When nearly everyone personally knows . . .

In an otherwise totally off-topic article on the use of mentally performance-enhancing drugs, our general theme comes through:

[ . . . ] Or what if your son is on the ground in Afghanistan? Wouldn't you want him to be able to take a dose of Ritalin before going on patrol, so he’s sharp and ready to defend himself?

[ . . . ]

Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan.

Chaplains: Thank You for Supporting Our Troops!

Operation Yellow Elephant salutes Military Chaplains from all endorsing bodies for Signing Up and Supporting Our Troops.

Chaplains provide Religious Support by conducting services of their denomination, by making arrangements to support religious expression of everyone and by counseling servicemembers on a variety of matters. We understand that a majority of military chaplains are endorsed by traditional Protestant bodies, including both Evangelical and Liturgical [non-Evangelical], or are Roman Catholic priests.

We particularly salute those members of the clergy of other religions, denominations and movements, who, along with their endorsing organizations, also feel the call to Support Our Troops. While we have a few specific chaplains and endorsing bodies in mind, we respect their privacy and their mission.

The bottom line: If your religious organization or faith group wants to Support Our Troops, regardless of how you feel about any conflict [past, present or future], please work with The Pentagon to support chaplain candidacies of suitable members of your clergy.

Your Country Thanks You.

Track Palin: Congrats on your Wedding!

U.S. Army reservist and Iraq veteran Track Palin, 22, married his longtime girlfriend Britta Hanson, 21, earlier this year. His mother ran for Vice President on the Republican ticket in 2008.

We wish the happy couple all the best.

This hasn't stopped liberal media who hate his mother - a public figure - from publicizing Britta's Facebook pics showing that they have a baby on the way, and doing a little math in the process.

Frankly, we don't care, and we're not alone.

From Dissent of the Day on Andrew Sullivan:

A reader writes:

You're out of line here. This guy has made no effort to be in the public spotlight. In fact, given the media's obsession with Sarah Palin, I would guess that his absence required some effort on his part. He's a private citizen, leave him alone. Sarah Palin is a public figure, and it's an obscenity that she is considered seriously. Have at her. Have at her husband and appalling daughter, who have chosen to be public figures. Track Palin clearly has chosen to be private. Please respect that choice. You've had your privacy invaded, don't do it to others.

Well, I wouldn't have known about this unless his new wife hadn't posted photos on her Facebook page. As for Track, he is constantly mentioned by his mother in speeches. He chose to appear in her reality show. When the Palins opt for privacy, I will respect it punctiliously. I wish they would.

And there's more:

A reader writes:

You wrote: "Well, I wouldn't have known about this unless his new wife hadn't posted photos on her Facebook page." Seriously? That's the new standard? Sarah Palin's daughter-in-law tried to share pictures with friends and family, and that makes it our business? Hell no. Palin's noxious behavior does not give you cover to be one magnitude less noxious. In fact, it should give you more concern for what proper journalism should look like: a continuing observation of substantive issues in the lives of the public, not simply anything within distant sight of the public. Palin's poison is coursing through your arteries and your readers are trying to get that idea through to you.

Another writes:

You say that Britta posted the photo, but that doesn't seem to be the case, based on the Gawker item you originally linked to. The photo was posted by a male - based on the profile pic - who wrote "my beautiful britta pie!", so presumably it was Track. However, Gawker redacted the name of the poster, which wouldn't make sense if it was Track.

We emailed Maureen O'Connor at Gawker and she clarified that "it was a close friend who posted it" - not Britta or Track. Another reader still thinks it's a legitimate story:

Track Palin and and his wife either sold, or allowed to be sold, photos and details of their wedding to People magazine. Persons who voluntarily expose and publicize their lives via a celebrity news publication have clearly made an "effort to be in the public spotlight" and have chosen to be public figures. It's likely they received substantial remuneration in exchange for that exposure.

Furthermore, Britta's apparent due date (September 29th) indicates that she was five months pregnant on her wedding day. This is newsworthy, considering the family's well-circulated views about abstinence and pre-marital sex.

OYE Comment: The First Amendment protects even useless gossip and meaningless drivel from those who see politics as a religion that can give meaning to their lives. And they don't know that People Magazine paid anyone anything.

'Look at it this way: He's over 21, has served his country, made it home and is building a family. We wish him well.

PS. Even the hundreds of gay and lesbian couples who got married all over New York State yesterday - the first day of Marriage Equality in the Empire State - deserve both privacy and respect. Be happy for Track Palin and Britta Hanson, and for everyone who makes that commitment.

'Time to lighten up.

Vermont Law School Welcomes Military Recruiters

Now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is fading into history, it's time for those institutions - that banned military recruiters because of DADT - not only to lift their bans, but also to welcome military recruiters to their campuses, and encourage their fair-minded students to Be A Man! Enlist!

Operation Yellow Elephant salutes Vermont Law School [VLS] for doing just that:

“We had continued that longstanding practice of denying campus access with regret because all constituents of Vermont Law School hold the Armed Forces and the several Judge Advocate Generals [JAG] Corps in the highest respect,” [Dean Jeff] Shields wrote to The Pentagon July 19. “Nor has our practice reflected any bias against military service as a career for our students or graduates. We recognize the importance to the country of an able corps of lawyers of high quality in the Armed Services and the value to our students of the professional opportunities that JAG service provides. In fact, a number of our students and recent graduates have accepted JAG commissions and internships, and some are presently serving with distinction on active duty." [emphasis added]

[ . . . ]

VLS students and JAG recruiters have maintained a strong relationship despite the impediment of having to meet off campus over the years. On average, VLS has the same number of graduates and interns entering JAG as law schools nationwide that have long allowed military recruiters on campus.

OYE Comment:

OK, elite/liberal institutions, now it's your turn:

It's not enough merely to send a letter to The Pentagon lifting your bans, and asking to be reinstated as eligible for Federal funding.

You need to show your seriousness and concern about the future of Our Country by actually encouraging - not merely allowing - all of your fair-minded students and graduates at least to consider Serving Our Country in uniform.

Be A Man [or Woman]! Enlist!

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": The End is Near: 20 SEP 2011

We're almost there. Last December 22, President Obama said, "This is done." Today, the President signed, and submitted to Congress, the Certification, by the President, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen. Full implementation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Repeal Act of 2010 takes effect 60 days later - 20 SEP 2011.

Here is the Oval Office meeting:


And here is the Certification:


Operation Yellow Elephant also salutes former Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, for his leadership on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal and his Service to Our Country over many decades. We wish him well in his retirement.


The devil is always in the details. We salute Dr. Clifford Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Mr. Jeh Johnson, General Counsel of the Department of Defense and the leaders of the Pentagon body implementing the repeal, Ms. Virginia "Vee" Penrod, above, right, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Personnel Policy and Chairwoman of the Repeal Implementation Team, and Major General Steven A. Hummer, USMC, Chief of Staff, above, left, explaining the details following certification, and their Team for their hard work and dedication to America.


We also recognize and salute former Rep. Patrick Murphy [D-PA], above, now a candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General [click here and scroll down for his statement], and Senator Joe Lieberman [I-CT], below, for their leadership in Congress and perseverance in doing the right thing for America.


Finally, we salute Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, in this fight since the beginning, along with Servicemembers United, OutServe, the Palm Center and the Log Cabin Republicans [whose court challenge to DADT helped to keep the pressure on], for their dedication and commitment to America.

OYE Comment:

Don't worry, civilian Log Cabin Republicans [and Stonewall Democrats]: Once DADT is history, you're on the hook with OYE!

What goes around, comes around

After celebrity Justin Timberlake publicly persuaded actress Mila Kunis to accept Marine Sergeant Scott Moore's YouTube invitation - from Afghanistan - to the Marine Corps Ball in November, Corporal Lesley De Santis, the only female Marine at the Martial Arts Center for Excellence [MACE], Quantico, VA [near Washington DC] asked him, with the support of her buddies, to attend her Marine Ball.

We understand he has accepted. We wish everyone a great time.

Update: The event took place as planned.

Thank you, Justin, for Supporting Our Troops!

Actress Mila Kunis Supports Our Troops

OYE Comment: It takes balls to Sign Up and Serve in Combat. Sgt. Scott Moore, USMC, has more than that: He's deployed to Afghanistan right now. Sgt. Moore took a chance, or accepted risk, and posted a YouTube video asking actress Mila Kunis to be his date for the Marine Corps Ball in November.

Update: She accepted and attended the event, where a good time was had by all.

Thank You, Mila, for Supporting Our Troops!

Young Republicans National Convention 2011

We understand that the Young Republicans National Convention 2011 begins today in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and runs through Sunday July 10.

In the past, we have sponsored a booth for military recruiters and urged Young Republicans to Be A Man! Enlist! However, our efforts have not been successful and we sincerely doubted that military recruiters would be authorized to travel that far to attend such an event, when little if any results could be expected.

However, we have succeeded in the second part of our motto, "Sign Up or Shut Up." Healthy heterosexual young men are no longer publicly supporting "the war" without being Asked The Question: Assuming you are eligible to serve, have you considered volunteering for military service? If not, why not? If so, what resulted from your deliberations? The audience for your pro-war sentiments is entitled to full disclosure of your relevant personal circumstances.

At this point, nobody cares about the Young Republicans, because they had the opportunity to fulfill their national leadership responsibility to set a good example for the rest of us, and they wimped out.

We wish them the best for the future and hope that they will continue to be involved in their communities.

From West Point to the Minor Leagues to Iraq

That was then [2005, Billings, Montana, playing with a Cincinatti Reds affiliate]:


This is now [2011, serving on his second deployment to Iraq]:


Operation Yellow Elephant salutes not only those Service Secretaries who in 2008 decided that Academy graduates would honor their service obligations, instead of being allowed to play professional sports, but also those alumni who are fulfulling their obligations.

Former Reds Prospected Serves with U.S. Army in Iraq

“I made a promise to them, and of course I was going to honor it,” [Army Captain Josh] Holden, now 30, said in an interview here at a United States military base in southern Iraq.

Holden graduated from West Point in 2003 and had a five-year commitment to active duty. But in 2005, that career was put aside and one in professional baseball began.

After the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, there was a need to increase recruiting. So the Defense Department created a program, called the alternative service option, that allowed soldiers who had the skills to become public figures, like athletes, to pursue more high-profile careers. The military hoped these soldiers would generate positive attention and increase recruiting. [OYE Note: Service Secretaries ended the program in 2008.]

For Holden, his path to minor league baseball started with the tryout with the Reds. The team liked what it saw, and the military gave him permission to leave his base in Fort Sill, Okla., for minor league baseball in Florida. He agreed to return to fulfill his service after his baseball ended. [ . . . ]

Holden played four years in the minors while spending his off-seasons working as a military recruiter and visiting injured soldiers. [ . . . ]

Just nine months after his baseball career ended [on the final day of spring training in 2008], he was on his way to the tortured northern Iraqi city of Mosul to fulfill the remaining four years he owed the military.

While in Mosul, he spent his days directing troops and tanks. Ten troops from his brigade died on that tour.

After a year in Iraq, he returned home to Texas, married, bought a house, got a dog, and was then redeployed here in southern Iraq.

Holden now spends his days eating meals on the floors of tents with local sheiks in a last-ditch effort by American military officials to try to win over locals as the military’s withdrawal is scheduled to hit its peak in coming months.

“I basically keep track of all the key players in the area, the sheiks, the Iraqi security forces and government officials,” he said. “We are in an advise-and-assist mission, and we are getting ready for the operation of getting all of the military’s equipment out of Iraq and into Kuwait. We cannot do that safely without the help of the Iraqis.” [ . . . ]

“Personally, it couldn’t have worked out better for me,” Holden said. “I got to chase a dream, and now that I’m a soldier, I hope that I am giving the Army as much as it has given me.”

Awesome Marine Dance Video from Iraq!

OYE Comment:

Although this is undoubtedly not the original, it does have the most/best footage. Very well done! Here's another: