Tales from the Sandbox - Holmes - Military Times

Overheard at the Bus Stop

Overheard while waiting for the chow hall bus:

Army Specialist to his fellow soldiers, “Seriously, there’s $600 in my P.T. shorts pocket, all folded up. If I get clipped, I want you guys to go into my foot locker and and get that s–t, get some kegs and have a big f–k’n party for me.”

After that, the conversation turned to what might happen at that party, who would be invited, who would hook up with whom and who would catch what. Then, the conversation turned to the pitfalls of internet dating and ideas for Myspace page designs.

I guess two things struck me about this exchange –the idea that 1) a guy can be so open and earnest about getting killed seemed reckless in the face of superstition, and 2) that his buddies can take that kind of comment in-stride and roll the conversation right along.

This tells me many soldiers have no illusions about what the “surge” is doing, or what effect the election will have on their deployment or even what legislation congress is currently debating. Today’s soldier wants now what soldiers have wanted since the the first Roman legions were formed; a task, a meal, a cot and cadre of kindred spirits to share all of it.

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