Posted on 03/07/2007 2:44:51 PM PST by Racehorse
The Keys are living in a van because of Joshua Key's opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. While many opponents of the Iraq war base their opposition on media reports, Key's opinion is based on what he witnessed when he fought for eight months in Iraq's Sunni Triangle.
Key never thought he'd end up in Iraq in the first place. When he first enlisted, he signed up to be a bridge builder in a non-deployable unit. Despite this, the army trained him in explosives and landmines, and sent him to Iraq in April of 2003.
Key describes himself as a patriotic citizen who grew up learning "all-American values." Raised by his grandparents in a small town in Oklahoma, Key became a welder and was earning $7.25 an hour before he joined the army. With a rapidly growing family, he desperately needed a better job to make ends meet. After a visit to the local military recruiting office and then a score of 50 percent on an aptitude test, Key was told he could pick between three different jobs.
"I decided on a bridge builder in a non-deployable unit," he explains with a slight southern drawl. "This was my incentive to join the Army. I wanted to be close to my family. Other guys were offered money incentives."
. . .
During basic training in May 2002, Key learned that his legally binding contract could be changed by the military at any time. "In the first few days of basic training, you learn that you are just a number and to keep your mouth shut unless spoken to. We were told that we were going to learn how to be the worst damn killers in the battlefield. I was already thinking: what the hell are you talking about?"
(Excerpt) Read more at thetyee.ca ...
Right there's your first clue - I never thought.
Hmmmm. Let me quess. His recruiter lied to him.
China might set him up a homestead on the YELLOW river.
Why do we accept the ones with no sense?
who knew there were "non-deployable units"? what's it comprised of ,all pregnant females?
I wonder what he thinks the purpose of an Army is?
A Jon Kerry moment brought to you by the anti-american Patriotic Party of the US.
This knothead seems to forgotten the purpose of the Army. Would he join the fire department as long as he didn't have to put out a fire? Or how about working in a bank as long as he doesn't have to count money? How about a mailman as long as he didn't have to touch mail?
a score of 50 percent on an aptitude test
Eh? What's that? He's got half an aptitude?
I 'spose that explains his attitude.
Run you deserter prick - run as far as you can.
I guess this guy had never heard of transfers.
Shoot him.
Reality comes crashing in like a tidal wave.
A friend of mine recently graduated from Basic and just started his AIT for Chemical Ops. I asked him what he thought he'd be doing after AIT and he replied, "Driving trucks in Iraq."
Me: "I thought you were going to be a Chemical Ops. guy.
Him: "I am."
Me: "So why the hell do you think that the Army's going to send you to the sandbox to drive truck?"
Him: "'cause they need truck drivers who can shoot a lot more than they need Chem Ops guys right now."
Me: "That sucks, man."
Him: "Yeah, welcome to the Army."
Doncha think that if he wanted to build bridges, it might have occurred to him that he just might have to be deployed first?
I`ve never heard that term "non-deployable" either,bull feathers.
I was at Ft.Bragg in `70 with an unit that fired coal
furnaces all over the base.In the summer we mowed grass.
Our records were kept in a seperate file.
Kinda shocked to find myself later in The Nam.
Hope they hang the little ****ard with a DD
As much as he seems to be playing the game where the "The Army screwed me for no good reason", all that comes through is that he is too stupid to be able to make a realistic decision. If his main concern was actually for his family's well being, he wouldn't have stuck them in a van and went on the run. What kind of future is that for a kid?
His real issue is that he is a big, stupid, self-centered deserter and he is too much of a coward to face up to it.
The familiar old BS of "I didn't have any other options, so I entered the Army and was exploited".
Here's his picture. He obviously isn't going hungry. I do feel sorry for the kids. They don't deserve a disgraceful, loser dad like that. BTW, what the heck is with his hat?
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