michael.bauman@shell.com

I'm very proud of my time in Division, Jump School and going overseas to DS/DS.  Though it was a tough four years, I'm very glad I did it.  It has made me see of all the good things that I want to mold in myself in becoming a better NCO.

Now, that I have soldiers to lead and we soon will be going to the Sand Box, I am thankfull of my Infantry background.  As a front line medic they both go hand in hand.  My soldiers are continually pumping me for information and I've heard them say time and time again, I'm glad your going with us, SGT.

Makes me realize that I cannot afford to let them down.  I have to become better.  I have to go back to my roots.  Though no longer on jump status, I'm still a paratrooper and I will not let those down who have gone on and served before me!

  michael.bauman@shell.com

My girlfriend's dad fought in WW2 so she sorta gets the military "thing". Then one weekend we watched the entire set of Band of Brothers, she was just like "Put in the next DVD". After that she told me, "OK, now I get the 'Paratrooper' thing". Same for Infantry, if no paratroopers were around, Id rather fight & drink with leg infantry than anyone else.

20% percent of the Army is Infantry, 80% of the Army SUPPORTS the Infantry.

The guy who runs the sky-diving outfit here is a former AbnInfantry/SF soldier. One day an ADA officer out jumping asked him "Bob, why did you go Infantry?"

Bob told him "thats where the FUN happens".

The only job the army had which was harder than being in the Infantry was back in the old days when they didn't have laser guided and JDAM weapons and they had to pilot in the missles themselves:

GREAT stuff Pete LMAO

MIKE LANSAW        

My Grandfather was in the 88th Infantry Division in WW2, supposedly that first all-draftee Division.  The "Blue Devils, " as they were known were some of the first Allies to liberate Rome.  He later went on and served in Korea, was a POW, and was reported dead.  He came back into my life when I was a toddler.  He died when I was six or seven.  This was on their web site:

INFANTRY:
 Our Army is no better than its Infantry, and victory will come only when and as our Infantry gains it; the price will predominantly what the Infantry pays.  These days the entire Nation is following operations on war maps.  It is to be noted that the front lines of these maps are simply where the Infantryman is.  It is true that he is supported magnificently by Artillery and air, but this support is behind and above him. 

There is nothing in front of him but enemy.

LTG Lesley J. McNair

I will always be proud of the blue cord and disks I wore.  When I went to PLDC, I was the butt of all the jokes being an 11B.  But you know what?  I was everybody's friend when we went to the woods and people wanted to play Soldier.  When asked why be Infantry with a 116 GT score?  I would answer that is the ONLY way to Soldier!  FOLLOW ME!!!

And the Lord spake forth unto the heavens and said, "LET THERE BE AIRBORNE."
The earth did tremble and quake and the waters did rise up and the clouds did part and there came forth a multitude of parachutes that filled the sky.
God looked down and saw this was good.  And they were good;
They were AIRBORNE!