Back 2 Tha Army, Pt 8 ?

Where was I, oh yeah, freetime when not serving Uncle Sam. Its like this
from 6am to 5pm Monday thru Friday, you work for the Government. But
there are some exceptions, see if I can get them right. 6am to 5pm
Government time, not unless you have Guard Duty which is at 5pm and last
til 6 or 7am the next morning. You check the duty rooster to see if
you're on, if so, you get cut loose at 1pm to prepare for Sargent of The
Guard Post. That's a Sargent and about 6 to 8 enlisted memebers stand
inspection. Shiney spit shine boots, creased uniforms and haircuts in
order. The Lt., who is in charge, inspects us and ask some questions,
and then the Lt picks a Supernumerary. This person gets a reward big
time. They don't have to pull Guard Duty, but have to stay in the Guard
Shack in case one of the guys gets sick and can't perform. Also the
Super gets a 3 day pass. Sounds good right. But the pass is when you can
get one, IF you can get one. That's the joke. Other than that duty,
there's also CQ and CQ Runner. This consists of you TRYING to STAY awake
all night when everyone in the barracks is sleeping. You get the nexy
day off also. All these duties, you can pay some one to pull then for
you, about 40 dollars. But I was on SD, Special Duty, so it didn't apply
to me.

But anyway, Uncle Sam's time was his, and after 5pm, was yours. You
BETTER show up for first formation in the morning if you go out partying
at night. No calling in sick here, wait... there is Sick Call, but you
have to sign up for that and plus GO. You don't show up for first
formation at 6am, you're AWOL, Absent With Out Leave. You get in some
serious shit big time. Other than that, you could go to Bum Fucked Eypt,
as long as you are back for 6am first formation, which is PT !!!

PT PT PT, we love we love, want more of it. Yeah right, nothing lik3e
partying all night drinking that German Kick Ass Beer, and then at 6am
running 2 miles. Fuck that shit, especially in the middle of freakin'
winter. Ok, wimter, you people don't know what cold is. Germany is
FUCKIN' COLD !!! I never seen, been any place colder, no wait, I went to
alaska for 6 months, TDY, Temporat Duty Assignment. Never do that shit
again. COLD as FUCK there too. No serious, really Fuckin' Cold there.
But that was later, when I re uped for Truck Driver classification.

Yeah its fuckin cold buddy in Germany. Summer last... summer is suppose
to be at leat 3 to 4 months long right? Well over in Germany it seems
like it was a month long. For real, shit was over before you know it. It
snows in September, and you don't see the the ground again until around
the later opart of April first week of May. But just like anywhere, each
winter you get use to the cold, yeah right!! I frooze my gonads off
EVERY FUCKING WINTER !! See I could talk about this type of cold
forever. Let me see if I can compare it to anything here in the United
States...HELL NO !!. Ask any one who's been there. Better yet, watch a
German war movie, in the middle of winter, soaking wet, standing outside
butt ass naked !! That's a German winter for you. Enough of cold
weather.

Since I had a lot of Comp time coming to me, I would take day trips to
anywhere. It was on one of these trips that I met a nice young woman,
but how I got to meet her was strange.
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Was Just Thinking About Something, and...

Being that its hotter than hell, not that I know how hot hell is...
Anyway, I found a way to keep really chilled. A number of ways really.
First only go to places, public places that have kickin ac. Libraries,
department stores and supermarkets. Well, I work in a supermarker, and
the ac is really unbeleieveable, cold !!! Another place is City owned
agencies. Public Assistance Offices. I found out where one is close by,
walking distance. I had to meet a friend there, we have a history
together..professionally that is. No, not me, her, she was my case
manager. The ac is really turned up there also. Last place, but this
will cost some money, the trains. AC is kickin' there too. As I type
this, heading towards The Bronx now. Was gonna take the bus, 2 of them,
but ac is better here. There, said and done.

Words. We all use them, part of the human language, whatever language
you speak, words are words. Some words are nice. Love, flowers,
beatuiful, sunshine, well you know. Then there are words that hurt,
cause anger. There are many of those too. But I realized something
though. That's what's causes me to write now.

After 34 years of dating I realize something through out all of my
dating. Even though there were some endearing, pretty, nice words
mentioned, there has also been some hurtful ones too. Some spoken on my
part, but most received. I noticed that when I received some nasty
words, it was because I did something, something that caused hurt in the
other person. All that did was cause more spoken words of hate and PAIN
thrown back at me. I'm just realizing this ALL now. This is to say that
the only reason that words of hate are spoken is because the other
person is feeling some sort of pain.

What I tended to do when some one called me something that I didn't
agree with, what I did was lash out and throw the same hate back at
them. When all along all I was feeling was pain. Never would I have
thought, cuae I didn't back then, never would I have thought that that
person was in some type of pain, that I caused. Stupid me, all I did was
lash out even more. All this to say...

We do and say things cause we are in pain. What I have come to do, and
have been doing this for a while now, is to tkae a deep breath or two.
Instead of lashing back out, I think about why this person is coming at
me like this, what did I do. Doesn't take long to figure wher 'I' went
wrong out. I quickly say something to ease that person from the state
that they are in. It works most of the time. Those other times, I say
what I have to say, and walk away. I approach them at another time, and
speak straight from my heart about what happened a while ago. This way
the situstion is somewhat defused, and we 'both' are able to hear nad
understand each other.

Ms. B, he didn't mean what he said, but what he said he meant. Take a
look at what caused him to say that, and nothing else. Those 2 words he
called you, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that he was
hurting. We men, includung me, we hurt ALL the time. We aren't like you
woman, who hide your feelsins oh so well. We can contain it like that,
so we lash out. I think, and I could be wrong, I think he cares for you
a great deal. Why waste all those years cause he was hurting. He wants
you, and he can't let something else, including family come in between
something, some one he wants. We don't see it like that. That's how us
men are. Me, like I told you, my well being comes first before anything.
I'm not selfish, but who in the long run at the end of the the day, who
is gonna take care of me? No one but me, right? So I tend to do what I
feel like doing no matter what. Say what I feel like saying no matter
what.

Forgive him, that a face to face thingy too. But forgive him and tell
him that that shit hurt you too. Look him staright into his eyes and
forgive him. Don't hold it against him, let it go, theought it away. But
I assure you, this will not be the first time he will call you names,
cause this will not be the last time that he feels hurt.

I finsished with this..... bye, bye
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...........

Why? Why do I want to.... why do I think..... what is it that you want
that I..... Me being me, is me.Tx, Ok, Fla, and SC. I really need a
vacation, fast.
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Ah, Special Duty and I Was A Short Timer Too

Being a Short Timer meant that I had about less than 100 days left in
Germany. A lot of decisons were to be made, re up, ot get out. I re uped
for a different job classification, more of that later. But now, I was
on SD, Special Duty. My Post was so small that we didn't have Militray
Police, we had our own Police Squad, 5 soldiers. Like I said so many
days on, and so many off.

I still slept in my room, in the same bed and everything. But whatever
the unit sis, I was not a part of it. We they went to the field for 3
days, and twice a year for 30 days each... oh, I forgot all about that
part, man !! Promise to mention that next entry. So when they went to
the field, me and my crew stayed back on post. Now you have to
understand something here, when the husbands are off making like war,
the wifes are left behind to PARRTY !!! And they did.

I don't want to hear any of that BS about, oh we woman don't
cheat...EVERY wife cheated on their husbands. I know, I saw, I
particpated. Yeah, I did. Half the wifes cheated because they were
bored. Bored with their husbands, and with nothing to do in Germany,
which I couldn't see how that was possible. The other half cheated, and
I quote, 'cause that's what I'm use to doing'. They cheated before they
got married, and while stateside. They knew of nothing else. The
husbands had they lil flings on the side too. But most of them hung out
in the barracks with us single guys, actin@l like they weren't married
and shit. But it was uncomfortable with them around when we did things
cause you could see that look in their eyes like I shouldn't be doing
this...ah fuck it.

First time the unit pulled out to go to the field, I was holding all
traffic so that the vechiles could leave the post. It was cute to see
the wifes with children waving to their husbands, daddies, leaving for
30 days, or 3 days for the field. Me, the sooner they left the better,
it was quieter on post, so I thought. See, when my Battalion pulled out,
Baumholder, 11 kics away, knew that they were gone also. And the dogs
rolled on post. First time for me, young and stuff, I had my hands full
at the NCO Club.

Wifes having a Girls Night out, soldiers from Baumholder on the prowl,
me, getting fed up with all the madness. All I had was a night stick,
and a pair of handcuffs, that's all. Would have been better if I had a
.45, got one later on after the first time the soldiers from my post
left for the field. But right then and there I didn't have one but would
need one.

The more drinks you have, the rowdier you become, that's what happens to
me. So, with that in mind, things got crazy in the NCO Club. One wife
decided that she want 3 soldiers at the same time...in the parking lot,
not happening on my shift. She tried to pull the rank of her husband's,
and I didn't even know her husband, but that didn't stop her. Went
inside, and it was a madhouse. Music blasting, wife's with soldiers
doing what comes natrually, but with their husbands. Shit was out of
control. Now I'm not the one to rain on anyones parade, but it was left
up to me to restore some order. I got punched in the face what, I don't
know how many times. I closed the club down, threw everyone out. That
made matters worse, cause everything inside, went outside, and around
the post. The barracks weren't locked and most of the rooms weren't
either. So I had to check 4 buildings and countless rooms. Wasn't bad
though, only a few were being occupied. When the guys came back out of
the field, nothing was mentioned, so I held a lot of secrets.

My present duty consisted of me working sometimes 3 days on 4 days off,
and then 2 days on and 5 days off. It was a win win situation. I had
crazy free time. Slept late when I wasn't on call. When I was, worked 16
hours straight, 4 hour break, then another 16 hours straight. You get
used to it. With all this free time, I did a lot of traveling. I used to
go to the banhof, train station, close my eyes at the map, and point to
a place. Buy a ticket and just go. Its nothing like pulling into a town,
not knowing anyone or the town and just exploring. You would be suprise
on how many people just walk up to you and just start trying to speak
english with you. It was one of those times when something strange
happened to me.
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Saturday

I wish there was a way possible that there could be added another day to
the week. I need another day added, make that happen.

I enjoy being with you. Holding you, seeing how your body responds to
mine, I enjoy that.

Thought I would say that and get it out.
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Just Another Thought

A co worker said to me, 'man, you had a lot of jobs'. Meaning that I
worked in a number of places. Well, I have. I can't see working at
someplace for a long time. The longest job I ever held in one place was
n The Army. Second job, Manhattan Psyc Center, as a MHTA for 4 and half
years. That almost drove me crazy, and that's another story in itself.

Yes, I've had a lot of jobs, but all of them are in the same field, food
service. I like working in a field that everyday is different. All jobs
are like this, but food service is in a class by itself.
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Time To Shake and Bake, And I Helped

Get some Brown N Serve bags. Load them up with 1000 grams of Turkish
Green Hash, and even it all out. Grab a handful of towels, lay two of
them on the table and soak them with water. Place the Brown n Serve bag
with 100 grams on top, then place 2 more saok towels with water on top
of them. Oh yeah, you will need at least 3 irons full with water,
settings set to steam.. Then you begin to 'press' the Brown n Serve bag.
The staem forms the hash., after that place the Brown n Serve bag in the
freezer for 20 minutes. While this is cooling off, take 3 butter knifes
and place them under a flame and make sure you have a ruler handy. Take
bag out of freezer, and take the hash out of the bag. With a hot knife,
using the rule score the hash and cut into little cubes. There done.

Each piece is worth, well back then 20 dollars. But, if its 2 days
before payday, they go for 40 dollars, 'payday stakes' is what they
called it. Ok, 2 shipments a week makes for a tidy profit. I never knew
what A paid for each 500 gram bags, wasn't my problem. Oh, but there
were some problems to be had though.

One early morning I was in my room sleeping. Woke up and had to go to
the bathroom. Opened my door, and this green tennis ball goes bouncing
by, I followed it with my eyes down the hall. From no where this HUGE
German Shepard goes running after it. I look further down the hall, and
I see about 7 MP's and a couple of +fficers. Health and Welfare
shakedown, its a bust going down !! I was told not to move. The MP's
started banging on doors waking people up. By A's room 2 other German
Shepard dogs start going crazy, they smelled drugs. I thought this was
it, A is going down. Strange thing is that they NEVER banged on his
door, and he never came out. WTF was going on ? For 2 hours they went
through the rooms, my room included, and found nothing. A, never came to
his door, or out of his room. It was all over and we were cleaning up
the mess, they tore everything up searching for drugs.

Later on that day, I asked A what was that about? He told me he forgot
to mention it to me about the shakedown, he knew in advance what was
happening, he said he was sorry and that he needed to talk with me later
on about something very important.

After 6pm, I went to his room, and all the guys theat was 'living' off
of him and his stash, he told them to get out, he needed to talk to me.
He told me that I was doing a great job, and that I was being given a
promotion, I was gonna become his number 2 guy, instead og being his
number 6 guy. He said word was already put out, so expect some changes
to be made. Now these changes scared the fuck out of me, and when I tel
you them, you will question everything you know about drugs and the
present war on drugs today.
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Torchwood

This place where I go to download my music, videos and movies kept
having this Torchwood show. So, I downloaded day one and now I'm hooked.
Its a five day mini series, but there are other seasons to it. Its from
the BBC network, London or whatever, but its a good show. Tonight I'm
going to watch day five.

Question. Some one tells you to make a decision. One person in your
family has to die, you pick the person. If you don't pick one person
within 24 hours, they will kill your whole family. Could you make that
decision ? I don't know if I could.
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Its Just Like Anywhere Else.

First, you would think that being in The Army, you would lead a
productive life. Learn some new things..check. Meet new people...check.
But keep on the, lets say, the straight and narrow? I don't think so.

Its just like anywhere else in the world really. You have your goody 2
shoes, and then you have the dark side. The dark side is ALWAYS much
more fun, take for instance...

Weed, its hard to find in Germany, but it can be found, and at a price.
But when your in Rome you do as the Romans do, and this was hashish,
hash. 20 dollars a gram on military installions, that's is if you can
find it. Since Baumholder was only 11 kilometers away by bus, it was
easy to get to. But the problem with that was that they just didn't sell
to just anyone. CID, criminal investagation division, was always busting
some one ALL the time. But that didn't stop any one, not even me. I
didn't see The Army as the way most people did, I was 17 years old, what
the fuck did I know. Then one day things changed.

The gun section, 5th Section, Blood Barons, had 7 crew members. With me
being the newest. 2 guys, I will call them A and B. A was from the west
coast, Seattle or some place. B, midwest. A was in charge of this little
outfit I was soon to learn, he approached me on afternoon. A, asked me
did I want to make 200 dollars? I said ok, what did I have to do? He
haded me a plastice bag and a piece of paper and told me to deliver it
to this address in the housing area, but I couldn't do it til it was
dark outside. I put it in my locker and waited. He came to my room and
told me its time for me to go. So I went to the address, had a hard time
finding it, my first time in housing area. Knocked on the door, and this
guy answered, looked at me and closed the door. He came back, counted
out 700 dollars, we exchanged packages, and he closed the door. On the
way back, I ran into some people who were tossing a fotball around, and
they asked me to join in. I did for about an hour and left. Got back to
the barracks, went to my room and was watching tv. Knock on my door, and
5 people walked in, A was one of them. Tey locked the door, asked me how
did everything go. Gave hime the money. He handed me what he said he was
going to give me, told everyone to leave the room. He had another offer
for me. It went like this.

Twice a week he gets 2 500 grams bags of turkish green hash in powder
form. Would I like to make 200 dollars a bag if I were to go and pick it
up for him from this guy down in the town. Hell yeah, I'll do it. He
said great, go now. What tha fuck? Now ? No biggie. He gave me the
address and I went. Came back in about 2 hours, and handed the package
to A. He told me to come into his room, to see the rest of the
proccess.

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Army, Part 7 Idar Oberstien, West Germany

Every military installation is located next to or in a town. My post was
located on a mountain, next to a town. But below the mountain was a lso
a town called Idar-Oberstien, its actually 2 towns in one, Idar and then
Oberstien. My post was located above the town of Oberstien.

Everything that you find ina a small city or town outside a Military
Post usually is low budget, meaning they base the businesses on what
they thing the soldiers wanted. I just found this out, like 3 years
after I did... we will get to that later on. No, wait. Fort Sill
Oklahoma, the town of Lawton, very cheesy. Nothing but bars and strip
clubs, very dangerous. But not Idar-Oberstein. But let me tell you about
the Germans first.

They, for the most part are very clean. The towns are clean, and their
cars are ultra clean. There was a parade in the town one day, and there
were houses shitting everywhere in the parade. There was nothing BUT
horses, I think the parade was for horses. I stayed and watched for a
while, and I walked to the beginning of it. All the horse do do, it was
everywhere. I went into a pub to have a beer, then came out and walked
back to the end of the parade. Like all that shit was gone, no traces of
it anywhere. These Germans do not play, clean streets !! On saturdays,
you see home owners outside of their buildings scrubbing their
sidewalks.

One thing the town is famous for, and I don't know if its world famous
either, The Church in The Rocks. This church was carved out of the side
of the mountain. I never did get a chance to go and explore this. I
guess its because since I was stationed there, the town became like my
second home. When I'm in New York, where I live, I don't do the touristy
type stuff. You know, The Empire State Building, Times Square 42nd
Street, you know that stuff. So it made no mind to me to go and visit.
But there we're all kinds of stuff to do and get into trouble with. Oh
boy trouble, it was here that I would find it...... and have the most
fun.
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Taking' A Break For A Minute.

I have something to get off my shoulders, mind, head what tha fuck ever.
Okay, I know I said that I wouldn't piss on him even if he was on fire.
At that time I was heated, and kind of still am. But, I'm not that type
of person. We could argue and yell at each other for whatever time it
takes. After its over, it back to business. Its a sin to go to sleep, to
bed at night, still mad and angry at your spose. I take it a step
further. Within a week, I cnt no longer hold that hate and anger inside
of me no matter how hard I try. That wasn't something that ibwas taught
by anyone, taught myself this. Life is way too fuckin' short to let
something like that hold me back from getting what I deserve. I mean we
are a team. I said I could work with him, and not say a word to him.
Tried it too, ask the store manager to ask him to do the chickens. Store
manager ask him too, and he was doing it. Somewhere along the line, he
said something to me, and I answered him back and from there we were
speaking nicely towards, to one another.

Now, I won't go out and have a beer with him, cause I don't drink. I
have to work with him period. I have to communicate with him. He hurt my
feelings by doing what he did. It hurt even more when I was questioned
by my supervisor. I, dependable, I show up for work ready to work. I
don't call ot sick, only once in a yeat and a half I called out. But I
don't do it. I'm part of a team who is at a whole striving to do
something good for people. I know, I just a deli clerk in a low paying
job, but I love my low paying job. I can't wait to get to work to work
with the same ol people evryday.

There with that said, I feel a LOT better. On to more better things I
say, ON !!
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US Army, Part 6..Gettin To Know You

When you arrive at a new duty station, you have to in proccess, that's
going around sign a shit load of paperwork, become part of the big happy
family. My unit, company, battalion, 2nd Bn/81st Field Artillery,
consist of....this is the breakdown.

Its consist of 6 Batteries, or companies, we called them Batteries.
Headquarter, Headquarters & Headquarters, Alpha Battery, Bravo Battery,
Charlie Battery and Service Battery. Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Battery
are Firing Batteries, each of those Batteries have 6 M109a1 Self
Propelled Howiters. On those 6 guns in each Battery, there are called
Platoons, in each Platoon there 8 to 9 crew memebers. Now in each
Battery, there is an Armor, Communications, Fire Direction (FDC), and
Messhall Platoons also. Sooooo, you're looking at about 40 to 50 people
in each Battery. You have a Captain, he is charge, a First Sargent, a
Gunnery Sargent, and an XO (Safety Officer). Each M109a1 has a support
tracked vechile also, its called a M548. So you see, each firing Battery
is like a family all to itself.

Back to in proccessing. It takes about a week to complete. I was
assigned some one, can't remember who it was either. This I SHOULD
remember, right? Cause the week it takes to in proccess, is week of
doing nothing but shamming, that's what they called it. Since my unit
was a one unit post, we had to travel by army bus 11 kilometers away to
a major Army post called Baumholder. That's where all the major offices,
supplies and such comes to before it reaches my post. I don't even know
how many soldiers are stationed there, but there is a hell of a lot of
units there. Like I said its a large military installation, the largest
in Europe in fact. A lot of shit was to happen there in the future, but
not now, I'll get to it later.

Everyday, for that week, all I did was get on that bus and go from
building to building, submitting paperwork, picking up gear, and
submitting more paperwork. Was glad when it was all over. Finally I was
all set, proccessed into my unit, now the fun begins.

Hold on, its gonna get wild.

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Before We Begin, Think About This

I went to elemtry school, and graduated. I learn the basics, reading,
writing and math. Graduated from Jr. HS also, same thing, your basic
studies. Ran into problems in HS, but would have graduated if I had
stayed in. What I did was join the Army, a higher Learning, a Real Life
Education.

My mind at the time was still young, not yet formed in a way. Basic
Training was like all the of my schools rolled into one, and better.
Since I was so young, 17, I grasped stuff really easily. I was asked,
when I was in the Army, did it effect me in any way when I got out. No,
it didn't. My mother talks of times when I did something when I was
younger, I don't remember any of it. But those 6 years I spent in The
Army, and what I learned, is still right there in my memory like it was
yesterday.

I was trained to be come a fighting machine. I learned things back then,
that even now I still use. I know of rules, specifications, and
procedures and can read them off if the 'right' people were to ask me
them. Its all up there, in my head. People, this was the Federal
Government I was working for. I wasn't Special Forces, but I was on a
Special Team. I held a Top Secret Nuclear Clearance. Operation Desert
Shield, I was called upon to enter Officer Canidate School to become a
Officer aboard a Nuclear Powered Submerine. Think about that, I turned
it down because the war at that time would only last for a couple of
days, and the school was for 18 months. I wanted to see some action.

In our Armed Forces, don't let any one tell you that's in that they
don't crave the blood ruching feeling of action. People don't know what
their limits are, the body is a strange and complex machine. We are
hindered by it in a way. When the body is exhasted, the mind is totally
alive and functioning at its peak. You push yourself, and then you push
yourself some more. Its a dangerous instrument also, the mind. The bosy
is just a suitcase, and paper bag that's friagle when its wet. In The
Army Forces, your body becames a plastic bag so to speak. It still can
be torn apart, but it takes a lot more pressure to do so. Palstic is
much stronger than paper, believe me.
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2nd Bn/81st F.A.

The day I left 21st Replacement Detachment Company, and was
headingtowards my new unit, was a dark and very cold morning. This was
in September, and it was freezing. To me September weather is suppose to
be chillym not cold. But look where I was at, Germany. Thought it would
be a ride to my unit on one of those nice tour buses that I was seeing a
lot of lately, nope. My transport was a 2 and a half ton Army truck.
Picture riding in a car that's a convertible, with the top down, on the
Long Island Expressway, no traffice at 3am in the morning, 90 miles an
hour. Frooze my ass off.

After 2 hours of this I was an ice cube. I was wearing my dress uniform.
Was VERY glad when I made to where I was suppose to be. The unit had 5
big buildings. 4 were for housing, and the other one was the messhall.
Being that it was dark outside, I couldn't see what else there was,
would have to wait until the sun came out. Jumped off the truck in front
of Bravo Battery 2 81. Went inside, and handed my orders to the CQ, The
Charge of Quarters. At that moment, shit started to gey REALLY
interesting.

This was suppose to be a new post. The place was a mess. Smelled last
plaster, and plaster dust was everywhere. The CQ looked at my orders,
and said,'we have a newbie'. I was being housed on the 3rd floor. He
grabbed a big as set of keys, and we both walked upstairs. I had 3 bags
with me, and do you think this bastard helped me ? We got to my room
number, and he did the following. He knocked once, scratched, shook the
handle twice, and knocked again. I could hear people inside, but no one
came to the door. He did this about 3 more times, and then told me to
wait until some one came out, and he left. I stood, and sat there for 3
hours and finally some one came out, so I walked in.

I was stopped from entering, ask where was I going. I told them I lived
in that room. This guy looked at me, well, he looked 'through' me, and
said well come in. Candles burning, about 10 people sitting around on
the floor. I found my bed over in the corner, and couldn't see much
else. This one guy came up and told ne to stick my hands out, and hold
them there, I did. He said good, you're gonna make a dollar a shot. The
shot was shooting people up with dope in their arms. Thsy needed some
one with a steady hand. This shit freaked me out REALLY fast !! After
about 30 people and 40 dollars later, I had enough., I told some one
that I was leaving. Then came a knock on the door.

Everything from here on happened pretty damn fast. Some one ask, who was
it, and I heard, SDO. The most terrifying words one can hear when you're
doing something illegaly. It like. 'Open up, Police'. This time SDO,
Staff Duty Officer. He or she is the officer on duty that's in charge
after 5pm, the head mutha fucker in charge. They are either 2nd LT's or
1st LT's. The candles were blown out, I heard a locker being opened, and
stuff beimg thrown on the floor. The door opened, and I saw an Officer,
2nd LT, he was grabbed into the room. Thrown into a locker. I saw the
locker being lifted and placed in the window. All this time, I'm almost,
damn near was shitting on myself. Outside the window, mind you we were
on the third floor, which was really 4 stories high because my room was
facing out back of the building. The locker slid down the slated tile
roof, and was caught up on a small, small little fence type shit, which
I knew wasn't going to hold the locker with the LT inside. 15 seconds
later, I didn't see the locker. 2 seconds later I heard a loud bang.
Turned around and the room was empty.

Easy to find out where the locker came from, each room had the same
amount of lockers per beds. My room, was missing a locker. Her I was a
yound soldier, and I just witness a murder, cause that what's they
called it. Shit from here on happened really fast. Short version. MP's,
handcuffs, interviews, written statements and oh yeah, threats of death.
Shit came to a close though with me identifying those who were in the
room in a Battalion formation, with a hood over my face. Hell you knew
who I was, I weighed 132 pounds soaking wet, just arrive, no patches on
a brand new green uniform, fatigues. But the powers that be was trying
to protect me. They found out who the parties that were involved were
too. No help from me thank God.

So that was my first day a 2 81, from here on out shit would get VERY
FUCKIN' INTERESTING
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US Army Part 5, 2nd Bn, 81st Field Artillery, Straussburg Kasern, Idar-Oberstien, West Germany

The mailing address: 2nd Bn 81st F.A., Straussburg Kasern, APO NY 09322.
For the life of me, I don't know how or why I can remember that.
(}wilight Zone music plays).

My unit was a one unit Battalion, but we did have a ASA company on post
too. They were high level security, secret squirrel decoder ring type of
a unit. So hush hush that they had MP's at there front door to their
barracks. You coukdnt visit, not unless you had clearance and was
screened, in that order. Later on I would be paying a lot of visit to
this building. You won't believe the shit I got into, but you're gonna
hear and read all about it. Disclaimer...

I could care less than a fuck if ya don't believe any of what I'm about
to say. Its been many years ago, but the memories are so fresh in my
head like it was yesterday. So fuck you and the banana boat you came in
on if you don't believe me. Oh yeah, and fuck you too.
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Marriage !!??

Personally, I'm not against it, and I'm not for it. Maybe its because of
the way things are right now. Naw, that's not it. Or, maybe I haven't
found my 'soulmate'. No, that's not it either. Its because people
change. Notice I didn't single out neither male or female. People
change.

Nothing wrong living together either, well I don't think so. But with
that too, people change. Think about it. Tell me one thing besides
breathing that you think you can do for the rst of your adult life, and
like it. The only thing that comes close to that is worshipping your
God. Now that's something I 'could' do for the rest of my life if I was
that type of person. Marriage is something completelt different though.
Wanna know what would happen if I was to be married or get married. The
following are the steps, and not in any special order.

Okay I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you, but
something major has to happen first. You first have to be havinng my
child. That's right, I don't have any children, and I know I don't have
any children out there, believe me, 'I KNOW'.

Nothing changes between us caue you are having a child by me. I don't
care or wish to hear, 'well the baby is making me act this way'. Nope
its not the baby, its you. Calm down, take deep breaths...chill.

We are both free to do as we like. I know what you're thinking. But as
adults we think otherwise. Respect yourself, and you show that you
respect me, and visa versa. We can come and go as we both please,
doesn't mean we have to take vacations together, well at least not every
year we don't. We both need our own alone time, I know I do.

Your friends are your friends, and mine are mine. You're probably not
going to like any of my friends, you don't have to cause they are my
friendss and they know where I stand with them. I doubt if they ever
will disrespect you, but if they do, tell me and I will handle it. You
need not say anything to them about what they said to you. Just tell me.
But please continue to show them that you're 'not affected' by what they
said to you. There is a reason for this. See some of my friends are
stupid, but they are still my friends. I over look it, you should try to
too. It becomes a game when you do. Then one day you will learn to like
them as I do, and call them your friends also.

If, and they are more, if you could keep this in mind, maybe we will
have a chance at making this marriage be a healthy one. But keep in mind
one thing. You are having or have had my child. And that child shall be
bought up in a 2 parent household no matter what. That means no matter
what we go through, we will always be together for the childs sake. We
made this child out of love, and he will be bought up by both parents no
matter what.
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US Army Part 4

Basic training ended for me on August 18th 1977. This date in time, says
in memory. I think it was the time that this 17 year old became a man. I
look at it this way now, and back then too. Who knows what the numbers
are for all of those that joined our Armed Forces, entered Basic
Training, survived the 3 months of training and graduated. I know I
wasn't the only one, can't be, if feels and felt like we all were part
of some special group of men and women that stood out among the millions
of people in the United States. To me I felt special cause not too many
people could or did complete what I just did. Even though I was only 17
years old, I felt special. I really felt proud to wear this uniform. The
looks I got on my way back to NYC were starnge. I was asked about a
gazillion times how old was I, and how was Basic Training. Most said
that if I completed it, that they could too. I told them you have to
push your body to limits that you didn't know that you had. You had to
keep pushing eeven though your body just wanted to stop, but your mind
told you to keep soldering on. I was home for 12 days before I had to
ship out to West Germany.

On the day that I went into Basic Training, May 31st, the next day my
mother moved to a better location of The Bronx. We no loner was living
in The South Bronx, we moved to The North Bronx, Parkchester, a 3
bedroom apartment. I knew only 3 people in the neighborhood, and they
were from when I used to live when I was in elementry school. Didn't
know them all that well either. Didn't matter either, I was only home
for 2 weeks and the I was off to Europe for 3 years. The 2 weeks went by
quickly.

From The Bronx, to McQuire Air Force Base, a 8 hours non stop flight to
Rammstien AFB West Germany. First empression, ever watch one of those
old war movies about fighting in Europe? Dark, cold, raining? Just like
that. I felt as if I stepped back in time. Got on a Army bus to be taken
to 21st Replacement Detachement Company, every either arrives and leaves
from here. There was a 3 day in processing, fall asleep during any of
these classes, and you were keep an additional day to make up what you
missed by you sleeping. I fought to stay awake. Made it through though,
and now it was off to my Unit, 2nd Battalion, 81st Field Artillery, 8th
Infantry Division. Crazy Eights !!!
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Cough, Cough

Last night I was watching...wait, tryin' to remember what I was
watching. It will come to me, hold on. Oh, yeah, I was watching Penn &
Teller's Bullshit, I downloaded it. They were talking about violent
video games. Well while I was watching it, laying in my bed, I started
coughing. It was one of those coughs that was scratchy, itchy and
annoying. Then my eyes started watering. Then my nose started to run,
get where this is going? I rarley get sick mind you, but when I do, it
throws me all off. For about an hour I was coughing, blowing my nose,
wiping my eyes, shit was crazy. So, I decide to log off, close my system
down so to speak. Went to bed. Had no problem going to sleep either, no
coughing or anything. Then I woke up this morning.

Right now, at this moment, I feel like SHIT. Not you ordinary everyday
shit. The shit you feel like 3 days in that you know you're gonna feel
like shit for the next 4 days type shit. But the human body and the mind
are, are, like to me, a remarkable piece of machinery. Did you know that
you can actually will yourself to feeling better? All you do is 'not'
think about you being sick. See, I just thought about it, and now I
started sneezing !!! Gonna relax some today have to go to work @ 3pm to
10pm.

Gotta say this, get it out. I had this dream the other night. Short
discription. A tall parking garage, fast car, speeding, lauches into
parking garage, carnage, explosions, screaming, sounds so real woke me
up. Thought about what I just dreamt and put it out of my mind. But
every now and then, it comes to mind and it kinds of scares me a little.
Trying to piece it all together to find out what it means. Don't want to
go online and search about dreams and their meaning cause it might drive
me crazy and over the edge. Now that I spoke and wrote about it, nmaybe
it will like a mist early in the morning, just fade away. Hope so.
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Iphone

A friend stopped by yesterday, and dropped off a iphone they had found.
Being the good person that they are, they asked me to contact people in
the address book to return it. Problem is all I got was voice mail and
one person who didn't speak english. I left messages on the voicemail,
contact info about me where I work and stuff. Maybe they will get in
touch with me. Gonna give it a week. After that ist mine to do with as I
please I guess. We will see.
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US Army Part 3

What the fuck am I doing here. One, its freezin ass cold outside. No one
told me that @WEst Germany would be this freakin cold. I was just taken
off the guns, off the firing line. They said FDC, Fire Direction Center
was authorized to have a 13B, cannon crewman, in their section. All I
was was the FDC driver, and generator operator. So what am I doing now?
They made me the radio man. What do I know about radios?

Ok, listen up Chappell, you have 2 radios. Our call sign is Whiskey25,
so listen up for that. Now this landline is in direct contact with all 6
guns on the guh line. You also have to send the guns their info inorder
to get a round out of the tube down range. You got that ? Oh yeah, this
is a CEOI, like a secret squirrel decoder password book, you will need
this. You're all set, not just wait for a fire mission.

Wait for what? Oh shit, the shit is gonna hit the fan, and I don't know
what the fuck I'm doing.

Just then the one of the 2 radios came to life..

Whiskey25, Echo25 over..
This is Whiskey25 over,
Whiskey25, radio check over
Echo25, radio check out.

Now that wasn't bad, was it? The FDCNCO then said, 'Stabdby Chappell, we
about to get into the shit now' and then it happened....

Whiskey25, Echo25, Adjust Fire over
Echo25, Whiskey25, adjust Fire out.

Whiskey25, registration Point, grid, 7845,8923, 2 T-62's in open, HE in
Effect over
Echo25, Whiskey25 registration Point, grid, 7845,8923, 2 T-62's in open,
HE in effect, break, authenicate, Foxtrop, bravo over.
Whiskey25, I authenicate alpha over
Echo25, this is Whiskey25, message to observer, HE in Effect out !!!

GUNS !!! FIREMISSION, Battery adjust, Base Piece adjust. Base piece
delflection, 354, qudrant 3456.

Check Base Piece, ready but not safe to fire
Check Base Piece safe & ready to fire.
Standby Base Piece....
Base Piece...FFFFFIRE !!!

Shot over
Shot out
Splash over
Splash out

Whiskey25, Echo25, left 5 0, drop 3 0 fire for effect over
Echo25, left 5 0, drop 3 0 fire for effect out

FIRE MISSION...BATTERY ONE ROUND !!!
Gun one deflection & quadrant
Gun two deflection & quadrant
Gun three delfection & quadrant
Gun four delfection & quadrant
Gun five deflection & quadrant
Gun six deflection & quadrant
Check guns ready but not safe to fire,
Check ALL guns safe and ready to fire
STANDBY GUNS.....
BATTERY...FFFFFIRE !!!

Shot over
Shot out
Whiskey25, Echo25, end of mission over
End of mission out.

That was more or less what a Fire Mission is all about on the techincal
side of things. That was just off of one radio from one forward observer
located no more than 26 miles away from where we were firing out
artillery shells from. Now imagin 2 radios, with 3 fire missions on each
of the 2 radios. Imagin if one of those fire missions is from an
untrained observer. An untrained observer is a person who is on our side
and he sees the enemy and he has a radio, and he is on our fire network
or net as we called it. I would ask him questions about the American way
of life to make sure he isn't the enemy. I would ask him what he sees
where he's at while I'm looking at a map to determin where he is at. I
would send one round from the guns, and then ask him where did he see it
land in accordance to where he sees the enemy at. Slowly but surely,
with hsi help, I would walk artillery fire towards my target. Mind you
now, I have maybe, 2 or 3 other fire missions going on. Yes, its
stressful.

Range Control, this is God over.
Range Control, Range Control, this is God over.
Negative contact, this is God out.
Last calling station, last calling station. Stay OFF my fire net. You
make have jurisdiction up in heaven, but this is MY FIRE NET, this is
Range Control OUT !!!

LMAO !!!
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?????

Sometimes you have to do what ya gotta do. Oh really? Last night I
received a text message, this was after I commented on a picture I
received. It was a nice picture, really nice. I think so. It was sent to
me, but I had to retrieve it form my phone carriers website. Like I
said, it was a nice picture, so I commented back to the sender. This
sender told me to call them. See where this is going.

I wasn't forced to call them, its just that I felt weird talking on the
phone, but not with them. It could have been anyone, and I would've felt
the same way.

Even though we are all our own seperate person, we all somehow at one
time go through the same feelings. I don't know if I said that right.
I'm me, I will always be me. I will not and can not change for anyone. I
will do what I want to do no matter what. Some say that dangerous, not
to me it isn't. I don't want to be stuck in a rut. I'm kind of in one
right now, cause what I do for a living is the same thing everyday. But
people come along into my life, and they cause my day to change for the
better. Sometimes its for the worse too. But I see what happens when I
choose to go over to the darkside. I won't let another human being
control my feelings. Maybe for a few minutes that does happen, it human
nature to get caught up in an argument, and continue it on and on. But,
if you really stop and think, you won't relly just end it all.
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Visit My Mother

Yeah, I get out a LOT!!! Went to The Bronx, CoOp City to visit my
mother. Its a little time consumming, but I get a chance to read, listen
to my music, and people watch. I try to go at least once a week. If she
ddoesnt hear from me in a couple of days, she blows up my voicemail.
Sometimes I just plain old tired, but not from her.

I have to get out more, like going to the beach. What I could do is go
to Orchid Beach which is very closer to her house. Go early in the
morning, lay in the sun and maybe go in the water. Then off to her house
to EAT !! I want to get a mountain bike, but there is no room where I
live. I could and might ask her, can I keep it at her house. That way I
can go there first, then the beach and then back to her house for some
time spent with her. I will see.

One of my friends went out of town for the weekend, and I'm getting this
strange feeling. I don't know what it is, its like I miss them or
something. Its not like me, and I don't want to give them the impression
that I'm crwoding them. I should take it easy.

Another friend told me that my ways of communicating, by text is, I
don't know what. I see it this way. Maybe you or me have something else
going on in our lives, and don't have time for a conversation over the
phone. I feel arkward talking over the phone, like I don't know what to
say. I have other friends who say communicating like this takes some of
the stress off. One said that the only time they talk over the phone is
when one of their friends pisses them off, and them they want to let the
other person have it verbally. I feel excatly the same way. I'm not a
phone person. 'Where you at? Okay I'm there in 15 minutes' That's my
converstion over the phone is like more or less.

The internet, communication devices, smarts phones are the thing of the
future. We people have so much going on in our lives, tht short busrts
of communication is all we have time for until we meet face to face. I
think it makes the dating scene even more thrilling this way.
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I Really Need To Get Out More

For real. All I do is work and sleep. I watch tv, but its what I
download, shows that I don't get to watch because I'm sleeping. That's
bad right? To me sleep is the most important thing there is. Well, not
sleep excatly, getting well rested. I find myself going to sleep at 8pm
most nights. If I get off from work at 4pm and don't have to be at work
until 3pm the next day, I watch a little tv until 9, 10pm.

Like I said, they changed my day off now. Its Tuesday. Don't know how I
will adjust, but adjust I will.

Hey you, yeah you. Have a safe trip. Don't start any trouble, be nice
and have fun. Enjoy, let your hair down. If this is like any other
weddings that I have been a part of, things just might get crazy. All I
can say is, deny all and everything. What happens in Vegas, stays in
Vegas.
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WTF Part 2

WHAT THE FUCK, MAN !!! Maybe its me, but what the fuck is going on. I
was told today Mr. Asshole, no, no Mister involved here. Asshole is
coming back to work. Was it me just hearing what the owner said, or was
I imagining it all, a daydream ? He said that he wouldn't be coming
back. On a kinder note, in a way, I'm glad he is working. But BACK here
? Its established that he's prejudice against black people, but you let
him back knowing this ?

Here's what I'm going to do, and I told them I will do this. With him
and the store manager, I'm questioning why he called the cops, why is
says I was stealing and throwing, wasting food. But then again, I just
might not say a thing. All I know if he was on fire, I wouldn't even
piss on him to put the flames out. I'm just saying though.

People, well some people, me included, can't help but be assholes at
times. What seperates the good ones from the bad ones is the fact that
you know you have crossed over the line of 'assholiness'. New word
people. This shit got my mind twisted, and not only that, check this
out. They switch my day off. Now I'm off on Tuesday instead of
Thursdays. This throws my body clock all off. But I have no other choice
but to deal with it I guess.
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Fuck, Some People

Yesterday, I came across an incident that almost drove me out of my
mind. A new co worker was hired for my department. I know everyone
should have the chance to earn a living, but not everyone can work in
the field that I work in.

This guy says he had 3 store, delis in Manhattan. He said that he won
awards from the James Beard Foundation, that I wouldn't doubt, you'll
never know. But when you come onto a crew like the one I work with,
there are certain rules that apply, you start at the bottom and you work
your way up. In my field, I always worked my way up, and continue to do
so. I don't want the managers position cause it doesn't allow me to
mingle with my customers, its all about paperwork, and the bottom line.

So this guy, who closed the deli the night before, left it for this
morning looking like shit. I called the deli manager, he was off, and he
told me to let him knows when he comes in at 10am. I waited until he was
settled in, and explained to him about certain things he left in not
such a professional state. This man told me in more words or left, to
shut up. I told him that there are no chickens, do the chickens, I will
handle the counter. He just stood there. I asked him again, he he said
that he wants to wait on customers, no do the chickens. He just stood
there. Called the store manager over, he told him to do it, and he just
stood there. All of this going on while I'm waiting on customers. I said
ok, wait on customers, he just stood there. Ia sked him to do the
chickens please, and he said that all I had to say was please.

Oh no the fuck he didn't !!! I approached him, told him, that what he
was saying in more words or less, that ne was calling me a nigger. He
said no he wasn't, but he was. I was waiting ona customer making a
sandwich, and I called the store manager over again, he called the
owner. This guy took out his cell phone and called the police saying
that I was threatening him with a knife. The store manager tried to stop
him from calling. The owner came in and said that if the police come in,
he will no longer work here. They both left the deli.

The owner came back, told me he no longer works here, he paid him for
the day. He also said that this guy doesn't take orders from black
people, he doesn't like black people. He's from Egypt, about the same
complextion as I am, but he doesn't considers himself being black. The
deli manager is black, and when he is no ther, I'm in charge. I dislike
telling people what to do, you're experience, you should know what to
do. But what I don't get, if the owners knew this, and the deli
supervisior knew this, why did you hire this guy. A waste of time was
what he was.
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Tah Dah !!!

Like I always said, NYC isn't all that big when you really take a look
at it. In the past, I can't tell you how many times people have
approached me on the street, called me by my 'whole name'. And for the
life of me, if my life depended on it, I couldn't remember their names.
Oh yeah, the face seems familar, but can't remember their names. But
then there are times I remember the face and the name, like....

I sayits been about maybe, 2 years since I actually say her face last.
The internet is a great tool, that is if you use it correctly, for good.
Emails also are a good way to keep in touch, reach out to people. But
not everyone answers all their emails. They should, but they don't. Well
I received an email saying that they thought they saw me. Quickly sent
one back, letting them know where I'm at etc, etc. I was at work and I
was walking to the back storage room, and I heard this voice call my
name. I backed tracked, and what I saw, made my heart flutter. It was
something like that, I think it was a flutter.

This is to say, I want what you have. Let me explian.you knew back then
that I wanted you, but because of certain restrictions, that we both
knew we could have worked around, you in no words said no. I can
understand that. That was your choice, your decision. Now I'm asking you
to make another decision. From what I see, and from what we talked
about, the world has changed in more ways than one. But its still the
same. I don't know what you want in, for the future. What I'm talking
about is right now. I like what I saw in you, its the real you. Back
then was the real you, for then also. You seemed more relaxed now, or is
it because of there being no restrictions on either of our parts. I
don't know. And yes, that's sort of a way that I communicate for now.
I'm not a phone person even though I have 3 phones, go figure that one
out.

All this to say, just open your eyes for a short moment. There I said
it.
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The Dr. Is Now IN

One of my co workers came to me with a problem that he is having. I'm
not going to mention names here, never have and never will. He is the
problem.

His girlfriend, and he loves her, is a virgin, and wants to wait until
marriage until she has sex. See the problem? Don't ? Ok, ready? She said
she wants to wait until she is married. She didn't say, when 'he'
marries her, its when she gets married. I said break up with her now, or
stay together and convince her to do the do with ya. I'm sorry, but
having sex is like 75% of the relationship. Excuse me, if we aint
fucking, I don't want to have anytning to do with you. I'm not into just
hanging out with a female.

A little while ago, another co worker, this time female, just clocked
in. Last week, I asked her what will it cost me for 15 to 20 minutes of
her time. Today she told me that she wants a pair of Jordans. Now I'm
not going to go out and buy them for her, just gonna give her the money.
She's a cute young lady with a boyfriend. I don't want and won't fall in
love with her, I just want to make love to her with no strings attached.
I'm willing to pay for her time. See, she came back to me, and told me
what ishe wants in return, sounds fair.

I don't blame some females for waiting until they are married to have
sex. Is this because that they know once they start having sex, they
won't be ale to control themselves, and will sleep from man to man ? But
this co worker of mine, the one with the blue balls, I see why he wants
to get in her pants. She isn't all that tall, she short with a stoopid
lookin arse. I mean, damn Gina!! It just sticks out, but not too crazy.
She has a cute face and I nice lil tight body. But she is giving him
blue balls but get this, from what he has been telling me from before,
he said that he was fuckin like rabbits. Turns out its all a lie.

So ladies, I'm all about sexing. I can't be just your friend, sorry. And
yes, its all about SEX !!!
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Early Morning Walks

I wake up early EVERY morning, regardless if I work or not. It gives me a chance to get my thoughts together, plus, there's something about having to pay for coffee. It taste better. I had a few thoughts this morning.

With the way computers and getting content online for about almost anything, how the coast has come down a little. Why is it that cable companies are not offering broadband access at a reasonable price ? I can never figure that out. Offer broadband with cable TV access, at a low coast. But, you have to make purchases every month or so to keep your access at such a low price. I would but into a plan like that, since I purchase almost all my electronics online.

I met a decent, nice, independent woman. She is like me exactly so far. Strange thing to me is this. I'm afraid to ask her what she wants. She somewhat told me what she wants though. I can deal with that and just about anything really. I find myself thinking about her a lot too. Oh, my thoughts.

Spent my fourth of July...working. Woke up the next morning.. Top of my left foot hurting. That happens when I spend, over one weeks time, working way too many hours. That's my advanced early warning system telling me to slow down too. Went to sleep with the sound of fireworks exploding like they were right in my bed room. My bedroom lit up form the explosions, pretty nice if you ask me. Kept thinking that those sky rockets were gonna come screaming through my window. No, for real, thought that.

Since we are in July already, I must head to the beach. I want to do this during the weekday, on a Thursday. Bus stops right next to where I work at heading to Jones Beach too. Yes, the beach, going to go this Thursday.

US Army 2

All I'm gonna do is run this thru a spell check that's all. Where did I leave of at...

Oh yeah, Ft. Sill Oklahoma. Basic Training, May 31 to August 18th. Ft. Sill is, was, and still is, hell on earth. My training, 13 Bravo, Cannon Crewman on a M109A1, 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer. I have never been to such a hot as place as Oklahoma before. Not even The South Bronx in August ever got that hot. And sand storms, what the fuck ?1! A freaking sand storm, storms, turn the bright of day orange.

I think I was the only one from NYC in my training cycle, but I found out really fast though. The bathrooms, latrines were battleship grey, and being that I was an artist, graffiti artist at that, I saw the untouched bathroom walls and stalls as a untouched canvas. I had a marker, oh yeah, fat black Pilot marker, and I went to work. A Company formation was called bout 2 hours later. The3y wanted everyone from NYC to stand to the side, I was the only one. Yep, cleaning the latrines for a week.

About the 4th week into Basic Training, we had a class on the M17 Protective Mask. It was hot and flies were buzzing all around the small group I was in. The Drill Sargent was giving the class, and he was getting pissed off because we were trying to kill the flies as by clapping our hands together. This was distracting him. I killed one by doing this, and I yelled, 'I got it'. This set the Drill Sargent right over the edge.

Since we were in full combat gear, he made me ready my entrenching tool, that's a small shovel. Had me dig a standard grave, 6 by 10. Had me bury the fly and had me say the last rites for the fly, then made me fill in the hole. About 5 shovel fulls from completion, he said this. 'Do you hear that?, I think that the fly has a pulse, quick dig it bag up'. I just finish buring this thing, dug it up, and was told to perform CPR. Drill Sargent said, nope, no pulse, its dead, bury it back. All this went on for 3 hours, in the hot as sun. That little show told me that my life in The Army was going to be an adventure.

Half way through Basic Training, we were cut some slack, given a weekend pass. Mind you now, I was only 17 years old. The town outside of the Base, Lawton, had a strick code about not letting anyone in their strip clubs under the age of 21, so I couldn't get in. This was 1977 mind you, first time I have been outside on New York State. So I just hung outside in uniform khakis. After a while about 4 hours some of the girls started coming out. One black girl asked me did I want to hang out with her for the night. Sure. I was a virgin, and didn't know any better. She took me to a nice house that she was sharing with 3 other girls in the business.

I stayed with her the whole time I was pass for the weekend. Nothing happen sexually cause I was still a virgin, and knew nothing about sex. But I was in The Army, go figure that one out. When I got back from my weekend, I told the guys where I was at, no one believed me. But next weekend they did. Back at the same club, the same woman asked me was I coming over again, that I could if I want to. And I did. This time the guys came also, and they paid for sex. I guess that was the whole plan after all.

I graduated from Basic Training on August 18th 1977. I was going home for 12 days and then going to Germany. The next part of my life was and would play a big factor of why and whom I am today

US Army

I've been putting this off for far too long. I must indulge in my darkest, dark past. Some, you won't believe, I couldn't and still can't believe it myself. Some are funny, crazy and just plain stupid. But, (sighing), life is one BIG experience. No experiences, no life I say.

I joined the Army in May 1977, the 31st of May, delayed entry program. 17 years old, a drop out of HS. I wasn't stupid in HS, just bored. Through out Jr HS, starting from the 7th grade all my subjects were advanced by 2 years, the whole 7th grade class stayed together through the 9th year, graduation. I went to HS of Art & Design, had to take an art test to get in. They couldn't believe my reading and math scores cause they were 2nd and third year college. All my classes in HS were art, no science, Spanish, math, history, none of that. Oh yeah I failed gym, so in HS, I had 2 periods of gym.

Since I had no academic classes, just art, to me art was boring. But I could draw. So going to school everyday was tiresome and boring. I would sign in to homeroom class, and then cut the rest of the day. Spending my time in museums, and art galleries. The cut letters would arrive at the house, but I would get them before my mother got them, ripped them up. They called the house, and she had to come in was told that I was a smart young man, but they didn't know what the problem was. I knew, I was bored shitless. Saw shrinks once a week, but nothing changed. One day I went up to the north side of the Bronx, Westchester Square. Walked by the Army recruitment office, and I was called in.

The thing was this, I could sign up without a HS Diploma, nor needing my parents permission. I was gone. I told my parent what I was doing, they didn't believe me. They still didn't believe me when I left that morning at 4:30am to catch a bus to the airport. Next stop, Fort Sill Ok !!!