XI. Yeah Man, No, Yeman !

Note: Scroll down to introduction..

This is the flag of The Republic of Yeman:

One of the most confusing months of 8013's career.

Twice a week for one hour each time he was discussing what the Army Intelligence was about and highlighting the post WWII history in Asia. USSR's progress in China, North Korea, Vietnam and many other countries. This was 99% new information to the audience of the First Cav, Division soldiers. Very few questions were asked but they paid attention. This was not easy for 8013 as his vocabulary was rather poor. Such as "skinny roads" for narrow ones. A Sgt. worked with him nearly every day.

A note here. Past history is not part of the local personnel records. Only the military history.

His training included non-authorized weapons. There were talks on different cultures in Asia and the Middle East. Emphasis was on Yeman. 8013 was ordered to grow a beard and to die his hair and beard black. This not puzzled 8013 but scared him. At 17 can he grow a beard? Actually, it grew in slow but ok. All members of his team were doing the same. They were issued civilian clothing also. Yes, his team is going to Yeman. One member can speak the language and another one Russian. Team work drill was given over and over by the Commander, First Sgt. and others. Each member had special procedures and functions. They learned how to exit a helicopter from different heights such as 10,15,2o feet or so. With all of their personal gear. 8013 had this type of trainin Intelligence School. Everything in double time. None of this is what 8013 anticpated what he would be doing.

Yemen is in the Middle East, in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Arabian Sea, it quite a large country. At 527,970 km² (203,837 sq mi), Yemen is the world's 49th-largest country (after France). It is comparable in size to Thailand, and somewhat larger than the U.S. state of California. Yemen is situated at 15°N 48°E / 15°N 48°E / 15; 48.

Back to the term "Special Operations." This type of assignment and deployment is the beginning of renewed use of the designation that will be become much more refined by the Defense Department and the various branches. There were very few, if any, deployments of this type prior to this. Occassionly small specialized units would be organized for a specific mission and removed when it was completed. This is not in the planning fir Company F.