I am so not ready for Armageddon

[rodheadlee]

We ate most of our food supply while we were trapped in La Salina and during the lockdown. We don't go to the boat much since mom died so we're not even ready to escape to a deserted island.

Maybe we could have some prayer that Putin doesn't roll over the border into the Ukraine and turn the natural gas spigot off to Europe,  then China rolls into Taiwan. Turkey, Russia, Iran and the rest of the middle east countries roll into Israel. 

I cant even get a slip at ground zero,  it'll take a year to die of radiation poisoning in Ensenada. 

[Robert F. Smith]

2 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

.................. Turkey, Russia, Iran and the rest of the middle east countries roll into Israel. .........................

Turkey and Russia, and much of the Middle East (most of the Sunnis) want to get along with Israel.  The actual problem is that Israel may roll on Iran before we can put a new JCPOA into effect (if the Iranians are even willing).  The Jews do not want a JCPOA, are calling on all parties to abandon it now.

Putin knows that he can take swaths of Ukraine with ease, and Xi Jinping knows that he can take Taiwan.  In neither case will the USA lift a finger to defend those democracies.  We are not going to war.  There will be no Armageddon in the near future.  But there may be some small-scale wars in the interim.

[strappinglad]

Just make sure you have a desk you can get under, rod, because according to gov't films, that is all the protection you will, need.😬 

[rodheadlee]

5 hours ago, strappinglad said:

Just make sure you have a desk you can get under, rod, because according to gov't films, that is all the protection you will, need.😬 

I remember duck and cover from elementary school during the cold war. 

[rodheadlee]

12 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said:

Turkey and Russia, and much of the Middle East (most of the Sunnis) want to get along with Israel.  

Erdogan told Putin a couple of months ago they should go down together and teach those Jews a lesson. 

[Robert F. Smith]

 

[3DOP]

6 hours ago, rodheadlee said:

I remember duck and cover from elementary school during the cold war. 

Me too, Rod. Me too. First grade...maybe second...crawling under the desk drills. 1962 and '63. When we still had JFK and his loyal attorney general. Funny how I miss those innocent years...innocent for me anyway.   

God be with you Rod and all of us who are still around, who want to be good, who love Jesus who first loved us, and want His Father's kingdom to come.

Ready for Armageddon? Do our best and be at peace. We can only do so much...And our duty is not to survive at all cost. I am not against storing up. We have our survival supplies thanks to my Prov 31 girl. Still, I suggest that a mere "this life survival" approach is not obligatory, and maybe impossible. I see it as a consolation to accept what comes. Peace without fear is priceless. Why strive at all cost for what cannot be obtained? We must all die, and if you are like me, (I know you are) you are shorter of breath and one day closer to death. Whether it be from a global Armageddon, or an intense interior conflict, like your Mom and mine had just recently...no one escapes what Armageddon represents. 

Take care Rod, on water or on land. God bless you and yours. Be good, and pray for me.

Rory     

[Calm]

Right now, I am just hoping to be ready for Christmas and the new year. 

[MustardSeed]

I prep only for job loss.  I have no interest in surviving Armageddon. 

[Mike Drop]

On 12/4/2021 at 1:46 AM, rodheadlee said:

We ate most of our food supply while we were trapped in La Salina and during the lockdown. We don't go to the boat much since mom died so we're not even ready to escape to a deserted island.

Maybe we could have some prayer that Putin doesn't roll over the border into the Ukraine and turn the natural gas spigot off to Europe,  then China rolls into Taiwan. Turkey, Russia, Iran and the rest of the middle east countries roll into Israel. 

I cant even get a slip at ground zero,  it'll take a year to die of radiation poisoning in Ensenada. 

Rod, is your boat small enough you could trailer it to where you’re staying and set it up in your yard? Apparently, in ten years or so we’ll all being living on boats when the polar ice caps melt and when the shore line reaches your inland domicile you can just float away. Ten years is plenty of time to restock your vessel and prepare. I would suggest that you start watching the movie Waterworld and learning how to do everything Kevin Costner did in the movie. I’m already working on a contraption that turns urine into purified drinking water just like Kevin Costner had on his boat in water world. I have to admit though, I haven’t enjoyed taste testing the samples from my experimentation. Trying to perfect this dang contraption has really started to piss me off! Armageddon is at least ten years away. You have plenty of time.

Edited December 5, 2021 by Mike Drop

[longview]

At what point do you think the temple will be built in the latter day Old Jerusalem?  There are many scriptures that relate to it.

[rodheadlee]

13 hours ago, 3DOP said:

Me too, Rod. Me too. First grade...maybe second...crawling under the desk drills. 1962 and '63. When we still had JFK and his loyal attorney general. Funny how I miss those innocent years...innocent for me anyway.   

God be with you Rod and all of us who are still around, who want to be good, who love Jesus who first loved us, and want His Father's kingdom to come.

Ready for Armageddon? Do our best and be at peace. We can only do so much...And our duty is not to survive at all cost. I am not against storing up. We have our survival supplies thanks to my Prov 31 girl. Still, I suggest that a mere "this life survival" approach is not obligatory, and maybe impossible. I see it as a consolation to accept what comes. Peace without fear is priceless. Why strive at all cost for what cannot be obtained? We must all die, and if you are like me, (I know you are) you are shorter of breath and one day closer to death. Whether it be from a global Armageddon, or an intense interior conflict, like your Mom and mine had just recently...no one escapes what Armageddon represents. 

Take care Rod, on water or on land. God bless you and yours. Be good, and pray for me.

Rory     

My prayers are with you. Nice Floyd reference. 

[rodheadlee]

4 hours ago, Mike Drop said:

Rod, is your boat small enough you could trailer it to where you’re staying and set it up in your yard? Apparently, in ten years or so we’ll all being living on boats when the polar ice caps melt and when the shore line reaches your inland domicile you can just float away. Ten years is plenty of time to restock your vessel and prepare. I would suggest that you start watching the movie Waterworld and learning how to do everything Kevin Costner did in the movie. I’m already working on a contraption that turns urine into purified drinking water just like Kevin Costner had on his boat in water world. I have to admit though, I haven’t enjoyed taste testing the samples from my experimentation. Trying to perfect this dang contraption has really started to piss me off! Armageddon is at least ten years away. You have plenty of time.

It would take a big trailer and a big rig. Watch the movie Romancing the Stone at the very end of the movie when the sailboat is getting trailed through New York City that's our sailboat.

[rodheadlee]

2 hours ago, longview said:

At what point do you think the temple will be built in the latter day Old Jerusalem?  There are many scriptures that relate to it.

I don't know I have to think about it. That scenario I laid out in the opening post pretty much follows Ezekiel and Daniel. Well at least as I have come to know them.

[rodheadlee]

4 hours ago, Mike Drop said:

Rod, is your boat small enough you could trailer it to where you’re staying and set it up in your yard? Apparently, in ten years or so we’ll all being living on boats when the polar ice caps melt and when the shore line reaches your inland domicile you can just float away. Ten years is plenty of time to restock your vessel and prepare. I would suggest that you start watching the movie Waterworld and learning how to do everything Kevin Costner did in the movie. I’m already working on a contraption that turns urine into purified drinking water just like Kevin Costner had on his boat in water world. I have to admit though, I haven’t enjoyed taste testing the samples from my experimentation. Trying to perfect this dang contraption has really started to piss me off! Armageddon is at least ten years away. You have plenty of time.

I have a water maker on board. That'll make 6 gallons an hour of fresh water out of salt water or urine water or whatever. You can get the hand pump model. It's called the Survivor 06. It used to be manufactured by Katadyn.

 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

On 12/4/2021 at 1:46 AM, rodheadlee said:

We ate most of our food supply while we were trapped in La Salina and during the lockdown. We don't go to the boat much since mom died so we're not even ready to escape to a deserted island.

Maybe we could have some prayer that Putin doesn't roll over the border into the Ukraine and turn the natural gas spigot off to Europe,  then China rolls into Taiwan. Turkey, Russia, Iran and the rest of the middle east countries roll into Israel. 

I cant even get a slip at ground zero,  it'll take a year to die of radiation poisoning in Ensenada. 

I say this, not by way of alluding to any politics of the day, but as former military (Army) who lived and served on the East/West German border, from 78-81. While serving there, we were encouraged to study German History, something I wanted to do already. In fact, shortly after I received orders to serve in (what was then) West Germany , while still Stateside, I had already started began my studies. Also before leaving to serve, we were encouraged to study the German language. Also I continued to serve for an additional four years after returning Stateside. While serving on the border, any (and I mean, any) hick-up, almost anywhere in the world, even the Middle East, we would be put on alert. This would mean, leaving our families in base housing, while we moved into nearby forest, and along the border in the event that the Russians would take advantage of any chaos, elsewhere in the world. This was before the days of cell phones, so our wife’s and children would not know how long we would be gone. However, even in the day and age, cell phones would be probably be taken away, if it was anything but an exercise, to insure the enemy could not listen on phone calls. Of course the Russians knew almost everything anyway, as they too “could and would” monitor troop movements, not to mention German spires who told them everything they could. I remember when the failed rescue of the hostages in Iran happened, we were gone for weeks.
 

 I have always loved World History, so it took little encouragement for me to study much of European history. Anyway, as most know today, when the German’s hosted the Olympics in the 1936, it seemed like it was a “hot minute” after the Olympics when they began the build up to invade Poland in 1939. This of course was the beginning of WWII, which facilitated their eventual defeat, and the breakup of Germany. Which of course is why I was serving on the border of that divided Nation. Then after WWII, in 1949 came the formation of NATO. Now Russian fears that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Or this is their “so-called” excuse for the current build up. In reality they want their former Eastern Block Nations back. I point all of this out, because not long after China hosts the Olympics in February 2022, it will be just another “hot minute”, until they attack, or frighten Taiwan into being annexed into Mainland China. Once this happens, Russia will use this chaos to invade Ukraine, knowing our attention will be deviled.
 

Ironically, there was a book released a few decades ago, where the author used my very Squadron, and area of the border where I served. He wrote that WWIII would begin when Russia will attack through the “Fulda Gap”. This is the area of the East/West German border that my Squadron was responsible to patrol, in which I served. Also that we would be the first casualties of WWIII. I can’t remember the name of the book, it has been decades since reading it. 
 

Anyway, get ready…what you fear and speak of, is coming sooner rather than later. Oh, sorry for the long worded reply. But, to your point, no one is or ever will be prepared, at least mentally. 

[Olmec Donald]

16 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

Ironically, there was a book released a few decades ago, where the author used my very Squadron, and area of the border where I served. He wrote that WWIII would begin when Russia will attack through the “Fulda Gap”. This is the area of the East/West German border that my Squadron was responsible to patrol, in which I served. Also that we would be the first casualties of WWIII. I can’t remember the name of the book, it has been decades since reading it.

Was it "Red Storm Rising" by Tom Clancy? 

I remember those tense days and years all too well.  WOW.  Fulda Gap would have been either the trip-wire or ground zero, depending on whether the Soviets opened the show with tanks or nukes.   Thank you sir.

There was a political cartoon from the 80's that I recall, back when there was talk of the "neutron bomb".  The setting is presumably the Fulda Gap. The one soldier says to his commanding officer, "Soviet tanks columns are approaching, Sir!  Should we use the Neutron Bomb?"  The commanding officer replies, "No, that would be cruel and inhumane."  Then he issues the order, "Fix armor-piercing bayonets!"

The phrase "Fix armor-piercing bayonets!" is what comes to mind when I think of the situation you guys were in. 

Seriously, what was your game plan, other than "die with honor"? 

(edit:  To you women, this stuff probably seems boring.  But while ya'll are thinking, "How do I comfort my friend who has just been un-friended on her main social media platform?", we guys are thinking, "How do I stop a tank?")

Edited December 7, 2021 by Olmec Donald

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

13 hours ago, Olmec Donald said:

Was it "Red Storm Rising" by Tom Clancy? 

I remember those tense days and years all too well.  WOW.  Fulda Gap would have been either the trip-wire or ground zero, depending on whether the Soviets opened the show with tanks or nukes.   Thank you sir.

There was a political cartoon from the 80's that I recall, back when there was talk of the "neutron bomb".  The setting is presumably the Fulda Gap. The one soldier says to his commanding officer, "Soviet tanks columns are approaching, Sir!  Should we use the Neutron Bomb?"  The commanding officer replies, "No, that would be cruel and inhumane."  Then he issues the order, "Fix armor-piercing bayonets!"

The phrase "Fix armor-piercing bayonets!" is what comes to mind when I think of the situation you guys were in. 

Seriously, what was your game plan, other than "die with honor"? 

(edit:  To you women, this stuff probably seems boring.  But while ya'll are thinking, "How do I comfort my friend who has just been un-friended on her main social media platform?", we guys are thinking, "How do I stop a tank?")

We knew that our sole responsibility was to slow down any Soviet invasion, this so both the German “Army’s, Air Force”, along with the U.S. and NATO’s, “Army’s, Air Force”, so they could attempt to make their stand, on the West Side of the “Rhine River”. We were supposed to fight and die, giving everyone in the NATO Forces to blow up all bridges along the Rhine River, in the event it was a “Conventional War”, with “Tanks and Infantry”. The Soviet would probably be opposed to using NUKES, since they would want to inhabit the land and infrastructure should they were able to take control if they could. Historically, for centuries, the Rhine River has been an effective stopgap for many invading forces, including Rome.   
 

The most unnerving part of our mission, while living and stationed there, was our hope was that our families could be evacuated soon enough, so they would not find themselves suddenly living on a battlefield. So we were always very aware that our families, located just off base, were “like us all”, only about 20 miles from the border we patrolled. An great object lesson to remember, for those who never served, or use our service to this Nation, as a punchline in any and all “bad jokes”. The border was a very high black fence that was dubbed the “Iron Curtain”. This fence located about 50 meters inside of East Germany. It was not there to keep people out, but designed to keep people in. The fence had mines located (or mounted) on the inside of the fence, so that if someone seeking to escape, would meet with shrapnel, and death. The purpose of having the fence located  inside the real border, was to instill the idea into the heads of those seeking freedom, into “believing they were in the clear, and free”. This way they would drop their guard. This would allow the Soviet’s, or East German’s they trusted, to open fire. This way they could kill escapees, without causing an international incident. Once, I decided to go down to the actual border, marked with simple white posts, while I pretended to have engine problems with my Jeep. Suddenly, two Soviet Military soldiers pulled up, one using binoculars, (although I was only about 50 meters away) so I covered my name tag, while the other pointed an AK-47 right at me. BTW, having an AK-47 pointed at you, at such short range, is very intimidating; VERY INTIMIDATING! Also, being a Sargent in the Army, I could have been busted, so (to say the least), I never spoke of it, nor did the guy which I outranked. Of course, I should have not have done this with someone who had to follow orders. But, it was quite a rush, and really a stupid thing to do. 
 

Anyway, sorry once again for the long winder history lessons, with my added commentary about my service in the Army. I know that I do not write well, and should limit the size of my posts, which are not very popular to most. I know better than to post threads or replies so long. I am trying to stop rambling on so much. I know I do not posses the skills that endear myself to this world meant for the scholarly, and those with considerable “education, wit, and charm”. I am trying to limit myself to few sentences, and the Social Forums of many websites. I have thankfully dropped out of many forums like this one. But, I just thought, with this topic, I had a chance to contribute, both due to study, and actual experience. 
 

Anyway, I thank you for your reply to my post. Also, I pray you have a Merry Christmas, also health and happiness to all those you love. 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

On 12/5/2021 at 12:54 AM, Calm said:

Right now, I am just hoping to be ready for Christmas and the new year. 

Worthy goals, I do as well. This Sunday was a good day, thankfully as a result of raising my children in the Church and building a tradition of Sunday Dinners, regardless of what is happening in the world. I noticed that, despite large age differences, because my oldest child and my youngest, being 16.5 years apart. I watched how (even though my two oldest, despite have adult children. they take the time to sit each Sunday, and talk like they are the best of friends, which they are thankfully, they are truly best friends. When I am able to attend Church (depending on the Sunday), our once tiny family, sit together, or attempt to do so, as our tiny beginnings 46+ years ago, has now grown to 19. This 19 family members who truly love one another, also truly enjoy one another’s company, after Church, and even after Church, and throughout the week. Often, I will call one of my sons seeking help, only to hear, “I am helping Sonya, or Alicia, or Caleb, or Joshua, but I will come by afterwards”. I thank God for my children, my grandchildren, who range from 3 years to 21 years, and my dear wife who is the glue that holds us all together. Indeed, “my cup runneth over”. 
 

We have weathered so much, which grants me much strength. This Christmas should, and will be great. My wife, children, and grandchildren”, are worried about my surgery on the 28th. But I am trying to assure then “all is well”, and even if “all is not well physical”. All I know, is that I am happy now, and will not allow this Christmas to be ruined by “fear and speculation”, so I tell then, “I decree that this will be a wonderful Christmas”. To quote a line from the movie, “The Ten Commandments”…”So let it be written, so let it be done”. So “Calm”, I pray that you will be ready for Christmas and New Year, and I pray it will be wonderful. 
 

God bless you, and should I have not other opportunity, (as I go for pre-op tomorrow). Merry Christmas, and to quote, Tiny Tim” (the Charles ****erson), “God bless us everyone”.  

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

Anyway, sorry once again for the long winder history lessons, with my added commentary about my service in the Army.

Nah, keep sharing.  This is fun.  And you tell it well.  A certain rhythm to it.  Catches me up into it.

Edited December 7, 2021 by Calm

[Calm]

53 minutes ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

even though my two oldest, despite have adult children

I feel like a late bloomer now.  You are only a year older than me, but my son’s oldest is 16.

Quote

This 19 family members who truly love one another, also truly enjoy one another’s company, after Church, and even after Church, and throughout the week.

You did well, PaPa.  One of my greatest joys and blessings is how much my two have always loved being with each other.  I am so grateful knowing my daughter has a home when my husband and I can no longer care for her where she will be seen as a wanted and contributing full participant no matter how little she leaves her room, not just an invalid who is there out of duty and charity.  Hopefully though, medicine will have figured out how to better help her by then and she will no longer qualify for the ‘disabled’ label.  That it exists with all your children is a real treasure…unfortunately that isn’t as common as it should be (my husband’s family is like that, but mine aren’t that close outside my older sister who is able to connect with everyone, one sibling has even disowned the rest of us).

Quote

 “God bless us everyone”. 

Amen.

Edited December 7, 2021 by Calm

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

4 hours ago, Calm said:

I feel like a late bloomer now.  You are only a year older than me, but my son’s oldest is 16.

You did well, PaPa.  One of my greatest joys and blessings is how much my two have always loved being with each other.  I am so grateful knowing my daughter has a home when my husband and I can no longer care for her where she will be seen as a wanted and contributing full participant no matter how little she leaves her room, not just an invalid who is there out of duty and charity.  Hopefully though, medicine will have figured out how to better help her by then and she will no longer qualify for the ‘disabled’ label.  That it exists with all your children is a real treasure…unfortunately that isn’t as common as it should be (my husband’s family is like that, but mine aren’t that close outside my older sister who is able to connect with everyone, one sibling has even disowned the rest of us).

Amen.

Thank you for your comment, that “I did well”. Maybe I had a hand in it. But, I suspect that I married well, and God just blessed me with wonderful children, as He knows my many weaknesses. I also thankful of the teachings of the Church. My one constant was doing all I could to make sure my children were in Church every Sunday, at every youth activities, including firesides, and every Temple trip. Because of my biological father, was such a bad example, I made every attempt to be the opposite example. Also, having been born with my bio-father’s last name of “Nation”, I was blessed beyond measure to have a man who took us in, adopted us, and gave us his last name of “Lee”. Therefore, I was able as much as possible to mirror my adopted Father’s example. He was a Minister, and a very Godly man. However, the best thing I did was marry well, to a wonderful woman. This does not mean we did not have our differences, because for most of our marriage (these 46 years) almost all we did was, “make love, or make war”. But, no matter what, our children came first. When I met her, she already had a little girl, named Sonya. So, due to my Father’s example of adopting me, it was easy and came naturally for me to adopt my oldest.
 

In fact, taking her, and making her my own, was the best thing I ever did. I have not only reviewed five wonderful grandchildren from her. It is the greatest thing I have ever done, and because of it, to quote King David, “surely God will not leave my soul in Hell”. In fact, I could not love her more, than if I had given birth to her myself. She was so small when I adopted her, she has never known another Father. In fact, words like, “half brother, or half sister”, have no meaning in our home. Shortly after being ordained an Elder in the Church, I became a member of the Branch Presidency. I was then encouraged to give her a name and a blessing, when my first biological son was very young. I told my friend and Branch President, as the adoption proceedings who moving slowly Stateside, because I was serving in West Germany. After he asked the second time, I was told I should go ahead and bless my son Joshua, and then Sonya with the adoption was finalized. I then told him, “Mike, I love you, but I will bless them both with the name “Lee”, or I won’t bless them at all”. Therefore we waited, and not long after, we were able to be sealed together as the “Lee Family” in the Swiss Temple. Making her my own, is one of the greatest things I have ever done. She is my blood, and a large part of my soul. In about 11 more months, her daughter Macy, my oldest granddaughter will serve a mission, just as her Mother Sonya did, as well as her Father, who married my daughter. In fact, she is so determined to serve a mission, my heart is already breaking into. In fact, I don’t know how my tender heart can take it. I think I need to find a “Convent” to take he is before she leaves, if I can find a way to get around the “Catholic thing”. 🤣 I just need all my babies near me, I don’t do well with my kids and grandkids being too far way! 

[Olmec Donald]

8 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

We knew that our sole responsibility was to slow down any Soviet invasion... We were supposed to fight and die, giving everyone in the NATO Forces time to blow up all bridges along the Rhine River...

So you guys were just a "speed bump", and you knew it. 

8 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

The most unnerving part of our mission, while living and stationed there, was our hope was that our families could be evacuated soon enough, so they would not find themselves suddenly living on a battlefield. So we were always very aware that our families, located just off base, were “like us all”, only about 20 miles from the border we patrolled. An great object lesson to remember, for those who never served, or use our service to this Nation, as a punchline in any and all “bad jokes”. The border was a very high black fence that was dubbed the “Iron Curtain”. This fence located about 50 meters inside of East Germany. It was not there to keep people out, but designed to keep people in. The fence had mines located (or mounted) on the inside of the fence, so that if someone seeking to escape, would meet with shrapnel, and death. The purpose of having the fence located  inside the real border, was to instill the idea into the heads of those seeking freedom, into “believing they were in the clear, and free”. This way they would drop their guard. This would allow the Soviet’s, or East German’s they trusted, to open fire. This way they could kill escapees, without causing an international incident. Once, I decided to go down to the actual border, marked with simple white posts, while I pretended to have engine problems with my Jeep. Suddenly, two Soviet Military soldiers pulled up, one using binoculars, (although I was only about 50 meters away) so I covered my name tag, while the other pointed an AK-47 right at me. BTW, having an AK-47 pointed at you, at such short range, is very intimidating; VERY INTIMIDATING! Also, being a Sargent in the Army, I could have been busted, so (to say the least), I never spoke of it, nor did the guy which I outranked. Of course, I should have not have done this with someone who had to follow orders. But, it was quite a rush, and really a stupid thing to do.    

I had forgotten about that “no man's land” this side of the actual Iron Curtain, where people who made it over the Wall itself would be shot before reaching West German territory. I don't think kids today have any idea of just how bad a regime can be when it doesn't have to answer to voters.

Very glad your encounter with the Soviets ended peacefully! And, what a great story!! I hope the guy you were with enjoys looking back on it too. And who knows, maybe that Soviet soldier was just as nervous as you guys, and is now telling his grandkids about that time when he was all that stood between the US Army and the Motherland.

 

8 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I know I do not posses the skills that endear myself to this world meant for the scholarly...

When's the last time one of our esteemed scholars stared into the muzzle of an AK-47 and locked eyes with the soldier aiming it at him?  Yeah.  You got skills... and you-know-whats...

8 hours ago, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

Anyway, I thank you for your reply to my post. Also, I pray you have a Merry Christmas, also health and happiness to all those you love. 

Thank you sir, health and happiness and a Merry Christmas (and a successful operation!) to you and yours. 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

20 hours ago, Olmec Donald said:

So you guys were just a "speed bump", and you knew it. 

All too well. 

[rodheadlee]

On 12/6/2021 at 5:26 PM, Bill “Papa” Lee said:

I say this, not by way of alluding to any politics of the day, but as former military (Army) who lived and served on the East/West German border, from 78-81. While serving there, we were encouraged to study German History, something I wanted to do already. In fact, shortly after I received orders to serve in (what was then) West Germany , while still Stateside, I had already started began my studies. Also before leaving to serve, we were encouraged to study the German language. Also I continued to serve for an additional four years after returning Stateside. While serving on the border, any (and I mean, any) hick-up, almost anywhere in the world, even the Middle East, we would be put on alert. This would mean, leaving our families in base housing, while we moved into nearby forest, and along the border in the event that the Russians would take advantage of any chaos, elsewhere in the world. This was before the days of cell phones, so our wife’s and children would not know how long we would be gone. However, even in the day and age, cell phones would be probably be taken away, if it was anything but an exercise, to insure the enemy could not listen on phone calls. Of course the Russians knew almost everything anyway, as they too “could and would” monitor troop movements, not to mention German spires who told them everything they could. I remember when the failed rescue of the hostages in Iran happened, we were gone for weeks.
 

 I have always loved World History, so it took little encouragement for me to study much of European history. Anyway, as most know today, when the German’s hosted the Olympics in the 1936, it seemed like it was a “hot minute” after the Olympics when they began the build up to invade Poland in 1939. This of course was the beginning of WWII, which facilitated their eventual defeat, and the breakup of Germany. Which of course is why I was serving on the border of that divided Nation. Then after WWII, in 1949 came the formation of NATO. Now Russian fears that Ukraine will become a member of NATO. Or this is their “so-called” excuse for the current build up. In reality they want their former Eastern Block Nations back. I point all of this out, because not long after China hosts the Olympics in February 2022, it will be just another “hot minute”, until they attack, or frighten Taiwan into being annexed into Mainland China. Once this happens, Russia will use this chaos to invade Ukraine, knowing our attention will be deviled.
 

Ironically, there was a book released a few decades ago, where the author used my very Squadron, and area of the border where I served. He wrote that WWIII would begin when Russia will attack through the “Fulda Gap”. This is the area of the East/West German border that my Squadron was responsible to patrol, in which I served. Also that we would be the first casualties of WWIII. I can’t remember the name of the book, it has been decades since reading it. 
 

Anyway, get ready…what you fear and speak of, is coming sooner rather than later. Oh, sorry for the long worded reply. But, to your point, no one is or ever will be prepared, at least mentally. 

My best friend was stationed in Gelnhausen 74-76. 1st battalion 46th infantry. He was a Fulda gap speed bump too. They were supposed last for 2 days. 

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by rodheadlee