timbslim

I heard a can top pop open and peel back. A strange smell crossed my nose. I had smelled it before. All of a sudden, it came to me, Vienna Sausages. I was sitting on the Mall in Washington D.C. I was there for the 1997 Promise Keepers rally. There were over a million men that day. It was hot; that made the odor worse. I thought to myself, “Who in the world opens Vienna Sausages in the heat of the day on the Mall at D.C.?” I turned my head to look behind me. There was the culprit, Arnold Brown. I was reminded of this story when I saw a can of Vienna Sausages while traveling in the southern region of Afghanistan. At the sight of them, my memory was flooded with images and thoughts of a particular event and a wonderful person. Many of you don’t know Arnold. Arnold was an older man, at that time about 50 plus. I know that isn’t old for all you 50 year olds. But Arnold had aged a little more in his 50 years. Arnold had a slow intellect. He made up for it with heart. Somewh...

This is my message at a PFC’s Memorial recently. I have changed the names and locations due to OPSEC (Operational Security). I was on a mission in the Southern Region of Afghanistan. By God’s design, I met this Soldier as we were waiting on a bird to catch a ride out to the forward positions. It would be the last time I would see him alive. I rode shotgun in the vehicle with PFC Joe on the way to the holding tent in the Southern Region of Afghanistan. We were the first to arrive as I recall. I couldn’t see him in the vehicle. He sat directly behind me. We all talked about where we were from. I remember PFC Joe being from Louisiana. We got to the tent. I believe it was PFC David that asked if I knew how to play gin rummy. It had been 20 years since I had played. I attempted to play. It wasn’t going too well for me. Joe was playing just across from me. He was a vibrant young man. I remembered him saying that he was going to Ripley. Every time SSG Brown or someone woul...