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11-29-2014, 06:18 PM
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#41
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 125
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dcheatwood
I still regret not serving. Graduated on 1975. Peace time. No registration. No selective service. So I went to college. Even after 33 years in law enforcement an a year in Baghdad as a dod police contractor, I still feel like I've missed something by not serving in the armed forces. Thanks to all who did including my Dad (seabees) and brother (Vietnam), and many other relatives who did also.
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You have done nothing to be regretful for. Serving in Baghdad as a Police contractor was a damn good piece of work. Thanks for your service.
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11-29-2014, 06:35 PM
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#42
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 62
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One of my biggest regrets in life is not enlisting when I turned 18. My dad, the lifer, talked me out of it as Carter was the President and he had butchered the GI Bill to try and balance the Fed budget.
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11-29-2014, 08:13 PM
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#43
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 225
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X2 on tetsurvivor comment. Honorable service is honorable service.
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mwoods - not to be political but I was serving then and Mr. Carter was awful. Inflation was terrible, force cuts were terrible. I was on my way to the Korean peninsula about the same time and probably would have agreed with your dad.
PS: I spent 22 years - four of the worst with Mr. Carter as CINC. Old soldiers (that includes Navy, USMC, Coasties and even the AF) rarely tell all the stories so while most of us lifers have no regrets - there were some tough times. So thank you for your respect shown by regrets but it isn't a life for everyone.
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US Army - Retired and loving it with our Georgetown 351DS and now our Thor Challenger 37TB.
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11-30-2014, 08:19 AM
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#44
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Chester, VA
Posts: 28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigben
mwoods - not to be political but I was serving then and Mr. Carter was awful. Inflation was terrible, force cuts were terrible. I was on my way to the Korean peninsula about the same time and probably would have agreed with your dad.
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I totally agree. I was in Korea when Carter was elected and lived through his cuts to the defense budget, 6 billion the first year alone. Beginning the end of 77 we had no repair parts and no ammo and fuel for training.
I served in the Army and have been a contractor since retiring from active duty over 20 years ago. I have no regrets about serving this nation and would do so again.
My only concern is how we are destined to relive our past. We are again cutting budgets and troop strengths to where we will have the hollow force we experienced after Vietnam.
Thanks to all who are serving or have served in the past.
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11-30-2014, 09:24 AM
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#45
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 125
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my last tour in Vietnam was in 70-71, we got our marching orders to go from DiAn north to the DMZ for Dewey Canyon II and Lam Son 719, our V100 Commando Cars came up courtesy the USAF. When we went to Da Nang to get them, one was not there, it got off the plane and went AWOL. We found it in the Security Police Motor Pool (chop shop). hey hadn't screwed it up yet, so after some fairly crude words we took it and went north, As far as getting replacement parts, they were only for the ARVN's. We took a B40 round in the right rear tire, never knew it, Our motor Sgt said sorry bout that, and that there were none available. I took a 3/4 ton and a lrrp pack and went to the ARVN compound, I spoke with a Dai We and made a trade, lrrp pack for tire, he agreed and had his guys take a tire w/rim off one of their V-100's stuck it in the 3/4 ton and off we went. We also could not get replacement solenoid switches for our electricfire 73's, my wonderfully resourceful crew made a manual one, GI ingenuity. I think thats enough on RVN. Sorry for all of this.
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11-30-2014, 10:55 AM
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#46
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Franklin County, MO
Posts: 2,652
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigben
Thought maybe. Got a number of friends that celebrate like they borrowed the time after a 1968 New years. Spent my OCONUS time in the wonderful land of the morning calm. A bit interesting for the early time - nothing like 1968 for you though. Peace
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bigben, I was in the Land of the Morning Calm in 1968-69, at the comm center at 8th Army HQ. I only served 3 years active duty, and wish now that I had stayed until retirement, but that's water over the dam.
I've very proud of my Navy son, an O5, who has just over 18 years in.
Thank you for your service, sir!
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12-02-2014, 12:47 PM
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#47
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 225
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Funny thing about hind sight - always looks fairly rosy. Capt. Mike - we all have walked our different roads and now we often are out on the same American roads enjoying our lives. I ever so thankful for the time.
I remain proud to have served but even prouder for those that are still serving. Good Lord knows that I would probably be in the stockade for some of my old stunts. That is the rosy stuff for me.
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US Army - Retired and loving it with our Georgetown 351DS and now our Thor Challenger 37TB.
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12-02-2014, 01:02 PM
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#48
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Clarksville Va.
Posts: 10,422
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I'm a 100% disabled vet. Even after being drafted in 1968, I would do it in a heart beat. I don't care if you served 1 week or 30 years, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU, Women and Men....
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Coachmen M/H
Concord
2018 / 300 DSC
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12-02-2014, 01:47 PM
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#49
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Michigan/Fort Myers
Posts: 3,927
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USMC 75-79. I don't regret going in and don't regret getting out. I did my best and worked hard. I will second the President Carter as CIC being a total train wreck. As Marines we never got anything new it was all hand me downs from the Army. When I got out in 79 the Marines were still using the
106mm recoilless rifle. The Army had dumped them so we ended up with them. You aimed it then fired a 50 Cal tracer round to check the impact then fired the 106. I'd love to fire one again. The are old and outdated but very cool.
Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums
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12-02-2014, 02:41 PM
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#50
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Mddle of the Rd Extremist
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 553
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Quote:
Originally Posted by donanddona
Wish I had done it earlier and stayed longer!!! Maybe LDO!
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Master Chief, you didn't say what you just said.....did you? LDO, really?
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Dan, Carolyn & The Bandit (1999-2015 RIP...)
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United States Navy ('65 - '87)
2014 Cedar Creek 38FL
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"When you get to the fork in the road, take it....."
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06-12-2015, 12:40 AM
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#51
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 113
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Yes would do it again! 10 years in the Worlds Finest NAVY!! I'VE walked the streets of Jerusalem, I've touched the massive stone blocks if the Great Pyramids of Giza, I've seen the sun rise, and set on many of the 7 seas! Yes, yes, to be twenty again!
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06-15-2015, 09:04 AM
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#52
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 466
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As many of you have stated, I would do it again if I were to start over. With that said, I did my 20 and would not want to go back in now. I am past the 30 year mark of my first enlistment. I am good... Lol
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2017 Keystone Cougar 28RDB
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06-15-2015, 09:30 AM
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#53
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 2,371
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During the Vietnam era and the draft, my number was 5. I went in the Army on the 3 yr. plan on the day of my 19th birthday, and celebrated my 21st " in country " Served with 229th AHB, 1st Cav. I learned a lot and carry those "priceless experiences" with me. To say it was a character building endeavor is an understatement.
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06-17-2015, 01:20 PM
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#54
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 213
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeff64
During the Vietnam era and the draft, my number was 5. I went in the Army on the 3 yr. plan on the day of my 19th birthday, and celebrated my 21st " in country " Served with 229th AHB, 1st Cav. I learned a lot and carry those "priceless experiences" with me. To say it was a character building endeavor is an understatement.
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THIS!
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Getting old is just a matter of narrowly missing all the things that kill you.
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06-17-2015, 01:34 PM
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#55
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Weatherford, TX
Posts: 977
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^^+1^^ However, I would be smarter about it. Instead of just doing my 2 years of being a grunt and going to Viet Nam, I would have joined the Air Force and learned to fly... after graduating college. Yep... that hindsight thingy kicks in sometimes...
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06-20-2015, 07:50 AM
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#56
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Georgia Rally Coordinator
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,357
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Well I was drafted at age 23 and did not regret the time I did serve. Yes I gave up things when I went in but I sure learned a lot also. I still think all men should have to serve at least 2 years in the military as our country may be a lot better place than where it is today.
The only problem today serving is most trying to find a job. Here I was lucky as I was guaranteed my job when I got out. Later RJD
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06-20-2015, 08:00 AM
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#57
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
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[QUOTE=jeff64;893892 I learned a lot and carry those "priceless experiences" with me. To say it was a character building endeavor is an understatement.[/QUOTE]
X2.
Also unlike too many young people today. I know what it means to be a "BEST FRIEND"
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06-20-2015, 10:14 AM
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#58
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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My brother was drafted in '62 and spent 18 months in Germany as an MP. He called it "A million dollar experience that I wouldn't give you a plugged nickel for."
I enlisted in the Navy and spent 4 yrs as a helicopter electrician and for the most part, I had a great time.
Like a lot of other things in life, I think a lot of it is attitude.
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