Howdy all. I've been a member here before but I'm afraid real life intervened and I spent 6 months trolling the Gulf fighting Uncle George's war for oil. Anyway, I am glad to be back home.
I'm 38yrs old and live in Virginia. I've been interested in the Civil War ever since I read Michael Shaara's fascinating work "The Killer Angels". I've also been a re-enactor with the 3rd Virginia Infantry.
I live in Hampton Roads with my wife and 2 sons. I'm stationed onboard the USS Harry S Truman (for at least another 4 months) before transferring back to shore duty in Norfolk and then retirement.
Mike Kotyk
aka Grey Yankee
__________________ A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal ~ Oscar Wilde, 19th Century writer & poet
MK,
Welcome back to the world. I also, am a Virginian, born and raised in that great commonwealth. Welcome to this board, and I hope you will enjoy your stay here, both on the board and your time at home.
Nevermind, I see what you are referring to. Sorry but after a 6 month BS deployment where I've listened to an Admiral worry more about oilfields in Southern Iraq than the current insurgency, it has made me more than a bit upset and has left me with bitter feelings towards the whole thing. I'm glad I have made my last deployment and will be retiring in a little over 2 years.
Until then, I will try to keep my feelings and viewpoints underlid. My apologies.
YOS,
Mike
__________________ A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal ~ Oscar Wilde, 19th Century writer & poet
WElcome aboard, from one vet to another. All I can say about our current military is look who appointed most of them. Like the Germans used to say. "British and American officers... the only thing worse are the Italians."
I come from a long line of enlisted men, have too much self respect to be an officer. Unfortunately my experiance is that when they're good they're really good but when they're bad... woooh boy do they reek.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
MK,
Yes sir, in this, the era of political correctness, we must walk very softly, as they say. I found this out when someone attacked my Southern attitudes, and just as if I were suckered into it, I found that I had spoken too hastily, and too harshly. Be very careful how you defend your views, sir. Speak softly, with calmness and dignity, lest you step into something that could muddy your shoes. I too served in the military, with the U.S. Air Force, although it was a short run of only 4 years. The draft was still in affect when I inlisted, so I decided it was in my best interest to offer my services to the Air Force, instead of being drafted into the Army and the infantry. I wound up as an AP (Air Policeman). As a coincidence, I served from '61-'65! Upon looking back, it's too bad it wasn't the 'Confederate Air Force'.
Welcome back. My brother was there as a CWO7. In all, he's put in his years with battle rattle and intelligence work. I don't use "oxymoron" as he would find out and come for me.
Thank you for the welcome. I know all too well what you mean by political correctness. I see it everyday. People nowadays would rather have you lie than tell the truth.
Oh well... such are the state of things today.
Mike
__________________ A little sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal ~ Oscar Wilde, 19th Century writer & poet
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