Service Members - Roll call

Might be off topic but would like to give a special thanks to those wounded, missing or killed in action. God bless em all and god bless America

Hello Fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines:

I am actually one of the rare people who served in two branches of the U.S. military. First, from 1986 (out of high school) through 1990 (my unit went to Saudi) I served in the U.S. Marine Corps, 3Bn/24Mar, St. Louis, MO as a Motor Transport Operater (3521), then broke my back in a motorcycle accident which left doing pullups very difficult. So, since doing pushups was easier, I transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard from 1990 through 1996, were I once again was in the Transportatin Corps (88M) and the 1344th Trans Co. my unit went to Iraq in 1995.

I would feel more than honored if I could have this achievement, serving my country, show below my name on this forum. A do believe a veteran, whether active, reserve, or retired is a person who wrote a blank check to this country, payable up to and including his life. I appreciate the opportunity of being one of the many who have guaranteed our democratic freedoms and HONOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GUARANTEED ME THESE FREEDOMS.

Ooh-Rah! and Hoo-Ahh!

June 2001- present. Active Duty AF, my current AFSC is 3E771 ( FireFighter), my previouse AFSC was 2A672 (AGE Mechanic). Stationed in Tx., Mo., NC., Turkey, S. Korea and soon to be CO. Deployed to Diego Garcia, UAE, Quatar, Afghanistan.

retired 1981 to 2006 with a few deployments need a badge

USAF retired

Hi my name is David. I served a total of 23 years in the Air Force. I started out in 1981 and after basic I was stationed at March AFB in Riverside CA. Three years later I got orders to Zweibrucken Germany I was stationed there from January 1985 to April 1987. I got out of the service in May of 1987 I stayed out until 1989. I joined the reserves and did my drills at Norton AFB after Norton AFB closed under BRAC in 1994 my unit 445 CES transferred to March AFB and merged with the existing unit and became the 452. I was doing regular drills and anual tours until 2002 during the annual fitness walk when I had a heart attack. I was lucky twice of course for surviving a heart attack the 2nd stroke of luck was being on orders. I went to the VA hospital that and a Tricare DOD section at Loma Linda VA after a stent was placed in my heart I was released the next day. I was on Active Duty orders from September 15, 2002 to June 15 2008. I worked around the base and helped sent people off for deployment. A lot of Marines were going through the base at the time. I was in civil engineers a plumber i believe my old AFSC was 55357. That We became utilities plumbing, water treatment, waste treatment, and liquid fues. with a new AFSC. I retired on 15 June 2008

Ok--here goes. Im not sure if this is a brief military bio, or a long story. But its mine, and im proud of it either way. First off i was a military dependent (AKA- military brat).Step-dad was a Maj. in the Air Force. I have lived all over the world both as a kid and a active duty member. Some good places, some,--not so good. by the age of 10 or 11 i had lived in Germany, France, and Spain, that much i recall for sure. My memory isn't what it once was--but I'll attempt to at least give some year dates. I never attended the same school more than one year except in Germany (2 Years) and my High School Junior/senior year. Back in my time it was a simple system in school, pass or fail, no passing them on just to get rid of them--lol. Anyway--i was set back once--and with my birthday being in Jan. I was 20 when i got out of High School. i had a total of 33 schools from 1st thru 12th grade. And BTW, i still can't spell. But most of the time i get my point across (or so im told). The year was 1967--Vietnam was going hot and heavy--i was classified 1A, so i knew my fate, short of going to college etc. Having been around other branches of the militay, seeing how each lived. I figured i wasn't Marine Material (Ok--u Marines, I do respect you--(if im being held hostage, or in a big jam. I want to hear "U.S. Marines here to rescue you") but darn it--lets be honest, not all of us are cut out to be a Marine. I saw enough Army guys to know i didn't want to follow that path either. I thought about the Navy, but their recruiter was out of the office the day i visited them. SO--i joined the Air Force in 1967 (wanted to be a cop)
1967--Basic Training--Lackland Air Force Base Texas
1967-1968--Paine Field, Washington State
1968-1969 -- Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado Springs, Colorado
1969--1969 Lackland AFB Tx. Combat Security Police school/traing course
1969-1970 Cam Ranh Bay Air Base Republic of South Vietnam
1969-1970 Army In-country Heavy weapons school at that time located at Phan Rang Air Base
1970--Barksdale AFB, La. (was only home less than 4 months total b4 going back to Nam by my own choice)
1970--Lackland AFB Tx, Combat Security police course
1970-1970--Cam Ranh Bay Air Base Republic of South Vietnam
1970-1971- Phan Rang Air Base Republic of South Vietnam
1971-1973- Malmstrom AFB, Montana, Missile Security
1973-1975-Ramstein Air Base Germany (Also temp duty assignments 89 days or less to Isreal, Turkey, Greece during this time)
1975-1981 Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Missile Security
1981, Discharged with a General Discharge Under Honorable Conditions (It sits next to my 3 Honorable ones--LOL) in lieu of Trial by Court Martial. (its a long story--maybe for another time) Lets just say the Government, or anyone else, for the most part--knew a hell of a lot about PTSD, Agent Orange, or anything else, many of us Career NCO's were going thru at that time. Nor in my opinion, did they really care. (but again,thats just my opinion, and i respect the right all of u have to disagree with me on this matter).

So--thats as short as i can make it--i left out several dozen military schools, both army and Air Force. One of which was a Rape prevention/and investigation course given by the Army at Ft Gordon Ga. which i really liked, and all of which helped me later in life.
Like someone else in this group said in a post i read.I miss the spirit, closeness, and discipline of the military.I miss my brothers and sisters in arms, many of which gave their lives for me and you. FREEDOM isn't FREE, but then, im sure all of u know that. Thanks for starting this Thread--i'll be reading it often. And im sorry this is so long winded--but i know no other way to say it in less words.

NamVet