Military family, tell us about yours

[JohnR]

I didn't go in and serve my country. Should have, hind sight being clear and all. No one in my generation (siblings, cousins) has served except one that was in the Navy reserve.

My father was in the Navy in the early 60s (he was on the Essex during the Cuban Missile Crisis), got out after 4, went to college, and then worked at the Puzzle Palace for 25 more years.

None of his siblings were in the service. Less certain of his cousins.

Several of his Uncles were, mostly Navy. One died at Pearl Harbor I believe. Another was a POW in Germany. My (grand) Uncle Tom was career Navy enlisted.

[Sea Dangles]

My Gramps was laid to rest in Otis,Gram is nearby.Same with my wifes Gramp who lost an arm somewhere in Europe but never spoke of it.If you have ever seen a man with one arm swim,or tie his shoe,you would be impressed.Very emotional services at any rate.

[Swimmer]

The greatest generation all were in the military, so to say my mother's sisters all married military guys during that era was the norm. Simply because everyone enlisted so as not to be called a 4F'er.

My father had polio from the time he was ten years old. He enlisted in the army after graduation from high school. His legs collapsed doing PT during basic. The only thing he ever said to me was how the drill instructor to him to task for being there. In others words taking up his time. They sent him to the hospital until he was discharged. He was in long enough for the VA to give him great medical care during the end stages of his life. Both his brothers went in the army during WW2. I don't know what Tommy did, but uncle Jimmy was in tanks in WW2 and in Korea the same where he was awarded the silver star. He made a career of it.

My mother's brothers all of whom are dead did not all go in the service. One went to work for Tiger Airlines, one made the air force his career. He was a pilot who flew anything and everything. His eyes betrayed him the last 10 to 12 years of his career, so he was relagated to 2nd offficer status on B 52's and other such aircraft. He got out a full bird and by his own words should have been a general but the antics of his first wife betrayed his career.
One of her other brothers went into the marines and got a dishonorable discharge. He was an idiot. His family found out about it when he died. They requested burial in Bourne and they said no.

I didn't get drafted in 1970. My number was too high, 159 as I recall. And I was not going to enlist. My brother went in the coasties. I always thought that was pretty cool.