How many military bubbas here?

[davedove]

I auditioned for the US Coast Guard Band; but didn't win the auditionand my ashma would have washed me out anyway. My father was in the Army (drafted during the Berlin Wall) and my Uncle in the Navy. A more intresting story was my Grandfather- he was too young for WWI but too old for WWII

Mar sin Leibth

darren

My brother is currently in the Army band as a percussionist. He has most recently been teaching at the joint music school in Norfolk, but is about to be transferred. He's headed to Ft. Campbell and a possible deployment to the sandbox (yes, they have the band over there too.)

[Fougasse]

Retired after 22 years in the British Army, Royal Engineers. Wife is active duty US Navy.

Ubique

[Bruce Scott]

Australian Regular Army (Armour) 1967-93.
Vietnam Sep 69-Dec 70 on Centurion Tanks.

[Mountainman]

Served 3 years active Army, Infantry, served in Iraq, currently in the New Mexico Natl. Guard.
Dad was a Navy Corpsman, grandpa was Infantry during WWII, served in Okinawa.

[shane the piper]

moms boyfriend was a Marine tanker in the first gulf war and is one of the few that has used the M-60 and M1Abrams in combat. He was discharged I belive for hearing issues because his M-60 tank struck a mine which left him with a messed up back and bleeding ears to which he had to go back through the mine field while getting shelled by Iraqi artillery ( he also said that the bottom of his tank missed an anti tank mine by about an inch, he described it as a british mine thats basically a long tube)

I also have a cousin who served in vietnam as a helicopter door machine gunner as you can guess he has never mensioned it and the only reason I found out was stories my father told me from when they use to get footage from him of the war (lots of nasty stuff) and from what I know all of his stuff was burned.

I also knew a man that lived near my grandparents who was a tanker in WWII who had recieved the bronze star in the battle of the bulge. He was the only one in his tank crew that wasnt injured and had had a bullet come into his tank ricochete off the inside and go through his helmet grazing his hair ( someone must have really been watching his back) he also showed me a pistol he traded for his rolex watch, photos, his rifle, and a nazi battle flag with the medals of german officers he had killed. Unfortunalty he too was also left scared by the war, he feels that he cannot go to church because god would never forgive him for what he had done.

[DrewO]

Navy JROTC - 2 years
Passed on my appointment to USNA and enlisted in the Marine Corps
Radio Recon (aka Romper Recon) during the first Gulf War
Father was Navy ('61-65)
Grandfather was Old IRA

[thoth51]

Does conscription count?

[Cerebite]

Does conscription count?

most definitely counts , see all of the comments above about the Vietnam era draft and missing/ not missing it .

I take it that you have done your service?

I feel that some manditory service [I would include Peace Corp, National Park Service etc.] would do a lot of todays youth a lot of good and solve some of the military's recruiting issues. Sorry and dangerously close to becoming political.

[thoth51]

most definitely counts , see all of the comments above about the Vietnam era draft and missing/ not missing it .

I take it that you have done your service?

I feel that some manditory service [I would include Peace Corp, National Park Service etc.] would do a lot of todays youth a lot of good and solve some of the military's recruiting issues. Sorry and dangerously close to becoming political.

Singapore Infantry Regiment as Ops NCO and instructor: '86-88. As a reservist was converted to GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) Team commander: '97 - 05. Now completed my service and a full time civilian

[OFCJAX]

U.S Marine Corps

4 years 0351 Anti-Tank Assaultman 1st BN 8th MARDIV Camp Lejeune, NC 7/94-7/98
1 1/2 years 5811 Military Policeman MP Co A(-) Lexington, KY USMCR 7/98-12/99