J. D. Pendry

Welcome. I am a native West Virginian.

I’m a member of a group of Americans comprising less than 1 percent of the US population.  I’m a military veteran.  Of that 1 percent I’m a member of a group that is even smaller.  I’m an Army retiree of 28 years.  I was fortunate in my career to achieve the rank of Command Sergeant Major.  For those who deem it necessary to question my military background as if it adds to or takes away validity of the opinions I express, suffice it to say that the rank of CSM in all branches of the United States Army is achieved by less than 1 percent of those who ever enter the Army’s enlisted force.  It’s a pinacle that cannot be reached except through a demonstration of skill and ability  That’s a simple fact, not a boast.

Generally, I don’t talk about myself.  However, as my opinions filter around the Ineternet people who have never served a day in the Uniformed Armed Services and likely never will, even if drafted, repeatedly feel the need to question whether I’m qualified to offer opinions on how the idiotic rhetoric and actions of politicians and their anti-military supporters affect the lives of Military Men and Women, their Families and our country.

Mainly, because of this article, I’ve been called many names. A neo-Nazi, a fascist, a REMF straphanger, one who managed to avoid combat, an idiot, a right wing hack, a fraud, one who is making a fast buck off his veteran status (never made one red cent from my weekly commentaries – not yet anyway) and many different and creative profanities. I’ve even received disparaging comments about my Christianity. All of it came from self-proclaimed intellectually superior people. Interestingly, none of them had any unkind words to say to the politicians and others whom I quoted calling Members of the United States Armed Services Nazis, cold-blooded murderers, torturers, terrorists, uneducated, losers…. Attacking me instead of the quoted politicians can only mean that they agree with the characterizations the politicians made of our Serving Men and Women. I’ve discovered that you can be hated in America for being Pro-America, Pro-Military and a Christian.

I’m not a Combat Veteran.  I served my 28 years in the Cold War Army with an active strength hovering around 760,000, nearly twice that of today’s Hot War active Army.  For those 28 years I did what other Soldiers did.  I deployed on extended training exercises away from the family, worked many 12 hour plus days, many weekends and holidays and missed many of the family events that are often taken for granted.  I had 5 overseas tours and moved my family 13 times.  I went where I was sent and did what I was asked.  Like my Brothers and Sisters at Arms, I endured the idiocy of politicians without ever offering an opinion and served an American population that barely knew I existed.  I have no regrets and I certainly make no apologies for who I am, what I did in the service of my country, or what I have to say.

You’ll find no discussions here of military strategy or tatics, I lay no claims to Arm Chair Generalship.  I must leave that to the Cable News Generals and self-appointed think tank strategists. I will, however, talk about stupid politicians and their anti-military supporters and the harm both bring to our serving Men and Women and our country.  For those who still feel the need to question my credentials to speak about how those things and those people affect the lives of Soldiers and their Families, then I question your credentials to question mine.

I used to claim myself a conservative. The problem is, too many people wanted to label, categorize, fold me up and stuff me neatly into the box of their design when I did that. A box that tells more about them than it does me. I choose not to assign to myself what has become a rather meaningless label. Like other political labels, it’s a badge of honor or disgrace depending on the indoctrination of the beholder. We have a need, most of us, to slap labels on others then filter their thoughts through our own perceptions. That rarely leads to solving problems.

Suffice it to say that my views are my views. They are influenced by my faith in Jesus Christ, my family, my love for my country and my strong belief that there is a right way and a wrong way, which doesn’t always equal the accepted liberal, moderate or conservative way.

I do not accept that life’s choices come in shades of gray, but are rather vivid black and white. The choices you make are yours as mine are mine. Free will to choose is a God given gift to each of us. It’s the cornerstone on which the foundation of our country rests. We must use our gift wisely and each of us must accept the consequences that result from our choices.

Our Nation will prosper or die by the choices we make collectively. I believe career politicians and National political correctness are destroying us.

My first line leadership book, The Three-Meter Zone: Common Sense Leadership for NCOs was released by Presidio Press in April, 1999. Random House purchased Presidio and now TMZ is under the Ballatine label. If you have a copy, thanks. 

Thanks for visiting.