Veterans what prompted YOU to serve your country?

If you are a true American-why wouldn't you want to serve?
Family Tradition, Family Honor, and proud to be an American.
I enlisted on my seventeenth birthday.
At my retirement party-"I never got rich, but it was an interesting journey!"
 
I too joined on my 17th. it was a combination of family tradition and simply what i had always wanted to be.

my family has served since before there was a country to serve.
 
I enlisted in the USAF in 1959 after attending college for 1 year, darned near flunked out because I kept on with the same study habits I had in high school (which meant I didn't study at all) so decided to do something else until I knew what I wanted out of life. I was in Air Force Weather for 4 years and got discharged knowing that was the last thing I wanted to do forever. Went back to college, graduated and ended up being a computer programmer for the state of Wisconsin. Now I am 71, retired for 3 years and still am not sure I did the right thing.
 
I graduated high school at 17, college was out of the question.

My only real skill was cutting a pizza with lightning speed.

My dad was a sailor so I signed up at 18 with the Navy.
 
I felt the need to get out of my homelife. Although my Father never spoke about his WW2 service to me, I knew he was always right.
If serving your country was the right thing for him, it was for me, too.
Since my education was cut short, the AF, used to be Army Air Corps,
wouldn't take me, and I wouldn't wait. Picking the Marines was the
obvious answer for me, and I've never regretted it.
I don't care what kind of public service uniform you've worn, military,
fireman, EMT, LEO, Etc., the service is good for your soul AND the country! Thanks, folks!
TACC1
 
Got my draft notice about 15 minutes after graduating from college. I almost enlisted in the AF right after high school, so "when the opportunity offered" I went back to the original plan...always liked airplanes as a kid.
Dad had done two hitches in the Army, one pre-WWII, one in the ETO; my brother was WWII Navy; so I figured it was my turn.

Saw some pretty amazing stuff as an AP and finagled my way into some interesting places along the way. It was an excellent adventure. Glad I did it.

My son has sort of continued the tradition; he's a civilian flying in Afghanistan doing good stuff. I keep telling him how easy he has it in comparison to the old days.
 
I didn't have the money for a haircut so I joined the Marines!:D

Seriously,

1.) I was going to go to college but I knew I'd flunk my first semester because I had bad study habits and good girl-chasing habits.

2.) I wanted to get out of what I thought was a "one-horse" town. I later realized that was a great life.

3.) I was tired of my "authoritative" parents, so I joined the Marines!!:rolleyes: (seriously)

4.) My DAD was a Marine.

5.) As a kid I was always playing Marines, Army, Navy, and Air Corps. I had two steamer trunks full of enough "782" gear to outfit a Marine Rifle Team.

I got lucky, I got a better "education" than many people because the Marine Corps of 1971 was little changed from my Dad's WWII Marine Corps. It was a tough place. I also was made an Air Traffic Controller and became one two years after leaving the Marines.

I owe EVERYTHING I have to the United States Marines.
 
well heres my story and to start off im not in the service but when i was about to be 18 a bunch of my friends and i went to enlist after talking and signing on to the navy i was on my way home and ended up getting tboned and it flipped my car. long story short is it ended that dream and im the only one who didnt go. i wish i woulda but things didnt go that way and when they come back we always hit the range and i can shoot just as good as them. but here is a thanks to everyone who is serving for us. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS
 
2 years after HS I was politely asked not to return to the local community college - thus went my 2S deferment & I saw the writing on the wall. 3 months later I had signed the letter of intent to join the USNR, passed their physical & was scheduled to enlist in April of 1969. 2 weeks before my enlistment date I received the dreaded draft physical notice to report for a pre-induction physical. They wouldn't take no for an answer so I took the bus to Los Angeles with a bunch of shlubs where I proceeded to flunk their Blood Pressure test (I was watching the guy in front of me having a blood sample taken & I really did hate that procedure). The choices they gave me were to stay there for 3 days & repeat the process or go home & have my physician repeat the testing. My own choice was to ignore their directions & continue with my plans to be sworn into the USNR 3 days later. I think I made the right decision. 4 Years later I was Honorably discharged after having served in Vietnam (Offshore, brown water navy), wounded in battle (traffic action that is - on the Santa Monica Freeway, returning to the ship to check out for Christmas leave) and spending 18 months on shore duty at Port Hueneme while I recuperated. The 10% disability I received entitled me to rehab training which I used for an associate degree in Gunsmithing & a Bachelors degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Oregon Tech. Now, after 30 years at Boeing, working on neat stuff like Cruise missiles, AWACS, Commercial Aircraft & the F-22 Raptor, I don't have any regrets. John
 
I had always had an interest in the military - my uncle, who was an Army officer during WWII, was my personal hero as a kid.

I decided to sample the military while still in high school; joined the Army Jr ROTC and became a cadet Lt. Col. in my senior year. I learned lots and got to shoot on the rifle team.

I continued with ROTC in college; in advanced military science, I got a $50 per month stipend that helped with my college expenses. Shooting on the rifle team was fun, too. I figured serving as an officer would be advantageous, particularly since I wanted to commit matrimony with my best girl. I served 2 years on active duty, but as I then had a family, I opted to return to civilian life. Served 2 years in the AZ Army National Guard, as well. Was saddened by the loss of one of my high school buddies, a fellow officer who was killed in Vietnam, and figured I was damn lucky. Served with a lot of WWII and Korean veterans - it was a privilege to associate with and learn from them.

John
 
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All of the men that were friends with my father were veterans of WWII and Korea. My dad was a Combat Veteran of WWII.
What else was I to do.

It was the only way I could go to the Circus at the Jungle and go on Safari. And besides, they gave us all the guns, ammo and explosives that we wanted. And let us interact with all the little Communist we could find.

Rule 303
 
My draft number was 2 and I passed the draft physical with flying colors. I was still a Canadian citizen but had lived most of my life here although my family in Canada urged me to return there.
Most of my family served WWII RCAF so I got my US citizenship and enlisted USAF. I did 4 years 3 months and got out but have wished I'd had stayed in.
 
Dropped out of Auburn & AF ROTC 12/68 - thought Vietnam would end before I'd get my wings. Talked to USA recruiter in Opelika re WO Flight Training - didn't go - ruined his quota. PO-ed, he took my USA WOFT physical to my draft board in Birmingham - they drafted me in days. My mom called me the night before I was to report to Ft. Benning - asked me how Id like the Navy - I said I couldn't swim - she said they'd teach me - still can't swim. She had signed the enlistment papers for me - twenty years old and my momma signed me up for the USN - for six years (sub service)! Not being a swimmer non-vol-ed me for sub school, so my enlistment reverted to four years. After making E5, I put in for the brown water Navy. By '71, they wanted me to extend my enlistment three years to get the PBR's - I didn't. I had guilt for many years for not doing more... not so much now. My dad was a USCG member on troop ships in the S. Pacific in WWII.

Stainz
 
I was a draft dodger?

As I posted earlier I joined the Army in Jan 1960 when I was 17. I never gave a thought to signing up for the draft at age 18. I mean whats the point? I got a letter from my local draft board in 1966 while with B troop 10th Cav. 4th ID at Pleiku, it said this was my final notice and if I didn't report within a week I was in deep doo doo. I took it to the 1st Sgt. and told him I had to go home, he said "nice try I'll fix it".

I guess he did, I never heard from them again. I never found out what happend to the first few notices either.
 
I graduated high school in 1965 and wasn't much on studying, so collage wasn't in my future.

My Father was a WWII army veteran with 33 months in the ETO. Served for the duration and discharged for the convienence of the government in July of 1945.

My brother graduated high school in 1960 at 17 and was in the USAF within weeks. he served for 4 years and was discharged.

I spent about 10 months after HS working in a local manufacturing plant but had decided to go Air force during the summer of 1966. My recruiter had me on the delayed inlistment plan and scheduled for Augest of '66. Two weeks after my 19th birthday in April '66 I got my "Greetings" letter. I took the notice to the recruiter and he had me in the AF on May 2, 1966. This was 2 days after I was scheduled to report for induction. He told me not to worry about it, that he would take care of it.

I served 3 years and 11 months as they were giving early outs during the spring of 1970.

I got to see some of the world. I was TDY'd to the UK twice with side trips to Italy and Germany. I also went TDY to Japan in January 1968 with a side trip the Nha Trang RVN for a few weeks. This TDY was extended from three to six months due to TET '68.

I was a C-130 engine mechanic and spent most of my enlistment at the engine run up test cells at Langley Field in Va. and Yakoda AB in Japan. While in the UK I was one of several mechanics assigned to the engine shop at RAF Mildenhall.

There were good times and less than good times. After almost 4 years I was tired of the CS and looking forward to being a civilian again. I was also in love with the girl back home.

LTC
Sgt. USAF '66-'70
 
Family tradition. My Dad, GrandDads, Uncles and Cousins had all been in the military at sometime. So I thought I'd see what all the fuss was about.
Turns out they were the best years of my life.:)
 
The short version is I was tired of staring at four walls lstening to some person try to tell me what I should know! That and my Dad is a Korean War vet (51-53 U.S. Army) and would tell me stories that would curl your hair!
So in 1986 I enlisted in the U.S.Navy. I would do it again in a New York minute!
If I may: Tomorrow as you raise the Flag, pause for a moment and remember those who've served, and are now serving in some far flung, dust covered country. They are the thin line that keeps the wolves from your door, they keep evil in check, and protect what that Flag stands for... Freedom!
To those that have served; Thank You! To those now serving; Gods Speed and Safe Journey! HOOYAH! Dale
 
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One grandfather was army in WW1 in France. Other grandfather was navy in WWII in the South Pacific. An uncle in the navy in WWII. An uncle in the army in WWII (D-day invasion). Dad was in the Navy during the Korean conflict. One uncle in the Marines in Vietnam (2 tours). One uncle in the Air Force in Thailand during Vietnam. One aunt in the Air Force. Two brothers in the Air Force - one was in the first gulf war. One cousin in the army in Iraq. It is simply something we do - service to our country. My grandfather who was in the army was really excited that I picked the army over the navy!
 
When I graduated from high school, you had a "military obligation". Now this was post Korea and pre Viet Nam. I was in a high school senior class of about 350 and over fifty boys left for Army basic training.....the morning after high school graduation.

It was never "will I serve"....but "how will I serve."

Now that was just the Army and I have no idea how many may have gone to other services.

I did have at least one hero, a Marine fighter bomber pilot that serve in WWII and Korea. In WWII he flew SB2C Helldivers, in Korea, Corsairs and post Korea in the reserves he flew F9F Panthers out of Olathe Naval Air Station.

When I was learning to fly, he rode with me a number of times and showed me the "Marine way to do it"...if you know what I mean?

This fellow just passed away a few months ago. He was one hell of a Marine....and a man's man.
 
My parents immigrated to America in the late 1940s to escape communism. I grew up watching TV shows like "Combat!" and "12 o'clock high", and even as a youngster, I knew I would serve in the US armed forces when I was old enough as part of my patriotic duty to our great country. I reached my 18th birthday in 1974, disgusted that the Viet Nam war was over, and that I was cheated out of my chance to go to war and serve the USA. I joined the Army a year later, and left reluctantly 5 years later as I was one of the last of the GI Bill recipients, and it was "use it, or lose it". Oddly, I have 2 brothers and neither shared my love or sense of duty to our country. I tried to re-enter the Army after 9/11/01, but it was not to be (I'm a disabled vet and the Army would not let me waive my disability to return to active duty.) I still get a lump in my throat when I hear "The Star Spangled Banner", and I salute the flag. God bless the USA.

Warmest regards,

Dave
 
As a kid growing up in the 50's and early 60's, I pretty much expected to go into the military - and with a lottery number of 12 in 1970, I enlisted in the Navy. Aced all the entry tests, and got to pick my rating (AT). Those were ten of the most interesting years of my life !
 
My father was a newly retired USN CPO(there was no SCPO or MCPO then) and WWII veteran. His younger brother was a MCPO who eventually retired with a 30 year career. With few exceptions, every male in my family served I believe. I grew up in Norfolk, Va. and most all my friends were navy brats. I just never considered doing anything else after HS. I graduated on a Friday and the following Monday I was on the bus to Richmond and the induction station. It was just the family business. I wasn't idealistic. I just didn't want to hang around and do some boring job and wasn't a good enough student for a scholarship and was the son of a retired CPO so my folks couldn't afford to pay for college. Besides that, I wasn't motivated for another four years of school then. I wanted to join the Navy and see the world! So, I did.
 
I graduated from high school in 1962 and Dad broke my plate shortly after. I was too lazy to work and too scared to steal so I joined the Army on June 15, 1962. I guess it was lucky timing as I got out in June of 1965 just in time to watch a lot of my old school pals get drafted and sent to Vietnam.
 
I signed up for a delayed enlistment in February of 1969 in my senior year of high school. Got my dad to sign for me as I was barely 17 and one week after graduation I was on the bus to Fort Ord for Basic Training. Served 3 years with the Army Security Agency and managed to get an Associate of Arts degree while on active duty. Did a lot of growing up those three years which served me well. (o;
 
like many of the others here i was drafted. the experience helped prepare me for the rest of my life.
 
I joined the Marines to avoid the military draft. It was a good move on my part and the responsible thing to do. I miss wearing the uniform of my country.
-sevensix
 
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