Who Influenced You To Take The Oath And Join The Military? - Login & Share to Win!

A desire to service my country during the Viet Nam conflict

As my father, as well as all of my uncles, served, I was/am very patriotic, and felt/feel like we should give back to the country that offers us so much.

My Influences was My World War 2 , Uncle , And Dessert Storm Navy Older Brother, And Our Country needed and drafted me in the 11 th Grade

When I was around 11 y/o, I got the calling to put service before self. I had watched a Sailor strutting down the street with a twin sister on each arm. Don't know who he was. Nevertheless, thank you for your service!

I am a Military Brat. Spent my teen years "64 to "68 at Bad Tolz, Germany. Enlisted in "69.
Military is all I have ever known.

Really no one person influenced my joining,there were a number of reasons first, marital problems, was living with sister and brother in law, working an average of 90 hours a week and numerous relatives that were either vets or on active duty.

Let's just call him Harry, okay? Harry was from another country, and that fact is where my story begins. What I most remember about Harry was his most favorite was: Well, in my country we ____ [just fill in the blank]. You may trust me that whatever phrase he used to finish that sentence,, it always ended in how his country was superior to the United States. Oh Lord, how I began to resent all his empty and ridiculous bragging Finally one day I pointed out to Harry that if his country was so damn traffic he maybe should go back there to live. I even offered to purchase for Harry a way-way ticket back home. So listen, here's the thing - Harry could not possibly have realized how much he influenced my wanting to join the Army and serve America. I love America, I loved serving my Country, and I was - and still am - proud of our values and integrity. God bless America.

I grew up an Army brat mostly overseas (90% of the time) during the cold war when everyone and their f-ing brother wanted us dead. Influences of my father, the locals where he served and the terrorism from organisations like the Red Brigade (etc, ad nauseam) influenced me to take the oath when I was very young, though I didn't join the military till I was older. There was no doubt what I was going to do when I got out of high school (to me, anyway).

It was more of a combination of influences that pushed me toward enlisting in the US Army in 1968. Vietnam was going on, the draft was in place, some of my high school ROTC cadre were Nam vets, prospect of going to college and getting a deferment was nil, no other siblings in the military. The best standout would be SSG Kenneth Lima, one of my ROTC sergeants. He was on staff my sophomore and junior year before he got deployed to I Corps in Vietnam. In my senior year, his unit took fire and he became the first casualty I knew that died in Vietnam. Not too long after that, a close classmate’s older brother died as a Marine near the DMZ, I Corps. Shortly after that, another ROTC sergeant died in Vietnam. The aftermath of the ‘68 Tet raised our numbers and by Sep ‘68, I was in basic. The rest is repeated history as I remember it.

My father told me he would pay for college if I went straight out of high school. I told him I wanted a break. A year later I asked if he would still pay for college. He said that was not the deal, so I joined. I still respect him today for that.