Were you the first one in your family to join the military? Or do you come from a family where service is common?

My dad, grandfathers, and uncles served. But in a plethora of cousins, I was the only one to join. I swore in six days after my father was killed by a drunk driver, and some family members thought that was a bad time to go. But one reason I signed up was to honor my father's service in Vietnam. What better time to do it than right then?

They were all very proud of me, and very appreciative of my service.

3rd generation Marine

I was born in 1947, and I guess I fall into the baby Boomer generation of Post WWII. Our neighborhood was almost 100% Post WWII Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen or Marines. My father was a Navy Gunners Mate in WWII. My Uncles were all in the war too. I was greatly influenced by what they all did. I was an only son, and by 1966 I enlisted in the Navy, which was close to the height of the Vietnam war. My Mother was not too happy about my enlistment. But, my Father was very happy because I was a bit on the wild side as a young teen in the late 50's early sixties, but we were all "Greasers" so to speak. After I told him I enlisted, he said "Good, maybe now you will grow up!". I guess I did grow up, I entered as an E-1, retired as a CWO-3, and spent 23 years in the Navy.

Nope, not in my family, Great Uncle was 3 war vet WW2/Korea & VietNam, ATC Air force, Grandfather won Bronze star on Guadal Canal Father was Fighter Pilot in Korea, Brother was F-4 Mechanic in Viet Nam, I was in the Silent Service myself..long history

I am far from the first in my family. My grandfather immigrated just in time for WWI. My father was a pilot during WWII, my step-father was as BM1 and most of my uncles also served. One was a Warrant Officer who was killed in Europe. My mother was a civilian employee at the San Jacinto Ordinance Depot at Houston. One brother went the ROTC route. There are several who are currently serving and one retired as a Chief Petty Officer in the Coast Guard last year. I was the first one since WWII and my parents were not at all happy about it largely because of my uncle being killed in WWII. By the time that the younger generation started joining she had gotten over it.

SN Vivien Roman-Hampton , My brother went NAVY, my sister and I ARMY. My father, uncles and grandfather on his side all went ARMY, some Marines. My moms side was more DOD contractors and Politicians in DC. I contracted under my Great uncle who was a Gen in the ARMY while active. My grandfather and his best friend on my moms side were on death row in prison during Vietnam and was contracted freedom for service for a mission in Vietnam. His best friend didn't make it back, but it wasn't because of a fatal shot or anything. He was scratched by a cat that had been feeing off of the dead and the bacteria in the cats nails killed him. After he passed away at 72 my grandma showed me a Purple Heart with his name engraved on the box. I didn't know they gave those to people who weren't enlisted. But then again he never said what the mission was. Just that he hated cats for killing his best friend in Vietnam.

First to volunteer. My father was drafted during Vietnam and both my grandfathers were dock workers during WWII.

My grandmother had four sons serving during WWII, my mother had three sons serving during Vietnam but since then we've had none of the family enter the service.

Father, both grandfathers, uncle, sister, both great grandfather's all served. I am the first officer in the family though

Cousins, older sister, two younger brothers. (Army, Air Force, Navy, Navy.)