I was a disliked abandoned stepson. But there was a "Nam Vet" that had only a daughter and was the kind of guy that really needed a son. I became that kid to him and started hanging with/being taught warring kinda stuff by him starting at about 13. Before I was 18 I had skills w/had used-most handgun/rifle/shotgun calibers single/semi/auto fire. Grenades, primer cord, dynamite, small black powder cannons, improvised projectiles, combat canine training, blah, blah, blah. Could field strip/reassemble/shoot the living shit out of an M-16 before ever enlisting. Even took some combat pistol training, and slung lead with Mike Plaxco, the pro shooter/gunsmith when I think I was about 15. I have reloaded hundreds of thousands of rounds so I could shoot them. That was his shooting rule..."Blow through all the rounds you want kid... but you're pulling the lever for every empty brass reload I already had re-loaded!" He was a guy that "Flew in a Huey"! Taught me much!