lew
Sergeant (Elk Warrior)
Posts: 131
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Post by lew on Mar 19, 2009 22:08:14 GMT -5
Fred, Hate to get off track on this thread--but. When you were in Germany,do you remember being aware of the Soviet Military Liaison Mission? From a 1947 treaty, all four powers were allowed to have legal spies. Its a fascinating story, we had military officers monitoring the Soviets in East Germany,while they had Officers touring our rear areas in Germany. Perhaps you remember the 1985 shooting death of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur D. Nicholson, Jr., US Army,by Soviet soldiers in East Germany. www.usmlm.org/ or www.arlingtoncemetery.net/nicholsn.htm
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Post by strange on Mar 19, 2009 22:12:32 GMT -5
What kind of hellish beasts are you guys riding? I've never been bucked or given any attitude from a horse or a mule. I guess I've only been around them once for about a few months on my Uncles farm, but his mule is one of the best animals I've ever seen. Not an ounce stubborn and beautifully fast. Safe enough for a child to ride if he knows how to hold on.
Meanwhile I hear alot of people complaining about mules and donkeys as if they are some inferior race. Quite honestly, my uncle got more trouble from all and out pure breed horses.
Lightning, as the mule was called, was absolutely fantastic. And he was old too, but fantastically quick and powerful. I have no complaints.
The only jackasses I despise are the democrats, with the exception of Custer and a worthy few. Custer's democratic streak is longstanding burn to my ego. Unclean...unclean...unclean.....
Strange
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 5:33:07 GMT -5
Larry--
I was there from early-October 1962 to the end of November, 1965. And yes, I remember those missions. We were always told to watch out for them and report them if we saw anything. I never did, however.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by Melani on Mar 20, 2009 14:48:27 GMT -5
Fred--sorry you won't be making the ride, but I will undoubtedly see you at the conference. Come see me on the Keogh Trail if you get the chance. Tell your wife that a rattlesnake would get the horse before it would get you, and that's why we wear high boots.
strange, these are all old guys (well, older than you, anyway!) who haven't been working out enough. I am also old, but I am working out in preparation. It's gonna be worth whatever aches and pains result!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2009 15:16:22 GMT -5
Melani--
I will definitely find you! It isn't me she is worried about getting bitten; she is worried about the horse spooking and throwing me. Shades of Christopher Reeve and now the head-bump on poor Natasha Richardson. I have enough to worry about without throwing additional stuff on my wife and there just comes a time when the battle ain't worth the ammo expenditure. Besides, again, there is the Fort Lincoln thing... etc., etc., etc.
Best wishes... and thanks, Fred.
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Post by strange on Mar 21, 2009 5:23:55 GMT -5
My basic reasoning is that a mule or a donkey would be an all and out more reliable and functioning animal as opposed to outright horses who are booming with a lot of unchecked energies that can be very difficult handle (at least from what I'd look for in that type of creature). I think Mules and Donkeys have a better wit about themselves and they usually know their way around without having to be perfected in every area of preparation. They are almost like loyal puppies and thats something I could use if I ever had to deal with farm animals.
Meanwhile Horses are powerful beasts with seemingly rather delicate minds as I've observed from watching my relatives who go through every complicated motion of breaking in the attitudes of the creature. I recall an old story from back in the 1920's or 30's when one of my family's fine horses got wild after seeing my grandpa slip on some ice as he was going to water them. He soon got trampled, and he was boy here, and the horse crushed in his chest. Meanwhile my Great Grand Father got nailed in the jaw as he came in to soothe the horse down. I don't think a mule would have that kind of flip out capacity, though I'm guessing that most of you have better perspectives and experiences than I do. I've only been around farm animals every so often on family visits. On the other hand, I was raised with 93 wild dogs stampeding around my childhood home.... so I like to believe that I may have acquired that second sense of assessing other animals at a glance, as a wolf would do when he examines his surroundings.
Of coarse, my talents as an animal whisperer are probably upset by the fact that I have not brushed my teeth in five years (still no cavities either).
For lack of better reasoning, mules and donkeys have simply acquired a poor class status. Patton goes far enough to fire at them on the spot (and that was a very necessary measure at the time he did it, though I think he would've felt worse about if he was doing it to a horse). But all the while, the many nations of this earth have been erected off the backs of mules and donkeys. At the end of the day they are probably not as good looking, but they consistently do what is needed of their services.
Of coarse this also reminds me of the situation where people think cats are that much better than dogs because they appear to have so many refinements. In reality, I think cats are some of the filthiest animals you can get. The only reason any one thinks differently is because the size of their "waste matter" is subtle enough to go undetected for long periods of time whereas a dog simply cannot hide his "business" where ever it may land.
Any way, I'm probably in bad form for derailing something so I'll fall back into my murky abbyss and reappear another time.
Strange
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2009 7:09:44 GMT -5
Strange--
I certainly wouldn't challenge either your knowledge or your expertise on this subject, but could you picture the Seventh Cavalry mounted on donkeys? C'mon, man, where's the panache?
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by cisdyd on Mar 21, 2009 9:52:55 GMT -5
Strange, just to add to your store of useless knowledge. Patrick Martin, Co. D, 1st Inf., died of internal hemorrhage at Ringgold Barracks, TX on October 7, 1880 from injuries received by being kicked by a mule. John Jacob Steengle, Co. K, Regiment of Mounted Rifles, died at Ft. Union, NM on Nov. 1, 1858 of injuries received by being kicked by a mule.
Fred, your better half will take solace in the fact that only 26 men of 11,161 died from riding accidents although one man died from being kicked in the head by a horse and another died when he fell from his mule (he was drunk at the time.)
Billy
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2009 11:03:36 GMT -5
Billy--
Unfortunately, my "better half" is taking solace in the fact I am going to Fort Lincoln instead of on the re-ride.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by cisdyd on Mar 21, 2009 11:14:25 GMT -5
Billy-- Unfortunately, my "better half" is taking solace in the fact I am going to Fort Lincoln instead of on the re-ride. Best wishes, Fred. Fred, you know what is strange? I really don't understand the fascination with Ft. Abraham Lincoln beyond it being a frontier army post. Obviously that is my prejudices speaking but personally I'd rather visit Ft. Phil Kearny or Ft. Laramie or one of the southwest forts. Bubba will understand. Be good today. I'm off for a quick funeral and then on to downtown for the second round games of the NCAA. Perhaps Maryland will upset Memphis though I have my doubts. Billy
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Post by benteeneast on Mar 21, 2009 14:55:00 GMT -5
Strange I believe mules to be more sure footed but not any wiser. They are cautious which some think is wise. While patroling an antelope hunt my fellow officer had a mule. We had ridden over 4 hours and came to a green square water tank and I gave my horse some water. The muled refused to drink and we think it was the shape that concerned him. When his mule decided he no longer needed to move forward he would just drop to the ground. In his early training he would drag tires. Once along the Verde River we rode close to the Clarkdale cement plant. A tire from one of large earth movers was in the river bottom. Amos saw it at between one-forth to one-half mile away and began bucking. I was laughing so hard I almost fell off my horse.
Not that my horses don't do stupid things also but I don't trust an animal that can scratch his ear with a hind leg while standing.
I have to agree with Clair in regards to horseback riding there are worse ways to go. My back is certainly no better than anyone elses.
Benteeneast
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Post by rodthomas on Mar 21, 2009 16:28:42 GMT -5
Greetings Bunkies...the latest from Charlie Hubbard on the three days in Billings...
Sunday- Book room will be open with many dealers in attendance, that evening there will be a reception for new members and first time attendance people. In between will be the board meetings etc. Monday- Breakfast at the hotel 6:30 to 8:00 A.M. Leave by bus for the Battlefield. We will tour the Battlefield most of the day. We will visit the Museum at Garryowen. Lunch will be served (box lunch) by Putt Thompson. We will be stopping in Hardin on the way back to our hotel that afternoon to visit the site of Fort Custer. Tuesday- We have a full day of speakers, starting at 8:00 A.M. and will continue until completed, probably about 4:30 or 5:00 P.M. We will have breakfast, lunch and a buffet dinner on this day as well. I don't know whether Joan will have the auction Monday or not. Most likely it will be on Monday evening. Everyone that registers will receive the Custer Battlefield tombstone, which is really a once in a life time opportunity. Charlie
There you have sports fans...more to follow...
Regards, Rod...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2009 18:07:03 GMT -5
Billy--
This is more than Fort Lincoln, itself.
When I was in Montana in June, 2007, the 6 of us spent several days at the LBH. We then went to Sheridan, WY, and on to Buffalo, and we spent a couple of days there, touring Ft. Phil Kearny and the Fetterman site. We also wandered around the Wagon Box Fight area.
Our intentions on the upcoming trip are just to see the area Custer and the Seventh traveled on the 1876 campaign. We hope to stop at one or two of his camping areas-- if that's possible-- bringing along with us a couple of copies of Laudie Chorne's book, Following the Custer Trail of 1876, and of course, my notes which are drawn from Chorne's book and Jim Willert's book. We would like to see the Little Missouri, see the badlands areas there, and a couple of the other landmarks. They are having some events at Ft. Lincoln that weekend and we may even take in a steamboat ride. We can get to the LBH almost any time we want, but doing something like this trek to Bismarck and back is much more rare.
Then we want to scout up and down the Rosebud, see if we can walk around some of the "camp" areas, all the while taking pictures, just trying to throw ourselves back a bit to see what it may have really been like....
The thing that impressed Lisa and me so much, and then of course my friends and me the following year, was the vastness of the LBH and the Davis Creek areas. As much as I would love to make the re-ride, I am not going to miss this opportunity.
Plus, you humyuck, if you were to ever meet the clowns I am going with, you would readily understand. There has never been a better group and we have already lost one of our number: P. J. Solla.
Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by ponysoldier on Mar 25, 2009 22:11:15 GMT -5
My wife never rode a horse before our "Ride" in 1997. She was "attacked" by two individuals returning from the reenactment . Her horse took off with me and my mount charging, and I use the term extremely loosely, after her, yelling at her antagonists,dressed only in loin cloths, to "leave the white woman alone". We all laughed after I caught up to her and her frantic mount. Rod, I thought that you are joining us? Melanie, what are we to do? The youngsters, including Fred, would rather frollic up north then join the troopers. Take care, I do enjoy reading all of your exploits!
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Post by ponysoldier on Mar 25, 2009 22:15:34 GMT -5
Shawn Realbird contacted me - he was on the way to a meeting. He stated that we will firm up the route. Must go, Bill Serritella P.S. the story about Audrey's ride is true. And for those who would like to partake of the ride, we can possibly secure Mules for those that are fearful of Horses.
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