Jul 02, 2008 09:41 pm Got it! I'll torment him with something!
Tuna at basic
Posted on Jul 02, 2008 08:47 pm
Noize2u
Czar of Midi
Administrator Since: Apr 04, 2002
I figured rather then add on to the other thread I would simply start a new one for this.
I just got his mailing address at basic. I know some of you have been tossing advice in the other thread. He will not be able to get at it for a couple of months from what he has said.
So I figured I would just shoot his address up here if anyone feels like shooting him a quick note. I know he would be elated to hear from any of you guys.
Anyway, for those that don't know exactly how to address to a military base I scanned the little instruction sheet to a jpg file and have it on my site. I think you will get a laugh as it is funny how they make a generic little note to tell mommy and daddy everything is all good.
But the good news is he did say on the phone he is having a ball. And he is a pretty straight kid, so if it was sucking he would say it that way. I think he figured he made a good choice and is going to make the best of it and do what he can to get as far as he can with it.
Anyone that feels like dropping him a note feel free. He knows who many of you are either from myself or dB talking about you, as well as his lurking about and reading all the interesting bits from HRC and listening to music here.
I'll detail the address as they specify it to be.
Front of envelope:
Pvt. LaBarre, Anthony
B Co, 2/10, Unit #22
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO 65473-8958
Back of envelope:
1st PLT
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Jul 02, 2008 09:41 pm Got it! I'll torment him with something!
Jul 02, 2008 09:47 pm The wife and I will send a little note out to him.
See if I can find something to make the kid laugh.
Jul 02, 2008 09:49 pm Thanx Walt.
I haven't mentioned your niece to him yet. You can tell him if you write.
We will be going down for his graduation on Aug. 28th. Hopefully we can meet your niece, that would be interesting. But I found it interesting he actually was in great spirits and stated he was having a ball. Like I said, he doesn't say that unless its true. So Army life must really agree with him.
Jul 02, 2008 10:19 pm Here, what do you think of this.
RANK RECOGNITION MADE EASY
General
Faster than a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a locomotive.
Leaps tall buildings in a single bound.
Walks on water.
Lunches with God, but must pick up tab.
Colonel
Almost as fast as a speeding bullet.
More powerful than a shunting engine on a steep incline.
Leaps short buildings with a single bound.
Walks on water if sea is calm.
Talks to God.
Lieutenant-Colonel
Faster than an energetically thrown rock.
Almost as powerful as a speeding bullet.
Leaps short buildings with a running start in favourable winds.
Walks on water of indoor swimming pools if lifeguard is present.
May be granted audience with God if special request is approved at least three working days in advance.
Major
Can fire a speeding bullet with tolerable accuracy.
Loses tug-of-war against anything mechanical.
Makes impressively high marks when trying to leap tall buildings.
Swims well.
Is occasionally addressed by God, in passing.
Captain
Can sometimes handle firearm without shooting self.
Is run over by trains.
Barely clears outhouse.
Dog paddles.
Mumbles to self.
Lieutenant
Is dangerous to self and comrades if armed and unsupervised.
Recognizes trains two out of three times.
Runs into tall buildings.
Can stay afloat if properly instructed in the use of life jacket and water wings.
Talks to walls.
2nd Lieutenant
Can be trusted with either gun or ammunition but never both.
Must have train ticket pinned to jacket and mittens tied to sleeves.
Falls over doorsteps while trying to enter tall buildings.
Plays in Mud puddles.
Studders.
Officer Cadet
Gets all wet playing with water gun.
"Choo choo daddy choo choo!"
Still has not figured out how to enter buildings.
Makes good boat anchor.
Mere existence makes God shudder.
Sergeant-Major
Catches sabot rounds, uses rod to clean teeth.
Kicks trains off their tracks, chews on caboose.
Uproots tall buildings and walk under them.
Freezes water with a single glance; parts it with trifling gesture.
Is God.
You think this is up his alley?
Jul 02, 2008 10:42 pm Great, now I've got Captain Jack in my head >_< Not to be confused with Captain Morgan...which I'd much rather have in my head...right before it goes to my belly. :P
Jul 02, 2008 11:13 pm Rob, that is great. I'm pretty sure he'll get that indeed. Especially the Sergeant-Major part right now.
I am still chuckling as I type from that one.
But ya, it sounds right up the little smart ###es train of thought for sure.
J-bot, that is the only way I can even drink Rum anymore. The mere smell of regular rum brings forth a hefty dry heave from me as well as a violent gage reflex.
Jul 03, 2008 08:52 am Good one Rob. Noise it's true. I was supprised at how well the Sgt Mgr was depicted in We Were Soldiers. Those dudes are bad-asses per how they got where they are. I always got the biggest kick out of interactions between E9's and Shake and Bake 2nd louies. For the most part the E9's wouldn't acknologe thier existance. And if the louie was smart he or she would quite happy to be ignored. I grew to appreciate the E7 to E9 group in a hurry. They ran the friggin army. There were good officers too, but although the upper E's were not the life of the party, when they spoke God and I both listened. While the commisioned folk (willing or no) had to play some poltics the upper E's got-er-done. One came in screaming at me one day for wearing the wrong hat and pitched a hat in my face and left. I had gotton a promotion. The new insiginia was on the hat he pitched at me. Another one knew I was leaving the unit and moving to another part of Germany. Two days before the transition he handed me the paperwork for a mission. I noticed the date was on my last day. I damn near complained as I could tell it was a supply run. I was samarily dissmessed with paperwork in my hand. Reading through it, it was to move undesclosed articles from where I was to where I was moving with two other troups reporting to me, both friends with a duce and a half.
Jul 03, 2008 06:25 pm Hey Walt, where were you in Germany. Ever been to Gelnhausen?
Jul 03, 2008 09:03 pm Ya, it sounds like Tuna is doing what he needs to do to ride it out and get what he wants out of it. I just sent him a package with writing supplies and envelopes and stamps and his other requested personal stuff. Had to send more money as he needs to pay for his ring and pix for graduation. Kinda early I think but whatever. Maybe thats a good sign that he will actually make it through basic on time and move on.
I know he'll appreciate the communication from the outside world so I'm gonna try and send something every other day or such. Even if it is just a note or pic.
Jul 03, 2008 09:10 pm They make you pay for that nowadays? Use to be free.
But I never heard of the ring.
Jul 03, 2008 09:51 pm the portrait is done in the first week as that goes in the class 'year book thing' and the local newspaper.
never had the ring either... a lot is deducted from the first paycheck...also had to pay for the platoon photo... haircuts... and don't remember paying for the portrait... and I came home with two T-shirts :) ... I was a split option so when I went pack to school for my senior year I got yelled at a bit for wearing my platoon shirt... apparently it was obscene...it was just a bayonet sticking into a zombie skull ...
One thing I've been curious about is if they still shoot at Ivans... no offense to any Russian members :) But I haven't seen an Ivan since I left Fort Sill in 96... an 'Ivan' is a more detailed plastic silhouette target... looks like a cartoon soviet soldier from the waist up... I think they were meant to get trainees used to shooting at people...
Jul 03, 2008 11:21 pm Ya, he ordered xtra pix for us so I'm sure that is a pay for option. As for the ring, not heard of that either myself. I guess I'll find out in Aug. I guess.
I'll ask about the Ivans for ya zek, or better yet write him yerself and ask him. :-)
But seriously, they have to pay for the friggin haricut????? Thats just odd, but what ever.
Jul 04, 2008 12:51 pm Rob,
Don't really think so. I just looked on a map and although I did run up north on occasion, I spent most of my time roaming Heidelburg and south. I lived in two homes, first in Karlsrue and then in the outskirts of Stutgart. The band toured mostly to the south and west of Stutgart. My daughter was born in Heielburg. We kinda liked the south better as it was a little more lush, hilly and less industrial. My second place was in Nekartailfingen about 20 klicks south of Stutgart, basicly in the foothills of the Alps. Really loved that place. We had an apartment on the second floor and we would sit out on the deck and watch the trains weave through the mountains at night and the town below. We lived just out of town on a hill at the edge of the fields. It was a short walk with the stroller to get to a guesthouse in town and the rads just loved the fact that Audrey (daughter) was a rad and that we would bring her to the guesthouse with us. Even the little snack grill owners would not let us just grab a snack and go. We were to come into their home/business and sit with them at their dinning table. That couple was difficlut to speak with as they were Hungarian. I had picked up a working command of Doich but it was a struggle chatting in the mixed Hungarian/Doich/English that we shared. I have not experienced any hospitality or acceptance in the states to compare to those times spent in Germany. My daughter spoke more Doich when we left than english per all of the doting old ladies.
Jul 04, 2008 04:26 pm Quote:
I have not experienced any hospitality or acceptance in the states to compare to those times spent in Germany.
You haven't been to my house yet, have you?
WE bring in total stranger's and feed them. Well OK, it was kids the boyz would drag in. But same difference.
That sounds like the kind of place Tuna would really dig. I hope things haven't changed too much over there.
Jul 05, 2008 09:35 am I really have no idea Noize. I jumped the pond a lot since the army but never made it back to Germany. Corporate travel is not the same as moving in for a couple of years. Budipest blew me away. It was like a little New York. McDoodles and Bugger King on every corner. The youth on the streets looked like they were auditioning for a Mad Max movie. Most everybody had a teflon game face on much like here in the states. I kinda got to watch Europe westernize over 20 years and it didn't really add much to the culture per my perception. Having said that I have to soften that statement a little as whenever I had the opportunity to get involved beyond business things got much better. Had a great multi-cultural bocca ball game in Stockholm. Had all my students meet me there instead of me hopping around and throwing a dozen classes. Good meal and a couple of drinks and everybody became human. The Italians were a stich. Kept everybody in stiches with their antics while doing a great job of flirting with every skirt present. One woman from iceland was down right dangerous. Somewhere I have a shot of one class in Madrid all hanging off a monkey bar set. The Russians toped the list however for me. I wasn't allow to attend dinner (bed and breakfast kind of set up) with the other guests as there was some fear of anomosity, but the owner himself physicaly shook me for my wake up call at 4AM the next morning. I remember seeing only black hair and eyeballs per the Kosak hat, beard and all. I cocked my arm back and he jumped back, then we both started laughing when we realized what happened. The only real rude people that I met were in Paris. That place needs to have seperate planet status.
Jul 05, 2008 01:09 pm Hey Noize, I have a few friends that were just over in German. According to them, nothing has really changed there.
Frankfurt has gotten just a little more modern, that just about it.
For the most part, Germans love their country the way it is. Which is great.
One of my best friends over there, that is a German national, is now a Politzi.
If Tuna get stationed around the Frankfurt area, I can have my Buddie keep an eye on him for ya.
My buddies father was the head of the Frankfurt police department. So, he has a little pull.
Walt,
I loved Heidelburg. I went with my uncle over to the Heidelberg castle when I was there.
My uncle was a retired vet. Who lived in the Nuremberg area. Him and I explored the whole area over there. And when the castle hunting group I was a part of, made our finial trip to castle Nueshwanstine. My uncle tagged along.
But, I remember S town pretty well to. S and K town where some of our favorite places to be over there. (Stuttgart and Kiesserslater) And I remember the B&B's there quite well. I loved the experiences that I had there.
As far as the Russian go.... When I got back from Desert Storm. I had a weeks leave granted to me. So my buddy (Now Mr. Politzi) decided to take me as far away from any base that he could.
We went to East Germany. After a day of partying, we decided to go to the Russian base over there. So, I went in uniform. We weren't sure how the Russians would take to me. But I was drunk, and didn't care.
Turns out, that a Russian major and I hit it off very well. The whole Russian base came over to greet me. We had a great time. And I remain friends with the major still today.
They were just like us. Told to hate the other side. But no one could tell us why? When we all meet face to face. There was no animosity at all. Only mutual respect for each other as soldiers.
Jul 05, 2008 02:37 pm Good stuff to know guys. I'm sure it will benefit Tuna in the end reading some of this.
Thanx for the offer Rob. I'm hoping he simply realizes he can't do the things he did here now that he is representing the US Army. Which I'm sure he will. He sounded rather proud to have not been nailed with being a smart *** or anything so far. It sounds as if he is keeping himself on the straight side and doing what he needs to do.
I guess I'll find out for sure when we go to his grad on Aug 28th. But time will tell. 6 months training in TX will probably turn him into a responsible adult. I hope anyway.
Jul 13, 2008 09:07 pm Well talked to Tuna a couple hours ago. sounds like he is getting it. Knees are bugging him but he is just gonna keep cranking as he doesn't want to go to the infirmary.
He says thanx for those who wrote already, it made his day and he shared stories about HRC and you guys with those who haven't been getting any mail. Kinda sad he said because those guys seem like nice guys and he can't believe no one writes them.
He says he got a chuckle out of the fact they have a buddy system there and refer to them as battle buddies. He must be doing something right though, his buddy is his 32 year old DI. Yesterday they did some pain thing were they stuck each other with a big needle to see who would wimp out at the site of blood. Tuna just laughed about it and told the DI to just jab him. The DI went first and they were betting who could hit a target with the squirting blood. Tuna beat the DI, which got him a big laugh.
Gear was issued last weekend and he was excited to get his M16 A2. They were told they would be getting the old A1 but he was pleased to get the A2. Sounds like he'll be getting an A4 once in TX.
Tomorrow is the gas chamber and he is already prepped for that one. He wants to be the first one with his mask off and the last one to put it back on.
I've been sending him a few pic's from home as he wants to decorate his ocker with them. He can't have girly pic's or any pic's with liquor in them though so I had to be careful what I sent.
Just thought I'd keep you guys updated on his adventure so far.
And Rob, ya he liked yours because of the
Dropkick Murphy pic on there. He really appreciated that for sure.
Jul 13, 2008 10:01 pm not sure what the needle thing is... but I remember when we 'volunteered' to donate blood we would race to see who could fill their bag first.
...might be some 'new training' to get people over the sight of blood...
I have to say, Russians are great people...went to Moscow and St. Petersburg in 94 with the boy scouts and most people were so nice... we did have a bit of the urban crime... but if you go someplace like Paris, it's completely different. I would rather spend a week in Moscow than Paris... now this is sad...but I feel safer on the Moscow subway too... :) Paris underground was disgusting, I just walked he city. (was there in 99.
Jul 14, 2008 02:58 pm Ooooh, CS gas training!
Well, if he wants to his mask back on, I'm sure he is more then welcome to.
I just remember when I went through, I had snot everywhere!
The most disgusting, humiliating experience that I have ever been though.
I was the first person out of the gas chamber. I remember one guy grabbing my uniform to lead him out of the chamber.
Well, instead of making the turn to get out, I got slammed into the wall and everyone else just bounced off of me and got out. I came staggering out later.
When Tuna gets his email back, I'll send him the rest of the pictures that I took of Dropkick. That way he'll get the full size instead of the thumbnail.
Hey Zek, Hated hated hated Paris! The dirtiest city I have ever had the displeasure of seeing!
Jul 14, 2008 06:57 pm Rob, I didn't get putting the mask back on either. As far as I know you simply sit with the mask on until they release gas and then see how long you can stay before you go running out. One thing is that kid can hold his breath a long time. Lots of practice swimming under water and diving with me so that might or might not help him.
ON the Dorpkick photos, ya he would be thrilled. As I stated in the photo thread, they are probably our most played CD's around here.
zek, ya I'm not sure what the needle was all about either. He was just rambling about it and laughing as he thought it was funny. But I suppose as you said, it is probably to see who is squeamish around blood.
Jul 14, 2008 11:03 pm Ah! The military has a dirty little secret about that.
You enter the gas chamber with your mask on. And the gas has already been released. You just can't see it.
Then they give you instructions about what is going to happen when you take your mask off.
They tell you that you will state your name, rank, and platoon designation, over and over again.
That way, no one can hold their breath.
CS has one more little secret about it. Even though it is a gas, it has flakes. these flakes stick to things. Like uniforms.
Once your out of the gas chamber. You have to run around two telephone poles for about five minutes. While flapping your arms like your trying to fly.
This allows the flakes to become dis logged off of you.
Good times, good times.
Jul 16, 2008 02:53 pm When I was in basic, I had someone in my element that had a big brother that would ALWAYS bust his balls... even in mail form.
When we would get mail, we would be in our DayRoom, where everyone sits together and the TI (air force's drill instructor) would pass out the mail and he too would bust your balls based on the mail you received.
So, with the big brother sending postcards with photos of men in banana hammocks (speedos) on the front combined with phrases like "I can't wait to see your soldier at Attention", "Is your TI really as hot as you say he is?", " I'm sure your TI isn't as big a p***y as you say he is" and the like, we had a lot of fun at his expense. Poor guy
anyways besides that, pictures were always the best to receive.
Jul 16, 2008 04:27 pm I've done the CS thing three times... generally it boils down to sitting in a cloud of teargas without a mask to see how long you can stay.
But yeah, actually you can see the gas if they just pile it on...which they do...
a lot of time they'kll run you though the chamber, then pack you on a bus ...then the CS crystals evaporate while on the bus. :)
Jul 16, 2008 09:24 pm I'll ask you guys because I keep forgetting to ask Tuna. Do they take taxes out of his check, and he'll file for a tax return or is it different?
Jul 16, 2008 09:59 pm taxes are automatically taken out, and then he'll file a normal return for any refund.
Jul 17, 2008 12:30 am The best part about that, is that since he is going to Germany, you don't have to file for three years.
Why is that good? Because you earn interest on the return.
It's not much, is around $60 dollars a year. But it's better then nothing.
Jul 17, 2008 07:09 am Savings account / government interest is not going to cover inflation. He's better off spending it. imo. We're at 5% now.
Jul 17, 2008 07:56 am yeah, zek, don't encourage a kid to save or anything...great lesson there...that's why so many americans are in the dire straits they are in, nobody saves, everybody spends, then we hit a bump in the road and their bankrupt...
...americans NEED to get more financially wise.
Jul 17, 2008 08:49 am Wow, Interesting twist. Gotta agree with both above. Definately time for U.S. to get wise and pocket some bucks but damn hard to do so with the economy we have created.
Jul 17, 2008 08:54 am True, however, the economy would be much easier to weather if people would have been saving all along...but noooooooo, people need to always outdo their neighbors, have bigger and better of everything, spend themselves into a hole then ***** at the gov't when things go bad and they are living paycheck to paycheck...damn fools.
There are ALWAYS ways to save for the average middle class workin folks like us...we just need to recognize it...don't make that stop at McDonalds...do your wallet and arteries a favor...don't buy that chocolate bar, put down the beer during the week...stop smoking...we are such a grossly excessive society.
Jul 17, 2008 07:47 pm well, there's saving, and then there's giving it back to the government...
My guess is that the tax interest is around 2% ...so whatever you let them keep is automatically a +3% loss. The target I heard was 7% inflation for this year...
But really, if he's in barracks for the next couple years he'll have his car, a large closet, and a locker. It's very hard to not save money in the military, unless you're into strippers and prostitutes...
I'm not against saving... just savings accounts :)
In this economy I am very against normal savings accounts. the interest is too little, I put what I want in my checking, will be getting a HSA (being tax free it's an automatic return of over 20% for us self employed folks), and the rest goes to the brokerage. But I focus on myself. Most of my money goes into production equipment.
Just bought the last major item (Crystal motor for an Arri 2B) and now everything goes to make a movie... above the line (cash that _has to be paid first) budget of about $20K... below the line (cash that is paid after movie sells) I think will be around $5mil
If I had a family, yeah, I wouldn't be sinking everything into movies. but it still wouldn't touch a savings account...and any tax refund is for sure not going to be sitting in congresses hands. :)
Jul 19, 2008 02:12 pm OK zek, thanx for that. But he was told his pay would be about $1200 a month. But this first deposit was only like $630, half of what he expected. So then they are taking out 50% in taxes????
And ya, speaking of saving dB, he asked me to get with you and set him up on some investment things. He won't let me do my usual thing with his money.
Jul 19, 2008 03:25 pm I don't know if this is still the case?
But it use to be that while in training, you only made a percentage of your pay grade.
Jul 19, 2008 05:53 pm Thanx Rob, I was wondering if that might be the case. I'm not sure he was ever even told. Or maybe he just didn't listen fully to what they were telling him.
Either way he is already into me for about $400 and I don't want to take it out of his first check. but I do have to pay his cell phone bill with some of it.
We set up his account so I can manage it from here and do direct transfers to my account to pay bills and such for him.
Plus as I stated above he wants to set aside a certain amount and have dB pick a couple stocks for him to invest in. Pretty cool I though that he even remembered dB talking about that kind of thing.
Maybe he paid more attention to stuff then I thought.
Jul 19, 2008 09:41 pm OK so Tuna went through the gas on Wed. not Monday. Either way I am now convinced that my kid thinks he is friggin Rambo or something. That or having his DI as his battle buddy is driving him to excel.
He went through on his first time with no mask with his DI. No puking or anything, and he stated in his letter it was Awesome. So he went through a second time. this time starting with the mask and such, same result. He didn't say anything about shaking off the crap or a bus ride, but I'll ask on Sunday when he calls.
But it looks like he is one of the few in his platoon who has gotten random mail from someone other then immediate family, so thanx again for that guys.
And the pictures are a big thing for him as there are others not getting any I guess, so I'm glad I've been sending just random pix of anything we've done.
But I'm worried, I think he is becoming more machine then man. :-)
Jul 20, 2008 09:07 pm First deposit should have a number of deductions on it. They should be listed in the deductions section of the 'LES' (Leave and Earnings Statement)
If I remember right you have to buy the uniforms...and then you're entitled to exchanges as they wear out. ...where officers always have to buy them...
Jul 20, 2008 09:35 pm Ya, after I posted I started thinking about that stuff. So I am guessing that is probably right. And I am assuming they get their deposit once a month?
He has already had 3 pairs of drawers swiped out of his laundry when washing along with a pair of his spandex. He is kinda pissed and thinks he knows who is doing it. One item at a time I guess. Along with a couple of his buddies they have been ripped off of a good deal of items. So they are planning a little party I guess when they catch the jerk.
I got to talk to him today and he was completely tweaked telling me about the gas. He stated it cleared his sinuses and that was about it. So that was why he decided to go it again. I guess there were a bunch that just puked within a couple of seconds going in. Lots of em crying as well. He said it was pretty much nothing. But I am guessing that since he is running with his DI he is simply convincing himself he is friggin Rambo and can take any punishment they can dish out.
He is still a bit out of shape, but is still kicking butt on some of the jock types who think they are all that a bowl of cherries.
He is looking forward to us getting there and family day so he can go out to either Ruby Tuesdays or some other place I have not heard of.
Sounds like ZZ Top was a no show at the base though, he was bummed about that.
Jul 20, 2008 11:07 pm pay is twice a month... I think 1st and 15th.
someone is stealing UNDERWEAR? I couldn't imaging anyone taking the risk of stealing stuff during Basic... but UNDERWEAR? Could you imagine how a DI would react to that? :)
...and they probably havn't had a serious 'health and welfare' inspection where they empty everything and see who's hiding stuff... they'll sometimes even take apart the beds looking for drugs and porn.
Jul 21, 2008 08:27 pm Ya, underwear and his spandex is what he said. Not suer that is something he would want to report though.
But thats what I thought as well. Who would risk doing that kind of stuff in basic? Gotta be a real twit to do that, but I guess it has been going on.
Thanx for the info though on the pay thing. That kind of clears things up a bit.
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