tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post8301873860956231109..comments2024-02-09T00:13:51.906-06:00Comments on Army of Dude: And now, an important messageAlex Hortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13729559701547002624noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-67087657238219443382008-10-31T22:54:00.000-05:002008-10-31T22:54:00.000-05:00This is a great post and I would like to add, if a...This is a great post and I would like to add, if a may, that loved ones should remember that there is a difference between being understanding of some of the bad habits returning soldiers may have, and accepting them as the norm. Tell your soldier how he or she is different...and this can be done without nagging. My fiance did not hesitate to point out my sharp temper, my lack of patience, and my eagerness to drink. Had she hesitated, I might not have leveled out. <BR/>Talk about the changes that you both may have undergone, and NEVER accept violent behavior. If you work through it together, it gets fixed a lot sooner.<BR/>Thanks again, Dude. Glad you're home and back in school.Chackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09527905154460364477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-25800769368710874462008-10-27T09:32:00.000-05:002008-10-27T09:32:00.000-05:00This is a very informational post and I appreciate...This is a very informational post and I appreciate it. I write to deployed soldiers through Angels n' Camouflage and appreciate the pointers. <BR/><BR/>Blessings,<BR/>MaryMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08175754179624182953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-26563852637581567142008-10-24T21:20:00.000-05:002008-10-24T21:20:00.000-05:00thank you...!thank you...!MezzoCOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07146281913189648485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-82971068492309260702008-10-23T07:33:00.000-05:002008-10-23T07:33:00.000-05:00wow, thank you so much for this! i have really enj...wow, thank you so much for this! i have really enjoyed reading it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-90487442085695133332008-10-21T13:42:00.000-05:002008-10-21T13:42:00.000-05:00The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blo...The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post <A HREF="http://thunderrun.blogspot.com/2008/10/from-front-10212008.html" REL="nofollow">From the Front: 10/21/2008 </A> News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.David Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18153191536633461987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-32990543364627389872008-10-20T22:18:00.000-05:002008-10-20T22:18:00.000-05:00You're a good egg, Alex.You're a good egg, Alex.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-70510429377774279262008-10-20T14:39:00.000-05:002008-10-20T14:39:00.000-05:00What a FANTASTIC post this is! I can't wait to rea...What a FANTASTIC post this is! I can't wait to read through the rest of your site. Your answers have helped me more than you probably realize--my son is getting ready to leave for Iraq and I've had lots on my mind, among which are exactly the questions that you wrote about so eloquently. I am grateful to you!<BR/><BR/>PS: I also enjoyed reading the text of your comment, raven.b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15547993940032507082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-81866349900508457472008-10-20T13:41:00.000-05:002008-10-20T13:41:00.000-05:00Excellent post...I thought you hit the nail on the...Excellent post...I thought you hit the nail on the head. <BR/>Everything translates well into what I experience out to sea.Teddy Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13049816481371090138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-19569310817145102552008-10-20T13:06:00.000-05:002008-10-20T13:06:00.000-05:00Stay safe. Come home soon.Peterhttp://www.randomou...Stay safe. Come home soon.<BR/><BR/>Peter<BR/>http://www.randomously.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-87002085886715568192008-10-19T23:08:00.000-05:002008-10-19T23:08:00.000-05:00Glad you're continuing to write, as we love to sto...Glad you're continuing to write, as we love to stop by here and read what you have to say. We hope you'll continue blogging here for a long time to come. ; )Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-18682992476578415842008-10-19T20:35:00.000-05:002008-10-19T20:35:00.000-05:00Here's a letter that was often sent home prior to ...Here's a letter that was often sent home prior to "DEROS""<BR/><BR/>SOUTH VIETNAM<BR/><BR/>Dear Family, Friends, Civilians, and Draft Dodgers,<BR/><BR/> In the very near future the undersigned will once more be in your midst, dehydrated and demoralized, to take his place again as a human being, to enjoy the well-known forms of freedom and justice for all, and to engage in life, liberty, and the somewhat delayed pursuit of happiness. In making your joyous preparations to welcome him back into organized society, you might take certain steps to make allowances for the crude environment which has been his miserable lot for the past twelve months. In other words, he might be a little Asiatic from Vietnamesitis and overseasitis and should be handled with care. Do not be alarmed if he is infected with all forms of rare tropical diseases. A little time in the "Land of the Big PX" will cure this malady.<BR/><BR/> Therefore, show no alarm if he insists on carrying a weapon to the dinner table, looks around for his steel pot when offered a chair, or wakes you up in the middle of the night for guard duty. Keep cool when he pours gravy on his dessert or mixes peaches with his Seagram's VO. Pretend not to notice if he eats with his fingers instead of silverware and prefers C-rations to steak. Take it with a smile when he insists on digging up the garden to fill sandbags for the bunker he is building. Be tolerant when he takes his blanket off the bed and leaves the sheet and puts it on the floor to sleep on.<BR/><BR/> Abstain from saying anything about powdered eggs, dehydrated potatoes, fried rice, fresh milk, or ice cream. Do not be alarmed if he should jump up from the dinner table and rush to the garbage can to wash his dish with a toilet brush. After all, this has been his standard. Also, if it should start to rain, pay no attention to him if he pulls off his clothes, grabs a towel and a bar of soap, and runs outdoors for a shower.<BR/><BR/> When in his daily conversation he utters such things as "Xin loi" and "Choi oi", just be patient. Simply leave quickly and calmly if by some chance he utters "Di di" with an irritated look on his face, because it means no less than "Get the h___ out of here!" Do not let it shake you if he picks up the phone and yells, "Reliable, sir," or says, "Roger out," for good-by, or simply shouts, "Working!" <BR/><BR/> Never ask why the Jones's son held a higher rank than he did and by no means mention the term "extend". Pretend not to notice if at a restaurant he calls the waitress "numbah one girl" and uses his hat for an ashtray. He will probably keep listening for "Homeward Bound" to sound off over AFVN; if he does, comfort him, for he is still reminiscing. Be watchful when he is in the presence of a woman--especially a beautiful one.<BR/><BR/> Above all, keep in mind that beneath that tanned and rugged exterior there is a heart of gold-the only thing of value he has left. Treat him with kindness, tolerance, and to an occasional fifth of good liquor and you will be able to rehabilitate that which once was and now is the hollow shell of the happy-go-lucky guy you once knew and loved.<BR/><BR/> Last, but by no means least, send no more mail to the APO, fill the refrigerator with beer, get the civvies out of mothballs, fill the car with gas, and get the women and children off the streets………………………………………………….. THE KID IS COMING HOMEMJ Athenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16913031700873240864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-51151815219157936432008-10-19T20:32:00.000-05:002008-10-19T20:32:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.MJ Athenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16913031700873240864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-90327606805170376422008-10-19T19:23:00.000-05:002008-10-19T19:23:00.000-05:00Thanks.Thanks.Jackelopettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15858048308702774982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26907684.post-46656051870031768152008-10-19T19:21:00.000-05:002008-10-19T19:21:00.000-05:00Great info. You did a good job pointing out that e...Great info. You did a good job pointing out that everyone is different. There aren't text book answers for these kind of situations. <BR/>Oh yeah, hopefully there will be 100 more posts. Keep ya' head up, man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com