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Military Service
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:04 pm
by Wendae
Many of us probably filled macho jobs or still do like; military service, law enforcement, fire&rescue, security forces, etc. What a shocker!

Not exactly what the public thinks when the topic of CDing comes up. You know what that is so I'll skip it. I'm just curious how many of us served in the military, so I thought I'd try a poll.....Someone might want to try one for the other macho jobs.
I realize GGs fill these jobs as well and don't want to demean them so I'll apologize in advance in case someone takes offense.
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:30 pm
by Kimberly Kael
Ummm. Where is the "never served" option?
Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:52 pm
by Carolynn
I served but I was drafted, so picked my branch and enlisted before reporting for the physical to max. my chances at making a better wage while I was doing it, and incidentally reduced my chances of dying in combat. Would have skipped it if it had been feasible. Did learn a lot though, some of it was not very nice at all, and a little was what I would imagine as hell on earth.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:50 am
by Kay
UK National Service ended in about 1963, I was nine

. so I'm in the "never served" bunch on this side of the pond.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 6:12 am
by Carol Ann
13 years but Nam put me out

Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:22 am
by Susan
I, strictly speaking, was not in the Military but I was in the British Merchant Navy, which has always been in the thick of every war the UK has fought for the past century or more. In 1974, a few months before it fell, I went to Saigon on a ship carrying 18000 tons of aviation fuel. My abiding memory of the trip was the total devastation of the countryside from the Mekong Delta to Saigon.
Whilst I was not shot at I was well aware of the war there as the place was crawling with Military. We were not allowed ashore so technically I guess I have never set foot in Vietnam.
My little story, not a patch on my father's service in WWII.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 1:18 pm
by Aeryn
This poll needs a "never served" option.
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 2:43 pm
by Wendae
I never had any intent to put anyone down for not serving in the military. I'm really sorry if I hurt anyones feelings. I'll be glad to add a line for never served if some one will tell me how.

I can think of many other options if someone wants to start another poll.
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:48 pm
by CJ
Hi all,
Wendae asked me to help her add a "never served" option to the poll, which I just did. Unfortunately, I deleted the poll results in the process. You may re-cast your vote if you so wish.
Wendae,
I don't think people who haven't served are offended (at least, I hope not) but there are obviously enough of us out there who haven't served in the military to make it a good idea to have a "no serve" option.
Love,
CJ
Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:55 pm
by Wendae
Someone done did it for me. Thank you! By the way I retired on 20 years and did 2 tours in Vietnam. Never was "in" combat. Thank God!
I know there are a lot of support folks, contractors, news media, etc that are right in the middle of the shooting or near by. My hat is off to them.I was just curious how many folks of our orientation had been in the service, not to slight anyone.
I was in a little bit....
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 7:04 am
by Steve
Retired out of USAF as Combat Photographer.
If I had to do it again I would have got out and went to collage (Plan on Joining).
But hey it provides paycheck and medical, that can't be beat.
Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:05 am
by Jadeanne
Now that there is a "Never Served" category, I checked that.
I was rejected due to psoriasis.
Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 8:22 pm
by Gaven McLaren
Never served but was a member of my high school JROTC. I know not the same but still instills a sense of leadership.
Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:59 pm
by Absaroka
never served. I was draft age but had a high lottery number, which I can still remember after reading it once in the newspapar 38 years ago. I'd have gone if I was drafted but wasn't about to volunteer. This was the middle of Viet Nam.
Years later I found out I would have been 4 F anyway.
Respect and thanks to all who did serve.
Absaroka
Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2009 12:16 am
by April Rose
This is an issue that has haunted me since I was draft age. I was accepted in college, but was failing miserably. I remember sitting in my dorm room with six or seven other guys listening to the draft lottery on the radio. my number was 74. I decided to drop out anyway, and take my chances. The draft notice came. I assumed that I would go and be taken. Somehow, my family doctor, who was also a neighbor and knew me well, got wind of this situation. He wrote a letter to my draft board. On the appointed day I took the bus ride to my draft physical, letter in hand. I could have handed it in. I could have not handed it in. But Richard Nixon was the president of the United states. He was a Liar and a criminal, and I understood that clearly, regardless of the opinions of my parents generation. The principal of my high school was just a liar. My moral compass came down to me.
My father was killed in Korea. The battle for Seoul. When I was growing up, nobody ever talked about it. I didn't find out it was the battle for Seoul until I started researching it in my 40's . The letters fellow combatants write to the families are white lies meant to mitigate their pain. The only thing I knew in 1970 was, nobody gave a damn.
Long story short, at that stage of my life, I trusted no one. I handed the letter in.
I was rejected as 1y, emotionally unstable. that is the army code name for "queer" .
I never read the letter, because the doctor had said not to, and he was the one adult at that time who had my complete respect.
But i have always wondered since then, who would have lived or died had I made a different decision.