All posts by Michael Brewer

Retired Commercial Property Manager and Private Investigator. Disabled Combat Veteran of the U.S Marine Corps/ Vietnam. Raised in Dixon, Illinios and moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1959. Very happily married with 3 children and 3 grandsons. Blessed with treasured friends. LIfe long interests have been broad and exciting. Owned a semi-pro soccer team for 4 years. Freelance journalism has been stimulating. Civically involved with both municipal and veterans fraternal organizations. Moved to Apple Valley, Ca. in July, 2010 to be near children. Our daughter is a therapist in Santa Monica and son a multi-media digital ats maven. My wife loves her loom and us! Past Commandant of Apple Valley Marine Corps League,. Currently their Chaplain and Veteran Service Officer. Member of California Writers Club where we occasionally volunteer at the Federal Prison. An overall content hombre.

Military Rules of Conduct

Remember now, do not abandon your humor. The vets don’t !


MILITARY RULES OF CONDUCT

I’m sure you can relate to these……………

Marine Corps Rules:
1. Be courteous to everyone, friendly to no one.
2. Decide to be aggressive enough, quickly enough.
3. Have a plan.
4. Have a back-up plan, because the first one probably won’t work.
5. Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet.
6. Do not attend a gunfight with a handgun whose caliber does not start with a ‘4.’
7. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is expensive.
8. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. (Lateral & diagonal preferred.)
9. Use cover and concealment as much as possible.
10. Flank your adversary when possible. Protect yours.
11. Always cheat; always win. The only unfair fight is the one you lose.
12. In ten years nobody will remember the details of caliber, stance, or tactics. They will only remember who lived.
13. If you are not shooting, you should be communicating your intention to shoot.

Navy SEALS Rules:
1. Look very cool in sunglasses.
2. Kill every living thing within view.
3. Adjust speedo.
4. Check hair in mirror.

US Army Rangers Rules:
1. Walk 50 miles wearing 75 pound rucksack while starving.
2. Locate individuals requiring killing.
3. Request permission via radio from ‘Higher’ to perform killing.
4. Curse bitterly when mission is aborted.
5. Walk out 50 miles wearing a 75 pound rucksack while starving.

US Army Rules:
1. Curse bitterly when receiving operational order.
2. Make sure there is extra ammo and extra coffee.
3. Curse bitterly.
4. Curse bitterly.
5. Do not listen to 2nd LTs; it can get you killed.

6. Curse bitterly.

US Air Force Rules:
1. Have a cocktail.
2. Adjust temperature on air-conditioner..
3. See what’s on HBO.
4. Ask ‘What is a gunfight?’
5. Request more funding from Congress with a ‘killer’ Power Point presentation.
6. Wine & dine ”key’ Congressmen, invite DOD & defense industry executives.
7. Receive funding, set up new command and assemble assets.
8. Declare the assets ‘strategic’ and never deploy them operationally.
9. Hurry to make 13:45 tee-time.

10. Make sure the base is as far as possible from the conflict but close enough to have tax exemption.

US Navy Rules:
1. Go to Sea.
2. Drink Coffee.
3. Deploy Marines

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Literary Assist From a Pro

Each day I wake and think about the intention of this Post, I know I am at risk for feedback that…. well lets say, might not be from the book of Miss Manners. Unfortunately, that is the state of nation, with the exception of many of our own Bloggers, who have clearly been most supportive of each other since this site launched back in the first week in July.

This quote from E.B. White summarizes the emotions that flow through me each day,as I contemplate what may be worth publishing for the good of the order and the furtherance of civility.

“If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy. If it were challenging, that would be no problem. Then I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day”

I suspect this may capture the sentiment of many retirees as myself.ALSA dot org

The project here at “TucsonCitizen.com”, does however, provide an existential sense of usefulness for myself and apparently for a slew of veterans who chime into this site, as the viewings of “Veteran Veritas” are amongst the highest of all the Blogs.

“Whooda known?”

Thank you fellow vets, friends and families for riding with us in this new blogosphere adventure.

New Play to Focus on Women in Military

Play to Focus on Women in the Military
Play to Focus on Women in the Military
The first play I saw about women in the military, “Piece of My Heart,” was outstanding, though heartbreaking. I look forward to seeing this new one adapted from the book “Powder: Writing by Women in the Ranks, From Vietnam to Iraq.”

“Coming in Hot,” a one-woman play about women in the military, will debut in Tucson Sept. 24 through 27 at the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave.

Tickets for opening night are $50; all other shows are $15 for general admission and $10 for students, veterans and seniors. Tickets are available online at www.korepress.org.
Show dates and times are 7 p.m. Sept. 24 through 26 and 2 p.m. Sept. 27.

Courtesy of the Arizona Daily Star, Sunday, September 13. 2009

To view the book trailer, go online to You.Tube

Post Traumatic Stress a Christian View

SPIRITUALLY DEFINED

An event or series of events either induced by war, sexual trauma, physical abuse,or accident that is outside the fruit of the spirit.( Galatians 5:22-23). The experience results in a deep wounding of the heart;(Lamentations 1:20, 2:11, 3;13-18) creating the formation of an idol of thought, frequently defined as intrusive thoughts, causing change in behavior and attitudes.(Psalm 135;15-18, Psalm 115; 5-8, Galations 5;19-21). This behavior inspires a false worship creating a separation from God(Isaiah 59;1-8) which leads to a broken heart and spiritual torment.(Job 18;5-21).
The condition of PTSD has worsened and become more prevalent in recent times, as a result of both war and an increasing violent society.
I know this small divergence from the clinical approach, which I know well, may not resonate with all readers, but for the few it does. let it be. Psychology can only take one so far in the pilgrimage of awareness. A spiritual dimension is needed to bring a lasting contentment or the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Legislative Update

We offer our continued thanks to the diligence that comes from the Legislative, Policy and Government Affairs people at Vietnam Veterans OF America.

LEGISALTIVE ALERT Support passage of S. 252 Take Action!

Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009

Congress has now returned from its August recess. A number of bills important to veterans and their families have been approved and reported at the Committee level but are waiting for a full vote and final Congressional passage. One extremely important measure in the U.S. Senate is S. 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009. This bill was sponsored by Senator Daniel Akaka (HI), Chairman of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and is co-sponsored by Senator Richard Burr (NC), the Committee’s Ranking Member, as well as seven other Senators. This comprehensive bill includes provisions to improve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) personnel programs; improvements in VA health care services; enhancements in women veterans’ care; expansion of mental health services, new programs in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and expansions in VA programs for homeless veterans.

VVA has testified on many of the provisions incorporated into this bill. In fact Congress considered many of these provisions in 2008, but they were not passed due to disagreements over unrelated issues. Veterans and their families need your help to get this bill enacted into law this year.

VVA urges you to contact your two U.S. Senators to request their support for passage of S. 252, the Veterans Health Care Authorization Act of 2009.

As always, VVA thanks you for your advocacy on behalf of our nation’s veterans.

A Call For Assistance/ Marine Corps League

New MC League Charter in Tucson
New MC League Charter in Tucson
The proposed Marine Corps League, Nighthawk 72 Detachment, has asked for our assistance here at the Citizen.

This newly chartered Marine Corps League is searching for 9 more Marines to join this fine group of men and women to fulfill the legal charter requirements. They just learned that transfer members are not to be counted in the roll call for a new charter. They have plenty of active and vibrant members, it is just that many are transfers. They need brand new members.

MCL is one of the finest advocacy organizations for veterans in the nation. Help us get this Charter up and going, so we can begin to further the work needed to support our men and women returning home.

For information contact Don LaVetter at 520-623-7471 “dontfg@cox.net” or
Fernando Leon Jr. 520-400-4096

Advocacy or Veracity

Okay Citizens of the World, and the astute and quick to respond TucsonCitizen.com bloggers and commenters, I anticipate that I will be nabbed here for being “partisan”, as some of our fans see it everywhere to the point where I think that during a Monday Night Football match they would want the game to be stopped because the opponent does not agree with them, and are therefore ‘partisan!’ Whatever.

Here is my educated and small world take on Health Care, colored with 34 years industry experience. VA System, St.Marys and UMC Mental Health, while in Nursing School, and as a Veterans Benefits Counselor.

This is small stuff folks so be gentle now, the summer of aberration is over.

All the flap about the Government destroying free market enterprise does not pan out. Most all Health Care markets are a near monopoly pre-determined by the giant HMO”s who pretty much decide who will take a certain market and leave another alone. Retired health care professionals will testify to this gimmick. It is very much like the old Mob families. Except the mob was managed better.
But here’s the thing. The VA Home Loan program, which I know intimately, has been sitting side by side with FHA el al, since the 1940’s. Has it dented, damaged or demeaned the competition in the home loan industry? No, not one iota. In fact it has bolstered the entire competitive nature of the home loan industry, and regulated itself so as to not have the internal fraud, and disgusting greed and malice that we have seen this past 5 years.

I beseech you, who do you want as your trustworthy Uncle in this scenario, Uncle Sam, or Uncle Guido? The argument of the Government,(which is still us, last time I woke) destroying Capitalism in America is pure nonsense. Even the icon, Reagan knew this well as he vociferously defended deficit spending. Without the Government intervening, Capitalism is but a paper dream, especially now.

And last, from my small world, I just want this one on the record, as my bookie told me to!

In the next few weeks or so, we are going to witness the VA Health Care system come off the bench and enter the health care game as a ringer. They are going to make some 3 point shots from, “downtown” as the sportscasters say, and blow partisanship right out of the saddle.

Not unlike Ted Kennedy’s Title lX Legislation for gender equity in sports that passed 35 years ago, no Donkey or Elephant will ever squawk about their daughter getting an athletic scholarship for a College sport that heretofore they never would have been awarded. My cousin Christine Caliway got one for the UofA Basketball team. This never would have happened without that fine bi-partisan legislation. Something tells me this debate is similar. If 24/7 Cable television took a 30 day break like Congress does, it may happen faster.

So, stay tuned, I say the VA is coming to a theater near you.

War and the Soul

This man is an authority on War and PTSD and the soul. I chose to present this in its unedited form as it is simply an announcement and seems appropriate for our mission to advocacy.

Part 4: Vets share their experiences of healing from the traumas unique to war through traditional shamanic ways.

There is a journey warriors must walk to heal and truly return to them selves, to their families and to the larger community. Those who complete this journey of release and healing become Mature Warriors, bringing gifts of leadership, reduced violence, and the ability to make peace to the community. Our guest, Dr. Edward Tick, rediscovered the archetypal path necessary to heal the unique wounding of war by working effectively and deeply with traditional shamanic practices in the indigenous cultures of Greece, Native North America and Viet Nam. Dr. Tick, author of War and The Soul, specializes in using psycho-spiritual, cross-cultural, and international reconciliation practices to bring healing to veterans, communities and nations recovering from the traumas of war. This week we complete our four-part series exploring war and shamanic healing. Please forward this message to anyone touched by war. Together we can bring healing to the soul and find the gifts of the Mature Warrior.
This Week’s Guest:
Edward Tick, Ph.D.

Ed Tick – W&S book cover Edward Tick, Ph.D., is Founding Director and Senior Clinician of Soldier’s Heart: Veterans’ Safe Return Programs. Honored for his groundbreaking work in the holistic and community-based healing of veterans and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dr. Tick has been a psychotherapist for 33 years, specializing in working with veterans since the 1970s. He is the author of Sacred Mountain, The Practice Of Dream Healing, The Golden Tortoise, and the award-winning book War And The Soul.
Dr. Tick is an internationally recognized expert on veterans, PTSD, and the psychology of military-related issues and has conducted training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other Dept. of Defense facilities. He lectures throughout the world and leads semi-annual international educational, healing and reconciliation journeys to Vietnam and Greece. Dr. Tick specializes in using psycho-spiritual, cross-cultural, and international reconciliation practices to bring healing to veterans, communities and nations recovering from the traumas of war and violence.

Listen, send us an email, or call in. 1800-927-2527 ext. 02586

* Part 1 aired Feb 25th, Healing the Warrior’s Wounds. Effective healing of PTSD.
* Part 2 aired May 20th, Healing grief and loss with indigenous shamans.
* Part 3 aired May 27th, How traditional indigenous teachings for healing from war are used effectively today.

Agent Orange on the March

Only in the ranks of dark veteran humor will you hear the phrase, “Agent Orange, the gift that keeps on giving”. But then how else are you going to handle getting sprayed with chemicals by your own Government?

Agent Orange Linked to New Diseases

In its recent review of medical research into the long-term effects of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that there is a suggestive link between exposure to Agent Orange and Is chemic Heart Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and certain rare cancers.

In the same review, the IOM affirmed its earlier conclusion that there is a significantly increased risk of developing hypertension in those who served in Vietnam.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars is calling on the VA to fully recognize these findings and award presumptive service connection for veterans suffering from these diseases who were exposed to Agent Orange.

In 2000, a similar study found a link between Agent Orange and Type II Diabetes. Those findings led the VA to recognize presumptive service connection for Vietnam veterans suffering from the disease.

“Based on this data, the VA should take swift action,” says Gerald Manar, Deputy Director, National Veterans Service. “The VFW is pushing for full recognition of conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure, along with proper medical care and timely compensation.”

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Post Labor Day Fun

Now that everyone returned on time from a long weekend at the beach lets dip right into the cold cruel world of the 9-5 grind with some hard core observations about our splendid economy.

Having worked as a commercial real estate manager for 31 years, I remain in the loop of many real estate newsletters and publications. These nuggets come to us by way of Bob Bass, a well known Real Estate Attorney in Arizona.

THE TOP 10 INDICATORS THAT THE ECONOMY IS BAD

10. CEO’s are now playing miniature golf.

9. I got a pre-delcined credit card in the mail

8. I went to buy a toaster oven and they gave me a bank

7. Hot wheels and Matchbook cars companies are now trading higher than GM stock

6. McDonalds is selling the quarter ouncer

5. Beverly Hills nannies are learing their children’s names

4. The most highly paid job is now jury duty

3. Motel 6 will not leave the lights on for you

2. The Mafia is laying off judges

And the number one indicator that the economy is bad.

1. The bank returns your check marked, “insufficient funds” and you have to call them to ask
if they meant yours or theirs?

Feel free to add your own doozies.