JoshuasTravels — Shooter’s Choice and the Arkansas Delight

Shooter’s Choice and the Arkansas Delight

Written by . Posted at 5:18 pm on October 2nd, 2008

Wow. A lot’s happened. Here’s the short of it.

Went to Phoenix:

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Kelly, outside some Dawson’s Creek thing, I don’t know.

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A real good picture of a cactus.

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Don’t try this at home, kids.

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I’m stationed in El Paso, buddy. I had no choice.

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What a terrible movie.

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There’s nothing I like more than a well-preserved hole in the ground.

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My father’s father finally – and peacefully – met his maker. Went to Denver. Turns out, among other things, that his brother Tom was in the 2nd (gramps was in the Air Force) and used to kill time with Audie Freaking Murphy. This picture is from my Commissioning. The short guy was my first salute:

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Sure will miss him.

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Went to Arkansas for a month. Yeah, that Arkansas. By the end of the third day, we were – from the holster – squeezing 4 rounds onto a square foot of steel within 3 seconds. That was the pistol course and it really set the tone for the rest of the year (I mean month).

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3 warrior leaders, waring and leading.

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Working on my killing skills.

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This is Mike. He’s the Medo, which means he’s in charge of all the Cav Medics. Funny story, I went to camp with his finance.

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The Ready Room for the Advanced Urban Warfare course.

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Me and my brother Platoon Leader, Kathmandu. Note the swelling on my welted hand.

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Me and my brother PL and the Cav Medo. Note the badass Custer ‘staches some of us are rocking.

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Another shot of the Ready Room, and the Duke, and LT Miles Murray, who looks a lot like my awesome Uncle Mike.

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We went through a whole lot more than a wheel barrel of simunitions. I caught a few of them myself, mostly on the thighs and hands. They leave nasty-colored sand-dollar sized welts because they leave the barrel at a very motivating 450 feet per second.

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A shot from the catwalk of one of the main shoothouse. We spent all of our nights and most of our days in there, clearing rooms, trying to keep the hallway firefights as short as possible and learning the painful lessons of urban warfare- principal among them being that if you’re shooting a lot, you ain’t moving. And if you ain’t moving, you’re dead.

8 comments.

  1. i love all the pictures… but not as much as i love you!!! :) :) :)
    Anna


  2. wtf why didnt my middle smile show up???? :(


  3. Your other mother named Zina

    Joshy Bear,
    What an exciting life you’re leading, and I love reading about it!
    I used to listen to grandpa’s Marty Robbins 8 track tape all the time when I was a child.

    Hugs & Kisses,
    YOM Zina


  4. Hello Josh

    Missed you! Sounds like you were very busy and learned a lot. Why is your hand bruised? I also like the pictures.

    HUGS and HUGS….. love mom


  5. Grpa and Grma A

    Hey Josh,
    Grandpa is happy you survived Arkansas, Grandma had no doubts! Pictures are great, but not enough of them, of course. We live vicariously through your wonderful exploits. Grpa says “more pics of Kelly because she is prettier than you.” Kepp ’em coming.
    Love ya’ lots Grpa and Grma


  6. Sorry it took my so long to approve your comment, Grandfolks. You got thrown in the pile with the spam-bots.


  7. Where is the picture of me phucker?!


  8. @ el Capt:

    I try not to digitize all my sins


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