By the time of September, 1974, people joining the armed forces knew they wouldn’t go to Vietnam. At least the people who kept up with the Vietnam War knew, and keeping up was as easy as watching the six o’clock news. Back then joining the Army wasn’t the same as being drafted, […]
KA-BAR TO THE RESCUE AGAINST BEARS AND OTHERS
February 7, 2018 by
One of the benefits of being an Armed Forces veteran from the mid-70’s is the ability to relate to other veterans, to show respect for their service today. History is full of great moments of grace and dignity, pomp and circumstance, but veteran to veteran isn’t about a parade, or acknowledgement. Getting […]
THE REAL GEORGE MARSHALL, AKA GRANDPA
August 21, 2017 by
George Marshall, George Warren Marshall, Grandpa Marshall, a ground breaker for the ages. He was a logger, a tree feller, of a different stripe. Once I asked him, “What’s the difference between you and the rest of the loggers drunk and fighting in bars after work?” “That’s not the sort of life to […]
ARMY STRONG? FRED WHITE WAS BORN READY
April 21, 2017 by
You might be Army Strong, but not from the start. Step off the bus at the Army Receiving Station and you notice those around you. Showing up in the dark leaves lots to see. These are your people, the ones you’ll bond with, stay in touch with the rest of your life, and plan those […]
DOES YOUR FAMILY HATE YOU ENOUGH? GET BUSY
April 7, 2017 by
Family hate means family values 0. Are you the right gender? Check early pictures to see if you’re wearing the right clothes. If you’re a guy and your baby pictures look like a girl, relax. General Douglas MacArther wore a dress and long hair as a child. It was the fashion, and it didn’t hurt […]
BOOMER ARMY RACE RELATIONS, 1974
December 11, 2016 by
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 […]
ILLEGAL ORDERS: FOLLOW OR NOT
June 7, 2016 by
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
December 28, 2015 by
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
July 27, 2015 by
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 […]
