Army mechanics

Having served as an Army combat engineer for some years, I have to say that without a doubt, many of the missions in which I was involved, during peacetime and during combat, could not have been successfully completed without the ingenuity of Army mechanics who kept our equipment running. These Soldiers often worked behind the scenes, spent many sleepless nights, toiled under and on exceptionally dirty and greasy heavy engineer construction equipment, and all the while maintained a can-do attitude. So, the next time you talk to an Army mechanic, tell them "thanks".

Do it later time

The period in between Thanksgiving and Christmas is, for many, a "do it later" period. In other words, let it ride until after New Years Day. Long ago when I was a Department of the Army staff officer in the Pentagon, this time of year was when many offices planned ways to out do the other, in terms of Christmas parties. Therefore, some staff actions were slower (than normal) to occur. Not that things ground to a halt mind you…we just had more important things on our minds. Back in those days, one could bring in as much booze as desired (bottled liquor) to fuel party goers, and many Army staff elements opened their doors to all who were wandering around the halls, looking for good cheer. The hallways after these parties were littered with very large piles of empty bottles (neatly stacked of course...this was a military setting we're talking about). And, many suffered the next day with aching heads. Most in the military today would not believe this actually happened, but it did, each of the four years I was in the Pentagon (75-79). I could elaborate quite a bit more on what actually went on during these parties, but I value the reputation of my DA Staff partners (and my own) way too much to repeat it publicly now.

Thanksgiving Holiday Weather

Never fails, it always seems like the weather gods conspire against us mortals each year by tossing in some sort of bad weather on top of Thanksgiving holiday travel plans, thus creating bottle necks here and there. After watching the evening news last night, I thought to myself that there is no way I'd want to be out in that mess, what with today's dismal condition of the airline industry, the lack of adequate rail and other alternative travel options, and a staggering increase in the number of vehicles sitting bumper to bumper on deteriorating highways and byways all across America. Stay close to home is my motto these days. So, with these happy thoughts, everyone have a happy turkey-day!

Monday, Monday

This blog title represents one of my favorite songs from the Vietnam era...by the Mamas and the Papas...but that's not what this is about. Here's some brief thoughts of mine as I scan the internet for news and such today with coffee cup in hand: 1. Racing season is over, Jimmy Johnson won the cup, and Jeff Gordon set a new record for the number of top ten places in a single season...30. Hendricks Motor Sports is at the top of their game, and next year Dale, Jr. will race with the team. I can't wait. 2. The Amy is now looking at getting some 37,000 Soldiers into a combat zone for their first time. 60% of the 515,000 active-duty force has been at least once. Most of those yet to deploy since 2001 are in the medical field, and their skills are needed back home. But about 4% are in the combat arms. I'm glad to see the Army is on top of this. Homesteaders look out, pack your gear! 3. It's estimated that over 170 tons of turkeys will be eaten this week by the military. Good for those in uniform, bad for those with the feathers.

Engineer units in transition

Thanks to a retired Army Engineer (LTC Doug Lehmann) who volunteers his valuable time, AEA is able to maintain a list of engineer units and organizational web links on its web site. You obviously are aware of AEA's site, because you got here, from there. The list of units and organizations which have web links used to be rather large, but over the past several years it has shrunk considerably. Why? Transformation of the Army. Many units have been inactivated, reorganized, or had their numeric designations changed. Additiionally, time is at a premuim these days, to maintain a web presence. While the number of active and reserve component units which have active web sites has declined, the number of "reunion" or veteran sites has increased. That's good, because it speaks to the inseparable bonds of service we all have, as a result of being an Army Engineer, military or civilian. Doug is in the process now of updating all the present links while at the same time searching for more, and AEA plans to go live with a totally re-designed web site in early December. For now, check out the current list here.

Messing with the money

Here we go again, congress (with a definite lower case "c") is now messing with the funds the Army needs to continue to operate efficiently. All just to score points with their political base by showing that they are "doing all they can to bring the troops home". I'm not against that objective, nor should anyone be who has a military background and has served in combat. I'm not going to blame one side or the other, they both stink in my view, when it comes to getting anything done in Wash DC. But I am going to put the finger on those who care more about getting re-elected than they do about doing something really constructive, in a bi-partisan manner.

2007 Veterans Day…an after thought

My wife and I spent last Sunday (Veterans Day) with an Army buddy of mine and his wife, in North Carolina, about 2 hours drive from where we live. When we arrived late morning, Jim was wearing a red, white and blue ribbon on his sweater, which he'd worn to church earlier that morning. At the time I didn't think much about the ribbon, but later that evening when we got home, I thought that I too should have worn some sort of symbol to honor Veterans all, like he had done. It's not that I was unaware of the significance of the day, it's just that I sort of took it for granted, and that was my error, especially considering all of the veteran affairs with which I have been indirectly involved throughout the year. Another lesson learned.

Happy Friday

Here’s something to make you smile on a Friday. Enjoy it, but don’t hold me to it being “official policy”. It reminds me of the sort of stuff we used to pass around the Pentagon on April 1st. I’ve included only portions of the original message, and made some wording changes to make it fit in this context.

NEW POLICY FOR SOLDIERS IN TRAINING ANNOUNCED
After a lot of long hours and hard work by staff, the Army recently announced it is ready to give every Soldier in basic training the Training Assessment of Cognitive Operations, or the TACO test. Realizing that not all Soldiers learn at the same level, the Army will two versions. For those Soldiers who struggle with learning, the Army will have an easy version called the Soft TACO. For those high speed Soldiers who need to be challenged, the Army will have a difficult version called the Hard TACO. Of course the Army will grade all assessments on a bell curve which will be called the TACO Bell. Those Soldiers who fail to achieve a passing score on their first attempt, will be placed in remedial training with a Basic Educational Appraisal-Not Satisfactory or BEANS. So to recap, the new plan is to give every Soldier in basic training a TACO. They can have a Soft Taco or Hard TACO, it all depends on their abilities. Those who cannot handle a TACO will be given BEANS.

Voting day and phone calls

I suppose I'm not any different than most of you, but it seems like "local" elections generate way more unwelcome phone calls than do the national variety. Also, TONS of negative junk election mail has flooded our mail box the past three months. Thankfully, voting ends in a few hours. Then all I have to worry about are people calling to offer me a better home mortgage or low interest credit card. I have to admit, being stationed overseas away from these idiot phone solicitors was a benefit of military service I truly miss.

Non-thinking day

Sunday's are for resting, and not doing too much creative thinking…not that I'm any good in that regard. But, for what it's worth, (or in text messaging FYIW) here are some not so important, and totally uncreative thoughts: 1. Remember to vote next Tuesday. 2. Big football game on TV today: Pats vs Colts. 3. Only three more races to go to determine who will win the Nextel Cup racing title…I'm rooting for either Jeff Gordon or Jimmy Johnson, but I'm wearing my Gordon hat today. 4. Next year, Dale, Jr. will be a racing team mate with Gordon and Johnson, I can hardly wait. Jr's new 88 green or blue colors will flood over the stands like a tidal wave, replacing his Budweiser and number 8 red color. 5. I hate raking leaves. 6. The U of Nebraska football team has fallen so far this year, Kansas beats them 76-39. Incredible!

Old photos

Well, they aren't THAT old…1980's vintage of my family's two assignments to Germany…32nd Army Air Defense Command in the early 80's and the 18th Engineer Brigade toward the end of that decade. My wife is putting together in a scrapbook, all the photos we took; a hobby she shares as a part of a group of local ladies who have the same interests. Anyway, I'm dragging this blog out longer than it needs to be. My main point is that when I looked back at those photos today, I arrived at two main conclusions. First, we sure looked younger, were thinner and had much more hair. Second, we developed some VERY close personal relationships with many we lived alongside at the time, and many of those relationships have survived to this day. Not only did we work hard in performing missions the Army set for us, but we also had fun as a part of a military team. Family quarters neighborhood parties (like cross-country bocce ball in Darmstadt, or playing "washers" in Karlsruhe), unit personnel golf and/or ski vacations in Bavaria and elsewhere, and lastly family trips and tours all over Europe. It was a much different Army (and world!) then, serving in Germany. I like to think we were there at a perfect time. Our photos are proof.