I was watching the movie 'Stripes' tonight. It was filmed in Louisville and Ft Knox, where I did Basic. Made me think aobut it.
OK OK enough about me.
Any other Vet out there who went in about the same time? I am busy and dont think about those times much, and about the old pals as much as I should. Just though I would sit down and let the world know that someone served and is proud of it.
Thanks for sharing.
I went in 10 years, 6 months, and 27 days after you did. 11B with the Louisiana National Guard. Hooah!
Went in the Navy in May of 1975 - the night of my senior prom I was on a train to boot camp in Florida - my HS graduated me early so I could take advantage of the then last class to get Vietnam ear benefits. The cold war was on-gong and very few liked the military then.
Ended up as an engineer on a nuclear submarine until May of 80.
My 4 year hitch turned into 5 when I got an extention by Uncle Sam "at and for the convience of the government".
I enlisted in DEP (Navy) in January 1973, and went on active duty on June 7, 1973, 2 days outa high school...
I went in (also Delayed Enlistment) 27 May 76. USAF. Did basic at Lackland (of course), went to Sheppard for computer operator training, spent the rest of my four years at Offutt (3900 CPUSS).
A big salute out to you and all of the rest of our fellow veterans!
Congratulations for your time in and thank you for your service. Mine goes back to 1958.
Thanks to all.
I think we need to share our military experiences as soon there will be fewer to tell the tales!
1/1/1969
28 May 1982
Thanks for serving, ya'll.
Stripes had a small, yet significant influence on my decision to enlist (and provided inspiration during basic training!). I entered the DEP in the summer of 1989 and processed through MEPS on 1/9/1990. I had hit a dead end in life and joining the Air Force changed all that. Best decision I have ever made!
Joined the Navy in April 1980, on the 3x6 program.
Boot camp - San Diego, Ca
B.E. & E. - Orlando, Fla
EW "A" school - Pensacola, Fla
USS Berkeley, DDG-15, '81 - '83
I enlisted 25 MAY 64, but I was a Drill Sgt at Ft Knox fron 76-80. 4th Training Brigade.
I went in the Delay Entry program in June 1975, and started boot camp in March 9, 1976 at Great Lakes (we called it the great mistakes). Colder than heck up there at times.
So I was supposed to report to boot camp September 15, 1980. I figured I'd take the summer off and then get down to business. But it didn't work out that way. I broke my arm in two places that summer wresting on my grandmother's farm in Alabama. So I got discharged and had to enlist all over again. I ended up reporting to boot camp February 10, 1981 - just about three weeks after President Reagan assumed office.
My Dad enlisted in the Navy on 24 May 1943, and went to boot camp in San Diego.
I followed him there some 31 years later. I enlisted in February 1974 (delayed entry), fininshed high school, and reported to boot camp in San Diego on 15 July 1974.
Went DEP APR 73 Basic 2 JUL 73 at Lackland for USAF then to Keesler AFB at Biloxi MS for tech school.
Basic Training: Great Lakes (Dec. 5, 1982)
B2E: San Diego (Feb. 1983)
ICA: San Diego (June 1983)
USS Prairie AD-15 (Oct. 1983 - Dec. 1986)
Dim2000 C: San Diego (July 1985)
West Pac: New Jersey/Ranger Battle Groups (Nov. 1983 - June 1984)
Seperated: IC2 Long Beach, CA (Dec. 1986)
Same time I was graduating high school
Uncle Sam drafted my bony body in April, '55. They let me finish HS and stuck me on a train to Ft. Ord in July for basic. September to Ft. Campbell, KY jump school with the 11th Airborne. My pay was 62 bucks a month as an E-2. Jump school added $55 per month; I was rich! March '56 to Augsburg, Germany. (Gablingen Kaserne) (Two regiments were in Munich.) Home again June, '57 as an E-4. Was offered S/Sgt to stay in Germany. Great times, good beer, pretty girls. Glad I came home without having to shoot an M-1 rifle at "Crazy Ivan" in his big tank.