With a big Thank You for Serving – Why did you join and why did you choose the branch you did?

[Twana Blevins]

 

 

I found a great question at RINO DEN, a question that I love hearing and/or reading the answers to. I wanted to ask all of our Veterans and Troops here on PFA this question:

 

With a big Thank You for Joining and Serving – Why did you join and why did you choose the branch you did?

 

Twana

 

 

[01maq4qryakvp]

I joined the army fresh out of high school at 17. I had something to prove to myself. I had been on my own since 13.

The recruiter told me that I had scored higher than anyone in that recruiting region had ever scored on the army entrance exam. He said the army wanted me to go to West Point. I told him no, but I wanted to be a Green Beret.

He told me I was crazy and that he could only guarantee me jump school. Then, if I made Airborne, I could take the Special Forces battery of tests. I told him I'd take it.

After Basic training, Advanced Infantry Tng. and Jump School, I was off to Ft. Bragg for Special Forces training. 180 started that training. After about 18 months, 3 of us out of the 180 graduated.

I volunteered for Vietnam 5 times. They sent me three times.

I got out after 8 years because the war was over and I didn't like the BS in the peace time army.

[Malcolm H. Rudd Jr.]

I had just turned 17 and was planning to drop out of high school due to low grades and lax of interest. My parents where disfunctional and unable to deal with me. Plus I had a girl friend and was in heat instead of love. At 17 what did I know about love. I had just drop out of school with no job and wanted to get married. There again what did I know about marriage? Nothing! So I got married having to have both parents to sign my my marriage license due to my age and on top of that they and my wife had to sign enlistment papers giving their consent. So I join the USMC and that was the best thing that could have happen to me. I had to grow up fast. I turned 19 in Vietnam and boy did I grow real fast. I survived the Marine Corps but I didn't survive the marriage. But I can say thing for sure the Marine Corps/military will teach you responsibility and make a man out of you and I haven't regreted any of it to this day.

[James Higginbotham]

Howdy.

Marine Corps for 15 years  only reason i didn't do 20 was because i was wounded twice so was discharged in 1971.

Semper Fi.

Jim..

[John Paul Beard]

I inlisted in the US Army in 1968 and was sworn in Jan. of 1969.

Served with pride in the 173rd. ABN, was transfered to the 101st ABN. I do not mean to discredit the great 101st ABN, but the difference in the two units leadership at the time was very noticable.

I am guessing the difference was the 173rd was 100% ABN and volunteers the 101st about 5% Airborne with a lot of reluctant draftees! The difference being like the difference between a Chevy and a Cadillac, pride of ownership!

I am speaking of the  Esprit de Corp only,... not ability                                

I felt it was my obligation to do something for the country that has done so much for me. I did not then nor do I now take freedom for granted.

After seeing the weapons cache found by the US Border patrol recently,  it is my opinion that the muslims are going to try to bring the war to the United States with the help of the Mexican Drug Cartels and muslim communities already in this country along with the illegal aliens and Anti-American unknowing idiot Americans that back obama.

They have the man power to cause a massive problem with a little leadership and equipment.

One would think that one or two of our retired military would see the light and act accordingly.

If we cannot get a pure civilian court system, free of our judicial system, to arrest and prosecute many of the perpetrators in government, I see but one other course of action!

The only problem I can foresee is, who's house do we start cleaning first and when?

I would think a large civilan force on private land at the border working in conjunction with the US Border Patrol would be problematic for some wanna be rivals of this country.

[Felix McDaniel]

I started college in September 1964, after graduating in May 1963 from High School.  I lasted 3 semesters, realized I was not  really ready for college after failing algebra once and withdrawing failing twice.  I moved to Mesa, Arizona, thinking I would attend Baptist Bible College after completing a 4-year tour of service.  The Army offered to draft me or let me serve three years voluntarily, I do not like deep water so the Navy was out, I had been paralyzed in 1963 and could not pass the Marine physical as my legs were still recuperating, and, since I had always inclined toward the Air Force anyway because I loved airplanes, I went to the Air Force recruiter, SSgt Roger B. Edwards in Phoenix, told him I wanted in.  He signed me up in the Delayed Enlistment Program, but when an opening occurred three months earlier than expected, I took my oath of allegiance on the 1st day of April, 1966.  I went to five Air Force bases in my first four years including Phu Cat AB, Vietnam.  I early re-upped on 3 December 1969 and went on to a 20-year career, retiring in May 1986.  I went on to a college career, earning my BA and MA in History.  I have never stopped loving airplanes, especially military.         

[35q64ps6xl30l]

I just want to add my Thank You!

[Robert James Burkholder]

My big brother volunteered for the draft when I was still in high school -he ended up driving tank transports in Vietnam in the US Army.When I got out of high school I didn't know what I wanted to do ,and I needed  discipline  --and I wanted to find out WHY my Country was being torn apart over them SE Asian War Games. SO I enlisted in the US Army as a medic.I chose the US Army because I couldn't imagine  being on board ship,in the Navy- like my father had been during WWII. And Marine Corps seemed too hard Corps- the standards were lower for the US Army. My eyesight was not good enough to be a pilot so I didn't want  to join the Air Force. So I spent nearly eight years as a n Army Medic. Thought of being a Career Soldier for a while  but I walked into  a reduction in rank in Panama  And I had decided-when I enlisted if I ever went AWOL or got busted for any reason it would be time to get out. 

[2levnxrj9ujf6]

Air Force I like air planes.

[Darwin Rockantansky]

There was never a question as to whether or not I would serve.

My father was U.S. Army. He served in Korea and in Vietnam. Father was in the (no longer existing) Army Security Agency (ASA)  (Military Intelligence).  Four days out of high school and I was in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri - enlisted in the ASA - and I was not even old enough to register for the draft. A whole lot of school later and I was pulling guard duty in Chu Lai base camp on my 18th birthday - first of two tours.

Father explained many things as I grew up and I was a believer. I believed that if we did not help South Vietnam stand on its own two feet there would be a second holocaust. We failed and there was.

Father and I were in Vietnam at the same time and yet we fought in two different wars. Father was in a signal intelligence unit with an Army division around him. I worked with a highly independent group of about a half dozen people. When Father and I finally went to The Wall in Washington, D.C., Father found it impressive and interesting; I collapsed near the apex of the wall in abject sorrow and grief.

Our wars were different. Our individual commitment to service to this country is equal; then and now and so long as we both can still breathe the sweet air of freedom.

PROLOGUE

In 2009, more than forty years after Father retired, he received a Bronze Star for events he no longer remembers. To him, everything he ever did in the Army was "just doing his job as a soldier - no more and no less".

Earlier this year, at age 84, my father went to his local Army base and had himself fitted for the newest U.S. Army full dress uniform.

Darwin Rockantansky

Las Vegas, Nevada

[James Moore]

My dad had surgery about 4 mos before my 17th BD. Being the baby of 5 and still at home, I knew I had to do something to support mom and pop. Had a cousin who had decided to join the Navy. He talked me into it (even tho he joined about 6 wks ahead of me). I had no idea what I wanted to do, other than something to support my parents. Met another guy from Arkansas who talked me into going to Hospital Corps School. Best thing I could have done. It put me in the field I needed to be in. Had no idea that I would end up with the FMF in a place (Vietnam) that I had never heard of. And I had no idea that I would give this great country some 12 yrs of my life. Have some great memories.

[Robert Wittemeyer]

Marine Corps was my choice. I wanted the challenge and was proud to serve. Parris Island was a blast!

[Gary B]

My lottery number was 033.  I decided that if I had to go, I'd go into the branch that I wanted.  Air Force.