This one in response to a conversation already extant, which OPSEC forbids reprinting. Regards the offspring of a long-time reader.
That's because the days of the Oh So Social, or OSS, are long past. Kids from the playing fields of Exeter Academy are buying bad mortgage paper, not double-tapping terrs in dark alleys, after using sophisticated network analysis tools they developed to find out which alley to double-tap them in.
Update: The response to my response was:
Then there was this one, from a fella angling to be a Buddy of the Armorer!
To which I responded, perhaps a touch unfairly -RE: And none of the good stuff bloggable.
Nope, but what I can pick off of the news wires is fair game, and you'll get anything we hear that can be published.
The little sh*t-a$$ snookered his mother Monday evening when he talked to her. He was not headed for [OPSEC], but rather to DC. It took him two days of finagling, but he finally got a visa for........[Yet another OPSEC'd destination].
I don't even want to think about the reason for needing *that* visa.........
Last night he was on the way to Dulles to turn in the rental car and try to get a flight to [OPSEC].
What an amazing adventure for a kid from [OPSEC - fill in the blank rural setting].
That's because the days of the Oh So Social, or OSS, are long past. Kids from the playing fields of Exeter Academy are buying bad mortgage paper, not double-tapping terrs in dark alleys, after using sophisticated network analysis tools they developed to find out which alley to double-tap them in.
Update: The response to my response was:
True.....but then the Academy kids were raised mostly by those of the 60's with draft deferments for their educational pursuits.....no matter how long it took. You know, the ones with a "different agenda" than the rest of us.Well, that would be good enough for me, too, now that you mention it. But I'd have to say that some of the kids of the 60's Flower Children are fighting just as hard.
If there is a Legacy to be left by Viet Nam Veterans, I hope we are remembered as the scrufty bunch that raised this amazing generation of Patriots........That's good enough for me.
Then there was this one, from a fella angling to be a Buddy of the Armorer!
First up - the Armorer is *always* up for pictures of artillery. Or armor. Or small arms. Or ordnance. Or bunkers. Or armored cars. Or helmets. Or spears. Or swords. You get the idea. Here's one of the pics. I've already id'd it for Jim, but I'll let you guys have fun with it too. This one will be easy for the grognards.While at Miller Park in Bloomington, Illinois last week, I spotted an old tank like piece of armor. Took a picture and was wondering if you would like to take a look?? I am a regular reader who never has time for commenting but love the info and the great old iron pics. There were two more artillery pieces there also. Would you look at those also??
Who knows, mebbe that's what it is - swimming pool paint they had left over. I'll say this for them - their tank and two cannon are in better shape than a lot of stuff like this left to rot in the open.
Pershing weeps.
rollover backwards and a bunch of crunchies make for a soft landing.
Actually this is probably not an FT 17. Probably a "six ton special tractor" which was a cover name for the American copy of the FT 17 modified to accept the Marlin MG. Note the odd shield on the face of the turret.
http://www.landships.freeservers.com/FT17_M1917.htm
Painted up in them funny WWI French colours does make it look odd.
The shape and placement of that gizmo on the rear end might be intended as a sort of "cattle guard" to shove folk out of the way as it's following it's path of least probable hostile contact.
*friend and ally - someone who has occasional use for us in the expending of blood and treasure way, but otherwise behaves as a passive aggressive pansy enemy wannabe.
One thing I'll always do, Grimmy - is defend the French soldier. He may have had crappy generals and worse politicians, but aside from some badly prepared units in May 1940, the courage of the individual French soldier had been amply demonstrated time and again.
Especially in WWI.
Like I said, you can bash the leadership all you want. But I'll stand up for the poilu.
And what Napoleon said: "There are no bad regiments; only bad colonels."