Posted on 05/12/2008 2:31:21 PM PDT by billorites
My Father’s best friend in WWII was a soldier who had been let out of Federal prison to join the army. He was a moonshiner. He was the oldest soldier in the company and Daddy said he was probably the best engineer tho he couldn’t read or write.
Great, I was refused back in the late 70’s because of my record....I woulda been great!!
I stole a car when I was 16 and I got a waiver from the Army to join, and a pardon from the governor for completing my service. If it wasnt for getting injured in Iraq I would have probably gone on to retire from the service with a full 20 instead I got 14 with a medical retirement and va disability. Not all criminals are bad, I would say those who are young like I was are the perfect candidates because they are the most readilly able to be molded.
“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.”
George Orwell
One of Murphy’s laws:
An inspection ready unit will not pass combat
A combat ready unit will not pass inspection
I’ll take a combat ready unit over an inspection unit any day.
Talking back to authority. Getting into scrapes that were none of my business, when I had a perfectly good opportunity to walk away. Going around the end of the fence rather than scaling it, and dodging the following lights.
Seems like I was a worse SOB than I remember. So how come I never got higher than E-3 in four years two months and twenty-four days of active duty?
Nothing was ever proved at the court-martial....
A lot of units had two sets of noncoms - one for combat, and one for town.
I totally agree with this. It has a rehabilition aspect as well.
I had a “background” prior to joining the Navy. I think being a little rough around the edges helped me.
“Nice guys finish last”. Even in the military. Sheesh.
Both good guys and bad guys can make great soldiers. Robert E. Lee was the very image of propriety yet Gen. Scott said we would not have won the Mexican War if not for Lieutenant R. E. Lee.
Hell, I made E-3 six times during my career. You didn't miss all that much .. ! ">)
This is one of those things that a PHD candidate could write a thesis about. It’d be interesting to know if it is really true.
Football coaches look for these qualifications when recruiting linebackers - ‘’ 6’2’’. 220 lbs, preferably with at least one arrest for assault and battery’’
Ping to Rep. Paul Broun.
God bless you for your service, man....thanks.
“Winning: Bad Boys Make Better Soldiers”
One case in point...
IIRC, Major John Howard was on a panel during a D-Day Plus 50 Years
symposium at U. of New Orleans (along with Stephen Ambrose).
Howard noted that it seemed to be that the men who were discipline cases
during training were the ones that really carried the day in battle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Howard_%28British_army_officer%29
/johnny
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