How many Veterans do we have at NCKA?

I joined because I got lost my job , lost my apartment and wanted to do something that would make my dad proud of me for a change. I had no thoughts of honoring or serving my country. I was 18 and had nowhere to go.

Where were you stationed ?

- Anderson AFB, Guam
- Pope AFB, NC
- Thumrait AB, Oman (Desert Shield; Desert Storm)
- Alconbury AB, England
- McClellan AFB, CA
- Incirlik AB, Turkey
- Travis AFB, CA
- Al Udeid, Qatar (Iraqi Freedom)

What branch of the Armed Forces did you serve with?

- US Air Force; Security Forces K9, Operations (Active Duty)
- US Air Force; Security Forces, Chief Plans and Programs (Civilian)

When did you serve ?

- 1984 to 2004 (Active Duty)
- 2004 to Present (Civilian; working with a great team that keeps on giving)

USMC 01-03
Machine gunner in a reserve battalion that was activated in support of homeland security and the Iraqi invasion.  Served all my time on active duty and was med seped for an obscure muscle problem. Never went to combat and have tons of respect for those that have. Semper Fi and the Ma Duece was my favorite.   

Army 1982-1992 Cold War Era, did tours in Germany, Italy and Holland 83rd USAFAD, 12th USAFAD, 8th USAFAD, 1st USAFAD (USAFAD= United States Army Field Artillery Detachment, we held NATO's Nukes for possible use in an invasion of Europe).  Joined the NG in 1993 served in Florida, South Carolina, Texas, and now California.  Activated for 18 months in 2004-2005 for deployment to Iraq.  Spent a year with fighting Texans of the 36th Infantry Division (First Division to touch European soil).  After 28 years still going strong!

     Army  71 -74   I enlisted  at 17, so I'm not old yet...     Boot camp Ft Ord,,, ( hi Ray  )    Adv. training at Ft Lee VA.     Spent two and a half years in Schweinfurt Germany assigned to the 3/7th  Air Defense Artillery unit. 
 first as a parts inventory clerk.. the last 6 months as an  Ambulance driver.     
   With a whole lotta stuff in between... there's a few campfire stories came out of that trip.   

Hi Jim,
Yup, you are still probably younger than me.  I was at Ft. Ord for boot camp in 72.  Not as bad as I thought it would be. 

Rey

Wasn't going to post, but I guess it's okay to be a VN Vet now...
Spent about 6 month in early '67 in the states for Army training at various places GA, NC, SC, WA.
Then off to Viet Nam 1967, '68 & '69 (I'm an old guy), I stayed an extra 6 months in country (18 mo.) so I could get out of the Army 6 months early. My unit was Company C Rangers, 75th Inf. "Sua Sponte", all of my tour was in the central part of Viet Nam.

I salut you all 

I salut you all 

 The battle you fight is far greater than any I have fought.  For that I salut you my brother. You are a warrior in your own right.

I salut you all 

 The battle you fight is far greater than any I have fought.  For that I salut you my brother. You are a warrior in your own right.

 

US Coast Guard 83-87 Served aboard the CGC Morenthau then stationed in Alameda. Traveled to Alaska a couple of times on Alaska fishery patrols and many REFTRAs playing war games with the carrier fleets. I was seaman deckie striking as a BM for two years before receiving orders to ET 'A' school on Governors Island, NY. Next billet was Brooklyn Supply NY before discharge as a ET3.

Celebrated recently with my Army brothers. Still closer than family after 20 years. Proud and ready!

The photo, having a little fun during a moment of down time.

12 years with CA Army National Guard.

US Army - 75-78

Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo. (BCT)

Ft. Sill, OK (Field Artillery School) (AIT)

Ft. Greely, AK. (Arctic Test Center)

White Sands Missile Range, NM

We were a great experiment back then. The birth of the post-Vietnam All Volunteer Army. Many didn't think it would work. Some in the media labeled us "an Army of drugged out zombies". Actually, that wasn't very far from the truth but we had a lot of spirit and worked hard for our country. We were the long-haired kids going from Aerosmith and Ohio Players concerts to facing the incredible Soviet Machine that had us outnumbered nearly 10-1. Our sargeants and brass were all Nam vets who spent hours staring at shot glasses at the NCO/Officers Club. None of them would ever talk about the war to us. They really got nothing from our country, yet they gave to us, the young and naive of the time. The only combat I ever saw was in their eyes.

We were a great experiment back then. The birth of the post-Vietnam All Volunteer Army. Many didn't think it would work. Some in the media labeled us "an Army of drugged out zombies". Actually, that wasn't very far from the truth but we had a lot of spirit and worked hard for our country. We were the long-haired kids going from Aerosmith and Ohio Players concerts to facing the incredible Soviet Machine that had us outnumbered nearly 10-1. Our sargeants and brass were all Nam vets who spent hours staring at shot glasses at the NCO/Officers Club. None of them would ever talk about the war to us. They really got nothing from our country, yet they gave to us, the young and naive of the time. The only combat I ever saw was in their eyes.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

USAF 1988-1998
AMMO TROOP
Ramstein AB Germany1988-1991

Elmondorf AB Alaska 1991-1998