"So, did you ever even join the Army," asked my old friend on the tube, you would call it "subway." I replied, "Yes, I did," which nonplussed him, "The British Army." He paused, "Nice, I joined the IDF," which is what he did, "Discipline must've been strict, eh?" Well it was, not that I was much of a soldier. My friend, on the other hand, was.
He'd gone to a prestigious boarding school in London only to get bullied for being a Jew. So, he figured, let's x outta this and go to Israel. What's better, being bullied by entitled idiots or wielding an M16? He chose the latter route.
We met up in Dallas some 20 years later for a delicious grill out. "Tell me," I asked, "How'd it go, your time in the tanks?" He thought for a moment, over a perfectly grilled steak, "We were running Centurions, no kidding, and got ambushed in the Lebanon. Our Lieutenant froze, so I took over, training kicked in and we won. No kidding, Centurions."
Result. I met the driver(?) of his tank at a Kibbutz in the '80s. His hair was grey and he wore a body bandage. Thing is, when their tank blew up somewhere near Beirut, fella went back to retrieve individual weapons, and suffered. Point of this?
Respect to my pal, who lives in Jakarta or somewhere like that. Respect too to all who put their lives on the line. It is, I believe, a line worth holding. Am I wrong? Your call,
LSP
14 comments:
We have a different line today. We must hold it unless we want to live in an Imperial prison, starving, with all we have confiscated by a woke state.
Well, well. Just before coming to this post I was wandering the YouTube rabbit hole and watched that very clip. Yes, hold the line. It is in your heart, and you will know it when you see it.
Your former tank driver brings to mind another brave warrior who was severely burned pulling seven of his fellow Marines from a burning LTV-5. GySgt Carlos Hathcock.
At my son's funeral, we gathered in the community hall for food and conversation. A man he served with got up and told us about my son being in the showers when the compound was attacked. He said Travis arrived at the rally point with his rifle and web gear but no clothing.I think that qualifies as laying it on the line.
Yes, we need to hold the line. It's rapidly becoming apparent that we're headed Somewhere Bad, and it has to stop, and soon.
Great screen capture from "Zulu", an excellent movie.
"There ain't no party like the dictator party 'cause the dictator party don't stop." Kevin "Hognose" O'Brien, a.k.a. Weaponsman, SFC, SF, USAR (Ret.), R.I.P.
So we best not stop either.
I see it as a calling. Beyond that I don't know. Severely broken leg in 68 classified me as 4F.
I knew a Marine Recon who told me the only military he'd be nervous about fighting was the IDF.
I 100% agree with you, LL. It's coming to a point, eh?
RHT, I remember meeting the driver(?) of the vehicle in the mid/late '80s. My age then, in his 20s. Grey hair. The docs had done a good job though and he'd pretty much recovered. My adventurous friend was, of course, unscathed and about to marry (that's why I was there, for the wedding). I don't think Peace in Galilee upset him particularly, but I wouldn't wager the monkey on it.
Respect to GySgt Carlos Hathcock.
It sure does, WSF.
drjim, I'd say LL makes the point and makes it well.
Hold the line.
We mustn't, Mr. WWW. In fact, we have to stand to more than ever. That's what I think and I'm sticking to it.
Bob, I'm no expert but I think they know their stuff. My pal? Hey, he lived and his unit won the firefight(s).
Of course our present battle is more... psychic.
Just found this--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ChD2WjD2tY
Dont' only think of war-time heroics. The "Line is right outside your front door. You will never see it. Do what comes natural.You will never know when it will matter.
Screw Hathcock. I've tried reading wind and mirage and was lucky to get "on paper". Bastard must have had devils talking to him
When I see, hear or [on occasion] smell something, I call. It ain't often since we generally don't have tanks or mech infantrty in our quiet neighborhood. But you never know. If it sounds "interesting", call the guys (or guyettes) with the blinky lights on their trucks. Think/act (a/k/a intelligence) is what makes a "hero". Acting without thinking just makes another victim.
Rarely, and you will never know when.
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