{"id":12777,"date":"2015-03-02T10:15:36","date_gmt":"2015-03-02T17:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nicknormal.com\/normalblog\/?p=12777"},"modified":"2016-04-13T23:33:27","modified_gmt":"2016-04-14T03:33:27","slug":"camp-punxsutawney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nicknormal.com\/normalblog\/camp-punxsutawney\/","title":{"rendered":"Camp Punxsutawney"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the early-mid-90s I penpal’d with a punk rocker in the US Army during the Balkan “Conflict” – properly titled the Yugoslav Wars<\/a>. I still have the letters but not with me at the moment – I think her name was Mari Segren – yes, a female Army Private, in the ’90s. I met her through Maximum Rock’n’Roll or Slug and Lettuce, I forget. I was amazed at the idea to meet a punk rocker who decided to enlist, and I wanted to give her the support I could from abroad, even as a teen (I was 14, 15…). And I found a certain irony in her being stationed at “Camp Punxsutawney” – I mean, c’mon, PUNX! Images were taken Nov ’95-May ’96; I’m dating them May ’96 for the purpose of Timeline<\/del>. Captions are her notes written on the back of the photographs. Thanks for reading.<\/p>\n

\"A <\/a>
A lovely piece of real estate complete with skylight. Bosnia February ’96 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Here's <\/a>
Here’s my modest little living area. 6 feet by 6 feet. For a year?!! No fuckin’ way! It looks different now, too. More shit. <\/div> <\/div>
\"\u017dupanja, <\/a>
\u017dupanja, Croatia This was our backyard for 2 months. I had to get the barbed wire in the picture <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The whole city, flattened. Croatian\/Bosnian border February ’96 <\/div> <\/div>
\"Another <\/a>
Another beautiful home with sun-porch and air conditioning. Bosnia February ’96 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Here's <\/a>
Here’s our wonderfully close camp. Someone farts in the tent next door and it vibrates your cot. It looks different now, though. They built walkways. Camp Punxsutawney, Lukavac Bosnia <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"This <\/a>
This is the scenery where I live. Camp Punxsutawney Lukavac, Bosnia <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Obvious, <\/a>
Obvious, isn’t it? All that beauty and it even has a built-in minefield. Bosnia February 96 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n
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For further reading, here’s one of the earliest mentions of “Camp Punxsutawney” on the web, courtesy of Gordoncooper.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Five<\/p>\n

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Camp Punxsutawney sign ('95-'97) in Lukavac, Bosnia pic.twitter.com\/0EbWynbY<\/a><\/p>\n

— Dr. Donnie Horner (@DocDonnieH) November 11, 2012<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n