tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post4091387201719798169..comments2024-02-09T00:13:51.906-06:00Comments on Army of Dude: Through Darkness We SeeAlex Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-8144784634818047852010-11-08T00:10:28.901-06:002010-11-08T00:10:28.901-06:00Thanks CI, glad to hear you're finally done. R...Thanks CI, glad to hear you're finally done. Rest that back and those knees!Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-26023543792554139112010-11-07T20:42:36.609-06:002010-11-07T20:42:36.609-06:00Dude, well written! By the time I got to Iraq in ...Dude, well written! By the time I got to Iraq in 2004, I was 48 years old. I had been a civilain cop for over 20 years, I had been to floods, fires, earthquakes,riots, Berlin, with the reg army and the Calif National Guard. In 2003, I went to Bosnia. <br />So, by the time I got to Iraq, I thought I had seen a lot. <br /><br />Nothing was like Iraq. Nothing was like war. In all the years I was a cop, people only tried to hurt me because I was arresting them. In Iraq, the little shits tried to kill me several times and they didn't even know who I was! <br /><br />I didn't "volunteer" for Iraq to save the world or my country. I went to try to keep my buddies and other troops alive. <br />Just before we left Iraq, one of the guys said: "you know this war is going to change us all forever." ---and that came out of the mouth of a 23 year old E-4. <br /><br />it takes time for the puzzle pieces to stop looking all chewed up...like the dog tried to eat them. but, when they heal and fit right in...then it's troops like you who'll be the future of this country. <br /><br />I just retired after 20+years of reg army and national guard.CI-Roller Dudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10850472230525879415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-49043413352068574362010-11-04T09:10:58.155-05:002010-11-04T09:10:58.155-05:00Diane,
Good to hear from you, as always. Glad you...Diane,<br /><br />Good to hear from you, as always. Glad you liked the post.<br /><br />I've been quietly checking in to your blog here and then and following your story. I can't imagine your loss and grief, but I understand why you write about it. Please keep it up if it helps.<br /><br />It would be wonderful to meet someday. I'm inside the Beltway with few friends at the moment!Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-62055586344282936222010-11-03T23:46:30.715-05:002010-11-03T23:46:30.715-05:00Hi Alex,
So good to read a post from you. As alway...Hi Alex,<br />So good to read a post from you. As always, beautifully said and written.<br />I have thought about you often and wondered what you have been up to... now i know a part of the story. Do you mean to tell me you are living and working in DC now, just a hop, skip and a jump from Maryland? From my perspective that is way cool because maybe I can actually get to meet you one of these days. I must admit I have been in my own world of hurt for a while now and it has been very hard. I would be lying if I told it any different. More stories for another time. I hope you are doing well Alex and sometimes it's OK to hide out for a while.bigDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13588709280021561914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-49083392620143323762010-10-30T19:32:19.373-05:002010-10-30T19:32:19.373-05:00Dude, your just going through what all vets have g...Dude, your just going through what all vets have gone through. I was in your battalion 23 years ago (when it had a D and E company), in what looks like to me a completely different army, and I still keep in touch with some those guys, remember those days and miss it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-46700295377052620562010-10-26T21:26:42.387-05:002010-10-26T21:26:42.387-05:00All very true, but more often than not, I find tha...All very true, but more often than not, I find that the connection only lives with those you served with. At least in my case. I'm a female National Guard truck driver, who spent my 1st deployment in tractor/trailer part of the convoys, and my 2nd at a gate of a detainee ops compound. When other veterans whom I didn't serve with hear that, they give me a look like I've pooped on their boots. In fact, some people reading this probably have that look on their face right now. <br />I don't tell other vets I'm in the service anymore because they make me feel like my deployments didn't count and were worthless. I didn't put on boots everyday to be called worthless by my own kind.Alhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136153685980708694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-52680723453504781832010-10-24T18:16:35.802-05:002010-10-24T18:16:35.802-05:00Thanks for all the comments, guys. I appreciate it...Thanks for all the comments, guys. I appreciate it.<br /><br />Steve,<br /><br />Yeah man, I had this idea for a post bouncing around in my head, but it took off when you said you thought about rejoining on Facebook. Then I knew I wasn't the only one. Josh's wedding is May. We all need to make that one.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-20732153157670669072010-10-23T22:24:41.821-05:002010-10-23T22:24:41.821-05:00Alex, you took me back to the days when the whole ...Alex, you took me back to the days when the whole platoon only knew one another by nicknames, when the guy in front of me meant more to me than family, when the the 'job' stretched me from punk to "Doc" in the first couple times in the bush...I will look forward to your posts, Dude.<br />How's the new job? Drop by VAMC San Fran for a free glass of water, anytime, hooah?<br />Michael J "Doc" Sanchez<br />HM2 (FMF) USN<br />Ret.DocSanchezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14634898041923922864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-24109840077397952532010-10-23T20:16:14.568-05:002010-10-23T20:16:14.568-05:00I got tears in my eyes reading this. I know exactl...I got tears in my eyes reading this. I know exactly what you are talking about and I feel it painfully every day. There are few people to open up about this and even fewer were there to understand!Demecianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-71766128071747583742010-10-23T19:12:40.610-05:002010-10-23T19:12:40.610-05:00Just read your post for the first time. Not only c...Just read your post for the first time. Not only combat Veterans feel the closeness you feel, Those that served together for a long period of time away from loved one and family feel much the same way. I served aboard 2 aircraft carriers for long tours, and I can tell you, I miss those buddies, comrades in arms so to speak because of the closeness. I haven't felt that closeness with friends since I got out of the service 30 years ago. You put your life on the line, nothing compares to it. Thank you for your service and keeping us safe here at homeTomnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-15438803039584997582010-10-23T19:07:17.422-05:002010-10-23T19:07:17.422-05:00You are absolutely right. I stayed in but I feel l...You are absolutely right. I stayed in but I feel like all I do is chase what I had (as shitty as it was) but I chase it. I'm a Marine but I feel like you nailed it. I would go anywhere and do anything with my boys around me. Good article you wrote bro.<br /><br />1/6 Ramadi, Iraq 06-07Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-21459200455221952492010-10-23T18:38:03.578-05:002010-10-23T18:38:03.578-05:00thats why now is the time we see so many wonded me...thats why now is the time we see so many wonded men and women coming home maimed loss of limb etsc...to face a veterans healthcare system full of bacloged claims,veterans homeless,unemployable living below the poverty lines,our service organizations should be fighting harder and standing united!to days veteran is facing what those veterans faced during vietnam coming home to a system that did what they could nothing more nothingless just as they sent many of us into haarms way!veterans face the reality!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-89335067460423530892010-10-23T00:20:05.476-05:002010-10-23T00:20:05.476-05:00glad to see you're posting again. hope all is ...glad to see you're posting again. hope all is going well for you.MezzoCOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07146281913189648485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-55411271825486486702010-10-22T23:44:38.162-05:002010-10-22T23:44:38.162-05:00Alex, you have no idea how 'spot-'on' ...Alex, you have no idea how 'spot-'on' this post is. Wow! I feel everything exactly the way you worded. I've thought about going back in, then thought again. <br /><br />I want to hook up with you guys so badly, but don't have time...due to life getting in the way. Sighs.<br /><br />Anyway, great post as usual.<br /><br />Talk to ya later dude.<br /><br />Steve L.Steve Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-66001258778526137802010-10-22T23:25:42.679-05:002010-10-22T23:25:42.679-05:00Alex, as always, I read your words with anticipati...Alex, as always, I read your words with anticipation, barely breathing as I read, never knowing where your story will lead or how it will end. Keep writing, my friend...Laurelhttp://www.booksforsoldiers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-83637314717145842662010-10-22T11:24:07.632-05:002010-10-22T11:24:07.632-05:00See, the reasons 13 listed are the exact reasons w...See, the reasons 13 listed are the exact reasons why I re-up'd to go again this time. I felt bad that brand new dudes would be getting fucked by the mass exit of experienced junior enlisted members and NCOs. A bunch of inexperienced guys leading other inexperienced guys is how we deployed last time and it definitely showed.Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03761965489811920355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-78140334202386664182010-10-22T09:23:09.224-05:002010-10-22T09:23:09.224-05:00Alex,
I've missed your posts and am glad you a...Alex,<br />I've missed your posts and am glad you are back. I wish you well in your new endeavors.<br /><br />Thanks for serving.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-72864584577239630112010-10-22T08:31:59.490-05:002010-10-22T08:31:59.490-05:00Good to see you back dude, in a MilBlog world of p...Good to see you back dude, in a MilBlog world of politics and cat fights your a refreshing change of pace.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12416885600626151344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-75067528953851704392010-10-22T00:22:12.976-05:002010-10-22T00:22:12.976-05:00Jason,
I feel terrible for the platoon that emerg...Jason,<br /><br />I feel terrible for the platoon that emerged from our shadow. I'm sure everyone feels the same way, but that must have been the weirdest collection of guys in history. I've never met anyone close to some of those dudes. The guys who replaced us didn't have the same feeling.<br /><br />B,<br /><br />No no, nothing like that. If a think-tank hires a troublemaking former E-4 to craft policy, they're not going to be around long enough to pay me.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-61820644919107076882010-10-22T00:13:37.185-05:002010-10-22T00:13:37.185-05:00Sweet Jesus, you're not selling your soul to s...Sweet Jesus, you're not selling your soul to some NGO/think tank/bullshit factory like Exum, are you? Tell me you're not going to leverage your service into a platform from which to pontificate on policy.<br /><br />You can't get your team/squad/platoon back, but you can build a new one and ameliorate the retardation cascading down on you to the degree that you can. In retrospect, re-enlisting during OIF V was a great decision for me-it meant that I got to go back for VI and run my element, and though the bullshit was much thicker and voluminous, the experience itself was more rewarding. Being able to affect the mission to any positive degree instead of just being a cog is a whole 'nother experience. One of the options I'm weighing after I graduate is to go back in for just that reason.Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-57874552207504120062010-10-22T00:08:31.787-05:002010-10-22T00:08:31.787-05:00Been saying this same thing to many of my own. I&#...Been saying this same thing to many of my own. I've long pondered the new "platoon." No longer do our men and women train for 2-3 years before deploying.There may be camaraderie, but is there brotherhood? With as little experience as 3-4 months for some privates, they then leave with their more experienced SPC's and young SGT's who, undoubtedly, have longing attachments to their other platoons from previous deployments. <br /><br />One of my first NCO's is in the 'Stan right now going through this exact scenario.13 Stoplosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12271477215225166355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-89690021105049050202010-10-21T23:58:45.400-05:002010-10-21T23:58:45.400-05:00All,
I must apologize for hiding out for so long....All,<br /><br />I must apologize for hiding out for so long. Since my last post I quit school, moved across the country and took a job that, for awhile now, demanded a lot of my attention and energy. Waiting for a topic to come along that was worth dedicating some time to was difficult, indeed. <br /><br />Look forward to another post very soon, which will include a very exciting announcement. Things are about to get very interesting around here.Alex Hortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.com