Infantry Archives - Doug Bolton

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Military news…

“We’re under great pressure. We’re crumbling. We’re being overrun,” Retired Army Ranger Col. Ralph Puckett recalls saying in November, 1950, when he and a small force of other Rangers and Korean soldiers held off hundreds of Chinese soldiers during a battle near Unsan, Korea. 70 years later, Haley Britzky was among the first to report on Wednesday that Puckett will receive the Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry that day.

It might be obvious that drinking and samurai swords don’t mix, but, as they say about a lot of things, ‘tell it to the Marines.’ One Marine told me about his unfortunate experience with the two for a story I wrote rounding up reader submissions of the dumbest things they did in uniform. Other readers talked about picking up forklifts with bigger forklifts, or shorting out the base power generator because they were trying to watch Power Rangers.

It might be obvious that drinking and samurai swords don’t mix, but, as they say about a lot of things, ‘tell it to the Marines.’ One Marine told me about his unfortunate experience with the two for a story I wrote rounding up reader submissions of the dumbest things they did in uniform. Other readers talked about picking up forklifts with bigger forklifts, or shorting out the base power generator because they were trying to watch Power Rangers.

“The job of a Corpsman is to go through hell and back for your Marines,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Luis Fonseca at his retirement ceremony last week. Nobody knows that job better than Fonseca, who is the most decorated active-duty corpsman in the Navy and who first cut his teeth running through a wall of lead to save his buddies during the 2003 Battle of Nasiriyah. Fonseca was awarded the Navy Cross for valor for his actions that day, but it was only the beginning of a long career saving Marines on far-flung battlefields.

The Air Force has deployed its drone-killing microwave weapon to Africa

The Air Force is currently testing a prototype of its new drone-killing microwave weapon “in a real-world setting” in Africa, Breaking Defense reports, a major step forward for the service’s directed energy efforts.

Military spouses are the backbone of the military

The United States military is the finest fighting force in the world, ready to deploy anywhere within 48-hour notice. A combat-ready unit cannot operate without logistics, communications, and of course, family support. While they don’t wear uniforms, military spouses are fundamental in keeping our forces domestic and abroad focused, supported, and ready to go.

The Air Force’s new drone-in-a-box is like ‘scramble the fighters’ for base security forces

New drones at Travis Air Force Base respond immediately to fence alarms or distress calls, giving security forces rapid eyes-in-the-sky.

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Why did I enlist into the Army? (Thank you for asking.)

I had three uncles that fought in WWII. Two of them received the Purple Heart. They were brave and was able to come home. They told me stories of many that didn’t come home.

My brother went into the National Guard after I enlisted.

I was a freshman in college and my first term GPA was 0.76! I was having too much fun.

Myself and two other buddies sat down and had a talk. We decided to enlist under the buddy system. I was proud to join because I honored my uncles so much.

I have stories about my uncles in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life. Two of my uncles were in life threatening situations.

One uncle was a tanker. He was the man who was in charge of the tank with two other soldiers. One day he stopped the tank and told his buddies he was going to air out the tank by opening the top.

That turned out to be a mistake. A Japanese soldier came running up and tossed a grenade into the tank. It killed his best friend next to him, and he and the other tanker were wounded.

He never wanted to talk about that incident, because he felt it was his fault for having people killed and wounded.

Another uncle was in the infantry. He was fighting the Germans in France. He whole unit was attacked, and many of the soldiers were either killed or wounded.

Those that survived retreated. This left many man still alive, but wounded.

My Uncle could see the German soldiers coming through and checking to see if there were any soldiers still alive. If they were they killed them.

My uncle had to “Play dead.” He couldn’t move or even breath as one german came by him. They went on through and then the medics came back to rescue those who were still breathing. My was uncle one of them.

My third uncle was a SeaBee. They were vital to the war in that they built bridges across rivers for the soldiers to advance. This also helped with the equipment.

To me he was just as much as a hero as the others.

Stories about these three heroes are in my upcoming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the Trenches of Life.

Keep coming back to see what new things have happened.

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Were you wounded while in the military? Are you still suffering because of that?

FEAR NOT!

There are over 12,010 fellow veterans subscribed to this site, and they all have your back.

If it is just too overwhelming for you right now. GET HELP!

There is a toll free number to call 24/7.

There are highly qualified counselors there to help you. They will not hang up until they know you are OK.

Never face the storms alone!

1-800-273-8255 Option # 1

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never forsaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all…never, ever, give up!

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Update on the disaster in Portland, Oregon.

Governor Brown asked the Sheriff’s Department to come help with the rioting. They have said no, because the arrested people are turned loose and not prosecuted.

She asked the State Police to do the same. They have to because she is the boss, but they had the Feds deputize them so when they made an arrest they will have Federal charges.

She doesn’t have much control over anything.

The Mayor of Portland had to move out of his home because rioters found where he lived, and started fires. He thought they loved him. Wrong!!!

I am getting tired of having to report about Portland. But it is from my home state and I am extremely upset with the lack of force there is to clear this mess up.

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I see that the military has backed off of promoting black people to Generals. What’s up with that!??You should promote because of being merited, not the color of your skin. Got to stop.

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I have been sharing interviews of veterans for my up coming book, Signs of Hope for the Military: In and Out of the trenches of Life.

Today I am going to share three short stories about members of my own family:

I had three Uncles who fought in WWII. One was a Seabee; another was an infantry man, and the third was a tanker.

I tried to interview two of them, but they were so shell shocked, (PTSD) they didn’t want to share much.

So I was share what I know about each of them:

My Uncle Claude, was a Seabee. They were critical people in WWII. They went in before the troops and built brides, and roads. They made the traveling much better for the troops. They were very much in harms way, and I am proud to be related to him..

My Uncle Norton, was in the infantry. One day he was on the battle field in France. His unit was over run by the Germans. Many men were killed. My uncle was wounded, but he “played dead,” while the Germans came through to finish killing anyone who was still alive. He made it even through one German was very close. He received the Purple Heart.

My Uncle Dwight was a tanker. He was the head man in a three man crew. They decided to stop and rest one day on the battle field. He opened the hatch to let some fresh air in. That was a big mistake. A Japanese soldier, climbed up on that tank and threw a grenade in to the tank. My uncle’s best friend was killed instantly, and my uncle and the other soldier were injured. Uncle Dwight, did not want to talk about it, because he had his buddy killed because of his decision. He received the Purple Heart.

Those three men are my personal heroes. They gave me the thoughts of joining the Army. I wanted to honor them.

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How are you doing? Did you get wounded while deployed? Did you lose a buddy during your time in the military?

You are certainly not alone!! There are over 9,200 fellow veterans on this site. Many of them have been through what you have been through. They have your six.

If it has become too overwhelming for you, please get help! There is a toll free number to call for help. The counselors there are excellent. Here is that number:

1-800-273-8255

Call now if you need it.

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Remember:

You are never alone.

You are never fosaken.

You are never unloved.

And above all….never, ever, give up!

Tag: Infantry

Three Fascinating Stores About WWII Veterans