Flag detail Monday no replies needed a ramble

[TEB]

I been up having coffee got email from our Airborne association yesterday of Graves our sons and I are covering,once again I am reminded how lucky I was. 84-87 to have never been in any action, I owe a big thank You to whoever talked regan off the ledge of massive mission creep into Central America. As a matter of fact I owe the Russian army a thank you for never trying to head west ,after I broke my ankle twice on drops , I got taken off jump status sent to mech infantry in West Germany. Thanks my Soviet brothers in arms for letting me party hard.

As young kid Airborne infantry I had that mindset aggressive when ever where ever. If we go we’re gonna send them to powder valley better start saying your prayers. Just how we thought young stupid huge green gills wet behind the ears. Our only saving grace was the senior NCO if it would have happened as they were Vietnam vets.

Monday we only have three graves to cover two rakkasans 187th and and a herd troop 173rd. Fine Americans KIA KOREA OTHER TWO VIETNAM. Yesterday I got our suits out cleaners least we can do is to dress presentable I even spit shined our dress shoes.

And I am reminded of those who served and still walking around. My or our two son in laws iraq and Afghanistan multiple tours as naval corpsmen and a army scout. They remind me of my father two tours with the 173rd Vietnam, burned out and waking around with bad memories.

And I have my Great uncle set up Army retired 1951 to 1976 Korea and Vietnam tours. I bought him a new cigarette rolling machine 4 boxes of tops tubes and three cans tops tobacco and a case of Heineken. My wife asked me why do you enable him I said he survived two wars so tobacco and booze is not a big threat he survived two wars one sharp trooper bad ass ,i smoke a pipe.

He is a Very smart man why he told me join that fine service the coast guard stays away from the infantry. I was young and dumb didn’t listen, but I say this with sincerity and humor. My first jump in airborne school in the belly of that C-130 when those fine airborne NCOS cracked the doors on that aircraft. I was squinting because of the sun looking around that C-130 for the nearest coast guard recruiting office. To quote Everett George Clooney’s character from oh brother where art thou on that day. In 84 I was thinking over that DZ at benning were in a tight spot.