Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How many served your country in the armed forces?

U.S. Army 1986-2009, Infantry, Retired 1SG

US Navy E-1 to E-7 MM, east coast and west coast, 5 ships 1 shore station

U.S. Army.

Enlisted July 4, 1967 discharged June 27, 1970......Sgt. E-5.

Yes.
Sgt Zihn by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

Me, ----------- but quite a few years ago.

Uncle Sam didn't ask.
I didn't offer.

In 1969, I enrolled in college. I was 18. In the fall, LBJ reintroduced the draft.
My number was 324! LBJ said he would draft through number 275.

Knew lot'sa guys that had gone to "the Nam" and come back.
NONE of them had anything good to say. EVERY ONE of them told me, "Don't go if you don't have to!"
Therefore, I didn't join any branch of the military.
After the US got out of SE Asia in 1973, I should have joined SOME branch and served.
By that time, I had 5 years seniority on a good, union job.
If I were drafted, they would hold my seniority.
If I volunteered, I would have lost my seniority.
I just stayed with the job.

My paternal grampa, a WWI vet, volunteered after Pearl Harbor but was turned down.
My dad had joined the Nat'l Guard. After Pearl Harbor, his Guard unit call a special meeting where they were told to number off, 1 through 4.
Number 1's went to the Army, number 2's to the Navy and number 3's to the Marines.
Number 4's got to stay home and serve in the Guard.
Pop was shipped to Camp Pendleton where he went through basic.
On "graduation" day, their DI told them to pack up and be at "Point A" in 20 minutes.
At Point A, they were told, "They're cutting your orders. If you have friends or family, I suggest you write them. It may be a long time before you get another chance!"
Dad was writing a letter when the DI came by and asked, "Who are you writing, son?"
Dad said, "My wife and daughter." (My oldest sister was born in July, 1941)
"You have a daughter?", the DI asked.
"Yes sir.", dad answered.
The DI told dad to gather his gear and be at "Point B" in 20 minutes.
When Dad got to Point B, the DI handed him his discharge papers and told him, "Have a good life son!"
Pop didn't ask or argue, he just went back home.
Until the day he died, he never knew why.

Army. One hitch

1972-1975, US ARMY, "B Company 10th Engr. Bn." 12B20/64M20.

1977-2009, Watervliet Arsenal, making the big boomer guns...

Not yet, but I fear it is coming to us all.
Thanks to all who served with honor.

USAF 1975-2001. Retired Lt Col.

Volunteered in 1962 for the Air Force, flunked the physical. Army, Navy, Marines would not take me.I ended up in a job for 30 years that was worse.

USAF Nov 1960-OCT 1964
PJ

Memorial Day is not a celebration of veterans. It has turned into a bbq or camping at the lake event.

Memorial Day is a day to honor the fallen heroes who sacrificed it all.

Remind me in November and I’ll post my service dates.

WAM, out.

Also be respectful of veterans and don’t shoot fireworks on 4th of July near their house..

ETS.. End This Schitt...

US Army Medical Corps, Sept 1975 to Dec 31, 1982. 91 Bravo, 91 Charlie, 91 Sierra, 54 Echo, 300 F1 Med Course.

Salute of Respect for all that GAVE IT ALL. for all wars that this nation has been in or lost their lives during peace time, via accidents etc.

Tommorow is about the dead.


Not the living...
Nov 11th is for the rest of us O2 users...

USN 1988-1995, nuclear reactor mechanic/water chemist.

Celebrated my 23rd birthday 400’ under the Arctic ice cap, hunting Soviet subs.

7 years, 3 months, and 16 days.

In as an O1, under Carter, and out as an O3 under Reagan.

I think that our Country would be a better place if every able-bodies and mentally fit citizen had to go through military basic training, as it would give more people exposure to people from other parts of the U.S. and it would give all of them a shared experience. The Swiss have a program that looks good to me.

People have told me that they knew that I must have been in the military when they saw that I keep my records in 3-ring binders.

US Army Medical Corps 85-97. US Army civilian 97-2017. Boss said he'd pay me to stay home on Halloween, 2017.