[ammosargeant]

I would like to thank all the veterans and those still serving in the military. I am a veteran of OIF 3 so i know how hard a deployment is on loved ones and family. I saw alot of stuff over there that had to do with death which makes me more thankful for life. I am glad i got the opportunity to serve my country and make it safe for others. I would like to get to know other military personnel from this site. And if you are still in the military be safe and watch your six.

 

[Jeff Johnson]

Thank you! for your service.
I recently spent only a week in Iraq (as a contractor) but it helped me appreciate the sacrifice you folks make. :flag: atriot:

 

[Kevin Jensen]

Thanks for your service, ammosargent. 6 years and no Iraq for me... yet.

 

[T-Man]

I joined the ARNG because I didn't want the Army to tell me where to live. 5 year anniversary next week. OIF2 with UT's 116th EN, then got a full-time Guard job. Transferred to MT last fall, and now I'm starting OCS. Crossing over to the dark side :shades:

 

[bane]

Sarg,

While I'm not a SOLDIER I am a SAILOR... 2 tours in the Gulf, 1 in So. America.

These photos taken on the 2 ships I served on popped up on my screensaver today... I thought everyone might like them:

I'm pretty sure this was just an exercise shot, I don't recall us ever making REAL shots on this ship (notice the vertical missile platform at the bottom-right corner). Taken onboard the USS Milius (DDG-69), aka "The Love Boat" :lol:

This shot, of course, was real as real gets! CRAZY!!! And this was taken from a Cruiser, which isn't exactly a small ship. Taken onboard the USS Valley Forge (CG-50), now decommissioned.

Additionally, here are some really kewl videos made onboard the USS Valley Forge while I was there...

This is "Missile-Ex", just an exercise where a bunch of ships get together and fire missiles out at an imaginary target... it's really kewl nonetheless!
http://www.thegreshams.net/toyz/MissileEx.swf

This is "Sink-Ex", an exercise where a bunch of ships get together and take turns shooting at an old retired ship trying to sink it. They start with small-arms fire (not that this does anything substantial, but it's great practice for us who stand small-cal watches but rarely get to practice shooting at a moving target), progress to large-cal firearms, move to missiles, and ultimately use torp's if needed. I actually got to participate in this exercise as I was one of the small-cal guys (rapid-fire belt-fed mounted grenade launcher... I wasn't a GM so I get the MK's confused but it is either the MK19 or the MK72, I think). I also helped load up a torp (I was a Sonar guy) but we didn't end up needing it... the missiles ended up doing their job! This was a kewl exercise and was also a testament to how well a ship can stay floating even after getting seriously pummeled.
http://www.thegreshams.net/toyz/SinkEx.swf

Not trying to HJ the thread, I just thought Sarg and everyone else would get a kick out of this stuff!

 

[ammosargeant]

thank you for your service and i was in for six years also. 4 1/2 active duty and 1 1/2 with the 191st i out of fort douglas.

 

[divegeek]

Let me add my appreciation as well. I have tremendous respect for any military service, even peacetime, and even more for wartime service in the theatre of operations. My younger brother is with the UTARNG and has done deployments to Bosnia, Macedonia and just this week went to Fort Lewis in preparation for a deployment to Afghanistan.

I was in the 19th SF, UTARNG and then in the 419th TFW, AFRES and while I've never been deployed (got orders to Desert Shield/Storm in 1991, but they were rescinded when the 419th CO threw a fit because they weren't calling up his pilots), my training was hard enough and realistic enough that I think I have some idea of the risks and hardships real veterans endure in service to their nation. I'm deeply grateful for their commitment.

I just wish I could be equally grateful for the civilian leadership's choices of what to do with that devoted service.

 

[Guest]

Six active army less than one reserve, 2 tours, I say farewell to the army June 15th of this year. While not a bad ride I think its time for family.

 

[apollosmith]

I have to add my sincere appreciation for your service on my behalf. My father was in the Army and three grandfathers fought in WWII. I have the ultimate respect for those that serve and preserve.

 

[bane]

three grandfathers fought in WWII.

Now *THOSE* are the guys that amaze me! When I was in the Navy and listened to the horror stories of them spending days in sub-territory hunting some nasty sub and knowing several hundreds of their fellow sailors had been killed earlier by the same sub... [CHILLS!]... or when the guys stormed places like Normandy and just *KNEW* the first several ranks were "DONE"... quite honestly, it's hard to believe that people like that have ever existed.

Today much of our duty is easier. Although, I wouldn't say that for the guys who drive by IED's every day. My hat goes off to them, and my heart swells for their family.