Welcome to my Blog
I am so excited that I have an opportunity to share my experiences and adventures of World War II with you in this blog. Feel free to ask me anything or please comment on any of my books you may have read. Go to www.talesofwar.com to review my books. ~~Capt Jim~~
Capt Jim,
I want to thank you for your dedication and service to our country. The veterans of World War II have without question earned the respect of the American people... and you truly deserve it! God bless you and all WWII veterans! Semper Fi!
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Captain Jim, When does your New book "In the Name of the Luftwaffe" come out? Thank you
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So good to hear from you, Felice. You are an early riser. You should be in Mass.
The Luftwaffe is here and I am sending you a supply for your use any way you want to use them. Get one to Gates if you can.
Now to get WWII buffs to send us a message.
Thanks for checking this out. I need the practice, badly.
Love to my Washington family.
Dad
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Poppie, Today we had no school because it snowed! I am almost done with my report on you and WWII. Thank you for all of your help!
Love, Jimmy
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Today I am a blogger, thanks to my great friend, Marine First Sergeant Ted Worley.
You missed a great war we could have used you.
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I may have to do this in two entries as I don't know how many characters it will take.
This is in reference to Berkeley, CA City Council action against a Marine Corps Recruiting Station located in their city. I found out about this situation on Fox News and followed up by going to Berkeley's web site (www.ci.berkeley.ca.us)and looked at their agenda for Jan. 29, 2008. Item 12 on the agenda is where the Council took action. I'll tell you item 13 should be of interest also. If you click on the blue item line it will take you to the full and complete issue. If you are a member of Captain Jim's blog I am sure you will find what you read disturbing. I did have an opportunity yesterday to download these documents and will try to get them included here or in additional postings as when I went in to re-check Berkeley's web site this morning I found they took it out of service. Must be they are getting too much attention. GOOD!
I will sign off on this posting and will try to add the documents in follow-on postings.
I sign, with respect and friend of Capt. Jim,
Jim Smith
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Below you will see items 12 and 13 from the Berkely City Council agenda.
12. Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley (PDF)
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Recommendation:
1. Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley;
2. Direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders;
3. Encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Manuel Hector, Commission Secretary, 981-5100
13. Withdrawal of California National Guard Troops from Iraq (PDF)
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Recommendation: Call upon the Governor of California to demand that the President and Congress take immediate steps to withdraw California National Guard troops from Iraq now, and urge the California State Assembly and Senate to introduce legislation calling upon the prompt return of the California National Guard from Iraq.
Financial Implications: None
Contact: Manuel Hector, Commission Secretary, 981-5100
Council Consent Items
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Peace and Justice Commission
CONSENT CALENDAR
January 29, 2008
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Submitted by:Steve Freedkin, Chairperson
Subject: Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley
RECOMMENDATION
(1) Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on
City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting
offices in Berkeley; (2) direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps
Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway,
Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine
recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as
uninvited and unwelcome intruders; and (3) encourage all people to avoid cooperation
with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such
as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means,
the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
Staff time to research the City’s options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley
Municipal Code, discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military
recruiting offices in Berkeley.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECT
The United States has a history of launching illegal, immoral and unprovoked wars of
aggression and the Bush Administration launched the most recent of those wars in Iraq
and is threatening the possibility of war in Iran. These wars have produced catastrophic
loss of human life, both civilian and military, as well as physically maiming and
deforming and psychologically destroying countless numbers of civilians and military
personnel.
The United States Marine Corps is being used as one of the means of perpetrating and
prolonging illegal, unconstitutional and unnecessary wars of the United States. Military
recruiters are sales people known to lie to and seduce minors and young adults into
contracting themselves into military service with false promises regarding jobs, job
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Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley CONSENT CALENDAR
January 29, 2008
2
training, education and other benefits. Many enlisted persons never see the benefits
they are promised and find out they are not eligible for the educational benefits due to
loopholes and they did not receive the training promised or it did not qualify them for
jobs outside the military.
The United States military discriminates by refusing to hire gays, lesbians, or bisexuals.
By ordinance (BMC § 13.28.030; Ord. 5106-NS § 1 (part), 1978), the City of Berkeley
prohibits such discrimination; requires employers to post a notice that discrimination on
the basis of sexual orientation is prohibited by law; and provides for a fine of up to $50
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Peace and Justice Commission
CONSENT CALENDAR
January 29, 2008
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Peace and Justice Commission
Submitted by: Steve Freedkin, Chairperson
Subject: Withdrawal of California National Guard Troops from Iraq
RECOMMENDATION
Call upon the Governor of California to demand that the President and Congress take
immediate steps to withdraw California National Guard troops from Iraq now, and urge
the California State Assembly and Senate to introduce legislation calling for the prompt
return of the California National Guard from Iraq.
FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION
None.
CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECT
In the wake of the ongoing conflict in Iraq as well as recent fires in the State of
California, it is more important than ever that California’s National Guard troops are
withdrawn from Iraq. There is reason to believe that the federalization and deployment
of National Guard troops has rendered the remaining National Guard forces less able to
carry out its state activities effectively.
BACKGROUND
At the meeting of November 5, 2007, the Peace and Justice Commission approved the
following motion: M/S/C (Bohn/Meola) that the Council of the City of Berkeley approve
the following recommendation:
WHEREAS, on September 13, 2005, the Berkeley City Council adopted Resolution No.
63,055-N.S. supporting the withdrawal of California National Guard troops from Iraq;
and
WHEREAS, the costs of the call-up of California National Guard members for
deployment in Iraq have been significant, as determined in lost lives, combat injuries,
psychic trauma, disruption of family life, financial hardship for individuals, families, and
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Withdrawal of California National Guard from Iraq CONSENT CALENDAR
January 29, 2008
businesses, interruption of careers, and damage to the fabric of civic life in many
California communities; and
WHEREAS, these are costs which would be suffered willingly were there a threat to our
nation, but which are not tolerable where there is none; and
WHEREAS, Californians have joined the Guard thinking that they would be serving their
neighbors by helping with California-based emergencies, unless there was a danger to
the United States requiring transfer to active duty; and
WHEREAS, stop-loss orders, which unilaterally extend the duration of duty, violate the
mutual understanding between Californians in the Guard and the state and nation they
agreed to serve; and
WHEREAS, severe lack of personnel and resources during the recent fires in Southern
California further shows that the federalization and deployment of National Guard
members has rendered the remaining Guard force less able to carry out its state
activities effectively; and
WHEREAS, the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall have the power
to "provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the laws of the Nation, to suppress
insurrections and repel invasions," and the California Stat
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I sent the excerpts from the Berkeley City Council agenda, the complete document concerning the Marine Corps Recruiting Station and one concerning the National Guard. They are being checked for moderation and I hope they make it to the blog. I also forwarded the .pdf documents to Capt. Jim.
Respectfully and Semper Fi,
Jim Smith
GySgt. USMC, Retired
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