Would you at least agree that all of the "civil servants" that have deployed, some of them for as long as 3 years straight with one 2-week break, would deserve the flag on their coffin? And a lot of them are former military -- I would just ask that before you paint all civil servants, look at the ones that have deployed and some even gave their lives for this country -- as recently as last weekend. A co-worker from the Corps was kidnapped and subsequently murdered in Afghanistan. I agree that if you didn't go, you don't deserve military honors unless you have the military background to qualify you, but I also want those who do go, and go , and go, to get the proper respect that they too deserve.

You can also go here and click on Incident Management Situation Report on the left -- you have to scroll through some of it but the one we are most interested in is listed as the Bastrop Complex Fire. http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/fireInfo_main.html

Because unlike him they have manners and grace.

Cool about LTG Stultz -- he's one of the good guys! Currently Chief, Army Reserves and Commander, Army Reserve Command. He's a really nice person! Since they moved ARC from Ft McPherson to Ft Bragg, I'm sure he will like being up there instead of rainy NC!

One caveat -- if you are a descendant, your predecessor HAD to have had USAA insurance or you will qualify for everything BUT the insurance. Speaking from experience.

LT Michael Murphy -- Marcus Luttrell's team leader.

Since it's the Congressional Medal of Honor, perhaps they could get Allen West to present it -- he certainly knows the proper protocol for this!

Awesome article -- I hope that JD doesn't see their faces or names in the article in People, but if he does, he at least knows they went down doing what they love and doing it for the American People. God Bless you JD!

My problem with the movie is that the entire special operations community advised against it because the mission has not been completely vetted yet. This man not only seems to not have a conscience, he doesn't have a clue as to national security, top secret, op sec or any of that! Valerie He who does not punish evil commands it to be done -- Leonardo DaVinci

I respect and admire your point of view. Calmed down, I even sort of agree, but as the Mother of a soldier, if he ever did that to me, as my Dad used to say -- I would be taking advantage of 3 hots and a cot because I would not be responsible for what I said or did! Valerie He who does not punish evil commands it to be done -- Leonardo DaVinci

Although I totally agree with you, you didn't see any of the republican candidates there, did you -- even the ones who could have been due to prior military service. So, I don't usually like politicians, but some, like Allen West, are restoring my faith in the fact that some of them have a brain and a heart.

Who are you and what rock did you crawl out from under -- are you another of Mike Yon's aliases? You make just about as much sense.

If LC doesn't believe these are campaign photo ops, then perhaps he can explain why, over the objections of literally every senior military leader in every service, he gave permission to film makers to have access to them and info for the "Bin Laden" movie -- oh, did I remember to say it comes out 4 weeks before the election. And DB -- I've seen better cardboard cutouts in the Navy Recruiter's Office.

What part of WE DON'T WANT ANY CAMERAS THERE coming from the families do you just not get? Historical record? BS!!! Mad, yes I am -- you just don't get it. Yes, this is a democracy, but in a democracy, the rights of the media and a nosy public should never over rule the rights of grieving families. Sorry to the rest of you but I will put my soap box away and go suck lemons.

I beg to differ -- he says when the photographer goes or stays. Furthermore, the Service Secretaries and the Chiefs of Staff of each service were specifically told NOT to bring a photographer due to the wishes of the majority of the families. This is pure and simple more campaign fodder. You are more than welcome to your opinion, but nothing, absolutely nothing in any constituion or amendment gives the Commander in Chief the right to over rule the rights and wishes of the next of kin of a deceased military person. Hell, there have been 4 star generals that have passed and because of the wishes of the family, there were no pictures. I know -- I attended one of the funerals. Nope -- this was selfish, narcisistic and just plain wrong.

He said he lives in Kabul and I found his twitter page by Googling PFC Mustafa Kazemi. BTW -- on the info part of his FB page -- it STILL says he has The Armed Forces Expeditionary Badge and the Afghan Campaign Badge -- are these given to civilians? Especially Afghani civilians?

This "child" has been very busy. His info on Facebook says he was born on November 11 (date sound familiar to anyone?), 1987. that means he won't be 24 until this coming November. Just sayin.....

Some interesting facts from Wikipedia: (Long but enlightening!) Wade Sanders is an attorney from in San Diego, California and a retired United States Navy captian who served as Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of the Navy during the Clinton Administration. As an attorney, he specialized in the legal practice of corporate governance and ethics, as well as employee owned companies and lobbying for major corporations. In December 2008 he pled guilty to possession of child pornography. He is the son of a career U.S. Navy officer who was injured while serving as Gunner's Mate aboard the USS Pensacola, and Mary Houston, an artist. A combat veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as Swift Boat skipper, PCF-98 and retired reserve Navy Captain, Sanders served nearly thirty years of active and reserve Naval service and received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and in 1992 was awarded the Silver Star. Sander's Silver Star was stripped by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus with Mabus' spokeperson Pamela Kunze explaining that "had the subsequently determined facts and evidence surrounding both the incident for which the award was made and the processing of the award itself been known to the Secretary of the Navy in 1992, those facts would have prevented the award of the Silver Star". Sanders is the author of many published articles and opinion pieces in major newspapers and the Navy Institute Proceeding, and served as a columnist for Military.com and a television commentator on national security matters and the war in Iraq for NBC and Fox. He sat on the board of the non-profit organization Vietnam Veterans of San Diego. A former Deputy Assistant United States Secretary of the Navy during the Clinton Administration, he contributed to the Post Cold War restructuring and modernization of the Armed Forces of the United States and worked with the United States Secretary of Defense to achieve full integration of the Reserve and Guard Components of the U.S. Military. He was also a member of the San Diego Police Department Senior Oversight Committee and ran for the United States Congress as a Democrat in 2000 before dropping out of the race, citing a lack of funding.[citation needed] During the 2004 presidential campaign, Sanders was a spokesman for presidential campaign of Democrat John Kerry. Sanders introduced Kerry at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, made an appearance in the documentary Going Upriver - The Long War of John Kerry (2004), and made public rebuttals to criticisms of Kerry's war record made by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. In the July 18, 2011, issue of the Navy Times, it was announced that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus revoked the Silver Star, the nation's third-highest valor award, which was awarded nearly 20 years ago to retired Capt. Wade Sanders of San Diego. A spokeswoman for Mabus confirmed the secretary's decision, which he made in August 2010 following a review and recommendation by the Navy Department Board of Medals and Decorations. "Mabus signed a memorandum in which he revoked the previously awarded Silver Star," said Capt. Pamela Kunze.[5] [6] "Had the subsequently determined facts and evidence surrounding both the incident for which the award was made and the processing of the award itself been known to the Secretary of the Navy in 1992, those facts would have prevented the award of the Silver Star," Kunze said.

Just went to his facebook page -- says he graduated from UNaM in 1946 -- that's the year I was born and I'm old! Furthermore, he called Allen West a stupid ape. Rick -- if I was you, I would be very careful what you say about who on this blog -- there's a hell of a lot more of us than there are of you!

Thank you for your opinion. Perhaps you would have the cajones to say that to LCPL MacDonald's or better yet, my special force's son (who just recently returned) face? I think not. But, what they would do is defend to the death your right to an opinion.

One of his aides in his Washington office said in reponse to that same statement "we're always looking for good people to move to our district and work with us!" It would be a very nice place to retire!

I was just thinking that Wasserman-Schultz' camp's response to all this was like when my boys were 5 and 6 and fighting over one cookie or one toy! One always lost because he was so intent on always being right that he couldn't "see the forest for the trees" -- fortunately he grew into a man that has intelligence and thinks things through before deciding! His answer to everything when he lost was "nanny nanny boo boo" and that sounds to me like DWS and CI's responses. JMHO. Still love ya C Bob!

I guess because I am just nosy, but have you ever been in the military or been to Iraq/Afghanistan either as military or civilian? Allen West has -- in both capacities. His last two years before running the first time were in Afghanistan as a civilian consultant who was held in high regard by both the US and Afghani governments.

You have every right to your opinion but are you aware as DNC chair she was the one that authorized releasing his personal information that almost cost his wife her personal business and put his children in danger because it released his address and at that time there were people running around that were willing to do harm to those that don't believe as they do? In my opinion, the ONLY good thing that Debbie Wasserman Schultz has done is stick by her friend Gabby Giffords. But as I said, that is my opinion so I have a right to that just like you have a right to yours. You don't have to like Allen or what he does but you better get used to him because he isn't going away!

This is sort of an aside but on the same subject -- saw his picture yesterday -- did anyone besides me notice how much he looks like Julian Assange? Just sayin...... Maybe they were twins separated at birth.