Episode 58 – Getting my rant on

Episode 58 – Getting my rant on

I had some things I wanted to rant about this week.

Osprey Crashing —- I bet you didn’t hear about this one did you?

RANT #1 – MV-22 Osprey. I have a real problem with the MV-22 Osprey. This plane has been in development since 1991 and it hasn’t had the best track record. I try not to use Wikipedia for citations, but look at this link MV-22 Osprey Incidents and start educating yourself. This aircraft has many problems and there is no end in sight.

I want you to think about this. The maximum cost of this aircraft was supposed to be $24,000,000.00. Expensive, but needed when you consider that it replaced the CH-46 Sea Knight. It now costs $100,000,000.00 dollars per airplane. Read that number again, this is 10o million dollars of YOUR money. If you were quoted $24,000.00 for a car, and wound up paying $100,000.00 for a car that might kill you would you be quiet? No one seems care about the Marines getting killed, and I am ticked off

I can’t understand why more people aren’t demanding answers while their sons and daughters are flying this thing. I am not going to be quiet anymore.

 

RANT #2 – James Dresnok.  I watched BBC 4 – Crossing the Line – YouTube – Crossing the Line to learn more about James Dresnok. James Dresnok died in North Korea, and it was newsworthy because he was one of the last Korean War defectors to die.

I watched the film and saw a man that had a tough childhood where it seemed that neither his mother nor father wanted him.

He went into the military and got married. He came home from his first tour and found out his wife had been unfaithful. It seems that situation sent on a path where he didn’t care about the Army or his life to a degree. On the eve of being court martialed, he took off for North Korea and never came back.

I see no great loss here. My beef with him was how smug and arrogant he seemed because the U.S. wouldn’t touch him. I don’t even know why so much attention was given him when there were plenty of men who gave their lives during the Korean War. Good riddance

Anyone else getting tired of seeing this???

RANT #3 – US Navy. I couldn’t believe  this when I heard the story. Another U.S. Naval Vessel struck was struck by a non-military vessel. This is the second time this year that this happened.

I don’t get it. How do you not see two boats in a big body of water? If the technology is at fault, but a sailor in the “crows nest”, and do what they did in the old days which was keep watch.

We have the most advanced Navy in the history of mankind. Why aren’t we acting like it? Why are people not marching on Washington for an explanation of why their tax dollars failed. Especially since both accidents happened in peacetime.

 

I am going to do these rants from time to time. It was a different take for me. If you have something you want me to rant about, email me – travis@oscarmikeradio.com

 

 

 

Episode 57 – Leaving on a Jet Plane for San Diego

Episode 57 – Leaving on a Jet Plane for San Diego

Plane ….. I left Shreveport to San Diego by plane. My first plane ride ever. So this is part four, where I start leaving my life behind to become a Marine.

As I am doing these, it is kind of funny how certain things come back to me as I am talking. I am trying to tell these as a story with no real script. Not that it was a big deal, but I remembered all the sudden that I stayed in hotel before leaving from Shreveport. Other things come to mind and all the sudden I am changing course during the podcast.

It seems like yesterday and so long ago at the same time……

So we get to Dallas and wait, and wait and wait…… All of us standing around with our yellow folders trying to look tough while shaking in our shoes.

I thought for sure we would get there at like 7 PM Pacific time so we could get bunked down for the night.

We didn’t land in San Diego until 9 PM and waited at the USO until the buses showed up. Little did I know the games that were going to start. The games started with us getting on the buses and putting our left hand on left knee, right hand on right knee and put our foreheads on the seat in front of us so we couldn’t see.

It was strange seeing that we were literally by the airport, and we could see houses from where we were on the depot. We were away from society, but we were close at the same time. It would really mess with my mind while I was at MCRD San Diego.

Now we can get to the fun stuff, like do I find out if Full Metal Jacket is real? Or what was life really like for the next 12 weeks?

I know I can ramble sometimes, but again I am trying to do this like I am sitting there just remembering the past. More next time, OMR sends

Episode 56: The Taco Shelle

Episode 56: The Taco Shelle

Lashelle and Alisha

This episode isn’t a story about a fellow Marine Sister who I served with in Yuma, Az. This isn’t a story about Marine who decided she would take something she loved doing and try to make it work for her. This isn’t a podcast episode about what “Semper Gumby” means. It isn’t even part two to – Episode 27 – Smitty’s Kitchen.

The Taco Shelle is a story about love….. Love for food, love for bringing something to people that they enjoy, and love between two people that you just don’t see often in this day and age. So happy and honored to have LaShelle and Alisha on to talk about The Taco Shelle.

As you will remember in Episode 27, LaShelle was going to open a food truck in Richmond, VA. That all changed when she met Alisha out in Yuma, AZ. Six months later, The Taco Shelle has launched, and while we are talking about tacos vs comfort food, the same passion for bringing people together around food is the cornerstone of everything this wife and wife team are doing.

I say team because as I started talking with Alisha and LaShelle it was obvious that they are committed to each other’s dreams and goals. There is an infectious can-do attitude that makes me want to head to Yuma to see how all this works. There is a commitment from Lashelle and Alisha to be a part of Yuma, and grow along with the community.

There are times in my life where I think the phrase, “The Power of Love” is nothing more than wishful thinking. Alisha and LaShelle showed a glimpse of what happens when two people who are in love are believe in each other. That is why I can say I have no doubt The Taco Shelle will be successful.

Semper Fidelis Sisters

Speaking of successful, do yourself a favor and check out The Taco Shelle’s Facebook Page and Go Fund Me Page.

Facebook Page – The Taco Shelle Facebook Page

Go Fund Me – Check out The Taco Shelle’s GFM Page

 

You can’t get this at Chipotle. These tacos are handmade with care and love for customers.

 

 

 

P.S. I can’t for that batch of oatmeal raisin cookies!

Episode 55 – Burnouts4Vets Part 2

Episode 55 – Burnouts4Vets Part 2

Burnouts 4 Veterans – Part 2

This guy had a dragon painted on his truck. The dragon breathed fire!

I was told about burnouts. I wanted to see how this would work to raise money for Veterans. I showed up at Brockton VFW Post 1046 Saturday morning and saw people, cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even a few vans. I didn’t know what to expect. Once Commander Doherty said, “Start your engines!” there was no doubt about what happened next. It was a roar of engines and for the next 7 hours there was smoke and fire. Cars doing burnouts, tires catching fire and exploding and people who couldn’t get enough.

People enjoyed themselves. I don’t think I have ever been to an event like this one where everyone, and I do mean everyone was having a great time. Moms, Dads, Kids and Grandparents had their eyes glued to the action in the “Pit”. The Pit is where the burnout action happened.

 

I am a motorcyclist so mad props to this guy who was doing it for a fallen Veteran.

The action in the Pit was insane, but safe. Albie and Tiny had cars rolling into the Pit doing their runs, and they cycling the next car in for its run. Runs lasted about two minutes, maybe more if the driver was getting encouragement from crowd. Everyone understood the rules and it made for a safe event.

 

I would ask people why they were doing this. People said that they loved burnouts and loved veterans. The people from Brockton were proud to be there supporting their favorite driver and Veterans. This is what the VFW, Albie, Tiny and Victor wanted to do. They provided a event that people wanted to come and enjoy while helping Veterans in the City of Brockton. It was also cool to see Mayor Carpenter come and show his support for the event and the VFW. This was about people coming out to support their own locally.

Brockton VFW Post 1046 and Burnouts 4 Veterans would like to thank all the sponsors and volunteers who helped make this a great event.

These guys are already planning for next year and I will be there.

 

 

Check out more at the – Burnouts4Veterans Facebook Page

Ray Patricelli with is El Camino SS