Our Tax Dollars At Work

AAAA convention in Nashville this week. That’s the Army Aviation Association of America. They had to add America to the name to end all those calls for emergency towing.

They invited our old unit (227th Assault Helicopter Battalion) to hold our annual reunion at the convention. There were hundreds of Army aviators and vendors from the military industrial complex. It is a huge opportunity for networking.

Chooch, Harv and I roomed together at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. This place is enormous! We got lost several times inside the complex.

They have more waterfalls than all the rest of Nashville combined. All under roof.

There is a radio station where they play both kinds of music, Country AND Western.

Their sports bar (one of 18 eating establishments under roof) has 100 HD TV screens.

There are maps everywhere but it seems like most of the guests are lost most of the time.

They even have their own app to help with the navigation. I tried it, not the easiest app I’ve used.

First night we walked Broadway. Beginning with a tour of the Ryman.

Quite a bit of history, From The Grand Old Opry to Bob Hope. Then it was on to the bars and live music. So much music!

We hit about four bars but no one knows the exact number.

 The view from the sidewalk.

 This was our favorite band of the night.

Chooch borrowed a new friend’s wife for a little dancing.

I announced that I’d had enough to drink before it got dark. So they made me walk around the block; luckily only once.

There were exhibits of all the latest toys and gadgets for all possible aspects of Army aviation. I blew it. When I finally went back for photos, they were wrapping up and I couldn’t get in.

We are now saying our goodbyes and dispersing to the winds. We all agree that it is a good thing we don’t get together too often as it is a little rough on our aging bodies. This while planning our next reunion.

I wish I could explain it to all of you. The bond we share is unique. Forged through shared extraordinary experiences relived and yes, enhanced, at each sharing. We are old men. We morn. We cry and cling to each other for support, but I’ve never heard any of us say that they would change anything in our past. We all would rather have our fallen comrades back with us of course but we have no illusions about the realities of war.

Chooch put it best when he said that if we had to be in the situation we found ourselves, we had the best job possible. Because of the job we did and took so very seriously, there are lots of men enjoying their grandchildren today that would not have made it back.

Thanks Chooch, I needed that. And thanks to all of you out there who recently brought me back; I needed that too.

Now, back to Alaska and the sweet life.

The weather is perfect for it.