T1B

Just thinking if anyone here served. I was in the Army Reserve from 1960-1966. Never get sent in in harm's way. Didn't get called up to Viet Nam. Only got orders to "saddle up" twice. Once when there was an uprising in the Congo and we are going to go to protect American interests there. Got stand down order when the CIA sent an assassin and killed the rebel leader, the way things got done then. Also the Cuban missile crisis when everyone was ready to go. Good the Russians backed down then.
FYI--my MOS was 293.1---radio relay and carrier operator. Ended up at E-4 "Specialist 4th Class" at a pay rate of $102 a month. Fired Expert with an M-1 Garand and only Sharpshooter with an M-1 Carbine.

My draft lottery number was 310...that was in the "untouchable" range. Enlisting never entered my mind...too busy getting high and chasin' it.

Wolfman wrote: ↑Mon May 26, 2025 9:37 pm Just thinking if anyone here served. I was in the Army Reserve from 1960-1966. Never get sent in in harm's way. Didn't get called up to Viet Nam. Only got orders to "saddle up" twice. Once when there was an uprising in the Congo and we are going to go to protect American interests there. Got stand down order when the CIA sent an assassin and killed the rebel leader, the way things got done then. Also the Cuban missile crisis when everyone was ready to go. Good the Russians backed down then.
FYI--my MOS was 293.1---radio relay and carrier operator. Ended up at E-4 "Specialist 4th Class" at a pay rate of $102 a month. Fired Expert with an M-1 Garand and only Sharpshooter with an M-1 Carbine.

Alright, good reminiscence. Recruiter told me that, because I"m such a moron, my MOS would be guaranteed to be a career
scrubbing...






and since carrying a toilet cleaning brush into battle would not impress an enemy, I was told thanks, but f*kk off.

I missed the draft by one year.

I’m as old as dirt, so that makes Seer older than dirt.

Wolfie is older than…Joe Biden.

you lose whatever inhibitions you had taking a dump with 4 other guys. Lucky if you made it there after a morning cup or 2 of GI coffee.
A BM in the field was a chore.

I did not serve, but after 9/11, I tried. I figured that was our generation's Pearl Harbor, and so I went to the Army to try to sign up. They rejected me, I was too old. Went to Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, and National Guard, all told me that I was too old.

One of them, I think the Navy, asked whether I was a physician, if so they would let me in. Alas, not how it works for attorneys.

In any event, much thanks and respect to all who have served, and especially those died.

Actually, elderly lawyers can join the military....if they're old man is politically connected.

Hunter was not only accepted into the military, he was given a commission.

He was a 43 year lawyer, no prior service with a documented drug problem. And nobody anywhere batted an eyelash. I would love to hear from the BUPERS chief, the Navy's HR VP, basically, about how this happened.

As for my own storied military career....

Enlisted 10 may 84. Trained to become an ET (electronics tech), Served on the USS JFK from dec 85-may 90. Honorably discharged.

Spent the next decade thinking about reenlisting in the reserves. Finally got around to it and enlisted into the Navy Reserve in last August, 2001.

How's that for timing?

A few weeks later I was standing in my kitchen, watching the second plane plow through the WTC. Hmmmm, WTF did I just sign up for, I thought.

Never did deploy over the next 16+ years. Didn't dodge it, but didn't go looking for it either. Sort of regretted that decision because had I deployed to any third world shithole, if would have given me certified war hero status and entitled me to very generous post 9/11 G.I. bill benefits that are fully transferrable to your tax deductions. Rather than writing a check to UConn each month for a few years, I could have gotten one!

Retired in 2018 as I had reached "high year tenure". That is when Uncle Sam says, sorry pops, but we don't need your old ass anymore. You can hang around on drill weekend for a few extra retirement points, but we ain't paying you.

rack Smackaholic the Sailor. Must have been cool to be on a huge aircraft carrier.

Why didn't you re-up (not a judgement, just curious)?

Heaven has a *choice* post-mortem paradise plan for naval personnel who qualify.

bungle clone wrote: ↑Wed May 28, 2025 1:53 pm Heaven has a *choice* post-mortem paradise plan for naval personnel who qualify.

Rum, sodomy and the lash?

Speaking of suicides, a buddy of mine, a Nam Vet showed up one night at my house telling me he didn't want to live anymore. I took it as serious and we drove around a bit and chatted. Then it struck me the best I should do is take him to the VA hospital and get help. He agreed and I signed him into the Psych ward there. Very scary place where you are locked in and the only way to get out is to have the burly gurard with the key around his neck to unlock the door. No bathrobe ties or shoelaces on patients. There were guys in there from WW2 and Korea. It all ended well as whatever they did, I went back to pick him up a while later and he was fine after that.

Roux wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 3:15 pm I did not serve, but after 9/11, I tried. I figured that was our generation's Pearl Harbor, and so I went to the Army to try to sign up. They rejected me, I was too old. Went to Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Air Force, and National Guard, all told me that I was too old.

Yeah, I don't know if age was the issue.

Maybe rolling up in a wheelchair with pastries in your lap ready to give them had more to do with it.

m2 wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:01 amMaybe rolling up in a wheelchair with pastries in your lap ready to give them had more to do with it.

Wolfman wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 12:45 am A BM in the field was a chore.

Man, if I had a nickel…

m2 swinging the lumber and connecting.

bungle clone wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:17 am m2 swinging the lumber and connecting.

A broken clock.....

bungle clone wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:17 am m2 swinging the lumber and connecting.

It was pretty good.

bungle clone wrote: ↑Thu May 29, 2025 2:17 am m2 swinging the lumber and connecting.

HighPlainsGrifter wrote: ↑Fri May 30, 2025 12:10 amIt was pretty good.

m2 has a specially corked bat he uses only on the southerners

Wolfman wrote: ↑Tue May 27, 2025 12:45 amA BM in the field was a chore.

As far as I can tell, that's why they issued us an Entrenching Tool. I only ever used it to entrench turds in a small hole.