johndoe

I will speak about this once, and once only.

I was discharged with an OTH/RE-4. Only under certain litigating circumstances surrounding the Discharge will you ever have a chance, hope for a WW before you're let back in.

That said, I will not refute my guilt. I gambled in boot camp, I fought another sailor in Gun School, I lied at Captains Mast about it, I went U/A, smoked marijuana and returned to tell the Master-At-Arms that I wanted a drug test so I could sabotage my career, because I had to have it my way or no way . In retrospect my reasons were trivial and I was too misguided and impatient (product of multiple foster homes and no parents). I ended all of my dreams to lead an awesome life.

But I wll tell you this, you people who bash men like me for my crime as a 19 yr. old are not Special Operation Operatives, you are also like the wannabees. I would have to guess you are probably unfit for some other reason though. Furthermore, some of the acts we were discharged for run rampant in the Armed Services today, and are far worse, and not to mention they were committed by people let in under waivers for the same civilian offenses. Most stateside bases are as loaded with drugs (like Ft. Bragg for instance) than any ghetto in the U.S., Domestic Violence, various counts of violence, multiple DUIs, Disorderly conduct, U/A, Rape, Murder all have been committed by men and women in uniform. As a friend of a special operations member there are accounts of drug use also by these type of men, some will agree, some will empathize and some will criticize, but they're still good men.

Even further, furthermore. If you believe that in the years since my discharge that I haven't regretted every action taken by me and wish I was in uniform right now or daydreaming at my lousy dead-end job about finishing my "A" school and fulfilling my S.E.A.L ambitions and doing what I feel now and then, really was my calling.

For all of you in uniform that will read this, especially for the ones that have seen war, pay attention. You yourself have seen some men you know would not make it and violate the warrior code, who really don't know why they joined, who have not made peace with the idea of dying for our freedom, who thought is was all about the uniform, who can't separate themselves from their pictures, who question war, who are cowards.

I am not them......never was........never will be.

I will pay not with my life, but my foolish pride.

For everyone who serves, Elite or not, Thank You for your sacrifice...I'm sorry I couldn't be there.

P.s. Whewshh! Man I haven't let that story slip in 13 yrs.