Posted on 11/01/2004 11:40:33 PM PST by Former Military Chick
He heard the bullets whizzing overhead and thought, I'm too old for this business.
There's no good age to be shot at, but 55 is definitely too old. Especially when you left the Army 35 years ago and built a comfortable life in San Clemente within hailing distance of the former Western White House.
But there he was in Iraq, for 37 days in September and October, once again in full combat regalia and harm's way, feeling those old feelings of brotherhood and duty and admiration for what soldiers do. And remembering to keep his head down and his weapons fully operational.
R.B. Alexander is back in San Clemente now — a world away from Baghdad in every conceivable way — and eager to talk about what he saw.
He talks with the lingo of an old soldier, but he isn't. He was 20 when he left Newport Beach for Vietnam. He came home with a raft of medals. The local newspaper wrote him up as a hometown hero. Some of his Army buddies made it a career, but Alexander "took the uniform off, folded it up and went to college." He went back to surfing, starting a family and running Hobie Sports stores in Corona del Mar and Irvine.
Fade to black for typical middle-agers.
But not Alexander. With the Iraq war heating up, an old Army buddy called him and asked if he'd talk to some troops at Fort Hood about the whole range of small-arms weapons and munitions and, just as important, how to apply that expertise in the field. Alexander agreed and was such a hit last February that another general asked him if he'd talk to units in Iraq.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
military news **ping**
Sorry, I refuse to pad their registration lists.
Sounds like a good article though...
This is a great story!
So glad to hear that. With the elections on folks minds I thought it would be a nice change.
Pass it along!
Here is a link that was on FR about a week or so ago. Great, heartwarming pics!
http://www.pbase.com/kburch/the_picture_from_iraq_you_wont_see_in_the_news&page=all
Thank you so much for adding the wonderful photos!
I think my fave is the big, tough soldier holding the tiny baby. The soldier helping the Iraqi boy with his suit is sweet also. What a wonderful Military we have!
bump message 6 for later read.
Great story.
You're right. A wonderful story. Positive, even! My apologies, FMC.
BTTT!
Thanks for your energetic posts this morning, FMC. (^:
I like you enjoy posting the good news. Although I think you might get differing thoughts from folks today. There troops were not reading much good news in the Early Bird today. Seems to not sit will with some. My thought if they have to be there, they have to read it, we should read it and do what we can to make a difference. Like today by voting.
Thanks again, Ragtime!
BTT (where are the pics?)
Wonderful, true info. May God always bless Mr. R.B. Alexander and all those like him.
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