In the Army

50 years ago today, I boarded a bus from Kenosha, WI to Milwaukee. That day I raised my hand and offered my life to my country.

The one positive part of the day was when we were advised that that month the Marines were not drafting. 

Later in the day, I was on a plane headed to Fort Campbell and Army Basic Training.

Ruidoso Area

Had a quick breakfast of cereal and coffee, I was on the road to tour the area.  My goal was to check out the historic town of Lincoln, NM,  Fort Stanton Historic Site, and Smokey Bear State Park.

I did not spend much time in Lincoln.  It was a matter of shooting some photos of the old buildings.  The town of Lincoln plays major roll in the history of New Mexico. Notable names like Sheriff Pat Garrett and "Billy the Kid" were prominent players.

Most of the rest of the morning was spent at Fort Stanton.  The fort was built at a military fort.  It has also served at prison of war facility, military hospital, and tuberculous hospital.  It 2004 interesting parties started efforts to preserve the fort.  The state and federal government got involved in 2008.  Eventually, the fort became Fort Stanton History Site.

Fort Stanton is very much a work in progress.  When you enter the visitor's center, you are give some information of the fort history and information of what buildings are open.  The folks at Fort Stanton are working hard to open more buildings.

From Fort Stanton, it was on over to Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, NM.   This is a state facility, at the time, entrance fee is $2.00. There is a path showing the plants in the New Mexico climate zones.  Featured at a corner o =f the the park is Smokey Bear burial site.  The museum illustrated when happens to the land after a forest fire and the people that fight these fires.

Last night when heading out to dinner, I saw a interesting store - "Boots & Jeans" - my kind of store.  Ended up spending too much money - buying a pair of boots, jeans, a couple shirts, and a belt.

Dinner was at Rio Grande Grill & Tap Room.  Had a cheeseburger, fries, and a pint of Pecan Amber Ale.

Spent the rest of the evening packing back into the car and watching TV.

Canyon de Chelly

First stop of my Army Reunion trip was Canyon de Chelly National Monument.  Unusual for me, I was able to get a decent sleep the night before heading out.  Was well rested and headed out of the house about 3:45 in the morning.  Stopped for breakfast in Gallop, NM.

Just across the Arizona border, I turned North on Rt 12.  The map shows the road is a scenic route.  At Tsaile, I headed SW on Route 64, another scenic road.

This road included access to a couple view areas of the canyon.  Stopped by and walked to Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave Overlooks. The trail to Antelope House Overlook was 1/4 mile from the packing lot, so with my knees, I skipped that overlook.

Turned onto the North Rim road.  There, I found many more canyon overlooks.  At the first overlook, I purchase a souvenir of the trip.  A local was selling painted rock telling the story of the area and its inhabitants. My knees did surprising well for all of the walking to the overlooks.

By the time I got to the historic trading post, I was getting tired.  Did a little shopping and headed towards town to find my lodging.  The Holiday Inn is just out of the park.  Registered and settled into my room.

The rest of the day was spent processing the day's photos.  Stretched out my legs on the bed.  Started creating the website pages for the trip.  Finally, wondered of the the restaurant for a late light dinner of chili and frybread.

Vietnam Veteran

Your Argument

A new t-shirt I picked up online. I am a little tired of being timid about my Army service. It is, in a large part. because of the way we were treated when we came home. This T-shirt expresses my feelings.

Quiet Las Vegas Weekend

After playing tour-guide Thursday/Fridat, I had a quiet weekend.  Was hoping to visit with relatives, but things did not work out.

Saturday,  I kitted up for a bike ride.  Stopped in a bike shop to get map(s).  Very nice new free maps were available for the Southern Nevada and Henderson, NV.  Grabbed the hybrid out of the van and ready for a bike ride on the Pittman Wash Trail in Henderson.  Alas, I had 2 broken spokes on the rear wheel. 

 Had dinner at the hotel cafe - decent order of spaghetti and meatballs.  Champagne brunch at the hotels Grand buffet. 

Met up with a couple guys from my Army Unit for lunch.  Was a little too much food, but good food at BJ's with a pint of beer. Great to see and visit with Nick and Alex (see photo). 

The afternoon/evening was spend napping and working on photos from the trip.  Headed back towards Albuquerque about daybreak. 

Stopped about 15 miles South of Hoover Dam to take a couple photos of the Colorado River downstream from the dam.  Late lunch in Flagstaff.  Was just getting dark as we got off I-40, heading to my house.

Poncho Villa

It was a foggy morning that greeted us in El Paso.  Had breakfast at the hotel.  While packing u the room, heard the rain start.  It was about done when we ere ready loading the van.

Out of El Paso, we headed West on Rt 9 to Columbus, NM.  The fog stayed with uo for about 50 miles.  Columbus is renowned for the raid on the town by Poncho Villa.  Toured the museum at Poncho Villa State Park.  From there, we went across the street to the old Columbus Depot which is now a museum.  Memorabilia from the raid and General Pershing's routing of the renegades.  Upper photo o\is of a early "tank" of the era.

From there, it was up to Deming, NM.  There is a local museum at the old armory.  Across the street is the old customs house.  We did not enter/tour either of these site.  I was food time.  Heading west on Pine St (main E-W drag) stopped at the cafe at the Balboa Motel.  Good taste and good price for lunch.

Out of Deming, we took the cut-off from Deming to Hatch.  Checking the map, I was a wide spot in the road called Nutt, NM.  Had to stop to take a couple photos of the sign.

Made it to Albuquerque by 5pm.  Cranked up the computer, checked mail, and crashed to bed.

La Crosse - Day 1

Had a great day in La Crosse.  Was not sure how things would turn out since my legs were still complaining from the climb to the tunnel on the Elroy-Sparta Trail.

Started the day with a waffle. coffee, and apple juice at the motel.  Looks like there was some light rain on the car and the sky was overcast.  Anyway, this was my day for a bike ride so figured to make the best of it.

Plan was to ride the Great River State Trail.  After some false starts to find a trailhead, I headed down the trail.  Rode South from County Z.  From the maps, its looked like this area would afford some nice views of the river (and Lake Onalsaka.  But, this was not the case.  On the sides of the trail was covered with trees and brush.  Checked the trail North from Countu Z - trees with a section of prairie restoration.  Lots of joggers out on this section of the trail.  Several cyclists, by more joggers.

After a 5 mile ride on the Great River State Trail, I drove North to find the Lytles Landing trailhead.  On the way back from that trailhead, I came across the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge.  The refuge had paved bicycle trails and dirt walking/hiking trails.  Rode my bike from the parking lot near the river through the prairie and over to the headquarters building.

Back at the room, I processed the morning photos, watched some TV and rested.  Soon, it was time for dinner.  Was planning to sample the cuisine at Stolpa's Stein Haus.  Thanks to Steve for my first stein of beer.  Ended up with 2 steins of Hofbrau Dunkel - a German beer.  It was the closest they had for an Amber Ale.

Had a nice conversation with Steve.  He had 2 uncles that served in Viet Nam, one of them being in the SeaBees.  Very friendly place.  A another customer couple thought I might be a food critic since I shot a photo of my food.  Told them about my trips and trying to sample the local cuisine. Gave them and Steve's the link to my web site.

Ordered a "Stein Haus" Brat for dinner.  Still hungry, I order another brat and stein of the same beer.  Would have liked to have a local beer, but once in a while have to check out the European brews.  It was then time to head to the motel.  Made a look around the pub to get a photo of the place.  Steve was just leaving the place.

Topped off the day with a Heath Blizzard.  Was a great day in La Crosse.  Have to see what I can schedule tomorrow.

“Combat Veteran”

During the 2014 election campaign, new Iowa Junior Senator Joni Ernst claimed to be a “combat veteran”. I was skeptical about this claim, but I did not serve in Iraq or Afghanistan. But I do know what the term means to me.

To me, if you claim to be a “combat veteran” is means that you were actually in combat. You were in a firefight with the enemy.

It has come to light that Senator Ernst was in the “theater” and lead an Iowa Army National Guard transportation unit. Her “combat” was in Kuwait and the edges of Iraq in 2003-2004. Note: President George HW Bush designated the while Arabian Peninsula a “Combat Zone”.

This really makes me angry. I served 13 ½ months in Viet Nam. Over half of that time in an infantry unit as a Chaplain Assistant. I drove unsecured roads without escort. I lived in fire support bases with an infantry company. But, since I did not see actual combat (no CIB) the VA refuses to accept that I could have PTSD.

I have a friend that spent his tour in Viet Nam running a coffee house on Long Binh Post. By Joni's definition, he can claim being a “combat veteran”. She claims that she never claimed to be in combat, but her error in omission leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. If she claimed that she served in Kuwait during the gulf wars, OK. But the claim being a “combat veteran” is over the top.

New T-Shirt

New T-shirt arrived this week.  Can show where I spent 13 1/2 months of my life.

The Boonie Hat Incident

This is from the draft of my memoirs - Son of a Sharecropper. 

Coming from the 199^th Light Infantry Brigade, I was a bit of an oddity at IIFFV. There weren't that many of us from line units. I remember one morning formation (Yeah - I had to start going to morning formations) the 1st Sgt was reiterating that IIFFV personnel were required to wear baseball caps. Boonie hats were unauthorized attire. 

One guy pointed at me in my boonie hat and said "what about him." The 1st Sgt said "You see that patch on his right shoulder - that's an infantry unit. He can wear a bonnie hat here if he wants to." From that day, I wore my boonie hat with a bit more pride.

Son of a Sharecropper

As you have seen, I have been writing stories of my life - memoirs or autobiography or such.  At his time, "Son of a Sharecropper" is the working title.  At this time, I have the following chapters in the works or planned.

4-H - Head, Hands, Health, & Heart
AC Combine - First Air Conditioned Combine?
Army - Draft to deployment to Viet Nan
Dad as a Farmer - Progressive farmer - at the cutting edge of farming
Destined to be Engineer - Early days that steered me into electrical engineering
Dunbar - the family property in NE Wisconsin
EMD-GM - Highlights of the 30 1/2 years I worked for Electro-Motive Division of General Motors
Old Farm House.  Memories of the house I grew up in
Residences - Places and houses I have lived in.
School Daze - Elementary school, high school, and college
VFW - Membership in veteran's organizations
Viet Nam - My Army tour in Viet Nam
WA9LKD - My hobby of Amateur Radio
Health Problems - Stroke and heart valve replacement
Cycling and my Bicycles -
And, how could I not write about retirement!

Chapters of the autobiography will not follow a typical time line.  Instead, they will be highlight various subjects of my life.  The first chapter (and title chapter) will be used to time everything together.

Life is an Adventure

For some time, I have been posting older photos for Throwback Thursday.  With my archive, I have a good selection of photos of me to select for posting.  One such Thursday I posted a photo of me in my fatigues with the farm/family dog.

On facebook, this is what I said about this photo:

“Almost forgot Throwback Thursday. Photo is of me during on leave between training and shipping to 'Nam. Farm dog/family pet "Trixie" with me.”

I have posted other photos of me during my service in Viet Nam.  This photo prompted this comment from a friend of mine, “You had to be very nervous.“  Nervous is not the state on mind that I remember having.  Let my try to explain.

Live has been one big adventure for me.  Like all farm kids in those days, I learned to drive a tractor as soon as I was big enough to read the pedals.  My dad and I did farm custom work.  At 16, I went off to Pittsburgh for the summer for a science/engineering session.  There were week-long trips for 4-H exchange, Student Council, and Boy's State.

College was in Cleveland, OH over 400 miles from home.  Senior year of college, I did not pay attention to studies and did not finish studies..  I did not protest the war, nor was a supporter.  Tried to beat the draft (moved to Cincinnati area for a “draft defered” job.  The company screwed up with the deferment and the post office mis-delivered my draft notice.  Once I had the notice, I felt it was my duty to serve.

I had one week to move from Cincinnati to Wisconsin for induction.  During that week a grandfather passed away.  I attended his funeral and the next day I was off to the induction center and the military.  That whole week was a blur.  My head was filled with confusing thoughts.

Off to Fort Campbell, KY for Basic Training.  The Drill Sergeant assigned me as a road guard. During Basic Training, one of our speakers was the Chaplain.  He was making the pitch for serving as a Chaplain Assistant.  Now I have never been particularly religious.  The job was to be the driver and “jack-of-all-trades” for the Chaplain – including his bodyguard.

Sounded pretty good.  I could help my fellow soldiers and not be out pounding the boonies.  It was one of the best jobs I volunteered for in the Army (Chaplain Assistant was yhe onlt MOS that you had to ask for and would not be assigned to without asking for it).

After Basic Training, it was off to Clerk School, Chaplain Assistant School and finally a week of Nam training before shipping out.  This was about Thanksgiving time.  I was home on 14 day leave before shipping out to my tour in Viet Nam.

I guess I was nervous, but I tried to not show it.  I was trained, and did not to add to my parents' stress.  I made the rounds of the family.  Dressed in my fatigues, and dressed in my Class A dress uniform.  Finally, off to war.

As it happens with most of us, I really grew up mentally during my service.  It wasn't any game.  One of my jobs was to visit the sick and wounded in our unit.  I did everything I could do to support the guys in my unit.  After 19 months (and with a rank of SP5E5), I got an “early out” and returned to college.

During my 30 years career at GM, I moved around the country and did my job.  Over the last 9 years, I have faced various health issues.  Always facing it head-on.  Yes, some concerns and some nervousness, but as the title of a book “Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway”.

Life is a journey and an adventure.  And an interesting and exciting one, at that.