The Army is not resisting Dustoff policy change because our leadership honestly believes the current policy is superior, but rather because of AMEDD’s [Army Medical Department] protectionist attitude toward “their” Dustoff MEDEVAC helicopters. I’m an active duty infantry officer, and I’ve been following the Dustoff issue since you first brought attention to it.

A Gold Star Mother is one who lost a child in service of the United States. Ms. Keyko Clark-Davis is a recent Gold Star Mother. I was present when her son Chazray was mortally wounded. We have communicated many times. Chazray’s mother is strong and inspirational. She sends this letter in hopes that other Americans will take a few minutes to absorb her message.

YON: On 18 September 2011, Mr. Yon accompanied an element of the US Army’s 1st Infantry Division, the 4–4 Cav, on a nighttime combat operation in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. During this mission the unit was attacked with an Improvised Explosive Device, deafening one soldier, and amputating both legs and one arm of a second—Specialist Chazray Clark.

Mike Few, Crispin Burke, Peter “The Doctrine” Munson and Dr. Madhu haunt Carl’s crib today. Check them out. I did.

YON: While reading traffic in a closed forum between current and former military officers, I stumbled across this message from a British officer. I’ve known him since the Iraq days, and he’s also served in Afghanistan. He’s an honest and very smart officer, and so I pay close attention to him.

That was a question an angry sergeant asked me as I was eating chow last February at Forward Operating Base Kalsu, Iraq. I didn’t understand the question or the anger in his voice at the time, but I do now and would like to try to offer an explanation.

YON: The MEDEVAC issue continues to grow. There are so many articles and it’s becoming difficult to keep up. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are prepping something for Congress. My guess is that JCS will try deflection and won’t solve the issue. SecDef has done nothing, to my knowledge. And so this is set to become an election issue.

Yon’s guest: I am a Dustoff pilot (Instructor pilot) with over 1000 hours of combat time, and over 300+ combat medevac missions under my belt. In 2004 (Iraq) we flew single ship, responding to thousands of medevac 9-line calls. Not one helo shot down, but we sure got shot at a lot.

Yon: “The Iranians do not hate you nor do they hate ur government. This is all the media. The people have nothing to do with the media Michael. No one is against you here except for those on the government’s side.

Let’s make it a drinking game! Carl live blogs POTUS at the State of the Union. The cats look sleepy. So does Boehner.