What did you do in the days and weeks afterward when you left the service?

I hitchhiked to Pittsburgh, Penna from Ft. Hood, Texas following my discharge from active duty on July 11, 1968. I was in full uniform and experienced absolutely no obstacles on my trip. My uniform was a passport to obtaining rides from many motorists who were traveling East. Several even invited me to visit overnight with them and as a consequence I did not arrive in Pittsburgh until August 1, 1968. I did not have a exciting homecoming. My family lived elsewhere and I had no friends or associates in Pittsburgh. I travelled to Pittsburgh primarily to attend school. All the colleges and universities in that city had open enrollment policies for Vietnam veterans (I served in the 9th Division). I immediately secured unemployment and afterwards I submitted several college applications. I eventually selected Point Park College which was a small liberal arts institution located in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh. I was a full-time undergraduate by Sept 16, 1968. In the meantime I met a young coed named Cathryn who introduced me to the "Hippie" lifestyle which I adopted wholeheartedly. My transition from the military to civilian life was smooth and uneventful. I did not experience a sense of alienation or maladjustment. I was happy and proud that I served although the anti-war movement was in full bloom at Point Park. I was totally embraced by the college community and I developed many friendships which to this day remain alive and well. Cathryn helped facilitate my assimilation into campus life and I was on my way to a long period of psychological and intellectual emancipation. I certainly took complete advantage of my new-found freedom, unfettered by the authoritarian mindset of the military, particularly by overbearing and arrogant NCOs and condescending and imperious officers.

Waited a whole month to get a haircut. Didn't shave for 4 days. Didn't PT for 3 days.

I couldn't draw unemployment. I made too much money. I was hoping to start at the VA but was unsuccessful. It was a rough go since I retired. But I took 60 days of terminal leave before my actual retirement.

Get a Job, Took me a couple months until I found my "In". Neighbor that I admired and influenced me to join (Not outwardly though). I thought he worked for Sprint and you had to apply to them, turns out he worked for H.L. Yoh and he explained that Sprint was a Contract to Hire company. You had to Hire on with a Contracting Company and Sprint would hire you as a contractor and watch you for several months and then you would apply for an Opening that they had but would only select from their Contractors. Interesting System.

I registered in college to finally at a minimum to obtain an associates degree! unfortunately, A few month after also had to hire an attorney after a misdemeanor assault due to My PTSD!

COL Mikel J. Burroughs - When I was discharged from the Marines, we moved back home. I had a wife and baby boy to feed so I found a job and enrolled in college. We couldn't make it on part time pay and the GI bill so I began to look for work. I heard the Sheriff's Office was hiring...applied and began my Law Enforcment career..

Sir, my plan as of now (still waiting) is to take about 30 days of vacation to golf in places that I may never get the chance to again later.

In the days after I left the service, I started my Terminal Leave. I was in panic mode. After applying for 2 solid months I still haven't snagged employment and I had another month before my daughter was to be born. Once I landed a job, I started looking for housing so I could set up my government move. 2 weeks before my actual EAS I helped deliver my 2nd daughter. I didn't take an actual "vacation" for another 7 months when I took my family to Disney World during a long weekend.

I kind of lucked out due to the fact I was in an internship and my unit allowed me to stay on active status while still doing the internship.

I was medically retired after 33.4 years. Could and can not work, and seeing myself all of the sudden feel worthless I played video games (somethings f that was not interested in doing) and drank, close myself from the world. Did this for about 10 months. Until my doctor told me I needed a service dog, got a puppy of 8 weeks old and started to train him and educate myself on service dogs. When We tested out, we receive lots of complements on how well we worked that we started to help train veterans with their dogs to become service dog and test them. Now tomorrow will be 3weeks that my service dog passed away unexpected so kind of been in a rut for now