[ZonieDiver]

Something happens to some people when they pin on those stars. I've had seen with a few generals, but had direct contact with only one, Maj Gen George L. Mabry, Jr. He was CG of USARSO when I was in 8th Group.

I met him twice, neither were pleasant. He seemed focused on trivial crap on the first meeting. On the second, which occured at JOTC's "Leadership Reaction / Target Detection and Engagement" course (BB-guns fired from the hip), he came during lunch. While we SF instructors and our Marine students had cold C-rats, they set up a little table with a white tablecloth and served him a hot meal. (When I see it in my mind's eye, there's a silver candlelabra on it, but I don't think that was really there.)

As he was coming in, I got up, took my C's, walked about 10 yards down my lane - followed by my four Marines - and ate my C's in the jungle.

Besides two stars, he had the MOH from WWII. When I read the narrative, it was difficult for me to associate the man he was back then with the man he became.

Sad.