Side Trips from Ft. Benning GABeing soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, we were expected to become expert mountain climbers and ski troops, following in the distinguished footsteps of our predecessors. Climbing mountains and skiing sounds like fun unless you take into account the extra 100 lbs. of equipment and ammunition for our M224 60mm mortars that we carried.
In January and February of 1987, Co. A 3-14 Infantry deployed to Black Rapids Camp in the Talkeetna Mountains of central Alaska. Our first training day, the temperature was 55 degrees below zero. While there we learned to climb mountains on skis and live in the field. The final exercise was a 50 mile squad movement on skis south of Ft. Greely. Each nine man squad had to pull a 400 pound "achio" over rough terrain during the three day course. Foregoing sleep, my squad completed the march in 36 hours, half the time.
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In June of 1987, 3-14 Infantry deployed to Colorado, the first home of the 10th Mtn Div. At 6,200 feet, Ft. Carson was at that time the home of the 4th Inf Div. We maneuvered and fired weapons while acclimating to the elevation. Then we deployed to the Continental Divide between Leadville and Vail at 11,000 feet elevation. While at Camp Hale, we conducted small unit training and participated in climbing competitions. My 1st Mortar Squad and I were attached to one of the only two rifle squads in the entire battalion that completed the "mountain walk" up to 12,500 feet at the top of the Continental Divide.
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Ft. A. P. Hill VA and the Fredericksburg Battlefield 1987The legacy of the 14th Infantry began with the Civil War. At the end of the war when the Army of the Potomac marched in review, the 14th Infantry was afforded the rightmost position in the parade, the position of honor, earning the motto "Right of the Line." During our deployment to Ft. A. P. Hill in support of the Army Reserve, we had the opportunity to tour Fredericksburg and the nearby Chancellorsville, Wilderness, and Spotsylvania Courthouse battlefields. Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
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Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, Atlanta, & Stone Mountain GALiving in South Georgia, life wouldn't be complete without visiting the Atlanta area. Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield, located just north of the city, was the last major battle fought by the retreating Confederate Army of the Tennessee before Sherman's "March to the Sea." Atlanta is a great city. My first time in Atlanta was probably the best, as that's where I met my wife. Stone Mountain is the largest granite monolith in the world. Carved on the north face is a tableau featuring Confederate Generals Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Nathan Bedford Forrest. The carving is visible from ten miles away.
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Jump Status, INFBD, Ft. Benning GAWhile assigned to the Infantry Board, I was required to "volunteer" for jump status with the Airborne Test Platoon. Our platoon was a composite of soldiers from each test division in the unit, and our mission was to attach some new piece of army equipment to our bodies and then jump out of an aircraft. We were the first to try out the equipment before it was purchased for the rest of the Army.
Play Airborne Video
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