~ Halbermondbläser ~
On-line Newsletter of the Feldjäger Corps
volume 1
MONMOUTH 2003
[note: edited for content]
This is an after action report on how the unit did at Monmouth. In my estimation the unit did fine. Thanks to Fran and Meg the dining area was kept very 20th and 21st century free. We all owe them our thanks. We also welcome Tom Brew into the unit. He decided to join the BAR through our unit. We are all happy to have him come aboard.
Friday started out hot as hell but cooled off for a very pleasant night. Friday was a typical Monmouth. Hot, humid, no shade and putting up a camp was just plain difficult. The fact that this was accomplished in such fine manor is an indication of what kind of unit we have.
Saturday was one of the best days we ever had at Monmouth. It was hot but not excessively so. The humidity was not bad and we had wind. It was a good day. Saturday night was again quite pleasant.
Sunday was bad but not as bad as other Sundays at Monmouth. It was very hot, humid and it appears that the wind had left us. The unit suffered through Sunday in good order and everyone is to be commended.
Everything went well but we did have one problem. Some people did not inform the people providing food that they would not be eating. Pat and Meg provided breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday for 12 people and we had no where near that number. John and Fran provided dinner Saturday for 12 people. We had closer to that number but it is now unit policy that *all* unit members must, at least two weekends before the event, notify the people providing food that they will or will not be eating with the unit.
This does not mean that if something unforeseen happens you can not eat with us. There is always a small amount of extra food. It means that if you know ahead of time that you will be eating some meals but not all, you should let the responsible people know.
Enough of this administrative stuff. Let's talk about the battle.
The unit was given the honor of being the rear guard for our Ranger Brigade. We were not assigned to the Ranger Brigade because we are green. We were assigned to them so that they would have some Regular Army units with them and because they were going to do the most light infantry fighting. We performed this great task with the dedication and professionalism that does credit to our unit. The battle lasted two hours and was the longest one the unit has ever been in. We crossed over the second bridge and fought on the actual ground that we fought on in 1978. It was great to revisit the scene of the 200th. The unit did all that was asked and more. Oberst Malit was very pleased with our performance.
On Saturday we were again assigned to the Ranger Brigade and again our unit was the rear guard of the Brigade. We performed this task as we did on Saturday. When we crossed over the second bridge we became separated from the Ranger Brigade. As luck would have it we were close enough to the German Brigade to form as their light infantry. We spent the rest of the battle providing the German Brigade with much needed flank coverage. We were again commended by Oberst Malit for our timely assistance and professionalism.
As the British Army was forced back across the bridge our unit was given the greatest honor to date. We were asked to cover the retreat and be the rear guard for the army. We performed this task and were the last crown force unit over the bridge. Our stand at the bridge allowed the army to reorganize. Our stand at the bridge saved the army.
The unit was commended by the commanders of the Ranger Brigade, the German Brigade and our Divisional Commander. This was the greatest performance, in America, by Jaegers since the original Jaegers left for Germany. I'm very proud to command you all.
Let's keep up the good work.
Thank you all for your time.
I remain,
Kevin ODonnell
Commadeur
J-C v.Prueschenk