Why did you join the military?

According to whatever history I could easily recover, I apparently had relatives that fought in the Revolutionary War. More directly, I know that my Grandfather served in WWI as an ambulance and supply truck driver. My Dad served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as an airplane mechanic. My Uncle (also my idol) served in the Army Combat Engineers all though the entire Korean Conflict. It felt pretty natural to me to also join "Uncle Sam's Home for Lost Boys" U.S. Army! Besides, I turned 18 in 1969. Where else do you think I might end up? Although I can't say that I enjoyed every minute of it - including an event-filled vacation in beautiful South Vietnam - I truly have NO regrets.

One of my Grandfather's wanted to serve in WWII, but he was needed here stateside as he was working in the Copper Cable industry. The other did serve in WWII. My Dad was Navy during the defense of Tiawan. My Uncle was career Air Force from Viet Nam up to the early 80's. My brother joined the Delayed Entry program for the Marines but was seriously injured prior to Boot Camp and was ruled ineligible to serve. (He is good now.) I wanted to follow in that proud tradition so I enlisted in the Marines. I have cousins that were Air Force and Army. All we need now is a Coastie to have the entire set.

I did not join, I was drafted during the Vietnam war. You were either US or RA which meant nothing once you got to Vietnam.

I joined at 17 to mature, while seeing some of the world and saving money for college. My initial 3-year stint led to my coming back after college for another 20 years.

My Grandfathers both served one in Korea and the other in WW1 My father served as a Medic/ambulance driver WWII. I always wanted to Join the Army. I had already been in the civil Air Patrol. Vietnam started i was to young so when i turned 17 i enlisted delayed entry. To add to my desire to Join dependable jobs were scarce, My desire to serve and the need for a dependable pay check + education and serve my country all in the same nut shell just seamed the right thing to do so made a career of it.

I graduated from High School in February of 1961, two months before turning 18. I have been a Printer since I was 5 years old when I learned how to set type by hand. I was working with my father at a Print Shop in Santa Monica after school for years and went to work full time. My school Fraternity Brothers did not graduate until June and had a school visit by a Naval Recruiter. They were gung ho to join and asked me if I was interested. When they explained that the Navy trained nearly every job there was and it included Printing, I said YES! I wanted to pay my country back for all the rights, freedoms and privileges that I had and did not have to earn.
We all went down to the Naval Reserve Center at Stadium Way just down the street from where they were finishing Dodger Stadium. At that time we were told that we would go to Boot Camp for three months and back to the Reserve Center for either weekly or monthly drills. The weekly drills were from 8 p.m. until 11 and the monthly drills were for the weekend. We chose the monthly drills because they would be on board a ship.
After 3 years of drills I was ordered to active duty. As a Printer they needed to give me a large ship with a Print Shop. It was the U.S.S. Kearsarge, an Anti Submarine Aircraft Carrier and it was currently in Japan. I received an airline ticket and packed my seabag and left Los Angeles. With several other Navy personnel, we were flown to San Francisco to wait for another Plane to take us, via the Polar Route, to Japan.
We took off about 1 a.m. and landed in Alaska to refuel. We made it to Japan at 8 a.m. The three Officers got immediate transportation to the base and the rest of us had to wait. Since the 1964 Olympics were in Japan, getting transportation was not easy. When we finally reached the Base it was nearly 1 o'clock. A week later we were put on a Bus to take us to Yokosuka, Japan to meet the ship. It took us two days to get there and we arrived on a Friday night. I was checked in and an escort took me to the Print Shop so I could find it on Monday morning; then to get my linens and finally take me to the sleeping quarters. I found a locker and bunk and went to sleep. I really needed it and did not need to report to the Print Shop until Monday so after I woke up I decided to take a tour of the ship.
When I went to the Print Shop on Monday morning I found a guy sleeping in the Darkroom. Since it was past morning quarters, I woke him up. It turned out that he was the First Class Petty Officer in charge of the Print Shop. I introduced myself and explained my background in Printing. It turned out to be 10 years more experience than he had. He said that he would introduce me to the other 8 members and let them know that I would be in charge.
I completed my 2 years of Active Duty and went back to my Reserve center to complete my 8 year Enlistment. I had been proimoted to E-5 and was due for the E-6 exam. I passed it with ease and as a First Class Petty Officer I had many different jobs. When my enlistment was about to expire they asked me if I wanted to re-enlist. I knew that I would be eligible for Chief Petty Officer in two years so I did.

Had to do it because I felt I had an obligation to everyone who came before me. I always tell people I didn't want to be 75 and regretting not giving it my best shot.

My Father Was Active Army From 1945-1965 , So I Was Born Army. What Did I Do I Joined The Marines At 17 , Just To P Off My Father, But He Was Still Proud Of Me And He Did Live Long Enough To See Me Switch To The Army And Was Even More Proud Of Me Than.
Having My Father And All Of My Uncle’s On Both Sides That Served From WW2 Through Vietnam,
I Guess You Could Say That The Military Is In My Blood, I Wish I Could Have Stayed In Till Retirement But I Was Injured And Got A Medical Discharge, That Is Rated 100% P&T.

I joined the military. Because I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school. My folks didn’t have the money to pay for college. Most of my money as a teen went to help my folks pay bills. I was good at and enjoyed electronics, My mom recommended I join the military, something in electronics, to learn a trade I could use when I got out. I enlisted in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. I enlisted as a 26Q in 1982. After 15 years, caught up in the drawdown after the multiple Gulf Wars, I ETS’d as an E5, SGT. Promotions weren’t happening, cut off scores at 998, I was happy to get out. ACAP helped me get my first civilian job in Dallas, TX. After a year as an installer, AT&T picked me up. 26 years later, I’m still working for AT&T. My second best Career, next to the Army. At 61 years old, I retire in 4 years with 30 years with AT&T. Not too shabby for not knowing what I wanted to do out of high school. I count my lucky stars every day. I love what I do for AT&T. Everything I learned in the United States Army, I used day 1 with AT&T. Talk about “Army Training”. Life is good, I am blessed and very fortunate.

It was during the Viet Nam war. To put it bluntly, I wanted to send as many of the communists to hell as possible.