Veterans Day at AZB

[3RAILKICK]

Got any stories...

Thanks to all who have served!
Served in the Navy from 1973-1983. Was a missile technician 1st class LPO on board SSBN 623 Nathan Hale. Made 9 patrols, 2 DASO'S (actually launching the missles for tests), and a stint in the shipyard.

At the time, we were the only boat that I know of that actually launched all 16 missiles, and we got to do it twice! Quite an experience!

that start out..'And this ain't no bullsh!t....'My Navy veteran B-I-Law says that many senior enlisted tales begin that way..

Our Army senior enlisted's stories usually started with--'Been around the world 3 times, Seen a piss-ant eat a bale of hay, but I ain't never seen a lying
(M.......f......) like you are.....(then insert story)

I kind of miss those days. I'm glad I got to spend a little 'growing up time' between high school and college. Met some interesting folks.

Neil-take care

 

[oldzilla]

Thank You to all Vets !

 

[jay helfert]

[/U]


Jay, and many others-thanks for your service.

I, too, salute and thank servicemen and women when I see them in uniform out in the world.

On a less serious note-Jay-it is clear that you are a smart and savvy guy. How did you manage to stay under the promotion radar and muster out as PFC? Any 'up and down' stories to share? For me, one article 15, busted E-3to E-2 while in a training school.

Army
1967-1970(very lucky-all stateside)
Missile Warhead Support

Went from E-3 in 1966 (because I did ROTC at Oklahoma U.) down to E-1 for gambling in the dorm (poker) in 1967. Made it back up to E-4 (my high point) in 1970 and then lost one grade for absences while on Reserve duty (1971). Got out at E-3 in '72, but at least I'm a veteran and have all those benefits.

P.S. My college mentality called the barracks a dorm. Duh, I'm with stupid!

 

[avmaster]

Went from E-3 in 1966 (because I did ROTC at Oklahoma U.) down to E-1 for gambling in the dorm (poker) in 1967. Made it back up to E-4 (my high point) in 1970 and then lost one grade for absences while on Reserve duty (1971). Got out at E-3 in '72, but at least I'm a veteran and have all those benefits.

A checkered past forever, huh Jay.......:grin:

 

[3RAILKICK]

much better story

Went from E-3 in 1966 (because I did ROTC at Oklahoma U.) down to E-1 for gambling in the dorm (poker) in 1967. Made it back up to E-4 (my high point) in 1970 and then lost one grade for absences while on Reserve duty (1971). Got out at E-3 in '72, but at least I'm a veteran and have all those benefits.

Now, that's a much better story than my bust down.

Mine was for kicking a stool in frustration while trouble shooting an electronic circuit problem during a timed test. Note-later I was advised to first see if my nose might lead me to the smell of a burnt component(that burnt Lionel train transformer odor) or to look for the singed, blackened and bubbled component.

Take care gentlemen.

As you was.

 

[skiergirl55]

USAF 73-74, Motor Pool at Reese AFB, TX, honorable medical discharge. Navy wife from 82-86 and lived in base housing at Harold E. Holt in Exmouth, WA. What a trip.

Thanks to those who did the hard time. Thanks to those who supported and loved those service people who gave up their lives; those who gave up a comfortable life; and those who just gave and gave and gave. You rock!

 

[qbilder]

Happy vet day to all who served. I did 7 years active. Been to Korea, Japan, Germany, Iceland, and a lot of somthing-stans. Had the time of my life, met my wife, and learned a lot about the world. Ain't no place like the good ole USA. I'll fight for her anytime any place. I sincerely thank all who gave it all so I can enjoy my happy life.

 

[Dartman]

On a less serious note-Jay-it is clear that you are a smart and savvy guy. How did you manage to stay under the promotion radar and muster out as PFC? Any 'up and down' stories to share? For me, one article 15, busted E-3to E-2 while in a training school.

I think Jay wanted to stay Pretty Frickin Cool on top of being smart and savvy. :grin:

 

[tedkaufman]

I got drafted, then took an extra year through enlistment. Smart!!!

Anyway, 1970-1972, I got to spend a year stateside, a year in Nam, and a year in Korea. We could buy a dufflebag of pot in Nam for $20 ... maybe it was $10.

I read through this entire thread. I appreciate all those who offered thanks for those of us who served. But I caution all who lend the slightest glory to war. There is NOTHING beautiful nor glorious about war, other than the guys I fought with. And I urge everyone to fight like hell to prevent us from going into further senseless, pointless occupations. WWII soldiers were indeed protecting our country and our liberty. That's the last time, though. Every war since, with the possible exception of Korea, has been an occupation, chasing some boggieman that 20 years later "don't mean shit."

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

For our fallen comrades and the ones who made it home.
I often look at the fresh faces of 18 yr olds and realize that in both the Great wars, Korea, Viet Nam and now in the Middle East, these are the soldiers that were and are out there doing a job that no one else wants. The ones that didn't come back, to have dates, go to drive ins and cruise the strip on friday nights eating hamburgers at the drive thru or to build a family. They are the ones we honor today. And to the soldiers that came back, only they know what true friendship and comaraderie is, or in a way that we can not begin to comprehend. Thank you.
They gave so we could live.


Flowers of the Forest. Its a bag pipe lament that is played at a lot of Canadian Remembrance Day ceremonies. Don't click the link if you don't want to spill a few tears on the key board. Just warnin ya.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLSlEna0rlI

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

That was nice bagpiping, Terry. Thanks for posting it.

Here's another terrific tribute to our wonderful Canadian, British, and Aussie vets. And yes, it's a tear jerker.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqY79y-SCbA

Best,
Brian kc

 

[jay helfert]

I think Jay wanted to stay Pretty Frickin Cool on top of being smart and savvy. :grin:

I was a supply clerk, a pretty cush job. Even the mess cook would bring us goodies so he could get some new gear. It was me and the Sergeant alone in that big supply room most of the time.

As far as the absences in the early 70's. Off playing pool, what else! My record in the Army was not an enviable one, but I did support a lot of guys at Ft. Polk who were headed off to Nam next. Most of them were kids, 17-19. I was a little older, at 23 one of the senior members in our company. Some were brave but a lot of them were scared. All they wanted to do was survive their thirteen month stint and make it back in one piece.

 

[sunnyday]

When I was stationed in NOSC Indianapolis, we got involved with lots of community service, parade, funeral honors and whatever. This was taken after a hard day at Habitat for Humanity. ** I'm in there somewhere

S.

 

[Dartman]

I was a supply clerk, a pretty cush job. Even the mess cook would bring us goodies so he could get some new gear. ...

Funny you should mention that. On one assignment at Ft Campbell I had a supply clerk that never failed to come thru on special requests. Remember asking him once why he had something like 20 of those 30 cup coffee pots in storage - his reply was that they were great trading material. I didn't say a word but thought that the supply clerk school must have a block of instruction on wheelin-dealin. :thumbup:

 

[Neil]

................

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

Funny you should mention that. On one assignment at Ft Campbell I had a supply clerk that never failed to come thru on special requests. Remember asking him once why he had something like 20 of those 30 cup coffee pots in storage - his reply was that they were great trading material. I didn't say a word but thought that the supply clerk school must have a block of instruction on wheelin-dealin. :thumbup:

I never realized what a good decision I made in choosing quartermaster supply school until I was running the supply for infantry units at my regular duty stations. I was one popular fellow.

Yes, wheelin' & dealin' probably should have been taught in q-school but, to tell you the truth, I think on-the-job training worked real good.

Rain ponchos, whip antennas, and best of all, the ultra rare foot heaters for jeeps. Oh yeah, those mini packs of cigs they put in with the c-rations were always in good demand. I don't suppose they are including smokes nowadays. Ever seen military issue champagne?

At ease,
SGT Chicken

 

[Slide Rule]

 

[Neil]

................

 

[3RAILKICK]

I never realized what a good decision I made in choosing quartermaster supply school until I was running the supply for infantry units at my regular duty stations. I was one popular fellow.

Yes, wheelin' & dealin' probably should have been taught in q-school but, to tell you the truth, I think on-the-job training worked real good.

Rain ponchos, whip antennas, and best of all, the ultra rare foot heaters for jeeps. Oh yeah, those mini packs of cigs they put in with the c-rations were always in good demand. I don't suppose they are including smokes nowadays. Ever seen military issue champagne?

At ease,
SGT Chicken

Hey Sarge-

Those smokes were what?-I'm trying to remember, maybe 3 to 5 in the pack?((Pall Malls?)

It was the mini-package of Chicklet gum that caused me to have to 'drop and gimmee 20".

At live fire bivouac, after the dinner meal, back in formation, a couple of guys got busted for chewing gum and had to do pushups.


I had a question.

....Drill Sargeant! Drill Sargeant! Yessssss, private-WTF do you want?

...I have a question about the gum in the C-rations. WTF are you talking about, puke?

...Well Sarge, us being in the Army and all-ain't we gummint employees? Ahhh- yeah-....Those C-rations..ain't they gummint issued rations?...Ahhh-yeah.

...And that gum in the C-rations...ain't that gummint gum? Ahh..yeah.

...Private-What is your fkn point?

...Well, Sarge-can we gummint employees chew that gummint gum????

...Of course, private-but not in my fkn formation!!! DROP! an gimmee 20, smartass.



These were good times.

(This was the same sargeant that asked if I had eyes buggin out of both sides of my head like a fkn bullfrog, when I asked about using peripheral vision to line up side by side in formation, without moving your head from side to side.) ( He would joke with ya a little bit-most didn't)

I think if I hadn't been out of high school only 6 months, and didn't yet smoke-that I wouldn't have made it through basic training...alive.

Remember? Take a break! Smoke em if you got em. If you don't got em, bum em..cause if one of you MFs is gonna smoke, you all gonna smoke!

I became a smoker before basic training was over.

 

[3RAILKICK]

Now that V-Day is over, I'll tell one.... I was a submarine sailor. As happens now and then, we received orders to go to test depth for a while. When we were nearing test depth, something went very wrong in the reactor room and the reactor shut down!

There we were, going down, and the only light is from the battery operated emergency lights. The decks on a sub are floating decks. That means that they ride on pins so the hull can expand and contract with the pressure without affecting the decks.

At the time this happened, almost all the chiefs were in their lounge room called the goat locker. Pretty quick, the hull compressed and started buckling the floors and walls. All the chiefs got stuck in their goat locker, so it was up to the regular crew to deal with everything.

We approached crush depth, and then passed it. Two hundred feet past crush depth, they finally got the reactor back on line and we headed up. Truly a scary feeling knowing you are going to die, and can't do a blame thing about it. Just have to stand around and wait for it. The only consolation we had was that we knew that once the hull gave, we would be gone so fast that we wouldn't even know the hull gave out.

Oh yeah, we eventually freed the goats from their locker. For some reason they complained that it took WAY longer than it should have! heh, heh.

Neil-

Holy sh!t, dude.