Report from the mountains

Horace Debussy Jones · Jul 25, 2014

I always thought it would be a great adventure to bag a buffalo,...but after seeing them up close, the sheer size of them makes me think twice. I'll stick to smaller, easier to manage, tastier, and more tender game. Although I do enjoy a good ranch raised buffalo burger now and then, 10,000 buffalo burgers would be a bit much!

pompier · Jul 25, 2014

Renault,
The main reason that doe ended up at the fire house was my wife (and daughters) could not bring themselves to eat "bambi", even though I told them that bambi was a buck not a doe. They did not appreciate my humor.
These days the wife is amenable to wild game but I'm afraid I don't seem to have the time and the money to hunt at the same time. Sorry to hear about your wife's health problems, I know how that goes.

Renault · Jul 25, 2014

Thanks Pompier! It something we've been dealing with for 23 years.

. This is what keeps her ticking, so to speak;

http://heartmateii.com/choosing-hea...=47788618863&gclid=CMb347uD4b8CFSpo7AodHFkAkA

Harp, I can't help but think that the Great War and being an ambulance driver had a lot of influence on Service's later writing. As it did so many of that generation.

Harp · Jul 25, 2014

A Poet Laureate

Renault said:
Harp, I can't help but think that the Great War and being an ambulance driver had a lot of influence on Service's later writing. As it did so many of that generation.

I like to think that when I fall,
A rain-drop in Death's shoreless sea,
This shelf of books along the wall,
Beside my bed, will mourn for me.

Ballads of a Bohemian

And Service's Rhymes of a Red Cross Man trumps anything Poetry's minions scribble today or have penned in the last century.

Hemingway, of course is more known and closely associated with the famed Lost Generation;yet in many ways neither
he nor his contemporaries-including Fitzgerald-ever displayed anything on the depth and scale of Service.
Were I teaching a college lit class today, R.W.S. would be required reading.

Bye-the-bye, have you chanced across an exceptional bio of him?
I am reluctant to admit that such has escaped my notice and grab, but these posts have renewed the quest.

Renault · Jul 26, 2014

I have never seen or run across a bio for Service. But I agree completely with your assessment!

pompier · Jul 27, 2014

Speaking of Bison....

30 years ago when I was stationed aboard Camp Pendleton CA my unit was involved in a training exercise that involved taking a long stroll over many of the base's lovely sun drenched hills. We ended up with our bivouac in the scenic Case Springs area. Across the valley from us I spied a herd of buffalo. I knew that there were plenty of deer on base but never knew there was a herd of wild buffalo running loose. I along with another Marine crossed the valley to get a closer look at the animals. As we neared the herd we could tell that there were about 20 of them with a calf here and there. They didn't pay too much attention to us until we came within about 30 feet at which point the adults watched us but continued grazing. We moved closer and at about 15 feet out from the herd the adults formed a ring around the young. They were flank to flank right up against each other with the young completely surrounded. I took one large step back and they relaxed, one step forward and immediately back into the circle, horns outboard.
Now I had spent the previous two years in Spain courtesy of Uncle Sam and I had run with the bulls. The look this bull was giving me now convinced me that it was time to carry myself away from that herd. I didn't feel up to playing "running of the bulls" with that huge bison in an open valley with no place to hide. See, sometimes young Jarheads do exhibit some common sense.

Harp · Jul 27, 2014

pompier said:
The look this bull was giving me now convinced me that it was time to carry myself away from that herd. I didn't feel up to playing "running of the bulls" with that huge bison in an open valley with no place to hide. See, sometimes young Jarheads do exhibit some common sense.

Good story Marine.
_________
My team once conducted a radio test near what was then Yugoslavia, and because of the codes these tests were essentially armed patrols.
This particular "hip shoot" occurred in broad daylight, and after setting up the land antenna for the M106 we were attacked by a pack
of wild dogs-Alsatians/interbreeds legacy of the German Army occupation during WWII. I used my M-16 on five and let a sixth run off for
another fifty yards, took a knee and adjusted sling before the last round. Taught me a lesson, which to be frank I should have known,
not to commit the sin of supposition. Still, I enjoyed the hell out of it.:[angel]

Renault · Jul 27, 2014

Good stories! I was really hoping this thread would follow this trail. Thanks for memories.

I've hunted many wild pigs in my day, but both Pompier and Harp woke an old memory. Operation with Brazilian, Brit, and Some Dutch forces back in 77 on Vieques island. I was on point. Stopped for a moment and took a tactical position. Skipper came up to see why the halt. I pointed down the little trail and stated I was simply waiting for the immense black boar with long tushes (teeth) to amble on so I could continue. He agreed.

Oldsarge · Jul 27, 2014

LOL! A chorus of Collerina Road, anyone?

Renault · Jul 27, 2014

That was a good one , Walter!!!!

WH1 · Jul 28, 2014

Stupidest medevac call I ever made in the Marine Corps was at Fort Polk, Marine injured after being kicked by wild horse rampaging through bivouac area. There was definitely some very interesting message traffic that evening.

HoosierDaddy · Jul 28, 2014

Marines at Ft. Polk...
Wow..when I was a Drill Sgt there in '71 it was an Army base. My how things must of changed.
HD

Renault · Jul 28, 2014

Yup. Our Marine reserve unit also operated on ranges as Ft. Hood, Camp Bullis, and Camp Swift. My first ADT was at Ft. Chaffee in '76. Lots of downsizing in those days. I think the Navy wanted a new carrier or something!

Oldsarge · Jul 28, 2014

HoosierDaddy said:
Marines at Ft. Polk...
Wow..when I was a Drill Sgt there in '71 it was an Army base. My how things must of changed.
HD

Nope, it's still Army. The Marines just borrow parts of it now and again. I'd like to say the nastier parts but on Polk that's a hard distinction to make.

Harp · Jul 28, 2014

Oldsarge said:
Nope, it's still Army. The Marines just borrow parts of it now and again. I'd like to say the nastier parts but on Polk that's a hard distinction to make.

Co A; 4th Inf; basic company area all the way to Bulldog Hall and Tigerland beyond to Leesville.
...but I got out.

HoosierDaddy · Jul 29, 2014

Oldsarge said:
Nope, it's still Army. The Marines just borrow parts of it now and again. I'd like to say the nastier parts but on Polk that's a hard distinction to make.

True. Ft. Puke,Louseyana was a fair description in remembrance of the place....although nearby was some beautiful country and culture.
HD

WH1 · Jul 29, 2014

back in 2006/2007 during the surge in Iraq some of the Marine battalions out of Lejeune were doing workups known as Cajun Viper at Polk. Funny thing was at the end of the deployment I was talking to some of my Marines including a few of the wounded and all agreed the worst part of the entire experience was Polk. As one of my them put it "after I realized I wasn't going to die I knew I would get sent to Germany and would be able to drink beer. Polk just sucked the entire time"

Renault · Jul 29, 2014

Used to spend a lot of time over on the azalea trail (Castor Plunge) over on Camp Claiborne in the Kitsache national forest. Just east of Polk toward Alexandria. Did a bunch of 18th century stuff over in there. Nice running springs and good holes of water in the creek. Did a scout over there one Labor Day weekend. Got to 114F. And you know there isn't a breeze in those pines.

The nights in those woods are pitch black as some of you know. Had to haul a bud out of there one night trying to pass a kidney stone! We finally got him out and to the hospital in Alec

Oldsarge · Jul 29, 2014

As a weather wimp coastie, I am eternally grateful to the Army that they had me do Basic in Ft. Ord. Whatever other ills the place may have had, the climate was bearable. Now, of course, the site is California State University, Monterrey Bay. Probably the smartest land grab the state of California could have made.

Harp · Jul 29, 2014

WH1 said:
...all agreed the worst part of the entire experience was Polk.

__________

In retrospect, Polk was a damn good place to train troops; and the drill cadre were all impressive men,
-the lessons of Mister Charles were passed on with emphasis. I enjoyed the runs and routes, weapons,
and even the chow-never knew what cornbread was until I hit Polk. And has been mentioned, the country
was certainly beautiful with the indigenous culture an added bounty. I just hated the place. [angel]

Report from the mountains

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