This is the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Good Bull Blog.
I thought it was cool that Mike Sherman declined an offer from ESPN to do a phone interview during the game (according to A&M spokesman Alan Cannon). Apparently, Sherman wanted the focus to be solely on the current team.
I thought that defensive coordinator Gary Darnell did a great job given the circumstances.
Understanding that the team is what’s important is Good Bull.
I have decided to bring the Good Bull Blog Forum on line. If you get a chance, please visit and say hello in the Howdy forum. While I have set up some space for sports discussions, the intent is to have a broader set of topics. I am interested in your comments and feedback (which you can post here or in the forum).
http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/
I just ran across the Aggie Traditions web site for the first time. Some limited content there. The site is brought to you by MSC Computer Operations, the Texas A&M University Traditions Council, Student Activities and the MSC Student Programs Office.
I just learned that there is a nice GuestBook for 1st Lt. Jeremy E. Ray over on the Boston Globe web site. If you have a minute, drive over there and take a look.
“No more convincing testimony could be given to the manner in which the men of Texas A&M lived up to the ideals and principles inculcated in their days on the campus than the simple statement that the Congressional Medal of Honor has been awarded to six former students, that 46 took part in the heroic defense of Bataan and Corregidor, and that nearly 700 are on the list of our battle dead.”
–Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1946
It’s Christmas Eve, and I was thinking about Peter Burks this morning. I hopped on TexAgs and learned about 1st Lt. Jeremy E. Ray. Jeremy was 26 and was killed early Thursday in Kanaan. Some religous thug wearing an explosives vest killed Jeremy and injured ten other soldiers.
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that Jeremy “…played his guitar a lot. He was kind of a quiet guy, the type of guy you’d want to hang out with.”
Jeremy was Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2004, and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood. He deployed to Iraq on Nov. 8.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jeremy’s family.
I recieved an update from Tracy in Wireless at TI tonight regarding Peter Burks’ team. As previously reported, Aggie and 2nd Lieutenant Peter Burks was recently killed in action in Baghdad. Before Pete’s death, Pete made a Christmas wish list of items he wanted for his unit (Palehorse). Well, stuff has started arriving!
The packages have started arriving to Pete’s men, and they are so ecstatic! Notes from Leon Clayton are pasted below, and the attached pictures are described at the bottom of this email. The guys look so happy. Please forward this note along to anyone who has helped bring smiles to these guys! I know you guys spread the word to lots of people, and I want them to know how much they’re appreciated.
Also, Chaplain Smith let us know that they are setting up a country store on Camp Prosperity, called “Burks Country Store,” in memory of Pete. Besides food, they are putting in a section with Christian materials for the soldiers (Bibles, inspirational books, etc), and will also have some things to keep the soldiers entertained (games, etc). CPT Smith and his colleagues are rounding up posters of places in Texas and famous people/country singers from Texas to decorate the store with. Soldiers from the whole base and surrounding bases/FOBs will be able to come by and get whatever their hearts desire for free. That means that this effort is literally touching hundreds of soldiers, not just from Pete’s platoon, but all over the Green Zone area and into all of Iraq.
Thank you guys so much for shipping goodies to Pete’s men, asking about how everything is going and – most of all – for spreading Pete’s story. Again, I feel so blessed to have you not only as coworkers, but as friends.
In Pete’s memory,
Missy
December 13:
Missy, Thank you for continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. I just received your email about receiving packages and did not receive any at that time. Tonight when I went up to the CP, I was staring at over 30 boxes from Pete’s friends and family. Thank you ever so much. I think they will help the guys out a lot. Especially at this time of the year for those who have never spent a Christmas away. We’ll take some pictures of the guys receiving them to email to you. That’s the least we can do to show our appreciation for your support. Thank you again. SFC Leon Clayton.
December 15:
Received another shipment of boxes today. You all have been more than generous. Thank you for all of your support. I visited the Love Life Foundation website and saw what they set up for Pete. It was a wonderful presentation. I have attached some pictures of us and the guys with the packages. I’ll send them one at a time so I can tell you who is in each picture. Feel free to show them to all who are helping you back at home. Once again, Thank you. SFC Leon Clayton
Thanks to all of the Aggies who help make this happen (especially Tracy in Wireless).
If you would like to contribute to Pete’s team in his memory, more information can be found at Pete’s Christmas Wish List Site.
Taking care of Peter Burks’ team is Good Bull.
Picture One:
Back row – SFC Clayton, PV2 Nelson, PFC Tijerina, SPC Martinez, SSG Cassidy
Front Row – SPC Bibbs (Medic), SGT Boekel, SPC Morgan, SPC Lucas
Picture Two:
SGT Boekel, SGT Cassidy
Picture Three:
PFC Tijerina opening boxes
Picture Four:
PV2 Nelson, SPC Bibbs, and SPC Morgan opening boxes
This is not really a Texas Aggie Football Website (there are plenty of those). However, I am totally excited about reports that Jorvorskie Lane will be returning for his senior year. Whoop!
You gotta love any running back with a nickname that includes the word “train” and who gives you 44 touchdowns in 3 years. What we should love more is Lane’s quote:
“I thought about (leaving) but my degree is too important to me.”
Finishing your degree is Good Bull! Way to go Jorvorskie Lane.
Small child holding Aggie ring.
Here is another one of my favorite Aggie pics. Lots of people have a favorite ring story. As a matter of fact, I have several of my own stories (including the story of how I dunked this ring and recovered it in 67 seconds at the Chicken).
In the above picture, this little 10-month-old guy was having trouble posing for a picture at the photographer. Since photographer is actually Latin for “big money,” I was trying to get a smile out of him in a hurry. One sure trick is always to let him play with my Aggie Ring. It worked like a charm! We got several great photos that day, including this nice one of both of our hands holding the ring. I call it “passing the tradition.”
Got a great ring story? Send it to us and we’ll post it here!
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