Here I am a few weeks after I entered the US Army in October 1968. That day in October, when I raised my hand and became a soldier, seems so long ago. Yet it seems like yesterday. I can feel the fear of entering military service knowing that my friends John and Joey had recently died in Vietnam. I remember being drafted and knowing that I did not want to fight in Vietnam. That trip to the recruiter was deeply driven by a desire to find a path that did not include the War in Vietnam. I signed up for an extra year to serve in the US Army Air Command working on missiles with nuclear capability.
I served stateside for three years at a missile firing range in New Mexico. During my military service I grew up a lot. I learned valuable life skills - LOL, like doing my own laundry. I developed technical and interpersonal skills that would last me a lifetime. I met my first wife Ellen. I got outside of my comfort level in a major way as I learned to live away from home and my family. In the end, I wonder what my life would have been like if I had not been drafted.
... reposted from November, 2014
T;hank you for your service to our country. And thank you for your continued service in maintaining your blog featuring thoughtful observations.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate that vanilla.
DeleteThank you for your service to our country Bob.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debby!
DeleteThanks for your service Bob....Goodness..you could melt a heart with that picture.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate that Wanda!
DeleteBob, I'm looking at your left column...why do you have more readership in INDIA than in Kansas??!!! Are you also known as "MumbaiBob"?
ReplyDeleteBanglaore Bob has a better sound to it Rob. :)
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