Book Review of Heart of a Soldier by James B. Steward -- Plus An Editorial -- Jeremiah Davis's Commentary on Trump's Autocratic Takeover - Francis Hamit - New Contributor!

Francis Hamit

Author, Playwright and

Award-Winning Screenwriter

                              A 9/11 Hero Remembered

Rick Rescorla has always been a particular hero of

mine. We shared a past as Vietnam veterans and in the Security Industry, protecting property and people.
When the 9/11 attacks occurred he was the Security Director for Morgan Stanley at the World Trade Center. Despite a prior rather lame attack with a truck bomb in 1993, most of the people who worked in those towers did not take security seriously.

Rick did. So much so that he was willing to be a pain-in-the-ass about it and insist that Morgan Stanley hold regular drills to evacuate their offices, drills that
required all of their employees to walk down several flights of fire stairs to the ground level. Rick knew that the timing of another attack was uncertain, but that it was not a matter of “if” but “when.”

When the fateful day came he evacuated all 800
Morgan Stanley employees from their offices safely
and in good order without panic. He went back up to
make sure he had everyone out and was still there
when the building collapsed. His remains have never
been recovered.

James B. Steward is a journalist better known for
financial coverage but here he tells Rick’s story in a sensitive and compelling narrative. Rick not just had
the heart of a soldier, he was a soldier, part of Hal
Moore’s 7th Cavalry in Vietnam.

In a time when we need heroes, it is proper to
remember this one.

The book is still in print in several editions.

~~~

Editorial

Jeremiah Davis's Commentary

 on Trump's Autocratic Takeover

Former Intelligence Analyst Hits the Mark.

With a few recent exceptions, I have tried to refrain from posting political comments for a dozen or more years.  I sincerely regret that I feel compelled to depart from that practice now and for the foreseeable future. I fear that we have reached critical mass in the struggle between our beloved constitutional democracy and the immoral authoritarian movement which I believe threatens it. Please try to understand that my motivation is my sincere belief in the lifetime oath I took to protect and defend the Constitution from all enemies both foreign and domestic. 

The POTUS and his team are sending federalized National Guard troops into cities governed by Democratic mayors under the ridiculous pretext that these cities are out of control and that federal buildings and ICE officers need NG protection. 

The governors and mayors insist that these federalized forces are not only not needed but that they are unwelcome and more likely to provoke violence than to prevent it. Federal district court judges predominantly agree that the federalization and deployment of these troops are unwarranted and most probably illegal. Nevertheless, the Administration apparently proceeds with the deployment in defiance of the courts’ orders.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, a significant number of very senior flag officers (generals and admirals) have been fired, resigned, or retired under pressure from the Trump Administration. They include the most senior legal (JAG) officers who are responsible for ruling on the legality of orders directed to ranking military officers. (All members of the military take an oath to follow all “legal orders” issued by those above them.) They will undoubtedly be replaced by officers who are more willing to adhere to the desires of their political masters, regardless of the constitutionality of those desires.

It is absolutely essential that those of us who oppose the authoritarian goals of this administration NOT play into the hands of the architects of Project 2025. We must not engage in any violent confrontations with ICE and others who are quickly becoming the US equivalent of the Gestapo and Heinrich Himmler’s brutal SS. 

Instead, we must adopt the tactics of Gandhi, MLK, Nelson Mandela, and other champions of civil rights who peacefully but forcefully demonstrated their opposition to those who sought to repress them. They endured brutality in Selma, Birmingham, and elsewhere. They showed who the actual thugs were and that peaceful demonstrators represented more noble ideals, such as those articulated in our Declaration of Independence and in the Constitution itself. We must be resolute in our determination to replace the would-be dictators through constitutional means as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Lady Liberty weeps...

Jeremiah Davis served in the US Army Security Agency during the Cold War and had Top Secret/ Crypto access. His remarks above are reprinted by permission.

BRH Regular Contributor Adolph Caso Shares Presentation on Nine-Eleven...

Nine-Eleven and World War II Veterans

By Adolph Caso

Lest we forget, we are meeting on September 11.

As veterans of World War II, you took part in the most unusual war—unusual because up to World War II, battles were fought to conquer and to subjugate. Ours, on the other hand, was to defeat and to liberate. It was also a war to free and to empower, the otherwise defeated people, with the freedom to act without political or religious constraints.

Having defeated Germany, Japan and Italy, none of which became colonies of America, and not one of the citizens of those countries became a slave of America, or indentured to America. There were no mass killings; there were no persecutions; there was no revenge on either their military or on their civilians.

In fact, America introduced all kinds of programs that guaranteed a renewed prosperity unequaled in the entire history of mankind. Thus, the concept and the execution of World War II were turned upside down—thanks to America’s enlightened leaders, and, to the intelligent prowess of the American soldiers. How did we do it?

Having assured there would be no retribution toward those nations, America introduced the Marshall Plan. It did two things:

It stabilized each nation’s economy by infusing new capital to rehabilitate their economies.

It kept a large number of American soldiers, who, while securing each nation’s political and social stability--those same soldiers lived off of the local economy, thus ensuring demand for that nation’s products.

Thousands of American soldiers bought Volkswagens’, Mercedes, and Porsches, let alone Grundig, Telefunken, and Leica.

Can you imagine what this built-in demand meant for those old German companies and the new start-ups? Now, in 2014, many of those companies have become competitors to our own companies to the point that they dominate in the world of commerce.

Who can deny the dominance of the Japanese products? Who can deny the dominance of German products? Who can deny the power behind those countries’ Gross National Product? And credit for this success belongs to you—the Veterans that made it possible.

No one can deny the unmatched American achievement on behalf of nations, which needed to be defeated. Otherwise, if Americans had not had the will to defeat them, we as Americans--with all of our traditional political and social constitutional idealism—would have been subdued and turned either into slaves or wantonly executed. The images of the 1940s are appearing just as vivid as they are repugnant in 2014.

Notwithstanding personal party affiliations, after Italy, Germany, and Japan declared war on the United States, our government quickly began to round up American-born Italians, together with Germans and Japanese, and placed them in concentration camps.

That not one of those individuals was deliberately abused, maimed or killed seems to be true. That Americans of Italian, German and Japanese ethnicity were deprived of their due process is also true. What is important to note is that the federal policy was not due to President Roosevelt party affiliation. The policy, right or wrong, was due to a policy aimed at keeping all Americans safe.

In view of 9/11, in view of the Iraq wars, in view of Iran, in view of Isis, in view of the beheadings—a time of great vulnerability is present in America as a whole because our government invited and allowed into our heartland thousands upon thousands of illegal immigrants with the tacit promise of permanence with benefits. These individuals are here. And, unlike our soldier who took the wrong turn into Mexico where he remains in jail, or, myself having to stop to show my credentials at the border before I can be let into Canada, none--of those thousands now in our communities--was screened for either documents, diseases, hidden arms, political orientation, country of origin, or terror-related activities.

Was this policy devised and executed by a political party to help that party? Or, was it devised, right or wrong, to benefit our Nation?

After this huge infiltration of all kinds of people wanting to do us harm, all of these unscreened individuals have been given standing and due process at levels higher than you and I could ever enjoy.

God forbid that there might be one minor wrong detail in the investigation of the Boston Marathon terrorist, and all hell breaks loose on due process. But because a Mosque has religious affiliations, scrutiny of membership is hard to come by. For sure, our precautions are exaggerated on the side of a hidden enemy enjoying the protection of our wonderful neighborhoods. Talk about creating an environment for a nation’s suicide potential!

Question: These un-identified people were asked to come into the United States at the urging of our government. Having been invited to enter legally, how can they now be classified as illegal?

Think of this situation: American citizens of German ethnicity went to fight on behalf of the Third Reich. That inglorious service, on behalf of a government with programs to exterminate blocks of human beings, makes my soul shudder. To learn that some Americans are repeating that abomination in the Middle East has to leave us pondering about our future.

In the fifties, I was a Signal Corps officer stationed in Europe, often dealing with psychological warfare policies. Would we broadcast false information to the enemy, or, would we be restrained from doing so due to ethical considerations? Without compunction, we broadcast false information, just as the enemy did! In 2010, America revealed its war plans to its enemy--information such on troop deployment, dates of pending battle action, engagement time, cease fire dates and/or troop withdrawal.  In defeating Iraq, America did not tell anyone its battle plans; in losing Iraq, America told the world its entire battle plan.

Iraq gassed thousands of its people; in the Globe today, Syria is reported to be deploying the same gas—as we sit here. During the Iraq War, Scud missiles were randomly launched into Israel—I still remember the panic on the faces of Israelites running for cover. Yet, only two weeks ago, in the same Globe, I read a repudiation of the war as illegal on the claim that Iraq neither possessed weapons of mass destruction nor the means of delivering such weapons.

            Did not my eyes see those missiles dropping?

            Did not my ears hear those children crying?

Nevertheless, when we think of President Roosevelt in relation to World War II, we are reminded of two accomplishments:

He saved the world from the likes of Hitler. You and I would be speaking German, if that were even made possible by an intruding American Nazi Regime.

Roosevelt established America as a humane world power through the likes of Veterans such as you. Just think of how many people have been saved from starvation alone, let alone from extermination and terrorist attack as we witnessed and commemorate this very day of Nine-Eleven.

Adolph Caso, Publisher, Editor, Author, Poet and Friend Routinely Contributes to Book Readers Heaven.

Review: A Cross Estate Highlights A Single Life Story Affected by 9/11 Tragedy

“I told him to get out, to leave...” ~~~ “I can’t do that, Mom...I love you!” (p. 198)

It was a story about a family, much like many you’ve read. A young man is in love and is also deciding what career choice to make. At least that’s what I thought when I started to read A Cross Estate by William Thomas Kinsella.

In fact, the young man, the main character, is killed shortly after the second part of the book begins! On September 11, 2001...

When tragedy strikes, there is no way to really know what those who are involved are going through. However, Kinsella’s book strikes realism, a tone of truth that slowly pulls readers into the lives of those who have lost someone unexpectedly and senselessly. In this case, on 9/11. The story is sad and, in many parts, hard to read. You will see the bedroom of Jack Conroy, at his parents’ house, left as if he was away for just a while and was coming back to finish reading the magazine article lying on his bed. You will hear the frustration, anger and regret voiced by those close to Jack...

Jack Conroy had two career opportunities. He loved working outside and had taken a minor in landscape design while his major was in finance. His first job offer was to take a full-time job where he had worked summers, doing design work. His heart decision was to take that job. Not only would he be doing the work he loved to do, but also he would be able to stay with Veronica while she finished school, for she was the most important person in his life.

But his father was semi-retired from Wall Street and throughout his life Jack had been prepared to also work there. Indeed, his father had worked many years before he had gained a position and knew that his son was already better and more prepared to start work there immediately. So, when the chance came to interview for a position right after his graduation, Jack decided to at least go for the interview.

Once there, he was pleased by what he saw at the firm, and also that he was being favorably considered. He discussed his career issues with everybody who was important to him. Finally, knowing that he was young enough to work on Wall Street and still move into landscape work in not too many years, he accepted the offered position, just shortly before the firm moved to the Twin Towers.

Kinsella’s novel beautifully illustrates his writing expertise and his Master’s in English Literature. There is much to learn by studying the reactions of his true-to-life characters as they face their lives without the one person that had brought them all together...

Kinsella worked in Lower Manhattan during this tragedy. His writing reflects the horror both during and after a tragedy, all the more poignant by his sharing so much of the family life of “just one” that was lost. Highly recommended life story!

“He was a hometown boy. You probably saw him around town if you’ve lived here any length of time. He was an attractive young man who people wanted to be around. He loved to walk the sidewalks of this town growing up, and you never had to smile first when you saw him...Jack Conroy was the pure heart of America—the offshoot of our best roots and the flower of our American Dream.” (p. 145)

G. A. Bixler
for IP Book Reviews