Returning from war, soldiers splurge

[deadparrot]

FORT RILEY, KAN. – Capt. Bryan Cecrle acknowledges his paranoia with a smile. Yes, he still parks his new Dodge Charger at the far end of any parking lot, just to keep its spotless, cherry-red finish away from swinging doors and rogue shopping carts.

Then again, he reasons, after spending a year in the dust and sweat of Iraq, he has earned every one of his Charger's 425 horsepower, and the least he can do is keep his present to himself looking pretty.

Around Fort Riley, the low thrum of its engine is enough to turn heads - "It goes faster than it looks," says Captain Cecrle. But in truth, many of the soldiers have new toys of their own.

Here and nationwide, troops are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with a fistful of cash from hazard pay, reenlistment bonuses, and a simple lack of things to buy on the fortress-bases in Mesopotamia. Now, many of them aren't hesitating to spend.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0418/p01s04-usmi.html

[ret5hd]

1. does anyone find it the least bit ironic...

that he gets sent to a war for oil...then, when he returns he buys a 425 hp gas guzzler?

[Demobrat]

2. Well if anyone has earned it

it's him.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

19. If you ask me, people who protested against the war deserve it more

As long as it runs on ethanol instead, of course.

[Solly Mack]

3. They sure do. Not even a day after one group returned here

and they were all at the PX buying Plasma TV's, home theatre systems, new stereo systems and cars.

I watched smiling - they were happy to be home and happy to be alive.

Course, I also thought they should be saving/investing...but I couldn't really blame them.

"When I get home" is a game soldiers play. They promise themselves some future reward for living.

Hard to fuss about investing and saving for the future when the future may not come.

[AwakeAtLast]

6. My husband says that every time I talk to him,

"When I get home...." <sigh> Can't wait for that to be, "Now that I'm home...." ;)

[Solly Mack]

15. How much longer, WakeMeUp?

When mine got home it was the best feeling. I could breathe again.

((((WakeMeUp & Mr. WakeMeUp))) you'll both be in my thoughts.

[AwakeAtLast]

17. Thanks for the hugs!

We hope he will be out in six weeks, home in eight.

I'm counting the days, that's for sure. :hi:

[Big_Mike]

11. Very common, in fact.

When I came back from Desert Storm, I had promised myself a new Harley. So had three of my squad members. They all got the wheels. My wife got pregnant instead (another bennie of coming home). So now I've got a 14 year old. Up until she became a teenager, I was very happy with the results. Now until she turns 20 or so, I'm not so certain...

[Solly Mack]

16. lol! The teen years are like sitting in the passenger seat of a car

with a spanking new driver. You really want to grab the wheel or slam on the brakes. The new driver's just happy to be at the wheel finally and how they get to where they're going is more important to the passenger. The passenger wants to make it in one piece - the new driver wants to get there as fast as possible.

Enjoy the ride. :)

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. There was an article in the Charlotte Observer last month about this

A lot of Marines returning from overseas are killing themselves on high-powered motorcycles and cars they've bought after returning home. I guess it's a normal thing to do - celebrate by buying fast wheels.

Sad to make it thru a war zone and die on your own turf later.

[MadMaddie]

7. I have read those reports too....they are trying to get the

andrenaline rush....tempting fate....

[MadMaddie]

8. I have read those reports too....they are trying to get the

andrenaline rush....tempting fate....

[davepc]

14. Same thing happened to WWII veterans

the original motorcycle "gangs" were groups of returned veterans who bought Harley's with their saved up money.

The leather biker jacket is a decedent from the world war ii bomber crew flight jacket.

[brmdp3123]

5. Does this surprise you?

[Thor_MN]

9. So THAT'S where the economy is booming...

I was thinking that the "happy news" reports were all wet, but I guess someone is propping up *'s disater of an economy.

[LynnTheDem]

10. It's a classic symptom of PTSD.

And then troops get so deeply into debt -and no out via bankruptcy, thanks to bush- they kill themselves. And sometimes their families, first.

[AlCzervik]

12. The need for the adrenalin rush maybe?

[SoCalDem]

13. Soldiers ALL do this.

It's a natural reaction to deprivation and the release from fear..
Let them enjoy their toys.. They earned them :)

[lindisfarne]

18. Seems like the military might offer a "Planning for your future" seminar

which discusses issues of saving for a rainy day, for retirement, for your children's college education, for a house, all as ways of keeping ones options open so staying in (or for their children, going into) the military won't seem like the only option available.

Of course, this wouldn't be in the military's "best interests" - cannon fodder for promoting corporate interests might become scarce.