Re: [Cal_Boats] Military

Jerry and Mike, I agree with you both. I served from 1961 to 1965, as a volunteer, but only because I didn't want to be drafted. I was USAF, and there was a real dicotomy between we one timers and the lifers. We questioned everything, when they said "do this", if it didn't seem reasonable we asked why. We were their pain in the ass. They really didn't like us much, but we didn't care, we were doing our time. But it kept the outfit on it's toes. Actually most of we short timers were tops in our specialtiy. They went to great lengths to get us to re-enlist. If I hadn't got married I probably would have re-upd and become a lifer. It's not for everyone. There is no greater honor than to have served, When you walk down the street and greet your neighbors you know that you have served for them, and the best part is that they have no clue, that you gave years of your life for them. Regards, David Dobbs From: mtkennedy1 <mt… [at] cox.net> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:24:57 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Foul gear swimming. was:Pacific currents --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com, Chris Campbell <clcampbell@ ...> wrote: > > Gerald Sobel wrote: > > > > > > > > I hated the military, but I think, perhaps, it should be universal, > > not voluntary, maybe even a requirement for citizenship and voting? > > Woops, am I being political? > > > I don't think this is the place for this. I served in two branches and came close to choosing it as a career as a doctor. We now have a volunteer military who are not children and who do not want people worried about them being "poor with no alternatives. " It is a great life for those who want it. Some of them are related to me. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

I guess I should qualify what I said. I have an awful lot of fond memories of the military, and beside some of the mental anguish at the prospect of killing or being killed, I had a lot of fun, and the camaraderie was very intense, so much so that when I had the opportunity to "DOR" or 'drop on request' and go home, (at that time with the Johnson peace initiative, there were too many aviators in the pipeline without billets/aircraft to fly, as the attrition rate[polite expression referring to rate of losing aviators] had declined) since flight duty was considered exceptionally hazardous,... I couldn't bring myself to do it. It's sort of the 'Pied Piper of Hamlin' complex, something people who haven't experienced it wouldn't understand. Oh yes, sailing content. After survival school, and just before receiving our commissions, we all got to go sailing for a day aboard the two 65' racing ketches assigned to NAS Pensacola. It was a joyous experience. Jerry --- On Thu, 1/10/08, david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: From: david dobbs <tm… [at] yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [Cal_Boats] Military To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, January 10, 2008, 8:57 PM Jerry and Mike, I agree with you both. I served from 1961 to 1965, as a volunteer, but only because I didn't want to be drafted. I was USAF, and there was a real dicotomy between we one timers and the lifers. We questioned everything, when they said "do this", if it didn't seem reasonable we asked why. We were their pain in the ass. They really didn't like us much, but we didn't care, we were doing our time. But it kept the outfit on it's toes. Actually most of we short timers were tops in our specialtiy. They went to great lengths to get us to re-enlist. If I hadn't got married I probably would have re-upd and become a lifer. It's not for everyone. There is no greater honor than to have served, When you walk down the street and greet your neighbors you know that you have served for them, and the best part is that they have no clue, that you gave years of your life for them. Regards, David Dobbs From: mtkennedy1 <mtkennedy1@cox. net> To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 3:24:57 PM Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Foul gear swimming. was:Pacific currents --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com , Chris Campbell <clcampbell@ ...> wrote: > > Gerald Sobel wrote: > > > > > > > > I hated the military, but I think, perhaps, it should be universal, > > not voluntary, maybe even a requirement for citizenship and voting? > > Woops, am I being political? > > > I don't think this is the place for this. I served in two branches and came close to choosing it as a career as a doctor. We now have a volunteer military who are not children and who do not want people worried about them being "poor with no alternatives. " It is a great life for those who want it. Some of them are related to me. Mike Kennedy Conquest Cal 40 # 96 Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.