Saturday, October 8, 2011

One Hundred Heads

Scout Sniper (MOS 0317, formerly 8541) is a specialist in the United States Marine Corps whose mission is to deny the enemy freedom of movement by killing enemy leaders, crew-served weapons operators, radiomen, observers, messengers, and other key personnel with single, well-aimed shots. In addition, scout snipers also provide close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion. Scout Snipers attached to Marine infantry battalions fall under the Surveillance and Target Acquisition units, usually a reduced platoon with the headquarters company. Marine Corps Scout Snipers are widely considered one of the elite forces of the US military and all branches of service send their best to be trained at one of the four school house locations.

As defined by the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Basic Course, a Scout Sniper is a Marine highly skilled in fields craft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions in support of combat operations. -- Wikipedia.




By popular demand, with the observation from others that it is perhaps more timely now than when it was written in January 2009, One Hundred Heads.

Folks,

You have no idea how humbling the response as been to Absolved and this website. These are serious issues. Issues that, in the fullness of time, could get people killed. Yet what I write apparently resonates with people because God has given me a talent for expressing what they have long believed.

All of my work has been motivated by a desire to avoid conflict over these principles we hold so dear. If I bluntly warn liberal politicians, media types and academics of the folly of their proposals, it is because I don't want my children and grandchildren to have to suffer the ghastly experience of civil war.

It has always been my belief that if people understood where this is heading, there was a least a chance of avoiding it. As we proceed into the Era of Obama, I am afraid that is becoming more and more a faint hope.

As some of you know from bitter personal experience, taking a stand does not come without cost. There are dangers, even now, to having political opinions. Just ask David Olofson. From time to time, people express concern that I may fall victim to ATF retribution or FBI miscalculation. There is, in fact, little I can do about that, for that move is up to them. Like Luther, here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. There are no free lunches. It is what comes of being a free man. Or as my Grandpa Vanderboegh used to say in an imitation of a cartoon character, "You pays your money and you takes your chances."

But I was reminded this week that no man is an island, entire of itself. On my trip to the post office box, I was rewarded, in addition to statements from Social Security and the power bill, a single anonymous envelope. It was postmarked from somewhere in Oklahoma. It said this in handwritten block letters, spelling and punctuation as written:

Sir,

I have read you on the internet and believe in what your doing. One day the ATF will come to count coup on you & take your head. I promise to take One hundred heads for yours.

Cheyenne 0317/8541



There is a small, delicate ink drawing on the bottom of the sheet, showing what appears to be a coup stick crossed with a tomahawk and over-arched with what I'd guess are eagle feathers. 0317/8541, for the uninitiated, are the current and former MOS numbers for a Marine Scout/Sniper.

One hundred heads. I sat in the car, reading and rereading this piece of paper, touched by its simple sincerity. I have no doubt the man means what he says. I also have no doubt that a Marine scout/sniper has the skills to take a hundred heads if, God forbid, this should come to guns.

I shared this with a friend yesterday, and he had only this comment: "A hundred heads properly targeted could finish this thing." Indeed.

On the assumption that Cheyenne is reading this, I would like to tell him this:

I do not ask you to take those hundred heads, sir, but I appreciate the commitment to our common cause that such a promise implies. I do not know what the future may bring, but if it should be grim I merely ask that you get the right hundred heads.

In liberty, and with gratitude,

Mike Vanderboegh
III

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

There are many of us who, while not USMC trained, have the equipment, the incentive, and a pretty good portion of the ability of a USMC sniper. We are everywhere. Let us hope that no negative event calls us to active duty again.

III

Robert Fowler said...

Just as relevant now as it was then. Stay safe and watch your six.

Semper Fi, 0321 said...

Funny, I've been thinking of this for the past week also.
Folks need to burn this to memory and then implement as needed. With extreme prejudice.

Ursus Minor said...

Every time I read this, I get chills. I know that not all in the military will side with the cause of liberty but it's comforting to know that there are skilled warrior-patriots like this man living close to me.

Pericles said...

I can't promise 100 heads, but I will contribute "my fair share".

Mt Top Patriot said...

There is going to be a fight. You can see it coming from a thousand miles away.
If you look for the truth.
Truth is, those of the tyranny breathing down our throats, who today hold all the keys, who are guarding all the doors, they will force this fight one way or another, because they will not back down nor give up the power they have acquired, even if it requires bringing everyone with them to hell if needs be.
They have no choice.
It is as apparent as sure as the sun rises.
These tyrants do not understand the heart of what is at stake.
If they did understand the idea of Liberty in all its beauty, they would not be tyrants.
Nor for the many who enable such tyrants.
Wisdom warns about being careful what one wishes for.

Pray tell, it is gonna be more than a hundred heads.

bondmen said...

Oh boy did that note get the tingles running up my back and the hair on my neck standing! Tremendous power, clear meaning and total commitment, why? Because many of US let the atrocities at Ruby Ridge, Waco, and Oklahoma City go unpunished by leaving politicians in charge of investigation and prosecution. And now we have Holder's DOJ and our State Department off the Constitutional reservation so far recovery is well nigh impossible, given the compromised opposition. Should the call be sounded with the heinous act perpetrated, an army will arise making a stand for justice where the Tree of Liberty will once again be fed with nutritious elements from life running in US all. We do pray it doesn't come to this and the process we now depend on will allow its gears to turn out the malicious miscreants maligning and mismanaging our beloved country.

Anonymous said...

If it should come to that, so be it.

Mark Matis said...

An appropriate repost at this time.

Da Curly Wolf said...

Damn..I gotta save that one.

Da Curly Wolf said...

Mike you mind if I take the link to this and copy this to my own blog?

CorbinKale said...

A timely reminder is always in order. Let's hope the appropriate actors read this, too.

Bill St. Clair said...

Good to see this one again.

Speaking of Absolved...

Anonymous said...

Hillery has employees attached by money, power and quilt. Mike has friends bound by honor. I know which I'd choose.

Anonymous said...

There's a certain CBS reporter that could use a little "insurance" too, whether she realizes it or not.
I'm just an ol' mountain boy that's pretty handy with a squirrel gun - but if push comes to shove, I pledge to give it my best.
III N TN

Jon III said...

And as many hundreds as will be required.

Anonymous said...

Think about the math, the results and the effect... If us, the dedicated 3%, took our rightful "100 heads"? Could you imagine the fear, the dread and the will to please it would cause our "leaders", and our enemies? The horror... The horror...

Anonymous said...

Cheyenne will not be working alone, and his efforts will not go unassisted.

Anonymous said...

I am reminded of a story I read some time ago. A man created a program which attached itself to files on a file sharing service, propagating itself and making itself available for download. Within this file were the names and addresses (work and home) of those government agents and officials active subverting our Constitution. They know where Mike lives and works. Is there anyone willing and able to do the same for the III? Insurance like that could not be bought for any price ;)

MechaRogers said...

Hooah.

31B, 2005-11

III

Rurik said...

I cannot promise as much - eyesight is weakening. But I will stand and do what an old man can. Inspired by another "Fat Old Man" often seen with a cane.
Rurik, 12B120

Anonymous said...

I am a 62 year old woman. With all the old age crap settling in, I am afraid there isn't much I can do. I just hope there are enuff oath keepers who will fight these terrorists running our country. Good God, our generation is our last great hope. These younger koolaid drinking zombies are too much in the tank for the status quo.

TdB said...

He is a king who rightly governs, a tyrant who oppresses his people. Bracton.
He loses all right to government, who, by that government, over-turns the common weal. Cicero.
He who obeys the law, obeys both God and the law, who obeys the king, a man and a beast. Aristotle.
They are not bound to be loyal to a wicked king, under the pains of perjury. Sueton.
But all subjects have right of resisting tyrants, who by open force acquire dominion. Chamier.
All antiquity agrees, that tyrants can, most justly, be attack’d and slain, as public enemies, not only by the public, but also by individual persons. Barclay, Against Contenders for Monarchy.
Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a Law? Psalm 94:20.
As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people. Prov. 28:15.
They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not. Hos. 8:4.
The Extraordinary Executing of God’s righteous Judgment upon notorious Incendiaries & murderous public Enemies & Tyrants by Private Persons Vindicated, ~Mr. Alexander Shields, Minister of the Gospel at St. Andrews. http://www.truecovenanter.com/shields/shields_hll_head6.html