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BOOMER ARMY RACE RELATIONS, 1974

The time Army race relations got it right. In the early stages of the All-Volunteer Army, recruiters filled the ranks with whoever showed up. The draft ended, so most of the smart guys stayed out of the way of The New Army. The people who did show up had their own agendas. Some wanted college […]

EXPERIENCE AUTHORITY FIRST HAND

The truth is powerful after you experience authority. From your private life to public life, things change. You can’t always express that unique feeling you need to share. If you talk your talk and nobody listens? If you talk your talk and the wrong people listen? If you’re afraid to talk your talk? That one […]

ILLEGAL ORDERS: FOLLOW OR NOT

How illegal orders were explained in the 1970’s Army. The beginning of the All-Volunteer Army came with something extra. New boots needed to know about ‘illegal orders.’ Call it a special understanding to make the Army a more attractive choice. Not more swearing, yelling, smacking, punching, and general ass-kicking. And no more illegal orders. The […]

THE BEST BOB HOPE CHRISTMAS SHOW

When servicemen spent time away from loved ones, a Bob Hope Christmas Show helped. Christmas 1974, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. Part of joining the ranks of the new all-volunteer Army meant meeting a new bunch of guys. They weren’t sports guys, or college guys. They weren’t career guys, or upwardly mobile guys. Instead […]

HOW HARD? BOOMER HARD

Growing Up During Baby Boomer Years Made You Hard. The last thing you want to be called is soft. Soft in the head, soft in the gut, soft arms. Part of living a sedentary life, not a lazy life but not active, is how it leaves a body. Soft. Soft and lumpy after too many […]

IN PRAISE OF GOOD DRAINAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR

One of the highlights of Army basic training is a week long camp out. Everyone needs to enjoy the outdoors this way. You learn new skills and meet new friends. New friends come with the other half of the tent you’ll spend the week in…together. It’s called a shelter half. If you can’t get along […]

BABY BOOMERS: OLDER SIBLINGS OF THE WORLD

When Big Brother Is A Good Thing. In a large sense baby boomers have become the big brother of the world. Boomers young (50) and old (68) have caught plenty of heat over the years, but their influence is everywhere. Save the earth? Peace? Equality? Women’s rights? Gay rights? In such a huge demographic, baby […]

No One Joins For The Death Benefit

Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force. All Carry The Death Benefit. Modern war doesn’t draft troops. Young men and women talk to recruiters and sign up. They sign up on the trust of the recruiter and their own research. It’s a deal that says if you fulfill your end, we’ll do the same. What’s the deal?

Marine Corps Means Fine Food?

Who has better food advice, an organic gardener, a holistic butcher, or the Marine Corps? The shocking answer is all three since the Marine Corps is all about good nutrition. What? No more SOS (Sh#t On A Shingle), boiled baloney, or powdered eggs? Since when did a Drill Instructor give a damn about food? When […]

The Last Word

You Can’t Erase A Carved Stone Coming out of the closet is one thing, but leaving an inscription on your gravestone seems to leave no doubt. Do the people he served with visit his grave? Do those in his unit who know what he did hold him in high regard? They should. Gay or straight, […]