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.

Chapter VIII. Informational Interlude

VIII. Informational Interlude

Many of you know some of the world history between 1945 to 1950. I am going to attempt to make short paragraphs to cover the pertinent history.

US Army underwent a complete demobilization and reformation. The Army Air Force was disbanded and the United States Air Force was mobilized as a separate organization. Not under the Army command. African Americans were desegregated. They were segregated into their own units and now personnel joined regular units. Recruitment was at a very low point. Military supply channels were short of nearly all essential and non-essential equipment. Military readiness was at a low ebb.

On the political front the major countries joined the United Nations or UN as it became known. The purpose was to prevent wars from erupting. Hugh hopes were placed on this organization. All of the major countries joined.

Now on the world political front the USSR or as we know it now was very aggressive. Before and during the war they recruited Communist representatives in major countries in Europe, Asia and the United States. They were very successful in Asia and Eastern Europe.

Our main concern is Asia at this time. USSR Agents were placed in China and Korea. The existing government with Chang Kai Chek fought the Communist. However they lost and Mao became leader of China. Korea is a border country south of China. USSR had great influence in the north above the 39Th parallel. There was an attempt for the United States and the USSR jointly occupy the north. However, this failed and eventually the country was divided into a North and South. Korea had been occupied by Japan for 40 years.

In the middle of this something called the Sputnik was launched with talk of space travel to the moon by the USSR. The US space program was lagging without proper budget allocations. In the middle of all of the above turmoil this news caused havoc within our government.

Let us close here and generalize the practical implications for the United States and the Army in particular in our next blog. Our older reader will recall much of this.

Note: Are there any questions ? Wish to discuss any part of this generalized info. If so, make a comments with your Email address. Do you understand why they are forming free floating companies attached to Divisions for support. It is necessary to understand the above to understand Company Fabn's and 8013's new assignment.

Chapter III Basic After Basic

Chapter III. Basic After Basic

Army basic training is not easy. Just the simple task of adjusting is very difficult. Not only the requirements of the military but living with a bunch of strangers. Note the barracks above. They come from everywhere and all walks of life. Many do not want to be here. All kinds of personal habits that are strange or even offensive to others. Some men are extremely peaceful and helpful. Others ready to fight and not very helpful. Lots to learn. Mental and physical. Forced to cooperate. A few wash out and go home. A few friends are made. A few friendships will last for years or in a few cases a lifetime. Specialops8013 had to be careful as he was afraid of exposure to his actual age. There are situations where you let your guard down. A strain to maintain it all of the time. A beer or two can have its effect too.Actually time went fast and transfer time was coming.

Specialops8013 applied for paratrooper's school. He was passing basic with flying colors. Mostly blue for the Infantry.The Sgt. that supported Specialops8013 was shipping overseas. He wanted 8013 to keep in touch and gave him his home address. He also confided in 8013 that he suspected that he was under age. He told him not to worry he just might make it.8013 is going to the Infantry's Paratrooper School, Fort Benning, Georgia. At the time that meant nothing to 8013. However, recruits are selected to go there.. Another long trip on a train. Again from one coast to the other.At this time 8013 did not know how much California will be a part of his future.Only two others were selected to go to Fort Benning. The three would travel together.Columbus, Georgia, the nearest city to Fort Benning..

Greetings and acceptance were very different then at Camp Roberts. Now you are a soldier and expected to act like one. We thought that Camp Roberts was a tough place. The atmosphere here makes basic training look like play. Here you better understand what "Right Now" means. Here they expect you to understand and obey orders without hesitation. Takes a little adjusting. For any sign of failure or poorly exercised the soldier might be ordered, "Give me 15 or 20 or 25". This meant to get down where ever you were and do proper push ups in the ordered amount. Well, if you were smart you practiced push ups at every opportunity.

There are many training units at Ft. Benning, It is a giant base. Our Sgt. wanted us to stand out from the other units. They would have us show off. We often shared the parade ground, the shooting range, the obstacle course and the streets with others. Our Officers and Sgt were competing with the others. Most of the time we enjoyed it. We were the only ones wearing bloused boots. It looked like our pant legs were tucked into our boots but we had weight and rubberized bands that made them look Sharp. Over the years the others could do this too.The title should be "Super Basic After Basic."

There is something very different about jump school. Here you had a relationship with the instructors. They went through the same training and were highly proficient. The wings set them apart from the non-jumpers They had extreme pride and wanted all of us to have success.
They were hard on us but for a purpose and not just to be hard. When marching in formation we all felt a comradeship for the first time. Some personnel in basic attempted this but it was all kind of phoney baloney. Oh! sometimes in hand-to-hand training or the rifle range it happened. Here we knew we had to learn or wash out or worse get hurt or killed.

Also, we all wanted those wings on our uniform. Here, many shared their fears and apprehensions amid received support. Many friendships made here lasted a lifetime. Troopers to be would cover for each other when they could. Also help each other. Men like 8013 never experienced anything like that before. Made one feel like they belonged and more solid. There were very few fights or no stealing. The men, in general respected each other. Also, they were taught to look out for each other.








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