Declan Murphy wrote:

> 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.

Perhaps serving in Iwakuni, Akitsu, Etajima, or on one of the Hawaiian military bases
offer greater opportunities for more civilian aspects of life.