What was your best day, ever, in the military? What are you most proud of? What is your very best military memory?

2017-01-27T20:10:22-05:00

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made Jan 27 at 2017 8:19 PM

2017-01-27T20:19:13-05:00

Best Day: Graduating Basic Training; Most proud of: Successfully countdown and launch our Pershing missile; Best Memory: Spending Christmas overseas.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Jan 27 at 2017 8:24 PM

2017-01-27T20:24:26-05:00

Jeez, there were so many good days.

I guess I will go with graduating from jump school on a night DZ.

Response by SGT Matthew Schenkenfelder made Jan 27 at 2017 8:32 PM

2017-01-27T20:32:53-05:00

Graduating basic at MCRD Parris Island, SC. More than 3 months of hell, marched across the parade deck, and then it was over. Such a strange feeling it was. Like being paroled, coming out of coma, and waking up on Christmas day all rolled into one. Best day in my military career. I went on to do bigger and better things, but that moment really sticks out for me.

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Jan 27 at 2017 9:16 PM

2017-01-27T21:16:02-05:00

Earning my Submarine "Dolphins" would be my proudest moment. My best memory would be my first submarine patrol diving and coming to periscope depth.

Response by Cpl Joshua Caldwell made Jan 27 at 2017 10:03 PM

2017-01-27T22:03:49-05:00

My best day was the day I caught the flight back from Saudi Arabia and arrived back in America. I kissed the ground.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 27 at 2017 10:10 PM

2017-01-27T22:10:02-05:00

Graduating from Infantry OCS at Fort Benning. We were sworn in as brand new butter bars. I walked out of the room where the oath was administered by the father of a classmate, a colonel, received the salute of the battalion sergeant major, handed him a dollar and returned the salute, then ran back to the company to finish packing and dress for the graduation parade. That run remains most vivid in my memory. It's as though my feet didn't touch the ground. The weight of a year at Infantry School - BCT, Infantry AIT, and OCS - was over and I had my orders for Vietnam. I guess I didn't think that anything ahead could be any worse than what lay behind. Ignorance truly is bliss.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 27 at 2017 10:16 PM

2017-01-27T22:16:01-05:00

I haven't done much yet. So I'd say marching across Inouye Field for graduation at Fort Benning.
There were so many people there, lots of stripes and brass too. Some of the names I recognized, the Battalion and Brigade Commanders, Sergeants Major. That didn't make me nervous or even proud that there I was standing before them. They were kind of background noise.

There are only two sets of people that I vividly remember, my brothers graduating with me and my Drill Sergeants out there on the field with us. Then the field, the grass was a vibrant green and was still wet. Then the Infantry Museum.

My Senior , DS Ninja once told me it was the greatest museum in the world. I'd been able to enter it three times and I still haven't seen everything. It's one of the greatest places I've ever had the pleasure of being.

Hellraisers, Delta 1-46.

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Jan 27 at 2017 10:47 PM

2017-01-27T22:47:05-05:00

As I have said before, I am 5th generation Marine Corps. My dad couldn't make it to my graduation, but when I stepped off of the plane at home (Indiana), my dad was there, shook my hand and said "Semper Fi, welcome home Devil Pup" I looked at him and said, "How bout this Pup kicks your old dog's ass?" He laughed, and said "you got me Devil Dog- let's get a drink" that's when I knew I "made it"

Response by SPC Phil Norton made Jan 27 at 2017 10:48 PM

2017-01-27T22:48:00-05:00

The day I earned my EFMB badge ( expert field medical badge) I passed out as soon as I crossed the finish line. The best part was the ceremony only 20 of us passed out of 300+ ,but at this time the Army was going through hazing allegations. So the BG asked if you wanted the badge pinned or punched. I was surprised at all the soldier's who wanted it pinned I earned that badge so when the General stood in front of me and asked pinned or punched? I said show me what you got sir .He then lightly pinned the badge to my chest and held the grommets ins his hand balled them up in his fist and punched the badge as hard as he could and knocked me on my ass. I got back up stood at attention everyone after me got pinned lol. My platoon Sgt was crapping his pants ,what did you say to the General Norton? I replied back to my Sgt I told him that my Platoon Sgt said you punched like a girl. He didn't know if I was messing with him. So we unassed the AO in a hurry I received a letter of accommodation from the General and a but load of push ups from my Sgt. Best day ever!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 28 at 2017 12:02 AM

2017-01-28T00:02:27-05:00

That is a challenging question COL Charles Williams after 34 years in uniform. Possibilities:
1. After a company-grade Article 15 at Fort Campbell as an enlisted combat engineer, I was given orders to USMAPS as a cadet candidate in June 1975.
2. Despite naysayers I was given an appointment to West Point in June 1976.
3. Graduating from West Point in May 1980 after being a century man by serving over 100 punishment tours as a cadet and being commissioned into the Infantry.
4. Being promoted to LTC in 2000, after being rated at the bottom by a BG in 1984 as a junior captain. then COL Wayne Downing tagged me to start an in-processing center at Bamberg, West Germany. I developed a flexible program to support the units. The BG wanted a fixed program without flexibility. I was passed over many times for promotion first to Major and then LTC. By the grace of God I was promoted in April 2000 and then able to serve after being mobilized in November 2001 through may 2004 and years following as needed.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 2:56 AM

2017-01-28T02:56:00-05:00

COL Charles Williams Graduation from MCRD, San Diego in August, 1968 was one of my proudest moments. The day that I boarded the plane leaving Vietnam was one of my happiest days. My best memories were sharing good and bad times with my fellow brothers.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 28 at 2017 3:03 AM

2017-01-28T03:03:17-05:00

The very best was navigating my tracked vehicles in a whiteout about 60 miles out of McMurdo to get to a downed Huey in -40 weather. Long before GPS, compasses don't work. Had to do a lot of it by "feel" of the snow and ice ridges under the tracks when I left the flagged route. Angular bearing on flare glow vs. wind when we got near. Got there, all alive. Took care of them. Life was sooooo good.

Response by LTC David Brown made Jan 28 at 2017 4:05 AM

2017-01-28T04:05:24-05:00

Completing the EFMB course.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jan 28 at 2017 5:53 AM

2017-01-28T05:53:20-05:00

My best day was when I was pick over 9 others to be the new CO's driver, Bn XO put in the recommendation

Response by COL John McClellan made Jan 28 at 2017 10:37 AM

2017-01-28T10:37:56-05:00

Great question, Chuck!! An early one was the day we finished the Mullins River Bridge project in Belize, 1989 - I was the Project Officer and a 1LT at the time! Another good memory was in Iraq in the Gulf War, getting the news of the cease-fire, and - being promoted to CPT right there in the Iraqi desert!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 11:22 AM

2017-01-28T11:22:03-05:00

Ive got a few: When I made SGT and then SSG. Assisting my old XO in getting promoted from 2LT to 1LT. But the best of all was punching the brand new SGT stripes into the chest of one of my Soldiers right after the promotion order was read. Walking off the plane in the States after getting back from Iraq.

Response by SGT John " Mac " McConnell made Jan 28 at 2017 11:42 AM

2017-01-28T11:42:38-05:00

Although I was active only for three years, several come to mind.
1. Turning blue ceremony was not at graduation, but was in the swamps of Georgia.
2. Graduation day. General of the Army Omar Bradley was in attendance.
3. Receiving my EIB with not one " No Go " out of a Battalion of 800 only 33 earned it. I was just A Private first class.
4. Making it through SERE... Never wanted to go through anything like that again !
5. Surviving winter survival school.
6. Coach of the M-60 machine gun team representing the 3rd ID.
7. Honor graduate at PLD..

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 28 at 2017 12:58 PM

2017-01-28T12:58:06-05:00

I'd say graduation from bootcamp, and the day I became a Trusty Shellback, leaving my Despicable Wog days behind, which I wrote about here.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/do-sister-services-have-anything-like-the-navy-s-crossing-the-line-ceremony

Do sister services have anything like the Navy's Crossing the Line Ceremony? | RallyPoint

So, let me start with a caveat: in today's PC world, I can't imagine that the Navy still allows this in the form that I experienced it -- I have to believe it's significantly watered down. Perhaps some currently-serving Shellbacks can chime in on the issue. Anyway, do any of the other Services have anything like this?: So, in the Navy, any Sailor that has never crossed the equator is termed a 'Wog'. Sailors that have crossed, and gone through...

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Jan 28 at 2017 1:39 PM

2017-01-28T13:39:13-05:00

Graduating Jump Master School.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 1:48 PM

2017-01-28T13:48:50-05:00

COL Charles Williams, My greatest night in the Military was when I was involved in rescuing seven 5/7th Cavalry Troopers, who were injured during an ambush in AnLoa, Valley, South Vietnam, in 1967. All seven troopers lives were saved because of being able to transport them to a Pleiku hospital, in enough time to save them. In 2002 I was reunited with one of the seven troopers who had been paralyzed, by getting shot nine times. The reunion was due to a documentary being filmed called "In The Shadow Of The Blade". It took place in my hometown, Pasadena, Texas. I was very proud of my Bronze Star with a "V" devise, my 20 Air Medals, my Jump wings, my helicopter Crew Wings, and my CIB, but there is nothing better than saving a life.

These are pictures of our reunion. The first picture is myself and Connie, facing each other for the first time in over thirty years. The second picture is of Connie, his wife Sue, my wife, myself, and our grandkids sitting with them in the Huey helicopter that flew them in to the reunion site.The next picture is of myself pushing Connie in his wheelchair at the reunion site, and the last picture is a newspaper article about the reunion.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 28 at 2017 5:59 PM

2017-01-28T17:59:49-05:00

Hi, Colonel Williams.

I enlisted for a lot of reasons, not the least of which was to honor my father's service in Vietnam. He was killed by a drunk driver on 14 March 1992, and I enlisted six days later. It had been a process at that point. I had done everything I needed to do, I just needed to raise my right hand and swear my life away. That was 20 March, and honoring my father's service had become paramount.

I stood at his grave three years later in full dress uniform and saluted his headstone. That was a good day.

Response by Col Rebecca Lorraine made Jan 28 at 2017 6:40 PM

2017-01-28T18:40:31-05:00

Jump school graduation September 1976!

Response by SSG Bryan McDougal made Jan 29 at 2017 11:36 PM

2017-01-29T23:36:03-05:00

I was in E Co. 1-9 Inf. (Renegade Maintenance) in Korea. We were training for the "Manchu Mile", a 25 mile forced ruck march. There were a lot of demonstrations by the local civilians, bs from North Korea over military FTX's and things were pretty tense. We spotted a large group people coming down the mountains around us and heading our way and thought it was going to be demonstrators coming to mess with us. It was the village elders that came down, they shook our hands and thanked us for being there. It made what we were doing worth it. After Hw 8 in Kuwait & Iraq it felt like I regained some of my humanity. Smiling came a little easer after that.

Response by SGT David T. made Jan 30 at 2017 7:58 AM

2017-01-30T07:58:36-05:00

My best day ever was 28 February 2007, the day I ETSed. I am most proud that I got to bring every Soldier home from the deployments in one piece. My best memory was the day we crossed the Iraq/Kuwait border after a 15 month deployment. I cannot put into words how happy I was.

Response by Sgt Joseph Hennequin Jr made Jan 30 at 2017 3:31 PM

2017-01-30T15:31:51-05:00

When I made E-4.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2017 9:09 PM

2017-01-30T21:09:26-05:00

-Best/saddest day was when I received my final DD 214 and Retirement orders. The emotions were both joyous and sad. I had made it to the "end".
-Most proud of. My last Platoon. We'd been together for almost 4 yrs. taken them to combat and back (only 1 injury). Talk about a well oiled team from top to bottom.
-Best memory. My retirement ceremony(day), and party that night. The entire company chipped in and purchased a 1911 for me, my platoon chipped in and bought me a georgeous NCO Sword and display stand, and the Officers bought me a engraved Zippo.(spent almost 2 yrs as "acting" PL to include a 4 month stretch during deployment)
All the schools, awards, achievements etc were just items to get done for me to do my job ie:Bradley Master Gunner, Pathfinder, MRT, and all the other assorted "must have" schools.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jan 31 at 2017 2:12 AM

2017-01-31T02:12:11-05:00

Best memory and day are the same for me, the time that I got to go on a training flight with the Army in a UH60. Didn't realize those big suckers could bank so hard. It was an awesome experience.

As far as what I'm most proud of, probably the fact that I made Staff Sergeant my first time testing. It's looking like I most likely won't so on because I am separating this year but it still felt good to know that I made it anyway.

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 25 at 2017 7:21 PM

2017-06-25T19:21:32-04:00

Best day ever...wedding. Most proud of the fact that I was selected to attend the FBI National Academy (Session 204). What is your very best military memory? After reading the responses, it's apparent that when pushed your hardest, success is most rewarding. I couldn't agree more. I will say that over the years I learned that the climb is more important than reaching the top. Thank you, Col Williams, for allowing us to travel down memory lane.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Jun 25 at 2017 9:35 PM

2017-06-25T21:35:16-04:00

The best day was when my twin boys were born up at Ft. Wainwright. Cost me 66.00 in hospital fees... Seriously, best day in uniform was the last ride home. I was the troop CC of 18 rotating back to Grand Forks AFB. Everybody had a layover at MSP, I put myself on the last flight out to make sure everybody else was out before I flew out. On the short hop back, was visiting with an older stewardess and we talked the whole flight. When we landed at Grand Forks, I was the last one off the flight and it hit me, I was done. When I came back off of leave, I started out processing the Air Force. I led three 6 month deployments into Iraq and Afghanistan, brought all my people back safe and alive. That was worth more than any medal I received during my career. It all hit me as I walked up and out of the aircraft. The stew gave me a big hug, shuck hands with both pilots, and it all hit me as I was tackled by my boys in the baggage claim area. I went outside, said a prayer of thanks, teared up, lit a cigarette, and headed home.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Jun 25 at 2017 10:50 PM

2017-06-25T22:50:07-04:00

Best day, graduation BCT, most proud of ,being an instructor at Fort Polk La after returning from Vietnam,best Military memory, graduation NCO Academy Fort Hood TX

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jun 25 at 2017 11:20 PM

2017-06-25T23:20:49-04:00

Besides taking my M1A1 underwater in Korea... another story and there was fish in the pre-cleaner to prove it. Driving at about 55 MPH down the hardball in Korea.

Response by Harry Hunt made Jun 26 at 2017 7:25 PM

2017-06-26T19:25:19-04:00

Graduation from Paris Ply 277 July 1967

Response by Cpl Rick Rabenold made Feb 8 at 2018 7:42 PM

2018-02-08T19:42:09-05:00

Earning my Eagle, Globe, and Anchor at PI in 1966 has to the best, but becoming a Force Recon Marine surely was the icing upon my cake!!!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2019 12:49 PM

2019-03-12T12:49:47-04:00

Boot Camp graduation P.I. 1978.