Asymmetric Military

Being stuck in the first stage of the pre-conventional level of morality, according to Kohlberg, I roused myself up from bed this Saturday to visit, along with some of my Army buddies from school, the St. James Veteran’s home in Missouri to play a little bingo.

As I called the numbers, I noticed World War II (European theater) veteran, “Lucky Stan” proudly proclaiming that it would be he who wins the day. Well, Stan only won, in fact, once, not even coming close during the blackout round, proving once again that pride cometh before the fall and that nicknames can often be misleading.

I commented to my fellow soldiers that people rarely regret doing stuff like visiting veterans’ homes. In fact, it was a lot of fun. I think I’ll do it more often. Heck, I might even if my soul isn't on the line (thus leaping to the conventional level, at least).

Despite our contentious bingo run-in, I decided to approach Stan after the game and try to bury the hatchet. He turned out to be not such a bad guy. He fought n Belgium and Germany where he ate with former prisoners of war from Russia while being served by newly captured German prisoners of war, to whom he was forbidden to talk. The devastation of the German countryside and psyche was a sad thing, he recounted. Hey, thanks Stan; good luck next time.

Stan, contemplating his loss.