This will be a winding non sensical mess at times so forgive or dont and go fuck yourself with a rusted scythe.

My military career is coming to a close. It started with crashing trash cans, harrowing curses and realization I was yes actually in boot camp and not a Full Metal Jacket reenactment. It will end in the persian gulf.

I graduated from Navy boot camp in Sept 1989. I started in the US Navy as a dumb ass 19 year old with a weird accent. I saw gun boat battles off the coast of Liberia, missiles fired off battleships in persian gulf and grim body bags in Kuwait City. I was 19, 21 and 22. After another 7 month fun run in persian gulf I exited the Navy in 1993. After 3 and half years of fun at Uni New Hampshire I accepted a commission with USAF.

I started in Atlus, Oklahoma...let me put it this way Cleveland would have been better. I met wife #1. Then to South Carolina, a fresh Lt with no damn clue what the fuck I was doing, no not the job I was talking about my marriage. From Shaw AFB, I went to Keesler, AFB in Biloxi Ms. I was an instructor in the air traffic control officer's course. Wife #1 decided stripping on Bourbon (hour from Biloxi) was more fun than me. Yeh wish I could tell you she was wrong.

From that assignment I headed to the Gulf in 2002. I was in Iraq 2 weeks after war broke out. Amazing, surreal, and by far the most memorable 4 months of my career. I will never forget that time. Moving tank parts off a runway with Brit royal engineers at 3am in the morning with gunbattles echoing from nearby Nasariya: "Are you sure you're a Yank?" Ruddy faced Royal Engineer Warrant kept asking me. Seeing Iraqi high value types face down on concrete next to runway prior to transport to god knows where. Seeing 300 female Korean Nurses (part of peacekeeping mission for UN) strolling down runway in a combat zone. Watching A-10s take off and silence gunfire in nearby Nasariya. I cleared those A-10s for take off...

Seeing an A-10 shot to hell and brave, sexy female pilot recall her unreal survival over Baghdad in A-10 ops room. Meeting R. Lee Ermey (he was doing a roll call show for History channel). Being a complete moron and walking off the runway to remove an obstruction...I walked into a mine field. I somehow managed to walk out. Then horrified watched EOD blow up the field 20 mins later. Unfuckingreal still get palpatations about that crap today.

I left Iraq a different man. I saw body bags of our troops not like Kuwait City when it was dead Iraqis/Kuwaitis. Yes this a cold statement but fuck it, its true: this was different and man it changed me. I realized why serving meant more than living for the weekend and a paycheck, much, much fucking more.

I left Iraq and returned in late 03. From Mississippi I went to Travis AFB California. Enter wife #2 or as I refer to her Imelda fucking Marcos. It was a disaster and only a deployment to Pakistan saved me from reserving a room at the cuckoo's nest. I returned divorced and I thought wiser. Enter wife #3. A lass from Vancouver. Oy. She was fucking nuts but hey she had a nice rack.

From CA, I went to Korea with the nutcase. Needless to say Korea got better after divorce #3. I ran my first marathon amongst 30,000 Koreans in Seoul. Met a bro who is now my best friend and met wife #4 on a binge tour of the North Shore on Oahu trying to burn away my sorry relationship woes. She is still with me 5 years later. Bless her, she must be mad.

In Korea, I met Hines Ward at Yung San Army base in downtown Korea. He is a class, class act and dont forget it you Steeler what you done for me lately wankers. From Korea I returned to Mississippi and Keesler AFB Biloxi. I loved that assignment, and Noo Orlins became my favorite city, it still is. If you want to know why ask, yes it is far more than t-shirts, beads and boobs on Bourbon.

While there a deployment to Afghanistan came my way. I worked for NATO for 8 months at Kandahar. I was glad to be home in one piece. After that assignment the Air Force sent me to their version of polish yer wedding tackle finishing school in glorious Montgomery, Alabama. I drank AF doctrinal kool aid and looked upon future Generals. After my 15 seconds with the elites I got the dubious distinction of a journey back to Oklahoma, where I am presently in OKC.

Throughtout all my journies, relationship travails and wonderful career there has been one constant: My Steelers. I saw them in 1991 in the Persian Gulf. In 2002/3 in Persian Gulf v Titans in playoffs. In Korea in Bussie's reunion in Motor City. In Afghanistan screaming at top of my lungs to no one in particular during 2008/09 SB.

I love the Steelers. I have since my Pittsburgh area relatives sent me PJs as a snotty nosed 4 year old in Glasgow, Scotland, then after we moved to Liveprool, england, more shirts, posters and fucking calanders...
I saw 79/80 Sb and had no clue who anyone was and didnt care. My dad let me stay up to wee hours to watch SB. I ran around shrieking like an idiot at 3 and 4 am. My Da clouted me and said "wee man simmer doon"

I have seen the Steelers at 3 rivers, in Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and even fucking Holland. One odd fact, one thing has never happened. I have never been in US when Steelers won a SB. Never. 2005/6 I was in Korea. 2008/9 I was in Afghanistan. So if you are into omens, my return to desert might be a really good one.

As I come to the end of 20 years in service of a country that gave me everything and allowed me become a decent breathing human being, I humbly ask of you one thing.

Dedicate this Steeler season to all that serve in uniform and carry their love for the black n gold to places even I dare not tread. Countless young men and vets bleed black and gold. So as a slightly early retirement gift I ask dedicate this season to them. They deserve all the respect and love we can give them. Thanks.

V/R Lt Col M

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rb13ksYO0s

RIP MCA

Thank you...Not for your service...Which was very cool of you.

Thanks for sharing your story



I added women and I think I have a forum I can post a little reminder every week during the season

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Thanks appreciated.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rb13ksYO0s

RIP MCA

I'm an Arabic linguist in the Air Force and hit my 20 year mark in August. They have their hooks in me for another couple years, during which I'll slave away in the sausage factory known as the Pentagon. After that it's anyone's guess.

Thanks for your service and for telling your story. Good luck on your deployment, sir!

SMSgt H

wow.

I hit my 20 years January 3, 2013. *salute* interesting steelclan, I always thought you were from australia or the UK

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That's a helluva story, Clan. You got me kind of choked up.

I hope that you and all make it home safely... Even a Steelers Super Bowl win takes a backseat to that.

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"Joe Flacco is the best QB in football."-- Ray Rice

One has to wade through a lot of shit on this board to find posts worth reading. I always find it worthwhile to read Clan's posts. This one was a great read. Thanks.

Great post. Lets hope its just as great of a omen.

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I laugh at you . . . blatantly
Ben

I spent 4 years in the Marine Corps. Went in right around the same time as you. Was stuck in traffic a couple months ago on my way to a meeting with a client. Had the realization that had I stayed in I'd be retiring this year. Or at the least retiring from the military w/pension and starting a second career.

I make more now in 1 year than i did or would have over 4-5 in the military but without that pension to fall back on I'll be working for at least another 20 years. Not looking forward to that.

20 years in the Marine Corps isnt an easy road and at the time I got out my daughter was 1. Didnt want to spend her early years overseas and miss it.

Congrats on your career and retirement. Enjoy it.

And stop getting married already dude. Those ex wives can bleed you dry.

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Mess with the bull, you get the horn....

You are only going to get 10 or 12 moments in your life(take advantage of them enjoy them ). Some day when you are on your death bed... Your going to think of those moments( for most of us not work related tho for someone who serves in the military that isn't the case) what he is sharing are some of those moments. Don't sweat the every day shit because it doesn't matter trust me it doesn't . Enjoy your self and try to find those moments whatever that might be for you.

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