world - Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort! This was taken
in May and we usually return in October to see the leaves
change.... Not this year! So we just sit and dream about
our mountain hideaway and look forward to our next visit!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
At the Gap!
Here is Linda and I at one of our favorite places in the
world - Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort! This was taken
in May and we usually return in October to see the leaves
change.... Not this year! So we just sit and dream about
our mountain hideaway and look forward to our next visit!
world - Deal's Gap Motorcycle Resort! This was taken
in May and we usually return in October to see the leaves
change.... Not this year! So we just sit and dream about
our mountain hideaway and look forward to our next visit!
Monday, October 01, 2007
Chosen Soldier!
I finished reading this awesome book about the training of the
US Army Special Forces - in a word INCREDIBLE!
Fantastic book and a phenomenal insight into the making of
our finest soldiers! Charlie wanted me to read this book so I
could relate to his training. WOW! I'm in awe of these guys!
IN combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. We are fighting guerrilla wars, against insurgents hidden in remote regions, often deep among the local population. In battles such as these, squadrons of billion-dollar bombers and naval fleets mean much less than on-the-ground intelligence and the ability to organize local forces. That’s why, more than ever before, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces—the legendary Green Berets.
In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch—a former Navy SEAL widely admired for his books about SEAL training and operations—offers an unprecedented view of the training of the Army Special Forces warrior. Each year, several thousand enlisted men and several hundred officers volunteer for Special Forces training; less than a quarter of those who apply will complete the course. Chosen Soldier spells out in fascinating detail the arduous regimen these men undergo—the demanding selection process and grueling field exercises, the high-level technical training and intensive language courses, and the simulated battle problems that test everything from how well they gather operational intelligence to their skills at negotiating with volatile, often hostile, local leaders.
Green Berets are expected to be deadly in combat, yes, but their responsibilities go far beyond those of other Special Operations fighters; they’re taught to operate in foreign cultures, often behind enemy lines; to recruit, train, and lead local forces; to gather intelligence in hostile territory; to forge bonds across languages and cultures. They must not only be experts in such fields as explosives, communications, engineering, and field medicine, but also be able to teach those skills to others. Each and every Green Beret must function as tactical combat leader, negotiator, teacher, drill sergeant, and diplomat.
These tasks require more than just physical prowess; they require a unique mix of character, intelligence, language skills, and—most of all—adaptability. It’s no wonder that the Green Berets’ training regimen is known as the hardest in the world. Drawing on his unprecedented access to the closed world of Army Special Forces training, Dick Couch paints a vivid, intimate portrait of these extraordinary men and the process that forges America’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force.
Praise
"Dick Couch has written the definitive book on the making of a Special Forces soldier. It is high tribute indeed that a former Navy SEAL declares U.S. Army Special Forces the single most valuable asset in America's war on terrorism. Couch moved into Camp Mackall with a class of SF candidates for ten months and emerged to pen an insightful portrait of men whose cultural understanding, negotiating skills, and license for creative thinking represent the most sophisticated approach to today's unsettled world of terrorism and murky, backwater conflicts. Chosen Soldier should be read by every American who despairs of finding solutions to current tumult."
--Linda Robinson, author of Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces
"A superb book for any reader interested in just what makes a 'Chosen Soldier'...expertly carries the reader through the rigorous training and mock battles...impossible to put down."
--Robin Moore, author of The Green Berets, The Hunt for Bin Laden and Hunting Down Saddam
"A clear and fascinating description of how the world's best unconventional soldiers are selected and trained. Couch brings the reader inside the arduous process that makes the Green Beret the Olympic-class soldier: disciplined, mature and sophisticated."
--Bing West, author of The Village and No True Glory: The Battle for Fallujah
"One of the most impressive and insightful accounts I've seen of Army Special Forces. More accurately and revealingly than any author in recent memory, Couch shows how the finest warriors in the world are selected and trained. Chosen Soldier is a great portrayal of the heroes that defend America."
--James B. Woulfe, author of Into the Crucible: Making Marines for the 21st Century
US Army Special Forces - in a word INCREDIBLE!
Fantastic book and a phenomenal insight into the making of
our finest soldiers! Charlie wanted me to read this book so I
could relate to his training. WOW! I'm in awe of these guys!
IN combating terror, America can no longer depend on its conventional military superiority and the use of sophisticated technology. We are fighting guerrilla wars, against insurgents hidden in remote regions, often deep among the local population. In battles such as these, squadrons of billion-dollar bombers and naval fleets mean much less than on-the-ground intelligence and the ability to organize local forces. That’s why, more than ever before, we need men like those of the Army Special Forces—the legendary Green Berets.
In Chosen Soldier, Dick Couch—a former Navy SEAL widely admired for his books about SEAL training and operations—offers an unprecedented view of the training of the Army Special Forces warrior. Each year, several thousand enlisted men and several hundred officers volunteer for Special Forces training; less than a quarter of those who apply will complete the course. Chosen Soldier spells out in fascinating detail the arduous regimen these men undergo—the demanding selection process and grueling field exercises, the high-level technical training and intensive language courses, and the simulated battle problems that test everything from how well they gather operational intelligence to their skills at negotiating with volatile, often hostile, local leaders.
Green Berets are expected to be deadly in combat, yes, but their responsibilities go far beyond those of other Special Operations fighters; they’re taught to operate in foreign cultures, often behind enemy lines; to recruit, train, and lead local forces; to gather intelligence in hostile territory; to forge bonds across languages and cultures. They must not only be experts in such fields as explosives, communications, engineering, and field medicine, but also be able to teach those skills to others. Each and every Green Beret must function as tactical combat leader, negotiator, teacher, drill sergeant, and diplomat.
These tasks require more than just physical prowess; they require a unique mix of character, intelligence, language skills, and—most of all—adaptability. It’s no wonder that the Green Berets’ training regimen is known as the hardest in the world. Drawing on his unprecedented access to the closed world of Army Special Forces training, Dick Couch paints a vivid, intimate portrait of these extraordinary men and the process that forges America’s smartest, most versatile, and most valuable fighting force.
Praise
"Dick Couch has written the definitive book on the making of a Special Forces soldier. It is high tribute indeed that a former Navy SEAL declares U.S. Army Special Forces the single most valuable asset in America's war on terrorism. Couch moved into Camp Mackall with a class of SF candidates for ten months and emerged to pen an insightful portrait of men whose cultural understanding, negotiating skills, and license for creative thinking represent the most sophisticated approach to today's unsettled world of terrorism and murky, backwater conflicts. Chosen Soldier should be read by every American who despairs of finding solutions to current tumult."
--Linda Robinson, author of Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces
"A superb book for any reader interested in just what makes a 'Chosen Soldier'...expertly carries the reader through the rigorous training and mock battles...impossible to put down."
--Robin Moore, author of The Green Berets, The Hunt for Bin Laden and Hunting Down Saddam
"A clear and fascinating description of how the world's best unconventional soldiers are selected and trained. Couch brings the reader inside the arduous process that makes the Green Beret the Olympic-class soldier: disciplined, mature and sophisticated."
--Bing West, author of The Village and No True Glory: The Battle for Fallujah
"One of the most impressive and insightful accounts I've seen of Army Special Forces. More accurately and revealingly than any author in recent memory, Couch shows how the finest warriors in the world are selected and trained. Chosen Soldier is a great portrayal of the heroes that defend America."
--James B. Woulfe, author of Into the Crucible: Making Marines for the 21st Century
Sunday, September 30, 2007
2 Fabulous Ladies!
Here's 1 of my favorite shots of 2 Fabulous Ladies...
Linda and Flo, my harley....
Linda has gone to Arkansas this weekend to
attend the funeral of her Uncle Winfield! Winfield
had a fine life! He had a MARVELOUS wife, Betty
and enjoyed a grand sense of humor! His family
consumed his life and he wouldn't have had it
any other way! My heart goes out to Betty, Jimmy
and Caroline...
GO REST HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN Winfield!
Linda and Flo, my harley....
Linda has gone to Arkansas this weekend to
attend the funeral of her Uncle Winfield! Winfield
had a fine life! He had a MARVELOUS wife, Betty
and enjoyed a grand sense of humor! His family
consumed his life and he wouldn't have had it
any other way! My heart goes out to Betty, Jimmy
and Caroline...
GO REST HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN Winfield!
Friday, September 28, 2007
It Takes Courage
It Takes Courage
Author Unknown
It takes strength to be firm,
It takes courage to be gentle.
It takes strength to conquer,
It takes courage to surrender.
It takes strength to be certain,
It takes courage to have doubt.
It takes strength to fit in,
It takes courage to stand out.
It takes strength to feel a friend's pain,
It takes courage to feel your own pain.
It takes strength to endure abuse,
It takes courage to stop it.
It takes strength to stand alone,
It takes courage to lean on another.
It takes strength to love,
It takes courage to be loved.
It takes strength to survive,
It takes courage to live.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Another great birthday!
Charlie flew in on Thursday - the Captain and
Brook camped out in his old bedroom and Courtney
met us all Sunday for a birthday breakfast at
the Tahitian Inn! Yup, I turned 58! Below is
my incredible family! One more time I was
reminded just what a fortunate guy I am! Oh
yeah - a little over a month ago I mentioned
some big news coming.......
I'M GONNA BE A GRANDPA!!!!!!!!!!
April 2008!!!!!!!
Brook camped out in his old bedroom and Courtney
met us all Sunday for a birthday breakfast at
the Tahitian Inn! Yup, I turned 58! Below is
my incredible family! One more time I was
reminded just what a fortunate guy I am! Oh
yeah - a little over a month ago I mentioned
some big news coming.......
I'M GONNA BE A GRANDPA!!!!!!!!!!
April 2008!!!!!!!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
I miss you my friend!
I woke this morning thinking of Jake.....
It's been over 2 months since he has
been gone and it still hurts! Once again,
I realize I am the lucky one - to have
had his love and devotion for over 12
years...I haven't had the words to
express myself about Jake - these words
touch on how I feel....
This Flame burns bright in honor of you
My faithful friend, I will always miss you.
Through the years you were always there,
To make me smile and dry my tears.
And you maybe gone, but your spirit remains
To forever light my way, bring warmth to my heart.
Memory never dies.....Memory never fades.
It's been over 2 months since he has
been gone and it still hurts! Once again,
I realize I am the lucky one - to have
had his love and devotion for over 12
years...I haven't had the words to
express myself about Jake - these words
touch on how I feel....
This Flame burns bright in honor of you
My faithful friend, I will always miss you.
Through the years you were always there,
To make me smile and dry my tears.
And you maybe gone, but your spirit remains
To forever light my way, bring warmth to my heart.
Memory never dies.....Memory never fades.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Biker Trash!
This is a Biker Trash couple that we encountered
on our last trip to the mountains! AWFUL people!
on our last trip to the mountains! AWFUL people!
Friday, September 21, 2007
Wedding Show
I hope you will enjoy this slide show I put
together on the wedding! I had a ball making
it and got to relive the wedding several times!
*You will have to download the Photodex
Presenter - it is quick and very secure....
click below.....
Charlie and Brook
together on the wedding! I had a ball making
it and got to relive the wedding several times!
*You will have to download the Photodex
Presenter - it is quick and very secure....
click below.....
Charlie and Brook
Powered by ScribeFire.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sunshine Skyway Bridge
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has a main span of
1200 ft., 365.7 m. and a vertical clearance of 193 ft.,
58.8 m.. Completed in April, 1987, at a construction
cost of approximately $245 million, the bridge safely
carries four lanes of traffic (20,000 cars a day) back
and forth from Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) to
Manatee County.
1200 ft., 365.7 m. and a vertical clearance of 193 ft.,
58.8 m.. Completed in April, 1987, at a construction
cost of approximately $245 million, the bridge safely
carries four lanes of traffic (20,000 cars a day) back
and forth from Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) to
Manatee County.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
SMOKEY!
Smokey is our chain-saw carved black bear
that Linda adopted this May in Tennessee...
We have had no bear attacks at our house
since we brought him home!
that Linda adopted this May in Tennessee...
We have had no bear attacks at our house
since we brought him home!
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Monday, September 03, 2007
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Saturday, September 01, 2007
IT STARTS TODAY!
The loudest, most obnoxious and notorious piece of real estate in all of college football."
-- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on The Swamp
DON'T MISS IT -
GATOR FOOTBALL!!!
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