Ever run into someone and start talking military and find out you served with them a while ago?

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:24:53 -0400

So today I visit a customer I have seen 10+ times. Today I noticed a USMC tat amongst several other tats. I give the Marine Corps customary secret hand shake and we talk shop. So I find out he was in 1/8 in 2003 and was part of the 26th MEU invasion into Iraq. It was to his surprise and mine I was part of his BN on the same MEU. This has only happened one other time to me, that was while I was on that MEU in 2003.
I am sure this has happened to some of you.

Response by GySgt John O'Donnell made Aug 5 at 2015 8:46 PM

GySgt John O'Donnell — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:46:10 -0400

I have this happen a couple times throughout years. Most recently, I was dealing with a customer over the phone, who later came to my office for a more detailed discussion. Now in person, he stated that he knew me from somewhere. After telling him I was a retired Marine, his eyes lit up, he said that he was artillery man with Romeo Battery, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines, while I was the Battalion Motor Transport Chief of 5/11 during 2003 invasion. What made this more ironic is that fact that we were now in Northeast Texas.

Response by PO1 Scott Cottrell made Aug 5 at 2015 9:22 PM

PO1 Scott Cottrell — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:22:03 -0400

Found out a buddy of mine got hired by the company I work for. Working the same job I did when I started with the company, only that job had moved back to CONUS. The strangest one was when I was in the Navy, A friend, a few years behind me in high school, joined the Marines and deployed on my ship for a Team Spirit exercise. I currently work with a Guy who I never meet while on Active duty, but we both know a lot of the same people.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 10:31 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 22:31:56 -0400

More than once....it's a small small world....especially down range.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 6 at 2015 1:46 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 01:46:55 -0400

Better than that. Retired out of Bremerton and returned to my Home of Record Kansas City. Several Months Later at the Grocery Store I bump into Lt Matt German my Communications Officer and CMS Custodian from my First Ship USS California CGN-36. He lived down at the end of the Block.

Response by SFC Rollie Hubbard made Aug 6 at 2015 1:54 AM

SFC Rollie Hubbard — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 01:54:36 -0400

I left Nam and went to Germany and ran into the mad shitter LOL

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Aug 6 at 2015 6:09 AM

TSgt Melissa Post — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 06:09:40 -0400

Yes I was getting my routine annual dental cleaning and was talking to the hygienist. He told me he thought we went to basic together just from the way my x-rays looked in my file. Then he proceeded to tell e the exact date I shipped off to basic. Later we hung out as friends and we're talking about it more and not only did we go at the same time but we were also in cousin flights. We did our CBRN training together, our obstacle course, our BEAST week (formerly called warrior week), and possibly a couple other things. Four years later we end up stationed at the same place.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 6 at 2015 9:27 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:27:49 -0400

That happened to me a year ago. While visiting the homes that the foundation I serve on runs for homeless Veterans, I got talking to one the Veterans staying in one of our homes. Found out that he and I were deployed to the same air base in Iraq in 2006.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Aug 6 at 2015 9:33 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:33:47 -0400

Another quick one. In 2003 we were on our way to Liberia via ship, I was tasked to give classes to all the Marines on ship following the doc on Malaria. Reason being I was the only SNCO aboard that ever had to take the pills and was in a malaria riddled country. One story I told was 2 Marines on the other ship that contracted malaria while in Somalia in 1994. I explained how they were effected and how I wasn't sure if the worst case lived. After that class a Snco came to me and complemented me on the class. He also said he was the one who almost died on that ship from malaria.
Not sure why he wasn't the one teaching the class

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made Aug 6 at 2015 11:33 AM

MSG Floyd Williams — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 11:33:26 -0400

I met a few at Fort Eustis, Virginia who served at the same command, but I didn't know them at the time and a few in Germany too through conversation.

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Jun 2 at 2021 11:29 AM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:29:27 -0400

I was working at a GM Foundry in 1966 after getting out of the service after 4yrs marine corp 3yrs in the Army. Their was a person working close to were I was. I looked up and discovered it was a marine who was on Okinawa61-63 same company (Ammo C0.) . On okinawa we had quite a few drinks at the local bars in the ville. It was like old home week. He became a Millwright same as me and we even worked togather a few times. He was from West Virginia and I was from Ohio. Once a Marine always a Marine. Semper Fi.

Response by SP5 Robert Kennedy made Aug 2 at 2021 11:33 AM

SP5 Robert Kennedy — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 11:33:21 -0400

Quite different for me... In 2017 I was waiting in a crowded Phoenix airport terminal for an arriving flight to deplane so I could board my flight. I was seated near the "gate" when I noticed several uniformed military in those leaving the plane so I got out of my seat and walked to the main terminal corridor and met them, thanked them for sacrificing their freedom to defend mine. We talked for a few minutes and then I returned to my seat near the gate. When I sat down the lady seated next to me remarked that she found it unusually kind to do what she had just witnesses and asked if I had ever done that before. I remarked that I do it whenever, wherever I see someone wearing a U.S. Military uniform, because I once wore one. Then (small talk - when where, etc.) And I mentioned Army and Vietnam. The lady seated next to the lady next to me was obviously eaves-dropping on our chat and out of the blue chimed in that her husband was in Vietnam too. I asked when and she said 1968, I asked where and she said Pleiku, then I asked what did he do in the service and she said he was a Combat Engineer attached to the 4th Infantry. I was a Combat Engineer in Pleiku in 1968 so I asked when he "graduated from Ft. Leonardwood AIT, she said she thinks it was in November 1967. ( HOLY SHIT! ) I said that's when I left Ft. Leonardwood. I asked her husband's name and when she told me, I told her that we were in AIT and Pleiku together. I asked for his phone number and she told me he died several years ago from Agent Orange induced cancer... After a "pregnant" pause in our conversation I told her I was with him as the low flying planes sprayed the chemicals right on our position to in order to kill lush vegetation that concealed enemy movements. We both teared-up and hugged each other before boarding the flight... never saw her again, but I'll never forget that strange coincidence. It seems I "get religion" whenever Vietnam finds its' way into a conversation, because I made so many promises to God while there - and I've tried very hard to keep those promises during the half century since my safe return to USA. I love my Country, and I love all who serve to preserve and protect it. God bless all of you, and God Bless America.

Response by CPT Jerry Lucas made Oct 28 at 2021 10:40 PM

CPT Jerry Lucas — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:40:31 -0400

I was assigned to HHC, 124th Signal Bn. in 1976-77. My CO was Cpt. David Schwankl. In 1982, Maj. Schwankl was one of my instructors at my officer basic course. I was assigned to B Co., 652nd Engineer Bn. (Topo), from 1977-78. My instructor from AIT was my squad leader and a couple of other soldiers from my class were assigned there also. In 1979, I was attending the Defense Information School at Ft. Ben Harrison, IN., when I ran into a friend from the 652nd. He was going through the Army Recruiter School, that was located in the same building. In 1981, I was on temporary duty at Yakima Firing Center, WA., when I ran into someone I served in the 652nd with.