Was 1968 a year of change for you?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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If you are a senior (65), you were, at least, 15+ years old in 1968. ( 50 years ago). For me, it was a year of drastic change. Aside from the assassinations, riots, Vietnam War upheaval, it was a horrible public year. Personally, I broke up with my girl. I joined the US Navy, as a Corpsman (Medic). It was probably the year with the most changes in my life. Was 1968 a year of great changes for you
 

In the middle of May 1968, I enlisted in the Navy, because I knew the Draft would be after me. Two weeks after my high school graduation, which was the last week of May, my Navy Recruiter called me up to go to Basic Training at Great Lakes NTC. I had just turned 19. After I got the call from my Recruiter, the hotel and meals , before arriving at NTC Great Lakes, were great, but then we got to NTC at 11PM on a bus. The language the bus driver used was really shocking to me. I had never heard this swearing before. We were kept up until 4AM and had to get back up at 6AM. Basic Training was fine, I graduated and spent a week at home on Leave. Was assigned my first duty station at 32nd Street San Diego aka 7th Fleet Surface Naval Station. My first ship, a Destroyer in a Destroyer Escort Group. My first deployment...….December 28th on a Westpac Cruise to Vietnam. "Anchor's away my boys"!!
 

Well,let`s see. On January 1st,1968,I was 17 years old,two days married and on my honeymoon.In June of 1968,I graduated high school.And on October 9th,1968,I gave birth to my first child. So yes,I have to say that 1968 was a very big year for me.
 
I was in the Navy, and they moved my ships home port from Little Creek VA to San Diego. California/Tijuana was a new experience for one who had grown up on the east coast. Viet Nam had not started yet and Castro was in the process of taking over Cuba. Nobody ever shot at me and that was fine with me.
There was a landing in Lebanon that came to nothing. As a result we were sent to Pearl Harbor for a week and then returned to San Diego.
 
It was a really good year for me with lots of positive changes, but I was horribly upset over R.F.K.'s assassination in June of that year. Something important for America's youth died with him.
 
It didn't stand out for me in any way..I was just at the end of my first year of senior school....

Squatting dog..I just read your blog...I'm so sorry for the loss of your Child, so young and so recent too, your wounds must still be wide open!! May she R.I.P!!
 
In a decade marked by many significant changes in my life, 1968 stands out as the year when NOTHING happened. The greatest change I can think of is that prior to my junior year I switched my college minor from math to chemistry. Not exactly earthshaking.
:lol:
 
YES! As my avatar shows.............actually started much earlier with the Civil Rights Movement leading to anti-Vietnam War activities. Have always been precocious.
 
Let's see, I turned 16.... that's about it. I did buy my first saxophone, the others I played until then were school horns. It was a new King Super 20 Silversonic tenor. I still play it!
 

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1968 was the beginning of a new era for my life. I got discharged from the USAF on Dec. 27th, 1967, after spending my last year in the military in Thailand. I spent a couple of weeks in January regrouping before sending out a bunch of resumes, looking for a good job. I took a job at a local car dealer while waiting for interviews with various companies. Finally, after a couple of months, I got an appointment with IBM, and after a couple of interviews, and taking some tests, I was able to embark on a great career.
 
Left home to move 3,000 miles away to where my two older sisters lived. Found a job with the civil service for a few years, and went on to other more interesting jobs (Children's Aid, Antiques, Attorney General). It was exciting to be in a more multicultural city. It enriched my life in many ways. I had just turned 20.
 
Nothing special. I'd put in my 4 years of military service in the 50's. By '68 we'd been married 12 years, 4 kids, new house, and just keeping my "shoulder to the wheel". Kept pushing that wheel 'til 1992, when retirement beckoned.
 
In 1968 I was 19 with 2 little kids and we were so poor I had to use safety pins to hold my underpants together. My husband and I are advocates for young people to WAIT till they start having a family. Wait and wait and wait.
 
1968 We went downtown in Chicago to witness the Democratic Convention protests and saw the Chicago police beat people who were anywhere to be found. Hence, the book "Anatomy Of A Police Riot". We got out of there ASAP.
 
Yes, I got married, moved to D.C. (on Indian Head Hywy) and worked at Prince George Com. Col. (stayed there only 1 year - didn't like D.C.), and once shook hands with Richard Nixon. (downtown at Trader Vic's bar).
 
Want to add to what I said previously: YES, 1968 was a BIG one. How could it have slipped my mind that 1968 saw the assassinations of Martin Luther King then Robert F. Kennedy? How could it have slipped my mind the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago that led to the trial of the Chicago 7? HOW?

I make amends now. YES, 1968 changed me Big Time. Became MORE of what I already was in training for---my principles, my Integrity.
 

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