How far can you trace back your military roots?

Great question. I have had a good deal of success following my family tree on ancestry.com and fold3.com. I have some bright points. My two older brothers and I served in the Navy. Our father was rejected for Vietnam era service for medical issues, but remains fiercely patriotic and proud of his family's legacy of service. His father was one of the first Navy Seabees, fighting WWII in the Pacific as an Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Petty Officer. I also have several Confederate ancestors and a War of 1812 veteran. But my family also has a grand legacy of liars, miscreants, horse thieves, cowards and scoundrels. My sixth great grandfather applied for a Revolutionary War soldier's pension, but was rejected because he was a deserter. I can just imagine my ancestor giving George Washington the finger as he was loading the boats on the Delaware River on Christmas Eve, 1776. Being from Texas, I also have at least two members of Stephen F Austin's colonies, but as best I can tell, none were willing to fight for the Republic of Texas. I guess they thought defending the Alamo was a bad idea.

To my grandfather. I know absolutely nothing about my family prior to my grandparents.

Military heritage? I graduated from West Point in 1960,my son in 1990-he was the first 6th generation to graduate-my father wife's father,her Gfather GGfather was class of 1812 from West Point-his names was DeRussy-remember Ft DeRussy in Hawaii? also DeRussy was married to the sister of one of Napoleon;s marshals!--and our family has over 35 descendants buried in Arlington Cemetery

My brother and I are combat veterans, he from Gulf 1 and me from Gulf 2. My father and uncle were in WWII, as a bomber jockey and artillery officer respectively. I had a cousin in the Navy during 'Nam and a grandfather in the Navy in WWI. I'm related to the Mason, who helped draw the Mason-Dixon line, and had ancestors who fought on both sides of the Civil war. My oldest military ancestor (so far) is a Captain John Brooks who came to Carolina in 1710.

I served, and my uncles and grandfathers have served. After that I'd have to do some research but I have some really old family documents showing I had direct relations serving in the revolutionary war. I also have family on both sides of the civil war, but there is no evidence they actually fought against each other.

Both of my brothers (older and younger) served in the Army. My older brother was a 31V just like me. My younger brother was a Food Svc Spc and went to Iraq during the initial invasion. They both served less than 5 yrs. I retired with 25.
Our father was Air Force and retired E7. His brother retired from the Army at E9.
My maternal Grandfather was in the Navy during WW2. My mom's brother was a Marine. George Washington had an advisor named General Cadwalleder who's brother (also a General) was fighting in Mexico. That guy is a Grandfather to me.

I immigrated to the US when I was 5 so there's no lineage to be traced (at least in the American Army). We all have to start somewhere. My hope is that I am setting an example of service for future generations to follow.

Revolutionary War. Got the DAR paperwork to prove it. Two served in the Georgia militia and one German immigrant relation with the Continental Troops under Col. Lachlan McIntosh.

My Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather (on my mother's side) served as an officer in the Revolutionary War. Lots of family members have served since.

You can check to see if an ancestor is in the database of the SAR or DAR.
http://patriot.sar.org/fmi/iwp/cgi?-db=Grave%20Registry&-loadframes