rosie46: Good luck to you and hope you get your wish. I do Hope Hayden beats Rossi now and then though.

 

I attended USAFA for 4 months when I took my leave of military life to attend civilian college. I didn't pursue any military ambitions after school or since.

I hesitated to vote here, but -- believe it or not -- I was honorably discharged (even at the ripe old age of 17), so I'll stand up and be counted.

To those of you who have served and done real time in military life, I salute your courage and determination. It wasn't the life for me, and I'm glad I recognized that early, but every so often I think about the fact that I could've been flying fighters and I get a little sad.

 

Check out all the Airmen!!! Obviously, those that made the best military choices also make the best car choices.

As a seventeen year old, I enlisted in the Air Force on Dec. 28, 1976... three days before the old GI Bill was to expire. (I figured it was the only way I'd ever pay for college)

I spent two years doing a job that officially never existed and I'm not allowed to tell anyone about until the stress of it all brought on diabetes and they gave me a medical retirement. (I was "retired" at the age of 19)

All I can say about my military experience is that if there's something rotten some other country is out there doing to another... they probably learned how from us.

On the other hand... I would never have learned to curse like a grumpy old sailor had I never served my country, so there was some good to come from it.

 

I feel the same way towards the others that did more than there fair share of two years of active mandatory service, and the four years in reserve.

Although, when I was stationed at The Pentagon I loved what I was doing and wanted to stay on as a civilian the thing that I did not like was the here today and gone tomorrow aspect of duty station changes.

I left Fort Dix on a Friday afternoon being stationed there. Went home to visit my parents and friends on a Friday night. Returned by Noon on Sunday for Charge of Quarters Duty to relieve my co-worker. I walked in to the CQ office in the barracks to hear the words "Guess where you are going?" from him. As I had previously posted, I was a prime candidate for a levy to Viet Nam with thirteen months left. I could not believe my ears when he said the words: "You have to have your butt at The Pentagon by 07:30 on Tuesday morning.

I had left my class A's with my Mother to have a patch sewn on, and I did not have any pocket money. I did my CQ duty from Noon on Sunday until 06:00 on Monday until the Drill Instructors came back for duty. Worked my normal job in the orderly room all day, then hopped in my car. Drove from Fort Dix to Queens, NYC to get my Class A uniform, borrow some money from my Father, then drove all most of the night to arrive at The Pentagon by 07:30 Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night, I was one tired soldier.

I understand that the choice of duty stations has gotten a lot better over the years and those that serve now have more in-put into where they go as part of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). It was the here today and gone tomorrow aspect that I did not like.

 

As many of you know, I am a fan of National Public Radio (NPR) and listen during my morning and afternoon commute. Last year NPR revived the Edward R Murrow radio feature of "This I Believe". In the past year over twelve thousand people (including me) have submitted five hundred word essays about a life changing event or a conviction that they have.

This link to the most recent essay by Miles Goodwin, a Vietnam Veteran should touch those that served during that conflict and never received as much as a thank you, let alone a welcome home parade.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...toryId=5373407

I do not live in the past, but I remember it: I for one will never forget being spit on at the Port of Authority Terminal in New York City for being in uniform. Thankfully, attitudes have changed towards our military over the past thirty years.

I guess that the irony is: Then, like now the military does not act or enter into conflicts or war on their own. It takes the support of our elected officials in Congress and the Senate to send them into harms way. As part of our checks and balances, the President as Commander-in-Chief can order it, but it takes the funds to do it. The President of the United States does not have the authority to spend a penny. It requires Congressional approval. When that occurs, the troops that are involved deserve our support. Even if it comes in the form of a small act of a ten year old girl on a plane, offering a soldier a magazine.

The war in Iraq (among other issues) has unfortunately polarized our country. That is unfortuate. I hope that unlike thirty years ago, the American people do not forget the sacrifices on the troops, and their families, that are protecting our way of life as we know it.

P.S. Refer to my signature.

 

Touching story.

 

Served in the US Navy from 81-92. Several times a year I dream I'm still active and doing Unreps in the Indian Ocean.

 

I think that it is interesting that this reoccurs in our lifes.

 

In retropsect knowing what I surmize about the recruitment into the various branches of the Armed Forces back in the sixties and seventies, I am NOT surprised to see that the majority of Vintage Veterans where in the USAF.