My family has a long history in the Navy over the years with many of my aunts and uncles serving in WWII. I was the odd duck who joined the Air Force. First four years are active duty. Rest of my time was traditional drill status / Air National Guard through retirement. I used to get frustrated at some of the family members who would always greet me on memorial day with a thank you for your service. Then one day my better half asked me to relax and just take in the sentiment. Fair enough. I personally don't understand what some of my family members, and others, must have gone through especially the more I read from the articles my mother saved, never to show, that I found after she passed away. She never spoke about her brothers and my uncles never spoke about it. They came home, found jobs, led a productive life, and that was it. You wouldn't know unless they let it slip out or told a story - which they rarely, if ever, did. Not like today whereas a soldier will sell a tale for a buck or minute of fame...
Has a kid /growing up I delivered news papers and I clearly remember to this day reading the headlines with what went down in Vietnam. And the media machine behind it. Reading the news today brings a lot of it back to the forefront and how the years parallel. One of the major disappointments I witnessed is how we treated those who served during that time... Anyway I rant and for that I apologize.
85-89 - 44th fighter sqd, Kadena AB. 462x
90 - 91 - 940th, Mather AFB. 555x rapid runway / civil engineering
92 - 2015 - 152nd AW, Reno Nevada. 1S0x explosive and ground safety
