At 04:41 PM 11/15/03 -0500, Bryon Daly wrote:From: Doug Pensinger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:At 04:36 PM 11/15/03 +0900, G. D. Akin wrote:How many veterans on the list?
I'll start the count at 1.
2.
3
Not me. (Though my wife, father, step-father, 2 brothers-in-law, and many of our friends and family are). I'm just chiming in to suggest maybe adding what branch of the service you were in, as well.
How's this? (Feel free to add names or details as appropriate):
1. G. D. Akin
2. Ronn! Blankenship
USAF, O1 - O2, 1976-1979, Systems Engineer (= "responsible for miscellaneous stuff no one could put a name to"), 6514th Test Squadron (later 6545th Test Group), which was responsible for the testing of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including all three versions of cruise missiles (air-launched AGM-86/ALCM, sea-launched "Tomahawk", and ground-launched GLCM) as well as some early versions of some of the stuff used in Iraq in 1991 and recently. Got out a bit early to go back to school and work on my doctorate after I determined that being in the USAF wasn't going to guarantee me a slot in the astronaut program, either . . .
3. Doug Pensinger
Sub sailor, USS Narwhal, SSN 671, Nuke fast attack, based in New London and in the yards in Charlston. E6 Sonar Tech, 1974 to 1980.
4. Damon Agretto
-- Ronn!
I'm jealous. I signed up for the early enlistment program at the earliest possible moment, 18 months before my ship out date. I got credit for three other classmates enlisting. I think the first meant I'd have extra service time credits and have been a higher pay-grade after boot camp and a straight money bonus for the other part.
I was planning for the Navy's nuclear technician school, and I wanted to be on a sub like my Uncle. There was another program that would either un-enlist you and you'd go to school through the ROTC, or you could still be full time Navy but go to college at the same time; I figured I'd apply for it once my first six year commitment was done for.
If everything had worked out I'd be three years away from 20 right now, maybe with a college degree, maybe not.
Five months before I graduated, seven months before I was to leave, I had an intestinal problem from a childhood accident which required surgery. A week after I graduated the Navy informed me, through my HS guidance councilor, that they didn't want me.
It's tough to look back now at what could have been. I'm happy with my life as it turned out so far, but I'll always wonder about the alternate universe where Things Were Different.
Kevin T. - VRWC The rising road
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