I served in the 60’s, as a drill sgt. The intention basic of basic training was to take the ‘rainbows’ from being human to some thing that would blow you away in a heartbest, or quicker. Mind you, in 8 weeks we were able to train just enough to get them killed..When friends of mine came back from Nam with photos of the strings of ears they’d hung on their rucks, it was pretty obvious to me that the officers were either not doing their job….or that is the result they were after. (best look to the supervision as to the incidence of rape, eh?) In those days, at least some of us were drafted, anybody who thinks a Volunteer army is composed of the brightest and the best has their heads up and locked. Yeh….my born-again Christian Nephew is a Marine….and no matter how much I liked him when he was young…he is now a mess. As far as rape goes, prisons are supposidly the most controlled environment in existance….there are no women, but drugs and rape are part of the experience. Unfortunately, it seems that in some situations, rape is the recreation of choice…..which of course is a serious breakdown of our society and culture. As is War.

Veteran ‘66-68