Pop quiz

Donald M. Scheef · Post by **Donald M. Scheef** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:07 am

Actually, there were two of the 'class the stars fell on.'
First was class of 1886: 25 of 77 graduates got stars (reached the rank of at least brigadier general). This included John J. Pershing.
Second came later and is now better known: class of 1915. 59 of 164 graduates reached at least the rank of brigadier general. This included two 5-star General of the Army - Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. Also two 4-star generals, seven 3-star lieutenant generals, twenty-four 2-star major generals, and twenty-four 1-star brigadier generals. Total of 111 stars.

Don S..

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:08 am

PG, would the stars class that you're talking about b the West Point class of 1815, where 36% of the graduates became general officers?

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:11 am

Not only is Donald faster than I am, he's also much more detailed! Thanks for the share Donald...very interesting!

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:21 am

Mark, I read a book on the US Army Camel Corps a couple years ago - very interesting. I believe the main base for them was Fort Tejon between Los Angeles and Bakersfield. There is a historic site of the Interstate 5.

The bones in the Smithsonian belong to a camel named Said that was killed by another camel in the herd.

Another great story is the ghost camel that was seen roaming the deserts of the Southwest for several years that actually turned out to be a dead guy tied to the back of a camel or something like that.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 3:42 am

He was a Secretary of War and president, and the Camel Corps was his idea. Who was he!

The Class the Stars Fell to which Chris refers and that Donald stated is that of 1915.

Redleg, but for a typo.

Mk1, that was an excellent question, by the way.

Mk 1 · Post by **Mk 1** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:54 am

Ah ha! Trick question ... you say he was President, but you don't say President of what!

Oh, and BTW PG, I am not sure the Camel Corps was "his idea", although I suppose it might have been. What is clear is that he was it's biggest / most prominent proponent. Until he got really busy with other things, that is.

And I won't answer beyond my teasing, as I'm a bit too close to the topic.

Redleg:

Fort Tejon is correct.

Have you ever visited? It is an interesting place for those of a historical bend. The the accounts given there differ somewhat from what you can find searching the web on the Camel Corps. But I have found that to be the case at many small local museums and historical sites. Doesn't mean the local version is always correct. But it's usually interesting, at least.

Most of the accounts on the web indicate that the camels were used exclusively as pack animals, with one report suggesting that "one camel is worth four mules" in the arid Southwest between Texas and California. They were first organized in Texas, and used to scout out the southern railroad route that was tied to the Gadsden Purchase (the acquisition that competed the territory we now refer to as the continental United States).

After their crossing of New Mexico and Arizona, they came to be based at Ft. Tejon, overlooking the indian reservation at the base of California's central valley.

But the accounts at Ft. Tejon identify the camels as being not just pack animals, but the mounts of a small long-ranging cavalry detachment, and even give an account of the camel's martial value by recounting one camel ridden in a skirmish that was still in action after 3 bullets and 7 arrows had struck it.

And the accounts of the cavalry units at Ft. Tejon show a more flamboyant and elite formation than the impression that made it's way into the popular psyche through the westerns of the early days of cinema. Most of the soldiers in the unit were recent immigrants -- foreign nationals and who came to be a part of the US Army "Mounted Rifles" after serving in various Uhlan, Cuirassier and Hussar regiments.

As I said, the local version may or may not be the most accurate version. But it's usually interesting, at least.

-Mark

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:07 am

I accept your qualification, Mark. He was an enthusiastic supporter.

Tattoo is also the US Army's longest bugle call.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 8:10 am

We are still waiting for the identity of the supporter of the Camel Corps and the name of the last commander of the Papal Army.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:33 am

While we are waiting for the answers above, the British Life Guards dress helmet features a white plume. Of what is this white plume made? (I know...what the he'll does this have to do with GHQ wargaming?)

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:37 pm

The plume is not made from horse hair or the horse's tail.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 5:56 pm

Ok, let's go back to armored vehicles. You are the brand new battalion motor officer of a tank battalion in Germany. You come across the Combat Support Company commander observing the crew of one of his two AVLBs working on one of the vehicle tracks, which had broken. The vehicle rolled off into the field on the other side of the T intersection. Everything has been done and the crew is struggling mightily, and unsuccessfully, to bring the ends of the track together so they can reconnect the track blocks at the break with end connectors and center guide. After waiting an appropriate time for the crew chief or the (experienced) company commander to solve the problem, what question do you ask the commander?

This is an M60 series chassis.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:47 pm

The last commander of the Papal Army was Hermann Kanzler.

I think the Camel corps supporter was Jefferson Davis. Unfortunately I've never been to Fort Tejon, even though it really isn't that far from me. Perhaps I need to take a road trip in the very near future!

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 7:55 pm

As the BMO I would ask "Where is your reflective PT belt, Soldier?"

Just kidding. I have no idea. I wasn't smart enough to be a BMO. Being in Germany I might be asking if there was any fuel spilled or where the dude with the money is so we can pay off the farmer who lost a couple of beet plants in this tragic accident.

As an FSO I would definitely ask if there was any food on board though.

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:10 pm

Yes, the Camel Corps supporter (sounds like a good name for an athletic apparel brand was US Secretary of State and president of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis.

Of course, they had food on board. Couple of cases of C-rations. I

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Tue Mar 31, 2020 10:13 pm

I should specify that this is an M60-series AVLB.

BONUS-For what does AVLB stand?