I was in 29 Palms in early 1970 as a Cannon Cocker.('05s). People hated Stumps. I loved it.
The Stumps data center was looking for a few good men.
I explained to the CO my qualifications and he was interested and set up an interview.
If this goes thru, my MOS changes, and I'm probably set for the foreseeable future.
He walks me thru the facilities and it's all hardware I am familiar with.
I sit down and hand my SRB to him. He takes one look and says “I can't have you”.
My SRB was red tagged (there were also white and blue tags applied to some Marines’ SRBS)
Red tag meant I was going to Vietnam.
So close, but yet so far.
FreeRegards
Glad you made it through and back home.