Well Said

My safe place was behind my well trained attack military K-9. Along with my GAU, Colt 45 and grenade launcher which was part of my GAU (mini M-16). This was at the age when I was 18. 

And to think these wimps will be our future leaders someday, very sad.

I never served. But I did raise my first oil field drilling rig derrick at 18 years of age. A late 18 but 18 none the less. That's the god's honest truth. Nothing scared me. 

I'm sorry but I see cup cakes too.

Quick

I had a customer in 1984---that was in his late 70s

There was a photo on a table of a very young and tough looking marine in dress blues.

I asked him if that image was his---he acknowledged in the affirmative.

After a bit of conversation---I learned that he was already a marine when Pearl Harbor was attacked.

He saw combat in Guadalcanal---which was absolutely a mess.

This was the first island that the US fought to reclaim from the Japanese. It was an important piece of land in the pacific as the Japanese were constructing an airfield there---to deny military and commerce shipping in the area. The main purpose of the airfield was to cut off Australia from US/Allied support.

Those marines were literally thrown onto the island in a desperate gamble to stop completion of the airfield.

The airfield was taken very swiftly---but the Japanese were determined to re-capture it.

At that time the Japanese military had the advantage. Control of the seas (larger navy) and seasoned/experienced combat veterans in both the army and navy.

They chased the American ships out---before their supplies could be fully brought to shore for the marines,

Cut off---the marines were stranded and alone (and every marine knew this fact).

For many months our guys had to find ways to survive hunger/clean water and every type of jungle disease.

With limited supplies of medicine and ammunition---they fought off repeated Japanese attempts to overtake the airfield and succeeded---barely.

After months of suffering---finally a relief convoy of ships managed to arrive with fresh reinforcements (army).

Those marines were relieved of their assignment---and when they were filmed arriving to board the ships to leave the island---it was a sobering sight. They were gaunt/malnourished/sick. Barely able to carry on.

After I had told this veteran all that I knew of this famous and pivotal battle---he was clearly heartened to see someone young enough to be his grandson so well aware of it

The part that broke my heart was that he shared with me---how genuinely guilty that he felt having to kill Japanese soldiers that were "surrendering".

To which I quickly added that I understood completely why this was done. Most Japanese solders pretended to surrender in order to trick the Americans to come out in the open and formally accept a prisoner. At which point other Jap solders would open fire---killing the exposed marines.

I'd have done the same thing. The ruse was no secret.

Yet---this still remained a terrible memory for the old warrior. I cannot pretend to know what it is really like to have been in his shoes. I can only try to understand/appreciate his and many other veterans' sacrifices for the freedoms we enjoy in our great country.

Not that I wish it upon anyone---ever---but if those college cupcakes had to go through a similar life-altering experience they would have a different world view afterwards.

The old timers used to say: "Adversity (hardship) Creates Character"

They were speaking from experience...

That was a great reading for this morning Samurai.  I thank you for those thoughts , as do many veterans I'm sure, would thank you also.  I'm leaving now  to kick some appliance butt.  Have a nice weekend .

I to was in the oil field at 18. It was so cold that your face and nose hair would start freezing so you pulled your zero liner up over your mouth and nose. But, after a few minutes you'd have to pull it back down cause when you breathed moist air would come up each side of your nose and freeze your eyes, lashes, and brows.

But I considered my self lucky, cause, I watched power tong hands come to the jobs and stay for days. I've seen guys work over 48 hours straight, and sleep standing up hanging onto their tongs. We'd give them a break when we could and they go lay on a cold metal floor vibrating like hell with diesel engines screaming and sleep like a baby.

I've never been one to have much sympathy for complainers. I just can't relate. If ever I've found myself in a situation I didn't like, I'd just change my situation.

I can't stand Clinton but decided the day I went and voted that if she won, I would just have to man up, put my head down, stay busy, and quietly endure it.

30 days after my high school graduation in 1984, I was standing on the infamous "yellow foot prints" in San Diego reporting for Marine Corps basic training. Needless to say it was a game changing life experience that over the course of my 4 year enlistment taught me many lessons and gave experiences too numerous to list.

Until your'e put into positions/scenarios where there is no recourse but to deal with it and move forward you'll probably always think someone else gives a shit about what you think or feel. Reality: they don't.

Generation Snowflake is in for a long haul between student loans and therapy bills.

^ Awe.Some.!