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Hi. As you might have guessed, I just spent the last 20 years in the Army, so naturally I am new to this board..LOL. Last year, when I was in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry division, I was BALD. I shaved my head every day (or whenever I could during the main days of fighting)...but that was my adopted style as a former Drill Sergeant, MP and Senior Noncommissioned Officer. I have always had a fascination for long hair. My best friend Dave has gorgeous long hair down past his shoulders...and my wife has told me (over the last 14 years of marriage) that I could keep my hair as short as I wanted, but once I retired that I would let it grow at least as long as Kevin Sorbo (Hercules). So I have begun my quest for long (for me) hair...maybe like Aragorn from "Lord of the Rings". I made a mistake by getting a "maintenance" cut about two months ago, but I won't make that mistake again.
One final thought, my hair is flipping up in the back..will my hair grow past that? I have pretty straight hair (I think).
Thanks!!
Terry (Bassdiesel)
Congratulations on the journey, and welcome to this community. You will find lots of support here. And yes, you will grow past the flip. It's a good sign that you are entering the awkward stage, which begins for each man sooner or later. Hercules is a pretty good goal to aim for! Had to say that: I am a Latin teacher!
Robert
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Thanks Robert...As you can see, here is a pic of me in Iraq last year...literally starting from scratch..LOL!
Terry (Bassdiesel)
You actually used the words *good* and *awkward stage* in the same sentence. How did you do that?
What we are is always good, and we are always changing. :)
Robert
I'd also like to welcome you to the board and confirm that the flip will go away with additional length. Your hair looks alot like mine did when it was that long and I thought it was pretty straight then too. If you can hold on long enough and get past the dreaded awkward stage it'll all be down hill from there. Hand in there and if you need any help there's always someone around here for support. Good luck with your goal!
Bruin
Thanks Bruin! I am just thankful that I still have a full head of hair after keeping it bald for 20 years!!!
Thanks again!!
Terry (Bassdiesel)
Welcome to the Hyperboard Bassdiesel! Hope you enjoy your stay.
Thanks Sid!
Bassdiesel
This is not meant to be a personal attack against you. What the hell is going on in Iraq. I think that as a soldier that fought in the war that is going on you should have a unique perspective in what is going on without the repug or liberal bias.
I don't know if it is a unique opinion, but it is my own. Saddam was a tyrannical dictator that had a network of thugs, oppressed his people, ruled through violence. We went to take that network down...not too well planned, logistically or longterm...Justified? My opinion was yes after hundreds of the formerly oppressed Iraqis thanked us and told us of their pre-war life...told us of the war crimes,the attrocities, human rights violations, the mass-graves we uncovered, etc...Now, 1 1/2 years later...the thugs that used to be in power are still trying to keep that network of terror going because that is how they made their big bucks. That place was a free-for-all for looters, crooks and thugs...No police force intact...nothing. Now, those Iraqi citizens that were thanking us are now on the fence because we didn't get their society functioning the way they envisioned. People complaining taht they still don't have electricity..did NOT have electricity before the war and are expecting miracles. The security posture is still heightened because here we are trying to help these people and the same ones that we were helping turn around and sell us (the coalition) out for $100 or worse yet, to become a martyr and blow up a police station or a checkpoint...etc..This is another reason why the fighting is continuing...Al-Sadr and his like will lose power and prestige if there is a commonwealth, so he is stirring the proverbial Sunni/Shiite pot and calling this a Jihad so he can maintain power and momentum (making us look like the bad guys).
I could ramble on, but it is NOT, I repeat NOT all death and destruction over there. Agter the major fighting ended (I was mainly in Baghdad)I spent a my last few months downtown Fallujah instructing the Iraqi Police and helping set up the courts and police station...we had engineers working night and day trying to get generators and water purification systems in-place so the Iraqis could start a better life...There was not enough support from the other countries to help rebuild Iraq...that is for sure...Now, I understand it wasn't a popular decision to go to war with Iraq...but we did and now we are trying to rebuild them so come on NATO countries...join in!
My opinion only! Thanks for asking!
Bassdiesel
Well I truly don't think the war was justified,there are at least 20 leaders of nations as bad as Saddam Hussein or even worse, and the president declared a war based on at worst based on lies, at best miscalculations. One thing I do recongize now that we are there, we just cannot pull out,without rebuilding their country. I am not a liberal or a conservtive, I'm just one concerned American. I see us going after Saddam Hussein, while Osama Bin Laden right now is free to plan terorrist attacks.
My father was a retired military man as was his father before that. A slight technicality kept me from enlisting in the Armed Forces so far. I salute you for your service to our great nation
Welcome to the board! I, among others, salute you for your service to our nation and welcome you to the longhair community!
My father is a retired Army man as well. I hold you in high esteem.
It'll be nice to see the progress with your hair as the months (and years) pass!
Hey Bassdiesel,
I have two questions:
1. How did you come up with your name exactly? I believe I read that you sing bass at your church, which is where I guess it comes from.
2. How old are you? You say you were in the service 20 years, correct? You look very young!
Sid
PS. For the record, I play bass guitar, which is sorta similar :) , and I am 19.
Correct...I sing bass in a SG Quaret and our tenor said I sounded like a diesel engine (jokingly, I hope)...thus, Bassdiesel...I am 38...I signed up right before my 18th birthday in 1984. I play bass and tuba...
Thanks for the interest!
Bassdiesel (Terry)
You look great both shaved and with hair. Do you IM, would be cool to chat with you some time.
