Time for an update

[Red63440]

I can remember giving a speech to about 400 people at the "Angle" and by the time I reached the end I had tears running down my cheeks and the words stuck at the lump in my throat. When I was dressed in uniform and in Gettysburg I felt like I was at home. The way I felt and talked seemed natural somehow and my desire to tell what took place there from July 1st thru the 3rd was of the highest importance. I had two relatives that fought at Gettysburg although only one is listed on the Pennsylvania monument.

I remember standing before several thousands on the 140th anniversary and talking about what led up to Gettysburg and what it meant to both the north and the south. I spoke about the families that ceased to exist those 3 days and the long term changes that would take place because of the war.

 

[Red63440]

Absolutely. Very somber experience.

And not too far away...

The Battle of Antietam...in Maryland.

It was the single most bloody day in American history. 22,717 dead, wounded, and/or missing in one day.

I have walked the streets of Sharpsburg many times and there is no period in time that is more important to me than the Civil War.

 

[1978 NYB]

Could you imagine that today? Think about it......

The American people........the world.....would go insane with that number of casualties in one day. Even WWI and WWII had some horrible, horrible single day (or a few days) casualties.

 

[1978 NYB]

I have walked the streets of Sharpsburg many times and there is no period in time that is more important to me than the Civil War.

Military history in general is very interesting to me......Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam are on the top of my list.

I was very fortunate to be stationed in Europe during the late 1970's, all of the 1980's except for 10 months in 1983, and the early 1990's.

When I was stationed in Augsburg, Germany from 1984-1992, I had a Battery Commander (he was there for 3 years) that majored in modern European history in college. He studied that discipline from 1880-1980. What was so cool....we did a lot of maneuver rights operations all over Germany. Which is Recon missions, occupation missions, defense missions, offensive operations, some of which was prepping to fight the Russians in WWIII and some of it was just training to keep our focus and tactics sharp. So all (most) of these towns in Germany have a memorial with the names of their WWI & WWII soldiers that perished. Over the net (radio) my Commander would send out the grid coordinates for us to meet (it was voluntary) and he would tell us everything he knew about any significant battles in the area, who the opposing Commanders were, what Army units were involved, the tactics used, lessons learned on both sides. We even went to Normandy on a organized troop visit, and our guide asked our Commander numerous times if he had anything to add to the battlefield discussion and he did. We did the same thing at the East Berlin "Tomb of the Unknowns". That was one of the coolest things I ever saw.

Russian Tomb of the Unknowns

 

[Red63440]

History today is ignored for the most part. I have met school teachers that didn't have a clue what took place or why and although its an honorable thought to think the Civil War was about freeing a race of people for the most part is was about money. If I could spend the rest of my life in a place of my choice it would be Gettysburg, it would be an honor to be part of a place that holds that much history and honor.

 

[1978 NYB]

History today is ignored for the most part. I have met school teachers that didn't have a clue what took place or why and although its an honorable thought to think the Civil War was about freeing a race of people for the most part is was about money. If I could spend the rest of my life in a place of my choice it would be Gettysburg, it would be an honor to be part of a place that holds that much history and honor.

I ask school teachers a specific question all the time.

When we were in Vietnam....were we allied with the North or the South Vietnamese? Most don't know the answer!

 

[polara71]

I ask school teachers a specific question all the time.

When we were in Vietnam....were we allied with the North or the South Vietnamese? Most don't know the answer!

I simply cant believe that. When was the last time you were with a school teacher? If you are serious you need to leave Maryland right away

 

[Red63440]

If you want to do some reading see if you can find the book titled "Sparks from the Campfire", it was written shortly after the Civil War ended while memories were fresh. It speaks of cannibalism and what is known today as "Fragging" disliked officers among many other things. When you finish the large book you will have a true sense of what the war was really like. Also do a search or "East Calvary Field", you never hear about it but IMO it played a large roll in allowing the Union to win at Gettysburg.

 

[Red63440]

I simply cant believe that. When was the last time you were with a school teacher? If you are serious you need to leave Maryland right away

Really, when was the last time you asked your teachers questions about the history of this country? Most only know what they read in their lesson plans.

 

[Red63440]

For those of you who have actually gone to Gettysburg..each state has a monument and there is one along the wall by the angle for the state of California. Not one of the names on the monument are from anyone from California, they are all from New York, they couldn't find anyone from California who fought there.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I have been to a few civil war battlefields mostly as a kid, my dads kind of a civil war buff, very eye opening experience on just how brutal and a total disregard for lives the of all the enlisted/ what the officers considered lower class.

 

[Red63440]

Most but not all of the officers came from wealthy families, many were very deep into politics or were lawyers and over all very connected. Daniel Sickles wanted a command and they wouldn't give him one, being connected and wealthy he formed his own brigade in NY, The Excelsior Brigade and went on to fight at the Wheat Field and Peach Orchard at Gettysburg where he lost his leg. To this day his leg rests in a case at Walter Reed Hospital in DC. where he traveled each year to pay a visit to it until his death. During the years after the Civil War it was his efforts that made Gettysburg Battlefield the first to open as a national park.

 

[1978 NYB]

I simply cant believe that. When was the last time you were with a school teacher? If you are serious you need to leave Maryland right away

I simply don't care what you believe. My step son just graduated from high school! I had a lot of interaction with teachers. My entire neighborhood is filled with professionals, some of them are teachers. Their friends are teachers. They stop by and talk to me when I'm working on my NY'er while walking around the neighborhood with their dogs/kids/friends! What's wrong with you????

 

[Red63440]

There were more killed during the Civil War than ALL of the wars that the US has been involved in including 9/11.

 

[polara71]

I simply don't care what you believe. My step son just graduated from high school! I had a lot of interaction with teachers. My entire neighborhood is filled with professionals, some of them are teachers. Their friends are teachers. They stop by and talk to me when I'm working on my
NY'er while walking around the neighborhood with their dogs/kids/friends! What's wrong with you????

Good Bob, everyone you know is a teacher why would you ask every school teacher you meet that question? Whats wrong with you?

 

[1978 NYB]

Well Dave, if you haven't noticed I live in Aberdeen which would be very close to the Army's Aberdeen Proving Ground (right outside the gate). I'm involved in a lot of things....Wounded Warriors Project, U.S. Army Ordnance Museum, Army Test Center, VFW, American Legion, local school field trips to APG which gets kids interested in starting engineering and science career's. I talk to numerous people and groups, my neighbors, community residents about military history...just about every day!

 

[polara71]

Oh, since you put it that way ...........:sFl_america2:

 

[Red63440]

Getting back on track....I had my two interviews today and both went great. Based on what I was told by the interviewers it sounds like I will have a choice of two jobs, right across the street from each other. 4 days left to work before retirement!

 

[detmatt]

Congrats Bob, which do you want more?

 

[Red63440]

I think I am a Home Depot type of guy.....