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

I separated 27 Oct., 1969, after 16 1/2 mo. in Vietnam. I had no leave in the past 2 yrs. I had 7 days travel time to get to Travis AFB, for a flight to 'Nam. At separation I was docked for those 7 days, and paid for 53 days unused leave time. I had planned to go back to school for an Associates Degree, and be a shop teacher. I applied for my GI benefits for school and was told, "You don't qualify, You're not a war veteran." Really ticked me off! Took a job as a lineman, retired as a Journeyman Lineman some 40+ years later.

I was in depression and was in a state of indecision. I was stationed at NAS Alameda in what was called an OMD which was basically a gas station for aircraft. And twice a week this Army Colonel used to stop in with his Cobra and I would get it fueled for him and if it had a minor leak I would usually fix it for him. Anyway I think he was out of Fort Ord but we got be friends and when he would stop in I would give him the keys to my car so he could get around to all the places he wanted to go.

So one early evening he stopped in and I told him well Colonel I won’t be seeing you next week. He asked why and I told him I was getting out that the Navy wanted to put me on an Aircraft Carrier and I was not the least bit interested in that. So he says hey I hate to see that he then hands me his business card (I didn’t even know that they had those) and tells me call me the day you get out and I will send you to Fort Rucker and you can become a helicopter pilot and a warrant officer and then I will get you in my squadron. Well I didn’t because I was getting so much pressure from my family (I was not married) to come home and work in the family trucking business. I have wished a million times over that I would have ignored my family and took up the Colonel’s offer. I know I would have stayed in and retired.

I worked and started college at Penn State.

COL Burroughs, Sir; In all honesty, and with respect.. I primarily remained in an intoxicated stupor .. doing so in civilian clothing as I had to much respect for the uniform, for what our Military men and women sacrificed for our country... Have to Appreciate Vietnam Veterans considering the treatment, the abuse they received.. yet the resilience, the ability they continue to endure, even today ...

I cried for a month and gave my retirement flag to a friend in honor of her becoming a US citizen

I retired after 22 + yrs at Ft. Hood TX 1996. loaded a U-haul and drove home to Idaho I had 3 months Terminal Leave. Jobs we not Great nor were they Veteran Friendly. I Found a job With les-schwab tires. Switch through several jobs finally found one out of town worked there 12 years walked in to work after driving the 41 miles to get there Looked at the boss and ask him to inventory my tool box so I could load up because I was going to retire. That was 2017 Now I do hobby wood working in my small shop and tend to our mini farm.

I went on terminal leave to job hunt. Got a contracting job in Iraq before it was over, so I went home to my parent's place in Florida, lay by the pool and waited for my plane ticket. I retired out of Fort Hood, at 23 years, because my Brigade Commander wouldn't let me go make to back to Iraq. I got a job and beat my unit back to Iraq

I out-processed at Ft DIX NJ, we all went to the club and decompressed over what a crappy deployment we experienced. The real unit commander met us and asked who was going to return to the unit and who was going back to our own unit. We all went back to out process then next am. We said our good byes and went our merry ways. I received a call from the S-3 to see if I was coming to the welcome back party and advised them I could not make it. While I was in Iraq, my unit cased their colors. I had no unit to come back to so I did not hear from the Army for a few years and received a letter for retirement. Applied and retired after serving 38 Yrs.

Retired for the 2nd time July '17. Retired Navy, BM1, Sep '90. Played house husband til Jan '91. Went to work for a True Value for 2 years in the receiving dock and went to school. Got an Associates in Architectural drafting and went to work for Builders Square designing and selling kitchens. When they went bankrupt went to work for Menards designing and selling kitchens, then house take-offs, then back to kitchens and doors, windows, n garages. Along in there kicked the now ex out and raised three great kids by myself. Also managed to re-connect with my 2 daughters from first mistake(one now in Loveland, CO). About ready to look for someplace to retire from in another 20 years!

Well when I got out of active duty( joined the guard before I got out) I had to go get a job bounced around between a few until I found my civilian tech job with the TXARNG when I got med retired in 08 I have done absolutely nothing unless I want to do something