O5B Ranger Dorz

[recdream]

I served with a bunch of legendary and heroic fellas at 2nd Batt! Early to mid 80's

I was in 3rd Squad under Jack "Doc Savage" Smith, in B Team under the most famous Canuck ever Mitch "Chuckles" Conway who somehow made it to CSM
I was the favorite pull toy RTO for the legendary SFC Palacios (at the time) aka "Sgt P". Guam can grow some real Rangers..
Our top was 1Sg LG Leon Guerrero, another immortal hailing from Guam (what the hell do they feed those guys over there anyways???)
There were hundreds of the "tuffest dudes" there and this was back in the day when we wore BLACK berets...

HOOAH
OTT (who said that alla time?)
Wahila
RLTW

words that are still burned into my brain

I remember names like LT Odom (is he a general yet?), Benny Davila, Rich MaHaffey, Kai, TC White, Col Powell, the super soldier Greg Birch now a CSM (ret), Giles, Kevin "Doc" Trujillo and so many other brave souls.

I never really understood how out of place I was as a mere 05B/radio operator in a Ranger Battalion. I was lost and confused most days but with the care and training heaped upon me by the greatest leaders of our time I somehow made it through.

Basic was a breeze, AIT a snap, jump school was fun. RIP - uhh, I made it through somehow... then new meat/newb/fng status for evers...praying every night not to let my buddies down, being thrown to the wolves at pre-ranger and I just remember being given a can of turkey loaf on graduation before being shipped off to Ranger School, where living legends walked the earth. Cold, sleep deprivation, and pushups (how many? which arm?) and then back to 2nd Batt just in time for Panama and Jungle School! YAY! I wasn't freezing cold anymore, I was finally warm again and understood the language everyone was speaking again. balboa beer...aaah then endless adventures to tell for my Al Bundy moments of glory to the grandkids. Spec Ops training, super fun night combat jumps, dirt bikes (no more walking?) Pathfinder, Jumpmaster, PLC, BNOC, crazy trainings in unique places. I still get a pain in my neck and back whenever I hear "LBRB". Rangerness with haunt me. Leave it better than how you got it. My granddaughter asked me the other day why I straightened the little creases in the hymnal whenever we were at church and I told her about a wise and powerful being named Sgt P, who taught me to always leave things in better shape than what you received them.

I was there, though even after all these years I still think I was superfluous and I sincerely hope I contributed something. I know I made mistakes so I ask for forgiveness of my transgressions. For those years and for those many warriors I served with and under, I say "thank you" from the bottom, top, and whole volume of my heart! /salute. I owe debts of gratitude to all who served and are serving Sua Sponte so thank you. I owe my life to doc Trujillo for keeping me alive in the jungle of Panama when I had a fever spike to some stupidly high number. I owe my life to Jack Smith for saving me from drowning when TC White made me laugh so hard during our "baby seal" training in Coronado I fell off the LBRB with my ruck/radio and was on my way down, down, down. Countless rescues from stupidity on my part, riggings, weapons, chopper crashes, death runs by LTC Powell (RIP), being revived by TC White when I got alcohol poisoning from my initiation and so many other life lessons I am ever so thankful far. My family still looks at me funny when I am in a hurry and mix peanut butter with milk so you can get it down fast. I rarely have any issues sleeping and can sleep anytime, anywhere. I still carry my Ranger coin to this day (no one gonna catch me without it).

And I must admit it. I am PROUD! So VERY VERY PROUD of our Regiment!

Rangers Lead the Way!

Didja know Jesus was the first Ranger? The bible says he came to lead the way....

[Slowpoke]

Welcome youngster.

[GoldCoast]

Awesome intro!

[CharlieRanger1FFV]

Welcome to the site, 2nd Batt.


RLTW!!!

[cams]

Very cool intro indeed. Welcome 2nd Batt Brother.

I too was an RTO out of C/E, humping a 110lb ruck all over Gods creation (all 145lbs of me at the time) tapped to run with B Co for most deployments under SSG Hayes. By then LG was the RCSM, what an absolute stud.

I'm sure most of us feel the exact same way that you still do.

Pull up a rock brother, I'll grab you a beer.

[Invictus]

I just saw CSM Birch at the RHOF ceremony yesterday, he gave a killer speech! Also, CSM Pickering, who is already a member, got to chat him up a bit.

Welcome here Old Scroll

[recdream]

awww, I sooooo wanted to be there to honor Greg Birch! I found out too late and could not get there! Anyone know how to reach him? I need to pay my due respects. How was the speech?? C'mon, share up! If anyone knows have him call my cell [cell # deleted] Dan Harris (I hope he remembers me)

[recdream]

Oh,, and thanks for the welcome!

While I wasn't one of the uber guys of legend, I did ruck around with some of them.

[cams]

Ranger, check your PM's (private messages).