Well, it’s time for me to tap out. But before I do, I want to say how great it was to meander around on this site. I was roaming the net hoping to find some place where I might chatter with someone from the 3d/33d Armor once more. Threw out the ole moniker Three Bongo hoping someone might recognize it. (Never picked it myself - was on the ole gal when I got her.) Came pretty close to connecting with some of the guys that broke squelch here. Brought back a lot of good ole memories. Thanks much. Appreciated it a lot. But I could also tell that I may have run some people off - soured things maybe. Didn’t mean to. After 30 years, just wanted to rub elbows with Armor folk once more. The brotherhood inside a tank is something special: Bloodbrothers - only another Tanker could know what I mean - - And some times an old guy just gets lonesome for the smell of diesel and cordite, I guess - or maybe the taste of piltzner or Southern Comfort and c-rats on a cold night near Bad Hershfeld.


OLE TANKERS NEVER DIE! They just rattle away - - Adios - - Three Bongo, out.

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Wait if your leaving then who am I going to talk to that won't chew me out for random stuff

'Bongo: Don't go, man...don't go..
.
.

Really, hate to see 'ya move on, but hey...we a a few good stories bring back great memories to the forefront...Thank You!! In fact, your latest "stuff" above, led to this: during my Loader-days, my TC carried a bottle of 'ol Southern Comfort in the 50-cal ammo chute in the cupola when we would be out doing the "aggressor" thing in ORT's at Hohenfels. Every now and then, we'd be running down the tank-trail, he'd take a big 'ol swig, and hand the bottle over/down to me in the Loader's hatch; I'd match his swig, hand it back over to him, he'd hit it again, and put it away ('til the next time). When I became his replacement, I don't recall carrying a bottle of hooch in the 50-cal chute, but...I do recall carrying the better part of a case of German beer on board for some maneuvers we were taking part in. Two bottles were stored in the Battalion CO's CVC helmet bag (Hotel Quebec Six Six, after all was his tank...should he decide to man it; since he didn't, she was mine!!). That was probably pushing my luck a little, huh? Well take care just the same....

"Hotel Quebec Six Six to Three Bongo...Good Luck, Good Shooting, Six Six Out!!"

Mark

Why are you two so proud of drinking in the field? I have absolutely no respect for that kind of conduct.
Look up the Army values and see how you measure up.

As for you, Mark ole Buddy - - Would have enjoyed wading into some T-62s along side of you. No matter what the odds, we woulda kicked some major a$$, I do believe - - Bongo, listening, out

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StuffyOutlaw25: When did either of us say we were "proud of drinking in the field"? All I said was that "it happened"....and I'd be willing to bet it happened before my time in the Army, as it has happened since...soldiers being soldiers.

Army values? They were fine/outstanding when I was in; measuring up? No longer concerned with it, that was 32+ years ago. Even though age dictates in this scenario and heart issues would come to bear, even without the age-thing, I'd be better than the average soldier as far as measuring up is concerned.

Mark

Bongo:

Roger that...on the "major a$$"! Would have been proud to be there.

Six-Six, out!

Mark

I was in Korea in '72 and '73 and Germany from '75 to '78 and I know very well how cold it gets but I was Infantry so maybe I didn't get as cold (that's sarcasm).
Any intelligent person can tell you alcohol, while making you feel warmer, actually lowers the body's core temperature.
ThreeBongo,
I saw the alcohol and drug abuse during those years but I challenge your statistics. I believe you pulled the numbers out of your hat.....or some other location. I believe some of your stories might have come from the same area.
You said, I think, that you went through the "Shake and Bake" school. Your lack of leadership reflected that.

quote:

Originally posted by StuffyOutlaw25:
Why are you two so proud of drinking in the field? I have absolutely no respect for that kind of conduct.
Look up the Army values and see how you measure up.

and you just slipped off Respect as did I for posting this

Was there a lot of drug and alcohol abuse in the early '70s? Yes. Was your unit the only one that experienced it? Definitely not!

Here's the deal. You lead by example.
If you drink in the field it's wrong.
If you allow others to drink or use drugs it's wrong.
If you allow soldiers to break the rules it's wrong.
If you break the rules it's wrong.


Did I make mistakes? Sure, and I paid for them. I did NOT, however, do or tolerate:
1. alcohol on duty.
2. drugs on or off duty.
3. threats.
4. assault.
5. disrespect toward NCOs or Officers.
6. disobedience.

It doesn't matter how many awards/citations you have or how high you finished in school. It doesn't matter if you are popular. If you allowed these to happen or participated in them you were ineffective.

Theory sounds great.

Hind sight is always 20X20 -

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SO25: Even though I was in a totally different unit and area of Germany, and 'Bongo's numbers are based on his unit and/or his area, I'd bet that they're not very far off. In fact, I'd take it a step further...I'd bet that they weren't very far off for most of the Army in Europe at the time. Add in the racial issues and racial riots of the time, and I'd say most Army posts/barracks/kasernes were not in as good shape as a picture-postcard may appear.

So, you "made mistakes...and paid for them"; did that make you a bad soldier? I don't know you, so I cannot give a qualified yes or no...but, I'd like to think that "no, that didn't make you a bad soldier". I was active duty for only three years...of that, I was an E4/Acting E5 (Tank Commander) at 20 months TIS, and a full E5 at 24-25 months TIS; then, for my last 8 months 'til ETS, I coupled my TC duties with being a Three-tank Section Leader (HQ Tank Section), replacing an E6 (and an E7 before that), and was replaced by an E6 when I was relieved (I was relieved about a month before ETS, as we'd be at Graf for gunnery...I'd be leaving for ETS before end of gunnery)...I must have done something right! Although I never claimed to be the best NCO in the Army and certainly not perfect (I was still learning up until I ETS'd), my people were always taken care of and/or "looked out" for; my tank and crew shot "distinguished" twice at Graf (out of the two times there for qualification)...you won't do that if even one crewmember is poor in his function or "off his game". You can have the best Driver, Gunner, and TC in the business, but if your Loader can't load fast enough, or clear stoppage in the coax, you may still qualify, but further down the list...same if you have a TC who cannot range very well or timely. Yes, sometimes you school them some more, or replace them...sometimes just not in time for gunnery. I started out as an OJT tanker in the Loader position...I literally learned loading at the Graf ranges leading up to the qualification range...by the time Range 80 came along, I was right up there with the seasoned Loaders. Oh, I started a little earlier than that, at smaller machine gun ranges, simulating maingun engagements with "single rounds via the coax", but that in no way prepared me for loading the real maingun in a maingun engagement...that did come at Graf. I then went straight from Loader to TC, and had to learn all over again (as far as position goes). Mistakes...yeah, we all made them, especially at 19 and 20 years of age!!

Mark
(Six-Six, Out)

Bongo: Sometime in my last 6-7 months in Germany, I also had to escort a prisoner. In my case though, I had to escort him to Rhein-Main for his transport stateside (Leavenworth I believe). I had to report to the Company CO in Class A greens, with sidearm drawn from the Arms room...the Company Armorer must have known I'd be down...he handed me my .45, and...a mag containing three (3) rounds. During the "short & sweet" briefing, I asked "What did he do, that's having someone escort him to the airport?" Big mistake...CO stated, "Well, he hit an NCO in the back of the head with a hammer!" I don't know how many folks on base had heard that, but I certainly had not!! In any event, and I know that this is going to be wrong too, but I made sure he saw me lock and load! Uneventful trip...bad part about it, we had been reasonably good friends for the past year, year and a half.

Mark

quote:

"I serve those I do not love against an enemy I do not hate - -"

Bongo: I remember hearing that line in the WWII movie "Memphis Belle", as part of a poem written in a journal by one of the characters in the movie...other crewmembers talk him into reading some of his work, while they're in a 1-2 hour delay from take-off on what would be their 25th mission (for the movie anyway). The character was the Radio Operator.

Mark

P.S. When I ETS'd, I wore my uniform all the home as well...I earned it, and everything on or hanging from it. Nobody at Dix said anything about civvies to me (that was late August '74).

Mark
(Six-Six out.)

I've enjoyed your conversation, pal. You take care - -

ThreeBongo: Right back at 'ya!! Take Care...and Godspeed, my friend!

Mark
(Hotel Quebec Six-Six, Out)

Man you guys can talk alot but I didn't want to interupt. WMark you sound like a good guy. Why is it always the retired personel that are nice and the enlisted are a pain in the rear. I mean who cares if you guys drank and smoked on duty. If one of the persons in your unit doesn't like it fine he doesn't have to hang around while you are doing it. As long as he respects and fights along side you while in battle, that is when it is most important to me.

Trucker out, for now

Trucker88:

Thanks for the kind words.... Bongo and I probably should have taken it to email, but sometimes it jogs memories of yet other vets who did the same things, or at least, similar things when they were in. SO25 made some good points (& points taken), but we were discussing things 33+ years ago...back when we were 18, 19, and 20 years of age. Pretty straight shooters on duty, but regular teenagers off; again, soldiers being soldiers so-to-speak.

Your profile states you'll be heading by way of Knox in July...keep your head up high, do what you're told, mouth shut (unless asked something), ears always open...and you'll earn the title Scout/Trooper before 'ya know it. And, before 'ya know it after that, you'll have some stories and tales to discuss with some of your contemporaries on here. Under "normal" situations, some of those friendships/relationships are some of the best ever. Whether you stay in for just your regular time, or do the career-thing, don't let those friendships wane...keep in contact through the years with them, not like I did (you know, always places to go, people to see, life in general)...now I have to search them out on the Internet; had good luck with one, not such good luck on the other 3 - 4. Good luck just the same.

Mark

Adios - -

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Since there are shells landing on the hill behind these cavalry troopers on the bank of the Moselle River, I guess you could consider them on duty, and definitely drinking. But then I suppose this was the only time during WW II this happened, and I'm sure the offending troopers were severely diciplined. More like their kind, and we would have surely lost the war!!