Thanks for an awesome return post - it’s a keeper. This actually describes well some of the things that I went through in the service and have gone through since in civilian life.
The islamic issue was just starting and communism was “in full collapse” when I got out, but the PC build up was in full swing. We didn’t talk ‘politics’, but we did talk about freedom, protecting home/what we believed in, and what to watch for - there were a lot of ‘spy’ issues early in my time that were still fresh. Your nephew is definitely in for a rude awakening. I agree someone really messed up with Hasan on every level the warning signs were apparently present.
As to picket ships - when out on ops with a battle group one of the ships is typically stationed either way out away - sort of a point man. Usually completely at the mercy of whatever the BG commander wants done and normally not as involved in the more involved activities of the group. We also often referred to this when placed in a safety roll behind refueling ships or carriers conducting recovery ops. Again at the mercy of following along without the ability to do anything else while in that role. I think this ties in exactly with what you were saying about black and red. I was red most of my time in the service, until I went black and had to get out. I’d have loved to stay, but you can’t be a career Lieutenant in the Navy and I didn’t have the political bent for much more than that. Looking back I likely would have been CM’d myself for insubordination if I’d stayed in because for me there were only 2 things that mattered: the Mission and my sailors/marines.
Times change - but I’ve found I’m still in the red/black with my civilian job - must be the scott/irish/german mix in the ol’gene pool. Now the only thing that ‘matters’ to me are my wife & girls and family back home. Sadly I have felt the need to be prepared in certain matters with the way things are going and should the need arise I’ll stand up. Things took a step in the right direction earlier this month - but we still have a way to go.
Stay safe, fair winds/following seas, and keep up the good fight.
Picket ships sound a little like what my dad described as the only time he ever disobeyed a direct order. He fought in Korea - was drafted and after excelling at it was supposed to teach mountain climbing in Austria but the orders got mixed up and he ended up on the front lines in Korea. (I hate it when that happens!)
He doesn’t talk much about Korea but did tell me about a time when his unit was supposed to be a decoy, sacrificed so that some other unit could advance. He said no, he couldn’t do that to his guys. He didn’t get into trouble for it so they must have come up with an alternate move or something, but his conscience wouldn’t allow him to throw away the lives of his men.
My dad is probably the person I am most like in temperament. A bit of the Irish and German like you say, so I suppose it’s probably good I’ve never been in the military. lol. My dad has Parkinson’s and went into a coma for a while a year ago when they goofed up his meds. He’s doing better now and is actually at home for the time being anyway. He told me before the 2008 election that he was scared for the country, scared of what would happen if Obama was elected. He’s always been a fighter; it’s killing him to watch what’s going on.
I think a lot of what Obama is doing is intended to break us. He’s pushing things so fast and furious, and breaking all the things we’ve relied on for confidence and security - just like he would call “torture” if we did it to terrorists. It’s a mind game. I really think it is. It’s geared toward getting us to give up, push us into the black zone.
The beginning of this month showed he’s going to get some push-back. I think the biggest question at this point is whether our economy is in a precarious enough position that Soros can throw the country into chaos when it becomes evident that the people will resist any further descent into tyranny. If he can collapse the world economy we may end up with the apocalyptic scenario GW kept saying would happen if TARP wasn’t passed. The choice for us might be 1) submit and be further and systematically enslaved, or 2) resist and usher in economic collapse and the accompanying martial law when Soros retaliates for the resistance.
I keep hoping I’m just crazy, and that’s not really where we’re at right now at all. I would be the most ecstatic person alive if it turns out I’m way out in left field on this.