Where Are Our Veterans Hiding ?

[Guest Kaitlyn D]

Since I've mustered up the courage to make my presence known on these forums, I figured I better add my name here as well. I served in the Marine Corps from 2001 until 2005. I was a 2146 Main battle tank technician with 1st Tanks in 29 palms California. Not a day goes by that a part of me misses being in. I'll never miss "The Stumps" though. lol It really is wonderful to see so many vets here. It really makes me feel a lot less alone.

[Guest CalvinFTM]

Hey, I'm not a vet, but I just wanted to say that I thank all of you for your service.

I'm an attorney and I would have joined JAG, but I have several conditions that keep me out of the military.

But the important thing is, thanks vets, and I admire you all.

[Guest nayomi2438]

Wow, it seems it took a while to squeeze a response out of some of our veterans. Well let me be the firs to say I salute all of you! You did your time and remained true to yourself. That to me is paramount. You can honor the wishes of your superiors, serve your country, and be honest with yourself as well.

I served for 20 full years in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service, from 1977 to 1997 and 10 years in the Fleet Reserve after that. I had many missions and responsibilities serving in special warfare situations. Many of you know what I mean and how much I can say so I'll just leave it there.

I never lost my soul and always remained true to myself. I served my time honorably and completed every task assigned effectively. I am proud to have served but I am even more proud to be me (though often in a dress).

Stand up and be recognized for the willingness to serve and putting yourself in a position to make the ultimate sacrifice for all of us to have the right to express ourselves openly and honestly. That is what you gave of yourself. The very foundation and fabric of this country is based on rebellion against the establishment. Freedom, freedom to live and freedom of expression. We all could have given our lives for the preservation of this freedom so don't be ashamed to be noticed and counted.

I salute you all. Thank you, thank you for service. Be as proud of yourself as I am proud of you.

xoxoxo

Nayomi (UDT/SS/SW)

[Guest Zoe_Ikeda]

I got out of the Navy a few years ago after five years of service as an avionics tech. I miss living overseas, but I still don't regret getting out.

[Guest Sharah]

I served at Edwards Air Force Base in CA between 75-77. Was a Lt in the nurse corps. I loved my time in the service and am very proud of it.

[Guest DanielleH]

I served in the Army from 1993-2002 as a 11B grunt. Ended up ETSing realizing my body would not take the punishment it would endure in another deployment. Running and jumping w a 50lb pack is not the best thing when you have fractured vertebrates.

[Guest phyliscd]

dear jess i am a veteran.i joined the navy in august 1964 and i was sent to boot camp at the great lakes ntc.i was there for three months and from there i was sent to anacostia nas in washington dc.after one year i applied for sea duty and i was sent to the uss yorktown cvs 10 in long beach and we sailed for vietnam on dec 1965 .i was part of opperations div and i worked in the photolab and we did two tours of duty in the tonkin gulf.even then i knew i was different when my girl friend sent me a pair of her nylons and when i was off duty i tried them on in the head .back then if you were caught you were gived a bcd and thrown out of the service.i got out with a honorable discharge and i loved every minute of it.love phylisanne

[Guest sp00nss]

This is unreal , is there really that much fear about us ? Please Veterans , fear not , come join in here , let us here from you . SharleahLynn

there are others odds 1 in 5 odds. In being me less that that

[Guest Shelley]

I served from 1986 to 2010 in the U.S. Army. I have served with numerous units including the the 82d Airborne Division and the 1st ID(M). I've been to Panama-Just Cause, Bosnia once, Kosovo twice and Afghanistan 5 times. I finally got retired with two broken wrists, a broken right ankle and spinal herniation from S1 to L5. It's a miracle I am still mobile and can walk around. Almost got out without a scratch. That last tour was a very humbling experience even though I was sent home only two months into it. This is very hard (emotionally) for me. To write what I have written has taken me at least 30 minutes.

To all the other vets in here, I salute you and want you to know that you're not alone.

[Guest JenMarie]

Hi,

Just joined this forum. Served in the US Navy 6 years 1999-2005. I was a tin can sailor.

Jennifer

[Guest Caroline Anne]

Hey girls and guys,

Shar, I love your line at the beginning of this thread: "You played the game of letting the Armed Forces try their hand of making a man/woman out of you and showed them they failed in the task. You proved that you are your real self, and the Military could not change you from who you are."

May I quote it?

Sums it up for me.

I'm still in and hoping to make it through the next 4 years and 1.5 months until I retire.

My service experience has taken some turns. I enlisted in 83 and was Lance Missile for four years. Stationed in Rivers Barracks, Giessen, West Germany and Ft. Sill until 87. I went National Guard for two years as a heavy equipment operator until 89, then had ten break in service. I came back into the Guard as a Black Hawk crewchief until 2007 (deployed to Iraq 2004-2005), I became a Warrant Officer in Oct 2007 and branched Signal to utilize my civilian networking/computer skills. I just went through a Medical Review board for PTSD and made it out the other side intact. It looks like I'll stay until retirement. I was kind of hoping I could transition sooner; I hope I can last this long.

Love this group!

Caroline

[Guest Donna Jean]

I was kind of hoping I could transition sooner; I hope I can last this long.

Love this group!

Caroline

I hope that you can last that long, too, Hon......

You're loved here......

'Huggs

Dee Jay

[Guest Wendae]

Well, I know I posted this somewhere. Retired USMC. Served from 1960-1980. 2 tours in Nam. 66-67 amd 70-71. I will always remember how well my wife and children were treated while I was gone and how the news and folks treated those of us that went to war.

[Guest Michaele]

Just joined the forum

USAF 68 to 88, fighter mechanic for 10 years, Flight Engineer C-141 10 years. I've been there, done that, got the t-shirt and wear the hat. I got to see almost every part of the world in that 20 years and still do in my present job. Now if I can get the rest of the world to accept me for who and what I am.... this will have been a real nice life.

Shelley

[Guest sarah_marie]

Just joined the forum last night, literally spent about an hour reading every post LOL, realize that I'm not so alone in the world now!!! Currently serving in the Army 11B, Served with 1st ID from 2006 to 2010 now I'm with the 101st ABN DIV. I love every min of service that I have served and am looking forward to the next 14 or so years. I don't know who to thank them or how for coming up with this entire forum but it has been an answer to a long line of prayers. So Thank You!!

XOXO

Sarah Marie

[Guest Isabella_Anne]

Well, I guess I'll stop hiding. I served in the Navy from 1985 to 1995. I was an AMS (aviation structural mechanic)and I also did hydraulic systems. I flew as a aircrewman for 7 years. I have about 3200 hrs in H-46 seaknight helicopters as a crew chief and another 1400 hrs in C-2A greyhound as well as about 150 carrier landings. I spent most of my service in San Diego at North Island. So, there it is! Besides being a transsexual and dealing with a bunch of testosterone driven knucklehead I had a great time. Luckily I was able to live out in town so my other activity's were not an issue.

Kisses,

Isabella

[Guest CD_Daisy]

Hey all,

just joined the forum,

I am still active duty Air Force, 8+ years, love what i am doing, so i will keep quite till i am ready to get out.

[Guest CD_Daisy]

Hello Daisy!

Welcome to Laura's Playground! I have to ask: what is it you love, the Air Force or Cross-Dressing? Or... Both?

I do hope you get to enjoy both sides of life, even in the military. Not sure how the demise of DADT affects us, but can't hurt!

When you have a chance, please put a post in the introductions forum so that everyone can get to know you!

Love, Kat

I do love BOTH!!! Yeah i have been keeping my eye DAD , we will see how it all plays out

[Guest Michellewhois]

As I just managed to find this, I guess it's my turn. After reading so many wonderful,as well as not so wonderful experiences I was somewhat overwhelmed at learning that I may have known several of you during my time in. I was Air Force from 1970 to 94. During my time, I spent the first eight overseas (three different tours, three different countries). As with many of us, a lot of my time was spent either hiding in plane sight or denying who I was. I held several AFSC's (MOS to the Army types) in my 20 years in. I was a bent wing, wasp waisted, double ugly mechanic (primary aircraft was 4c,d,e's but worked 105's, 106's, 111's and 16's). I became a 141 engineer for a while (3 different bases again so I got to really see the world) then back to aircraft maintenance on 130's. I think a few of you that have served with the AF could sort of figure out the bases I've been to..

I did have the good fortune to meet one gal like me that was leaving the service and was trying to transition in her last 6 months. I wished that I could have kept in touch but she (like many in the late 70's) went underground when she started living full time. She did give me some pointers to help survive while I was in. The one tip she gave me was always remember to be true to myself above all else. I never forgot that and even though I couldn't transition, I became comfortable being my duel self especially in later years. I am presently married to a GG that is understanding, loves that she has a BFF and sometimes lover but is not comfortable with losing her husband. So in the name of my love for her, I will forever remain both of me.

I'll stop by this blog and see if anyone has any questions or comments. Take care all

Michelle Hart

[Guest Donna Jean]

I became a 141 engineer for a while (3 different bases again so I got to really see the world) then back to aircraft maintenance on 130's. I think a few of you that have served with the AF could sort of figure out the bases I've been to..

Michelle Hart

Hey, Hon.....

I was a C-130 loadmaster in 'Nam...

And a loadmaster on C-141 everywhere else!

141's at McGuire AFB...NJ...(all around 1969-73..)

Huggs

Donna Jean

[Guest Michaele]

I became a 141 engineer for a while (3 different bases again so I got to really see the world) then back to aircraft maintenance on 130's. I think a few of you that have served with the AF could sort of figure out the bases I've been to.. Michelle Hart

You and me and Dee Jay,

The Starlifter is still in my heart even though the AF turned them all to beer cans.

Shelley

[Guest Michellewhois]

I got misty eyed when I was watching the History International Channel show "Bone yard". It was showing what they did to "deconstruct" several Starlifters. I almost cried when I saw one that I recognized the tail number that I had flow several times out of McGoo in the mid 80's. And yes I even remember that we had to carry two sets of books for a while due to the conversion from A to B. My flight training at Altus was on the A model (talk about dating myself...LOL). I was at McChord when the transition was going on. I don't know if you know this but there is still a 141 that is operational but in storage. It's the one used by NASA that I have the link to a picture of it. http://1000aircraftp...ssJohn/6615.htm At least I got to spend my time before I retired with it's little sister, the 130.

[Guest Michaele]

My flight training at Altus was on the A model (talk about dating myself...LOL).

I trained at altus on the A in 1979.

I was at McChord when the transition was going on.

Spent my time at Travis.

I don't know if you know this but there is still a 141 that is operational but in storage. It's the one used by NASA that I have the link to a picture of it. http://1000aircraftp...ssJohn/6615.htm

Ya I knew about it but wasn't sure if it was still operational. Thanks for the link.

At least I got to spend my time before I retired with it's little sister, the 130.

Strictly ducted fans for me, although I'm thinking of getting a turboprop add on to my FE ticket.

Big Hugs

Shelley

[Guest Michellewhois]

I did my training at Sheppeard/Altus in 78.

[Guest Michellewhois]

Strictly ducted fans for me, although I'm thinking of getting a turboprop add on to my FE ticket.

Big Hugs

Shelley

In a way, I wish that I could have gotten my FE ticket but I got grounded in 87 for migraines So instead of flying the friendly skies after I got out, I started navigating the (sometimes) friendly roads and highways in a big truck :lol: