What is your "military legacy?"

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:52:30 -0400

So, was there a particular issue, program, platform, or cause that you'd consider as a career-defining experience? Perhaps it was something that you were uniquely qualified for, or something you did that left your unit, service, the military, or the DoD a better place. Maybe it was something that you'd consider your calling or special purpose; initially, it could've the legacy or work of someone else, perhaps someone that you respected, maybe even a family member or someone worked with/for? It could've been your own vision, a team or unit's vision, something you enabled, or helped to form or to further. How did this impact your view of the world, and therefore your service and the lives of service members, and their families? Please feel free to share any photos, video, links or anything else needed to tell your story. We have some absolutely amazing people here on RP; so, this should be an entertaining and enlightening conversation, now pull-up a keyboard, and let's get this thing started; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 28 at 2014 1:55 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 01:55:16 -0400

Showing my children and grandchildren that serving our country is something to take pride in. Passing on the values I learned while serving our country to them. This is what I consider my military legacy.

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Mar 28 at 2014 9:41 AM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 09:41:12 -0400

PERSONALLY:  Seeing my son enlisting into the Army on September 11, 2013 (5th generation that I've been able to track) and preparing my younger son for a service academy/ROTC attendance will be my personal legacy...my goal was always to have each of them serve at least a few years; it's important.<br><br>PROFESSIONALLY:  Recognizing that Soldiers didn't have an online source for retention information (still baffles me), creating ArmyReenlistment.com, and its social media family, and eventually passing it on when I'm gone will be my professional legacy.

Response by SFC Toby Reid made Mar 28 at 2014 11:52 AM

SFC Toby Reid — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 11:52:43 -0400

I have considered being my ultimate goal and legacy in the military is to improve my unit and everything in my sphere of influence whether directly or indirectly. My legacy is a commitment to excellence and the army values, while instilling them in soldiers I come in contact with on a daily basis.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Mar 28 at 2014 1:12 PM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:12:39 -0400

My family legacy is what I'm most proud of: My Dad served turning Veitnam. Grandpa was in WW2, Greatgrandpa was in WW1. I have Greatgrandparents that fought in the Civil war, Revolutionary war, and in the French and Indian Wars.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 28 at 2014 10:55 PM

MSG Gene Potocki — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 22:55:51 -0400

My legacy is several of the cadets I taught at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Moving (Promoted) into higher positions of authority, they are some outstanding Americans!!

Also some of the enlisted who worked for me now serving in senior leadership positions, they too are some outstanding Americans!!

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Apr 3 at 2014 1:05 PM

SSgt James Stanley — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:05:26 -0400

My Legacy is in family military service. My father was in WW1, one brother was in WW2 in the Army Air Corps, and another brother fought in the Korean war, and I in the Cold War.

My brother Bill shown here in the 101st, but fought in Korea in the 25th Infantry Div.

Response by TSgt Scott Hurley made Apr 3 at 2014 2:53 PM

TSgt Scott Hurley — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 14:53:14 -0400

My family legacy you could say has a few dates of history. I may have had a great relative in WWI, but I can not say for sure since there are no stories or pics. But for WWII, I have several relatives that did serve. Most notably, my grandfather on my mothers side and a great uncle on my fathers. My Grandfather served in the Navy. And would rise to the rank of SK1C (Petty Officer 1st class) in just 2 years of service. He was an eye witness to one of the greatest achievements in military history. D-Day June 6th 1944. The ship he served on board the USS Carmick. One of the first ships in at Normandy. He would be transferred to the Pacific serving on board the USS Union. And he would see the signing of the end of WWII in Tokyo Bay. He would later be called up for a year of service during the Korean War from the IRR. My Great Uncle served in the Pacific in the Navy. I do not know what ship he was on, but I believe he lost his life during the battle of Leyte Gulf. My Father would serve a tour in Vietnam as a Marine.

Their legacy lives on in the fact that their children and grandchildren and family members, remember them and serve the best way they can for all of us to live. My Daughter has three family members that served in Vietnam, besides my father, her grandfather on her mothers side and also her great grandfather on her mothers side. Besides myself being part of her legacy. I think that the legacy of each military member is their family that they either have or leave behind when they depart from this world.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 6 at 2014 11:03 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 23:03:16 -0400

Scottsman from the Dawes Clan (William Dawes rode with Paul Revere on that famous night). Son of a Marine, Nephew to half a dozen Sailors. Lifer Navy Spook that was blessed to have a Front Row Seat for History. I forwarded the Executive Order for El Dorado Canyon the Bombing of Libya. Part of the Team that Hijacked the Hijackers of Achile Lauro. Sent to fill in for an Understaffed Unit enroute to the Persian Gulf end of Desert Storm begining of Southern Watch and ended up in Fiery Vigil Largest Volcanic Eruption in a Decade. Was a Teaser Against the Iraqis during Desert Strike and made it my mission to teach my guys the Art of HF Communications because when everything else goes to pot, HF Still works. Casey Still Lives.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Apr 8 at 2014 7:00 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 19:00:29 -0400

First I would list the Tank Driver Simulator "cabs" currently used at Ft. Benning to train new 19K's; I had the honor of doing the 100-hour in-plant testing of this system that replaced the giant, hydraulic simulators we used at Ft. Knox when I was the Tank Driver Training Committee NCOIC. This is a fully electronic motion system that can train on different vehicles, M1 tank family as well as the Stryker family as of right now, but can be configured for Hummers and Bradleys if the Army purchases those as well.

Second I would list the numerous Soldiers, NCOs and junior Officers that I had the pleasure and honor of training over the last decade of my career, briefly interrupted by a couple trips to Iraq and one to Kuwait; I know they will make the Army stronger.

And most importantly, my most important legacy is my middle son, who enlisted in October 2012 and is currently holding down the fort at Ft. Riley; although I would have preferred he chose a different MOS than his old man, I am proud he chose to follow in my footsteps and wish for him a wonderful career that never sees him have to deploy to combat.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2014 8:13 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:13:56 -0400

Leading Marines

I am a reflection of my leadership, they played a very large and important part in my development as a Marine and as a citizen. In turn I have felt everyday that it is my obligation to continue on the legacy of those who wore the blood stripes and prepare those Marines for the ranks and responsibilities to come and make the Corps proud.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2014 8:41 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2014 20:41:48 -0400

I was involved in the tail end of ICE, M-ICE, D-ICE, and H2K. Those systems were later more commonly known as Warlock and Duke.

I was the one that really lobbied hard to develop Counter-Sniper Technology. I can't remember the name of the system as installed on the Apache and military vehicles, but that was MY baby back in 2007-2008.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2014 10:58 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 22:58:28 -0400

I would call the first 5 years of my military career in the Signal Corps pretty uneventful. It might be hard to tell if I really had any lasting effect on anyone during that time in my life. The most lasting effect it had was giving me the training to get a good civilian job, which ultimately affects my family. I re-classed to Medic in the ANG and I would like to think my legacy there is that I helped to save lives and prevent injury and disease of the local war fighters in the BIAP area. Along with that, I screened countless Airmen and made sure they were deployable, so who knows how many lives they were able to affect based upon my screenings? As a Signal officer, my legacy isn't complete, but I hope it is reflected in the quality of Soldiers under my command and the work they deliver. ***EDIT*** I almost forgot. At Ft. Drum, I left a stereo up in our company motorpool office. When I ETSed, I donated it to the office. I also created a manual Julian Date calendar that I hung up on the wall of the office. It was for when I had to order things through ULLS, and it asked for the Julian Date that the order was placed. I wonder if they are still there 15 years later?

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made May 14 at 2014 1:45 PM

MSG Floyd Williams — Wed, 14 May 2014 13:45:49 -0400

A long military tradition on my father side of the family, I didn't want to break that cycle.

Response by SPC Richard White made Jul 29 at 2014 10:13 PM

SPC Richard White — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 22:13:06 -0400

Many in my family have served and that includes me.It is a legacy to serve in the military in my family.Even now in my family there some whom are still serving.It is a proud tradition.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2014 7:23 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 19:23:09 -0400

I knew when I was in 8th grade I wanted to be in medicine. My folks said I could not do it because I had learning disabilities. Becoming a Navy Corpsman, and in the civ. field as a M.A., N.A., and O.R. Tech for a total of more than 20 years. I feel GOD put on this Earth to help folks. :):):)

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 30 at 2014 11:57 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 23:57:18 -0400

I was one of the first "Brigade Nurses".

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Feb 18 at 2016 2:45 PM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 14:45:34 -0500

"What is your military legacy"...

..Great topic....My great grand father Patrick Cunnally who lived in Brighton MA refused the draft during the Civil War & went back to Roscommon Ireland. He knew at that time the Irish were being used as canon fodder by the Union Army and he didn't want to be part of it.

Response by SPC Richard White made Feb 25 at 2016 12:22 PM

SPC Richard White — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 12:22:07 -0500

This is only a few people whom have served in my family

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2016 5:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 17:33:55 -0400

My legacy.....It's not something I never really think about. I come from a long line of service. My grandfather was a POW of Korea and a Vietnam Vet and continued through 20+ years. My father retired after 23+ Years. My brother deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and back to Iraq where he was subsequently KIA. If there is anything I learned from my heritage and what I want others to learn from me is to never quit. Life is hard and there will always be a challenge before you. Some battles you will not will, but the honor comes from how you finish.