Use this thread to post your military affiliation and stories.

 

I started out as a Legal Clerk with the CA Army National Guard. Met a girl at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN. We got married. She was RA and got stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI. I transferred to HARNG and got an active duty position, working in Diamondhead. After Air Assault Training, I got the Ooorah feeling, and decided that I had to become an Army Ranger. Got stationed at Lewis, had to train at Bragg,Bennning and a few other places....That's about it, in a nutshell.

 

PlacerMike, I was in 3/11 FA just down the road from you. I was there from 1987 to 1990. I was at Ft. Richardson, AK from 1990 to 1993 and at Ft. Stewart, GA from 1993 to 1995. I did two combat tours while at Ft. Stewart, Somolia in 1993, and Kuwait in 1994 when Sadam sent his troops to the Kuwait border. Somolia was the most dangerous, but we did not know that when we got to Kuwait.

 

Gee, I almost forgot, I have been a member fo the Washington Army National Guard since 1995. I made my 3rd combat tour as part of the 81st Brigade in 2004. Again I only got to see the sand of Kuwait. So close and yet so far away. My adventure in Somolia is still the most dangerous combat tour I have been on. When officers in my unit ask why I still wear the 24th ID patch on my right shoulder, I ask "Were you shot at in Kuwait?" When they say no I say "Well, I was shot at in Somalia, that is why I wear this patch."

 

My ETS was in 87. I do know where Field Arty was

 

What was your MOS?

 

Just remember that my brothers died there! The movie 'Blackhawk Down' was about Lewis Rangers.

 

13E, Cannon Fire Directon Specalist. I now hold 13C and 13D. 13D combined and replaced 13E/C. It has been a fun ride, but after 20 years I am ready to call it quits. To bad I won't get any retirement pay until I am 60. It realy bites that the Pentigon wants to use the National Guard like Active Duty troops but doesn't want to pay them like Active Duty troops.

 

US Marines. Fox 2/11, 1 Mar Div, Echo 2/11, 1 Mar Div, Charlie 1/11 1 Mar Div.
1988-1992. Honorably Discharged.

Gunner15a

 

I remember that well. I was sent there in response to that incident. It is a shame because the Commander there asked for some heavy armor for security and Billery said no. As soon as that happened there we were. I was almost pulled out of a hummer by an individual into an angry crowd. My boonie cap is all that saved me. I had it attached to my LBV and that is what he got ahold of. It came off of my LBV and left me sitting there. I was the only soldier in the back of the trail hummer.

 

Hello to a fellow Redleg. We may be different branches, but Artillery men are Artillery men.

 

Welcome Gunner 15Alpha. Were you an East Coast Marine?...I know that 3d Mar Div was at Pendleton.

 

We remember that welll. Changes were made in how we would deploy after that. People need to remember that basically a squad was deployed. Seeing my brother 'paraded' through the street really disgusted me. Though I am much older now, there would be no mercy for those people.

 

The 'parade' realy discusted me as well. The biggest disappointment when we got there was that most of the missions we got were canceled before we fired a single round. We did level a factory that the general was in control of to shoe him we could destroy any hideout he had. When we had the chance to take him out, we were called off. Another Billery thing. As you can tell, I don't like Billery.

 

Somalia was a big joke!