Figure I would start a Vet Fourm and let it run its course.

My name is Bill
US Army 1987- 1995 Active
27 B ( Land combat Support Systems Test Specialist)
Airborn / Air assult / Ranger
Ft Leonardwood Basic
Redstone Arsenol AIT
Benning Airborn
Off to Wiesbaden Germany
Back to Ft Campbell
ETS and spent a year 1/2 at ft Indiantown Gap PA ( Res)

Oldest Boy Charlie, MP at Ft Richardson
Youngest Boy going in 94a in Oct

Gotammo--Where did you take your Ranger training? Web

US Army 1967-1970
94B20 - cook
Basic - Ft Gordon, Ga
AIT - Ft Lee, Va
46th Field Artillery, Ft Carson, Co. 1968-1969
1st Inf Brigade, 5th Infantry Div (Mech), Vietnam, 1969-1970
The 5th Inf was OPCON to the 3rd Marine Div and operated with them from the Khe Sahn Plains to the DMZ.

Big Al, thanks for the service!and welcome to the Campfire

Robert
US Air Force 2004-2008 Active
AFSC 3P051 - Security Forces
Basic - Lackland AFB, TX
Tech School - Lackand AFB, TX
5th Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, ND. 2004-2008

Bill,

Thanks for starting the post.

Scott
USMC
1989-present

Big Al..my uncle died at Khe Sahn, thanks for your service.

Scott

USMC
68-72
RVN 69-71
1/1

u.s. army
80-84
o5d10

ft. dix - basic
ft.devens - ait
usafsa - perm. duty.
ets'd
then went to work for state, then dia.

walked away 1991, became a truck driver.

this is my story and i'm sticking to it, even tho i did more and took other training, that isn't on my dd214.

Woody..

USAF 68-72
Basic,Lackland AFB TX
Weapons training Lowry AFB Denver
Eglin AFB FL gunship training at Hurlburt
Phucat AFB Vietnam
Kunsan AFB S.Korea
Offutt AFB Omaha NE.

US Army 1974-1977
Fort Ord, CA Basic Training
Fort Rucker, AL - Helicopter Mechanic School
HHC 1st Brigade 9th Infantry Division Fort Lewis,WA
MOS 67V (OH-58 Kiowa) & 67N (UH-1H Huey) Crew Chief

Goodness, you're really going to test my memory.

July 1976, BCT @ Ft. Dix
45L, Artillery Repair, APG, Md.
C-709th Maint Bn, (weapons repair) Ft. Lewis, WA '77-'80
CRTC, Ft. Greeley, AK, '80-'81
55D AIT, EOD, Redstone, AL then IndianHead Nav Ord Sta, MD Oct '81 to June '82.
Tech Escort, Edgewood Arsenal, MD, mostly TDY all the time, '82-'83.
Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah '83-'86.

Got out as E-6 to use Vietnam era GI Bill before it expired Dec '89; use or lose. Rcvd BS.

Utah NG, MP, '89-'90
USAR, 90 (only 6 months waiting to go back on active duty.
'90 79R AIT, Ft Ben Harrison
Active Reserve as recruiter and medical recruiter, Provo and Salt Lake City, Utah, '90 to 2002
Retired with 24 years total.
Continued to work as contract recruiter and medical recruiter, Orem, Provo and Salt Lake City 2002 til March 2009 when O'bama kicked all 500 of us to the curb.

Now, I stay home and take care of my wife on dialysis and 13 yr old son. I'm only 52.

Alan

USAF Cop 3P0X1
1986-now.

I'm surprised not too many folks have chimed in here. I think there are a lot more veterans on the campfire.

Thanks to those who did and thanks for serving.

scott

Shootdogs, man your a long hauler! Thanks for a life time of service!

Don

USAF
1954-1958
Basic:
Lackland San Antonio TX
Training:
Jet Aircraft B-47 Bomber Mechanic
Amarillo TX

Served:
Korea-1954-1955
At K-2 Taegu and K-55 Osan
In the 310th Fighter Bomber Squadron
With F-86F

1956 went to Gieger Field Spokane WA
In Aero Maintenance on F-86 and F-102

Took my discharge and always wondered
if I should have stayed in. No jobs for
Jet Mechanics as there were no commercial
jet aircraft in the Northwest at the time.
Even Boeing had a big layoff at the time.

I did well after going back to school after
my discharge.
Went for Electronics shooling on GI Bill.

Yeah, now I gotta figure out something to do when I grow up! Retiring within the next few months or so.

USAF 2/81-5/86
AFSC - 30554F Electronic Computer & Switching Systems Specialist
Basic - Lackland TX
Tech School - Keesler Miss
1/82 - 5/84 - Barksdale Louisiana 46 CG
Tech School - Austin TX
9/84 - 9/85 - OSAN AB Korea 6903 ESG Skivvy Nine
9/85 - 5/86 - NMCC Pentagon
Discharged Sgt E-4

When I started this thread I thought there would be more Vets posting, I am going to add two that I know.
Both of my Boys,
Charlie is a MP stationed at Ft Richardson right now
Went to Ft Leonardwood for basic
Lenordwood for AIT
Ft Benning for Airborne

My youngest son Zack just signed up,
He is going to be a 94A
Same MOS as I had 20 years ago (27B)
Ft Leonardwood basic in Oct
Ft Lee VA for AIT
Ft Benning for Airborne

These guys are keeping it in the family!

usaf 6-52-5/56 [afsc 43171w]
basic: sampson afb ny
a/c mech. sheppard afb tx.
93rd bw 328 bomb sqdn. castle afb ca.[kb29s b50s]
in and out of korea 53-54 [b50s]
flt. eng. school moses lake wa.[c124s]
2nd stratic support sqdn castle afb[still classified][c124s]
ladd afb alaska [c47s and l-20s] ferret missions
served missions in many parts of world should have stayed in.
discharged from u.s. naval base seattle wa.[ nothing on dd214 except flt. badge[wings] ]

USAF Basic, Dec 68, OTC Apr 69, Weapons Controller School July 69,
AEW sqd McCoy AFB, Fla Sept 69-Apr 70
Pharmacy Officer Robins AFB, Ga 70-72
Pharmacy Officer Izmir, Turkey 72-74
Pharmacy Officer Eglin AFB, Fl 74-79

Inactive Res 70-91
Active Res 91-97
Pharmacy Officer, RAF Little Rissington, UK (Contingency hospital for Desert Storm)

Army Corp of Engineers 62E20 bulldozer operator,1963-1966 .

Bob

First post

Army Infantry 11B3P
99-Present
OSUT& Aiborne- Ft Benning
Ft Bragg NC 99-03
Schofield BKS HI 03-07
Ft Knox KY 08-10
OEF 5 and OIF 5 vet
Currently at Presidio of Monterey, CA

What's an E-6 trigger puller doing at the Presidio?

Alan

USN
CTI3 (woulda gotten CTI2 if I stayed another 2 weeks and CO refused to frock so close to getting out)
2002-2006

Great Lakes for Basic (all Navy Basic is there now)

DLI - Monterey California
Goodfellow AFB

Stationed Lackland AFB

Been working in transportation since getting out.

05D in Augsburg, you're one of the ones that were connected to the elephant cage.

USAFSA '85-'88.
33S20N6

Originally a 12B,ojt'd 11B in RVN. C/3/506/101,69-70. Today,1July is 41st anniversary of one of my 2 best friends KIA 8 days apart. Mike Kiscaden,Sgt. C/75 Rangers lFFV. Salute and toast to you Mike.

yep. i was one.
i was a df'r.

I think this would get a lot more attention up on the campfire, as not too many people scroll all the way down here.

USMC active 2004-2008
0861 Fire Support Man (AKA artillery and Naval Gunfire Scout Observer)
Basic MCRD San Diego
MCT at Pendleton
Arty/Naval guns training in Fort Sill OK/Coranado CA
Stationed at Camp Lejeune NC

2 OIF tours.

Army 1985-1990 . Reactivated during first Gulf WAr
Russian Voice Signal Intell Analyst, Russian Interogator
Airborne
Air Assault

DLI
Good Fellow AFB
Berlin

US Army 1965-1968
63B20 Mechanic
Ft Ord,Ft Hood
First Field Forces Arty Vietnam NaTrang 66-67
Ft Irwin
California Army National Guard 1983-2004
112th Dump Truck Co, Troop Command, 49Th MP Bn.
2632nd Trans Co. Balad Iraq 2003-2004
Retired

USAF 88-96 satcom (Diyarbakir, Turkey, Roedelheim, Germany, Ft Gordon, GA., Chantilly, VA)

USAFRes 96-98 cargo specialist, Charleston, SC

GA Air Guard 98-07 satcom, Dobbins, Bagram

GA Air Guard 07-present cyber ops officer, Dobbins

USAF 3E0X2 JAN08-present. Just reenlisted for 5 more. yay.

HM1(FMF) Mark Terrill
US Navy 1986-2007
More Fleet Marine Force than Navy.
USS Independence and Ranger
2/8, 3rd LAR, TTECG
Operation Desert Shield
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Jax Fla.
Camp Lejeune
Portsmouth Va.
Diego Garcia
San Diego 29 Palms

Nephew of FlyboyFlem aka Zoomie

Wisconsin ,Army national guard 79 to 83....83 to 86 third united states infantry "the old guard"....86 to 89 172nd infantry Fairbanks Alaska.

Canadian Armed Forces
1995-Present
1995-2007 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
SFOR Bosnia 1997+2000
OP Enduring Freedom-TF Rakkassan 2002-Afghanistan
2007-remuster to Engineer

USMC 12-1980 to 06-1987
MCCES, 29 Palms CA
D Co. 3rd AAV, 28th Marines, 7th Mab, 1st Marine Div, 29 Palms, CA
4/11, 29 Palms, CA
TAD 22nd MEU to Gernada, Beirut
MWCS 18, Camp Butler, Okinawa
TCMU, 29 Palms, CA

USN Retired, '75-'94.

USAF 1968-1989
Aug 68-Dec 68 Lackland AFB/Ft Lee VA
Jan 69-Feb 70 Clark AFB, PI
Feb 70-May 71 Griffiss AFB, Rome, NY
May 71-May 72 Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam
May 72-May 73 Westover AFB, Springfield, MA
May 73-78 Fe Warren AFB, Cheyenne, WY
1978-83 Patrick AFB/Cape Canaveral, FL
1983-86 Ramstein AB, GE
1986-Jan 89 Randolph AFB, TX

SGT Spencer Graham
239th MP Co LANG
April 2006-now
Combatives Instructor
Louisiana SRT

Currently in Al Kut, Iraq
Fell under 3rd ACR first, now 1stCav

USAF 1967-1971
C-130 Crew Chief
Naha Okinawa 67-69
CCK Taiwan 69-70
Viet Nam Veteran -- total time in country, some of every month for 33 months.
Blind Bat Ubon Thailand Crew Member 1968--40 missions
Name Ken Carlson

Oh, I forgot Dover Delaware July 70-Jan 71 C-133's (hated em)

ken: you should have tried the c124 globemaster. hated them

USCG 1981-2011
AMTCM E9,
Helo Flt Mech by trade, H-52 FM, H-65 FM, H-60 AC, A&P
CGC Steadfast, St Pete
Clearwater, FL
Elizabeth City, NC
Mobile, AL
North Bend, OR
Borinquen, PR
Traverse City, MI
Borinquen, PR
Detroit, MI
North Bend, OR
Wash DC
Now resting out in the pasture

Yeh, I had some friends that worked Trans Alert at various places! They had some awful stories about "old Shakey"

Enlisted in the 514th MP CO, NC ARNG in 1973, BCT and AIT at USATC-ARMOR, Ft. Knox KY. I graduated from Infantry OCS at Ft. Bragg NC in 1975; as an officer I served in Maintenance for 12 years, Military Police for 8 years, and Multi-functional logistics for 10 years, one tour in OIF (2003). Spent 13 1/2 years of my 32 1/2 year career in command; two detachments, two companies, one battalion, one group, and one brigade to include a logistics task force during OIF. Retired in 2005.

Retired USN Deck LDO 70-94

USMC 1999-2004
0311/0321/5830
PI
Geiger
Coronado
Lejeune

USCG 1989-2010
AST/Rescue Swimmer
CGC Decisive
Elizabeth City,N.C
Borinquen,PR
Astoria,OR
Kodiak,AK
Port Angeles,WA
Retired

Is this John Long?

United States Marine Corps 03-07 1st Battalion 5th Marines WPNS CO 0351/52

Basic San Diego 12/03 to 03/04
SOI 04/04 to 07/04
Ramadi, Iraq OIF III 02/05 to 10/05
31st MEU Okinawa 06/06 to 12/06

IRR 12/07 to 08/11

USAF Active, 93 to present
306/2E3 - merged into 2E2, merged again into 3D1X2
Boot/Crypto school at Lackland 93/94
Keesler E&I 94/01
2001/02 Kunsan (remote)
2002/10 Buckley AFB CO
2010 to present Bahrain (remote)
Butt loads of deployment/TDY throughout

US Army 1985-1987 (active duty) 1987-1989 (reserves)
Fort Jackson, SC for basic training
Fort Gordon, GA, for AIT (72E combat telecommunications center specialist - already obsolete before I even finished training)
HHC AVN BDE, 101st ABN DIV (Air Assault), Ft Campbell, KY

Air Assault qualified and ended up being a jack-of-all-trades in the commo platoon - did some "wire dog" work, but mostly worked a RATT Rig. Learned to drive a stick shift on an M151A1 and one of my regrets was never driving a Humvee (they arrived as I was ETSing out). Honorably discharged as a SP4.

Saddest of all - joined the Army to "see the world" and got stationed in my home state. haha Went to PLDC in May 1989 (again, at Ft Jackson) and probably learned more in those weeks than in the previous several years.

My name is Tim
US Army 1969 -1971
27th Transportation BN
Ft. Polk, LA. Basic
Ft. Lee, VA.
Vietnam, 1970-1971
Gun Truck

Mekong Delta--1/67-2/68
Fire direction chief--105 Howitzers
4th Artillery, 9th Div.

Welcome Cannon Cocker!!

My name is Andy
USMC
'87-91
Boot camp-MCRD
12th Marines in Okinawa and Korea
Cleaned up drunk skipper's oil spill in Valdez,AK.
remaining time-Camp Pen. Ca.
best years of my life! Hope all my pards are doing well. Best guys I ever knew!

Mike - SSGT
1982-1992

Va Army Guard and Regular mixed in
Fort McClellan Alabama - Basic
Fort Rucker Alabama - AIT - Utility Helicopter Repair 67N
986th Med Det (DUSTOFF) at Byrd Field, Richmond Virginia
Huey Crewchief
Got to go play in the Land Of Sand for about a year

Joel
USAF 2000 - present
Missileer
Vandenberg AFB, CA
F.E. Warren AFB, WY
Offutt AFB, NE
Al Asad AB, Iraq with the USMC
Nellis AFB, NV
Barksdale AFB, LA

SSGT USMC 1998-2004
Camp Pendleton Las Flores

US Army 2009-Present
West Point
OBC @ FT. Benning
Engineer OBC @ FT. Leonard Wood
Fort Riley, KS 2009-Present
Operation New Dawn
Air Assault

USMC 1980-85
Hollywood Marine
USAMMCS Redstone Arsenal
MCDEC Quantico, VA
Okinawa
Korea
29 Palms
Camp Pendleton

john. hi,im new here,glad theres a place for vets here.
army 1974/2000
11D/11E/19e
1/2acr the rock
5/32 armor ftstewart
4/64 armor kitzingen
recruiter
gunnery instructor
wmd team 2003 iraq
21yrs 1 day total

Ft. Dix BT 2-66 ,FT Monmouth 32e20 RVN 1-2-67 to 12-10 68 Qui nhon, Anh Khe, Pleiku, 1st Sig Bde

Thanks for your service fellas.

US Army 1979-93 Active.

Ft. Jackson, Ft. Sam Houston, DLI, Ft. Monmouth, Ft. Rucker, Ft. Richardson, Dolan Army Barracks.

Aviator

USMC
Hollywood Marine
Electronics School
Crypto School
16 months at Mag-12 Comm. Tech Shop
9/67-1/69
Tet was noisy, Charlie got our bomb dump, lost part of my hearing when the shock wave hit. Been spooky around loud noises ever since. Some how made 3 R&R's to Bangkok, took the edge off.

Joined in June 1973
Basic Ft. Leonaed Wood MO.
MP School Ft. Gordon Ga. fall of 1973 (Brim's Barricks)
52nd MP Co. Ft Sam Houston October 1973 to November 1974
December 1974 to June 19761/43d ADA (Site Summit)
Ft. Richardson Alaska http://www.nikesitesummit.net/
June 1976 to June 1977 Iowa National Guard
August 1985 to September 2005 Iowa National Guard
13 years UH-1H crew chief MEDEVAC/ash & trash
Retired September 2005.

Bill
U.S.M.C.
1969-1971

Brian
USAF
1966-1970
Jet Mech

USMCR

San Diego - Boot
Courthouse Bay, Lejeune - MOS School

Went to various schools and courses at:
Mt Fuji Joint MC/JDF Base
Camp Pendleton
Ft Lewis
29 Palms

Deployed
OED-10.1 Helmand, Afghanistan

Combat Engineer

2007-present

guess I'm old now!

Ft. Campbell for basic in the summer of 1967
Ft. Sill for Arty AIT and then on to track school

Chu Lai on Pearl Harbor Day in 1967 and was sent to Gator with Bravo/3rd/16th in the Americal Div. Left Gator in the late spring of 1968, and did ops with 101st, 196th, and at least one with the 198th infantry down south. Came back for a complete refit on Gator, and headed north for real fun. Ended up doing a couple months in the Que Son Valley and finally ended that op out on the Lao border. From there we went to work with a SF A Team detatchment at A102. There were some infantry east of us but not much, and most of the recreation we had was with these guys. Later we went on three gun ops with 101st and 196th infantry again, and much later got to know the Hiep Duc Ridge too well. Saw about twenty LZ's, and shot with everybody from Marines to SF from time to time (15 months). Came home a civilian, and ain't looked back!

to the rest of you: "Welcome Home Brothers"
gary

I knew there had to be at least one more I-Corps rat on here!!
Welcome Home Brother
gary

where bouts in I-Corps? At onetime the 1/1st was about 25 klicks east of me, but think they moved out in the summer of 68

welcome home brother
gary

Welcome Home Flyboy!
gary

Thank you sir..

few folks have any idea about just what the 506th Infantry is about. The name 506th is hallowed ground in the game of mortal combat! I have several members in my VFW post, and we often go thru several buckets of beer together. Be proud of where you come from brother!

welcome home brother
gary

fix the brakes on my five ton for me!
welcome home brother
gary

Sin Loi victor charles; it's still called Saigon

welcome back brother
gary

welcome home
gary

welcome home brother
gary

misquito bite city!
welcome home brother
gary

welcome home brother. Lets hope you shot a moon to Pleiku on the way out!
gary

I started this back on May 5th and now I can post my youngest son here too. He leaves for basic at Ft Leonardwood on Sunday , off to meps then away he goes to start his life.
I couldnt be prouder of him and his brother, carrying on the family tradition.

tell him to stay warm over there! That place has the nicname of "Little Korea."
gary

Question for you folks that are in the club known as "Combat Vets":

How many of you belong to the VFW, DAV, and other veterans organizations? Many of us here also Belong to the American Legion, but the VFW is unique to a certain segment of veterans.
gary

Thank you to your son for his decision to serve. Is he going to become an MP?

Charlie my oldest son is an MP , hes on his way to Afgan.
Zack just left today he'll be a missile tech

Thanks you too for your service

my grandson just got back from Afghanistan. He was eleven bush
gary

this is not political or anything like that, but kinda gets under my skin a little bit.

** Seems that our friends at Walmart and Sams Club have followed suit with Target and Lowes by refusing to allow Veterans to conduct their Poppy Drives on their property. But they do allow just about everybody else to do their own will. I used to spend a lot of money at Lowes and Walmart, but they now will have to get by without the money they get from me.
gary

My VFW Post (7032) will be having our annual Buddy Poppy drive at several stores in town this coming weekend, to include Wal-Mart and K-Mart, the USPS main branch, several grocery stores, etc. We could have it at Lowe's as well, but we don't have enough members in the post and auxiliary. I don't know about national policy for Lowe's and/or WalMart, but the local store's in eastern NC sure support the VFW as well as other veterans organizations (I see the VVA at my local Lowe's every six months). Lowe's has made huge donations to several ARNG units and their families during OIF/OEF deployments too.

US Army Active Duty 1976 to 1978
WA National Guard 1978 to 1979
MN National Guard 1979 to 1981, 47 AVN Brigade
USAR Ft Snelling MN, 1981 to 1982. 5501 General Hospital

Basic: Ft Sill OK

MOS:
91 B Basic Combat Medic, Ft Sam Houston TX
91 C Clinical Specialist, Madigan AMC, Ft Lewis WA
91 S Occupational Health Specialist, Ft Lewis WA
54 E NBC Warfare, MN NG.

and Military Dependent, 1952 to 1974

Thanks everyone, for all you have done ! Happy Vets day

went to the Marine Corps Birthday Ball last night by a personal invite (I'm Army). Boy what a party!! Some showed up in their dress blues, and really looked strack! Had a huge birthday cake, and a young Marine in his blues had the honor of cutting the cake. He made a three or four minute speach that was often interrupted with cheers. Told how the dress blues were never pressed and why. Then cut the cake with (your gonna love this) with a captured WWII Japanese sword!
gary

to all my friends with us and those departed but never forgotten.

Welcome home brothers!
gary

My name is really.....David Walter!
Went delayed enlistment in Nov 1976
Active duty 1977
Keesler AFB, MS
RAF Alconbury, UK
Grand Forks ND
Nellis AFB, NV
University of Akron, OH
Enlisted Electronic Warfare Technician until 1987
Commissioned 2LT in April 1987
Pope AFB, NC
Eielson AFB, AK
got out as a Capt in 1992
Entered Reserves 2001
Capt - Youngstown Air Reserve base
Major - McChord AFB, WA
Commanded USAF Reserve Civil Engineers Sqdn at McChord 2007-2011
Commanded 506 expeditionary Civil Eng Squadron at Kirkuk, Iraq
Lt Col - present Air Guard at Camp Murray, WA

Seen and met a ton of fantastic people. Loved every minute of it, even the frozen north, and the oven heat in Iraq. Learned a lot about me, and the quality of young men and women we're raising and I'm comfortable the Republic will endure in good hands.

Thanks to all the vets, and to all the folks who've trusted us with your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and moms and dads.

welcome home
gary

1974
to
1994
USAF
Civil Engineers
here
there
everywhere


It was great times miss it some days don't on other days

What type of engineer?

welcome home
gary

USAF 1st Special Operations Wing 1975-1983
USAF 919th Special Operations Wing 1983-1985 1993-1994

were you with the guys flying the C130's and C121's that were painted flat black with enough bumps and blisters to make you think the plane needed a penecillen shot? Those guys were the ones that flew "Bright Light" and a couple others a few years prior.

Wecome Home
gary

That was us.

I know you guys!! Back in the wonderfull years of 1968 and early 1969 we used to catch you guys on the fire push doing insertions (Halo), and bright light missions. Always wondered what was going on over there (about twenty miles west), and finally got the answers in John Plaster's book. Those SOG guys thought you folks could walk on water. So be proud of the folks you ran with.

Nice rainy day out on the Hiep Duc Ridge today. Got four F4's and a half dozen A6's about ten minutes out with a lot of snakeyes
gary

Oh, and another Welcome Home Brother
glt

Cat --Check the dates on that one. Web

Sooner, c battery 2nd battalion 5th field artillery 41 st group,armorer ,communications, cannon cocker , Babenhausen west Germany aug. 72 aug. 74

M109's?
welcome home
gary

for those of my friends that sat on a sandbag wall and ate turkey loaf with gravey on it; lets hope this meal is a sight better. For all my friends who were afforded the luxery of having a good meal in a warm mess hall; lets hope this one's better than all the others. And for all my foriends that ate turkey loaf in the mud, and later was teir last Thanksgiving meal; I miss you!
gary

Although I was shot at on multiple occasions, I do not consider myself a "combat vet" like those who were, say, 11 Bravo's.
I do belong to VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS.

US Army Reserve 1987 to 1992
Alabama Army National Guard 1992 to 2004
Fort Jackson, SC Basic Traing
Fort Gordon, GA COMSEC Repair
Fort Eustis, VA Helicopter Mechanic School
3rd Infantry Division Iraqi Freedom 2003 to 2004
324th Signal Battalion Desert Storm
Medically Retired in 2004 after being injured in Iraq

I went down in five birds, and always considered the crew on a chopper to be equale to anybody else. And you will find that 99% of the combat vets have the same exact opinion. Just the life expectancey of a door gunner alone is a scarey thought. In 1968 it was often measured in hours. I remember watching a Huey being shredded by a 51 cailber and saying to myself "whatkind of a fool would want to ride in one of those things!" Give yourself your just do
gary

welcome back home
gary

USAF 68-72
Pope AFB
Clark AFB (Cam Ranh Bay and Da Nang)
C130 Crew Chief

Aha! Another I-Corps rat! Greetings from Thien Phouc, and please load another F4 with snakeyes!

welcome home brother
gary

My name is Justin

I was in the US Army Reserves first and then went Active
I Served from 2000 until 2008
I was a 37 F (Psychological Operations Specialist)
VFW and American Legion member.

Airborne!

Jeff
USAF 75-94
Retired E-7
AFSC 55390, Civil Engineering Superintendant (Prime BEEF!)
Lackland AFB (naturally!)
Griffiss AFB, NY
Soesterberg AB, NL
Zaragoza AB, SP
McClellan AFB, CA
Edwards AFB, CA
England AFB, LA
Kwang-Ju AB, ROK
Kirtland AFB, NM

Great career, had a blast, wish I'd hung around long enough for E-8, but....

Chris
USN 1986-1992
USNR 1992-1995
MM2(E-5)/SS Nuke Mechanic
Attack Submarine Service
Seen lots of STUFF and been lots of places.
I DON'T REGRET IT, BUT I DON'T MISS IT EITHER.

idnative1948,
I'll bet we crossed paths at CRB.
Also a C-130 Crew Chief Naha Okinawa & CCK Taiwan 1967-1970

Ken

My name is Gary, I retired 9-28-11 and I am still getting used to that.

USMC active 1966-1970
6741 Anti Aircraft Warfare Operator and Controller,
Basic MCRD San Diego
ITR at Pendleton
Controllers School at San Diego
Stationed at Kaneohe Bay Hawaii for 2 yrs - MACS-2
Transferred to El Toro - a DASC
TAD to Yuma for drug interceptions,
Rush trip to RVN 1969-1970 [They overran a DASC and killed a bunch of us].
A Crew Chief at the Marine Corps TADC in DaNang
Got my Staff warrant right at the end after I had come home on a one month early out for college.

I would like to mention some others;

Marvin Congleton Corporal USMC, WW2, BAR man and Amtrac driver; Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo and Tarawa. He passed last year at 84. My hero.

Charlie Green, PFC WW2 a mechanic, Passed also several years ago. Another hero.

Alan, MY BIL, Corporal, USMC 1974-1978, Corporal, 0311,

Jimmy, another BIL, E-4, Air Force, 1971-75,

Tim, a son-in-law, US Army,Corporal, Gulf War, Tanks,

Steve, an ex son-in-law, but a good guy. USMC 0311, SSGT last time I heard.

Michael, my son, USMC, Corporal, Aviation Ordanance Crew Chief. Spent all of his time after basic and A-school in the Harrier training squadron at Cherry Point/Yuma.

Michael, like my son, USMC, SSgt, MARSOG, Going to college to become an officer.

And so many others.

Thank you all for your service and for the work you have done getting the current bunch some support.

You guys ever drop any of the Daisy Cutters to blow out for a heli LZ? I used to cringe every time they armed it, screwed the probe in and we opened the back doors. I was always crapping my pants because I thought I would have a hang-up on the *rails* on the way out. Makes my skin crawl just writing about it.

USAF 77-81
FireFighter/Rescue
Life Member DAV
Rolling Thunder

been to CRB several times. The first time I was sent there was as a replacement in their depot. Got put on the chair detail for the Bob Hope show, and he came out off the stage to talk with all of us.. A couple days later I got shipped to Chu Lai in a C130 (my first ride in one), and was scared to death with all the screaching and groaning going on! I was certain the plane was going down at any second, and liked to clawed that canvas seat apart. Kissed the ground in Chu Lai when I finally got off, and vowed I'd never fly in another one again (fat chance). Was sent to another replacement depot with a stack of orders, and they promptly threw them in file 13 (lots of tax dollars wasted there). Got put on the chair stacking detail for the Bob Hope show again! And met the man again. Still we never were allowed to see the show, but did finally get to see it a year later.

Back to CRB! I remember all the red sand everywhere and having to walk about a hundred yards to take a shower. On the way out there was watching all those red and green tracers going at each other on a hill top that must have been four to five miles out, and was scared to death. Looked for a bomb shelter on the way to dive into! (little did I know!) When I was ETSing out of the place I hit CRB at about two in the afternoon, and tey actually had a buss to ride in. It all of a sudden made a fast stop and everybody piled off the buss. I sat tere and wondered what was going on! I got off the buss and went into this PX we stopped in front of. I could see 122 rockets landing about five klicks away, and it was no big deal to me. I was in the PX roaming around and this guy comes in there and asked where the hell I came from? I told him that buss out there, and he said don't you know the place is being rocketed? I said sure, but it's way over there! He thought I was nuts! I told him not to get too exited as they don't have that kinda range to get to us. He said I was nuts again. I told him I came from the land of mortar rounds and rockets on a daily basis, and this was nothing to get exicited about. Guess he didn't think that way.

Used to roll thru Da Nang about once every six weeks to make trades with the Marines and Sea Bees. I'd show up with a duffle bag full of whiskey and NVA pistol belts, and leave with just about anything we needed. I also traded with the Sea Bees in Chu Lai for building materials and things we couldn't lay our hands on. We always scratched each other's backs in those days. I often got so much stuff in trades that it took two choppers to haul the stuff out to the Lao border area. We also used the south end of the runway in Da Nang to load choppers for CA's, and remember seeing all those planes parked one right after another there. (we loaded up down by the F104's) Looked like a bunch of Mexican Bandits, and they'd all be standing up pointing at us (probably holding their noses as I'm sure we stunk pretty bad). The Marines would let me use their hot showers (probably for their own sake), and I used them everytime I went to see them. Almost 44 years ago, and seems like yesterday
gary

we started using them in mid to late 1968 every now and then. Worst hills I was put on were the ones they prepped a day or two before, and had those huge bomb craters in them. I remember rolling out the side of a chopper with a 60 on rock & roll with my first sargent's hand pushing me out the door. I was always the #1 man out the door with Top right behind me. The radio man was #3, and Randy went out the otherside with another guy. Often dropped into elephant grass that you had no idea how tall it was. We landed OK but could find Randy! Randy was the M79 guy who'd spot for the 60 after a couple belts. We heard him screaming bloody murder and couldn't find him. He fell into a deep bomb crater, and landed right ontop a skeleton! He'd crawl about half way out of the hole and slide right back down in the mud landing right back ontop the skeleton! I don't think Randy was ever right after that one!
gary

MM2 USN 79-84
USS Sampson DDG-10, USS Edward McDonnell FF-1039, USS Niagara Falls AFS-3, and the USS New Jersey BB62. Haze gray and underway! My service pales to most of yours, I am humbled.

your too young to know the code names, but the old folks on BB62 might remember "Firebird", "Speedy Lay Out", "trickey", "Scrambler One" thru "Scrambler Six" over in the Tam Key A.O. Your code name was "Big Boy." Or as the man said "rounds out; see you in a couple minutes."
gary

I got to talk to marines who where on the ground in Beruit when we shelled the Shiites and the marine spotters, or 16" guns were impressive perrformers!

we were paid a visit by the New Jersey once or twice a month in late 1968. First time we used it it we thought it was the Heavy Cruiser that often shot up the coast line for us, and were shocked when we found out we were dealing with some serious fire power. Reason we had to use the battleship was that none of the local arty could get to where we wanted them. They had the range, but the terrane was a problem (deep valleys). Targets were somewhat dismal in appearence, but somebody wanted them gone in a big way. One was a large hay stack that created secondarys for three minutes!

But as wild as those 16" rifles were, nothing got my undivided attention as well as being 4,000 yards out on an arc light mission. Three planes evaporated a box that was a half mile wide by one and one half mile long in less than a minute. Don't matter if it's raining or snowing; he's got your number and you can't stop him. At 2,000 yards out, under ground bunkers would collapse, and at 4,000 yards out you thought you were going thru an earthquake. Those were the days when we were young and dumb, and thought bullets would simply bounce off us.
gary

was thinking about the last real Christmass I had in the combat zone (1968) last night. Any of you ever give it any thoughts? I remember eating turkey loaf and all the other stuff. Each company was given two whole turkys and my mess sargent baked both of them right along side the turkey loaves. He put a red candy glaze on one, and a green glaze on the other one. May have been the best turkey I've ever ate to this very day. Still I think we were just glad to have it without looking around while eating it.

At 12:12am on the 26th, we commenced to light up the back side of the Hiep Duc Ridge Line, and I knew it was back to business as usual (secondaries were rather spectacular!)
gary

My youngest son Zack made it home on leave for the holidays, it was a great few days for sure. My oldest is still hanging tough in Afgan. Hopefully all our boys will be home for Christmas next year

pray for their saftey, and they'll be back home soon enough.
gary

Great that Zack made it home for Christmas, thanks to your other two son's also for their service!

Thanks guys,

Matt here, AKA SGT Keena.
21 Sept. 05 off to Ft. Sill for BCT.
AIT for 88M at Ft. Bliss.
Learned how not to be on a plane when it lands at Benning.
Reported to Ft. Richardson on 24 March, 06.
15 months in Iraq from 06-07, first tour in Afghanistan in 09-10 and I'm back in the 'stan again.
Bill, I'll say Hi to Charlie for ya when I get back home.

AKHuck, I was one of the Marines on the ground in Beirut back in 83, we were basically professional targets! And you are right about those 16" main guns being impressive, you guys on the USS New Jersey took care of business. I cant remember anything sqashing a firefight faster! It got real quiet in a hurry.

Currently in Afghanistan on my 3rd tour. Did time in kuwait, Iraq, Korea (twice).

Horrible Call, but good news
Today at 9:30 we got a call from our son Charlie who's been deployed to Afgan. , my heart sunk when the 1st thing he said was
" something happened" . His Hummvee was hit by a IED and all 4 guys had only minor injuries thank God, he had a minor concussion and a stinger in his leg. I hate those calls but at least he is ok and able to call. 10 more months over there before he gets to come home, now I know what my parents where going through and it really sucks

Sure glad to hear that he is okay!

U.S.Navy 1972-1994
USS England CG-22
USS Wainwright CG-28
USS Platte AO-186
USS America CV-66
USS Claude V. Ricketts DDG-5
USS Milwaukee AOR-2

Glad to here he is ok. At least he can call home.
Hope the rest of the tour goes ok.

Glad he is ok.

Will keep you all in my prayers.

Thanks guys its been crazy for my wife and I, after the call we have not heard back from him at all. Its driving us both out of our minds

My handle describes it... one of the last Bombardier/Navigators to fly the Navy A-6E Intruder. Got out as an O-3 in the mid nineties. Agree with what others have said: this thread seems "lost" way down here at the bottom of the forum scroll. Regardless, thank you all for your service.

Intruder BN, loved planting your face in that hood? Like a new penny when we got the NVG versions wasn't it? Maybe we crossed paths, hopefully I didn't 11-1-A-799 you. I usually put reseated connector or something like that with the good officers!

USN 85-91
San Diego (RTC)
Millington (AFTA)
VA-42 (NAS Oceana)
VA-85 (USS America)

The former AT2 Crow

I'm Steve
U.S. Navy 1987-1991 Active Duty, 1991-1992 Reserves
Basic Training Orlando, FL
IS - Intelligence Specialist, NMITC Dam Neck Naval Base, VA
CINCUSNAVEUR London, England
U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt CVN-71
Desert Shield & Storm

Welcome Steve, your 1st post is in this topic, Thank you for your service and glad to have you aboard

Any word from your boy?

U.S. Air Force 1982-2005 MSgt
Aerospace Ground Equipment
Basic, Lackland AFB TX
Tech School, Chanute IL
Okinawa Japan
Zaragoza Spain
Alconbury England
Rhein Main Germany
Cannon AFB, NM
McConnell AFB, KS
Retirement in the rolling hills of Missouri

We finally got a call from our son Charlie, he sounds terrible. We did our best to encourage him and ift his spirits. I thank God he's ok and hope they will all come home soon.

God bless you and your boy. Glad your heard from him. Done a few tours here lately and as my boys are growing, couldn't imagine them in harms way. Guess I never thought about the stress put on my family. Anyway, be proud of them and he'll be home soon. Treat him like a hero! BTW my first son is named Charlie also.

Hi new here
7/69 basic ft dix
ait ft eustis
1/70 camp evans a co 158 avn 101 airborne
6/70 camp eagle b co 101 avn
1/71 to 1/72 ft sill
crew chief on a slick
life member VFW; DAV; VVA
Guy Oldenburgh

Guyo welcome to the site and thanks for your service, I started this post for all of us Vets to sound off and its been great.
,
Mgunns, thank you. I am very proud of him. I feel the same way now I never thought about what my parents where going through when I was in. Anyways Charlie is a great name , when he was born in Weisbaden Germany I wanted to name him Charlie with a middle name of Brown, My wife won the battle and its Anthony now ! lol

U. S. Army 69/71

Basic, 1969: Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Fort Leonard Wood, Mo 1969/70, 12th Transportation Co.
Republic of Viet Nam 70/71 359th Transportation Co.
Gun Truck

Hunter, thanks for the service . I loved Ft Campbell, cant say I enjoyed Lost in the woods

Hunter welcome home

Welcome to you to guyo

Nick

USAF 1968-1972
AFSC 90250 Medic
Basic at Lackland AFB
Tech school at Sheppard AFB
Assigned Sewart AFB, Tenn.
Base closed sent to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas
Assigned to 61TAS, went TDY with them 3 times while assigned to base hospital.

Welcome to the forum

Elroy, welcome to the campfire and thanks for what you have done

Interesting to hear from people who served at Sewart AFB. The TN. NG is using much of the facilities. Some of the base housing is still present. The City of Smyrna has turned it into a low income housing area. I've met a former unit commander from Sewart, with the last name of Fitzhugh.

First time I scrolled down this far and now I'm glad I did.

Thank you all for what you did/do for all of our freedom by doing what you do (and did), we appreciate it.

Sgt Pieter Kriel
SADF South Africa
Toured Namibia with an LMG but without a passport '84/85

U.S. Army 74-77

Ft. Jackson, SC (Basic & AIT)
Ft. Riley, KS - 1st Inf. Div.
1st AG Co., Company Armorer

Jeff
USN 77-82
MT Army National Guard 84-2000

Thanks Jeff, for posting on here and for all you have done.

Retired from the Army, Oct 31, 2011, UH-60 Standardization Instructor Pilot/Instrument Flight Examiner. Four years as an enlisted soldier, 16 as a Warrant Officer.

Ft Lewis, WA
Ft Campbell, KY
South Camp, Sinai, Egypt
Ft Riley, KS
Camp Doha, Kuwait
Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
Iraq times 3
Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras
Ft Rucker, AL

USN 2000-2009, now work for Dept of Navy as a civilian.

USS Enterprise CVN-65
USS Eisenhower CVN-69
USS Truman CVN-75

USAF 1961-1965
Basic -Lackland
Tech School Sheppard AFB
Elmendorf AFB
Birkenfeld AC&W West Germany
Lockborn AFB

Thanks for your service olblue

I'm Donny

I'm AD USAF
1992- Current

1992-1999 Luke AFB AZ
1999-2004 Elmendorf AFB AK
2004-Current Mountain Home AFB ID

I'm a bratt. My parents were the ones that met in basic (AF) training and married in tech school. My step father was in the Navy.

I'm an aerospace proplusion craftsmen. I work in F15, F16, and C130 aircraft engines.

Mausershooter, welcome to the fire, and thanks for what you do

Hey, guys. Thought I'd jump on here and represent the bubbleheads out there (along with digger44).

USN 1993-2002
MM1/SS
RTC - Orlando, FL
Nuke A School/Power School - Orlando
Submarine School - Groton, CT
94-97 USS Birmingham (SSN-695), Pearl Harbor, HI,
97-2000 USS Toledo (SSN-769), Groton, CT,
2000-2002 Naval Submarine School Engineering Dept

Caseyb73 welcome aboard

Hey there!

My name is Nichol

USN 1990-1996
ET3
Basic - Orlando
BE&E - Orlando
BE&E ph 2 - Great Lakes
Alarm Systems C school - Great Lakes
Radiac repair - Kirkland
Weapons Station Yorktown - VA
Nuclear Accident Response Team

I'm also a brat. Dad was an ABE. Aircraft Carriers!!!
Moved all over the world growing up.
Graduated high school from DOD school in Japan.
Now call Texas home.

NavyVet, welcome to the campfire, lots to do and see here and tons of great people.

Thanks! I appreciate the welcome.

Army Reserve/Army 1994-2006
Bridge and Construction units in CO and UT
Astan 03-04, Phoenix, Polecharki, KAN PRT
Wreck on day 362 of 365 day tour got me discharged to a civilian
(I took the boom picture in my signature badge below)

Superdave , thanks for what you did.

USMC, 69-72, Vietnam Veteran.

Craigster, thank you !

USNR 65-66
USS Hartley DE-1029
Cuba; Med; No.Atl. cruise
Boston & Newport,R.I.

2 orders to Vietnam cancelled,
OK by me. Tried to get schooling,
wanted 2 yrs re-up, NOPE,8 wks only.
Did my time, got out, don't regret it.

Reunion Aug/Sep? 2012, Portland, Maine.

Thank you 99LL

just noticed this.

USCG 94-present

Rob

68W Combat Medic

Joined up in 1997
Basic Ft. Leonardwood
AIT Ft Sam Houston
3rd Ranger Battalion 1997-2002
1-37 Armor Friedberg, Germany 2002-2005
C CO 725th BSB Ft. Richardson, Alaska 2005-2007
HHT 1-40th CAV Ft. Richardson, Alaska 2007-2011
HHC BDE 4-25th IN BCT Ft. Richardson, Alaska 2011-present

Been participating in OEF and OIF since Oct 2001-present

Thanks you fellow Veterans!

Howdy! I'm glad you checked in here. I still have a stack of hunting and shooting magazines for you. I just have to find time to get them to ya!

Joined in 95, Active Army
11B4 and the rest of the identifiers
� Airborne School
� Ranger Indoctination Program (RIP)
� US Army Ranger School
� Total Army Instructor Course (TAITC)
� US Army Sniper School
� Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC)
� Basic and Advanced CQB
� Basic and Advanced Tactical Carbine
� Jerry Barnhart
� Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis,
and Exploitation Techniques Course (SFARTEC)
� Master Breacher�s Course

I have served in 2 ID (x2)- 10th MTN DIV (LI)(x2)- 101st AIRBORNE (x1) 3rd ID (x1) currently at the School for Boys.
6 depolyments, 2 to Iraq and 4 to the Stan

Welcome guys, this is really turning out to be a hell of a topic. Lots of great guys on the site. Thanks to all of you

I have a couple South African hunting magazines I can mail to anyone currently serving outside the US.

PM me with an address. First come first served.

Pieter

Tony

US Army 2002-present Active

Basic- Fort Benning, GA

Fort Bliss- 5-52 ADA
Fort Hood- 2 Bde 1 Cav (COLT)
Iraq- Baghdad (16 months)
Fort Sill- 75th Fire Brigade (Fist)
Korea- Camp Red Cloud 2 Infantry Division
Fort Polk LA (present)- 2-4 Infantry 10th Mountain (Fist)

Tony, welcome to the 24 Hour Campfire, glad to have you with us!

Welcome aboard. Always room for more Mil folks !

Wow, can believe I missed this one

Benning for basic/AIT
Fort Polk
Fort Hood
Fort Lewis
Fort Carson
visits to the gulf and Thailand

90-00

93-still active duty

93 Basic at Lackland
94 902/4N0 school Sheppard
94 Phase II Keesler
94-99 Scott AFB
99-07 Elmendorf
- 00 IDMT school Sheppard
- 01 Vietnam (JPAC)
- 03 Vietnam (JPAC)
- 04 Gwang Ju, ROK (AEF)
- 05 Laos (JPAC)
- 06 Guam (AEF)
07-09 Wright Patterson
- 08 Colombia, SA (AEF)
09-11 Daegu AB
11-present Travis AFB

Still 2 more years to add to "TDY's"

Welcome aboard and thanks for what you do every day. Lots of great guys here on the campfire and lots of brothers in arms.

US Army 89-91
11B1P
3/325 Airborne Battalion Combat Team, Vicenza Italy

Marlin Man , I was part of the 563rd and supported your Tow systems . You guys where high speed !

Hey GotAmmo, that was a great duty assignment. I miss it sometimes.

I get to revisit a lot of the old days, both of my boys are in. The youngest is headed to germany in a few months. I can't wait to go visit !

Jim here,
U.S.Army 1969-1997
Enlisted, Warrant, Commissioned
Helicopter pilot, Tanker
1st Cav, 82d ABN, 172LIB, 101st ABN (w/OLC), 2d ID, 160th SOAR
2x RVN, Korea, Australia

1967-1970 USAF
355th FMS, 355th TFW
Jet Mech
Takhli, Thailand
Where operation "Ranch Hand" started

Thanks for the service guys and welcome to the Campfire WV338

USAF 2003-present

sept 03 BMT in Lackland AFB Tx
Oct 03-March 04 Tech Training Shepard AFB Tx
March 04-Present Hill AFB, UT
-2005 Balad AB Iraq
-2009 Joint Base Balad, Iraq
Currently have assignment to Kunsan AB, S Korea with a orders to Ellsworth SD after that!

USAF (ANG)
1990 - present
A/C armament, 10 years
AGE, 12 years
I am currently in Afghanistan,
4th time deployed here,
same 'ol dust.

USNavy, 1959-1964.
Tin cans, and a tanker. Cans were the Hugh Purvis and RA Owens, tanker the Elokomen. Cuban blockade, first space launch recovery vehicles group, (operation Mercury I believe) hit Gtmo bay Cuba twice, Iceland, Norway, Germany, Ireland, England (twice) Spain, Franch, Italy (3 times), Greece, Lebanon, Eritria, Aden Saudi Arabia, and Ceylon (Sri Lanka)..

No "combat" though we did stop a Russian freighter heading for Cuba and made them turn around, as had obvious rockets on board.

Hey, Plumber, see ya when ya get back..

Tisha, Thanks, I should be back in the States soon.
We have been told, we will be back here Jan 2014.

United States Marine Corps
2005-2011
3rd Bn 23rd Marines - Kilo Company
Barwanah Iraq 07- 08
1st Bn 23rd Marines
NATO Training Mission Afghanistan
Konduz Afghanistan 2010-2011
MOS: O311 Infantry

US Navy Aug 1964- Nov 1968
Boot Great Lakes Ill
EM A School Great Lakes Ill
USS Sellers DDG-11 Charlston SC Mar 1965 April 1965
Volinteered for Viet Nam On USS Hissem DER-400 MAy 1965-Nov 1966
Uss Charles Berry DE-1035 Nov 1966- Nov 1968

Washington Army Nation Gaurd Nov 1985- Nov 1990
MOS 11 Hotel
US Navy Sea Bees Reserves Nov 1990- Aug 2003
EA-1
USNR Retired Aug 2003
Weapons trained on
Thompson Sub Machine Gun 45 Cal.
1911 45 Cal
Springfield 30-06
M1 Garand Snipe Rifle 30-06
30 Cal Machine Gun
BAR 30-06
30 Cal Carbine
M16-A1
M16-A2
M60 Machine Gun
50 Cal Machine Gun
203 Granade Launcher
Tow Missle
60mm Mortor
Claymore Mines
Hand Granades
And other devices of destruction.

Hi 30mmplumber. This avatar shows me shooting a 30mm black powder muzzle loader equipped with about the last 5 feet of one retired GAU-8 barrel. This puppy really roars. Just thought you might appreciate how a 30mm barrel never really retires if it's in the right hands.

US Navy Seabee 1990-1994
Basic San Diego
"A" School Gulfport Mississippi
Steelworker ACB1 Coronado, CA
Now I serve my fellows Vets
working a VA Hospital

Randy
US Army 1976-1979 RA
Ft Leonard wood Basic
Ft Leonard wood AIT
Ft Carson duty station
64 C
POL Squad Leader
Desert training Ft Irwin, 2nd unit to train there in early 1978
ETS 07/05/79

1969-1977 USAR
SFC when I walked out and was being considered for First Sargant
BCT and AIT Ft Jackson SC
Supply Instructor Ft LEE Va
Ft Leonardwood, Missouri
Combat Engineer Site Chief (5 sites) Also Instructor
Have 2 bad knees and some other stuff to remind me of my time in the military. 50% disabled
Yea I know I never did anything but collect my money and play soldier heard it a million times. I took my time seriously and paid the price for it. Few got my rank or see what I saw in the Reserves back then it was a place to hide from the draft.

Just side note shdwlkr refers to the guys who walked off the field of battle back then and can never admit they made it home to no one. They will always have to remain in the shadows of life. To bad the government just doesn't give them amnesty so they can clean up some of the missing records from that time in our nations history.

I Vet that can't post. Our Son Charlie is coming home from his tour in Afgan next Thursday. Its been a long year and several bad phone calls and events. I am so glad that he's able to come home with all his limbs and in one pc.
When I started this thread I knew that the Campfire was full of brothers and sisters from every branch, thanks for everyone posting here !

USAF Security
1987-2007

USMC Retired
1986-2009
0431/0430
Parris Island, SC
MSSG-22, CLNC
MWSS 474 Det A, Greenbay, WI
FSSG FWD (CSSG-2), CLNC
1stBn 2dMar, CLNC
WOBC, Quantico, VA
12th MarRegt, Okinawa, JA
MACG-18 Okinawa, JA
USS Carter Hall CCO (LSD-50), Little Creek, VA
PhibGru2, Little Creek, VA
Phibron8, USS Kearsarge, Norfolk, VA
III MEF, Okinawa, JA
-Bunch of places in between
-26 countries (24 in service)
Kuwait, OIF, OEF, Maritime Security HOA - pirates
-6 years 10 mos sea time
12 of 23 years OCONUS
Father Navy, Sister Air Force, Brother retired Marine, Brother-in-Law retired Air Force
Good days, good people, often reminisce.
Afghanistan after retirement
Appreciated every minute, but it is good to be home.
For all who still keep the watch...God bless.

1991-2000 USMC. Former SSgt.

Spent time in a tank unit, support units and a Recon unit. Had a blast. In 1994 we built the beginnings of camp delta on Gitmo.started out as a Cuban/Haitian refugee camp.

Bob here. Honored to be among you, and humbled by your experiences.
USAF 1978-2004.

Started as Aerospace Ground Equipment. Also done backshop aircraft maintenance and Logistics Planning, etc...

Lackland AFB
Chunute AFB
Randolph AFB
Eielson AFB
Mtn. Home AFB

Bob here too.
Likewise honored.
Thanks to all for their service, and welcome home.

U.S. Army 1971-74
Basic at Ft. Ord
AIT and Shake and Bake, Ft. Eustis VA.
2/37th FA Fort Lewis and Fort Sill 1972-1974.
Trained as a 67N20,
served as an 82C20, (too many helicopter mechanics around back then.)

U.S. Army
2006-2012
11 bravo (Infantry)
Basic training FT Benning
AIT FT Benning
Iraq 2008
Machine Gunner

U. S. Army
1975-1978
Tanker
Basic and AIT training Fort Knox
3/2 Armorer Cavalry Regiment, M Company, Amberg Germany
I pulled a lot of border duty on the Czech border.

U.S. Air Force Security Forces
SMSgt/E-8
1993-2003 Active Duty
2003-Present Air Force Reserve

Howdy folks!

Bob

Tin Can Rider aboard the USS Henry W Tucker DD875
Also know as the Hammering Hank or "Willow" by the US marines that called for gun fire off coast VietNam.1964 1968.

USN
Air Traffic Controller
67-72
Port Hueneme
Puerto Rico

Dad: Army 41-44, saw action in the Philippines.
Son: Army 04-10, 1yr Baghdad.
Son's wife: Army Enlisted 4yrs, now Army Dentist.

Hunter

USAF 1979-1999

Aircraft Electrician and Electro/Environmental Technician

Lackland AFB Tx
Chanute AFB Il
Fairchild AFB Wa
Kadena AB Okinawa Japan
Eielson AFB Ak
Mtn Home AFB Id

Spent time at PSAB Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Army medic 91C50
79-82

'79-'86 82nd
Benning, then Bragg, then Vicenza then back to Bragg.
2/325, 1/509th, 4/325th (COHORT I), 2/325

Hunter, good chance we crossed paths in AK!

Bob

I was stationed at Eielson from early 1989 to the spring of 1996. 354th MXS E&E backshop then my last 8 months with the now defunct 355th (A-10) Fighter Squadron.

Howard

Army 7/81-7/84
Basic- Ft. Jackson
AIT - Ft Rucker
4th ID - Ft Carson from Feb 82- ETS 7/84

MOS 67N
Huey Crewchief.
Last bird was the CGs at Carson

USAF 2003-Now
2A3X3 Tactical Aircraft Maintenance (Crew Chief F-15)
2A3X7 5th Gen Tactical Aircraft Maintenace (Crew Chief F-22)
Basic- Lackland AFb, Tx
Tech School- Sheppard AFB, Tx and Tyndall AFB, Fl
F15, Tyndall AFB, Fl 2004-2009
F15, F22, Elmendorf AFB, Ak 2009-Now
Deployed to SouthEast Asia right now..

66-69 ARMY
CRANE OPER.
FT DIX NJ
FT LENARDWOOD MO
VIETIAM
FT SILL OK
FT WAINWRIGHT AK

Seems that I have missed this thread until now.

Miles Patton

US Army 1967-1969

Basic-Ft. Bliss
Radio school-Ft. Huachuca
Radio teletype-Ft. Gordon
mos-O5C20

HHC 41st Signal Battalion
Quinhon, Vietam
July 1968-July 1969

USMC (inductee )

1969 = 1971

MOS 3112

boot camp = MCRD San Diego
Platoon 1067

MOS school = Camp Lejeune

MP @ ElToro

WESTPAC '70-'71 @ Futenma , Okinawa Japan @ Chu Lai & Danang RVN in VMGR-152

Just over two years and 23 pages later we have a great group of vets on here!
Thanks brothers for all you did

Happy Memorial Day fellow Warriors.

USMC
1987-Present
Master Gunnery Sergeant
MATSG-21, NAS Pensacola, FL

Semper Fidelis!!!! Ooh Rah!!!!

Earl

Ex-seal... one thing I always noticed about my friends that were Marines, even now, they still look where gunfire is coming from, instead of running from it. Semper-fi is written in blood, and never retires. Respect runs deep.

U. S. Navy 74-77
Basic - Orlando, Florida
u. S. Naval Station, Memphis, TN
2 1/2 years aboard USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62 - Atlantic Fleet

USMC 2000-2005
2nd FSSG 2nd Supply Bn Ammo Co.
Ammo Tech/Range Coach
Camp Lejuene/Stone Bay

WYOMING ARMY NATIONAL GUARD 2005-Present
Joint force headquarters/A Co 960th BSB
Infantry/Ammo tech
WYOMING

Currently deployed for the seventh time. Thank you to ALL military. If the past could not have served then I can not, and if i can not serve then the future can not serve. So again thanks to all who have served and those serving.

Hi,
My name's Bill.
U.S.M.C. '69-'71

Larry
05K20
USASA 68-72
USASAFS Chitose 69-70
USASAFS Korea 70-72
Hello all.

GWP- I guess you must be a rare bird to get inducted into the Marines. Did the Drill instructors know and treat you differently?

Sargesniper
SGT/USMC/1963-1967
RVN-66-67
HQ.CO. 3BN 3RD MARINES SNIPER PLATOON
SEMPER FI!

Never hear from the old vets at Korea, guess they
never got a computer.
So, here's mine.

Lackland AFB 1954
Amarillo AFB B47 Bomber Mechanic School
K-2 Taegu Korea F86F Mechanic
K-55 Osan Korea F86F Mechanic
Kadena AB Okinawa (short spell)
Chia Yi (sp) Formosa (Yah was Formosa then)
Geiger Field Spokane WA F86D and F102 later. Aero Maintenance
My whole tour I never saw another B47 after my schooling.
Oh Well.

I was just noticing that there hasn't been much activity on this thread lately so thought I would see if I couldn't bring it up to date! As I posted quite awhile back what I did in the USAF when I was in, I didn't say much about serving a tour as a crew-member on the 374 TAW Blindbat Mission at Ubon Thailand. We flew night missions over the Ho Chi Mihn Trail looking for trucks carrying goods to the NVA in South Viet Nam. We used a starlight scope mounted in the right paratroop door and flared the trucks while calling air strikes from where ever we could get the aircraft. Usually from Thailand (USAF), or the Gulf of Tonkin (Navy and Marines). We got shot at almost nightly by AAA fire and once a SAM!! Very exciting to say the least! Are there any Campfire members familiar with this mission? I am always looking for Blind Bat guys!

Long winded yes, but I am always hoping to run into some of the guys I might have not seen or heard from for over 40 years.

Thanks,
Ken

USAF SSGT
Loadmaster C130's



'66 Lackland
'66 Langley
'68 Tachikawa to CRB, and Tuy Hoa
'69 CCK Taiwan rotated to CRB

Try these guys here..

http://lists.topica.com/lists/airlifters/read

http://lists.topica.com/lists/airlifters/read/message.html?mid=1722659974&sort=d&start=10165

Talking with some old friends tonight - so feeling alittle reminiscent.
Just want to say... young or old, out or still in, deceased or alive, humble or a bragger (partial to the humble), you all have my respect and gratitude. God Bless.

USAF 1962-1966

Lackland AFB - 3769 Basic Training Sq

Witchita Falls AFB - AIT

Barksdale AFB - 2nd Reconniance Technical Sq

Viet Nam - 1965-1966 Detatchment 10 of 544th Aerospace Sq, Tan Sa Nhut AFB, Saigon

USAF retired E-7

1987-2008

Air Traffic Controller

was in a Chopper unit for a couple of years....

we had an ATC section...

we use to say it stood for Always Taking Coffee...
that's what they spent most of their time doing....
( not insinuating that applied to anyone but our unit...)

Thanks for your service tho my friend...

US Army
82-86
05B-20A4
Basic at Ft jackson, SC
AIT Ft Gordon, GA
Pershing Special Ops Forces, West Germany
ended career with A Co. 21st MI at Ft Carson, CO.

The strange thing I noticed is that in the early 80's, there was a lot of that funny chit going on that was never reported on DD214's, or anywhere on your jackets......seems it was more widespread than I thought. But then again, during our tenure everything was always covert ops anyway during, Cold War and all.

USAF

SSGT 64-68

BTW, I just got Veteran on my Texas Drivers License. I get a 10% discount there and Home Depot.

Anybody know of a web site that lists other businesses that offer the discounts?

Bruce Hiltner USMC 1965/1969

Parris Island, ITR at Lejune, RVN 66/67/68.
spent most of my time beteen Marble Mt. and Dong Ha.
did a six month extension returned to my unit on Jan.30th 1968.
hell of a welcome.Spent a good bit of time in and out of
Khe Sanh. Door gunner on a 34.

Thank you to Everyone for their Service to our Country.

Cody
Staff Sergeant US Army
Mos 31B/31E
2006-present
Currently on my Second Afghanistan Tour.

stay safe, SSgt.

US Navy 1974-1977
E-5 (Yeoman 2nd)
USS Independence CV-62 - Two 6 month cruises Mediteranean

Just found this forum . . . well hidden!

USMC 1972-1986
USN 1986-1998

Communications-Computer Systems Controller
Technical Sergeant
USAF 1995-1999
Alabama ANG 2004-Present

Were you 164mp company in ft Richardson

69 to 72
US Army
Ft Campbell (Basic)
Ft Lee ( AIT. 76P20G3)(Computer Supplies)
562nd ADCOM, Butzbach, Germany
ICCV, Viet Nam
E-5

US Army Reserves
1969-1977
Ft Jackson basic and AIT
Ft Lee
Ft Leonard wood
12B Combat Engineer Instructor Site Chief of 5 sites
Have lasting memories of my time every time it rains or the humidity gets up

US Navy Corpsman
2005-2012. HM2
Surgical Tech Fleet Surgical Team 5
Last station Bremerton WA at Naval Hosptal.

NG- USAR

DEC 1986 - PRESENT



Trying to wrap up a century of service for the clan.

Grandfther - WW I

Father - Horse Calvary trained. Walked Luzon from tip to tip retaking it ..WW II

Two Bothers - Nam

Thanks to Everyone who has been there one that!!!!!

USN 66-70
Corpsman
HM3 USMC 69-70 Delta Co. 1/5 3rd platoon 1st MARDIV An Hoa

USMC 69-72
Sargent
Spent a year total in two different Naval hospitals -

Bal Boa and Camp Pendelton

United States Marine Corps
Feb 97 - Feb 01
0431 Logistics/ Embarkation Specialist
Spent all my time at Quantico at OCS
(didn't see one ship or plane to load)
I've slayed MILLIONS of blades of grass since I was stuck in a maintenance section armed with a weedwhacker the entire time.

Nick Fergerson USN-RET 1975-2000 back when the Navy GOAT LOCKER RAN THINGS

Thanks everyone for posting so far in this section, and thank all of you for your service !

USN-retired 1987-2007

Electronics Technician

2004 to current. KING OF BATTLE

1995- Present. US Army.

Brave Rifles!!

Splatter... Copy your 'other stuff not on your 214'. Got my "GREETINGS" Nov.7,'66.and try to forget the next few years. Went back to BENNING in SEPT.'74 and last tour was GULF 1 '91. 12B40 forever. Thank you for your time and dedication.
WILL

At GOTAMMO, When were you at Redstone? I went to school there in LCSS from Aug.1975- Feb. 1976, then was an instructor teaching LCSS till May 1978 when I ETSed.

I retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 4 in August of '05. I started out as an Airborne Infantryman in 3/325, 82d Airborne Division. I put in for the Warrant Officer Flight Training program and spent the remainder of my career flying Attack Helicopters. Finished up as a AH-64D Longbow Apache Standardization Instructor Pilot and Instrument Flight Examiner.

My only regret is not staying in longer. I would gladly do it all again.

To my fellow vets, thank you for your service. Before my Attack Helicopter Battalion deployed to Iraq, the Commander, 1st Cavalry Division pointed out that less than 5% of Americans breathing at that time had ever served a single day of military service. That is kind of sad, but says much of those that do serve. I was discussing my military career with a civilian once. He could not understand why I would voluntarily put up with all the long hours, hazardous duty, hardship assignments and deployments. My response was "because you won't..."

John

Well done, fellas.

Just this past year I finally reunited with some of the survivors from my 1/67-2/68 tour.

I have never served by am very thankful to those that have served and are serving! Prayers be with all our soliders near or far.

People Sleep Peacefully in Their Beds at Night Only Because Rough Men Stand Ready to Do Violence on Their Behalf!

I figured I would bump this post back up, when I started it a few years back my oldest boy was in and youngest was on his way in a few months. Today I am sitting here enjoying my birthday party and both sons are home and in one piece.

Thanks to all the young men and women out there who served and are still away from home!

My name is Kevin
I enlisted in the Navy in September of 1974 at Santa Barbara Ca.
Basic training was at Orlando Florida.
I spent 2 months at the Naval Station at Memphis TN
I spent the rest of my enlistment on Board the USS INDEPENDENCE CV-62, which was an aircraft carrier.
I was part of the ship's company and worked for the legal officer. When I was honorably discharged I was a YN-2. I flew home from my 2nd Mediteranean Cruise from Naples Italy in late September 1977. My enlistment was only 3 years because they could not provide me with the school that they had guaranteed me. So I was honorably discharged early. But I had a great experience, learned a lot, and definitely would do it all over again.

US Army 1971-1992

CPT (retired)

Basic - Ft Knox, KY
Signal Corps
FA
OCS
Plt Cmr - 1st Gulf War

47% Disabled

USA-SF
1969-IOBC-Parachute School-Ft Benning,GA
US Army Special Forces School-1970
Op/INTEL-1970 10th SFG-Ft Devens,MA.
5th SFG-10th SF GP (ABN) 7th SF Gp(ABN)LT/0-2
MACVSOG-RVN-I Corps (Khe Sahn/Quang Tri) CCN Launch Site
Supported Hickory -1971-72LT
Nha Trang, USSF Underwater Opns (Combat diver)Key West,FL
HQDA-Pentagon-MAJOR(0-4) Became a lifer-1985
Army Anti-terrorism Task Force
Ft Bragg-1984-
RET-1998-LTC-

Henderson

Field Artillery Battery Commander
Korea 64-65
Disabled Vet 1978

I need help passing my idea around.

The Dems want to be sure that Latisha Burger flipper is to be paid $15/hr. That comes to about $32,000.00/year. I want the wage for an enlisted E-3 to also get that same minimum wage. Did you know that PFC/Lance CPL. with a wife, qualifies for food stamps? Why do we ask the young trooper to be the actual "tip of the spear" and pay him less than what Latisha is supposed to get? If you agree with this, why don't you pass this idea around to your politicians?

...because we don't want to be part of the problem.

91-95 tried to make The first Gulf War. Enlisted the morning of January 16th as war was declared at midnigh of 15th
Basic and AIT FT. LEONARD Mo.
Darmstadt Germany
Vilseck Germany
NTC National Training Center Ft. Irwin California
E-4 62 Echo Heavy Equipment Operator.
Thank you to those before and after me

Joined the Navy in 1983 and retired in 2003.

Started off on the USS Charles F. Adams DDG 2 out of Mayport, FL and ended in Huntsville, Alabama working as a trainer for recruiters.

Also, I have been looking to for a good job in the area and if there are any vets in the area and know of anything, please shoot me a pm.

Thanks to all of you who have served and will serve in the future.

Check out this site, they may be able to help...

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12611

Thanks For Serving..

Bill

Just found this... never dropped down this far.

USN 86-92
GSM1
USS Reuben James FFG-57
USS Paul F. Foster DD-964
Gulf War

My hats off to all fellow Vets. To those of you who served in the thick of things I'm glad you made it home. And although I earned a Combat Service ribbon, I've never felt I served in as difficult a situation as many others. I can never express the gratitude I have for those who've served under fire.

I started this over 4 years ago , almost an entire enlistment ! Thanks everyone for keeping it running . Hopefully we see a few hundred more vets sign in.
Thank you everyone !!!

April 79 to Aug 80 - Wisconsin Army National Guard,,,,treadhead (tanker) spent the summer of 79 (between Jr and Sr year of high School) down at Ft Knox,,,,,,,

Joined regular Army Aug 1980 and retired on 1 March 2006,,,,,,,,,all of it spent in Special Forces (7th, 1st, and 3rd SF Groups, Delta, USSOCOM, and the school house),,,,,lots of good memories, some not so good,,,,served with some of the finest men this country has produced,,,,,,,,,,

My thanks to you all.

US Army during the Cold War - 1st assignment after Armor Officer Basic course was with a divisional cavalry squadron doing border operations along the East German and Czechoslovakian borders. I would not trade that for anything in the world.

USAF 1997-2017 (Retired)
Basic-Lackland AFB, TX
Tech School-2A6X3 Aircrew Egress-Sheppard AFB, TX
Holloman AFB, NM-Egress F-117A
Tech School-Fire Protection-Goodfellow AFB, TX
Peterson AFB, CO
Kunsan AB, ROK
Elmendorf AFB, AK
Holloman AFB, NM
Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom-Thumrait/Camp Snoopy/Kirkuk, Operation Enduring Freedom-Camp Leatherneck, Operation New Dawn

My name is Cory
2009-present
Jobs: Patriot missile and EOD
Airborne and Air Assault

USN 84-92
USS Groton, USS Augusta, USNS Maury
Fast Attack submarines and a research/intelligence ship
Right, Left, Gulf coasts, even HI

I don't miss it one bit. I can still remember ALL the reasons I left.

Bart, it took you 8 years to make up your mind?
I didn't know you were in the military.
Anyway, Bart , thanks for your service. Submarines! I could have never done that!

Ken

Some of us are gluttons for punishment. The grass was supposed to get greener - it never did - until EAOS!!! (for you non military types that stands for End of Active Obligated Service)

To my fellow Vets, I say hello and a mutual thank you! To those of you considering joining, I always tell people, "It was the best mistake of my life!!!" and I mean it.

It was a great experience once I realized that I needed to conform, vs fight the system. Once you do that, you will find it much easier. Stop thinking you are special, that you know how to do it better, that you deserve to be treated better than your fellow military. Get over yourself and you will learn to fit in and to get along!

Every generation has comments about the generation coming up and the one going, and in the military, it is the older, more experienced teaching the younger and less experienced, and I can assure you, you aren't going to win fighting the "established military way!!"

I wanted to go to Nam but was too young when they enforced the draft and I missed the cutoff dates to go over when I enlisted. So I joined the Navy and it was, no pun intended, smooth sailing. I grew up, I learned a trade, I had a wonderful time traveling and getting paid to do so!

Thank you to all the VETS on the fire.
Im headed down to Ft Benning tomorrow to see my youngest son graduate basic. I am very proud of him and all the other young people that choose to serve our country.

During my time, in the Army. it was ETS....

We called it End This Schitt...

The Army called it End Term of Service...

I think what the troops called it was more appropriate...

Been lurking here for a while now, decided to finally sign up and what better forum to do it than this.

I spent 27 years between the active and reserve components of the Army, retiring from the Reserves in 2010.

My MOS's were:
35H - Calibration Specialist (I've actually calibrated an LCSS!)
35G - Biomedical Equipment Specialist (Basic)
35U - Biomedical Equipment Specialist (Advanced)

I also went to Drill Sergeant School and ended up training my first cycle of joes in the EXACT SAME barracks and orderly room that I had attended Basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood years earlier.

Then came my firearms related career.

After graduating from Trinidad State's Gunsmithing program I was recruited by the US Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) as a "custom equipment technician", a fancy name for gunsmith. From 1993 to 2000 I built and maintained the finest in competetive guns, from M14's to Perazzi shotguns. What an apprenticeship for a gunsmith!

Of course the grass is ALWAYS greener...so I decided to ETS and go to college. I stayed in the Reserves and joined the Small Arms Readiness Group (SARG), a unit that provided weapons training to Army Reserve units.

Then September 11, 2001 happened.

I dropped out of college and went on active duty to support the war effort. By this time I was already broke-dick and non-deployable, but wanted to do what I could. So I spent the next seven years training deploying soldiers on any and all small arms they may have to deal with while deployed, including the foreign weapons they may encounter. We did specialized classes for designated marksmen and snipers (marksmanship ONLY, we were not sniper instructors).

God bless all those that have served, in whatever capacity.

Sorry for the long post, I'll learn to edit myself eventually.

SB--welcome to the fire.

USMC
2015-present
2821 Tech Con
Currently stationed with Comm Squadron 28 at Cherry Point NC

USA 87-90
USMC 90-98
USN 06-present, currently in Oki w/III MEF

Daughter, USCG 14-present
SIL, USCG 13-present
Son, USN 13-present
DIL, USN 12-16

US Army 1971-1973 (volunteered for the Draft- may as well, couldn't get a good job as 1A, draft was officially "on hold")
Texas Nat'l Guard '73-'76, Beaumont, Tx
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Basic
Ft Sill, OK ; Arty 105's, Alert Orders for Nam, then Nixon started pullout so was sent across base to
train as a Weapons mechanic on M110, M109.
Feb 10 '72 to May 24, '73 - sent to Augsburg, GE 1/36 FA M110s (8 inch arty) -retrained OJT in FDC, last 10 mos as Pts Clerk/ Motorpool.
ETS in '73, stuck in Annual Trng, Texas nat'l Guard (M109s) until '76
In GE, it was the Blacks/Puerto Ricans( 75% of Reese kasern) against the Whites/Chicano (25%). Funny thing was, we all got along great UNTIL
the Army decided we need a "Race Relations Class". Unfortunately, it was taught by an Angry Black Man Colonel. It stirred up a hornets nest, big...boogie...time! I just wanted to get along...no dice. After hours, if you went outside, you had to travel in groups of at least 3 to keep from getting your ribs kicked in. It was so bad I tried to volunteer to be transferred to Nam. Couldn't do it...was a 2 yr waiting list, so many wanted out. Baader-Meinhoff gang was blowing crap up in Augsburg; We missed our Track & Field events we had tickets for ('72 Olympics 45 min train ride away in Munich) when the Arabs killed the Israeli team. We also were "close" to using/or being hit by Tactical Nukes during the Easter Offensive over in Nam (April, '72)...Warsaw Pact always massed on the Border when there was a big push in Nam. It was a "Stand-Off, Balance of Power" thing...We read about and were heartbroken when Barbarella went Traitor and became Hanoi Jane! Booo! Hisss! Skank!
We still 'enjoyed" REFORGER though, running all over GE, playing war games with NATO for 9 days each year. I loved/hated the place, if that makes sense.
When I got home I found so many of my relatives, old friends/acquaintances ( I stopped counting after 50!) had been killed/shot all to hell over in Nam...I felt guilty that I had NOT gone to Nam myself! Crazy...but has haunted me for years.
On the Bright side- one of my twin daughters (born in '74) spent 12yrs (2000-2012) in the full time Utah Air Guard as a Spanish Linguist for the Spooks. She spent a month over in bagram, A-Stan (which "torqued me up") She married a Marine who spent two tours in Iraq in First Force Recon ( great guy too!) I'm very proud of my Service, I later tried to join as a Chaplain ( I'm an Ordained Minister now, 30yrs) but was too old at the time. Oh well...:)

US Navy 1975 - 1980. Honorably Discharged. I had a tiny little bit of ucmj trouble after a great night... that somehow turned into a great week.
Then I found myself hungover, broke and hitch hiking back to my ship from 3 tick infested states away. I paid the month long penalty given me at Captain's mast with a smile.
I still smile about it.

The draft ended 2 weeks before I turned 19. Almost all my friends got called and I had some shame when the draft ended.
I never once thought about going to Canada.
I was 15 in 1969 and remember how mad I got at the lousy hippies spitting on my friends and other guys coming back and calling them baby killers. Even back then the cronkites and other assorted media vermin were televising this kind of stuff in an effort to popularize leftist ideals. It made me as sick then as it does now and my first vote was for Richard M. Nixon in 1972.
I hung out for a few years but I felt like scum about not having enlisting yet. I enlisted in the Navy and wound up having to get on the bus to Buffalo on opening day of Whitetail season 1975. I did boot at Great Lakes and A school at Treasure Island and San Diego. I eventually became a shipfitter on a sub tender with most of my time spent fabricating low security steel items and installing them on fast attack subs. I was never aboard a sub while at sea.

Thank you, Combat Guys, from the bottom of my heart.

USAF 1997-2018
Weather Forecaster/Observer
After several deployments, and then spending 6 years at Elmendorf as "deployed in place" I am now a contractor in Afghanistan.
I guess I'm a glutton for punishment.

USAF 1986 - 2007

Turboprop Mechanic 1987 - 1996
C-130 Flight Engineer 1996 - 2007

Little Rock AFB, AR
RAF Alconbury / RAF Mildenhall
Hurlburt Field, FL
Little RockAFB, AR
Scott AFB, IL

20 years maintaining/flying the venerable C-130 of many variants

Kansan

your screen name in itself matches your service commitment to our country.

USA Lifer 1969-1998
10th SFG (ABN)
7th SFG (ABN)
5th SFG (ABN)-Vietnam-MACVSOG
SOG/CCN/SMAG 71-72 (Khe Sanh-ICorps Quang Tri Launch site)
Combat Diver Special Forces Underwater Opns Course
Trained under CAPT Paul Cahill-who led the CCS harchet force into Cambodia in 1969-
Cross the fence op losing Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver. One of the best recon Green Berets ever-MIA-1969.
Went to the Navy Support Facility-Panama City, FL-for July 4th 2016. Navy dive instructors were
shocked to see me diving and spearing fish. Thought Jacques Costeau was still breathing tank air............


De Oppresso Liber The only easy day was yesterday.
Marriott-0-5/RET

Spent 3 years at Alconbury, 20 years earlier as a dependent when my dad was stationed there...

they flew RF4Cs out of there during that period.... RB 66s when old man first got there...
10th Tac Recon Wing.

I went to school over at Molesworth.

Myself, served in the Army, Medical Corps... MOS 91B, 91 C, 91S, 54 E
Sept 1975 to Dec 1982

USA 75-78
67u Chinook helicopter mechanic
Ford Ord for basic Ford Eustis for AIT
Fort Wainwright until its
Still living in AK

I have 24 years 11 months and 25 days of service. Not that I'm keeping track...but I intend to retire in the next few years.

Army Combat Medic

Thanks, Dinny

Skipped school around the 3rd of Jan 1978 at 17 years old and joined the Army, only made it a little over 26 years before retiring as a MSG. Only planned on doing 20 years and making it to SFC so I guess I did ok.

Navy EOD
1991-2011
Afghanistan x 1
Iraq x 3

Well I figured it's about time to throw my Hat into the Ring here,............ MOS > 1341 < Power Generation and Electrical Distribution

USAF 1968-72
basic at Lackland AFB
Tech School at Chanute AFB, Rantoul, IL
Permanent Party station at Mather AFB, Rancho Cordova, CA (Strategic Air Command)
320 AMMS attached to the 320th Bomb Wing

Retired aerospace management 2009
Fairchild Republic -commercial aviation
General Defense -Army Artillery Projectiles, 105 and 155 mm
Martin Marietta first, then merger came -Lockheed Martin, military aircraft, missiles, GE thrust reversers, Navy VLS, then last 20 years on the Space Shuttle Program

Great career.

Jim here
USMC OCS
USAF retired, 1987-2013, O-6
Trash hauler and gas passer
Vance AFB
McChord AFB
Reese AFB
Fairchild AFB
Maxwell AFB
Randolph AFB
Maxwell AFB
Randolph AFB
Kabul Afghanistan
Lackland AFB
Lost track of all the operations, but Japan, Thailand, Korea, Philippines, Panama, Bosnia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkey, Iraq, and pins in every continent, finally connected East to West and North to South
Sq Command, 99FTS
Vice Wing, 438AEW
Commandant, DLI English Language Center

Happily enjoying life as a retired bum!

US Marines from 2003-2007
Field Artillery
Spent the next 6 years as a contractor back in the Middle East.

Welcome to the Campfire Colonel. Wishing you a good long retirement.

My dad retired an O 6 in 1974 after 26 years of service, and then spent 22 years with the State Dept from 1976 to 1998. Sadly he has entered the early stages of Alzheimers, and is now going into an assisted living facility after my mom's passing on Jan 5 th of this year. Life comes full circle in the end... but I am looking at it as he has enjoyed 45 years now of life after putting in a 26 year career in the Air Force.

SAC, Korea, Vietnam, TAC were all of his service duties during his time in. And as you, he served all over the globe.

Hope the Good Lord grants you a long enjoyable retirement as he has enjoyed.

Thank you for your service to our nation.

cheers and best regards
seafire

Bump to clear spam off of the homepage

62-65 USA, after basic,101st, 5th SF. Bragg, 82nd. Did a short stint in the Dominican.
Conformed to the system, meet a lot of good guys, had a very good experience.

I do not like to be "Thank You`d" for my service. It was my pleasure. Service should be expected from a good citizen.

67-98 5th(MACVSOG)-7th SF Gp(ABN)-10th SF Gp(ABN) HQDA-1st SOCOM-Key West Underwater Operations-72
De Oppresso Liber

Khe Sanh-1971 (CCN)



__________________________________________________
Islamic refugees DO NOT assimilate, integrate, or adjust.
Chattanooga and the Boston Marathon bombing are the Muslim views of adaptation to the West

The USA should be a NO-GO area for Islamic populations. Molon Labe

Thanks for your Service!

83-87 US Marines, 6112 CH-46 E Helo Mechanic, Crew Chief
2 yrs in Tustin, Ca Helo base with one west pac tour
2 yrs in Kaneohe Bay, Hi with one west pac tour.

I enjoyed every bit of it and would do it all over again.

Dave
Australian Army
2003 - Present
Cavalry Sergeant

Operational tours
East Timor 2006
Iraq 2007
Afghanistan 2009, 2011,2014

1997-2003 (Fort Benning OSUT)
11 Bravo (LRRP / LRS Detachment) 297TH INF (Alaska Guard)

2008-2015
11 Bravo 1-12 Cav, 3BCT, 1ST CAV. - Fort Hood, TX.
2 x Iraq (Nineveh Province / Quyarrah West / Basrah / Um-Qasr)
2-30 INF. 4BCT, 10TH MTN - Fort Polk, LA.


Now living the good life, Alaska Commercial Salmon Fishing, among other things.
I miss Iraq, but don't miss Stateside "Big Army" bull.

Great to see lots of other veterans here.

USMC 93-02
USA 03-2019 (retired now)
OIF 04
OEF 10 & 13

US Army 1973-1976
11B2P
Basic Fort Ord, CA
AIT Fort Polk, LA Tigerland
Airborne Fort Benning, GA
Ranger School, Fort Benning, GA, Pneumonia/Strep/Bronchitis during Mtn Phase good for 30 days in Walter Reed
B 1/327 INF, 101st ABN
Jungle Warfare School, Camp Sherman, Canal Zone
B 4/6 INF Berlin Brigade

My son was a White Curahee with the 506th, 101st Airborne. He did a tour (2008-2009) in Afghanistan as SDM

Post has ran for 8years now and 400k plus views Great to see the brotherhood is still as strong as ever.

A sincere Thank You to all you Veterans!

As we used to say in 3MAW... "It was real, and it was fun... but it wasn't real fun". :P

I wanted to stay, but my knees wouldn't let me (RE:3P).

81-89 USMC 6477/6466 (MOS # changed in 85) A-6E & F/A-18A FLIR IMA tech
Boot & schools 6/81-2/83
MCAS El Toro, Ca 3/83-6/89 with one deployment w/VMA(AW)-242 to MCAS Iwakuni, Japan & NAS Cubi Point, Philippines 4/84-10/84 & multiple ship-board outings w/VMA(AW)-121 aboard CV-61 Ranger 11/85, 9/86-10/86 Pusan SK & Vancouver Canada, 3/87-4/87 Pusan SK & Sasebo Japan, 7/87-12/87 Subic Bay P.I., Singapore, Indian Ocean/Arabian Sea, Pattaya Thailand, Hong Kong, Subic Bay

USN 1976-80 active

Aviation Anti-submarine Warfare Technician Second Class (AX-2) at separation.

Did boot in Orlando followed by avionics schools at NAS Memphis. Had orders to CV-59 USS Forrestal, but orders were modified before departure and ended up with Patrol Squadron 24 based at NAS Jacksonville. Deployed to NAF Sigonella twice, made E-5 between deployments.

Couldn't wait to get out, but couldn't believe how quickly 1996 rolled around and kicked myself in the ass ever since!

Surprised to never see any other soul from the VP-24 Batmen here.

Skipped school in my senior year, cold day, 3rd of January 1978 and joined the ARMY @ 17 years old, was tired of people asking what I was going to do. Signed up as a Tank Mechanic with my 1st tour in Germany. After graduating HS I did Basic and AIT at Fort Knox, came home for Christmas, got married to my HS sweetheart, Reported to C Co 1/32 Armor in Germany, and soon afterwards moved off post and brought her over. After Germany went to FT Carson A Co 1/77 Armor, then HHC 464 Combat Engineers, then C Co 464th Combat Engineers, then HHC 164th Support Group, then 348Transportation Company (Bulk Haul), then as an Instructor, BNCOC, ANOC and 63 Series Mechanical Maintenance Career Fields at RTSM Fort McCoy, then the 417th Maintenance Company in Faribault MN, then over to the Detachment of the 417th in Wabasha MN, then up to the 302nd
Maintenance Company, Arden Hills MN as the S3 NCO where I retired back in 2004. Retired out a MSG with 26 years, and over 24 of it Active Duty and a bunch of side trips to Germany, Korea and the Middle East.

'68-'72 O62B
101st ABN RVN I Corps 69-70
Ft. Rucker '70
101st ABN RVN I Corps 71-72
1st Cav RVN 3 Corps '72
B/7/17th 2 Corps '72

Thanks for your service all you guys. Be Well, RZ.

Thank you all for the service that you've provided for our country.

US Army 2007-Current
19D Cavalry Scout
Knox OSUT 5/15
Campbell 101st, 4th BDE Curahee, 1/61 CAV
Carson 4th ID, 3rd BDE 4/10 CAN
West Virginia State University ROTC Instructor

Good to see the military pride from the brotherhood!

USN 1994-1999, DoD Civil 1999-2002
Weather Observer & Forecaster/7412
Great Lakes Bootcamp
Keesler AFB - Weather Observer School
NAS Adak, AK
Keesler AFB - Weather Forecaster School
NPMOC Monterey, CA
Honorable Discharge and back to Keesler AFB as civilian instructor. Crossed paths with Hudge (about 30 posts up) while instructing.

USAR 1984-2010
84B - Still Photographic Specialist
Basic Ft Bliss - AIT Lowry AFB
OCS in 88 - 11A thru 2010
(Deployed ISO Desert Storm in 91 with 3/87 IN and 03-05 ISO OIF/OEF with 3/361st TSB then 05-08 COTTAD with STRATCOM)
Enlisting was the best decision i ever made. It set me on a path i wouldn't have been able to do on my own and exposed me to some of the most magnificent people anyone would hope to know.

If any 173rd ABN Sky Soldiers stumble on this and you served in Oct 1970, i would love to hear from you.

Ben, US Army Retired
89 Basic
90 AIT 12B, (split-op, I was still in high school)
90-11 Active Duty
In the midst of all that I was Mechanized to start, became a Paratrooper, then went SF, 18C.
Schools and training..... yes, all the fun and some not so fun ones
Deployments...… yep, did God's good work in numerous places
Enjoyed the vast majority of it and met, worked with and fought along side of what I believe to be the best people in the world, but I'm biased!

Doug
Enlisted May '81, 31V1P (Tac Commo) FT Sill, OK for AIT, Benning for jump school and married in Phoenix City, AL
82nd Abn 81-83,
FT Rucker for Flight School (AH-1 Cobras)
Ft Wainwright, AK, Hunter AAF, GA (AH-64 Apache)
Desert Shield/Storm,
5-501 Camp Eagle, ROK,
Hunter AAF, ROK (3-6 CAV) Camp Humphries, Back to Hunter,
Retired May '01 AH-64 MTP.

Bill, USAF Ret MSgt 1964-1984 20 years, 3 months, 14 days of a mostly good experience. AFSC 99125, 99104 "Special Electronics Tech" Same organisation my full career. We monitored the Nuclear Weapons Test Ban treaty. Interesting job.
Basic at Lackland - got my training flight quarantined with measles!
Tech school Lowry AFB, Denver
Thailand for a year.
Back to Lowry for 3 years as maintenaance tech at our tech school. Married a USO hostess, she died on me 52 years later.
3 years at RAAF Amberly, Brisbane Australia. Good duty, GOOD beer, and near local relatives, too.
The rest of my time was at McClellan AFB, Sacramento CA, except for the year (was supposed to be 2 years) in Tehran. The
Shah left, and so did we. Evac'ed back to Sacramento, which was our maintenance and engineering support squadron location.
Retired because my son was turning 16, I was on the short list to get sent unaccompanied, and I figured it was time to be
home.
If I had it to do over again, given the same time frame, I would. Just should have held on to a couple guns that I let slip through my fingers.

RA
US Army 1972 - 1975
Primary MOS - 12B20 Combat Engineer
Secondary MOS - 64M20 Loader / Dozer Oper.
B Co. 10th Engr. Bn.
Daley Barracks
Bad Kissingen, Germany.

Regular Army
82-90
Ft jackson SC-basic
Ft Lee AIT 94B
83-86 1stBN 41st (M) infantry FT Hood, TX
86-89 1stBN 41st (M) infantry Garlstadt Germany
89-90 a POS engineer unit FT Sill OK

Paul
Regular Army
64 to 67
Fort Ord basic
Fort Belvoir, Hvy Equipt Repair school
864th Engr Bn (Const) Ft Wolters and Cam Ranh
Post Engrs, Petroleum, White Beach Okinawa
13th Ord. Guided Missile Group, Fort Bliss

US Army Special Forces -(1969-1998)
10th SFG (ABN)Ft Devens, MA
7th SF Gp (ABN)
MACVSOG/5th SF Gp (ABN) Vietnam-I Corps/ Khe Sanh
7th SFGp
1st Special Opns Command-FT Bragg, NC
Pentagon-DAMO-ODSO
SF Underwater Opns /Combat Diver-Key West, FL


SF Assn-LIFE
SOA-LIFE

Conservative-Because we have a great deal to conserve...If they will go after LTG Flynn for nothing, they can come after YOU. NRA -LIFE
Rest easy: Jerry "Mad Dog" Shriver, MG Eldon Bargewell, "The Frenchman", SGM Jon Caviani, LTC Roy Bahr

Dustin

USMC - active duty
06/2013-06/2017 7051 ARFF/EFR/ base funeral detail
USMC inactive reserves 06/2017 - 05/2018

USAR 06/2018 - present 37F PSYOP/ ABN

Haven’t deployed but been to camp Lejeune, camp Geiger, MCAS Beaufort, PI, fort Hunter Liggett, camp parks, fort benning, and fort Campbell.

Went to goodfellow AFB as well for fire room mates were intel guys.

Frank

US Army 31 years, 2 months and 18 days active duty (1986-2017). Retired as a Command Sergeant Major.
Half my career was spent in the airborne, 3-325 ABCT, 82d, and the 173 ABN Brigade.
Desert Storm, 2 x Iraqi and 2 x Afhanistan
Did the Drill Sergeant thing.
Jumpmaster and Ranger school
A whole bunch of other units and other stuff but I'll keep it simple

Scott

US Navy Seabee.
A school in Gulfport Mississippi
I was a Steelworker at ACB-1 Coronado Island. 1990-1994
Deployed 8 months to Mogadishu Somalia
Currently working for the department of Veterans Affairs in Boise Idaho.
If any veteran needs help with disability advice or getting on at the VA hit me up.

Steve

BCT Ft. Jackson SC 1980
AIT Ft. Gordon GA 1980, Radio Operator
FRG 1981-1982, Wiley Barracks, Pershing 1A nuclear missile C Battery
1983 Ft. Benning GA 197th Separate Brigade HHC
1983-1994 ARNG Company C 125th Infantry, finished up as an 11B30
1994-2015 ANG Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, electronic warfare section leader
Now retired and serving as the Alpena County Regional Airport manager

Navy
1989-2018, 28 years 5 months 14 days. Retired CDR
Flew EA-6Bs for the first 12 years. 2200 hrs and 320 Carrier Landings
Schools and Staff for the last 16 years
Carriers served in some capacity in: Washington, Eisenhower, Nimitz, Lincoln, Vinson, Truman

Pensacola, FL
Whidbey Island, WA
Fallon, NV
Maxwell AFB Montgomery, AL
NS Norfolk. VA
Everett, WA
Doha, Qatar
Bremerton, WA
NSA, Bahrain
Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, NV
Bahrain (again)
Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, CA

Retired to the sticks in Alabama

First post, long time voyeur

1972 USAF Basic, Lackland; Tech school Acft Electrician Chanute Ill; then to McCoy afb, Plattsburgh afb, Eglin afb, Osan Korea, Mt. Home Idaho, Homestead afb, Fla.
10 years Active, 8 yr break-in service, 10 years USAFR Homestead, Incerlk Turkey, Sao Paulo Brazil, retired-
It was PIA but now that it’s in the rear view- happy I did it, full Bene’s

That was the first time I chronoed that, seems like a lot of Air Force Bases (with several TDY’s thrown in) but I was young and everyplace was a somewhat new “adventure “

US Coast Guard (Retired)
Petty Officer First Class (E-6)
Rating/MOS: Yeoman
1979 - 1996 (17 years*)
Cape May, NJ
Petaluma, CA
New York, NY (aka Governors Island)
Cleveland, OH
Buffalo, NY
Boston, MA
Topeka, KS (now, now... I know.. The freakin' Coast Guard in the middle of Kansas? WTF?) But it was all 100% Admin/HR/Payroll/I.T. as the whole entire USCG gets paid out of Topeka.

Retirement*
Back in 1996, remember when Bill Clinton and Congress were trying to downsize the military? Way way way too many "high brass" enlisted members were staying in. Promotion boards were at a standstill. You had to wait for someone to freakin' die before you could add another stripe! Remember those years? Anyway, they came out with a new bill approved by Congress, called "TERA" -- Temporary Early Retirement Authorization. In a nutshell: They took the normal 20yr retirement and lowered it to 15 years. Anybody, anywhere, E-5 and above with 15 years of service... Sign here... Bye! Full VA benefits, health care, a total everyday retirement... the only thing different was (obviously) they subtracted out your base pay @ 20 years versus 17.

As a Yeoman (very hard rating to get promoted in), I saw the writing on the wall. I went up for promotion to Chief E-7 over and over and over, and never made it. I said, "screw it" and retired under that TERA policy with 17 years.

Navy, 1967-71. Aviation Fire Control Technician. I made E4. Three 8 month WESTPAC cruises to Vietnam on USS Ranger. I worked on F4 Phantoms on the flight deck and hangar deck. I stayed out of the way during flight ops most of the time but sometimes had to climb up on an airplane on the catapult and flip a switch to the right position to make the radar work right, or some other simple repair. Otherwise it was stay out of the way until the airplanes are all aboard and chained down and then try to fix any broke airplanes quickly so they could launch them next time. It could be dangerous up there, especially at night, but at least I wasn't getting shot at. What an adventure for a dumb-ass farm kid! I loved the airplanes and all the amazing stuff going on up there, but I wasn't cut out for the military. 4 years of it was all I could take. But I'm a member of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club and the training I got in the Navy started my career as an electronics tech and engineer off very well.

Army reserve / Desert shield, storm, Kurdish freedom (on paper).
SeaBee reserve .
Navy reserve.
Personel clerk. Army enlisted nurse. US navy corpsman.
E5 (Was offered my E6 to stay in, PTSD said otherwise.
Basic at Leanardwood.
Mobilized out of Indiantown Gap
Detached from my unit (364th general hospital), attached to the 300th field hospital.
On the ground at the start of the ground war. Scud central, Kobar towers. Earned the army achievement medal there.
I was told if I had been an E6, it would have been a bronze star, not sure how true that is.
Lots of pretty ribbons. Army loves it's ribbons. Got one just for showing up long enough.

USN, MM1/SS
Great Lakes, Orlando, Idaho Falls, Pearl Harbor (not real exciting selection ) Scenery from the inside is all the same but being at the North Pole was a one-off.

I did an 8 year break in service as well. Then 20 more in the National Guard. 24 years total.

kwg

A lot of good people here. It is encouraging.

USAF 1976 - 1993
306x0

Nessmuk,
shout out to fellow Corpsman and also a Virginia Boy.

91 Bravo, 91Charlie, 91Sierra, 54 Echo...

service, 75 to 82...

wrapped up my time with 5501 General Hospital, Ft Snelling MN.

thanks for your service!

US Army Reserve 1994-2001 62J- general construction equipment operator (boring!)

September 2001 - August 31, 2021 68W - combat medic (not a dull moment!)

I saw action in Iraq 2003-2004, 2009-2010, Afghanistan also in 2009 and 2012-2013.

I retired almost 2 years ago. I have two pensions coming in each month and I work Wed, Thu, Fri from 2-5pm. 😎

It's a rough way to make a living but if a person can hangout for 20+ years it pays off in the end.

US Air Force 1981 - 2002
Lackland - Basic, SP Training
SAC HQ 81-83 (SP)
Iceland 83-84 (SP)
Whiteman AFB 84-93 (SP)
Keesler AFB - Communications Training 93
Whiteman AFB 93 - 96 (Comm)
CENTAF HQ 96-99 (Comm)
Prince Sultan AB Dec 96 (Comm)
Eskan Village (JTF SWA HQ) 97-98 (Comm)
AETC HQ 99 - 2002 (Comm)
Retired July 2002 as a MSgt