Remembering the Alamo

So this Thanksgiving weekend we did took a day trip down to San Antonio to visit the Alamo. On the way down we stopped at Buc-ee's Gas Station just outside of Temple, Texas. To say it's a Texas sized gas station is still not describing how big it really is. If you get to Texas, make sure to stop in.

After an hour inside, I finally convinced the girls to get back inside the SUV and get back on the road. Pro-tip, if you're traveling from the DFW area, to San Antonio, pay the toll and avoid driving through Austin. Ask. Me. How. I. Know.

180 years later people are still remembering the Alamo. I hope the men who gave their lives there in the cause of Texas independence know their sacrifice has become a beacon to the world I heard a half dozen languages being spoken, and from the looks of the folks I saw, another half dozen more were touring the grounds of fallen heroes. The Ideal that is Texas has always been one of the most powerful ideas to inspire Liberty, outside of the Revolution by the Founding Fathers. Being at the epicenter of it was humbling.

I tell my kids all the time that death is not to be feared, as we all die, what matters is how we lived. Treading that hallowed ground made that more real to me.

If you get a chance, go visit. The Riverwalk is a few short blocks away, and really is one of the most awesome downtowns you'll ever see.

Letter to My Unborn Child

So a guy from the 1058th GTC loaded this video today: https://www.facebook.com/mbest11x/videos/764067707070232/

Even though I don't know if I'll ever meet you I just wanted to write my thoughts down. This message could also go to Jameson Maser and Mason Rynearson, since I love both of you boys like nephews.

Life changes after any time in a war zone. I came home questioning everything. For longer than I'd like to admit I was angry, adrift, and aimless other than basketball. Basketball had always been my sanctuary, and in a lot of ways it became my confession box and my temple. I threw myself into coaching.

By chance, if not Providence, I ended up at The College of Idaho. Coaching women's basketball was like learning to walk on your hands. Similar to what I'd always done, but completely different. I was never a very good X and O guy, but you were never going to outwork me. I recruited my butt off. I got lucky from time to time as well.

I ended up with some small town girls with hearts and motors that wouldn't stop. They made me learn how to communicate instead of yell. I was a broken man, and they loved me anyway. I let me ego lead instead of my heart when I left. Learn to not do that.

Even though it was time to go, I often wished I could have stayed, but it was time to put into action what I'd learned from them. I hope Libby will someday understand why I danced like no one was watching, because I know every kid who didn't come home was dancing his ass off with me. There's not a day that goes by that I don't smile because of them.

I coached men for a year as a head coach. I did it my way, with only one regret, keeping a kid I shouldn't have - but in giving him a chance he ended his career and left me free of my debt to the game. I've never once regretted leaving coaching men behind. It was time. My assistant coaches will never know how much they mean to me.

I spent the next three years paying back other veterans, as a County Service Officer and a Rater for the VA. I paid back a small portion of my debt to those who'd helped me when I came home. I suspect I'll be repaying that debt until my last day.

But I digress, what advice do I give to you.

Love with your whole heart. If they don't love you back, let them go their own way. I wasted so much time with unrequited love. It's better to be alone than experience the heartache of spending one day pining for anyone who doesn't reciprocate.

Love fiercely your friends. Those who we get to make of our tribe, or accept us into theirs, are owed your loyalty and respect.

Loyalty, honor, duty. These things matter more than life itself if the cause is just.

Liberty, once ensconced in your heart, soul, and mind, cannot be taken from you. I've know free convicts and imprisoned millionaires. Each person's right to live their life as they see fit, as long as it doesn't harm another is one of the bedrock principles of humanity. Help free people, not imprison them.

Family. It is our only hope of immortality on this plane. Nurture your children, nurture your neighbor, nurture your lands. Leave all you meet better than you found it.

Ride for the brand. Whether an itinerant cowboy, enlisted man, or titan of industry, be honest and loyal to whoever is scratching you a check. When it's time to leave, if you've lived and worked with integrity, you can go home again.

Laugh at yourself. No matter how bad of a man you are, there's someone who can end you. Be humble in victory, gracious in defeat. Life, if you're lucky, will give you equal parts of both. Dance like no one's watching when your heart is full.

Be kind. I've had to nurture this, as I'm a selfish person in nature. Work on your weaknesses and refine your strengths. Learn to be honest with yourself about both.

Never stop learning. Read the books wise men cite. Strive to make a better life for your children. Tell them you're sorry when you were wrong. Admit when you're wrong. Hold them to high standards. Try to not let them see how it breaks your heart when they cry. Let them see you cry.

Harvest game with them. Tell them that never once did you kill an animal without a pang of regret. Let them hear your thankfulness in the life of that animal feeding your tribe. Learn to shoot. Learn some men need to be killed. Know some men will never be able to pull that trigger. Pray you never have to.

Don't be afraid to fail. If I never get to meet you I hope someone from our tribe will tell you stories of my adventures. I lived all over America. I found honorable, wise men and women everywhere I went. You'll find whatever it is your heart seeks. Listen. God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.

Learn to tell a great story. As humans we honor story tellers in our DNA, for each of us that draws a breath, lives to learn to love, suffer, mourn, and celebrate is a survivor. Treat each person you meet as such.

Know that the way you view your conquests affects your life's path. You'll never regret making love to a person you care about, but to use another is an anchor your soul carries. Never let regret keep you from loving or being loved.

Tell your friends you love them. When you lose them, your heart will take solace or misery in this. Tell stories of your friends and tribe who left this plane before you. As long as stories are told we are immortal.

Use moderation in things that alter your consciousness. Forsake anything as soon as you feel a need for it.

Recognize the beauty of the world around you. Listen to the classics. Read Shakespeare. Go to plays, attend an opera, see a ballet, Visit other countries that your country isn't in the process of invading.

Get to know yourself. Know that noble honorable blood flows in your veins. Advance your family name in honor.

The Great Caliber Debate - What I Rock and Why

Hits a little too close to home...

Coach - Mercenary - Farmer Podcast Episode 7 - Thoughts on the Caliber War

Before my first all expenses paid trip to the Middle East, I didn't own a gun. Seeing a solidly second world country descend into a all out civil war changed my views. In hindsight, my only force projection response to violence would have been my little league baseball bat. Not the best choice in hindsight. 

My first purchase after getting home was a .40 caliber Glock, law enforcement trade in. Solid choice and my thinking at the time was .40 has to be better than 9 mm, it has a heavier bullet and is faster down the pipe (feet per second). After going to a handgun class and shooting from the hip, I realized that the .40 wasn't pleasant to shoot, and started looking at the 9 mm round.

I picked up an 870 shotgun, and a 30-06 Savage rifle. The shotgun was a solid choice, and the Savage was as good a value, but I don't know if I would buy the same rifle again. More on that later.

We'd been loaned to the Army, and sent with battered magazines and shot out range guns, so out of ignorance, I thought all ARs jammed all the time, I had soured on the AR platform. I bought an SKS, and later an AK and they were, and are, fun to shoot.

As I got more into shooting, I learned what worked for me, versus what other folks told me was best. I went to a range and rented a 9mm Springfield XD, a Glock 17, and a Taurus 1911 in .45. I went in thinking the XD would be the gun for me. It just didn't point well for me. The 1911 pointed (think hit where I was pointing) extremely well, but held only 8 rounds if you carry one in the pipe. The Glock was the sweet spot in between for me. Nothing sexy about it, it's a Volkswagen bug, 

I bought a Ruger 10/22 along the way, but have since gone to the Smith & Wesson 15/22. It's about double the cost of a Ruger, but the muscle memory advantages of running a .22 platform set up identical to all of my ARs. When .22 ammo was plentiful I was buying a box of 500 every payday. Not a bad investment. When .22 ammo disappeared I just transitioned to 12 gauge, 5.56, and 9 mm. Someday, it'll be readily available again on the shelves, right? Right?

Here's where I'm at, I've standardized to 12 gauge in the shotgun platform, 9 mm Glock model 17 (soon to add a 23 for concealed carry), a Kel Tec Sub 2000 carbine that uses my existing Glock mags, my AR platforms are all set up with the B.A.D. Lever from Magpul and BCM Gunfighter Charging Handle these two items allow you to take out two steps out of the manual of arms for clearing misfeeds and malfunctions. It took a few hundred rounds to get the muscle memory changed, but I can't imagine going back now.

The Aught Six is still my deer rifle, but a long range precision rifle is probably going to be in my future, in the .260 flavor, along with a suppressor in .30 cal that can be used on multiple platforms.

Thanks again for reading and listening. As always your comments are welcome.  

Warrior Culture

Coach - Mercenary - Farmer Podcast Episode 4 - Embracing a Warrior Culture

A small part of my life involved me being loaned to the US Army. It was an experience that has shaped my world view, gave me an undying respect for the job asked of  Marines and Soldiers, and a healthy distrust of the Military-Industrial complex of which I'm a very small cog, in a very large wheel. 

The most important thing I learned from my time with Big Green was how important, and how hard, it is to instill a Warrior Culture internally and in the whole of the Profession of Arms. It's a mindset that has to be honed, humbled, and embraced in the style of the Warrior Monk. Think Renaissance Man meets Professional Soldier.

Today's episode touches briefly on my thoughts on Warrior Culture.

As always, intelligent comments are desperately wanted.

Thanks.