Air Force Regular.

Retired Coast Guard after 20 years, 8 months. I was an Operations Specialist (via Telecommunications Specialist and Radioman). Served aboard the CGC's Katmai Bay and Chase as well as the Aerostat's. Ashore tours in Petaluma, Alameda, Key West, and finally in D.C. Proud to have served and proud for those who volunteer to serve. I made many great friends in the Coast Guard. Make the best of where you go and what you do is my advise.

I am really, truly amazed by how many plimates have served in their country's armed forces, or who talk very positively about a family member who has done so.

I am in full agreement with you all, but I wonder if this is typical? Or are we a sort of right-wing (or at least right-of-centre) subset of humanity?

When I consider our other discussions, for instance on issues like education, religion, etc., I think this may be true. Even if we think ourselves to be very modern, free-thinking, liberated, whatever, we obviously do think conservatively about many important issues.

There is still some hope for the world.

I don't think anyone here would assess me as "right wing" or even "right of center". I'm a proud radical libertarian. Definitely left of center.

Well. I guess "right wing" would be a bit harsh for most of us, but I do think that definitions of "right" or "left" and "conservative" or "liberal" have changed a bit.

Perhaps I shouldn't mix up political groupings with personal inclinations...

You didn't seem to be radical anything to me so far, but please explain what is a "radical libertarian"?

I don't like anybody in politics ;D

Ha, actually you're not too far off with that. The early F-86 and the Russian MIG-1 were the cutting edge then. Still a lot of prop jobs wre flying then.

The Korean war was a blood bath. Luckily I was not sent there but everyone else in my RADAR class was.

The history of it as far as American preparedness and military administration is shocking.
You and especially your dad may like to read the book "This Kind OIf War" by TR Fehrenbach.

It's almost too hard to believe.

Regular Army grunt. 17 months in Nam. I was one of those guys that waded through rice paddies and shot people I never met. I hate a huge part of my past. You don't even want to know.

I will read it, thanks. I'm a firm believer in the study of history...unlike many in our current administration, congress, and on, and on.

and DerAlt, if you haven't already, the documentary "Welcome to North Korea" is an amazing look at this country that is also, extremely hard to believe.

I found a downloadable and online watchable version here

Sorry to bump an old thread, but I just scanned in my Marine Corp Boot Camp Graduation Photo..... Sorry for the crappy scan, but the picture was in a glossy book (kind of like a High School Annual).


Anyway, this is what icepigs looked like in 1987...

Hard to believe you could get so ugly in just 20 years.

Didn't take me 20 years... only took me 10. I was one sexy piece of manhood until 1997.

I was in the Navy for 6 yrs between 1999 and 2005. I was stationed aboard a Ballistic missile submarine. Honestly it was the best years of my life. I have never work with a closer group of people. We worked hard and played harder. and when it comes down to it, I owe everything I have today to my time in. Met my wife and had my boys. set me up for my job now.

Anyone who has the guts to stand up for sevice is always welcome to anything I can offer in my eyes, and I have a fair amount of friends in active service with the British army, and the RAF, and also come from a long lime of RAF sodliers, and a mother who was in the WRAF and a grandand who was in the RAF form 1938 onwards as a segearnt, and other grandad as Medi-corps. Big up to all those who Put everyone else before themselves before others and fight for us!

Heh, long lime of RAF soldiers.

Best typo ever.

Hehe yeah true :P people say Limeys as a bad thing, but it refers to our time as THE naval superpower and the fact that we carried citrus fruits on bored to counter Scurvy (limes had little Ascorbic acid, lemons had a lot more) and we really ruled to waves

LAWL!

Silly Hoosker. They still used zeppelins, or "dirigible" to the educated man.

I can't belive I missed this thread. I'm getting ready to get out of the Army after 10yrs. Can't take it anymore.

I've been promised this great government job on the outside that I volunteered for. Great pay, great benefits, 9-5 workday, paid vacation, and I get to travel the world!

This will be so much different and better than the Army!

[/sarcasm]