I Fought For This Country. I Served. Manned a tank on the Fulda Gap In '87

[matcom]

Spent 3 years there. I wouldn't do it today. This place isn't worth basic training hell. This country isn't worth it anymore.

"They" won.

Night.

[flvegan]

1. You get my thanks, for what it's worth.

I didn't serve. I hold in high reverence those that do, have and did. To be honest, I haven't fought for shit as far as that goes. My ex father in law was Vietnam infantry...jumping out of choppers and shit. I told him that I'd have totally pussied out...he's more of a man than I am.

"They" haven't won yet...I'm trying to make up for my inability to stand and deliver in that ideal.

[Botany]

2. thank you!

But "they" haven't won ...... so get your ass back in the tank.

bushco in a Cheney tank @ 3000 meters ..... Fire for effect!

[Aristus]

14. IDENTIFIED!

FIRE!

ON THE WAAAAAAY!

Lost! Reload! Hit! Hit on the Cheneytank!

BushCo has dismounted! Caliber 50!

ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack-ack!

[Dunvegan]

3. You've done your part...and thank you...I deeply appreciate your sacrifice

Now it's time for we civilians to do our parts to honor your sacrifice.

We wouldn't have even made the inroads we see today if there hadn't been people carrying buckets, and aprons, and children's fists full of sand.

We're gaining momentum, and starting to break the Bush machine.

Please don't lose trust in all of your fellows on this earth.

We're taking up the fight.

[jody]

4. Were you in the Blackhorse Regiment? n/t

[WillyT]

5. First Of All Matcom...THANK YOU !!! - Second, What Happened ???

Seriously, what caused you to post this???

If ya wanna say...

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. I would not have wanted to be in Fulda Gap in '87

if the balloon had gone up. How do you think it would have turned out? My guess is "Extra Crispy".

[TomInTib]

7. O K, where is Fulda Gap?

The Mid-to-Late 80s were my third set of Lost Years.

I didn't pay attention to anything back then besides a certain South American commodity.

[ThoughtCriminal]

8. Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulda_Gap

"The Fulda Gap is a section of territory between the former East German border and Frankfurt, (West) Germany.

Named after the unfortunately-placed town of Fulda, strategically the Fulda Gap was of immense importance during the Cold War. It was one of two obvious routes for any invader attacking West Germany. (The other was the North German Plain.)

Frankfurt, relatively close to the Gap, was at the heart of West German industrial and financial power, and its loss would have been a serious blow for West Germany and NATO. It was also an important civil and military air hub that was important to the defense of West Germany.

Strategic planners on both sides of the Iron Curtain understood its importance and forces were allocated accordingly. Defence of the Fulda Gap was tasked primarily to the US V Corps. More specifically, the actual East/West border in the Fulda Gap was protected by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 1972-1994. Its principal adversary was the Soviet 8th Guards Army. Both formations were lavishly equipped and generally received a high priority on new equipment.

The Soviet 8th Guards Army was to be followed by a number of additional armies and has been positively identified as the key Soviet axis of advance in any (hypothetical) major military confrontation in Cold War Europe.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulda_Gap"

[WillyT]

9. Alpaca ???

sorry...

[northofdenali]

10. Tough zone between E & W Germany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulda_Gap

The Fulda Gap is a section of territory between the former East German border and Frankfurt, (West) Germany.

Named after the unfortunately-placed town of Fulda, strategically the Fulda Gap was of immense importance during the Cold War. It was one of two obvious routes for any invader attacking West Germany. (The other was the North German Plain.)

Frankfurt, relatively close to the Gap, was at the heart of West German industrial and financial power, and its loss would have been a serious blow for West Germany and NATO. It was also an important civil and military air hub that was important to the defense of West Germany.

Perhaps more importantly, the terrain between the Gap and the river Rhine was less rugged than adjacent districts, offering the best pathway for an invading force from Warsaw Pact territory to reach and cross the formidable Rhine before NATO was in a position to prevent it.

Strategic planners on both sides of the Iron Curtain understood its importance and forces were allocated accordingly. Defence of the Fulda Gap was tasked primarily to the US V Corps. More specifically, the actual East/West border in the Fulda Gap was protected by the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment from 1972-1994. Its principal adversary was the Soviet 8th Guards Army. Both formations were lavishly equipped and generally received a high priority on new equipment.

NOT an easy place to be - my ex-brother in law served there.


:loveya: matcom :pals:

[TomInTib]

11. Thanks. At least they had good equipment. I guess it's all relative

I did 3 tours as a pilot of a PBR (Patrol Boat, River) on the Qua Viet River, the northernmost river in S Vietnam.
And we never had shit.

[northofdenali]

12. No doubt. My ex was 101st Airborne -

1966 - 1969. He said it was always "feast or famine".

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

13. I never fought, but I DID serve.

I'm embarassed to admit it now, but my service (in the Air Force) was part of the focus of what's going on today- I was assigned to a base in England controlled by (wait for it)... the NSA.

Yep, I was on an Echelon base. My only point of redemption is that we, at that time, were not monitoring domestic traffic. We DID monitor European military and diplomatic traffic, but as far as I was and am aware we didn't monitor any civilian stuff. To my knowledge.

Is my Honorable Discharge still honorable in light of today's mess? I really do wonder.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. Been there too...fixing tanks

Here is what it looked like...

http://www.foto-doku.de/cat4.htm

[benddem]

16. remember the alerts?

Such fun to be awakened at two am, or have your dinner interrupted cause some tanker on the other side got itchy. Matcom don't give up.

[Cleita]

17. We love you and your service.

eom