22 DAYS
Yup, that's me.
The picture was taken on the occasion of my selection as base airman of the quarter. It was not one of those smiling days for Bob. I have no idea why. Maybe I just wanted to look like a trained killer.
What a freaking baby I was. Damn, I'd love to have that head of hair again. Oh yeah, the uniform size at the time was 37. Whatta shrimp!
I had barely turned 18 when I enlisted. It was that or be drafted into the Army. At the time I figured 3 hots and a cot was better than canned rations in a muddy foxhole with bullets whistling over my head.
As it was, I tried like hell to do exactly that but it never worked out. As I got older the concept of kill or be killed became appealing which is why canned rations in a muddy Viet Nam foxhole with bullets whistling became a goal.
Well, as hard as I tried that never happened. When orders came down for me to head "over the pond" I was either on temporary duty somewhere else or on leave.
Uncle Sam did offer a commission along with training to pilot helicopters. I refused that offer when Sam added to the deal that I had to stay in the military for at least 6 more years. 3 years. 10 months. 22 days was enough military for me. I was college bound and not headed for a career in the Air Force.
The rest, as they say, is . . .
Happy Veteran's Day to me!
4 comments:
Bob,
Happy Veterans day to you! Thank you for having the courage to enlist. And I am glad that the action you got was minimal....We really don't need that kind of action anyway.
Wow! I had no idea Bob!
Just today my son told me he'd like to be in the military.
I'm mixed.
Hugs Bob.
I'm thankful you did what you did, and I'm glad you're here to tell about it today.
You are still the same handsome man you were then.
LaRoo
Fox: Ah, it was either enlist or be drafted. There really was no choice. But thanks anyway.
Blither: And thank you. Keep your son home. Don't let him enlist. It's a no win situation.
La roo: Well, damn. I'll take that compliment. You should have known me then. Then again, you should really know me now! :)
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