Apocalypse Now Redux

[revwardoc]

Recently, an American unit in Iraq, in an attempt to "get up" for a raid to find Iraqi dissidents and guerillas, played Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries". Robert Duval must be so proud!:re:

[SuperScout]

Some of us can think of Wagner, instead of Robert Duvall, when that song is played! Just like the definition of a true sophisticate: one who can listen to the "William Tell Overture" without thinking of the Lone Ranger!!
Scouts Out!!

[Andy]

We were a little different, of course. We had those big army loud speakers welded to the little iron that was on top of an APC. We also had an Akai reel to reel tape deck strapped to the inside of our vehicles. If some leg unit and found and fixed an enemy, it was our business to roll in and "hit 'em on the end". You really can't sneak up on an enemy in an M113-A1 so we took another tack. We played music loud, real loud. It wasn't Wagner (Vagnah as some of the educated might say), we always played a song called "Respect". When the shooting was over, we'd play "All You Need Is Love", gallows humor.
Hudson Ma. you don't have a real Boston accent but don't have a fondness for the letter "R". You can tell a girl from Lexington by her hair. You have "banged a left" at a red stop light in your life. When you were 18 you drove to N.H. or N.Y. to buy beer. You feel ripped off because you don't live inside Rt. 128 but thank God you aren't from the other side of the Connecticut River. Sometimes you forget the other side of the Connecticut River is in Massachusetts.
And you fire a cannon at the Pat's games. Big deal. Like, who would be impressed with that? Hey friend, can I be your cannon ball????????

Stay healthy, Springfield really is in your state.
Andy

[revwardoc]

I guess you don't remember me from the other website's military forum. I'm the artist formerly known as DanG. I decided to change my user name when I joined this site.

We didn't have to go to NH or NY to buy beer. We'd just go to a packy in Northboro, get a 6 pack o' Schlitz and when the guy asked if we were 21 we'd use our deepest voice and say, "Suhah!" He was such a trusting soul.

And we don't fire a cannon at Pats games, we fire our muskets. If we did fire a cannon we'd wipe out the whole south endzone. By the way, if you get the Pats 2002 season DVD, I'm in it. Look for the guy with the handlebar mustache and the arctic fox tail on his hat.

As sort of an addendum to the Wagner story, a former co-worker was in the Guards and his armoredunit went out to (I think) Arizona for manuvers against an Israeli armored unit. He was in charge of the Comm and they had set up an ambush. When the Israelis fell into the trap, he played the cavalry charge on those big speakers. Later one of the US generals observing the action asked who was responsible for "The Charge" and when he found out he shook my friend's hand and said, "By God, son, you gave me wood!"

And I'm quite familiar with Springfield. Didn't he sing, "Born in the USA!"? Just kidding. I used to officiate high school football out there back in the 80's and 90's. Some damned tough neighborhoods around those schools. We used to park our cars next to the field so we could keep an eye on them, or at least to get a fairly good look at the perpetrators as they were running away!

[Andy]

I did notice the "DanG" and figured you finally came to this Holy Land. When your shooting at Schafer stadium, fire a few rounds at the Jets, OK?

Yeah we had a packie in Pelham where if you could put cash on the counter, you got served. However going to the up-state New York bars was fun. There was one bar just over the line on Rt. 90 where on a Saturday night you couldn't find a N.Y. number plate in the entire parking lot.

That general who got the chubby from hearing the "charge", there's a man who needs a promotion.

The neighborhoods around Springfield aren't really that bad. However when playing football now it's not considered a sack unless you nail the quarterback and then run into the stands and knock down his mother.

Stay healthy and welcome,
Andy

[revwardoc]

LOL!! I loved the "sack" bit, I just wish I had thought of it while I was still a ref.

And you say there is a part of Massachusetts beyond the Connecticut River? Then why didn't you know that the Patriots' home field is now called Gillette Stadium? I guess the express riders don't get out to your part of the Commonwealth much, eh? Though I'm pretty sure there's at least one bridge over the river, the French King Bridge in Gill, anyway.

The parking lot of your bar in NY sounds like the lot of any given NH State Liquor Store up until a few years ago. Remember those stupid Blue Laws and not being able to buy booze on Sundays? They sort of half-assed changed then to exclude any town within 25 miles of the state line. Does that include Springfield and the rest of southern MA? I'm not sure if CT or RI have open "packies" on Sundays. At least I can buy on Sundays since I live only a few miles from NH but a friend in Framingham has to sit at home with a parched tongue and wait until Monday or get stocked up on Saturday (Thank you, Puritans, everywhere!).

[Andy]

OK, they changed the name. I haven't been to Foxboro in 8 years, haven't been to Fenway in 6.
The law regarding the package stores is, I think, 15 miles from the boarder. However the PX at Westover is always open.
French King (an Indian) Bridge isn't that far from where mom lives. Been there many times.
People drink on Sunday's in Framingham. Hell, that's where the State Police HQ is located. Cops always have beer, you just have to know someone.
OK, I have to leave the beautiful air conditioning, to go outside for the damn picnic. Have a good one.

Stay healthy,
Andy

[onesix]

I never did understand how even a Wagner Opus could be heard over all of the noise going into a hot LZ. I did find out, though, that sitting on my helmet did ease my mind somewhat, even if it was a useless gesture.