50 years

**rickthedrummer** · 11-17-2019, 08:21 AM

A about 8:30 EST 50 years ago (11/17/1969), I was discharged from the USAF after 4 of the most interesting years of my life.

**OldeEnglishD** · 11-17-2019, 09:58 AM

Thank you for your service sir!

**rickthedrummer** · 11-17-2019, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by OldeEnglishD

Thank you for your service sir!

Thank you OED, that is deeply appreciated.

**thunderstruck** · 11-17-2019, 12:33 PM

Yes, thank you for your service. Glad you are here with us now.

**Bish** · 11-17-2019, 12:50 PM

Total respect for the military.

Thank you for YOUR Service and glad you survived to torment this group.

**drummer** · 11-17-2019, 02:40 PM

We appreciate you Rick!

**rickthedrummer** · 11-17-2019, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by thunderstruck

Yes, thank you for your service. Glad you are here with us now.

Looking back on some times back then, I'm glad to be anywhere!!!!!

Originally Posted by Bish

Total respect for the military.

Thank you for YOUR Service and glad you survived to torment this group.

Knowing that 40+ years down the road DC was coming kept me ducking rather than looking around to see if anyone was there.

Originally Posted by drummer

We appreciate you Rick!

Tom, I think the word you are looking for is "tolerate".

**gdmoore28** · 11-17-2019, 07:50 PM

I know the feeling. I was discharged from the Army in November of 1975, and there is rarely a week goes by that I do not mentally kick myself for ever leaving. I had a great job that I liked (91F20: Neuropsychiatric Technician), decent enough pay and benefits to support my beautiful young wife and me, great and highly-educated people to work with, and benefited from a fast-track promotion program. (With less than 24 months in service, I was promoted to the rank of E5 - equivalent to three stripes. A sargeant, iow.) Best of all, my superiors had (without my knowledge) nominated me to become a Warrant Officer in medicine (and I was accepted), which meant that I would have been trained - for free- as a physician for Army service. (I would not have been able to go into private practice unless I took state bar exams.)

The siren call luring me away from this ideal situation was my family back home in Arkansas. They wanted me to return and become a partner in the family farm - something that I longed for, too. If I returned, I'd be given a home and a work vehicle along with the same salary I was receiving from the Army. Being young and stupid, I yeilded to my family's call while working hard to avoid admitting to myself that I'd be making a huge mistake. As the time for my eligibiligy to resume my Army career ticked away, I wrestled constantly about returning to service. I foolishly let the opportunity slide through my fingers, and I've regretted it since.

Anyway, happy 50 year anniversary, Rick.

GeeDeeEmm

**rickthedrummer** · 11-18-2019, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by gdmoore28

I know the feeling. I was discharged from the Army in November of 1975, and there is rarely a week goes by that I do not mentally kick myself for ever leaving. I had a great job that I liked (91F20: Neuropsychiatric Technician), decent enough pay and benefits to support my beautiful young wife and me, great and highly-educated people to work with, and benefited from a fast-track promotion program. (With less than 24 months in service, I was promoted to the rank of E5 - equivalent to three stripes. A sargeant, iow.) Best of all, my superiors had (without my knowledge) nominated me to become a Warrant Officer in medicine (and I was accepted), which meant that I would have been trained - for free- as a physician for Army service. (I would not have been able to go into private practice unless I took state bar exams.)

The siren call luring me away from this ideal situation was my family back home in Arkansas. They wanted me to return and become a partner in the family farm - something that I longed for, too. If I returned, I'd be given a home and a work vehicle along with the same salary I was receiving from the Army. Being young and stupid, I yeilded to my family's call while working hard to avoid admitting to myself that I'd be making a huge mistake. As the time for my eligibiligy to resume my Army career ticked away, I wrestled constantly about returning to service. I foolishly let the opportunity slide through my fingers, and I've regretted it since.

Anyway, happy 50 year anniversary, Rick.

GeeDeeEmm

I was going to re-up with a wife and a little girl and no idea what was coming down the road. I was a E-5 also, they could shorten TIG time where I was. (I extended for a year, that pretty much guaranteed E-5). There was also a 10K VRB if I stayed because of my AFSC, which was CrypCom.

I'm probably the only guy in history who couldn't re-up because I was hit by a tree. Very long story.

Anyway, things turned out good so I didn't regret what happened.