It's been a while.  Lots has been going on.  In the end of April, I was voted in to membership in the Washington Light Infantry (WLI), a historic military unit organized in Charleston, SC in 1807 in anticipation of another war with England (War of 1812). The WLI has served in all subsequent US wars, including the War Between the States (1861-1865) up to the Vietnam War.  It's members are all veterans of US wars, including the recent ones in the Middle East or descendents of the original members.  The WLI is closely associated with The Citadel; in 1842, the Washington Light Infantry greatly assisted in the establishment of the South Carolina Military Academy (now known as The Citadel). In 1843, the WLI relinquished the guard of the Citadel building to the new Cadet Corps.  In addition to serving its country in every military engagement, the Washington Light Infantry has had the honor of participating as a military unit in centennial celebrations and ceremonial parades all over the nation. Volunteer Corps are not generally long lived, but this Corps, combining social and military features, has been marked by extraordinary vitality. In addition, the WLI has received an unusual share of popular favor and esteem by the people of Charleston and the nation.

 "A Volunteer Corps of Citizen Soldiers Serving City, State, and Nation"

A week ago today, I went to the surgical dermatologist to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from the side of my nose. (I have had numerous BCC's and one melanoma surgically excised or frozen in the past several years-the penalty for growing up in Miami, I guess).  The surgeon used the Moh's Procedure where by he "maps" out the extent of the BCC and excises it. The tissue is then sent to a lab to determine if all of the cancerous cells are removed. If so, the surgeon closes and reconstructs the site.  If not, the procedure is repeated until the lab reports the sample is "clear". THEN the surgeon reconstructs the site.  My BCC was kinda large and it took two attempts to get it "clear".  Then the reconstruction surgery took about 1-1/2 hours.  First, the most unpleasant part was the numbing of my nose with injections of an anesthesia.  He had to numb the entire nose and it took 12 injections on top of the ones that had already been made for the surgery. Bummer (REAL BIG BUMMER!).  The incision started high on the bridge of my nose, straight down the bridge to near the tip and then made a "fishhook" on the left side.  The doctor laid back the skin and did his magic.  It took 55 stitches to close it and, HURRAH!, they come out tomorrow!!  It has been a long week and the wound is starting to itch.  I can hardly wait.

While I was going through all this, I have been keeping current with the news, especially the political and presidential politics.  The first thing that distresses me is the rank politicization of the military.  I was taught up to believe that the military was above politics. It exists to apply the force or threat of force required to protect this country and its people and institutions.  Or as an old friend and CGSC classmate of mine, COL Harry Summers, said, "Our job is to kill people and break things in the name of the United States government." (RIP, Harry)  Now, the Defense Department is "celebrating" Gay Pride Month.  What a foolish thing.  The military is no place for social experimentation.  IMHO.  I know that during my 20+ years active service there were homosexuals, both officer and enlisted, but they did their duty or, if they became a disciplinary problem, they could be discharged as "Unfit" or "Unsuitable".  The problem with the new policy, IMHO, is that it will inevitably lead to quotas and preferential treatment to make the numbers show "equality".  The Army (and the other services) have been true meritocracies, where advancement is dependent on performance of duty.  That is the way it has been and should continue to be if we, the taxpayers, expect our armed forces to be properly prepared to meet the obligations our politicians place on them.  In my life time, the US was unprepared for war twice; first at the outbreak of WW2 and again at the start of the Korean War.  As the Israeli's say and we should mimic, "Never Again"!