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So You Served!!

I guess this makes me a "Lifer"

Born in a military hospital in the U.S Occupied Zone of Germany. Father was a career Corps of Engineer officer who had two
combat tours in Viet Nam. Crosssed the Atlantic on a troop ship when I was 5 years old. At 10, decided I wanted to go to West Point.
Left home at 17 when I found out my mother was a civilian, and entered the United States Military Academy 7 July 1976. :usa

Commissioned Armor, but Airborne and Ranger qualified.
2/12 Cav, 1st Cav Division
2/68 Armor, 2nd Bde, 8th Infantry Division
Alpha Co, 1-67th Armor, 2nd Armor Div
Joint Elelctronic Warfare Center, Kelly AFB
various Pentagon jobs
Germany, the UK, Bosnia, Croatia, Korea, Macedonia, Kosovo

Retired from Fort Monroe, Virginia in 2003.

I didn't love every minute of it, but it was still the best job in the world. Where else could you get paid to live around the world, have them ship your motorcycle for you, and give you 30 days off every year? Oh, and pay you to operate the most awesome piece of machinery on the face of this planet?

M1.jpg


God bless America and especially the families of those who serve. It is they who pay the highest price of all.
 
Military Service

USAF, 32854 Aircraft Radar and Inertial Navigation Systems Specialist 1972-1976 Lackland, Keesler and Travis AFB's. Was in basic training when Nixon ended the draft. Bunch of really unhappy guys in the barracks that night. California was cool. Wish I'd had a Beemer then. Enjoyed the work and the guys. Should have made it a career, although probably wouldn't have made it to 30. My brother enlisted a little later, stayed, but was thrown out after 23 during the Clinton years for not having enough rank. He was only an E7.
 
Peace is our Profession

USAF KC-135A Tanker Crew Chief '84 to '89. K.I. Sawyer AFB MI Got my FAA Airframe and Powerplant license with that experience. I was the crew chief for the highest "on time take off" aircraft at K.I.

On another note, My father-in-law was on the USS Forrestal when the fire occurred. PM me if you wish as we are trying to find information on it. He was an aerographers (?) mate (Weatherman)
 
USMC 1966-1970
RVN March 68 through April 69 VMA 211.
Aviation Ordinance, A-4 Sky Hawk C, D,and E models


I enlisted, I was afraid I'd be drafted into the Army. And I enjoyed it most of the time.
 
On another note, My father-in-law was on the USS Forrestal when the fire occurred. PM me if you wish as we are trying to find information on it. He was an aerographers (?) mate (Weatherman)

As mentioned before, I'm still at it.

My older son is an aerographer. Naturally, he isn't working that job.

Younger son is an Airborne Ranger, Gen 3. All the way.

Now if I can just get my daughter to join....
 
On another note, My father-in-law was on the USS Forrestal when the fire occurred. PM me if you wish as we are trying to find information on it. He was an aerographers (?) mate (Weatherman)

I saw the film of that day several times. Required viewing in the NAVY for damage control training, or at least it use to be. Have you tried google. I see the Forrestal every day on my way to work. It's mouthballed at Naval Base Newport along with the Saratoga. I know that the Saratoga is going to become a floating attraction at the old Quonsett Naval Station. Not sure of the future fate of the Forrestal. Hope this helps a little.
 
USAF 1964-1984 Crypto Maintenance
10 years in 3rd MOB
CCKAB 70-71
Croughton 65-68
Still working on an Air Force base.
 
Hello from a fellow 8ID Pathfinder. Served in 2/13 Infantry at Coleman Barracks, Mannheim from 76-79.

Hello back at ya. Was with the "Silver Lions" of 2/68 Armor in beautiful Baumholder from Dec '82 to Dec '85. Lord I miss Germany. :buds
 
Jan, almost the same thing happened to me. I went to Fort Bragg and while I was still in the in-processing center the First Sergeant asked for people who could type. I raised my hand and was sent to HQ & HQ Company XVIII Abn Corps. I stayed there two years and then processed out.

+1

I was an E3 tanker (armor). The first sgt wanted someone to redo his bulletin boards and I said I could do it. For the next two years I was the Training NCO, wearing hard-five stripes and getting paid for E3, E4, and finally E5.

After getting out of the Army, my first question to the Coast Guard recruiter was: If you guys train me for something, is that the area I'll work in? He said yes and was right, so I stayed in the CG 21 years.
 
1982-1984 US Army 313th CEWI, 82nd Airborne Division.

1984-1987 UA Army Ranger School (I was so good, I got to go twice, OK 1 1/2 times:) ) and back to the 313thCEWI.

True story, I though it would cure my extreme fear of heights. I was wrong.

1987-1989: US Army Reserve, the mighty 342nd MI company.
 
Hello back at ya. Was with the "Silver Lions" of 2/68 Armor in beautiful Baumholder from Dec '82 to Dec '85. Lord I miss Germany. :buds

I used to love our annual trip to Baumholder each January to use the ranges. The troops had a tradition of the new guys having to slide down the steep, snow covered hill to the motor pool on a sheet of cardboard. Never mind that the motor pool fence was at the base of the hill and provided an abrupt stop. Not so fond of the annual exercise in Rockenhausen out your way...burrr!
 
USNR gunners mate 1991 to 1999 assigned to a Seabee battalion Seabee 13 THE BLACKCATS
 
USAF crew chief F4 Phantoms
1977-81
Germany and Nevada
New Jersey ANG '81-94

Now my planes are used for target practice. :(
 
Ok, I don't know if this counts, but, here goes. 28 years currently with the US Dept. of Justice. Brief stint in USAF ROTC Detachment in College 1978, about 9 years running as a Firefighter/ EMT / Arson Investigator part time with local Fire department ( Retired from that now). 6 years from KMA.
 
US Army, Jul 67 - Jun 69
Infantry Lt
Basic Trng Officer, Ft Polk, LA
Infantry Platoon Ldr, RVN Jul 68

Sm payments from the VA keep me in gas money to ride!!

John Frick
Cincinnati, OH
 
Born in a military hospital in the U.S Occupied Zone of Germany. Father was a career Corps of Engineer officer who had two
combat tours in Viet Nam. Crosssed the Atlantic on a troop ship when I was 5 years old. At 10, decided I wanted to go to West Point.
Left home at 17 when I found out my mother was a civilian, and entered the United States Military Academy 7 July 1976. :usa

I didn't love every minute of it, but it was still the best job in the world. Where else could you get paid to live around the world, have them ship your motorcycle for you, and give you 30 days off every year? Oh, and pay you to operate the most awesome piece of machinery on the face of this planet?

God bless America and especially the families of those who serve. It is they who pay the highest price of all.

Now that's funny... :laugh :laugh

I know, getting to blow stuff up and all. I can't do that in my civilian job. If I did they would fire me. Of cause I do work with LNG so who knows. :usa
 
No disrespect

Ok, I don't know if this counts, but, here goes. 28 years currently with the US Dept. of Justice. Brief stint in USAF ROTC Detachment in College 1978, about 9 years running as a Firefighter/ EMT / Arson Investigator part time with local Fire department ( Retired from that now). 6 years from KMA.

No disrespect intended, but no, I don't think that counts. ROTC doesn't count as military service in my book, not unless you report for active duty.
 
Does it count? Yes

Ok, I don't know if this counts, but, here goes. 28 years currently with the US Dept. of Justice. Brief stint in USAF ROTC Detachment in College 1978, about 9 years running as a Firefighter/ EMT / Arson Investigator part time with local Fire department ( Retired from that now). 6 years from KMA.

Funny, I just went back and reread AKBeemer's original post and he did ask for peace officers and fire fighters to join in too. You more than qualify on that count. Thanks for your service to your community mpgolightly. Welcome to the forum.

jeff
 
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