Mark Lefcowitz’s Post

Wishing everyone a very happy St. Brigid's day! The article below outlines some of the history of the St Brigid. https://lnkd.in/ekAkMtF8 #stbrigidsday #storagegalway #storagelimerick

10 Interesting Facts About Fort Smith, Arkansas

BREAKING: U.S. Military Authorized to Kill Americans – Ron Paul Warns of Looming Civil War Under New DoD Directive! Breaking: The U.S. military has been quietly authorized to use lethal force against Americans on U.S. soil under DoD Directive 5240.01. Ron Paul warns of a dangerous shift toward civil war, as the government prepares for internal conflict. This is not a drill—it’s a declaration of intent. WARNING: The U.S. government has crossed a line, and the mainstream media is silent. The Department of Defense has reissued a directive granting the U.S. military the authority to kill American citizens on U.S. soil. With barely a whisper from Congress, Directive 5240.01 has been reissued—this time, it includes provisions for lethal force. Former congressman Ron Paul isn’t holding back, warning Americans: “The U.S. military was just authorized to kill Americans on U.S. soil… This is very dangerous.” This is no mistake. The military has been legally empowered to turn its weapons inward, and the battlefield? Our streets. Our homes. Our lives. What’s going on? Why isn’t the media screaming about this? The Department of Defense has made a calculated move. Directive 5240.01, reissued on September 27, 2024, replaced its 2016 version. But this time, there’s a chilling difference: the military can use lethal force on U.S. soil under certain circumstances. Your Government Just Armed Itself Against You This is no accident—it’s by design. The U.S. government has armed itself with legal and bureaucratic power to silence, suppress, and eliminate internal dissent. The reissuance of Directive 5240.01 is a warning shot. The military, created to protect us from foreign enemies, now turns inward. They aren’t preparing for defense anymore. They’re preparing for domination. The battlefield? America. The enemy? You. Martial Law in Everything But Name Let’s be clear: The U.S. military is now authorized to use deadly force against its own citizens, with little oversight or accountability. When the government starts seeing its people as enemies, what comes next? This directive proves the government is no longer focused on liberty—it’s consolidating power. This isn’t preparation for defense. It’s a blueprint for suppression. They’ve put their pieces into place, arming themselves while you weren’t looking. The Administrative State’s Power Grab This is bureaucratic tyranny. By reissuing a directive, the government has bypassed Congress and public scrutiny, giving the military power to kill on American soil. You didn’t vote for this, but it’s now the law. This isn’t hypothetical. It’s real. It’s ready to be executed. The government will define “emergency,” and that will be their excuse for violence. Ron Paul’s Urgent Warning Ron Paul’s warning is urgent. If we don’t pay attention, if we don’t fight back, the next step is full-blown martial law. The military’s role has shifted—they aren’t here to protect you. They’re preparing for conflict with you.

As someone who works in the field of trust and integrity, this is interesting. To me it’s clear that someone with integrity volunteered to serve, performed with valor, acted with that same integrity, got scuppered by an admin issue that appears to have affected many people in the same situation, has been completely transparent, explained himself and that he was assured that his award was approved, and has apologised for completing a form on that basis. To any decent reasonable human being that should really be the end of the issue. But no. Because it’s politically expedient to accuse the man of stealing valor, something which very clearly did not happen. Doesn’t that really say something more about the accusers integrity than his? This is how trust and credibility works. It’s transitive. Someone with actual verifiable credibility endorses someone else with a cited verifiable narrative. Why do so many people fall for following the manufactured outrage but aren’t outraged by the attempt to manipulate them? Or by the disingenuous attempt to tarnish a good man? Why are people so quick to just pile on the next target? How long ago did we lose the art of calm objective consideration, and critical thinking?

UPDATE: Apparently, Guy Filippelli's posting had an impact, and they are going to correct the record for the Governor—that is a good thing. As the SGS at 25th ID, I have seen the appeals process where awards were reevaluated, including Purple Hearts. The bottom line—even if you think you earned it, don't list it until it is on your record...regardless of who tells you that it is complete. Enough with the stolen valor, please. We all know where we stand when we leave the military. In our last days in the military, we review our DD214, which is typically the last thing we sign before leaving for the civilian world. I have redacted my DD214 (posted in the comments) for those who do not know what I am talking about. When you leave the military, this is your final record. You verify every aspect of it and digitally sign it. You must show this document for all of your VA Benefits so you know what is on it. This is only page one, missing a few of my awards and schooling. I am tired of people saying they "thought" they had an award, were "told" they had an award or retired at a certain rank and didn't. Awards are submitted digitally, even in a combat zone; this has been going on since the early 2000s to streamline the process. Awards are rarely lost, and officer awards being lost is nearly unheard of in any situation. The G1 (Personnel Officer) has three primary missions in a combat zone: Casualty Tracking, Award Tracking, and OER Tracking. If you served, you KNOW. YOU verify DD214 in person before you sign it. My other favorite is the want-to-be CSM who didn't serve three years in the rank and did not complete the Professional Military Education to retire at that rank. He knows that and continues to purvey upon the public that he doesn't.

Share your theories on the disappearance of the USS Eldridge in the Philadelphia Experiment.

Here is today's book highlight: The idea of duty is a simple one. We all have a job to do in life. Whether that job is serving customers in a restaurant, taking care of our family, teaching our children, policing our cities, caring for the ill and infirm, protecting our gate, following the military Code of Conduct, or leading the country, we must do our job to the best of our ability. We must do our job well, not because it serves our interests, but because it serves the interests of others. We do not live in this world alone. Duty is a recognition that you have a responsibility to your fellow man and woman. It is an unselfish act, whether great or small, that contributes to the welfare of humanity. That is what makes it so very powerful. If you want to be a hero, it’s easy. Just do your duty! The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived by Admiral William H. McRaven

For years I'd ignored... a book because I didn't think it had any relevance to my research. It is, lightly edited, the "personal recollections" of Sgt. John A. Porter who served in Co. B, 76th Regt., PA Volunteer Infantry (1861-1865). My great-grandfather (Joseph Evans) had served in Co. K. Due to a lack of knowledge about military configurations, I had no idea that Co. B AND Co. K served at the same time and participated in the same battles. Recently I had an opportunity to visit the GAR Museum in Philadelphia and speak with the archivists. Once again I was directed to this book. What made me want to get a copy? Learning that the two companies didn't serve consecutively (one being depleted or withdrawn and others formed to replace earlier ones), but that they served concurrently! No one had mentioned this to me in the past and I'm sure that I had pointed out the difference in companies. As it turns out, this may be as close to a "Regimental History" as one gets for the 76th Regt. PVI. Yes, Bates has the list of battles, servicemen and "outlines" it movements. Porter provides (as I like to say) the "grunts" perspective. "Conversation" can be so important when doing a job. Between hearing what others are talking about (and learning from them), as well as the tangents they can take resulting in "Ah Ha!" moments. It may takes years and, definitely, speaking with the right people. Luckily, before it was too late, I learned the value of Porter's work and Chisman's compilation of it. https://lnkd.in/eVdyutqV

Thanks to Civil War Books and Authors for covering "Decisions of the Vicksburg Campaign" by Larry Peterson! Learn more about this exciting new addition to the Command Decisions series at the link below: https://lnkd.in/egYcduRv #civilwar #history #universitypress #vicksburg