I sat with a circle vets once in a new support group. Each one took a turn to say when they were in what they did. Some witnessed horrific things, while others had it very easy and felt guilty for it. When we finished, the host reminded us all that we served where they sent us, and the one sacrifice everyone of us made was when we raised our hand and agreed I do. After that we went where someone else told us.
Engineer heavy equipment mechanic...and boy did they get their moneys worth...12 hour days. But...I don't think we were ever shot at, one time Charlie fired a mortar in our direction...infantry put a stop to that schidt right now...Charlie is probably orbiting the earth still.
Started out in the USN as a signalman (visual comms) and that rate was disestablished so I was converted to quartermaster (navigation specialist) and I finished out as a Riverine (Expeditionary Warfare) with multiple combat tours along the Euphrates River in Iraq.
"a Riverine (Expeditionary Warfare)" is that what they call the "Brown Water Navy"? I saw a poster about that on a guy's office wall but never got the chance to ask about it.
"a Riverine (Expeditionary Warfare)" is that what they call the "Brown Water Navy"? I saw a poster about that on a guy's office wall but never got the chance to ask about it.
Yep. Brown Water Navy. They brought it back for the Euphrates in Iraq. Fun outfit. Lots of trigger time.
Marines 91-00. Original was a 3521 diesel mechanic. That only lasted a couple years. Went to gizmo in 94 and basically just pulled security. Then I&I duty in AK with a recon unit. Airforce did our maintenance so I was just a whatever the way the wind blows type of Marine up there. I was supply, in charge of the armory, RSO, helped with training and basically the scrounger since I knew alot of people up there. Not much I couldn't get up there. After that in Okinawa I was in charge of the light duty transmission shop. Since I was getting out, I was asked to take an office job since a young SSgt wanted to be a lifer and needed the MOS experience.
Army Reserves 1994-2001 as a 62J General Equipment Operator
Active Army 2001-2021 as a 91W/68W Combat Medic. I spent most those years in combat arms units and deployed three times. I saw things I wish I could unsee.
I like the OP comment “the host said some of us had it easy and felt guilty for it”, I feel that way sometimes. I initially enlisted as a Combat Engineer, Army during Vietnam. As a hundred or more were at the Coral Gables, Fl. way station to transport out to basic, three names were called over the intercom to report to the office. We were told because we all had too many dependents (more than one) we needed a waiver to go Army or Marines, take about 6 weeks. I couldn’t wait 6 wks I needed a job, he said Navy and Air Force do not need waivers. I’m thinking, I’ve grown very fond of a woman’s “company” I’m NOT enlisting in the Navy for months and months on a ship, so I went Air Force. So, compared to combat, I had it easy, 20 years, retired, E8, feeling a little guilty every so often
I had 8 yrs in the Air Force. Airborn Early Warning and Control Tech. Nice name for a scope dope! That would be radar ops! Worked as a survelience tech, hight tech and weapons control tech. While station In Germany I was the unit small arms NCO and assistant security NCO. Was first of it's kind unit. Could deploy anywhere worldwide and establish radar ops in something like 24 hrs, can't remember for sure how long. Got out as an E-5
Air Force Intelligence. 2 years in Alaska and 2 in Taiwan. No question some faced/did a lot more than I. Especially since that was the height of Viet Nam. Always happy to buy those guys a beer but have no problem sitting at the table with them. I would have gone where I was sent and knew it was a possibility when I joined. Just lucked out in my assignments. No shame there.
My Air Force job morphed several times. In the early 70’s we were called Veterinary Technicians. We inspected all the food that arrived on base and all the facilities that served it. We also inspected all plants around us that made or sold food to Uncle Sam. Spent a lot of time in fish plants in Maine as for some reason the military bought large amounts of fish and canned sardines. We also took care of all the sentry dogs and pets belonging to military members and retires. In the early 80’s we dropped the animal care and picked up Public Health duties where we eventually were doing more Public Health functions than food inspection. It was a very challenging job and every day was something new.
Air Force Air Traffic Controller for 21 year. Four states and four foreign countries. Retired in 2008 and back working beside the active duty as a DoD controller. Five more years until full retirement.
UH-! Gunnery IP OH-6 IP Instrument IP (Ft. Rucker) Aviation Safety Officer and Accident Investigator B/2/17th Air Cav Camp Eagle RVN '69-'70 HHT/2/17th ACS Camp Eagle RVN '71-'72 B/1/9th Air Cav Bien Hoa '72 B/229th AHC, 1st Cav Bien Hoa '72 B/7/17th Air Cav Pleiku '72
A little less that 5 years, 2.5 dodging bullets. Grew weary of the noise and bailed out.
Heavy equipment operator, Navy Seabees, MagV Taiwan 1966-68, Base maintenance/Base supply Chulai, Vietnam 1968/69. They told me I could stay in country an extra 6 months or get a year early out, no brainer.
Heavy equipment operator, Navy Seabees, MagV Taiwan 1966-68, Base maintenance/Base supply Chulai, Vietnam 1968/69. They told me I could stay in country an extra 6 months or get a year early out, no brainer.
Were I to do it over and stay Navy - Seabee community would be my choice. Assumes I remained an enlisted guy with bad color vision and couldn't fly Navy.
Like Snowwolfe, my job title changed three times, but the work never did. I joined the air force as a wpns technician (air). That changed to Air Wpns Systems Tech and finally, avionics tech. I'm not really sure why the last change happened, but by that time I was teaching armament at the air school and closing in on retirement.
JUNE 7 1964 TO December 15 1967, US Navy, enlisted at 17 while still in high school. 5 days after graduation I was on a plane to GHreat Laked Naval Training Center. Graduated from boot camp and after leave returned to Great Lakes for Machinist Mate A school. Graduated fromm A school and was assigned to the USS Rushmore LSD 14 which I caught in Gulf Juan France. The ship was stationed in Little Creek VA. Made two Med Cruises and a North Atlantic Cruise and made Blue nose. Also a Cruise to Cuba to pick up a capsul with an astronaut from space shot, where we got into a pizzing contest with a couple of Russial trawlers that were there to watch the capsul p/u. The Captain ordered GQ and the guns were locked and loaded and the trawlers arned to get out of our way which they did. Spent a couple of days in Guantanamo Bay for a shake down cruise after we left the ship yards in Newport News VA. Due to Viet Nam draft numbers the navy was getting a lot of recruits so I was give a Christmas cut on my hitch aand was seporaated on Dec 15 1967. I made 2nd class but I did not have enough time on my hitch to be promoted so I got out a 3rd cladss petty officer. Had I extended for 6 months I would have gotten another stripe on my crow. I now regret that I didn't extend.
oldtimr1, I was assigned to the Rushmore in 1966 after MM A school, 66 -68. Left as MM2, I was port pump room, and #2 engine room Was on the capsule cruise, remember the GQ well. Served on 4 other ships, and 1 shore duty. MMC at the end
Janitor! Grew up! Transitioned from a liberal [bleep] to full on republican. Gained confidence, pride, and love for country.
Oh, and I guess full time diesel mechanic, MRK19 gunner, gunner in convoy gun truck made of plywood and sand bags ratchet strapped together in the back of a duce, enjoyed time in Germany, woke up with a 2" layer of dust blanketing me some mornings, burnt my hands on hot tools to fix trucks all day, drank river water in 3rd world countries, jerked off in portajohns, unpacked tents just to unfold them then refold them then repack them, stacked sand bags, bitched and complained too much about my marriage, did PT in mopp5, listened to the Brits playing bagpipe while wandering through a sand storm, smoked horrible raghead cigarettes for $5 a carton, thought back about how I missed basic, worked from 6am to 8pm Monday-Sunday, drank every one of those little tobasco bottles in the MREs. Oh and the guilt thing is real. I feel guilty about never getting in any firefights, but also realize we all were willing to give our life if that was what was needed.
Then throughout life, always having an instant connection with new Vets you meet. When attending college after military, our vets club had to install sound proofing because we were too offensive to the fragile normal students, fun times.
USAF : I started out as an aircraft welder because I wanted to serve my country as a non-combatant. Eventually, I joined a PRIME BEEF Team as a general metal worker but retired as a Construction Project Manager. Assignments took me to Michigan, northern California, Illinois, Hawaii. South Korea, Japan, South Dakota, and Saudi Arabia. - Sherwood
20+ years of memories, 8 PCS’, countless TDY’s, met hundreds if not thousands of good people, waded through a sh.. ton of BS but didn’t know that I was having a great time (yeah right, now that it’s behind me)
Army tanker, 1975-1978. 3/2 ACR. A combat ready unit in Germany. We also pulled border patrol on the Czechoslovakian border. We spent 9 months out of a year in the field.
12b combat engineer and I drove squad truck with C4 and some land mine and our squad members in the back Of truck something I never forget The Gulf War 1990-1991 (Operation Desert Shield/ Desert Storm)
Air Force Air Traffic Controller for 21 year. Four states and four foreign countries. Retired in 2008 and back working beside the active duty as a DoD controller. Five more years until full retirement.
ATC.... Always Taking Coffee....
Flew In Helicopter Unit, flying Med Evac on a Huey for 2 years....
U.S. Airforce; Security specialist, ABGD, sky marshal, nuclear missiles and warheads and guarded Buff's. Trained with Marines and German army, Canadian forces.
