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hi its me, the Stream of Conscienceness Man again. What is SoC Man doing diarying on Monday AM yr asking? Yesterday it was only Thursday, now we're taking over Monday too--- Its all part of exlrrp's cunning plan for World Domination. Be afraid, be very afraid (giggle)
SoC Man is sitting in front of the fireplace on Veteran's Day (yesterday to you) sitting back and recalling every spud he ever peeled in the service of his country. There was a few, all right, I mind the time when I was in the 82d, after Vietnam, I had KP 14 days in a row. This was for going off riding in a car with some loose women and alcohol during maneuvers in Ft Bragg NC-- a natural enough thing for a paratrooper to do you might say--- without technically asking permission. (I just didn't want to bother them because they seemed so busy and it might not have been forthcoming because I wasn't old enough to drink at the time (or vote either)
They did not look at this with a knowing chuckle and a twinkle in their eye but there were so many court martials and Article 15s in the 82d from returned Vietnam Vets that they didn't want another one on the record so gave me the option of doing 14 days straight KP or they'd REALLY throw the book at me. they didn't even reduce me in rank (that was another time.)
(There you go, another TRUE Vietnam War story)
(I got a million of em)
What I found out later was that this kind of story was not at all untypical of most of the guys I knew back then . there were some slight readjustment problems. A pal of mine I was in the 101st with came back a sgt and lost his stripes down to pfc because the Army changed plans when he had tickets for a Janis Joplin concert and no Army BS was going to keep him from it. Another pal of mine from the lrrps came back, got into some horrendous s--t and volunteered for another tour just to get out of Dodge.that was not uncommon either. he retired a command sgt major, after doing 3 tours.
Readjustment back into society was your own problem back then and no one would ever confess to a mental problem or substance abuse---in those days you could be committed like jail to a mental institution!!! No fooling!! I wasn't about to unburden my troubles on anybody official, take that to el banco and write cheques on it. you stuffed it all. Same for everyone else, so a lot of this stuff didn't get on the record. (like my demotion)
it was several years and a whole first marriage before I started to get good at faking being normal.
Its strange the different attitude towards the military, back then the best it got was indifference---now its really changed: welcoming, helpful. With long wars in the past decade, there's a whole lot of new vets now. Handed off to another generation.
I went a long time not telling anybody what I did---and I STILL leave parts out--but I see from old age hindsight it was the most defining time in my life. Certainly as much as being a parent was and more than being a businessman. Ive never been more important, making life and death decisions like never before or since. I really learned a lot about myself, some of which I would have been just fine not knowing, other things I took with me all through life. I don't get faced down nor bluffed, usually and I can shine shoes better than anyone i know, no fooling.
Went down to the veterans day parade in Albany, my county seat. For some reason this is the biggest Vets Day parade west of the somewhere--it takes 2 hours for everything to go by. I only stay for some of it. I get there late to miss the obligatory Fat-Old-Vets-With-Beards-and-Leather-Jackets-Motorcycle Roar-by. There seems to be a de rigeur bodystyle for that and the de rigeur clothing is also somewhat dreary and samesame. I can remember when bikers were outlaws and outcasts, tough looking guys you never thought of messing with---now theyre real estate agents and CPAs with their mothers and grandkids riding behind. And its loud----I hate loud. exlrrp is into flying under the radar and sneaking up on stuff---as a matter of fact I practice just that, just to keep up the skill.
But I hung out for about an hour. Sometimes I wondered why I was there cuz it was cold and then it occurred to me---its a community. Its part of us, for some of us a really important part We have something in common, something we want to see honored. If I want to see something honored, I have to honor it.
Its something I want to see honored. Sorta like letting my freak flag fly.....and I feel....like I owe it......to someone.
So I go to the parade.
The photo below is one of my favorite me-vs-the-military shot. In 2005 I went back to that very place I served 14 days KP, the very messhall. For most of that time I was Outside Man, right where you see me now. It was still there, tho due to be demolished shortly
You don't know how relieved I was to see it again.
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