Summer camp, 1944 - dunno what it was about but I wanted to kill the kid in my 11-year-old rage.
Lots of near misses - my Guardian Angel worked overtime.
1) 1950s Navy. My shipmate was a short torpedoman 3rd class. Every bar we hit, didn't matter where, had sailors in it. Next thing, he's calling 'em "Surface Skimmers" (like "Jarhead" to a Marine) - we were submariners. Things go downhill from there and the next I hear is "Me and my shipmate will beat the crap out of all of you." I do my Tonto whaddaya-mean-we routine and drag his butt out of there with the lame excuse "he's drunk".
2) Lived in NYC then and 18 was the legal drinking age. On leave, I'd hit the local bat at 5 p.m. and shut it down at 2 a.m. Called some guy a fag and he threatened to cut me. The others said he had done it before. Went back the next few nights but he was a no-show.
3) NCO club 1980s San Diego. Civilian programmer now working for the Marine Corps. Went down there to install some programs in their PX system and was invited over for a beer. One Sgt., glass in hand, forearm across the bar, GLARING at one and all - you could tell he was looking for a fight. We locked eyes and I gave him the 1,000-yard-stare and nothing came of it. I begged off any future invites.
What did you learn?
Not a thing - until I grew up (when I got married at 27). After that it was, as others have said:
1) The three stupids rule.
2) Don't go drinking with short buddies, stupid or otherwise.
3) Better yet, stay away from bars.
4) Situational Awareness.
Lately though, at age 82 and after viewing politics, I'm starting to sympathize with this guy :-) : 