by Henry, ©2025
(Jul. 23, 2025) — “Sayonara Instrumental” (2:35)
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to ‘The Pulse of the Nation,’ the place to hear it here first. It has been said that ‘ignorance is bliss,’ but, really, now, that was only muttered by those who were shortchanged by the Good Lord in the area of common sense because, for the surrounding audience, it seems that the ‘go around comes around’ philosophy isn’t always the case. Actually, it seems that too many people, to use the parlance of the times, ‘get away with it.’
“What do you say we ‘talk turkey?’ The best that I know, someone who will not beat around the bush, to ‘talk turkey,’ is ‘he who wheels a chalkboard,’ the General. Welcome back to ‘Pulse,’ the most0watched information show in its time slot.”
“You’re out of uniform; at least I think you are. I mean you must’ve ‘Served Somebody’ (6:37) somewhere at some time. Anyway, to tell the truth, I’m not familiar with frog uniforms; I mean, frog navy or army uniforms. You do have a frog navy, don’t you?”
“Most assuredly; it arrives at birth. Boot camp we call ‘Tadpole Camp’ where if you can swim from dock to dock, you’re awarded a ‘Minnow Badge.’”
“But you eat minnows, right?”
“The badge itself is a live minnow. We are what you call ‘sensible,’ as in why have a celebratory feast and a separate award ceremony when you can combine them? Answer this question, if you would, General: what was the percentage of stupid recruits back in the 1980s?”
“Somewhere in the 10% range. If they couldn’t read, then they couldn’t swim; if they couldn’t make their bed then they couldn’t shoot; and if they couldn’t tie knots then they couldn’t remember how to drill. All kinds of reasons, even bed-wetting. Can’t have bed-wetters aboard ship.”
“Yes, of course you can’t. How about breaking the whole military down for us so even the most challenged of us can understand how it all works in a paragraph or so? Can you do that?”
“I’ll certainly give it the old Army try. Bottom line: the PFC — that would be Army PFC — is the most important chess piece on the board.”
“Chess piece? A pawn?”
“And why not a pawn? Here’s the difference: in the board game of chess, there are but eight pawns whereas in the Army, there are tens of thousands pawns. That’s not to say an Army pawn is diminished just because there are many.”
“No? And why is that?”
“Because in time of war, conflict, ‘police action’ — call it what you will — it’s the Army PFC who, by holding the ground, by occupying that one square on the board, determines the dominance of that piece of land. Let me put it to you another way: after all the troops and supplies are flown in or shipped in, it’s that PFC who holds the ground after all the fighting is done. A General or Admiral isn’t standing guard over a top of a hill or on a highway; it’s the lowly PFC.”
“So, are you saying it’s the lowest rank and lowest paid that is the most important person in our whole military, really?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. Strange, isn’t it, but true. All the air power, all the naval power is geared to support that lowly PFC sitting on a rock in the middle of nowhere that deserves our respect and admiration.”
“You’re a big advocate for support of those who have served and suffered, our Veterans who have PTSD. Any progress?”
“I wish I could answer in the affirmative, but I can’t. All I can say is that the suicides haven’t increased, but they haven’t decreased, either; sad to report. We hope for the best, that we surely do.”
“What’s the solution?”
“Well, first have a policy that makes sense; at least define what winning looks like. Afghanistan was a joke. The Rules of Engagement were a joke. The whole 20 years were a joke, just as Vietnam was a joke. Same joke, by the way. Some people got very, very rich and some people got very, very dead or went nuts. Came back ‘into the world’ missing something that was stolen from their youth, never to be found.”
“You had PTSD if I recall.”
“Yes, I had nightmares for 17 years. Lost my wife, sad to say. Mind went nutsville. Better now, but there’s lots of lingering issues; trust me.”
“Name one.”
“Traitors is one, like the 2020 election and the so-called Jan. 6 ‘insurrection.’ Also, I want to know if those FBI agents who raided Roger Stone’s place and Mar-a-Largo have been fired or are they still ‘following orders?’ I’d really like to know. That’s why all policemen should be ex-military.”
“Why’s that?”
“Different mindset is why. In the military, it’s not about getting home safe and sound every night; it’s about completing the mission. In the military, it’s not about following an illegal order, not like the cops ordered to ‘stand down’ by the mayor. Different mindset. School shooting? Send in a team, one team, two guys who train together; let everyone else sip coffee and chew donuts from the roach coach. That’s how it’s done; none of this Columbine and Uvalde, Texas shootings where so many died needlessly because the cops were getting home safe and sound that night.”
“Yes, the price we pay for lowering our standards. What about women on Navy ships: any progress there?”
“What do you expect? The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, is Army, and wouldn’t have the slightest clue what you’re talking about. Wouldn’t know squat about the subject and if you brought it up, you’d be labeled a ‘subversive,’ maybe even a ‘macho’ something or other, against ‘women’s lib.’ No, the Navy is sinking, no pun intended.”
“And none taken. Well, I see we’ve run out of time. Pardon me? Oh, they’re my “Can Can” lady frog troupe. You’d like to see them? We can do that. Ladies?”
“Can Can ” (1:09)
“Well, what do you think?”
“Makes me wish I were a frog.”
“Thank you, General, a rewarding compliment, indeed. Yes, I’m afraid it’s that time when all good things must come to an end. This is Henry, along with the General, wishing each of you a goodnight: Goodnight.
“Good show. Burgers for you and I’m having sautéed eel eggs on a croissant. Bon appétit.”
“I’ll touch a Star” (2:23)