Peg:

I'm with you. I remember the words of a retired Army Sargent who was a drill sargent at the military school I attended: "If I was ordered to shoot my mother, and my father and all my brothers and sisters, I'd do it without a thought!"

Things like that kind of stick in a 17 year olds head and never go away.

There does seem to be a de-humanization that does occur in many folks who have been in the military. But its not everyone that serves. My best male friend is an ex-Marine who fought in Vietnam and is now a very peaceful person, with no desire to kill anyone. My cousin, who also is an ex-Marine (he say's there is no such thing as an *ex*Marine) got his butt blown up pretty good in Vietnam and lost one leg is like Claymore. He'd go in heartbeat.

No rhyme or reason.

Bobert