Veterans FALL IN for muster

[Ag&Au]

It was noted in another thread that a lot of the Forum members seem to be military veterans. The forums that I participated in when I had a travel trailer had a thread where Veterans could introduce themselves and exchange war stories or whatever they wished. So I decided to start this one. (non veterans are welcome to join the discussions also.)

I was in the US Navy and Naval Reserve in some form or another from 1961 to 1973. I was on active duty from 1965 to 1970. I was with VP-42 (a P2V squadron) based at Oak Harbor, WA from 1967 to 1969. During that time we deployed twice to SE Asia.

Ken

P.S. Obviously, Active duty military personnel are veterans also.

[Wonderdog]

USAF Medic - Tyndall AFB Sep 65 - May 67. Vietnam Jun 67 - Dec 68.
Sometimes still bothers me that I made it home unscathed when so many others didn't.
I have great respect for and love the military.

My dad was a black shoe destroyer sailor from the 30s through the 50s. Retired as CMM.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by Wonderdog

USAF Medic - Tyndall AFB Sep 65 - May 67. Vietnam Jun 67 - Dec 68.
Sometimes still bothers me that I made it home unscathed when so many others didn't.
I have great respect for and love the military.

My dad was a black shoe destroyer sailor from the 30s through the 50s. Retired as CMM.

I know what you mean .. In 1967 when we were flying out of Tan Son Nhut, we were billeted in a small hotel in downtown Saigon. Every time we flew (basically daily), the path that we were driven to the aircraft went right by that large building on the base where the fallen were kept awaiting transport home. It had very sobering effect on all of us. It made one wonder what or who decides who goes home by what means.

I was at Tan Son Nhut from 3-67 to 9-67 and Cam Rahn Bay from 3-68 to 9-68. However only half our squadron was in country at a time the other half was at NAS Sangley Point in the P.I. We rotated every two weeks.

Ken

[steve777]

1978 USAF Academy - F15 33TFW Eglin AFB, Florida. 555TFTS Luke AFB, Arizona.
Two boys - both in. One USAF Major Special Ops Intel FT Bragg, NC. Other USMC Capt XO of Reserve Unit. Both many, many deployments to the sand.
Father - 1941-1945 USMC Master Technical Sergeant in South Pacific during WW2.
Dont anyone think for a second that i don't 100% support our military veterans!!!!!

[DocMike]

Thanks to all for Military Service both CONUS and abroad!

Started in the Army October 1972 (letter from the president, in the last ones sent out) as 12B10 Combat Engineer FLW Mo. Transferred to Army Guard, direct commission after Dental School then transferred to NC Air Guard Charlotte in 1982, Volunteered for Desert Shield 1990 to Myrtle Beach AFB SC, activated for Desert Storm the next year and retired November 1995.

Military family: Father-SMGT Air Force (Deceased), sister-Staff Sgt Army, brother-Navy O5 "Bubble Head", brother-Army EOD Staff Sgt. (Deceased) and baby brother-Army Intel (??).

Served as State Commander for The Department of North Carolina American Legion in 2004/2005. Yeah, I support Veterans and look for RV Sites run by Veterans. Site of note: Taps RV Campground Exit 55 HWY 40, Asheville NC (same exit as VA Medical Center). Nice site, good Veteran discount and very close to VA Center. Not a destination RV site, but clean, easy access to interstate, near VA and a ton of stuff in Asheville NC.

Doc

[Travelin' Texans]

Our son is a master sergeant in USAF currently in the reserves with 5 trips over to some God forsaken country around Iraq & was stationed in Quatar when that conflict was declared a war. Fortunately he will be eligible for retirement in April 2018. We too have the utmost respect & gratitude for those have & are serving this great country of ours! Thank you & may God bless you!

[mcr1010]

Thanks for starting this thread.
Salutes go out to all Vets, present, accounted for and especially those not accounted for, but are not forgotten.
RIP old warriors.
USN from 1962-66
VR-1 Pax River, MD, USS Enterprise, VA-15 Cecil Field,FL, USS Intrepid, Bien Hoa AFB, VN.

[JamieGeek]

Thank you all for your service.

I'm not a veteran of any kind but have quite a few in the family: Father, brother, father-in-law (and all of his brothers) are all ex Navy.

My Father was an aviation machinist's mate stationed in TX. My brother was a weekend warrior maintaining/flying Orion aircraft and my father-in-law and his brothers were all sailors.

[Jerry B.]

Salute to all veterans.
USAF (Ret.) 26 years active duty
Vietnam vet (Phan Rang AB '67/'68

[Ag&Au]

Since we mentioned family, I thought I'd throw mine in. My grandfather was a Lighthouse Keeper from ~1900 until WWII. When the Coast Guard took over the lighthouses he retired. My uncle joined the USMC during WWI. When the war was over he became a Lighthouse Keeper also. When the Coast Guard took over the lighthouses, he became a CPO in the Coast Guard. His daughter joined the USMC during WWII and was an aerial photographer. My father was 20 years younger than his brother, the uncle mentioned above. When WWII started my dad was a member of the Oregon National Guard in a coast artillery unit. He was also a couple of months away from graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Boeing and the Army Air Corp came and visited his class and basically made several members of his class a deal they couldn't refuse. He worked his entire career at Boeing on military projects. They included B-29, B-50, B-47, B-52, Minuteman Missile, Bomarc missile, and ALCM (air launch cruise missile). I'm sure there were others that I can't remember and others he could not tell us about. He also traveled frequently to NATO Member countries.

As for me, I realized a couple years ago that there has not been a month, since 2 months after I graduated from high school, that I have not recieved a paycheck from the US government. First it was NROTC, and then the NAVY. After active duty it was Naval reserves for a while. After I started working for the FAA, I reached a point in my training where I became a key federal employee. When the Navy found out, they said sorry, but if we can't call you up, you can't drill. Since I've retired from the FAA, I draw a retirement check. That has to be a near record for being on the government dole.

I have two sisters. One is retired from county government, the other is retired from state government. My only brother is still working for state government. My two kids, however, broke free and both are self employed.

My wife is also retired from the FAA.

So if you wonder why our government is in debt, ii might be my family's fault

Ken

[bevedfelker]

Continuos AF acive duty from Mar 1964 to Jul 2005 -- just a little shy of 42 years.

13 years enlisted in Hound Dog and SRAM nuclear cruise missiles. Made E-7 MSGT and shortly after sewing on was selected for Officer Training School.

Commissioned 2-Lt in 1977. Served assignments in nuclear weapons, acft maintenance, policy, command post, strategy, and conventional weapons. Graduate of Army Command & General Staff College, Marine Corps Staff College, Air Command and Staff College, AFSchool of Advanced Airpower Studies, & Air War College. Served as Joint Service Staff Officer in JCS & US Embassy London. Two time Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander (B-52s), Logistics Group Commander (B-52), and was the AF's Chief of Munitions and Nuclear Weapons when I retired as an O-6 in 2005.

[Marine By Choice]

USMC from April 1965 - April 1970.

Combat tour with C-1/7 in Chu Lai 1966-1967. WIA 6/16/1966
Marine Barracks Bremerton 4/1967 to 11/1967
Marine Security Guard School. Henderson Hall, VA graduated 4/1968
Assigned to Embassy Duty, Saigon 4/68-4/70

Grandfather WWI U. S. Army Ft. Gordon, GA drill sergeant
Father WWII U.S.M.C. 3rd radio intelligence platoon, Marshal Islands until end of war.
Brother U.S. Army Heidelberg & Frankfort 1965-1967

[jpmihalk]

U.S. Navy Officer - 1985-1997


USS LaMoure County (LST-1194) as CICO - 1986-1989
SBU 20 as Ops/Patrol Officer - 1989-1990
USS Nitro (AE-23) as Ops O - 1993-1995
USS Saipan (LHA-2) as 1st LT - 1995-1997

[bigben]

Proud retiree having served in US Army 1970-1992. Been successful in a 2nd career but remain a soldier first.

WWII took 3 uncles - 2 came home but struggled the rest of their lives until succumbing to physiological scar tissue. All were US Army also.

[bandorr2000]

Navy, 1965-1968. Great Lakes for basic, Memphis for Electronics School, then NAS/NATC Patuxent River, MD. Rank of AX3 on discharge.

[Lvhgvguy]

24 years active duty Army here.
I have 3 more years until i retire.
Im hoping to spend as much time with my family as i can over those 3 years.

J & D
Virginia
2017 Quantum 31 WS

[crey0517]

U.S. Coast Guard - April 1983 to October 2013 - 21 years of Sea Duty -

Senior Chief/E-8 (QMCS) to Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Bosun) -

USCGC White Pine, USCGC Courageous, USCGC Sassafras, USCGC Chincoteague, USCGC Kiska, USCGC Papaw, Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston (Watch Supervisor), USCGC Sundew (1st Lt), USCGC Alder (1st Lt), USCGC Harry Claiborne (Commanding Officer) and Sector Houston/Galveston (Sector Boat Forces Manager) -

Semper Paratus -

[EA37TS]

US Army 1974 - 1994 Cavalry and Ordnance

CONUS - Bliss (2 tours), Hood, Knox, APG, Drum
OCONUS - Korea (remember the tree), Germany (2 tours), Kingdom of Jordan, Egypt

God Bless all who are serving or have served and may our fallen brothers and sisters in arms always be in our thoughts and minds.

[Larry]

Thanks to all our veterans who have served and are still serving our great country and God bless those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

US Air Force enlisted 1966 - 1970.

Basic training - Lackland AFB - San Antonio, TX;
Electronics Communications Tech school - Keesler AFB - Biloxi, MS;
Permanent assignment - Technical Control Communications Systems - 1957 Comm Gp -
Hickman AFB - Honolulu, HI 1967-1970. E-4

[KNMIB]

I salute you all and God Bless. 6 years Illinois Army NG Infantry. Dad was Utah Beach USN D-day survived physically but never was the same. I hold all veterans, police and fireman in the highest of regards. Thank You All.