To think that during that entire period I had to worry from elementary school through high school if I were going to have to fight in that damned war.the war ended in 1973 and I graduated from high school in 1974.
I joined the U.S.A.F. That fall.
No different than 9/11. Kids serving now could have been 6 years old when that happened.
puppypusher, as with you, I enlisted in the USAF 4 days after graduation, on June 21, 1974. I wonder if we brushed elbows? I had an operation first and didn’t go to basic until after I recovered in the Fall of ‘74. I was in 3723 BMTS, just down the road from the Thunderbird Theater and just across the street from the AFEES convenience store.
I had those same thoughts. Watching it in the nightly news day in and day out. It just kept going and going with no end in sight until Ford declared it over in 75. I was a year and half from graduating and being drafted as my oldest brother (15 years my senior) had been in 66.
Then they ended the draft. Then that POS Carter became president and whatever was left of military pride was gone. My dad who was retired Regular Army would not allow or approve if enlisting during those dark days. So I never joined knowing that our government would sell out and and leave us hanging. Biggest regret of my life...