Da Hawg Frog Blog

Colonel James Swett was a Marine Corps fighter pilot during WWII. He was born June 15, 1920 in Seattle, Washington. He grew us in San Mateo, California. When the call to duty came he answered it and served with honor and distinction.  He shot down 15.5 enemy aircraft during the war and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals, not to mention the Medal of Honor.

On April 7, 1943 while on patrol over Guadalcanal 1Lt. Swett shot down seven Japanese bombers in 15 minutes. As he fought the enemy pilots Lt. Swett was himself shot down and had to be rescued from the ocean. This was his first combat mission. We would go on to shoot down many more enemy planes during the remaining time he spent in the Marine Corps.

His Citation reads:

Rank and organization: First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Fighter Squadron 221, with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Place and date: Solomon Islands area, 7 April 1943. Entered service at: California. Born: 15 June 1920, Seattle, Wash. Other Navy award: Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Gold Star. Citation: For extraordinary heroism and personal valor above and beyond the call of duty, as division leader of Marine Fighting Squadron 221 with Marine Aircraft Group 12, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, in action against enemy Japanese aerial forces in the Solomons Islands area, 7 April 1943. In a daring flight to intercept a wave of 150 Japanese planes, 1st Lt. Swett unhesitatingly hurled his 4-plane division into action against a formation of 15 enemy bombers and personally exploded 3 hostile planes in midair with accurate and deadly fire during his dive. Although separated from his division while clearing the heavy concentration of antiaircraft fire, he boldly attacked 6 enemy bombers, engaged the first 4 in turn and, unaided, shot down all in flames. Exhausting his ammunition as he closed the fifth Japanese bomber, he relentlessly drove his attack against terrific opposition which partially disabled his engine, shattered the windscreen and slashed his face. In spite of this, he brought his battered plane down with skillful precision in the water off Tulagi without further injury. The superb airmanship and tenacious fighting spirit which enabled 1st Lt. Swett to destroy 7 enemy bombers in a single flight were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. (Source:  The Official Site of the Medal of Honor)

After the war then Major Swett continued his service as a pilot with the Marine Corps Reserve. When the Korean War broke out his unit was activated and sent to fight on that beleaguered peninsula. But Major Swett was left behind. The Corps feared putting a Medal of Honor recipient on the front lines of the Korean conflict was not a good idea. He retired from the US Marine Corp reserve in 1970 at the rank of full colonel.

Colonel Swett died in Redding, California January 19, 2009 after a lengthy illness. His funeral was attended  and escorted by members of the Old Guard Riders and the Patriot Guard Riders. The following is a ride report submitted by  Old Guard Rider Road Captain, Mike Gertsch:

I woke up Friday morning to an overcast, foggy day wondering whether I should wear my rain gear or just put up with the rain. As I left the house there was still a chill in the air. Turned onto highway 44 and gaining a little elevation, the fog cleared and what a beautiful day. Someone was looking over James Swett for his day of tribute.

I’d like to thank all of those who participated in yesterdays mission for Colonel James Swett (MOH). We ended up with over 50 bikes and a number of cages including some of our brothers from Oregon. There must have been a platoon of Marines from a Sargent to a Lieutenant Colonel. It was impressive. This was one of our largest missions
with over 100 vehicles to escort, the MIAP escort folks pulled this one off without a hitch. Good job guys. The hearse and family were met at the gate by a number of flag bearers. Thanks to those going up early. We had both camera men working.

There must have been over 400 people at the cemetery to include 4 other Medal of Honor veterans. Quite impressive. James was given a 21 gun salute and a two plane flyover. The casket was carried by caisson with two white horses. Believe me this was one hell of a mission to remember. Again, thanks to all who participated. (Source: Old Guard Riders Forum)

Thanks go out to Colonel Swett for his great service to this country. And thanks are due the Old Guard Riders, who took time from their lives to stand the flag line in honor of this heroes sacrifices.

Our Congress At Work

I just got another one of those opinion surveys from the Office of Harry Reid, Majority Leader of the House. You know the ones. They are thinly disguised pleas for money. Every time I get one of these surveys or emails from Congress Critters begging for my hard earned cash it just pisses me off. What the hell is wrong with these people? We pay them a good salary, $169,300 for senators and representatives. The Speaker earns more, $212,100. Plus we provide them with the best health care plan available. Something many of us don’t have. Yet they continue to ask for more.

So, here we are, in the middle of a Depression the result of poor legislating on the part of our Congress. Businesses across the country are laying off workers and our hired help in Washington bickers and procrastinates while their employers, us, suffer the consequences of their stupidity and greed. We pay these goons too much. They should be making minimum wage for the lousy jobs they are doing. We should cancel their health insurance while we’re at it. You know, share the pain.

Don’t these people make enough off the bribery they collect from all those Washington lobbyist? Are they blind? They are certainly out of touch with the real world. They are more than willing to spend our every last dime to bail out their cronies and special interests, but refuse to do anything to ease the pain of the work force. You know, the “fundamentals” of our economy. Well the “fundamentals” are getting pretty fed up with the whole mess that is Washington. Quit begging for more, go to work and stay the hell out of my wallet.

Beside “Go To Hell” Harry I’m not even a Democrat. I’m a Libertarian. I guess you’re just an equal opportunity panhandler.

While automobile deaths fell dramatically  last year in the Sunshine State, motorcycle deaths have more than doubled in the last eight years. Without a doubt the spreaders of FUD are going to start claiming it is due to the state relaxing the helmet laws. You know, blame the bikers.

Sgt. Steve Gaskins of the Florida Highway Patrol said Florida’s lax helmet law — riders over the age of 21 with more than $10,000 in medical insurance don’t need to wear one — and an increase in demand for gas-efficient transportation have contributed to the trend.  (Source: St. Petersburg Times)

The article says that the failing economy is forcing more people to seek alternative means of transportation. As gas prices have risen motorcycles and scooters have become more appealing to many people. But what this brings into the motorcycle community is more and more people with very limited experience on two wheels. That compounded by the boom in DWS (Driving While Stupid), cell phone in one hand, latte in the other while the cager watches his Tom-Tom, tunes his satellite radio and reads the paper just might have something to do with it too.

President Obama wasted no time in addressing the evil that is Guantanamo. The establishment of the prison on the Naval base has brought shame to the United States and scorn from former allies. It has been poorly run and violated the basic tenants of fair play that Americans have been known for throughout history. George Bush and his administration threw haebeas corpus out the window and condemned hundreds of captured men to living hell without any way of proving their innocence. So what do these illegally incarcerated prisoners do? They become bitter and learn to hate the America they have been exposed to.

Now President Obama has to clean up the mess left behind. We are fortunate to live in a democracy where we can purge our government every four years of elected officials who bring shame and disgrace on our nation. We are lucky that we no longer live in a Bush democracy. The brand that he tried to impose on Iraq and Afghanistan. A democracy in name only, steeped in human rights violations, secrecy and lies. It is time President Obama and his new government bring to justice the men and women who have tarnished our name and disgraced our country.

It is the knell of justice that the Republicans in congress fear now. They are responsible for creating a monster and their only solution is to stay the course. Senator Brownback recently stated that protecting the public is more important than closing Guantanamo. He states:

By issuing Thursday’s executive orders, President Obama has ensured that his success or failure in matters of national security policy will be defined in part by what he does with detainees.

It amounts to a test of whether the promises of the campaign trail can be reconciled with the fundamental responsibility of protecting all Americans.

I disagree with setting a date for closing Guantanamo Bay’s detention facility because I believe that adhering to a schedule is less important than preserving our security. (Source: CNN)

In other words he has no solution. But to substantiate their claims the Republicans announce that many of the released detainees have returned to terrorist activity. Detainees released by President Bush. The Pentagon has stated that 61 former detainees may have returned to terrorist activities. But they offer no concrete evidence.

On Friday, a Pentagon spokesman defended the integrity of the report, but would not directly answer questions about where the figures come from.

“We don’t make these figures up — they’re not done willy-nilly,” said spokesman Geoff Morrell.

Pentagon officials have said they would not discuss how the statistics were derived because of security concerns that such information could give clues to how U.S. intelligence officers collect their data. (Source: CNN).

We’ve heard that song long enough. Feed us a lie then tell us they can’t tell us how they got the information. Just trust us they say. Yeah, right. Well American’s trust has been worn thin, we want evidence and proof. We want accountability.

The new administration realized the danger we face if the closing isn’t handled right. Public safety is a concern. We are going to have to be protected from the monsters created by the Bush administrations bungling at Guantanamo. Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, states:

As the Pentagon begins the work of closing the facility and finding places to send, or release, detainees there, Gates stressed that security will remain his top concern.

“Clearly, the challenge that faces us, and that I’ve acknowledged before, is figuring out how do we close Guantanamo and, at the same time, safeguard the security of the American people,” he said. “That’s the challenge that we will continue to face.” (Source: CNN)

The longer Guantanamo remains open the more ammunition our adversaries have to attack us with. The propaganda value of the detention center alone has encouraged some to speak out against us with some credibility. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said on Friday:

“I see the decision of President Obama to close the torture and detention center as a positive step, Perez Roque told journalists during a visit to Guatemala.

“I think that the existence of a center where they’ve carried out physical and psychological torture, and humiliated prisoners, is an affront to humanity,” Perez Roque added.

The Cuban foreign minister said he hoped the United States would dismantle the naval base where the “war on terror” prison camp is located — it has been in Guantanamo, on the island’s southeast coast, for more than a century — and return the land to Cuba. (Source: Raw Story)

Admittedly, an admonition from the Cubans on human rights and torture is ironic, but we are doing it in their country. Already there are conversations in some circles about war crimes tribunals. Tribunals not to try the detainees, but to go after the architects of torture who set up and ran our illegal prisons throughout the world. This is a good idea and to quote former President George W Bush, “bring em on.”

In the final days of the Bush Administration their intelligence sources were stretched to the limit finding out the truth about Flight 1549. They concluded it was terrorists and this is the photographic proof. It just proves we are still in danger and President Obama better be on the alert.
Many members of the previous administration are convinced that they were again able to deter another “terrist” attack on the homeland. They recommended that all migratory birds clear customs before being allowed into the Republic. Meanwhile the full forces of the CIA are focusing on finding out the real target of these obvious terrorists.

Life is good for Frogs in India! Every year young girls marry frogs to ward off evil and diseases.
But then, like every where else, some damn government bureaucrat has to step in and screw things up.

Villupuram district collector R Palaniswamy told TOI that he had deputed a team led by the district social welfare officer to visit the village and submit a detailed report. “The district administration proposes to evolve comprehensive schemes to motivate and enlighten the villagers against such evil and ignorant practises,” he said. But all these years the strange practice has been going on unchecked. (Source: The Times of India)

Sooner or later this kind of discrimination has to end.

Did you ever wonder how the British made their great Triumph line of motorcycles? This video explains it all. They are truly bikes for the 21st Century.

An Army SNAFU resulted in 7,000 family members of fallen service men receiving a letter addressed to them. It starts “Dear John Doe”. Apparently the intention of the letters was to notify the families of the fallen of benefits and services available. But, not only were the letters sent to John Does, the return address was also wrong.

Some 7,000 letters were sent in late December to notify families of services or gifts surviving family members can receive from nonprofit organizations that help families of fallen soldiers, according to an Army statement Wednesday.

The letters also had improper address information at the top of the correspondence. Instead of the receiving family’s name and home address, the letters said “Army Long Term Case Management.”

The letters were printed by a contracting company and sent by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command’s Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Center in Alexandria, Virginia. The center issued a formal apology Wednesday, according to the statement. (Source: CNN)

Nothing like really getting it wrong. Doesn’t anyone proof read these days?