Curious how many members were, or are , veterans of the armed services ?

Here's a pic of 'ol Mac, in his Army days, prowling the fields of Germany ,during the REFORGER of 1984.

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'Combat Ready' , Mac

Hey Mac,

I'm not a veteran, but Jeannette's father was also stationed in Germany from '79-'83 (Army as well). She doesn't remember the base, but she lived Nurmberg. She was 2 yr. old when they got there, and 6 when they left.

What Mac no baskethilt at your side? :)

U.S. Navy, 1987-1992

Oh yes, I saw the world. Unfortunately most of the places I saw weren't places that anyone in his right mind would want to see :)

I would have never made it in the service. I'm too independent-minded. It would have killed me. I have no doubt it would have been a good thing for me, especially when I was younger. If I could have survived it, I imagine it would have made me a better person for it.

I tried to get in but they would not take me. I had a back surgery when I was younger and they did not want any part of that. :( I really wish I could have gone. It is something that I will regret for ever!! Then again - I probably would not be here to torture all of you. :p

I served as a conscripted motorized rifle company HQ corporal in 1986-87, back during the Cold War. Those were the days... Learned to use the SMG, AR, MG, LAW, RR, AP and AT mines, as well as communications on the batallion level and leading a squad in combat. There are times when I miss it.

6 years in the US Air Force (1987-1993). I was a boom operator on KC-135's. Got to see a good portion of the world. Let me think:

Azores - Very nice but windy, great food.
Crete - By far the best trip. 2 weeks in the Meds version of Hawaii, great food, great beer, and tons of topless Scandinavian women.
Turkey - Okay. Food not so good. Saw some awesome ottoman forts
Saudi Arabia - A year of my life wasted in a giant sand box. Few women, no beer, and too much sand. Nuff said.
Egypt - See Saudi Arabia. Minus the coolness of the pyramids
Iceland - The moon with snow. It was exciting swimming in hot springs in the middle of a blizzard. My hair froze.
UK - Very cool. I am a huge Anglophile. Saw lots of swords, castles and beer.
Netherlands - Also cool. Amsterdam could be a beautiful city if they'd clean it up a bit.
Panama - Too hot and humid. Caught the most fish I have ever caught in my life. 60 bass!
Canada - no comment...just kidding...

Basically, it was one big vacation trip...thank you tax payers...

1988-1991 2/11th ACR Bad Kissingen Germany...a pic of me from 88' at O.P Tennessee overlooking the DDR in the Fulda Gap
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Hi Mac, as well as everyone else! US Navy 1982-1987. Spent 4 1/2 years of that time on a destroyer. Haze Gray and Underway! Nathan, these forums and all of your new additions are terrific!

Best regards,
Ron

8 years USCG.

I got a pic some place of me in my water natzi uniform.

I did my conscript service at the Austrian Mountain Infantry 2000-2001.

USMC. 0311.

Well, I tried to do the National Guard last year, but they wouldn't take me because of my asthma. It sucks. Now that I'm going back to college, I could have really used the Montgomery G.I. Bill for tuition. However, I can claim some relatives who have served the country:

Uncle Rick: Captain, U.S. Army (ret), Vietnam
Uncle John: Lt. Col., U.S. Air Force (ret)
Both grandfathers: WWII in S. Pacific
Cousin David: SSgt., U.S. Army Ranger (ret), Panama, now police officer here in town
Cousin Andrew: Spec., U.S. Army (ret), Persian Gulf
Uncles Tom and Rob, Cousins Casey and Laura: Wisconsin Army National Guard
Friend T.J.: L.Cpl., U.S. Marine Corps, still currently in Iraq doing humanitarian aid in Babylon

B. Sweet and I may have pounded some of the same ground over in Germany! :D I was stationed with 1/2 ACR in Bindlach ('90-'92).
'88-'89: C. Co, DLI, Montery, CA
'90-'92: 1/2 ACR, Bindlach, Germany
'92-'93: 2/7, 1/10 CAV, Ft. Carson, CO

This was taken when I got stationed state-side at Ft. Carson, CO (2/7 CAV):

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I was active duty U.S. Air Force from 13 May 1974 till 20 August 1982. I did a lot of traveling myself during the military. My first foreign tour was Korea (Osan Air Base) and I'll never forget the adventurous flight there. We flew over on a contracted TransAmerica DC-8 Super 63 filled to capacity and had to refuel at Anchorage Alaska. We got a pretty good fright landing there because all tires on the right wing landing gear blew out as soon as we touched down. After more than four hours of standing around in a closed terminal with no heat turned on (and this was winter in 1979), we were finally back in the air and landed at Osan AB right in the middle of an alert. The first thing we were handed as we deplaned was a helmet, flack vest and M-17A1 gas mask. What a welcome! I've attached a picture of my first day there (and that dumbfounded look on my face as if to say "what have I gotten myself into?"). :) All in all, though, I really enjoyed the tour there, and the military during my years in the Air Force and I often find myself wishing that I'd stayed in for the full 20.

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First Day in Korea - 30 Dec 1979

Well, I registered for the service in '74 (Mac I think we are the same age). Grew up in the VN era.
Nothing happened and I didn't serve.

Regrets? Yes. I could have done my 20 or almost 30 now and be retired and have done my duty.

What do I do? During the 1st Gulf war I wrote to two US Navy guys and 1 Marine weekly.
I e-mail or call WWII vets on a monthly basis-they are all members of the 100th Infantry Div., my Dads old Div.
I'm an honorary member of Cannon Co. 398th Regt (dad was a F/O)., and Fox Co. 398th Regt. (the fellas that pulled my
wounded Father out of the mine field), both of the same 100th. Dad is classified as 90% disabled.

Got to love all vets, thanks guys

dave

U.S. Army 1975-1977

Had the pleasure of serving in the same unit was my brother (my Srg) and brother-in-law. :wtf: