Tag Archives: So There I Was

Where were you on 9/11? Story from Germany

Posted on September 11, 2013 by psessum

By: Dave James WARNING! These are the random brain-droppings of an old man and the veracity of my recollection is becoming suspect… I DO, however, tell a good story. So any inconsistency from actual occurrences, even in the face of … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, So There I Was | Tagged 2001, 9-11, 9/11, 9/11/01, Anti terrorism, Experiences, Force Protection, Germany, Guard Duty, Harassment, Leadership, Management, Military, Never Forget, Remember the Fallen, September 11, Setember 11 2001, So There I Was, Training, Veterans, Vets, World Trade Center, World Trade Towers, WTC | Leave a comment

Random Memory: Breakdown of a leadership challenge

Posted on August 18, 2013 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum How someone handles an issue will determine if they are a leader or a manager. Everyone wants to think they are a leader, but in reality, few actually are. Here is an issue that I encountered as … Continue reading →

Posted in Kicking Some Knowledge, Military Leadership, Random Memories, So There I Was | Tagged 1-5 Inf, 25th Infantry Division, AR 670-1, Army, Experiences, Fort Lewis, Grunt, Infantry, Leadership, Leadership v. Management, Management, Military, NCO, PFC, platoon sergeant, Private, Private First Class, Promotion, So There I Was, Soldiers, Squad Leader | Leave a comment

Girl Among the Grunts

Posted on August 17, 2013 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum In the late ’90s I was part of 1-26 Infantry in Germany and we almost never saw women. In Schweinfurt, the military garrison was split into two and our part didn’t have any women soldiers. So when … Continue reading →

Posted in Kicking Some Knowledge, So There I Was | Tagged 1-26 INF, Army, Blue Spaders, Bosnia, Camp Dobol, Experiences, Grunt, Infantry, infantry battalion, M106, M577, mechanics, mechanized infantry, Military, Motorpool, My Deployment, sexual harassment training, So There I Was, Soldier | 1 Comment

Sometimes You Just Gotta Dance a Jig

Posted on August 10, 2013 by psessum

By: Peter Sessum So there I was, smoking a cigar and dancing on a bunker in Afghanistan, no shit. Why am I dancing on a bunker in Afghanistan? From an existential perspective, why is anyone anywhere doing anything? In truth, … Continue reading →

Posted in So There I Was | Tagged Afghanistan, Army, BAF, Bagram, Blue Falcon, Brothers in Arms, Bunker, Cigar, Combat Zone, dogtag chronicles, Experiences, funny, General Order #1, good times, Military, Military friends, My Deployment, PSYOP, PSYOP reclass, So There I Was, Veterans, Vodka | Leave a comment

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 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

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