How Many Starquesters are Armed Forces Veterans?

[JAinsworth]

I spent 7 yrs. 6 months 7 days in the USAF...all at Maxwell in Montgomery AL. I did Admin work for the Air War College, then special duty assignment at Civil Air Patrol headquarters..not much of a military resume. I spent most of my time playing softball for the base. A lot of good times travelling to other bases...playing ball for a living was good

 

Jimmy

[John86TSi]

I was in the US Navy for eight years as an Aviation Electrician, and got out as a First Class (E-6). I was in from 1971 to 1979, and was stationed at NAS Oceana (Virginia Beach), Virginia for training and then with Attack Squadron 34 (A-6 jets, the nick of the squadron was the "Blue Blasters") till 1975, and made two MED cruises on the USS John F. Kennedy. If you want to see the very best squadron patch there ever was, get on eBay and search for either VA-34 or Blue Blasters and take a look at it!!!!). I was on shore duty at NAS Oceana till late 78, and then joined VA-75 (A-6 jets, nick -- Sunday Punchers) onboard the USS Saratoga for my third Med cruise.

 

I have an interesting story about my last cruise. My father died at about the half way point of the cruise, and we were pulling into Naples, Italy the next day. While onboard the ship, I was actually attached away from the squadron with the ship as I worked on the Inertial Navigation black boxes that were installed on the A-6 and F-14 aircraft. The officer in my squadron that brought me the Red Cross telegram message that my father had passed was Michael Smith. He arranged for my transfer the next day and my flight back and forth to the states. After the cruise, I got out of the Navy and lived in Virginia Beach for several years. One day, not long after I had left the Navy, at a True Value hardware store in Princess Anne Plaza I met Michael Smith and his wife shopping, and we stopped and talked. At that time he told me that he had been accepted to be an astronaut at Houston. I congratulated the both of them, and went on my way.

 

Several years later, while working for the Army at a cal lab our customers that day were telling us that the shuttle had blown up during lift off, so one of the active duty soldiers that lived on base went and got a portable tv and brought it back to work. Imagine my surprise and mixed feelings when Michael Smith's picture flashed on the screen with all the other shuttle astronauts. He was the pilot of Challenger that day, the one that said "Go at throttle up", and from what I have later learned (from people that worked at NASA) also uttered "oh oh" as the very last transmission from the shuttle that day.

 

The other strange thing about that day??? It was my late father's birthday.

 

 

John86TSi

[Oxide]

I was also in the Navy 89-93, AME. I was stationed in NAS Oceana, VA-65 Fighting Tigers an A-6E squadron. Did a cruise on the USS Roosevelt. Got some good medals from GW1.

[pitboss]

U.S. Navy Seabee's for 9 years. Equipment Operator 2'nd class Petty Officer. Stationed at Port Hueneme, CA with NMCB 3 for 4 years, Guam for 2 years transporting ordinance at the Naval Magazine and ended my time with the Navy here at Whidbey Island, WA CBU 417. Met alot of good folks and had alot of good times. Been all over the world and wouldn't trade the experience for anything. Edited August 31, 2008 by pitboss

[averse]

I was in the US Navy for eight years as an Aviation Electrician, and got out as a First Class (E-6). I was in from 1971 to 1979, and was stationed at NAS Oceana (Virginia Beach), Virginia for training and then with Attack Squadron 34 (A-6 jets, the nick of the squadron was the "Blue Blasters") till 1975, and made two MED cruises on the USS John F. Kennedy. If you want to see the very best squadron patch there ever was, get on eBay and search for either VA-34 or Blue Blasters and take a look at it!!!!). I was on shore duty at NAS Oceana till late 78, and then joined VA-75 (A-6 jets, nick -- Sunday Punchers) onboard the USS Saratoga for my third Med cruise.

 

I have an interesting story about my last cruise. My father died at about the half way point of the cruise, and we were pulling into Naples, Italy the next day. While onboard the ship, I was actually attached away from the squadron with the ship as I worked on the Inertial Navigation black boxes that were installed on the A-6 and F-14 aircraft. The officer in my squadron that brought me the Red Cross telegram message that my father had passed was Michael Smith. He arranged for my transfer the next day and my flight back and forth to the states. After the cruise, I got out of the Navy and lived in Virginia Beach for several years. One day, not long after I had left the Navy, at a True Value hardware store in Princess Anne Plaza I met Michael Smith and his wife shopping, and we stopped and talked. At that time he told me that he had been accepted to be an astronaut at Houston. I congratulated the both of them, and went on my way.

 

Several years later, while working for the Army at a cal lab our customers that day were telling us that the shuttle had blown up during lift off, so one of the active duty soldiers that lived on base went and got a portable tv and brought it back to work. Imagine my surprise and mixed feelings when Michael Smith's picture flashed on the screen with all the other shuttle astronauts. He was the pilot of Challenger that day, the one that said "Go at throttle up", and from what I have later learned (from people that worked at NASA) also uttered "oh oh" as the very last transmission from the shuttle that day.

 

The other strange thing about that day??? It was my late father's birthday.

 

 

John86TSi

 

Wow. just....wow.

[averse]

U.S. Navy Seabee's for 9 years. Equipment Operator 2'nd class Petty Officer. Stationed at Port Hueneme, CA with NMCB 3 for 4 years, Guam for 2 years transporting ordinance at the Naval Magazine and ended my time with the Navy here at Whidbey Island, WA CBU 417. Met alot of good folks and had alot of good times. Been all over the world and wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

 

Would ya trade it for a turbo? lol, sorry couldnt resist :winking0013:

[spoolinturbo]

a seebee?!?!?!?! a not well-known hard workin group!! good job man

[Whiplash]

USN from 1980 - 1985. I was an Ocean Systems Tech. (OT3). I PNA'ed the E5 tests 3 times but never got promoted. But my job billet was an E5 slot. I was a threat submarine spec. Anyone remember in the movie Hunt for Red October when they went into the room that looked like a NASA control room? Thats where I worked. It was more detailed in the book. Stationed at Norfolk, Ferndale, CA; Bermuda, and the worked with the Brits in Wales, UK. I got out because I was told that if I reenlisted I had more power to get promoted if I cross rated. But then PG war 1 started. Then all the high school kids joined and they put me on the back burner. Never did rejoin.

[pitboss]

Would ya trade it for a turbo? lol, sorry couldnt resist :winking0013:

 

LOL. You got me there lol

[Guest Kenmarrow]

I Join the US Coast Guard in 1970 I learned to drink some beers, I retired in 1992 I forget the rest. What year is it anyways. Got Boat! haha Peace Ken

Wow after reading all these posts, I remember that I really like you Navy & Marine Guys.. I be sitting in Port and the Navy / Marines get deployed, the whole domn base is empty except for Coasties and all them lonely wives and gal friends. Just had to wait till the 15th or 30th pay day and them womens have ya money and are on the prowl..looking for any time.. hmmm Navy womens... rrrrggg yes.. the really wild ones were the Marine women they just love a Coastie in uniform with handcuffs .... haha Now you remember why you do not like the Coast Guard.. Haha..Well I do resect you guys.. really do. and have never messed with ya ladies.. but it was the way.. not today.. peace Ken

[JustinD23]

USMC 91-98, Parris Island, 03bullet-sponge (The Stumps), Marine Security Guard (Everywhere), Medically retired after service-connected injuries... Edited September 1, 2008 by JustinD23

[Starfighterpilot]

US Navy Submarine Force, 1963 – 1971, MM1(SS), Navy NUC.

 

Stationed on 3 Nuclear Subs: USS Snook SSN 592, USS Kamehameha SSBN 642, USS Scamp SSN 588.

 

Four Polaris Submarine Deterrent Patrols.

 

Many WestPac deployments doing “dirty dastardly deeds” (that’s what the sub force called “special operations” back then) against the Soviets. One time we left Pearl Harbor, went out and found someone we were looking for, in the North Pacific, and trailed him, for about 2 months, to see where he was going and what and how he was doing “stuff.” We wound up East of Greenland and Iceland after he pulled in to where he was going. Then we had to go back the way we came! I can DEFINITELY say that Santa Claus does NOT live at the North Pole. Also, Soviet harbors had WORSE smog than Los Angeles ever had at that time.

 

The rated crush depth of 2 of the submarines that I was on, was VERY conservative. By at least a factor of 2, because we went down that deep, by accident. I can say that now because none of those submarines or classes of subs is in service anymore.

 

Two deployments off of North Viet-Nam, sinking North Vietnamese ammo & gun running junks (without using torpedoes or surfacing) heading to South Viet-Nam. I had nightmares about that for about 20 years.

 

That is just some of the dirty dastardly deeds we did.

 

We were fortunate enough to be awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy Unit Commendation, and two Meritorious Unit Commendations for the dirty dastardly deeds that we did.

 

We came back from our last 18 month, WestPac deployment (originally it was to have been for 10 months) in May 1971. Daughter No. 2 was 15 months old and I never met her. After I was home for about 2 weeks, my wife put her foot down, and said, that either I get out of the Navy or she and my two daughters were getting out. She was tired of being Mom and Dad. She was right! My kids did not know me.

 

My family and I got out of the Navy in July 1971 when my second hitch was up.

 

I loved what i was doing and sincerely feel that what we did and how we did it, was important to maintaining the security of the USA during the Cold War.

 

Submariners do it DEEPER!!! :thumbsup:

 

For what it’s worth.

 

KEN

[Robsweet87TSI]

24th Aviation Regiment, F Company, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah GA Desert Storm was my last gig. 67 Tango20 otherwise known as a Black Hawk Crewchief...........and the FAA still says I'm not qualified to work on civilian aircraft. lol :usa: Edited September 2, 2008 by Robsweet87TSI

[macrophage]

All of these Marines in here- i got some new names

 

LeatherQuest

GruntQuest

QuestNeck

Starneck

LeatherCon

Conqneck

LeatherStar

GyrineStar

ConGyrine.......... and the list goes on

Oh the names are a $1.00 Ea

[Shelby]

rather sad over 11k members and less then 35 service vets :usa:

[Kr0nus]

rather sad over 11k members and less then 35 service vets :usa:

 

 

Wow, I didn't know there was that many members. That is sad though. What's even more sad than that is the fact that our military is sooo much smaller than it used to be. People today are such sissies. Just look at the Army, Navy and Airforce. I have never seen so many fat bodies in the Armed Forces before. It's freaking disgusting to have a 250+lbs guy with cammies on carrying a weapon. We need to get back to the old school days where Americans didn't join for the collage money and they just joined because they loved America....Guess those days are long gone....Maybe it's just me.....

[Funky Phil]

They'd have to bring back the pledge of allegiance, and we know the god haters wont allow that. Edited September 2, 2008 by phinko

[spoolinturbo]

24th Aviation Regiment, F Company, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah GA Desert Storm was my last gig. 67 Tango20 otherwise known as a Black Hawk Crewchief...........and the FAA still says I'm not qualified to work on civilian aircraft. lol :usa:

 

you need your A & P silly =) like me, if your still enlisted you can get it very easy, some schools are diff in how long there lilttle course is and then the test, mine was like 2 weeks for a run through. all i had to do was learn their different acronyms, because they differ from ours a little bit. But thats aircraft though. Im sure there is something different for helicopters.

i use to hang out with civlian helicopter crewchiefs they are effin' nuts. They ops check air starts!!! F THAT!! i cant imagine, stalling the engine out on a helicopter then airstarting it....an airplane, cool...not hard to do. haha

[Ono]

Wow, I didn't know there was that many members. That is sad though. What's even more sad than that is the fact that our military is sooo much smaller than it used to be. People today are such sissies. Just look at the Army, Navy and Airforce. I have never seen so many fat bodies in the Armed Forces before. It's freaking disgusting to have a 250+lbs guy with cammies on carrying a weapon. We need to get back to the old school days where Americans didn't join for the collage money and they just joined because they loved America....Guess those days are long gone....Maybe it's just me.....

 

No, it's not just you........it's pretty disheartning. We as Americans have done a great job in "Sissifying" our children. I did a tour in Hell (the dreaded Marine Recruiter) and man, I could tell you some stories that would make your blood boil. I had a parent threaten to come down to my office once, so I told him to come on down, I'd be the one with the sign on the door that read: "Real Men Only" but he could come in anyway. I sat there until 2130 waiting for him in uniform. He never showed then called and complained to the SgtMaj about what I said. Fortunately the SgtMaj was a sniper so we saw eye to eye on most everything and he just laughed it off.

 

I gave a presentation at the end of the year once at a high school and asked all the Navy, Army and Air Force Poolees and veterans in the audience to stand up when their service was called. A handful stood up each time, finally when I called Marines not one person stood and that got a laugh out of the entire group. Knowing exactly what would happen I said that's okay, "If everyone could be a Marine, we wouldn't be the Marines" and that got a uneasy laugh. Afterwards the wrestling coach pulled me aside and told me everytime he heard me speak he wanted to enlist, well of course he was to fat and to old do do so but at least it inspired some people. Eveyone presenting would stand behind the podium and use the mike, I'd walk into the middle of the students and start yelling my speech. I had a female teacher tell me I frightened her everytime she saw me.....I ended up building a military to educater "Bridge" if you know what I mean. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Robsweet87TSI]

you need your A & P silly =) like me, if your still enlisted you can get it very easy, some schools are diff in how long there lilttle course is and then the test, mine was like 2 weeks for a run through. all i had to do was learn their different acronyms, because they differ from ours a little bit. But thats aircraft though. Im sure there is something different for helicopters.

i use to hang out with civlian helicopter crewchiefs they are effin' nuts. They ops check air starts!!! F THAT!! i cant imagine, stalling the engine out on a helicopter then airstarting it....an airplane, cool...not hard to do. haha

 

 

Autorotation baby!

[bha280]

I am in the Army reserves for a year and a half now (28 years old and an E-3). My MOS is 25U, signal support systems specialist (graduated with honors). Basically I hook up radios and help people get on the internet and whatever else I am told. I am with the 350th Civil Affairs Command in Pensacola, FL. I haven't seen any action yet but I recently found out we are getting deployed next October; I know when just not where. I don't want to wait that long, I want to go now.

[Fanta]

I was thinking about enlisting back in my senior year of high school, but found out I couldn't due to my not being an american citizen so there went that idea. But I was looking into joining the Navy and to either aim to get on a submarine ( really wanted to go into sonar ) or weapons control systems operator. I once considered a sniper, but I wasn't so sure if it was ultimately in me to kill another human being. I scored the 2nd highest on the ASVAB as well out of my class of 2300 students. I know that it doesn't really count, but eh, I tried? Edited September 2, 2008 by Fanta

[slydogg]

army, rvn, 69

sly

[marso]

Oh yeah, I got a purple heart...BLAH. Rather have an MPI setup.

 

An MPI is a purple heart for Starquest owners. It's what you get for a wounded wallet.

[ryddler]

USN Aviation Electronics Technician 88-95

 

Deployed onboard USS Independence when Kuwait was invaded, and was on location in under 48 hours doing doughnuts in the Persian Gulf for the next 121 days (we were the first US force on location, and likely thwarted any further invasion). We were also the first aircraft carrier to go into the Gulf of Oman in nearly 50 years and earned the Armed Services Expeditionary medal.

 

I have well over 2 years of time spent floating on the ocean, and am a (trusty) Golden Shellback.

 

Have been deployed on the following aircraft carriers (all that I can remember):

• USS Independence
• USS Midway
• USS Carl Vinson
• USS Nimitz