AIT (advanced infantry training) Fort Sam Houston- San Antonio, Texas. I moved off base into a slum apartment with a couple other troops. One night walking home drunk, a pack of wild hungry dogs stalked me into some dark shadows near a rail road track. I fell and was eye to eye with the snarling animals. They were closing in. I pulled a big friggin Bowie knife. I bought this Bowie knife because I lived in San Antonio, where Jim Bowie died at The Alamo. I imagined myself to be the 20th century Jim Bowie. I pulled that futzer out and it flashed in the moonlight. I started barking back at the dogs, moving the knife...

This is actually Davy Crockett holding Jim Bowie's Tennessee toothpick. Like Virgil Solozzo in the Godfather, I have always been good with a knife*

* but only in matters of business.

 

-----signature-----

In 73 as a noob Buck Sgt. I had to take Maj Gen Haynes to the talks with the N Koreans at Panmunjon. The place is divided between the No and So. with buildings having lines through them and each painted a different color depending on which country owns it. I was standing outside the peace talk conference room with a 6'5 black sgt and one of the N Koreans walks by and spits in his face! As the sgt starts to yell "you Mother F.." I just knew we were dead. Luckily that thought must have went through the Sgts mind too because he composed himself.

 

-----signature-----

Z, sarge. I would have followed you into the maw of battle at pork chop hill.

 

-----signature-----

Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side. Eleven hundred men went into the water... 316 men come out... sharks took the rest.

 

-----signature-----

I've never been in a situation where I thought I'd have to fight or face my demise.

The closest thing I can think of was something that happened when I was around 10. My mother was at a church function and I was playing Zelda on the SNES with my dad when we heard gun shots from my neighbor's house. It was late, and our neighbor was in his 70's.

My dad cut off all the lights in the house, grabbed his gun and told me to hide. He then left to go see what was going on. I was terrified. I hid in my parents closet and waited for him to come back. It seemed like forever. I could feel my heart pounding in my throat the whole time.

Eventually he came back. Our neighbor had a road rage incident with some guy, and they followed him home. He fired a few shots and they left.

One thing I've always really admired about my father is his ability to face dreadful situations with a calm resolve. He moved like he instantly knew exactly what to do. It was hurried, but not panicked. It was deliberate and controlled. Like he didn't even have to think about it. If he was afraid it didn't show.

I'm not sure I'm capable of that. I hope I never have to find out.

My uncle was in a war and in a tank - he said the other guys bombed all around the tank, so he and his tank partner took that as a signal to exit, they got out and then his tank was bombed. But the shrapnel flew all over and killed his tank mate, he got burnt but his fine now. Crazy.

LOL thanks Mo but you are heading the wrong direction for me!! I made Sgt in the least amount of time required by law. I use to buy my squad breakfast at the golf club. They had a lottery for tee times and we were all in it while we ate. When the officers needed a Tee time for the weekend they could call me! If they needed a fourth to fill in I was ready!

 

-----signature-----

The original film Mash

 

-----signature-----

once when i was about 13 i was in air cadets and we were learning rifle drill with these old .303 rifles circa WW2. we were in the basic squad which is what they called the noobs and we were learning with the advanced guys so we could get up to speed in time for ANZAC day.(for those playing at home http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anzac_Day)

the flight sergeant was busy talking away with some other girl that he wanted to have a crack at so we were suck at attention for ages until one of the older guys in advanced squad stepped forward and yelled

"squad! fix bayonets, short charge then retire!"

and then just ran forward into the trees. so we all followed yelling and hollering pretending to stab things. it was good fun but we got in a lot of trouble for it.

the next week they brought in a WW2 veteran who fought in north africa and italy. he told us his story about fighting with bayonets at monte casino against german paratroopers. he watched 15 men die in a few seconds after a german machine gun snuck up behind them.

a whole lot of "war's not a game" crap was said but i wonder what they would have been like when they were 13-17 years old.

 

-----signature-----

I was on the forecastle manning the port forward .50cal mount of a cruiser while doing plane guard for a carrier when Iranians decided they wanted to get between our ship and the carrier. I saw a lot of sea as we maneuvered to stay in position. I didn't realize how easily I could have ended up in the water until I was back inside.

 

-----signature-----