lessonslearned
Foxhole Files
After digging many foxholes, this Army colonel refl ects
on the lessons she learned, fi nding the simplest of tasks
often offer the most revealing insights.
V
ery few of my 30 years in “by mistake” or fi re so the casings hit
the U.S. Army were spent your face. (Ah, the left-handers!) Some
in a foxhole, but the time I did battle buddies you can trust to stand
spend in one made an impression on me guard while you sleep. Some battle bud-
that I hold dear and that has held true dies hang their brains up when they put
throughout my lifetime. on their uniforms and plan to get through
I dug my fi rst foxhole at Fort Bragg, the day on brawn alone, while others use
N.C. It was hot, and I had never dug a hole all God gave them to get through the day.
before — certainly never a hole big enough I learned I liked ones who not only
to get in! I was quite successful at it, and I dug their part of the foxhole but thought
must say I was proud. I don’t believe that about fi elds of fi re and grenade sump
when I dug the foxhole I had taken into positioning. I liked those who were able
account the fi elds of fi re for which I would to use all their God-given talents. I loved
be responsible. the sergeants who shared the changes
I remember it was in the open, and as the Army was instituting when teaching
the sun was beating down on me and my “how to dig or emplace a fortifi ed fi ghting
steel pot, I made a mental note to put my position,” or how to dig a foxhole. They
Tell Your Story
next foxhole in the shade or camoufl age loved their work and were professionals.
■ Shar Submit ye your servicour lessons e-
and position it better so I was not exposed Later in life, after many mistakes, I
rleelatarned bed advy e-mail tentures (oor
or in an awkward position when I needed learned if I wouldn’t consider letting
mishapsprofserie) bs@moaa.y e-mail torg o
my M-16 for action. Also, upon further someone share my foxhole, I shouldn’t encor bory mail te@moaa.o MOorAA g, or
inspection, I thought my grenade sump consider sharing anything else with them.
mail them tProfessional Serieo Encors, 201 e Edi-
probably was not deep enough or at the Now life is simple. If I fi nd someone
tN. Wor, 201 N. Washington St., Al-ashington
St., Aleexandria, Vxandria, VA 22314. All A 22314.
correct angle to make me comfortable worthy of being my battle buddy and shar-
All submissubmissions will be csions will be on-
enough to take up residence in that fox- ing my foxhole, they have my respect and
csideronsidered fed for publicor publication. ation.
hole for any length of time. my heart.
Comment on the latest
By the time we dug our second foxhole, Dig your foxholes deep, build them for- lesson or share your
we were getting battle buddies. I learned tifi ed, camoufl age them correctly, put your
own at
www.moaa.org/
there weren’t very many soldiers taller grenade sump in the most strategically
lessonslearned.
than I; if you put your foxhole near a tree correct place, watch your fi elds of fi re and
you might never get around the roots; and overlapping fi res, and you will be protect-
the grenade sump goes in the deepest part ed. Choose your battle buddy wisely, and
of the foxhole, and since I was the tallest, you can sleep. MO
it always went in my part of the hole.
I learned, after our fi rst night maneu-
— Kathleen Klaeser is a retired Army colonel.
ver, that some battle buddies can’t be
She lives in Florida. For submission information,
trusted; they hit you with their weapons see page 20.
78 MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2009 IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK
NNov_lessons.indd Sec2:78ov_lessons.indd Sec2:78 99/28/09 8:36 PM/28/09 8:36 PM
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