Military Vets

[Lost Cause]

I keep reading all these opinions on the conduct of the war. What gets to me is some of the views make no military sense in their execution.
I'd like to know from the veterans out in the Lit....... what did you do in the service?

I'll go first........United States Air Force, Security Police, Tactical Neutralization Team leader, SPECS Worldwide Deployment. Trained at Hurlbert Field FLA, Ft. Benning GA, Camp Lejune NC, Cherry Point NC, Pope AFB NC, and Ft. Bragg NC.
**
After getting out, went into National Guard for a few years, Mechanised Infantry, A Team Leader, Armor-Tank gunner and T.C.,
Cavalry Scout..advance unit.


We need to voice our experience in these threads so everyone can be better informed on how things are done.
OOORRRAAAAHHH! Thankyou for your service.

 

[sch00lteacher]

Hey, we have a lot in common. USAF SP, but in my day I was in Law Enforcement, didn't have the one Security Forces designation.

Specialty, Special Weapons and Tactics, long range target elimination (sniper). I messed your whole day up, forever.

 

[zantac666]

I never was in the military but i feel i was my father was navy he was on minesweepers h deactivated them he had seal training and he was on river patrol boats in veit nam and he was on one when he was killed. and i think any war we are in should be left to the military to operate no senators not even the president.

Just kee them informed and that is all.

 

[christophe]

US Army. Served as a military policeman in the former West Germany.

Honorably discharged

 

[Vinny]

USMC

I was a Cpl in the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. I am now a 1st Lt USAFR Medical

 

[plasticman33]

USAF Security Service, Radio Interception Analyst. Monitored Soviet and Chinese radio communications. Saw duty with the 6952nd RSM Viet Nam and the 6925 RGM Clark Air Force Base Phillipines. Drank beer and chased women!

 

[tn_8tiv]

USMC.

Major. 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division and VMA224 First Marine Air Wing - First and Last Assignments.

Semper Fidelis

 

[Weird Harold]

USAF, 21 yrs, 3Mos, 3Days.

Aircraft avionics technician (Weapons Control Systems) on F-4 Phantoms the entire career.

Security Police Augmentee in Vietnam.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

So?

Quite a few Air Farce Zoomies huh? The son of a Squid (as am I). A Doggie and a couple of Jar Heads (as am I). Once and forever - always green, always mean.

Me?

I drew number 4 in the last (Vietnam) draft - which at that time meant Army for 2 years and 2 years active reservist after that.

So, even though my old man, a WWII Sea Bee at 17 - I am very proud of - I never thought of myself as a 'military person.' To the contrary - in the day - I was some sort of a 'raised in the false world bubble of the Beltway (Northern Virginia/DC) redneck, semi-drop out, pot smokin' hippy'ish type of, hate everything in life individual.' And I was in love (my first) with a beautiful Italian babe from north Jersey - Ceceilia. So I opted for the Marine Corp rather than become a Doggie. I didn't relish such a thing but what the heck? I took the 6 month deferment on enlistment to convince the girl to marry me - or come with me. Of course, that didn't work. Oh well, such is life.

At PI (Paris Island) I tested very high and Annapolis came to call on me - basically that was a 10 year commitment. Yeah right. I should have taken it but my dick didn't let me. All I wanted was to get it over with and got out and get fucking laid.

Being tall and a great shot - I shot 248 of 250 at the range - I made 1st squad leader fast. Got beat out of the blues by one man. Made Pfc out of boot. I actually loved boot camp. To me the very best and most fun part of any military experience. I'd love to do it all again.

My high test scores landed me an 0151, company clerk typist - not really what I wanted to do. I then scored in the top 4% of my 01 class in order to 'choose' a duty station. I had dreams of Japan or somewhere semi-exotic. Hah! All I got was 'a list of duty stations' to choose from - all on the east coast of the US. Fuck me!Not the first time the military had misled me. Not the last. I chose Quantico because it was near my home and I falsely assumed that I would, I might - find some pussy willing to fuck a baby killer. Which is how the entire (at least my age group) though of anyone doing anything in any branch of military service.

The day I arrived at Quantico to report was the day of the famous footage of the chopper pulling people off the top of the US embassy. The war was over.

I was up for meritorius LCpl due to my 01 grades in PI. But......

Being so close to my homey connections - and broke (I made $125 every 2 weeks as a Pfc) - I began to sell pot to my new buddies on base. A Cpl who I smoked with often 'a friend' dropped a dime on me and the next thing I knew - I was being court marshelled. Guilty of course. 6/6 and no kick - without pay.

However........

I loved the brig! I eventually ran it - from a prisoner's perspective. Even though I got 2 more courts for various things while in there. The Wardens all fuckin' loved me. They all shook my hand when I went back to regular duty. Man have I got stories about that.

Anyway......

Once out of the brig I got rank again - working my way back into a General Under Honorable discharge. The base commander who I had worked for as an 01 actually escorted me off the base and wished me well when I got out.

Was I ready to fight? You betcha. Did I love the Corps? My experience there? Yes, it was fucking great! I have no regrets at all. Did I like the day to day bullshit and the fucking morons I had to take orders from? Fuck no. Most folks would be truly amazed at the stupid pukes pullin' triggers for Uncle Sam. Out of the entire US Military system - maybe, maybe 10% are worth 2 shits. And that's all of the officers and the enlisted ranks, hell, I feel that's generous. Fuckin' bunch of cannon fodder. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Not that that's nothin' to be proud of. It's just that - well - like pretty girls, for the most part, bright people don't go into the military. It just doesn't happen. Ultra hot babes don't go in the military and brain surgeons, scientists and investment bankers don't either. Only 10% are of that caliber - at best. The rest are farm boys, ghetto kids, psychos, dykes, criminals (like me) and the like. In my day drug usage (before piss tests) was rampant. The Vietnam vets comming home brought all their habits with them. My first day in a barracks I walked into the head and right out in the open were 3 dudes shooting up. Like I said - only 10% are any good.

I wonder what would have happened if I had taken them up on Annapolis. Ah....... I probably would have gotten in bigger trouble there.

Semper Fi dudes.

 

[Jimi]

Military respect - Always had it - for the REAL ones..

my Dad was always "ashamed" that he wasn't allowed Overseas in WWII. He enlisted in the Canadian Army at 17 in 1939, but was only allowed to serve in the Reserves (part-time) until 1942. By that point he'd made three "hooks" as he calls them, in the Royal Canadian Engineers.

He spent the last 4 years of the War as an instructor in "Demolitions and Bridge-Building", and ended up a Company Sergeant-Major - don't know what the Yank equiv. is... maybe Spec 6/7?

I went to highschool in PA for 1-1/2 years. Class of 1968. Five of us were kicked out for drinkin' beer underage in Senior year.

I was "shown the Border" and returned home to Ontario. The other four had their Draft Boards notified by our ever-loving Principal - an ordained minister and an ex-Marine. An asshole of the first water - he's been in and out of the PA State Hospital in North Philly for years.

In Contrast, our Coach was a P.I. & Annapolis Grad. Major R.K. Nelson USMCR was a tough but fair man - still is.

Last time I looked in the US Navy's "Proceedings" magazine - he was about to retire w/ 2 stars. Always a chopper-jock (since Korea) Gen. Nelson ended up doing "Secret" stuff on V-22 Ospey at Willow Grove NAS.

Now to the "four others" - Three went to Temple to finish up H.S. ALL enlisted to get a better trade - got into Rucker and two outta three still fly regularly. Chuck, the fourth - got drafted right away - the "lucky bastard" as he calls himself - was posted to Germany.

The other three - one "Loaches" one "Hogs" and the last one "Dust-offs". I know some details - but they are not mine to share. 'Nuff said?

Two of these guys just got back from Saigon three weeks ago. i will have to wait until summer to see pix, etc. They are still two of my best friends after 30-some years.

I tried to get into the Canadian military in 1971 - no luck. Rejected because the math. test scores were too low.

So, LC, if sometimes you see me as a "Bleeding Heart" it ain't true - I just about lost two dear friends in America's stupidest war...

I respect ALL who had to serve - but as Sparky so rightly says:

Most folks would be truly amazed at the stupid pukes pullin' triggers for Uncle Sam. Out of the entire US Military system - maybe, maybe 10% are worth 2 shits. And that's all of the officers and the enlisted ranks, hell, I feel that's generous

I have found over the years, that those who have lived through war are the least interested in renewing the acquaintance.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Please don't get me wrong here.

About 10% of everyone - everyone - is worth 2 shits.

For one reason or another 9 out of 10 folks have some sort of quirk or collection of quirks that - for lack of a better term - 'fucks them up.'

The military is simply a basic mirror of our entire society.

Only 10% of which have their shit together by any degree.

A lot of walking wounded out there - the fate of birth.

 

[SINthysist]

Urrah Uberspark...

 

[SINthysist]

PS

I know exactly what you mean about test scores, MOS, and duty stations...

 

[Jaded1]

U.S. Army - Death from above (36 mo.)

U.S. Army, 75th Infantry, Nam 66-67. A happy civilian and gentleman my war is over.....................

Jaded1, CT

 

[Desert Amazon]

 

[freakygirl]

Ummmm I wasn't in the military but my SO was..

10 years in the Army.. I'm not sure on the specifics but he has talked about the Special Forces. I know he was in the Gulf War.

I guess I should get all the specs from him.. and post it all later..

 

[Cierra_Dessert]

After reading all the posts so far in this thread, all I have to say is,

Thanks guys/gals

You have all touched my

 

[Richard49]

Greetings fellow vets

Served from 1966 - 69.
Fort Knox...basic traning
Redstone Arsenal AIT
Homestead Air Force Base.....Cubin Air Defence Premeter

than

13 months in beautiful SE Asia...little place called Veit Nam

I lived to not talk about it

Today...hard core Libertarain
and very active in the VFW

Richard

 

[privy2u]

First sight of the thread so here goes:

1/18th 1st Infantry Div - (Recon/FO)

Jump school@ Ft Benning
Recon@ Ft.Polk
Jungle Expert@ Panama
Rapelling Expert@ Ft Carson
APC@ Ft Riley

Volunteered for draft 09/69
Dischared E-5 w/disabilities 9/71


What's all that mean? The Army found an Okie that grew up squirrel and rabbit hunting and turned him into a professional squirrel hunter! LOL

Welcome Home Everyone!


privy

 

[Ishmael]

U.S. Army

U.S. Army '63 - '67

Basic - Ft. Gordon Ga.

Assigned and trained in the Signal Corps.

Took a short 're-up' for assignment USAMTU, U.S. Army Infantry School, Ft. Benning, Ga.

Spent my Army career shooting competitively all over the North America. Helped start the U.S. Army Sniper School at Ft. Benning and did two tdy's to the land of 'dirty deeds' and 'bombdibomb'(sp).

"While the 'arm chair generals' argue strategy, the real generals understand that logistics is king. An army marches on beans and bullets."

Ishmael

 

[Richard49]

nice to see

USAF, Ground Radio Electronics (assigned to 25th AD/NORAD Detachment) then special duty assignment with a Defense Attache office working in Communications for the US Embassy in the Netherlands.

nice to see one of our frmale vets here

 

[aGeorgiaRider]

Another Air Force type

USAF 1980-1984
Air Traffic Control Radar Systems Technician
Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS
Plattsburgh AFB, Plattsburgh, NY

I really enjoyed my time in the military. I am proud to have served and wish I didn't get out... I could have retired a year and a half ago! But then, I have twenty years of other experiences I wouldn't have if I stayed in... sooo... no regrets at all! Just wish I had two lives to live!! Okay... That is a bit much!

Salute to all of the veterans!

 

[unclej]

USAF Jan '65 to Oct. '68 three month early out 'cause there were too many NCO's at the time..

was a fireman which i loved...served a year and a half in Turkey and the rest at Carswell AFB in Ft. Worth, Tx.

Keep the politicians and the damn press out of it and let the military handle things...am i the only one that thinks the press feels that military actions are there for our entertainment?

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

So What Did You Do in the War Daddy?

Army 1968-69 Bullet Launcher Oper. (Infantry)

Americal Div (I Corps, RVN) 198 Inf. Recon

Purple Heart, retired 100% disabled

Rumple Foreskin

"Kicks just keep getting harder to find." Mark Lindsey/Paul Revere

 

[Silverlily]

USAF, four years

Explosives technician, some conventional, but mostly nukes.

Schoolteacher, you think you fucked up somebody's day...