SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!
Posted on 07/03/2011 5:20:39 PM PDT by Pan_Yan
FORT BELVOIR, Va. -- A homemade wind chime with the word "Whining" under a red slash is made from metal parts put in his leg after a parachute accident. Every Sunday he trims his crew cut. He didn't join the Army willingly, but as Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Mellinger prepares to retire, he's grateful he found his calling.
Mellinger was drafted to fight the Vietnam War, and the Army believes he's the last draftee to retire, after 39 years. Most did their two years and left. But Mellinger had found home.
"I think I'm pretty good at it, but I like it. That's the bottom line. I love being a soldier and I love being around soldiers," he said.
Mellinger's motto is simple: No whining -- as the wind chime attests.
When the draft notice arrived in the mail in 1972 at his home in Eugene, Ore., tens of thousands of troops had been killed. Anti-war protests were rampant. Draft notices were being set on fire and returning soldiers were treated as part of the problem. The military wasn't a popular job.
The return address on the letter was the White House. Just 19, he was impressed that President Richard Nixon would write to him.
"I opened it up and it said, `Greetings from the president of the United States.' I said, `Wow, how's he know me?"' Mellinger said, laughing. "It was a form letter that said my friends and neighbors had selected me to represent them in the Armed Forces and I was hereby ordered to report for induction."
Mellinger told the draft board there was a mistake.
"I ... told them I don't need to go into the Army, I've got a job," said Mellinger, who hung drywall for a living. "They just kind of laughed."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
My draft number was high but Jimmy Carter helped put me out of work so I enlisted anyway. The Viet Nam Era ended in May of 1975 but I enlisted in March of 1975. Props the Command Sgt Major for doing his patriotic and civic duty!
My draft number was low, but I fought the draft and won, then I immediately enlisted in the army.
That is a lot of jumping.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!
Number like that only come from the Golden Knights. 3,700 static line jumps is not possible.
January 1969 for me. Got out in less than 2 years.
Article says he 58 but does not look a day older than 49. Kudos!
Command Sergeant Major Mellinger was a legend in Iraq. As General Petraeus’s CSM, he was entitled to a security detail, and traveling to most locations by chopper, if he wanted to. Instead, Mellinger traveled by himself, in his HUMVEE, with only his body armor, his weapon and his skills as a soldier. And he did survive 27 roadside bombing attempts.
One more thing: Mellinger was always accessible to the press, and he invited any reporter to travel with him across Iraq, in his HUMVEE. Michael Yon was the only journalist who took him up on the offer and CSM Mellinger figures prominently in some of his best posts from the war zone.
Being “the last draftee” on active duty is the least of CSM Mellinger’s achievements.
Thanks for the additional info. Sounds like a good man to have around in a tight spot.
Here's to you Sar-Major, good luck on your retirement and thank you for your selfless devotion and years of dedicated service to your Country
I was already "in" (had volunteered for the USAF in 62) and stationed in Hawaii when I volunteered (yes, again) for duty in Nam in 1965.
In spite of a few hairy situations during my 18 months (yes, believe it or not, never learned what I was told in boot never to volunteer for nuttin', I extended my tour for 6 months) I don't regret any of those decisions and as I worked in Covert Intel, I'm convinced I did some good while over there.
The bad part was when I came home. Things by then (mid 67) were pretty bad with the Anti-War kooks and though I thought I'd made it back without any "baggage" it wasn't until some 30 years later that I realized I had had a pretty bad case of PTSD for all those years and never recognized it.
A OK now and wish to wish all my Freepers (especially all my Vet bros and those who are presently serving and their family members) a great and enjoyable 4th.
From our Founding Fathers to the present so many have given so much so we could enjoy the lifestyle we do in the Greatest and most Exceptional country on Earth.
Let us not forget any and let us pray for the safe return for all our Brave Warriors serving in harms way.
God Bless them, God Bless all my fellow Freepers and God Bless America!!!
PS: The reason ALL 4th of July's are special to me is that is the day I returned from Nam and landed at Travis AFB, CA., on a big, beautiful "Freedom Bird!"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.