Postscripts

No Sunday Funnies today. Given recent events, I'm not in a laughing mood.

I won't spend much time on Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris. There's plenty of information and discussion elsewhere. I will limit myself to a brief observation.

Francois Hollande: Paris attacks were ISIL 'act of war'

The Islamic State claimed responsibility Saturday for a "blessed battle" of revenge in the killing of at least 127 people in multiple terror attacks. French President Francois Hollande called the murder spree “an act of war."

"France will be pitiless concerning the barbarity of Daesh," he said, using an Arabic acronym for the militants, also known as ISIS or ISIL.

I hope Hollande and the French people have the fortitude and will to make that statement more than the empty words spoken by politicians at times like this. A good way to start might be for France to secure its borders.

France has become a hotspot in recent months for attacks related to Islamic extremism, in part because of its open-border policy that has attracted a number of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa...

It's not just France. The entire EU, along with the US, had better get its act together and control who gets in. Otherwise we'll be seeing more and more attacks like this occurring closer and closer to home.

At least one terrorist in the deadly Paris attacks registered as a refugee on Leros Island in October.

In the meantime, my thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones.

Vive le France!

Changing subjects, here's a follow-up to yesterdays post about the spoiled brats wasting their time and their parents money at universities across our country. Thankfully, not all students are whiny little malcontents with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. Some are hard-working self-reliant types who embody traditional American values, as shown in the next two images.

Finally, in a follow-up to Veterans Day, here's a nice remembrance of a true American hero.

PFC Milton Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway sign dedicated Veterans Day

More than 200 people gathered at Veterans Plaza Wednesday for VFW Post 688’s Veterans Day ceremony and a dedication ceremony for a new highway sign to name a stretch of Interstate 10 after Medal of Honor Recipient PFC Milton A. Lee, who was killed during the Vietnam War in 1968 at age 19.

Milton Lee was a local boy. The stretch of highway named after him runs from our small Texas Hill Country town towards San Antonio.

The PFC Milton A Lee Medal of Honor Memorial Highway sign that will be placed on a 10-mile stretch of I-10 in honor of Lee.

PFC Lee’s Medal of Honor citation:

“Private First Class Milton A. Lee distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty on April 26, 1968, near the A Shau Valley in the Province of Thua Thien, Republic of Vietnam. Private Lee was serving as the radiotelephone operator with the 3d Platoon, Company B, 2d Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. As lead element for the company, the 3d Platoon received intense surprise hostile fire from a force of North Vietnamese Regulars in well-concealed bunkers. With 50 percent casualties, the platoon maneuvered to a position of cover to treat their wounded and reorganize, while Private Lee moved through the heavy enemy fire giving life-saving first aid to his wounded comrades. During the subsequent assault on the enemy defensive positions, Private Lee continuously kept close radio contact with the company commander, relaying precise and understandable orders to his platoon leader. While advancing with the front rank toward the objective, Private Lee observed four North Vietnamese soldiers with automatic weapons and a rocket launcher lying in wait for the lead element of the platoon. As the element moved forward, unaware of the concealed danger, Private Lee immediately and with utter disregard for his own personal safety, passed his radio to another soldier and charged through the murderous fire. Without hesitation he continued his assault, overrunning the enemy position, killing all occupants and capturing four automatic weapons and a rocket launcher. Private Lee continued his one-man assault on a second position through a heavy barrage of enemy automatic weapons fire. Grievously wounded, he continued to press the attack, crawling forward into a firing position and delivering accurate cover fire to enable his platoon to maneuver and destroy the position. Not until the position was overrun did Private Lee falter in his steady volume of fire and succumb to his wounds. Private Lee’s conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, the 101st Airborne Division, and the United States Army.”

 Well done, PFC Lee. God Bless, and Rest in Peace.

PFC Milton A. Lee