The Cost of Liberty

I awoke in an early morning in Korea reading over the news to find that a friend I worked with at Arlington National Cemetery was killed in Afghanistan. The cost of liberty remains high.

Specialist Louis (Lou) Fastuca was killed in Abdulhamid Kalay in Afghanistan on 5 July when his vehicle was attacked with an IED. He was 24. He was from West Chester Pennsylvania.

He was a great kid. I always loved his sense of humor. He was always in good humor himself and loved to banter around in the office. Truly a great loss.

I ask my readers to keep his family in their prayers. And pray for victory and for peace.

Read more here

Still Celebrating Liberty

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!

God shed his grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness

Happy 4th of July

The Star Spangled Banner (Verse 4)

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

AF Chaplains in the News

Worth the read. Hits the big rocks with what we as AF chaplains do, and talks about the issues surrounding our current draw down.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=70025

My last deployment -- waiting for the medivac chopper to come in with wounded.

Presidential Wisdom

Some great ideas to ponder from our first President, George Washington.

It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.

Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.

To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.

True Success Story

Our team at Osan Air Base is known for its readiness. Our Wing's motto is "Ready to fight tonight" and we are. Exercises here are full up and as realistic as we can make them and they are lots of fun. As a chaplain they provide me lots of opportunities to talk to folks and learn how they do their jobs when push comes to shove. It is always a reconfirming experience - we have some amazing airmen out here. The presence of our military forces in Korea has been a key factor in the amazing success of our Korean friends.

South Korea is a huge success story. When the communists sought to unify the country under a repressive dictatorship in the 50s they fought with all they had. By the time the war was over, the country was devastated. It had no true urban centers. No true infrastructure. Even the trees were erased from the landscape. Today as you drive through Korea, just 60 years later, you find an amazing prosperous modern country with a thriving economy and people enjoying a thriving democracy with a healthy respect for liberty. Equally encouraging for me personally is that in the midst of this fertile environment where religious liberty is safeguarded the Christian faith is thriving. Also driving through Korea you realize how beautiful a country this is.

But today I read an article that taught me that not only is the amazing Korean work ethic bearing fruit for their human society in its modern economic achievements and standard of living - but the environment has benefited from their work ethic as well. From the article: (By Michael Breen; Korean Times)

When foreign war veterans visit the battlefields in Korea
where they fought North Korean and Chinese forces 60 years ago,
they notice one enormous change in the terrain: trees.
They're everywhere.
The once bare hills of wartime Korea are now clothed in foliage.
(read the full story here)

Happy Birthday Honey

In about fifteen minutes the day will shift from 3 May to 4 May back in the states, but it has been 4 May for almost 13 hours here -- so I get to celebrate my wife's birthday before she does -- though I must admit its a bit hard to do since she isn't here. Let's just say with the last few busy days, my primary celebration activity has been just plain missing her.

So honey, if you read this: Happy Birthday. I know you are sleeping right now, but when you wake up I want you to know I'm thinking about you.

Happy Birthday

Favorite Things in Korea

Ok, I have to admit, one of my favorite things to do is stop for a restroom break at one of Korea's infamous rest areas. These really are little travel adventures in themselves. First is the adventure of getting into the busy parking lot and then threading through the traffic to the maze of shopping and restaurants that awaits. Fortunately most places are dual labeled in Korean and English. I don't understand the custom, but all the men's rooms are quite open visually to the public. You can look right in and see the urinals as you walk past. One I've stopped at even had the urinals tangent to a large picture window looking out over a river. Little privacy for the men's side of the house. Can't speak to the women's, though I been told that can be an interesting adventure too.

But the real adventure is exploring what you can find. There is all sorts of unique Korean foods available in the little restaurants. Convenience stores carry their version of treats and snacks. Most are much healthier than ours, but I have yet to find a diet coke there. Usually nice coffee shops, but serving are 1/2 the size of what we would be used to. But the best are the Korean Walnut Cakes. Little bite size breaded pastries with chocolate bean paste inside that are actually the size and shape of walnuts. These are delicious and cheap for what you get.

I say I need a potty break but what I really need is my Walnut Cake fix.

Spring is coming

Spring is finally coming to Osan. Still chilly today, but we've had some nice warm days.

It is also yellow dust season, which makes for some spectacular sunsets.

Have said goodbye to some great fellow airmen and am saying hello to some great new airmen I am looking forward to serving with.

Was out last weekend to a local orphanage where I was once again blessed by these wonderful Korean children. Not only did we play with them as usual, this time they demonstrated native Korean dancing for us. And they were really very good.

It's Daughter Week

It is daughter week, so says my older brother (at least in one way I'll always be able to describe myself as "younger".). So in celebration of this wonderful week I announce that I have the two most beautiful talented daughters in all the world. I am very proud of both of them and will be glad to be back home with them again in a few months.

Happy daughter week to my girls!

Wish I Was Home

(Click Picture)

Dae Dun San

Monday was a great day to be a born and bread Tennessee hillbilly as our chapel staff tackled some steep rocky out crops in South Korea. This is Mt Dae Dun San. For April, it was a bit chilly and the cherry blossoms are still sleeping here. But as we the final four of us made our way to the top, the sun broke out and the view was incredible.

A fairly stable cable car took us about 1/2 way up the mountain. Then we began a steep ascent to this swinging (yes it swang) bridge.

Then up this steep ladder, climbing between two rocky projections on the side of the mountain.












Here is part of the ascent from the tram up to the bridge. The steps were not typical of the rest of the trip up.

This is a view of the entire mountain from the base where we parked.
At the top the view was astounding. Looking down on the knoll we climbed to reach the ladder, it all looked incredibly small. It didn't take too long to reach the top though. Not really that far in distance but it was straight up (and straight down). Going down was harder than going up.

























Then those of us who climbed to the top visited the little shops on the street as we waited for those who didn't want to tackle the full climb to finish up their refreshment. There were nice looking shops and restaurants. Ate some fried ginseng root here. This is a popular treat in Korea. Supposedly very healthy for you. Tasted like deep fried tree root. Lots of fiber.

We stopped for lunch/dinner at a very relaxing restaurant in the area. I had my traditional Be Bim Bop, but I did try this for the first time --- octopus.

It actually wasn't bad covered in pepper sauce. It doesn't have much flavor on its own and is just a bit chewy.