Why Did You Join The Military?
When i was about 12 i decided i was going to join. My grandfather and my dad both served so i decided i would also.
I would have stayed 20 instead of 10 if it was not for my first wife. She hated the military way of life.
I would have stayed 20 instead of 10 if it was not for my first wife. She hated the military way of life.
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because the recruiter, said OH you haven't got your mail today (draft notice) [;)][;)] 0 -
It is all I ever wanted to do. Everyone else wanted me to go to college, I wasted a year doing that. I almost ran off to Rhodesia but They were about to quit the fight.
I enlisted in 1981 and retired in 2006.0 -
On the verge of being drafted (1965) so I was sworn into the Marines ONE day before I received my draft notice. 0 -
I grew up outside an air base and watched those brand new jets fly around. And there were all those John Wayne fighter pilot movies. I knew I had to do that. And also, both my parents were Army in WW2. Yes, even my Mom. Picked my college because it had four-year Air Force ROTC.
Served 10 years active and 13 Reserve. Why? Because it was my duty to my country, and it was an honor to serve.0 -
the year 1970. I wanted to join the navy. (dad came out as chief)
dad looked at me and told me " I just as well put a bullet in your head now, at least I would know why you died"
when I received my notice, my # was 363. I also was making $9.00 an hour as a union roofer, so I didn't enlist0 -
My grandfathers served. My dad served. I served.
I expect my son to serve. It's what we do.0 -
The USN paid for my college. I repaid them with a few years of my life. I like to think it was a win - win. It frankly was a fairly small part of my life. 0 -
To serve my country. 0 -
in 1969 they came and got me. stayed 21 yeares 0 -
To serve my country and...a very close friend had just been listed as MIA...I Served Viet Nam 72-73...crazy times! My friends remains were found and returned in 1993.. 0 -
I was 17 with no plans for college,+++++++++++++ it sounded like an adventure....
It sure was.
Marine corps not so much..
US Navy sure was.0 -
When I was a kid like three years old, My mom and dad took me to see the Longest Day at the cinema.
My father was an infantryman in the 83rd (Ohio) Division and the 4th Armored Division, Patton's troublshooters.
When he played poker it was with other veterans and they would recount stories of the war in Europe to me.
Serving my country was what men did then and it made a great impression on me. Around that time (1961) ABC had a show called The Gallant Men. It was way better than Combat since only Germans got killed on Combat. The Gallant Men showed sometimes the good guys get killed too.
From that age, I knew it was my duty as a man and an American to serve my country. My 2nd cousin Sonny had been in the Navy and fought in the Pacific, but he never told me much about it.
I always liked the Navy better than the other services and a flying Ordnanceman was the best job in the world. Many times I'd smile to myself that if the Navy only knew, to play with bombs AND fly, I would have paid them! [:p]
VP-50 Minex
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John Wayne and the Sands of Iwo Jima. Patriotism was at an all time high during my youth. When this movie was showing, I was about five or six years old, and lived on an alley near the railroad tracks when Sammy Brocato joined the Marines. Sammy was the most likable big teenager in the neighborhood. Folks would watch trains go by during this time hauling war machines, torpedo's and such was a common thing, as was watching recruits in civies being hauled off during the Korean War. Sammy was killed there by machine gun fire after scaling the seawall at Inchon. I still see his big smile, right to this moment, whenever he was around the kids on the block. Years later, I met the man that Sammy was charging forward with when he was killed. 0 -
1979
To Jump out of Perfectly Good Aircraft.
Seems I was always special duty. Generals driver, G-5 Translator, after the knees went bad I was a Chaplains Assistant.
It straightened me out as a young man, and added character. Meet my wife to be in the same unit, in Europe.
My Dad and his brothers served. Still have a 1911 from WW1 that great uncle had issued to him.0 -
Dad and his brothers all served...Army, Army Air Corps, Navy, Merchant Marine....in WWII.
Mom's brother serve in the Navy, in the Pacific, during WWII and made a career of it. Her sister was a Navy nurse. Mom was only 19 when the war ended.
My Brothers and Sister served.
I served 20 years.
It is like a rite of passage in my family. The right thing to do.0 -
The Korean thing was still on, seemed like the thing to do.
My Great Grandfather served in the 1st Illinois Volunteer Infantry in the War of Northern Aggression .
My Father served in the Rainbow Division during WWI...163rd Inf.
It was my turn...simple.
Joined the Navy. Was an aircrew Ordnance Man, simply because I liked things that went BANG and liked to fly...As a tail gunner on a P2V-5, I spent most of my Navy tour looking where I had been instead of where I was going.
My service was a Privilege and an Honor...wouldn't trade it for anything.0 -
Born in 1970 I was raised on the now classic WWII movies. I think I saw them all at some point. My grandfather served with a radar crew in North Africa during WWII, and I was never able to learn more than that from him. My father served with the Navy in Japan during Vietnam. I was the classic 98 pound weakling with something to prove. I graduated high school in the lower third of my class and tried going to community college but that didn't work out for me.
I enlisted in the Navy at 135 lbs with a waiver from my doctor for childhood asthma. I enlisted out of a patriotic sense of duty and family pride. Two months later I left boot camp at 175lbs and felt ready to take on the world. I went into A school with the intention of making the Navy a career. An asthma attack during A school ended my Naval career as while I still had self esteem issues, I no longer felt I had to prove things to others. From that point of view, my time in the Navy did more for me than I can ever appreciate.0 -
Almost all Male members of our Family have served, as far back as you care to look. It's what we do.
My Dad was a 32 yr. Lifer ABN CSM. WWII, Korea, Vietnam. I grew up all over the world. I knew early on, it was what I wanted to do. Enlisted at 17yrs of age. (Half way through Senior year.) Served from 1979-1984. (5 years.) Was going to re-enlist for Rotary Wing Flight Scholl, was accepted, but my eyes were screwed after 5 years in.
I wish I had pulled my 20 in retrospect.
I served to Honor my Country, and pay back a debt we all owe.0 -
The day after I graduated high school in 1968, my old man told me to go get a job...I'm now paying room and board. He sent me down to a local brewery, they needed guys to load trucks.
I didn't get the job , so on my way home I got on a bus and went down to the recruiting station in Albany, New York....
First office I saw was the Air Force....I decided I liked air planes, and I looked good in blue..[:)], so I joined up..
That night my father asked me if I got the job...I told him I didn't get the brewery job, but I got a job....I shipped out the next week...
My father was a WWII and Korea Marine...years later he told me he was proud I joined up...0 -
Granddad served during WWI, dad volunteered for Navy in WWII, it was my turn.
Took ROTC, got commissioned right at the end of Vietnam.
Retired from the Army Reserve.[8D]0 -
You get to do things in the Army you can't do anywhere else. [;)]
Dad would not sign the enlistment papers until I talked with the Navy recruiter. I was 17 and he was prior Navy. I talked with the recruiter, but don't much care for the water.
Mom would not sign the papers until Dad threw them across the room and told her to sign them. (That probably doesn't read like it is meant to.)
I spent 25 years in with some time in the National Guard. I retired at the age of 43. The retirement check has been coming every month for the last 17 years. Where else can you do that?0 -
Dropped out of college 2 semester and was headed back and got my draft notice 14 days before I went back to school.
Aug 65 just before the big buildup for Nam0 -
Duty, Honor,Country. 0 -
I grew up wanting to be a Marine. Watching all those old movies.
Grew up playing war with the neighbor kids.
Joined the ?Corps at 17 on the delayed entry program. My parents signed for me.0 -
Thank you all for your service, fellas. My family and I truly appreciate it.
I graduated high school in 1977. We never even had to register for the draft, but just a few years before friends older brothers were heading to the armed forces.0 -
quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
Thank you all for your service, fellas. My family and I truly appreciate it.
I graduated high school in 1977. We never even had to register for the draft, but just a few years before friends older brothers were heading to the armed forces.
You Do have to register.
What Happens If You Don?t Register for Selective Service
If you are required to register and you don?t, you will not be eligible for federal student aid, federal job training, or a federal job. You may be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or jail time of up to five years. If you?re an immigrant to the U.S., you will not be eligible for citizenship.
If you never registered and are being denied federal student aid, job training, a federal job, or citizenship, you may be able to qualify if you didn?t intentionally avoid registering. If you can show through a ?preponderance of evidence? that your failure to register with Selective Service was not knowing or willful, your benefit may not be denied.0 -
In 1977 there was no registration. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by gruntled
quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
Thank you all for your service, fellas. My family and I truly appreciate it.
I graduated high school in 1977. We never even had to register for the draft, but just a few years before friends older brothers were heading to the armed forces.
You Do have to register.
What Happens If You Don?t Register for Selective Service
If you are required to register and you don?t, you will not be eligible for federal student aid, federal job training, or a federal job. You may be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or jail time of up to five years. If you?re an immigrant to the U.S., you will not be eligible for citizenship.
If you never registered and are being denied federal student aid, job training, a federal job, or citizenship, you may be able to qualify if you didn?t intentionally avoid registering. If you can show through a ?preponderance of evidence? that your failure to register with Selective Service was not knowing or willful, your benefit may not be denied.
Are you certain this applies to those that graduated in 1977?0 -
quote:Originally posted by US Military Guy
quote:Originally posted by gruntled
quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
Thank you all for your service, fellas. My family and I truly appreciate it.
I graduated high school in 1977. We never even had to register for the draft, but just a few years before friends older brothers were heading to the armed forces.
You Do have to register.
What Happens If You Don?t Register for Selective Service
If you are required to register and you don?t, you will not be eligible for federal student aid, federal job training, or a federal job. You may be prosecuted and face a fine of up to $250,000 and/or jail time of up to five years. If you?re an immigrant to the U.S., you will not be eligible for citizenship.
If you never registered and are being denied federal student aid, job training, a federal job, or citizenship, you may be able to qualify if you didn?t intentionally avoid registering. If you can show through a ?preponderance of evidence? that your failure to register with Selective Service was not knowing or willful, your benefit may not be denied.
Are you certain this applies to those that graduated in 1977?
I graduated the next year and being born in 1960, was in the first group who needed to register.
Those born between the middle of 1957 and 31 December, 1959, were never subject to registration. Bigdaddyjr (RIP) was among those in that small group and a decade ago the dates were argued back and forth in the forum. Lets not go there again.0 -
Thanks Mark.
1959 for me!
I was starting to wonder......0
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