I wouldn't feel a bit bad about it.
There were plenty of us who got shipped to every armpit on the planet.
I for one would have given my right nut to have been in your place. In fact I'm kinda jealous you got that military experience.
I got sent to Baumberg Germany out of basic training. That was 1988, I was in an Artillery battery, and if we weren't in the field, we were in Grafenwoehr.
Then the wall came down and wasn't sure what to expect next.
From there I went to Saudi Arabia, did the whole Desert Shield/Storm thing.
Came back the states, got sent to Haiti for "Uphold Democracy". That was quick though. Couple years later, went to the Balkans, then back to the states, then to S. Korea, back to the states, was hoping to just glide into retirement, then wham! 9/11.
The next 3 years were nothing but high alert and head on a swivel.
Man, I would have given anything for nice and boring!
Enjoy that free meal. You didn't sign up for that, it's was something that was offered. The way I see it, the way guys of your generation were treated, you got it coming. Because when you came back from USAEUR , they assumed you were coming from Vietnam.
