Last May 22 2013, I hiked a portion of the Shenandoah National Park with one odd assortment of guys who are trying desperately to "Age gracefully". Shenandoah Park is part of the Appalachian trail system, which as you may or may not know, spans or crosses 14 States. The Shenandoah park is beautiful, and is hiker friendly with all sorts of amenities for the Day hiker and thru hiker alike.

The Following participants were there:
Steve Powell, Former LRS Company commander; Richard A Boothe, former LRS First Sergeant; Dan "Dusty" Rhodes former LRS Team leader and Robert Drovie , also a former member (and Company Guidon bearer) of  Echo Company 51st Infantry Long Range Surveillance Company.
Our "Service & support" element consisted of Christopher Boothe, the son of Richard, who provide us with transportation, Beer, chow and comedy relief, as well as a RANT about the evils of camping with "Domed Tents".
Tim Pendergrass (also a former member of Echo Co.) Drove up from Raleigh Durham NC. and made a "Cameo appearance" in order to cook us a Steak Dinner and a hearty Breakfast the next morning (which helped us over come the slight hangover we had from drinking too much beer and peach "Shine" which Tim surprised us with). Both meals were a Welcomed and devoured with Gusto, especially the large linked breakfast sausages....mmm, mmm, mmm.
The best part of the whole journey was the "Fellowship". The weather began a bit Cold and Rainy for the first day or two, but over all, despite the occasional chilly winds , we all enjoyed the vistas and scenic over looks, and the tired, but relieved feeling one has after a full days hike. I laughed, and made others laugh, something I had missed for so long, living the isolated life I currently live.
So many stories to share.  we all had a hand in sharing stories from our past Military experiences together, things we didn't know, didn't remember, or remembered and wanted to forget, were brought to light and marveled over and laughed about once again. This walk was like Detox for the soul. Reconnecting with people you shared a unique part of Military History with, men we created a bond with, and after all these years, we collectively looked back, and truly appreciate the part each one of us played in the creating of our Alma matter, "Echo Company 51st Infantry". The event brought back some lost feelings, feelings most young at heart men still nurture, but guys like us seemed to let slip away. (one can't go out to Walmart and purchase an over the counter elixir like Camaraderie ).

This April 25, 2014, 6 or more former members of Echo Company are going to hit it again, this time, in Mountain Ranger Camp area, Camp Merrill in Dahlonega Georgia. We plan to spend 5 days hiking the AT in that location. Some of us haven't returned to Camp Merrill since we graduated Ranger School, so this should be a real treat, if not a "Flash back" producing walk. Dusty Rhodes lives not far from Dahlonega, and maintains contact with the Mountain Ranger Camp Association.
Alan Parten was a big help providing us with information and the change in Dates for the "Critter Crawl" (Mountain Ranger Camp cook out and get together) which will be happening around the same time we hike. Thus Far, the hikers will be Myself, Steve Powell, Dave Guinn, Sean McCartney, Dusty Rhodes, and Robert Drovie  (and his "Truck-sack").
 Possible visits and or guest appearances will be made by Mark Mergenhagen and MSG Raymond Draper, both former Echo Co. soldiers.

....."and people shall wander too and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

by Erik C Petterson on Tuesday, March 29, 2011

 

 When I was in Bosnia for the third time in 1998, (Operation Joint Forge) our LRS company performed active patroling throughout our sector, to include "outside" our area of operation. Freedom of movement was the theme we Multi-National Forces pushed upon the Serbs, croates and Muslims, and also expected to have.  Everyone used the IEBL (Inter Entity Boundry Line) and the ZOS (Zone of separation).  I found that our NATO Allies in the Multi-National force were the worst cry babies if one of us "Americans" came into their sector conducting patrols without informing them of our business first. Not only did we have "Intelligence gathering issues" with our NATO brothers and sisters, but also from within our own ranks. One particular situation showed me the break down of OPSEC and intelligence discipline within our own military. As I mentioned our company was actively patroling and or in established hide sites overwatching NAI (Named area of Interest) for PIFWC (Personel Indicted for War Crimes). We would leave Eagle Base, Tuzla Main, and depart to Camp Montgomery, where our squads would stage their operations from and could come and go as they pleased in order to conduct the mission better. Well, the American Commander of  Camp Montgomery, could close the camp at will, based upon increased THREAT levels in the area. Now basically, our patrols were not supposed to be effected by Camp gates closing, as our Mission was actually performed "outside" the confines of the Camp. The Commander, however, gave orders refusing to allow anyone to leave or enter the Camp once he "locked it down". This created a problem.  Our Mission was a classified  and sensitive in nature,  a "need to know mission" outside the wire, and a Friendly Forces Camp Commander is not privy to  what our specific mission is before, during, or after we slip outside "Friendly Forward lines."  Our Lieutenant, then Captain, then the Major to include our Brigade Commander tried dialogue with the Camp Commander, to no avail, as the Camp Commander was adamant about not allowing our soldiers on Camp Montgomery to conduct any missions, until he was briefed as to the nature of this classified mission. This opened the loop wider for another "doesn't need to know" person to enter into our business. Speaking purely Text Book (or Ranger Handbook)  our patrol was only allowed to share intelligence we gathered while on patrol that  specifically pertained to the FFL Cmdr's Area of Operation. (which was directly outside the wire and surrounding area).  This exchange of information on the battlefield was performed as a courteousy to the Cmdr in order to help him draw a better picture of what was actually in his Area of operation. This exchange was implied sharing of information.  However, our principal mission was still "Classified" and wasn't to be shared with the Cmdr, his cronies, or the Muslim wash women at Camp Montgomery.  I was shocked to finally learn however, that my Brigade Commander capitulated and satisfied the Cmdr's curiousity and  briefed him on our mission just so this petty invalidated Camp Commander would allow us freedom of movement in and out of  Camp.  If my Brigade Commander had not shared this Classified information, then our surveillence Teams would not have been welcome to stage missions from this Camp. This demonstrated to me that our Army was changing, changing in a "Bad way". Now anyone with a little power (and a lust for knowledge) could strong arm others to share intelligence they are not privelaged too.  This was a horrible demonstration of how a Camp Commander could reduce a Team effort  into a petty, divisive, squabble  for selfish reasons. Just to demonstrate an abuse of his power, or flex his Muscle. This behavior cut against the grain of Military Doctrine.  This was the beginning of the end for our miltiary as I saw it back then. I thought the Gulf War had produced some real issues, but not to the extent the Operation in Bosnia erroded our Military bearing. More over, "common sense" ( the 5th rule of Patroling) was being ignored.  Bosnia was a debacle of Officers trying to feather their nests with "weeds" from an exasperating, thankless peace keeping operation.  Our doctrine was tweeked.  New   Acronyms emerged. We joked about Staff Officers changing words and phrase's in order to receive a "Center mass" comment on their OER (Officer Evaluation Report) as befits the "Tactical situation". Someone changed "Happy" to "Glad" in order to receive 15 of minutes fame. The Special Forces Community was also affected by the intrusion of the conventional Army ( and it's Intelligence community) upon their specific areas of operation within the Bosnian Theater. Special forces teams I met could be professional, or a bunch of cowboys, depending on where they were, and of course their leadership.  I was told by my SF buddy Captain E, "Don't fuck the help, Erik." We dont fuck the help". Which simply meant that Captian E and his men,( while living in a safe house, with a maid, cook,and  laundress) that one should find entertainment elsewhere and not at "home."  Captian E related a case in point; one SF team member was screwing a Serbians wife. The Serb got wind of it, and tried to blow up the garage of the safe house. Another Serbian man (whose old lady was servicing a SF guy) attempted an attack on the Team member with a Machetee.  Soldiers are human, and can be tainted, become jaded by either having too much, or too little.  Special Forces community while deployed is privy to alot.  Some of those with too much just dont know how to handle what they got, usually are sloppy keeping a good thing a secret (it is hard to hide limburger cheese from starving people). Conventional soldiers when deployed have little, and those who have little, peck around, searching, digging, uncovering and exposing areas that are best left unexposed looking for a crumb.  Basically people who lack luxuries such as  knowledge, good food, beer and sex want to fill that void. Those who have it, don't want to share it, and if they do, it is because they are treating a friend, working a deal, or they "screwed up" and have to share it.  Such is the way of Military Intelligence, Conventional soldiering and Special Operations. We all wish to validate our exsistence. The Camp Commander felt he should know. He didnt want to be an "ignorant Flunky" to some Military intelligence Unit (who may know where the "treasure is buried")  So the Camp Cmdr  decides to "Power out", basically strong arms them into breeching security and informing him on a classified mission.   Sort of on the same lines as what happened in the Movie "Kelly's Heros"...too many people knew the mission,  so the Gold became less valuable to a single persons take as the number of recipients increased.  "A secret is something shared with ten other people."  I personally felt that the selfish actions taken by some officers in command positions, in the  Balkans violated military Doctrine.
My squad/ team was sent to various isolated hilltops, in Bosnia, in 1996, in order to pull security for the RETRANS sites there.  One Hilltop Cmdr, a Lientenant "D" (Female) wouldn't allow us to shower or bath in the Camps small portable shower facility.  She allowed us to send one "detail soldier" each day to ride down on the LOGPACK to help gather supplies and he could shower at that distant camp. The LOGPACKS mission was to bring fresh food, supplies and WATER (for the Shower which we were forbidden to use) back to the Hilltop, and we sent our soldier to help support that, yet we weren't allowed to use the shower we brought the water for.  The LOGPACK convoy was a dirty dusty one both coming and going. So the soldier we sent down to help with the supply detail and allowed to shower, came back covered in dirt and grime again. What a waste!  We guarded the Hilltop personel as they slept. We ate with them when they ate. But we were forbidden to shower in their facility. (Separate but equal?...brings to mind "Jim Crow" practices). Eventually SSG "R" pursuaded Lt "D" to allow us to shower. ( unknown to her, we had already been sneaking showers in her facility)! Apparently one of the other teams sergeants had pissed her off and she banned all our people from using the showers! She gave us the excuse that, "we weren't permanent party", just temporary help. (what a snobby bitch).  A CSM on Camp Victory in Iraq, in 2003-04, adopted the same policy, and wouldn't allow soldiers who werent in his command (i.e. V Corp) to eat in "his dinning facility". He also disqualified soldiers from eating there if they weren't clean (just returned off a mission) were from another base camp, or were wearing "white socks" instead of the issue green / black socks.

I had never experienced a DFAC that was not universally used by ALL American soldiers and not just by a select few. Peace time Army is not the same as WAR.

Many soldiers who werent assigned to V corp were turned away from eating a meal by this CSM. Most Soldiers who were strangers to the Camp, who came from another camp on miltiary business in time of WAR, wanting and needing food, and shelter.  This same type of behavior was also noticed by my Lieutenant and I at 2nd BCT 1st Armor Division headquarters, in Baghdad Iraq. We were shocked to realize how a Unit from our own Division could care less about housing or feeding us when we arrived in their camp for safety over night ( do to several vehicles overheating while on convoy). 2nd BCT just happened to be near, so we pulled in with our Military Police escort. The 2nd BCT CSM was a straight up unfriendly ASSHOLE. We slept on or in our trucks that night, and were bitten by every mosquitoe that wasn't deployed to Taji!!

"It ain't over until the Fat Lady get's SHOT"

by Erik C Petterson on Sunday, March 27, 2011

 

 While in Iraq, (2003-04) I had a LOUSY Combat Service Support Transportation Company Commander (CPT."D") and an equally LOUSY 1SG (1SG "J") who wanted to take soldiers off the road, all because they felt that the soldiers weren't "mission capable" due to  AR-600-9,  "The Army over weight program".  Do to this Administrative action our Commander crippled our manpower, creating more work, in the form of frequent and repeat convoy operations for the other "healthier" soldiers in a dangerous environment.  So my C.O. and 1SG, sent your fat son's and daughters, unarmed, on a bus in a convoy to the "Greenzone" to see an imaginary Dietician for counseling (I personally called the Greenzone medical staff and was informed that they had no Dietician in theater).  I have learned through the years that "what we do in Peace time training, is what we do in War." Evidently all my Commander and 1SG were aware of was Administrative red tape, which they brought in buckets full to the theater of operation.  Soldiers on the Weight control program are under what is called "Adverse" or "unfavorable action"  (meaning they can't receive awards, promotions, etc. because they are FAT or in trouble for some reason).  Had the soldier(s) been killed by an IED or by an Attack upon the Convoy, the soldier who was a ZERO would now become a HERO, and the 1SG and C.O. would promote them and award a them  Bronze Star, and purple heart  "posthumously."   However you would never expect this shit bag Commander to write home to the soldier's Mom and Dad, and tell them the truth. ( the circumstances behind "Why" their son /daughter was killed).   If the Commander did write the parents, the letter may go some what better than my sarcastic attempt here, For example: " Dear Mr and Mrs. Porkrind, I'm writing to inform you that Junior was  "overweight", so I placed  him on AR-600-9- "The Army weight control program" and sent him unarmed on convoy in a Hostile country, through a dangerous area of Baghdad, to see a Dietician. (Because I was eventually gonna "Chapter" junior out of the Army anyway, for looking, fat and unsoldierly)  So now your junior is dead; killed by an enemy IED while junior was on convoy in Baghdad.  Well, Mr & Mrs Porkrind, Junior's no longer a PFC..... because I recommended to the BC (Battalion Commander) to promote him to "Sergeant"...he has a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart accompanying that promotion too." You should be proud of junior! He died serving his country, and safe guarding our way of life! In his death, he brings great credit upon himself, his Unit, his Country and the United States Army.

How many Milligrams is your Babysitter?

by Erik C Petterson on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 10:35am

 When I was in Germany some years back, my German friends were shocked when I told them that the Doctor perscribed an Anti-depressant to me with out a physical exam, blood work  or further testing...just took my word that I was "depressed", and gave me a solution: "Prozac"; one of many anti depressants. My European civilian friends couldn't believe that the Doctors weren't going to test futher for perhaps a chemical imbalance, dietery issue, or perhaps some other illness that could be causing my depression etc.. Apparently in Europe, Doctors still want answers and explanations for behavioral and emotional dissorders, before jumping to conclusions by perscribing medication, as they don't wish to perscribe the "wrong medication". (Not every Medication works for everybody and in every circumstance, by the way).   My German friends urged me (fell on deaf ears) to seek another physician (Army doctors say and do the same thing, where was I to go?). Or perhaps that I should take a natural-herbal non pharmeceutical approach ( i.e., St. Johns Wart, Vallarian, etc. at the herbal vitamin store).  Naturally I ignored them, thinking the Military health care system and it's team of trained physicians knew best. Well it turns out,  not just the military but civilian practioners dont have a clue. Especially since our Nation and our Military has more people with behavioral, emotional and mental disorders, then we do physicians or counselors to treat them. Our Nation is swamped, over filled and under staffed to perform "one on one" treatments for each individual person. So "pills" are the immediate answer, pills to help "manage you" until such a time when someone qualified, and not multitasking can attend to you.  A friend of mine is currently in his own "la la land" with all the Anti-"this and that" Medications he is currently taking.  I can see a big difference when he is "off" them as opposed to "on" them. Sure, taking Medication is a trade off  between a numb, dopey life, as opposed to freaking out over small stuff.  I for one have temper issues and misplaced anger due to PTSD.  My buddy has "explosive employee syndrome." (that's another story in itself)  The drugs I take, for example, keep my explosiveness nominally at bay. But the drugs also rob me of what little Joy, and emotions I have left. The very feelings and emotions I am struggling to maintain, are further erroded away, and numbed by the perscription drugs given to suppress my anger! They add to my general dispair. (I am currently five or six different Medications removed from my original perscription of prozac). American Doctors have a love affair with pharmeceutical companies. They appear to be issuing out anti-depressants like candy. The Doctors aren't treating the patients. They just help them cope, and keep the patient managable. Doctors perscriptions are submerging the anger and frustration people are having. Dispensing MED's may be considered "practicing medicine", but it is certainly a far cry from being a caring concerned physician or psycho therapist who is diligently seeking a cure. This is irresponsible drug pushing, pill peddling, providing our former service members and our Nation with placebo "babysitters."   One day there will be a Volcanic explosion of human anger throughout our Nation, a rupture within the flesh and spirit of our society such has never been seen. "A Reckoning"...... I want a cure and help, not a babysitter drug.....

"WAR IS (being in the Airforce) HELL"!!!

by Erik C Petterson on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 7:28am

 

 In Quatar, at the Airforce Hospital shortly after being MEDEVAC out of Baghdad in 2003, myself and a young wounded Marine were outside smoking, when a Airforce guy comes out of a "shower facility", wearing catch me fuck me shorts, flip flops, an Airforce T-shirt, towel over his shoulder and holding a toiletry bag. He lights up a cigarette, takes a drag, blows it out, and says, "This camping shit sucks".......
The Marine and I looked at him, and then each other, and started to laugh!
"The Marine and I never had it so F__ ing good in our lives!" and here this fricking dead beat, sorry ass, spoiled rotten son of a bitch Airman is complaining!
Screw him, his TDY, and his Statement of "non availabiltiy of quarters."

It's a Dogs life,

by Erik C Petterson on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 9:52am

Years ago, when I was roughly 23 or 24,

I had an opportunity to dress up as a large canine (like the dog who takes a bite out of crime) and appear before a group of children at a church meeting. It was strictly volunteer to help a friend out and I didnt do any talking, as my friend gave the presentation. I was there as a "visual aid". After the meeting, I stepped out side the Church, and several of the church children approached me out on the Church Lawn. One began asking me questions, and soon they all chimed in asking me questions, then the questions became demands and the demands became orders; "ordering me" to remove my head or my costume. They weren't happy with my reply, as I politely told them "No", nor did they appreciate an unknown  man's voice coming from a Dog costume, so they began laughing at me, while kicking me in the shin's, stomping on my feet, pulling my tail, and kicking me in the rear end.  (Yes, "church kids", wonders of modern parenting). My cries for HELP were ignored by the parents and laughed at by the children as they collectively knocked me over, continually kicking and punching me. They proceeded to remove my larger than life "Dog Head", when my buddy finally came out side (after being congratulated by the church elders) and saw me on the ground getting my butt kicked by little kids. He saved me. One or two stray neighborhood kids  ran up and kicked at me too,( like an Indian counting coupe)  wanting to feel superior and  bravely boast how they helped toppled the DOG MAN at the local Church. My Point? Well, Adults like children can react to a stranger much the same way. It justs takes a single individuals act of violence, or outrage, to spur the crowd into motion. A collective Mob mentality. And once they have realized the ease in which they can attack their prey they just won't stop until, blood is spilled, someones beaton, raped, dead or dying. In other words "total Victory."   If there is no voice of reason to prevail, no powerfull intervention, then these goals can be realized by the Mob.  I can tell you how frightening it was for me to be set upon by children while adults milled about nearby, thinking it was "cute",  laughing as their Christian children beat down a man in a dog costume. Conclusion: It only takes a spark to get a fire going. and when one disgruntled person opens their mouth to pass judgment on a man or woman's dress or mannerisms, this one comment can be easily "absorbed" by people in the group then potentially escalate from words to actual physical violence directed at the person or persons who were negatively "targeted."   Did I deserve to get beaton down like a "Dog"? (pardon the pun) And, I might add, "beaton down in front of a church, by CHILDREN, as parents ignorantly watched!?"

"Horizontal Bullseye": "Welcome to Iraq, Where Prices are "SADAM INSANE!"...

"Horizontal Bullseye": "Welcome to Iraq, Where Prices are "SADAM INSANE!"...: "During the early stages of my Battalions deployment to Iraq in 2003, My Company Comander Cpt. John Gallagher appointed Lieutenant Ken ..."