Poll of ATS Members' Political Ideology, page 4

posted by apocalypticon

Hey Don W, the thing about the military was primarily aimed at cutting out the waste and pork . . look at the cash they can't account for . . doled out off the backs of trucks to contractors in Iraq. Millions, or even billions, might not seem like much in the face of our national indebtedness, but it could do one heck of a lot for any well run assistance program. The other unit patch is for the 3/2 ACR,3rd Squadron, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment . . to anybody out there who knows that unit: Toujours Pret! I was deployed with this unit's Howitzer Battery (M109 A1's) as a Forward Observer. [Edited by Don W]

My thing about the military is this. The soldier’s on the ground (and in the air and seas) are America’s best. They are there, day after day - note it has been over 100 degrees every day in Baghdad since late April - and the “loose” use of the term “military” is an unintended insult to them and to the job they do. It is the civilians in and out of the Pentagon who are doing the “tricks” with the money. It is Congresspersons who do the "pork" thing. I am sorry we keep uising the term "military" which I know to most people includes the men and women in uniform.

In 1949, I altered my birth certificate and enlisted in the Ky NG 138th FA Bn. Headquarters Battery. I made 2 summer camps. Then my mother wanted me out because some units were activated for Korea. I had the MOS of a “computer” who ran a slide rule to convert the FO’s instructions into powder charge, azimuth and elevation for 155 mm towed howitzers. We had 3 batteries of 4 guns each. Towed behind GMC 6X6 trucks. I don’t know what was the “M” number of our guns. I was lucky to be quietly doing my job in the Fire Control Center where all the brass gathered. Out of the hot summer sun. The 138th FA Group was part of the NG's 38th Division, which we called the “Connecticut Yankee” division.

After finishing AF tech school, my first assignment in Korea in September, 1953, was the radio operator of a FO team at K47. Chun’chon. Just below the DMZ. Because the Armistice had gone into effect in July, the unit was disbanded just as I arrived. The reason I, an AF radio radar repairman, was involved was this. The Army furnished an NCO driver for the jeep, the AF furnished a 2Lt FO to call in air support. We used the same radios in the jeep as were in the airplanes in order to be able to talk to the planes. No cross-service communication back then. So, 2 AF types and 1 Army type, to ride around low rolling, tree-less hills looking for the enemy! Wow! Scary. The driver and officer armed with .45s and me with an .30 cal M1 carbine. No wonder they sold whiskey for 10 cents a shot and beer for 5 cents a can at the Club.

I endorse 100% your Item 4. Nicely laid out. I didn’t mean to be gratuitously critical of the “mega” church concept. I understand the economy of scale argument and that is us, in century 21. But I just can’t imagine Jesus in one. Thanks for a nice reply to my overly long post. Oh, now I need you to translate the "Toujours Pret!" of your unit.

[edit on 6/24/2006 by donwhite]