Heard from Sam tonight. He called and filled me in on his basic training experience so far. He sounds very strong, very motivated.
He's been doing a lot of BRM. (That's Basic Rifle Marksmanship for you civilians out there.) He shot the hell out of the 300 meter target, which really impresses me, because I'm not that good with an M16. (I'm hell with a .45, a 9mm, and pretty much any machinegun, though.)
Sam has gotten one package from me, even though I've sent 3 so far. My first went to a different unit, and I'm mad that they didn't forward it to him. He requested a "Game Informer" magazine, so I'll look for that tomorrow.
I have to say that I'm very proud of this young man. There is simply nothing that a teenage man can do that is better for him than military service. I can hear in Sam's voice the maturity and drive. I'm loving it. Even though Sam and the other kids have their differences with me lately, I'm delighted that Sam has followed in my footsteps and is serving in the only profession that really challenges a man.
Salute, Private!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Having a Bad Wargaming Day
Well, this sucks. That's all I have to say.
Peter "Patton" comes over tonight and whomps me at Guadalcanal with his overwhelming Japanese attack. I scarcely got a shot off.
Then he says, in his innocent, little girl voice, "Why don't we play it again. This time YOU can take the Japs."
Fine.
Except this time the key objective is more easily defended. I deployed my Japs into two big groups and commenced a deliberate advance against the main objective. Peter's mortars and machineguns play havoc against my base of fire, but I push on. Finally, I come over the crest and seize the key objective. I advance and destroy the smelly Marines...and then time runs out. Just as I was getting into position to stomp on his next main defensive position.
Peter has beaten me in our last three games. Stoopid games. Stoopid Peter. Stoopid luck.
I need to go have a little cry.
Peter "Patton" comes over tonight and whomps me at Guadalcanal with his overwhelming Japanese attack. I scarcely got a shot off.
Then he says, in his innocent, little girl voice, "Why don't we play it again. This time YOU can take the Japs."
Fine.
Except this time the key objective is more easily defended. I deployed my Japs into two big groups and commenced a deliberate advance against the main objective. Peter's mortars and machineguns play havoc against my base of fire, but I push on. Finally, I come over the crest and seize the key objective. I advance and destroy the smelly Marines...and then time runs out. Just as I was getting into position to stomp on his next main defensive position.
Peter has beaten me in our last three games. Stoopid games. Stoopid Peter. Stoopid luck.
I need to go have a little cry.
Lab Lab
Been to the Lab twice this week (so far). Ugh. Finishing up all the paperwork from my last major project with the Pentagon.
Switching focus now to (1) the evolution of strategy in the war on terror; and (2) a comparative eschatology of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Been reading The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing. A liberal reaction to dispensational theology (sort of). Basically, this gal watched the "Left Behind" series and wrote a book to refute it. Her work is a determined attempt to ignore the Bible's prophetic program, because it's too disturbing. Because she finds bloodshed repugnant, she simply re-interprets Scripture. When the Bible says, "War", it really means "Peace". When it says "Blood", it really means "Feathers and lollipops." When it says "Judgment", the proper interpretation is "Warm hugs."
Where DO these people come from? Why don't they just say, "I hate the Bible and I refuse to believe it!" At least that would be honest.
Anyways, Peter's coming over tonight, so soon you will be reading about my decisive victory over him.
Zanne and Joe went out to the property, and apparently they have laid down gravel where the footers will soon be poured. Wootness!
Switching focus now to (1) the evolution of strategy in the war on terror; and (2) a comparative eschatology of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Been reading The Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing. A liberal reaction to dispensational theology (sort of). Basically, this gal watched the "Left Behind" series and wrote a book to refute it. Her work is a determined attempt to ignore the Bible's prophetic program, because it's too disturbing. Because she finds bloodshed repugnant, she simply re-interprets Scripture. When the Bible says, "War", it really means "Peace". When it says "Blood", it really means "Feathers and lollipops." When it says "Judgment", the proper interpretation is "Warm hugs."
Where DO these people come from? Why don't they just say, "I hate the Bible and I refuse to believe it!" At least that would be honest.
Anyways, Peter's coming over tonight, so soon you will be reading about my decisive victory over him.
Zanne and Joe went out to the property, and apparently they have laid down gravel where the footers will soon be poured. Wootness!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Fun Day of Teaching and Relaxing
Taught Revelation 19:11 ff today, and it's such an exciting part of Scripture. Almost too big to get our arms around it. It describes one of the most important events in the history of mankind: the Second Advent of Christ. And just as the Bible says will happen (2 Peter 3), many today scoff at Christians and claim that since Christ has not yet returned, He will never return. (A splendid piece of logic, that!) And yet we know that all prophecy and human history has been pointing toward that glorious and catastrophic day. I'm glad I'm on the right side of it!
At home group we studied Mark 12, and once again, I am so impressed with the insights that God has given the folks in our group. We are blessed with a great group of serious Bible students that love the Lord and each other. Had some great discussions on Jesus' confrontation with the religious turds in Jerusalem. Every time I study this part of the Bible, I come away more impressed with the majesty, restraint, wisdom, and love of our Hero. What an awesome ruler He will be when He arrives!
My gorgeous wife worked her butt off this weekend cleaning the house. Thanks, Babe!
At home group we studied Mark 12, and once again, I am so impressed with the insights that God has given the folks in our group. We are blessed with a great group of serious Bible students that love the Lord and each other. Had some great discussions on Jesus' confrontation with the religious turds in Jerusalem. Every time I study this part of the Bible, I come away more impressed with the majesty, restraint, wisdom, and love of our Hero. What an awesome ruler He will be when He arrives!
My gorgeous wife worked her butt off this weekend cleaning the house. Thanks, Babe!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Bob v. Peter, October, 1944
It's foggy. My men have to attack uphill into the teeth of Peter's German defense. My only chance of victory is to either penetrate his lines and race up the hill before he can stop me, or force him to surrender. The terrain is heavily wooded.
I broke my company into two sections--one under Sergeant White, one under Captain Stiner. White had a platoon with medium machineguns to act as my base of fire. Stiner's two platoons remained in a covered and concealed attack position to await LD time.
Peter set up a competent defense. He arranged a double belted minefield that blocked the avenue of approach to my right front. To my left front he had a platoon in reverse slope (so that my base of fire could not shoot at it). Echeloned back behind all that he had a fire group with his officer. They had one heavy machinegun and two lights.
I decided to make a move toward the minefield, hoping to bust through it before he could bring effective fire on my men. Sergeant White's platoon managed to stumble into wire and mines in their base of fire position, but no harm was done. Stiner's platoons approached the minefields, but they had made very slow progress through the woods, and time was running out.
Meanwhile, Peter moved his fire group over to intercept my attempt through the mines. At this point, I began calling down effective artillery fire whenever I could spot a target. I then decided to maneuver Stiner's guys back to the left, hoping to flank the minefields and scoot past the disrupted defenders in reverse slope.
Everything bogged down. I had good results from my artillery and machineguns, and I killed lots of Germans. But I couldn't get any momentum to get through his defenses, and the day ended with me scarcely halfway toward my objective.
Another big victory for Peter.
I broke my company into two sections--one under Sergeant White, one under Captain Stiner. White had a platoon with medium machineguns to act as my base of fire. Stiner's two platoons remained in a covered and concealed attack position to await LD time.
Peter set up a competent defense. He arranged a double belted minefield that blocked the avenue of approach to my right front. To my left front he had a platoon in reverse slope (so that my base of fire could not shoot at it). Echeloned back behind all that he had a fire group with his officer. They had one heavy machinegun and two lights.
I decided to make a move toward the minefield, hoping to bust through it before he could bring effective fire on my men. Sergeant White's platoon managed to stumble into wire and mines in their base of fire position, but no harm was done. Stiner's platoons approached the minefields, but they had made very slow progress through the woods, and time was running out.
Meanwhile, Peter moved his fire group over to intercept my attempt through the mines. At this point, I began calling down effective artillery fire whenever I could spot a target. I then decided to maneuver Stiner's guys back to the left, hoping to flank the minefields and scoot past the disrupted defenders in reverse slope.
Everything bogged down. I had good results from my artillery and machineguns, and I killed lots of Germans. But I couldn't get any momentum to get through his defenses, and the day ended with me scarcely halfway toward my objective.
Another big victory for Peter.
Some changes at work
My game of Mosby's Raiders that I've been reporting on has been terminated early, because I need the table space for tonight's wargame session.
The political axe has felled one of our contacts in the Pentagon, and our latest project is going by the wayside. The good news is that this will cut down on the number of trips to the Lab I have to take. Yay! I can shift my focus to writing about the evolution of strategy in the war on terror.
Dan Ryan is supposed to start building our house this week, but we'll see. The site supervisor, Rick, hinted that the house may not be done until late in June. (They had originally promised early to mid-June.) Of course, knowing what we know about builders, the whole project could take months longer than they promise, so we'll see. We're still pretty excited to FINALLY be owning a house again. It's been a long, difficult journey.
How 'bout that stock market, huh?
Peter's coming over tonight to wargame. Can't wait to beat him mercilessly.
Other than that, I'm up to Revelation 19 in Sunday School, and the end is in sight. Taught Mark 11 at home group and made a beer-basted corn beef brisket.
I had a VERY good day of eating right and working out. I've been slacking lately, but now I'm back on track.
The political axe has felled one of our contacts in the Pentagon, and our latest project is going by the wayside. The good news is that this will cut down on the number of trips to the Lab I have to take. Yay! I can shift my focus to writing about the evolution of strategy in the war on terror.
Dan Ryan is supposed to start building our house this week, but we'll see. The site supervisor, Rick, hinted that the house may not be done until late in June. (They had originally promised early to mid-June.) Of course, knowing what we know about builders, the whole project could take months longer than they promise, so we'll see. We're still pretty excited to FINALLY be owning a house again. It's been a long, difficult journey.
How 'bout that stock market, huh?
Peter's coming over tonight to wargame. Can't wait to beat him mercilessly.
Other than that, I'm up to Revelation 19 in Sunday School, and the end is in sight. Taught Mark 11 at home group and made a beer-basted corn beef brisket.
I had a VERY good day of eating right and working out. I've been slacking lately, but now I'm back on track.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Fourth Raid
I arrive at Union, north of Rector's Crossroads, and get the word out that I'm forming a raid. I get about the same number of recruits as last time. Meanwhile, the Yanks reinforce Winchester with a large force. Harry Gilmor and his partisans raid the B&O Railroad, with the result that the Yanks are alert now. But then I get a little good news: the Union boys have repaired all the railroad lines that I destroyed. But since their lines are still in disarray, I can go back in and destroy them again!
I need to be careful now. With the Yanks on high alert, I won't have much room for error. Hedgesville is wide open and a definite target. Charlestown is a bit riskier. Rappahannock Station is ungarrisoned, but there's a Union garrison at nearby Elk Run.
I decide to do Charlestown first, because after I start, my chance at surprise is going to decline. I might get away clean on my first raid. We'll see. Ha! Destroyed the rail line, and neither adjacent garrison pursued me. I destroy the rail at Hedgesville next and then countermarch to Rappahannock Station, where I destroy that rail line. Incredibly, the garrison at Elk Run stays put!
Exploiting the hole in the Union lines at Bristoe Station, I infiltrate through Brentsville, where a local informs me that there is a large garrison at Independence Hill.
For my last exploit I probe near Manassas Junction, triggering a massive pursuit. I race westward and hide at Rector's Crossroads. The Yanks that chased me left Manassas Junction completely uncovered. So as the Blue-Bellies wander through the countryside, I double-back and destroy the rail line there. I then sneak into Union Mills--also ungarrisoned--and burn the bridge there. A large body of troops gives chase from Centreville, and they defeat my little band, forcing me to disband and end the raid.
Still, I'm doing very well now.
I need to be careful now. With the Yanks on high alert, I won't have much room for error. Hedgesville is wide open and a definite target. Charlestown is a bit riskier. Rappahannock Station is ungarrisoned, but there's a Union garrison at nearby Elk Run.
I decide to do Charlestown first, because after I start, my chance at surprise is going to decline. I might get away clean on my first raid. We'll see. Ha! Destroyed the rail line, and neither adjacent garrison pursued me. I destroy the rail at Hedgesville next and then countermarch to Rappahannock Station, where I destroy that rail line. Incredibly, the garrison at Elk Run stays put!
Exploiting the hole in the Union lines at Bristoe Station, I infiltrate through Brentsville, where a local informs me that there is a large garrison at Independence Hill.
For my last exploit I probe near Manassas Junction, triggering a massive pursuit. I race westward and hide at Rector's Crossroads. The Yanks that chased me left Manassas Junction completely uncovered. So as the Blue-Bellies wander through the countryside, I double-back and destroy the rail line there. I then sneak into Union Mills--also ungarrisoned--and burn the bridge there. A large body of troops gives chase from Centreville, and they defeat my little band, forcing me to disband and end the raid.
Still, I'm doing very well now.
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