Without military safety briefings, are you surprised you survived childhood?

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:27:33 -0400

Some of us are more accident prone than others. Some of us are lucky that we made it through our childhood alive! What is the image from childhood that haunts your memories? I experienced electric fences in the WORST possible ways as a dumb kid. Those toys from the 70's have left scars all over me! Share your experiences.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Aug 26 at 2014 1:29 AM

SSgt Gregory Guina — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:29:40 -0400

The way I see kids treated today and all the precautions that are taken to protect them. I am quite amazed that anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s survived at all much less enough of us to keep the population of this great nation up.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2014 1:46 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 01:46:02 -0400

I don't have a great deal of childhood memories due to chronic migraine. But there is this one memory that I do remember.. one of my brothers and myself getting blamed for breaking a neighbors garage window. The window was in the back of the building facing the back of the neighbor's yard. We were no where near the garage and did not break the window. He accused us so we were punished for it. I could never understand why either, but that was over 30 years ago. These days, kids don't play outdoors. They get punished for doing something bad online.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Aug 26 at 2014 2:08 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 02:08:48 -0400

As surprised at the fact I survived childhood, there are others I'm surprised are still surviving adulthood. That being said, I have been fortunate enough to be a little bit better at selecting my hazards than many others that have survived to adulthood.

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Aug 26 at 2014 6:46 AM

PFC Zanie Young — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 06:46:41 -0400

Ok, SFC Merino, I'll bite. Try chasing newspaper, blowing in the wind, in two feet of snow with no gloves on. When I caught a page, my hand went into the snow and instantly flash froze (it was 10 below zero outside!) I could not feel a thing in my left hand and couldn't move my fingers. I showed my mother (hold on, it gets worse) and she warms my hand, with HOT WATER! Now my fingers are blistered and I couldn't move them. So the next day, I go to the doctor. He gave me some solution (I don't remember what it was called) to soak my hand in for two weeks (which kept me out of school, since I couldn't write with the hand the way it was). Now my fingers got waterlogged and changed color. Hold on, it gets worse still! When my skin started cracking, my OCD kicked in. I went ahead and broke the skin, peeled off both skin and nails until I was satisfied. Now I have fingers that deformed and shorter than my other hand. To this day, I still want to cut off my left pinky because it is bent at the tip, very short and almost useless. The rest are slightly bent and a little short compared to my right hand. The moral of the story, boys and girls, don't run around in below zero temperatures without gloves!

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 16 at 2014 10:22 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:22:45 -0400

I'm not actually all that sure that I DID survive childhood. I may be "patient zero" of the zombie apocalypse.

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Oct 16 at 2014 10:40 PM

SrA Marc Haynes — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:40:36 -0400

I am amazed I survived drinking from a garden hose, playing outside, having no internet, etc. How did we do it.

We did chase behind the bug spray man's truck on our bicycles only to find out much later they were spraying DDT. It smelled so good though!

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Oct 16 at 2014 10:43 PM

SPC James Mcneil — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:43:59 -0400

People that know me are probably surprised I did. Anyone that has ever seen me participate in sports would definitely not be surprised that I am a motivational speaker. ;)

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Oct 16 at 2014 10:45 PM

SrA Marc Haynes — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:45:54 -0400

I was in the ER more than everyone else in my family combined (5 others including parents)
I'm surprised they didn't yell "MARC" when I walked in!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2014 10:49 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 22:49:14 -0400

Never really planned on living past 25, actually.

Response by CPO Jon Campbell made Oct 16 at 2014 11:08 PM

CPO Jon Campbell — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:08:22 -0400

Definitely. I drowned when I was eight, but was revived by a lifeguard who saw me go under. My older brother nearly killed me accidentally dozens of times. I also was saved from a vicious dog attack by my neighbor, Gary Gordon. Gary ran up to the dog just as it was about to rip me apart and hit it with a stick and got it to chase him. He yelled at me to run and I ran like the wind. Gary went on to join Delta Force and received the MOH posthumously.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 16 at 2014 11:18 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:18:14 -0400

For CPO Jon Campbell

http://www.pbs.org/weta/americanvalor/stories/gordon.html

American Valor . Stories of Valor . Gary Gordon | PBS

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 16 at 2014 11:21 PM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:21:09 -0400

OK, so for real...here's my childhood story. My first Military injury came about 10 years before I was old enough to join the Military. Playing war...we all did that, right? Well, we were all fighting house-to-house and I climbed up on a neighbor kid's flat garage roof and sneaked over to an edge, all tactical-like. Sure enough, another little warrior came into view, so I sprung to my feet to make the shot and mattel gunfire erupted behind me "BUHUHUHUHUT", and like a good soldier, I grabbed my chest and fell....right off the garage roof, my un-helmeted head making direct contact with the concrete drive below.

And THAT, kids, is how it's done.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Oct 16 at 2014 11:30 PM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 23:30:05 -0400

Surprised I can still walk and run. I had bed posts at the end of my bed that were about a foot tall and always covered with my bed cover. I never failed to hit it no matter what. My parents couldn't figure out why my shins were black and blue but only in one spot.

Response by SGT Jim Barrows made Oct 17 at 2014 12:10 AM

SGT Jim Barrows — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:10:27 -0400

Early teenage years I'm a child from the70s we still played out doors pre video games lol
BB gun fights and me swinging on a grape vine and then getting shot just as I am in mid swing falling and thinking ok I'm going to die and mom's going to kill me

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Oct 17 at 2014 12:24 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:24:47 -0400

I will let you know when I grow up?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2014 3:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 03:00:39 -0400

OMG, yes!!! I made so many stupid decisions and bad choices; I can’t believe I’m still alive today. When I was 2, my mom had a group of ladies over to the house. It was a warm day, and therefore a regular pool party kind of day. My mom went into the house to get something, and when she came back out, asked her friends where I was. No one knew; no one had seen me. As my mom walks out to join her friends, poolside, there I am at the bottom of the pool. It’s 1972, mom has a beehive hairdo, thank God I was in the shallow end, and she could just walk in and reach down with her toes to pick me up so she didn’t have to mess up her hair.
I met my best friend when we were 4. I can’t say one or the other of us was the instigator of all the trouble because we were equally partners in stupidity. We always played outside, in the front yard, in the back yard (her backyard was a creek, ours was the pool). No supervision, no babysitter or anyone but us to determine what we were up to…..lots!
When we got older, we would ride our bikes all over town. Not a small, one stop sign town, a town of about 25,000-30,000, suburb of St. Louis, MO. We rode everywhere, and then we often called for a ride home. We rode downtown, to the park, to the woods, just all over, everywhere we could pedal.
In my neighborhood, after dark, we played a game called Manhunt. We had set boundaries, but it was a gigantic game of hide and seek. We’d hid in the neighbor’s yards, especially if they didn’t know we were there. There was one house known to shoot salt pellets if caught on his property.
We moved to a different house, all of about 3 blocks away when I was 10. Again, we had a pool, and a 6 foot brick privacy fence to jump off of into the pool. Thank God it was ten foot deep and no one was ever paralyzed by doing this.
When myself and my peers finally started driving, we used to play a type of chicken, where we’d slowly, ever so slowly creep over into the oncoming car’s lane until they’d jerk out of the way. In a rural area, not too far away, we’d drive as fast as we could to see who was fastest. We’d held races in reverse gear to see who would win. We raced everywhere, to see who knew the best shortcuts to the destination.
This is just a glimpse, but yes, I’m shocked I’m in one piece. I have never had any major injury or surgery at all in my life. I broke a bone in my pinkie finger playing dodgeball with hard volleyballs in high school. I twisted my ankle, severely, playing softball; a fender bender in my car, but nothing ever serious enough to put me in the hospital. I’m amazed and consider myself very lucky!

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Oct 17 at 2014 3:27 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 03:27:18 -0400

HAHA. 9 concusions, 9 whiplashes, knocked unconscience 5 times, 3 skull fractures, 5 fractured metatarsals, knocked on my ass more than once from high voltage shocks (60kv was the highest) and a little fire bug (nothing big luckily). Also laid up with Steven Johnson's syndrome from penicilin and respiratory arrest twice from anaphalactic drug reactions. 1 near drowning while trying to bodysurf an incoming hurricane. 3 dog attacks to include 7 dogs. Lastly I swam through some Baracuda while trying to learn how to sail surf. All before I graduated high school.

Yea, I'm surprised I'm still around.

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 17 at 2014 3:33 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 03:33:45 -0400

I've been shot, stabbed and hit by a car twice and all before I turned 13.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2014 7:23 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 07:23:38 -0400

There was a song about this a couple years back called "Back When" by Tim McGraw on the "Live Like You Were Dying" album.

Response by SGT Jim Barrows made Oct 17 at 2014 10:07 AM

SGT Jim Barrows — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 10:07:30 -0400

A couple of my scares have names lol

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2014 2:31 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 14:31:08 -0400

My childhood, no. My 20s, on the other hand...

Response by Maj Tony Lucas made Oct 17 at 2014 3:09 PM

Maj Tony Lucas — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 15:09:00 -0400

I saw my life story flash before my eyes a dozen times before I was a dozen years old.

The clip was short so maybe it wasn't scary enough to get me to think twice.

I think twice now because I take longer to heal when I don't.

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Oct 17 at 2014 5:11 PM

SrA Marc Haynes — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 17:11:20 -0400

I am somewhat seeing a trend on here on being accident prone. Hmmmmmmmm!

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Oct 17 at 2014 5:23 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 17:23:36 -0400

I honestly never gave it much thought. Personally I think the fact that so many of the dumb survived into adulthood has allowed them to take positions of authority and power in the legal and political system. The laws and warnings now found on items that while we were young weren't necessary have helped reduced or canceled out Darwin from the equation. Before it wasn't necessarily the smartest nor the strongest that survived just the ones that had the most sense not to do stupid stuff. For example seat belts, early in my childhood they were first mandated. My second car I ever owned was a 67 Ford Mustang which had lap belts. So between the year my car was made until my childhood in the 1980s you had a period of time when seat belts were not mandated, which led me to conclude that if you had sense you wore a seat belt without being forced to do so. The same applies with motorcycle helmets there was a case of a man riding without a helmet during a protest against helmet laws that was killed when he went over the handlebars during the protest and a review of the crash determined that he likely would have lived had he worn a helmet.

Judging by what I've seen of members of this website, I'm not surprised that many have survived well into adulthood.

Rider Protesting Helmet Laws Dies in Crash

A motorcyclist died in upstate New York while protesting the state's mandatory helmet law.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made Oct 18 at 2014 12:22 AM

PO2 Rocky Kleeger — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 00:22:57 -0400

Absolutely! Looking back, I'm surprised I survived a lot of my life. And...had I known I was gonna live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 18 at 2014 7:36 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 07:36:01 -0400

Never rode in a car seat
Never wore seatbelts (until I started driving)
Rode in the back of station wagons & pickups (while it was legal)
Never wore a helmet when riding a bike (until I had kids)
Walked to elementary school on my own
Walked to the local mart to buy cigarettes for the old man
Played ball in the street almost daily

How the hell did I make it this far???

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 8:58 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 08:58:47 -0400

With some of the stunts I pulled as a kid, I'm pretty damn surprised I did.

And now, I see my daughter doing some of the same things!!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 3:49 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 15:49:29 -0400

Sorry SFC Mark Merino I'm not sure I remember what that is. Childhood seems so foreign to me. I'm still trying to remember what was for dinner last night.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Oct 18 at 2014 6:15 PM

LTC Hillary Luton — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 18:15:11 -0400

SFC Mark Merino I figure I have an excuse. My maiden name is Tripp. I felt it necessary to live up to my name. :-) However, despite that, I seem to be able to avoid too many breaks since the only thing I ever broke was a finger and a thumb and both were sports related. I even fell off a hay stack when I was 11 and landed on a telephone pole laying on the ground. It went across the center of my back. I should have broke my back, but instead all I did was knock the wind out and pass out. Not so much as a concussion. I guess I should chock it up to having one heck of a guardian angel who has had my 6 all my life. :-)

Response by SFC William "Bill" Moore made Oct 18 at 2014 8:15 PM

SFC William "Bill" Moore — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 20:15:13 -0400

After about 4 years into my enlistment, my Mother confessed that she was happy I had joined. She figured I wouldn't make it past 21. We played hard growing up and invented the terms "Watch this shit" and "Hold my beer".

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 8:36 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 20:36:09 -0400

Oh good God yes! Dove onto my bed to get away from my brother, right off the bed and through the window. Not that big of a deal until I pulled my head back in, reverse scalped myself! 59 stitches later!! Almost a year to the day running down the hall and sliced the side of my head on the marble top of the side board.

How I ever survived lawn jarts without getting impaled I will never know!!

Ha SFC Mark Merino I am sure I know exactly what you are talking about with the electric fence!

I went over a ravine backwards in a tractor, about 60 feet down. That was a hell of a trip!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 11:12 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 23:12:33 -0400

oh god yes I am !!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2014 11:35 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 23:35:00 -0400

I had a dumpster fall on my "nether regions" in the 3rd grade, grew up in a welding shop, had many mishaps with 3 and 4 wheelers, broke my 1st-4th metatarsals sophomore summer of highschool, destroyed 3 cars via "acts of God" while in highschool...... plus my dad's cooking (mom was AGR ARNG). 29 years old and still kicking!!!

Response by SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS made Oct 18 at 2014 11:41 PM

SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 23:41:20 -0400

SFC Mark Merino I was raised on a farm. Jumped from the hay loft, jumped off the roof of my home, ran electrical fence (while it was on so we knew if it grounded out), rode motorcycles (wrecked same), plowed fields with tractors (wrecked same), hauled hay, fell off loft, was stomped by horses and cows, bit by horses and dogs, rode my bicycle 12 miles (one way) to the closest country store, rode my bicycle 10 miles (one way) to my Dad's office, walked from school to my Dad's office, and broke more than a few bones. Played sports, walked and or ran everywhere, yada, yada, yada........

Yes I am shocked and amazed..........

Response by COL Timothy S. made Oct 18 at 2014 11:53 PM

COL Timothy S. — Sat, 18 Oct 2014 23:53:16 -0400

I suppose my childhood had a lot to do with choosing to serve in the military. The 11+ years of childhood sexual abuse from a family member had a profound affect on me that I was sure would end my life. It wasn't until 7 years into my marriage that I realized that it was affecting my relationships in ways I could no longer tolerate and sought the help I needed. My biggest take - away from all of that was that there is a HUGE difference between remembering tragedy and reliving it. I first had to acknowledge that it happened and that none of it was my doing. Those memories are hard and I have live with them the rest of my life. But while I will always remember what happened, I can also chose how to respond to the memories rather than keeping it bottled up and allowing them to affect me in negative ways. I suppose coming to that realization is what allowed me to serve for more than 29 years and remain married to the same lady for more than 27 years, now.

Response by CPT Mike M. made Oct 19 at 2014 12:37 AM

CPT Mike M. — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 00:37:07 -0400

I'm a bit surprised I survived early 20's-hood!

Response by SPC(P) Jay Heenan made Oct 19 at 2014 4:54 PM

SPC(P) Jay Heenan — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 16:54:22 -0400

I grew up in the 70's and 80's. That being said, our cars didn't have seat belts, I NEVER wore a helmet and it wasn't uncommon to get up bright and early in the morning eat breakfast and be out the door until the street lights came on. Often, I was miles away from my house. I definitely wonder sometimes how I made it out alive...lol! I made some poor decisions growing up and had some issues with authority. Joining the military right after high school was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 19 at 2014 6:34 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:34:47 -0400

Went into shock due to a Reaction to a Drug in a Dentist Chair at 6, That was fun, People turn upside down and melt and they sound like Charlie Browns teacher when your about to die. Wasn't till I was much older that I was seriously concerned about my Future Viability. Something about being 18 miles downwind of the Largest Volcanic Eruption in a Century makes you go "Damn I'm going to Die Today". Not that Lucky. I'm still here.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2014 12:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 12:04:49 -0400

No bike helmets, a few crashes and visits to Emergency rooms in different countries (Army brat). No car seats, seat belts...amazing

Response by SPC Chelsea Fernandez made Oct 20 at 2014 3:45 PM

SPC Chelsea Fernandez — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 15:45:37 -0400

When I was in high school my sister witnessed a murder and we had to go into hiding until everyone involved was caught. Also I almost tripped flat on my face when I went to accept mt diploma. Other than that my childhood was good.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 12:48 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:48:55 -0400

As a child I was in many foster homes. When I moved back in with my mom and Step-dad bad things happened. At age 8, I was raped by a teen boy, and had to go with the cops to pick him out. I STILL remember his face, and name! My mom swept it under the carpet! Now I have P.T.S.D. from it. Also my parents would leave me home alone, and go out drinking till sometimes 3 in the morning, and come home and fight each other!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 26 at 2014 11:58 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 23:58:31 -0400

Galvanized steel cuts leave great childhood reminders.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 12:39 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 00:39:00 -0400

Well let's see, at age 4 survived a t-bone collision, was in the back seat with my mom and aunt in a car seat. Age 16, was declared clinically dead, was just under 2 minutes from what I was told, it was a result from a "partial" head-on collision by a drunk driver. The collision did cause my vehicle to roll to its side and go into a ranchers irrigation canal, it wasn't a deep one but just enough that eventually the water overtook me and I went under. What saved my life for all intensive purposes was my girlfriends parents heard the collision, I had just left their house after having dinner earlier. They heard the accident and decide to go check it out and recognized my car, he sent the wife to the neighbors just down the road from the collision to call police/fire. I have little to no memory of it happening other than the police reports and people there at the accident.

Everything else since that day of the accident has been a near miss as for accidents or what not, nothing else comes close to it.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 2 at 2014 1:46 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 01:46:01 -0400

More scars and broken bones than any other invention.

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Nov 2 at 2014 2:51 AM

SSgt Tim Ricci — Sun, 02 Nov 2014 02:51:25 -0500

I don't know how I made it but at 52 my body certainly feels it!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 9:42 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:42:39 -0500

Lead paint chips....."that's all I have to say about that."

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 9:47 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:47:55 -0500

Actually, no, I am surprised children today survive adulthood....what I mean by that is for the last decade or two, we have been raising the "everyone gets a trophy" generation and have been safeguarding children so they can't learn from failure or mistakes. Now (as I have experienced recently) we are seeing Soldiers who expect to receive something for everything they do, rather than working to earn what the get.

Growing up, we learned to work harder if we didn't win, we learned to work for what we had. I think our generation was better than the generation we are raising now. I am sure our earlier generations are saying the same thing about us too!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 9:48 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:48:18 -0500

Anyone else have archery or .22 marksmanship in high school? Different times.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Nov 9 at 2014 12:26 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 00:26:56 -0500

I don't know so much about childhood, but just about every one that knows me is a bit amazed that I am still alive. In fact I heard it today in casual conversation. Thank god I haven't lost my hair. Bald I'd look like a bowling test hole ball. At about 16 some friends and I had a fire fight in the everglades with some of the very first AR15s while testing them for one of those friends dads gun store Jumping freights, riding hoods towed behind beach buggies, more crazy shit than I can remember. I've thought of writing a book about it, but it's probably not PC enough to get published. Kids don't try this at home!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 1:46 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 01:46:08 -0500

I did a lot of stupid stuff when I was younger, but most of the injuries I sustained were a result of clumsiness. Bit by a spider and almost lost an arm when I was a toddler, fell in a stream and almost drowned when vacationing in the NW. Tripped and fell into a garbage can, coming up with a can lid stuck in my hand. Numerous scars on my head from tripping and falling into a coffee table. Yanking a cord while my mother was ironing and having a hot iron fall point first scarring my nose. Backing into a bush while playing hide a seek and having a 2" twig impale my leg. Shot in the foot with an arrow by my brother.

Played in an abandoned WWII steel salvage yard. Played in the streets and yards without parental supervision. Never wore a helmet while riding a bike. Never wore PPE while skate boarding. Rode in the back of pickup trucks, never wore seatbelts. Walked to school while in the elementary and junior high. Drank from garden hoses. Played pop-warner tackle football in the 5th and 6th grades. On the weekends left at dawn arriving home at dusk, by ourselves or cops who served and protected when we were out after dark. Was given a gun (.22) for Christmas in the 3rd grade.

Yeah, we had a lot of fun in the 70's and 80's.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 5:05 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 05:05:43 -0500

I used to spend countless hours at a time in the woods exploring all by my lonesome, roamed my neighborhood and city bound to happen upon some type of mischief, I trapped a rattlesnake in a mason jar in the georgia mountains when I was a webelo, swam with sharks (they were small) while collecting conch off the coast of fajardo, I never wore insect repellent even with the threat of dengue and I am still alive. Im pretty sure there are moments I am not remembering of things that children these days should be strongly advised against trying.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 11:34 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 11:34:40 -0500

What childhood? Just kidding. Being an Army Brat had some ups and downs. Looking back we living in some terrific places, enjoying post war Europe, South America, back to Europe-almost no time in the US. Did the same during my military career.

Response by SN Jennifer M. made Nov 18 at 2014 1:16 PM

SN Jennifer M. — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 13:16:26 -0500

I used to be a climber. I would go into the woods at climb trees. One time I fell a few feet right onto my back. No wonder my back hurts so badly.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 9:26 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 21:26:05 -0500

I was relatively sheltered with the exception of my step mom beating the hell out of me. So I guess I'm not that surprised

Response by SPC Fred Lytge made Nov 18 at 2014 10:34 PM

SPC Fred Lytge — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:34:51 -0500

Yes, I did some dumb thing but, also some fun things. I rode bicycles the way they were not designed to be, I climbed and did things that are not considered safe, I did a lot of things that would be a reason for not surviving but, i did. And i also did things that were smart like I did good in school and I was a Boy Scout but most of all I am lucky to survive my Dad when I screwed up....lol

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 24 at 2014 9:20 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:20:58 -0500

I remember my playground was a abandoned field with some broken down cars that was used as the "jungle gym". Nowadays, the parks are plastic, heat resistant, foam padded, ultra-biodegradable, closed circuit tv cameras, and an ambulance on standby....lol. How did we ever make it old enough to join the military? Safety brief was: "If you see a kid doing something that makes them bleed, or gets them in trouble.....don't do it." Ahhhh, Philadelphia; "The City of Brotherly Love."

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 25 at 2014 12:14 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 12:14:24 -0500

I grew up riding in cars without seat belts, eating food that fell onto the floor before the five second rule came into effect, playing with medicine bottles without childproof caps, and all of the other uncounted safeguards that have come into existence since then. In fact, my children survived without most as well. The grandchildren haven't been so fortunate.

That being said, my most dangerous period was during my adolescence. I grew up with hot rods and street racing. (Kids today hardly seem interested in driving let alone driving recklessly.) Fortunately, there were far fewer cars on the road in that time and I tend to believe that is why I survived.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2014 2:03 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 14:03:29 -0500

I am surprised that I survived without a reflective PT belt! I did not wear a bike helmet nor did I have knee and elbow pads. I fell off my bike, crashed my bike, fell off skateboards. I jumped from swings and climbed trees. I played with REAL lawn darts that had metal tips. I suffered concusions; broken limbs; and being hit between the eyes with a croquet mallet. I've had stiches and survived. I played with and was shot with BB guns; played with darts; and really enjoyed being a child. Mom would kick me out of the house and tell me to be home by dinner. I played with cap guns, toy soldiers, and had a good time. A scratch and bump was expected and mom's kiss on the wound always made it better.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 27 at 2014 3:08 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 03:08:16 -0500

Original Old School Childhood "Risk" Matrix.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 11:21 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 11:21:19 -0500

Love the photo, that could have been any boy in America back in the 70's. I love the towel cape.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 27 at 2014 5:55 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 17:55:26 -0500

What if one of your troops requested a milage pass and had this little beauty?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 27 at 2014 10:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 22:13:05 -0500

I'm amazed I have made it these 45 years as of 3 January regardless of safety briefs, but they have definitely given me pause for reflection and gratitude for a mother's prayers. LOL

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2014 8:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:19:51 -0500

I was in a car wreck when I was 2, someone ran a red light and trashed my dads Dodge Dart, there were no seat belts in the back seat so the windshield trashed my upper lip. That led to my dad getting a 68 mustang, oh how I loved that car. I remember sitting in the back seat pretending to be driving, making engine noises and my transmission never ran out of gears. I remember riding on the bed sides of a pick up truck at 9 years old with a loaded weapon in case we spooked a rabbit at the deer lease, and being allowed to drive the lease car around the 1,000 acre property (it was a 67 mustang, black with flames). I would do donuts in the field and race the cows.