In their Boots, the French and monkeys!?!

While doing my daily perusing of blogs I saw that one blogger mentioned a site that was part of the inspiration of Homes for Heroes Foundation. This site is dedicated to the average G.I. Joe coming home and having to deal with this new reality of transitioning back to home. In Their Boots should be a weekly visit for all of us who appreciate what our Heroes must endure after honorably serving their country. These are the people that HFHF hopes to reach and add to the already growing number of groups that are helping our Heroes transition from the daily stress of conflict to the life we all take for granted. Homes for Heroes Foundation also is there for our Police, Firefighter and First Responders that can also find themselves in situations that they did not ask for while performing their duties for our communities. If you spend any time at In Their Boots you will be proud of how these people cope. I often wonder how they can keep up the faith while facing the crap of every day life. Who has time to figure out bennies, when you have to figure out how you are going to get a wider door to get your wheel chair through on a government income, let alone finding a new job. Please visit and become impressed with our countries finest.

Another site that caught my attention was BlackFive. He had an article that was written by a French soldier (which by the way France is now an all volunteer force) with his impression of American Soldiers. I have lived in France for two years and this soldiers article was the French people that have lived with and became good friends with today. I have received some grief in the past from my family and friends because I have a different take on the French citizens. They have more in common with us than the press and the stereotypes would have you believe. What this letter states is something I lived many times while sitting in my backyard in Cornebarrieu with several neighbors sampling the best the French have to offer in Wine, Bourbon, and Cognac. They too have to fight their press and stereotypes of Americans as arrogant bullies wearing cowboy boots and hats. But all of the people I met in France had a huge gratitude towards us Americans and are very glad we are in this world. Enough said, read the article and you will see that the French are a very good people. Also you will see that the stereotype the French have is pretty close to the truth!! Ha! Read and you will know what I am talking about.

Now I know you have been waiting for my second story regarding stones and monkeys. Well, if you see this creature while wondering the roads and paths of Subic Bay, Philippines, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT decide to throw a stone, rock, banana, peanut or anything at them. They take great offense and will reciprocate with all the vim and vigor that a monkey can give. I know because I was victim of that vim and vigor. I was sent on advance party to the Philippines to get things ready for our squadrons arrival. I got to spend Christmas eve there all by my self (that’s another story) so after leaving the chow hall I thought I should celebrate Christmas eve with a drink at the E-Club. Well a short cut to the club was behind the chow hall. As I was passing the dumpsters, they were crawling with monkeys. Well the monkeys started to screech at me and I took offense to that. So being the superior human I thought a well aimed stone at the metal dumpster would 1) scare and scatter them back into the jungle and 2) prove to the animal kingdom that us humans are very much superior to furry creatures. So the stone left my hand and clanged into the metal dumpster with the exact loud ring I had anticipated. After a second and a couple of dodges later I found out that the monkeys did not scatter back into the jungle where they belonged but had regrouped and went on the offensive. There must have been 15 to 20 monkeys throwing anything they could get their little furry paws on at me. And to my dismay very accurate little furry paws. So the humiliated Sergeant had to flee the garbage eating monkeys with a very hard learned lesson. Hungry monkeys can and will win against an arrogant stone throwing Marine.

Well I have more to say but it will have to wait until next blog. I have my notes and will keep them on my white board. I still hold hope that someone out there has a better story than garbage flinging monkeys. Let’s hear those stories, because I have tons.