We were protecting the whole of Western Europe - the gateway to First World civilization. Most of us had to finagle using an Army Jeep or hitch hike to get around while off duty. The West Germans (or Comrade as we affectionately called them) drove around in nice cars. Now even at 19 years old I figured something smelled rotten in that deal. I wrote Dad with my dilemma, and soon after, 400 Dollars showed up in the mail. That was just enough to buy a used yellow Volkswagen Beetle. It was actually three Beetles that another GI had pieced into one quasi-working car. My buddy Smitty affectionately named it "Sunshine," because when we got a chance to pile in it and run for the hills there was sunshine even on a rainy day for a bunch of crass young Americans in the new German utopia (whatever) that had emerged 30 years after World War II. 

   My old co-worker's (from the gas station) words haunted me. Dave had said over and over, "Get out of the barracks and travel if you can." In those days you pretty much stayed overseas for the whole tour. Now days kids hop on a plane from state side college and go to Paris for a Thanksgiving weekend. Anyway, me, Smitty, Bob R., and David E. managed to see every country in old Western Europe in three different Leaves (military for vacation). Comrade be damned!

   Every so often we got the serious speech. "You fellas realize if the Russians do decide to attack, most of you are going to die." Everyone was somber for a day. Then things would get back to normal. Yes, conventional wisdom had the Russians and their lackeys out numbering us overwhelmingly. Yet years later, in the first Gulf War in Iraq, Saddam's Russian supplied equipment seemed to be just junk when pushed into actual combat. Go figure. 

   There was two failed girl friends. Gabby liked to stroll down the red light district in Nurnberg (German spelling) with me because she was apparently a freak. Being from the rolling hills of Wisconsin, I let her fade off rather quick. Then their was Katrina who at 17 wore a grandma type scarf on her pretty head. Speaking of grandma, I once went to Katrina's house for dinner and half way through the meal, her grandma fell off her chair. It was kind of like that guy on the comedy show "Laugh In" who always tipped over his tricycle. "Sock it to me, sock it to me, sock it to me, ya." Oh, I am sorry, I digress. Katrina's parents had a cousin who went to college in the United States to tell me I was not good enough for them. Thanks for nothing Comrade! 

   Do I sound bitter? We all sacrificed quit a bit. While our former class mates were back in "The World" graduating from college, we were trying to keep Uncle Sam's junk military equipment running. Some of the guys I was in with could not even read and write. Comrade dumps billions of Deutsch Marks into his elite schools while some of his U.S. protectors can't find a ride or can't spell cat if you spot them the 'c' and the 't.' I always laugh when I hear some nanny-stater sing the praises of the German system. Most of the praise singers where never up to the "Iron Curtain" - or, ever even in Germany for that matter. 

   To me anyway, those men I served with (there were just no women in my military field in those days) were the best human beings I have ever had the privilege to know. Almost all of them were under 23 years old. All the many guys: Brown - "'Nam" vet you mostly stayed in his tiny room; Smitty from Bangor Maine; Bob R. from Connecticut; Chaggo from Puerto Rico; David E. from Up-State NY; Jimmy H. from New Jersey; Dep and Hutch from Queens; Herb D. - "'Nam" vet from Ohio; Meno from Guam; Grover B. from W. Virginia; Randy A. the musket hunter from Minnesota; Nicoles from San Diego; McCammis the nudist from California; Willie from Frisco; Harry W. from Michigan; Hernandez from New Jersey; Decker from out East; Lt. Jay S. from Nebraska; Sgt. Tim Long from New York; The Riddler from I forget where; Luna from New Mexico; Healy from Arizona; Leeber who wanted to be an Airborne Ranger but could not do one push up from Rhode Island; and, Captain C. - "'Nam" vet who I heard died back in the mid 1970s while on duty. I hope you all are able to keep in touch with what ever God you carry with you. 

   This week's Wisconsin soldier to remember is Second Lieutenant Jeremy L. Wolfe, 27, of Menomonie.  In the U.S. military's worst single loss of life since the Iraqi war began, 17 101st Airborne Division soldiers, including Wolfe, died Saturday night November 15, 2003 when two helicopters collided in midair and crashed in the northern city of Mosul.  The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were from the 101st Airborne Division. Lieutenant Wolfe became Wisconsin's eighth soldier to die in Iraq.  Jeremy was attached to the 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.   This was the same crash that killed Army Sgt. Warren S. Hansen, 36 of Clintonville and Army Specialist Eugene A. Uhl III, 21, of Amherst who were Daily Dadio's honored Wisconsin soldiers in the previous two weeks. 

   3,452 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring 2003.

   25,549 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring 2003.