We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html Sat, 24 Mar 2012 15:29:57 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification An essay by Denizen Bloodspite. For me, it's diesel on a morning so cold it snaps your nosehairs. That will bring back a flood of memories. A Time of Remembrance. That is Memorial Day, yes? So let us remember, as I remembered. This morning, behind a truck as my mind drifted. Manama, Bahrain. 1991. Diesel. The smell reminds me. It’s a smell you never get out of your system, I think. In the early morning hours at a motor pool the smell will fill the air like a lady with too much perfume, the smell fills a room. Sickly sweet.... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html Mon, 26 May 2008 12:51:47 -0600 An excellent post. I only wish I was so eloquent. You hit it dead on. Those smells are something that you never forget. I started in Jeeps, so the smells of gasoline, motor oil and GAA are forever etched into my mind as well. Those sights, sounds and smells are reminders, no matter what level you rise to, if you were a real leader, they will bring you back to your roots. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73502 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73502 Wed, 28 May 2008 12:20:17 -0600 I wasn't Mec Infantry either, but we got attatched to various units pretty regular during Desert Storm/Shield. Stormin' Norman wan't crazy about us but we did our job just the same as ordered. Either way I thank you both. Sincerely. I was having a hard time coming up with something to say, so I figured I'd just give what I see in my mind every Memorial Day. Memories. Thanks Armorer for posting it as well! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73445 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73445 Mon, 26 May 2008 21:31:11 -0600 Bloodspite, I didn't ever go mech, but I was airborne infantry. The camo, the weapons, (M-16-A1, not M-4's,) then the M21-D system and ghillie suits. The smell of camo sticks and breakfree, hot metal and gunpowder. I remember, and thank you for your service. Thanks, Alan Briley, RN http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73440 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73440 Mon, 26 May 2008 17:43:03 -0600 that was the best thing I've read in awhile. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73435 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/05/memorial_day_a.html#comment-73435 Mon, 26 May 2008 14:35:38 -0600