Fort Knox

Elijah has really been into World War 2. This is a direct result of Jason being stationed as a combat medic in Kirkuk, Iraq. And since there's really nothing to glorify about this particular military engagement, we're going backwards to a time when playing army wasn't really considered politically incorrect (you know when it was o.k. with kids to play with guns, and walmart actually still carried some).

And because Elijah is my child, when he becomes interested in something, he gets a bit obsessive. Or maybe I get obsessive for him and expressing interest usually leads to toys, books, games, movies and trips so he goes along. It's really too blurry a line.

Anyway, since Franklin had to go to Danville for soccer camp (armed with the knowledge that though he might visit said university there was no way, short of us winning a lottery or robbing a bank that he could ever actually attend) we stopped by Fort Knox. Now, in case you have a wild hair and decide to go for yourself, you need to know that the Patton museum is not on base. And if you drive up to base looking for the museum the guards at the gate will look at you like your an idiot and tell you that you aren't going on base to get there, thank you very much, just turn your little terroristic vehicle in disguise (minivan) around with your al-qida (sp) troops (children) and head on your merry way, Allah bless you. So we did.

And, in case you didn't know, Patton is largely responsible for creating and developing the armored tank division of the United States Armed forces. So visiting his musuem is code for looking at a lot of tanks, lots and lots of tanks. And if you're me, going to the Fort Knox museum is about like going to the National Corvette museum, after the first one, I'm good and ready go get back on the road. However, if you're a small boy, or even an old one, it is a magical place. Elijah would look at each tank and then tell me what that tank would do (from his Medal of Honor games, or Axis and Allies computer game). The only thing that could have made the entire day even more perfect for him was being able to get inside a tank, which wasn't an option.

Isaiah's favorite part was when they had mock battles created from toy tanks and toy soldiers behind plexiglass cases. He would sit and star and move around to see every angle. It was most likely one of the few times that he could play the giant to any scene. Franklin and I sort of drifted in and out, giving a little "hmm" every so often. And Jose was entranced with the mobile living quarters that Patton had - actually a converted amubulance unit. He'd have given a couple of quarters to be able to go up in there. As for me, the most interesting thing that I learned was that Patton died in 1945 in a car accident that broke his neck (though he didn't die for a month after the accident). I didn't know that . . . and it seems such a random act -- one of those survive the war to die from a staph infection received when you stubbed your toe kind of things.

So, Fort Knox has become a been there and done that sort of thing. And know we'll have to put the Fort Campbell equivalent on tap for this fall (after another trip to Dinsoaur World no doubt).