Veterans

Short, ugly, chinless bastard. Looked like he should have been working a basement desk in 'Office Space'. Utterly charmless.

He had the air of someone who had been called a loser his whole life, and was determined to prove everyone wrong. He made E-7 at a relatively young age, and was ticking off all the boxes on the climb to Sergeant Major; staff NCO, training NCO, drill sergeant, etc. His accomplishments didn't soften his abrasive edges, or give him insight into the thoughts and emotions of other people.

He tried, without much success, to affect an air of 'magnanimous superior bestowing largesse on his subordinates'. But he was too touchy, and hypervigilant to possible insults or derision to ever be truly genial.

I remember he offered me something once; I can't remember; a soda, piece of gum or candy, something like that. I didn't want it and responded with a polite "No, thank you." He just about came unglued, calling me rude and thoughtless, and suggesting I learn the particulars of getting along with people. I remember thinking how emotionally immature that made him seem. If you offer someone a choice, you do not have the right to be offended if they make the choice you didn't want them to.

Six months working for that hammerhead. Then he rotated back to the States. I only saw him once more. After Germany, I was re-assigned to a tank company on Fort Knox, and was re-visiting my old training grounds on a day off once, when I saw him, in the Smokey Bear hat of a drill sergeant, Jody-calling a marching platoon of tanker trainees.

He saw me, but I don't know if he recognized me.

I've never forgotten that asshole, even though I've tried pretty hard to.