I retired from the Army after 23 years in 1988. Doing the bang-bang, shoot-em up thing over in Vietnam was the worst by far. But, I don't think that's the real intention of this thread.

The last three years I was in the Army, I was the logistics manager of a small Army base in Germany. I was reponsible for the Dining Facility (Mess Hall), Education Center, Library, Bowling Alley, Movie Theater, NCO and Officers Clubs, the various Craft Shops, the maintainence and disposition of 87 military vehicles, maintaining 11 different duty rosters, etc. I was also responsible for the safety and well-being of about 2,000 soldiers. I had a 17 million dollar buget for which I was responsible and had a staff of 17 to manage. I was also the Public Affairs Officer for the base. I had the opportunity of having been "misquoted" in both German & English! My immediate supervisor was a two-star general. It was a tough, demanding job, but I actually liked it.

So, when I retired, I thought I would get me a little part-time job with little or no responsibility...something to keep me busy and put a some change in my pocket. I flipped burgers for Burger King for 4 months. I had more fun being responsible for 17 million dollars and all that other stuff than I did flipping burgers.

I went home every night smelling like stale grease and my feet and back were obliterated from standing on tile floor for 6 - 8 hours with only a 20 minute lunch break. For me, that was the worst, other than Vietnam.

Alan