Vets... Form Up!

[ddvann79]

Last year ryanbp sent out a thanks to all the vets on this forum. I know there are a quite a few. I would like to echo his appreciation this year and add a little to it.

Those who have served are often proud of their service but don't have opportunity to be recognized individually, other than being asked to stand at a high school football game (at least in my hometown). I would very much like all you vets to Roger Up on this thread.

If it's not still classified, tell us:
1. what branch you were in
2. how long you served
3. your last rank/rate
4. tours of duty
5. major honors/events.

I know some of us could go on for hours but please try to keep it to some brief bullet points. I bet some will be surprised to find who among us have served and what they have done!

Senior Master Sergent Dusty, you're up.

[dusty]

Thank you for the privilege of being first in this long line of troops.

I served twenty one and a half years in the United States Air Force.

I retired in 1979 as a Senior Master Sergeant (E8).

I had seven tours of duty and was fortune enough to spend only one of those (18 months) away from my family. I spent that time on an island in the Atlantic (Ascension). Ascension was the southern most station on the Atlantic Missile Range. I was there during a part of the Apollo series.

I wear no medals of honor or courage but I am still proud to have been able to serve this great country.

I am just proud to be an American.

SOUND OFF!

[dasgud]

I'm a veteran, I served from 1979 until 1991 in the USAF. I was stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Osan AB in Korea, and Patrick AFB in Florida which is where I stayed until seperation. I think the most important thing I did while serving was my year in the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm.
More recently I ended a two year contract with the Army supporting the Signal Corp at the brigade level in Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. I am now seeking another contract for an overseas job. I just do not feel the same satisfaction working in civilian companies. The level of professionalism just is not the same.
I salute everyone who has served or is still serving our nation. I also pray for the safety of our military personnel serving in war zones now and for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines that gave their lives for us and our country.

[dasgud]

Oh Dusty, I always thought you retired as a Chief. I thought you chose the old rank for your avatar. My bad...

[dusty]

Oh Dusty, I always thought you retired as a Chief. I thought you chose the old rank for your avatar. My bad...

I sure do hope I have not committed a Blumenthal that gave you that impression.

[ddvann79]

I joined the US Navy Seabees as a Utilitiesman in 2000 at the age of 21 and served 2 years enlisted and 6 drilling reserve. I was stationed in Sicily during 9/11. Full Threatcon Delta overseas was surreal.

I was called up to Iraq for base maintenance and FOB repair missions. Being in the Navy, my most treasured award is an Army Achievement Medal for services rendered to an Army unit in Iraq.

I left active duty as E-5 and the reserves as E-6 (First Class Petty Officer) without ever having set foot on a ship.

Hoorah! Fall in!

[jcraigie]

Navy

1988 -1992

E-4 Boiler Tech (the rate is gone now)

I was on an Amphibious ship - USS Trenton LPD-14
Did 1 Med cruise (6 months), Panama trip thru the Canal (1 month), More 1 to 2 week and Monday thru Friday underways than I could count, and served during the first Persion Gulf war (9 months total with the first 3.5 months straight underway with no shore time.

I got married just after my A school in 1989 and after all that I'm still married to the same wonderful woman. I don't know how she did it and still does it.

[dasgud]

I sure do hope I have not committed a Blumenthal that gave you that impression.

Haha not at all Dusty. This mistake is all mine

[jpculley]

I'm John Culley. Welcome home, everyone.

I was drafted after college - basic at Ft. Benning in '66, then Ft. Ord for AIT, Ft. Gordon for Officer Candidate School, Ft. Sill for Arty FO, Ft. Hood as a Tropo Scatter platoon leader, then Vietnam where I served with the Army's 87th Engineers as a Singal Officer, back to Bragg and out...2 years 10 months active.

I'm finally slowing down enough to use the ShopSmith my wife bought me 15 years ago.

[jctorok]

Good day to all

Served in the U.S. Coast Guard from July 1981 to Aug 2007. I salute all the vets still here today. You are proud reminder of the real unsung hero's of this nation.
Regards
Jerry
Commander, USCG, Retired.