First Post!

[wyntrout]

Hi! I hope that non-military can participate, too. Both my wife and I are retired from the USAF. I served from August 1964 to August 1968 and made SSGT E-5 before departing the USAF for college using the GI Bill... and working part to full-time... and some of those Federal Loans helped with luxuries, too.

I went back into the Air Force in June 1972 and was commissioned in September 1972. I joined to become a navigator... my top and only choices were Pilot, Helicopter pilot, or Navigator. I don't know if I could have held out for pilot, but knew I wanted to fly again... more fun that a desk job! I wouldn't have re-joined for a non-flying job.

No one needs to get carried away with his/her history or biography... just thought I would mention mine a bit.

I was in the USAF Security Service and flew in RC-130's and RC-135's as a linguist eavesdropping and recording target radio transmissions... mostly Tactical Air... GCI and cockpit stuff in-theater in and around North Viet Nam. This was my second language training in the Air Force, the first being a whole year in Arabic! They had too many Arab linguists! I was able to cross-train after volunteering for Vietnamese, but got a short course of 4 months which wasn't much for a tonal language! On my way to Japan in Spring of 1967, the Six-Days Arab-Israeli War started and the Air Force kind of regretted getting some of their Arab linguists into more critical languages as I did!

After commissioning in 1972, I trained as a navigator and then was selected for B52 navigator training and later Radar Navigator training at the flight school before my first assignment. They had an accelerated program from the start for Radar Navigator/Bombardiers... maybe not the best program, as you didn't get the helpful training in the navigators seat before taking on the harder job.

I got into the D-model... tall-tailed models... of the BUFFs just after they had returned from SouthEast Asia in 1974 and I retired before the first Gulf War, so I never dropped bombs on anyone... intentionally!

There was that one night over unfamiliar territory where I had "difficulty" finding my radar aiming point until late in the run... low level around 500 ft and 350 to 400 mph... at night... at a range in Avon Park, Florida. Anyhow, with about a minute to release on the bomb run, I positively identified the aiming point and put my crosshairs on it and told the pilot to center his indicator. He asked if I was sure... and I was... everything looked okay... we turned on the radio tone and had tone break at release for radar scoring... we actually released dummy bombs, too... pretty unusual... but that was this mission... real drops. There were no bad reports of unidentified fallen objects, but the ground crews didn't find the bombs either... the impact points. I sweated that for a few days, because that's always a nagging fear... that something might have gone wrong!

Anyhow. I like to yack and thought I would go first here. This isn't meant to be a biographical forum... just discuss whatever.

Click on my screen name and there is an album and more info, with comments on the photos as you click on them.

Wynn

[MO_Soldier]

Darn you Muggsy! You got the first word in...oh well, welcome to the best sub-forum on KahrTalk!

I will also share, however my military autobiography is still growing with each day, so it will be short.

I went to college for a year right out of high school. I found gen eds to be very dry and boring. Since I had always had an interest in the military, I had decided to contact the local AF recruiter. It was while thanking an Army Soldier in the latrine at school, that I encountered my recruiter.

I went Army Reserve in 2009 as a PFC, Operating Room Specialist, in the 325th Combat Support Hospital in Springfield, MO. I was gonna come back and finish school. I started to, and got another semester done. Fell in love, got married and started a family. I volunteered for a deployment to Kuwait, but didn't get picked up. I spent a month in Japan doing MEDEX 12(You should be able to find some info online about that, and some good videos).

The whole time, I was unsatisfied with my service though. I just recently went active duty to fulfill my aspirations. I currently serve as a SPC E4, Operating Room Sergeant in the 555th Forward Surgical Team, 21st Combat Support Hospital, 1st Medical Brigade in Fort Hood, TX. I'm looking forward to 19+ more years of service!

[wyntrout]

Muggsy? We had talked about this sub-forum... don't know why not... we discuss a lot of stuff on the forum... non-gun or non-Kahr. We do share some "hobbies" and so on. This forum has been a lot of fun... just chatting and carrying on at times... not always gun-related, but wide varieties of discussions. This whole forum has been allowed a lot of leeway and as long as we're civil, we can have a good time here.

I almost joined the Army and volunteered for helicopter pilot... back when their life expectancy was sometimes measured in minutes. That job really required a lot of tunnel vision... don't think about the bullets, just land the bird and pick up your patients. Not everyone could function like that.

I had been planning to join the Air Force for several years... even thinking about the Academy... so when my "summer job" as a roustabout in the oil field ended after HS, I went over to the Army recruiting office on a Saturday. They were CLOSED! The AF office was open, so I went ahead and joined in the General field because I wanted language training and got the job I wanted, but not necessarily the LANGUAGE! I'm sure the recruiter thought "Fat chance"!

I had a lot of different experiences and got to do a lot more travel than I thought I would... after being in the Strategic Air Command. I managed a 3-year tour to West Germany in early '83 and had a blast over there. I met my wife to be and we've been married almost 27 years now... both of us on our second and final marriages. Sometimes you luck out and find the right person... not always the first one, though!

The military can be a very rewarding career. I wish that my children had been so inclined. my son was, and wanted to join the Navy nuclear technician or something. I told him that he had the money to go to college first and he should do that and then get a commission. Later when he strayed from the "good path", I wished that I had let him go in and work his way up. I still wish that my daughter had joined. She could have really used her degree and have a secure future.

If you survive your "youth", you can really grow up and mature in the military. It's hard to beat the camraderie and "brotherhood" that exists in field units and combat units, where you really depend on each other to survive. It's more than a 9 to 5 job!

Wynn

[muggsy]

I joined the Navy in January of '66. Served as a machinist mate for six years on active duty. I served aboard the USS Fremont APA 44 and aboard the USS Nitro AE-23. The Fremont was a troop transport. We trained Marines how to make amphibious assaults from landing craft. The Nitro was an ammunition ship that re-armed our war ships. The Nitro carried the equivalent of one hundred thousand tons of TNT aboard. My battle station was on the throttle board of the main engines. While I served I attained the rank of Machinist Mate 2nd class, or E-5.

[wyntrout]

I'm sure that your munitions got used, Muggsy. Mine were too big in the 70's and 80's. I heard the New Jersey and her sister battleships and cruisers shelling inland with the shells passing over us at Danang AB... awesome firepower and support! I was in-country numerous times throughout '67 and '68, leaving from Danang in August '68 to be discharged at Travis AFB. My danged pay records preceded me and I had to borrow $5 from a buddy after I got back to Kadena, Okinawa, on the way back the the States. I remember all of those "hippie" California/San Francisco songs from the late 60's... going home!

Wynn

[AJBert]

Enlisted in the Navy straight out of high school, worked my way up to Chief (E-7). Put in a package for Limited Duty Office/Chief Warrant Officer program and got picked up as an LDO. Received my commission as an Ensign, stayed until I made LT and retired in '08.

5 ships, 3 shore duties, 11 deployments, been around the world more than a few times and have lived on all three coasts of this country. Total of 26 years in with 15 of that at sea.

I have more sea stories than I can possibly tell in a life time.

[wyntrout]

In college, I was considering the Navy Flight Officer Program. I noticed that their commissioning program... the "basic training" part was 4 months long and they marched around with M14's! I decided three months in the USAF Officer Candidate School was a better choice.

Our closest facility and our choice for medical care is Naval Station Mayport. I see the ships down here a lot and am very appreciative of the Navy's mobility and readiness to do battle wherever they are. Those ships of war are island fortresses and can project U.S. power and "diplomacy" anywhere they roam. The carriers are especially magnificent in that they are mobile air bases with incredible firepower!

I miss seeing the JFK and hope that we do get a carrier here within a few years. I think we're supposed to get some of the Littoral ships here eventually. There's a lot of change coming... not all good.

Wynn

[AJBert]

Mayport was my last duty station. I was the Director of Security there, until I went over to Iraq. Loved fishing off the jetties!

[Popeye]

No real dramatic story. Was drafted in December 1965 had a couple days to join the branch of the service I wanted to join. If I chose none it was the Army. Now I knew even as a small child if I ever went in the service it would be the Navy. Ships and the ocean just works for me. Rice patties not so much.
So I joined the navy and pretty much got lied to. As I was told I'd be going to school to learn to be a jet mechanic. Alway was a motorhead in my younger years so I figured I'd learn a trade. Yea Right. Went to boot camp in the great lakes in January of 66 and pretty much froze my family jewels off like everybody else. It was there I learned I'd be going to Sub School in New London Conn. I thought WTF jet engines to Subs? I wasn't to thrilled about hearing this but went anyway. Some part of the way through Sub School I informed them that this was not my idea of a good time. Actually it sucked big time at best. World war II pig Boats stink and nuke boats was another two year commitment, and that was not going to happen. So they thought it would be nice that if I didn't like to be on a sub I might like to go to Keflavic Iceland and watch Russian subs for a year.
I was told there was a hot Nordic girl behind every tree. This really appealed to me a great deal. I like women, I like them so much I even married one. Only problem was when the plane landed in the land of frost and fire I quickly learn there is not a tree in Keflavic or Rekavic that is much bigger then your average tomato plant.
So I worked on unloading cargo planes. The good part out of doing this I managed to get quite a few drivers licenses,and was able to drive quite a bit of Navy equipment. Which meant I was in the cab of a nice warm truck, forklift, K loader or any number of pieces of equipment. There were other benifits to but we won't get into that as somethings are left unsaid.

Flash foward a year and being that I still had some Sub experience the navy finally decided they F'd me over enough and decided to send me to Key west Fla. aboard the USS Bushnell AS 15 (which we lovingly refered to as the Burning Bush). It was a Sub Tender and was known to catch fire quite often. Key West really appealed to me a great deal after a year a in the land of the midnight sun.
We worked hard on the ship as there was always subs that needed attending to and my duty station was on the boat deck. Where we kept and maintained the small boats. In port my watch was at the top of the gangblank where we were armed with a colt 1911. In reality all it did was make me the first target for anyone who was up to no good. I'm sure a 12 year old with a decent bolt action rifle could have picked me off with no problem from a block and a half away. It did create my love for the 1911 though that still lasts to this day. As I mentioned We did alot on that ship to keep those subs supplied with food, fuel, and repairs, and saw a few places along the way while doing it. Bottom line when my 4 years was all said and done I liked the navy. Not enough to renlist but I liked it. Things were not always great, but man I met a lot of great people and saw and did some things I never would have gotten a chance to do otherwise. Oh and before I forget, them girls that I heard were in Iceland. Well I learned they all hanged in Key west in the 60's. I'm proud to have served my country even though I did have it pretty good. Absolutely no regrets.

When 911 came along I wished I could have gone back in except this time I'm sure if they would have let me it I would have been a Sea Bee this time because of my construction background.

Anyhow being that I'm to old and they no longer want me,and I own a Harley, I joined a group of riders called the Patriot Guard riders. We bring our current warriors home to there families or to there final resting place if that is what's called for.
Still feeling that I had more to give in the way of service to the country and it vets. I learned about a new National Cemetery in my area. I joined a group of dedicated vets who perform the rifle salutes at all internments using M1 Garands in all sorts of weather conditions. I have been doing this every Thursday and sometimes more for the last 3 years. This I really enjoy doing as I'm a firm believer that every vet who ever served this great country should be layed to rest in a proper military manner. I am proud to say that no Vet who has ever been on there final mission, and been layed to rest at the Washing Crossing National Cemetery has gone with out proper military honors by the military and the Guardians of the national cemetery Honor Guard.
Sorry if I got a little long winded. It happens when I look back on my military days, and sevice to the country and it Vets and current warriors.

May god bless all who have served, and continue to serve. .....Popeye US NAVY..66-69

[Ol'coot]

I joined the Army National Guard right out of high school and served from 1972-to 1978. I was a 44E20 Machinists in a (DSBM) Direct Support Maintenance battalion. I received an honorable discharge at the rank of Sgt. E-5