Eric Takabayashi wrote:
> Michael Cash wrote:

>>I was sort of drawn to the Navy to begin with, since I like the idea
>>of having my bunk and the chow hall never more than a short walk away.
>>But I also thought about what sort of conflict I thought would be most
>>likely in the (then) future, were there to be any during my
>>enlistment. My opinion on the matter was that on a ship was probably
>>as safe a place to be as any. What were US Naval losses in conflicts
>>like Korea and Vietnam, for example, compared with those of the ground
>>pounders? I liked the odds.
> 
> Hmm. You're right. But perhaps other men like greater opportunities for walking on
> grass, driving a car, or mingling with the opposite sex.

Quite a few members of my extended family, and many of my friends, are
soldiers, in the military of 3 different countries. I was only a
part-timer (a "chocolate soldier", and glad of it). Perhaps they should
also have joined the Navy (like my old man) because they don't get much
in the way of greater opportunities for walking on grass (as opposed to
"in" it), driving/riding in vehicles (even a mechanised army mostly
walks, runs, crawls & digs) and as for mingling with the opposite sex?
What? At least these days there are women on (some) ships. In an
infantry platoon? Carrying a GPMG? It just doesn't happen.


-- 
"Thank God I'm an atheist" - Luis Bunuel