A Quarter Century Later: nothing but memories remain.

The Barracks. This is from 1988. We were not allowed any walkmans, nor were we allowed any hair...
The Monkey Bars- you had to navigate through them, do 20 pushups, dips, and pull-ups prior to getting into the Mess Hall

Harmony Church- sometime in the mid 1990s after training there had moved to Sand Hill.

I am at Fort Benning, Georgia for the next three weeks. I grew up here. I left home for the very first time, flew in an airplane for the very first time, and went to basic training here. Twenty-five years ago I was standing here, not far away from where I type these words, going to Airborne School.

Since then I have been back several times. It's a sad experience as everything from that time is gone now. Harmony Church is being gutted to build the new Armor School. I drove out there today and found where I spent Basic and AIT. All the buildings are long gone. They were gone sometine in the late 90s. Now, even the concrete pads are gone. The trees bullbozed down, and my company street will soon be not even a asphault trail.

Alpha Company, 9th Battalion, 2nd Infantry. Alpha 9/2. We were in fourth Platoon and my roster number was 412. The barracks were old WWII wooden two story jobs- old even 25 years ago.

Sometimes it seems just like yesterday we were all shamming on a Sunday afternoon in the barracks. I woul be laying under my bunk with my fingers slipped under the springs to hold them up. That way you could sleep and pretend to be tightening the blanket and sheets- you were not allowed on your bunk during the day.

None of us had cameras then. We got them at the end of AIT. I have one photo from that time, of three of my buddies.

I have found a few more photos from a guy who went through in 1988, and have them up above. So similar to my memories, yet jsut a bit different. E 2/2 would have been north up the road from us about a mile. Their area is already gone and new barracks are in their place.

It saddens me to see this change as it makes me feel so so old.

I'll go back out and take a picture of the old site tomorrow, as well as the OCS area.

until later...

Is Dutch really Lenin?

This all started because Frank said I look like V. I. Lenin. Now...I don't see it. Above you see the doctored photo of me (on the right) and Vlad.

Now- here I am on the left. I've flopped the picture around so we are both sfacing inwards.

No, here I am with out the facial hair.

I just don't see it.

Flash Backs.

God, I miss it.
The smell of the cordite in the darkness...
I miss the rush of combat.

it's like no rush I can explain...

Life is so boring

Birthday kilt.

At the Birthday BBQ. It was a good day.

Napoleonics in 10mm

The first picture is a Brigade of French Light Infantry, circa 1809 in 10mm. The second is a Brigade of French Line Infantry, same time period. The Rules are Napoleon's Battles III.

Out to the Ranch.

Over the 4th I and the family went back home to western Nebraska. On Sunday we traveled out to the ranch, which has been in the family since 1886. They had gotten over 4 inches of rain in the last week. Pretty good for the Sandhills.

Victory.

Today all US forces pulled out of Iraqi Cities and turned the running of their country back over to the Iraqis.

The war in Iraq, for all practical purposes is over. We have won.

U.S. Confirmed Deaths
Reported Deaths: 4321
Confirmed Deaths: 4317
Pending Confirmation: 4

The question everyone is going to ask is, "Was it worth it?

Time will tell.

I've left a note for our Commander in Chief at the White House Web-site.

Sir,
I am a Solider serving my country as was shocked by the attack on our troops in little Rock. I have heard that you have issued a statement about this vicious murder but have not read it on this site. I would like to suggest that the two soldiers wounded in the attack be awarded the Purple Heart, since it is obvious they wounded in action.
By the wording of the regulations, the two men are deserving of the award. I ask that you think about what it would mean to the families of these two soldiers, and the image of support it would show to the rest of the Armed Forces, if you would present this award.

Per United States Army regulations, the Purple Heart is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who, while serving under competent authority in any capacity with one of the U.S. Armed Services after April 5, 1917, has been wounded or killed, or who has died after being wounded. Specific examples of services which warrant the Purple Heart any action against an enemy of the United States; any action with an opposing armed force of a foreign country in which the Armed Forces of the United States are or have been engaged; while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; as a result of an act of any such enemy of opposing armed forces; or as the result of an act of any hostile foreign force. After 28 March 1973, as a result of an international terrorist attack against the United States or a foreign nation friendly to the United States, recognized as such an attack by the Secretary of the Army, or jointly by the Secretaries of the separate armed services concerned if persons from more than one service are wounded in the attack. After 28 March 1973, as a result of military operations while serving outside the territory of the United States as part of a peacekeeping force.

Thank you for your time.

Major Dutch
(Unit)

The Commander in Chief is Saddened.

“I am deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence against two brave young soldiers who were doing their part to strengthen our armed forces and keep our country safe. I would like to wish Quinton Ezeagwula a speedy recovery, and to offer my condolences and prayers to William Long’s family as they mourn the loss of their son.”

Several days after the attack by an American Born islamic jahadist, the Commander in Chief finds time during his visit to the islamic world to issue a statement.

A few days ago, a doctor was murdered. The President of the United States issued a statement a few hours after the fact.

I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence.

I find it hard to say exactly how I feel about this. I wonder if the president has any idea what it is that we do, or that for us, a lose of one in such a tragic way, is a blow to us all. His indifference to the murder of our bother simply shows his indifference to the military.

God rest you, brother. We'll be together soon enough.

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

When they come a wull staun ma groon

Staun ma groon al nae be afraid

Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear

Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Ains a year say a prayer faur me

Close yir een an remember me

Nair mair shall a see the sun

For a fell tae a Germans gun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Lay me doon in the caul caul groon

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun

Whaur afore monie mair huv gaun


Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground

Stand my ground I'll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear

Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me

Close your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sun

For I fell to an enemy's gun

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Lay me down in the cold cold ground

Where before many more have gone

Where before many more have gone

Terrorist Attck on US Recruiting Station Leaves one Soldier KIA.

The recent Islamic Terrorist Attack on a Recruiting Station by an American Citizen turned to Islam should leave no doubt in anyone’s mind that this is anything but a Overseas Contingency Operation.
The loss of one of our soldiers and the wounding of another is nothing more than an Assault upon this country by an enemy who is driven to destroy us. Will this administration, now that a Terrorist Attack has happened on their watch, do anything other than blame disgruntled veterans and patriotic citizens?
The utter silence coming out of the West Wing is further proof that this president is more concerned with using strong armed Chicago gangland tactics to shut down debate against it’s leftist policies rather than the murder of one of this country’s armed forces.
At the very least, the president should condemn radical Islam and strive to shut down the centers of hate that recruited the attacker, led him to Yemen to lean to despise his own country, and took him down the path to murder in the name of his god.
The two soldiers should be recognised by the president and awarded both the Purple Heart for wounds received by an enemy, and the Bronze Star for the soldier who was killed in action.
I doubt we will see any such action from this administration, for it would force them to acknowledge that we are fighting a global war and not some limited police action.
The fact that the Commander in Chief has not made a statement, nor the Joint Chiefs, nor any Military command is glaring.
The media coverage is also telling-
More coverage is given to Dr. Tiller's murder than the assassination of a US Soldier on US Soil. While the MSM calls for investigations of anti-abortion groups and the crack down on 'right-wing' extremists- to include returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, very little is being said about the connection to Yemen and Somalia Islamic extremists. In fact, the media is downplaying the connection to radical Islamic jihad. Perhaps the president is more concerned with bad press on his handling of the overseas contingency operations than with a US Soldier in what I would call the first combat death against a hostile entity on American soil since the Civil War.
The two soldiers should be recognized by the president and awarded the Purple Heart. The soldier who is KIA should be awarded the Bronze Star as well. The President of the United States should attend the funeral and hand the folded flag to this soldiers family, and say what many of us have had to say in this war:

"On behalf of a grateful nation, I would like to present you with this small token of our appreciation for the outstanding service to this country of your son. He has not died in vain."