Tradition

Posted By on November 9, 2003 at 7:25 am

Long ago, Acidman had a bad experience with gin. Now, he’s on speaking terms with it, at least. Good.
In 1988, I had just been posted to Korea, and our “op-tempo” was pretty high. From April until September of that year, our routine was to spend 3 or 4 weeks in the field, up near the DMZ, then three or four days in garrison, refitting, before heading right back up to the DMZ for another mission.
We had a little ritual each time we deployed to the field, involving gin. We’d dress up in some decent civilian attire (which was almost invariably jeans and a button-down shirt) and head to the NCO Club on our post, Camp Hovey. There, we would consume pitchers of Gin & Tonics.
Not having been much of a gin man myself (I prefer a single-malt Scotch now, particularly Glenmorangie and The Glenlivet, and back then I was an unsophisticated Bud man, thankyouverymuch), I was rather put off by the taste, but for the sake of comradeship, a man will do a great many things he might not otherwise do.
Nowadays, every now and again, I pour some gin, add a little tonic water, and drop in a quarter of a lime. And I think of the great men with whom it was my privilege to serve.
Why G&Ts? I don’t know. Someone started the ritual long before I got to Korea; I hope that the tradition has continued in 1st Platoon, A Company, 102nd MI Battalion. Confido!
Veterans Day is almost upon us again.
I’d better go buy some limes.

Comments

3 Responses to “Tradition”

  1. Acidman says:

    SIP IT, and it’s okay. Drink a gang of that shit and you’ll think you’re puking pine bark and Christmas tree limbs.
    Trust me. I’ve been there and DONE that.

  2. Gin, single malt. Hey I’m going to Pinehurst this weekend. I’ll raise one to you while we are in NC!

  3. chris hall says:

    Being a whisky man, you should check out Pathetic Earthlings, clearinghouse for all your single-malt scotch needs:
    http://www.patheticearthlings.com/