May 24, 2008

[king_arthur]

It's Memorial Day weekend here in the U.S. QotD: what's your connection (or lack thereof) to military service?

I was never in the service, but I dropped out of college in '71, losing my school draft deferment status, and had Vietnam gone on much longer, I'd have been in, based on a fairly low lottery number. At 18, I really didn't know what was going on in the world (my 18th birthday was three days after Kent State, and I went down to Selective Service and signed up... kinda blows any hippie credentials I might hope to have), and couldn't have honestly asked for conscientious objector status. So if they'd continued drafting, I'd have been in, and I guess I have Nixon to thank for that not happening.

My dad was in the Army in WWII, and although I have no idea what he'd have been like without that experience, I know it affected him. I remember hearing him talk about sitting around in Europe after Germany surrendered, and everybody figured they were going off to Japan next (and probably not coming back from that) and then they heard about some new kind of bomb that had been dropped over there...

Charles (KA)

[Niveous]

QotD: My brother in law is in the Navy and I'm lucky that I'm getting to hang with him this weekend.

[ujnhunter]

My Grandfather on my Mother's side was in the Army... I *think* he was involved in the Korean war... but that is not confirmed... And my Uncle, his son... was a Marine... but never saw combat (again, I don't think he did... he was too young for Vietnam) Not sure about my Father's side... but my father is Canadian, not sure they even have an army... *waiting for the canucks to take this piss out of me*

[Rabid Garfunkel]

Army. Well, Reserves, so Paco can call me a pussy. '87 to '93. Intel unit (so the rest of you can call me an oxymoron), focused on the USSR & Korea, so we weren't desirable for the first go-round in Southwest Asia.

[Heather. Redmon.]

QotD My grandfather on my mother's side was a Marine at the tail end of Korea. I don't think he ever saw combat, but he was sent over there to "clean up" (and get drunk, get tattoos and meet women). There are pictures in my grandma's old photo albums of him and his buddies standing in front of pyramids of skulls. They look jovial, the skulls do not. All of his brothers, and his brother's children, were in various branches of the military. None of my mom's brothers or sisters ever joined up.

My dad was also a Marine for a while, tail end of Vietnam, but never saw combat either (at least he's never talked about it if he has). He was trained as a helicopter pilot.

My cousin, who is two years younger than me, is a Ranger in the Army. Special Forces I guess. I know nothing about that kind of stuff. He's been to Afghanistan once and Iraq twice. He met his wife there, an Iraqi who spoke English and was recruited by the Army to interpret for them. Her name is Tahgreed and she is very nice. I went to their wedding. They now live in a small town in Nebraska, a far cry from Tikrit.

As far as plans for the weekend, not many. I'm looking forward to hanging out with the kids. I've got to dye my hair because the grays are starting to show through again. I have a massage scheduled for Sunday at 2pm. And... we're SongFighting!

[fluffy]

qotd: My grandpa on my dad's side was a field medic in World War II, stationed in France. He is 97. I need to visit him while he's still around.

My weekend plans are to keep playing Wii Fit. I've already done the half-hour for today though.

[Billy's Little Trip]

QOTD: No military for me. Although I do say, "I learned this in the Army" when people ask me where I learned how to do something. I guess it was funny when I was 10, but now it's not so and very plausible.

King Arthur, I was ordered off the streets by the police during the Kent State riots when I was around 7 or 8 years old. I think I may have mentioned that before.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Aw Rabid, you're no pussy. I had a two year enlistment in the Army from 1984-86, much to the chagrin of those who thought there was nothing shorter than three years. I was in an engineer company which built a 'ribbon bridge'. You'd drop this loaf looking hunk of steel into a river, where it would unfold and be caught by an awaiting boat, then linked together with other pieces to make a raft or full enclosure. We worked hard, played hard as well, all young guys let loose in Germany with a strong dollar to mark conversion rate. I loved those guys.

I actually had a unique job in the company that involved picking up explosives to destroy the on-ramps to the German bridges. The German logic was why destroy the entire bridge, to keep it out of the Russian's hands, but keep the bridge intact but unaccessible. Save a lot of reconstruction money afterwards, although I guess for the Russians.

Also, I was fortunate enough to not have seen combat. Libya bombed a disco in Berlin, killing a U.S. soldier, and we had guard duty up the pazoo after that, which provided many 'war stories' I'll bore you all with another time. I do not envy any man, in any army, that has to shoot another living being, and especially for someone else's reasons.

Well today I went to the cemetaries in Haverhill, Mass., one of which is just gorgeous. Planted geraniums and said hi to all the dead folk. It's a beautiful day here, just perfect weather with the lilacs still blooming. Jeez, what a softie, huh?

[rone rivendale]

QotD: My Dad was in Vietnam (Navy). My Uncle Roger was in the Navy for like 30 years. The tailend of that as a recruiter. Tried to recruit me when I was 20 or 21 and I gave a verbal commitment but a couple weeks later I backed out. And like 6 months later 9/11 happened. So pussy or not, I'm glad I didn't join. My oldest sister joined the Army at 40 years old believe it or not. She's a nurse, or at least training to be. Got lots of cousins and such that are in or will be soon as well.

[roymond]

I registered as an objector. My brother was 82nd airborn special forces who never saw action (Angola was they hot spot then) . My dad was a navigator on bombers in the aircorp in the 30s, before the US got into WWII. I'm grateful for you guys who served and hope you've gotten benefits from it. My brother got into long distance running and rock climbing as a passion and went to to Pratt on the GI bill and now makes awesome jewelry. So he made the best of it, I think.

[Reist]

qotd: My Grandpa was a mechanic in WWII. I don't plan on joining the army - I see no benefit of it (aside from free schooling). I'm sure joining the canadian army isn't that dangerous - we make a big deal of every death, but only about 80 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan in the last 7 years (that's a guesstimation - I think it's pretty close though).

[HeuristicsInc]

My dad was in the Air Force, but for health reasons was kept stateside. Many of my cousins were military on his side.
My grandpa on my mom's side was involved with balloons, much earlier.
My sister's husband was in the Army, in a Patriot battery. His Hum-Vee was hit by a train during training exercises. We spend Memorial Day every year remembering him with my sister and my niece and nephew. Some years we have gone to the concert on the Capitol lawn, other years we watched it on tv (like this year).
-bill