After nearly 40 years in uniform, one of Army's last draftees says farewell at Redstone Arsenal

The Huntsville Times, via Al.com ^ | August 26, 2011 | Kenneth Kesner

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Helluva soldier!

[10thAmendmentGuy]

A great American. We owe him a debt that can never be repaid.

[RetiredArmy]

Draft notices!!! Man, I got my draft notice in the mail at my mom’s house, 6 weeks AFTER I was already in basic training!!!! Somehow the draft board did not know that I had already joined up!!! :-)

[Talisker]

She knew Mellinger by reputation as a Ranger and "great NCO and leader" who was coming out of Iraq after 36 months with Gen. George Casey Jr. - and after surviving 27 blasts from Improvised Explosive Devices.

Just wow.

[max americana]

>>But the notion that draftees are bad people because they got drafted is nonsense, and anybody that perpetuates that is ill informed and uninformed.”<

Are you listening Hollywood?

[Stonewall Jackson]

If CSM Mellinger is the one I'm thinking of (and I think he is), there was an article about him a few months ago where they'd calculated that the amount of time he's spent in free-fall from all of his parachute jumps is equal to almost six or seven weeks.

And being hit by 27 IED's!!! Good grief!

[null and void]

Not quite a dull a life as pushing paper across a desk, eh?

[Jack Hydrazine]

Just for laughs you should have had your Mom write back that you refuse to join because the US military wasn’t a professional enough organization for you and that joining the IDF would be a much better career choice. LOL! Then watch the draft board wax apoplectic!

[Huskrrrr]

Thank you for your service!

[volunbeer]

Well done Sgt. Major, well done!

There are very few men that I respect the moment I meet them but any Sgt. Major has my respect the moment they enter a room. Every organization in the world should have people like this.

Few Americans understand that our NCO’s are what truly make our military the best in the world.

[NonValueAdded]

Bravo Zulu

[Ciexyz]

I remember those days of the draft notice and how the govt eventually subjected young men in
college to the draft, no more college exemption, for the sake of fairness. My fellow male college students were none too happy.

[wetgundog]

Draft... we don’t need no stiiinking draft

Joined at age 16, two deployments to Nam and out before I was twenty.

Two college degrees courtesy of my old Uncle Sam.

Go Navy

[CORedneck]

Great story ! I am thinking of the time when he got drafted, I was going into Kindergarten at the time ! Almost a lifetime for me !

[A_Former_Democrat]

I have a friend who has the distinction of being the last draftee by his draft board

[TXnMA]

Is whatever that is on the left supposed to be a real person?

[5thGenTexan]

She works to make sure our troops are supplied and ready for action and, judging from her CSM selection, is a good judge of character and leadership.

My son ships overseas for a one year mission soon. Since she’s part of keeping him supplied, she has my respect.

[Levante]

“My son ships overseas for a one year mission soon.”

God bless you and your son.

Regards,
Levante (former Squid)

[Tainan]

From one old Army draftee to another...Well Done CSM Mellinger!

May You long enjoy "Saluting Your Mailbox" every month.

(I know its all electronic deposit now - its an old joke)

[ansel12]

Man, the intensity of those times was something rare to experience.