Taken For Granted - The Firearms Forum

03-11-2003, 08:56 PM

SixTGunr
Member
Posts: 60
(3/23/02 2:56:48 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del All Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kinda gripes my patootie the way some folks take for granted just how fortunate they really are and how they do not appreciate some of the finer (not to them anyway) things in life.

While in country I was stationed with the 5TH Marine Regiment approximately 30 miles south of DaNang at a small base camp called AnHoa. On occassion I had the opportunity to go on a few "ridin' shotgun escorts" just outside the perimeter to what we called our garbage dump. On a daily basis we would load up a couple of deuce-n-halfs with the accumulation of mess tent "slop" that was scraped off the metal mess trays provided. Consisted of everything and anything from spit, tobacco juice and cigarette butts mixed in with all the waste that would be left from ones tray.

In any case I remember well the 55 gallon galvanized garbage cans at the exit of the mess tent which would fill to the brim of our (what we considered) garbage. We would grab a couple of the locals and have them load 'em up on the back of the trucks and drive out near the ville outside our perimeter where we would dump this stuff. I have enclosed a pic of this proceedure to give some of those who have not had the opportunity to experience such a sad situation. Not to the locals however who looked forward to our daily runs. As a precautionary measure there were many times where we actually had to buttstroke them in the face to get them from over-running our positions as we needed to get out, dumped and in as quickly as possible without delays.

My ex wives along with my current female companion cannot understand why I become irritated when out for a casual dining experience they continually whine about the fact that their steak is'nt done to their "exact" liking. Though I bite my tongue I am always reminded of this particular situation and come to grips with the fact that they would simply not understand some of the horrors of war ..... nor did they ever seem to care. There are a lot of folks that simply do not appreciate just how good they have it and take a lot for granted these days.

The pic was taken by a Brother from my outfit: Golf Company, 2ND Battalion, 5Th Marines AnHoa Vietnam 1967

"What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time"

high2fly
*Senior Chief Of Staff*
Posts: 795
(3/23/02 4:05:19 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very noteworthy remarks Gunner. I guess unless you have seen or experienced what the photo shows, it doesn't mean much. Like maybe when you were a kid, and you knew you would just 'barf' if you had to take another spoonful of mashed spuds and gravy---someone would remark to you that there were starving children in China that would donate an organ for one spoonful of those spuds. During the Korean War I saw the same scenes down in the Philippines---later in North Africa seeing the Moroccan kids doing the same thing---fighting for our mess hall throw outs. One time in 1952, I went to Hong Kong on R & R and saw the same scenes---the old APA ship we rode over from the PI on, would pass our galley throwouts off over the fantail to Chinese junks who in turn would re-process it for nourishment. Thanks for sharing Gunner---reminds us how good we have it. Wilborn

Tac401
Administrator
Posts: 1866
(3/23/02 8:16:04 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amen to that!
TFF VMBB Email Tac

TallTLynn
*VMBB Staff*
Posts: 153
(3/24/02 11:35:25 am)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SixTGunr - unfortunately unless one has experienced starvation they have a hard time grasping the fact they should be thankful for what they have - even if it isn't quite to their liking.

There was a time when I would of complained about the steak, now I just keep my mouth shut and eat it. Never know when one might not get the chance again.

SixTGunr
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 112
(3/29/02 10:32:56 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some day I'll tell you the story about "heat tabs" (little purple colored trioxylene compressed gas thingys that we used tro heat the C-rations with) which will also give you an idea of just how hungry these folks were. Till later then ..... Six

"What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time"

Tac401
Administrator
Posts: 1883
(3/29/02 10:33:15 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del
ezSupporter
Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Got a case of those right here Six, comes in handy!
TFF VMBB Email Tac

haggai69
Member
Posts: 13
(4/1/02 2:56:15 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know what you mean about people taking things for granted. I've had my fair share of "hungry days", but I was never starving, not knowing where my next meal was to come from. I think I'm one of the few people I know who goes to a restaurant, orders what is on the menu and eats it all. No complaints... Waste not, want not. I know there are millions out there who would do anything to have what I have and I work hard to keep what I have and share what I can spare.

Winter11
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 723
(4/1/02 4:11:48 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You know... I hear you on this one!!!

Haggai.... if I'm at a restaurant and I can't finish it I always get it to go... unfortunately in NYC there are a lot of homeless people.... I get my food wrapped up, stop in at a deli or something to get a fork and give it the first homeless person I see. I try and do as much as I can.... afterall, you never know their circumstance... and, who the heck am I to judge....

Always Faithful

SixTGunr
V.I.P. Member
Posts: 125
(4/1/02 5:29:07 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good for you Winter. I'm sure whatever it is it is greatly appreciated by those who have not.

Another thing I saw "a lot of" was you would see one squatted behind another and they would be pickin' the bugs outta each others hair. Sometimes they'd gnaw on 'em right there and sometimes they'd gather 'em up for the next meal.

"What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time"

haggai69
Member
Posts: 16
(4/2/02 10:17:05 am)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Taken For Granted
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've seen people eat some interesting things... my dad used to tell me stories from when he would go TDY. (I think the chocolate covered beetles from Thailand was my favorite...) I think the most unusual I have witnessed personally, was on a summer vacation to Panama to visit my dad. (This was before the canal switched hands). But on the way to the pool I happend upon a guy cooking a really big bug on a manhole cover on the side of the road.
Talk about perspective.

03-11-2003, 08:56 PM	#1
Guest Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Taken For Granted SixTGunr Member Posts: 60 (3/23/02 2:56:48 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del All Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kinda gripes my patootie the way some folks take for granted just how fortunate they really are and how they do not appreciate some of the finer (not to them anyway) things in life. While in country I was stationed with the 5TH Marine Regiment approximately 30 miles south of DaNang at a small base camp called AnHoa. On occassion I had the opportunity to go on a few "ridin' shotgun escorts" just outside the perimeter to what we called our garbage dump. On a daily basis we would load up a couple of deuce-n-halfs with the accumulation of mess tent "slop" that was scraped off the metal mess trays provided. Consisted of everything and anything from spit, tobacco juice and cigarette butts mixed in with all the waste that would be left from ones tray. In any case I remember well the 55 gallon galvanized garbage cans at the exit of the mess tent which would fill to the brim of our (what we considered) garbage. We would grab a couple of the locals and have them load 'em up on the back of the trucks and drive out near the ville outside our perimeter where we would dump this stuff. I have enclosed a pic of this proceedure to give some of those who have not had the opportunity to experience such a sad situation. Not to the locals however who looked forward to our daily runs. As a precautionary measure there were many times where we actually had to buttstroke them in the face to get them from over-running our positions as we needed to get out, dumped and in as quickly as possible without delays. My ex wives along with my current female companion cannot understand why I become irritated when out for a casual dining experience they continually whine about the fact that their steak is'nt done to their "exact" liking. Though I bite my tongue I am always reminded of this particular situation and come to grips with the fact that they would simply not understand some of the horrors of war ..... nor did they ever seem to care. There are a lot of folks that simply do not appreciate just how good they have it and take a lot for granted these days. The pic was taken by a Brother from my outfit: Golf Company, 2ND Battalion, 5Th Marines AnHoa Vietnam 1967 "What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time" high2fly Senior Chief Of Staff Posts: 795 (3/23/02 4:05:19 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Very noteworthy remarks Gunner. I guess unless you have seen or experienced what the photo shows, it doesn't mean much. Like maybe when you were a kid, and you knew you would just 'barf' if you had to take another spoonful of mashed spuds and gravy---someone would remark to you that there were starving children in China that would donate an organ for one spoonful of those spuds. During the Korean War I saw the same scenes down in the Philippines---later in North Africa seeing the Moroccan kids doing the same thing---fighting for our mess hall throw outs. One time in 1952, I went to Hong Kong on R & R and saw the same scenes---the old APA ship we rode over from the PI on, would pass our galley throwouts off over the fantail to Chinese junks who in turn would re-process it for nourishment. Thanks for sharing Gunner---reminds us how good we have it. Wilborn Tac401 Administrator Posts: 1866 (3/23/02 8:16:04 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amen to that! TFF VMBB Email Tac TallTLynn VMBB Staff Posts: 153 (3/24/02 11:35:25 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SixTGunr - unfortunately unless one has experienced starvation they have a hard time grasping the fact they should be thankful for what they have - even if it isn't quite to their liking. There was a time when I would of complained about the steak, now I just keep my mouth shut and eat it. Never know when one might not get the chance again. SixTGunr V.I.P. Member Posts: 112 (3/29/02 10:32:56 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some day I'll tell you the story about "heat tabs" (little purple colored trioxylene compressed gas thingys that we used tro heat the C-rations with) which will also give you an idea of just how hungry these folks were. Till later then ..... Six "What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time" Tac401 Administrator Posts: 1883 (3/29/02 10:33:15 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del ezSupporter Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Got a case of those right here Six, comes in handy! TFF VMBB Email Tac haggai69 Member Posts: 13 (4/1/02 2:56:15 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I know what you mean about people taking things for granted. I've had my fair share of "hungry days", but I was never starving, not knowing where my next meal was to come from. I think I'm one of the few people I know who goes to a restaurant, orders what is on the menu and eats it all. No complaints... Waste not, want not. I know there are millions out there who would do anything to have what I have and I work hard to keep what I have and share what I can spare. Winter11 V.I.P. Member Posts: 723 (4/1/02 4:11:48 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You know... I hear you on this one!!! Haggai.... if I'm at a restaurant and I can't finish it I always get it to go... unfortunately in NYC there are a lot of homeless people.... I get my food wrapped up, stop in at a deli or something to get a fork and give it the first homeless person I see. I try and do as much as I can.... afterall, you never know their circumstance... and, who the heck am I to judge.... Always Faithful SixTGunr V.I.P. Member Posts: 125 (4/1/02 5:29:07 pm) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Good for you Winter. I'm sure whatever it is it is greatly appreciated by those who have not. Another thing I saw "a lot of" was you would see one squatted behind another and they would be pickin' the bugs outta each others hair. Sometimes they'd gnaw on 'em right there and sometimes they'd gather 'em up for the next meal. "What more can I say ..... I was at the wrong place at the wrong time" haggai69 Member Posts: 16 (4/2/02 10:17:05 am) Reply \| Edit \| Del Re: Taken For Granted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've seen people eat some interesting things... my dad used to tell me stories from when he would go TDY. (I think the chocolate covered beetles from Thailand was my favorite...) I think the most unusual I have witnessed personally, was on a summer vacation to Panama to visit my dad. (This was before the canal switched hands). But on the way to the pool I happend upon a guy cooking a really big bug on a manhole cover on the side of the road. Talk about perspective. -->