A History Lesson

This was written while I was at Prince Sultan AB, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2002

There has always been grumbling in the ranks ever since the art of war was invented.

From the time of Tiglath-Pileser III (700s B.C.) and the first professional army.

Through the time Alexander took his army east to the Indus River.

To even Napoleon’s ill-fated attack on Russia (he lost really big).

The people in the ranks grumbled and griped, but still got the job done.

I don’t think that the British soldiers at Rorke’s Drift in 1872 jumped for joy when they

found out that 4000 Zulus were headed for them. (The Brits won by the way)

It could also be said that the 20th Maine weren’t thrilled when they were the left flank at

Gettysburg. (Day 2, Little Round Top, July 2, 1863)

Neither were the 101st Airborne, looking forward to a quiet Christmas in Bastonge,

smiled at the SS troops coming at them.

The moral is this: for 6000 years, armies were placed in strange places, did amazing

acts, and were covered with glory afterwards. In the midst of this there were gripes,

complaints, and curses. Still the job got done.

AEF 1: Hang in there, not long now.

AEF 3: Time will pass soon enough.

My only complaint: the green tortillas.


TSgt Fred Shon Powers
363 ESFS/SFOSA
AEF 1
June 6, 2002 (The 58th Anniversary of D-Day)