Carol Grice wrote:

Greetings from Mrs. “Don’t give me that sob story” about so called abuse.

To answer your question it is a huge NO. Notice in capital letters. I believe if you have the will to succeed, time in the military makes you a stronger person. Not weaker.

As for abuse you don’t have a clue what abuse is until you have spent 1066 days as a student nurse during the 50’s. Our class was more picked on as the previous class had 6 students fail state board examinations. There was zero mercy for the class of 53. Either toe the mark, follow the rules and discipline or you were history. To top that off, we did not receive a salary. We paid them for the abuse. A starting class of 42 ended with only 21 of us still standing.

 

However I had already learned to be tough. When I was 10 years old, my father purchased a large Dairy farm. My tail was out of bed at 0430 so I and my brother 2 years younger could milk 100 cows before going to school and repeat the process after school.

We had a contract to sell Grade A milk to the Army Air Base in Lincoln, NE so we also had to maintain a spotless facility for the Army inspectors that would arrive without any warning. As for summer vacation that added muscles to my small body of 5 ft. 4, because I spent the summers bailing hay and stacking it in the hayloft, detasseling corn, walking the cornfields to pull cockleburs and any other job my father could think of to make sure we stayed busy. This was during World War II and there was not hired help available as everyone was off to fight the war. My favorite lesson of learning to cope with difficult and adverse situations was one day while standing behind a cow who had her tail in the air, she coughed. I was covered with cow shit from head to toe. My brother was down on the barn floor, rolling around with laughter. My father came out of the milk house (where we stored the milk till pickup) wondering what those darn kids were up to now. After he nearly choked to keep from laughing out loud I was marched to the shower at the end of the barn, given clean clothes and informed I needed to get back to work. You see if you don’t get the milking machines on high producers on time they leak the milk on the floor.

No mercy for Ms. Covered with Cow Shit. Tell me there’s a drill Sgt. out there that can top that one.

 

After I passed my state board exams I applied for the Navy Nurse Corps and received a direct Presidential appointment to the rank of Ensign. Although we were not required to go through boot camp such as enlisted I likely could have gotten through it standing on my head. I was tough and no one was going to get in my way of attaining my goals. We did attend a 6 week course of Indoctrination at Naval Hospital Long Island, NY. Mind you I still likely had hayseeds in my hair. I had never seen such tall building in my life and was indeed stunned when we were taken to see an Air Craft Carrier. I loved the Navy from the start and was indeed more than proud to be wearing the uniform of our country, including being in uniform during Vietnam. I thought the anti-Vietnam people were a bunch of jerks. I loved all my duty stations even including Sasebo, Japan and Barstow, California. My first duty station was Portsmouth, VA. The recruiting officer informed me he was sorry I got picked for that station. He commented that if the world needed an enema that was where they would insert the rectal tube. I found that to not be truthful.

The men out numbered the women 35 to 1. I considered that pretty good odds.

 

Following retirement nearly all nursing positions I was hired for (usually as a Supervisor) was attained because the bottom of my resume said Carol A. Grice. LCdr. NC USN Ret.

I was often informed I had been selected because they knew I could make a decision and be willing to stand behind my decision. I constantly had a mindset to excel in any and all things that came my way.

 

So in my mind, you should be proud of yourself as you attempt to recognize how valuable your past is and you must never let go. Now is the time to forge ahead and get past the blame game or blame factor. Refuse to fail. Not for our benefit but for those that can benefit from our past, present and future actions.

 

Let’s get to work. Count on me and others that are ready to promise a prosperous future for youth.

 

  :() Hello Carol-Dont-Give-Me-That-Sob-Story!! lol

Thanks for your reply! Yeah your one (Tuff Cookie alright!), I tried my hand at (farming), :( didnt like it at all, in fact, I cried for my parent to let me come home from vacation early! smile.

I think your (dad & drill instructors), were 'cut' from the same tree of life. They believed in (hard work) and never failing. :) But then again, family 'morals' were totally different back in the 30's and 40's. Respect was the code you lived and died by, and your 'Word' was everything.

:( But Carol, maybe Im not communicating properly when trying to get my message across, but 'today's Government?'. How can we 'protect our kids', when the 'community no longer wants to get involved'?.

I mean back in the day, it was the (People) who protested and monitored what was allowable on TV. Now days, you have 5 year olds to adults-[hooked] on playing video games involving mass destruction, murder, rape, killing, robbing, etc. And then to add (further insult to our very 'beliefs'), the government now says; " you cant discipline your children!".

In our day, we grew up respecting ourselves, and everyone else. A kid got his butt beat if they were -out of line or disrespectful, but now you hear little kids (disrespecting their parents, and are quick to tell their parents; " if you hit me, I'll tell my teacher or call the police?). Hmmm!! Just think Carol, if only that law was around when you had to get up at 4:30a.m.! I betcha your life could have been drastically different.

Our 'School District's' now days are 'quickly' to send a child home, for 'acting out', then to keep him on campus and in a study/work program.

:) Respect has to be taught, and that includes; spankings, etc.. So how do we teach them now, take away their x-box? What fear can 'we' put into our kids, that that kid no is a 'bluff?'. Trust me, i was in court with alot of 'Parent's who, thought there 'defenses' of; " I disciplined my children according to how I was raised", or " The bible said-Spare the rod and spoil the child", and in every case, the parent lost in court.

So you see Carol, its almost out of the parent's hands on 'how to and not to' discipline a child to teach them the 'values' we were taught growing up.

In our day, hard work was expected from the family. But times were much different back then, we're living in a society where kids are so far more 'advanced' then we ever were. Their exposed to everything 'sinful and illegal' on TV, in Video Games, Cartoons, to where (whats not exceptable anymore?).

The 'Constitution' has been 'Destroyed' by the very people it was designed to help.  

:( I knew once I logged on, I was gonna get involved in a conversation that will have me (thinking) the rest of the night! And I still have to finish this appeal! smile.

:) But I really enjoy your 'replys' Carol-Dont-Give-Me-That-Sob-Story!

I 'Appreciate' You a bunch! :)

Darryl