Ace of Spades HQ

November 11, 2011

The Veteran I Knew Best
— rdbrewer

The veteran I knew best was my dad. I don't have a picture of him in uniform. Here he is a few years after his service, standing in front of his pink Thunderbird. He was an enlisted man in the Army, and when he went to jump school at Ft. Benning, they offered him a job. He was asked to join what he always called "the cadre." It's now called the Blackhat Cadre, due to the distinctive hats they wear. From Google Books:

They are more than instructors, because in a very tangible way they are the Airborne School. They are the custodians of tradition, and they are the link that joins paratrooper of the past with paratroopers of the future, with every new paratrooper that they train.
. . .
The cadre's main function is to teach you how to get from the airplane to the ground without killing yourself or injuring others around you. The method of instruction has changed little since World War II.

They had already taken notice of him, but he got the job offer because of the way he handled a fight with a bully. There was a lieutenant going through jump school who picked on everyone, and everyone hated him. One day he started-in on my dad who tried to ignore him. Then he said, simply, "Why don't you just leave me alone." They guy persisted and finally thunked dad on the head with his finger.

You can't touch somebody like that.

The lieutenant had a beating coming, and he got it. Before the fight was over, everybody turned out to see it--everyone rooting for dad. He quit as soon as the guy indicated he'd had enough. Apparently instructors or officers witnessed the fight too. About thirty minutes later, dad was escorted to the CO's office. All the officers were there, the big guy sitting at a desk. Dad thought he was going to the stockade. "Brewer, we've been watching you... (here it comes) We like your style, and we'd like you to stay on here as cadre."

So dad stayed at Ft. Benning while his buddies shipped out to Korea.

I told this story to G. Gordon Liddy once. I was a fan of his show and sent him a letter. Liddy read it on the air and explained that my dad was selected because of the way he handled that fight. He had tried his best to avoid it, and when it could no longer be avoided, he took care of business. (Interesting coincidence: Liddy was at Ft. Benning at the same time.)

There were other things in place, of course. He was a smart guy and a good soldier. He had also qualified for the pistol and rifle teams. He chose the pistol team: "I knew I'd spend less time on the ground [in the prone position] shooting a pistol."

The Army was perfect for dad, young man that he was. It gave him structure and taught him how to be a man. It made a permanent impression on him that translated into tremendous practical benefit later on in business. It taught him how to lead.

So, here's to a good soldier, my dad. His birthday was 11-11, by the way.

Posted by: rdbrewer at 12:52 PM | Comments (58)
Post contains 547 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Very nice. Thanks.

Posted by: kansas at November 11, 2011 12:54 PM (mka2b)

2 Great story. Thanks... hey and RD, a shout out to you for recommending Benjamin Domenech.. great reading ...everyday.

Posted by: Yip in Texas at November 11, 2011 12:57 PM (Mrdk1)

3
Great story and great picture, thanks!

Don't suppose that t-bird stayed in the family?

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at November 11, 2011 01:00 PM (Qxdfp)

4 That's a nice tribute to him rd.

Posted by: Tami at November 11, 2011 01:01 PM (X6akg)

5 Great story and testament to the character of your father.

Thank you for sharing, and allowing us to see into your life, rdbrewer.

God bless our Veterans and our Nation, indeed.

Posted by: Chakam at November 11, 2011 01:02 PM (x5bpB)

6 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at November 11, 2011 01:03 PM (7WJOC)

7 Oh wow! Your dad looks like a movie star. Very handsome. God bless him and many thanks for his service.

Posted by: beasn at November 11, 2011 01:04 PM (aiWtu)

Thanks for this, rdbrewer. Your Dad and mine would have hit it off. Great photo. I don't know what it was, but the men and women of that generation were photogenic!

Many thanks to all veterans today.

Posted by: ChristyBlinky at November 11, 2011 01:05 PM (baL2B)

9 Dude, pink?

Posted by: Cherry pi at November 11, 2011 01:07 PM (OhYCU)

10 Nice pic. A man's man.

Posted by: Cherry pi at November 11, 2011 01:08 PM (OhYCU)

11
OT Alert. Kim Guilfoyle showing some nice thigh on Fox.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 11, 2011 01:09 PM (JYheX)

12
Nevermind she covered up.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at November 11, 2011 01:09 PM (JYheX)

13 Airborne, all the way.

Posted by: LGoPs at November 11, 2011 01:11 PM (QiSD7)

14 A pink Thunderbird? That's someone who only has to raise an eyebrow and the matter is settled.

Posted by: t-bird at November 11, 2011 01:12 PM (FcR7P)

15 The picture doesn't do the scene justice. There is a lake above the hood of the car, a blue lake. Pink car, blue lake, and imagine the green and yellow grass and a light blue sky with white clouds. Mom said it was beautiful.

Posted by: rdbrewer at November 11, 2011 01:17 PM (wVnjF)

16 Lucky for the Norks he made the cadre.

Posted by: rdbrewer at November 11, 2011 01:19 PM (wVnjF)

17 Here's hoping this thread isn't ruined with Ped U. talk.

God Bless your dad, RD.

Posted by: © Sponge at November 11, 2011 01:19 PM (UK9cE)

God bless your dad for his service, and for not backing down from a "butterbar" who was full of himself that day.

*no insult to other 2nd LTs., who weren't jerks like this one.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at November 11, 2011 01:22 PM (PjVdx)

19 Great post, RD and God bless your dad.

Posted by: Andy at November 11, 2011 01:25 PM (XG+Mn)

20 Did the jerk pick a fight w/ your dad because of his pink car?

Posted by: Kortezzi at November 11, 2011 01:26 PM (zAZNI)

21 I love this tribute! Wonderful, thank you RD. God bless your dad!

Posted by: BlackOrchid at November 11, 2011 01:27 PM (SB0V2)

22 Very nice story, rd. As an aside, what a nice looking dad you have there. He's rocking that James Dean aura in this pic.

Posted by: Lady in Black at November 11, 2011 01:27 PM (ycuSb)

23 I was a CPT when I went through jump school and the Blackhats were all over my ass for the first few days. I think once they saw that I wouldn't let them get to me - by joking with them while doing my 10,000th push-up - they pretty much left me alone. It's all a head game and one of the best run schools in the Army. My hat's off to the blackhats.

Posted by: LGoPs at November 11, 2011 01:28 PM (QiSD7)

24 rd, your Dad was a good looking man.

Posted by: Pecos at November 11, 2011 01:28 PM (2Gb0y)

25 Great story!

Posted by: Snafu at November 11, 2011 01:29 PM (8d28r)

26 He's rocking that James Dean aura in this pic. I was thinking the same thing. Your dad was a movie star?!

Posted by: t-bird at November 11, 2011 01:29 PM (FcR7P)

27 My hat's off to the blackhats...and to your dad, rd.

Posted by: LGoPs at November 11, 2011 01:29 PM (QiSD7)

28 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

He's not worthy to wash the feat of men like your father.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 11, 2011 01:31 PM (8y9MW)

29 O/T:

Just saw Juan Williams on "The Five" on FNS. HE said that (relating to the pipeline thing) SCOAMF has already repealed several environmental laws that has the environmentalists and his base pissed off......

NAME ONE?!?

Posted by: © Sponge at November 11, 2011 01:32 PM (UK9cE)

30 G-d bless all veterans past and present for keeping us free. Especially to my late dad, my uncle Sam (both now deceased) and my uncle Harry, whom I never met and who was killed in the Pacific in 1944. Thinking of you all, always.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at November 11, 2011 01:33 PM (UlUS4)

31 He's not worthy to wash the feat of men like your father.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 11, 2011 05:31 PM (8y9MW)

But, him being a closet muslim.....probably washes his own feet a LOT.

Posted by: © Sponge at November 11, 2011 01:33 PM (UK9cE)

32 NAME ONE?!? Posted by: Â© Sponge at November 11, 2011 05:32 PM (UK9cE) It is now permissible to defecate on police cars... and police.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at November 11, 2011 01:33 PM (UlUS4)

What a stud. They don't make them like that anymore. This country is damn lucky to have had men like that protect us! (and women too....)

Posted by: Pancake at November 11, 2011 01:34 PM (oC8nQ)

34 Drinks to our dads who served in WWII.

And because I'm so proud of him and I don't have anyplace else, and forgive me for being self-referential but, http://tinyurl.com/6n9vo6t.

Thanks for this post.

Posted by: R. Sherman at November 11, 2011 01:35 PM (mI7NE)

35 #34 Absolutely.

Posted by: J.J. Sefton at November 11, 2011 01:37 PM (UlUS4)

36 Brewer, your Dad was James Dean? What a cool pic.

Posted by: laceyunderalls at November 11, 2011 01:38 PM (pLTLS)

37 Cool, my Dad was stationed at Ft. Benning in 59' and that is where I was born. Dad did one year in Korea 67' and when they wanted to ship him off to Nam he said no thanks, 10 years in the Army was enough.

Posted by: izoneguy at November 11, 2011 01:39 PM (i6Neb)

38 What a handsome man. And what a treat to have him as your father.

Posted by: Sue at November 11, 2011 01:40 PM (RybmS)

39 My Dad was a Navy CPO Corpsman--two tours as a medic for Marines in Vietnam rolled in there. My most vivid memory: That Schlitz that he drank from steel cans.

I eventually followed him into the Navy.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at November 11, 2011 01:43 PM (7utQ2)

40 And rd--that is one awesome photo...

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at November 11, 2011 01:44 PM (7utQ2)

41 Thanks, you guys.

Posted by: rdbrewer at November 11, 2011 01:48 PM (wVnjF)

42 That's a fine tribute to both Dad and Veteran. Well done. Might get your Moron Card revoked, though.

Posted by: Live Free Or Die at November 11, 2011 01:55 PM (ThcJH)

43 Nice tribute RD, and damn cool pic.

Posted by: Delta Smelt at November 11, 2011 02:00 PM (+97oS)

44 wow, what a great tribute. Thanks for sharing your dad with us.

Posted by: macintosh at November 11, 2011 02:10 PM (oZfic)

45 Nice story, RD. It made me think about my own Dad and his service. He was like a "Mr. Roberts" first officer on a ship that supplied the combat ships in the Pacific theater in WW II, only he never complained about not being in on the action. There were certain aspects of his service, having to do with daily shipboard routine, that he spoke of with great affection; but I never heard him talk about any sort of battle action. Once, when I was still quite young, my brother kept prodding him about it; eventually, he got quite angry and distraught and yelled, "Don't ever ask me again!" Dad was the strong silent type, so this was the first time I'd ever seen any emotion from him other than mirthfulness and "Oops, I'm in trouble!".

It was the first time I ever really understood just how much our veterans give up for us, and how much we owe them.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at November 11, 2011 02:33 PM (fjoLg)

46 Thanks for sharing that. I teared up and thought about my late father who flew a B-24 in WWII. God Bless your Dad, and all the other brave men and women the serve of have served this magnificent country.

Posted by: GenghisJohn at November 11, 2011 03:26 PM (I+zVL)

47 Great story. I loved my time at Airborne school in 1990. One of the cadre, when I went through, had been one of the Drill Sergeants in my company in basic training 3 years earlier -- a great instructor, and a great trainer of soldiers. What I loved is that there was no "bullshit" at Airborne school -- you did the training, went home, got up the next day and did it again. No needless inspections, no concern over anything other than that you had learned how to do a PLF and react to a chute failure. The utter lack of bullshit is one of the legacies that matter, and that men like your Dad gave to the school. Thanks for that. I got through, and never jumped again -- a true five jump chump.

Posted by: PalinFan at November 11, 2011 04:27 PM (/xEf9)

That was the way the military was. I was fortunate enough to experience some of it.

Semper Fi, from a Jarhead

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC at November 11, 2011 05:32 PM (KaPhW)

49 <i>The picture doesn't do the scene justice. There is a lake above the hood of the car, a blue lake. Pink car, blue lake, and imagine the green and yellow grass and a light blue sky with white clouds. Mom said it was beautiful.

Posted by: rdbrewer at November 11, 2011 05:17 PM (wVnjF)</i>

Thankfully, I am still fortunate to experience that on a daily basis. Go easy, Mr. Brewer.

Some of us, are still here.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC at November 11, 2011 05:36 PM (KaPhW)

50 Excellent post, RD.

I was thinking about Ft. Benning because I have a pic of my Uncle there, just before he shipped to Korea. My Dad followed a year or so later (he was sixteen, and actually returned from service at 18, and went to school on the GI Bill.)

Posted by: K~Bob at November 11, 2011 06:14 PM (XkqaR)

51 Back talk a Black Hat? No way in hell! And, I was a 2LT there in '63 and these guys were God. They would always say: "would the LT like to drop and give me 20?; Does the LT know that his boots look like shit?... The Black Hats were the Army. Ultimate professionals. I miss them all. They shaped this LT into being a half way decent professional, lifer. Hooah. Airborne!

Posted by: Steve at November 11, 2011 06:25 PM (FEYJd)

52 And Dad raised a decent son.
No surprise there.

Posted by: Tamminator at November 11, 2011 07:23 PM (hGi/Q)

ACE: Thank YOU for remembering!

I went through Benning twice, which makes me a triple volunteer, enlisted, then went airborne, over to Braggm then back to Benning for Rangers, then went back to the 2/ 325th AIR, 82nd Abn. Div., with a Ranger tab and later recieved my scroll up at Lewis!

Rnagers Lead the Way!

HOOAAH!!!

Posted by: WhiteFalcon1 at November 11, 2011 07:26 PM (RPG2w)

54 Nice tribute!

Posted by: denise at November 12, 2011 12:03 AM (2njEp)

55 Great story! My dad served in WWII with the 82nd ABdiv. from France to Berlin and with the 1st Special Forces Group in SE Asia.

Posted by: Dave J at November 12, 2011 03:46 AM (ZoEw+)

56 I was going to say James Dean too! Only better looking. The story made me smile. God bless our veterans.

Posted by: Darcy at November 12, 2011 04:57 AM (DeYNS)

57 Great story about your Pop. I remember the blackhats. Surly bunch, if I recall. But they knew their business and I'm still on the right side of the grass because of their skill and expertise. I was USAF, so they would take great pleasure in pointing out that I could have all the coffee and donuts I wanted ... All I had to do was quit. Hahaha. Sergeant, Not Today, Sergeant!

Posted by: Rob at November 12, 2011 06:52 AM (x2sM5)

I can see you happen to be an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your facts will likely be quite fascinating for me.. Thanks for all your assist and wishing you all the success.

Posted by: Herve Leger outlet at November 27, 2011 05:23 PM (Mdyrn)

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