BlackFive

This is a neat little article I saw this morning and thought I'd share.

Although focused on the Army, I'm sure all 5 Services (yes, even the Coast Guard!) have these groups or  variation on this theme.

As you read this, I'm sure you'll look back and put names to each of these categories.

Enjoy!  Click here for "Five People You Meet In the Army"

Do you like science fiction/fantasy books?  Non-Fiction?  Anthologies?  Other?  If so, you have a treat this weekend with a Labor Day Sale/Push for works that are $2.99 or less.  Check them out!   

The following book review is a special for BlackFive readers provided by Elise Cooper.  You can read all of our book reviews by clicking on the Books category on the right side bar.

Inside Marine One by Colonel Ray “Frenchy” L’Heureux offers insight into his personal interaction with Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. There are no political discussions but just glimpses of his personal stories, a behind the scenes with the Presidents.

The first part of the book talks about his life as a US Marine. Because he was running low on college funds and saw a recruiter at his college, he joined the Marines. His life changed forever after seeing President Ronald Reagan land on his way to a fundraiser. Choosing to pursue a career with the squadron that flies the President in Marine One, he researched what he had to accomplish to become a part of that elite group. In 1991, he joined HMX1 flying Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton. In 2006, until his retirement in 2011, he was Commanding Officer flying Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

After reading the book and interviewing him it became obvious that the Colonel has a special personal bond with President George W. Bush. He told blackfive.net that he still stays in touch with the President as they write letters to each other. “It all goes back to that day where I was invited to mountain ride with the President. It was like we were two regular guys mountain biking. He goaded me into writing this book.”

He also commented that President George W. Bush was a strong supporter of the military and cared about those serving personally. “He even invited my son, Ray, who is serving, to come up to the White House for a brief discussion. President Bush was the first President that came to the Squadron to say thank you and goodbye to HMX-1. He hung around for quite some time after his remarks and took photos with the Marines. I could not have been more proud to introduce the President of The United States to my Marines in their “house.” On the flight back from Quantico to the White House, the president came into the cockpit to tell me just how much he enjoyed his time with the Marines. ‘Frenchman, that was awesome. Thank you so much.’”

Another President the Colonel feels a bond with is Bush 41. He refers to the story of how President Bush played volleyball with the pilots and admonished them to play hard against him. “It was then that Mrs. Bush came by and chided us for not wearing a jacket. She also gave us a hug for keeping her husband and family safe.”

He also addressed some of the criticism of the book noting to blackfive.net that some information is classified for security concerns so some details could not be discussed. He did emphasize that the helicopters are used within a forty-mile radius because “Helicopters offer a lot of flexibility since setting up a motorcade involves getting a whole flotilla of vehicles into place and securing a route. The security situation is easier to handle. The speed of a helicopter beats ground travel, and it allows the President to get in and out of stops quickly.”

Inside Marine One is a fun and easy read. Anyone that wants a few anecdotes about the Presidents served should definitely read this book by Colonel L’Heureux.

 Busy dang day for the People's Press Secretary, held another round of true answers to media questions. Obama managed to chime in right as I was finishing this up today wearing a tan suit and that was the upside of his sorry little chat with the lapdog media. He also managed to tell the world, including our enemies, that we have no strategy for ISIS. That shouldn't surprise any of you, but to say it out loud and in public is stunningly naive and foolish even for him. I do a bit of interpretive dance debacle control for him.

Also, here is my chat with the White House Press.

You're in luck.  We have one.  We're in week three of execution.  Volunteers are working on several fronts.

If anyone at the administration would like to discuss it, and how they can support it, the email is on the sidebar.  No irony here -- we can help you.

If any of you have been thinking about wanting to take the war to ISIS, and haven't yet reached out, drop me a line. 

Got a tip from the awesome Mary Katharine Ham that a friend of hers did some great work on the NBC show Food Fighters. He's a 3 tour Iraq vet Seargent First Class and obviously one helluva cook. Check him out.

Well, some artists made suggestions to improve the art contest for everyone, and Mission: VALOR listened.  To be honest, we not only listened, but apologized for one part that was gold-plated double-dipped REMF.  Net result, the contest deadline has been extended, artist rights are changed, and more file types can be submitted.  Oh, and Madison Rising, Crossroads Cigars, and Star City Coffee and Ale House have added prizes to the prize baskets.  Check it out. 

Peace is delivered from the victor to the vanquished. That is something our President needs to learn. We cannot take half steps against ISIL, they must be destroyed and then peace can be built on the smoldering embers. Task Force Black is part of the solution, but only part. The threat is beyond the point where a few pinpricks can deflate it. Obama wants to be the Ender of Wars, well you either win them or lose them and they are not ended until one of those happens. I vote for victory.

Task Force Black is back and that is some excellent news. US Delta and SEAL team six operators are joining forces with the British SAS to take the fight to the enemy.

Elite British and US special forces troops are forming a hunter killer unit called Task Force Black – its orders: “Smash the Islamic State.”

The undercover warriors will aim to “cut the head off the snake” by hitting the command structure of the Islamist terror group responsible for a trail of atrocities across Iraq and Syria, reports the Sunday People.

This is a reflagging of a similar group that stacked dead tangos like cordwood in Iraq back in the day. Let's hope they will be given a hunting license for anywhere the black flag flies. Initial talk from the Brits sounds hopeful.

A source said: “We need to go into Syria and Iraq and kill as many IS members as we can. You can’t ­negotiate with these people.

“This is not a war of choice. They are cash rich and have a plentiful ­supply of arms. If we don’t go after them, they will soon come after us.

The White House announces a new initiative. Since an ISIS rapper killed James Foley, President Obama is raising a Rappers Regiment to bring the payback beatdown with a back beat. Instead of getting shot at VMA parties, they can get shot at and shoot ISISscumbags. Or something like that.