Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 45 years ago tonight

I was out of the Army, all but inactive reserve, and boarding a plan from Seattle, Wa. to St. Louis, Mo. and then to Little Rock, Arkansas. Free at last, free at last. miles

U.S. ARMY... Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet....

I remember that feeling. Still class IV- 4 even though the draft was over. 43 years ago.


Edit to add: Like the others, I know exactly how long I served, 4 years, 9 months, 2 days.

July 3rd was the 39th anniversary of my discharge and after seven years of active duty it was a real discharge.

42 for me in December.

45 in August. Green then, Rusty now

Well, Miles, didn't know you were that old - had me fooled. So, thank you for your service - and that goes for all of you vets. Appreciated!

miles got out of the service at 7 years old

he was always advanced for his age

but also my thanks to you vets

My hat is off to you and all that served honorably. Best wishes.

I left the Corps 20 years ago. It's never really left me. Regretted not going lifer. But life is good.

Thank you for your service

44 years last January 16. Remember it well. Flew into McGuire AFB early morning, and set foot on US soil for the first time in 3 years. Processed out that same day.

48 years for me after serving 6.

I lose track of the fact that we have a lot of older members. Man, there's a LOT of experience coming through these pages. My utmost respect goes out to all you guys, and of course thanks for your service. An indebted nation we are for sure. It's a pleasure to share these pages with you guys, heroes one and all.

Got out of the Army, in Oct. 1963, got discharged in May of 1964, served 3 yrs 11 months 13 days,the world has changed a lot since then. rio7

Most everybody that came out with an honorable discharge, (I did) served longer than me. I was drafted and got out on my return from Vietnam. One year, eight months, twenty-seven days, total. All the active reserves near me was full, so they put me on in-active, so no meetings, no camp. I got lucky in lots of ways. miles

42 years on 8 Dec., near 5 yrs in the machine. It was only yesterday...

i was just talking about this the other night with someone. 28 years 15 May for me. seems hard to believe. i still remember carrying all my crap down the steps of the barracks at Ft Myer and loading my 71 Camaro to the hilt and heading back to PA. I had one of my Bose 901's on the passenger seat and could barely see out the side or back. It was a great feeling. i don't remember any stress at all, just relief. if i did a major change like that these days, i would be a wreck. having a family that depends on your every move has something to do with it i'm sure.

Semper Fi its been 44 years,and there are no ex Marines.

Got out of the Navy 38 years ago come Sept. Was in for 5 years 5 months & 27 days.

38 yrs on 7/31....6 yrs service....like someone else said, wish I had stayed in...oh well...life has some funny twists and turns.

20 years departed from USMC back in April this year.

Graduated MCRD July 20 1990

3rd sqd leader, plt 3038

40 years for me. Discharged 07/19/1974. Honorably.

Is there any other way?







Oh wait, I forgot about the "bergdahl way".

Which is what Obama prefers.

42 yrs last May..Wouldn't trade my experience for a million dollars..well on the other hand maybe for a couple hundred thou...

Thank you all so much for the selfless service to our country. I don't think I qualify to post on this thread yet, as I'm still a little we behind the ears by some of your standards, but here goes. Discharged from USMC(R) into inactive 10 years ago next June.

kudo's to all who served during the 'Nam encounter, and thereby refused to flee to Canada.

My ets date was May 24, 1972, after beggig fro an extension from Jan 24, 1972 because graduate school didn't begin until June 1972, and I had no where to go in the interim. I was assigned to inactive reserve, as the RIF was in full swing.

no, Miles, I didn't go to Nam, I built the whole time beyond Basic at the Hood, in Central Texas.

Ok Dave, you scheitbird. (Drill Sargent's term of endearment)

In 1972 we would have given Bergdahl a little blanket party.

We had schitbirds, and blanket parties.

These days, a blanket party might cause PTSD and who knows? schitbird might be...... racist?



It's a kinder/gentler corps.


or as Obama would say... "corpse"

I have no problem that you did not go to Vietnam, but I do have a problem with your pizzing and moaning about being drafted while that war was going on. I also have a problem with things that you said to, and about some of the Veterans here. miles

In the Navy we would have bashed him up side his head and float tested him off the fantail on the mid watch after wrapping him in some chain.

in my mind, you are free to believe whatever you want. no issue with me whatsoever.

I did my time, and never gave one thought about escape and evasion. was it worth it? who could possibly know.

Tricky Dick gave us a free-market with Vietnam. did he do good before he resigned? I do not know. he granted me a six-month early out, and the E-9 in my group optioned to grant me another four months of active duty, for my personal needs. the Lifers treated me well, and I did my best to meet their needs.

was the draft righteous? of course not, it was an example of poor leadership from the top down. my NCO's and Officers I reported to knew that.

It was fifty-three years ago for me it was on June 8, 1961 from U.S. Naval Hospital Jacksonville, Florida.

Man! You guys are old.

I got out in Jan of 2007. I would still be in but they told me that there is no room for vertigo in the Army. 6yrs 3mos. 1 week 6 days.