This is a great thread and we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to all the vets who served in all time and in all places. I was a Chaplain's Assistant at Fort Lewis Washington during Vietnam. I still remember that during the last week of AIT the units would go through a simulated Viet Cong village and once they were done, my Chaplain and I would go out and serve communion to them since in the next few days they would be transported to the war. To this day I think about those guys and the fact that for some the communion was one of the last things they did on American soil.
Bless them all.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
USAF - 1962 -> 1966 - mostly with the 49th FIS as an Automatic Weapons Control System Mechanic/Technican - it means I took care of the MG-13 weapons system - radar, infra-red, tracking computers, weapons launch, etc - I did this work on McDonnell F-101B/F Voodoo aircraft - a very cool bird.
Since we were short handed, I also doubled as a Weapons Loader, so I got not only fix the planes weapons systems, I got to load/re-load the planes with their missles and rockets. Much fun was had - and my team won a few 3-days passes for being the best.
Gil
Where ever you go, there you are !
hamltnblue part of my problem was those dam planesmen poping the snorkle induction head valve all the time while running submerged on 3 main engines Oh well Uncle Sam sends me a check every month for that. It only takes 6 seconds to have the engines suck out every bit of atmospheric pressure and pull a 6" vacuum and that feels like your ear drums are being pulled out of your head at least to me it did.
Bob D As long as you surface as many times as you dive you`ll be alive to read these posts.
cleo3Vietnam vet, Army, Chinook crewchief. Memorial Day is a very meaningful holiday for me. I didn't lose any friends, but many thousands didn't come home alive. Ken
Alright! A fellow "hooker",
CH-47D crewmember 2002-2008 OEF, OIF
Hamltnbluesubman6 years Navy, 1 year various schools 5 years fast attack subs. Lost hearing in left ear or would have gone the route. (You can`t stand sonar watches if you can`t hear) Left ear because one ear piece was on and the right one off so you can hear others in the shack while chatting :)I think most in sonar lost some hearing. I know I did.
subman6 years Navy, 1 year various schools 5 years fast attack subs. Lost hearing in left ear or would have gone the route. (You can`t stand sonar watches if you can`t hear)
6 years Navy, 1 year various schools 5 years fast attack subs. Lost hearing in left ear or would have gone the route. (You can`t stand sonar watches if you can`t hear)
Left ear because one ear piece was on and the right one off so you can hear others in the shack while chatting :)
I think most in sonar lost some hearing. I know I did.
Been there, done that, have the T shirt. USS Mills T shirt actually. Leading sonarman on the Mills until Aug 1963.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Springfield PA
Although I never served,I tried to enlist in the Reserves in the early 80's but couldn't pass the physical.
However,I've had two nephews who served in Iraq in the Army and one of my neice's husband served in Afghanistan as an demolitions expert in early 2002.
I salute all of you who served honorably and loyally past and present.
US Navy, 1959 to 1963. USS MIlls DER 383.
Another fallen this past Friday in nearby Ludlow, MA. Marine Sgt. Joshua D. Desforges
The city shut down the schools for the day to allow students and residents to watch the funeral procession into the city from Westover Air Base.
USAF '67-'71. Gt Falls, MT - Thule, Grnld - Lockbourne, OH
Hat has always gone off to "The Greatest Generation." Also to those who served in Korea (the one I remember). those that drew Nam assignments (served with them) and now those who are serving in Iraq and Afganistan (hear the news daily). There have been other "actions" that deserve our respect too.
Son, an AF Guard tech, been to Iraq twice. Can't imagine the feelings of the families of those who served in WWII, so far from home with such slow communications.
Thank you to all that have and are serving.
I Proudly served in the US AIR FORCE for 10 Years, Oct 1984- Oct 1994 as an "46150" AMMO troup.IYAAYAS HooRahh!!
3 Years at RAF Upper Heyford United Kingdom... Operation "Eldorado Canyon" Libya
3 Years at Hill AFB Utah... TDY for Operation "Just Cause" Panama in Dec 89 to take out Noreiga
1 Year at OSAN AB Republic of Korea
3 Years at K.I. Sawyer AFB Michigan
20 years Army, RVN to "Almost Baghdad" with side trips to Panama and Grenada. Mainly in the Cav. Been shot, bombed, stabbed, and set on fire, but those were good days! Why? 'Cause I'm still here to enjoy Model Railroading. In the finest Cavalry Tradition: "A Toast to all our Fallen Comrades"
8 1/2 years in the US Sub force as a Sonarman. SSN 698, SSBN 617, and instructor in San Diego.
Six years active 80 to 86. Germany, Ft. Knox and Korea (Above freedom bridge) Living in a GP medium through winter and monsoon season was no fun at all. Does anyone know if Warrior base is still there? I loved Germany. Pirmasens by the French border was great. When I got assigned to 3rd Armor I spent more time in Grafenwohr. Germany was great. The people were very friendly. I was only stationed states side for one year. Not long enough to enjoy it.
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
I am a Vietnam vet. I served in the USAF for 13 years.
I was stationed in Texas, California, Guam, Thailand and Okinawa.
2 years active duty with 1 year in vietnam 68 69 Dave
US Army Retired: Master Sargent
US Army Special Operations Force (SOF)
19 years 9 month
"De Oppresso Liber"
The Best of the best
Served four years in the USAF-K9-1967-1971.
Hi, "Top Bix" here; USMC 1967 to 2003, retired from HMM-364 (Purple Foxes [CH-46s]). Towards the end of my career, If we were not deployed at Christmas, I would set up a temp layout for our Christmas party in the Hangar. Three 12 x 10 alum Air Force pallets set on top of 8 "54" cube embark boxes. All covered with bolts of green camo sheeting with the Squadron's tree in the very middle. Had 3 "O" loops with 2 "O-27" inside of them. Ran 5 trains at the same time. Lots of Kids young and old enjoyed it. Boy, what a work load though for a 4 hour party! Also, had to get the Hangar ready for work the next day so the whole thing had to come down after the party. But it was surprising how many folks would help me put everything away back into the boxes and then into a couple of cars and/or trucks to put it back into my raffters back at the house in Oceanside. Really miss all those Marines! Had a couple of "carpet central" layouts in my room at MCAS Futenma also when I was deployed there!
Served 9 years in the 16th MP Brigade (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, NC. From '85-'91 was in the 108th MP Co (Air Assault), did the whole Panama, (twice, once in 88 then invaded in 89), and Desert Shield/Desert Storm thing. Got back and decide I'd had enough of deployments, so I re-enlisted for my last three years, (91-94) for US Army Garrison, (USAG) MP company as a Traffic Accident Investigator. Fortunately, I wised up and got out. Now I work as a contractor on Ft. Bragg and spend my time trying to convince my family that it would be fun for us to live in the garage so I can convert the house to the "ultimate" layout. So far, my wife of 17 years is not convinced. Oh well, guess I'll keep trying!!!
Joe
18th Air Born Ft Bragg NC. Military Police, then Recon, then CID. Now you folks know why I am not to smart. Only Brid S--T and Fools fall from the sky! I joined and finshed jump school just as the last grunts where pulled out of Nam.
Came close to going to war, 2:00 AM and unit was wook up at 2:00 AM. We thought it was a COMET (test to check to unit was battel ready). Hit the tar mack at Pop AFB and was ready to get on the C-140. Then we where given LIFE Rounds, this was no Comet we are going to war.
Went air born, touched down either in FL or TX still don't know for sure. 130 was refuled and over the ocean we went. After a hour the C 130 turned around and we went back to Bragg. This was a few year's before we took over Pan A Mall (soory about spelling) and the Commander and Cheif decied to back off that time. I am not a P--sy but FT Bragg never looked as good as that day when we sat down.
As far as the Dems want us to not to win, sounds like Nam again to me. Should we have went? I think Bush was doing what he thought was needed from what he was told. I all so knew that winning the battle would be easy ad the ground war was. Far as stopping the idots that want to kill them self so they can go to heaven, well?
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
I did 3 years in the US Army with the 1st Cav Division, 15th AG Co, serving as a would you believe a trombone player? My MOS was 02F20, trombone player, one each! One of my duty highlights was performing for then President Carter when he visited Ft. Hood.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
I spen 11 (87-98) years split btwn Active duty AF as a Security Specialist and Army Guard as a 31 Charlie (Single Channel Radio Operator) and 31 Lima (wire doggie). I was w/the 52nd SPS at Spangbang er, I mean Spangdahlm Airbase in Germany. Ended up being medically discharged due to diabetes. Many memories and miss it greatly
Ch
MP 53 on the BNSF Topeka Sub
Served 6 years as a ground pounder for Uncle Sam in the United States Army.
Alas, my old unit has been disbanded
It's a shame they won't let us "old school" soldiers back in to kick some Iraqi insurgent a$$ or light up a terrorist or two!
God Bless
Empire under construction !
The early bird catches the worm.
But, the second mouse gets the cheese!
Hey, you know the Sinkin' Sara (CVA 60) is gonna be saved as a museum at the old Naval Air station in RI?
Quonset Point, I think.
Got the money, got the Navy and the State on-board.
(Story goes the Governor of RI went on a "tour", realized in a state emergency he could almost fit the entire state's residents on-board, and all the stuff is there, including the ALCO diesels for emergency power)
Gonna have a strip-ship to the Forest Fire (CVA-59) on the other side of the pier to get the stuff that's missing.
I heard the CVA-59 is scheduled for a Sink-Ex as nobody tried to save her.
1961-64 Navy... U.S.S. Forrestal aircraft carrier. When everybody was on board I had the company of around 5,000 other guys. No females back then, dang it!
JaRRell
Hi!!
I was in the USAF for 13 years.
I am a Vietnam Veteran.
I was stationed overseas twice.
I was a Production Scheduler.