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@eldonthemarine. I noticed your question in chat this morning. Right off the top of my head I am going to say that may be almost impossible to come up with a number and here is why I think that. There are over 20 million veterans in the United States, that is a whole lot of veterans. Woodworking is a main stream hobby/trade, to what degree would a veteran be considered a woodworker? The question may be as hard as asking how many veterans play golf, or drive a Chevy. You may be the first to compile a database! . Eldon, there are quiet a few organizations that target veterans for woodworking programs, and many trade schools that offer special programs and tuition breaks for veterans, especially for veterans of OEF and OIF. I am taking a leap here but I would say that those educational institutions probably do not know how many veterans are currently woodworkers. Now, not to be a wet rag here, so I'd like to know more about your research and why this question is being posed or in other words, what is the context of your research, the main body of your research. Because there may be a better question to ask that will help your research. Thanks for joining Eldon, and I hope to hear more about your project.

Dick Cole, last of the Doolittle Raiders, dies at 103 https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/04/09/a-legend-passes-dick-cole-last-of-the-doolittle-raiders-dies-at-103/ https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/04/08/last-surviving-doolittle-raider-honored-florida.html Larry

www.sltrib.com/news/2019/03/19/utah-pilot-killed-world/?fbclid=IwAR2NUvlbY1CnRdEUB-cuqVlatBR5X-9PTv33hAsIg6ulWfCQFWfV27d9F7w I like this.

I am friends with Mark Wilson on Facebook, many of you may remember that Mark was one of the very first wounded veterans we helped raise a shop, acquire the tools and machinery he needed to work the wood, and our sponsors really came to the table to outfit his shop, he is a blind woodworker, injury received by shotgun blast to his face and blinded. My friend Mark posted this on Facebook, I replied: Amen amen amen my brother Mark! Just so ya'll know, he's doing fine, really well. Still working the wood, and going on trips all over the USA and participating in Wounded Warrior Games and Competitions. Our friend Mark on the table saw at the Chicago Heinz Center for the Blind Rehabilitation clinic. I took a break from working on some issues for our community here, while plugging away at those issues, I remembered our friend Mark Wilson, and he touched many hearts here. Service animals, fully functional folks traveling with those service animals, as psychological service pets, really chaps my hide, you all know the ones I am talking about, and then there's Mark Wilson. Our friend Mark with his service dog

Check out this link to see Marine Sergeant Major Grace Carle! hat https://www.google.com/search?q=marine+sergeant+major+grace+carle&tbm=isch&source=hp&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjy9cu2iIPhAhVJ04MKHS7SAOMQsAR6BAgFEAE&biw=1680&bih=895#imgrc=760l2Kpv8rCTqM:

On last nights news, I saw a video on a Texas WWII vet that is turning 100 on March 2. His birthday wish is to receive 100 birthday cards. Here is a link to another video on him that shows more information. This video shows he has received 2,500 cards. The video I saw last night shows he has received 10,000. https://abc13.com/society/family-asks-for-birthday-cards-for-wwii-vet-fighting-cancer/5119970/ While looking at this video, I found story on 92 year old vet in Oklahoma who is battling cancer. His birthday is April 17. He enjoys getting mail but does not get very much. https://abc7chicago.com/society/veteran-asks-for-100-birthday-cards-but-gets-thousands/5159623/ Thought maybe some of us might have a birthday card or two that needs to be mailed somewhere and maybe a sheet of paper that needs a letter written on it and mailed. Their addresses are show in the written portion of articles. Larry

https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/18/us/sailor-kiss-vj-day-photo-george-mendonsa-dies/index.html

At a local restaurant that we visit regularly , one of the waitresses there told us a story this week about her dad. He is 94. He was 19 when he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. If any of you have seen the movie "Monument Men" he is one of those who went to get the gallery of hidden arts that Hitler stole. It was important to get there and remove the art before the Russians got there because Russia would have claimed the works for themselves. He was among the men who carried the art out and got away just before the Russians arrived. She said that she never heard the story until a couple weeks ago when she read about her dad in the newspaper. When she asked him why he never told this to the family, he said "I didn't think it was important". He never told the family of his interview with the movie producers for the making of the film and she had never seen the movie. Needless to say, she is very proud of him. Dad is 94 and her mom is 92.

Check out this veterans website and products- https://riserburnwoodcrafts.com/

You just have to appreciate this one. Young people forget that we old people had a career before we retired...... Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn't seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10, 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker, really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded and a real credit to the company and obviously demonstrating their "Older Person Friendly" policies. One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. "Charley, I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you finally get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome." "Yes, I know boss, and I am working on it." "Well good, you are a team player. That's what I like to hear.” “Yes sir, I understand your concern and I’ll try harder.” Seeming puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “It's odd though your coming in late. I know you're retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up in the morning so late and so often?" The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly, then said with a grin, "They usually saluted and said, ‘Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir?’” give the man some respect.......

I just purchased a bag of the 12 oz. "Coffee or Die" blend, dark roast, it's a bit pricey, but hey, it's veteran owned and they employ veterans! I purchased my first bag this morning, thanks to @Stick486 for introducing us to Black Rifle Coffee at this topic I'll report back on taste and aroma when I get my first cup brewed. The image below is what I purchased. If you follow this link you'll get 10 percent off your first purchase as a guest of mine. https://www.talkable.com/x/7Z11sh and we'll get 5 dollars cash for our Patriot Woodworker Community!

Hooch? Yep, what we used to call those "houses". Missionary buildings were still smoldering after "Sandy" dropped a couple "tanks" on it. Rest of the village wasn't too badly burnt. Mid afternoon, cleared the place, and set up for the night. One hooch in the mid was mine as a CP. Around 2am, we had some visitors. Rather violent fellows. Started to shoot the place up. We had all the radid-dios stacked along one wall, to the right of the single doorway. Nathan Victor type sprays the wall on the other side of the doorway, kicks in the shabby door, looking around a bit wide eyed. Seems he thought he got us, BUT.....No more bullets in the gun( hate when that happens) so, catching sight of an American Adviser standing there, charges anyway. Seems that long pointy thing was aimed at ME? Block the dang thing to the side, and add a right cross to the jaw for good measure. Stalling for a bit of time...ah, .45 finally gets out, and.... He had two friends just outside the broken door, they got the same welcome as their buddy. One just doesn't intrude into MY Hooch, you know? Next morning, load up, and head on to the next "burg" along the canal/roadway , heading West.

I am very saddened personally, one of my all time heroes, Lt. General Hal Moore dies today. Many of you may of known of him before the popular Mel Gibson Movie "We Were Soldiers" but for me, I did not know about him until that gritty and realistic movie came to the big screen. LTC (rank at the time) Hal Moore, historians and the men who were there said Mel Gibson nailed it, that was Hal Moore. After seeing the movie I immediately researched this man and found out he also was in the Korean War as well. Knowing this legend is no longer among the living leaves a void in our living history that is passing away each and every day at an alarming rate. I have this to say, we owe our lives as Americans and our way of life to the men like LTG Hal Moore and all those who served under these giant leaders. We'll always and forever be in your debt Sir. Rest in Peace, I know you have a lot of brothers in heaven waiting on your arrival, my gosh, can you imagine the reception up there? The men he lead, the men who fought and died while in his command, they were proud to be with him in battle, and I am sure they are proud to have him once again in their midst. Links of Interest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Moore http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/hal-moore-portrayed-by-actor-mel-gibson-in-we-were-soldiers-dies-at-age-94 http://www.stripes.com/news/us/lt-gen-hal-moore-dies-depicted-in-film-we-were-soldiers-1.453672 http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0010423/bio

BILLINGS, Mont. — Ben Steele's hold on his sanity as a prisoner of war after surviving the Bataan Death March relied on hidden scraps of paper, stolen pieces of charcoal and his artist's memory of scenes from his home in Montana. "I used to dream about Montana more than anything else, more than I did food — and I used to dream about food all the time," Steele once said. "I was awful sick and I thought I was going crazy, so I had to do something to occupy my mind," he said. Source: Military.com Read More..... In this 2015 photo, Bataan Death March survivor, artist and educator Ben Steele poses for a photo. (Hannah Potes/The Billings Gazette via AP) Links Mr. Steele's Art Work Mr. Steele's Personal Chronical Google Search From The Patriot Woodworker Community, rest in peace ol Warrior! We owe our existence as a free nation and free people to men like you. Our hat is solemnly tipped.

Our daughter was invited to play Amazing Grace on her violin for the funeral of a local hero, Sgt. Major Edward S Bardwell (1927-2016) WWII Veteran. The Sgt Major could be seen in every 4h of July parade riding a vintage WWII Willys and machine gun mounted. He was the man we all could not wait to see in the parade every year, and wave and cheer. We are all saddened to lose another WWII veteran as they leave us at the rate of 429 souls per day. Soon our WWII veteran will be no longer with us. If you know of a WWII veteran in your area, talk to them, hear their stories, record their stories, they will not be with us much longer, they will have gone the way of our WWI veterans. Our last US WWI veteran Frank Buckles passed in 2011. Soon we will be hearing of our last WWII veteran passing. Don't let the opportunity go by if you are near a WWII veteran to listen, and to be with. Today our daughter played for this man, a great man. She could not have been more humbled. Thank you Sgt. Major for your service! Hooorah!!!

Please take the 7 minutes to watch this truly wonderful video.....If it doesn’t bring a mist to your eyes are a lump in your throat, I don’t know what would..... If you’re not familiar with Gary Sinese, he played Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump. He has done great things to honor our veterans. A true patriot !! "Where there is one brave man in the thickest of the fight, there is the Post of Honor" - Thoreau "Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat" That's not what the Greatest Generation was about. They volunteered and fought for their country. After the war, they came back to the U.S. to work and raise their families. We are the product of their bravery and commitment. If it weren't for them, we would be speaking another language. There will never be a braver nor more patriotic generation like them. This short video is impactful, moving, and very impressive. Here is one Hollywood actor that is a good guy. These unequaled heroes are about to leave this planet. We must not forget what they bequeathed to us! You have to be 17 to enlist in the military. While it is well known that people younger than 17 served in WWII (& other wars) I am going to use 17 as a base. The war ended in 1945 & this is 2016. That means the YOUNGEST surviving WWII veteran is 88. Keep that in mind when you watch the video. Quite a few (in my opinion) do not look their age. Something I’m sure you’ll enjoy. (have a hanky at the ready...)

The following story was written in the first person - be it known that I am NOT that person. Each year I am hired to go to Washington , DC , with the eighth grade class from Clinton, WI where I grew up, to videotape their trip. I greatly enjoy visiting our Nation's Capital, and each year I take some special memories back with me. This fall's trip was especially memorable. On the last night of our trip, we stopped at the Iwo Jima Memorial. This memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world and depicts one of the most famous photographs in history -- that of the six brave soldiers raising the American Flag at the top of a rocky hill on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan, during WW II. Over one hundred students and chaperones piled off the buses and headed towards the memorial. I noticed a solitary figure at the base of the statue, and as I got closer he asked, 'Where are you guys from?' I told him that we were from Wisconsin. 'Hey, I'm a cheese head, too! Come gather around, Cheese heads, and I will tell you a story.' (It was James Bradley who just happened to be in Washington , DC , to speak at the memorial the following day. He was there that night to say good night to his dad, who had passed away. He was just about to leave when he saw the buses pull up. I videotaped him as he spoke to us, and received his permission to share what he said from my videotape. It is one thing to tour the incredible monuments filled with history in Washington, DC, but it is quite another to get the kind of insight we received that night.) When all had gathered around, he reverently began to speak. (Here are his words that night.) 'My name is James Bradley and I'm from Antigo, Wisconsin . My dad is on that statue, and I wrote a book called 'Flags of Our Fathers'. It is the story of the six boys you see behind me. 'Six boys raised the flag. The first guy putting the pole in the ground is Harlon Block. Harlon was an all-state football player. He enlisted in the Marine Corps with all the senior members of his football team. They were off to play another type of game. A game called 'War.' But it didn't turn out to be a game. Harlon, at the age of 21, died with his intestines in his hands. I don't say that to gross you out, I say that because there are people who stand in front of this statue and talk about the glory of war. You guys need to know that most of the boys in Iwo Jima were 17, 18, and 19 years old - and it was so hard that the ones who did make it home never even would talk to their families about it. (He pointed to the statue) 'You see this next guy? That’s Rene Gagnon from New Hampshire. If you took Rene's helmet off at the moment this photo was taken and looked in the webbing of that helmet, you would find a photograph...a photograph of his girlfriend. Rene put that in there for protection because he was scared. He was 18 years old. It was just boys who won the battle of Iwo Jima. Boys. Not old men. 'The next guy here, the third guy in this tableau, was Sergeant Mike Strank. Mike is my hero. He was the hero of all these guys. They called him the 'old man' because he was so old. He was already 24. When Mike would motivate his boys in training camp, he didn't say, 'Let's go kill some Japanese' or 'Let's die for our country'. He knew he was talking to little boys. Instead he would say, 'You do what I say, and I'll get you home to your mothers.' 'The last guy on this side of the statue is Ira Hayes, a Pima Indian from Arizona. Ira Hayes was one of them who lived to walk off Iwo Jima. He went into the White House with my dad. President Truman told him, 'You're a hero'. He told reporters, 'How can I feel like a hero when 250 of my buddies hit the island with me and only 27 of us walked off alive?' So you take your class at school, 250 of you spending a year together having fun, doing everything together. Then all 250 of you hit the beach, but only 27 of your classmates walk off alive. That was Ira Hayes. He had images of horror in his mind. Ira Hayes carried the pain home with him and eventually died dead drunk, face down, drowned in a very shallow puddle, at the age of 32 (ten years after this picture was taken). 'The next guy, going around the statue, is Franklin Sousley from Hilltop, Kentucky. A fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. His best friend, who is now 70, told me, "Yeah, you know, we took two cows up on the porch of the Hilltop General Store. Then we strung wire across the stairs so the cows couldn't get down. Then we fed them Epsom salts. Those cows crapped all night." Yes, he was a fun-lovin' hillbilly boy. Franklin died on Iwo Jima at the age of 19. When the telegram came to tell his mother that he was dead, it went to the Hilltop General Store. A barefoot boy ran that telegram up to his mother's farm. The neighbors could hear her scream all night and into the morning. Those neighbors lived a quarter of a mile away. 'The next guy, as we continue to go around the statue, is my dad, John Bradley, from Antigo, Wisconsin, where I was raised. My dad lived until 1994, but he would never give interviews. When Walter Cronkite's producers or the New York Times would call, we were trained as little kids to say 'No, I'm sorry, sir, my dad's not here. He is in Canada fishing. No, there is no phone there, sir. No, we don't know when he is coming back.' My dad never fished or even went to Canada. Usually, he was sitting there right at the table eating his Campbell's soup. But we had to tell the press that he was out fishing. He didn't want to talk to the press. 'You see, like Ira Hayes, my dad didn't see himself as a hero. Everyone thinks these guys are heroes, cause they are in a photo and on a monument. My dad knew better. He was a medic. John Bradley from Wisconsin was a combat caregiver. On Iwo Jima he probably held over 200 boys as they died. And when boys died on Iwo Jima, they writhed and screamed, without any medication or help with the pain.' 'When I was a little boy, my third grade teacher told me that my dad was a hero. When I went home and told my dad that, he looked at me and said, 'I want you always to remember that the heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who did not come back. Did NOT come back.' 'So that's the story about six nice young boys... Three died on Iwo Jima, and three came back as national heroes. Overall, 7,000 boys died on Iwo Jima in the worst battle in the history of the Marine Corps. My voice is giving out, so I will end here. Thank you for your time.' Suddenly, the monument wasn't just a big old piece of metal with a flag sticking out of the top. It came to life before our eyes with the heartfelt words of a son who did indeed have a father who was a hero. Maybe not a hero for the reasons most people would believe, but a hero nonetheless. Let us never forget from the Revolutionary War to the current War on Terrorism and all the wars in-between that sacrifice was made for our freedom... Please pray for our troops. Remember to pray praises for this great country of ours and also, please pray for our troops still in murderous places around the world. REMINDER: Every day that you can wake up free, it's going to be a great day. One thing I learned while on tour with my 8th grade students in DC that is not mentioned here is . .that if you look at the statue very closely and count the number of 'hands' raising the flag, there are 13. When the man who made the statue was asked why there were 13, he simply said the 13th hand was the hand of God. Great story - worth your time - worth every American's time.

Anthony's post, today, concerning veteran suicides and the projects they make to help create awareness about this program, was driven home thru another email I received from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Here's a link to something we all need to be thinking about. http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ThePowerof1.aspx I didn't know where else to post this. We used to have a special forum just for this stuff, but I couldn't find it.

My daughter grabbed me over the weekend and sat me down to watch this, the end is priceless. It's amazing what a change in self image can do to a human. Many say change starts within, but there's nothing wrong with giving that inner spirit a jump-start with a great outer appearance!