1987, What Were You Doing

[roger]

Now I remember what I was doing in 1987. I was celebrating the third anniversary of discovering that George Orwell was wrong!

Roger

[postscript]

roger said:

Oksy, that's no excuse!

Come to think of it, I don't even know what I'm doing now!

Roger

Some of us had noticed, Roger, but we just kept quiet about it! :je After all, a willing horse who does should rarely be criticised and if everything went smoothly it would be an awful bore. :2fun: Come to think of it, I can't recall anything that has actually gone wrong, so you must be doing something right, even if you don't know how you manage it!
Peter S.

[Russ]

I was busy being 10 years old, doing the typical stuff: school, homework, chores, spreading mayhem throughout my neighborhood, climbing trees, running around like a lunatic hollering at the top of my lungs, teasing my little sister, using my little brother as a punching bag...typical kid stuff! The memory that stands out from 1987 is when the US Naval officers came to my house, and then seeing my mother cry. They told her that my father may have been killed in action during a still classified mission (he's a former US Navy S.E.A.L.). Turns out he and his unit were ambushed, but managed to get himself and his men to safety and were rescued without losing a soul, and over 200 enemy personnel dead or wounded between the nine of them in the unit. Those nine earned my respect as some of the toughest SOBs in the world!




Russ

[grant]

That is just amazing Russ. Thanks for sharing what must have been a very traumatic time for you and your Mum

Grant

[postscript]

Fascinating story, Russ. To be wrapped up in something like that must have been a great exhiliration, once the relief that all in the end was well. Must be the source of much deep thinking and reflection over the subsequent years.

Peter S.

[stevemacdonald]

russcj7 said:

... They told her that my father may have been killed in action during a still classified mission (he's a former US Navy S.E.A.L.). Turns out he and his unit were ambushed, but managed to get himself and his men to safety and were rescued without losing a soul, and over 200 enemy personnel dead or wounded between the nine of them in the unit....

Wow! I can't imagine what the US was doing covertly overseas in 1987 that resulted in killing 200 people. Why would they be considered the enemy? Oh, never mind... I forgot — we're the policeman to the world.

[kmsmith8]

I just got moved up to a suburb of Chicago and have been catching up with the board. All of the happenings of 1987 have been interesting. I can't specifically remember what I was doing in 1987, but I would suspect that it has something to do with me toddling around as a 3 year old.

Katie

[Russ]

Yeah, it was scary, but I remember the feeling of relief seeing my father at the AF base! It has a really tough two weeks after we got the news for all of us, and my mom deserved a metal of honor for all she did to keep us together during the crisis. She had a lot on her plate between my little sister screaming "they killed my daddy!!!" and my baby brother crying because my sister was, and me being the devil incarnate. She's probably tougher than my old man!

Steve, my bet is on Somalia. From what tidbits I have gathered, his unit was on recon and got attacked by rebels. The observees quickly became the enemy when they shot at them I suppose. I often don't agree where are troops are being deployed to and their purpose there, but I will ALWAYS support our troops!! The are being ordered to go and perform a job that may result in permanent injury or death, and I salute every one of them that has done so or died trying!!




Russ

[toronado]

That's tough Russ, my father was a Marine in Somalia and the first Gulf War. I remember spending many sleepless nights wondering if he was ever going to come home. In 1987, I think I was dreading the arrival of my new baby sister and watching a lot of Transformers and Thundercats.

[Russ]

toronado said:

That's tough Russ, my father was a Marine in Somalia and the first Gulf War. I remember spending many sleepless nights wondering if he was ever going to come home. In 1987, I think I was dreading the arrival of my new baby sister and watching a lot of Transformers and Thundercats.

Transformers & Thundercats rule!!! I had a ton of Transformers as a kid, and if I still had them, I'd be playing with them right now!! I also played with and watched GI Joe. That was by far my favorite. Man, those were the days! Sometimes I wonder if I've really grown up all the way....sometimes I wish I could have stayed a kid forever!