Moshe, "Little Moshe", ... and me......

Well Sir... like many folks...I been followin the events occurin over in Israel and Lebonon pretty closely. Now mam....as I was watchin Fox News yesterday, they was a showin video footage of various Israeli soldiers that had been makin some of the incursions inta Lebonon and...upon see'n this one soldier... an old memory came to mind about somethin that happened to this here Cookie when I was still a young Police Officer...back around 1969 or 70 or so......

Now Sir... this here story probly won't be of much interest to some folks...but I think all you combat vets out there will...in some way or t'other...be able to relate to it.....but who knows...maybe others might enjoy it as well......

....Now Sir...if'n yur a squeamish type person....I'm tellin ya right now y'all should stop readin this here story right here cause parts of it are gonna be a little bit "graphic"....so...Y'all been warned.....

Israel was still ridin high comin off their tremendous victory of "The Six Day" war...and their victorious Commandin General...Moshe Dayan...was touring around the United States...goin to Jewish Synagogue's across the country raisin money fer Israeli War Bonds......

Well Sir...just afore he was due to come to good old Syracuse, NY fer his visit to one of our Jewish Temple's....cause of my previous Military background...I was assigned to be part of the local Security Team that would be paired up with Mr. Dayan's own personal Security team that traveled with him.......

So....on the day they arrived....I was paired up with an Israeli Soldier...who was in plain cloths (as were we all)...and he was introduced to me as "Moshe"...I don't remember his last name. Well Sir...I took one look at him and immediately thought to myself...."What the fuck!". He was obviously well built...but....he was only about 5'4...5'5'...at the frickin most! Naturally...my next thought was "Holy Mother of Jesus...I hope t' hell nuthin breaks loose cause this little shit is gonna be useless as my back-up...."

As the day wore on...and we escorted General Dayan's vehicle from the Airport to the Synagogue....I saw somethin in my partner Moshe's eye's that set me "un-easy"....somethin I'd seen afore but couldn't immediately place....fer one thing...I couldn't "read" the man...that always makes me on edge...but there was somethin else......

The evening events started with a fine Jewish dinner at the Temple. Our security table was directly next to General Dayan's table. Now Sir...me bein a Christian (a "goyim" to some)...and not familiar with Jewish food (I didn't cook in those days)...I had absolutely no idear just what the hell I was eatin...but it tasted great. I asked Moshe what a particular sausage type food was...and he simply replied..."don't ask". OooooKay I thought......I had seconds anyway.....

As the meal neared its completion...he asked me..."What kind of weapon are you carrying?"....I replied..."a 9mm automatic". He simple winced and shoot his head while continuing to eat. "What?" said I questioningly....puzzled at his reaction. Without stopping eating...he simply replied..."The 9mm ammunition is no good...and my Automatic jammed in close combat battle during the war and I had to gut the man with my knife...messy...but effective." He continued..."I also had to slit another man's throat...I don't trust Automatics anymore.", casually opening his suit jacket to expose a .45 caliber Revolver.......

Then it hit me....."That's what I saw in his eye's! "I thought. It's not quit the detached and calloused "Thousand yard stare" of someone who has seen too much bloody combat...but it's that look in the eye's of a man who has had to kill and has managed to detach his feelings from the event.....a look I'd seen in many other Vietnam vets.....that's what I saw in this very short Security body guard to Israel's most famous General. I instantly had a whole new respect for this man and the Israeli soldier in general.....

...and BTW....I was also very priviledged and honored to have met General Dayan and we had a very nice, in-depth conversation.......

If today's IDF (Israeli Defense Force) soldier is anything like "little Moshe" (my nickname for him), then the problems with Hezzbolah should hopefully be over shortly......

Lesson learned...."It's not how big the fight is that the man is in...it's how big the fight is in the man..."

Cookie........