Wednesday, December 2, 2009   by 13 Stoploss  Sergeant So and So
of the United States Army called me this morning. He asked how I
was, very open-endedly. Seizing the moment to shove that trash
back in his face, I told him I was in school and loving it. I
could practically see him reading down a list of approved
responses when he asked me what I was studying and where. I told
him journalism at UC Irvine and that he should look into school
himself.  He laughed, and was not controlling the conversation
very well. I could tell he was new to this, and was a little
timid.  I asked him if he was local. He laughed, said “yeah,”
and he asked me if I was having any trouble paying for school.
This dude didn’t even know I was a veteran? I thought he was
trying to get me back in, but he was just trying to get me
in—like I was some poor student affected by the recent 32%
tuition increase to the UC.  I asked him if he’s heard of
Chapter 33. You know, the Post-9/11 GI Bill?  “Nah, I haven’t.”
“Ahh, that’s too bad, bro. I