re: War as a purgative for society? An outlet for the restless youth?

Medicine always takes a huge leap forward

I would even go so far as to say that we need it. Humanity must always be reminded of its mortality. Always. For without it, we might just convince ourselves we deserve deification. Brutal war perhaps, one without honor, has no needed place. Though it does carry purpose, to unite a country, a kingdom, a fief..etc, against a common enemy.

We as people, in this day and age, are too comfortable with life. It is not fully appreciated because War as it was once known is forgotten. The last time real war visited itself on the Europe was WW2. For America, Vietnam. Both long before the gadgets and toys that distract the world's most prosperous cultures.

War is looming though. For too long we have softened. For too long we have allowed apathy to grow. All while consuming things which lead to more apathy. We are all soft, the lot of us. If real war looked us in the eye we would fall to our knees weeping. I am no exception.

Perhaps it is that the same blood flows through me, as did through the veins of William Wallace. But the humanity in me recognizes war for what it is. Man's greatest downfall, and man's greatest tool. The tool will need applied, ever again, and down we will fall.

I was just quoting a song.

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how much it changes a man. A boy, really.

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Basic training alone would be enough of a change for one to notice changes. I had just made 20 and in week 2 it starts. It wasn't hard really. It was life changing and by week 3 I was learning how to sneak up behind someone with a knife and slit their throat before they could make any noise. As they say "the shite just got real" for me. This was serious shite. 3 weeks ago I was partying hard. They really want me to kill people.

Most of the guys I trained with got orders to nam. I've always felt a bit guilty since then.

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Would you mind sharing some of your experiences?

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My experiences would fill a book but you are looking for war stories. People have noted that the old guys from WWII don't talk about their experiences. No one has noticed the guys that went to nam don't say much either. To make matters worse #1 people looked down on our guys as they returned and even spit on them. #2 we lost.

As far as my stories go, drunk or doped up soldiers tried to kill me about once a week. Just one of hundreds - a drunk E-4 was driving a 2 1/2 ton semi-drunk and trying to read a playboy while driving. He ran off the road, bounced off a electric pole and then went of the side of a 40 drop odd. I was in the back with some boxes of stuff. That hurt!

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My experiences would fill a book but you are looking for war stories

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No...just stories. Stories that tell the tale of man. I've heard war stories. I've heard stories from behind the lines. The battles get all the press. It's the wheels that turn elsewhere that are too often left behind.

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No...just stories.

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I wouldn't even know where to begin and can't put it in here. Soooo much was crammed into those 2 years. Here is just a couple.

My room was on the third floor. Some guy came in drunk after lights out. He was pukin out the window. The floor had a ledge. 2 dudes that had dropped acid thought they would help him get out a little further so as not to puke on the ledge. They accidentally dropped him. He was found the next morning behind the hedges. A guy witnessed it. He just had to tell someone so he came into our room the next day and told us. It was really an accident. That's as far as it went.

Some guys got drunk and decided to go for a night time ride in their helo. They were found the next day .. in the helo (what was left of it) upside down ... on the side of a hill ... dead of course.

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Well...there is a lot. A whole lot. It's just not in English. And most of it hasn't been translated into English. And we are a very literate society...as long as things are in English.

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Should I have said, by comparison? I mean, the literature is there. It just isn't common, and I have read WAY more than my fair share of writings from other cultures.

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Very true. And it's still in us, whether we recognize it or not. The beast lurks in shallow waters. The veneer of society and civilization we think so thick upon ourselves is as thin as spring ice. It just takes the right heel to crack it.

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I find those who do crack, crack to a level that is almost animalistic in nature. The beast, when controlled, is an awe inspiring, and simultaneously terrifying thing to behold. The beast even on the edge of madness, specifically when pushed by fury is...how should I say this, almost majestic in its wanton carnage. However, the madness of the beast, without regard to friend or foe, is what nightmares is made of. I have felt the beast, the surge of battle lust, and the power(yes, I know its simple adrenaline), the power of it is exquisite and intoxicating. I have no doubts in the legends of Norse Bersekers, who did not remember their deeds after battle. The power is something you can lose yourself in.

To ensure our future, those of us who can control the beast, must act when needed. Or those who can't will bring our doom upon our heads.

And yes, I am being somewhat hyperbolic.

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But I wax philosophical.

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We both do, but it is also truth. I am a student of history, and to put it simply, I once again quote this.

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War. War never changes.
Since the dawn of human kind, when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything: from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage.

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What we really need is some football.

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You aint just awoofin.


One somewhat rhetorical question I want to proffer about the beast. Either there is something in my genetic lineage, because I have partially Norse background if you push past the Celtic history, or maybe it is my ADHD that causes this, I dont really know. But when I truly lose it, it feels like I receive 2 or 3 times the normal human dose of adrenaline. Last time it happened was 9 years ago. I ended up throwing a coworker to the ground(in front of the customer) and flipping an 850 lb hot tub end over end up a, albeit somewhat short, flight of stairs onto a deck. All because he wouldn't help me lift, just acted like he was trying so he wouldn't get fired. I mention the ADHD because I know of others with it who have experienced similar instances.

I felt like I could take on an army in that moment. But when I cooled off I realized how bad my nuts hurt from the strain.

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I remember some stupid freshman did something to set me off in high school and the next thing I knew I had him lifted off the ground by his head with my thumbs jabbed in his eyes.

Or when someone tries to jump you and you just black out and when you come to you've bashed their head against the ground.

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Yeap

When I was in the 8th grade my best friend wouldn't stop messing with me in the youth room at church. Kept bouncing pool balls off of me onto the pool table. Next thing I knew he is the same height off the ground as I was tall(5'8) and I am throwing him down onto the concrete floor. The other kids were staring at me like I was a mountain gorilla.

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I'm definitely not in fighting trim anymore

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fighting trim

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trim

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not

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Yeah, I feel your pain, literally. My shoulder prevents me from those kinds of feats these days.