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General => General Discussion & Topics => General Discussion => Topic started by: CaptJack on August 10, 2013, 06:07:58 PM

Title: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: CaptJack on August 10, 2013, 06:07:58 PM
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Title: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Pappymn on August 10, 2013, 06:32:23 PM
Great post Captain. An honor to know you and the others here who served.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: sparky on August 10, 2013, 09:45:11 PM
USCG '74 - '78.  Boatswain mate 3rd class (was 2nd class but I had a few captain's mast).  5 Meritorious Accommodation's for life saving. 
'74 - '76 WHEC 725 Jarvis, 5 Alpats under my belt.  Golden Dragon.
'76-'78 Humboldt Bay Small Boat Station (Humboldt county, ya), 41' motor lifeboats.  Proud Member of the "360" club.  very few of us have the batch.  got it for rolling a 41' MLB completely over (they are weighted on the bottom so your suppose to roll back over in 90 seconds.  doesn't always happen thou).  w/ my CO on board.  he dared me to do it.  he already had a 360 batch.

ps: don't tell anyone.  we lost over 8k in towing gear and radar equipment. 
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: pz on August 10, 2013, 11:43:22 PM
I signed up for the draft literally months before the war ended, so I never entered the military.  However, my brother was an A-4 pilot, a good friend an F-14 RIO, My father-in-law a CWO4 on a carrier, and my son has returned from his second combat deployment (headed out on his third this fall).

I have the highest respect for those that have served (and are serving) in the military, and could I do it all over again, I'd enter the service.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: veryolddog on August 11, 2013, 12:23:00 AM
Well, ...... a long time ago in a land far, far far away, I began a journey that lasted 23 years. It's funny how you start to do something and plans get side tracked along the way. However, I personally benefited from this experience in many ways positive ways. At least I can remember when I was young and strong and a lot more daring than I am today.

Ed



Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Smokin Don on August 11, 2013, 12:49:25 AM
I joined the Marine Corps Reserve at 17 while a junior in high school. When I graduated I was discharged from the reserves so I could join the USAF from 1960 to 1968.

Homestead AFB Fla. I was there during the missile crisis and Bay of pigs invasion and the prisoner exchange with Cuba.
TDY to K.I. Sawyer AFB MI.
Eskeshire, Turkey
WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio
Takhli, Thailand for 4 months 1965-1966
King Salmon, Alaska 1967 1968
USAF Commendation Medal

Smokin Don
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Hub on August 11, 2013, 07:11:44 AM
USAF 1968-1972, got out two years early because of RIF.  My job was signing punch cards and printouts in Germany  :D

Hub
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: MoHuka on August 11, 2013, 08:02:58 AM
USMC 1968-1977....left Marines as a Gunnery Sargent ...lured away by Ford Aerospace....wish I would have at least stayed in the reserves....fond memories of my years in the Corps

Semper Fi
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: bbqchef on August 11, 2013, 08:47:31 AM
AF CH-53 medivac pilot during the end of VN, AF Reserve with ARRS for 20 years
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: mikecorn.1 on August 11, 2013, 09:44:10 AM
Navy short timer  ;)  2 years, USS Independence stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. Honorable Discharge

And for those that know the lingo, I'm a shellback not a pollywog. ;) :D
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 11, 2013, 09:56:11 AM
27 years Infantry.  Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Ka Honu on August 11, 2013, 12:00:39 PM
What dee said plus one (but 20 of mine were in the reserves - he stayed active for the whole time).
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Wingman on August 11, 2013, 12:57:05 PM
US Army - 213th Engineer Detachment - Heavy equipment operator, mostly cranes, dozers, and road graders in Viet Nam.  We worked all over the Delta from our base in Can Tho.  In country from June '67- June '69.  Left a Spec 5.

cung cấp cho tôi một ba mươi ba
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: bbqchef on August 11, 2013, 12:58:50 PM
Active duty as a Captain, Reserves as an LTC
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: BMC.ret on August 11, 2013, 01:11:55 PM
U.S Navy Chief Boatswain Mate (retired) 1960-88. A lot of different ships, two Vietnam tours ( CHB-2 Da Nang and river patrol boats in the Mekong Delta).
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: veryolddog on August 11, 2013, 03:40:18 PM
Here's to our fathers and all those who served in WWII. My Dad was always my hero. He served in the US Navy from January 1942 to December 1945 in the US Submarine Service in the Pacific.

I think, in my opinion, they are the real heroes of the USA. Unfortunately, time is taking its toll on these Americans.

So this post is for them.

Ed
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: ACW3 on August 11, 2013, 03:57:56 PM
My grandfather was a Chief Electrician on the "Old Boats", that is the "S-class" submarines.  My father served 23 years in the Navy as a pilot on blimps and P2V's before hanging up his flying to finish his career in communications.  I spent seven years in submarines as a sonar technician.  Served on a nuclear Fast Attack submarine during the Cold War, punching holes in the ocean chasing the bad guys.  Left the Navy as a ST1 (SS).  I am a Life Member of the Submarine Veterans Organization.  Still read anything related to submarines, particularly WWII submarine exploits.

Art
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: sparky on August 11, 2013, 05:01:48 PM
my dad was at pearl harbor when it was bombed as a marine photographer. 
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Albert Rivera on August 11, 2013, 05:10:18 PM
Phục vụ tại Việt Nam, 68.

Không nói hoặc viết tiếng Việt.

sử dụng từ điển tiếng Việt
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 11, 2013, 09:43:33 PM
Let me translate what Albert said: Where is the charcoal, tin foil, brown sugar, butter and honey?  I need a whold lot. I want to BBQ the ribs of this water buffalo.   :)  Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Ka Honu on August 11, 2013, 10:07:56 PM
... charcoal, tin foil, brown sugar, butter and honey...

You had that stuff?  Gee, dee, I never knew you were a REMF (Sorry but it was hanging out there for me to hit).  We used to marinate the ribs in mosquito repellant and rub them with crushed malaria pills before grilling them on a bed of C-4, rice stalks, and bamboo.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 11, 2013, 10:26:57 PM
Turtle,  That's what Albert had.  We marinaded ours in Agent Orange and then called in napalm strikes to get the bark right.  We didn't have time for the "low and slow" technique.  Had to give the F4 pilots some AK 47s for the napalm drop. Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Ka Honu on August 11, 2013, 11:59:21 PM
Well played.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: drholly on August 12, 2013, 02:03:13 PM
Oh my goodness. I can't think of when I've read something more powerful...  :'(
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: sliding_billy on August 12, 2013, 02:39:04 PM
Great thread guys.  I don't like to post too much personal stuff on forums, but... US Army 71D - Legal Specialist (yep, a damn pencil pusher).  Dad was a Demolitions Specialist (multiple tours of Nam) and Grandfather was a bullet stopper in WWII.  I respect what they did (and what each of you did) so much.  I always envisioned myself an infantrymen until that day came to choose an MOS.  Then I realized how bad of a "soldier" I would make given my inability to tow the proverbial line.  I still owed it to my country to enlist and contribute what I could.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: sliding_billy on August 12, 2013, 03:34:59 PM
Fantastic post Jack!
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 12, 2013, 04:34:40 PM
Jack,  Good post.  No matter what one's MOS maybe they were/are all important...just as every spoke of a wheel is needed to make a vehicle go. 

As far as thoughts of Nam go,  I have no problems.  As I was reading this last post I thought I had none of those thoughts because most of the time I was always thinking about my men and didn't really think that much about myself.  I always had to think about the mission and how to keep as many of them alive as I could.  That doesn't mean I wasn't ever scared.  Heck, there were times I was petrified!

Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: veryolddog on August 12, 2013, 05:58:15 PM
Scared? I knew that feeling!  8) :) ;) and he chuckled. I could smell them.

Ed
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: RAD on August 12, 2013, 06:31:08 PM
USMC Sep 86 - Sep 97
Married Aug 86 - Present
One of the last balls (I know Ka, Marine's have balls once a year  ;))

(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l501/rdelemos/Family/AampR_zpsc1050969-1_zpsbdf0ba56.jpg)

This was us about ten years later

(http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l501/rdelemos/Family/us_zps42918e5b.jpg)
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: bbqchef on August 12, 2013, 06:37:15 PM
Still have dreams about the medevac flights in country
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: dawrecknq on August 12, 2013, 07:34:18 PM
Gentlemen... I am not a veteran and have never served....but I stand here (ok sit here) and awe and reverance to you all!! I humbly thank you for your service; for the sacrifices you all made to keep my Family safe and this country the greatest. You are all 10' tall and bullet proof in my eyes! There are no greater Americans than those who have worn the UNIFORM any uniform.

God Speed and my God always shine his love and grace upon you and yours!!!!

Dan
Title: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Pappymn on August 12, 2013, 07:57:22 PM
Gentlemen... I am not a veteran and have never served....but I stand here (ok sit here) and awe and reverance to you all!! I humbly thank you for your service; for the sacrifices you all made to keep my Family safe and this country the greatest. You are all 10' tall and bullet proof in my eyes! There are no greater Americans than those who have worn the UNIFORM any uniform.

God Speed and my God always shine his love and grace upon you and yours!!!!

Dan

X2

Well said!
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: muebe on August 12, 2013, 11:17:06 PM
Gentlemen... I am not a veteran and have never served....but I stand here (ok sit here) and awe and reverance to you all!! I humbly thank you for your service; for the sacrifices you all made to keep my Family safe and this country the greatest. You are all 10' tall and bullet proof in my eyes! There are no greater Americans than those who have worn the UNIFORM any uniform.

God Speed and my God always shine his love and grace upon you and yours!!!!

Dan

X2

Well said!

X3

I could not said it better myself!
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Sam3 on August 13, 2013, 06:12:08 AM
Well said Dan, what a great thread. I'm honored to be associated with great company here.
Thanks to all of you for your service.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: veryolddog on August 13, 2013, 10:42:47 AM
Look....folks, we really appreciate your fine comments. But, we, as veterans of military service whether it was under fire or not, do not think of ourselves as anyone special. We are proud that we have served this country, especially in this day and age. And, we really consider ourselves as just plain lucky that we are here today. Just plain lucky.

If you really want to honor someone, pay a visit to the US cemetery in Normandy. Or, to a Veterans cemetery in your own State or the one in Hawaii. Those men, whose brief visit with us, are the ones who should be honored.

They could heap all the tin in the world on us, and we would still consider ourselves as just ordinary guys who stood up and did a job just like you do everyday in going to work and taking care of your families. And, we really do not ask for this. Whatever we did was not extraordinary, but it was out of necessity.

Ed



Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 13, 2013, 11:00:48 AM
Well said, Ed.  Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: smoker pete on August 13, 2013, 11:51:16 AM
US Navy (1969-1978) ... 1st Class Sonar Technician

(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Rupertus_zps69a469e0.jpg)  1972 - USS Rupertus (DD-851) On the gun line off the coast of Quang Tri, Vietnam in support our ground forces (Army & Marines).  Working in the magazines 12-16+ hours a day handling 5 inch 38 shells and powder casings.

(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Vietnam2_zps519f3514.jpg)
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: RAD on August 13, 2013, 05:29:24 PM
Ed, you said it.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: dawrecknq on August 13, 2013, 07:01:51 PM
Look....folks, we really appreciate your fine comments. But, we, as veterans of military service whether it was under fire or not, do not think of ourselves as anyone special. We are proud that we have served this country, especially in this day and age. And, we really consider ourselves as just plain lucky that we are here today. Just plain lucky.

If you really want to honor someone, pay a visit to the US cemetery in Normandy. Or, to a Veterans cemetery in your own State or the one in Hawaii. Those men, whose brief visit with us, are the ones who should be honored.

They could heap all the tin in the world on us, and we would still consider ourselves as just ordinary guys who stood up and did a job just like you do everyday in going to work and taking care of your families. And, we really do not ask for this. Whatever we did was not extraordinary, but it was out of necessity.
Ed

Ed- I expected this reply would come and I fully respect your words. I do honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. There have been times when I have stopped at cemetaries, or after a funeral service for a loved one.... that I try to find at least one or several grave markers of those of which we speak. Or at least, showing that they served during war time. I give thanks to them and honor them as you say. I wish I could get our Kiwanis Club to decorate the resting place of these hero's at least on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day. There are so many that go uncelebrated. I can't help but think that WW1 and many WW2 vet's simply have no family left to honor them. Maybe some day! But, every once in awhile, I relish the chance to honor someone I look up to and admire. To let them know how much their time served means to me. I know that you don't ask for this praise, but you have earned it! I don't feel like I do this enough, taking the time to shake a hand and say "thank you". Especially with the "Greatest Generation" who are leaving us so quickly. Next summer, my Son and I are going to be volunteer chaperones on a Veteran's flight to Washington D.C. where WW2 and Korean Vets get to visit their memorials. I am excited for this opportunity and honored to have been considered.

Dan
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: teesquare on August 14, 2013, 10:25:36 PM
Looks like the 2LT has mis-placed his compass, and will need to self perform a body cavity search to find it.... :D
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: deestafford on August 15, 2013, 08:41:17 AM
The Turtle has been all four of those.  Dee
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Ka Honu on August 15, 2013, 12:34:18 PM
But only one of them recently.
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: Ka Honu on August 15, 2013, 04:53:20 PM
I usually stay reasonably sober in NOLA (although "reasonably sober" in NOLA is "seriously drunk" anywhere else).  I tend to get in more trouble within a few miles of home.  Or so I'm told.  I remain convinced, however, that those pictures which purport to prove it were photoshopped.

TMSIAGSAISTI
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: teesquare on August 15, 2013, 06:07:37 PM
But only one of them recently.

A visit to the proctologist eh? :D
Title: Re: Veteran's RollCall
Post by: IBCookin on August 15, 2013, 07:05:51 PM
US Air Force, 6950th Security Group. 1969 -- 1975
As the man said .. it was the best of times and it was the worst of times.