Category Archives: Armed Forces

Maritime Adventures, A Book Review

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Jim Wheeler

Not all effects of social isolation in the time of COVID are bad. Motivated by ennui and inspired by the news of a new film starring Tom Hanks, courtesy of an article in Military Officer journal, I am halfway through … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Movies, Submarines, U.S. Navy, Uncategorized, USN, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Secrets

Posted on March 19, 2016 by Jim Wheeler

As flaps go, the one about Hillary Clinton’s classified emails is one for the history books.  It might even be pivotal in the general election.  But how many people actually understand the nature of the problem?  Not many, I submit. … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Federal Government, Information Technology, Nuclear weapons, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

A Remarkable Admission

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Jim Wheeler

I have always had the utmost respect for the Marines, and even more so when I was Executive Officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Kansas, that being the closest affiliation I had with them in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

The Prosperous Face of Terrorism

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

Prominently rising in the Bergdahl controversy is the issue of paying ransom to terrorist kidnappers, never mind the fig leaf the Obama administration resorted to by using the Qatar government as an intermediary in negotiating his release. Releasing five high-ranking Talibani’s in exchange … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Man Overboard!

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

The current kerfuffle over probable deserter Bowe Bergdahl reminds me of a true sea story. It was 1971 or 1972 and I was the Executive Officer (second in command) of a U.S. Navy stores ship steaming across the Atlantic to … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Splice the Main Brace!

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

My online friend and co-blogger, Pied Type, ran an interesting post a few days ago regarding the author Tom Clancy’s inspiration for music and singing in the movie, Red October. It got me to thinking about the role of music … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Pork Chop Hill

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

It’s the same old story. What justifies war? Was it worth the blood and treasure? What constitutes “winning” a war – how do you define that? When is it really over? Well, it depends on who you ask and when … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Now hear this, Admiral. You guys are in a heap of trouble!

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Jim Wheeler

  My blogging friend Moe Holland the other day highlighted the kerfuffle over sexual assaults in the military and some of the ensuing misogynistic comments by Congressional dinosaurs. In so doing she inspired me to some thought on the subject. … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Naval Gazing

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Jim Wheeler

Last Monday a very interesting and historic event occurred in the Persian Gulf when the USNS Rappahannock fired a 50 caliber machine at a small boat that ignored all warnings and continued to approach. There were injuries on the small … Continue reading →

Posted in Terrorism, U.S. Navy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Politics and Culture

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Jim Wheeler

I was motivated to think about politics, culture and the human condition this morning by two seemingly unrelated news items. Joplin’s Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School is a small, expensive private el-hi, attended for the most part by the children … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments