One of the things that come out of this thread is that we would agree on that there are different stages or degrees of warriorship and for different times of our lives. Below is a from a thread I wrote on the WMAC forum a will back.
As you can see these friends of mine were acting warriors at one time, but now live there life as normal people. Are they still warriors? probably considered has-been warriors. Just another prospective to consider on this hard to define subject. Maybe some of us are warriors in reserve?
Is your best friend a unsung hero-warrior?
Do you really know your friends?
Here is a partial list of buddies that I have a special bonding with that I hunt and fish with. A few of the many unsung heroes/warriors of the Vietnam area.
Buddy number one, lives in Othello, eastern Washington, a draftee, was a Navy medic assigned to the Marines during Vietnam for a couple of tours, he saw much action in Vietnam and was shot and seriously wounded will rescuing a fallen Marine in a fire-fight in the jungle. We hunt and fish together on a regular basis
Buddy number 2, lives in Yelm, WA, a draftee, was a Marine and spent several tours in the jungle, became addicted to being on the edge, had a difficult time adjusting to being a civilian and recently was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and nearly died before having a liver transplant 2 years ago, living on borrowed time he is an avid salmon fisherman and I consider him a fishing buddy. Does every thing on the edge!
My main hunting partner for over 10 years, lives near Rochester, WA, spent 5 years in the jungle, covert as a VC to do atrocious things that were blamed on the VC (always against VC collaborators) to make the villages not want to cooperate with the VC. He was one of the first operators under the "Phoenix Program"a top secret Ops under the CIA. He retired as a Sgt. Major, went through open heart surgery last year and now is doing really great. A tough old bird! He is the one who almost had his fingers bitten off when knifing the throat of a VC.
A lifetime friend, lives on Fox Island, WA, a draftee did his tour in a recon platoon carrying a shotgun, pulled many LPs (Listening posts) by yourself, separated from your squad by a kilometer m/l in the middle of the night in the jungle black as an ace of spades sorting through the jungle sounds when the hiss of the radio when checking in sounded like shout in the night. Spooky! We motor home and fish together on a regular basis.
My Military stories are different as they were as a sailor in the Coast Guard (yes the Coast Guard went to Vietnam also) patrolling the coast and river mouths but not in the jungle, not the same kind of risk...., boarded junks, arrested smugglers- suspected VC, support fire on the villages.. rode out unbelievable storms in typhoon season. Deadly sea snakes with no known anti- venom serum ... picked up bodies, wreckage's...at sea for 6 to 8 weeks at a time...hell on wheels on R&R...a draftee also.....
I am friends with and am surrounded by warriors! Regular guys in the everyday world, certainly not wannabes, maybe has-beens, and will only talk about their experiences with another vet who has been there. As a whole most were draftees--not by choice...
I am telling you this as for food for thought, on how many warriors are really out there, who have been there, and if pressed into a life or death corner would be very dangerous.
How about some of you? Does your relatives, friends have a story to tell?
_________________
Tito Geo
They are the idiots with the largest range of effect.
