Is it weird for a soldier who returned from the Mid East 3 wks ago to

[Viva_La_Revolution]

be wearing his fatigues in the local pub?

I'm asking because as I was sitting at Georges drowning my day in a stiff one, a soldier came in... drank a beer, played some tunes on the jukebox, ate a burger...

during conversation we learned he had just gotten back a few weeks ago. He joined in the conversation a little, but mostly sat there quiet.

Was he still wearing greens because civies don't feel comfortable anymore? Was he wearing them for the free beers he got bought for him as soon as he sat down? (hey, don't flame me... just asking!)

I wasn't about to ask him myself... I didn't even have the courage to ask him where he had served. He had a haunted look in his eyes that was even more apparent after he'd had a few beers.

He did have great taste in tunes. :)

[uppityperson]

1. Talk with him and find out.

Edited to add, ask him where he served, how long he's been out, what music he likes. Find out something about him as a person. It's good to connect with people and you find out things about them by doing so.
peace

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I would have....

but he looked a little too interested in me, and I'm dealing with some painful baggage at the moment, if you know what I mean.

I didn't want him to feel like he would be getting somewhere.

[uppityperson]

12. I can see your point.

Edited my message as you posted this one so they make a bit of oddness together. Anyway, I know what you mean, hard to have a "hi, how are you doing, where'd you serve, how long you been out" sort of thing stay just light and not meaning anything further, sometimes. peace

[JohnLocke]

2. I've heard they're very comfortable.

[Horse with no Name]

3. Sounds a little Timothy McVeigh-ish to me

My brother is a Marine and he says he doesn't understand why people want to buy him camo T-shirts and Teddy Bears and blankets.
Says he gets enough of the real thing. He's served 2 tours in Iraq.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Sounds kind of peculiar to me

I was in the Army for six years and unless you were going either to or from work (meaning you could stop and eat at a restaurant) you weren't supposed to be in your BDU's in public off post.

Usually the short hair in shape build are a better giveaway!

But I guess I'd give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

[niyad]

5. maybe those are his only clothes? his luggage got lost, perhaps?

[Horse with no Name]

17. Their luggage comes in a foot locker

delivered to the front door Priority Mail.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. My first thought was it was for the free beers

and my other first thought (Yes, I had two at once) was that his mind is overloaded and he's having an awful, shit-rotten time adjusting to life.

[smurfygirl]

8. none of my family wears fatigues when off duty

I hardly ever see them wearing them.

I don't know though, more power to him if he likes wearing them.

[kikiek]

9. Still identifies himself as a soldier I suppose. I hope he is ok.

[stillcool]

10. its an identity thing...

..very reminiscent of my youth. They give so much and become so entrenched in their survival in that way of life...melding back into civil society often takes quite a while.

[spuddonna]

11. It may be a cry for help...

or it may be a warning...

I wonder if he's looking for someone who's 'been there' to connect to... so he's advertising that he's served.

Or he could be a bomb ready to explode and this is his way of saying "Step Off, Leave Me Be"...

But then again, I'm not a psychologist. I'm just thinking off the top of my head...

[Catherine Vincent]

13. I think he wanted the free beers.

I'd do it too!:)

[niyad]

14. if he is taking advantage of free beers and whatever else is being offered

in the way of some small compensation for what they had to go through over there, I say "more power to him"-- I hope he collects on everything.

[tblue37]

15. A friend of mine who served in Gulf War I and also

just came back last December from a year in Iraq. After GWI, he always wore his fatigues to bars because it got him free drinks and got him laid--sometimes he would hook up with three different women at different times in a single night.

After this last time in Iraq, he isn't using his fatigues to attract women in bars. Besides being married now, with a little boy, he also has PTSD so bad that he is a basket case.

[niyad]

18. I hope your friend is getting some help. I know that we have some

excellent work going on here with the local chapters of IVAW and vets4vets--including sweat lodges, holistic healing, etc. my thoughts and prayers are with your friend and his family.

let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

[Tace]

16. Nobody's Mentioned This Yet -- But He's Still In -- Was He Armed?

Nothing to see here... move along.

Won't be the least bit surprised if this becomes a normal part of everyone's experience.