Full Metal Jacket

[Macion Grey]

A friend who joined the army a while back, and is currently in Iraq, wanted to know my opinion on the war.

I was careful not to tell him any political views, but I expressed concern about the kind of person he was becoming. I won't go in to detail, but he is a twisted parody of himself now. Views life as a statistic, that sort of thing.



After a few conversations of this sort, he said I was ungrateful, and that he wants to 'end me'. As in, kill me for not supporting him. I know him well enough to know that he is capable of such a thing in his current state of mind. I was just being honest with him, but I guess that is not what a solider wants to hear.


Obviously, this is not the sort of person I want around my family, my wife is pregnant with our second child and we do not need this stress. He comes home April, and though he does not know my new address I am still concerned.

What to do?

 

[billbaker3]

Sounds like the guys a little twisted. I know plenty of people that went to war and didnt come out messed up. I do think though that everyone should support the troops even if you dont support the war, but thats just my .02

 

[Macion Grey]

I was trying to support him as a person, we have been friends for a long time and I was worried.


He is a different person now though. I supported him through East Timor, and through his deployment in Iraq. I was just worried about him and told him, and now he wants to kill me.

 

[souldog]

I was trying to support him as a person, we have been friends for a long time and I was worried.


He is a different person now though. I supported him through East Timor, and through his deployment in Iraq. I was just worried about him and told him, and now he wants to kill me.

Wow...that is a really unique set of circumstances Macion... Take precautions, to be sure. How long have you known this guy? Do they have restraining orders in AU? Such as, he is restrained from contacting you/harassing you, and if he does, it is considered a criminal violation prosecutable by prison time.

If you have known him a long time, I am assuming it's gotten to the point where it's no longer an option to "talk" to him, or else you wouldn't have posted this. This is very unique indeed. Let your wife know to a degree, not so much to worry her, but rather to keep her head on a swivel. You're ahead in the game by 1 because he doesn't know your current address.

Sounds like your buddy needs to get some psychological assistance.

 

[Macion Grey]

I might need to take out a restraining order. I wonder if the situation will change when he gets debriefed?

Do they do that still? Turn down the aggression and integrate the soldier back into society (at least until the next deployment)?



I will agree, it is strange. It worries me how much some individuals get effected by the Armed Forces conditioning. He has known me for years, and I would never have thought this possible.

 

[TMarquis]

A couple of precautions you can take, make sure your current phone number doesn't have any ties to your current address, talk to your phone company, they can help you with this. If you're using the same vehicle since he has been around you, at least in the United States, you can contact the DMV and have your plates changed for security reasons, I'm sure AU has something along those lines as well. You can contact your credit card company and have new cards issued, and request that ANYBODY making requests for your information is considered a hostile threat, and you want NO information given because of security issues. There is quite a bit more you can do, but rarely will a normal grunt dig deaper than that to find somebody, but I would definately contact the local authorities and let them know of your fear.

On top of the above, and much else you can do, make sure your head is on a swivel, you are CONSTANTLY aware of your surroundings, teaching yourself to take in alot of information in several brief glances. Don't stand at your car door fumbling for keys, have them ready, don't focus on one specific area, constantly keep your eyes moving about you, especially taking in every face that's eyes are pointed in your direction. Just make a small mental note of people you see watching you/your family, if you recognize a face, an alarm should sound, same goes for specific cars.

Anyway, those are very basic things to do, just to add a little safety to you and your family.

It may be that he wasn't serious, but when anybody states something along those lines, especially somebody that isn't mentally stable in the first place, I would take it extremely serious. I have a permit to carry a firearm, am always armed with either my .45 or .40 and pepper spray, have quite a few years of training in firearms and high risk security, and I still do all of the above to assure my wifes and my safety. I don't think it's legal for you to carry a firearm in AU, but being very aware of your surroundings can save your life, just something to keep in mind.

Do contact the local authorities though, and if they say they can't do anything about it, you might want to speak with a lawyer.

 

[anvil]

My older brother was in East timor and he got a bit f..up with it to bro.
As far as killin ya goes mate.
No offence to any Aussie reading this but...Most Aussies I have met in the time I have lived here are full of shit when it comes down to the nitty gritty.
Mate I wouldn't worry yourself with it.

You could always send me up a Plane ticket and I could stay with ya for a while..

But then, hey whats worse, a dick that wants to kill ya or an Anvil cleaning out you Humi,Fridge and Bar..... :whistling:

It will pan out bro.

 

[TMarquis]

It worries me how much some individuals get effected by the Armed Forces conditioning.

You'd be surprised how many people it affects, even those that don't go through the extreme side of it. I'm a history fanatic, and there are interesting statistics that go along with that, but a story for another time, heh.

 

[BigJake6904]

I second what souldog mentioned. The plates, the phone #s, and the whole bit.

A friend or not, no one can be too cautious these days. Definatley tell law enforcement, maybe even if you can identify the vehicle and plates he will have for them to look out for. If you talked to him, he has your phone #, change it. Make sure you don't have your address or anything related to your personal information posted online, that would include here and other hobbies in case he knows what your into for hobbies.

How far did you move? If it wasn't far, I would consider taking more extremes than if you crossed state lines.

Im not sure about Carrying concealed in your area, but I would definitely look into self defense, at least to keep in your home.

I wouldn't lose sleep over this if I were you, just so long as you take necessary precautions.

 

[Infinity]

My older brother was in East timor and he got a bit f..up with it to bro.
As far as killin ya goes mate.
No offence to any Aussie reading this but...Most Aussies I have met in the time I have lived here are full of shit when it comes down to the nitty gritty.
Mate I wouldn't worry yourself with it.

You could always send me up a Plane ticket and I could stay with ya for a while..

But then, hey whats worse, a dick that wants to kill ya or an Anvil cleaning out you Humi,Fridge and Bar..... :whistling:

It will pan out bro.

Well said Dave.

There are a lot of kids getting mentally wrecked in Iraq but they are not going to come home and kill people.

Speak/write to the guy, say nothing of past communication, just, I think of you often, miss you, be safe...
In the mean time, just relax, be positive.

Brian

 

[Macion Grey]

Thankyou all for your advice.

I will take some precautions just to be safe, for my families sake. I would hate to underestimate him, because I know what he was capable of BEFORE he joined the army.



I just hope I never see him again. He has a lot of friends and family that can support him through his episode, so he won't miss me. Not the sort of person you want around young kids...

 

[5 O'Clock Somewhere]

Thankyou all for your advice.

I will take some precautions just to be safe, for my families sake. I would hate to underestimate him, because I know what he was capable of BEFORE he joined the army.



I just hope I never see him again. He has a lot of friends and family that can support him through his episode, so he won't miss me. Not the sort of person you want around young kids...

I think if you take this as seriously as possible and take every possible precaution you'll be fine. Chances are, he's not going to try to do anything, but if you're smart about it, then it won't matter if he tries because he'll fail. If the bastard comes near your family you'll have a few planes full of CPers ready to bust a cap down under!

Seriously though, that's scary. I can't imagine what it must feel like, but I believe you and your family will be just fine.