HNT # Something or other ... the Korea Edition
It's HNT everybody and "How YOU doin?" I'm OK. Still haven't found the solution to my e-mail problem but I will. It's a guarantee. First off, if you haven't added yourself to my notification list yet, just plug your e-mail address into the box on my sidebar and you will be notified everytime a new post goes up. It don't cost and it don't hurt so just do it ... you know you want to! Be counted among the coolest of cool people. Now down to business ...
Today's HNT is a foreign edition. If you are just here for the pic, scroll down ... you'll find it. Wanna hear a tale, though? Then pull up a chair and crack open a beer and let me take you on a journey to a land far, far away at a time in the past, not too distant to have been forgotten.
Two weeks after my youngest son was born (the same son who is currently two weeks away from turning 16 and right on his scheduled developmental path of seeing how quickly he can put his parents in the loony bin or detox ... whatever comes first) I was on a plane to Korea for a one year remote tour with the U.S. Air Force. Prior to that, I had spent two years in California stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. It was a great assignment but after two years it was time to move on. I volunteered to go to Korea and was actually surprised when I got it. We were not really that independently wealthy and so there was no way I was going to be able to come home on vacation during the tour. I knew that but it was OK because even though I was married and had two kids by then, I was really ok with being alone. I've always had that liitle bit in me that actually preferred that anyway, so I was good.
I have always been a big guy ... I was up to 250 at one point in my life and hated it. I was a heavy diesel mechanic in the Air Force. I worked on 5,000 gallon fuel trucks that brought the jet fuel out to the planes. I will say I never was a particularly good mechanic and never enjoyed it as much as I could or probably should have. It was hard work but I did the best I could. I arrived at Osan Air Force Base, Korea, Iand started out in my regular shop. But because of my knack with paperwork and ability to efficiently run a minor maintenance and tire shop, I was soon moved over and put in charge of that section. It was also the section that took in all the vehicles with problems, diagnosed them, farmed them out to the proper shop and then did a quality assurance check before they left.
The best part about being there was the Airmen I worked with. I ran a pretty tight shop and everyone knew that while on duty, you were expected to give 110 percent but once we were off, they knew I would be waiting at the bar, ready to buy the first round for the guys. We were tight and I loved that!
The tire shop was a busy one. We did everything from regular car tires to tires that were taller by half than any of us were. In the summer, I had to wear a uniform to work and keep one at the office to change into. We busted our asses and sweated like pigs. When I got to Korea, I weighed about 220 (it was one of my light periods) but after a year in country, I had dropped about 35 to 40 pounds. This is me near the end, lying in my bunk in the dorms.
God I was a stud! and still am by Crackey!
Tonight's gratuitous shot comes with a story too. Every year, each unit at Osan picks an orphanage to adopt around the holidays. We bought gifts for all the children, snacks, cake ice cream, balloons, the freaking works man. We partied hard, we worked hard and we gave back hard. I was proud of my guys! Different cultures have different beliefs and and I'm down with that ... most of the time. Korea has tons with orphanages filled with kids that no one wants, much like America except it's because of those fucked up beliefs and I don't get that. These two girls are a perfect example of that.
The two girls in red were first-born twins. In the Korean culture it is imperative to have a son first. To have a daughter is bad luck. These two girls must have brought the black plague. You see, their mother stuffed their right hands in boiling water and held them there until they were just melted nubs. You can't really see it in the pic but believe me, I held those hands in mine and wept. She then threw them out like so much garbage. I'm sorry ... I'm tearing up as we speak. They were the sweetest, happiest, most beautiful girls I had ever seen in my life and it still breaks my heart that I couldn't adopt them and bring them back to the states. I fell in love with them that day and regret my inability to act on my wishes. I hope and pray that wherever they are today, they are happy and loved. And that's my story. If you hung in this far, thank you. If you want to know why we get Nekkid, go see the Wizard of Os and find out. HHNT everybody. Now pass me a freaking handkerchief and lets talk about life's regrets.
Comments
Happy HNT darling... What a great HNT and hey, I happen to think you're STILL very hot. :) It is sad about girls in other countries...
Posted by: Blondie | May 31, 2006 9:27 PM
ok, i was already crying and that just made me a blubbering idiot. what the fuck is wrong with people? i'm glad you were able to give them happiness that day, at least, and hopefully they were able to carry it with them for years to come.
maybe soldier boy can help some of the kiddies over there, too... bring some home if he can. :)
Posted by: Sis B | May 31, 2006 9:51 PM
Sad, gosh, sad!
But dayum....you are looking good in that picture! Almost as cute as that face we see today!
Happy HNT!
Posted by: Lee Ann | May 31, 2006 10:27 PM
you were/are such a hottie, hun and your heart is huge. love the pics.
i could tell you horror stories about a few kids in trinidad too that we wanted to adopt. hell can't burn hot enough for the ppl who harmed those 2 beautiful girls or the kids i saw. here's a handkerchief, just leave me a corner to use too.
happy HNT
Posted by: lime | May 31, 2006 10:48 PM
Man...what a story...I'm such a girl *sob*...
Great photos regardless of the sad story in which I had a girl moment.
Posted by: heather | May 31, 2006 10:49 PM
Yes baby, you looked hot, and still do! I have to agree with Lee Ann, I think youre even cuter today!
What a terrible thing that happened to these lovely girls. I hope they have love now too.....
HHNT Tommy! I went with one of your suggestions.., will save the other idea for when I can find some large shells! :P
Posted by: Susie | May 31, 2006 10:50 PM
So very sad! And you ARE hot...Happy HNT!
Posted by: Sassy | May 31, 2006 10:53 PM
Very nice, TommyGunn! I like ;) HHNT!
Posted by: Crimson | May 31, 2006 11:22 PM
TG, that's the best HNT I've read/seen tonight...thank you for sharing...
HHNT darlin'!
Posted by: Becca | May 31, 2006 11:51 PM
HHNT Tommy! I think you are adorable, and when I looked at this, I saw Red. Literally.
:) "the" MG
Posted by: HNT Mystery Guest | June 1, 2006 12:06 AM
dayum doesn't do it justice Tommy!
The story of the girls is sad, but they look happy as you say despite their hardships. It's interesting to wonder where they might be today.
Happy HNT
Posted by: the melody censor | June 1, 2006 12:34 AM
thanks for your service tommy!!
HHNT!
Posted by: steve | June 1, 2006 1:48 AM
I could just climb on that bed with you. Now do I see something just there up that left leg?
Happy HNT sweetie ;)
Posted by: Suze | June 1, 2006 3:31 AM
mmmmmmm life's regrets. Have you got time my friend???
PS. You are still a stud.
Posted by: Wenchy | June 1, 2006 4:45 AM
Very touching ...
HHNT
Posted by: Bellarosa | June 1, 2006 6:45 AM
What a great post! and I loved the pix, too:)
HHNT Tommy!
Posted by: sandi | June 1, 2006 7:20 AM
Great pic of you :)
Touching post too... breaks my heart and makes me feel like a shit for thinking I have problems...
Funny, I'm wearing my AF shirt today
hmmm....
HHNT!
Posted by: MG | June 1, 2006 8:13 AM
Definitely makes one want to take that mother and hold her head in the same pot of boiling water.....i would pull her back out every so often....let the kids think its a pinata (we ARE introducing them foreign cultures right? lol) and then shove her head back in the boiling water....ANYONE who harms a child deserves to die a merciless death....not a whole lot of people I wish something like that on ....
That being said...HHNT to you lol
BKS
Posted by: bks | June 1, 2006 8:13 AM
tommy, you have such a HUGE heart. how do you manage to keep it inside your chest?
great HNT and wonderfully told but oh so sad story.
regrets? how much time do we have?
Posted by: Leen | June 1, 2006 8:29 AM
Oh Tommy you was a hottie! You're still adorable! I miss my abs too,...
Those little girls made me wanna cry,..They can't be very old there,..My girls are 13, 12 & 10,...I saw their little faces when I read this & hated the people who made it wrong for those beautiful girls to be born.
Yes - a tragic story but we all need to see these things to never take for granted what we have & to try to help those less fortunate, thank you Tommy.
Posted by: Tragic | June 1, 2006 9:03 AM
What a heartbreaking story. I just don't get it. I have a son, and he's my firstborn, but oh, my two girls... I don't get a culture that doesn't value the wonder and fragility of ALL babies, regardless of gender.
But on a happier note, smokin' hot pic! You photograph well and you're a natural storyteller.
HHNT!
Posted by: orchid | June 1, 2006 9:39 AM
Thank you for a touching story. It's hard to imagine that type thing really happens in other cultures. And yes, you were a studly MOFO in those grey gov't issues. lol. Happy HNT, Tommy!!
Posted by: betchacantguesswho | June 1, 2006 10:48 AM
Great post and you were in great shape. Sad about the girls though. I don't get stuff like that. Happy HNT friend!
Posted by: BTExpress | June 1, 2006 1:36 PM
such the hottie... :)
and about the grrls...makes me wanna do bad things to the mom...just sayin
peace...
Posted by: Monkey | June 1, 2006 4:32 PM
Nice pic TG, very hot. The story of the girls made me cry. How sad, and totally effed up. I'm with Monkey on wanting to hurt that Monstedr/Mother.
Posted by: Chris | June 1, 2006 4:38 PM
What a sad story.
Posted by: Jay | June 1, 2006 5:05 PM
omg! what a beautiful, sweet story. and you're right....you WERE a stud;)
Posted by: melanie | June 2, 2006 4:59 PM
Oh yeah, very studly!
Thank you for sharing that story with us, even if it was a sad one. Those girls look so beautiful, how could anyone treat them so badly?
Happy late HNT!
Posted by: NoOneInParticular | June 2, 2006 5:16 PM
Ummmm... I see london, I see france!
WOW!
Posted by: addict | June 2, 2006 7:08 PM
dude, thats one fucked up story right there!
while in honduras i mentioned to a national friend how there were so many crippled people with bent limbs panhandling. he told me that there is more money inbeging than there is in the job market and most of them had their arms and legs bent like that as children by their parents.
man we lived in a messed up world!
Posted by: bricotrout | June 3, 2006 7:33 AM
I like that little bit of red you've got showing there you hot-daddy you.
Just so everyone knows, that same type of abuse happens every day in the US too. It's not just "other countries" And the majority of the injuries are from the parents trying to "teach my kid a lesson"
Posted by: Bama Girl | June 3, 2006 5:32 PM
I'm a bit behind making rounds on HNT! Great photos and stories to go with are always good. Happy HNT
Posted by: moosekahl | June 4, 2006 5:05 PM
Hot pics, Tommy! You've always been a stud, haven't ya?? And I love the story about the orphans in Korea. So sad! You're an awesome person. Love you, babe!
Posted by: Tish | June 7, 2006 11:57 AM