Vets out there

[scubaterry]

Not a day goes by that I don't stop and reflect on the situation in Iraq and Afganistan where all our brave Soldiers and Sailors are risking their lifes daily. I feel very fortunate to live in a country as great as the USA! I was just wondering with Veterans day coming up how many of us Model Railroaders are retired or former military? I served 23 years in the Navy myself. Anyone else care to share their service?
Terry

[cacole]

I served 26 years in the U.S. Army and then worked as a civilian instructor at the U.S. Army Intelligence Center for another 16 years.

[cwclark]

I was in the Navy for 4 years aboard the U.S.S. Canopus AS-34 and the U.S.S. Saipan LHA-2...did my time in the fireroom and the oil lab..( I think i shouldn't have told the recruiter that i like trains..i guess he thought the steam kind because that's what i did in the navy ..boiler work..it was 130 degrees year round in some of the worst working conditions they could have offered, not to mention that it's nice to know that enemy submarines like to aim their torpedos at the boiler room) a BT3 snipe when i got out....one hitch was enough for me, but i did see half the world thru a porthole from the North Atlantic to the Indian Ocean...[;)] Chuck

[tjsmrinfo]

i served 9.5 yrs in the army my dad served 21.5 yrs in the army and my brother 6 yrs in the navy

tom

[davekelly]

8 years active duty Navy including 6 months in Mogadishu Somalia during Operation Restore Hope with 3rd Battalion 11th Marines. Currently a reservist. My dad did 22 years in the Army including 2 tours in Vietnam and time in Korea during that "police action." Most Marines and Sailors I know love what they do - I know I do. If you want to know why we love it - look in the mirror.

[davekelly]

Chuck,

When were you on Saipan?

[cwclark]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Chuck,

When were you on Saipan?

I was on the Saipan from late 79' to 82' when i got out in norfolk
i was on the Canopus from late 78' to 79'..that was good duty..sub tenders are usually tied to a pier and only go to sea for "liberty' cruises..the Saipan stayed at sea..just wondering why you asked since you said you were with the marines..were you on it too?

[Anonymous]

I'm still in the Air Force, stationed at Beale, CA. I have been in for 20 years...and I'm an HO scale modeler.

[MidlandPacific]

Five years in the 82nd Airborne Division........

[trnj]

I was in the U.S. Army during the Viet Nam era but served in Korea (1965-66). Saw some neat steam engines in Korea!

[lonewoof]

Four years active Air Force, then 18 years ANG. No overseas service; worked on fire control radar and navaids...

[retsignalmtr]

i was drafted into the army at age 19 in july 1969 and servrd til march 1971 with a year in vietnam. i was in an artillary battery and worked as a ground surveilance radar operator. i saw two trains while i was there. both of them were pushing several flat cars ahead of them to detonate any explosives on the tracks. i have a feeling that there are some seat banging politicians that will not let us win the war on terror like they did with the vietnam war. hug a vet today.

[jrbernier]

2 years, 4 months in the Army(10 months, 20 days in Vietnam) - funny how we remember these things!

Jim Bernier

[scubaterry]

As I suspected their are allot of Vets out there. I served a year in Viet Nam (onboard an aircraft carrier) on the USS America and over the years served on a bunch of ships from the carrier down to a little frigate. My favorite ship was the USS Valley Forge (new era Aegis Cruser). I was an Electronic Warfare specialist. Thanks for all the responses and lets hear from the rest of the Vets. This is our weekend so its ok to toot our own horn.
Terry

[fievel]

I served five years in the US Army. I got to ride an army troop train into West
Berlin. First train ride in my life. It was great ! Berlin had an outstanding
subway system, including a portion which was elevated. Totally awesome.[:D]
My hat is off to those of you who served, especially combat duty.

[bow]

[jeffshultz]

12 1/2 years in the Army (Intel) before going Individual Ready Reserve (sort of like being on retainer).
Recalled for 7 months in 2003 to wear these odd tan colored clothes, in the IRR since then...
Now I've got a decision to make if I want to re-enlist for another 8 in the IRR or let it expire next May.

[Anonymous]

My service was in the Air Force for four years and it was well worth it.

[WilmJunc]

Thank you to all who have served, and those who are still serving.

[Anonymous]

USMC in the late 70's, member of Helicopter Squadron HMM-162. Aboard the USS Guadalcanal and the USS Inchon, in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, etc. Also was in Guantanamo Bay.

CWCLARK ...... HMM162 was aboard the USS Saipan shortly after I left in Mar 1980. Small world, isn't it.

I just have a small railroad layout, along one wall in my home office. Its one of many hobbies.

Ken

[davekelly]

Chuck,

I"m a sailor. Spent 4 years on USS Barnstable County (LST 1197) as CICWO/AsstOps. Was then with 3/11 (Marine Battalion) for 4 years as the Naval Gunfire Officer. Was the Asst/Ops when we were in Somalia. While on the Barn was part of a amphibious squadron with Saipan. Man that ship sure sailed smooth in rough seas as compared to our flatbottomed LST lol.

[Anonymous]

4 years active-duty Navy, 1972-1976, USS Puget Sound (AD-38), Norfolk VA
'IC' electrician

[Anonymous]

Air Force medic 7 years..2 years Del Rio Tx and 4 years Elmedorf AFB Anchorage Alaska..quite a climate change..great fishing though

[BurlingtonJohn]

retired 1 October 2004 after 23 years in the Navy, Senior Chief Yeoman. Served aboard:

USS Puget Sound (AD 38)
USS New Jersey (BB 62)
USS Missouri (BB 63)
USS Juneau (LPD 10)
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)

Can't complain about my years of service, was able to chase trains all over the world and get paid for it! :-)

Regards,
Burlington John

[exPalaceDog]

QUOTE: Originally posted by retsignalmtr

i was drafted into the army at age 19 in july 1969 and servrd til march 1971 with a year in vietnam. i was in an artillary battery and worked as a ground surveilance radar operator. i saw two trains while i was there. both of them were pushing several flat cars ahead of them to detonate any explosives on the tracks. i have a feeling that there are some seat banging politicians that will not let us win the war on terror like they did with the vietnam war. hug a vet today.

If the Old Dog remembers correctly, Model Railroader did an article on the railroads in Vietnam. You might want to look it up.

Have fun

[exPalaceDog]

Let's not forget the great people at Model Railroader. It was the high point of the Old Dog's month when a new issue of MR reached the Da Nang AB base library.

Have fun

[roadrat]

I did 4 years in the NAVY aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower
two weeks before coming home from the MED , Saddam invaded Kuwait and we
had to go to the gulf instead.
It took a long time but I'm glad that S.O.B.(Saddam) is rotting in a cell now.

BM3 Willaim "Spike" Robichaud

[willy6]

Retired USN, 20 years and 1 month, 1972-1992, served aboard FBM submarines and made 18 patrols as a Missile Technician.
USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657)
USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630)
USS Nathan Hale (SSBN 623)
USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN 655)
[8D]

[jrbarney]

Ten years, five days and "small change" in the USAF. After flight training the rest of my career was as an Electronic Warfare Officer on B-52s. Operational duty time span went from flying airborne alerts during the Cuban crisis through 6 months in SEA in 1968. Spent next 15 years improving the ergonomics of military and space electronics as part of the Owego, NY, design team for what was then IBM's Federal Systems Division.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

20 years of service USAF, 1983-2003
Instructor/Evaluator Navigator KC-135
52 missions in Southwest Asia and 30 missions Kosovo

God Bless all our men and women who are currently serving...

and to all Veterans...

Thank you for your service to our country

[bjdukert]

4 years Air Force One year Viet Nam during 68 Tet Offensive