Happy Memorial Day! By definition Memorial Day is to honor soldiers that have given the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives in war. All soldiers honor each other on days like this simply just a way to look back and remember days past. Nobody ever wakes up of a morning and plan to go out and lose their life that day it just happens. The reason why the bond between soldiers is so close is because you never knew if your buddy would make it back alive or not. There was days when someone would get attacked on a mission and not make it back alive. Or when your involved in a fire fight and lose a close friend. The bond between fellow troops is so close, even with soldiers that you really might not like as much. You never know when that one soldier would be adding fire power at the most needed time. Ah, this reminds me of a soldier that went with us to Iraq. At Ft. Stewart when we were qualifing with our weapons the instructors was giving a safety speech on the firing range to about 300 troops. They asked since they were short handed if there was anybody that knew without no doubt that they would qualify first round so they could help coach others and help work the range. This guy jumps up raises his hand loudly says yeah right here. Well of course I knew that I could also so I raised my hand as well. Needless to say this guy spent 14 days on the range trying to qualify. Honestly I don't know if he ever did or not. (I think they just sent him through anyway) I told this soldier when we got there anytime that we had to go anywhere that he was driving with no questions asked. He gladly said that would be find because he might not be able to shoot but he sure as hell would be able to get our ass out of there when bullets were flying. You see I didn't have to waste a good shooter as a driver.
All of my unit tries to keep intouch with each other, simply because the bond is still there. We consider each other as blood family. All gave some,and some gave all.
:saluting
Interesting way to pick a driver. You did well! I'm from a different era, blessed to have no actual combat experience thanks to an old 1st Sgt. at Camp Lejeune. I know what your statement in red is all about, there were several Marine buddies who didn't come back from Southeast Asia.
Semper Fi
Treefarmer
One of the worst flights that I think that I ever had was a 45 minute flight on a C130 from an airport somewhere in Central America, to a forward landing strip in the jungle of Honduras. We were sitting in the cargo strap seats side by side with our knees touching the person infront of us. We flew terrain feature most of the flight and almost everyone was tossing thier cookies. I made it the entier flight but nothing to be proud of, because it was awfull. Funny thing is I still remember to this day, praying dear Lord please let him fly flat for just one minute and i'll be ok. God was listening because we did for about 45 seconds just as we landed. That was one of those times when one thinks OMG what have I got myself into.
:saluting
The wildest ride I ever had on a 130 was landing on a little strip on the island of Vieques in 1965. That strip was nestled between some small mountains or big hills, and was not very long. It felt like the plane just nose dived out of the sky, leveled off and put the props in reverse in order to stop the thing. There were a bunch of wide eyed young Marines enjoying that ride! :eek When they took off they had the JATO thing fired up with only enough fuel to get to Roosevelt Roads on Puerto Rico. We rode the "ducks" from Vieques to Puerto Rico to fly back to the states. Another Marine recently told me they flew out of Vieques on the 130's fully loaded. I know that they were cold, loud and unpleasant but they would get you where you needed to be!
130's circle over the panhandle on training missions regularly out of Eglin, they circle for hours some times. Reading an article about the 130's, I found in the early 1960's the Navy did 29 touch and go landings on the carrier Forestal and actually did 21 successful landing and take offs before they figured it wasn't quite safe enough :no . There is a picture of the 130 on the deck and it's amazing to think about such a feat.
You know you're gettin' old when begin to reminisce.
Treefarmer
The army has gone to a new camo and I'm not so sure that I like it.
There is a link... Don't know if I it placed proper or not but if nothing else you can copy and paste to your browser.
:saluting
