About Me

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I am a lifelong student of military history with particular interest in the Battle of Antietam. I work for the federal government in Washington DC and have two young adult children who I love very much. I currently volunteer at Antietam and devote much time to the study of this battle and the Maryland Campaign. I enjoy collecting notable contemporary quotations by and about the men of Antietam. Since 2013 I have been conducting in depth research on the regular artillery companies of the Union Army and their leaders. I hope to turn this into a book on this subject in the future. My perspective comes from a 28-year career in the U.S. Army. Travels took me to World War II battlefields in Europe and the Pacific where American valor ended the tyranny of Nazism and Empire. But our country faced its own greatest challenge 80 years earlier during the Civil War. And it was the critical late summer of 1862, when Robert E. Lee launched the Maryland Campaign. It is an incredible story of drama, carnage, bravery, and missed opportunities that culminated around the fields and woodlots of peaceful Sharpsburg MD. So join me as I make this journey South from the North Woods.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

On to Florida



I hope you will indulge me these occasional posts on my son Jim’s progress in the Marine Corps. After spending his boot leave and two weeks of recruiter duty at home over the holidays, Jim reported to Camp Geiger North Carolina for one month of combat training on December 28th. Since every Marine is a rifleman, each one, no matter what their military occupational specialty (MOS) undergoes this training. Lest we forget, the month of January was an unusually cold, snowy month even in North Carolina. Private First Class Rosebrock spent 28 training days mostly in the field, mostly eating MREs, learning to be that Marine rifleman essentially. Today he was one of 401 Marines, both men and women who graduated from this tough training. Jim is now headed to sunny Florida for his training in a Marine Corps aviation specialty. Yes, that’s Jim in the second picture sprinting for his bus and his next assignment in sunny and warm (he hopes) Pensacola Florida. God speed Son!

4 comments:

  1. Looks like he's gained some size or is that Marine Muscle!

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  2. Marty,
    Yeah he is pretty solid. Still don't think he has gained a lot of weight but it is all solid.
    Jim

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  3. Hey Jim--I think you and Brad now have some competition on the Number 1 and 2 positions on the Napoleon ! Jim looks like he can definitely pack the charge.

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  4. He certainly does. He seems like he has grown an inch or two since he left.

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