[M118LR]

As an Old Retired Military Dog I got to admit that Fort Stewart is my favorite Military Base on the East Coast. (Old Navy Sea Dog) Met up with several ex-snipers from 3 branches of the services, most of them preparing for the annual Deer Harvest on Fort Stewart. Got a chance to once again slip into the bod-pod. 40 years ago I had a lean mass of 142 lbs, currently 138 lbs of lean body mass, so that 10% loss of lean body mass every ten years after 50, maybe it ain't so.

But I've got to admit that I'm a bit confused as to why I have such a good time at an Army Infantry Base? As a Navy Special Warfare guy wouldn't it be more conventional to migrate to Virginia? Perhaps it's my Army Infantry upbringing? Or could it be as simple as the Recreation and Welfare facilities of Fort Stewart? But I got to admit that I was one happy camper when the Combat Infantry Gate Guard Thanked me for my service when he glanced at my Retired ID, Y'all wouldn't believe the confused look he shot me when I responded with "Top of the Rock" to his final greeting. Perhaps it's just the fact that I find all the Military Proprieties are still in effect at Fort Stewart that make me so comfortable? This might just be an Old Military Question?

 

[csmkersh]

The standard response would have been "Rock of the Marne."

 

[bearcat6]

I visited Ft Huachuca, AZ, a couple of years ago. I was there in 1957. The area where all of our old WW II wooden barracks were is now dependent housing. Seemed weird, no MPs on the gate like in the old days, I think they were DHS guards, at any rate civilians. We did take a drive out Garden Canyon. The rifle ranges and such are still out there. That was the part that looked most familiar to me. Oh well, what did the man say? You can't go home again.

 

[M118LR]

The standard response would have been "Rock of the Marne."

That is the response he quoted csmkersh. Somehow, the Oldest of Traditions seem to bring forth the best level of comfort. Like bearcat6 stated, you can't go home again, but it is nice to know that a little bit of yesteryear still survives.

 

[csmkersh]

When I was last at Fort Huachuca my wife and I were visiting one of my sons who had just PCSed back stateside from Korea. The air-stat was up watching for mules bring drugs or coyotes with wets. When headed back up to I10 about 10 miles North of Sierra Vista I was flagged down by a Border Patrol kid who just wanted to talk to a fellow Texan as he had spotted my Texas plates.

I loved travelling in New Mexico and Arizona. At the time Texas had concealed carry but not open carry. The morning we left El Paso I strap on my pistol and every time I made a pit stop in a rest area I silently laugh as the snowbirds would stare and give me a wide birth.

Never made it to Stewart but love Fort Campbell. Main gate in one state and most of the post in another.

 

[bearcat6]

I love the South West, the desert, the light all of it.

 

[CaptainGyro]

You guys are making me hungry for some chile verde. The harvest is coming in about now and the mornings are cool and crisp. Chile y huevos is one of my favorite breakfasts.

 

[csmkersh]

We got our yearly dose of Hatch chile peppers here a couple of weeks back. They come out of Southern New Mexico. I think next year I'll plant a couple of Serrano pepper bushes. I don't care for jalapeño pepper's taste, either fresh or pickled. Huevos rancheros or Jalisco omelets or my favorite breakfasts when I'm in the Fort Hood area. My favorite breakfast of all time is still SOS.

 

[stand watie]

csmkersh,

ME TOO. = I want my SOS topped with 3 "over medium" fried eggs, the way that our mess hall in USAREUR used to serve them circa 1970.

When I was recalled to AD for Desert Shield our unit's mess hall was headed by another EOF, a retired W4, who had been recalled, too. = All of us "old guys" thought that it was FUNNY that the Mess Steward had to teach the cooks to make SOS, as that classic GI dish wasn't on the Army Master Menu anymore.

Once "the word got out" at Ft Meade that our mess hall had SOS, "eggs to order" & hot biscuits every day, the "old soldiers" suddenly "came out of the woodwork" & converged "en mass" on our mess hall.
(A large number of retirees were recalled for DS/DS in every office on-post. = Some of the "escort guards" had been retired for nearly 2 decades & reported for duty in cotton khaki or TW uniforms, as they had been instructed to "show up" in whatever uniforms that they HAD.)

The "escort guards", all of whom were retired E7, E8 or E9s, referred to themselves as "the bald brigade".
(MOST of them WERE, too., though a FEW had white hair)

yours, sw

 

[stand watie]

CaptainGyro,

Should you visit The Alamo City, call me & we'll show you several places for GREAT Tex-Mex breakfast.

yours, sw

 

[csmkersh]

I liked the cotton khaki with the long sleeved shirts and ties. Hated the green "bus driver" uniform.

 

[M118LR]

Creamed chipped beef on toast, (SOS) smothered with 3 eggs is a breakfast staple. Second only to grits (cheese grits) & eggs.

 

[CaptainGyro]

Thank you, SW, for the kind invitation. I may just take you up on it one day.

In my youth I spent some very happy hours in San Antonio, flying around the Taj Mahal at Randolph during the day, and mingling in the "casual" bar in the basement of the O-Club on Friday evenings.

Back in those pre-correctness days the casual bar, affectionately known as the Augur Inn, was a destination for fighters and trainers from all over the southwest on Fridays. You had to call in advance to reserve a parking space on the Randolph ramp, and the bar was pretty much a free-for-all. If you weren't hurting too much the next evening Fort Sam's O-Club was the place to meet nurses from Brooke. Finally, you got to fly home on Sunday sucking 100% O2 (which didn't help your dehydration) and bleeding from the eyeballs.

 

[stand watie]

CaptainGyro,

I'd bet (though I've not asked him) that we can easily talk the SGM into going along, as he also is a fan of Tex-Mex.

yours, sw

 

[csmkersh]

If I remember correctly, Charlie did basic at Lackland a week or two ago.

Yes, I do like Tex-Mex, enchiladas or carne qusada on tortillas harinas. Ilike frijoles refritos rolled up in a tortilla.

 

[CaptainGyro]

Sounds fantastic!