Spread the Joy: Advent 2025: Day 7

                                                                                                                                                                           I selected today's charity because of where we are on the calendar. December 7, 1941 was a day that will forever live in infamy. It marks America's official entry into World War II with the attack on US Navy forces at Pearl Harbor. 

To honor those who fell that day as well as those who jumped up out of bed the following Monday and volunteered to serve, along with the thousands who were drafted or inducted over the past 84 years , I choose Operation Gratitude to feature.

According to their website: Operation Gratitude began in 2003, when their founder, Carolyn Blashek, met a soldier who felt forgotten. From her living room, she mailed four care packages to deployed troops in Iraq. In the 20 years since, tens of thousands of volunteers have delivered more than four million parcels, each one filled with donated products, handmade items, and heartfelt letters. 

You can make a financial donation to Operation Gratitude here. But if you wish to write a letter or create your own care package by mailing it directly to the organizations warehouse facility at:

Operation Gratitude
9409 Owensmouth Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311

If you follow this option, there is a required form that needs to be included with every package. That can be accessed https://www.operationgratitude.com/ship-packages 

Spread the Joy: Advent 2025: Day 7

I selected today's charity because of where we are on the calendar. December 7, 1941 was a day that will forever live in infamy. It marks America's official entry into World War II with the attack on US Navy forces at Pearl Harbor. 

To honor those who fell that day as well as those who jumped up out of bed the following Monday and volunteered to serve, along with the thousands who were drafted or inducted over the past 84 years , I choose Operation Gratitude to feature.

According to their website: Operation Gratitude began in 2003, when their founder, Carolyn Blashek, met a soldier who felt forgotten. From her living room, she mailed four care packages to deployed troops in Iraq. In the 20 years since, tens of thousands of volunteers have delivered more than four million parcels, each one filled with donated products, handmade items, and heartfelt letters. 

You can make a financial donation to Operation Gratitude here. But if you wish to write a letter or create your own care package by mailing it directly to the organizations warehouse facility at:

Operation Gratitude
9409 Owensmouth Avenue
Chatsworth, CA 91311

If you follow this option, there is a required form that needs to be included with every package. That can be accessed https://www.operationgratitude.com/ship-packages

1977: A Madman Turns 40: 2017- Day 42

Secretary Alexander's official government photo, 1977.

   
Today's date in A Madman Turns 40 history commemorates the historic appointment of Clifford Alexander Jr. On this day, Alexander was appointed as the first black Secretary of the United States Army. Nominated by newly elected Jimmy Carter, he served until January of 1981 when he was replaced by Reagan appointee, John Otho Marsh Jr. 

    Since this is Black History Month, I thought it was appropriate to highlight this moment in American military history. So just who is Clifford Alexander Jr.

Former Secretary Alexander, circa 2015.

    A former member of the New York National Guard, Clifford Alexander spent his term trying to revitalize the now 'all-volunteer' Army. The draft was halted in 1973, but recruitment efforts were at an all-time low in the late 70s due to the painful legacy of the Vietnam War. Alexander also lead President Carter's new mandate to encourage diversity by awarding minority owned businesses a fair share of government contracts.

     After Alexander's term as Secretary ended, he returned back to the private sector where he served in numerous functions as well as a member of the American Stock Exchange's board of governors; a position he still holds. In the 90s, Mr. Alexander spoke before Congress against President Clinton's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy which barred openly gay Americans from serving in any military function. In 2011, Alexander and other opponents of the government's approach towards homosexuals in the military, celebrated in 2010 when President Obama signed an official appeal of DADT into law.

President Obama signing the
Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal into law, 2010

     Well, that's all this Madman has time for today. Check in again tomorrow- who knows where I'll go next in 1977 history...
   

Willie & Joe: the WWII years, Volume II

WORTH CONSUMING!

This is a very quaint collection of WWII comics drawn by Bill Mauldin. I’m not sure who he is, but he’s got talent. The humor is a lot like MASH, very authentic and topical- Pro American and Anti-war at the same time.

The best aspect of this book is the director’s cut type commentary at the end of the book that helps explain some of these cartoons in which if you did not know SOP, you’d very lost!

Sadly, not every comic gets this treatment, as they still were some that went over my head.

 I cannot wait to read Vol. 1!