tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post7199756521557311676..comments2024-03-28T16:26:35.679-07:00Comments on Chant du Départ: Marching to WarOldAFSargehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-10955628995803696602015-05-02T12:30:12.938-07:002015-05-02T12:30:12.938-07:00Not exactly stock from the drill manual...
But if...Not exactly stock from the drill manual...<br /><br />But if it works, it works!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-68069147416080353652015-05-02T12:02:47.268-07:002015-05-02T12:02:47.268-07:00At Holloman, they had a monthly Parade where Retir...At Holloman, they had a monthly Parade where Retirees retired, Medals were awarded, Commands were passed etc. It usually had a flyover with the duty rotating between the Air Division Squadrons. The squadron that provided the flyover also had to provide the "troops". So the squadron and the AMU had to march with the Squadron Commander out front. It was our turn, and we'd actually practiced. The Squadron Commander hadn't though. So we're getting in to position and going through the commands all the way up to Dress Right, Dress! Standing there with our left arm out waiting, and waiting, and waiting. Those of us that could see him could read his face and knew he couldn't remember the next command. Finally, in his best Drill Sergeant voice he hollers, "Put your Arms.....Down! Worked like a charm!juvathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09096708575138552532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-55238803198614171042015-05-02T10:19:36.061-07:002015-05-02T10:19:36.061-07:00Holds true going back to antiquity. Most deaths we...Holds true going back to antiquity. Most deaths were due to disease and exposure. Many more men were disabled permanently by same.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-24064755745951215762015-05-02T10:18:24.269-07:002015-05-02T10:18:24.269-07:00Wise choice Virgil.
But thank God for guys like y...Wise choice Virgil.<br /><br />But thank God for guys like your Dad.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-1236468662922082682015-05-02T10:01:18.913-07:002015-05-02T10:01:18.913-07:00PS: Two Thirds of all cas in WW II were due to dis...PS: Two Thirds of all cas in WW II were due to disease or exposure..virgil xenophonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577165785872035948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-36163345295239958042015-05-02T09:57:45.751-07:002015-05-02T09:57:45.751-07:00I've told this story before many times, don...I've told this story before many times, don't know if here, but one of the reasons I chose Air Force pilot tng was when I asked my Dad, who was a Company Co with the 42nd Rainbow Div in WWII what conditions were like he replied: "Son, you haven't lived until you've spent seven days and six nights January in northern Germany in two feet of heavy snow in the open in foxholes under heavy arty fire under a freezing rain with six inches of ice water covering your boots.." LOL!virgil xenophonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577165785872035948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-7603753049050149372015-05-02T09:55:47.678-07:002015-05-02T09:55:47.678-07:00Can always put more clothes on, with heat. once yo...Can always put more clothes on, with heat. once you get to a certain point, there's nothing more to take off.<br /><br />I'm a cold weather fellow myself, but...<br /><br />There's a story to be told there.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-81522580789377711422015-05-02T09:54:28.123-07:002015-05-02T09:54:28.123-07:00Isn't that the plain truth!Isn't that the plain truth!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-60334440087452920292015-05-02T09:54:05.564-07:002015-05-02T09:54:05.564-07:00Heck, walking and standing in line? Even the Air F...Heck, walking and standing in line? Even the Air Force can do that!<br /><br />Or they used to anyway.OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-37445924541647547852015-05-02T09:45:14.011-07:002015-05-02T09:45:14.011-07:00There's only one thing funnier than watching s...There's only one thing funnier than watching sailors parade, and that's watching airwing sailors parade. Looks more like a square dance than a formation. "Dress Right, DRESS!" usually yields allemande left with a do sa do. On one memorable occasion CAG noted a strong resemblance to the proverbial monkey and football, to which the CAG Gunner replied, "They're firetruckin' airdales, CAG, not a buncha blankety-blank parade ground Marines!"<br /><br />And yeah, plenty of walking (and standing in line) on the boat.PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-67799205325752025662015-05-02T09:30:52.367-07:002015-05-02T09:30:52.367-07:00I'll take ice, snow, and sub zero temperatures...I'll take ice, snow, and sub zero temperatures every time over heat and humidity.Well Seasoned Foolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16670165728759453075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-47761302810748806182015-05-02T09:28:47.800-07:002015-05-02T09:28:47.800-07:00Yep, went into Naval Aviation so I didn't have...Yep, went into Naval Aviation so I didn't have to walk to work... :-) And I doubt most people COULD walk 10 miles carrying nothing these days. They were definitely hardier back in the day, before cars, AC and all the other things we take for granted!Old NFOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16404197287935017147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-70381224731972873162015-05-02T07:00:30.666-07:002015-05-02T07:00:30.666-07:00Heh, no marching on the boat?
(As I recall though...Heh, no marching on the boat?<br /><br />(As I recall though, getting from point A to point B on a Nimitz-class carrier takes some walking!)OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-17512032550568773462015-05-02T06:59:28.148-07:002015-05-02T06:59:28.148-07:00I've read accounts of the humidity in Pennsylv...I've read accounts of the humidity in Pennsylvania in 1863.<br /><br />Those old uniforms didn't "breathe" very well.<br /><br />The guys from Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana might have packed sweaters for the trip "Up North" - I've spent time in all three places, gives a whole new meaning to the term "humidity." But you do get used to it. Of course, most of my uniforms were a cotton/polyester blend. No wool in my duffel bag!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-76689086657738821962015-05-02T06:58:07.400-07:002015-05-02T06:58:07.400-07:00There's a reason people pick the navy. And in ...There's a reason people pick the navy. And in particular, Naval Aviation!PrairieAdventurehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06466447251827774900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-75932546111159744672015-05-02T06:41:05.890-07:002015-05-02T06:41:05.890-07:00in 2008 I went back to Gettysburg for the reenactm...in 2008 I went back to Gettysburg for the reenactment. Locals were saying it was the hottest they could remember. Mostly in the 90s with humidity to match. This California boy was miserable, even in camp when I could strip off the coat and waistcoat and just be in the wool pants and cotton shirt. I couldn't imagine having to march a dozen or more miles and then fight in weather like that. Always damp. Always hot. Feeling like you were swimming through the air it was so humid. The only good thing about the weather was that there was some rain just about every day so it kept down the dust as the infantry marched passed the artillery park or the guns on the field. <br /><br />On the other hand, the guys from Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and other such places thought I was crazy, the weather was just fine. Maybe a tad dry.Joe Lovellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16892419601290744855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-41620810971665953992015-05-02T05:49:44.327-07:002015-05-02T05:49:44.327-07:00I need to get back to New Orleans to see those mus...I need to get back to New Orleans to see those museums, I've only been there once as a side trip from Pensacola.<br /><br />As to the wool uniforms, I had trouble enough along the Mississippi Gulf Coast wearing light cotton clothing. Can't imagine doing anything wearing wool!OldAFSargehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15935839956936191547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7684531976778247960.post-49158129326384896362015-05-02T05:35:04.074-07:002015-05-02T05:35:04.074-07:00Speaking of the conditions under which men fight, ...Speaking of the conditions under which men fight, a little trip to the Civil War Museum in New Orleans (the second largest collection of documents, artifacts & memorabilia in the nation after the one in Richmond and located just oppo the WW II museum across the street that historian Steven Ambrose started) opened MY little eyes. Those uniforms! The weaving of those heavy wool uniforms was more akin to burlap bag consistency! Imagine fighting in the rain, muck & mire in the heat and humidity of the Deep South in Summer with that stuff on! With the high collars! And the irritation of the skin w. those uniforms rubbing! Shudddder..virgil xenophonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14577165785872035948noreply@blogger.com