Familiar Heroes, part V of V

[Adios]

Anyone besides me remember the old TV show "Combat" ?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

You know, another side effect of this series is I realize, all my heroes are gone.

Well except for you Roger and Charley.

I am no hero. Never have been.

You're a good man, Charley. One of the best I've never met. Roger, too. I think you two are more worthy of admiration and respect than almost any comic book hero.

I like to think I carried my weight in Panama and Desert Storm, but mostly I remember being more confused than anything else.  Von Clausewitz wrote about "the fog of war", but it's really impossible to describe the pandemonium that afflicts even the winning side to anyone who hasn't seen it first hand.  Not talking about carnage, here, you can see that at any car wreck.  I'm referring to the inherently chaotic environment created when you make tens of thousands of men act against their nature all at once.

That's why successful armies are those that train constantly, and allow a great deal of latitude to all ranks...It's impossible to control a campaign or even a battle.  It's up to the men on the ground to take initiative when an opportunity presents itself, because the confusion is so great that those opportunities only last minutes or hours, not days.

[Phox]

Anyone besides me remember the old TV show "Combat" ?

My father used to watch it all the time. I am not completely familiar, though I do remember a few episodes in some detail. I was particularly fond of one where the guest star was being accused of shooting himself in the leg to get sent home.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Anyone besides me remember the old TV show "Combat" ?

Vaguely.  My childhood was spent around a bunch of Canadian WWII vets, who didn't want me watching that sort of thing, in case I got ideas about glory and shit like that.

Which of course guaranteed that I'd run off to join the infantry.

[Adios]

You know, another side effect of this series is I realize, all my heroes are gone.

Well except for you Roger and Charley.

I am no hero. Never have been.

You're a good man, Charley. One of the best I've never met. Roger, too. I think you two are more worthy of admiration and respect than almost any comic book hero.

I like to think I carried my weight in Panama and Desert Storm, but mostly I remember being more confused than anything else.  Von Clausewitz wrote about "the fog of war", but it's really impossible to describe the pandemonium that afflicts even the winning side to anyone who hasn't seen it first hand.  Not talking about carnage, here, you can see that at any car wreck.  I'm referring to the inherently chaotic environment created when you make tens of thousands of men act against their nature all at once.

That's why successful armies are those that train constantly, and allow a great deal of latitude to all ranks...It's impossible to control a campaign or even a battle.  It's up to the men on the ground to take initiative when an opportunity presents itself, because the confusion is so great that those opportunities only last minutes or hours, not days.

My military career was short and unremarkable.

[Adios]

Anyone besides me remember the old TV show "Combat" ?

Vaguely.  My childhood was spent around a bunch of Canadian WWII vets, who didn't want me watching that sort of thing, in case I got ideas about glory and shit like that.

Which of course guaranteed that I'd run off to join the infantry.

I loved that show and The Rat patrol. Combat starred Vic Marrow.

[Whatever]

You know, another side effect of this series is I realize, all my heroes are gone.

Well except for you Roger and Charley.

I am no hero. Never have been.

You're a good man, Charley. One of the best I've never met. Roger, too. I think you two are more worthy of admiration and respect than almost any comic book hero.

I like to think I carried my weight in Panama and Desert Storm, but mostly I remember being more confused than anything else.  Von Clausewitz wrote about "the fog of war", but it's really impossible to describe the pandemonium that afflicts even the winning side to anyone who hasn't seen it first hand.  Not talking about carnage, here, you can see that at any car wreck.  I'm referring to the inherently chaotic environment created when you make tens of thousands of men act against their nature all at once.

That's why successful armies are those that train constantly, and allow a great deal of latitude to all ranks...It's impossible to control a campaign or even a battle.  It's up to the men on the ground to take initiative when an opportunity presents itself, because the confusion is so great that those opportunities only last minutes or hours, not days.

I think I've learned more from the both of you (Roger and Charley) in my adult life than anyone else.  Hell I followed Roger halfway around the internet before I got here and Charley we found out we went back further than we knew via MW and EF.  It's just that both of you have made me think, not by belittling me or telling me just how wrong I am (even when I probably was) but by giving it to me straight and showing me where your point came from.  So yeah you're two of my heroes whether you like it or not dammit!!! 

So if you both are able to do that for me because of who, what and where you have been.  There you have what it takes to make a man a hero!

[Adios]

You know, another side effect of this series is I realize, all my heroes are gone.

Well except for you Roger and Charley.

I am no hero. Never have been.

You're a good man, Charley. One of the best I've never met. Roger, too. I think you two are more worthy of admiration and respect than almost any comic book hero.

I like to think I carried my weight in Panama and Desert Storm, but mostly I remember being more confused than anything else.  Von Clausewitz wrote about "the fog of war", but it's really impossible to describe the pandemonium that afflicts even the winning side to anyone who hasn't seen it first hand.  Not talking about carnage, here, you can see that at any car wreck.  I'm referring to the inherently chaotic environment created when you make tens of thousands of men act against their nature all at once.

That's why successful armies are those that train constantly, and allow a great deal of latitude to all ranks...It's impossible to control a campaign or even a battle.  It's up to the men on the ground to take initiative when an opportunity presents itself, because the confusion is so great that those opportunities only last minutes or hours, not days.

I think I've learned more from the both of you (Roger and Charley) in my adult life than anyone else.  Hell I followed Roger halfway around the internet before I got here and Charley we found out we went back further than we knew via MW and EF.  It's just that both of you have made me think, not by belittling me or telling me just how wrong I am (even when I probably was) but by giving it to me straight and showing me where your point came from.  So yeah you're two of my heroes whether you like it or not dammit!!! 

So if you both are able to do that for me because of who, what and where you have been.  There you have what it takes to make a man a hero!

Damn.

[Phox]

I would like to add that you both have a James Bond-like ability to charm the pants off girls half your ages. 

[Adios]

I would like to add that you both have a James Bond-like ability to charm the pants off girls half your ages. 

Roger, I'm going to let you answer this one.

[Adios]

Terri says it's because neither of you know me IRL. 

She does keep me grounded.

[Phox]

Terri says it's because neither of you know me IRL. 

She does keep me grounded.

Bah. My pants are already off, so it doesn't matter. 

[Adios]

Terri says it's because neither of you know me IRL. 

She does keep me grounded.

Bah. My pants are already off, so it doesn't matter. 

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I would like to add that you both have a James Bond-like ability to charm the pants off girls half your ages. 

BUT I DON'T WANT THE PANCE.  I WANT WHAT'S INSIDA PANCE!   

[Phox]

I would like to add that you both have a James Bond-like ability to charm the pants off girls half your ages. 

BUT I DON'T WANT THE PANCE.  I WANT WHAT'S INSIDA PANCE!   

TOO BAD!