[PRCo] Re: Army Experience

[Gray, George]

The draft and volunteer eras were quite different.

During the Vietnam Era you didn't want to throw people out because that
was what they wanted.  Discipline was more of a challenge when I was in
Vietnam (1970-71).  Soldiers used to ask rhetorically: "What are you
going to do...send me to Vietnam?"  

When I was called up during Desert Storm (Feb-Sept 1991) it was quite
different.  We had all volunteered to be in the reserves and always knew
that something like that might happen.  My unit (3rd Army HQ) was part
of U.S, Army Central Command (ARCENT) so after Saddam invaded Kuwait it
was only a matter of time before we were called up and sent over.

-----Original Message-----
From: pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org
[mailto:pittsburgh-railways-bounce at lists.dementia.org] On Behalf Of John
Swindler
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 8:55 PM
To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
Subject: [PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson


 

Hi Phil
 

It was a trip down memory lane yesterday morning, (sort of like looking
at fantrip pictures from 40 years ago), only from my military
experience, and I was having some fun with Freds comment about military
using abbreviations.  Ken just happened to ask the right question at
right time, (or wrong question at wrong time) In this case FM 55-21 is
the field manual for "Railway Operating and Safety Rules", dated July
1989.  Runs to some 250 pages.

 

Sure it's railroad related, but it might address some safety issues
helpful to PTM. 

 

At the risk of boring most of you ......  

 

So why did the Army print this at this late date, and how did I get a
copy?  The US Army has its own railroad that runs from an NSC
interchange south of Wilmington NC to the Sunnypoint ammunition
terminal.  Normal operation is with federal civil servants.  But the
Army also still has/had a couple railway operating units - the 757th
from Milwaukee and 1205th from New England.  The 1205th was mobilized
during Desert Storm to augment the Sunnypoint civilian staff for train
crews and railroad maintenance.  My second Desert Storm year was as asst
chief in a provisional military personnel office to handle pay, orders,
etc. for all military (active and reserve) assigned to Sunnypoint.

 

Fred 3 commented about military 'screw-ups' when he was in the service.
That was 1960.  In 1990, we didn't allow that. Early on, the 1205th
commander mentioned some 'problem children'.  Told him "not a problem -
let me know who they are and I'll have orders faxed to me and have them
on a plane heading home in less then 24 hours."  Got rid of two.  Never
had another problem.  (hey, I was a reservist - I didn't know that you
were not suppose to be able to do that) (:>)

 

With an apology for going into excessive detail, but there are some
veterans on this list.  I suspect Fred 3's experience was similar to
most, even today.  My experience was in a completely different world.

 

Cheers

John

 

 

 
> Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 09:41:06 -0800
> From: pcc_sr at yahoo.com
> Subject: [PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson
> To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> 
> ----- Original Message ----
> 
> > From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
> > To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
> > Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 1:34:03 PM
> > Subject: [PRCo] Re: Coatesville Arson
> > 
> > 
> > Everyone at PTM should have their own copy of FM 
> > 55-21 (see final para. - which can be translated as 'guess what I
found'?)
> > 
> > 
> > 
> Mr.Swindler;
> 
> 
> How long must we guess? Did I miss something related to trolleys?
> 
> 
> Phil
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

_________________________________________________________________
Access your email online and on the go with Windows Live Hotmail.
http://windowslive.com/online/hotmail?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_AE_Access_022
009