Military Vets?

[jerrys]

Very Nice Ted.

Drafted - Korean War
Stationed at WWII bombed out Port Kobe, Japan.
Moved to Ashia Airforce Base, Japan. The brightly lite launching site of paratrooper flights to Korea and returning body bags.

[Hankphenom]

What are enough thanks for someone who keeps you and your family safe? I don't know, but this is a great chance to say thank you in an unusual setting. A football injury kept me out of Vietnam. I'm was not at all sorry about it then, and am not now. However, I do know that the military experience would have helped me in my life, assuming I had made it through, and I am sorry about that. I hope this isn't too political, but I firmly believe that there should be a universal draft for two years service to the country, military or otherwise, draftee's choice. And since this is a sports collecting board, I'll also opine that all military displays--including the National Anthem--should be reserved for more appropriate occasions than sporting events--like today! So have a wonderful Independence Day, everybody, one thing I know we can all agree on is what a wonderful country we have and how lucky we are to have had so many talented young men who chose to defend her with their lives over all these years.

[buymycards]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

What are enough thanks for someone who keeps you and your family safe? I don't know, but this is a great chance to say thank you in an unusual setting. A football injury kept me out of Vietnam. I'm was not at all sorry about it then, and am not now. However, I do know that the military experience would have helped me in my life, assuming I had made it through, and I am sorry about that. I hope this isn't too political, but I firmly believe that there should be a universal draft for two years service to the country, military or otherwise, draftee's choice. And since this is a sports collecting board, I'll also opine that all military displays--including the National Anthem--should be reserved for more appropriate occasions than sporting events--like today! So have a wonderful Independence Day, everybody, one thing I know we can all agree on is what a wonderful country we have and how lucky we are to have had so many talented young men who chose to defend her with their lives over all these years.

Hi Hank,
I agree with you about the mandatory two years service. I remember that many of my comrades in the military were the results of some bad decisions, and the judge gave them the choice of 3 years in jail or 3 years in the military. I wish that was still happening.

Rick

[CurtisFlood]

I spent 24 years in the Navy, 4 active and 20 as a reservist. My wife says it is the best thing I ever did when I stayed in.

[skil55voy]

Fort Meade Maryland 1979-1981. Beckett's original price guide partner Denny Eckes had a print shop and sold plastic 9 pocket sheets for cards. He would set up at the local shows and sell the price guide. Still have my copy and a T206 Checklist called "The Monster" that he sold as a booklet. I served as a Telecom for NSA.

[bobfreedman]

Spent 10 years in the USN asa Sonar Technician. Four Years in San Diego and six on the east coast.

[PowderedH2O]

USAF 1988-1995. I was an aircraft electrician and environmental systems specialist. After basic training and tech school, I was at Beale AFB in CA., Keflavik NAS in Iceland, Seymour Johnson AFB in NC, and Travis AFB in CA. I loved the Air Force and planned to do 20+ years, but after watching my daughter go to kindergarten, first, second, and third grades in different schools it started to get to me. I also was very unhappy at my last duty station, so I transferred into the reserves at that point to make life easier on my family. I'm in my mid 50's now, but I sure wish I could get back out there and turn wrenches on those big tankers!

[robw1959]

I served eight years of active duty in the Marines, the last four of which led me to Desert Storm as a T.O.W. missile operator. Topps had produced a Desert Storm baseball issue for distribution to us troops in the Middle East, but all of the office pogues got to them first!

[seanofjapan]

Originally Posted by jerrys

Very Nice Ted.

Drafted - Korean War
Stationed at WWII bombed out Port Kobe, Japan.
Moved to Ashia Airforce Base, Japan. The brightly lite launching site of paratrooper flights to Korea and returning body bags.

Wow. I moved to Kobe after it was devastated in the 1995 earthquake. Its an interesting coincidence that we both saw the city after it was destroyed, only half a century or so apart and for different reasons.

[Pack The Ripper]

The junk wax era inspired my enlistment. I was working in a small card shop until it closed in 1994. The owner, like a lot of card shop owners, just couldnt make it work.

US Navy 1994-1998. My job was Cryptologic Technician. Holed up in a locked room listening to the world. Served on USS Cape St George (CG-71). Haze gray and underway most of the time. Served in the Adriatic Sea during the Balkan civil war. Saw ports from Pearl Harbor to all over both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Made some real friendships.

When I got out in 1998, I started this hobby up again and haven't stopped since.

[Bigdaddy]

A big 'Thank You' to all that have served and sacrificed for this country.