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There are a few memorable places. As a single soldier, Diego Garcia was real cool. Being in the Army and stationed on a Navy base in the middle of nowhere was a real challenge. I would bet I have seen just about every square inch of the island. Also, being stationed at Vint Hill Farms, VA was a great assignment. It was literally an old horse farm outside of Manassas, VA. Lots of history and only a short jaunt from DC. Getting to see all of the monuments and museums was the highlight.

Once I was married, we spent five years at US Army Field Station Augsburg, located just outside of Augsburg (West) Germany. We were an hour from all of the best recreation areas in Europe. We started our family there (both are kids were born there) and for a while, even after leaving, always considered it home. Every weekend we had off was usually spent visiting a new village and participating in a Volksmarch. The locals always thought we were crazy for lugging the kids around on our backs. Because the kids also did the walk, we always received the 30K reward even if we only ever completed the 10K. It is almost impossible to put into words what you experience wondering around the countryside in the Alps. Our favorite getaway was the military recreation area on Lake Chiemsee. The main lodge was an old resort captured from the S.S. (If you have ever seen the movie The Dirty Dozen, this place was very much similar.) My wife and I spent our first anniversary in a castle turret in Berchtesgaden. We always joke that we have spent the night in just about every environment from castles to pup-tents.