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John S
 
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On Tue, 09 Nov 2004 22:39:52 -0500, John S wrote:

On Wed, 10 Nov 2004 02:15:40 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:



Really? How so? It takes an officer approximately a half hour to get
here from the local barracks - that's if there is one available at the
local barracks immediately. It can take an hour if the officer is on
the other side of the patrol area. That's more than enough time for
somebody to do the deed.

It's also why I carry.


OK, I am going to go OT on this one. Just this once to keep this newsgroup
in peace for a while.

I'll only speak about my experience in life to the point that my Father and
Uncles and Father in Law and Friends spoke with me about WWII and some
personal experiences. Not much. It was an unwritten rule in our family not
to talk about war except on the rarest occasions.

My father was a fighter pilot, obviously he survived and that is why I can
write today. My 1st Uncle was a photographer doing BDA over Africa. He was
lucky, only a couple of planes returned from a mission. He lost all of his
buddies. Did you know when you are firing twin 50's from the side of a
bomber at a fighter coming at you, you don't lead them, you lag them. Did
you know twin 50's are designed to crossfire at a specific distance?

Another Uncle contracted scarlet fever overseas. He died prematurely.

Another Uncle was in if I remember correctly Burma, he passed on to me a
Burma machete. Burma was a vicious part of the war.

My best friend when I started in the steel mills was a veteran of the
Pacific. His stories were nothing short of the humorous to the horrific. He
usually only talked about the dumb things he did. One time they thought the
enemy were hiding in a cave beneath their feet. They found a number of enemy
mortar rounds and began throwing them down into the hole. After 20 or 30
duds, they realized that if they all went off in the hole they would have
all been blown to kingdom come.

Another friend was a POW in a German prison. His stories were horrific.

My father in law has pictures of him in front of the last buildings left
standing in Hiroshima. On a business trip, I made a point of standing in the
exact spot as my father in law for a picture. Things have changed there, he
just happened to have stood in front of one of the few buildings left
standing that is now a national site. My Father, Uncles, and Father in
Law were buried with full military honors.

For myself, like my family before me, I was just a kid and I killed men in
the name of my county. I also saw and experienced unspeakable horrors. But
what the hell does a 19 year old know? I would rather forget.

But, that was war.

My son was car jacked in a major nearby city. Since he is a weight lifter,
he figured "screw this guy". The car jacker pulled a gun. They drove up to a
stop sign. My son said "F this" and reached across the center console of his
Mustang after the guy. He took a bullet through the neck. It just happened
to miss his esophagus and all the critical blood vessels. It barely touched
the inside of his neck bones. The bullet is still in his left shoulder. It
is a miracle he is alive. He will carry that bullet in his shoulder for the
rest of his life. Surgery to remove it is not worth the risk, at least for
now.

That was 4 years ago this coming December 23. What a Christmas that was.

The city detectives were the most incompetent bunch of boobs I had ever met
in my life. They didn't even bother coming to the hospital to interview my
son. We went to the police station after he was released and he identified
the car jacker from a photo on an Apple Laptop Computer. I was there.
Wouldn't you know it, they had him locked up as a suspect but all his pals
came to the station and swore he was with them, even before my son picked
him out. They had let him go before they ever talked to my son despite the
fact there were 2 witnesses in the neighborhood. Bungled, PREJUDICED police
work. The investigation just went nowhere. I was just too happy to have my
son alive to push it further.

Do I carry?, Yes. Would I ever use it in defense of my family or myself?
Yes, and without hesitation!





Regards
John S

I would rather be boating!


Just a few things I forgot for those that think everyone is helpful and
natural good Samaritans. After my son was shot, he went to a house and
knocked on a door begging for help that he had just been shot. The homeowner
answered and told him to "Get out or I'll shoot you again". The second house
he went to asking for help also told him to "Get out". By then he was too
weak and passed out on their porch. That's where the ambulance picked him
up.

My only wish is that same homeowners knock on someone else's door one day
and gets the same response. I hope the person that shot my son catches a
bullet in the chest. I'll never forgive.

That is my story.



Regards
John S

I would rather be boating!