Awesome People
We have all kinds of 'people' threads, but, not one for
awesome people. Well, now we do.
To start the thread off right, I'd like you to meet Cameron Lyle, if you haven't heard of him before.
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He is an Awesome People™.
Cameron Lyle, a Division I college athlete in New Hampshire, has decided to shorten his athletic career for a chance to save a life.
The University of New Hampshire senior will donate bone marrow Wednesday, a decision that abruptly ends his collegiate athletic career but one that he calls a "no brainer."
Lyle, 21, had his mouth swabbed to join a bone marrow registry two years ago in the cafeteria at school. He didn't think any more of it until a few months ago when he got a phone call that he might be a match. He took more tests and discovered a month later that he was a perfect match.
"When they first told me, I was like, 'OK, cool. I'm definitely going to do it,'" Lyle said. "After that I kind of went to tell my coach and then I realized slowly that my season was over."
Lyle's main events are the shot put and the hammer throw.
"It's just a sport," he said. "Just because it's Division I college level doesn't make it any more important. Life is a lot more important than that, so it was pretty easy."
Lyle competed in his last competition Saturday and said it was "kind of emotional." His teammates rallied around him to cheer him on.
The person who needs his help is a young man with leukemia. Lyle was told that the man only has six months to live without the transplant.
Lyle of Plaistow, N.H., said he had been told there was a one in five million chance for a non-family match.
"It was kind of a no-brainer for a decent human," Lyle said. "I couldn't imagine just waiting. He could have been waiting for years for a match. I'd hope that someone would donate to me if I needed it."
After he got the call, Lyle knew he needed to speak to his mom and his coach.
"My son and I have a pretty funny rapport together so when he tells me things, it's usually in humor," mom Chris Sciacca said. "He simply sent me a text that said, 'So I guess I have a chance to save someone's life.'"
The two sat down and talked through the decision, but Sciacca said it was ultimately a decision that "came from his heart."
"We talked about in five or 10 years, is he going to look back and say, 'Damn, I wish I went to that track conference,' or is he going to say, 'Damn, I saved someone's life," she said.
"I know my son very well and I know where his heart is and I knew that he would make the right decision.
"He made his decision. He gave up his college season to do this. He's a gentle giant," Sciacca said of her 6-foot-2-inch, 255-pound son. "He'll do anything for anybody."
What Lyle was most nervous about was telling Coach Jim Boulanger, who has been his coach for four years.
Boulanger said that a nervous Lyle came into his office, shut the door and told him he wouldn't be able to throw next month at the America East Conference championship for which he had been training.
When Boulanger asked why, Lyle told him and found that his coach was completely supportive.
"Here's the deal," Boulanger told Lyle. "You go to the conference and take 12 throws or you could give a man three or four more years of life. I don't think there's a big question here. This is not a moral dilemma. There's only one answer."
Boulanger said he's "very proud" of his athlete.
"He's very approachable. He's very funny," Boulanger said. "I don't have any doubt that he's very compassionate and it was just a given that he'd do it.
"You can't ask for any more out of a person than to help another person," he said.
Lyle's mother is just as proud.
"I am beyond words proud. He is my hero," Sciacca said. "When your children inspire you to be better people, you know it's come full circle and he's inspired his mom to be a better circle."
Lyle will make the bone marrow donation soon at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital. A needle will be used to withdraw liquid bone marrow from his pelvic bone. After the surgery, he will not be allowed to lift more than 20 pounds over his head, which rules out all his athletic events.
Lyle and the man have to remain anonymous to each other for at least a year, but can then sign consent forms to release their identities if they want.
"I really want to meet him," Lyle said, "and I hope he wants to meet me."
~from
ABCNews, April 23, 2013
I hope he plays the lottery and wins. BIG
Here's an awesome...
Vance T Barfoot, (1919-2012), made the news at age 90 when his homeowners association told him he couldn't put up a flagpole. He did anyway. They told him to take it down. He told them to go pound sand. They backed down when the press got wind of a Medal of Honor winner being denied the right to fly his flag every day.
May 23, 1944, near Carano, Italy, Van T. Barfoot, who had enlisted in 1940, set out alone to flank German machine gun positions that were raining hell on his buddies. He picked his way through a minefield and proceeded to single-handedly take out three enemy machine gun positions, returning with 17 prisoners.
Then after lunch, he took on and took out three German tanks sent to retake the machine gun positions.
Barfoot retired as a Colonel after serving in Korea and Vietnam
WIKI says
Having grown up in the strictly segregated south, Barfoot was noted for a comment he made in 1945 regarding African-Americans. Mississippi senator and Ku Klux Klan member Theodore G. Bilbo asked Barfoot if he had much trouble with the African-American soldiers he had served with during the war. To Bilbo's embarrassment, Barfoot responded, "I found out after I did some fighting in this war that the colored boys fight just as good as the white boys...I've changed my idea a lot about colored people since I got into this war and so have a lot of other boys from the south".
U.S. Army MSG Roy P. Benavidez:
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Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. BENAVIDEZ United States Army, distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.
On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire.
Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team.
Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader.
When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt.
He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary.[4][note 1] He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded.
Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant BENAVIDEZS' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.
I met Roy, professionally, though I didn't know him personally. He was a guest speaker at graduation ceremonies at Fort Sam Houston, TX (Army Medical Department Headquarters and campus) in which area (San Antonio) Roy was retired, now buried, and where I was assigned as an SF medical instructor for one of the medical phases (didactic) of the Special Forces Qualification Course teaching SF medical specialist candidates.
I've met five Medal of Honor recipients, attended an NCO breakfast with one and even had Easter dinner with another (short story for another time). They didn't know me from Adam; but, they all showed humility and graciousness.
I'd be willing to bet arrogance and a gargantuan ego don't leave enough room for putting others first and thus being able do perform these feats of heroism.
You'd win that bet. Those are enduring traits.
While I was a student at the Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CA, I was stuck there without enough time to fly home for Easter. As the ranking NCO I had administrative duties as a student leader; so, I put on my dress uniform and went to Easter dinner in the enlisted mess hall to ensure everything was going well for the other students there.
As I was sitting down at a table with my dinner tray, a full colonel came into the enlisted mess wearing his dress uniform accompanied by a woman in civilian attire. They went through the food service line; then, paused and looked around until he saw the SF insignia on my uniform. They came over to my table and he asked if they could join me.
As I invited them to sit down I saw
Donlon on his nametag. It rang a bell as the name was required learning during SF training on unit lineage and historically key personnel: a
*Captain Donlon was the first SF Medal of Honor recipient. I immediately looked to the top ribbon on his uniform and there it was, blue field with 5 white stars, the Medal of Honor.
I tasked a student at the next table with rounding up all the SFers present in the mess hall to join me with our distinguished guests. They stopped in the middle of their dinners, up and moved their dining tables together with ours and were appreciative of Colonel and Mrs. Donlon, there for language training themselves, spending their holiday with the troops. It's about the only time I wished I was better at small talk because I was embarrassingly at a loss for words.
[COLOR="SlateGray"]*TRIVIA - There's a one word disparity between what the award citation says and what Special Forces Schools teaches in the qualification course. That disparity is actually pointed out during training. It's long been one of the ways those who actually went through the SF qualification course could identify those who just claim they did in three questions or less.[/COLOR]
I would be humbled and I'm sure tongue tied in his presence.
I would ask any of them, When you were doing what they gave you the CMoH for doing, were you telling yourself it was for God & Country, or to benefit friends and yourself?
I'd bet a lot it was a kill them before they kill my friends and myself. Someone had to do it and they were the one who stepped up because of happenstance & confidence, but not their Eagle Scout Oath, Mom's apple pie, or baseball.
There've been a number of studies on the psychology behind heroism in combat. Essentially, they do it to save the people they're with, enabled by a strong sense of responsibility for those who are dependent on them. Confidence has less to do with it as some have gone into those situations expecting to be killed; but, they still had to try. They all know part of it is happenstance, that there are posthumous awards, and that there are comparable unwitnessed acts that never received official recognition.
It's easy to believe for every Medal of Honor winner there's at least a hundred equally impressive actions going unrecognized. I've read a few stories about people's actions that were nominated for medals, but shot down. Not just the Medal of Honor, but lessor decorations too. I'd read it and wonder how in hell they made that determination. :rolleyes:
That's why Obama had Medal of Honor recommendations that were declined reassessed and why other decorations don't mean much outside of the military.
There's a similar phenomenon with the characterization of military service. The federal government issues discharge papers both with and without the type of discharge on it. In some states it's unlawful for an employer to ask for a job applicant's type of discharge (honorable>---<dishonorable).
Do they still do "general" discharges too?
I believe there are 5 types of discharges and General is still one of them. There's Entry Level, Honorable, General, Other Than Honorable, and Dishonorable. I'm waiting for them to come out with an Accidental Discharge for former Commanders-in-Chief.
There's Entry Level, Honorable, General, Other Than Honorable, and Dishonorable.
"Other Than Honorable" sure fires the imagination.
Well it's not down to Dishonorable(F), but not up to General(C), more like between criminal and acceptable... a D. :eyebrow:
That one must be for the politically incorrect.
There've been a number of studies on the psychology behind heroism in combat. Essentially, they do it to save the people they're with, enabled by a strong sense of responsibility for those who are dependent on them. Confidence has less to do with it as some have gone into those situations expecting to be killed; but, they still had to try. They all know part of it is happenstance, that there are posthumous awards, and that there are comparable unwitnessed acts that never received official recognition.
I bet they are really interesting studies.
I've read studies on the other side of the coin - cowardice. Or rather, desertion and the fact that cowardice/fear of battle seems to rarely be a factor.
Desertion is a big umbrella with a myriad of reasons for it. Some have been known to desert because they got a Dear John/Jane letter from their romantic interest back home. Cowardice in the face of the enemy; however, has even been the subject of televised ethics debates with distinguished panelists (e.g. Supreme Court Justices, war correspondents, lawyers, human rights activists, first echelon military combat officers ... etc. all on the same panel).
The reasons for desertion under fire are fewer. They run along the lines of undiagnosed predisposition to panic attacks, mental fatigue and sense of doom, nervous breakdown ... etc. Most everyone experiences fear in combat; but, that can usually be overcome by peer pressure and training to the point where reactions to danger become reflexive.
The consensus; however, is that the damage done by someone turning and running in the face of the enemy is so great (demoralizing friendlies and emboldening enemies in addition to resulting immediate loses) that this umbrella is labeled cowardice and all those caught in the act will be shot by their own regardless of etiology because the damage is all the same. That can be the only way to make the spot correction under those circumstances. It isn't human nature to put the mission and other lives at risk to sort out why someone turned and ran; or, to try and figure out if they will fire on friendlies to get away.
"We must all hang together, or surely, we will all hang separately."
I've never spoken to a MOH soldier, but I have seen one. It was PFC Desmond Doss. He's a hero to me. This man was a conscientious objector, who faced great ridicule and persecution. Never, ever think a man is weak or a coward because he refuses to fight for religious convictions.
Rank and organization: Private First Class, United States Army, Medical Detachment, 307th Infantry, 77th Infantry Division.
Place and date: Near Urasoe Mura, Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, April 29, 1945 – May 21, 1945.
Entered service at: Lynchburg, Virginia
Birth: Lynchburg, Virginia
G.O. No.: 97, November 1, 1945
He was a company aid man when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet (120 m) high. As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machinegun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying all 75 casualties one-by-one to the edge of the escarpment and there lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands. On May 2, he exposed himself to heavy rifle and mortar fire in rescuing a wounded man 200 yards (180 m) forward of the lines on the same escarpment; and 2 days later he treated 4 men who had been cut down while assaulting a strongly defended cave, advancing through a shower of grenades to within 8 yards (7.3 m) of enemy forces in a cave's mouth, where he dressed his comrades' wounds before making 4 separate trips under fire to evacuate them to safety. On May 5, he unhesitatingly braved enemy shelling and small arms fire to assist an artillery officer. He applied bandages, moved his patient to a spot that offered protection from small arms fire and, while artillery and mortar shells fell close by, painstakingly administered plasma. Later that day, when an American was severely wounded by fire from a cave, Pfc. Doss crawled to him where he had fallen 25 feet (7.6 m) from the enemy position, rendered aid, and carried him 100 yards (91 m) to safety while continually exposed to enemy fire. On May 21, in a night attack on high ground near Shuri, he remained in exposed territory while the rest of his company took cover, fearlessly risking the chance that he would be mistaken for an infiltrating Japanese and giving aid to the injured until he was himself seriously wounded in the legs by the explosion of a grenade. Rather than call another aid man from cover, he cared for his own injuries and waited 5 hours before litter bearers reached him and started carrying him to cover. The trio was caught in an enemy tank attack and Pfc. Doss, seeing a more critically wounded man nearby, crawled off the litter; and directed the bearers to give their first attention to the other man. Awaiting the litter bearers' return, he was again struck, by a sniper bullet while being carried off the field by a comrade, this time suffering a compound fracture of 1 arm. With magnificent fortitude he bound a rifle stock to his shattered arm as a splint and then crawled 300 yards (270 m) over rough terrain to the aid station. Through his outstanding bravery and unflinching determination in the face of desperately dangerous conditions Pfc. Doss saved the lives of many soldiers. His name became a symbol throughout the 77th Infantry Division for outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty.
Take a moment of your day to watch this documentary. See if you are as in awe of this simple man as I am.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKdwsWdH3A4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWheAfEFi_Q#t=142
http://www.desmonddoss.com/Desertion is a big umbrella with a myriad of reasons for it. Some have been known to desert because they got a Dear John/Jane letter from their romantic interest back home. Cowardice in the face of the enemy; however, has even been the subject of televised ethics debates with distinguished panelists (e.g. Supreme Court Justices, war correspondents, lawyers, human rights activists, first echelon military combat officers ... etc. all on the same panel).
The reasons for desertion under fire are fewer. They run along the lines of undiagnosed predisposition to panic attacks, mental fatigue and sense of doom, nervous breakdown ... etc. Most everyone experiences fear in combat; but, that can usually be overcome by peer pressure and training to the point where reactions to danger become reflexive.
The consensus; however, is that the damage done by someone turning and running in the face of the enemy is so great (demoralizing friendlies and emboldening enemies in addition to resulting immediate loses) that this umbrella is labeled cowardice and all those caught in the act will be shot by their own regardless of etiology because the damage is all the same. That can be the only way to make the spot correction under those circumstances. It isn't human nature to put the mission and other lives at risk to sort out why someone turned and ran; or, to try and figure out if they will fire on friendlies to get away.
*nods*
There's been some really interesting stuff done on the psychology of desertion. Particularly for the modern era.
I know far more about desertion in the 18th/early 19th centuries though :P
One of the things that is quite striking about the scholarship though is the apparent degree of similarity of motive and incidence across different time periods and different army types.
Heh. Went looking for my MA thesis online and found this:
http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Soldiers_and_Women.html?id=t6l8twAACAAJ&redir_esc=y
Did not know it showed on Googlebooks. That is kinda fucking cool.
Well that is pretty fucking cool!
[SIZE="3"]Tony UT Undertoad [/SIZE]
An important blazing star in the Information Technology universe, like his contemporaries Bill Gates, Larry Page and Larry Ellison.
At great risk to his personal stability and financial future, he surfed the Dot Org wave to establish one of the solidly stable
cornerstones of the internet… Cellar Dot Org.
At great personal sacrifice, for twenty four years he’s worked tirelessly to keep this institution free from Easter Island hackers
who everyone knows have brought down some of the former giants like Netscape, MySpace, and Cosby.
Despite a schedule which would kill mere mortals, plus constant interruptions from Warren Buffet, Suze Orman and Wall Street
bankers begging advice, he’s been able to provide for family, allowed his mother to pursue her teaching career.
Civic responsibility has always been important to UT, so without fanfare he's quietly emptied the local mental institutions,
orphanages, homeless shelters and animal shelters.[COLOR="White"]..............[/COLOR] Oh, and prevented EBOLA from coming here.
If that sounds like UT is all work and no play, nay nay, I say. He's a respected musician in the hot Philly/Jersey Shore music scene,
and sought out Feng shui adviser to the hip and wannabe hip.
Most importantly, his selfless dedication has provided us a stable shelter from reality.
So although he's worshipped here, many don't realize the extent of his influence and size of his fanbase.
His base is huge because all your base belong to him.
Hip Hip Hooray :cheerldr: Hip Hip Hooray :cheerldr: Hip Hip Hooray :cheerldr:
I'm reasonably certain that
Bob Welsh is an Awesome People.
Bob's a storyteller. Here's one of 'em:
[YOUTUBEWIDE]PLerLCES03g[/YOUTUBEWIDE]
Ok, it took three months, but I finally ran across another Awesome People.
While doing some research for Popdigr on Lou Diamond Phillips, I learned that he is named after an old Leatherneck named
Lou Diamond.
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In fact, they call him '
Mr. Leatherneck':
Named by his father for highly decorated Gunnery Sergeant Leland "Lou" Diamond, USMC, who enlisted in the Marines at age 27 in 1917, and saw action in both world wars. To this day "Lou" Diamond is considered one of the finest Marines of all time, and is known as "Mr. Leatherneck".
~
Lou Diamond Phillips' IMDb pageI can see in war time, how a soldier who was very good at fighting would be allowed slack when it came to dress and behavior. But I don't understand how he got away with not saluting, wearing jeans, or generally doing as he pleased, during peace time. I would think it should be high & tight when there was no war on.
Cuz he was ♪ ♫awesome♪ ♫.
Awesome is another word for bigger target than the rest. :haha:
I've just been in a glum mood all day. Not for anything in particular - stuff gets to me like the no money thang, but today wasn't particularly worrisome or eventful on that front - just woke up with the glums and haven't been able to shake it.
Are you trying to tell us awesome people have down days too? ;)
wtf....that was supposed to be in the what's bumming you out thread....how did it get in here?
*shakes head*
But yeah - awesome people have bad days too lol
Haha. Bruce just called you awesome.
Ha ha, you're awesome!
:mock:
Nah, my comma stopped off to take a piss and didn't catch up in time. tis Dana what be awesome.
Bethanie is an Awesome People™.
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For those unfortunates born without squint muscles:
Dear Pilots Of The Plane Taking Me Home
In light of the very recent tragedy in the French Alps and the loss of those poor 150 people, I feel the need to reach out to you and extend a compassionate hand. At the end of the day, we are all humans just trying to live this rollercoaster of a life we have been handed. I understand an event so horrific as this one affects those with your responsibility more than others, and maybe sometimes a kind word, random but heartfelt, can make a difference. I’m hoping to create a ripple effect and spread some compassion and understanding.
Thank you for taking me home. Thank you for doing so safely. Thank you for allowing me to live the life I do in Spain and split my time with my family in England too. You make the excitement I feel now to see my family possible. I hope you get to see your families soon. I’ve had a wonderful flight and hope you have too.
You’re making a massive difference and you’re the reason I can smile tonight.
Take care and spread love,
Kindest regards,
Bethanie
Thayne Hamilton and his late wife Chris...
...these are Awesome People™.
[YOUTUBEWIDE]IzN8V-qgi94[/YOUTUBEWIDE]
Grey Muzzle Sanctuary
Grey Muzzle Rescue's Gofundme page
The folks at
TalkItUpTV are pretty cool, too.
Here's their YouTube channel.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Mr. Robert Valentine is an Awesome People™:
[YOUTUBE]sN1qSRgKoU0[/YOUTUBE]
Cellar, meet
Ridge Quarles, he is an Awesome People™:
[YOUTUBE]paygRiW15BI[/YOUTUBE]
alex lyngaas is an awesome person.
[YOUTUBEWIDE]LmBM20ZN010[/YOUTUBEWIDE]
That borders on weird, trying to get mom laid and all...
...But, he do love his Mammy! That is clear. And love is awesome.
Harriet Thompson is an Awesome People™.
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Touching story from out Beestmonster way:
[SIZE="4"]Michigan boy, 15, completes 57-mile walk with brother on his back[/SIZE]
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A 15-year-old Michigan boy on Sunday completed a three-day, 57-mile walk across the state, carrying his younger brother on his back, as part of a campaign to raise awareness for Cerebral Palsy.
Hunter Gandee started the long trek with little brother Braden, who suffers from Cerebral Palsy, on Friday morning in Lambertville, Michigan, an unincorporated community near the Ohio border.
The brothers reached the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, joined for the final leg by friends and family. ...
... Hunter Gandee said the walk was not intended as a fundraiser, but rather an awareness campaign about the debilitating condition. During the hike, though, he rallied support to raise $200,000 toward the construction of a handicap accessible playground at Branden's school. ...
cont'd.
Look at the determination on the older brother's face. Their folks must be so proud of them.
I thought this story sounded familiar...
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I remember reading this story (the first time 'round). Absolute awesomeness.
Although a couple years old, Darnell is an Awesome guy...
[YOUTUBE]-0GgI90c4O8[/YOUTUBE]
♪ ♫Awesome!!!♪ ♫
Sher Polvinal is an Awesome People™.
[VIMEO]47428138[/VIMEO]
House With a HeartPeter Murray is an Awesome People™. The Lynn Headwaters staff, and the folks at North Shore Rescue are pretty damn Awesome People™, too.
They all came through for Fraser The Dog after he had a rough day.
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I think pretty much everyone who knows who Dave Grohl is is aware that he's a pretty Awesome People™...But, we might as well make it official:
Guy comes to a Foo Fighters show, holds up a sign that says "It's my birthday, can I play drums?". You know what Dave did. We all know what Dave did. What did Dave do?
He said get your ass up here, that's what he did.
And dude did, too:
[YOUTUBEWIDE]hkyD6yK79I0[/YOUTUBEWIDE]
If you suck on the drums, I will personally tar & feather your ass backstage.
Dave Grohl, you fuckin' rock, man!
Birthday dude was so stoked!
I wish I liked his music. That's the only way he could be better.
I'm not too wild about the Foo Fighters'music either. Some of it's good.
Dave did do the best cover I think I've ever heard though. The White House was recognizing Paul McCartney for whatever reason, and Dave came out and knocked "Band On The Run" outta the park with what I think was probably Paul's band, I've seen him (Paul) with one or two of those guys since.
It was completely awesome.
[SIZE="1"]Damn. This was 5 years ago![/SIZE]
Check it:
[YOUTUBEWIDE]PYetH6DeMcY[/YOUTUBEWIDE]
:devil:
PO2 Darren Harrity is an Awesome People™. For more than one reason.
A: He's a Coast Guard rescue swimmer.
B: The man is a swimming fool.
C: He may just have gills behind his ears like Kevin Costner in "Waterworld".
D:
Winches? He don't need no stinkin' winches!!Amazing dude. Must stay in shape as a male stripper.
Cracked has a list of
The Six Most Epic One Man Armies In The History Of War. It's a Cracked article, so there are ads everywhere, brace yourself.
While "...In The History Of War" is debatable, I think you'll agree that those guys were definitely some Awesomely Badass Sumbitches™, a subsidiary of Awesome People™.
The ones who were killed were probably fortunate. Can you imagine any of them being browbeaten by a meter maid? :facepalm:
Ronda Rousey is an Awesome People™.
And what she did was pretty awesome.
No, I'm not talking about the 34 second ko the entire planet is talking about, although that
was pretty awesome.
Apraxia of SpeechPeggy Hubbard is an Awesome People™.
[YOUTUBE]t8p_NGuQq6Q[/YOUTUBE]
Apparently,
Rick Rice was an Awesome People™.
Peggy Hubbard is an Awesome People™.
[YOUTUBE]t8p_NGuQq6Q[/YOUTUBE]
Yes, she is Awesome.
I agree with her. Her message is a little intermixed, sometimes she's condemning the people protesting that "#blacklivesmatter" but chastising the same people for ignoring the tragedy of the little girl who also died the same night. That is terrible. But I think her fire is misdirected (if you'll pardon the analogy); that's more the result of which "story" is more readily converted into something that can be broadcast/monetized. And the winner in that contest is the story about the dead adult, not the dead child. No one who knows about both deaths would cry for the guy who died in a gunfight with the cops and not about the little girl.
All of the admonitions she delivers are right on target, and completely true--EVEN WITHOUT ANY RACIAL QUALIFIERS. Don't murder. JFC. Who is exempt from that good idea? Pay attention to what your parents who love you and are trying to raise you well tell you. Uh huh, that's *not* a black thing. I'm sorry to hear that she thinks "White people don't care.". Lots of white people care. But that's a distracting quibble.
She's right on target. Awesome, definitely awesome.
Apparently, Rick Rice was an Awesome People™.
In lieu of flowers, Rick would be honored if you would do the unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for someone else today in his name.
Will do, Rick, will do.
I'm sorry to hear that she thinks "White people don't care.".
She probably is thinking the lack of coverage in the media is they cater to what the white people care about, when it's actually , as you said, a juicier story.
David Perez, Fremont, CA, is an Awesome People™, and he is an awesome neighbor,
who has some pretty awesome Facebook friends.
:thumb:
Cool! They even let the old man nail on the final shingle to complete the job.
Somebody even brought Porta-Potties to the party. :cheerldr:
So here's one ....or two.
This year, one of the swimmers from our itsy bitsy 20yard summer pool team broke a longstanding record for the 50 fly for 11/12yo boys at county championships. (He then went on to break the state record the next week, but that's a different story)
One of our swim moms tracked down the guy who set the previous record thirty-something years ago.
He wrote a letter to our new champ:
Dear AJ,
I wanted to write and congratulate you on breaking the WISC 11-12 50 fly record. It might not have been the oldest record in the books, but it was a pretty big deal for me. After 30+ years, this was the last of my swimming records left at any level. At one point I held a number of 11-12 and 13-14 butterfly and freestyle state and zone records, which led to national age group championships, state titles at Huron, trips to junior nationals, and a lifelong love of swimming.
But even with all that, WISC was always special to me. I loved being part of a summer club team, and was especially proud of the success we had at Orchard Hills, which like Forestbrooke, has always been one of the “little” clubs in WISC. All of my success started from our little kidney bean shaped pool at OHAC, so I am especially happy that a fellow “little” pool swimmer broke my last record.
You are part of a long and proud tradition of swimming in Ann Arbor. I don’t know if you noticed that the other “old” 11-12 record broken this year was held by one of my best swimming friends, Tom Bailey, who was also a Forestbrooke kid. We were part of a group of “little” pool kids that ended up winning a couple of state championships at Huron, so the bar is set pretty high for you. I look forward to following your swimming career, wish you continued success, and hope you are able to experience all the joy, fun, and camaraderie that I was able to have as a swimmer.
Best of luck, Mark Loveland
Haven Jarel is just plain awesome. Welded up his own Iron Man mask...
at age 6. And he was just getting started:
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:devil:
Dads are awesome:
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This girl's awesome.
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The fashion designers will see what their designs look like on the department store mannequin. She looks almost generic.
Oh yes I did, she looks androgynous, featureless, mannequin-ish, no distraction from the clothing which is what the designers want. She should do very well.
I have a sneaking suspicion that Jason just might be an Awesome People™:
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Eric strikes me as fairly awesome his own self.
You'd be amazed how many people know ASL, especially how many kids. But you'll know soon.
Deputy Brooks is an Awesome People™.
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I've seen a bunch of those ice rescues this winter. I don't know if there's more happening or I'm just noticing more. Maybe it's the warmer winter. They don't all end well, for the person or the critter.
Who has ice in winter any more?
hockey teams have ice in winter. But it's expensive
Who has ice in winter any more?
We got lots of ice.
Elizabeth "Betty Wall" Strohfus was an Awesome People™.
One day, while training gunners in ground emplacements, Strohfus flew up from the south and recognized a unique opportunity. Just missing the roof of the hangar, she opened the prop pitch on the AT-6 to generate an almighty roar, causing all the men below to hit the deck.
Four hours later, Strohfus landed the plane to refuel. An angry sergeant confronted her as she climbed out onto the wing, demanding to know which enterprising pilot had buzzed his men.
Roberts detailed the brief back-and-forth between the two.
“Well, I’m your pilot, sir,” she said.
“I’m going to report you,” he replied.
“Well, what did I do?”
“You scared the hell out of my boys!”
Strohfus responded with a question.
“Where are your boys going?”
“They’re going to combat and I want them to live to get there.”
“Well, sir, I want them to live to get home.”
:devil:
He had to say that because the other two in the newsroom might knife him. :lol2:
But seriously folks, try the Veal.
I liked what he said, but I'm not sure about his solution?
A truly awesome human being, a hero, a savior, and his horse.
In this world of selfish people, it is happy to see deep minded people like Cameron Lyle. He values the strangers's life than his future. Please introduce awesome people and their heart touching stories.
Depends on ya look at it.
From the American perspective, saving the Union, Making America Great Again on Chinese hats.
From a humanitarian perspective of shortening a war that was killing so many.
From a social perspective that millions of men could go home and have sex with their wives instead of that poor mule.
From a sociological perspective of a great way to poke people who after 150 years should get the fuck over it.
ignoring his buffalo and Indian record as well...
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC is an Awesome People™.
...he refused to impose a mandatory victim surcharge on the girl when she appeared at Bradford Crown Court, after hearing that the paedophile had destroyed her life, adding: 'If anyone tries to force you, I will pay it myself.'...'It would be a disgrace to send a survivor like you to prison,' Judge Durham Hall added.
Good on ya, Judge.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
He killed his chances of getting any Republican votes for a Supreme Court seat.
Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC is an Awesome People™.
Good on ya, Judge.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Yeah - definitely an awesome person.
Anonymous Old Man Is An Awesome People™.
After Tawny Nelson's car broke down at night in the pouring rain with her four young daughters crying in the back, countless people just drove by as she begged for help.
The single mother of four explained that things had been rough since her partner left — her vehicle was in such bad shape that she only drove if absolutely necessary and her cell phone was disconnected. She and her children desperately needed groceries so they made a quick trip to the store. However, one of her girls accidentally left a light on in the car and they returned to a completely drained battery. "I must have asked more than twenty people in the course of two hours for a jump," she wrote to Frank Somerville, which he shared on his Facebook page. "They all ignored me. Not even a no. [They] just acted like I didn't exist."
As her newborn screamed, her 2-year-old cried from hunger, and her 9-year-old desperately tried to help, Tawny described that she started to break down herself. "I was bawling and felt like the worst Mom ever," she recalled.
At that moment, a 74-year-old man with a bad limp knocked on the window. He handed her a plate of food and bottles of water for her family and let her know that a tow truck was on its way and that his wife was going to drive them home. The next day, the gentleman returned to her house with a mechanic and they made multiple repairs to her car.
After the kind stranger left, Tawny asked the mechanic if she could set up a payment plan, but he informed her that the man had already taken care of the bill.
"He said that the only payment the older man wanted was for me to never give up and keep being an amazing mom," Tawny wrote. "I've never cried so hard in my life. Things had been absolutely awful, more so than I care to explain, and without knowing us or our situation this kind man helped us in ways he will never know."
Tawny is grateful to the man for restoring her faith in humanity when she says she was falling apart. And while she knows that she can never repay him — he wouldn't even take a hug — she hopes to one day do for another what he did for her.
I nominate:
http://www.davidbrin.com/about.html
He holds multiple degrees in fields that make my brain shut down just trying to figure out what he studied. He writes the only hard sci fi (technology-oriented for the non-sf crowds) that said brain o mine will wrap itself around. I got to meet him at a sci fi convention many years ago, and it went like this:
I find out Dr. Brin is a Guest of Honor and will be doing a book signing table with Greg Bear and Gregory Benford. Con policy is no more than 3 books per author per table. By the time I get there, I'm all of like 7th in line! Everyone around me has nine hardbacks apiece, three by each author, clearly bought at nearby book dealer booths.
I have one ratty, busted-spined paperback.
They all look at me weird when I make it to the table. I pull my badge out of its holder and hand it to Mr. Bear and then Mr. Benford, asking them to sign the back. Then I hold the book out to Dr. Brin and tell him the truth:
"This is my favorite hard sci fi novel ever. I've read this copy five times and it's my third because people keep stealing it." He writes a super-sweet note on the first page while we chat about why I'm at the convention--was hoping to snag an unclaimed art show table for my work, but none came up available.
Forward to later that day, and as a guest of the convention there to teach panels, I have access to the greenroom and have my miniature polymer clay animal sculptures stowed under a table. In walks Dr. Brin. I grab him for a quick second and show him my favorite of the critters I had at the time, an Arabian horse glued to a thin slab of what I now know was Montana agate. It's 1 inch tall at the ears, slab included, and he holds it up with the very tips of his fingers to get a better look. He says: "Wow, this is amazing! Do you make the molds for these?"
The correct answer turned out to be: "Ummmm, no, Dr. Brin, I don't have any mold-making supplies or experience."
He gives me a moment of HUGE eyes and says: "You do this
by hand???"
All the degrees he worked for, all the awards his writing has won, and still the most tear-inducing, heart-stuttering compliment my work ever got.
I enjoyed reading The Postman. He can write.
Wow, thats awesome, Snake... Now tell me again why I don't recall seeing pics of any of your work here.
My nomination for Awesome people is our very own limey. She is one of the most thoughtful, kind, compassionate, talented and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
For example, I told her about how my kids all had stockings which were handmade when they were young. The woman who did it has long passed and my daughters was lost by her mother. My daughter has reminded yearly of how special it was to her and hos disappointed she was that hers was gone.
So ... I reached out to limey and gave her all sorts of pics and my recollection of what her stocking looked like etc etc... She managed to completely ignore me and created the most beautiful stocking for my daughter. I was going to wait until Christmas (also her birthday) to give it to her, but as we were decorating today I realized it needed to happen sooner so we could all enjoy it for much longer.
My daughter is thrilled beyond belief and absolutely LOVES her new stocking!
Limey, I really can't thank you enough for all you've done for Danny over the years and now this too ... I thank you and I love you for who you are. You are seriously too sweet. <3
How freaking awesome is this???
Wow, thats awesome, Snake... Now tell me again why I don't recall seeing pics of any of your work here.
Yes. Why come?
Wow! I, too, have been the beneficiary of limey's generosity in years past. She's a best egg. Very cool stocking!
And she's got a great fanny.;)
:o I was not expecting to find myself in this thread ... :o
Thanks folks
(and yes, classic sent me very detailed description, photos of extant stockings of siblings etc and I totally ignored it all). :blush:
I had a sneaking suspicion you were awesome, even before this.
well this made me cry. This guy is an awesome people for sure
http://www.bbc.com/news/38293294I didn't know death bed visits were in the Santa job description. No dry eye issue today.
well this made me cry. This guy is an awesome people for sure
http://www.bbc.com/news/38293294
Seems that it's a fake story invented by "Santa Claus"
Re limey, I'm torn.
On the one hand, the stocking, WOW.
On the other hand, limey, what was I expecting?
On the gripping hand, admiration but no surprise.
... awesome people who were brought together last Tuesday, according to the story.
[SIZE="4"]Grieving Army Widow Meets Her Husband’s Coffin on Airport Tarmac, Leaving Plane Passengers in Tears[/SIZE]
Lisa West Williams was waiting to exit her aircraft at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Tuesday, when she and the her fellow passengers watched a flag-draped coffin being removed from the plane’s luggage compartments.
It contained the body of Green Beret Shawn Thomas — a 35-year-old father of four who, according to his obituary, died while serving on Feb. 2 in a vehicle accident in Niger, Africa.
The Oklahoma native was an Echo in the Special Forces and was on his eight deployment when he died. He and his family — wife Tara and children Cheyenne, Taylor, Gavin, and Natylyn — were based in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Filming the incident, Williams recorded the moment Tara greeted her husband’s coffin. Dressed in all black, she placed her hand on the coffin and buried her head into its side. Appearing to cry, she is comforted by loved ones before a six members of the military carry his coffin on to a nearby hurst.
“It was an honor to fly home with this PATRIOT!” wrote Williams on her Facebook post of the video, which has been viewed over 8 million times. “God bless his wife and family. There was not a dry eye around me.”
Later, Williams told WNCT that Tara had given her permission to post the footage, thanking her and hoping others would see the sacrifices made by military families.
“She wanted people to realize that this goes on every day,” Williams told WNCT. “There are many men and women that come home in a casket and they’ve made the ultimate sacrifice for us.”
According to Army Times, Shawn was awarded — among other honors — two Bronze Stars and four Good Conduct Medals. His body will be buried at Arlington National Ceremony.
“Under his big beard, tattoos and giant muscles there was a small town Oklahoma boy that was grounded by his faith, strong values, and family,” his obituary read. “He will be missed by everyone that had the opportunity to meet him.”
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I thought most of them come into Dover DE. I guess that's only for military transport.
That quote contains two of my peeves;
A hearse carries dead bodies, not a hurst.
And she didn't film anything, she videoed something (notice the word tape did not occur), or she recorded something.
I thought most of them come into Dover DE. I guess that's only for military transport.
Maybe he swapped planes at Dover beforehand?
You silly goose, everyone knows one drives a hurst to get to Arlington National Ceremony!
chrisinhouston is awesome people
Private William Speakman was probably an Awesome People™:
How One Soldier Used Beer to Fight Off 6,000 Enemy TroopsHe's like Aunt Alice, you know, don't fuck with her when she's been drinking.;)
I don't know if anonymity is important here so I'll just say the forum member who solved our Harry Potter problem is Extremely Awesome. :D
"...says the secret to long life is cigars, sex, scotch and being swung by your ears three hours a day for a hundred years."
She heard that. :eyebrow:
She would have laughed if she had, I just know it. :D
She heard that. :eyebrow:
She hears
everything.
When God said "Let there be light.", she prolly heard that.
No no, she'll be 100 on Friday and God said that 6000 years ago. :lol:
This place is full of Awesome People™, and apparently they believe Jim McCleod is an Awesome People™, too.
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Awesome? This dude is qualified...
14.9 @ 90 mph...on that scooter.
Ol' buzzard's too crazy to die.
12-Year-Old Girl Calls School Assembly to Tell Classmates She Has Autism:
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What??? no Jimmy Sweeney rolling onto the stage?
I am disappoint.
Otherwise, awesome.
Anytime I hear/read the phrase "danger close" I'm reminded of the (I think he was British, may have been Afghanistanian) soldier who was literally the last man alive in his group, who, while being overrun, called in an artillery strike on his own position.
"Fuck you, you're coming with me."
Keenan Watkins is, without doubt, an Awesome People™, and a an awesome dad. 250 lbs. 6' 2" tall. Babysitting (
all day, everywhere he went), and buying an outfit for his daughter's doll, Davey.
:devil:
Awesome People?
Dis fucking guy:
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"Service before self."
Understatement.
"MREs do have Skittles in them, so we're pretty excited," Durham told the AP.
:lol2:
They just got married so they could do the dirty during deployment.
This guy understands respect. Respect the Office, if not the man.
Thomas Gunderson,
you are an Awesome People™.
You don't think he was trying to impress the babe, eh. :blush:
I think whoever owns/manages this restaurant is pretty awesome.
Granted it's probably good business to attract and retain a good chef but it's still cool.
That is pretty cool.
Although, it probably sucks if you're the dishwasher making minimum wage. Now you're half a month with zero income.
25 y.o. Lt. Sayed Basam Pacha
[SIZE="3"]A Policeman’s Bear Hug Stops a Suicide Bomber From Killing More[/SIZE]
KABUL, Afghanistan — No one will ever know what went through the mind of Afghan Police Lt. Sayed Basam Pacha in those moments when he came face to face with a man he suspected of being a suicide bomber on Thursday afternoon, but whatever it was, he did not hesitate to act.
At his back was a crowd of civilians, many of them dignitaries, leaving the hall he was guarding. Around him were officers from the police company he commanded. The suspect had just approached their heavily guarded gate, the only way in or out of the compound around the hall.
Broad-shouldered and heavily muscled, Lieutenant Pacha shouted at the suspect to halt, but instead the man started running. The officer stopped him, throwing his arms around him in a bear hug.
A second later the bomber detonated the explosive vest hidden under his coat. Fourteen people, including Lieutenant Pacha and seven other police officers as well as six civilians, were killed; 18 others were wounded, seven police and 11 civilians, said Basir Mujahed, a police spokesman.
There was little doubt the death toll would have been far higher without the lieutenant’s body blunting the blast, Mr. Mujahed said.
“He’s a hero, he saved many lives,” he said. “All seven of those policemen are heroes but especially him. Just think if that suicide attacker got past the gate, what would have happened — you cannot even imagine.” ...
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Truly was an awesome person.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
These two girls are awesome.
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If the man was half as awesome as the daughter that wrote this obit, he must have been one Awesome People™:
Terry Wayne Ward, age 71, of DeMotte, IN, escaped this mortal realm on Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018, leaving behind 32 jars of Miracle Whip, 17 boxes of Hamburger Helper and multitudes of other random items that would prove helpful in the event of a zombie apocalypse.
Terry is survived by his overly-patient and accepting wife Kathy, who was the love of his life (a fact she gladly accepted sympathy for during their 48 years of marriage). He is also survived by daughters Rebecca (William) Hines and Jean (Jeff) Lahm; sister, Linda; brother, Phil; grandchildren: Alexander and Hannah Hines (The Mesopotamians), Daphne and Erin Pistello (The Daffer and Peanut), Brendan and Owen Lahm (Phineas and Ferb) and Tessa McMurry (Smiley).
He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Bernice Ward, daughter Laura Pistello, grandson Vincent Pistello, brother Kenneth Ward, a 1972 Rambler and a hip.
Terry graduated from Thornridge High School in South Holland, IL, where only three of his teachers took an early retirement after having had him as a student. He met the love of his life, Kathy, by telling her he was a lineman – he didn’t specify early on that he was a lineman for the phone company, not the NFL. Still, Kathy and Terry wed in the fall of 1969, perfectly between the Summer of Love and the Winter of Regret.
Terry volunteered his service in the United States Army and was an active combat Veteran in the Viet Nam War.
He retired from AT&T (formerly Ameritech, formerly formerly Indiana Bell) after 39 years of begrudging service, where he accumulated roughly 3,000 rolls of black electrical tape during the course of his career (which he used for everything from open wounds to “Don’t use this button” covers).
He enjoyed many, many things. Among those things were hunting, fishing, golfing, snorkeling, ABBA, hiking Turkey Run, chopping wood, shooting guns, Bed Bath & Beyond, starlight mints, cold beer, free beer, The History Channel, CCR, war movies, discussing who makes the best pizza, The Chicago White Sox, old Buicks, and above all, his family.
He was a renowned distributor of popsicles and ice cream sandwiches to his grandchildren. He also turned on programs such as “Phineas and Ferb” for his grand-youngins, usually when they were actually there.
He despised “uppity foods” like hummus, which his family lovingly called “bean dip” for his benefit, which he loved consequently. He couldn’t give a damn about most material things, and automobiles were never to be purchased new. He never owned a personal cell phone and he had zero working knowledge of the Kardashians.
Terry died knowing that The Blues Brothers was the best movie ever, (young) Clint Eastwood was the baddest-ass man on the planet, and hot sauce can be added to absolutely any food.
Tremendous and heartfelt thanks go to the truly exceptional nurses at Southlake Methodist Hospital Neuro-Intensive Care Unit, who provided much more than nursing care for Terry, but also provided a peaceful and compassionate environment during his transition from this life to the next.
Friends can visit with the family on Saturday, January 27, from Noon until the time of the Funeral Service at 4:00 PM, with Pastor Mark Wilkins officiating, at Geisen Funeral, Cremation & Receptions Center, 606 E. 113th Ave., Crown Point, IN. Services will conclude at the funeral home.
Memorial donations in Terry’s name can be made to your favorite charity [size=4]or your favorite watering hole[/size], where you are instructed to tie a few on and tell a few stories of the great Terry Ward.
Jean Lahm, that is an excellent obituary. Dad had to have been an Awesome People™.:thumb:
Maybe he beats his wife and kids. Maybe he kicks puppies. I don't know.
But if no other reason than
this, Stephen Mader
[ATTACH]63178[/ATTACH]
is an Awesome People™.
Teddy Fucking Roosevelt Jr... Former asst Secretary to the Navy, former Governor General of the Philippines, former Governor of Puerto Rico, former New York State Assemblyman, connected as you can get, and 47 years old.
He Didn't Have To Be There... or maybe because of all that he did. :eyebrow:
A hero, sounds like.
Maybe 57 years old?
You're right, 57. I read it as '97 instead of '87. DUH :o
I guess this country stopped making Roosevelts of all flavors? We need a better class of rich people.
The coolest person in the world is Snoop Dogg! ;)
Daryl Davis/TEDx: Why I, as a black man, attend KKK rallies
most awesome
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That was very interesting.
Quite awesome.
He didn't cure cancer or bring world peace, but mad props to Mr Jones for being my kinda guy, a pay forward hero.
Glatt
This is in addition to starting a new job and modding this hellhole
jus' sayin'
Thanks monster!
It's been a busy several months. Just enough getting thrown at me to keep me running, but not overwhelming me. So far, it's working.
Busy makes the time go by. :)
Teddy Fucking Roosevelt Jr... Former asst Secretary to the Navy, former Governor General of the Philippines, former Governor of Puerto Rico, former New York State Assemblyman, connected as you can get, and 47 years old.
He Didn't Have To Be There... or maybe because of all that he did. :eyebrow:
Thanks for sharing this information with us..
:):heart-on:
Ronald J. Shurer,
[ATTACH]65133[/ATTACH]
is Awesome People™.
Received the Silver Star in 2008, upgraded to Medal of Honor in 2016.
Silver Star citation
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918 (amended by an act of July 25, 1963), takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Staff Sergeant Ronald J. Shurer, United States Army, for exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the United States as Medical Sergeant, Operational Detachment Alpha 3336 (ODA-3336), 3d Special Forces Group (Airborne), Special Operations Task Force – 33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 6 April 2008. Sergeant Shurer heroically and with complete disregard for his own safety fought his way up a mountain in order to render aid and evacuate casualties from his ODA and Afghan Commandos. Sergeant Shurer was initially pinned at the base of a wadi by accurate Insurgent sniper, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG), small arms, and machine gun fire when he received communications that the forward assault element could not move due to a high volume of Insurgent fire and sustained multiple casualties. With disregard for his own safety, Sergeant Shurer took off through a hail of bullets and began scaling the rock face to get to the casualties. During initial movement to the base of the mountain he treated a teammate wounded by shrapnel to his neck from an RPG blast that blew him off his feet. Once his teammate received aid, he then fought several hundred meters under fire, for over an hour, killing multiple Insurgents, as he made his way to the besieged location. Under intense Insurgent fire, Sergeant Shurer reached the pinned down element of his ODA and immediately rendered aid to four critically wounded US and ten injured Commandos. He treated multiple life threatening gunshot wounds until additional teammates arrived. Sergeant Shurer courageously exposed himself by running 15 meters through heavy Insurgent fire to render aid to his seriously wounded Team Sergeant. Despite being hit in the helmet and wounded in the arm by Insurgent sniper fire, he immediately pulled his Team Sergeant to a covered position, and rendered aid as Insurgent rounds impacted inches from their location. Without hesitation, he moved back through heavy Insurgent fire to treat another teammate that suffered a traumatic amputation of his right leg from Insurgent sniper fire. Sergeant Shurer rendered life saving aid to four critically wounded casualties for more than five and a half hours. As the lone medic at the besieged location, and almost overrun and fighting against nearly 200 Insurgent fighters, Sergeant Shurer's bravery and poise under fire saved the lives of all wounded casualties under his care. He evacuated three critically wounded, non-ambulatory, teammates down a near vertical 60-foot cliff, despite being under heavy Insurgent fire, and falling debris from numerous danger-close air strikes. Sergeant Shurer ingeniously used a six foot length of nylon webbing to lower casualties, and physically shielded them from falling debris to ensure their safety. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself, Special Operations Task Force – 33, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan, Special Operations Command Central, and the United States Army.
He received/receives his MoH today.
This one raises some questions. Not about SSG Shurer, he undeniably demonstrated valor worthy of the MoH. Rather, about the Command that put him in for only a Silver Star.
Was that Special Forces A-Team devastated due to circumstances beyond anyone's control; or, did the Command drop the ball in the planning and preparation of the mission? Perhaps they didn't want a high profile award coming out of it that would draw attention.
According to Wikipedia, SSG Shurer joined the Army in 2002. The cited engagement took place in 2008. SSG Shurer would have been on his first reenlistment and considered a career soldier. He left the Army the next year; however, in 2009. I wonder if he lost confidence in the Command.
It's equally possible that he just got tired of combat and associated risks. In that case, it's a shame the MoH wasn't awarded initially as living MoH recipients are considered to have done the equivalent of giving their life for their country since there was no reasonable expectation they would
miraculously survive (it's also awarded posthumously) and the military won't send them back into combat.
I noticed that he was going on 7 years time in service (TIS). At 7 years TIS I was a rank above his. I wonder if the Command was making sure that people like him were getting promoted as soon as eligible; or, if they were dropping the ball on that.
The end of the award citation had a glaring omission. Where it says: "His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military heroism and reflect distinct credit upon himself … etc." It doesn't mention the unit he was assigned to, the
3d Special Forces Group (Airborne) as at the beginning of the citation. Even if the citation is getting too lengthy, it generally says: "and reflect distinct credit upon himself,
his unit, … etc." A snub of his Command?
At least it looks like he has a good job now, outside the military, where his military acquired skills will be an asset. Good on him.
Maybe he's gay and his command had it in for him.
You can see it in his eyes if you look closely.
[ATTACH]65144[/ATTACH]
Who, Mike Pence? I totally agree.
I'm glad you think Mike Pence is awesome people.
Sgt. Rafael Peralta [strike]is[/strike] was an Awesome People™.
[ATTACH]65244[/ATTACH]
Born in Mexico City, he enlisted in the USMC
the day he got his Green Card.
During a combat tour supporting Operation Al Fajr in the city of Fallujah, Iraq, he was shot and mortally wounded. As his squad fired at the insurgents around him, an enemy grenade was thrown into their midst; it came to rest near Peralta’s head.
From his Navy Cross citation:
“Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Sgt. Peralta reached out and pulled the grenade to his body, absorbing the brunt of the blast and shielding fellow Marines only feet away. Sgt. Peralta succumbed to his wounds. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty, Sgt. Peralta reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”
He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Action Ribbon.
Oh, and his actions are also commemorated by the commissioning of the
USS Rafael Peralta, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.
Link (hour+ long vid of the commissioning of the ship at the link)
Somewhere in or around Derby, Vermont there is a fairly Awesome People™ walking around.
He went to the lay-away dept at the local Wallyworld and paid off
all the laid-away items. Woman in line behind him was told "Why don’t you run and get what you want now and come back here?" She did. He paid for that, too.
All anonymously.
:devil:
LinkI love doing shit like that, but never been in a position to do it on that scale.
There's another guy, don't remember where, who walks around with a cop and like $10,000 in hundreds giving Christmas shoppers money.
Usually women with kids and varying amounts depending on their story.
Here it is, it's $100,000.This Builder seems like a pretty awesome people.
Roy Allen did the work on a terminally ill disabled woman's house to help make it liveable and accessible after she was duped out of the money she had for the job by an asshole
That was cool of him/them.
Jerry seems to be a fairly Awesome People™.
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LinkAn unnamed elementary school girl in Washington state and her teacher Rachel Uretsky-Pratt:
Child with 'nothing to give' sacrifices Lucky Charms marshmallows for teacher
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To help put your life into perspective:
Today was the last day before our winter break. We will have two weeks off to rest with our families and loved ones over the holidays then head back to school in 2019.
With it being the day before break and Christmas right around the corner, most teachers bring their kiddos something such as books or little treats and occasionally in return receive something from their students.
Today I received some chocolates, sweet handmade notes, some jewelry, but these Lucky Charm marshmallows stood out to me the most.
You see, 100% of my school is on free/reduced lunch. They also get free breakfast at school every day of the school week. This kiddo wanted to get me something so badly, but had nothing to give.
So rather than give me nothing, this student opened up her free breakfast cereal this morning, took the packaging of her spork, straw, and napkin, and finally took the time to take every marshmallow out of her cereal to put in a bag—for me.
Be grateful for what you have, and what others give you. It all truly comes from the deepest parts of their hearts.
Happy Holidays. ��
Uretsky-Pratt said that when the children presented their gifts, she accepted the bag of marshmallows much like all the other ones – "thank you so much, sweetie.”
But the child's simple sacrifice wasn't lost on her: “No one likes Lucky Charms without the marshmallows," Uretsky-Pratt mused.
I read that story. Coolness.
The moral of this story is "Don't fuck with John when he's napping."
McKinney, John R.
Rank and organization: Sergeant (then Private), U.S. Army, Company A, 123d Infantry, 33d Infantry Division
Place and date: Tayabas Province, Luzon, Philippine Islands, May 11, 1945
Entered service at:Woodcliff, Georgia
Citation:
He fought with extreme gallantry to defend the outpost which had been established near Dingalan Bay. Just before daybreak approximately 100 Japanese stealthily attacked the perimeter defense, concentrating on a light machinegun position having completed a long tour of duty at this gun, Pvt. McKinney was resting a few paces away when an enemy soldier dealt him a glancing blow on the head with a saber. Although dazed by the stroke, he seized his rifle, bludgeoned his attacker, and then shot another assailant who was charging him. Meanwhile, one of his comrades at the machinegun had been wounded and his other companion withdrew carrying the injured man to safety. Alone, Pvt. McKinney was confronted by ten infantrymen who had captured the machinegun with the evident intent of reversing it to fire into the perimeter. Leaping into the emplacement, he shot seven of them at pointblank range and killed three more with his rifle butt. In the melee the machinegun was rendered inoperative, leaving him only his rifle with which to meet the advancing Japanese, who hurled grenades and directed knee mortar shells into the perimeter. He warily changed position, secured more ammunition, and reloading repeatedly, cut down waves of the fanatical enemy with devastating fire or clubbed them to death in hand-to-hand combat. When assistance arrived, he had thwarted the assault and was in complete control of the area. Thirty-eight dead Japanese around the machinegun and two more at the side of a mortar 45 yards distant was the amazing toll he had exacted single-handedly. By his indomitable spirit, extraordinary fighting ability, and unwavering courage in the face of tremendous odds, Pvt. McKinney saved his company from possible annihilation and set an example of unsurpassed intrepidity.
from Wiki:
US Army Pvt. John McKinney had stood guard duty and had just gone to his tent in the early hours May 11, 1945 on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The vanguard of a Japanese force slipped past the guard post. Sgt. Fukutaro Morii threw open McKinney's tent flap and slashed down with his sword, no doubt to minimize the sound of the as-yet undetected attack. He severed part of McKinney's ear. McKinney, a skilled hunter from Georgia, grabbed the rifle he slept with, bashed Morii in the chin and finished him off with another blow to the head.
Over the next 36 minutes, McKinney protected the flank of his company and his sleeping comrades by killing 38 of the enemy. McKinney did so through point-blank, kill-or-be-killed encounters as well as rapid-fire, accurate shots with various M1 rifles he picked up and fired at charging enemies. Early in the engagement, he returned to his foxhole where he eliminated first one wave and then part of the second wave of the main attack force. Several in the second wave made it to the foxhole where McKinney first shot and then clubbed his assailants in hand-to-hand combat.
Not keeping count?
40 enemy soldiers killed in 36 minutes.
That, friends and neighbors, is an Awesome People™.
He got the Medal of Honor, in case you were interested.
That's his MoH citation in my post. I think. Ya got me wondering, now.
He got a medal for savaging 40 Japanese tourists? ;)
Y'know who's awesome?
The Milwaukee Brewers and Bob Uecker are Awesome People™.
Brewers players voted to pay Bob Uecker like a player during 2018 playoff run
Uecker is 85 and still calls every home game, with no plans to quit.
:devil:
Link leads to empty page.:o
Was this the one you meant?
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I suspect ol' Joe may have been an Awesome People™.
Link to Joe's obitDidn't know him but have known a couple like him, RIP Joe.
I'll second that Monster.
I'd even 3rd or 4th that!
I nominate Carruthers
I'll Second That.
I'll second that Monster.
I'd even 3rd or 4th that!
Thank you one and all for your kind remarks.
The semblance of a blush has risen, unbidden, to my manly cheek. :blush::blush::blush:
And he's humble, too.
:cheerldr:
You can donate one unit of whole blood every 2 months. Or 6 times a year. It would take 167 years to donate 1000 units of whole blood.
Maybe he was donating smaller quantities, or platelets (which if I recall correctly you can donate every three days). The blood banks must have set up some sort of special collection procedure for him once his special blood was identified.
Ok. I looked him up. He was doing Plasma apheresis, which is actually a much bigger deal.
They hook you up to a machine that takes your blood and separates out the components they are collecting and returns the unwated blood components to your body. It takes 1-2 hours for one donation instead of the half an hour for a whole blood donation. And you can do it more frequently.
So this guy is truly amazing. 1000 donations that are more difficult than a typical whole blood donation.
On a related tangent, there is currently a nationwide IVIG shortage, which is used to treat a variety of autoimmune diseases and is obtained by plasma donation. (In Mr. Harrison's case, they needed one particular rare antigen, whereas with generic IVIG they need a mix of everything found in a normal person.)
As for why there is a shortage, it's a combination of 1.) the huge spike in all autoimmune diseases and 2.) the increasing awareness and medical proof that IVIG treats the symptoms of all of them to some degree, despite being obscenely expensive and a hassle to administer. But the end result is that some plasma donation places are raising their reimbursement rates. Around here they pay $40 for every donation, plus a $50 bonus if you make the maximum of three donations in a week. A dedicated donor could pull in an extra $680 a month.
So $90 for three donations in a week. About two hours per would be $15 an hour and free snacks. Won't take mine though, have to make my money the old fashion way through prostitution. :blush:
Heh. I've never been tested for suitability, but I've got enough official diagnoses on the books that I'm pretty sure they wouldn't want mine either.
My BiL is in the business. Sometimes they pay folk with a diagnosis extra $.
OMG, Shay Bradley must have been an Awesome People™ when he was alive, because
he was fucking awesome in death.
Make sure to watch the vid at the link.
:devil:
Badassery, on an Awesome People™ level.
Oorah, indeed.:devil:
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SSgt Ronald Shurer,
mentioned in this thread a couple pages back,
died May 14.
Fuck cancer.
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Remember this one about [post=1016052]Ronald J. Shurer[/post]?
This is about one of his cow-orkers...
John Wayne Walding
The full linked story is worth reading. Snippets below:
This Green Beret had his leg shot off on a 'cursed' mission, but that didn't stop him from becoming an elite sniper
... so the team's medic, Staff Sgt. Ron Shurer, ...
... On April 6, 2008, a handful of troops with Operational Detachment Alpha 3336, 3rd Special Forces Group and a number of Afghan commandos flew into Shok Valley. It was the start of what Walding called "a very long day at the office." ...
... An Afghan interpreter had been killed, and two US soldiers, Staff Sgt. Dillon Behr and Staff Sgt. Luis Morales, were severely wounded. Supporting, Walding moved into position between them and the incoming fire. "That's when I got shot," he said.
An enemy sniper shot Walding in the leg, nearly tearing it from his body. "It was hanging on by like a tendon or two," Wallen said. "I've never seen an injury that looked that bad."
"I never will forget falling forward and then rolling over to see that leg just hanging there by only about an inch of flesh," Walding recalled. "It was the worst pain I've ever felt in my life."
Walding was not done fighting though. After putting a tourniquet in place to stop the bleeding, he used his boot laces to strap the bottom part of his leg to his thigh, picked up his rifle, and got back to it. ...
... Ten members of Walding's team, himself included, would later be awarded the Silver Star. Not since Vietnam had that many Silver Stars been awarded for a single engagement. And, two of the soldiers who were in Shok Valley later received the Medal of Honor for their courage under fire. ...
sexobon:
Since World War Two, it would seem that America has trained a whole bunch of snipers to kill foreign people in their own homelands in wars that were never declared.
I don't think I like the idea very much.
Being the target of quite a few such attacks and losing close comrades to them complicates that feeling but doesn't change it.
I am pretty sure you will have a justification for us.
You served during a conflict that wasn't our fight. We were interventionists on someone else's behalf. There was an indirect relationship to our ideology which leaves more room for doubt about whether or not the means were appropriate and if it was worth the sacrifices. Your perspective is influenced by those circumstances.
Someone responding to a direct threat against us, as terrorists have perpetrated, recognizes the value of taking the fight into enemy territory so that it doesn't continue here. They are more accepting of the sacrifices and have fewer reservations about using the means at their disposal.
Military snipers are just another weapon in the arsenal. Sniper training also makes for better counter-snipers. That's why we have police snipers too.
I'm not going to try to justify this country's military excursions. I served between the Vietnam conflict and the first Golf War (I wouldn't have chosen to participate in either); but, don't construe that to mean I haven't been exposed to similar risks and lost friends. I am a Cold War veteran. SF is currently operating in about 29 different countries and it's always been that way (a lot of Americans can't even name 29 countries). It's the nature of clandestine ops that one doesn't wear their experiences on their sleeve. I can say though, I wouldn't have had a problem with operating in countries that housed terrorist training camps. An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure in areas other than medicine.
Flashback: The Beetles released their album Abbey Road on this date in 1969.
