What are you thankful for this year?

By Jon Cordeiro

Filed Under Outside the Track on Nov 25 

One of the many holiday traditions at Cordeiro Manor is the tradition of going around the Thanksgiving Day table and having each member of the assembled hoard explain a few things said hoard member is thankful for.

As getting the PD hoard around any table is not possible (I’m pretty sure Whodat would eat and drink me out of house and home) I’ll rise to a point of personal privilege and share with you one of mine.

I’m thankful for Mike Spann – and guys like him.

You may (or hopefully may not) be wondering just exactly who Mike Spann is. I’ll be happy to fill you in.

In the days and weeks following September 11, 2001, the order went forth from the White House to find those responsible for the terrorist attacks and inflict justice upon them. Johnny Micheal “Mike” Spann volunteered to be one of the first “boots on the ground” in Afghanistan as a part of the elite CIA paramilitary force deployed there.

While most of us were hanging Christmas lights and otherwise recovering from Thanksgiving 2001, Mike was dealing with lowlife terrorist scumbags at a prison near Mazari Sharif in northern Afghanistan. On November 25, 2001 the prisoners rioted and Mike became the first American casualty in what we used to call the Global War on Terror.

Mike literally waded into hell for a heavenly cause. At CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia the Memorial Wall is engraved with 90 stars. Mike Spann is memorialized with number 79. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and the memorial below was constructed at the Qala-i-Jangi Fortress in Afghanistan where Mike gave his last full measure of devotion for his country.

mike_spann_memorial.jpg

This Thanksgiving, most of us will gather around the table to render thanks for the many blessings which we have received this year. This year, more than ever, I’m grateful for guys like Mike Spann – rough men who stand ready to protect and defend this great nation so that we here at home can sleep peaceably.

Godspeed, Mike.

Comments

  • Troy La Mana

    If The Obamanation keeps this up you will be living 1984 soon enough.

  • http://www.yourblogmall.blogspot.com Sartho

    I’ve just started reading “1984″ for the first time and my first though just a few chapters in is that I’m grateful I don’t live in North Korea.

  • Troy La Mana

    I’m thankful that we’ll have a chance to curb The Obamanation by taking over Congress in 2010 and the fact that we’ll only have to deal with this mess for 3 more years.

  • Gil Rice

    Amen and to the 3 seals who stand a chance to be court-marshaled for a fat lip some rag-head camel jockey got while being captured and all the men and women who strive all day every day to keep us free. As we all know, freedom is not free.

    • Whodat

      The list of things I am NOT thankful for is so much shorter than the list of those blessings for which I am truely thankful, let me focus on the top NOTS:
      1) The PC police who have the Seals in this situation.
      1) (tie) The PC police who failed to act on the obvious danger of a
      “rag-head camal-jockey” among our own.
      1) (tie)liberals et al who want me and those like me to feel guilty about everything.

      1) (tie) too many to mention here

      I am going to have a busy year – not just writing here,
      but, harrassing those
      with my poems and prose
      who make America less dear….

      Whodat say Happy Turkey and Happy Harrassing of some FOUL politicians and policies…