[Congressman Billybob]

Everyone in the Army has to be able to fight.

In December, 1945, my uncle, Col. Arthur Parker, was 30 miles behind the German lines, in charge of a support unit that contained cooks, truck drivers and the like, in a small town in Belgium. Then, the Germans began the Battle of the Bulge.

Within two days, the Germans reached that crossroads in the center of Belgium. Then Col. Parker and his cooks and truck drivers held that town for three days, until the German attack could be broken and thrown back. That town is now known as Parker's Crossroads, and there's a statue there of Col. Parker.

After the war, he returned to Alabama, and became for the balance of his life what he had been before the war, a hard-working dirt farmer.

Yes, everyone who wears the uniform has to be able to fight. Sometimes the fate of wars and nations rests on that simple base.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "We Are Running for Congress -- Maybe," discussion thread on FR.

[Cobra64]

Different era, different war strategies.

[niteowl77]

An exemplary man, your uncle; it is amazing how many brave and capable men are hidden in plain sight after they come home. I was told stories of cooks and clerks and AA units holding fast in NW Europe, because some individual (regardless of rank) showed the ability to lead, and the people around them at least knew how to use their weapons. It's probably too much to say that the Army is going to make everyone in it into warriors, but there is no reason they can not be better soldiers. If nothing else, it will increase their chances of completing their missions and surviving same.

My son marveled at the people going through BCT who did not have one clue about weapons, and he was disappointed that he was not really trained on the M9, M2, etc., because he was just going to be an "electrician." Well, the "electrician" now experiences mortar and RPG fire at his current Iraq address. I think he'd prefer to have the Army err on the side of too much training, rather than not enough.

[Restorer]

In December, 1945, my uncle, Col. Arthur Parker, was 30 miles behind the German lines, in charge of a support unit that contained cooks, truck drivers and the like, in a small town in Belgium.

Must have been commando cooks.

[tet68]

He was in the Engineer Company, was it the 144th?
I have a book about that.
Kept the Germans from reaching the main fuel dump.