Being in the US Military

 

I enlisted into the US Navy Reserves in 1969-1974, (two years active duty and four years reserve), and when I left active duty in the summer of 1972, this photo was taken by my cousin, two days after my now ex-wife and I drove back from Norfolk, Virginia where I had been stationed on ARS-43, a salvage and rescue ship.  We had just returned from a 6-month deployment in the Mediterranean.

While in the Med, our ship stopped at a few duty-free stations and while on shore leave, I purchased about $2,500 of stereo equipment for less than $1,000 and a $1,000 35mm camera for right at $200, if my memory serves me well.

But the most important part of my enlistment in the military was the fact that the GI BILL paid for my last two years of college and my two years of Graduate School, not to mention that my daughter was born during that time as well and that only cost me $25 which was the hospital's charge for my wife's wristband.

I, like everyone else, had a opportunity to be sent to Vietnam but was looked over for some reason.  Not sure if it was because I was in the reserves or if it was just the luck of the draw.  I was a radio operator (RM3) and they were being sent to Vietnam by the boatload to be beach runners with a life expectancy of right around 30 seconds, give or take.

I got out of the military because I did not like being told what to do and I did not like wearing a uniform.  However, during my 45-year career (not including the military), I still wore a uniform (coat and tie) and was still told what to do.  I suppose that was the IRONY of my naive decision at the time.

Still, I believe that I got more out of the military than the military got out of me, although I performed all my duties aboard ship exceptionally well...  at least that is what my supervisors wrote on my evaluations.

TODAY, I am 76 years old, and my military career seems like a long time ago.  I have been retired since 2015 so it has been almost 10 years.

What do I think about the military now?

Not much...

I don't like wars - especially those we have to fight for some other country.

However, I agree that you maintain peace only through a strong military.

I don't think the military should be WOKE and I am very happy that it was not WOKE when I served because I am not sure how I would have reacted.

YES!!!  I do believe that everyone, REGARDLESS, should spend TWO YEARS in the military, as a way of giving back to this country.

AND I believe that the GI BILL should still be available just like it was before and not just because we were in a war-time conflict.

We give and our government gives back...

WIN/WIN