Oops....

[grouch]

I got to talk to some former associates of mine today. A couple still are involved actively in what I know them from. The talk got around to the Paper Bear of the Russian Army. The draftees were told they were going into Ukraine, the ones that were told in advance, that they were going to run the National Socialists out (maybe the filter won't censor that) and protect Russian speakers. There were no National there and 95% of Ukrainians speak Russian on a regular basis. These are guys who are getting shot at a lot and are being used as cannon fodder. Their term is for 2 years. Eventually, they are going to go back home. Hopefully alive. How many Vietnam vets talk about their time in country, even if only to other vets? Tsar Putin really put his foot in this one.

 

[MO VietVet]

I have shared Vietnam stories of my Navy time in a military thread on another forum. Lots of guys that were there just don't want to relive those dark days. I loved all the places and things I saw and went to but just did not like some of the people I went there with.

 

[OnTheReel]

Yeah, my dad never told me or anyone else very much about his time in Vietnam. I think it really weighed heavy on him. In those days you didn’t really get much help when you got home. Probably still don’t. So he picked up drinking instead.

 

[grouch]

I have shared Vietnam stories of my Navy time in a military thread on another forum. Lots of guys that were there just don't want to relive those dark days. I loved all the places and things I saw and went to but just did not like some of the people I went there with.

I missed the draft by 10 weeks. When I tried to enlist, they were in a draw down mode and not really recruiting like they did previously and later. I found another way to serve and did it for nearly 10 years.

 

[MO VietVet]

I missed the draft by 10 weeks. When I tried to enlist, they were in a draw down mode and not really recruiting like they did previously and later. I found another way to serve and did it for nearly 10 years.

At the time before I went in, my draft number was 2. I knew I was going. I joined the Navy to try and control my obligation environment. I was a trained photo journalist, school newspaper, yearbook and worked for the local town newspaper and did free lance work as well. I volunteered and showed the credentials and was assigned as ship's company Photographers Mate on the aircraft carrier Uss Kitty Hawk CV-63. I skipped basic photography school but did attend color photography school and motion picture school. I did everything from I.D. pics to promotion shots and damaged equipment to ship fire damage to wounded sailors and Seal Team members and off ship crime scenes. I saw some shit. some funny and lots not. My last 2 years in I was on flight skins so I could fly off and on the aircraft carrier. That was a supreme rush.