Very well written. Good balance of seriousness and humor. You got it on the nose!! My papa was an Italian immigrant and a Screaming Eagle 🦅 in WWII and told me that being one of them taught him tolerance and pride in their differences. They were one. Fought as one. They survived as a unit. They would never have looked at another as someone they couldn't work with because that person might be what allowed them to survive. He returned to the states and left Grumman Aerospace for the NYPD Detectives Force, he was restless. He made Lieutenant. Many of his Unit would visit us and papa moved us to less segregated areas in Brooklyn. He taught us to never judge but listen and I grew up with different values than many around me and benefited with that perspective throughout my life. All because of a scared immigrant who thought he would be treated less than others because of his accent. I am visiting papa's grave in Calverton today. Honoring those who came before is something lost today. It would help these angry people to remember that they are only one of many who came before and that the circle of life continue with or without them. Better with them.
Thank you again. I will take the 101st patch and his wings with me. It is a long journey from Brooklyn. My best and thanks to you for your essay. I will read it again on the train.
My understanding is that something like 1/4% of the population serve in the military. It wasn’t until I discovered that when I realized just how few sacrifice for so many. I think of how many get sent home in basic training because they can’t cut it. Then you have the many layers of combat veterans and those who haven’t seen combat, and those who live with that burden of survivor’s guilt for having made it through. But you’re never really through. I remember bringing my grandmother to Peal Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. We also visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where for the first time I saw this WWII Marine, weep. I was only in the military for a few years by then, and I asked her why are you crying? She answered “there’s just so many.” It was then that I understood how big the sacrifice really was and that this is not unfamiliar territory when we lose our fellow warriors. As we have all learned, the only way over is through, and we just have to keep moving forward. For those who have never served, it’s easy to criticize what they don’t understand and have never experienced. Deep down, we all know that most people won’t understand our stories, or our dark humor, but we also work every day to honor those who have lost their lives serving this nation.
Wish I still had my favorite: a hand drawn poster of the jaws shark that said “Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the office, Korean Headstart.” Six weeks of six-day weeks are with some of the best people I’ve ever known. I loved being a DA civilian
Outstanding Fred. Your memoir brought back my memory of a similar situation at Fort Campbell in early 1984. I was a company commander and we were in the field for what was supposed to be a rather long field problem. One early afternoon I received a message from my battalion commander to secure sensitive items and bring all my personnel into garrison NLT 1700hrs leaving most of my equipment behind because of a storm moving into the area. Being young and aggressive I immediately drove into garrison to challenge the order (although I was smart enough to have my XO and ISG to begin to execute the order). When I got to BN I was told that the Cdr and S3 were at Bde HQs. So, I stormed down there to challenge the order. I was sent to the Bde Cdr’s office where both Cdrs and S3s were assembled. As I walked into the office the Bde Cdr told me to say nothing and to get back to the field and execute his order. As I tried to spit something out about training as we would fight he just pointed to the door. I did as directed and got my troopers in as directed. That night the storm hit and it was really bad. We went back to the field the next morning to recover our equipment. It was a mess similar to what you described. After the recovery was completed the Bde Cdr visited my company area and asked me if I now understood his order. I said I did. Upon further reflection I understood that my inexperience could have needlessly killed or hurt some damned fine soldiers. Gaetz is a spoiled brat and well deserving of your criticism, criticism given with a Screaming Eagle in the background! ‘Rendezvous with Destiny and Air Assault’ Fred!
Another great post. I watch your videos on Meidas Touch and very grateful to have your insight. My brother enlisted at 18(partly in rebellion at the time) and ended up in Vietnam. He was on one of the first incursions into Cambodia, ended up with a gunshot wound to the leg, caught some godawful infection and spent 3 months in the hospital and never wanted to talk about it again. It was quite the impression on my young mind so I grew up anti-war. But at the same time I deeply respect all those who serve and those who have lost their lives, he came home but some of his buddies did not. Thanks for your service and Happy Memorial Day.
For years I didn't understand the very very dark humor, fatalism and the places it took my Army vet father and his friends (I would listen in on late night alcohol-fuled conversations as they talked about horrific WW2 experiences and the aftermath as they continued in the service). Reading your essays and others have shown me there is this thread that generationally runs through military lives and ties them together. I'm also smart enough to known without that experience I can never fully understand but I can respect and appreciate it.
Wonderfully written- thanks for the insight AND your service 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Very well written. Good balance of seriousness and humor. You got it on the nose!! My papa was an Italian immigrant and a Screaming Eagle 🦅 in WWII and told me that being one of them taught him tolerance and pride in their differences. They were one. Fought as one. They survived as a unit. They would never have looked at another as someone they couldn't work with because that person might be what allowed them to survive. He returned to the states and left Grumman Aerospace for the NYPD Detectives Force, he was restless. He made Lieutenant. Many of his Unit would visit us and papa moved us to less segregated areas in Brooklyn. He taught us to never judge but listen and I grew up with different values than many around me and benefited with that perspective throughout my life. All because of a scared immigrant who thought he would be treated less than others because of his accent. I am visiting papa's grave in Calverton today. Honoring those who came before is something lost today. It would help these angry people to remember that they are only one of many who came before and that the circle of life continue with or without them. Better with them.
Thank you again. I will take the 101st patch and his wings with me. It is a long journey from Brooklyn. My best and thanks to you for your essay. I will read it again on the train.
My understanding is that something like 1/4% of the population serve in the military. It wasn’t until I discovered that when I realized just how few sacrifice for so many. I think of how many get sent home in basic training because they can’t cut it. Then you have the many layers of combat veterans and those who haven’t seen combat, and those who live with that burden of survivor’s guilt for having made it through. But you’re never really through. I remember bringing my grandmother to Peal Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. We also visited the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific where for the first time I saw this WWII Marine, weep. I was only in the military for a few years by then, and I asked her why are you crying? She answered “there’s just so many.” It was then that I understood how big the sacrifice really was and that this is not unfamiliar territory when we lose our fellow warriors. As we have all learned, the only way over is through, and we just have to keep moving forward. For those who have never served, it’s easy to criticize what they don’t understand and have never experienced. Deep down, we all know that most people won’t understand our stories, or our dark humor, but we also work every day to honor those who have lost their lives serving this nation.
Don’t ever take it down. 101st JUN 87-OCT 92. 🦅
Thank you for your service then and now. You are a wonderful story teller with a powerful voice. Keep on keepin on.
Wish I still had my favorite: a hand drawn poster of the jaws shark that said “Just when you think it’s safe to go back in the office, Korean Headstart.” Six weeks of six-day weeks are with some of the best people I’ve ever known. I loved being a DA civilian
Outstanding Fred. Your memoir brought back my memory of a similar situation at Fort Campbell in early 1984. I was a company commander and we were in the field for what was supposed to be a rather long field problem. One early afternoon I received a message from my battalion commander to secure sensitive items and bring all my personnel into garrison NLT 1700hrs leaving most of my equipment behind because of a storm moving into the area. Being young and aggressive I immediately drove into garrison to challenge the order (although I was smart enough to have my XO and ISG to begin to execute the order). When I got to BN I was told that the Cdr and S3 were at Bde HQs. So, I stormed down there to challenge the order. I was sent to the Bde Cdr’s office where both Cdrs and S3s were assembled. As I walked into the office the Bde Cdr told me to say nothing and to get back to the field and execute his order. As I tried to spit something out about training as we would fight he just pointed to the door. I did as directed and got my troopers in as directed. That night the storm hit and it was really bad. We went back to the field the next morning to recover our equipment. It was a mess similar to what you described. After the recovery was completed the Bde Cdr visited my company area and asked me if I now understood his order. I said I did. Upon further reflection I understood that my inexperience could have needlessly killed or hurt some damned fine soldiers. Gaetz is a spoiled brat and well deserving of your criticism, criticism given with a Screaming Eagle in the background! ‘Rendezvous with Destiny and Air Assault’ Fred!
We make our mistakes young in peacetime so we don’t make them at war.
Another great post. I watch your videos on Meidas Touch and very grateful to have your insight. My brother enlisted at 18(partly in rebellion at the time) and ended up in Vietnam. He was on one of the first incursions into Cambodia, ended up with a gunshot wound to the leg, caught some godawful infection and spent 3 months in the hospital and never wanted to talk about it again. It was quite the impression on my young mind so I grew up anti-war. But at the same time I deeply respect all those who serve and those who have lost their lives, he came home but some of his buddies did not. Thanks for your service and Happy Memorial Day.
For years I didn't understand the very very dark humor, fatalism and the places it took my Army vet father and his friends (I would listen in on late night alcohol-fuled conversations as they talked about horrific WW2 experiences and the aftermath as they continued in the service). Reading your essays and others have shown me there is this thread that generationally runs through military lives and ties them together. I'm also smart enough to known without that experience I can never fully understand but I can respect and appreciate it.
Yeah. It was a Short so it didn’t post. I’ve updated the website. Thank you so much for sharing your story. Best to your father.