Army Draftee Retires After 40 Years of Service
Army Draftee Retires After 40 Years of Service
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
AP
FORT BLISS, Texas -
Robert Rangel was a college student trying to "fly below the radar" when his draft number came up in 1967.
"I got caught," he said with a wide smile.
Caught, as it turns out, for 40 years.
Chief Warrant Officer Rangel was one of just 10 draftees still in the Army when he retired Wednesday, according to Fort Bliss officials. It was unclear whether the other draftees have served as long as Rangel; the draft ended in 1973.
Rangel, of El Paso, said the prospect of being drafted was terrifying after watching numerous friends "coming home in coffins."
But he opted to stay well beyond the required two-year hitch because "I started enjoying my job and the people I worked with."
He's been deployed to nine combat zones, from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. Maj. Gen. Robert Lennox, the Fort Bliss commanding general, described Rangel as the "foremost expert" on air defense systems at the West Texas post, the current home of the Air Defense Artillery Center.
Michael Zaborowski, a retired lieutenant colonel who has known Rangel for more than a decade, said he has long been impressed by his dedication. "I did 20 years and I thought that was a lot," he said.
Rangel retired a few months before his 62nd birthday, when he would have been forced to do so under Army regulations.
His mother, who attended his retirement ceremony, was relieved the day had finally come. "That was a long time that I worried," Adelina Rangel said softly.
Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia, time in battle zones, a firsthand view of the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and a tour in the first Gulf War.
Now his priority is to take care of his mom and tackle some projects.
Tops on the list is restoring a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. He parked it in his mom's barn when he went off to basic training.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
AP
FORT BLISS, Texas -
Robert Rangel was a college student trying to "fly below the radar" when his draft number came up in 1967.
"I got caught," he said with a wide smile.
Caught, as it turns out, for 40 years.
Chief Warrant Officer Rangel was one of just 10 draftees still in the Army when he retired Wednesday, according to Fort Bliss officials. It was unclear whether the other draftees have served as long as Rangel; the draft ended in 1973.
Rangel, of El Paso, said the prospect of being drafted was terrifying after watching numerous friends "coming home in coffins."
But he opted to stay well beyond the required two-year hitch because "I started enjoying my job and the people I worked with."
He's been deployed to nine combat zones, from Vietnam to the Persian Gulf. Maj. Gen. Robert Lennox, the Fort Bliss commanding general, described Rangel as the "foremost expert" on air defense systems at the West Texas post, the current home of the Air Defense Artillery Center.
Michael Zaborowski, a retired lieutenant colonel who has known Rangel for more than a decade, said he has long been impressed by his dedication. "I did 20 years and I thought that was a lot," he said.
Rangel retired a few months before his 62nd birthday, when he would have been forced to do so under Army regulations.
His mother, who attended his retirement ceremony, was relieved the day had finally come. "That was a long time that I worried," Adelina Rangel said softly.
Rangel's years in the Army included more than 200 parachute jumps with a special forces unit in Vietnam and Cambodia, time in battle zones, a firsthand view of the crumbling of the Berlin Wall and a tour in the first Gulf War.
Now his priority is to take care of his mom and tackle some projects.
Tops on the list is restoring a 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury. He parked it in his mom's barn when he went off to basic training.
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Remember that old saying, "Try it, You'll Like It!" [:D] Thanks Chief. 0 -
I knew two other men who stayed for a career. One was a Master Chief Boatswain mate who joined the Navy at the start of WWII and was forced to retire in 1984. The other was a Commander I worked for who was forced out at the age of 65. He couldn't get another waiver for staying after 62. I can't help but admire that kind of dedication. Kind of makes me feel like a quitter. [:D] 0 -
Cool story. Thanks. 0 -
Wonder if he made CWO-5 ? 0 -
40 years????
My buddy Mark was forced to retire after only 30 years in the Air Force, and he was 54.0 -
quote:Originally posted by nunn
40 years????
My buddy Mark was forced to retire after only 30 years in the Air Force, and he was 54.
Your buddy was enlisted which makes a diference.
Army, Navy, Air Force all have different rules on that. You can apply for a waiver but a lot depends on if its approved or not.0 -
40 years of military service is very impresssive. The man I was most impressed with was Master Chief Raymond Kuhn. I first met him in early 1980 (while attending Submarine School in New London, Connecticut). Here is his brief Bio...
Raymond Kuhn ETCM(SS)
COB 1962 - 1966
At the decommissioning ceremony for the USS SARGO (SSN 583) one of the honored guests was a mustang submariner who never went to submarine school as a student. He was the Submarine Force's Grand Silver Dolphin for a number of years, serving 41 years on active duty, including COB of Sargo.
ETCM(SS) Ray Kuhn enlisted in the Navy in September 1944 from Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he had been building ships during the first part of World War II.
He wanted to serve in submarines but instead saw combat on Saipan. He next put the aircraft carrier USS VALLEY FORGE (CV 45) into commission then, without the benefit of submarine school, duty on board USS CABEZON (SS 334). From Cabezon he went to USS CAIMAN (SS 323) for five years followed by duty aboard USS CHIVA (SS 341).
In July 1958 he attended nuclear power school in New London and prototype training at Idaho Falls. This was followed by a tour as staff instructor at the prototype.
In 1961 he reported to USS SARGO (SSN 583) as prospective Reactor Controls Division LPO. Sargo, however, had a RC LPO but needed a COB so he became Sargo's third COB. Kuhn took Sargo through her first refueling overhaul at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.
He next went to USS GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER (SSBN 656) as COB of her commissioning crew. His son was a machinist mate aboard the G.W. Carver at the same time.
The master chief then served as COB on USS DOGFISH (SS 350) and USS BERGALL (SSN 667) before serving his final tour as command master chief for Submarine School.
Witnessing Master Chief Kuhn's final reenlistment ceremony were his son, then a retired MMCM(SS) himself, and nephew, an MMC(SS) at the time.
On 21 Mar 2005 Master Chief Kuhn departed on Eternal Patrol.0
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