tattoo aftercare - tattoo goo or aquaphor?

It almost seems as though there are more people with tattoos than those without. Being in the military you can see some alarmingly stupid tattoos. For every defining experience tattoo like Bruce's you have the barbed wire around the arm, the tribal band on people who are so white David Duke would blush. The mishmash Kanji seems to be a popular one as well. I've seen cartoon characters, more "death before dishonors" than I care to count, and a lot of dog tags on the side of the ribs.

My favorite was when we were in Okinawa back in the late 90's and a Marine got drunk and decided he wanted our unit coin etched on his back. So he took a lighter to a coin and got it flaming hot and then had someone drop it on his back. Of course it slid down his back melting the flesh and making a disgusting smell in the room. After it healed it was about 4X3 of pinking oozy mass on his right shoulder blade and back area. It looked like the Ham slice that you got out of MRE's. So that that Marine earned himself a new nickname: Hamslice.

 

There's a lesson in there somewhere, I'm sure of it.

When we were out in the field and done training for the day we would make all sorts of gross bets with each other. Drink chew spit for $20 or pick a fight with an NCO from another platoon and of course lick the hamslice.

Whew memories-I'll skip lunch today.

 

My dad used to joke that half the people in the stockade had "Death Before Dishonor" tattoos.

That's awesome.

When I was in AIT, we got weekend passes if we didn't screw-up during the week. I figured out pretty quickly that it was a lot cheaper & safer to stay on post and get drunk, but some people insisted on venturing out. One kid from New York City came into the squad bay, roaring drunk, around 3am, turned the lights on, and loudly announced he got a a tattoo. He ripped the gauze pad off his shoulder, looked at the bloody mess, puked, and passed out. We dragged him into the shower, cleaned him off, and put him in his bunk.

The next morning, he discovered he got a tattoo of the Thrush Muffler woodpecker;



His comment....."What the f*** is this?????"

 

And these are the kids that protect our country!?

I joke, I'm proud to serve in the military with people like this. Keeps it interesting and makes me feel not only somewhat normal but actually kind of smart.

 

Some of the best soldiers I ever served with, I wouldn't trust to cross the street on their own at rush hour.

 

You know that really bares repeating. I served with some of the most ignorant (an overly racist white dude from Kentucky) and dare I say dumb people in my time in the infantry in the Marine Corps. But when the SHTF some of them performed miracles with their bodies and such acts of bravery that I tear up when I think of them.

We always used to joke that when the war started all the real nice guys in the platoon would die first and that we should all stay close to the assholes to ensure our safety. One of the first casualties on the run up to Bagdhad was a Cpl named Mark Evnin. He was a good kid. Later on you find out that everyone can get it in combat, but that first one is the shocker.

I still serve with some complete dumbasses. I'm sure there are people out there who think I am an idiot too....don't answer that one Abner . But again, not everyone in the military is smart or even that much of a good person. But sometimes they surprise the hell out of you.

 

Dovetailing your personal observation Cory:

Second Lieutenant James V. McDaniel … we went through The Basic School together at Quantico, VA; not the brightest by a long shot … and James could be a genuine horse’s behind, yet …

Valor awards for James V. McDaniel | Military Times Hall of Valor

Semper fi James ... wherever you are!

 

Dumb, smart, whatever. I sincerely appreciate the service of all of you. Thanks for keeping us safe.

 

I must have come out really great!!! So simple ...so awesome!!