Roll call.

U.S. Marines—1971-1978. Long story.

Arrived in Vietnam on December 15, 1971 after attending AWT. Was assigned to Force Recon, but when I arrived over there, I was moved to first Marines, combat platoon. Fine with me. I really wasn’t to keen on being a recon Marine. I wore my boogie hat on patrol, but kept my Kevlar on the side of my pack where I could easily grab hold of it when needed. Mine wasn’t exactly like this one, but you get the idea.

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PeppermintPatty said:
Nobody checked Identification from a birth certificate or do they turn a blind eye to such things? My husband enlisted at 17.
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It was 1952 when my husband enlisted, and during war time, were they just desperate? My husband told his parents they better back him up or else, but the Army never tried to contact his parents. He didn't look 15 but of course did not show any proof of age, just his word. The fifties is like ancient history!
 
Naturally said:
Your post is off topic and irrelevant to squatting dog's thread.
Maybe start your own bash American veterans thread.
Maybe start your own how to wear a Canadian military uniform thread.
ROLL CALL: Are you a veteran?
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Great post. Straight to the point and not hateful. I was thinking back to when I was over there and I don’t remember running into any Canadians.
I did run into a bunch of Australians one afternoon while we were just setting up our second camp. These 6 or so guys came stumbling into our area and I was in charge until the Lt. returned so I approached them and asked “You guys lost?” The man in front said he was. Really? It came out that they were lost. I didn’t know what to tell them. They had no radio, so they wandered off. I radioed command and reported it only because I thought they needed some help finding their way. I gave our position, which I later caught heck for doing. Never give away your location over the radio. Lesson learned.
 

I failed the Army's medical exam, so tried the Navy, but failed that one, too.

My dad served in the US Navy in the mid-40s, a gunner's mate on the USS Ponaganset.

My son served in the navy and then the naval reserves. He retired from the reserves a few years ago with the rank of Chief Petty Officer, Seabees. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

My granddaughter served in the navy for a few years in the mid-2000s. She was stationed at Virginia Beach.

My brother served in the Air Force during the war in Vietnam and was stationed in the Philippines, Japan, Germany, and the US. I forget what rank he was when he retired (after 25 years; no college or military academy). He was an instructor....of something that didn't have to do with actual flying.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Nobody checked Identification from a birth certificate or do they turn a blind eye to such things? My husband enlisted at 17.
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Pepper said:
My husband. Veteran of Canadian Army, served in Korea during war. Snuck into enlistment at 15 years old. Was pissed as soon as he arrived Ceasefire declared. What did he know, he was only 15. I have his medals, he earned two. I have pictures also, of him in uniform. Over 6 feet tall, no way did he look 15. He said he was 19. He thought if he said he was 18 they would think he might be lying about his age so he upped it by one year. My husband. Honest Bandit.
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People weren't expected to keep their birth certificates safely stored somewhere back then. If you said you were 18, the enlistment officer took your word for it unless you obviously didn't look 18...or close to it.
 
Murrmurr said:
People weren't expected to keep their birth certificates safely stored somewhere back then. If you said you were 18, the enlistment officer took your word for it unless you obviously didn't look 18...or close to it.
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Which might be the best way to go especially since there were such eager men & women willing to risk their lives to give the rest of us our freedom. Willingness should score some points. It’s such a brave and noble thing to consider at any age. ♥️
 
All here served honorably and did their country proud, but I think the motivation for joining volunteer Armed Forces were mixed!

Was it a true desire to serve our country, was it a yearning for structure, a yearning for adventure, a need for a job? All, or most of the afore mentioned?

It makes no difference because we were all shaped into an effective and eager whole! A band of brothers, or sisters that I miss to this day!

I mentioned the yearning for structure because most of my shipmates, including me came from single-parent families! Was it a coincidence? I've always wondered!
 
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@Old Salt Interesting questions about why we served.

For myself, I knew early on I'd join the military, at least one tour.
Growing up in a military family, saw the structure you speak of and knew
it was something I wanted and could handle.

My flight at Basic Training was made up entirely of men from Hawaii.
We were a strange mix of different cultures.

After I was in for awhile, met other airman and they all had different reasons for joining.
Some were like me, from a military tradition, some wanted to learn a skill, while some were given the choice of Service
or Jail.

Through the years, my peers who stayed in, seem to have a pride in their jobs
that I rarely saw after I retired to the civilian work force. JMHO
 
DaveA said:
You didn't happen to be stationed at Kindley AFB in Bermuda back in '54? We were moored at the pier in St. George Harbor and I broke my wrist. They motored me across the harbor to Kindley's base hospital to patch it up.
You being a nurse, Just wondered if you held my hand while I "whimpered" in pain.:p
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Sorry, Dave. T'weren't I. I'd have loved to have been stationed there, however. :)
 
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