Who To Be Mad At?

There's not a whole heck of a lot to do here in Yuma. So, it's not a surprise that drinking is a common hobby!

However, the Marines here have taken it a bit too far. A couple of weekends ago, a group of jarheads were in a pick up truck, drunk. One guy was in the bed of the truck while driving around town and ended up falling out. He was basically a vegetable and the other guys went and threw him in a front yard somewhere so they don't get in trouble. The guy is now in a coma in Phoenix.

Since then alcohol has been banned in the barracks.

With that and other DUI's on record here in Yuma, one of the head honchos warned all of the Marines that if there was anymore incidents, that they would all have to wear their Charlie's to go out and they have to check in and out of the barracks (or call in to check in if you are married) if you go out to drink, you have to take a buddy and be back in by 2 am. This is all until further notice.

So, the phone rings off the hook this morning at 5:30 am. It seems that two guys went out drinking and the DD took his drunk friend back to the barracks. Later, the drunk decided he wanted to go to the river and took his jeep out and tipped it and is now in the hospital.

This sucks for many reasons. First and foremost, people have hurt and may die and others were endangered.

Other more selfish reasons? I live with my friend and her Marine husband. This means no going out! (this would be like a girl having to go out in a ball gown all the time) The guy I'm dating? Yeah, no going out! If he wants to come over to the house and hang out with us, he must dress in his Charlie's, come to the house (may change in secret) and get back in his Charlie's and home by 2 am.

This also means that businesses will suffer. A good majority of my customers at each of my stores are military. They are not going to get all in uniform just to come buy something from one of my stores.

So, I'm mad for a few reasons. The selfish reasons are obvious as it is effecting my social life and business. However, this scars the reputation of Marines here locally. Not only that, but the same men and women that fight to protect our country are putting people in danger.

Just a few dumb asses have affected negatively the lives of so many others.