How many OR members have served in or are now serving in the military?

[Retmilleo909]

Have any of you served in, or are now serving in the military; if so what branch of service are you in, or were you in?
What wars did you serve in?
WW-2, Korean War, Vietnam War, 1st. Gulf War, Afghanistan War, 2nd. Gulf War.
Also, what US military operations did you serve in under NATO or the UN peacekeepers such as the one's in Croatia, Bosnia and Somalia.

[bird1]

Did 10 years 7yrs. active 3 reserve U.S Army Paratrooper 1990-2000. Don't care to talk about my war stories, but I did save a bundle on my car insurance switching to Geico.

[Bob Loblaw]

Not serving in the military is the great regret of my life thus far. I underwent a significant transformation in between the ages of 18 and 26...When I was younger, I had a "world revolves around me" type of attitude. Now that I'm older and wiser (and more mature), I really wish I would've gone straight into the Marine Corps right after college (if I would've known that I eventually settle into a career in LE instead of sports journalism, I probably would have at least considered it).

For those who served and are currently serving, I say a sincere thank you.

[MacLean]

Have any of you served in, or are now serving in the military; if so what branch of service are you in, or were you in? United States Air Force (air police/anti-terrorism)

What wars did you serve in? Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, GWOT

Also, what US military operations did you serve in under NATO or the UN peacekeepers such as the one's in Croatia, Bosnia and Somalia. Not applicable

[Captain America]

United States Navy 1982-1989 , first duty station was NAS Miramar in beautiful San Diego. I was assigned to an F-14 Tomcat squadron and made two Western Pacific cruises, one aboard the U.S.S. Ranger and one aboard the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk. Second duty station was at the Naval Fighter Weapons School ( better known as Topgun) also at Miramar. As a Cold War warrior I got to play fun and games with the Ruskies in scenic places like the Indian Ocean. Got out as E-6 to pursue a career in law enforcement.

[Rhino]

US Army. ELS'd out AIT on medical. Was in long enough to get my blue cord, though. 11Bravo

[Mac120]

US Marine Corps (00-07)
Iraq-2005

[mavriktu]

U.S.Army,13A10 field artillery,1970-72,Viet Nam era,nuff said

[lewisipso]

I joined the Louisiana National Guard in 1983. I was in communications specifically a 31C. At the time I was extremely proud to serve in that branch. Knowing then what I know now I would have joined a full time service. Probably Army or Coast Guard. Due to circumstances beyond my control it was not a pleasant service. It was actually the single biggest dissapointment of my life to date. This has absolutely nothing against former or current Guardsman who are enjoying their service. I completed almost 4 years of duty time and the rest in the IRR. My unit was activated for Desert Storm but never deployed and I was never contacted.
I truly regret not giving more consideration to active duty. However, if I had I would not be where I am today.
My oldest son, although not completely happy with his enlistment, has served almost 6 years in the Airforce and has also completed a tour in Afganistan. I have never been more proud of him in my life.

[Wolven]

USAF 1989-1992 active, 1992-1996 reserve (security police)

Served during Desert Storm but stayed stateside
Served in Panama during Just Cause (sp? looks funny..long day lol)

[AlDeputy]

US Army Military Police 1979 - 1995, early retirement. Missed Haiti by 1 week and was a Drill Sgt during Gulf 1, they would not let me go.

[Morris]

10+ years, active & guard. Served enough in Bubba Clinton's Dog Wagging adventures.

[narcodog]

'67 - '70, USAF

[CTR man]

My father served in WWII straight out of High School from 1942-1945 or 46 USN as an underwater sonar man in the submarines. He was in the Pacific as well as the Atlantic.

Kittylynn's father was US Army during Viet Nam but somehow they lost his papers. He became a Drill Instructor at Ft Ord, CA (near Monterrey). While Training some trainees at the range, one of them went wacko and started shooting during a training exercise and injured 5 men. My father in law was injured in the knee. Others didn't fare so well. To my recollection one was shot in the butt and another in the back thus making him an instant parapalegic. The Trainee ended up serving time at Ft Leavenworth for his escapade.

As for me, I went to basic about 1983 at Ft Leonard Wood, MO but had a severe case of homesickness. 12 Bravo, Combat Engineer. I also failed to qualify at the range as it was my first time handling any type of firearm, ever. I think I should have went a bit later and not so young and fresh out of High School.

Now I am a civilian employee of the Military 2001 to the present working for AAFES. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service. This is the organization that operates all the Post Exchanges and Base Exchanges for the Army and the Air Force. I work in a distribution center at Sharpe Army Depot near Stockton, CA. We supply various goods, tax free, for the members of the Military, current and retired, and their dependents world wide. Even Iraq and Afghanistan. We even send our own people over there to man the stores so our soldiers can get the same goods that they are used to getting at home. Basically we are the Wal-Mart for the military, for lack of a better term.

[cajunguy]

.

Uncle Sam's Misguided Children (1960-1968.)

Crewed one of these little gems the first couple of years -


One BADASS little scooter. (Ist Anti-tank Btn. / 1st Marine Division, FMF)

The rest of my time was in and around the supply system.

Missed the Nam by the skin of my teeth. (Still have mixed emotions about that.)

Honorable discharge as a Staff Sergeant (E6).

"Once a Marine - Always a Marine." (You can take the Marine out of the Corps, but you can't take the Corps out of the Marine.)

Semper Fi, and thanks to all for their service, whatever it may have been.


.

[Stalker263]

US Army 1982-1991
Alabama National Guard 91-97
US Army Reserve 97 to July 08 (Active Duty 04-07)

Just Cause, Nobel Eagle, Enduring Freedom

Retired First Sergeant but most challenging assignment was Brigade Operations NCOIC while mobilized 04-07

[Terminator]

Maine Army National Guard
63J Chemical Equipment Repairer
1996-2002

[213th]

Have any of you served in, or are now serving in the military; if so what branch of service are you in, or were you in? United States Air Force (air police/anti-terrorism)

What wars did you serve in? Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom, GWOT

Also, what US military operations did you serve in under NATO or the UN peacekeepers such as the one's in Croatia, Bosnia and Somalia. Not applicable

Same here only I was active duty with two different ANG units. 2004-2008

[sgtbear111]

Navy: enlisted 1967, OCS commission 1969. Eyes went bad at entry to flight school, no waivers, so went on as NFO. Like a USAF Navigator, certain career path doors closed. Served active duty 1970-73 in WESTPAC., Aleutians, I.O., & SE Asia in Lockheed P-3 Orion.

Learned a few things about: a) hating Jane Fonda as the bitch shrieked on Radio Hanoi's HF freq, b) while the bitch shrieked new Soviet 2-stage boosted SAM-3 missles were killing a lot more of our USAF B-52 crews (( note the huge rise in USAF enlisted aircrew casualties )), c) old and new sea mines and their applications, d) oceanography, sonar, precise navigation, logged some periscope time as necessary, e) flew thru a few typhoons or cyclones, f) fast Baht-bus drivers driving past stinky tapioca factories deserved big tips, g)non-US security forces on foreign military bases don't care who you are, if you are in the wrong place.

Use-of-force lesson # 1 was finding a hungry 3 or 4 inch poisonous centipede in my flight boot and the knife-happy new LT Navy MD wanted to "open" or amputate half my purple swollen foot, just like he cut off the boot. "No way" but he was a poor listener. When he ordered a nurse to start anesthesia, I backed up my "no" with my Ka-Bar (my non-issued Walther P-38 9mm pistol was in my crew seat chart bag), the nurse vanished and our 3rd pilot and unit Corpsman got me out of there with any paper records. The centipede was just a hungry bug, this MD was a ghoul looking for something else.....The Chief Corpsman made it "sound" better to my XO, and another Navy Corpsman followed up care for my foot. Lesson: always shake out your boots, and always trust the "doc".

The US Army usually has a better motor pool, any US Air Force base is preferred for having an engine breakdown. CDN Forces hospitality was always genuine and help was there when needed. HMCS Rainbow was one such command. CFB Comox had a great annual "singles" weekend. Customs cleared military arrivals quickly, but female passenger stowaways were a departure no-no.

Continued in reserves to get 20 years for retirement. Survived one strike/mishap in 1981, crash fire meltdown on runway. Madigan Army hospital was ok, the CH47 ride was not. Got my blue retired ID last year. It was fun, sad, now it's over. Had lunch today with an old friend fellow LEO who was an Aussie Vietnam vet, and a French Foreign Legionaire. We talked of much 'stuff' since we buried our ex-Sheriff in Oct. Memories are for us old farts, while we can remember.

Highlights of my military service:
Re-enlisted my son in 2004.
Hope to swear him in as CPO or LDO in 2009.

[Whitepaw]

USAF - 1973-1978
Army National Guard 1978-1985
US Army 1985-2000
Retired US Army
Ask me if I would do it again?...You damn right, skippy!