[Fot] For the Military

[David W. Riddle]

Mike is home this week on leave before heading to Texas (Ft. Bliss) 
after getting his orders changed.  He was slated to head to Korea but 
that would have put off deployment to Iraq/Afghanistan by at least a 
year.  Mike wants to get in the action.  His goal is SF.  My Dad is a 
retired (1981) Army aviator.  He flew Birddogs in Nam.  My Step 
Brother Will is a firefighter in the Air Guard, My Cousin Scott is 
Army Intelligence (he had been an Army Integrator in Iraq and was 
wounded by an IED.  Uncle Larry (Scott's Dad) is retired Air Force, 
Uncle Phil is retired Navy.  I worked covert for the CIA in Korea 
back in the 80's and had been an Air Force Cadet and went on exchange 
with the Israeli Air Force back in 1981.  Long Family history of 
Military Service.

Grandpa was on Palmrya Island the morning of 12/7 while my Grandma 
was back at Pearl eight months pregnant with my Dad.  Uncle Phil was 
3 years old and got shot in the leg that morning as he stood in his 
crib when a bullet came through the roof of their House and passed 
over Grandma's shoulder as she was getting him dressed.  Her sister's 
Husband, Uncle Mike, for whom my Brother Mike is named) was in the 
Oklahoma down on Battleship Row when she capsized.  HE and Grandpa 
both survived WWII.

The letter that Grandma wrote to my Great-grandma back in San Pedro, 
California the week after the attack is a beauty of understatement. 
http://www.riddlefamily.org/ghr1.htm

At 08:12 AM 11/11/2009, Richard Taylor wrote:

>David,
>
>An old soldier's lament.....
>
>I was discharged a half a century ago as a Korean War vet. Most of my 3 year
>duty, however, was Cold War stuff in Germany; practicing killing, not
>actually doing it. As a teenager I took Basic with the 101st Airborne and
>jump school with the 82nd. I too was Infantry. In those days this is where
>the Army put you if you couldn't pass any of their qualifying tests for high
>skilled schools. You know, schools like clerk-typist or cook or vehicle
>maintenance.
>
>The mid-fifties was the era of the old "brown gowns" (Ike Jackets) and M-1
>Garands. Yes, I still have one each left in my closet. Highest rank held
>(briefly), Sgt; discharged Cpl.; evidence of a disquieting trend.
>
>The paratrooper songs in those days were "Beautiful streamer, open for
>me..." "There was blood upon the risers, there was brains upon his
>chute...." and "Gorey, gorey, what a helluva way to die..." These were sung
>more as ballads as opposed to the martial cadence of your attached version.
>
>However the Military Utube rendition still rings true to the soldier's need
>for invincibility. I salute that from the bottom of my heart.
>
>Now let me share a really random thought with the list. Years ago, when we
>hooked up to the static line in a thunderously loud C-119, Flying Boxcar, at
>1200 msl slow flight, there was always the feeling of uncertainty, anxiety
>and apprehension. That in-your-gut feeling is the same one we feel on the
>starting grid at the track; very little difference. So maybe FOT needs a
>blood and guts race song.
>
>Back to the Utube video, I was disappointed that, presumably for political
>correctness, the George C. Scott clip of Patton's speech was censored for
>cultural epithets. Wussies!!
>
>And thank your brother from all of us for serving his Country.
>
>Richard Taylor
>
>
>Subject: [Fot] For the Military
>
>My Brother will be graduating from Army Basic this week and then he
>is off to Advanced Infantry School.  For those on the list(s) that
>have a Military background I saw this song referenced on the
>Blackfive milblog today.  iTunes proceeds go to a Military charity.
>
>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTs6a0ORdQU
>_______________________________________________