AFTER ACTION REPORT [after action photographs follow report]

FRIDAY
1400H hrs.:
I arrived late afternoon instead of early morning - to an enthusiastic platoon of grunts eager to get the week-end maneuvers under way.

1600H hrs.:
After setting a rendez-vous time of 1800H hrs, Sandra and I set off to pick up some extra c-rations and a supply of ‘33’ beer. (I thought we wouldn’t have enough - what was I thinking!?)

1800H hrs.:
We assembled in the 'E.M. Club' and proceeded to have a howling good time (enlisted man and officer alike)
** I don’t think D.C. and Tim are going to forget the Tour of Duty Drinking Game any time soon!
It was lights out around midnight cause we had some major ‘humpin’’ to do along "The Mall" the following day.

SATURDAY
0800H hrs.:
We were up and off the 'base' by 0800H hrs.

0830H hrs.:
We patrolled The Mall from 0830H hrs until 1400H hrs.
The Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial was an overwhelming experience for most of us. The Korean Memorial was haunting.

1530H hrs.:
We stopped late afternoon for some much needed rest and chow.
We then proceeded to Arlington Cemetery and The Iwo Jima Statue.
Both awesome in their scope and size.

1900H hrs.:
We returned to the ‘firebase’ just before nightfall to rest our sore and tired dogs then turned around and went back to "The Wall" where we held (for me) a tearful Candlelight Vigil. [Crowds are drawn to it even well after dark].

2200H hrs.:
We had to double time it back to the 'LZ' to make the last 'chopper' back to base. We changed into our costumes (we had an imaginative mama-san in our midst), met back in the 'E.M. Club' and had our last night 'In-Country' party.
E-mail addresses were exchanged, beverages and c-rats were consumed, trivia questions were answered (with lightning speed!) prizes were won, and enthusiastic ideas were tossed around about next year’s gathering in L.A.

0245H hrs.:
This officer finally crawled into her rack Sunday morning for a couple of hours eyelid inspection. **('Maggie' and I will have to share our ghostly experience with everybody next year.)

SUNDAY
0700H hrs.:
Our last breakfast 'briefing' of the all too short week-end, before we all headed back to our separate corners of the Real World.

End of report.
"Lt. Mac"


    


AFTER ACTION PHOTOGRAPHS


   Some images captured while patrolling "The Mall".

             

photo m.macaulay

 God Bless America  

   This poster was found on the side of one of the M.I.A/P.O.W. booths that sit at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial.

         

photo m.macaulay

 The 'Squad' in Front of The Washington Monument  

  We struck out on our mission and patrolled The Mall for the day.
  Standing: Stephanie, Krystina, Tom, 'Maggie', Sandra, Joanne, Kory.
  Kneeling: Lori, Jenne, DC, Tim.
       


photo m.macaulay

 The Lincoln Memorial  

   A closer one of the man himself is further down the page.


       

photo m.macaulay

 The White House.  

  This is as close as I thought I could get.

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Capital Building.  

  The Seat of the Nation's Power. Unbelievable architecture.

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Washington Monument and American Flag  

  This Obelisk is impressive.
  And it's HUGE!

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Lincoln Memorial.  

  He is quite the sight to see up close!

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.  

  The Wall is striking in its simplicity. An emotional experience for many.
  Designed by Architect Maya Ying Lin

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.  

 Park Rangers will help take rubbings for visitor of the names of loved ones on The Wall.
[I made rubbings of the names of my 2 M.I.A/P.O.W.'s that I wear bracelets for]

       


photo m.macaulay

 The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial.  

  "Offerings" are left at the wall every day.
  ("Offerings at the Wall" is a book published with photographs of some
  of the many items left there)
  I was truly honored when a Vietnam Veteran I work with asked me to place a poem he'd
  written at The Wall for him. Thank you Dale.

       


photo m.macaulay

 "Three Fighting Men"
  This beautiful piece was erected a few years after the wall went up.
  It adds such an emotional impact to the already powerful statement the wall makes.
  You can stand and stare at this statue for hours.
  The details are wonderful, the emotions it evokes are powerful.
  
Designed by Fredrick Hart

       


photo m.macaulay

 "Three Fighting Men".  

  I don't think my photos are really doing justice to this statue.        


photo m.macaulay

 "Three Fighting Men".  

  It was very tempting to reach out and touch them.        


photo m.macaulay

 "Vietnam Women's Memorial".  

    Around this momument stand eight trees, dedicated to the 8 women who died while serving during the Conflict.
   Designed by Glenna Goodacre.
       

photo m.macaulay

 "Vietnam Women's Memorial".  

    The attention to detail is marvelous.        

photo m.macaulay

 The Korean War Veterans Memorial.  

   This piece is brilliant!
  Principal Sculptor Frank Gaylord
       


photo m.macaulay

 The Korean War Veterans Memorial.  

  There are faces etched into the wall that the soldiers are reflected in. Quite spooky.        


photo m.macaulay

 The Statue of Iwo Jima  

  Some of us still had a enough energy to make it out to this amazing statue!
  Standing: 'Maggie', Krystina, Sandra, Tom, D.C., Tim.
  Sitting: Kory, Lori.
       


photo m.macaulay

 The Statue of Iwo Jima   

  See the two men standing at the base of the statue. The thing is HUGE!!!        


photo m.macaulay

  Arlington Cemetery   

  Although we didn't get the opportunity to walk through the cemetery
  we were fortunate to see what we did from the perimeter.
       


photo m.macaulay

 Washington Monument in the Reflecting Pool  

  cool, eh?        


photo m.macaulay

 Our Last Night in D.C.  
   We had a costume party. Some of us had quite the creative imagination.
  Left to right: Jenne, Stephanie, Lori, Kory (on floor),
  Joanne, Tim, DC, Sandra (on floor), Tom, Krystina, 'Parker',
  and 'Maggie'(. . .yes it's a lamp shade)

           


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The organizers of this convention are in no way affiliated with the series Tour of Duty. Fees rendered and money raised are intended for administrative purposes and charitable donations. "Hill 2001" graphic is copyright 2001 Margaret Macaulay. Do not use this image without persmission.