MN Guard Members Shorter After Months Of Hauling

WWCCO.com ^ | 11/27/07 | WCCO.com/AP

[Little Bill]

No, my first girl friend was named Laura. Aside from youthful lust, it can be all be checked out plug, in the names. For Christs sake a real FReeper would have a credit on me by now.

[Little Bill]

Credit Check that is.

[Brucifer]

I grew two inches after I got discharged at Oakland. I was pretty much a baby soldier.

[Squantos]

Agree ........I was of same mindset. Still am. If an item hasn’t multiple uses then it is left behind.

IMHO Troops today have it down to a fine art for the most part, common carry position of key items , team gear is shared, fighting loads vs need for existence loads for the most parts. Only what ya need to fight, communicate and drink/eat and repair the holes in yer body with.

Blow Out kits are IMO the best never leave home without it for EVERY troop to have on em.

I really like the Platybag or Camelbak water bladders, quiet, conforms to body, easy to snag a sip on the run etc etc . Like the old VN era water bladder efforts only better.

Nutrition is better than my old diet of peaches and pound cake.....with coffee creamer and sugar icing of course. we could fill up entire threads with what is or isn’t better......

As always a US GI will always adapt to their own requirements and get the job done .......

[topher]

You might appreciate my mother's cousin.

He was one of the battlin' bastards of Bastogne -- with the 101st Screamin' Eagles.

He also was captured at Normandy, but was released not too long after I guess when the Germans holding him surrendered or were captured by the advancing army.

Anyway, this cousin of my mother was badly injured at Bastogne.

So after the war, he was told not to lift anything heavy. I think he did move to Tucson, AZ, for health reasons, because of the injuries.

As for not lifting anything heavy, he became Mr. Arizona after working out with weights.

He had his own Weight Lifting factory/company at one time.

I believe he still participates in the Senior Olympics.

Being Airborne, I think they had to go some pretty rough training.

I believe it was Eisenhower that decided to move them to Bastogne because they were receiving extra-hazardous combat pay for being airborne, but they were in rear areas... (But I am somewhat vague on that point -- have to research some more).

Some were probably better for the experience. Maybe some had some permanent injuries -- don't know...

The worst thing for my mother's cousin in the 101st was the fact he lost his good buddy (KIA) at Bastogne. That probably hurt more than all the hardships...

I did make the mistake of saying that Patton rescued them at Bastogne. That was a big mistake -- which I shall never make again.

The only problem at Bastogne was for the rest of the US Army to join up with the Screamin' Eagles.

The Germans paid their price for attacking the 101st.

So maybe there is more truth in that answer of nuts than we comprehend -- first that Germans had to be nuts to attack the 101st, and, second, the 101st was one tough nut to crack...

[river rat]

There were several things wrong with the M14,
- Too long to move or swing through the bush,grass or jungle.
- Too heavy to carry all year.
- Ammo was too bulky and heavy, and it seemed like we ALWAYS carried enough with us to take on the whole damned NVA.
- Flash suppressor subject to damage, thus deflecting rounds.

BUT -— If you could see charlie, you could kill charlie with ONE ROUND from great distances....

Another big plus — we shared the same ammo as our beloved M60, and NO ONE seriously objected to carrying a belt for THAT weapon........it was THAT effective.

Welcome home Bill.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Thanks for sharing that. The 101st at Bastogne were channeling the 300 Spartans for dam sure.