[BigRedChief]

I risked my life way more times than I should have between ages 18-25. Probably more than 100. Most were going into areas of the world I had no business being in as an American and or not native.

That doesn't count working on an oil rig in the late 70's-early 80's that had a 50% injury rate within a year. Sharks swimming below the rigs. Had a rig blow out not too far from us. People died. Could hear their screams of help and death. Got off the rig in the morning and never worked out there again.

I'll give you one.... In Jersalem there is an "Arab Quarter", not the tourist one but where they have actually lived for centuries. No non-Muslims is allowed into that area. Traditionally the only non-Muslims allowed in this living area is conquering armies.

I wanted to go but the Israeli army patrols the area to keep the tourists from wandering into this area, I went up into Davids tower and watched their patrols and figured out how to get past them into that area.

Worked. Got in tool my pictures, got yelled at and killer death stares but people left me alone until I took the pic of the old man below. He was old school and through a translator telling me what he is shouting that I've stole his soul. Now there is a crowd. I know I'm in trouble. I apologize and push through the crowd back towards the tourist area. He's following me with his donkey yelling at me. I have to make a turn and in the street are 6-7 young men wearing kifahs. They wernt carrying weapons that I could see so I figured I could take out a couple and make a run for the last 100 yards to the tourist area.

I took out 2-3 but then I took a bat or something like that to the stomach that I never saw coming. Perforated my stomach and I went to the ground. They started kicking me from all directions on the ground. Couple of broken ribs, bruised kidney, 2 stitch's in the corner of my mouth, 6 loosen teeth. I thought what a dumbshit to go out like this and then I hear automatic gunfire burst, 2-3 rounds.

It was the Israelis and the Arabs ran away. The Israelis picked me up and helped me back to the tourist part. Called an Ambulance. Embassy visited me in the hospital and said the Israelis won't be charging me that I'd already been taught a lesson on why its off limits to tourists.