The Angry American ("we'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way")

Combat Skills Training is complete. I'm now a trained killer-psychologist. I have the certificate that say's so. Mercifully I catch a 2:30am bus to the LaCrosse, WI airport where me and my 300 pounds of desert/urban camo gear, armor, and semi automatic weapons will be crammed onto my first of three flights. I'm sure all of it will be lost in baggage hell somewhere between rural Wisconsin and suburban Texas.

Hopefully I'll get some sleep tonight, but I'm not hopeful. As I write, most of the enlisted from my barracks are at the Fort McCoy sports bar guzzling Budweiser and hitting on the 10 or 11 lucky female Airmen who decided to hang out and drink with the boys after our graduation barbecue. This doesn't bode well for a peaceful night. The 11pm "light's out" discipline has been slipping this week anyway: last night the Airmen were ordering delivery at 11:00pm, throwing down Little Caesar's Meat Lover pizza at midnight in their bunks (each guy had his very own 2 liter bottle of Coke). Then they play dice and yell obscenities at each other.

Saturday morning will be fun for those guys. Almost every day our Chief Master Sergeant wakes up at 5am and blasts his music over his cheap iPod docking station-- the late night pizza guys hate it... because they hate country music and they want to sleep off the soporific effects of synthetic mozzarella and a Coke hangover. Chief's favorite song is "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)" by Toby Keith and on any given morning we will hear it at least three to four times. He also plays "Have you Forgotten?" by Darryl Worley at least once a morning. The Chief finds it very inspiring and contemplative and he can't see how anyone would not be moved... actually he would conclude that if you don't like it, then you must be a gay communist.

It's in this context that I've asked the guy in the bunk next to me to "please shoot me now" at least three or four times this month.

I've included the lyrics below. Amusing, depressing, or inspiring? I'll let you decide.

Next stop San Antonio, TX.


"Have you Forgotten?"

I hear people sayin'. We Don't need this war.
I say there's some things worth fightin' for.
What about our freedom, and this piece of ground?
We didn't get to keep 'em by backin' down.
They say we don't realize the mess we're gettin' in
Before you start preachin' let me ask you this my friend.
Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten, when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin through a livin hell
And you say we shouldn't worry bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
You took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbin for you and me
It'll just breed anger is what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it everyday
Some say this country just out lookin' for a fight
Well after 9/11 man I'd have to say right.
Have you forgotten, how it felt that day?To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away
Have you forgotten when those towers fell
We had neighbors still inside goin' through a livin' hell
And we vow to get the ones behind Bin LadenHave you forgotten?
I've been there with the soldiers who've gone away to war
you can bet they remember just what they're fightin' for
Have you forgotten
All the people killed
Yes some went down like heroes
In that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten
About our Pentagon
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?!


"Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)"

American Girls and American Guys
We’ll always stand up and salute
We’ll always recognize when we see Old Glory Flying
There’s a lot of men dead so we can sleep in peace at night when we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard until the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy in the land of the free.
Now this nation that I love has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flying in from somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world like the 4th of July
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty Started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly
Man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom start ringing her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
Justice will be served and the battle will rage
This big dog will fight when you rattle his cage
And you’ll be sorry that you messed with The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass it's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly man, it’s gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom Start ringing her bell
And it feels like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue