Military Veterans

[Weasel1960]

That was a bit before my time but my uncle was there in 1st Cav. Had starches at Ft Dix in 78 for BCT, then got permanent press when I got to Ft Belvoir for AIT.

 

[Paul B]

When I got drafted in 69, Ft Dix just closed as it was full so I went to Ft Jackson South Carolina.

This was after a battle I was in 10 days after I arrived. :confused:
You Helicopter guys did a lot to save us.

I want to see more pictures. How about you guys on Ships? :cool:

My closest friend of 50 years recently died from Covid served on an aircraft carrier off Nam. I think it was the Forestall. I don't know if it is still commissioned. Anyone heard of it? or have a picture.

 

[Rp8]

So I was browsing the threads and found one where a bunch of people thought it was for military vets. So I thought I'd start a thread. Are there any other military vets here? How long did you serve and what branch? What got you into reefing? Is there anything about your military experience that makes reefing special?

I served 11 years as a medic in the Army. I went to Afghanistan twice and S Korea once. I got into reefing because it has been a lifelong dream of mine. I was medically retired from the Army and my first reef tank was essentially a retirement gift. Now it keeps me busy as I'm always learning and reading on how to be a better reefer.

7 years Army, 19k abrams TC. Did Spain, France, and Germany. 14 years ago wised up switched over to Coast guard, Boatswains mate, and I'm still sailing...

i've had tanks before in the army when i was state side. got out for a while. Couple of years ago, wife was wanting a low maintenance pet, and i suggested an aquarium instead lol.

For the last 10 years of my CG career, i have been on Cutters and sailed tens of thousands of miles at sea. It's arduous and dangerous, but no where else have i felt like i feel when out there.

my entire adult life i have served this country, and now with everything going haywire, i feel uncertain and let down.

But still, my response whenever people say "thanks for your service" my response is and always be "i'm proud to serve".

Rp8

 

[Paul B]

Thank you Rp8 :)

 

[Rp8]

Thank you Rp8 :)

Your very welcome Mr. Paul, Thanks for yours as well. Prayers and blessings for you and your wife.

 

[Rp8]

This is my current unit, servicing Aids to Navigation from Omaha down to the mouth of Missouri River.

 

[BaysEndReef]

When I was in Afghanistan in 2012, I was in a scout platoon. Here are some pics from that deployment.

 

[Brewski262]

When I got drafted in 69, Ft Dix just closed as it was full so I went to Ft Jackson South Carolina.

This was after a battle I was in 10 days after I arrived. :confused:
You Helicopter guys did a lot to save us.

I want to see more pictures. How about you guys on Ships? :cool:

My closest friend of 50 years recently died from Covid served on an aircraft carrier off Nam. I think it was the Forestall. I don't know if it is still commissioned. Anyone heard of it? or have a picture.

The forestall was named after sec def James Forrestal.. was commished in 1955 and decomm'd in 1993.. conventionally powered compared to my ship which was nuclear powered.

It was eventually scrapped in 2015 after several attempts to make it a museum. Aside from the extensive combat/support records, the forestall is most known for the fire that killed over 130 sailors which you can read more about here:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_USS_Forrestal_fire

 

[Brewski262]

When I got drafted in 69, Ft Dix just closed as it was full so I went to Ft Jackson South Carolina.

This was after a battle I was in 10 days after I arrived. :confused:
You Helicopter guys did a lot to save us.

I want to see more pictures. How about you guys on Ships? :cool:

My closest friend of 50 years recently died from Covid served on an aircraft carrier off Nam. I think it was the Forestall. I don't know if it is still commissioned. Anyone heard of it? or have a picture.

Also I am sorry for your loss =(

 

[Paul B]

Anthony, I had one of those monkeys. She would take anything out of my pockets, and if we got hot beer, she would get drunk and fall down. Mean little sucker. Her name was Judy.

You guys dressed a lot better than we did and carried a lot more junk. :)



This is about all I carried. I built that 30 round magazine from some parts from a crashed helicopter.

 

[Paul B]

Brewski, thank you for that story of the Forestall. My friend must have been on it about 1967 so he may have been there through the fire. I don't remember him telling me about it. He got out about a year before I did so probably 1970.

 

[BaysEndReef]

Anthony, I had one of those monkeys. She would take anything out of my pockets, and if we got hot beer, she would get drunk and fall down. Mean little sucker. Her name was Judy.

You guys dressed a lot better than we did and carried a lot more junk. :)



This is about all I carried. I built that 30 round magazine from some parts from a crashed helicopter.

Haha. Things seemed to be more relaxed back then. A little less politics involved with the military. Another reason why I got out. Those little monkeys are so cool.

It seems that the more technology advances, the more gear we have to wear and carry. I would much rather carry all of that gear than be blown up by an IED again, though. haha. Cheers!

 

[Bnutz]

Third generation vet here. I spent 6 years in the USAF as a crew chief on F15 and F22 platforms. Deployed twice to Iraq, and so many TDY's I don't even remember. 6 month remote to Iceland. I have worked as a civilian contractor for the DOD since 2009. My wife spent 4 years in the Navy and did 2 circumnavigational trips. Not sure what the call them in the Navy.

 

[fyrefightr]

So I was browsing the threads and found one where a bunch of people thought it was for military vets. So I thought I'd start a thread. Are there any other military vets here? How long did you serve and what branch? What got you into reefing? Is there anything about your military experience that makes reefing special?

I served 11 years as a medic in the Army. I went to Afghanistan twice and S Korea once. I got into reefing because it has been a lifelong dream of mine. I was medically retired from the Army and my first reef tank was essentially a retirement gift. Now it keeps me busy as I'm always learning and reading on how to be a better reefer.

20 years in the Air Force as a firefighter. Retired as an E-7 in 2006

 

[skydirt]

4yrs US Navy as a Gunners Mate stationed in Hawaii. Been on one west pac that took me all over japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, and of course the most time was spent in the Persian Gulf during dessert storm in the early to mid 90's. I learned to dive in Hawaii and have always been fascinated with the ocean and all it's inhabitants. Never had a reef/saltwater tank until 2017 bc i just assumed it was too much work. My mother and grandmother had freshwater tanks a lot as i grew up and she just loved them. She would spend hours tinkering and just watching the fish. I think she is what really made me get into the saltwater tanks. After she died i thought about her a lot and how she loved her tanks so i decided if i was going to get into fish tanks i wanted a reef tank. Almost 4yrs, 5 tanks, and who knows how much money, i now have my dream system of a 400g main DT, 105 mangrove attached to main that's in the fish room and a 165 frag system. I think about my time in the Navy diving and my mom every time i look in my tanks.

 

[Buffalou]

22 years Navy, ABE, got commissioned to warrant and retired CWO-4 before 5 came along, or I would have stayed! Served on USS forrestal CV-59, USS Nimitz CVN-68, USS Kitty Hawk CV-63, and retired V-2 Maintenance officer on the greatest, CVN-65 USS Enterprise. Always had tank, but got into serious reefing about 10 years ago. To all that served "proud to call you all brothers in arms!"

 

[sfin52]

 

[Cwentz758]

I’m currently still serving as a C17 loadmaster in the USAF. I’m going on 11 years; was C130s for 10 doing all the cool airdrop stuff. Been some cool places seen a lot of cool things, met my wife who’s also in.

I’ve been in the fish game for about 7 years off and on. I tore down two tanks due to an upcoming deployment and nobody to take care of them. Now that I’m married and the difference in how deploying works for me I’ve been able to set up two tanks where I’m finally growing my knowledge. My new IM 100 comes next week I’m hoping to start fresh leaving all the bad habits and hitchshikers I’ve gained over the years.

 

[BamaReefer123]

I was in US Navy for 20 years, was a Aviation Ordnanceman. Retired in 2006. Completed 8 West Pac Deployments and one World Cruise bringing the Ronald Reagan from East coast to West coast. Had saltwater and freshwater aquariums growing up and also while on active duty. After retiring decided to step into the reef side of this hobby.

IYAOYAS

Charles

 

[drbark]

Haha. Things seemed to be more relaxed back then. A little less politics involved with the military. Another reason why I got out. Those little monkeys are so cool.

It seems that the more technology advances, the more gear we have to wear and carry. I would much rather carry all of that gear than be blown up by an IED again, though. haha. Cheers!

Same here. Can’t run worth crap with all that gear on me.