I almost forgot: 51 years ago today

Lee Barner · Apr 16, 2020

I left home for Basic Training at Lackland AFB, TX. caught the Greyhound bus at 0430 to Memphis, then on to San Antonia. my dad wanted to take me the night before and stay with my sister but i told him it was traditional to catch the bus when leaving for the service. lee

Golddollar · Apr 16, 2020

Thank you for your service.

Sistema1927 · Apr 16, 2020

I'm about a month away from the 40th anniversary of my enlistment. When it gets closer to that time I will share a funny story related to that event.

Texas Star · Apr 16, 2020

I enlisted 57 years ago. I'm a dinosaur! And some days, I feel like a fossil!

My son found a photo Online of me in my Basic Training class. Couldn't find one of my Air Police School class.

What was your career field, Lee? I think I recall a post saying that you were in OSI?

Lee Barner · Apr 16, 2020

started off as a Radio Operator(TACP) in the RVN for two years attached to Army Infantry, Air Cav, Marines, and the last 8 months with the 9th ROK Div. went into OSI in 79. 27 countries on six continents. not bad for a farm boy from Tennessee. wouldn't trade it for anything. lee

RobertJ. · Apr 16, 2020

November 20th will be 40 years for me.

Rode the bus from Astoria to Portland. Was put up in a decent hotel, then flew out to San Diego the next day. Riding the bus from the SD airport to RTC, I was wondering if I'd made a huge mistake! I wondered that for the first couple weeks of basic. Well, I kept my head down, and my mouth shut, and at the end of basic, my company commander (DI) barely even knew my name. Turned out it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

LoboGunLeather · Apr 17, 2020

Ah, those wonderful cross-country bus trips! The scenery! The cuisine! The body odors! The friendly and ever-helpful tour guide!

I hope they have fixed the toilet on that old bus. Some things just ruin the ambiance for a bunch of young guys on a road trip.

Yup, just about 51 years ago.

STCM(SW) · Apr 17, 2020

Let's see. Will be 60 years on July 7 for me.
But not that long ago in my memory..... LOL!

boatme99 · Apr 17, 2020

Coming up on my 48th anniversary of USAF enlistment in about 3 week!

I've done plenty of boneheaded things in my life but my only true regret is having left the Air Force.
I really wish I had stayed in.

crazyphil · Apr 17, 2020

I went to see the recruiting sergeant on my 17th birthday, Feb. 11, 1952.
Sworn in to USAF on March 6, 1952. The math is difficult, but I think
that was about 68 years ago? Talk about dinosaurs.

jscheck · Apr 17, 2020

Only 38 years for me in October. They put us on a plane in Raleigh. My new friend from the MEPS station chose that time to inform me he was afraid of flying ("And you joined the Air Force????). He put one hand on either side of the plane entry door and refused to enter. I pushed him in and got him drunk on the flight to Texas. It was an interesting experience lol.

raisedin99 · Apr 17, 2020

Lee,

I am glad that you brought this up as I would have forgotten, I to boarded the bus 51 years ago this coming Tuesday the 21.

What a wonderful experience but you would have never convinced me at the time.

terry

Neal · Apr 17, 2020

51 years ago I was still a junior in high school. To all you guys who served in the armed forces, than you so much for your service to our country.

Ozark Marine · Apr 17, 2020

This coming August 19th this 17 year old Chicago tuff guy departed the Van Buren Street Induction Center on a bus along with 13 other enlistees and a couple of drafted on the spot "volunteers" to O'Hare Int Airport for a fun flight to MCRD San Diego.
The stewardess's tried their best not to serve us beer but we managed to snag a few cans anyways.
Life as I knew it ended after getting pushed on that Marine Green bus then being thrown off of it buy a acting Cpl D.I. and placing my feet on the Yellow Footprints.
Since 1969 my memory of Woodstock was my M-14.
Semper Fi
Till I DIE

mdf9183 · Apr 17, 2020

April 24 1963 I joined the USAF. Seems like only yesterday.

bgrafsr · Apr 17, 2020

I enlisted in June '63. Went to Air Police School, came home for a months leave, went to Clark Air Base, PI, TDY to Bien Hoa Viet Nam, back to Clark. Came Stateside to Webb AFB, TX for the rest of my enlistment. They asked me to re-enlist and would give me E-5 stripes, but the caliber of new enlistees was not good, and I thought I would get in trouble dealing with them, so got out.
Texas Dept. of Public Safety contacted me about joining their organization, but I wanted to go home. Eventually hired on with Elyria, Ohio PD, spent 25 years with them and retired.

Old_Cop · Apr 17, 2020

October 1968 I departed with 9 others from Providence to the reception station at Ft. Jackson. For a sheltered only child it was a revelation. Eventually I put 22 good years together and retired from the USAR as a E6. Spent all of my time as an MP or CID special agent.

crazyphil · Apr 17, 2020

A good buddy of mine enlisted along with me. We went to Ft. Douglas in
Salt Lake City for our physicals. my little buddy only weighed 101. They
told us he had to be at least 105 to pass. They said go to the mess hall
and eat all the bananas you can hold, and then come back. He ate a bunch
of them and weighed in at 105.

crazyphil · Apr 17, 2020

I haven't made very many wise decisions in my life, but joining the Air
Force was sure one wise one. The other one was marrying my dear,
recently departed wife. (Married 60 years on May 13)

crazyphil · Apr 17, 2020

I still remember that recruiting sergeant, Leonard P. Callan. He was a
M/Sgt. Probably been in since WWII and to Korea and back. He had
fruit salad all over his chest. Nice guy. Went into real estate after he
retired from the Army.

I almost forgot: 51 years ago today

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