Henry "Hank" Esslinger, 1957 - 2014

  I met Hank (also known as Critter, Security Minister Sholo Crittumbo, and several variations of same) online in the popular gaming forum The Miniatures Page. He was a valued member of that online community, not least because he always stayed out of the sometimes nasty mudslinging that takes place there. He was friendly, kind, humorous and caring. I learned that he was staying nearby a few years ago and invited him over to the house, and we had a great evening. He met my wife and sons, and charmed her. He always kept up with my boys afterwards, and their accomplishments.

  I only saw Hank in person two other times. Once was at a gaming convention held aboard the Battleship Texas. We spent most of that day hanging out and playing games. The other was at the Texas Renaissance Faire, where he worked every fall. Other than that, our contact was through TMP, Facebook, and occasional phone calls and texts.

   Hank died suddenly over night on January 14th/15th. As I write this, I haven't learned the cause of death. He was a great guy, and a good friend. The world was a better, brighter, happier place with his big heart and ready wit in it. He will be missed by many.

Screw Shaft...

This is what a REAL bad mother-- looks like...

LONDON (AFP) – A Nepalese soldier in the British army has been given a top bravery award by Queen Elizabeth II for his heroics in Afghanistan, where he single-handedly saw off more than 30 Taliban fighters.

Corporal Dipprasad Pun, 31, said he thought he was going to die and so had nothing to lose in taking on the attackers who overran his checkpoint.

He was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), which is given in recognition of acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.

Pun fired more than 400 rounds, launched 17 grenades and detonated a mine to repel the Taliban assault on his checkpoint near Babaji in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, last September.

Surrounded, the enemy opened fired from all sides and for 15 minutes Pun remained under continuous attack, including from rocket-propelled grenades and AK47 guns.

At one point, unable to shoot, he used his machine gun tripod to knock down a militant who was climbing the walls of the compound.

Two insurgents were still attacking by the time he ran out of ammunition, but he set off a Claymore mine to repel them.

Pun was given his medal in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London on Wednesday.

The CGC is second only to the Victoria Cross -- the highest honour for bravery in the face of the enemy.

"There wasn't any choice but to fight. The Taliban were all around the checkpoint. I was alone," he said.

"I had so many of them around me that I thought I was definitely going to die so I thought I'd kill as many of them as I could before they killed me.

"After that I thought nobody can kill us now -- when we met the enemy I wasn't scared."

Britain's Major General Nicholas Carter, who was commander of allied forces in southern Afghanistan during Pun's deployment, praised his efforts.

"The CGC does not get handed out lightly. It was a most remarkable achievement," he said.


[Editorial Note: I am now moving the Gurkhas up the list of 25mm painting projects. Well done, Acting Sergeant Pun! Well done, indeed!]

Sad News for Whovians

Elisabeth Sladen

1948 - 2011

  Elisabeth Sladen, who played iconic Companion Sarah Jane Smith in the Doctor Who series, died on Tuesday at the age of 63.

100 years ago today...

My maternal grandmother was born. She currently resides in Dallas, near my momma.

Happy birthday, Gigi!

Disaster in Africa!

January 22, 1879

   This morning, at the foot of the mountain of Isandlwana in the Natal Colony, five companies of the First Battalion, 24th Regiment and one company of the Second Battalion, along with four hundred Native levies were killed virtually to the last man by warriors of the Zulu king Ceteshwayo.

   This same afternoon, another company (B Co., 2nd Batt.), consisting of 139 men, officers and other ranks, was besieged at the mission station at Rorke's Drift, only six miles as the crow flies from the scene of Lord Chelmsford's crushing defeat. Between four and five thousand Zulus who had not fought at Isandlwana (and were therefore still fresh) surrounded and assaulted the hastily prepared defenses of the mission.

   The siege lasted all afternoon, overnight, and into the morning. In the end, the British suffered 31 casualties, seventeen of them dead. Over three hundred Zulus were killed. In recognition of the valour shown by the defenders, 11 were awarded the Victoria Cross, the kingdom's highest military honor.

   Tonight, I'm drinking beer, wearing a pith helmet, and watching ZULU on DVD.

Armed Forces Day (UK)

Okay, so technically speaking, yesterday was Armed Forces Day for the United Kingdom.

So, I suppose this is a belated honor, but:

To the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen of the United Kingdom:

In 1940, you stood alone against the Nazis.

Now, you stand with your allies against terrorism.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE

San Jacinto Day!

Battle of San Jacinto

April 21, 1836.

A small army of half-trained Texican militia, led by General Sam Houston, and out for revenge after the fall of the Alamo, falls upon the encamped Mexican Army of the dictator Juan Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. In minutes, the Mexican Army is routed by the surprise attack. Santa Anna himself is captured and forced to sign surrender documents which grant Texas its independence.

Aggie Muster

21 April is also Aggie Muster, a day in which every former student of Texas A&M University who has passed on during the previous year is remembered. Aggies will gather tonight all around the world to call the muster, and answer "here." Once an Aggie, always an Aggie. I thank God for letting me be a Texas Aggie.

The most famous of these ceremonies took place on the island of Corregidor in 1942 during World War II. 25 Aggies gathered there while the island was still under attack by the Japanese. Only 12 would survive the war.

"A date that will live in infamy..."

The attack on Pearl Harbor (if I have my time zones right) began almost exactly 67 years ago.

All I can say to those Allied soldiers, sailors and marines who gave their lives in World War II, and those who fought and came home, is this:

THANK YOU!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled gaming blog.