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Hope all on here have a safe and happy Veterans Day. Veterans, thank you for your service!
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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My elder son, a Commander USN, thanks all for their recognition of service.
sbalax Member # 2801
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Ditto.
We had a wonderful flyover yesterday of WWII era aircraft yesterday as part of our Veterans Day Parade downtown.
Frank in sunny and cool SBA with the flag flying in the yard.
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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Thank you all for the kind thoughts.
GBN Sgt USAF 65-69 7th AF RVN 67-68
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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quote:Originally posted by Gilbert B Norman:
RVN 67-68
What's RVN again? I think you told me, but I forgot.
Capt., USAF, 1964-1968 and NYANG, 1969-1970 (activated for the postal strike, 3/70 - the mail went through!)
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Republic of Viet Nam?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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To be more specific, I served as part of HQ 7th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut AB, RVN July 67-68.
But what counts is that 'we served', and Capt. Mike, SIR, who served away from the war zone, had a support role to the entire mission.
Joe Urda Member # 8938
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To all Servicemen and women, past and present, thanks for your service.
Joe Urda HM2 Hospital Corpsman Second Class USN Hospital Philadelphia ('66-'68) USN Hospital Yokosuka, Japan - Far East Mortuary ('68-'69)
George Harris Member # 2077
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Ah, yes, RVN, that southeast asian vacation land.
G H Harris, 2LT, then 1LT, company C, 92nd Engineer Batallion, Long Binh., 1971. It was a construction unit, so I spent my time building things, quite a bit of it with local Vietnamese laborers as well as my own platoon. (Drafted in 1969, total time active 2 yrs, 6 mos, 10 day, then inactive reserves for a few years to avoid losing the commision.) I knew several people that served in WW2 that found themselves called back up for Korea.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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George, just curious here. How did you get drafted into a commission? Did you go to OCS?
I remember spending an extra semester as an undergraduate in early 1964 just to keep my student deferment. Alas, the jig was up in early Feb., and I got my draft notice within a month. Luckily, I took the AF physical for flight training up at Stewart AFB, NY and, although my eyesight disqualified me from wings, I was accepted as an OTS candidate (Communications), and went in as an E-5 on Apr. 2, and an O-1 on July 1st with a 4-yr. obligation. Wound up giving them 4-1/2 years, though.
George Harris Member # 2077
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I went through OCS. If you were an MD, you did get drafted into a commission. I think there may have been some others but not many. Generally it was 6 months of running around and doing pushups after completing your basic and AIT.
I still went through basic and AIT before going into OCS, so it was something like 10 1/2 months from induction to commission. The obligation was 2 years from date of commission. Thanks to the late 1971 force reductions I got 4 months taken off my obligated active duty time, so my 24 month obligation turned into 20 months. Even those that wanted to stay in were not allowed to.
I would have signed up for Air Force, but like you, eyesight disqualified me from flying.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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I was what they called a 90-day wonder. Could have stayed in, but too risky as a "Reserve" rather than a "Regular" officer. Out voluntarily in late 1968, rather than getting "riffed" out a few years later.
notelvis Member # 3071
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I missed this thread when it hit because I spent Veterans Day on the highway coming back from a three-day weekend with my family.
Stopped briefly near Bulls Gap, TN to photograph a local Norfolk Southern freight train which, surprisingly, was hauling a former ACL dining car back to its' owner, the Watauga Valley NRHS Chapter, in Bristol, TN. The car had been used on a pair of 21st Century Steam excursions out of Chattanooga the Saturday and Sunday before.
That said..... I hope that 11/11/13 was an enjoyable day for all of my fellow veterans.
sojourner Member # 3134
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Yes, indeed, thank you all for all you have done for your fellow citizens.
Mike Smith Member # 447
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George Harris, I was one of the draftees that got a 4 month early out. I have not seen too many of us, despite the fact there were 40,000 draftees and 40,000 regular army discharged 4 months early to prove to Congress the all volunteer army would not work. I was a heavy truck driver. The army and I did not get along, so I was happy to get out 4 months early.
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