The Watch They Keep

neither out far nor in deep

George Hoffman

George Hoffman
Location
Stow, Ohio, USA
Birthday
November 27
Title
retired
Company
Chock Full Of Nuts
Bio
"They cannot look out far, They cannot look in deep. But when was that a bar, From the watch they keep?" Neither Out Far Nor In Too Deep by Robert Frost Since my return to the big PX, I have lived in this parallel universe: a war veteran in a nation of civilians. It's like being in a fun house at a carnival. Only I'm on the other side of the distorting mirrors. That's why I have quoted the last stanza of that poem by Robert Frost and decided to change the name of my blog to The Watch They Keep. So my blog is a work in progress, much as I am also evolving and changing and coming to terms with my life and the world around me. I'm on the yellow brick road to The Emerald City. With one slight detour during my tour of duty in Vietnam. "Lions and tigers and bears. Oh my!"

MY RECENT POSTS

MY RECENT COMMENTS

George Hoffman's Links

MY LINKS
JANUARY 15, 2012 3:56PM

Why Civilians Really Piss Off

There has been so many ignorant comments from the right and the left on the latest viral video, four Marines pissing on corpses in Afghanistan. Those defending these Marines are usually conservative and those condeming them are usually progressive or liberal. But both sides are clueless civilians who… Read full post »

2 Comments
JULY 30, 2011 11:43AM

How My War Had Changed Me

I just read a very moving op-ed piece in today's (7/30/2011)  New York Times, "My Own Captain America," by Charles M. Blow. In the article Mr. Blow recounts his grandfather's service as a soldier in the only African American army battalion to fight in Europe and his grandfather's sadly belated r… Read full post »

1 Comments
MAY 20, 2011 5:15PM

Being in the war zone of my mind

Within two week after my arrival in Vietnam, I knew without the shadow of a doubt I was, well, I was a coward. 

I served as a medic corpsman. And according to a protocol in The Geneva Conventions, as a non-combatant in a war zone I was prohibited from carrying a… Read full post »

4 Comments
MAY 14, 2011 9:06PM

Slouching Toward Bethlehem

Nelofar, a 12-year-old girl, went outside her home in the courtyard to sleep, because summer has arrived in eastern Afghanistan and the heat was unbearable inside the house.

But a Nato jet fighter dropped a bomb on the house that night. Her uncle was killed and so was Nelofar. The target… Read full post »

2 Comments
MAY 13, 2011 4:34PM

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

The longest continuous relationship I have ever had with a woman in my entire adult life was with a blond, buxon German fraulein. I could spot her in bars and grocery stores from the east coast to the west coast. This woman really got around. But she always wore the same… Read full post »

1 Comments
Editor’s Pick
MAY 12, 2011 5:13AM

A Love Letter To My Lovely Social Worker

Three and a half years ago I began this roller coaster ride called recovery. During a session with my social worker at the VA clinic, I related to her what a revelation women had become in my life. I was mesmerized by them in the rooms at meetings , sitting on… Read full post »

6 Comments
MAY 10, 2011 10:37PM

Is that you, John Wayne?

With the daring raid into Pakistan and the killing of Osama bin Laden in his McMansion, President Barack Obama has finally shown Republican critics he has the real brass cajones to be the Commander-In-Chief.

But what really intrigued me was his answer to a question on 60 Minutes last Sunday.… Read full post »

2 Comments