Katie Couric re: Gen Ann E Dunwoody (old video)

June 17, 2009

Greetings Mrs McCullom -

Thank you for taking the time to share your kind words. It’s nice to know that somebody is finding something useful.

Yes. I’m still looking for a video of General Dunwoody tossing the first pitch at Yankees Stadium. Army Materiel Command has nothing nor does Military.com. Photos, yes.

Didn’t they have their own videographer out there? AMC outfits every single soldier with every single thing – you’d think they’d supply their Commanding General with a video. And the Golden Knights parachuting in. It should be part of the Army’s history like the astronaut tossing it in space.

What about the Yankees? Isn’t that part of the “appreciation”? MLB?

So as long as I was there…here’s an old video with Katie Couric and the second one is PBS.

By law the Army is only allowed 11 active duty generals at one time. Why a law?
More than 300 active duty male Army generals
57 female generals
Of which there are only FIVE 3-star
And only ONE 4-star

Gen Dunwoody is the only woman to get 4th star…after 33 years.

Imagine what type of sexism she faced (faces) and overcame. Does she get paid the same as a male 4-star?

COURIC: She has not only earned a star, she deserves to be saluted.

She would do a great service to women in the Military, women in general and American history if she wrote a book. What are the chances Capt Sullenberger’s publisher will track her down? Or General Schwarzkopf’s? Or a woman-owned publisher? The Army probably does their own.

PBS

4-star Army Gen Dunwoody gets new HQ

Gen Dunwoody – first US Army female 4-star general
Gen Dunwoody tosses first pitch at Yankees game (6-14)

June 14, 2009

Looks like the first female US Army 4-star general – General Ann E Dunwoody – has a well-deserved new home to go with her groundbreaking career. Her new headquarters – Army Materiel, Security Assistance HQ - will be the $105M 6-floor + basement Army Materiel Command building on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala. And it comes with a 4-acre parade field that the good General can preside over from her 6th floor balcony.

I wonder how much of General Dunwoody’s command is secret since we don’t hear much about her. It’s probably just the regular old gyne envy and castration anxiety. Something their new Commander in Chief shares. Imagine effete elite barry under her command. She would shrink him to raisins with just a look. I’d give every penny I have to see that and gladly clean up his mess on the floor.

Connected to her new HQs by a 2-story lobby is the also new 3-story US Army Security Assistance Command Building, which does who knows what. Whatever they do, it will be done jointly or at least cooperatively. I know at the most rudimentary level teh General’s command includes the outfitting of soldiers but what is Army Security Assistance and how are the two related? No idea. Nobody knows but the Army.

And what exactly is in the arsenal? And since this HQ has been newly constructed – will it serve as a “secure undisclosed location”. I suppose you need a nearby airport for AF 1. And how do they keep secret the building plans when the architect/design/engineer company is civilian?

I wonder what would happen if a regular old civilian tried to find these things out? It’s not like the Army has to comply with any privacy laws thanks to barry’s flipflop on FISA. Just imagine what goes on behind the gates and locked doors of these places and others. There’s no way they could trust barry with the info since he can’t even keep track of AF 1 and thinks there’s 57 states. Think about that. The present President of the United States actually said 57 states. Even the most stoned of the Jaywalkers knows better than that. How long do you think he would last under interrogation? Five minutes max. All you’d have to do is force feed him some lard and recite the litany of his lies, which would take much longer than 5 minutes, and then ask him why his (and the missus’) ego and ambition were more important than their daughters’ futures.

He will be found out. It’s only a matter of time. Once he goes back on every promise – the mesmerized masses will allow themselves to wonder why he’s spent over $1M (and counting) trying to prevent his records from being released — even after he was inaugurated. What are the chances the “first black president”, whose middle name is suddenly in vogue and no longer racist to mention – will be thrown out of office? It would make Watts look like Spring Break. At this point it is truly a matter of national and international security, which he and the government made sure of by traveling early and often to the Arab world. Get ready for the barry soetoro usurper amendment – if they bother at all.

The main question I would like answered is why is the Army, the Secret Service and all the other Intelligence Agencies are covering up the fact that barry is not ineligible to be president? Aren’t any of them pist that a man who couldn’t even qualify to do their jobs is ordering them around? My guess is he got by their “security” check and they’re totally embarrassed. Who knows. Maybe China found out when they hacked in. If they still have no idea, we’ve got bigger troubles than barry’s lies and cluelessness.

And it’s not like we’re going to know the truth any time soon – if ever. Look what happened to the passport guy. So trhe question becomes why haven’t they already forged something? Or selectively torched the few records that exist? The longer they wait, the angrier folks are getting, it and the less likely FEMA’s civilian militia or whatever they’re calling it will be enough to quell the outrage.

All because of the lies and arrogance of one man — who may not even be an American citizen – and the delusional madness of many who think they can keep the truth from getting out.

No matter what or why, each one of them has to answer to that little voice that reminds them of the oath they took to uphold the Constitution above all else–including the President. The little voice that speaks for the thousands of ordinary and courageous Americans who were tortured, maimed and/or died honoring their oath. Eventually that little voice will get too loud for somebody.

Anyway. Congratulations to General Dunwoody on her new HQ.

Gen Dunwoody tosses first pitch at Yankees game (6-14)

June 15, 2009

Well I got a little distracted in my previous post. I meant to comment on the Yankees’ tribute to the United States Armed Forces and the Special Operations Warrior Foundation on Flag Day (yesterday). I was looking for photos/video and got side-tracked by the new digs of General Ann E Dunwoody - the first ever female 4-star Army general and then continued to digress.

It took 45 minutes of searching today, including a curious redirection from the Special Ops site to the Dept of Defense, to find some photos, which of course weren’t in the usual places: Yankees.com, ESPN, MLB, AP or Reuters. And there was no official video to be found – even on Military.com or the Army Materiel Command site – where I should have started out. Maybe somebody at the game will post one on YouTube. I would like to see the General’s form. Something tells me it would be a tad better than Skiles’.

Not to take anything away from heroes in their own right, photos and videos were easily available of Flight 1549’s First Officer Jeff Skiles and both of Captain Sullenberger’s ceremonial tosses but not Gen Dunwoody’s, who happens to outrank former USAF Captain, Captain Sullenberger by four stars and then some and who I’m sure made some of her own spectacular landings during dicey circumstances — feet first — during the first Gulf War, and whose military pedigree extends back to the Revolutionary War.

Americans, young girls especially, should get to see the heroes who go about their business and never end up being praised on the Morning Talk Show circuit or have their courageous deeds remunerated and immortalized in Hollywood movies.

Women/girls watched Secretary of State Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling - how many know how Gen Dunwoody exploded through the brass ceiling or are even aware that she did?

“Premiere logistician” General Dunwoody has served in the Army since 1975 and has received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with Silver Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, SWASM (two campaign stars), and the Kuwait Liberation Medal.

Watch her Nov 14, 2008 – 4th star ceremony – the actual pinning done by a shaky-handed husband.

DUNWOODY: I’ve heard from moms and dads who see this promotion as a beacon of hope for their own daughters and an affirmation that anything is possible through hard work and commitment.

According to written accounts, the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachuted into Yankee Stadium in perfect formation – followed by the playing of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) video. Marine Sergeant Keith Zeier, along with Courtney and Hillary Robinson, daughters of deceased Lieutenant Colonel Craig Robinson [read inspiring back story] then accepted donations ($95K) on behalf of the SWOF Foundation, which “provides full scholarship grants and educational and family counseling to the surviving children of special operations people who die in operational or training missions and immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations people and their families.”

The West Point Color Guard presented the colors while country singer and former U.S. Army Elite Task Force Ranger Keni Thomas, who was a member of the Army unit that fought at the Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia, sang the National Anthem.

And then Commanding General for the U. S. Army Material Command, Gen Ann E Dunwoody, threw a perfect strike.

If anyone has run across a video, we’d really appreciate your letting us know.

Photos courtesy of SFC RICHARD GUZMAN USAREC

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, on the mound at NY Yankee vs. NY Mets game June 14 in honor of Military Appreciation Day at the stadium.

Gen Dunwoody with Yankees Manager and ex-Cubbie, Joe Giardi

Members of the US ARMY Golden Knights.

I would like to know what their thoughts were as they shook the hand of the first female 4-star Army General.

A pix that makes me a very proud American.

More photos on flickr

Gen Dunwoody explodes through the brass ceiling

Gen Dunwoody gets new HQ
Gen Dunwoody tosses first pitch at Yankees game (6-14)

November 14, 2008

CONGRATULATIONS to US ARMY General Ann E Dunwoody on becoming the first female 4-star general in United States' history. Gen Dunwoody has served for 33 years and was deployed during the first Gulf War with 82nd as the Division Parachute Officer from September 1990 to March 1991. She received her third star in 2005 when she was named Deputy Chief of Staff for Army logistics and now has command of U.S. Army Material Command.

BNET: General Dunwoody has a bachelor's degree in physical education from the State University of New York at Cortland, a master's degree in logistics management from the Florida Institute of Technology, and a master's degree in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. She is a graduate of the Quartermaster Officer Basic and Advanced Courses and Basic Airborne School. Her family's military history extends back to the Revolutionary War.

Army press release: Defense Secretary Gates: "History will no doubt take note of [Gen. Dunwoody's] achievement in breaking through this final 'brass ceiling' to pin on this fourth star. But she would rather be known and remembered first and foremost as a U.S. Army Soldier."

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., chief of staff of the Army, praised Gen. Dunwoody as a "premiere logistician."

Video courtesy of AP
Craig Brotchie, her husband and Gen. George W. Casey Jr., chief of staff of the Army, do the honors.

GEN DUNWOODY: "Well, thank you. I wish I could begin to describe the incredible feelings of gratitude, humility, and love that are absolutely consuming me at this very moment. But it's impossible."

This promotion has taken me back in time like no other event in my entire life. And I didn't appreciate the enormity of the event until the tidal waves of cards, letters and e-mails started coming my way. And I've heard form men and women from every branch of service, from every regions of out country and every corner of the world.

I've heard from moms and dads who see this promotion as a beacon of hope for their own daughters and an affirmation that anything is possible through hard work and commitment.

And I've heard from women veterans of all wars, many who just wanted to say congratulations, some who just wanted to say thanks, and still others just wanted to say they were so happy this day had finally come. And to all of them, I owe a very special thanks - for their dedication, for their commitment and for paving the way.

And I know it might sound trite, but for me, today is all about two simple words: thank you."

Thank YOU, General Dunwoody.