DU Veterans - Please check in

[Catch22Dem]

I know this is a thread a lurking freeper will click on. I just want them to see they DON'T have a monopoly on the military.

I was USAF from 1992-2000. Notice those were Clinton years, and they were GREAT years. I'm proud of each of them. I was a SSGT and I worked on F-15 C/D Avionics Systems. I was stationed at Langley AFB, VA and Kadena AB, Okinawa. Also did three trips to the Middle East.

I was a liberal before, during, and after my service. We were a highly educated bunch in my field. Several of us enlisted guys held BS degrees (mine was in Info. Systems Management.) Nearly all of us held AS degrees (mine was Avionic Systems Technology.) I even had a shop chief, MSGT, who had an MBA. Pretty uncommon for enlisted personnel.

I earned my share of decorations too. Note to freepers, when you earn them, you can do whatever the fuck you want with them. Oh, and the terms ribbons and medals are interchangable. I was one of the top grads in basic training. I had the highest rating for my graduating class from technical training. This was no light minded school either. This was 10 months of electronics school. I was top graduate from Airman Leadership School, selected by my peers and based on performance. I was promoted to SSGT on my second try. You have to know the 1990s Air Force to understand why this is an accomplishment. I did all of these things while going to school at night and raising my daughter.

Many of my colleagues were also liberal or left leaning. One of my very closest friends, who also separated in 2000, was just elected to his city council as a Democrat. I couldn't be more proud of him. We remain very close. I told him if he ever goes national, I'd work his campaign.

ANYWAY, I just wanted you freeper bastards to know, we've "infiltrated" the military (I've actually heard that term used in reference to liberals in the military.) If you guys think Bush is a friend to people in uniform, you're sorely mistaken.

[Maat]

1. I'm a liberal Democrat, but I loved your post.

I'm also a Psych major and was a therapist-intern and a social-worker. I'll have to analyze my reaction to your clever title.

[oneighty]

2. Good on you.

Sixteen years twelve months and fifteen days or so July of 1951 enter the Navy. After boot camp went to Mine Warfare school basic, went to a mine sweeper in Korea Then to a mine disposal team in Korea.

Schools:

Us Naval Schools Mine Warfare, Basic and advanced.

US Naval Schools Underwater Swimmers.

US Naval Schools Deep Sea Diver. Second Class.

US Naval schools Explosive Ordnance Disposal

US Naval Schools Nuclear Weapons Disposal

US Naval Schools Nuclear Weapons Disposal . Refresher.

Atomic Bacteriological and Chemical Weapons Decontamination. (ABC)

Eight years active duty.

Hooyah...180

[DS1]

3. again? Okay.

[guitar man]

4. Me too

[scottcsmith]

5. U.S. Navy, 1986-1992

I wrote a column on my military experience and journey from Republican to liberal Democrat. You can read it here.

I served as a military journalist.

1987-1990, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Office, Pearl Harbor, HI

1990-1991, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Ship's journalist. Blue Ridge was flagship for USCENTCOM and we directed all naval operations in the region during the first Gulf war. Blue Ridge forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

1991-1992, Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan, Public Affairs Office, Yokosuka, Japan.

1992, USS Independence (CV-62), ship's journalist, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

My tour on Blue Ridge was cut short due to medical reasons, so I was reassigned to shore duty while I was being treated. When my treatment was complete I was sent to the Indy for a short period of time.

[Catch22Dem]

9. Wow

Thanks for posting the link to the column.

[Nlighten1]

6. US Army 1985-1990, 1991

If you see my picture in the DU gallery it was taken in Grafenwoeher,
Germany on my way to Desert Storm 1. I spent my first 2 years as a XM21 Ballistics Computer repairman but was bored with it so I re-enlisted as 11B Infantry. I got out in April of 1990 and after I just started my second semester of college I got the proverbial "letter in the mail telling me to go to war or go to jail". It was actually a Western Union telegram but...

[matcom]

7. M1A1 Tanker

1987-1991

Germany

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

25. No wonder you are, well, affected. I guess all your iron beasts

have a new home now, huh?

[geniph]

8. My husband, who posts here as JohnYawl

is a veteran, USMC 3rd Tanks, 1969-1971, RVN.

[lpbk2713]

10. Navy Aviation 1965 - 69

Spent most of my time in Spain.

[TroubleMan]

11. USMC 1992-2000

I was also lucky to be in ONLY during the Clinton years.

Catch22....you and I were in the same places. I was mostly in Quantico, Va, and spent 1996 in Okinawa (Camp Schwab).

What year were you in Oki? Maybe I saw you at Pyramids or Manhattans - or maybe even Pink Caddilac (used to be Xenod).

I sometimes even went to the club on Kadena - I think it was the NCO Club (I don't remember too well....drinking does that).


I really hope you DIDN'T see me on The Stage....yes, I would regularly go up on the stage. LOL

[Catch22Dem]

20. You did NOT go on the stage

did you? seriously??? Holy shit!

I was there from 1996-2000 for an entire 4 years. It was cool though. The NCO club at Kadena was pretty good, but the Airman's club was better. If it got full though, they'd kick us NCOs out. ;)

[TroubleMan]

21. Yes, at least 20 times

The only time I wouldn't go up there is when the parents would bring their kids there. It was just too weird then; I don't think I could perform with kids watching....yuck.

Me and one other guy were the only guys from our unit that would go up there.

You haven't lived until have sex on a spinning stage with your drunk friends cheering you on.

LOL...also, the first night I was there (in orientation on Camp Foster) I went to see the bannana show, and one of the guys I went with ate the bannana. I couldn't do that one.

[Catch22Dem]

23. Yeah

I knew a couple to eat the banana. Not this guy. That old lady has been there since the dawn of time. I'll bass on the koochie banana.

[GreenPartyVoter]

73. What the heck kind of parents bring kids to a live sex show?

And the kind that has crowd participation to boot?

[TroubleMan]

75. The Japanese are very open about sexuality

or to be more accurate, they don't have the false sense of puritan shame that permeates a lot of western culture. Think of it like sex education....I wouldn't bring my kids to such a show, but I'm not going to judge other cultures.

I only saw families there a couple of times. The kids were about Junior High School age. However, I've heard that this wasn't uncommon.

[GreenPartyVoter]

82. No different than getting your 13 year old his first hooker here?

I guess I understand the reasoning, but while I'm not puritanical about sex, I want my kids to think of it as a spiritual thing..a way to really communicate your love to your partner. I'm not sure that they would get that message if I took them to see a live sex show or gave them porn videos.... or a hooker. *l*

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

26. I did the stage for $60... had lots of fun that night... of course as

a HM, I was treated a little better by the crowd... not much. Ever see the egg shoot? Sick stuff.

[Catch22Dem]

33. Did you know they shut it down?

It would have been in 99 or 2000 when the G8 Summit was in Okinawa. They also had "plain-clothes" rats hanging out around gate 2 street to keep up the appearance we were being good. What a crock. Not sure if they ever re-opened the stage.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

64. I had heard that, yeah. too bad, it was quite the tradition

[TroubleMan]

74. That's sad they shut it down

Sigh.......Another rite of passage from my misspent youth dissolved by the morality police.

Oh well, at least they haven't changed Tijauana yet!!!!

[TroubleMan]

76. The egg shoot?

She shot pieces of banana across the room, but I missed the egg shoot (damn!!!) - what was that?


Also, as a Doc, were you stationed at a lot of Marine units?

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

77. Yes, I was FMF more than I was USN

The egg shooter was quite talented, she could insert, IIRC, at least 3 eggs and project them at quite a velocity to a willing catcher, but the funny part was she could also crush one and project the resultant egg/juice solution right in an eye from at least 10 feet.

Quite the amusement, I assure you.

[5thGenDemocrat]

12. US Army Signal Corps, 1974-76

I went in when I was 17 years, three months and three days old (I like to think I may have been the youngest soldier at DU or at least one of the youngest ten or so).
I was a Communications Center Specialist (72E20), a job that doesn't even exist any more. Served way rear-echelon at Fort Monroe, VA (across the James River from Oceana Naval Base), got all the way up to PFC and earned the lowly National Defense Service Medal -- which was plenty for me.
John
However, my nephew is currently in the Air Force at Dover AFB. My brother served, my dad served, my Aunt Anita served 23 years in the USAF, Grandpa Bill served in both World Wars, Grandma H's dad emigrated from Canada to fight in the Spanish-American War (he got as far as Tampa) and other relatives fought on both sides of the Revolutionary and Civil wars.
Dopey the Deserter thinks the military is just cannon fodder and security guards for Halliburton. He doesn't care one whit about them, except for how they can further his schemes.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

15. You might make the youngest 10, but I went in at 17 years, 1 day

[5thGenDemocrat]

19. Yeah, I figured I wouldn't be the youngest

I had a few guys younger than me in my basic training platoon -- so I would guess it would be the same here, too. Truth is, I couldn't WAIT to enlist in the Army -- and had to graduate GED (in November of my junior year) to qualify for the job I wanted.
John
It beat wasting time at Arthur Hill High and the pay was better than I was getting at the gas station.

[sweetladybug]

16. My husband was in the Army 1966 - 1969 Served in Vietnam

1967-1968 And he said that things that John Kerry said happened in Vietnam, DID HAPPEN. He witnessed the same things in Vietnam.

[Earth_First]

13. 1/142 Attack Helicopter Battalion 1998-2004

[Catch22Dem]

22. "2004" as in still serving?

or recently separated?

[Earth_First]

29. Should have read 2003...

Discharged 1 December 2003. I missed stop loss by THIS much...

[Catch22Dem]

34. Whew

Close call. I had a buddy get hit with stop loss after 9/11. He didn't get out for another six months or so.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

14. Hey, why not again?... USN 1971-1976 USCG 1976-1997

Retired E8 BMCS. Always have been a lefty. Took a lot of shit during Reagan and Bush41 reigns from righties... gave a lot of shit back during Carter and Clinton.

[Corgigal]

17. USAF

1980-1988. Came into the military has a medic then worked my ass off to cross train to become an Air Traffic Controller. Stationed at Syracuse New York and then to Tampa Florida.

I'm liberal and can beat you men because I'm breeding liberal kiddies too. We rock.

[commander bunnypants]

44. love the hair !~!!!

DDQM

[booley]

18. Navy...

Photomate on USS Kitty Hawk, cv63.

And a damn dirty liberal!!!!! (and proud of it)

[UTUSN]

24. Proud of Myself AND a Few More of My Relatives n/t

Btw, here's a rant re: the smears on JK's medals/ribbons:

Subject: The Truth about KERRY's Medals - Baiting Civilians and Veterans

The wingnuts are expert manipulators of military baiting and of its corollary, baiting civilian ignorance of military traditions and issues. The latest is the dual assault on KERRY’s military record, on the one hand the smear that his first wound was “slight”and now something about his medals and ribbons.

But first, the matter of civilian ignorance. A couple of years ago, Meredith VIEIRA exemplified this when her View group was discussing the Army’s plan to extend the black beret as an Army-wide uniform item as opposed to its then being exclusive to the Rangers, and the resistance to this from the Rangers. The discussion was mystified and uninterested, and ended with Ms VIEIRA saying, “And they say women have trivial hang-ups, here the guys are having a spat over the color of their hats.”No concept of the tradition at stake. And soon the issue died away since the Rangers were probably embarrassed at looking silly in civilian eyes, with NO Rosetta Stone to decipher the concept.

So now the chickenhawk Shrubbites and their chickenhawk media shills are drumming up a fake issue about KERRY’s medals, and are playing up the civilian ignorance factor by inserting the “ribbons”part, as if there were some greater significance to it. Additionally, they are giving themselves cover to say that this assault is “not about questioning his patriotism”by attempting to frame it as “Did Kerry (gasp) LIE?”as Chris VLASCO put it on ABC.com.

KERRY said that in his symbolic protest against a wrong war, he returned his ribbons and somebody else's’(at their request) medals, yet the chickenhawk media shills are playing up that KERRY actually “kept”his own medals.

Somehow this has turned into “KERRY’s medals and ribbons flap.”Mystified civilians are wondering how big an issue this is. If they only knew that it is a complete NON-issue. Medals are recognitions of many different degrees of individual accomplishment, starting from ZERO accomplishment besides just SHOWING UP, BEING THERE, all the way up to actually PERFORMING exemplary acts of individual heroism, and everything in between. For the record, several of KERRY’s medals are of the “heroic”variety.

Medals are seldom worn, being limited to the most formal occasions with the full dress uniform. Instead, the colored ribbon parts are worn. Both are the same award. The first issue is “free” from the government, but since the ribbons get dirty from frequent use, replacements are often needed and these are BOUGHT at any of thousands of military supply stores, and now thousands of websites. And the medals themselves can be BOUGHT exactly the same way, easily and cheaply. Actually, ANYBODY can purchase these items, meaning persons like chickenhawks who were never in any service anywhere.

So even if KERRY had returned his own medals, he could have INSTANTLY replaced them by purchase. The medals/ribbons are of significance only to the individual himself and his immediate family. There are some jokes about medals, one being that with a medal and $1.75 you can buy a cup of coffee, and another from MAULDIN’s famous cartoon, “Forget the Purple Heart, give me a couple of aspirins.”

Once again wingnuts show how they confuse material symbols with intangible concepts: They think that a flag is actual freedom; that medals are actual heroics; that statues of religious depictions are actual religion; that symbolic protest is actual desecration. Sort of the way they confuse assertions with actual proof.

The true desecration is how supposedly “patriotic”Shrubbites smear persons who put their lives where their words were, persons like McCAIN, CLELAND, and KERRY, as opposed to the all-talk wingnut chickenhawks who bully, bluster, and just ASSERT things.

[Demonaut]

70. CV 64 PH here, did you school at Pensacola NAS?

[King_Crimson]

27. Ten Hut...

USAF here too...1971-1977! Jet aircraft refueler... SSGT at time of discharge! AFSC 63170

[jonnyblitz]

28. 10 years navy, Desert Storm vet...n/t

[MaineDem]

51. Didn't know you were a vet!

Thanks. :)

Funny though, I can't picture you with the little sailor cap. :evilgrin:

[TahitiNut]

30. USCG 61-63 (USCGA), USArmy 68-69 (USARV 69, SP/5)

:shrug:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

31. United States Air Force

Honorable discharge '75

[yelladawg]

32. Band of Brothers for Kerry

3/17 Air Cav
Nam 70-71-72

[rppper]

35. USN...submarines....88-97.....

left as an SK2(SS)....

boats i served on in order...

1) USS James K. Polk ssbn645

2) USS Billfish ssn676

3) USS Woodrow Wilson ssn624(this was a testbed SEAL delivery boat btw...i still can't talk about the missions we did...)

4) USS Hunley as31...my only "skimmer"

5) USS Tucson ssn770...i'm a plankowner on this boat

my ribbons included a navy unit of commendation, a navy meritorious unit of commendation, a defense service medal, navy sea service ribbon, two good conduct awards, pistol and rifle marksmanship awards, a strategic deterent pin with 2 bronze stars, and several letters of commendations.

i also qualified 4 different classes of submarines, was manuvering watch helm and battle stations helm on each boat(sub)and helped re-write an S.O.P. for 688I class submarines dealing with minefield manuvering....i was the best damn planesman in the f'n sub service(along with my control room crew).

i never went to shore duty during my 9 years 7 months in either...i accrued 7 years of sea time UNDERWATER, 8.5 years in all...this may explain my twisted attitude...i am, was and always will be an underway sailor.

i was a liberal long before i joined, and i was liberal throughout my time in. i got sh*t on a lot because of it...paid for it with 3.8 evals...but i never kissed anyones ass and i left with my pride intact.



thats me on the far right during "alpha" trials on the USS Tucson...

[jmowreader]

36. US Army Military Intelligence Corps 1982-1994

Basic training, Fort Dix, NJ

Advanced individual training (MOS 05G Signal Security Specialist), Fort Devens, MA

Duty with 311th MI Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY 1982-1994

Duty with 209th MI Company, 501st MI Brigade, Republic of Korea 1984-1985

Duty with 163d MI Battalion, Fort Hood, TX, 1985

Advanced Individual Training (MOS 98C Signal Intelligence Analyst), Goodfellow AFB, TX

Duty at Field Station Berlin, Germany, 1986-1992

7th Army NCO Academy Primary Leadership Development Course, Bad Toelz, Germany, 1988. (Bad Toelz was the Army's first NCO Academy.)

Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Fort Devens, 1990

Duty with 110th MI Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY 1992-1994

[huellewig]

37. I would like to give a LARGE..

Thank you to those who have served. I don't agree with our actions now. But, you get my respect.. Thank You..

[yorgatron]

38. U.S Army '83-'85

MOS 63T (armored personnel carrier mechanic) E-1 to E-4 in 18 months,all the way back to ER-1 by the time i got out.didn't get political until '88,when i voted for Jesse Jackson.

[nonconformist]

39. My husband was discharged on 9/11/01

True story.

He was in the Army, 63T - Bradley Mechanic. He has always been a hardcore Democrat.

He served from 1993-1999 on active duty, 2 years in the inactive reserves. He was due to get his separation papers in August of 2001, and we were starting to wonder where they were when 9/11 happened. I was freaking out, thinking that he got caught by the stop loss. But what do you know, a few days later we got a packet from the DoD, and everything - from the postmark to the all of the paperwork - was dated 9/11/01.

[Catch22Dem]

66. That's amazing

A bit lucky too!

[Dees]

40. Army

1964-66



"I had other priorities"....Cheney

[BlueCollar]

41. USN 79-83

AMS2
VP-40
4 WestPac Tours

[PapaClay]

42. Navy & Army

Navy 1969-1977
Army 1978-1989
Retired CWO3

OLANGAPO :evilgrin:

JALWABA :smoke:

[commander bunnypants]

43. USN 1986-1990

Petty officer third class- Corpsman. worked in ENT surgery and ran a pharmacy. Mixed a lot of cocaine in those years. Used to numb the sphenoid nerve for broken noses.

Semper FI

DDQM

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

65. Yeah, that will do it.

[libertad]

45. 3rd generation US Navy Democrat

My grandfather and father are retired Naval Officers and Democrats and I was also in the Navy in the 1980's and am an active Democrat - before, during and after military service. Along with Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, John Kerry, John Kennedy, etc all REAL military veterans and Democrats.

[trof]

46. Ala. ANG 1963-1971

I flew these:

RF-84/F Thunderflash.

106th Tactical Recon Squadron, and NO, I didn't see George*.

[commander bunnypants]

48. how could you see *

he was sleeping under a barstool

DDQM

[Ganja Ninja]

47. US Navy - Ballistic Missile Submarine - 1971 to 1975

[jukes]

49. army, 67-70

D co, 1/5th Cav, 1st Cavalry (Airmobile) 1968-69



Liberal always, son of a union man from south St. Louis.

[TX-RAT]

50. US ARMY 1969-1972

[underpants]

52. US Army Cav Scout 1/2/90-5/27/93

Mutliple decorations.

[MaineDem]

53. My husband was an airdale

Six years in Naval Aviation - back in the P2V days.

[ewagner]

58. Wow!

My Dad was an airdale also. P2Vs and (bet you know this one) North American AJs, then to A3Ds.

Me?

I'm a family disgrace: Air Force...flew a desk.

[Commendatori]

54. USAF 1990-1998

My baseball career didn't pan out, obviously.

[dry99]

55. USAF

1972-1976

[Aristus]

56. M1A1 Abrams tank crewman, US Army, 1986-1993

1-69th Armored Reg., Kitzingen, Germany
3rd Army Replacement Reserve, KKMC, Saudi Arabia
1-70th Combined Arms Task Force, Ft. Knox, KY.

Liberal then, liberal now, liberal forever! :headbang:

All freepers can kiss my veteran ASS! B-)

[Catch22Dem]

67. Love the quote

"All freepers can kiss my veteran ASS!"

I think I might steal it. Of course credit will go to you.

[bearfan454]

57. US Navy 1974 - 1977

Stationed at Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico for 32 months. Repukes suck.

[Mr. McD]

59. US Army Aviation 1968 - 1971

I was apolitical at the time.

[XNASA]

60. USN - Enlisted in '75, Honorably Discharged in '81.

Enlisted at 17. Boot at Great Lakes, AT 'A' School in Millington, stationed at Imperial Beach and made a Med Cruise on the FDR (CV-42).

Airedales Rool.

[yorgatron]

61. 42,000 DUers and only 60 vets?

:kick:

[XNASA]

62. That's 42,000 registered users......

But there are probably less than 1000 DU'ers that have seen this thread.

In any case, DU is well represented by Veterans. I don't think that there's any doubt about it.

[Demonaut]

71. ever eat at the "Balut",?

spent many days at IB pier, do you remember the names of the two bars attached to one another? one was country and the other was disco

[Redleg]

63. Army, 1987-1992.

Field Artillery Officer (13E00)
Served in M198 (155 mm Towed) and M110 (8 inch SP) Howitzer batteries in I Corps Artillery. Served as Communications Platoon Leader for FA battalion, Battery Fire Direction Officer, Battalion Artillery Liason Officer, Battery Executive Officer, Battalion Fire Direction Officer.

Got the hell out in 1992 and went to grad school. I enjoyed my time and learned a lot from the experience.

[tom_paine]

68. USAF 1984-1988 here!

Comm/Nav/Doppler Troop

Good Conduct Medal
Marksmanship Ribbon (got it, you Freeper Fucks?)
Journeyman Technican Award for Outstanding Technical Proficiency

Fuck those Chickenhawks! Goddamned gutless COWARDS!

:grr:

[Demonaut]

69. USN 1981-1986, Raygun years, USS Constellation, two westpacs

one overhaul Bremerton Washington, being stationed on a ship is like being in jail with a chance of drowning

[Career Prole]

72. U.S. Navy, VF-21 (USS Ranger) '73-'80

I was a Democrat in the womb.

[IronLionZion]

78. OMG! liberal veterans!

j/k I bet there are tons of you guys. I'm not a veteran...yet. I'll consider it if I don't have a job next year AND John Kerry is Commander in Chief.

Thank you all for your valient service. You are all heroes IMHO.

:toast:

[Cuban_Liberal]

79. US Army, 1998-2002.

In your FACES, Freeper scum! :evilgrin:

[Wickerman]

80. USAF 1994-2000

good years, I learned a lot, like to think I gave something back. Probably never would've gone to South Carolina had I not been in the military. Will probably never go back :P

[Love Bug]

81. Navy '74-'77