40 years ago today...

11echo

February 26, 2013 04:29

40 years ago today a scared/excited kid left the L.A. recruiting station in California, on an adventure of his life, that adventure was becoming part of the U.S. Army. It was not the best time to be in the Army (tail end of the Viet Nam war), I was told years later, but for me it was one (if not the best) time of my life. Other then the lose of a close friend I made in my unit, I would not change one thing that happened to me, and it was/is a major part of what defines me today.


Second row from the top, second guy on the right


David "Barney" Bartnes (left) ETS from service and drown about 3 weeks later saving his brother

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  Old-Colts

  February 26, 2013 06:29

  Yep, I agree, our time spent in service to our country did in fact shape many of us!!!!! Welcome home!!!!!!
  
  40 years ago today we (CVA-41 & Carrier Air Wing 5) were still steaming towards San Francisco on our return from our April 72-March 73 participation in the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club. On March 2nd, still about a day out of SF, I was in my usual seat in the E2B, but this time when we launched our destination was NAS North Island, home sweet home!!!!!!!

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  101AIRBORNE

  February 26, 2013 17:05

  It has been a very long time. I went on that long bus drive to Ord
  from L.A. in December 1968. I remember that we stopped off in
  San Jose. I do not have the photos-actually do not care. From Basic
  to AIT-and the *I* did not stand for individual *training*.
  Hell- I am going on 66- and all is well. 11echo-sorry for your loss.
  Great photos. I was later drafted *again* to shake and bake school at
  Benning. Was just a lowly buck sergeant-E5-squad leader. I went and did my duty. God help the ones that did not come back. 101

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  kimi

  February 26, 2013 19:28

  We could not shed it even if we wanted to. I was on the down side of an Oki tour at the time.

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