Anniversary. . .sort of

[Fox Mike]

It dawned on me that today was sort of an anniversary for me. On this day 59 years ago, 29 December 1959, in the orderly room of B/3/70th Arty (NIKE AJAX), I raised my right hand and said: "I, Frank J. Mitchell, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God."

I took my boots off the last time on 6 May 1997. What a trip in-between those dates!

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

God bless you Frank. Thank you for your service. I still take that pledge seriously. I have a feeling that before I'm gone from this world it will come up again.

 

[bogus bill]

That would put you at my age, 77?

 

[GRAMPS 51]

Hi Thank You for your service

Gramps

 

[Fox Mike]

That would put you at my age, 77?

I was a late starter. I was 22 when I joined. Now I am 81+7.

 

[tom black]

I never served, probably one of the biggest regrets of my life. Thank you Mike an everyone else on this forum that did. I genuinely appreciate it.
Tom Black

 

[DeletedMember275]

Hooah!

 

[Colonialgirl]

Thanks for your service Frank.
I too served in an Artillery (Air Defense) Battery.

 

[contender]

Congrats!

While I didn't make a career out of it,, I too took that oath.

Funny, I never had a swearing OUT when I left. That means,, my Oath is still in effect!

 

[Fox Mike]

Keep in mind that there are others, that frequent this Forum, that have also made the military there life's work. I wasn't looking for praise or thank you's that I posted. It was just that for some reason the fact that it was 59 years ago, in '59, that I joined and I felt like saying something about it.

 

[exavid]

I agree, I was only in two years but I took that oath too and meant it. It was hard when obummer was in office but luckily I didn't receive and order from him.

 

[Wyandot Jim]

Keep in mind that there are others, that frequent this Forum, that have also made the military there life's work. I wasn't looking for praise or thank you's that I posted. It was just that for some reason the fact that it was 59 years ago, in '59, that I joined and I felt like saying something about it.

Hey Frank,
We knew what you meant. I was 5 months after you May 29, 1960 USAF Damn has it been that long

 

[gramps]

Frank, ya done good that many years ago. Although I haven’t served in the military per se’, I have taken that same oath to be a Deputy Sheriff three times ( three different Sheriffs), and once again when sworn in as the Civil Defense Director of my County. I am a member of Oathkeepers. I too have not rescinded that/my oath. God bless us all, that we won’t have to do what our forefathers did. God help us if we do!
gramps

 

[turd]

I never served, probably one of the biggest regrets of my life. Thank you Mike an everyone else on this forum that did. I genuinely appreciate it.
Tom Black

This. I was 4F (knee), but I still feel that way. And, yes, thank you to all who served.

 

[exavid]

It was kind of funny when I got out at the end of my enlistment. The medic who did my physical asked me, "How did you get drafted with such flat feet". I asked him, "where were you when I was inducted." Truth is I'd practiced walking with my ankles flexed outward so it wouldn't show during my induction physical. As it turned out I didn't have any problems keeping up in basic training and APCs kept the pain down after long marches.

I don't intend to demean those who weren't able to enter the service due to medical problems. It was just that mine were minor. I will admit I didn't go and enlist, I was just establishing a career in the FAA, so I waited for the draft if it came. It did.