What are your best stories from Grenada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Panama, or Somalia?

2016-01-28T18:26:33-05:00

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Jan 28 at 2016 6:27 PM

2016-01-28T18:27:09-05:00

I was in my local VFW and had this kid that serviced in Afghanistan ask me about my cold war pin I had on my hat he didn’t think I was allowed to be a VFW vet I smiled and asked him if he ever heard of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Panama, Somalia he said he knew about Somalia because he watch black hawk down but did not know we also fought in the other places makes me think what we teach are young service members about some of the place we been.

Response by MSgt C Madd made Jan 28 at 2016 6:59 PM

2016-01-28T18:59:11-05:00

Best part of Bosnia was Tazar Hungary, and Budapest. Otherwise it was a cold place living in GP mediums with kerosene heaters.

Response by MSG Charles Perkins made Jan 28 at 2016 7:02 PM

2016-01-28T19:02:38-05:00

Best part of Panama was the dry season wjere it rained every day and the wet season where it rained twice a day. Lets not forget about Kosovo also.

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Jan 28 at 2016 7:04 PM

2016-01-28T19:04:03-05:00

I remember I heard this one story from one of the Ranger sgt say when the 82d came in they didn't jump in like the 75th did but landed and he heard a office yell follow me and hey came out running and yelling he yes he laughed his ass off

Response by MAJ Tex Hall made Jan 28 at 2016 7:16 PM

2016-01-28T19:16:43-05:00

When they moved the NATO HQ out of the old US Embassy compound, the Brits were standing in formation in the snow one morning. A private raised his hand and the LTC tried to ignore it till he started waving it. The col says "what is it, PRIVATE?" The reply was "Suh, I believe I'm standing on a mine." "Did you say a 'mine' Private?" "Yes Suh, a mine Suh."
Think of how proper the Brits are and just imagine the LTC calling out loud to the Sargent Major in the office above (what? a Brit Officer calling to an NCO???)
Sargent Major, I say, Sargent Major... "Yes, Sir???" I say, Sargent Major. I believe we are standing in a Mine Field. "Pardon, Suh?" I said, Sargent Major, that I believe we are standing in a mine field. "A mine field, Suh? Did you say a Mine Field?" Yes, Sargent Major. A Mine Field. short pause at the window and the Sargent Major raises a finger "One Moment, Suh". Just a hoot how they were so proper and calm.

Response by MAJ F. Patrick Filbert made Jan 28 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-01-28T19:22:11-05:00

Ah Bosnia...once, when flying from Sarajevo to Banja Luka on a Czech helo I noticed--in the middle of a conversation with one of the folks I was flying with--we appeared to be flying sideways with the door window I was looking out "in the lead." Tapped the pilot on the shoulder and asked if this was normal. His response "no, that's incorrect" lead to a 90 degree rotation of the helo back to normal flight profile. Apparently, he had been looking over his shoulder to talk to someone and the helo "drifted" to the right on its own axis. Good times

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Jan 28 at 2016 7:22 PM

2016-01-28T19:22:38-05:00

During my time at SFOR headquarters I was responsible for NATO equipment throughout theater. I was able to visit all sites including taking a helicopter up to the top of the grand slalom which to this day is heavily mined just under the snow, the bridge downtown Sarejevo where the murder took place that started WWI, and Split, Croatia a picture perfect old city with the crystal clear water.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 7:44 PM

2016-01-28T19:44:11-05:00

Spent my 20th birthday at Eagle base in Tuzla. One of the best experiences was our counterpart in the Bosnian Army taking us out his AOR during the war so we can see the trenches and talk about mining and tactics used during the war.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Jan 28 at 2016 8:10 PM

2016-01-28T20:10:09-05:00

Bosnia....Volunteering from the Ft. Myer MP Co to go backfill the deploying MP's from the 92MP Co, thinking we're gonna have a BLAST in GE, just to get there and find out WE'RE GOING downrange with them. Then hitting what would become Tuzla Main, then Lucavac, Birchco, and home to Myer in Nov 96. 1st ID came in and took over when it was time to roll out. Still have my IFOR id card somewhere in this house.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Jan 28 at 2016 8:32 PM

2016-01-28T20:32:22-05:00

Bosnia, when the engineer BN set up the bridge company in a flood plane and it flooded. We had to go pull them out.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2016 8:37 PM

2016-01-28T20:37:44-05:00

When the water main broke (multiple times) so I showered from my camelback crouched like smeagol :)

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Jan 28 at 2016 8:45 PM

2016-01-28T20:45:00-05:00

Not a lot to say except that I served. Seems like forever ago.

Response by SGT Robert Deem made Jan 28 at 2016 10:34 PM

2016-01-28T22:34:55-05:00

SFC Thomas Howes, As a corporal, I was detailed to the PMO for base security at Tzar Hungary for a short time during Joint Endeavor. The area commander was fed up with all of the transient units who were parking their vehicles anywhere and everywhere they would fit. I guess when you're stuck at the ISB during a peacekeeping mission, you run out of important things to worry about. Anyway, he tasked us with patrolling the grounds, looking for military vehicles parked in unauthorized locations. When such a vehicle was located, we were to "borrow" it and relocate it to a locked holding area. The commander of the unit that owned the vehicle, along with the individual who was hand-receipted for it and the driver who parked it, would then have to report to the area commander to retrieve their vehicle.

One fine afternoon, I happened to discover a row of HMMWV's parked along the side of an uncontrolled taxiway of the airfield. Not earth shattering, but unauthorized nonetheless. I hopped into the driver's seat of the 6 unit first. I figured if the rest got away, at least the Old Man is afoot. As soon as I start the truck, a group of soldiers turns to look and a Staff Sergeant comes running toward the vehicle. I was braced for the inevitable confrontation, but he ran right past me and opened the passenger door behind me. He starts picking up gear saying "Hold on a sec, let me get my (stuff) before you take off." I figured he was just resigned to his fate, but then he looks up at me and we both realize he has no idea who I am. Rather than the "WHO THE F* ARE YOU??" I was expecting, however, he says "Oh, sorry wrong truck." Then he puts HIS gear back in the truck, closes the door and walks away. I was absolutely mystified, but I gunned it and got out of Dodge before he could realize his error.

Response by MSG Jamie Coleman made Jan 28 at 2016 10:52 PM

2016-01-28T22:52:13-05:00

Providing Medical Coverage for the PLDC Course at Fort Sherman

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jan 28 at 2016 11:30 PM

2016-01-28T23:30:54-05:00

Just that I was there... and did my job...

Response by MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP made Jan 29 at 2016 1:49 AM

2016-01-29T01:49:04-05:00

We're in a convoy going from the airport to the university compound when our deuce breaks down. It was getting close to dark and we had to get back to our base before dark. Hunter base was closest so we dragged the truck there, left it and returned to the University Compound. I am not sure how much time passed before we got back to Hunter to pick up the truck, but when we got there we discovered that that he Engineers living at Hunter got bored and decided to dismantle the truck. The photo shows what the truck looked like when we got there. Our HHC Commander, CPT Conrado Morgan, made them put it back together again. Not sure what those Engineers were thinking?

Response by MAJ Keith FitzPatrick, CPIM, CSCP made Jan 29 at 2016 2:00 AM

2016-01-29T02:00:20-05:00

Here's another one from Somalia. We were a CSS unit so we didn't have any high speed equipment. We didn't even have radios in our trucks. Note our "gun truck" in the photo. Plywood under the cover of the cab of the cargo HMMWV. M60 with bipod legs extended resting on the cab of the truck. How is that for high speed?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 29 at 2016 7:35 AM

2016-01-29T07:35:49-05:00

I shared with an LT that I was deployed to Bosnia and he said "yeah, nobody talks about Bosnia anymore".

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Jan 29 at 2016 8:44 AM

2016-01-29T08:44:50-05:00

3rd Bn 325th Inf (ABN) 82nd Grenada 10/25/1983. We rigged and de-rigged (parachutes) at least two times. Then we circled the island (C-141) because the airfield was not secure enough to land. We were then diverted to Barbados where we switched airplanes to C-130. The pilots were all gung ho with their revolvers and shoulder holsters.

Now a C-130 will hold 64 troopers using the jump seats. When we began to load, we immediately noticed the lack of any jump seats, the cargo bay was empty. This posed a problem, but infantry ingenuity took hold. We were seated on the floor from port to starboard facing the rear of the A/C, crossed our legs so we could pack tighter. This continued until he had the entire original C-141 load (100 plus personnel) crammed like sardines.

Now, the U.S. Military takes it's safety seriously. The loadmaster was concerned that we (troopers going into combat) did not have any safety restraints (seatbelts). Well, that infantry ingenuity took hold again and solved the problem. CGU1B straps were located and strapped across each row of paratroopers, then cinched down tight; field expedient seatbelts. Now the invasion could continue......

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jan 29 at 2016 9:08 AM

2016-01-29T09:08:20-05:00

There was a day, in a world far away.. where for many weeks a young Army Sergeant deployed to Panama tasked to patrol the streets and run checkpoints.. At each checkpoint, cars were searched .. Commands were given along with the universal translator.. 4 or 5 Young Army grunts with weapons and finger pointing made it happen.
It was some time later I learned I had not been telling the car drivers what I thought I had... What was intended was, Get out of the car and open the trunk.
What was said in a bad mix of spanglish as attempted by yours truly... "Get out car, and open your rear"

Hey who knew....but it does explain the funny looks.

Response by CPO Greg Frazho made Feb 11 at 2016 9:08 PM

2016-02-11T21:08:15-05:00

Nothing I'm willing to share in a public forum.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2016 2:25 PM

2016-03-18T14:25:35-04:00

I have a lot if good memories of Bosina-Herzegovina. The first is no suicides! I enjoyed the country. The people. Children are sponges for knowledge. The service members and getting along with each other. The multinational force who made up the complete sustainment force.
Our road march I believe called "Dankon." Not many were encourage by it. I believe it was sponsored by the Danish. Not sure if it was 18 or 20 miles with full rucksack of 45 lbs or greater. Everyone started off at different times to reduce congestion on the route. Hilll's were steep. Bending over you could touch the ground!
There was one point to rest, food was supplied. I remember watching guys taking off their socks and seeking toenails peeled off. Blood-blisters galore.
I marched with LT Reyes and another couple of soldiers. I can remember us talking about what we are going to do with the pressure on our feet from the steep hills and the weight we carried.
The airborne shuffle came into play. I started to shuffle and encourage them with me to do so. It relieved the pressure on our feet and it proved so when we came into the rest spot.
When we finished and went back to our unit the motivation caught on as I guess they overheard our stories and shared our comradery.

Response by Sgt Able Snider made May 13 at 2016 4:42 PM

2016-05-13T16:42:04-04:00

24Th Meu(SOC)

Response by SCPO Penny Douphinett made Oct 12 at 2016 4:50 PM

2016-10-12T16:50:25-04:00

Bosnia, I was based in Sarajevo, which was a much different deployment than Tuzla. I traveled throughout the country as part of my duties and learned letting Chaplains "tag along" is not good for one's health or peace of mind. Trying to get members of the Egyptian military who wanted to speak to the "man in charge" to acknowledge there could be a woman in charge. Going to Tuzla for a Slurpee and then trying to get the hell out of there before they noticed we didn't have a convoy, machine gun or comms! The funniest thing in a not so funny country was seeing a min-van full of goats - they were being driven to a safe place to graze; even in '98 too much of the Country was still mined.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Aug 9 at 2021 12:24 PM

2021-08-09T12:24:07-04:00

I didn't go to Somalia, but I trained Uganda Defense Force battalions to go to Somalia. I spent about 5 years going in and out of Uganda training UDF battalions. I trained enough UDF battalions that I was getting repeat students, captains who were now majors, sergeants who where now senior sergeants, and battalions commanders (LTC) who had been there once or twice already. One repeat battalion commander was happy to show us video from his last deployment to Somalia. It was a clip of a dual or quad (I don't remember) 12.7 tearing up adobe brick huts. The story was the battalion kept advancing and making contact with Al-shabob and Al-shabob kept using the huts as cover. The battalion commander got tired of the game with small arms, so he brought up the 12.7 towed anti-aircraft MG. Like I said, it tore up those huts and the Al-shabob rebels behind them. It was interesting to watch those video clips with the commander who made the call.