Page 106 - Firehouse Pond

It may be hard for some to accept, but our government, especially the

military, is creative with the use of soldiers for missions that the public would
never believe we would be remotely associated with.

My duty assignments were often not “for the record” or not “on the record” or
not “officially for the public to know” or not “actually in combat”. But, as
mentioned before, many of those assignments did require the use of defensive
acts to extricate from the location.

I was also intently involved with combat units and in support of combat
operations. I trained with the combat units. I was prepared to fight with the

combat units, and I supported my combat units.

My official “201 File” (a military record) indicates my assigned duty stations,

assigned units, and the military schools attended. My official military records
do not reflect all the numerous Temporary Duty (TDY) Assignments, or all
the “Other Duties as Assigned” service.

A significant portion of my official active duty was performed in a capacity
other than the MOS for which my family and friends thought I was
performing.

Those were not necessarily classified assignments. They were categorized as
being on a “Need-To-Know” basis. Meaning that other than the soldiers

performing the tasks no one else had a “Need-To-Know”. Those were often
missions intended to “get in and get out” lasting a few hours, a few days, or a
few weeks, and therefore considered “Other Duties as Assigned” or “TDY”
missions.

Those assignments quite often last forever in the minds of the soldiers. I
know they do for me. The ghosts visit regularly with their garish images.

When Americans think of our government providing humanitarian aid, to
whomever, or wherever, we immediately think Red Cross, USAID, or the

UN.