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 > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com _________________________________________________________________ i'm is proud to present Cause Effect, a series about real people making a difference. http://im.live.com/Messenger/IM/MTV/?source=text_Cause_Effect -- AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com -- AccessD mailing list AccessD at databaseadvisors.com http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com