Attention Veterans!

[Mr. P]

So which do consider worse? Hostile fire? Or the number of powerlines in this country? I think in that position, I'd as soon get shot at as become the conduit for a gazillion volts.

I've seen on more than one occasion Huey pilots drop their skids so close to the water a Marine could be pulled out by hand. THAT is skill and a lot of balls.

Damn Gunny, you made me shiver! I’ll not forget the night I dodged major wires but still clipped a small one with the tail rotor. Someone was looking out for us that night.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot about the time I was flying lead while Cobras were firing 7.72 rockets from both sides of us into the LZ. Mud and dirt flying all over the windshield, pucker factor was way up but that still didn’t compare to the wires.

[Gaffer]

when we made an air assault the door gunner always told us not to fire from the door, that he would take care of the cover fire. They were afraid one of us would shoot too high and hit the rotor blades. we did what he asked unless we started recieving fire as we were going in, then we cut loose too. It always pissed the door gunner off but what the hell, we were already in by then. What's he going to do make us come back and do it again? Or, my favorite response, what you gonna do send me to Vietnam?

[CSM]

when we made an air assault the door gunner always told us not to fire from the door, that he would take care of the cover fire. They were afraid one of us would shoot too high and hit the rotor blades. we did what he asked unless we started recieving fire as we were going in, then we cut loose too. It always pissed the door gunner off but what the hell, we were already in by then. What's he going to do make us come back and do it again? Or, my favorite response, what you gonna do send me to Vietnam?

LOL....heard and gave that same response more than once!

[Gaffer]

When I returned from Vietnam we were placed in a holding battlion. A bunch of combat vets waiting to get out. Now we had very little to do while waiting around and someone got the bright idea of training us for riot control. So we did. With summer coming they were expecting a lot of demonstrations and riots in the major cities.

So picture it. A battalion of returned combat vets being sent into quell anti-war demonstrations. We were told we were the last resort. If the guard and police couldn't handle the situation we were to be sent in.

One platoon (mine) was armed with M-14's with fixed bayonets, while another platoon followed with nightsticks. The guys behind us were to pick up the ones we left on the ground as we swept through.

Fortunately they never had to use us. But we were hyped and ready.

[Gunny]

Damn Gunny, you made me shiver! I’ll not forget the night I dodged major wires but still clipped a small one with the tail rotor. Someone was looking out for us that night.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot about the time I was flying lead while Cobras were firing 7.72 rockets from both sides of us into the LZ. Mud and dirt flying all over the windshield, pucker factor was way up but that still didn’t compare to the wires.

I'm an electrician nowadays. When I was working line to try and restore power during a storm, the guy I was with screwed up and blew us both up. He died, and I was left hanging from a bucket by a safety harness for a couple of hours.

That is how my lineman career came to an abrupt end after the household SgtMajL read me the riot act. Been in commercial electrical since.

I'd rather be shot at.

[Mr. P]

I'm an electrician nowadays. When I was working line to try and restore power during a storm, the guy I was with screwed up and blew us both up. He died, and I was left hanging from a bucket by a safety harness for a couple of hours.

That is how my lineman career came to an abrupt end after the household SgtMajL read me the riot act. Been in commercial electrical since.

I'd rather be shot at.

Now stop it!..You reminded me of the guy we flew to a burn center AFTER he had stuck a screwdriver into a breaker panel! He was burned pretty good, but alive (I think). I don't know if he was an electrician or a helper.

It sounds like you were lucky!

[Gunny]

Now stop it!..You reminded me of the guy we flew to a burn center AFTER he had stuck a screwdriver into a breaker panel! He was burned pretty good, but alive (I think). I don't know if he was an electrician or a helper.

It sounds like you were lucky!

We stick screwdrivers into live panels all the time. If it slips and you're grounded you get fly with MR P.

He better have been a journeyman. I wouldn't let a helper near a live panel unless I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I could trust him to do what he was supposed to.

And yes, I was VERY lucky. I just happened to be leaning out and away from the basket when it happened and got flipped right out.

[Gadget (fmr Marine)]

USMC 1983-1987 El Toro

[Psychoblues]

Pretty close, gunny. I almost but did not lose a stripe or rank due to my active duty/air guard transfer despite my approximate 11 year absense from the official ranks of the United States Air Force. I was an E-7 as you intimate when I quit. Yes, I said "quit". I no longer could keep faith in my government to use me in the most proficient manner post Persian Gulf I. I fuskin' quit.

As I had other ambitions and income, the military was no longer a priority for me.

Not to mention if he was to go active duty, he would likely lose at least one Reserve/Guard stripe in the process.

I agree that the very best he could do TIS-wise would be E-7.

As you surmise, the time in service equals out to about what you say. I had promises and encouragements but I could not subject myself or my family to more of what I no longer had faith in.

Thanks for your own service, gunny. I'm glad we did not work together or I would have certainly had to take you back of the barracks and beat the living hell out of you.

Just kidding you, gunny. We would would probably have been best of buddies then and remain so now. Many of my very best ex-military friends are as hard core if not more than you. We get along marvelously!!!!!

[BBA]

U.S. Army
Enlisted
17 August 1995 through 25 December 2002
Assigned to Fort Bragg and Fort Lewis
MOS was 75H (Personnel Services Specialist)

[Mr. P]

U.S. Army
Enlisted
17 August 1995 through 25 December 2002
Assigned to Fort Bragg and Fort Lewis
MOS was 75H (Personnel Services Specialist)

Airborne!!!

[Black Lance]

I've enlisted with ANG as an E-3, and am scheduled to leave for BMT on October 7, the day after my 23rd birthday.

[Kathianne]

I've enlisted with ANG as an E-3, and am scheduled to leave for BMT on October 7, the day after my 23rd birthday.

Forgive an old lady that never served; ANG? BMT?

I am assuming 'thanks' are in order, you have them!

[Angel Heart]

US Army 89-94

Military Police (95B) Alabama, Germany, California

Office Administration (71L) Reserves and California National Guard

Got out as a Spc (E-4)

[Mr. P]

Forgive an old lady that never served; ANG? BMT?

I am assuming 'thanks' are in order, you have them!

ANG= Air or Army National Guard.
BMT= Basic Training.

Black Lance!

Like yer steel pots, Angel Heart!