[AccessD] OT:Xmas Soldier

Max Wanadoo max.wanadoo at gmail.com
Sun Dec 23 14:14:11 CST 2007


Well, I can honestly say that when I joined the Army (1962) I never ever,
ever, encountered the violence that seems to be endemic now days.

Boy, it was tough - really tough.  There was ridicule and mocking but never
violence to the recruits.  Guys fought amongst themselves of course -
natural thing until relationships/comradeships settled.  But never from the
Drill Staff.  Everybody feared them and also respected them all at the same
time!

Just a general decline of personal standards, I guess!

Max
 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Susan Harkins
Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 5:14 PM
To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT:Xmas Soldier

BTW, my uncle was a drill sergeant for the Marines (Paris Island) for years.

He wasn't quite 6 feet tall, but he was an imposing man. Oddly enough, my
husband already knew him and we all had no idea. My uncle worked part time
as an MC for a strip joint for years and Bill spent a number of summer camps
down there and had met him. When they met, via a family event, years later,
it was rather comical. :)

Brian is probably very good at what he does. He's talked about it a bit and
he knows the "drill" -- but he disapproves of the violence and ridicule that
he seems some of the other drillers use.

Susan H.




I can't think of many things in this life that I truely fear...but I knew a
man about 16 years ago that if he walked in right now...well...I won't say
what body part might 'pucker'...but I'm sure I would be shaking.  That would
be my Drill Sergeant.  By fearing his wrath, I could face any others's.  I
don't know how tall he was...but He seemed like a mountain to me.

Mark A. Matte

U.S. Army...MI,Commo, and 'fell' out of planes!!!(they say jump, but after
the first step...you fall)


> From: max.wanadoo at gmail.com
> To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com
> Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2007 15:18:37 +0000
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT:Xmas Soldier
>
> Very nice, Susan.
> Clearly you understand the ethos of the poem.
> I am sure your home is warm and loving and your 'guys' are lucky to have
> you. Home is where the heart is.
> God Bless.
> Max
> Ps. Reading about your stepson being a Drill Sergeant made me smile and
> brought back memories of when I turned up at the barrack gates having just
> enlisted. In the distance we could see a squad of young kids being drilled
> by an adult and marching in our direction. It was only when they came 
> close
> that we saw that they weren't kids but grown men and the 'adult' was
> actually a 6'8" tall drill sergeant. Oh happy days (I think ;-/)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Susan Harkins
> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2007 2:59 PM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT:Xmas Soldier
>
> I've seen it before.
>
> My first husband, and the father of my children was in the Navy during the
> first Iranian crisis (Jimmy Carter). It was a tense time and he was gone
> alot. Every cruise was 9 to 10 months and spent in the Indian Ocean. He 
> said
> many times, they thought we were at war. We missed more than one Christmas
> together, and of course, all the holidays were like that. You can't take a
> couple weeks off when you're sitting in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
>
> My current husband is in the Air Guard -- now the Kentucky Guard was
> actually called to active duty during the Vietnam War, but he wasn't in
> then. I think he was still in High School when that happened. Many of the
> men and women in the Kentucky Air Guard have been to Afghanistan and 
> Iraq --
> some from many months. Bill's old boss spent a year in Afghanistan. The
> command of the entire base just got back from a long tour in Iraq. Several
> units have been on active duty over there over the past few years.
>
> There's a good chance Bill will spend several months this year at the 
> Texas
> border. He was in New Orleans after Katrina and even has a medal for his
> participation. In fact, it was the Kentucky Air Guard that got the airport
> up and running again. Two summers ago, he spent 3 months taking part in a
> special Army mission that I can't talk about, although I don't know 
> anything
> of a classified nature. He just doesn't want me to talk about it online. 
> My
> stepson is in the Army Guard. He's a drill sergeant and is often on active
> duty training active duty recruits. Being in the guard and reserves, 
> neither
> has ever spent Christmas on active duty and away from home. We have been
> lucky.
>
> The poem is wrong though. When they're home, their homes are happy, 
> bright,
> and full of love. It's only when they're away that some of the light dims.
>
> Susan H.
>
>
>>I probably am Susan,
>> See what you make of this poem. As an ex Soldier, I couldn't read it
>>without crying.
>> Max
>> Ps. Contrary to popular belief, I do have a heart!
>>
>>
>> This was written by a British Serviceman serving overseas, but can
>> equally apply to many nationalities.
>>
>> IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY - ALL IS SECURE
>
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