3.15.2004

2nd Brigade Late Night Taxi Service


Have I ever mentioned what a huger sucker I am? I just got screwed like a prostitute at a bachelor party. My battalion just got back from the field and everybody is tired and badly in need of a day off. Our acting platoon sergeant needed someone to take brigade staff duty driver, a job which consists of shuttling an officer around base and running various errands for 24 hours. I volunteered, eager beaver-like. In return for helping out, my platoon sergeant offered me a day off while he remained in charge - two weeks. After filling me in on the details of what he needed from me he casually mentioned that no one should go to Seoul this weekend.
Of course, I discovered that the South Korean Parliament had voted to impeach President Roh (pronounced "Noh" incidentally) and because of the ensuing protests throughout South Korea, all soldiers were restricted from entering Seoul except for official business. Realizing that partying in Itaewon most likely was not official business, I could see my plans for a three day weekend in Seoul were most likely have to go on hold.
Meanwhile, the rest of 2nd ID was busily drinking like sailors on leave, or in this case like soldiers who just came back from nearly 30 days of field time. I was privileged to witness the carnage firsthand, since I had to shuttle drunken soldiers and their harried first sergeants back and forth from the MP station. At one point, I made three consecutive trips to the MP station to pick up various law breakers and one soldier who was stranded after she came home on leave. I started stopping and offering random people I saw on the road rides since it began to seem that they were all on their cell phones begging staff duty to pick their drunken selves up.
I am still a little annoyed, mostly since I've barely slept since then and I was awoken at 6:30 by a thunderous banging on my door. Yeah I think I am going to sleep since I am getting angry at the memory.

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