Military & Collecting Soldiers (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

When I got my draft classification in 1965 of 1a, I was able to join a Army Reserve Unit, still had openings. Joined not to avoid VietNam, but I just got on the Police Department and loved that job so much I didn,t want to leave.
Having said the above my question is, I love Military History, collecting soldiers but I HATED the military. Anyone else feel like I did?
Gary

 

[sceic2]

My personal experiences with the military are quite different than yours. I don't know about the Army other than my son is currently serving and he seems to have mixed feelings about it. My experience in the Navy was very mixed also. I joined in 1969 at age 18. I spent the first three years absolutely hating everything about the Navy and the "lifers." Of course this was when I was an E-1 to E-4. Once I made E-5, life became very much different. I was given responsibility for things that had some responsibility associated with them, like other sailors and maintenance of machinery in the engine room. When I was advanced to E-6, I was the senior Machinist Mate onboard a Destroyer Escort and loved it. When I was made an E-7, life and attitude toward the Navy got even better. As a Chief Petty Officer, I had respect and trust from the officers and my fellow chiefs. And when I was promoted to Warrant Officer 3, life really changed. I was now a member of the wardroom officer class. I was treated with a lot of respect by the officers and had a very pleasant time until I retired in 1990. I would do it all over again, but not the Army, Air Force or Marines. Whole different world in those organizations. Michael.

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Guys,

I had a great time for the most part while I was in the Military. I was an officer and had a lot of responsibilities right away. I really enjoyed my time on tanks and had a great time as a Company Commander in Germany. I also met my wonderful wife Jessica while we were serving in Germany and would have to say I have no regrets. Made a lot of friends and traveled to a lot of European battlefields and saw a lot of places I had read about. Reading about Roman ruins and putting you hand on Hadrains Wall makes the things from History Classes come alive. Anyway, I have had a good time in and around the Army and would not trade the experience for anything.

Dave

 

[Leadmen]

My friend got a great idea- lets' join the Marines. He went home failing physical for eye problem and away I went for four years. I think later it was a good thing and enjoyed the far east. I would not want to spend a career in the Fleet Marine Force line companies. All I know is by doing that I got out in 64 and did not get called back for Viet Nam because they had a draft then. Nowdays it would be pack your seabag. Hated Marine harassment at times. Have no clue if it helped my collecting- always had Marx and dimestores has a kid so maybe it just reenforced my hobby. John:

 

[Leadmen]

Has a follow up. My neighbor just left this weekend for his third tour in Iraq. He reported to Camp Pendelton. He works at Federal Center so he gets his wages. He is a Lt. Colonel in charge of Bridge and logistics battalion. J

 

[Mr Man]

I look back fondly on my time in the service. There were times, like the rest of you, when it was less than enjoyable. With a very few exceptions, I have only met guy who remember their service fondly and would do it again. It never dampened my enjoyment of military history and the collecting of military toys of all kinds, sharpened it more likely.

 

[ucla1967]

I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1961 when I was 19 years old. I did so for a number of reasons including a sense of duty to my country and a desire to see the world, among other things. I had also loved things military and military history, so this seemed like a natural thing to do. Although I quickly assertained that I did not want to make a career out of it, I look back foundly on my three years of service and would do it again even knowing what I now know. I believe anyone who didn't have this very unique exerience has missed out on something very special.

 

[sceic2]

It has been my experience that when a person serves in the lower ranks for the first three or four years, they tend not to enjoy their time in the military. I think it is because they don't have much opportunity to lead, they are often the lead.

As you gain responsibility and rank, the opportunity for personal growth grows. You are less and less constrained by the day-to-day routine of cleaning, working parties, field-days, etc. As you become more of a leader, your opportunities to lead others and to use your own personal management skills increases.

Plus as the ranks increase so do the extra benefits, like more pounds allowed for household goods when you PCS (permanent change of station); not only does pay increase as you advance, so do all of the other pays and allowances.

I remember cleaning heads at the Phily Shipyard for the Iranians as they prepared to take over a decommissioned US ship in 1971. They had no duties as far as their barracks were concerned. I had to clean the goat guts out of the trash can after they cut up, cooked and ate a goat they bought at a farm some place in NJ. I hated the Navy at that point. But as I grew and matured, so did my sense of responsibility. If I had to do it all over again, I would. If it were not for becoming a single parent to my three children when my wife decided she did not want to be married to me and a mother to our children; I had to retire, my children came first and they needed a father to be with them and not at sea. If that had not happened, I would have one more year toward my retirement at age 55, after 37 years. I still have salt water in my veins. Thats why I can handle the cold in Minnesota, got my own built in antifreeze. Michael

 

[Leadmen]

I commend you Michael for your service to our country and for taking care of your children. You probably have some interesting stories and got to see the world. I turned down a Med. Cruise instead of extending for six months. My buddy said it was neat. My last year I was in a Marine Fighter Squadron for a year and it was tempting to stay there except I felt they would send me back to line companies after I reenlisted. Air wing was like a vacation. Never even was out in the field while there. John

 

[sceic2]

You probably have some interesting stories and got to see the world. I turned down a Med. Cruise instead of extending for six months. My buddy said it was neat. My last year I was in a Marine Fighter Squadron for a year and it was tempting to stay there except I felt they would send me back to line companies after I reenlisted. Air wing was like a vacation. Never even was out in the field while there. John

I know what you mean. My brother was a mortar-man in the Marines. He had some really ridiculous stories to tell about field exercises. He deployed to Westpac twice and spent most of his time attacking a beach in Korea during the early 80’s.

The Grunt’s I dealt with were an interesting lot. My last ship was the USS Guadalcanal LPH-7. She’s in retirement with Davy Jones (they used her for a target early in 2005). We carried a couple of helo squadrons and a Harrier group with 1,500 troops. My guys, when they were bored, would stand in line at an empty office just to see how many Marines would fall in behind them and how long they would wait after my guys left the line. The Marine Warrant Officers were great. Loved to be with them on liberty. Your right, I’ve got a lot of sea stories to tell if you get me started. I got to see 27 countries during my tour of duty and loved every one of them. Even Haiti. That one, like a lot of others, really made me glad to live in the US and not have to worry about finding my next meal. Michael