A meeting brief in passing.
Since today was my Wife’s birthday today we stopped at a book store to use her gift card. So at the front of was a older man that was doing a book signing about his military history. His name was George S. Oliver Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired). He had served during WW2 and the Korean War among many years of services as a Company and Field grade Officer in places all over the world.
I guess I wussed out for awhile because I was not sure how to approach him. I mean having been in WW2 and the Koren War and a Officer over 50 years ago? Not much in common to start out on.
I did talk to him and it was odd at first in that there where many changes in how the military was back then and is now. I think the four things we had in common was we had history as enlisted, has been stationed at Fort Benning, had been to Alaska, and had been deployed. So after a brief conversation I bought the book and he signed it for me.
From just reading a few pages he does not spare any details in that it reads more like a blog then a cut and dry book about history of the Koren War. The page that I am reading is talking about when he was a XO of a Battalion of the 45th Division. He talks about having a Lt Colonel that was a National Guard that was going through the motions waiting for his rotation to end describing him as a Fobbit for lack of a better word.. He says it in such a way that it is easy to relate too.
He rarely left the CP, even to visit the companies of the line. When we had any action going on he would sit in the CP with a open telephone line to each of the forward companies and just sort of left the war go on around him. I had to accept that fact that I had to hold down the battalion together until a active duty Lt. Col. came to take his place.
Then he talks about talks about his first soldiers that where killed in action under his command. They where about to return home when they where killed by random Chinese Artillery round. Another case was about a guy that had “Battle Fatigue”.
He was a good man at leading night patrols, and as a result had been ordered to take out too many of them. When I saw him he was in our aide station with the S-2, who was in charge of patrolling and while his brain said he was willing to go out again his body simply wouldn’t function. The surgeon said, “Sorry Major. This man is going to the rear.” And he went to the rear and then on home.
The more I read into it I think that there will be a lot of things that the military reader can relate to. But I was wondering after we are done with all of this and we went through a painstaking process of remembering what we did and where. Would anyone be willing to listen to us?
Category: Pointless blather, War Stories
I just finished “Closing With the Enemy: How GIs Fought the War in Europe, 1944-1945” by Michael D. Doubler. It was written in 1994 and is eerily familiar to anyone who has spent a few years in the Army since 2001. Some of the examples are overly repetitive, but instructive.
Sporkmaster:
As you look up to those who served in the past, so too do I look up to Y’all who are serving today. After nearly 70 laps around the sun, I’ve seen and done much. But, being fortunate enough to be able to see todays troops, as they work, as they relax, and as they spend time with their families puts me in awe of them. These RANGERS of the 6th RTB are heroes to us all. In deference to my age, they call me “Sir”, and I thank them for it, but let them all know that they are head and shoulders above me and most of the people I am around otherwise.
Thanks for giving the old guy the ear. We really do love to talk about “how it was”, even while marveling at the present day force, their weaponry, and their overly tough conditions.
Nuf Sed
And, by the way, that Thunderbird patch, (45th Inf Div.), on his right shoulder was my fathers combat patch. I’ve learned that it was out of the Oklahoma National Guard.
Nuf Sed
The 45th. Division highway runs through north west oklahoma and into the panhandle. I believe that is where most of the members were from.
“Would anyone be willing to listen to us?”
Yes, Sir- without interruption.
Is that a “Dixie Division” (31st Infantry Division) crest on his shoulders?