30 Years - Now and Then - Fort Irwin
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2024
- This video started out to be nothing more than a past Time of mine editing video footage in order to entertain myself, since I do not subscribe to TV.
As Time went on, I began to realize a small story taking shape that involved myself and a person I once knew and served with in the U.S. Army.
Robert Solonika.
He is not pictured in this video, however he is focused on none the less and was news worthy in January 1982 unfortunately.
The Time was now, and 30 years ago. My neighbor Rick, obits.ocregist... who served in the U.S. Marines during the same time period as I in the Army, was riding shotgun with me during this re-visit of my past which I'm glad he could attend.
Ironically, the 1st Infantry Division, which I was assigned to from
1980-1982, was on base at Fort Irwin to exercise maneuvers in the following days.
The gentleman at the beginning, (standing next to Rick, at the Rock Pile), was also in the Army in the late 70's assigned to 172 Infantry Brigade Fort Wainwright Alaska, as I was, after Fort Riley.
It was a very nice day at Fort Irwin during this captured video, just like it was during these captured still photos in January1982. Driving an M113A1 APC.
And Time Moves On.....
2012
Me
www.militarymus...
.
to all of the men and women who trained at
Fort Irwin and fought
for freedom for this
great nation and to those men and women who continue to wear the uniform of the United States proudly and
sincerely and a the branches who may have
trained at Fort Irwin, I want to say what an awesome job you have some and continue to do
honoring this country
keep up the awesome job of defending freedom
🙌 I was hoping to see our old rock. Didn't have to wait long @ 1:57
Thanks
I was out there from '97-'99 w/F Trp 2/11,different Army back then,good times.
Thanks for sharing this video. My dad lost his life in an M113 accident out there on 18 July 1982. I have heard a lot about NTC and watching this video gave me an opportunity to see it. Thank you!
Thank you to all that have served, past and present.
Antwan Jones I nearly flipped over a M 113 travelling down hill on a back road from camp Roberts to fort Hunter Ligget near lake San Antonio I was in the California Nat'l guard back in the 90s I almost killed myself & another soldier, I never did receive proper training for operating any track vehicle, sorry to hear about your father .
So sorry to hear about your dad. I spent 4 years from 88-92 there. We lost one 1LT. flipped over Soviet VMP a mod Sheridan during night mission. NTC training is not a joke. The only joke around here are the blank ammo and MILES laser equipments.
@@czealtamahawk1228 I rotated thru there three times in '86-'87 (insane pace toward end of Reagan years, with giant Cold War budget). Word was we (the Bde) lost one man each time to either rollovers or some kid fell asleep in his fighting position and was crushed. I was surprised it wasn't more. No joke, indeed.
I am do sorry to hear about your dad. I was assigned there before it was activated on 1 July 1981. After some time as the AG NCOIC I was reassigned to the Postal Operations section. Our office got all the initial phone calls from the news outlets due to we were the Post Locator anytime there was a death. While I was assigned there I believe every rotation lost at least one soldier. Gallant Eagle 82 was horrible.
Moved beyond all expectation ER - speechless... Humbled by what you've shared with us, moved and filled with tremendous appreciation for our armed services. Honor, dignity, courage... gives me hope for the world my daughter will inherit. Thank you for sharing this slice of your life with us.
My husband and I were there for three years. 2006-2009. He was first cav. I fell in love with the desert and still miss it terribly. I want to buy a home near there.
I was stationed here in 1983 then went to South Korea for a year. Thank you for sharing this. It sure brought back memories. I belonged to 31st Maint Co
Same here. I was there from 1980 to 1982. I remember 31 Maint, 6/31 Infantry, 1/73 Armor, 11th Military Intelligence, and 581 Maint. I believe their were more Companies, but those were the ones I remember. Thank you for serving.
Thank you so.much for your video. I spent 4 years in that hell hole. I didn't realize the impact of what we did back then until after the wars in Iraq. I was with A 1/52nd whhhoooaaa!!!!! 13 rotation out in a year. Still have that sense of urgency and adrenalin watching this video. Loool!
OPFOR, 177th Armored Brigade - 87th Engineer Co. 1986 - 1989. Wow! This video takes me back to some of the best times of my life. Thank you.
Was an Observer-Controller from 1994 to 1998 love this video.
I still have the original opfor uniforms. four years at camp/Ft. Irwin 1/63 Armor hooaah!!!
Whats up huss
I was in 1st platoon
E Co 1/52 1989-1991. The desert can be a strange and awe inspiring place.
Yes it can. ruclips.net/video/en34vyedPkQ/видео.html
Dude, I was in Echo 1/52 from 87-90, who are you?
Sad to hear about your friend. Only 20 he'd be my exact age now if he lived. When I was there for 3 1/2 years we had 3 fatalities all dealing with vehicles none in Live Fire.
The Outer Limits bar. Always remember going in. Never remember leaving. Ha ha ha.
Stationed here from 88-92 19kilo (Tanker) OPFOR !!!
Whats up
I did 2 rotations, in 1987 & 88 with HHT 3/3 ACR out of Ft. Bliss, Tx.
Gawd hated wearing miles gear, always got caught up in the camouflage nets. It was always fun sharing a shelter half with your stinky battle buddy in the dust bowl.
I remember doing training here in 2010. 2-4 FAR. Outlaws!
Was there from 1987 to 1989 with the 1/164th Chemical Platoon, 177th Support Bn., Dust Devils! Good times!
My dad was Provost Marshall out there 1980-84. I loved growing up at that base!
I believe I know him. Was he Major Sim ? I was an MP on Fort Irwin from October 1980 to the Spring of 1981. I wasn't cut out for being one and got removed from that capacity by him. No hard feelings though. He actually did me a favor by doing that. I was just curious if Major Sim was your Dad.
Just between you and I, Maj. Sim was a prick lol. My dad was the big bald dude named Capt. Wrany. My dad did not work well with Sim.
@@1tactundra140 😂😂😂 Yeah, I heard they didn't get along well. I remember Captain Wrany. He was kinda quiet, didn't say a lot, but I believe was very smart. When we first got the light bars for the vehicles, he installed every last one of them, like 10 of them. When I look back, I believe your Dad was a humble man. Thanks for replying to my initial message.
Man that’s funny. I totally remember helping my dad in our base house on Antietam St, when he did those light bars lol.
Hell, I remember going on a hike one day and my best friend and I ended up in the side of a mountain over looking a bunch of hills. Not knowing it was an ammo dump, 4 MP cars showed up and asked who we were. When I stated my dad was Capt. Wrany, I remember the MPs like totally freaking out that they found there commanders kid lol
Did you know or remember Sgt Rick Lawhorn?
I was stationed there from Oct 82 - Oct 83. CSC 6th/31st. This video brought back some good memories.
+Salsero Viejo I was with 1/73 Dining Facility from 83-86. lived in the old barracks then moved to new a/c barracks. Housing was nice. never drank so much beer while there. Loved that place.
Ra fico I was 6th/31st.
Ra fico , hey I was 6/ 31st mess hall and field, what a journey, 83 to 85
@@jefferyswingle9285 I was 31st mess hall and infantry at the same time as you !! drank about constantly as I say what a trip
I drove a Gama Goat straight up those mountains to set up 292 antennas with S-3, FDC. 5th ID 2/21 FA, 86'-87' Desert Raider 3 and 4
Stationed at Camp Irwin 5th Inf Div. 1979 (Operation Steel Scorpion) & Camp Irwin to Ft Irwin C Co. 6/31st Inf OPFOR 1981-83. Thx for the vid. That place sure has changed since we opened it.
I went 35 days undefeated at spades, and then lost to a mechanic who took my battle buddy as a partner on the last day. It was a good run.
30 yrs is just about right since I was last there. During the easy 80s when nothing was happening.
I was infantry and mess hall 1983 and 84 ,what a trip
I was stationed there from 1981-83 assigned to 1/73 armor, B co. We were the OPFOR with the modified M551's and Miles gear. Lived in the metal Quonset hut barracks. Best place I've been stationed. Good to see what it has evolved to.
67britbiker We may have crossed paths there in Jan. 1982 ...OORAH!
hi their my name is Richard Jimenez I was on the live fire range and witnessed the accident that took the life of a very good friend and fellow soildier PFC Robert Solonika if you could please contact me at rj2jim@gmail.com it would be greatly appreciated I have been battling for years over this and if you recall the incident I would really love to talk with you or anyone else who would have been their at that time the incident occurred on January 24th during an evening live fire exercise I was in a APC in the lane next to his my son is the one that ran across your post and alerted me to it so if you were their from 81-83 please email me I also posted up above this one thank you so much.
Wow! Things have really changed from when I went there back in 1983! There was no city fighting!, it was all about fighting the Russians out in the open desert. Trying to dig in a TOW system every night was a pain in the ass. MOPP4 during every battle! The OPFOR would always over run us. 1991 I went to Desert Storm, same soup different bowl!
TF 4-68 Armor from FCC became the first and only Armor TF to defeat OPFOR 9-0, we returned 2 yrs later to go 7-2. The difference in leadership was vastly different, good times.
OPFOR, 177th Armored Brigade 1989 to 1994 - 68 Rotations, Nice video.
A Co 1/63 Ar Bn. 89-91
1990-1993.....87th engineer co
I was Dco 1/52INF from 1988 to 1994.
excellent
I first came to Fort Irwin when it was a National Guard base 2nd of the 7 th Cav Ist Cav Division was the first active Army Unit to train in Irwin October 1976 to Dec 1976 we had to use National Guard 113s that had gas engines and M48 tanks
Dang it all to H-E-double hockey sticks. I can't find a shot of my painting on the Rock Pile to save my life....... and it's one of the biggest ones there. 🤣
I went in the spring of' '88. Buck 94 outta Knox. We landed at Norton then rode a bus to the base. Stayed in the Dust Bowl for 3 days. I rode with the Brigade TOC. The OPFOR kicked our ass promptly at every engagement. Red and Blue. Gotta a card from an OC Captain still today.
My dad was out there in 82 for Gallant Eagle. Got lucky on the jump in.
I totally remember Galant Eagle! My dad took a senior NCO who got pretty banged up in the jump to the hospital in his MP patrol car
Hell I even remember the murder on base my dad had to investigate! I loved living there as a kid
Army brat there from 81-83.
Stepfather was a signal company commander.He asked me if I wanted to go see one of the largest single air drop deployments since WWIi. So I watched Gallant Eagle occur downrange and was shocked by the enormous magnitude and resulting tragedy. But before the aircraft arrived, I remembered hearing the troops and personnel speculation regarding the high desert winds that day. I think most of those C-130s originated from Fort Bragg, and they went ahead with the exercise without delay. All the aircraft and parachutes with both troops and artillery in the sky simultaneously is something that I'll never witness again.Years later, I met a disabled vet who was run over by a tank out there. Luckily, he was in a dry wash with soft white sand. His fractured skull required a metal plate. And we had a new girl move there, and she was absolutely gorgeous, and I talked to her a few times on the school bus trip to Silver Valley HS. Sadly, a few weeks later, her father murdered her mother, and we never saw her again. I can't remember her name and still can't find any info on
the event. Perhaps someone who reads this knows something about that story.
PAO with HHC 1992 -93. Never forget the Dust Bowl.
I worked for AMEX and SAIC at Ft Irwin 1986 - 1990. The OPFOR change quite a bit from those days.
Was there with the 5th Id, C/21st FA 1987 spring , winter . Then the summer of 88 and spring 1989, first with 2 ammo. then twice with HQ . and once with 1st Firing Pltn. I seen it 115F and 28F with a 15F wind chill. When I was there, they did not have the many rocks. that was up by a place called arrow head if I remember right.
My dad was in the 11th arc BLACKHOURSE!!!!
My husband as well. He was station there in 2003 right after he got out of basic training.
C Troop....1st SQDRN 18th Armored Cavalry....M 48's ...11ECHO20....Fort Irwin 1968....Too much fun.....
I was stationed there before it was activated. Your video says it was activated in Oct 1981, that is incorrect it was activated on July 1, 1981. I remember that very well as they had a big dog and pony show for the SecDef on the helipad to activate the fort. All personnel were required to attend but luckily I got out of it because I reenlisted at 0600 so I was excused. I watched as many of my fellow soldiers and friends passed out on the tarmac when the temperature was well over 100.
The quote is from the Associated Press on the article they did from the incident we experienced. Always good to get updated info....Tanks :)
Not a problem. Seeing this video brought back lots of memories. Thank you for posting this video.
I was first here for training back in August 1988 with A co. 1/10th INF (Mechanized) 1st Brigade 4th Infantry Division. The last time was with the B co. 3/160th INF (Mechanized) CARNG as the OPFOR for 1/75th Ranger Battalion and SEAL TEAM 2 in September 2009 we were supported by 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne). The Rangers and SEALs trained on raids and MOUT operations against us. We had to dress up as Iraqi and Afghan insurgents. It was not fun because these guys were very serious operators and we got bounced around like rag dolls being handled by Rangers and SEALs fighting against them. We had no night vision equipment and told by the SF guys to fight like the insurgents we had encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan which was a lolly gag and cluster fuck using AK-47s with blanks. After the first 2 days it was too easy for the Rangers and SEALs. The following day the SF guys then told us to be more organized and use standard US Army infantry drills in a defense. At least we had a good fighting chance and inflicted casualties on the "Good Guys". Next the SF guys allowed us to rig up trip flares and early warning devices and gave us a few night vision devices and simulator grenades to our advantage. This was real fun because we did cause more chaos into the Rangers and some to the SEALs. The battles became longer and more intense until they eventually killed us off one by one which some scenarios became a stalemate for 45 minutes to an hour. The "Good Guys" loved that because it was more intense and provided chaos in their command and control methods. The last week was the most painful for us because we had to fight the "Good Guys" with simunitions and this hurt a lot. Simunitions were powerful paint rounds that worked in M4 carbines and we had to put on heavily padded clothing and old charcoal chemical suits to protect us to include paintball helmets. We got shot from head to toe with every combat scenario and shot them the same also. Eventually they wipe us out but also causing casualties on their side also. Most of the battles were CQB ranges room to room and street battles. After 2 weeks with them I was covered with welts and bruises from being shot and rough handling by these guys. Honestly this was the most intense training experience I have ever done in my life. The US Military's Special Operations guys are no bullshit professionals and got really fucked up by them training on us. These guys thanked us for giving them a hard time during all their combat scenarios. The Ranger staff made us sign 5 years waivers to never discuss the training we went with them before training started because it was secret so to speak. Now I can share it because it's more than 5 years past. It was more of a street brawl like real combat. So that is no secret. In my real experience as an infantryman in combat from Panama to Iraq for 2 year long combat tours. The Rangers and SEALs will eat the enemy up in real combat quickly because they are really aggressive by nature and killers at heart. Personally I got slammed hard to the ground, doors kicked into my face, run over by squads and teams, dragged by them, tied up and handcuffed, to give them the best training they got from us and trained us in some basics for the new guys in my unit. Before training the Ranger and SEAL guys told us those who could not be handled roughly and be pussies to leave too. Since 80% of the unit were combat veterans from "Down Range" nobody in the unit backed out and trained with them and got fucked up bad.
Very cool, Thanks for the story!
Am very impressed. You and your OPFOR team did a very good job as a sparring partner for them bad assess. :)
@ 2:13 on the top far right is ours. I still remember and have pics from the day we placed our rock there
and @ 1:57 center
Robert Solonika who they mention towards the end of this video was a great friend and fellow soldier I was in A CO he was in B.CO 1/18 INF from fort riley KS we did are basic at Fort jackson south Carolina that day we had a great service for Robert i still have the service brochure from the funeral and was on his funeral detail.Robert will always remain in memory he was a great squad leader
and is missed dearly R.I.P. my brother you were always the loudest in formation i would give anything to hear your voice chanting
"ROCK SON" Our modo was Above the rest. Sincerely at the time i was PFC RICHARD JIMENEZ.
Who ever started this article thanks a million chances are we have crossed paths and served together would love to know who this is contact me @ rj2jim@gmail.com i haven't been to the rock pile in years but have always told my grandkids i would take them please contact me always good to here from my army buds.
Well Done ! I also did basic at Fort Jackson.
112 Rotations...original OPFOR (1/73rd Armor, 1/63rd Armor, 23ALPHA) 1981-1992. Ironic, my youngest son was born there and that was his first duty station with 11th ACR.
Also part of orginal OPFOR. was a cook in the 1/73 dining facility. every thing was brand new back them and cannot believe how much it has expanded. Housing is awesome. SGT Jeff Swingle
Oregon Guy my dad was 11th ACR BLACKHOURSE!!!!
my son was also born at Weed Army Hospital in 85. B. Co., 1/73rd Armor.
@@jefferyswingle9285 I was there the new chow hall opened. I got there about a week after the company moved into the new barracks. I used to go in the back door of the kitchen and mooch ham rolls and cheese for the rotation. thanks for the grub Sarge.
3/19th Infantry, 24 ID winter 1983. Only a few names on the old rock pile then.
First time in the bowl with in 1985 follow up dates of 1986, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999 and 2000.
stationed from 88-90, 52nd infantry Charlie co. good memories, but a tough fort to be stationed at. I liked fort stewart, and fort drum better. hard to beat LA and san diego beaches though, just not enough time off to enjoy.
Irwin!!!!!!!! IRONHORSE!!!!
I live in Irwin