Posted on Aug 6, 2021
Who Influenced You To Take The Oath And Join The Military? - Login & Share to Win!
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RallySweeps
Oath
Re-enlistment
Military Life
Service
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 804
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My father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather served when our country called. Men in my family have served in every conflict our Country has had going back to the war of 1812. How could I not serve when my Country called? 22 years in the Corps and proud of it.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
My family was like that as well except Navy in both Denmark and the United States. I was the first person in my family in known history to not go into the Navy.
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Me, myself and I. I was a displaced homemaker, I was unable to find a job of any kind. Then I saw an ad in the newspaper, if you are between the ages of 17-35 come see us. Hum, one weekend a month, two weeks annual Training, that seemed better than no job at all. I joined the Indiana National Guard, I was 34. After AIT I moved to Connecticut ARNG and few months later I was Active Guard Reserve.
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I joined the Army when I did for a couple of reasons. I had recently dropped out of college and was in my mid twenties living back at my parents house
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Tons of family, etc that I grew up with. Dad flew a B25 in WWII, Brother was a radar operator in Nam, Godfather, retired Navy from Korea through Nam. Numerous Boy Scout leaders who were WWII and Korea vets. In addition, my dad spent his post war career in military aircraft engineering.
It was very much a natural thing for me to serve.
It was very much a natural thing for me to serve.
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My father enlisted me at the age of 17 because I had let’s say…a lot of energy. He was a WWII vet and it was the best thing he ever did for me!
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At 19 years of age in North Dakota, I didn't have one brain cell in my head as to what my future would be. I had a twice daily paper route (03:00am~4:00pm), mowed yards and hauled hay for local farmers. A required meeting with a high school counselor was rudely interrupted by another student who cut line and ran in ahead of me. Glancing at a military recruitment stand to my left, I spotted a card sticking partially out of the pocket, "Are you a high school graduate?" Yep, that's me. Pulling the card out to study it, I was astounded by, "An exciting new opportunity to fly for our U.S. Army - Be a Helicopter Pilot" or words to effect!! I ran straight home, found my mother washing dishes, and proudly proclaimed I was going to join the Army and be a pilot! Her response? "You're insane!" Dad told me I didn't "have" to leave home yet. Oh, you couldn't stop me! I drove to Fargo, North Dakota and enlisted within days. PFC / E4 / E5 / E7 / WO1 / CW2 / 1LT / CPT / MAJ / LTC / COL - what a 30 year adventure!! ALL DUE TO ONE LITTLE LEAFLET STICKING UP OUT OF A RECRUITMENT POCKET!!!!
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1LT Rich Voss
Sir - Wow ! My only question is...did you become a helicopter pilot ? During my time on active duty ('66-'69) one had to serve an additional 5 years after rotary wing school, with mandatory 3 tours in Viet Nam. That didn't seem like the best "deal" to me. But, I made friends with our Brigade Commander's pilot (CW2 at that time) in Germany, and he told me that those "in-between" years he could be stationed anywhere he liked. He liked Bamberg and at that point it was his third time there. When I went back for a visit during the 70's, guess what ? Back in Bamberg and another rank higher too ! BTW, I got drafted just after turning 19 and graduated Armor OCS at Fort Knox within that same year. I later learned that there had been an 18 year old graduate, so I wasn't the youngest... Sometimes wonder what my life had been like if I'd stayed.
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COL John Hudson
1LT Rich Voss - Yes, I flew UH-1H troop carriers and C-model guns during two tours stretching 18 months. I accumulated 1,955 combat flight hours. I also hold civil flight ratings and owned two of my own high-performance retractable airplanes - A Piper Comanche PA-24-250 (Single engine) and a Cessna 320B Twin with turbo-charged 270hp engines. I'm not familiar with a "5-Year 3 tour" program - that did not exist during my tenure and/or where I was at. Take care!
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1LT Rich Voss
COL John Hudson - thanks for your response, Sir. Those were probably what I would have trained on. Glad you made it back ok. Your personal planes were pretty neat too. I've got a few friends that are civilian pilots and they fly either single or twins. Frankly, I'm more comfortable in a rotary wing than a smaller fixed wing...
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