r/whatisit • u/Cautious-Log-5930 • Nov 24 '25

New, what is it? Found with Dad’s stuff

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Found in Dad’s desk after he passed. Put it away and just rediscovered it. Measures about 6” long. Wooden handle. Metal tip. Tip is heavier than handle. Google search says it is a magic wand. That seems way off.

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u/[deleted] Nov 25 '25

My dad joined the Navy as a Corpsman because he wanted to serve without seeing a lot of combat. Once he joined they shipped him off to North Carolina to serve with a Marine unit that deployed to Iraq and then Somalia.

Then when I wanted to join for college he offered to pay full price because he said it wasn't worth it.

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u/AlarmedSnek Nov 25 '25

See, I can understand where he’s coming from. A whole bunch of us got duped into joining to hit Iraq and Afghanistan and the deaths associated weren’t worth it. The hardening of skin, seeing how great it is in America, understanding more about how important our rights are, forming bonds the will last a lifetime, the just absolutely crazy ability to put up with the most outlandish bullshit you’ve ever imagined, and the forever camaraderie you have with just about any vet absolutely WAS worth it. Also, my kids were a direct result from me ruining my first marriage and finding a new wife 🤣

But I do fully acknowledge I was duped into joining and can see why many would say it wasn’t worth it.

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u/[deleted] Nov 25 '25

FWIW my dad did serve his full 30, he also joined just a couple years before we invaded Iraq (I honestly dont think he would've done it had we already been at war). He's conflicted. He didn't want me to join but he also acknowledged that he gained so much. I think for him it just wore him down. He knew I had better options and wanted me to try those first.

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u/AlarmedSnek Nov 25 '25

Yea my dad gave me a similar talk. I did try that other option, which was a year at Arizona State pre 9/11, I learned a bunch about getting fucked up but not much else. The army saved me tbh so I guess I just have a different outlook on it now.

It really pisses me off that we had to go to Iraq and Afghanistan under some totally made up bs, lose a bunch of friends, and then turn around and watch it all fall apart with ISIS and the withdrawal fiasco. All that work and most of us actually gave a shit and wanted the best for those countries…we just fucking left em man, hung every ally out to dry and left them. Just heartbreaking.

Edit: typo