Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

I'm just curious how many of us are active duty or veterans of military service and if so, what branch?

I'm Navy - spent almost 10 years in (May 1993- Dec 2002). Honorably discharged as a Chief Petty Officer (E-7) - Fire Controlman Chief (Surface Warfare).

I was stationed onboard USS Vicksburg (CG-69) for 5 years and did two 6-month deployments to the Persian Gulf, Suez Canal, Straits of Hormuz, etc... A short 2-month North Atlantic cruise (Baltic Ops) and a South America trip (UNITAS). I became a Shellback (Crossed the Equator) on the trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

I earned my pistol sharpshooter ribbon with the ole US Navy Beretta M9 .45ACP at the range in Mayport, Florida.

So, that's about it for me. Let's hear a few of the other stories out there if you care to share.

Disabled vet of the US Navy. USS Tringa ASR-16, Sub Rescue ship, Grotton, CT Nuke Sub Base. I was an EN, Diesel Engineman. Mustered out with an Honorable Medical discharge after 3 years active duty as a 3rd class Petty Officer (E4). I voulenteered for service just as we were pulling out of Nam.





The guy in this picture is not me standing next to our diving bell/rescue chamber.


THIS is me on my 1st leave from boot camp back in 1976

Retired Marine here, Served from 1981 -- 2001. Only made it SSgt but enjoyed my time in. I served in Japan, Korea, Phillipeans, Panama, and Somallia. My mos (job) was a glorified gas pumper. Never saw any actual combat.

after retiring I also worked for 2 yrs with Brown & Root (haliburton) in Bosnia supporting the Army.

USMC 90 - 94. 0341 - 60 mm Mortars Bravo Company, First Battalion, Third Marines.

Army 82-92. I was originally a Field Radio Repairer, they changed the MOS name a couple of times but it was still the same job. Honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. 2 tours in Germany (1st Infantry FWD and 56th Field Artillery) and 1 in Greece (558th Artillery Group). Stateside I was stationed at Ft. Campbell (101st Airborne), Ft. Riley (1st Infantry), and Ft. Lewis (35th Air Defense).

VA National Guard 93-99 first with an Infantry company in Woodstock VA then with a STARC detachment at Ft. Pickett.

There's got to be more Army guys than me on here.

6 years active duty US Army combat arms 1977-1983. Took me a long time to get over regretting leaving. I miss the guys in my unit and all the great times we had together. Qualified M-16, M1911, M60, M2, Dragon, and TOW. Left active duty and became a DOD civilian and continue to serve today.

Moccasin - here here for the Army and the Infantry, Queen of Battle: Follow Me !!!!

I put my time in back in the 1960's.

I don't talk about my service much but I spend some of my free time helping other vet's, mostly with the VA and other problems that are service related.

USMC 1994-1998 - 0331 Machine Gunner

Army Nat Guard 1999-2003 - 11B Rifleman

USMC 2003-2007 - 0651 Data Network Specialist

Took me a couple of times but I finally got smart, figured out that Combat Arms wasn't a good place to be and lat moved into something that pays the bills (of course after my body is all torn up from humping heavy crap around for years).

I'm now a DOD contractor with the USMC. In a couple of years (when the program I am working on is finally fielded), I would like to move over to the Govt Civil Service/GS side of things to take advantage of my years of service for a decent Govt retirement.

I'm a life member of the local VFW here in Dale City but not very active in it right now. Maybe someday I'll start doing more of the welcome home stuff they do. Sure was nice to see and talk with those guys when I my deployments were over and I got off the plane.
Will

Six years USARMY Late 70's early 80's

I was in the Air Force during the Vietnam War (though I was never in country).

Woman Marine 1970 - 1974 active, 1974 - 1975 reserves
MOS 0141/0151 working with Classified Material during Vietnam. Went thru
boot at Parris Island, SC and served at Treasure Island/San Francisco, Okinawa, and Camp LeJeune, NC. Thoroughly enjoyed my time in.

Served the in the Navy, retired after 22 years as a Chief Postal Clerk. Joined in 1970 and spent my 1st 5 years in Puerto Rico chasing Red Snapper and Grouper. Had to leave my guns behind until I pulled a tour in Newfoundland in the late 70's. I spent 4 years in Newfoundland which gave me the opportunity to fill my freezer with 3 bull moose (largest had a 48" rack). During my time in the Navy I qualified for the Expert Rifle and Sharpshooter Pistol medals. I shot on several command pistol and rifle teams but we never won any matches. I am almost 60 now and my shooting is limited to making sure my rifle is sighted in prior to opening day of deer season and spending a few days at the range during the year due to the high cost of ammo and the lack of rifle primers. After retiring from the Navy I spent 15 years working for the Postal Service and now I own my own pen shop in Virginia Beach (hopefully this is the last adventure). I enjoy reloading, hunting, fishing and playing with my dogs.

army reserve

split option during high school (basic between jr/sr year, ait after graduation in 82)

usmc

parris island 12/82
marine barracks mb-28 83-85
weapons 1/2 85-86

USMC 1/5 SS 70/71 Served in VM My partner was BlackIce. He and I spent the whole time there together. When I came back I never said anything to anyone about it until last Sept when I finally told my wife about it. Today I'm proud to say I was a Marine! I still hate NBC and the Dems. for what they did to us bad then, but I deal with it now. Looks like we are getting ready to fight them again lol

Paliden & BlackIce

Former Marine, 1972-74.

I served as an Apache Longbow helicopter crew chief with the First Cavalry Division at Ft Hood, Texas. I did three years from 1999-2002 and I was discharged on a medical for a service connected spine injury. I got out on 50% disability and wish I could have stayed in. I wanted to be a pilot but the injury I received was too severe for me to stay in. I am just glad I got the chance to serve. My dad, uncle and grandfather all served in the Army.

Army - 9 years 10 months from 1966 to 75
18 months in 3rd Inf Div. as a Tank crew member, saw the light and switched MOS to 67 field. Why walk when you can fly so I spent the rest of my time in Army Aviation Single Engine, Single Rotor from OH-23 to UH-1H. Nam was 3/17th Air Cav. garyowen!

USAF - 2004-2008

Heavy aircraft maintenance. I spent 4 years working on the KC-135R, R/T, and T model aircraft.

Been to undisclosed locations in southwest asia (if you search the interweb good enough, you might be able to find the locations, but according to my briefings tanker bases are still an "undisclosed location"), TDY's all over (lawn darts can't travel long distances by themselves!). The farthest south I've been is Uruguay (bonus points if someone figures that one out )

Grandfather on my mom's side retired as CMSgt (E-9) in the USAF. He was a radar/listening post operator during Korea and the Cold War.

Grandfather on my dad's side was Army Guard for a while, served on a Howitzer crew.

No wonder I didn't see this.
I was at AT while you guys started this.

I'm Army National Guard going on 6 years. I'm out in a few months.
11B, heavy weapons out of Fredericksburg. Qualified M4, M9, and M240. "Qualified" on TOW ITAS, M2, and MK19.
DK, you should see the new TOW systems if you haven't.

Half my platoon is trying for SF. I would be joining them if my wife was in better favor (yeah, it's talk, I know), but *shrug* I've done a tour. Family comes first. I know I'll miss the guys and guns but certainly not the beaurocratic, political crap.

Retired USN Aviation Ordnanceman, '79-'99. Used my Ma-Deuce qual paperwork to get my CC permit (Hey, it's still small arms) and was a certified gunsmith on a weapon which fires 100 rounds per second. Most of my time was split between repairing aircraft weapons components and supporting the Tomcat weapons systems. Hard to pack 20 years into a few sentences, so I'll just say that I had a very exciting and rewarding career making sure that bad guys got dead and good guys got back.