“Never Forget”
“December 7, 1941 a date which will live in infamy …” President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Category Archives: Veterans
George W. Bush Eulogizes His Father
Having spoken at my late father’s funeral, I know how difficult what President George W. Bush did just now really is. What a wonderful job he did by paying honor to his father President George H. W. Bush.
Two Heroes From “The Greatest Generation” George Bush and Bob Dole
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. To me, this pictures speaks volumes of “The Greatest Generation”. While they had been political allies and rivals, it was their service to our country that brings a smile to my face.
This week, with the passing of President George Bush, we have heard quite a bit of information about him flying numerous combat missions and about the time he was shot down by the Japanese, during WW II.
Bob Dole served on the other side of the globe during WW II. He suffered permanent injuries when he was hit by German machine gun fire near Castel d’Aiano in the Apennine mountains southwest of Bologna, Italy.
When I look at the picture above, there are several things that come into my mind.
First is that there is an American patriot and hero laying in State in a coffin covered by a flag that both Bush and Dole sacrificed greatly for.
Next, I see another American patriot and hero being helped to stand out of his wheelchair.
Also, you see a left-handed salute (salutes are to be given with the right hand). You see, Dole can not salute with his right hand due to the injuries mentioned earlier.
Bob Dole paid the ultimate respect between two veterans, first by standing when it is nearly impossible for him to do at this point in his life, and then rendering a salute the only way possible – with his left hand.
This is a very proud moment in American history and a memory that I have that will last a lifetime.
Ed Boston
Paying Honor and Respect To President George H. W. Bush
Later today on a special edition of the weekly Ed Boston Podcast, we will be paying honor to the 41st President of the United States – George Herbert Walker Bush. Below are several links that we will be using on this special podcast.
George H.W. Bush, ‘Kinder and Gentler’ President, Dies at 94
10 Things to Know about George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush, the dad: A look at his family life
George H.W. Bush’s service dog, Sully, is honored: ‘Mission complete’
Memories of Former President George H.W. Bush with the Grahams
Remembering Former President George H.W. Bush
George H.W. Bush to lie in state in US Capitol
We Have Some Exciting Interviews Coming Soon
Things are booming on the interview portion of the Ed Boston Podcast! In the next couple of week’s here’s what is currently booked and there are even more interviews being worked on as this is being written.
Pastor Paula White, Rupert from Survivor Fame and Rupert’s Kids, FormerNavy Seal Ephriam Mattos, and Christian Comedian Jeff Allen are all scheduled for the podcast. Check out some info on each of these guests below.
Pastor Paula White
Paula White Ministries is a global ministry in both vision and reach. Utilizing the Internet, Television, Radio, Literature, and Public Speaking as its primary vehicles of communication. It is guided by the God-inspired vision of Paula White who founded it with a strong desire to see lives transformed for the better through relationship with God. Paula White Ministries operates under the premise that the solutions to all of the problems we face in Life are rooted in discovering, nurturing, and propagating a lifestyle of engagement with God through Jesus Christ.
Check out this video of Pastor Paula giving the invocation at the Inauguration of President Trump.
Rupert from Survivor Fame and Rupert’s Kids
Rupert competed on Survivor a total of four times. He was the first contestant to compete in back to back seasons, first appearing on Pearl Islands and then on All-Stars. Out of his four seasons, he placed highest on All-Stars, earning himself the fourth place spot. He was also awarded one million dollars on Survivor: America’s Tribal Council after being voted the fan favorite.
Rupert says this about Rupert’s Kids :
I have shown for 25 years how you take a person who has only been trained to hold their hand out and teach them… empower them.. show them that they have that energy and ability to take care of themselves. There is no one out there who can’t go to work.
Taking young men and women, that have never been shown how to make a legal living and raising them… by the time they are 20 or 30 years old, do you really think they’re ever going to get it? No… they’re going, for the rest of their life’s, to be holding their hand out… we’re creating a giant problem.
Former US Navy SEAL Ephraim Mattos
Former US Navy SEAL Ephraim Mattos teamed up with New York Times bestselling author Scott McEwen (American Sniper) to write the upcoming book, City of Death: Humanitarian Warriors in the Battle of Mosul — available everywhere on October 23 from Center Street / Hachette Book Group. City of Death tells the unforgettable story of an American warrior turned humanitarian forced to fight his way into and out of a Hell on Earth created by ISIS.
City of Death is the true story of Ephraim Mattos and what he witnessed while volunteering as a frontline combat medic during the historic battle to retake Mosul from ISIS – the deadliest urban combat the world has seen since WWII.
After leaving the US Navy SEAL teams in 2017, Mattos, age 24, flew to Iraq to join a small group of volunteer humanitarians known as the Free Burma Rangers, who were working on the frontlines of the war on ISIS.
Until being shot by ISIS on a suicidal rescue mission, Mattos witnessed unexplainable acts of courage and sacrifice by the Free Burma Rangers, who, while under heavy machine gun and mortar fire, assaulted across ISIS minefields, used themselves as human shields, and sprinted down ISIS-infested streets – all to retrieve wounded civilians.
The moment Mattos was shot was actually captured on video. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/3P0pZvn22xk
In City of Death, Mattos recounts in vivid detail what he saw and felt while he and the other Free Burma Rangers evacuated the wounded, conducted rescue missions, and at times fought shoulder-to-shoulder with the Iraqi Army against ISIS. Filled with raw and emotional descriptions of what it’s like to come face-to-face with death, this is the harrowing and uplifting true story of a small group of men who risked everything to save the lives of the Iraqi people and who followed the credence, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Jeff Allen, Christian Comedian
Jeff Allen combines clean, hilarious humor with inspiration like no other comedian working today. He performs sidesplitting standup and, when requested, riveting testimony. As such, he is a favorite at outreach events where church members can freely invite their unchurched friends, knowing that they’ll be sharing world‐class entertainment. For three decades, Jeff Allen has been performing at churches, on television and radio, for fundraisers and at corporate functions all across the country.
Jeff Allen is the best at what he does – making people laugh as hard as humanly possible. His Happy Wife, Happy Life® message of a marriage gone wrong and redeemed has given laughter and encouragement to millions of people. Jeff’s comedy drives home the humor in everyday family life and the joy derived from a healthy marriage.
Remains of U.S. Returned from North Korea
Pence at honorable carry ceremony: Our boys are coming home – Vice President Mike Pence represents the Trump administration at honorable carry ceremony for presumed remains of U.S. soldiers returned by North Korea.
The human remains returned to the U.S. by North Korea last week are “consistent with being Americans,” according to an official who saw the contents of the 55 boxes.
It’s too early to know how many people are inside the boxes, John E. Byrd, a government scientist who oversees the laboratory examining the remains, told reporters Thursday.
One dog tag from a U.S. Army soldier was among the recovered equipment, and two sons of the deceased soldier will receive the dog tag next week.
Most of the remains returned to the U.S. were from the village of Sinheung Ri, near the Chosin Reservoir. The site hosted a famous battle fought from November to December of 1950 during the Korean War.
Byrd added that of all the possibilities, what surprised him most “was the great care that the North Koreans, the KPA, soldiers took in packaging and preparing those remains to be handed over to us.”
“They had been very carefully packaged with padding and packaging that was done to, I think, a very high standard,” he said.
Read the rest of this story at FoxNews.com.
Flag Day 2018 and Happy Birthday U. S. Army
Today is Flag Day and the Birthday of the United States Army. Both topics are very special to us here at the Ed Boston Podcast Network.
The flag stands for what we believe in when it comes to the patriotism of the United States of America. While our relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is at the very top of the priority list, the love we have for our great nation ranks very high on that list.
As a veteran of the U. S. Army, Pastor Ed is grateful for the time spent serving our country. Many of the things that he believes in and stands for can be traced back to his time in the Army as well as the Christian upbringing he received.
Below are descriptions of both Flag Day and the birthday of the Army from NationalDayCalendar.com.
NATIONAL FLAG DAY
On June 14 we honor Old Glory on National Flag Day. This day commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777.
On National Flag Day, Americans show respect for the U.S. Flag and what it represents. Representing independence and unity, the Star Spangled Banner has become a powerful symbol of Americanism and is flown proudly.
While Betsy Ross has been given credit for stitching together the first American flag, there isn’t any sound evidence supporting the story. At the same time, there is any to disprove it, either. During Ross’s Revolutionary time, several standards were carried bearing red and white stripes and varying symbols where the blue field and stars now reside. Since 1777, the design of the flag has been officially modified 26 times. For 47 years, the 48-star flag was in effect. In 1959, the 49-star version became official on July 4. President Eisenhower ordered the 50-star flag on August 21, 1959.
Seventeen-year-old Robert G. Heft of Ohio designed the 50-star American flag. His was one f the more than 1,500 designs that were submitted to President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Many people have died protecting our country. On National Flag Day, raise the flag and fly it proudly. Use #NationalFlagDay to post on social media.
HISTORY
On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation deeming June 14 as Flag Day. President Wilson stated, “It is the anniversary of the day upon which the flag of the United States was adopted by the Congress as the emblem of the Union.” He also wrote, “On that day rededicate ourselves to the nation, ‘one and inseparable’ from which every thought that is not worthy of our fathers’ first vows in independence, liberty, and right shall be excluded and in which we shall stand with united hearts.”
ARMY BIRTHDAY
Every year on June 14, the United States Army celebrates its creation in 1775.
Formed from amateur troops of volunteer soldiers defending colonies against British tyranny, the oldest military force in the United States began before the U.S. formally existed. Their forces consisted of mostly inexperienced militiamen commanded by independent colonial armies. According to battlefields.org, there were never more than 48,000 Continental soldiers at one time. Today, the United States Army consists of over one million active duty service members and an additional 800,000 National Guard and Reserves members.
The enduring history of the U.S. Army means they have been integral to many of the United State’s military, peace-keeping and humanitarian efforts. During the Army’s Birthday, these and many advancements will be recognized through events and ceremonies.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Wish the Army a Happy Birthday and learn about the history of the oldest branch of the U.S. military. Use #ArmyBirthday to share on social media.
HISTORY
On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress created a Continental Army of existing militias to protect the Northern colonies from British troops.
1Lt Michael Behenna In The News
The link below is a Fox News story that talks about the plight of our friend Michael Behenna.
Lt. Behenna’s parents have been on the podcast several times and we’ve covered this story almost from the very beginning.
Let’s pray that President Trump does the right thing and gives the hero a pardon.
www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/23/more-veterans-seek-trumps-pardon-for-combat-zone-convictions.html
Looks Like Nigel Farage and I Agree On WW II Heroes
If you know me very well at all, you know that I am very passionate about the heroes who saved the world as WW II veterans. The video below shows that Nigel Farage holds those same heroes from Great Britain in high regards as well.
Nigel Farage Demands Honours For Remaining Battle Of Britain Heroes
How About A Presidential Pardon for 1Lt Michael Behenna?
A few years ago, a chance meeting on an airplane between my son and US Army 1Lt Michael Behenna (who was being transported in chains) started my interest in the horrible case of an Army hero who had his own government turn it’s back against him as laid out in the article below.
I, along with numerous friends and supports of our podcast, did our best back in 2009 to get the story of this miscarriage of justice out to the masses. We interviewed his parents on two occasions, we went to Washington DC to support the Behenna family at one of the many hearings held, and we walked the halls of Congress trying to get representatives of the people to hear Michael’s story.
Michael was released from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 2014. He was granted parole by the U.S. Army Clemency and Parole Board, after serving five years of his 15-year sentence.
Now a new effort is being made to have President Donald Trump to grant 1Lt Behenna a Presidential Pardon for what happened to him, as the results of his conviction which still haunts him today.
The Ed Boston Podcast wants to once again help lead the way on this new effort. Today’s post is to get the word back out to our followers and make all of you aware of this new development. I also want to give you links to our shows with Michael’s parents, Scott and Vicki, as well as a show with former Congressman LTC Allen West discussing Michael’s case.
Scott and Vicki Behenna 4/7/2009 -skip to the 11:24 mark to listen to the interview.
Scott and Vicki Behenna 8/7/2009 -skip to the 2:58 mark to listen to the interview.
Former Congressman LTC Allen West 3/28/2014 -skip to the 16:55 mark to listen to the interview.
Attorney General Hunter Sends Letter to President Asking to Pardon former Edmond 1st Lt. Behenna
General Hunter: Behenna deserves his freedom back
OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Mike Hunter has sent a letter to President Donald Trump, expressing his support for a pardon of former U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael Behenna.
In 2009, Behenna was convicted of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone after killing a suspected Al Qaeda terrorist in Iraq, while attempting to find individuals responsible for an IED that took the lives of two men in his unit. In 2014, he was granted parole by the U.S. Army Clemency and Parole Board, after serving five years of his 15-year sentence at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
Attorney General Hunter said without a pardon, Behenna’s punishment will continue outside of prison indefinitely.
“Michael Behenna was a courageous soldier, a great leader and does not deserve to be labeled a convicted felon for the rest of his life,” Attorney General Hunter said. “He has more than paid for the crimes he was convicted of while bravely serving our country in combat. He and his family have gone through enough. I encourage President Trump to act quickly and compassionately by pardoning Behenna, to give him back the freedoms he deserves.”
In the letter, Attorney General Hunter outlines three factors as to why a pardon is appropriate.
He points specifically to critical errors made during the original court-martial that wrongly affected Behenna’s self-defense arguments; the events taking place during wartime, where Behenna was risking his life to serve the country and attempting to track down terrorists; and Behenna serving his time as a model inmate, which led to his parole at the earliest date possible.
Attorney General Hunter ends the letter encouraging the president to look closely at the case and ask: “Does this situation – with incorrect jury instructions on a key issue and unlawfully withheld evidence – really display the type of justice we believe is appropriate for an otherwise outstanding soldier, who was attempting to protect his country and fellow soldiers from terror attacks?”
To read Attorney General Hunter’s letter, click here.
Related: Local news coverage:
The Oklahoman: http://bit.ly/2nVqvsh
News 9: http://bit.ly/2nSINdQ
Pastor Ed Boston 