I've seen things...

Ally Butler, a Desert Shield Veteran with a bit of a
potty mouth writes me and I'm not sure if she likes me
or not, but this chick's got my respect and she's my
hero.

"Hi Jerry, I was a Staff Sergeant in the Marine Corps
with Marine Air Control Group One (MACS 1) we deployed
to the Persian Gulf. When the military was first
deployed into the Persian Gulf theater, they were not
allowed to take the women of their unit.

It was said at that point that to take the women in
what the Arabian society considered "men's roles"
would offend them and that would hurt the war effort.
I was the only military intelligence specialist in my
unit. I donned my gear, my weapons and a very
concealing flak jacket. Ten days after the beginning
of the war I was in-country with my fellow Marines. I
kept a low profile and did the job I that I had
trained with my unit for 3 years to do. I am told that
I was one of the first women in-country at that time.

I was a farm girl. Grew up listening to heavy metal.
And thought anyone like you, who tried to tell me
about life on other planets or that we even went to
the moon was a jackass.

I can hear a sly smile behind your voice when you read
these sincere letters from poor folks who've
encountered things their minds have a hard time
getting around. Well, shame on you for making fun of
them if that's what you are doing!

I've seen things I hope my kids never see. I've been
to the part of the world where I was never born to
see. In the desert night sky my unit saw many odd
things from the oldest part of the planet. I met many
people who not only saw things with their own eyes,
but with multi-million dollar equipment. There is more
in this universe than men who wage war with each
other. I've seen things, so shut the hell up if you
can't believe what your listeners are telling you.
Don't make fun of what you don't know."