World Travel

As we all know military assignments can be a blessing or a bust and we didn’t generally get to choose the best ones on the list. But recently I had some non-military house guests that were interested in some of the things I have collected thru the years of my travels and assignments in “foreign” countries.

Among others, there was an ornate carved wood jewelry box from Honduras, several glass Christmas tree ornaments from Egypt, ceramic beer mug from Germany, an onyx chess set from Spain, a walking cane from Greece, and a cross bow from Laos.

After they left, I thought about the memories associated with these items and my many military assignments. Somehow the unpleasant parts of a particular assignment gave way to the more positive memories like the pyramids in Egypt, black forest cake in France, warm beer in a British pub, scuba diving in the Gulf of Acaba, castles and Oktoberfest in Germany, painted cows in Austria, the world’s best pasta in Italy, R & R in Australia, camels in Saudi, Petra in Jordon, triple canopy jungle in South America, and ice covered everything in Greenland.

How many people besides the military can get to travel and enjoy other cultures in the world on someone else’s dime? Can anyone else add to the list of positive memories from assignments?

I can think of a lot of wonderful sites I saw while in the Military, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Phillipines, Wake Island, Guam, Panama, just to name a few. I too also got to do some diving of WWII wrecks off Tinian and Siapan. I will have many lasting memories. Unfortunately most of those that were bought or given to me and brought home, were lost in a storage shed fire some 20 years ago. But I will have the ones in my head and many pictures of places I had been.

I, too, thanks to my military time, traveled far and wide. The only problem is all those memories are locked in my head. Sharing that with someone is who hasn't been there, is difficult at best. That's one reason, camping at a Military camp ground is great, your close to those that have been there. It make sharing quite easy. The name of my first Motor home was "Makin Memories"
I'm now in "Makin Memories II".

dbentley

Our only overseas assignment was in Germany. But the exchange rate was great at the time and we traveled extensively around Europe. We bought a new caravan (trailer) and towed it with an older Mercedes Benz and camped everywhere. That 3 year assignment was worth the entire military career.

You are so right Skyking8 about trying to describe things around the world to those who have not been there. It's like offering your left hand in Egypt for a hand shake. Some people just can't grasp the gravity of it even after having it graphically explained to them. My brother-in-law got blown out of a fox hole in Korea and I'll never be able to envision his short trip and the landing. But he remembers the blast, his exit and landing and the extent of his damage. We just have to carry the memories, good and bad, for they are ours.

FastEagle

Actually, you would be surprised at how these memories and stories would be accepted by friends and family. My dad, who is 89 years old, had a very diverse and interesting life, although he never served in the military. He was pastoring a church during WWII and preacher's were exempt from the draft. After many years we got him to start putting down his memories and stories in writing. After a lot of work on my part of typing, editing, etc., we now have this in book form. Now he is already redoing it, adding all the stuff he left out the first time. Almost everyone who has read this first version has been touched and has asked for more.

Now is the time to think about putting down your stuff in written form. You're kids will love it. It does not have to be in perfect prose, just write like you'd tell it to someone. I am the youngest of my parents four sons and a lot of what is covered is before I was born. It is amazing how much I've learned about my parent, their parents, the great depression, etc. (BTW, it turns out my dad has seen more of the world and traveled to more places than I did in my 27 years of Naval Service.)