Grandpa is a Colonel USMC (ret.)

[Galland]

He went through three major American wars but the old codger can't answer Email in a timely fashion. But he's 80 and still does all his own yard work. I should be thankful he's in such good health. My other grandpa doesn't know where he is most of the time and needs help buttering his own toast.

Grandfather started out in WW2 and wrapped it up nicely, commanding USMC's MAG-11 in Viet Nam. His wing consisted mainly of A6's and F4 Phantom II's. He dropped napalm and other humerous gag gifts on specific cross-sections of the native population. Those natives who had a red star on their uniforms were rewarded with extra treats every day.

He was only there for three or four months. Why were Nam era command postings so short for the senior brass? Did they like variety? The guys who came before/after him didn't last much longer.



MAG11 is still around. I think it's based state-side. Or it was until the 9/11 attack. These days the F4's and A6's have been replaced with F/A-18 multi-role fighters and all the other usual modern stuff.


Galland

[Keith Heitmann]

Sounds like the rotation policy was setup to get as many command ranks into the fray as possible to gain combat experience.

[Galland]

Keith said:

Sounds like the rotation policy was setup to get as many command ranks into the fray as possible to gain combat experience.

You're probably correct. Apparently he was turned down for a general's star because of politics, though. Fortunately he made a ton of money afterwards working for McDonald Douglass as their Asian-Pacific sales rep. His current wife is a Japanese native.. she was his secretary. How stereotypical is that? Ha! But she's apparently a nice person with a mind of her own.

I visited his house when I was 12 and he had all sorts of fancy F14 Tomcat models on his bookshelf. I haven't visited him since then and now he live sin California. I'm loathe to travel on the airlines, but it looks as if I'll have to if I want to visit him again.

An army warrant officer once told me "Anyone above bird colonel is nothing but a politician in a uniform". I think that statement is true.

Galland