LIKE TO GIVE THANKS TO ALL VETERANS

[Piute]

                                                             


                          We consider this "High Land" area/land sacred

[shinyribs]

Agreed. Thanks all who have served. Just out of curiosity,who all here have served or are currently serving?

[cdaiscool]

Agreed, thanks from me to you!

I wanted to serve, Shiny, but was not given a medical waiver for my apparently 1/2% over regulation scoliosis. The medical doctor said he didn't agree with the war anyways, and was his way of keeping me out of it. :/

[Elliot Cannon]

Staff Sergeant, United States Air Force 1966-1970.  Strategic Air Command.  Inflight Refueling Systems Technician.   Protecting the world from Communism.  (At least that's what we were told). LOL

[rich]

Senior Chief Petty Officer (ret.), U.S. Coast Guard. 1979-2002. My favorite duty was USCGC Polar Sea. I got to go to the Arctic, Alaska, Japan & Russia.  Her and her sister ship, the Polar Star, were the most powerful non-nuclear icebreakers in the world. Just freaking awesome.

Many people don't consider the Coast Guard as part of the military but we've been in every conflict this country has ever been in. We have people in Afghanistan right now.

Anyway, I loved it. And still serve as a civilian employee doing my part to ensure my shipmates get paid accurately and on time, so they can ram ships into ice flows and jump out of perfectly good helicopters LOL.

[masiste]

 I thank all the vets for that awesome service.  At the same time I urge all citizens to take control of the country so that no one person, party or rashly actions end up in deployment of young lives into a Russian Roulette just like that. War is something that should only be used in the utmost necessary of circumstances.

 It is easy to be an elderly person "playing" war games on remote control far away from theatre while young guys either compulsorily or through promisses of college education wage war and become road kill.

 As we show appreciation for our vets, the nation has to show its appreciation with actions, vets need support, not nice speeches. That support has to come from the government that enlisted them, the government  has to take the lead.

[Lucky 1]

The Coast Guard was the original military.
They payed for the revenue cutters.

[Lucky 1]

I agree. Rome fell with a paid army.

[shinyribs]

Elliot Cannon and Rich: Thank you so much! I really appreciate ya'll posting what your duties were,too. That was awesome!

Any others?

[Lucky 1]

I served 4 years in the USAF.
1969-1972 SEA.
Jet engine mechanic C-130's

[Elliot Cannon]

Did you spend any time at CCK in Taiwan?

[Lucky 1]

NO. The shop I worked in was at Naha and was 12 hours per
day, 6 days a week, and had been that way for at least 3 years.

When I returned to the US  I was a Sgt. It made some people mad.
You earned that third stripe. 100º temps and 90% humidity.
I grew up in the desert in Tucson (160lbs) and went to basic in Texas in July.
When I returned to the US  I weighed 140 lbs!!

[Elliot Cannon]

We spent time on the same island.  I was at kadena in 1968, then again in '69/'70.  Made Staff Sergeant in 3 years.  That really pissed off the guys to were Staff and had been in for 20. LOL

[shinyribs]

Lucky 1 wrote

I served 4 years in the USAF.
1969-1972 SEA.
Jet engine mechanic C-130's

Awesome! Thank you too,Lucky!

[Lucky 1]

Interesting about crossing paths.

Speaking of people being pissed off. When I got out of the military in 1972 May,
The men just joining were given the same pay as a Sargent !

Can you imagine... you have been in the military 4 years and then the beginners would get
the same pay as you? No wonder very few re enlisted. That is when the all voluntary military started.
No more draft.
Also when I had my last retention interview days before my discharge, and was asked if I would reenlist,  I again politely declined.
At that point the recruiter got up out of his chair, went to the hallway and yelled to all the office personal
that they had another quitter.
The recruiter said, " You will never find another job."

So much for thanking you for your service.

[Lucky 1]

That doctor may have saved your life ...you never know.

[Hoosier Daddy]

6 years USAF / ANG
Crew Chief on F-4E and the then "new" F-16A
122nd Tac Fighter Wing.
Saw Jordan the Egypt on short tours fortunatly all during peace time, discharged just before Desert Storm.

[Elliot Cannon]

The retention NCO that interviewed me was a tech. sergeant who used to be my shop chief.  I walked into his office, he pushed some papers toward me and said, "sign the top two, have a good trip home".  

[shinyribs]

I didn't overlook your contribution Hoosier.Thank you sir!

[rrgunslinger]

Air Force from 1969 to 1973, (SAC) Flight line crew on B52's and C135 tankers,  served in Okanawa.  Got out and went back in the Army in 76.  Nike Herucles Missle crew member in Germany. Got out in 83, had all I could stand after 11.5 years.  

 http://www.december7.com/1941/Fort_Barrette/img228.jpg