Military Service

[HiDesertHal]

What branch of the Military were you in?

I was in the US Army from 1960 to 1962.

After getting my Engineering degree in 1960, I volunteered for the Draft, which would allow me to serve for only 2 years instead of 3 if I had enlisted. Because of my age (24), I was made Platoon Leader in my Basic Training Company.

Because of my technical education, I was placed in the Signal Corps with Communication Centers jobs. Much nicer duty than in the Infantry!

I served my first year in the States, in a Communications Center in Arlington, Va, and the second year in Seoul, Korea, in the Communications Center of 8th Army Headquarters.

There was no war in Korea at that time, but we were part of the Occupation Forces, just to be ready if the North Koreans decided to attack as they did in June, 1950, which started the Korean War. (I was in high school at the time).

That's all...
Hal

 

[RENOV8R]

Thank you for your service Sir!

 

[GlassKnees]

I was in the Army from 1972 - 1975. At the time, the Viet Nam was was going on and there was a draft lottery system in place. I can't win a money lottery but my birthday (7 Feb.) gave me a really low lottery number. Fortunately though, I was going to a local community college and had a student deferment. But in 1971 I lost my deferment due to dropping a couple of classes which put me below full time student status, and I was then eligible for being drafted. Being concerned that I might end up in Viet Nam, I decided to go ahead and enlist, where I could try to control my destiny to some extent.

Having had completed some college courses, I was able to sign up for any military occupational specialty (MOS), that had openings. So I went down the list with my recruiter - I only had two criteria: 1. The training course had to last a long as possible - if the Army was going to take time and $$ to train me then they were most likely to have me work in that field as opposed to giving me a rifle and sending me out into the field. 2. The equipment I trained on was not used in Viet Nam (for obvious reasons). I kept going down the list until I came upon 26H20 - Air Defense Repair, a none month course at the Army's Electronic School at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey.

As it worked out, my strategy proved to be sound! I ended up staying at Ft. Monmouth for the rest of my enlistment, coming out as an E-5 and having some rudimentary knowledge of electronics. More importantly, I was exposed to logic circuitry. When I got out, I enrolled at a university in California - initially studying math, but later changed my major to Computer Science. My schooling was largely paid for via the G.I. Bill.

Looking back on it, I think I a lot more out of the deal than the govt. did. But hey, I ended up completing my education and working in a high paying industry until I retired....

 

[Spork]

Thank you both for your service. Great story, Glass!

My military service story doesn't really qualify for Hal's thread, but I already started typing and you can't stop me.

Back when I was young man, or when Hal was my age, 3 friends and I had decided to join the Marine Corp. We all went together and signed up, took some test(s), etc. We were all very excited that we would all be tough-guy jar heads together. Well, as it turned out, I had done some, shall we say, stupid things, as some teenagers do and was told that my past was a bit too checkered for the Marine Corp at this time, so I didn't get in. My 3 friends did, two hated it and the other loved it and made a career out of it. All 3 were pissed off at me for not making it in with them. But we were all friends again after some beers and hearing their bootcamp and training stories.

 

[RENOV8R]

Thank you both for your service. Great story, Glass!

My military service story doesn't really qualify for Hal's thread, but I already started typing and you can't stop me.

Back when I was young man, or when Hal was my age, 3 friends and I had decided to join the Marine Corp. We all went together and signed up, took some test(s), etc. We were all very excited that we would all be tough-guy jar heads together. Well, as it turned out, I had done some, shall we say, stupid things, as some teenagers do and was told that my past was a bit too checkered for the Marine Corp at this time, so I didn't get in. My 3 friends did, two hated it and the other loved it and made a career out of it. All 3 were pissed off at me for not making it in with them. But we were all friends again after some beers and hearing their bootcamp and training stories.

Thought you were going to say you flunked the drug test haha. Remember, everything happens for a reason..........

 

[GlassKnees]

When I was considering which branch to enter, I always wondered about the marines - did basic training make them crazy or did the marines attract crazy people? I decided to steer clear. Spork, I think you made the right choice!

 

[Spork]

Thought you were going to say you flunked the drug test haha. Remember, everything happens for a reason..........

I'm right there with you on that.

Funnily enough, my younger brother got into the Navy and was booted out for flunking the drug test - after he was already at the country club - I mean boot camp.

 

[Spork]

did basic training make them crazy or did the marines attract crazy people?

I believe the answer to this question is: yes.

 

[HiDesertHal]

Well...I'm glad to see that my thread has generated some responses!

It looks like GlassKnees made all the right decisions, and I praise Spork for at least trying to get into the USMC!

Hal, E-4, US 56332718,
10-1960 to 9-1962

 

[Spork]

I praise Spork for at least trying to get into the USMC!

Thanks, Hal. Haven't thought about that story in many years. In fact, I just now remembered that, at the time, Dad was proud of me signing up, but Mom was madder than a hornet. She was over the moon when I got my rejection. Very similar situation in my house these days as junior is contemplating military service and he not only has my support, but also his mother's anger for even thinking about it. Some things never change.