Kegsbreath: So "Captain" Kelly, not only did your sedition video intentionally undercut good order & discipline...

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

131. My father tells a story ...

My father tells a story that when he was in his last year in high school in 1959, he applied for West Point. His father had been an Army doc in WWII (now buried in Arlington) and his family had a tradition of service in the military.

He says that they brought applicants to a central place for a day of testing. He did well in the morning but ate a big meal for lunch and fell asleep during the afternoon. Needless to say, he did not pass and did not go to West Point.

He was thankful for this as he says he wanted to be a General and to him that meant going into the infantry. So, he would have graduated as a 2LT in the Infantry in 1963 and likely would have ended up in Vietnam as one of those 16-minute butter bars - whether form the enemy or his own troops I leave unexplored. And I never would have been born.

I have many doubts as to the truth of this whole story, but he was of that age and there was a tradition of service in his father's generation. So, I am willing to let any embellishments pass.

Years later when I was a prof at the Army War College, I met a few Vietnam-era vets, already retired from active duty and there as post-service academics. I have trouble picturing my Dad in their place.

Thank you and all the others who did serve for your service.