So, the fact that I served in the army doen’t mean much to me, in the sense that it was not a major influence in my character or who I am. I did learn a few things, some of them good or worthwhile, about myself, my ability to cope with extreme pressure and my general physical habilities.

But mostly I learnt about the power of human stupidity and how easely men will reliquish power and their better judgement to obey other stupid men and comit stupid acts for no reward other than to please their master…

So, for the most part there was nothing for me to learn that I would need where I am going, which wherever that is, is not a military career. But it was deemed proper by my country, in case we got attacked by some spanish, or in case the colonies rebeled again… not that it did much good before, frankly…

That said I do understand now the importance, or significance of it. I was in fact the last man in my family to be drafted into military service, and the first in four generations not to have gone to war. It marked, I believe, the end of an era, and that was something that meant a lot to my grandmother.