Okay so today’s topic…Veteran’s Day and who qualifies to actually receives a Veteran’s Day wish. I have been wished that a few times today (even on Twitter) and to be honest…as much as I appreciate it I do not feel I should be placed in that category to.
Now mind you I joined the US Army November 11, 1988 and discharged March 20, 1990. Ya’ll remember the saying about the born date, the dash, and the death date…right??? Well I want to share with you my “DASH” story.
After graduating from basic training in Ft. Knox, Kentucky I was sent to my duty station 3rd Batallion 35th Armor in Bamberg, Germany. In that company there were only 5 blacks, about 10 (if that) other nationalities, and the rest were white. The company all together was about 40-50 people. Now if you have ever been in the military or had the chance to see how life on post is (at least when I was in) you will see the biggest division amongst colors.
Shit is like being in a gang or something. I will not forget it. When it cam time to party at the NCO Club there was a section for the Hip-Hop/R&B/Soul (i.e. watch da’ man)crowd which mainly consisted of black men & woman. But there were always a few white guys sprinkled in (thanks to 3rd Base & Vanilla Ice) along with the Hispanics and Islanders who listened to our style of music.
Then on the other side of the NCO Club was the Country/Western/Pop area and that was mainly Good Ole USA/Redneck/Were all American, You’re not type of crowd. I mean it wasn’t just in the NCO Club it was all over the post. I can never forget my first day there…(thought cloud pops up like on TV…picture fades to 1988)
The company is basically all out on field exercises and only a few were left back. None of which happen to be black and hey were not prepared for my arrival. So they decide to take me to a bar called “The Checkpoint” for a few drinks. But I was so NOT ready for the official hazing. I downed 12 shots of Tequila and I don’t remember how I got to the barracks but I do remember what happened the next day. I did not show up for formation and one of the platoon Sergeants had to come wake me up and I supposedly threw up in someone else’s area of the room. I got this total stranger barking at me and my head is banging.
So he decides he should take me down to the MP building and have me take a breath test. Now I was not driving and it was only my second day on post. So we are tiding in his car and he is going on and on and I could not take it anymore so I blurted out “My head is hurting, would you please shut up”? I know that is not the right way to kick things off but I honestly was in a whole new place and I was trying to impress some guys who really didn’t give a shit about me and all I was, was a new guy to the company that was GREEN to the life in Germany and pure entertainment.
Well I will give you part 2 soon…
