So what should I do with my friend Brett when he gets back to the world? (Shameless vanity)

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[RKV]

So my friend 1st Lt. Brett is coming back from Iraq after a tour with the {OPSEC] Division. What do we do and where do we take him in So. Cal. to let him know how happy we are that he's back in the world and safe. And that we appreciate his time in the sandbox. It's got to be legal and fun.

[RKV]

Screaming Eagles!

[Hoosier-Daddy]

Disneyland? Magic Mountain? TJ? Big Bear?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Buy him a Beer at the Uva Bar in Downtown Disney and let him people watch to see all the faces from all the places that he has defended. Then shake his hand for me.

INBN

[PAR35]

I’d suggest a candid talk before considering Disneyland. He might not appreciate the evening fireworks show at this point in his life.

[AmericanMade1776]

Get him the best recliner, Big Screen TV , with remote control, and a fridge of beer , and chips and dip. Let him hang out at home for a week...relaxing. Then take him on a great deep sea fishing trip.

[RKV]

Will do on the cerveza part.

[RKV]

Awesome!

[TornadoAlley3]

Las Vegas Baby!

[maine-iac7]

Lotsa BB'Q's and other good American food - especially food he can get his teeth into!

And time to just chill - lot's of time to do NOTHING

[Larry Lucido]

Get him laid?

Or is someone already taking care of that?

[RKV]

I'm thinking here.

[RKV]

Not my department. BUT, he’s a stud, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

[marinamuffy]

Tell him I said “THANK YOU!!” - and have fun with whatever you decide on doing!

[AmericanMade1776]

One should always relax before a vacation. :=)

[littlehouse36]

No can do — but this Georgia girl sends him a big kiss on the cheek (married, but love to flirt with men in uniform...)

[RKV]

My thoughts exactly.

[Squantos]

Tell him to Ping me when he’s driving thru the Panhandle of Texas next time and Steak Dinner for him and his family at the Big Texan is on an old retired EOD tech that is grateful for him taking his turn in the barrel !

Stay safe !

[Richard Kimball]

Tell him that overtime pass against the Giants was the stupidest...

Oh, sorry, wrong Brett.

Give him some time to decompress. No big crowds if possible. The beach and quiet fun. If he was in a combat area, places with bangs and loud noises will bug the heck out of him. There's a culture shock when you go overseas, but you're dealing with that along with a bunch of other people. When you get back, there's another culture shock. You'll see him just staring sometimes. He's reorienting.

[RKV]

He's the kid on the left.

[Lakeshark]

First, get as many friends and family together and have a welcome home party. Just let him know he is appreciated by us all for his service. After that, ask him what he wants to do to re-set his sights on the future and what things he would like to do, places to go, or people to see.

[RKV]

Take that back. He’s the MAN on the left.

[MindBender26]

Get him l**d.

(2 tours in RVN experience speaking)

[RKV]

Great idea! We have a cabin in Big Bear! Yep. He’s gonna have to find a snow bunny, but yeah, we got the keys!

[MindBender26]

>>>Steak Dinner for him and his family at the Big Texan!

My man!

I lived in Amarillo for a time. !

[RKV]

Take a peek at the photo. He can handle that part. Heh.

[samadams2000]

Buy him a great knive he will have his entire life and thank him for all of us.

[Squantos]

Great little truck stop........:o)

[RKV]

We’ll do the Scots tradition where he’ll have to buy it for a penny. Scots only give you a knife for one reason (and it ain’t a good one). On the other hand they’ll sell you one cheap if they like you.

[Squantos]

BTW yer ummmm not Dan True are ya ?:o).......LOL !!

[flowerplough]

Take him by the Marine Recruiters’ office in Berkeley, let him chat with the Code Pink surrenderists.

[svcw]

First thing take him to dinner at Lucille's BBQ. Weather had been great go to the beach (Santa Barbara if possible). And of course Disneyland.

[IrishCatholic]

Well, my first suggestion is out. I went to your home page and you described yourself as male :-)

[mpackard]

Oh My, he’s purty

[Cinnamon Girl]

Disneyland is so awesome this time of year, when it’s chilly and there aren’t long lines.

[Marine_Uncle]

Some sound advice from an uncle very close to a nephew that served two tours in Iraq, and on a few occasions almost got blown up from trucks rigged with high explosives, and watched as he ran at Camp MEK (Fallujah), as his Sargent buddy got literally blown into pieces as they ran for cover during a mortar attack, taking point during recon patrols etc., manning the light machine gun mounted in the hole in the Humvee etc..
Treat this Marine simply as you always did. Don't pander to him. He knows the score. If he is up to some serious talk or even on a light level, then let him tell of some of his experiences. Ask him intelligent questions as how he rates the various type Iraqi he came into contact with. Where does he feel his platoon, his larger unit up to a Battalion level made solid contributions both in taking out the goons as well as helping the Iraq people in general.
An awful lot has changed in the past year or so in Iraq, and he just may have some very interesting and low stress things to report.
In short. Be the caring friend you have been. If he turns out to have had some bad experiences, so be it. That is life. He is a Marine. And most likely he will get over the really bad stuff in due time.
Back in about 1962 on my way back from middle school, I came upon parts of human flesh along a railroad line I had used to navigate between home and school. I found out on the news later two men where totally ripped apart by an express train while working on that line.
For years it bothered me. It is not pleasant as well as a few really horrible car wrecks I have seen, where bodies where pumping blood out of the windshield etc..
Some times we witness terrible things. But I would place a bet this Marine's mind is on top of things. Just be his friend and if he permits ask questions about his role in this noble mission. It will work out OK, most likely.
Do note. Do be aware you may be better informed of the over all conditions in Iraq in some respects, if you follow all the stuff at this site and elsewhere then he may be.
Don't rub things in if it goes against his grain.
He served with honor. Simply treat him with the respect and latitude of a returning hero. Most likely he is a true patriot.

[Bear_Slayer]

Make it down to Palm Springs for some pool-side sunning, and then evening dinner at one of the many fantastic restaurants in the valley.

[RKV]

Lucilles? Where is that? I live in Santa Barbara so that’s a given, and Brett is a UCSB grad - this is his second tour (first as an enlisted MP during the invasion) he’s a mustang.

[oldenuff2no]

I spent a lot of time in the military and did the coming home thing from combat zones several times. You have to remember that he has been stoked all week because he is coming back to the “World” and he just rode an airplane half way around the earth. He will still be pumping but he will unwind and need to crash and readjust for a few days. This man is going to be tired, bone tired and in need of rest and quiet times with family and good friends.
Give him a few days and then make some suggestions and see what he wants to do.
Tell him thanks from all of us here at FR!!!!! We are proud of him and thankful that he made it back safe and sound.

[RKV]

Thanks for that.

[peggybac]

Wow. I’m speechless as I clean up my drool. He’s fricking HOT!

[airborne]

First, thank him for me!

Take it slow with him. Remember, he'll need a little time to readjust. Find out where his head is before taking into a crowded environment. Maybe some outdoor activities. Horseback riding, fishing... Depends on where you are and the weather too.

And thank him again, from an "Airborne brother"!

[RKV]

Will do. This is a guy who’s been hauling aviation fuel through IED alley. That’s why I think a trip up to our vacation home in Big Bear would be just about right. He’s going to have to find his own honey to take care of business, but as you can tell from the photo above, that’s unlikely to be a problem.

[RKV]

That’s one nice thing about getting him back to Santa Barbara, where he went to college. Pretty low key place. Will pass along the thankyous.

[MindBender26]

No, but I knew a bunch of TV types who knew Dan.... and Don Alexander.

[MindBender26]

If the blond is “his”, my man!

[BlessedBeGod]

{{{sigh}}}

[svcw]

Sorry. I thought you were farther south.
There is Woody’s BBQ, always good for a great meal.
Lucille's BBQ is a southern CA joint. There is one in Long Beach and Rancho Cuccamuga (sp). There may be more. Those are the ones I have been to.
My favorite dinner place in SB is Aldos on State Street (old Copper Penny building).
What about a hike at the botanical gardens, it would be a great change from the sand pit.
If you make it to Disneyland look up Lucille's it would be worth it to go. Back to SB, any coffee shop on State Street sitting outside in the warm sun in the middle of winter - what a life......

[RKV]

Not sure what the state of that relation is. We’ll find out when the LT gets stateside.

[RKV]

The owner of Woody’s is a personal friend. Can do.

[airborne]

And if he’s been away from alcohol for a while, have him take it slow at first.