Tag: army
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Chuang Tzu Comic
More than half a lifetime ago I was a student at a very expensive liberal arts college called Reed. I was not a good student. The college is in Portland Oregon and the city was beautiful at the time. I could wander freely because I was also in the military and looked more dangerous than…
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A Product of my Generation
Like many in Generation X I was a solitary child. I have younger sisters but I was mostly expected to leave them alone while I was entertaining myself. I had a few friends here and there on the weekends and summer camp, but by and large I was allowed to take care of myself from…
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Hail-a Hail-a Infantry
“Hail-a Hail-a Infantry Queen a battle follow me Airborne Ranger’s the life for me Cause nothing in this world is free” “Up in the morning and out of the rack Beaten down by mortar attack The mortars and artillery Are raining bursts around me” “But in my heart I have no fear The Ranger god…
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Sacralizing My Worldview
I grew up Episcopalian. My father, an Episcopal priest, more than anything taught me the moral lessons of the Bible. I also learned the Nicene Creed and the weekly confessional prayer by rote. But the miracles and the prophecies of the Bible were secondary. For instance the story of David and Goliath was presented as…
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Just Don’t Do It
What advice would you give to your teenage self? Don’t join the Army. Don’t go to Reed College. Don’t live in your parents’ empty house. Take care of your mental health. Don’t stalk Julie Slepikus. Get laid more often. But I wouldn’t listen to anybody in my teens so I probably wouldn’t listen to my…
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I Swore An Oath
Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you? When I was about to graduate high school I went to a Military Inprocessing Center (MEPS). Before I left my father absolutely forbade me to sign anything there. But I was 18 and if I wanted to join the Army I was going to join…
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Mellow
How do significant life events or the passage of time influence your perspective on life? I was a very high strung little boy. My uncle nicknamed me Fred Smith because I reminded him of Federal Express. As I got older I learned to focus my nervous energy and got into choirs and theater. It was…
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Defending the Constitution
Today I am thinking of the oath I took when I joined the Army. I vowed to defend the Constitution of the United States against its enemies both foreign and domestic. I specifically consented to the power of the Congress to raise and support armies. I was trained to kill in that cause. I am…
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I Wouldn’t Start a Sports Team
If you started a sports team, what would the colors and mascot be? Physical Education was my worst subject in highschool and college. I was a mess when it came to exercise in the Army. If I started a team it would be a team of story tellers and we would have to wear things…
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Liberation Day
Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate. October 16 is Liberation Day from now on. We will all celebrate the day I was discharged from the Army in 1989. On the very same day in 1997 I smoked marijuana for the last time. To commemorate all the times in my life and…
Latter Day Sinner 