Channeling John Wayne

A Small Random Act of Kindness: RIP Officer Jeremy Henwood

2011-08-18T02:08:00.008-04:00

On Saturday, August 14, 2011, San Diego Police Officer Jeremy Henwood, a Marine combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, was at a McDonald’s restaurant when a boy came to him and asked him for some change. According to WTKR.com,”the officer encountered a young boy named Daveon Tinsley who asked him for ten cents. When Henwood asked him what the money was for, Daveon told him it was to buy cookies. The officer bought the sweet treat for him.

Daveon says that he was hesitant to approach the tall officer in uniform.

"He said 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' and I said 'a NBA star,'" commented Daveon. "He said you gotta work hard to be a NBA star, and I said, 'I know.'"

A random act of kindness followed only three minutes later by a random act of violence.”

Just a few minutes later Officer Henwood was at a traffic light at the intersection of 45th and University, when Dejon Marquee White, a man on a shooting spree, "allegedly" pulled up beside Henwood and shot him in the head with a shotgun. Henwood died the next day.

"I'm the last one to talk to him that day, I'm the one to get good advice from him. I'm gonna take that to my heart," says Daveon. "He did his work in life. He served for his country, so God made my dream come true to get advice from a person above my level like that to get advice like that. God makes this happen for a reason."

"My whole life I'll remember him," says Daveon, a 13-year-old boy who was one of the last people to speak to the officer.

It was a small random act of kindness that will not be forgotten.”

San Diego Police Chief Bill Lansdowne also praised an unnamed husband and wife who were out shopping and came to the assistance of the downed officer. The wife used Henwood's radio to call the police while her husband administered first aid. "Those were true heroes," Lansdowne said.

RIP Officer Jeremy Henwood (1974-2011)

Heroes: Antonio & Martha Diaz Chacon

2011-08-18T01:16:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share with you a story about an act of heroism that shows there are good people out there.

On Monday, August 15, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, a 6-year-old girl was walking outside when she was grabbed my a man and pulled into a van. Antonio Diaz Chacon, a 24-year-old father of two, saw this happening and immediately got into his truck. He gave chase, while his wife Martha called 911. He pursued the van through the side streets until it hit an utility pole. The driver fled the scene, and Antonio Diaz Chacon rescued the little girl. Good thing he did because the police found the suspect, Phillip Garcia, in possession of some packing tape, tie-down straps, a glove, a Leatherman's tool, & a black satchel.

Thank God for Antonio & Martha Diaz Chacon.

Antonio & Martha Diaz Chacon

"I knew I had to catch him. I had to get the girl back from him and take her home, back where she belongs" -Antonio Diaz Chacon

Happy 91st Birthday Maureen!

2011-08-17T23:32:00.001-04:00

I'd like to wish the stunning and amazing Maureen O'Hara a very happy birthday! This marvelous actress and I did several projects together, and I am proud to call her a great friend. Maureen...have a fantastic birthday and I wish you all the best. XO

Jules Verne Festival: John Wayne Tribute Event

2011-08-17T00:48:00.000-04:00

I felt pretty honored when I found out that there is going to be a star-studded tribute to me on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Arclight Hollywood Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, California. The program starts at 7:00 PM with the Jules Verne Légendaire Award Presentation with Ethan & Patrick (Wayne, of course). There is also supposed to be a special presentation of True Grit.

I hope you all can make it. Click the link below for the details:

Jules Verne Festival: John Wayne Tribute

Some John Wayne Sites to Check Out

2011-08-17T00:29:00.000-04:00

I get asked quite often via earthbound communications about what websites about me that I would recommend. Here a few that I would say to check out:

Official John Wayne Website
John Wayne Cancer Foundation
The Un-Official John Wayne Website
Newt's John Wayne Fan Site
John Wayne Birthplace Museum
John Wayne Place

Ok, I am starting to feeling a little narcissistic so I will stop there for now. Just for the record, I'm not affiliated or promoting any of these sites...I'm just saying I think you should check em' out.

The NOT So Good Life!

2011-08-16T23:57:00.001-04:00

Think this is attractive? Hardly. So besides the obvious, why the hell would anyone want to see this (besides probably Jose), let alone a spread in a nudie magazine??!! I hope nobody gives Casey Anthony a dime for her pictures, interviews, or anything else. Hopefully she just slithers off into the proverbial sunset so we never have to think about her again.

Heritage Auctions: Own a Piece of John Wayne History

2011-08-16T00:14:00.000-04:00

Well if you ever wanted to own a piece of my legacy, now is your chance! My family has decided to auction off several hundred of my personal items. They range from my beloved hats, movie costumes, and scripts all the way down to my belts, Social Security card, and business receipts. Everything but my old underwear (thank God!). You could own my Golden Globe, or even my famous eye patch. Some items, like my cowboy hat (from McLintock/El Dorado/War Wagon), start surprisingly high, but there are many items that start between $100-$1000.

If you are interested, click the link below for the Heritage Auction website.

Heritage Auctions: John Wayne Collection
[Click on my picture for the full catalog of items]

2011 Republican Presidential Debate in Good Old Iowa

2011-08-13T14:32:00.000-04:00

So Thursday I was listening in on the 2011 Republican presidential debate in Ames, Iowa (about 1 1/2 hours from my birthplace in Winterset...not Waterloo as Michele Bachmann mistakenly stated back in July) and let's just say I was none too impressed with any of the candidates. If I had to pick one to be president I would say Newt Gingrich, as he has the most experience and political intelligence. I do like some of underdog Herman Cain's ideas, as well as his track record and experience. He is an intelligent & successful businessman that would probably help lead this country out of its current morass. In fact, I think I would like to see a non-politician as president. As we know, that won't happen in this country. As for the others? I can't see any of them leading this wonderful nation. I hear a lot of praise for Mitt Romney, but as far as I am concerned he can take his pompous attitude and $250 million of worth & go back to Massachusetts. The rest of the lot are just preservers of the status quo, save maybe for Ron Paul (who is way too Libertarian to even be a Republican candidate).

Department of Defense identifies servicemembers killed in CH-47 crash

2011-08-11T18:24:00.001-04:00

[via stripes.com 11 AUG 11]

The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of 30 servicemembers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed:

Sailors assigned to an East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit:
Lt. Cmdr. (SEAL) Jonas B. Kelsall, 32, of Shreveport, La.
Special Warfare Operator Master Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Louis J. Langlais, 44, of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Senior Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Thomas A. Ratzlaff, 34, of Green Forest, Ark.
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Senior Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Kraig M. Vickers, 36, of Kokomo, Hawaii
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Brian R. Bill, 31, of Stamford, Conn.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) John W. Faas, 31, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Kevin A. Houston, 35, of West Hyannisport, Mass.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Matthew D. Mason, 37, of Kansas City, Mo.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Stephen M. Mills, 35, of Fort Worth, Texas
Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Chief Petty Officer (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist/Diver) Nicholas H. Null, 30, of Washington, W.Va.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Robert J. Reeves, 32, of Shreveport, La.
Special Warfare Operator Chief Petty Officer (SEAL) Heath M. Robinson, 34, of Detroit, Mich.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Darrik C. Benson, 28, of Angwin, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Parachutist) Christopher G. Campbell, 36, of Jacksonville, N.C.
Information Systems Technician Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist/Freefall Parachutist) Jared W. Day, 28, of Taylorsville, Utah
Master-at-Arms Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) John Douangdara, 26, of South Sioux City, Neb.
Cryptologist Technician (Collection) Petty Officer 1st Class (Expeditionary Warfare Specialist) Michael J. Strange, 25, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL/Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) Jon T. Tumilson, 35, of Rockford, Iowa
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Aaron C. Vaughn, 30, of Stuart, Fla.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jason R. Workman, 32, of Blanding, Utah
Sailors assigned to a West Coast-based Naval Special Warfare unit:
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 1st Class (SEAL) Jesse D. Pittman, 27, of Ukiah, Calif.
Special Warfare Operator Petty Officer 2nd Class (SEAL) Nicholas P. Spehar, 24, of Saint Paul, Minn.
Soldiers:
Chief Warrant Officer David R. Carter, 47, of Centennial, Colo. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Aurora, Colo.
Chief Warrant Officer Bryan J. Nichols, 31, of Hays, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
Sgt. Patrick D. Hamburger, 30, of Lincoln, Neb. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Grand Island, Neb.
Sgt. Alexander J. Bennett, 24, of Tacoma, Wash. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
Spc. Spencer C. Duncan, 21, of Olathe, Kan. He was assigned to the 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), New Century, Kan.
Airmen:
Tech. Sgt. John W. Brown, 33, of Tallahassee, Fla.
Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif.
Tech. Sgt. Daniel L. Zerbe, 28, of York, Pa.
========================================

Thank you for your service. You will never be forgotten.

Mourning the 30 Brave Ones

2011-08-09T03:17:00.000-04:00

As you know by now, we lost 30 brave Americans on Saturday (06 AUG 11) when their helicopter crashed in the Wardak province of Afghanistan, many of them from the U.S. Navy SEALs. Their death saddens a nation, and I ask you all to keep the fallen, as well as their family and friends, in your thoughts and prayers.

To those who are serving, those who have ever served, and to those who gave all... we are grateful beyond words.

New Format

2011-08-09T02:33:00.000-04:00

I hope y'all like my new format here at blogger.com! I look forward to being here more often.