Souvineer From Gulf War I by PSDuck
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Description
Bahrain, it was hot and bright. When you stepped off the plane, you were assaulted by the all too bright light...you could hardly see. Enlisted men grumbled about the lack of sunglasses; officers put theirs on; officers who did not have "shades" bit their tongues and did not complain, preserving the class distinction between the officer corps and the enlisted men. The air assaulted your lungs. It was scorchingly hot and almost lacked moisture. (The sore throat and nosebleed stage of acclimatization would start tonight.) Sometimes being stationed near a beach did not help.
For all the oppression of the environment, the people and officials of Bahrain were genuinely welcoming, smiling and friendly. They knew that without us, Saddam would turn his imperialist attention to them. Here, in this small pocket of "the Sandbox", the United States troops were the honest to goodness defenders of liberty, literally keeping the slavering wolves of rape and destruction away from their doors. Practically ignored by the western press, the people here knew what befell many women and girls in Kuwait. (Yes, girls were raped - sometimes to death - by their Iraqi conquerers!)
Amidst all this, souvineer kiosks appeared quicker than you could blink. Americans have a reputation of souvineer hunters thru-out the world, and deservedly so. One such booth was run by some plucky Palestinians making unauthorized logo t-shirts that sold as fast as water evaporating on a hot Sahara afternoon.
This photo shows the front of one of the t-shirts. The next two will show the different backs. I own these shirts, mailed to me by a life-long friend who was there, in addition to other souvineers. Thanks, Ken!
Please be aware that the use of the "Hard Rock Cafe" logo was a complete rip-off. I cannot condone any rip-offs. However, I do want to share this with you.
Thanks for looking, and for any comments you make. Share your thoughts, good and bad, with me and others. It makes us all community, and this is what we do.
A big "Thanks!" to all of you who have fovorited me or any of my submissions. Vielen dank! Mille grazie!
Comments (16)
flavia49
wonderful capture!
neiwil
Rip offs are available the world over, but this has a point and a link to recent history.The best thing is the humour of it, and let's be honest...would Hard Rock really object to this sort of publicity? more likely kicking themselves for not thinking of it..... Really enjoying this walk down memory lane......
Osper
Good one!!!!!!!
TommyG21
Very funny. I find military humor very funny. They have the ability to deflect serious and horrific events to lighter fare (perhaps to deal with it). Looks like these Palestinians tapped into that. Nice pic. From the comment "Enlisted me..." makes me assume you served. If you did, THANK YOU! My brother was there this time around and said when you get off the plane it's 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Then the wind hits you and it's like someone is blowing a hair dryer in your face.
jocko500
cool
bmac62
A place I didn't get to but exceedingly glad we did our thing to stave off the barbarism foistered on Kuwait. There are no international policemen...but if a capable force doesn't intervene...criminals often run wild. Libya now poses a big question mark.
cryptojoe
Yeah, strange how an armistice without total victory in World War I lead to World War II; and how an drawing the line in the detestable UN Sand like we did no Korea, lead to Gulf War II. You know what they say about history, is true; THOSE WHO DO LEARN FROM THE MISTAKES OF HISTORY ARE DOOMED TO WATCH EVERYONE ELSE REPEAT THEM. Thanks for the memories, and a reminder.
renecyberdoc
excellent and i like the way you describe the "daikly"bizz. we only see vast military operations and laser guided shit and all that. but the troops on the ground with all the inconvenineces we gladly forget while sitting and farting in our comfortable chairs at the other end of the world. hail to the men and women who defend liberty.
UteBigSmile
Rhanagaz
Excellent capture and story! :o)
FaeMoon
LOL! I was overseas when my ex was stationed there and often we'd see these sorts of ripoffs, but they were awesome fun! I used to love when you would see ones slightly mangled with the language barrier. This brightened my day!
PSDuck
@TommyG21: My bad!: a typo ended up "enlisted me", not "enlisted men". My heartfelt appologies. I was not in the military (rather, law enforcement - unsworn - of Nevada, and a city in California). I grew up in a military family (Navy/Marine brat with an interest in the Army). I never have tried to pass myself off as anything else: I harbor severe feelings for those who pass themselves off as veterens, and are not. I lost cousins in Vietnam, as well as (literally) all my best male friends at the time (who either died or came back so shot up as to be barely recognizable). One is still KIA-BNR (killed in action - body not recovered). You'd think that would have soured me on the military. It did not, it strengthened my love for military men and women of all branches and ranks. One service I still offer to any police or military members is free consultation on (terminal) ballistics, bullets and types ... etc. So, aside from family, my ties to the military/police community are still extant. Tommy, MY hearty "Thanks" to your brother. @CryptoJoe: A Peace is made, not dictated. The latter happened at the end of WWI. Clemenceau of France was an ardent hater of anything German or Teutonic. Lloyd George went along with him in punishing Germany. All those two did was build the bomb that was to be WWII, and light the slow fuze. We must look to a bright future whilst keeping a solid eye on the truth of the past. (And not the politicized "history" with which we are constantly being bombarded.)
sandra46
EXCELLENT CAPTURE
debbielove
Cool T-shirt! I would LOVE this... I collect shirts.. REALLY, I do! lol Good one. :-) Rob
danapommet
Looks great for a Palestinian counterfeit T-shirt and a wonderful souvenir. Dana
mariogiannecchini
Beautiful capture, Allen ! T-shirts much sought after by kids around the world! Interesting story !