bridge Constructed By Civil War Slave Destroyed

Another Historical Landmark in upstate New York has been destroyed thanks to the State Government System. The citizens of Louisville, New York tried to save the stone bridge constructed in the 1880's. No politicians or state officials cared enough to save the bridge. It was believed to be constructed by a Civil War Era African American Slave and could have been placed on the National Register of Historical Landmarks.."THE FIGHT WASN'T FOUGHT HARD ENOUGH." LINK: Youtube

A Soldier's Last Letter

A Merle Haggard song with pictures of us Military. aka: a Soldier's Letter. LINK: Youtube

"If I Die Before You Wake" Tribute to Armed Forces

This video is a tribute and a thank-you to all those who have served our country. The song is "If I Die Before You Wake" by Dustin Evans. LINK: Youtube

Amazing Grace - Fallen heroes

My Apology, I should have had this posted yesterday. LINK: Youtube

A touching video to our fallen Heroes the following below are those in the video.
Army Pfc. Ryan R. Berg
Marine Sgt. Gary S. Johnston
Army Sgt. James J. Regan
Marine Capt. Jennifer J. Harris
Army Spc. Jonathan K. Smith
Army Sgt. Robert M. McDowell
Army Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen
Army Spc. Astor A. Sunsin-Pineda
Army Cpl. Gregory N. Millard
Marine Cpl. Christopher G. Scherer
Army Sgt. Keith A. Kline
Army Spc. Kamisha J. Block
Navy Master-at-Arms Seaman Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho
Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Kevin R. Bewley

Rush Limbaugh - Paul Shanklin Sings " The Man Who Shot Osama Bin Laden "

Rush Limbaugh - The Man Who Shot Osama Bin Laden. LINK: Youtube

Portraits of the Fallen

This is a story about an artist in Utah who paints the portraits of the fallen. She has painted 250 of them and brought out of love to the surface of a canvas, visual memories to be given to the families of these fallen soldiers. She does what she can to praise them. She uses her talents to bring them back, to make their presence available to them again. LINK

Breathtaking spy plane footage.

Fantastic footage. Let's go for the ride!! LINK: Youtube

RIP Frank Buckles

Frank W. Buckles celebrated his 110th birthday on February first. He died peacefully at his home on Sunday morning. Buckles was one of 4,734,992 Americans who served in World War I. With his death, there are no more surviving US veterans of that war.

Buckles, who served as a U.S. Army ambulance driver in Europe during what became known as the “Great War,” rose to the rank of corporal before the war ended. He came to prominence in recent years, in part because of the work of DeJonge, a Michigan portrait photographer who had undertaken a project to document the last surviving veterans of that war.

As the years continued, all but Buckles had passed away, leaving him the “last man standing” among U.S. troops who were called “The Doughboys.”

In recent years, Buckles became an advocate for a memorial in Washington to honor those who served in the “Great War”. Link, -Via: Fark, Via: Neatorama

Godspeed Mr. Buckles.

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

World War One. War heroes song.

The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War One. It was formed from August 15, 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from the 2nd AIF which was raised during World War II. The 1st AIF included the Australian Flying Corps, which was later renamed the Royal Australian Air Force. More on this story at the LINK: Youtube

The song on this video is timeless and honours the memory of those who have died in the service and defence of Australia in war. The song is inspiring and stirring.

Want to know more about the song? Go to http://www.australianwarheroes.com or http://www.ww1.australianwarheroes.com/

Wikileaks releases nearly 400,000 new secret Iraq docs, with help from news orgs

IMAGE: Each death noted in the Iraq war logs released today by Wikileaks is mapped with Google Maps, by the Guardian.


Wikileaks has just published The Iraq War Logs, described as "the largest classified military leak in history."

The 391,832 reports document the war and occupation in Iraq, from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2009 (except for the months of May 2004 and March 2009) as told by soldiers in the United States Army. Each is a 'SIGACT' or Significant Action in the war. They detail events as seen and heard by the US military troops on the ground in Iraq and are the first real glimpse into the secret history of the war that the United States government has been privy to throughout. The reports detail 109,032 deaths in Iraq, comprised of 66,081 'civilians'; 23,984 'enemy' (those labeled as insurgents); 15,196 'host nation' (Iraqi government forces) and 3,771 'friendly' (coalition forces). The majority of the deaths (66,000, over 60%) of these are civilian deaths.That is 31 civilians dying every day during the six year period.

The Guardian is among the first news orgs to publish analysis, and leads with the statement that the files show how the US turned a blind eye to torture in Iraq, and "expose serial abuse of detainees, 15,000 previously unknown deaths, and a full toll of Iraq's five years of carnage." LINK: Boingboing

Also more on this at the link above.

The Bones of War: Haunting Skeleton Photography

When Francois Robert unexpectedly acquired a human skeleton in the 1990s, he knew he had to do something wonderful with it. Several years later when the economy collapsed and he found himself with time on his hands, Robert finally settled on a project: powerful anti-war images spelled out in human bones.

Bones, whether animal or human, always evoke powerful emotions. They represent death, loss, destruction, a sense of sad history. Francois Robert is no stranger to these images and emotions: he once spent five weeks photographing 140 animal skulls from the Field museum of Natural History. He’s always been fascinated by bones, so it’s no surprise that he spent all of 2008 rearranging them into evocative sculptures.

The project started when the photographer found an old educational skeleton in a locker purchased at a school auction. He displayed it in his studio for years but always wondered what else he could do with it. He eventually came up with the idea to take the skeleton apart and use the bones to create these unique and hauntingly beautiful works of art.

The series of photographs is entitled “Stop the Violence,” and it uses human bones as a reminder of the consequences of violence. Each sculpture is five to six feet wide and took Robert a full day to assemble. The images are all grippingly powerful: weapons, religious symbols and words that bring to mind the destruction that is left behind after war.

Many of us are shocked at the simple sight of human bones. The built-in emotional factor of the bones is only amplified by Robert’s arrangements. But the artist is always careful to maintain a sense of respect for the bones; this human on the floor of his studio is a very real reminder of what is left behind when a light is extinguished. More pictures at the LINK

"Germans in the Woods" from StoryCorps

Joseph Robertson was an infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The stark black and white images in this short haunt the viewer, just as Robertson is haunted by his memories from that battle. LINK: Youtube

THE 4×4 HELICOPTER

“This helicopter that changes Transformers-like into a rugged 4×4 may one day be ferrying troops around Iraq and Afghanistan, helping them avoid the constant threat of roadside bombs. The futuristic design is the latest brainchild of the Texas-based AVX Aircraft Company. It can carry four fully-equipped soldiers and travel 250 miles by land and air on a single tank of fuel. The company says that almost any soldier could drive and fly it, and that they would not need a pilot’s license. Unfolding the rotor blades for flight should convert the vehicle from 4×4 to aircraft in just one minute. The company says the vehicle would be especially suitable for use in Iraq and Afghanistan where troops face constant danger from roadside bombs, or IED – improvised explosive devices. The Pentagon is now considering the design.” w/ photos. LINK

Close, But No Cigar

The face is instantly familiar, the two-fingered salute unmistakable. In the original photograph the war leader has his cigar gripped firmly in the corner of his mouth. But in the other image - currently greeting visitors to a London museum - his favourite smoke has been digitally extinguished.

It seems Churchill may have fallen victim to the modern curse of political correctness. The question of who removed the cigar and when was something of a mystery.

The Winston Churchill's Britain At War Experience confessed to being astonished to discover that the image may have been doctored. LINK: The Presurfer

War On Two Wheels: The Motorcycles Of World War II

A World War is no place for half-ass machinery, and motorcycles are no exception. The bikes our grandfathers rode while in the service were not only incredibly functional, but also some of the most stylish vehicles around. LINK

Here is a look at the gnarly motorcycles of World War II.

Seinfeld Wars

“Seinfeld Wars” by Julie Bell

Via: Steve Woolf & The Hollywood Reporter, Via: Laughing Squid