Photos from my enlistment on Independence Day forty years ago. July 4, 1974

46 years ago!
Wow, the time sure flies when you are having fun!
Since Independence Day has come around again, it is time to bring this to the top again.
I am having lots of fun lately. I have tried powder coating my Boolits. Now I am preparing to Hi-Tech coat my Boolits! Lots of casting. Lots of loading. A fair amount of shooting.
How can it get more fun? I’m going to test them! I might even post some results and photos.
Happy Independence Day!

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These photos are from my enlistment on July 4, 1974, Independence Day, at Independence Hall at Knott's Berry Farm in California.
It was a rather nice affair with 21 of us enlisting in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy. The third photo is just the Navy enlistees.

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These last two photos are from my retirement ceremony on USS Nimitz in October 1994.

I can't say my service hurt me at all.
When I enlisted, I had to leave work as a restaurant cook at Colony Kitchen to swear in. My manager called me a "lying sack of ****" when I told him why I needed to leave then and couldn't come right back to work. So I was a little greasy when I got to the ceremony. Long haired, too!

While I was in I got to learn a whole new way of life and I served with some wonderful people.
I had this wonderful vision of learning electronics and opening "Ron and Dan TV Repair Shop" with my best friend Dan after I retired.

I thought that was such a big plan back then. I can see farther now!

I learned electronics and got lots of experience while on active duty. There wasn't much excitement during my career. For Operation Desert Storm, I was the Radar Work Center Supervisor on USS Nimitz (CVN-68). USS Nimitz arrived in the Persian Gulf after the Kuwait liberation was already complete.

I still repair electronics now. Lots of varied equipment spread over a rather wide area. It pays quite nicely, too, so I can play around in Helping Hands and still buy new toys for me.

I am a disabled vet, but I am not very disabled at all. It is mostly a matter of I was a perfect specimen of health when I enlisted at seventeen and not quite so perfect when I retired at thirty seven. When I go to the DAV meetings, I am the healthiest person there. I feel humbled when I see how many of my fellows at that meeting are missing limbs.

Happy Independence Day!

Nice. Thanks for your service.

have a good one .hope we get our independence soon.

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Originally Posted by robg

have a good one .hope we get our independence soon.

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It has kind of slipped away during the past fifty or one hundred years.
More Freedom.
Less Government!

Thanks for sharing. Very nice!

enlisted a few months after you and retired in 94 as well , GMCS , most of my Navy pics burned up

Thank you for your service !

I bet your time in went by pretty quick too !

Those GOLD stripes speak volumes for you.

Thank you for your long and dedicated service.

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Originally Posted by Bad Water Bill

Those GOLD stripes speak volumes for you.

Thank you for your long and dedicated service.

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I have five Good Conduct medals, or as we used to say, "20 years of continuous, undetected crime!"

Thank you for your service and Happy Independence Day!

great photos !!! thanks again for your service

Thank you!

Ron thank you for your service and the story. My older brother also enlisted in the same year...he served on the Enterprise. Told me a cool.story about the Missouri firing its guns over the horizon in Kuwait and being able to feel the concussion even though the ship was miles away. I think you are one of the greatest contributors to this site and a heck of a good man.
Stacy

Great thread. Nice addition to my day. Thanks

I was just asking about you and if anyone had heard from you today. Nice coincidence ! Thanks for the service, and happy Independence day !

Thank you Brass!

I had to go out and watch Dinesh D'Souza's America today. After working all night Wednesday, I was too tired to go on Thursday.

I took the opportunity to indoctrinate one of our younger members. I took Cag40Navy to the movie. America is a great movie. Do take your family.

"America is a great movie. Do take your family.

It is my intention to take the family. Liberals/socialists just hate him and his movies. The truth hurts.

Very nice pics. Thank you for your service and have a great 4th of July.

Thank you for your service, BrassMagnet! I left active duty in Aug of 74, after 3 yrs, well, 2 yrs 11 mos, 28 days (missed getting my good service medal by two days. In September of 74, I attended my first weekend drill with the MI National Guard. Attended my last on Oct 96, with the MI Air National Guard.