I know we have a few vets here...

  Who are you..?

  How long were you in..?

  What branch..?

  What unit(s)..?

  Your rank when discharged..?

  Where did you serve..?

  What medals/ribbons do you have..?

  Have you hung onto your old uniforms..?

  Share a war story if you'd like, whether it be an actual war of a bar brawl with Marines...

 

Scott

5 years 1998 - 2003 /  3 years inactive reserve 2003 - 2006

US Marine Corps

Military Occupation Specialty:  2651 Special Intelligence Communicator/System Administrator.

Sergeant  E-5

Boot Camp: San Diego
Marine Combat Training:  Camp Pendleton (sucked major)
MOS School: Correy Station, Pensacola, Florida.
Marine Corps Air Base, Iwakuni, Japan
Kunia Region Security Operations Center, Kunia Hawaii.  (Lived on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor). 

National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

I still have my old uniforms.  They are sitting in a closet at my parents house.  No I haven't worn them again cause I gain a wee bit of weight since getting out.  ;D

http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/2ar15smilie.gif

How long were you in..? Just short of 8 years. (1982-1989) I was medically retired at the ripe old age of 26.

What branch..? Air Force

Your rank when discharged..? Sergeant (E4)

Where did you serve..?

Basic Training: Lackland AFB, San Antonio TX
Tech School (291X0 Telecommunications): Sheppard AFB, TX
Telecommunications: (6948th) Medina Annex- Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX
                              (Det. 2, 1923rd) Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
Tech School (751X0 Training Management): Sheppard AFB, TX
Training Management: Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland AFB, San Antonio, TX
                                Araxos AB, Greece.

What medals/ribbons do you have..? Good Conduct (with 1 cluster-otherwise known as a "turd"), Longevity, Outstanding Unit (Wilford Hall), and Basic Training medal.

Have you hung onto your old uniforms..? Yup-even worn them on occasion-like on Halloween.  :D



Cat

  Great guys..!  I thought there were a few more here...

  I'll go...

  Dave...

  June 1987 to July 1991 + 4 years IRR...

  US Navy

  Basic: RTC/NTC San Diego
  Class 'A' School: NATTC Millington, TN
  1st Duty Station: Fighter Squadron 41 'Black Aces', NAS Oceana, Virginia Beach, VA, embarked on USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)
  2nd Duty Station: Missile Shop, G-3 Division, Weapons Dept., USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)

  Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (E-5)

  Navy Battle 'E' Ribbon
  Sea Service Deployment Ribbon x 2
  Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon
  Southwest Asia Service Medal
  National Defense Service Medal

  Conspicuously absent: Good Conduct Medal... :(

  I have my (nearly) complete sea bag.  Sentimental value...

  So I guess, depending on branch or MOS and barring any discipline problems, one can expect to reach E-5 in one's first tour..?

  groove ;) on y'all...

I think I lucked out in getting E-5.  It is very difficult in alot of MOS's in the Marine Corps, especially regular infantry.  But, anyone definitely has a shot of they do what they are supposed to do, continually strive to get better, and have no disciplinary action against them. 

I think I lucked out in getting E-5.  It is very difficult in alot of MOS's in the Marine Corps, especially regular infantry.  But, anyone definitely has a shot of they do what they are supposed to do, continually strive to get better, and have no disciplinary action against them. 



I tried and tried to get E-5. In the AF, you had to test (combined with your time-in-grade, time-in-service and your performance reports). My test scores were good but not good enough. You are testing against all other E-4s in your field and they only promote so many. One year, I remember there were 444 of us testing. I finished 111. I'm sure I would have eventually made it if I stayed in. I am a relic now. There is no such thing as an E-4 Sergeant-they are now Sr. Airman. But, since I retired at that grade, I will ALWAYS be Sgt.

So, you can call me "Sarge".  :D ;D ;D



Cat

Hurry up and wait... :D




   Who are you... Chrissy

   How long were you in... 7 years 1 month  (March 1996 - April 2003)

   What branch... Air Force

   What unit(s)... 56th Comptroller Sq and 60th Comptroller

   Your rank when discharged... E-5

   Where did you serve... Luke AFB, AZ (Near Phoenix) and Travis AFB, CA (Bay Area)  Also Lackland AFB, TX for Basic and Sheppard AFB, TX for Tech school.

   What medals/ribbons do you have... I really don't remember.

   Have you hung onto your old uniforms... Yep...just put them all into a plastic bin for storage in the garage.

   Share a war story if you'd like, whether it be an actual war of a bar brawl with Marines... LOL  The only war story I have is the one when I beat up an E-5 in the Enlisted Club. ;D  I was an E-4 at the time and we were at the Enlisted club after work drinking and it was about 11:00 at night.  She was bitching because my hair was falling below my collar while in uniform.  I tried to blow her off and she didn't like it so I decided to just leave and that was when she grabbed my arm. >:(  So I preceded to punch her in the face numerous times and then I left the club.  I ended up with a Letter of Counseling. :D   I never had to go overseas, but I did go TDY to do exercises and competitions....but that doesn't count.

Scott

5 years 1998 - 2003 /  3 years inactive reserve 2003 - 2006

US Marine Corps

Military Occupation Specialty:  2651 Special Intelligence Communicator/System Administrator.

Sergeant  E-5

Boot Camp: San Diego
Marine Combat Training:  Camp Pendleton (sucked major)
MOS School: Correy Station, Pensacola, Florida.
Marine Corps Air Base, Iwakuni, Japan
Kunia Region Security Operations Center, Kunia Hawaii.  (Lived on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor). 

National Defense Service Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.

I still have my old uniforms.  They are sitting in a closet at my parents house.  No I haven't worn them again cause I gain a wee bit of weight since getting out.   ;D

http://www.inthe00s.com/smile/01/2ar15smilie.gif

We just came from Pensacola.  I lived out by Perdido Bay for two years.  I used to always go on Corry for the Commissary.

   Who are you..?
   How long were you in..?
 What branch..?
   What unit(s)..?
   Your rank when discharged..?
   Where did you serve..?
   What medals/ribbons do you have..?
   Have you hung onto your old uniforms..?

Branch and dates of service:
USMC - Active Duty
August 1983 - March 1993

MOS:
0311 - Infantry Rifleman
8151 - Marine Security Guard
0411 - Maintenance Management
8535 - Range NCO

Units:
MCRD San Diego, boot camp (1983)
ITS, Camp Pendleton, Infantry Training (1983)
Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station, Marine Barracks (1984-1987)
2nd Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune (1987-1990)
Little Creak Naval Station, Amphibious Warfare Advanced Course (August 1987)
Fort Sherman, Panama - School Of The Americas, Jungle Warfare School (October 1987)
Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan (Jan-July 1988, Jan-July 1990)
Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Rifle & Pistol Range NCO (November 1990 - March 1993)

Corporal

Good Conduct Medal (2x)
Overseas Deployment Ribbon (2x)
National Defense Service Medal

I gave all of my old uniforms away when I got out.  The only thing I kept was my trench coat, which I wore for many more years until it got stollen.

I didn't realise how many vets we had.  Happy to know you all.

   Thanks for sharing, all...

   Actually, I had no idea you were in, Jacks.  Seven years, no less...

   SemperYoda - I was suprised to have made E-5, myself, since I was busted once.  First year was a nightmare...

   Sarge - You're talking about PNA (Pass not advanced)?  Took me twice for 2nd class.  I think you earn PNA points that are applied to your next exam...

   Mushroom - Little Creek, huh..?  A SEAL base.  I was just down the road from you @ that time.  Remember 'Penrods' (on the beach)..?  Ah, Virginia Beach in the summer... 8)

   Belle du Jour - I'm pretty sure there are some more, like diofan...

   Mushroom - Little Creek, huh..?  A SEAL base.  I was just down the road from you @ that time.  Remember 'Penrods' (on the beach)..?  Ah, Virginia Beach in the summer... 8)


I was only there for a month for training.  Mostly I remember it because 2 weeks before we arrived, a transformer blew up in the barracks contaminating everything.  Because of this, we were quartered on board the USS Whidbey Island, LSD-41.  This was one of the new Amphib ships, and was a real pleasure to be aboard.

Although I had done some training with Seals in the past.  In 1984 we spent a week at Coronado, doing rubber raft training with the Seals.  And in 1986 we went through an month long anti-terrorism drill with Seal Team Six (when Dick Marcinco was in charge).  We were the only CONUS military base in which the Military Security detected and stopped all incursions into the base, and had no serious security breeches (a fact that old Dickie neglected to mention in his book "Rogue Warrior").

I thought that I should bump this thread up.



Cat

Can we discuss family members in here that are veterans?

Can we discuss family members in here that are veterans?


  Go for it..! :)

  One of the nicest things to happen on deployment was when they used one of the missile magazines I worked in as storage for extra matresses...

  The worst things to happen was the guy that was killed when he walked into a turning E-2C Hawkeye propeller.  His name was Ron Krauss.  Another time someone was blown off the flight deck into the ocean by jet exhaust, in broad daylight, and he couldn't be found.  I don't know his name.  Another time, Halloween night 1989, four guys were swept off the deck edge aircraft elevator by a gigantic wave while moving ordnance.  Three were recovered, one was lost.  His last name was Washington...

   Go for it..! :)


Yay!  I'll start with my beloved Grandfather.  Now I'm not sure of all the details, so I may have to clarify later.



  Who are you..? He was Donald Green, Sr.

  How long were you in..?  He enlisted about the time the Korean War was going on (a wee bit underage, from family legend) until probably the early '70s.

  What branch..? US Army.

  What unit(s)..? For the life of me, I don't recall.  My grandmother used to have what I guess amounted to a yearbook that said what unit he was in, but the bitch sold it and other mementos after he died.  I never forgave her for that.

  Your rank when discharged..? First Sergeant.

  Where did you serve..? From what I remember, Korea, Texas, Germany (with Elvis! Woohoo!), France, Vietnam, and California.

  What medals/ribbons do you have..? Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and some others that he was buried with.

  Have you hung onto your old uniforms..? He had his dress uniform.  They buried him in it.  The sad thing was that during his illness, he lost so much weight that it hung off his body. :(

  Share a war story if you'd like, whether it be an actual war of a bar brawl with Marines... Well, like I mentioned, he was in Germany with Elvis.  He also broke his leg during a battle in Vietnam.  Family rumor has it that the Vietcong started attacking while he was getting his drink on, so he dove into a trench and busted his leg. ;D  There were also some pics of him floating around with a Vietnamese hooker, but my grandmother destroyed them.

I'll talk to my dad tonight and get info about his father's days in the Army, as well as bug him about his Marine days. :)

Who are you..? Al

How long were you in..? 3 years active, 1 year reserve

What branch..? Army  (MOS: 88M, Motor Transport Operator)

What unit(s)..? 70th Transportation Co, 106th Trans Battalion, 37th TRANSCOM

Your rank when discharged..? E-4/Specialist

Where did you serve..? Basic and AIT: Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. I was then stationed at Giessen Army Depot in Giessen, West Germany. I also did a year at a reserve unit in Lincoln, Nebraska.

What medals/ribbons do you have..? Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon

Have you hung onto your old uniforms..? I've got a few lying around, but I'm too fat to fit in them anymore...  :P

Share a war story if you'd like, whether it be an actual war of a bar brawl with Marines...

Well, I don't know if you could call this a "war story," but I flew over to Germany about 2 weeks after the Berlin Wall fell in November of 1989. The following April my company ran a convoy to what was still West Berlin, and to get there we had to drive 100 miles through what was still East Germany. We had to go through all the checkpoints and there was still a large Soviet presence there. Once we got to West Berlin we stayed there for several days and on one of the days we got to go over to East Berlin and spend about an hour or two there. We saw a changing of the guard ceremony at a Soviet WWII memorial, which was carried out by East German soldiers.

That trip really had a profound effect on me. East Germany was really drab and ugly and...gray. Spending time in an actual Communist country and seeing how they had to live really made me love America and appreciate what we have here that much more.
   



While we're on this subject, I'd like to ask my fellow vets if any of you belong to the VFW or the American Legion? I just joined the local Legion post here about 2 weeks ago and I'm really looking forward to going to my first meeting, which is this Thursday. If any of you do belong to the American Legion, I was wondering what to expect and what kinds of activities the Legion does. 

Thank you to all who served our country!

I take issue with government/military policies, but never military service.  I considered serving in the armed forces, but my health was too poor at the time to allow it. 

Of course, we should honor all veterans today.  Did anybody serve for countries other than the U.S.?
???

  Posing with my esteemed Israeli counterpart in a Haifa bus terminal in 1990.  He informed me he was heading back to his unit in southern Lebanon after a leave of absence.  Actually meeting an Israeli soldier was pretty exciting after hearing so much about them in the previous decade...

  He also told me he was born in the US of A, emmigrated to Israel and joined the army.  Some form of military service is mandatory for men and women in Israel.  Practically everyone you meet is either active or reserve...

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-6/1193336/IsraeliSoldier(Haifa,Israel-1990)_edited-1.jpg 

Here I am in basic training in 1982. Yeah, I was very young back then.



Cat

OK, here is an update, since my old info is obviously out of date.

Am currently in the US Army.

Stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas with the 1-43 ADA (Patriot) Battalion, 11th Air Defense Brigade.

My MOS is 14T, (Patriot Operator-Maintainer).

In March of 2009 going to the Middle East for a 1 year deployment.