Veterans of America in our club

Oct 10, 2011
619
Tartan 34C Toms River, New Jersey
I think it would be nice if you guys rallied to this roll call and let us know who you are, which service, years, places and general info about you and your service to America. I would hope that all our members would enjoy this.

My best, Chief, (CW3,US Navy & US Army ret.)
SGT. USAF, 1969-1973. Lackland AFB, Security police. Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Minot AFB, North Dakota.
Now you know why I hate the cold.
 

richk

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Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
dparilla- congrats, you will love retirement. I did so from USN 25 years ago and sailing ever since (with frequent interruptions by work ;-)
Rich
 
Apr 2, 2011
185
Catalina 27 Niceville, FL
USAF Retired E-8. Aircraft maintainer. Active duty 68-72. Reserve 73-04. Activated for Desert Storm, Saudi. AC-130A gunships.
 
Apr 21, 2014
80
MacGregor Venture 22 Launched, San Diego,CA
Thank you for your Service

I did years 1958-1962+ 1 reserve, Quit the reserves after reserve officer would not approve a request for me to replace a forward engine room active duty PO who had broke his arm. They wanted me to ride the Boat USS Pomfret from San Diego to Japan and they were going to fly me back to San Diego after reaching port and giving me some Liberty. I would have love to do it as I never serve on the west coast I was a EN2(SS) and my employer would have made up any pay loss. The reserve Officer said NO! And I said I quit! My Brother was an EN2(SS) served from 1966-1969 on 2 Subs the Medrigal and the Sterlett. Have a nephew that was Air crew ASW. Thank you for your service. A Diesel Bubblehead.
 

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Jan 22, 2008
597
Oday 35 and Mariner 2+2 Alexandria, VA
Thanks

dparilla- congrats, you will love retirement. I did so from USN 25 years ago and sailing ever since (with frequent interruptions by work ;-)
Rich
Looking forward to the next great adventure!
 

KZW

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May 17, 2014
831
Catalina 310 #307 Bluewater Bay, FL
USAF. New England, California, Florida, Korea, California, Florida, United Kingdom on exchange with RAF, Florida. Flew the F-4D,E, and G. When they turn your weapon system into a target drone, they are sending you a message. Retired. Started Sailing.
 

JandT

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Mar 17, 2015
1
Privilege 445 Wales, AK
USAF Security Police

1966 Whiteman Air Force Base MO
1968-69 Heavy Weapons Section Phan Rang Vietnam
1970 Seymour Johnson NC
 
Mar 17, 2015
1
Beneteau 423 Ventura
Coast Guard

1968 - 72

San Fransisco, Blunts Reef, Columbia River (Cape Dissapointment), Monterey, Morro Bay. Mostly search & rescue on a 95' patrol boat, the Cape Wash, WPB95310 out of Monterey, Ca. Great duty, great job, very rewarding!
 
Apr 21, 2014
80
MacGregor Venture 22 Launched, San Diego,CA
Glad to see Bubbleheads sailing on the surface. My brother and I both sailed on diesel boats as EN2(SS) I was on the 399,311,482 he was on the Sterlett and Medrigal. I am a Member of USSVI Las Vegas Base 51 Past CMDR,Vice CMDR, am now COB and Chaplain. Check out our F/B las vegas sub vets base 51. We dedicated a Submarine Memorial at the VA Cemetery Veterans Day 2014. I started the project 2013 as an idea. acted as project Mgr from start to finish. Members from Army,Navy,Airforce,Marines and Coast Guard all played a part in the project along with material donations from local construction companies. I purchased a 1971 Venture 22 last june and have been redoing the interior plus other mods. The major rebuild was the swing keel . I have an 1800 Sq Ft workshop and am a Journeyman finish carpenter and weldor. Hope to launch in May,It's on a trailer so I will be sailing in San Diego, Marina Del Rey and Ventura. Although I live near Lake Mead I won't be sailing there,too dangerous! I have salt water in my blood. DBF.
 

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Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
USAF SSG 1999-2005, Pope AFB, Osan AFB, Kuwait, Afghanistan. Mostly with the 74th Flying Tigers as an A-10 Crew Chief. The A-10 was my first love, our H260 my second.
Entered as AB, retired as Capt. Biomedical science corp, USAF, PA-C, MS. Very first assignment was with the Storied 23rd Tactical Fighter wing, "Home of the flying Tigers". I believe the 73, 74, and 75th TFS ALL THE BEAUTIFUL SHARK FACED A-10's! Back seated an F-4 and an F-15 and Toured Okinawa, Korea, and lots and lots of Texas.
 
Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
USAF SSG 1999-2005, Pope AFB, Osan AFB, Kuwait, Afghanistan. Mostly with the 74th Flying Tigers as an A-10 Crew Chief. The A-10 was my first love, our H260 my second.[/QUOTE at the time of my assignment with the 74th we were assigned to England Air Force Base, Louisiana. Back then we called Pope Air Force Base no hope pope!
 
Oct 2, 2008
1,424
Island Packet 31 Brunswick, Ga
USAF 70-74 81 TFW, RAF Bentwaters, UK. Target Intelligence. Those of you who also did not serve in combat - you went where they sent you. If they had sent you to a combat zone, that is where you would have served. No shame in having not been sent there. They had slots to fill all over the world, and they filled them as they needed. Thank each of you for your service!
You're right, I had gravy assignments all along. But I raised my right hand and said I would give my life. And I would have.
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
Veterans: As some of you know I just got back from 3 months down in Arizona. Little did I know that this thread would continue so long. I have read each and every one that I missed and it was great reading about all of you! I appreciate your responses and want you to know that I think all of you in whatever capacity you served your country is greatly appreciated. We needed you guys and you put it out there!
It was an honor to serve with you, Chief
 

Les

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May 8, 2004
375
Hunter 27 Bellingham, WA
I guess I'm the oldest--PFC, 25 Inf., headquarters Co, 1956-1958 Korea, USAF reserves 1959-1963.
 
Apr 8, 2010
2,095
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
"As you were..."

USNR - in the ancient "two by six" program. Got to finish college that way and then immediately went active for my two years...
Nothing special happened, just reported in at NavComSta Guam for my tour of duty, '67 - '68.

Felt real lucky not (!) to be on any of those planes stopping by regularly with loads of wounded marines from 'Nam, headed on to the states.

(Not many folks in my little retiree peer group of vets cares but if a stranger should ever question the service of a "reservist" I guess that I would explain that JFK was also a reservist!
:)

LB

ps: don't know where I ran across this supposed fact, but I recall reading that the ratio of front line combat fighters to all the rest of us was/is about 1 to 6, or maybe it's 1 to 10. I do know a couple of combat vets that served "in country" and were in fire fights, and they do NOT want to talk about it.
 
Mar 3, 2003
710
Hunter 356 Grand Rivers
USAF Pilot 1970-75 UPT Williams Air Force Base, AZ, now closed. Flew KC-97 Tankers TN ANG 134th Air Refueling Group. Flew Creek Party Rhein-Mein AB, Frankfurt, Germany and numerous US and Caribbean missions.
 
Apr 8, 2010
2,095
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
You're right, I had gravy assignments all along. But I raised my right hand and said I would give my life. And I would have.
How true. That "contract" that we all agreed to obligated each of us to give everything requested up to and including our lives.
Uncle Sam only agreed to give orders to us!
:)

I was very lucky and I knew it then and remember it now.

Loren
 
Nov 26, 2012
2,315
Catalina 250 Bodega Bay CA
During Vietnam era the # of support troops per combat soldier was 10, now it has improved slightly to 9. The reserve forces have always contributed 10 to 20% of our forces when needed. They deserve the same respect as the rest of us. Chief