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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Okay, keeping the theme of tradition of other like posts, I have noticed a military theme to some of you. With Veteran's Day approaching, it would be good to capture some of that military service here in a single thread. On that day we can take a moment and salute you, those who have served this great nation. As for me: Jan 1979 - Nov 1999. Paratrooper, Mechanic, Wrecker Operator, Maintenance Supervisor Recruiter. 82d Airborne Division (79-91) (Grenada after the invasion and in 85) 2nd Infantry Division, (86-87), Recuiter (91-93), 1st & 3rd Infantry Division (Europe 93 - 96), Reserve, National Guard Trainer Fort McCoy Wi. (96-97) 7th Trans Group (97-99). On an expecting Saturday, I ran into an Army Recruiter who was trying to snag a friend. The next thing I know this long-haired wannabe hippy redneck was shaved and shorned and being yelled at by the biggest, baddest looking Drill Sergeant that ever donned the Brown Round. I saw a tear in his eye though, because we were his last class after many years of faithful service as a DS. Next!
Edited by varyder 2008-10-28 12:00 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | Nov 1982 to present. Enlisted, Military Police, active duty at Fort Irwin, CA, (1982-84) and Army Reserve 493rd MP Det in Alabama (85-86). Officer, Alabama National Guard, 1-167 INF BN (1987-2001), OCS instructor (2001-2002) Army Reserve observer controller, instructor, public affairs, 87th Div, Birmingham, AL (2002-2008) Mobilized public affairs officer with US Army Central (formerly 3rd Army) in Kuwait (Feb 08 through present). Two sons and a son-in-law in the Army. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 725
Reno County, KS | May 1998- March 2007
Enlisted in the USN from Oklahoma. First year was spent in Groton, Ct. at the Naval Submarine School and ET (Electronics Tech.) pipeline. Picked up my first command in Norfolk, VA. the next year. Served aboard a fast attack Los Angeles class sub, the USS Minneapolis St. Paul SSN 708 for about 5 (1999-2004) years of sea time. Seemed like forever before I could land my shore duty. Managed to snag a billet in Norfolk's Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center as a 2M (Micro-Miniature component electronics) lab technician (2004-2007). Finished my Bachelors degree on shore duty and learned a ton of stuff along the way on the job. Parted ways with the USN on good terms and headed to civi-land. No regrets and much more appreciation for the US of A. Now I'm back at sea as a civillian as the Electronics Officer for an offshore crane ship. One month on and one month off to see the rest of the country on 2 wheels. Happy Veteran's day guys. To you active duty folks: Thanks for taking the watch and please come home safe. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 41
| USN, CTO3
1972 - 1976
Orlando
Pensacola
Philippines
Pentagon |
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Cruiser
Posts: 68
LONDONDERRY NH | USMC 1981-1984
FIELD RADIO OPERATOR 2531
Twentynine Palms MCAGCC
Camp Foster Okinawa Japan |
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Tourer
Posts: 377
O'Neill, Nebraska | Enlisted: 1980--1986
USN---BM2
I drove a lot of boats and ships and raised quite a bit of hell in many foreign ports. My mom says I learned how to cuss pretty good too, but I've since dropped that bad habit.
Edited by spursmvp 2008-10-28 8:08 AM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 849
, FL United States | USAF 1966-1970 Proudly served my country in Germany 3 1/2 yrs while many served in SE Asia & were really f$%^ed up by it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | United States Navy - Aug 1988- Oct 1997 - 9 Years, 2 months, 28 days, and 2 years Active reserves. Still contemplating finishing that last 9 years. Hey it'd be another gran or so for the toys. I just have a hard time with the whole structure, it irritates me when the young buck comes in from the Academy and knows more than I. I just wanna give him a swift kick in the A$$.
I digress!!!
Great Lakes Naval Station for Boot camp and Fire Controlman "FC" school. Also a "C" school while there.
Left the very chilly, windy city for San Diego, California. Embarked upon the USS Comstock LSD - 45 for almost 5 years. Last I knew they are still talking about me. It's funny, I left that boat in 1994! In 1999, I met a young third class lady while in the reserves who had spent time on the same ship. I had never previously met her, but when we met she just looked at me like she had met an Urban Legend or a ghost. Apparently, I had left a bit of a legacy behind.
Left calm, cool, always wonderful weather, but not so nice folks, for the middle of the Mississippi River and landed in Memphis, Tennessee.
There I got to count numbers and work at the Naval Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC). Left a bit of a legacy there also.
Then I got off of Active Duty. Joined the Reserves a year later and hung out on weekends in Everett, Washington on Naval Station Everett. Had plenty and got out and haven't been back.
Wait one! I have been married to an Active Duty Navy Chief as the Co-Pilot. So, I didn't get that far. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 15
Nebraska | Happy Veterans Day!!
USAF 1984-2006 Security Forces
KI Sawyer, MI
Comiso, Italy
Guam
Ellsworth, SD
RAF Upper Heyford UK
Los Angeles AFB, CA
Offtutt AFB, NE
+ numerous trips to various sandy locations.
08 Vision Street - Black
L2 Pipes
Lloyds Intake/Controller
IPod controller
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Cruiser
Posts: 54
Orangeville, PA | USN 81-86
AW2 in VP-10
Great Lakes for boot in Nov and Dec not a good time, cold to say the least.
Deployments to Iceland (in winter) and Bermuda (in summer). |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Wichita, Kansas | Enlisted US Army 6 Mar 69, basic at Ft Leonard Wood, Signal school Ft Grodon, Ft Riley for 2 yrs, reupped and got sent to Viet Nam, 180th Assault Support Helicopter Co (CH-47C Chinooks) AnSon LZ Lane (near Happy Valley) - Bn Avionics Chief and part time door gunner, back to Ft Riley for 4 more years, 8 yrs total active.
In and out of the Guard over the years serving as training NCO for armored recon squadron, commo chief for mech infantry co, forward observer and finally artillery team chief on M109 self propelled 155mm. Activated for 1 yr in 2002-2003 for homeland security at Ft Riley again (how about a year of active duty at 55 to get in shape!!!). Finally retired with 28 yrs total service on 1 July 2008.
Advice to those who can - finish that guard/Reserve time if you can. Although the grand a month helps pay for the ViVi, the retired medical adds a lot of security. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 30
Bellevue, NE | United States Coast Guard 1973-1977
Governor's Island, New York
Point Arena, California
French Frigate Shoals, HI
If you see a super steel gray Vision with a personalized license plate from Nebraska that says USCG, that is me. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Yeah but I think I would wind up hurting some young officer who hadn't spent a day at sea and would be trying to tell me what to do. That's where my feathers would get all ruffled up. Furthermore, wife is retiring next year so I'll still be covered.
I'm a fraidy cat, that they might want to send me somewhere for a year or more and I got littl'uns! Don't know that I would like it that much! Your probably right about finishing it up but I will probably wait till I'm closer to 60 and really have attitude before I finish it up. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | 8 years Navy. 2 years NFO flight school (back seater), 3 years as E-2C Hawkeye mission commander/Special Ops ('82-'85 VAW-124, Nimitz, two Med cruises), 3 years at NAS Kingsville in Ops Dept.
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Cruiser
Posts: 271
Belding Michigan | 1971-1976 USAF short time in SE Asia balance Offutt AFB Omaha NE computer systems engineer
Proud of service and it has served me well my whole life. Archie |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Enlisted. US Army 1969 to 1977.
FT Polk, Louisiana for Basic. I was one of two guys in our training battalion who did not get orders for Viet Nam after basic training. I had it easier than they did, for sure.
FT Monmouth, New Jersey Signal School for a year. Got a security clearance, then...
FT Clayton Panama for a year and a half. Bought a new Yamaha RT2 with my reup bonus and rode it all over the CZ and western Panama, including a trip to the Costa Rican border. The guys with the automatic rifles wouldn't let me cross the border. RT2's don't have big enough gas tanks for cross country trips. Shipped the RT2 to Arizona.
FT Huachuca, Arizona for a year. Got a Top Secret security clearance, then....
Heidelberg, Germany three years. Bought a 1970 Ford T5 and had fun on the autobahns. Learned to like warm beer with wienerschnitzel.
FT Gordon, Georgia three months. Got an even higher security clearance, then...
Based out of FT Ritchie, Maryland, but worked all over the Military District of Washinton DC, including the Pentagon for a year. I thought the East Coast pretty much sucked, and the specialty I had worked myself into was going to keep me there for the foreseeable future, and Jimmy Carter had screwed up the military, so I didn't reup and went home after 8 years, 3 months, and 2 days.
Ronnie
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Cruiser
Posts: 173
Prescott Valley, AZ | U.S. Army from June 13th (yep, it was a Friday) 1969 through July 1st 1993 working on helicopter engines to start then the entire airframe for most of my time wrenching. Spent the 12 month stint in Viet Nam and still came home "close" to normal! Got promoted and turned into a quality control inspector for way too long before becoming a "leader". Had the BEST assignment in the Army for my last tour when I got sent to Alaska as an active duty advisor to the Alaska Army National Guard's only aviation unit. It just plain don't get NO BETTER than that!!!!!! Various assignments in Germany, Hawaii, Korea, Ft Ord, Ft Campbell, etc etc etc. Still workin for a living to afford my toys and enjoying life to the fullest.
Ride Safe, Ride Often!! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 30
Tampa, FL | Thanks to everyone who served.
USAF 1962-1992, Guam, Germany, Turkey, Texas, Penna, Illinois, Mass, Calif. Computer Operator, Systems Analyst, NATO Unit Commander.
That is the ultra short version of a fantastic 29 year career.
Mike |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 10
Prince George County Va | 1982 to 2003 USAF active duty firefighter my entire career, been to many wonderful places and a couple not so nice. Now doing the same job for the ARMY as a civilian and lovin it!!
Maxwell AFB, Al
SanVito Italy
F.E.Warren AFB Wy.
King Salmon AK
Couple of Desert trips
Now Ft. Lee Va
08 Cherry PT
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Tourer
Posts: 311
Atlanta Area | 1984 to 1993
USN ET2
USS Yorktown (CG48), USS Mobile Bay (CG53), NAS Mayport, FL |
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Cruiser
Posts: 59
Pocono Mountains of PA | Glad to see another USCG ET on board!!
USCG 1975-1979 ET3
Onboard USCGC Papaw WLB-308 Charlston SC 75-76
Governers Island 76-77 ( Bicentenial Cerimonal Unit and ET A school)
Group Rockaway NY 77-78
Station Ft Myers Beach 78-79
Siemper Par!!!!! |
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Tourer
Posts: 374
Tucson, AZ | USAF 1977-1981
Monterey Calif.
San Angelo Tx.
Osan Korea (Skivvy Nine) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 177
NW Illinois | USN 1977 to 1981
HT-2 "If we cant fix it it aint broke"
USS San Bernardino LST 1189 "Anything Anytime Anyplace"
USS Samuel Gompers AD 37 "Fat Sam" |
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Cruiser
Posts: 143
Birmingham, AL 08 MC Tour Premium 2012 Bronze Mist | 74 -78 USN
CV-43 Coral Sea
ET |
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Cruiser
Posts: 63
Corpus Christi Tx. | Enlisted...US Army 1972-1975 Ft. Polk for boot camp and then to Germany for extensive Track Recovery training.
Completed tour at Ft. Hood, Texas...home of the 2nd Armored Division...HELL ON WHEELS!!
Ride safe.
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Veteran Riders
