How many of us are servinging or served in the military?

[LWM]

In looking at the introduction threads I see a pattern of military service. If you served in the military let us know what branch, when you served and what you do or did (MOS).

[LWM]

I served in the United States Air Force from October 1980 Until Septembert 1984. After basic Training and specialty school at Lackland AFB in Texas I spent the remainder of my time at Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota. My MOS was a Security Specialist (811x0), which meant I quarded weapons and planes (B-52s).

[07JeepXK]

I am currently serving in the U.S. Army (April 2002 - Present). I attended Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO for Military Police (31B). Upon completion, I attended Airborne School at Fort Benning, GA and was then stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. I served seven years active duty with two tours in Iraq and then decided to get out and join the National Guard. Im currently on Active Duty orders through the National Guard and will be deploying to Iraq for a third tour next year.

[Sal-XK]

I'm still active duty Airborne Infantry (11BP3) Was in Iraq from 2005-2006 Ramadi and AL Anbar area. Was in Afghanistan 2007-2008 Was the TTF ( Tactical Theater Force) was all over the place mostly worked the Hellman River Valley, Tora Bora Mountains there was lots of work in those places. Not sure how much longer I'll be in I had a chute failure and burned in so I'm little messed up add that to all the other wear in tear on my body I'm getting to the end of a long road.

[HueyPilotVN]

I am an old Huey Pilot and have been out of the Army for almost 40 years. I did basic at Fort Polk, Louisana. Basic Flight school at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas. I did advanced flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama in class 69-13. I went to Viet Nam on my first tour on July 4, 1969. I did two tours back to back and got out early about half way thru my second tour. I had probably the best job as a pilot in Viet Nam. I was usually assigned to fly for the Senior Advisor of IV Corp for both tours and in the same location. I flew all single ship missions and just about every kind of interesting mission that you can imagine. I got lots of war stories and most of them are true. I originally signed up for four years to get flight school. I ended up spending one year in training and 1 1/2 year in Nam and then got an early out. I ended up only spending 2 1/2 years out of a 4 year commitment. They were letting pilots go in 1971, so I got lucky. Actually I got lucky many times in Viet Nam. I went down for several reasons, mostly things breaking more than half of the eight times that I went down. Always got picked up or crashed near a base. Half of my flight class did not complete their first tour and I think it was mostly the luck of the draw.

[Doc in AZ]

i had 5 tours in iraq flying on blackhawks... 500 combat flight hours working primarily with the special forces doing things that i still am not at liberty to discuss. i found a website years ago that was all the KIA and i couldn't look at it after the first 5 minutes... the mortality rate for helicoptor crewmembers is astounding. i would say, as an estimate, 50% of the guys i flew with are just memories now. i got back in contact with one of my old friends a few years ago through a site that was dedicated to the 223 war eagles and he told me he transfered out of aviation and into EOD because it was "statisticly" a safer job. the next email i sent was returned by his widow.

you see it in the movies but it's something unheard of... he "jumped on the grenade" to save the others

SSG Johnnie Mason, RIP
Staff Sergeant Johnnie Mason was smiling when I met him, a few days after he had dodged death. He was part of an Army bomb squad team in Mahmudiyah, not far from Baghdad. An improvised explosive device, stuffed underneath a set of corpses, detonated just feet away from him in mid-July. Only his kevlar bomb suit -- and a quick duck behind a mound of dirt -- kept him alive.

If Mason was bothered by the experience, he didn't show it. "All I've got is a little short-term memory loss. There are four roads on post -- I keep getting lost," he laughed.

But he had enough wherewithall to get back to work, he promised his commanding officer. Mason eyes grew big, and he cracked a toothy grin, when he got the okay.

I shook my head in wonder at Mason's easy-going bravery then.

Now, I'm cradling my head in my hand, after getting this message from Sergeant Jon Ferraro, from the "Baghdad Bomb Squad."

On 19 December 2005 @ 23:30, my team leader SSG Johnnie V. Mason was killed in the line of duty in Al Mahmudiyah, Iraq. We were working on an IED in the median of a road, when a possible secondary IED was found in our safe area. SSG Johnnie Mason responded immediately to the secondary and took immediate actions on the device. He was trying to safe the device when it detonated, killing him instantly from the explosion (at exactly 23:30). He saved at least 4 soldiers that night who were within feet of the device. SSG Johnnie Mason is a fallen brother. A brother in arms. An EOD brother. A husband to his wife Brook and a father to his 2 step children: Ashley (18) and Adam (16). He will not be forgotten. His loss will not be in vain.

He was my team leader. He was my NCO. He was my best friend. He was my brother. I have never gotten so close to someone in such a short time. I first met Johnnie when I got to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, back in January of this year. I found out he was going to be my team leader for Iraq back in March. Ever since then we have been inseparable and we've had a brothers bond.

We were Team 8 "Jokers". When we rolled out on an incident, everyone knew who we were. Johnnie was a joker. He's the guy that makes everyone laugh and smile. Everyone liked him or loved him. He was always in a good mood and made the best out of every situation. He was cool under pressure and was an amazing team leader. He taught me alot as a person, as an EOD [explosive ordnance disposal] tech...and soon to be husband. We had fun on every incident we ran. We ran safely, as fast as possible, and held high standards as a team. Everywhere we went on post, someone would say hey to Johnnie from the lowest ranking private to the Brigade Commander. Everyone knew him.

I ask that everyone take a moment of silence and pray for his family and friends during this horrible time. I ask God to keep them strong and safe during this time of Christmas. I ask that you forward this to all the EOD techs you know and the friends and loved ones of his.

Thank you and God bless,
SGT Jonathan M. Ferraro
717th Ordnance Company (EOD)

I am an old Huey Pilot and have been out of the Army for almost 40 years. I did basic at Fort Polk, Louisana. Basic Flight school at Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas. I did advanced flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama in class 69-13. I went to Viet Nam on my first tour on July 4, 1969. I did two tours back to back and got out early about half way thru my second tour. I had probably the best job as a pilot in Viet Nam. I was usually assigned to fly for the Senior Advisor of IV Corp for both tours and in the same location. I flew all single ship missions and just about every kind of interesting mission that you can imagine. I got lots of war stories and most of them are true. I originally signed up for four years to get flight school. I ended up spending one year in training and 1 1/2 year in Nam and then got an early out. I ended up only spending 2 1/2 years out of a 4 year commitment. They were letting pilots go in 1971, so I got lucky. Actually I got lucky many times in Viet Nam. I went down for several reasons, mostly things breaking more than half of the eight times that I went down. Always got picked up or crashed near a base. Half of my flight class did not complete their first tour and I think it was mostly the luck of the draw.

[robby]

U.S. Army.....1969/1975.....11B Infantry.

Drill Sargent.....Your best friend or worst enemy depending on the circumstance.....I wanted everyone I taught to come home alive.

Weapons instructor.
Vehicle Maintenence instructor.

Taught at: Fort Polk La. Fort Dix NJ. Fort Lewis Wa. Fort Ord Ca.

Rob