Stand in the Door
Old Airborne Instructor's Reunion,
Ft. Benning, GA (10/09)
________________
The Old Airborne Instructor's gathering is the only annual reunion Ranger attends, and it is nice to see old friends and acquaintances.
The top row (and the bottom, right) shows Master Sergeant Les George (and, yes -- that's one beer in each hand, and one in the feed tray.) Les hasn't changed a bit -- he still drinks in bursts, which keeps him from overheating.
2nd Lieutenant Hruska and Sergeant First Class George met in 1968 during jump training. We later served together and I'd like to say, became friends. Les, like CSM Lowell Jergens (with him in the bottom right photo), is an Airborne original, not to be duplicated anytime soon.
The left bottom picture shows Les intimately involving Lisa in a Jumpmaster briefing, perhaps the reason she enjoyed attending the reunion. too.
In my prime I could run with the best, but these "older" soldiers always impressed me with their stamina and physical abilities. To me, it seemed they could run all day and night. A truly amazing lot.
All of these old soldiers are inspirations and fond reminder of times past. We owe them much.
The Old Airborne Instructor's gathering is the only annual reunion Ranger attends, and it is nice to see old friends and acquaintances.
The top row (and the bottom, right) shows Master Sergeant Les George (and, yes -- that's one beer in each hand, and one in the feed tray.) Les hasn't changed a bit -- he still drinks in bursts, which keeps him from overheating.
2nd Lieutenant Hruska and Sergeant First Class George met in 1968 during jump training. We later served together and I'd like to say, became friends. Les, like CSM Lowell Jergens (with him in the bottom right photo), is an Airborne original, not to be duplicated anytime soon.
The left bottom picture shows Les intimately involving Lisa in a Jumpmaster briefing, perhaps the reason she enjoyed attending the reunion. too.
In my prime I could run with the best, but these "older" soldiers always impressed me with their stamina and physical abilities. To me, it seemed they could run all day and night. A truly amazing lot.
All of these old soldiers are inspirations and fond reminder of times past. We owe them much.
Labels: old airborne instructors reunion
posted by Lisa at 3:26 PM
8 Comments:
Beer-cooled-semi-automatic-Airborne-infantry, gotta love it.
"The top row (and the bottom, right) shows Master Sergeant Les George (and, yes -- that's one beer in each hand, and one in the feed tray.) Les hasn't changed a bit -- he still drinks in bursts, which keeps him from overheating." jim
jim that may be all well and good, and it is; but I'd keep a fire hose or a case of 'Bud' within reach, especially with Les in the AO of Lisa.... ;{>
BH187
thanks for the introduction... great people.
I feel very honored to have begun my service in time to meet some of these two- and three-war veterans, like my old 3rd Brigade (and later 82nd Division and XVIII Corps) SGM Tadeusz Gaweda.
They truly broke the mold when we ended the draftee army; I have met very few VolAr NCOs like the old breed.
Barca,
Les George is not a semi auto version- he's full auto, belt fed, crew served, open bolt. The beer is only an auxilary coolant.
jim
187,
Lisa loves these meetings with the Old Instuctors. They can't keep their hands off of her. But I give the final jump commands , so it's all fine.
In the old days these guys cut their share out of the herd. This is solid fact.
jim
GD,
It's all so strange to me having known men such as these. Lisa has often asked how I even dared to issue orders etc.. and my only answer is -Arrogance.
After all the years I realize how lucky I was to even be allowed to stand beside them.
jim
FDChief,
As a young fuck wad officer I didn't realize the dignity of these men that they actually pretended that we officers were in charge. They knew better but were dignified enuf to let us delude ourselves.
They had great stage presence. I wear a right sleeve Airborne patch-5th Grp -but i never had to pay the price that these men did for the priveledge. I came and went but they served most of their careers on jump status. CSM Jergens stories of Germany in the 50/60 time frame are trips down history lane. His stories of RVN are good enuf for a book.
jim
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