Regimental Drink

Thanks to Tacoma Dave who left this comment regarding the 2nd Cavalry Regiment "Dragoons" on my last post. I thought this lesson in history and bartending deserved its own entry. At formal dinners in the Navy, we often have "grog" which violators of the rules of the Mess often must imbibe as part of their fine. In talking with the officers here in the Regiment, this unique drink apparently has the same flavor as grog, but certainly has history behind every ingredient. I can't say I'm looking forward to trying it, but I am looking forward to being in a place where I could try it! Enjoy!

From Tacoma Dave:

"Just so you know what kind of a unit you've gotten yourself into, the mixing of the Regimental Punch should give you some idea.

The punch is prepared using very specific ingredients that represent the many battles and campaigns that lace the rich history of the 2d Dragoons. Each ingredient reminds us of those who have gone before us, and the responsibility we have to continue the superb service to our nation. This service has gone uninterrupted since 1836.

The 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (now 2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment) was organized as the 2d Regiment of Dragoons in 1836 to fight the Seminole Indians in Florida. The Dragoons wore an eight pointed star as a cap ornament, which now forms the background of the Regimental Crest. The palmetto leaf superimposed on the star symbolizes the five years the Dragoons fought in the Everglades and swamps. Pour one-half bottle of Champagne and Red Wine over dry ice in commemoration of their baptism in battle.

One year after the Seminole Campaign, units of the Regiment added three more streamers to the Dragoon banner for battles against the Cheyennes, Nez Perces and Bannocks in the Southwest Territories. Pour Rye Whiskey over the dry ice to symbolize the taste for this drink which the troopers developed. Add Tequila for the fourteen campaigns fought in Mexico in 1846 and '47.

Kahlua is added for Captain May's headlong charge into the blazing Mexican artillery at Resaca de la Palma. “Remember your Regiment, and follow your officers!” called Captain May, and it became the motto of the Regiment.

During the Civil War, the 2d Dragoons officially became the 2d U.S. Cavalry Regiment and earned 14 battle streamers. The names remind us of the tremendous sacrifice of life of some of our nation’s toughest battles. These include Fredricksburg, Antitiem, Chancelorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Manassas, Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor. Sergeant Conrad Schmidt saved the life of his gravely wounded commander, Captain Rodenbough (a Medal of Honor recipient), at the battle of Winchester. At this time add Southern Comfort to the punch.

From 1866 to 1880, the Regiment once again did battle with the Indians in Wyoming, Kansas, Montana, and the Little Big Horn. In memory of this, add the last of the Champagne and Red Wine.

In 1898 the "2d Cav" entered the Spanish American War, fighting alongside Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. Now add Bacardi's Rum to represent the streamer for Santiago.

The Regiment entered World War I and was the only unit to fight as Cavalry -- horses and all. For such places as the Argonne and the Marne, add the French wine, Vieux Bordeaux. "Toujours Pret!" (Always Ready) was added to the Crest as well as the Fleur-de-lis.

Renamed the 2d Cavalry Group, Mechanized, the Regiment entered World War II, landing at Normandy in 1944, and led the advance of Patton's Third Army throughout the remainder of the war. In a daring raid through Russian lines in the closing days of the war, troopers from the Regiment rescued the famous Lipizzaner show horses from Russian forces. For these actions, now pour Napoleon Brandy.

The next campaign liquor put to use in this historical punch, Vodka, represents the Ryukyus battle fought at the close of World War II.

The Regiment was re-designated the 2d Constabulary Regiment and served in the German occupation. In 1948, it became the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment and began border duty along the longest stretch of the Iron Curtain patrolled by American Forces. Rhine Wine symbolizes the Central Europe campaign, the drive through Germany, and the long Cold War.

The next ingredient to add to your historical punch is that which sustained the fighting spirit and élan of the Regiment during its combat in the deserts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait -- Evian Water.

Flexibility and versatility are trademarks of the Second Dragoons, and the Regiment once again proved it in Haiti. As a member of the Multi-National Task Force, the Regiment had driven more accident-free miles, ate more dust and drank less beer than any other unit in recent memory. To commemorate our Haitian experience and the "two beer limit," add 2 Sharp’s Non-Alcoholic Beers as the final ingredient.

Now for the hardest job of all -- to drink this punch!!!

Note: Slivovitz has been added to the Regimental punch to represent the Regiments part in the peacekeeping effort in Bosnia. As of yet, I do not know of any change in the official ceremony to include this drink."

Combat Patch

Being a Naval Flight Officer, I am familiar with squadron patches. Every squadron has a unique patch worn on the flight suit or flight jacket that announces to everyone, you are a member of this team. Patches represent great pride and I almost got into a bar room fight over my patch (an Air Force officer took exception to the fact that his girlfriend thought my squadron's patch was "way more cool" than his - I can't help it that she was right! BTW, we ended up drinking together the rest of the night so sorry, no honor needed defending in this story. But I digress.) When I started to see soldiers in the new Army digital uniforms, I couldn't figure out why some only had one patch on the left arm and some had a patch on the left and right arms, but they were apparently patches from different units.

Since arriving in Iraq, I have learned the patch on the left arm represents the unit to which that soldier is currently assigned. The patch on the right arm represents any previous unit to which that soldier has been assigned while serving in a combat environment (the "combat patch"). Well, last night, I became a full-fledged member of 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment ("Dragoons") and was welcomed in during our Patch Ceremony by the unit Commander.

So, on my left arm I proudly wear the patch representing my Navy command here.



And now, rather than a blank expanse of green velcro, I now wear with equal (or admittedly greater) pride, the patch of my adopted Army unit, 2SCR.



Feels pretty good to be a part of this team involved in this fight.

Toujours Pret! ("Always Ready"), Pearl

Tiger Football

Fall and winter have always been my favorite times of the year. Part of it has to do with the climate (growing up in the South with such awful hot summers made me always appreciate cooler weather) but the bigger part has to do with the fact that many of the things I really enjoy occur at the end of the year, specifically football.

I absolutely love college football. When we moved back to Memphis one of the first things I did was buy season tickets for my family, and they are awesome tickets. We sit about 2/3 of the way up the stadium with a grand view of the complete field and we are right on the 40 yard line. Now Memphis is not known for its football prowess. As a matter of fact, I think we are the team other teams schedule for their homecoming so they can almost be assured of a win. But no matter, I love going to the games. My dad, who admittedly has been through even more crappy football games than I, will often leave when the predictable outcome is no longer in doubt, but my family and I stay to the bitter end.

Coincident with my return to Memphis was the rise of Tiger football, thanks in a large part to a fantastic running back, DeAngelo Williams, now with the Carolina Panthers. He was amazing to watch, with speed and agilty few players possess on their best career performances. And the best part was, Memphis began to win. And win. And win. They went to three consecutive bowl games and won two (I manged to go to the first two but was deployed for the third). Life was grand for the Tigers. Then, DeAngelo graduated.

Last year we were 1-11, although couched as a "rebuilding year" it seemed like the old days were back. This season is little better; we're 2-4. Sure there were the coulda, woulda, shoulda times, the single plays or series that could have turned the tide, but it seems like the Tigers are rarely on the good end of those moments. So, I sit here thousands of miles away, unable to watch the games, and cringing when I look at the scores Sunday morning. There is something even more disheartening having to suffer through the season from a distance, as backwards as that sounds. I love walking to the games, having a sweet tea and BBQ nachos, cheering and clapping for touchdowns, singing the fight song, and even saying on the way home, as we almost always do, "Well, there's always next year."

You can bet, regardless of this season's outcome, I'll be there in my seat next year, cheering the Tigers in person.

"Go Tigers Go, Go On To Victory,
Be A Winner Thru And Thru;
Fight Tigers, Fight Cause We're
Going All The Way --
Fight, Fight
For The Blue And Gray And Say --

Let's Go Tigers Go,
Go On To Victory.
See Our Colors Bright And True;
It's Fight Now Without A Fear,
Fight Now Let's Shout A Cheer,
Shout For Dear Memphis U."

Cheers, Pearl

Happy Birthday!

The U.S. Navy is 232 years old today! I have to admit, I never thought I'd be celebrating the Navy's founding in the company of a bunch of Army folks, but here I am enjoying the Sea Service's birthday in the middle of a desert!

October 13, 1775 is recognized as the day when the Continental Congress authorized two ships to be outfitted to interdict shipping and support General Washington's forces. In fact, Washington had already taken command of three vessels to support his operations so "approving" two more was quite an easy thing to do after the fact. From those humble beginnings and the Navy's mediocre performance during the Revolution, we have grown to claim unchallenged control of the seas today. Pretty awesome to think about it. And we even have time to loan the Army and Marines about 10,000 Sailors directly contributing to the ground war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm looking forward to the day when I'll see my fellow soldiers onboard a carrier for a deployment in the future, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

"When word of crisis breaks out in Washington, it's no accident the first question that comes to everyone's lips is: Where is the nearest carrier?" President Clinton

Go Navy!

Cheers, Pearl

Fun with Lieutenants

One thing about junior officers is, they are pretty much the same regardless of branch of service. They are usually hard working, industrious, capable, full of themselves, and very often, gullible.

Even here at war there are an abundance of meetings. I'd hoped to get away from at least that aspect of work while here but I think I spend more time in meetings now than back home. At one of the daily meetings I attend, there is a young First Lieutenant Intelligence Officer who is the poster child for the attributes of the opening paragraph. She knows she's the epitome of the first four adjectives; I felt obligated to demonstrate she also fit the fifth: gullible.

She came to Monday's meeting in a brand new uniform. New uniforms are easy to spot because it doesn't take long to get a uniform faded and dusty and her uniform was crisp and clean. As we were leaving the meeting I said, "I think when you put your uniform together, you put your insignia on upside down." She got an embarrassed look on her face and immediately looked to fix the problem. Remember I said she was a First Lieutenant? This is what 1LT insignia looks like:



Bad, mean Commander. He, he, he...

Cheers, Pearl