Went to the West Point graduation last week....

I was invited by a very special young lady to attend the graduation festivities at the USMA at West Point last weekend. That was a real nice visit. She is the daughter of my best friend, and we served in the Army together back in the old days in the 82nd Airplane Gang. He was in Recon Platoon and I was in the Anti-Tank Platoon. Anyway he relocated to Baton Rouge several years after he got out of the Army for work. He was orgininally from El Paso, Texas, and his youngest daughter was born in Baton Rouge. She grew up calling me Uncle Bobby, and when she got older she figured out that I really wasn't her uncle, but never quit calling me her uncle. And she will always be once of my neices as well.

Here's a few pix of the newly minted 2nd Lt Jordan Duran, and I'm proud to call her my niece.

That's her, front and center.




That's her boyfriend. He's 6'6 and she's 4'6. She got aviation and he got infantry.



At her commisioning ceremony, taking her first salute from her Dad, ex-Sgt Dan Duran.




This is her out of uniform. Pretty girl.

 

Congrats, she'll do well because she won't want to let down her dad and uncle Bobby. Unfortunately the Army as a whole has some real problems these days, lack of discipline and lack of consequences.



Texting in formation! I might expect this out of a recruit, or a particularly dumb Pvt. or PFC., but out of an upper classman at the Military Academy, getting ready to graduate and be commissioned as a 2d Lt. These are supposed to be the leaders that instill discipline and lead by example. In what bizzaro universe is this acceptable.

 

Shouldn't even have a mobile/cell on them...what if it went off during parade? They look awesome though...

 

That is pretty unbelievable; in my marching days, you didn't think about anything except marching The times, they are a-changin'!

 

I started this thread for a couple of reasons,to honor the accomplishments a young lady who I think the world of, and to share with you gumshoes what's going on in some of my travels that might have some relevance to this forum . There was no need to trash the spirit of this thread, but some comedians felt otherwise. Really guys? Yes I know the Army is in bad shape and could use some work, and to me it's heartbreaking to learn about the changes that transpired since my day, but I figure that another thread would be a proper venue for such activity. Carry on.

 

I apologize (sincerely) Bobby, didn't mean to trash the thread nor cast any aspersions upon the young lady. You and her father can be rightly proud of her accomplishment. I meant what I said, with you as her uncle I am sure she upholds the old values and virtues of the Army and would excel during service in any era. I've just been steamed of late at the way the current civilian leadership and the promotion hungry yes men within the services are allowing them to be destroyed. The very morning you posted the thread I saw the included video of the cadet walking and texting in formation, and all the media seemed to think no big deal, don't know why veterans are up in arms over it. Lack of discipline and military bearing are not acceptable. This coming on the heels of the "Black Lives Matter" photo of a bunch of female cadets in uniform on post. I feel like I'm in bizarro world. If it were up to me the texting cadet would be pulled out of formation and required to repeat her senior year, let her see if she can learn what military bearing is.
Glad you're enjoying your semi-retirement, glad the trip went well.

 

You owe me a couple of beers now you know. Maybe 5 or 6. Might be a bit more later on but for now that'll do it And some hot wings too.

 

I reckon so. Might as well. First round's on him.

 

Oh good.

 

Uhhh, I'm good for the beers, but not quite willing to take all the blame for missing the Benning trip. If ya'll recall, the weekend in question was originally a no-go for another participant (I don't remember who) so I took the preceding week off. Then the weekend became a go, but due to being off the week before I was scheduled to work the weekend in question. I tried to get out of it but couldn't, then got stuck at work late.

 

I'm going to be near West Point in the summer.
I might see if we can do a tour.
http://www.usma.edu/visiting/SitePages/Home.aspx

 

It's a real pretty post, by far the nicest one I ever set foot on. You'll enjoy the visit.

 

You cant take Marines anywhere

 

Now if ya'll do Chickamauga, I'm good for a keg. I'll make some jambalaya and might even do a shrimp boil. Plus I still have a mason jar of that special adult beverage Bobby requested in the freezer.

 

I'm in if you'll allow a damn yankee.