A kind gesture from a coworker

“So at work yesterday a coworker asked me if all my friends are back from Iraq yet. I mentioned that all but one are back and she's got 10 months or so to go. I mentioned i'd was going drinking on saturday with Gary (a friend of 20 years) who just rotated home 7 wks ago. He told me to tell Gary thanks for doing what he did. I said no prob. Today the same co-worker approaches me today and asks if we are still going drinkin on saturday I said yep, he opened his wallet gave me $20 and siad the first few are on me, make sure Gary knows how greatful I am. Talk about kind!!!”

“Nice one.
I always look after the guys from the 101st that come to Nashville for the night. First round or a shot or something.”

“Thats cool currahee. Last time I went out drinking with PJ he had pics from Afghanistahn, the barkeep kept our pints full for the night for free.”

“We had a Marine who was home on convalescent leave here in Nashville a few weeks ago who had been shot twice in the Fallujah battle. He had the big erector set on his arm because his humorus had been shattered by AK fire. He was a little guy too. He came in twice and couldn't keep up with all of the drinks that came his way. Poor kid was hammered. His sister had to mop him up and we helped him to her car. Nice kid.”

“Your a good man Currahee, we gotta meet for real someday.”

“I hope you and your friend have a good time. If would be interesting to know how the average GI feels about the war. Maybe you could ask and tell us what he says.”

“SH, its funny that you ask this. I have spoken to him at length about his experiences in Iraq and his opinion on the whole deal. He was also very good friends with PJ (I introduced them in 6th grade). He saw the spot in Fallujah where PJ was killed.

By trade he is a telephone utility worker, as a soldier he worked long range surveillance, was crossed trained as a sniper and did small team search and destroy missions (looking for bad guys setting up road side bombs, ambushes and rockets etc...). I asked hime about going back to civilian work and mentioned how its got to be better then his military job, he responded "actually I liked my job, it wasnt bad other then riding in humvees". He had a typical attitude toward the mission overall, its a job and I have to do it well to stay alive. He obviously hated being away from his wife and kids (though his cheatin whore wife was unfaithful #%&^#^$%!). We talked about the humvee and body armor stuff. When he first got there they armored their own vehicles, he was pretty laid back about it all. You just do what you gotta do. He did however express a general lack of trust and dislike of the local population which is common for GI's (at least those whom with I have spoken and things I've read). The big question will be does he re-enlist. I will ask him tonite. I will also pick his brain and let you know his perspective in more detail.”

“Birch, Would you please tell Gary thanks? I hope you guys have a good time.

WTF is wrong with these women? I have heard so many stories about stuff like that. I just don't get it. It really ticks me off.”

“Ruby, I certainly will and I have no clue as to what the wives are thinking, no matter how bad she has it, he has it 10x worse.”

“birch, glad you and your friend had a good time and enjoy tonight also. Tell him thanks for me.

I do think you were wrong in posting what you did about his wife. That is between them and you if he told you. The rest of us really didn't need to know that.


Ruby, that has been going on ever since a man had to go off without his family. I am sure it will change some now with women being sent overseas without their family”

“I think the problem with the loyalty thing is, as a whole, not a big deal to our younger population. Face it...how many people actually take their VCR in the get fixed? Not too many. 1) They are cheap to buy, if you can find one, and 2) There is a better piece of equipment out there that is just as cheap. DVD.

We live in a society where virtually everything seems dispensable. Including our vows, morals, ethics, etc., when our own self-gratification cannot be obtained through our own honesty and faith. Temptation is out there. It's our own selfishness and insatiable hunger for the newness that gets us all trapped up in the fencing.

Thank you, Gary, and there are plenty of women out there who will stand by who you are, where you've been and what you have done. You'll see.”

“Have a great time Birch! You must be very proud of your friends as you should. Add me to the list of wellwishers and thank yous.

So as to not muddy the thread I’m be brief…

“We live in a society where virtually everything seems dispensable. Including our vows, morals, ethics, etc., when our own self-gratification cannot be obtained through our own honesty and faith.”

From your lips to God’s eyes Wolfy. Our own gratification trumps all now days. My self gratification comes from gratifying and honoring my wife, not myself. Always put others first and they will naturally put you first as well. Or at least they should.”

“Ewker, I mentioned his slut wife because SH was asking about his take onthe whole thing. This is part of his experience and part of the price he paid for serving his nation so in turn it is about us. His service to us, his service for us cost him big.
last edited: 3/12/05 2:55:07 PM”

“Tell him thanks from me too, Birch. I'm sorry to hear about his loss from a marital perspective. I know that happens often enough, when a guy is deployed, but it still sucks to hear.”

“Just to be fair, the unfaithfulness is not only happening by military wives/girlfriends.

It can happen by both sexes and by either the military party or the civilian party. Jon has told me stories of both military men and women who are not faithful and also of the civilian SO's who are not.


IMHO, ANYONE who is unfaithful to their spouse is committing something despicable. If one is so unhappy or unfulfilled in a relationship that they feel the need to have a taste of soemthing else, then they should have the decency to exit the relationship first.


Even though we are not married I promised Jon before he left that I would wait for him. His only request of me was that if I changed my mind about waiting, that I at least be honest with him about my change of mind, to which I agreed with the caveat that I knew I wasn't going to change my mind. And while the last nearly 8 months have been difficult in different respects, I have not once regretted it or allowed myself to even be tempted even once. My philosophy is that if I am willing to be in a relationship with someone in the military, someone who is already making a huge sacrifice, the least I can do is be someone whom he can rely on in the midst of all the uncertainty he faces during deployment.”

“Something that I wonder about birch; Which do returning troops prefer to hear?

#1) Thanks for going and thanks for your sacrifice.

#2) Thanks for going and thanks for your sacrifice. I don’t believe in what you were doing there but thanks anyhow.

Is #1 preferable? Is #2 a left handed compliment? And what do the troops think of the American media’s perspective and the job they have done in reporting the war? Is it accurate? I know we’ve discussed it but I’d like to know from an actual soldier. Thanks Dr. Phil!”

“#1) Thanks for going and thanks for your sacrifice.

#2) Thanks for going and thanks for your sacrifice. I don’t believe in what you were doing there but thanks anyhow.

Apparently, they would just prefer the first two words. That means the most. A simple "thank you".”

“"Is #2 a left handed compliment?"

i believe the phrase is "back-handed compliment". your freudian slip is showing”

“crash bang - I'm pretty sure Nigal was right. They mean the same thing from every source I looked at just now.

birch - Please pass along "many thanks" from me and my family.”

“whether or not we agree with any particular military action should be irrelevant to the debt of gratitude we owe our soldiers for the selfless acts of bravery they commit day after day. and on the flip side, any criticism leveled at the heads of state directly responsible for said military actions is not a criticism of the soldiers and should not be turned around to make it look like those against a war are against the soldiers.”

“Let's not go fuego here people. I ask birch a couple questions I wanted a soldier's perspective on...not anyone else's.”

“as you stated it, crash, you're right - but the reality is a great many of the people "against the war" are also against the concept/principles of the war - a direct conflict with the purpose by which most of the soldiers go to work every day, as paid volunteers”

“"also against the concept/principles of the war"

yea, thats what i mean by "against the war". im not sure what youre trying to differentiate here.

"a direct conflict with the purpose by which most of the soldiers go to work every day, as paid volunteers"

im not sure what youre trying to say here. are you saying soldiers should always be for war? im not trying to fuego here, im just trying to get clarification”

“crash bang - Soldiers sign up for war. They sign up for the type of thing that MANY who criticize, the "anti-war" people, complain about when the criticize the "heads of state". What I am saying is it IS a left-handed compliment and you're kidding yourself if you think it isn't. To clarify - I am NOT saying that ALL people criticizing specific wars are slapping the soldiers in the face; but, the reality is in this war and many others there IS a good cause for which they stand and MOST of the people critical of it are criticizing the means by which we're solving the problem(s). MOST of the time, they are slapping the soldiers in the face, and THAT is how it is taken by the soldiers. MOST of the people criticizing the middle east actions are ungrateful for the actions of the soldiers who are fighting for what they believe is a good cause. If you need further clarification - to put it simply - it's a left-handed compliment.
last edited: 3/12/05 5:59:48 PM”

“Personally, on returning from gulf war round one, I was a little irritated by people talking to me about the justification for it one way or the other. At the time, I didn't care to hear the opinions about it of people who weren't there.”

“In other words, I just say thank you and leave it at that.”

“thats what i thought you were saying

just for the record, i wasnt sold on the war but i am in no way ungrateful to the soldiers who unquestioningly put their lives on hold and on the line. when youre entrusted with the security of millions, its best you dont question orders, to preserve the integrity of all missions. however, as citizens, its important we have the right to speak our minds, and not be branded traitors to our country if we speak against military action. if you call me a traitor for criticizing the president, youre a traitor to our founding fathers and to what our soldiers are fighting for. kinda ironic, no?

and i still have not seen a connection between bush-bashing and soldier-bashing. no ones saying "the soldiers this" "the soldiers that" theyre not even criticizing the generals or HOW the war is conducted but that its conducted at all. all the criticism has been leveled at bush, rumfield, rice, et al. but i can see how a soldier would take it personally and be defensive. thats why i would never bush-bash to a soldier. and im with nigal on wanting to hear a soldiers p.o.v. (unless, of course, its another "why i hate civilians" thread)”

“My Sister-in-law's stepson just returned from Iraq. He will be "back home" in the USA for a while, but could still be sent back if needed....

I told her that she and her husband must have been really relieved to have him home and "safe".

She told me that her husband was actually very torn about his son being over there. That he felt tremendous guilt every time he was relieved that his son wasn't killed in an accident... The guilt he felt was akin to "survivor's guilt"--i.e. that he shouldn't be feeling happy that his son was alive--but that he should be feeling sad for the other families that couldn't be similarly blessed....

Her husband works as a civilian with the military... No matter how he personally feels about the President or the war, his feelings of love towards his son and his concern with his son's safety prevail above all things.

We are all glad to see that his son is back safe and sound... Regardless of what Thinkbubelz and I think of the war, we realize the sacrifice our soldiers make for our country--I'm not sure if either of us was his age that I'd be able to do the same....Those that are fortunate enough to come home in one piece physically should be thanked for their service....

Birch-- have fun with your friend!”

“*** Darned double posts! ***
last edited: 3/12/05 8:22:37 PM”

“We had a great night, a long walk down memory lane. I hate how war changes my friends. Sitting for hours and listening to a guy you met at age 12 talk about his exeperience is some powerful stuff. I hope others get the same opportunity. He's home, he's now single and readujstment is a long road.”

“thank god hes home safe”

“"Soldiers sign up for war. They sign up for the type of thing that MANY who criticize, the "anti-war" people, complain about when the criticize the "heads of state". What I am saying is it IS a left-handed compliment and you're kidding yourself if you think it isn't. To clarify - I am NOT saying that ALL people criticizing specific wars are slapping the soldiers in the face; but, the reality is in this war and many others there IS a good cause for which they stand and MOST of the people critical of it are criticizing the means by which we're solving the problem(s). MOST of the time, they are slapping the soldiers in the face, and THAT is how it is taken by the soldiers. MOST of the people criticizing the middle east actions are ungrateful for the actions of the soldiers who are fighting for what they believe is a good cause. If you need further clarification - to put it simply - it's a left-handed compliment."


I disagree with your statement. Soldiers in the US military don't sign up for war. They sign up to defend the Constitution. There is a difference. Sadly IMO, throughout much of the United States history, our military has not been used for its intended purpose. The men who really run this country have used our men and women in countless adventures to make themselves rich. It was true in the Mexican War, the "Civil War", the Indian Wars, the annnexation of Hawaii, the Spanish American War, the Philippine Insurrection, countless Central American and Caribbean banana republic "revolts", WWI, and even WWII! Yeah that's a bold statement, but some of the information coming out about the origins of WWII might even change your perspective about that one.
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Futhermore the trend just keeps going. Viet Nam, Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and now Iraq.
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And all you have to do is look a little deeper that what you hear, read, or see in the major media outlets. Don't be fooled by the apple pie, Mom, and the American flag bull$hit. Follow the money. Evil people are getting rich off the lives of our sons, fathers, husbands, daughters, sisters, and mothers.
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Our military is the best that has ever been. They have performed well whether made up of conscripts or volunteers. The "anti-war" crowd in this day and age has nothing against our military. We're "anti-war" because we want our military home.
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BTW most anti-war people are not pacifists. Don't believe me? Come into my house in the middle of the night without knocking and see what happens. Or better yet, let someone attack the shores of the country and see where the "Minutemen" come from.
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Lastly from where I look the whole pro-war vs. anti-war is a big shell game to keep the sheeple preoccupied. As long as the pro and con factions of any issue are fighting it out, the oligarchs can keep lining their pockets.
last edited: 3/13/05 10:46:47 AM”

“Very good, SH.

After all is said and done,the proof is in the pudding.
Wars make millionaires and destroy human life.

As far as "nowadays" compares with the past and morality and a sex goes, nothing has changes all that much.

Within weeks of arriving in France in 1917 a huge percentage of U.S. soldiers had contracted various venereal diseases, well over half.

In WWII soldiers were issued condoms.
They were officially told that they were to be used to keep dirt out out of the muzzles of their rifles.

In the past the modest talk didn't match reality in matters of sex.”

“Thanks for taking a thread about a coworkers kindness and making it about VD and greed. Its good to know that everyone seeks opportunity it impose their agenda and perspective on everything they touch. Its too bad too, but I should have expected this. Its too bad that I didnt make this fuego so you all really could had fun.

there was a reason I didnt make this fuego, there is a reason I dont even go to fuego threads...its pointless. In the future you oughtta think about the direction you take something and the original intent. If I wanted to hear both sides piss and moan about the virtue (or lack of) of war I would read every other mutherphucking b i t c h fest you get into. This thread isnt about you, its about a kind coworker and saying thanks to a vet. Get over your self agrandizing opinions, if you had it all figured out you have a policy job, you wouldnt be posting on a hiking website on a wknd.
last edited: 3/13/05 2:51:04 PM”

“Glad you and your buddy got to hang out.

My wife and I had to go back to our hometown for a funeral this weekend. I came home this morning to catch up on work and she just called to say I missed my college roomate at church. We all(wife, roomate, and I) went to HS together. He and my wife grew up in the same church. He's an AC130 pilot and had done 2 tours in Afghanistan and probably plenty in Iraq. I hate I missed seeing him. He's moving to a place 90 minutes away to go to Air War College. Hope to catch up with him there. I don't think I've seen him in about 6-7 years. He was a F-15 pilot then. I'm anxious to hear his stories. He won a Silver Star in Afghanistan.”

“birch is right.

sorry, dude.”

“I appologize, birch.
The way some people go on about "the good old days" I feel that I have to point out reality.

I too would like to buy a round for one of those guys, it would be an honor.”

“its just a symptom of these polarized times. you cant walk within ten feet of the bait-store without opening a can of worms”

“I didn't politicize the thread, Sarge did. I just asked you to ask your friend what he thought about Iraq. You volunteered to do it.
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But I will say this. I'll fight this battle in any thread. This is important. Even the people who like to duck their heads in the sand need to read it. You can't just watch NASCAR, drink Bud, eat Fritos, whine about $2.00/gal gasoline on TT, and all the while scratching your head wondering WTF is going on. Enlighten yourselves people.”

“SH, this isnt a battle. Its about gratitude for selflessness. Its not about the war, its about one soldiers duty.
last edited: 3/13/05 6:57:34 PM”

“If this was about you and your friend drinking and talking about soldiering, Iraq, and duty then why did you put the damn thread up anyway? This is a public forum and many people are going to pipe in their $0.02 worth.
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Your buds are caught up in something they have no control of. Truth be known probably more than half of the people in the U.S. service are wishing they could get out of this mess tomorrow. And for the National Guard and Army Reserves I bet the percentage is closer to 75. I feel for them but at the same time I'm thinking they and everyone around them should stop and ask themselves one question. And that question is, "Why in the hell do we find ourselves in this position over and over again?"”

“sh, i feel more or less the same about the war, but sometimes you just gotta drop it”

“oops.
last edited: 3/13/05 11:14:25 PM”

“It must be tough to be so right all the time yet have so much trouble making others see it. Excuse me while I go graze on some more grass.”

“I will drop it. In fact I'm headed over to the Wal-Mart today to get one of those yellow car magnet ribbon signs that say;

"I Support More Troops Than You Do"”

“I walked over to our tech library area to get a drawing I had sent to the big plotter.
One of my coworker friends that happens to be really really hot asked me to help her.
She was wearing a very very short dress today.
Did I say she is very very hot?
She had an electrical cord she needed to plug into a receptacle behind her desk.
She was trying to route it under her desk up the wall and into the receptacle.
She had crawled under the desk but couldn't reach the receptacle.

I walk up as she is coming out.
I act like nothing is going on and I didn't see anything.
Her watching female coworker starts giggling.

I turn red.

She then asks me to help her.

I say sure, how can I help?

She lies down across the desk and asks me to feed the cord up from underneath.

Being a gentleman, I try to advert my eyes as I crawl under her dress/desk.
I feed the cord up where she can grab it.

She gets the cord.

She loudly proclaims "it won't go in the right hole".

Watching coworker is dieing with laughter.

I am also.

She finally gets it plugged in, and thanks me.

I crawl out, grinning like a possum, get my plotted drawing, and leave.

The watching coworker is still giggling.

I'm in a lot better mood this afternoon for some reason. ;-)”

“You lucky dog. Is she single?”

“Living with a long time boy friend.”

“She finally gets it plugged in, and thanks me.

I think that says it all...”

“I feel like I need to smoke a cigarette. ;-)”