WHO SERVED

[Disabled1]

I was in the US ARMY RESERVE 1984-1992. 11B & 62J. Served in Desert Storm 11/90-4/91. We were deployed to provide cover for the civilian contractors that were capping the oil wells that IRAQI soldiers blew up after leaving Kuwait when we liberated Kuwait.
I have several uncles and cousins that were in every branch of service. My great great grandfather was in the Civil War, along with his brother. They were Confederate soldiers.
I forgot to mention, my grandfather, mothers dad, was an Waffen-SS Panzer King Tiger tank officer in WWII.

 

[Mydogmax]

USMC
Chu Lai Vietnam 66-67.

 

[lrrifleman]

My list is short since I am a second generation American.

My dad (RIP), was NJ Army NG in the late '50s.
I was Army, 1978-81.

 

[pmanton]

USMC 55-64. I was a total screw off and ne'er-do-well. When I graduated Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in '55 my parents drove down from Burbank for the graduation. When they presented the certificate for the Platoon Honor Man much to my father's surprise it was me.
When the end of my 2nd enlistment came around I thought I'd try civilian life for a while.

WRONG !! I was really bored. I was talked into joining the USAF, keeping my paygrade and getting choice of duty stations. I did 3 delightful years in Spain. A buddy told me about the Army Warrant Officer program. The AF had done away with their warrants and had no path for a commission that was open to me.

I applied for appointment as a Warrant Officer and was picked up. I served in RVN with the 101st Abn Div, was med-evacued in Aug 68 and retired in 1975.

 

[e3mrk]

To be honest I joined the Corp's in 1974 because I needed a Job and there were none around back then.

 

[Ozark Marine]

To be honest I joined the Corp's in 1974 because I needed a Job and there were none around back then.

Nothing wrong with doing that brother.
A Judge and my mom agreed that 4 years in the Corps might straighten me out.
I'll be darned...They were right.

 

[df06]

My dad, purple heart Okinawa WWII
Uncle Korea
Me no service

 

[ozarkmac]

Granddad= Army WW1
Dad= Army WW2
Uncle= Army WW2
Dutch Uncles (2)= 30+ years each in Dutch Navy
Myself= Army 1977-2000, 2000-present Army Civilian employee

 

[RSanch111]

USMC 55-64. I was a total screw off and ne'er-do-well. When I graduated Boot Camp at MCRD San Diego in '55 my parents drove down from Burbank for the graduation. When they presented the certificate for the Platoon Honor Man much to my father's surprise it was me.
When the end of my 2nd enlistment came around I thought I'd try civilian life for a while.

WRONG !! I was really bored. I was talked into joining the USAF, keeping my paygrade and getting choice of duty stations. I did 3 delightful years in Spain. A buddy told me about the Army Warrant Officer program. The AF had done away with their warrants and had no path for a commission that was open to me.

I applied for appointment as a Warrant Officer and was picked up. I served in RVN with the 101st Abn Div, was med-evacued in Aug 68 and retired in 1975.

Ever fly around with the Comancheros?

 

[OMCHamlin]

1983 - 2006 USN

 

[Gripgrabber]

Hello, my dad a bronze star WWll, me 1970/1990 retired.

 

[Donn]

Grandfather, (dad's side), 5th U.S. Cavalry. Mexican Expedition, 1916-17.
Grandfather, (mom's side), Canadian Army, France, WWI.
Father, U.S. Army, 78th Infantry Div. Europe, WWII.
Me, U.S. Army. !st Infantry Div. 18th MP Brigade. Vietnam.
My son. Currently on active duty, U.S. Army Airborne Ranger. 14 years service. Four combat tours, 3 in Iraq, one in Afghanistan.
Yeah, we've gotten our hands dirty.

 

[armenius]

GGGGGrandfather fought in American Revolution, through the ranks to General post war, at least 3 Great grandfathers in War of Northan Aggression, one spent time in Elmira POWcamp and walked from Long Islant to SC at end of hostilities. Father a machine gunner and was in the breaking of the Hindenburg Line, later reported MIA due to the 1918 flu leaving him semi-comatose in a shell hole in No Mans Land for several days. Family learned he was alive many weeks later when someone saw him getting off a troop ship in Charleston. I was in USAF flying F89 all weather interceptors as a Cold War Fighter Pilot keeping Ivan from overflying the Homeland. During that time my Backseater (Radar Intercept Officer) and myself volunteered to participate in Operation Plumbob and ended up being one of 6 aircrews to penetrate a nuclear mushroom cloud.Young,foolish, testosterone loaded,never before in Las Vegas and a whole $12.50 TDY pay.
My son flew F-18 Hornet in Marines.

 

[greeman]

My Dad - WWII
Me - Vietnam 1967

 

[AZretired]

I served in the US Army from 1972 to 1978 mostly in Germany.

My Dad served in the Army from 1940 to 1962 was a Pear Harbor & D-Day Vet, then served in Korea and Viet Nam in '62 just before retirement. Went in as a Private, retired as a Major.

Had two uncles who were lifers in the Army and Navy for WW2 til the 60's.

 

[mike from st pete]

Nope, failed the physical. Bad heart mummer.

 

[WardenRoss]

I was the first generation in my family not to serve in the military. I'm a seventh generation Southerner. I can trace each generation all the way back to serving in the Revolutionary War and every war since until Korea.

My Dad was a WWII and Korean War disabled Veteran. When it was my time, I was ready to sign-up for Viet Nam. My Dad flat refused to allow me. He simply saw too much in WWII, especially in the Battle of Okinawa. He would always say that he fought and sacrificed so that I wouldn't have to.

I have spent my life as a Peace Officer which my Dad was most proud of. I have the up-most respect for all those that served in the military and I am most proud to be the son of a disabled (now deceased) veteran.

I thank each of you for your service. May God Bless.

 

[wreckville]

US Army
3AD, 1-32 AR, '71-'74.

 

[SgtStone]

I'm impressed w/ the number of veterans on this forum, but not surprised. No matter why you entered service you have proven that you gave part of your life to serving the greater number.

Father, maternal & paternal uncles & many cousins: Army.
Two aunts in the Navy. Older cousin in the Coast Guard.
Mother was civilian Air Force during WWII. Son in Army & National Guard. Sister served as a nurse (Health professionals are veterans to me).

I served as an NCO in USAF 1971-1979 in Electronic Warfare. Took me a year to pass entrance physical -- heart murmur, malformed spine, slow metabolism, etc. Doc's let me in when President Nixon decided to escalate air war against N. Viet Nam. I could run RADAR sites no problem.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In 1943 the noted strongman and later bodybuilding impresario Dan Lurie was rejected as 4-F-heart murmurs. Made the national news.
I have rather mixed feelings about my Army service 1967-1971. A lot of the career people I had to put up with were no good. A complaint I have heard in recent years is that too many people see military service as "just a job", they enlist because they need all the family benefits, etc. A lot of recent veterans have told me about the lack of camaraderie, all the petty harassment, the PCness, etc. One retired AF E-8 said: "There's no sense of dedication." And the firearms enthusiasts who say they are derided as kooks and oddballs.