Military Branch Survey

[tp777fo]

USAF. 1976-96. Flew F4, T33, T38, T41 and T43. No combat time but with all the time in "T's", I had the enemy in the cockpit with me trying to kill me. I survived and help train a lot of the fighter guys of Desert Storm I&II. They done good!

[Hoomi]

Don, you wouldn't recognize the area around the old George AFB facility any longer.

Hesperia is bigger than Victorville now, by a LONG shot. Traffic up Cajon Pass is a mess nearly every day. They've widened I-15 up through the Pass, and it still jams up.

Highway 138 from the middle of the pass out towards Palmdale is now two lanes each direction. There is a signal at Mountaintop, where the road to Wrightwood meets 138.

We lived in Phelan, about 15 miles west of Hesperia, from '84 through '94. I was back up there a couple of months ago for my uncle's funeral, and couldn't believe how much it's changed.

I always did enjoy watching the Phantoms fly overhead while we lived out there, though.

[BigElectFlyr]

USAF, '69-'73, SSGT, (E5) Munitions Maintenance, bomb dump and flightline delivery. George AFB, Victorville Ca. 479th FMS, supporting F-4C/D Phantom II A/G training. June'70-Dec'71 Kadena AFB, Okinawa. PACAF, all things that went boom, in any way, used in Vietnam by the USAF came through our base, in and out. 20mm relink for first 10 month, then EOD destroying old/damaged mines/rocket motors/flares/and many more items, larger and smaller. Was involved in the movement and storage of the bad lot of 500lb Mk82 bombs that caused three major bomb dump explosions in SEA in '70-'71. Returned to George AFB after Okinawa, 35th MMS, 35th TAC FW. Crew Chief Graveyard Flightline Delivery, getting the morning frag loads to the aircraft armors.

Built plastic models, and flew U-Control as a kid, and again when I got out of the Air Force. Got into R/C in '81, fly mostly semi-scale warbirds. Went total electric around '98/'99.

[heartlandaccents]

US Army 1968 - 1970 - SGT E-5 - Ft. Ord, California - Ft. Bragg, North Carolina - Camp Friendship, Korat, Thailand

[apmech1]

USMC 1994 - 1999 Avionics / Fire Control / Phase / CDQAR AH-1W & UH-1N

[Dlxpkg2000]

U.S. Army 82-86 / SGT. Cavalry Scout, 1st Squadron, 4th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Stuttgart, Germany. 86-88 HHC. 1st BN 40th ARMOR, 5th INF..DIV. Ft. Polk, La.

[Hoomi]

Just the thought of appreciation coming from any and all non-military types, like yourself, farmflyer and others like you, in my opinion, warms my heart. There was a sad moment in time, when military personnel were frowned upon and disrespected(a few of us may understand what I'm talking about), I'm glad that's changed.

In a way, because of people like yourself, makes the healing(for those of us that may need), that much more tolerable ...

Thank You

(Sorry, I got kinda caught up in the moment)

Okay, back to the fun ...

My Senior Year in High School was 1976 - 77. The US Military was in the post-Vietnam enlistment slump, and the general attitude at that time was you only signed up for the military if you were a loser with no other prospects. Newly elected President Jimmy Carter considered reinstating the draft, in order to bolster the sagging rosters.

While I could have attended the local University for free, since my mother worked there, I decided to enlist in the Air Force Reserve and learn electronics. I didn't really want another two to four years of classroom education, and if there was a chance the draft was returning, I preferred to not find myself in the Infantry. That isn't an insult to the Infantry, either as an organization, or to any individuals who served or currently serve in that capacity. I just never did well with fighting. I never aspired to it, I never liked even wrestling in gym class, and figured I would end up more as a liability on a potential battlefield, than an asset. I reasoned if my draft number came up, I would just go from active Reserve to Active Duty, and would already have my training and military vocation.

I spent 7 years in the Reserves, primarily at Norton AFB in California, working mostly Starlifters.

[OV10]

Mcriley.........yes there are still others on these pages that understand what you were talking about.
No apologies needed for remembering the moment bro ;)

[mcriley2]

I am not a Veteran but just wanted to say I do not have the words to express my appreciation for those of you who are veterans or active duty. The service you have given to your country makes me proud to say I am an American. To all of you that may have given service to other countries I salute you as well. Not nearly enough people realize with out you we could not enjoy the life of freedom we take for granted. Again I wish I had the words to truly express how much I appreciate you.
THANK YOU

Just the thought of appreciation coming from any and all non-military types, like yourself, farmflyer and others like you, in my opinion, warms my heart. There was a sad moment in time, when military personnel were frowned upon and disrespected(a few of us may understand what I'm talking about), I'll be glad when it's changed.

In a way, because of people like yourself, makes the healing(for those of us that may need), that much more tolerable ...

Thank You

(Sorry, I got kinda caught up in the moment)

Okay, back to the fun ...

[Jhnybgd]

Navy Seabees NMCB 23
1986-94
Cm2

[bob_stan]

USAF 1968 - 1989. Spent almost all that time (except for training) as a weapons System Operator on an F-4 Phantom II.

[Twowingtj]

Couple days after I took the army pilot aptitude test, and past big time, was when the IED ended my quest.

Ahhhh, but you are alive and enjoying this hobby:Cool:. Many of our brothers and sisters weren't as fortunate as we are.

[Prowler901]

Damn! That really sucks, Rifleman. I'm sure you would have been a great Apache pilot.

[Grossman56]

You guys are awesome!!
Because of my deaf ear and screwed up back, I was robbed of my one dream of flying fighters. One of my best buddies in high school got the dream job of flight instructor in FA-18's in the CAF, envious still!

Grossman56

[mcriley2]

U.S. Army - '84-'90 185th Air Trans.

[BluesDragon]

US Army.. '81-'84.. 11B... 24th Infantry Division...

[Helmsman52]

I was born on Pariss island my mom and dad were USMC but I went Navy 87-91 and became a diesel mechanic on LCM 8 and 6 crafts in Italy.

[donnie]

army/ 1964-1967 . I was a bus driver during the Vietnam conflict. The bus I drove was a UH1B. Drove bus for 1st AirCAV from camp H. donnie

[mirored]

I spent 7 years active on two submarines, USS Alexander Hamilton and USS Georgia. I served as a Nuclear trained Electricians Mate First Class. I installed, maintained and operated shipboard trainers installed at various training centers for 22 years. I eventually became a government service employee serving the Navy at the WNY in DC. I retired two years ago after providing 39 years of service to the Navy. I have been sworn in at least three times and have never been un-sworn. I will continue to provide support to this wonderful nation as I always have. Thanks to all those that have served before, during and since.

[Tom603]

Hey OV-10, When I was on the Nimitz, was my first cruise, at that time I was just an Airman, went to Millington Tn after the cruise to AMH school, my pic is on page 235, bottom left initials T.E.R. :Cool: