Fifth Job of Bob - Army - Forgotten in an outpost of paradise; American soldiers in Europe? - Jobs of Bob - book version

3 May 2012

Fifth Job of Bob - Army - Forgotten in an outpost of paradise; American soldiers in Europe? - Jobs of Bob - book version

This entry was posted on 5/3/2012 1:30 AM and is filed under Jobs of Bob - book version.

    Years after I got out of the Army, somehow the phrase "Outposts of Paradise" appeared in my vernacular. I don't remember now where I came up with it; perhaps, there was some inspiration by the famous line in the movie, A Few Good Men (1992), when the character under scrutiny in court blurted out, "You can't handle the truth."  That now infamous line was blurted out by Colonel Nathan Jessep (played by Jack Nicholson).  It was in regards to the rigors military service members must endure in the damnedest places and what they really do to survive.  In Jessep's case, being party to the death of one of his Marines.  The incident in question in the movie took place in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where the United States has maintained a Naval Base for over 100 years - much to the chagrin of a less than friendly Cuban government. 

    I have told the story often enough over the years.  Often to less-than-interested ears.  I had only been in my German duty station a few weeks.  We often worked in our white t-shirts.  Ol' Lieutenant "J" came up to us and said, "We got a quick task to do up by the border. You should be back by supper."  About a dozen of us loaded on a Duce-and-a-half cargo truck and headed up north - still in our t-shirts. 

    Five days later, we got back late for supper.  The small task took days, and eventually more men.  Each group that came in continued to bring  warm coats and pants.  Finally, on the third day, I ended up with some one else's stinky field jacket coat.  

    Germany is much like Wisconsin - perhaps why so many Germans settled there in the 1800s.  The summer days are warm; but, even summer nights can be frosty.  We all froze our asses off.  I never trusted Lieutenant "J," or the Army again.   

    There we were up by the then Czechoslovakian boarder, which was a hostile border with the communists at the time.  I was a long forgotten potential hot-war zone in the American pop culture psyche.

    Later that same summer, our benevolent, yet rather dufus Captain insisted we all see the World War II Dakau Concentration Camp Museum near Munich.  It was a solemn journey and visit.  We were walking around the grounds in our uniforms and berets.  

    An American lady from a tour group with a New York accent, dressed in up-scale cloths, with lots of jewelry said, "Who are you people?"  

    "American Army, Ma'am," some of us said, I suppose subconsciously expecting some nod of appreciation.

    "Americans?" she said with a quander in her voice and a befuddled look.  "I thought the American Army left here in 1945. You jokers are French or something and I don't think your joke is funny. If it weren't for the United States, France would be speaking German now."

    Welcome to..., "The Outposts of Paradise." 

Note: This blog "Jobs of Bob" - book version Category is a work in progress. The original vignettes are being edited for book form. Go to the Cooldadiomedia Web site and the Jobs of Bob Page for an ordered chronology of the book vignettes (chapters).