Fort Campbell maintains a large land mass for military maneuvers. However, the army has access to other areas for unique training experiences. The news that we would be convoying to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area gave us all a bit inspiration.
We spent about five hard days in the field. Things were pretty typical for training purposes. The exception was the fact that we occasionally ran into civilians. Somehow those that dawn uniforms often become problematic, to the rest of the world.
The first culture clash happened when we took some high ground. Of course we needed an M-60 machinegun crew to cover the access road. Within five minutes this hill was fully secured. However, tourist cars started driving up the road. Sitting on the knoll, I watched the faces of drivers, brought to the stark reality of a machinegun barrel aimed directly at them.
Some cars did a quick serve. They all tended toward knee jerk braking. This was an accident waiting to happen. But it was the panicked facial expressions that etched into my mind forever. Somehow, tourism and military exercises didn’t mix.
I think things came to a head when a station wagon ascended the hill. Two children were hanging onto the front seat (in the days before seatbelt laws) excitedly pointing toward us. I could read their lips through the windshield, “Mommy, Daddy, look!” I know they thought the children saw a rabbit or deer. Mom and dad did not expect to run into combat units on their family vacation.
Our officers quickly assessed that we were creating tourist havoc. We shifted away from the main roads, into less populated park areas. It was nice to see that we could make such a great first impression on our tax paying public. However, the park rangers probably heard an entirely different story.
I don’t know if you have ever smelled a man who has worked up a sweat for five days, without a shower. It’s best if everyone smells the same. The strategy is that everybody takes a shower…or nobody takes a shower. There is no practical middle ground.
Once we had achieved our military mission, whatever that was, we convoyed home. Our line of trucks began to pass by a diner. We were going at a typical convey snails pace. It was slow torture to pass that country diner, and that promising civilian food. Just as I was beginning to lose all hope, our enterprising officer stopped the convoy. My truck was actually closest to our objective.
Getting the go ahead for a quick break, I was one of the first inside the diner. There had to be twenty or so customers. I suspect they were dining regulars. Once they smelled us, they began to bail en mass exodus. Management gave us killer stares. Yet, we had more customers than a tourist bus! The regulars would tell their story of inconvenience tomorrow. Today was our day.
Our orders were simple. “Cheeseburgers all the way, Pepsi and fries” was the battle cry. Ketchup and mustard were gourmet by our standards; slices of lettuce took us to food heaven! We inhaled our chow and left. I don’t know if any of the other conveys stopped. I do know that if anyone else stopped that day, there wasn’t a burger to be had in that place…nor anything else edible!
We might have stunk to high heavens. But, we brought cash. Everyone said please and thank you. Our group was entirely courteous and thankful for a surprise break. Eating something besides typical c-rations was a nice end to unusual maneuvers.
Thinking back, it was good to run into a few civilians. I am sure that we inconvenienced their lives. However, they needed to see that soldiers sweat and maintain hard training to be our best. For them it was a walk in the park. For us…it was business.
Special thanks to that command officer for allowing the stop!
