Tag Archives: Experiences

The Infamous Dump Truck Mission

Posted on August 5, 2013 by psessum

By Peter Sessum So there I was, in Afghanistan, no shit. We were on a mission in the middle of nowhere. Normally, it can be nice to watch the sun rise, but being up since 0200 made it difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in So There I Was | Tagged Afghan, Afghanistan, Army, Experiences, FOB, Military, Mission, My Deployment, Psychological Operations, PSYOP, So There I Was, Speaker Monkey, Special Forces, Vets, Village | 2 Comments

Why Booms are Bad

Posted on August 1, 2013 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum As the fireworks were going off around the neighborhood right before the Fourth of July I was asked if they bothered me and I had to think about it for a minute. I can honestly say that … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Kicking Some Knowledge | Tagged Army, Combat Zone, dust on my boots, Experiences, featured, Fireworks, FOB, Fourth of July, Grunt, IED, July 4th, Life Skills, Marines, Military, mortar, My Deployment, POG, PTSD, rocket, rocket attack, So There I Was, Soldier, suicide bomber, SVBIED, Training, transportation, VBIED, Veterans, Vets, vietnam vet | Leave a comment

Wearing Camouflage After 1700

Posted on June 14, 2013 by psessum

So there I was, in Germany, no shit. As soon as we were released the married guys would ghost and the single guys would haul ass back to the barracks. When we would get into the room we would drop … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, So There I Was | Tagged Army, Cammies, Cammo, Camouflage, Chow, civies, Experiences, Germany, Grunt, Hey you, hey you detail, infantry battalion, lifer, mechanized infantry, Mortar platoon, Mortars, So There I Was, Veterans, Vets | 1 Comment

The Day I Quit Airborne School

Posted on January 11, 2013 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum I am very much against Stolen Valor, heck, I have written about it, and here I stand, a fake, a phony a charlatan. Airborne School can be tough and you can quit at any point. But if … Continue reading →

Posted in Kicking Some Knowledge, So There I Was | Tagged Airborne, Airborne School, Army, C130, Enlisted, Experiences, Fort Benning, Fort Knox, Grunt, Infantry, Jump school, Military, paratrooper, Training | 21 Comments

The Story of Ervin Schmidt, Pearl Harbor Survivor

Posted on December 9, 2012 by psessum

Ervin Schmidt said they were just a couple good Christian boys on the way to church when the “Battle Stations” call went out. Schmidt and his friend, USS California shipmate Herbert Curtis, ran to the ship. It was Dec. 7, … Continue reading →

Posted in Real Heroes, So There I Was | Tagged 1941, Dec 7, Ervin Schmidt, Experiences, Greatest Generation, Irv Schmidt, Navy, Pearl Harbor, Sailor, So There I Was, USS California, WWII | Leave a comment

Where were you on 9/11? Veteran’s Day Speech from a Former Naval Officer

Posted on September 11, 2012 by psessum

By: Allie Proff From a speech to Cedarcrest High School Students at the Veteran’s Day Assembly, November 2004 The first article from the Armed Forces Code of Conduct states, “I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my … Continue reading →

Posted in So There I Was | Tagged 2001, 9/11, 9/11/01, current-events, Experiences, Leadership, Military, My Deployment, Navy, New York, Officers, Sailor, So There I Was, Spet. 11, Veteran's Day, Veterans | 2 Comments

Cold War, Warm Hearts

Posted on August 17, 2012 by psessum

By Sean Peters Part I – Preparations This story takes place in 1989. Internally, the Soviet Union was not in such great shape, but from the outside looking in, it was still quite formidable. I was assigned to USS Brewton … Continue reading →

Posted in So There I Was | Tagged Cold War, Crossing the Line, Experiences, Hazing, May Day, Navy, Neptune, Officers, Polly wogs, Sailor, Secret, Shell backs, Soviets, Wogs | Leave a comment

Not All Wounds Are Visible

Posted on August 16, 2012 by psessum

By Allie Proff During my time in the service, I experienced an attitude that “If you’re not bleeding, you’re not hurt.” As much as we know that’s not the case, it’s still hard for some people to admit they need … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged current-events, Experiences, Invisible wounds, Lack of sleep, Leadership, Life Skills, mental-health, Military, Military leadership, Military Trauma, Navy, Officers, PTSD, Sailor, Seek help, Sleep, Suicide, Veterans | Leave a comment

Why I Joined: From a Young Naval Officer

Posted on July 28, 2012 by psessum

By Allie Proff When I was young, I loved stories about heroes. Greek demigods, shining knights, or caped crusaders, it didn’t matter to me. I loved how strong they were; not always physically but definitely courageous in standing up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged Boeing, Experiences, Joining the military, Leadership, Life Skills, Military, Navy, Officers, ROTC, Sailor, So There I Was, Veteran, Vets, Why I joined, Women in service | Leave a comment

The Rain God, BOB and the Infantryman’s Relationship With the Weather

Posted on July 2, 2012 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum There is a saying in the Infantry, “If it ain’t raining, it ain’t training, if ain’t snowing, we ain’t going.” Okay not exactly profound I know and the only ones I have heard say it with any … Continue reading →

Posted in Kicking Some Knowledge, So There I Was | Tagged Army, BOB, Experiences, Germany, Grunt, Hohenfels, Infantry, nature, outdoors, POG, Rain God, snow gods, The Field, Training, Weather | Leave a comment