Comments for The comfort of the bugle

The comfort of the bugle

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:19:46 -0600

Over at Cassandra's place, we got into a nostalgia-fest in the comments following Cassie's post where she bitch-slaps a self-absorbed whiny Army wife who can't see the big picture because she's surrounded by mirrors... it's all about her. We got into what life was like as a member of a military community - whether a warrior, a spouse, or a "brat." I was a brat. My sister will no doubt aver that I am using the term in an overly narrow sense, that of "Army Brat" vice the more generic and expansive meaning - which I reject utterly, of course.

Comment from Kevin on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:41:39 -0600

"tales of your misspent youth?" Ooooh, the bidding is now open... $500 is the opening... Do I hear $600?......

For an sampler, didja hear how he came by the nickname.......

All proceeds will be donated to a charity of my choice....

Heheheheheheheh.......

That being said, and (incomprehensible, non-confirmation notwithstanding), WHO was the FIRST athelete, yes him, to win a State Title for a newly established High School in Mizzourah circa 1974?

Comment from Cricket on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:39:25 -0600

Oooh...is yer Dad up to telling more tales of your misspent youth? I know you shared the one about the doggie biscuit hors d'ouvres, but hey, any time he wantsa share more...heh.

Ry, when Cassie and I were 'young' wives, there weren't a lot of things in place to support the family or even help the spouse. There are now. What the gretch with this 'woman' is is that while she wants to make a difference, she is wanting to do it her way, thinking that all Army/military wives are treated the same. Not.So. We have good memories because we went out and made them. She is an activist seeking a government solution to what she thinks is the 'victimizing' of military spouses. Uh, I don't get PAID to be married to my husband or to keep the home fires burning. But there are compensations and for right now, it isn't enough for her. That is what keeps coming across. It is all about her perceptions, which based on what I have read, are not correct and she is missing a few things.

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 12:36:13 -0600

Dayum. Busted on by my father, no less.

He'll probably blame the Meriwether genome, too.

Comment from Josh on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 06:21:29 -0600

1IDVET - When you get where you're going at Mach 2, you can sleep in to 0730 instead of getting up to start walking at 0600. Ahahaha...

Comment from Dad on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 05:18:19 -0600

BRAT is a reasonably apt description for John's youth.

Comment from HomefrontSix on 2009-01-09

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:55:33 -0600

To me, the sound of helicopters is the sound of home as the bugle is to you. Growing up in SoCal, there were helicopters buzzing about overhead all the time. Then Army life introduced me to the sounds of Apaches, Blackhawks, Kiowas, and Chinooks. We heard them in Alaska. We heard them at Rucker. We hear them here.

We didn't hear them at Campbell. We lived south of the airfield and they NEVER flew over us. I hated it. HATED it. Told MacGyver that, should we ever get back there, I want to live near the flight path. I hate not hearing them.

It was silent here when the guys were gone in '06-'07 and it will be silent here again before too long. I am not looking forward to it. I was half tempted last time to head over to the Guard unit and ask them to make more frequent flights over our neighborhood.

I went to the commissary the other day and it was abotu 5 when I was walking out with my bagger - a kind gentleman in a Vietnam cap. The commissary here is directly across the street from HQ and the flagpole - it's impossible to miss Retreat. We had just stepped through the exit door and both of us came to a stop as we heard it. He removed his cap and we stood. About 1/2 way through, a younger bagger came through the door and went to go around us. That kind gentleman - who couldn't have weighed more than a buck fifty, stopped that teenager in his tracks with just a look and a shift of his body weight.

Got the point across.

Around here, if you hear Colors being sounded, it is ok to pull over (safely) and come otu of your car. We do it anytime we hear Colors. Many others do too. I like that they do it here.

Comment from ry on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:13:47 -0600

Yeah, the import of 'Base Culture' and the effects of recent family insularity you were talking about when I was last down there got fleshed out a bit more, John.

I can, kinda, sorta, empathize even if I don't agree witht he chick Cassie is digging her claws into. Face it, some of us don't handle adversity well. Some of us wig and get 'loud about it'. I take this the same way I take the 'Great Santini'. It's a feeling at the time. It's a look at the not-so-good-things that nobody talks about. IS she whinning? proll'y. But, hell, I only grew up in a freakazoid alchoolic family and I can emapthize with the 'holy chit how did things get untracked from what they should be?' element to her writing.

Yeah, there is an element of the child of the 90s woe-is-me-where's-my-validation crap thing there.

No, I can't empathize or sympathize with Cassie and her anger. Sorry, haven't been there and haven't done that, and sure as hell didn't get the t-shirt. I can kind of see why she's feeling shat upon by this lady though('You mean if I just acted a wee bit pissy I could've had someone hold my hand instead of toughing it out like I did?' The anger that someone is going to get it easier than you did, essentially.) I ain't seeing Cassie as being wrong so much as, well, 'Not Getting It'. Being raised as the 'you can have it all' generation I had a drive you stark raving mad year when that lie was exposed. I'm guessing that the author is having just such an experience and is angling to put together legislation to make it go away(funnily, an attempt to recitify actual failures in the system. I wonder if Cassie saw that elemet? Or simply didn't like the method of 'getting involved'? Coming from a screwed up family, and those around here who know me know the YEARS I've spent trying to help/fix problems only to be more messed up myself as a result thereby; so I kinda get the desire to handle it 'not in house'.).

Why am I coming to this conclusion? The talk we had about the scene fom We Were Soldiers, BB. Current system would seem to be failing in a couple of particulars.

But whadda I know? I'm just gollum.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:25:51 -0600

Whoops, sorry about the triple post. "Sweepers, man your brooms" seems like the appropriate bugle call, here and now.

Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:15:18 -0600

Hey, face the music and come to attention! I know that much. Which reminds me; you couldn't find the Navy bugle calls in musical notation, last time I asked you. Since then, the Naval Historical Center has posted all of them, not just General Quarters (I want my burglar alarm to play that one) but obscure ones like "Call Away Aircraft Elevators."

Comment from Cricket on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:49:25 -0600

I have to agree with that. Last year, we went to Utah to bury my mother. We got quarters on Hill AFB, the lovely lovely transient quarters that cost practically nothing and guaranteed me some peace of mind from the siblings. They still played for the flag and we were there to salute, civilians though we were and are now. It was rather bittersweet; to not just honor the flag and the nation it represents, but to remember why we honor it and what small role we had in that.

The downside? Heh. The loudspeaker was right outside our bedroom window, so we got the timings down perfectly and were not inside except of course, when we were awakened by Reveille. At 7:00 am.

Comment from 1IDVET on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:34:43 -0600

0730?
Man! The Air Force gets to sleep in, eh?
I thought Reveille was at 0600?

You telling me I could have slept in?

Comment from Heartless Libertarian on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:23:31 -0600

John- Adj Call is even more fun at Brigade level and above.

At the Division change of command, I think he was coming from about a half mile away (7 brigade-size elements, plus the Div HQ Bn on the field - and the Pass in Review took forever)

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:36:33 -0600

A mini Ann Coulter.

*CRASH-tinkle-WHOOOSH!*

Good firebombing, Argent. Well done!

BWA-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:31:36 -0600

As a former Adjutant, I prolly oughta explain Kevin's comment. Adjutant's Call is a *very* short call, and the Adjutant doesn't have a lot of time to make it from his start position with the Staff to where he stands to bring the unit to direct the company-level commanders to bring their units to attention and report, prior to handing over the formed battalion to the battalion commander.

Comment from Argent on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:30:15 -0600

Technically I'm an army brat though really I was a year or so when he left so remember nothing.

He left the army for the family's sake, so he once said. Mostly it was money i think. They could barely afford to cover themselves because they had to rent offbase then I came along and changed perspective I suppose. I know he missed my birth by several days due to excercises and to him that's a regret he blamed on the Army but really who cares? Schooling out in the sticks still isn't good and frequent moves wouldn't help much so I suppose education is a real concern. After all the idea of serving your country causing disservice to your family isn't very appealing. Perhaps things have improved with extra services since then.

I guess I'm glad he did leave. While I know now this isn't universal thanks to places like this, he has a rather unpleasant nature which mostly stems from his military time.

As for this pilot's wife, it'd be nice to say she's lonely so she needs someone to bitch to so she doesn't feel the need to communicate so publicly. And should join a group. But from her article it looks like she's busy enough and in groups and indeed enjoys stirring the pot of advocacy. Most of you have already drawn your conclusions. Mine is much simpler. A mini Ann Coulter.

Comment from Kevin on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 15:19:48 -0600

Customs and courtesies, military protocol was always observed on every Marine Base I was ever stationed at or visiting. Woe unto the shirking jarhead (admittedly very few) who tried to skulk out of this simple rendering of honors. The company gunny would have their behinds on EPD immediately.

Admittedly, it's been years since I've been graced with the opportunity to set sole to a Marine Base, but I would be very surprised (and disappointed) if this has changed.

I too have always loved the sound of the bugle, and like an old warhorse, I still respond to the call.

That being said, whomever wrote 'Adjutants Call' was either a long-legged sumbitch, or a sadist, perhaps both.

Comment from PeterT on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:33:38 -0600

Normally, at the Navy bases I where I was stationed, if you were in a vehicle, you stopped and sat at attention.... safety, I guess. I never saw anyone get out of a vehicle during my 20 years active. (Again, Navy bases only) USN 68-88

PeterT

Comment from bad cat robot on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 14:17:57 -0600

They did the siren for the flag raising and the obligatory vehicle stop at the Naval Research Lab when I was there ('94-'96). Officially a Navy posting, but 80-90% of the inmates were civilian.

Comment from Damian on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:57:30 -0600

What a great post, John.

I remember as a recruit at RMC, being marched up to the top of the hill beside the College to watch a sunset ceremony at Fort Henry. There were more than 150 of us in CF uniforms there that day, but there was still room for civilian tourists in the stands. The actors playing the British soldiers of the time went through their drill (keen!), and when the flag was lowered and the bugler played, there were some surprised faces in the stands when all in uniform - actors or military - saluted. I'm not sure the civilians understood just how strong that thread of tradition that connects the past through the present to the future really is in military culture. We still salute during the music that was played before our grandfather's grandfather was born.

I haven't spent nearly as much time on bases as you have, John, but I miss the sounds and rhythms too. I wonder if that nostalgia ever fades, or if it actually grows stronger over time.

Comment from Barb on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:37:04 -0600

We were finishing a golf round at McCord AFB (local fund-raiser) a couple of years ago when Retreat was played. The Hubster and I had no clue where we were in relation to any flags on base, so we took our cues from the players on the green behind us for the proper direction. One way I love my hubby - he didn't know what was going on, but he faced with me and placed his hand over his heart as I did. After it was over, I 'splained what was going on (which I knew thanks to my happy association with you all), and he was tickled to add another bit of info to his store. But he didn't question that the moment called for silence and a rendering of respect. Gotta love him for that. (And I do !)

Comment from Pogue on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:26:26 -0600

I can attest that stopping, exiting vehicles and saluting for colors in still in practice at Ft Eustis - At least it was last summer. I'll let you know about Ft Sill this fall...

Comment from RetRsvMike on 2009-01-08

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:15:12 -0600

interesting article at the link..

noteworthy: "Retreat was first used by the French Army"

heh.