Did any major events occur while you were in the military? Did you regret missing them?

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 09:57:25 -0500

I suppose this question raises a question: What the hell is he talking about? Allow me to explain. I feel as though I had fallen off the planet for five years. A year in Infantry School (BCT, AIT, Infantry OCS). A year in Vietnam. Five years in Hawaii (we didn't have satellite TV in those days and who would've watched it if we had?). Star Trek and Laugh In were produced, aired, and discontinued during those years. I've only ever seen them in reruns. There were other events. The Orioles never rose from the depths of the cellar in all the years I lived in Baltimore. Then, during my first year in the Army, secluded in Infantry OCS, they won the World Series. I've been left feeling like I was the albatross around their neck and couldn't win until I was gone.

These were trivial things. There were the Race Riots that left Baltimore an alien place to me when I returned to visit. And the law I had studied had changed. Let the buyer beware was replaced by Let the seller beware, no fault divorce came into existence, among other major changes.

One of the most striking changes was in finding stores open 24/7 and TV broadcasting 24/7. Where had the "Test Pattern" gone?

There were other events but that should be enough to give you an idea of what I mean.

So, you may ask, do I regret missing them? Hell no. I was too busy participating in the greatest adventure of my life. At least, that's how I feel about my service.

How about you

Response by CW3 Jim Norris made Jan 12 at 2016 10:26 AM

CW3 Jim Norris — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:26:04 -0500

Most of the 70's - Vietnam, Turkey, stint with the IDF, even Germany - AFN radio.....the USA felt very foreign when I finally did a CONUS gig....

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 10:54 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 10:54:34 -0500

I may have only lost four years by the calendar (18-21+), but, emotionally and mentally, I had aged to about 40 when I came home from Vietnam in 1972. My once fellow classmates had graduated from college, some were now married. That's when I felt like time had passed me by. I had completely missed out on my post-high school teen years. I'd turned the magical 21 while overseas. Though I'd never really dwelt upon my post-return period while I was living it, I have since looked back and realized that I did experience a great deal of readjustment to life back on Planet America.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 11:06 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:06:59 -0500

I missed "Lemon Coke" and "Friends" LOL

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 11:29 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 11:29:44 -0500

I remember coming back from Germany and not knowing what "Friends" or "Seinfeld" was. I think I managed to fill in the gaps over the years catching reruns. Never regretted missing them the first time.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Jan 12 at 2016 1:10 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:10:33 -0500

When I left the USA in 1980, TV consisted of basic VHF and UHF channels and a test pattern appeared at then end of every programming day CPT Jack Durish. When I got back Cable had seemed to take over America. I was amazed at how many channels there were and that they were on 24 hours a day and that everybody but me was used to this circumstance.
I,enjoyed music and was fascinated by MTV and Video 1 [i think that was the name.]

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 1:21 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 13:21:51 -0500

Sir, on TV, I missed Star Trek along with all the other shows. While I was in Vietnam, I missed the Moon landing of Apollo 11. At the time, I regretted not being able to see Neal Armstrong walk on the Moon, but this event did lead me in a new career direction after I was discharged. When I came back from Vietnam, America was not the same, and neither was I.

Response by PO1 Bill Adams made Jan 12 at 2016 2:51 PM

PO1 Bill Adams — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 14:51:38 -0500

I missed the entire Streaking Fad, while on a WestPac. I regret that.
I came home from a WestPac and they had elected some guy named Jimmy Carter President. Jimmy Who?

In the end, I wouldn't skip my time in The Navy for anything, regardless of what I missed back in the world.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jan 12 at 2016 3:31 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:31:34 -0500

CPT Jack Durish I was stationed at Yokota AFB (I know, join the Navy, go to the AF, wierd.) when Tienanmen Square went down. I was one of hundreds of lower enlisted conscripted into setting up thousands of cots in aircraft hangars, in anticipation of receiving American refugees. They never materialized, of course.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jan 12 at 2016 4:16 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:16:15 -0500

The signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 12 at 2016 4:26 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 16:26:57 -0500

I planned a couple major events, it sucked.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2016 5:33 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 17:33:51 -0500

Yea one thing/event did happen. It was a crime , an attempted murder. The D.I. came in during Marine boot camp and said , there was a shooting , the President may be dead. And one other guy was shot in the head. I listen to that and mumbled to myself , I said Jesus ,O my GOD. Something like that. The D.I. walked over to me and shouted at me. He said - What's wrong is that your brother.

Response by Sgt William Coffee made Jan 12 at 2016 6:42 PM

Sgt William Coffee — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 18:42:45 -0500

I missed Woodstock, the moon landing, Kent state, Nixon's pledge to the American people that we had no troops in Laos(Cambodia), and a host of other events that happened in 1969.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jan 12 at 2016 8:44 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 20:44:26 -0500

Just a note to all my friends on RallyPoint. Someone (some administrator) changed the wording of my question and made the grammatical error "occurred" instead of "occur" and I can't change it. So don't blame me...

Response by GySgt Carl Rumbolo made Jan 12 at 2016 9:00 PM

GySgt Carl Rumbolo — Tue, 12 Jan 2016 21:00:27 -0500

I left for boot camp June 29th 1976 (my 17th birthday) and missed the bi-centennial celebrations...

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 13 at 2016 12:06 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 00:06:39 -0500

The first few years of "O-Dom", I missed every Thanksgiving, Christmas, and wife's birthday due to deployments. That's what I noticed first. My dad worked for NASA and I missed seeing the launches. The Challenger explosion I did see on TV and afterwards didn't think of serious shuttle problems even though a friend of ours would fly one. Then the Columbia broke up and we lost Dave. I miss Dave.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 3:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:53:41 -0500

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 3:58 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 15:58:46 -0500

My grandfather lived in Springfield, Mo. We were going fly fishing when I got home from Vietnam, but he passed away two weeks before I came home. He taught me to fly fish when I was a kid and I caught my first black bass fly fishing with him, in a small lake called Town Lake. I think about him often, and every time I go fishing.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Jan 15 at 2016 4:34 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:34:09 -0500

I missed out on Baywatch, somehow I will survive. Said tongue in cheek.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2016 4:40 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 16:40:48 -0500

CPT Jack Durish, Just thinking about everything I missed from 1965 to 1967. Those two years are a blank to me. All I had on my mind back then was listening and staying alive. Kinda gives me a funny feeling.

Response by Sgt Lew Dunham made Jan 15 at 2016 7:50 PM

Sgt Lew Dunham — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 19:50:22 -0500

I never regretted anything CIVILIAN I missed during my time in the Air Force, but was disappointed several times as a military member. I grew up as an Army brat. The first son of an Army officer (Silver Star in Korea) who during 1964-68 was stationed at Fort Bragg as a Green Beret. As a Lt Col he was in charge of the "special techniques" section of the Special Forces. I grew up around the military and sang Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets" at the top of my lungs. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to volunteer ... the time came and I did. Ready for action! lol

Stationed with the 40th ARRS in NKP Thailand, 1975, we were part of a few operations at the end of the Vietnam war. The first was Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It was my first mission. After all of the briefings and planning, I flew on a HH-53 designated to land in a field and extract embassy personnel. We flew over Laos and deep into Cambodia .... 20 miles from our destination when we experienced electrical (servo I believe) trouble. The aircraft commander turned us around and back to Thailand we went, in spite of his crew's pleas to continue. What a downer.

Next was Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam. Again the 40th was tabbed to be part of the operation. After the planning, briefings and staging, many helicopters in the unit participated. My crew never left the alert shack .... again a big disappointment.

Finally a few weeks later, The Mayaguez Rescue (abortion) took place and I was fortunate enough to be on a helicopter that participated, landed our Marines safely, and got out. Unfortunately the chopper was shot up too badly to return to the island. Again disappointed that we were out of the fight, but relieved that I had finally done something, anything that might make my father proud.

Young, impressionable and ignorant. And regret I couldn't have been born earlier.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 16 at 2016 11:18 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 11:18:22 -0500

I missed my brothers 1st and 2nd wedding ceremonies...and the subsequent divorces. I was home for his 3rd though...maybe that one is going to be the charm for him... ;)

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Jan 25 at 2016 8:22 PM

SPC Margaret Higgins — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 20:22:28 -0500

I am the most blessed and luckiest lady alive; to have experienced time in the United States Army.

Response by CPO james A. Redd Jr made May 6 at 2016 11:18 AM

CPO james A. Redd Jr — Fri, 06 May 2016 11:18:00 -0400

my dad was killed in 77 and I was at Yokata NAS. My ship, the Coral Sea, had pulled in the day before. But by the time I got the message from the Chaplain and flew back I had missed his funeral by one day. And three days later My grandpa died. I was able to MAC flight to get to his home in time for his funeral though.