Back in a city I know pretty well; it's one of my fairly frequent destinations, and I'm beginning to feel fairly comfortable making my way around. It's got a restaurant that has some of the best wings I've had anywhere.

This city is where one teenager wanted to join the Marines so much that he lost more than 100 pounds (bet he wasn't taking in any of those wings) in order to qualify. He stated that he wanted to join the Marines "because they’re the best of the best."

In April, the amphibious transport dock named for this city (the third U.S. Navy ship to be so named) hosted a naturalization ceremony for 59 servicemembers, while at port in San Diego. This is her:

Her motto is "Promptus et paratus"

Winner this month (first correct answer via email) gets a copy of Ron Winter's book "Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam" (Really good book - a definite must-read)

Labels: contests, Where Am I

Finally have my car back, and wouldn't you know it, they couldn't find anything wrong with the sucker. Figures. No, I wasn't imagining it. Well, one thing's for sure - I'm not stopping on the way home! Kudos to the repair shop, though - I had 'em change the oil, since they had the car. After spending most of the day trying to solve the problem, they only charged me for the oil change - got out of there for under $20.

At any rate, for one more day at least, I'm in a town that is the oldest original township in its state, settled in the 1660's! It is said to be the site of one of the earliest anti-slavery meetings in the U.S., held in 1783. And yes, George Washington slept here. One of the famous residents of this town was the man for whom Pike's Peak was named.

The area is known for fine clay deposits, and the bricks made from it.

The town has its share of Heroes - one former resident was a famous ship captain who, alone, fought to save his sinking ship for nearly two weeks, before finally surrendering her to the North Atlantic. The story made worldwide headlines.

Another Hero fell on a sunny summer day in September, 2001. A Port Authority police officer from this town, an avid fisherman, had already earned his part of a group valor citation for actions taken during the 1993 bombing at the World Trade Center. Serving in his current assignment - the emergency services and hazardous material response team there, he would lose his life in the collapse of the towers.

This town is also the home base of Heroes of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-113th Infantry, and Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade, 50th Armored Division.

First correct response via email to iraqwartoday-AT-sbcglobal.net gets a copy of Masters of the Art: A Fighting Marine's Memoir of Vietnam, by Ronald Winter.

So...


Where Am I?


UPDATE: We have a winner! Margaret correctly guessed that I am in Woodbridge, New Jersey - for a little while longer, anyway - I head home this afternoon. Watch for details on some of the clues I gave, coming later.

Labels: contests, Where Am I

I had asked you to vote on the best caption for this photo by Michael Yon.

You did, and the winner is....

"Just another tank in paradise." -- JACKARMY

1st runner up consists of a three-way tie between the following submissions by Chuck:

"Looks like they're getting serious about punishing HOV abusers."

"Next On COPS--Baqubah: The solution to road rage."

"When directions to your house include 'Go past the tank and turn off the paved road,' You might be an insurgent."


2nd runner-up is my husband's submission:

"Hey Tanks...you're welcome."


JACK gets his choice of one of Chuck's t-shirts. Congratulations!

Labels: Caption This, contests, Michael Yon

A little while ago, I posted this photo by Michael Yon, and asked you all to come up with a caption:



Here's what we got:

Hey Tanks,,, you're welcome.

Looks like they're getting serious about punishing HOV abusers.

Next On COPS--Baqubah:The solution to road rage.

When directions to your house include "Go past the tank and turn off the paved road, You might be an insurgent."

Looks like Triple A (American Automobile Association) has new roadside service: If you get stuck or break down, we'll blow your car to smithereens!

"Beach????? Everybody knows I love the beach but..."

Nissan: Tank? I ain't afraid of no tank! What's he gonna do, run me over? Blow me up? Uhhhhhhhhm... uh oh, there's a tank. *help me*

"Just another tank in paradise!"



And now it's time to vote:

My favorite caption is...
	Tanks...
	...HOV Abusers...
	Next on COPS...
	...You might be an insurgent...
	...Triple A...
	...I love the beach...
	...I ain't afraid...
	Just another tank...
pollcode.com free polls

Voting closes at midnight Friday morning; winning caption will be posted Friday.


Michael Yon's photos are copyrighted, and are posted by permission. Please do not repost or publish without same.

Labels: Caption This, contests, Michael Yon

Michael Yon sends this picture, taken on the road in Iraq...

I thought it lent itself well to reader captioning, so let fly in the comments section.


My first contribution - "Harry, I told you to stop and ask for directions, but oh, no...now will you admit we're lost??"


Michael's pictures are copyrighted, and posted by permission. Please do not publish or repost without same.


UPDATE: OK, Michael has asked that I let him know who's got the best caption, and right now the only ones in are mine, and my husband's rather pathetic attempt. (Sorry, honey, but I calls 'em as I sees 'em). So, to sweeten the pot....

Best caption (by reader vote) gets their choice of one of Chuck Z's T-Shirts (I don't have my own yet, but I'm working on that...). Proceeds from the shirts go to support Soldiers' Angels, so everybody wins. Some of them are really funny - I'm partial to the @$$hats shirt, but my husband's choice was - much to my chagrin - "I'm with stupid." You can get a look at all of them here.

So hurry up and enter your caption in the comments section - submissions close on Monday, March 12th.

Labels: contests, Iraq, Michael Yon, photos

VAJoe.com is holding a contest for Active Duty servicemembers and their families -


It's that time of year again—NCAA March Madness. Fill out your bracket for your FREE chance to win the $2,000 Grand Prize. $1,000 will also be split among 2nd – 10th place.


For more, including the complete rules, go here.


The site also has a caption contest - this month's ends March 31st.

Labels: contests, Supporting the troops, VAJoe

On the road again, this time to a place I've been many times before. It's a city that was more or less a second home to me when I was in college, and it's always nice to be back.

Winner this go-round gets their choice of:

- A "Halp Us Jon Carry" t-shirt

- A Soldiers' Angels t-shirt (your choice of design)

- An IMAO "Top Ten UN Slogans" T-shirt

Ready? Here goes:

I am just outside of the city where:

The USS Doyle celebrated last Columbus Day, and

A track Captain and 2007 graduate at a very prestigious (and expensive!) school recently made a decision that is surprising given his location - he decided to join the U.S. Marines. (Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Kerry!) Then again, maybe not so surprising; the school has boasted a number of graduates of military and political accomplishment. In fact, one of the regiments that fought in the Civil War was actually nicknamed after that university, since so many graduates were in it.

A ship named for this city (the sixth, actually) received ten battle stars for her WWII service.


So....Where Am I?

First correct response via email to iraqwartoday-AT-sbcglobal.net wins!


UPDATE:
Mike correctly guessed that I am just outside of Boston, MA:

The city where the USS Doyle celebrated Columbus Day 2006;

The city where 2007 Harvard graduate and track Captain Sean Barrett has decided to enlist in the U.S. Marines;

The city where so many Harvard graduates enlisted in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry that it was known as the "Harvard Regiment; and

The city that is the namesake of at least seven U.S. Navy vessels, one of which earned 10 battle stars in WWII

Congratulations, Mike - your t-shirt will be on the way shortly!

Labels: contests, military trivia