My old unit
I saw a guy last night at the gym who is currently in the first unit I was assigned to in the USMCR. They recently got back from Iraq. All he said about it is that it is a completely different world over there. He had a rather large tattoo on his shoulder, and we talked more about our tattoos than anything else.
It was weird talking to someone who wasn’t even more when I joined the Corps. Especially since I wasn’t in when there was a war going on, and he had more actual battlefield experience than I do. Had I stayed in, I’d have been in both Gulf wars, and I’d have 22 years in the service by now. I could be collecting a pension. But you know what? With everything that I heard from the guys that I used to serve with who wound up in Kuwait in the First Gulf War, I’m glad I didn’t go. I’m sorry, but I’d rather not have to deal with “Gulf War Syndrome”, or as I like to call it, radiation sickness.
Gulf War Syndrome ain’t no joke.
I know a guy in K/3/5 who says he thinks sees a ‘resurgence’ this time ’round. It’s funny he uses the word “resurgence” because the military has never really “acknowledged” Gulf War I Syndrome. But why would they? After all – did they own up to Agent Orange in the way they were supposed to?
Ya gotta remember though that there is a heck of a lot of medical advantage and change since Gulf ’91 and today ….. not saying the “threat” is any lower … just that the OUTCOMES might be different!
Semper fi Marine!
cheers,
Sarge
Comment by Roy — November 18, 2006 @ 4:18 am