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Puddlethumper

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Today is December 7th. This is the anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. And America is still dealing with the effects of the radical Islamic attack on Sep.11, 2001.

These thoughts bring me to think of the many who have served our country, in times of peace and in times war. All who served realized when they held their hand up to take the oath that they might be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice for this country. A great many who took the oath did just that.

To all who have served, who are serving now, or have loved ones who did, thank you and may God bless you.

Would you care to let us know who you are and when and where you served? (Please don't post any personal information.) I'll start off:

U.S. Army Security Agency 1970-73, Sp.5 - Turkey
 
It's because of those that came before us and stand beside us, that we do what we do. You're hard pressed to find many who serve(d) that don't take a personal moment in remembrance on days like today.

Thank you for your service Puddlethumper.

173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team '09-'12

101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) '12-current
 
Thanks to all who have served! This thread has me reflecting back on the times while employed by our great country.

Air Force F-16 crewdawg from 1998 to the end of stop loss in 2004. Long TDY/Assignments in Turkey, Korea, PSAB, UAE.
 
I am actually traveling home from Afghanistan right now. Awaiting transportation at a secondary location...

I have deployed to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Diego Garcia, Qatar, Honduras, Korea, Bahrain, Grenada (not really a deployment...) and Afghanistan.

Been stationed at Charleston SC, Osan Korea, Macdill FL, Kunsan Korea, and Shaw SC currently.

Forgot to add I work POL. WHO THE HELL?!?!
 
I am actually traveling home from Afghanistan right now. Awaiting transportation at a secondary location...

I have deployed to Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Diego Garcia, Qatar, Honduras, Korea, Bahrain, Grenada (not really a deployment...) and Afghanistan.

Been stationed at Charleston SC, Osan Korea, Macdill FL, Kunsan Korea, and Shaw SC currently.

I went to Pusan, Korea on my last deployment. Pretty cool place, at least to visit. Not sure how living there would be. The sushi was awesome there, though, that's for sure. It was funny because when we went there North Korea accused the US of bringing nuclear weapons near North Korea, but fast attacks don't carry nukes, they're just nuclear powered.
 
I find it interesting that so many USN vets are homebrewers. I wonder if we don't share a fondness for nerdy tinkering.

As for me, spent many hours turning left over parts of the earth that I don't miss.
 
US Army Infantryman and Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division in the 80's.

Ha- that reminds me how I broke my leg the first time! Sometime I'll tell you all about it.

Not all that interesting, but how many people break the same leg in basic training, later taking a test for Airborne training, once sliding down the "slide for life", twice playing hockey as a 40something, and once jumping out of a helicopter?!?! I bet you can't name more than a dozen. :drunk:

Same leg each time, too.

Moral of that story- put the LEFT leg down first sometimes! :D
 
Ha- that reminds me how I broke my leg the first time! Sometime I'll tell you all about it.

Not all that interesting, but how many people break the same leg in basic training, later taking a test for Airborne training, once sliding down the "slide for life", twice playing hockey as a 40something, and once jumping out of a helicopter?!?! I bet you can't name more than a dozen. :drunk:

Same leg each time, too.

Moral of that story- put the LEFT leg down first sometimes! :D

LOL! That bone has gotta be super strong with all that scar tissue! And that had to hurt! (every time!)
 
LOL! That bone has gotta be super strong with all that scar tissue! And that had to hurt! (every time!)

Yes, it hurt. You should have seen my drill sergeant putting me in a deuce and a half for the ride to a hospital from the field. That was the first time I broke anything, and I kept saying, "I broke my leg! I broke my leg!" and all he said was, "Yep. For God's sake, keep it covered. You're scaring me!". :D

Vietnam vet, and he was freaked out by a female with a weird lower leg fracture. He came to see me in the hospital that night. :D
 
Yes, it hurt. You should have seen my drill sergeant
Vietnam vet, and he was freaked out by a female with a weird lower leg fracture. He came to see me in the hospital that night. :D

Sounds like a first rate sergeant. Sounds like your stint with MI called for more field work than what I was doing.
 
Just want to say thanks everyone for your service.

USN, Fire-Controlman (CIWS Tech) 2nd class, 1992-1998, served on USS Camden AOE-2 (Floating 7-11) and USS Mount Vernon LSD-69 (Gator Freighter).
 
Puddlethumper said:
Wow! You people are incredible! I put this thread up this morning wondering if there'd be any response at all. Thank you for your patriotism and for your courage to stand.

So Puddle, I see your profile has you in the Central Valley. There are more than a few veterans about 40 miles south of Fresno in Lemoore, CA. There's nothing else in Lemoore, unfortunately.

Good luck to your Fresno Bulldogs tonight.
 
So Puddle, I see your profile has you in the Central Valley. There are more than a few veterans about 40 miles south of Fresno in Lemoore, CA. There's nothing else in Lemoore, unfortunately.

Good luck to your Fresno Bulldogs tonight.

Sounds like you've visited Lemoore! :) Nice quiet town. It does have a really nice little muni golf course.

Really broken hearted that the Dogs lost so big to San Jose last week. Had a shot at a BCS berth, too. Thanks for your good wishes. I hope they come back from last week with a vengeance!

Cheers!
 
United States Coast Guard (USCG)

Chief Boatswains Mate-Qualified Surfman (BMC)

Stationed at various Motor Lifeboat stations along the Oregon, Washington, California coasts

1995-2009 Semper Paratus
 
Ha- that reminds me how I broke my leg the first time! Sometime I'll tell you all about it.

Not all that interesting, but how many people break the same leg in basic training, later taking a test for Airborne training, once sliding down the "slide for life", twice playing hockey as a 40something, and once jumping out of a helicopter?!?! I bet you can't name more than a dozen. :drunk:

Same leg each time, too.

Moral of that story- put the LEFT leg down first sometimes! :D

Holy Cow Yoop! Lead with the other leg for once. The worst injury I got while jumping was a cracked tailbone in Jump School on my third jump. It hurt like hell, but I didn't want to recycle, so I did the last two jumps, thinking I could then let it heal. It was not to be so easy. First week at Bragg they had us jump twice out of Hueys. Four jumps with a cracked tailbone.

Besides that, all I really had was heat stroke on the DMZ in Korea, frostbite in Alaska and second degree sunburns from the waste up in Death Valley.
 
USAF - Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist (ECM Tech)
1974 - 1977 Mainly stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB
Worked on A7Ds and A10s
 
USAF - Electronic Warfare Systems Specialist (ECM Tech)
1974 - 1977 Mainly stationed at Myrtle Beach AFB
Worked on A7Ds and A10s

I went to an airshow some time ago where an Air Force pilot did a demonstration of the A10. That is an amazing airplane! I about couldn't believe my eyes to see it just hang there in the air and make a 180 inside the space above the airport runway. What an airplane!
 
United States Coast Guard (USCG)

Chief Boatswains Mate-Qualified Surfman (BMC)

Stationed at various Motor Lifeboat stations along the Oregon, Washington, California coasts

1995-2009 Semper Paratus

Interesting TV special a while back about what you guys do and the conditions you worked in. Had the chance to see it a little closer on a trip through Astoria a few years ago. I wonder how many people realize what you did and have seen the boats you guys go out in... Amazing boats and even more amazing crews!

My hat is off to you. Thanks for your service.
 
I don't count myself as a veteran. Others have done more than I. Iowa Army National Guard. 1987-2011. Deployed to Germany 1996. Started as MP. Ended as JAG.

I got to know many who heard shots fired in anger. I got to know some with scars--seen and unseen. I got to know some who gave their all. My service was insignificant compared to those. I am humbled by and thank those who were true patriots. (Very proud of my son who is a medic in the IARNG).

I also remember my fathers cousin--Sherman Greene-- who died on December 7, 1941 at Hicklin Field.
 
I don't count myself as a veteran. Others have done more than I. Iowa Army National Guard. 1987-2011. Deployed to Germany 1996. Started as MP. Ended as JAG.

.

My son is an honorably discharged reservist. He says the same thing as you and I tell him the same thing. We all stood there with our right hands raised and took that oath. And we all should remember that some of the first troops on the ground in Korea in 1950 were Guardsmen and reservists.

Thanks for taking a stand. There are far too many who won't.
 
USAF
Security Forces LE (Combat Arms Instructor 10 years) Medically Retired E-6
July 95-Jan 11
List Job Flight Chief, Alpha Flight Hill AFB

Howard AFB Panama, Davis Monthan AFB AZ, Vandenberg AFB CA, USAF Academy CO, Hill AFB UT,
Spain, UAE X3
 
Pennsylvania Army National Guard. 14 years and counting.

3 overseas deployments. Two combat tours, once to Iraq, once to Afghanistan.

Went to the dark side three years ago as an E-6. Currently a First Lieutenant.
 
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