Where Are Our Veterans Hiding ?

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Finally posting on this topic. From August 1986 thru August 1992 I was in the Army National Guard of Maryland, and then was on IRR until August 1994. I went to Fort Leonardwood, Missouri (Fort Lost-in-the-woods Misery) for basic, then Fort Lee, Virginia for AIT. My initial MOS was 76Y (Supply/Armorer), and for the first two years was the company armorer in charge of all the weapons. At the unit they trained me as 11B (infantry), and I later went to Fort Dix for training as a "Dragon" gunner (the Dragon was a 90 mm wire guided anti-tank missile launcher similar to a TOW but smaller so it can be carried on someones back). I managed to become a Dragon Team leader, and promoted to Sergeant E-5 despite some GD issues.

Hail to my old unit: Co. A 1/115th, 29th Infantry Div. (Light)

Stephanie

[Guest JennaR]

Never paid enough attention here to see this thread. I was active duty Army from 2006-2009 as a 68P, or radiology tech. I was supposed to serve a minimum of 6 years but my spine got messed up and I was promptly given the boot right out the door.

Jenna

[Carolyn Marie]

If I haven't said this before, let me say it now: thanks to all of you for your service, your courage and your sacrifices. I appreciate what you went through I got lucky in the '72 draft lottery, and didn't have to make the choice. If it came down to it, though, I would have joined the Navy. Always loved submarines.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest Mickey]

Army Reserves from '87-'91 and inactive reserves until '95. I was a 12B, Combat Engineer. Served here in my hometown, Memphis Tennessee.

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Welcome all, to this thread of veterans. I feel not ashamed.....but very proud to be amongst the finest

[Guest PTCD]

I am a veteran and crossdresser and proud!!!

[Guest Bev]

Where Are Our Veterans Hiding ?

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There are many veterans among us who are afraid to speak up about their service. I wonder why they fear speaking? You should be proud to reach out and let us know that you are here among us. It matters not if you had a good time of service or not. The fact is you served your country.You took the world on on their grounds .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.

Eah Veteran needs to stand up and be recognised for the job they did , and not hide behind some curtain ,ashamed of who you are for some unknown reason . Be not ashamed of yourself, come forward and introduce you to the rest of our Veterans. We are here to help each other with our troubles and to offer one another a shoulder to lean on when it is needed. It matters not what type of separation one receives .What does matter is the fact there are those of us who took it upon ourselves to step up and serve our country as we could , the best wauy we could. Come on and let the rest of us know you who have not introduced theirselves as of yet.

SharleahLynn

Wouldn't it be nice if we could form a yearly transgender weekend similar to a few I know of now, but just for girls and their SO who served our country? We could have seminars about the latest laws concerning our needs both publicly and as a veteran, Makeup seminars, etc. I think it would be a wonderful thing. I have never gone to one, due to the cost but some of my friends who have told me it was a grand time. Being new here, and just starting to look through all the post this may have already been brought up. Just thinking out loud.

Hugs

Bev

[Guest Sara K]

Hi i'm Sara. I served active in the Army from 2000-2007. I was in transportation in south korea, ft. Knox and Iraq. Then i reclassed to medical maintainance where i finished my sevice in ft hood.

[Charlize]

Hu Sara and Welcome to Laura's. You might want to also post in the introduction forum to get to meet more folks her. Thanks for your service.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest GerriDee]

3 yrs in the Army, 4 yrs Vietnam, activated for Desert Storm but it was over before I actually traveled, was everything from a Heavy Weapons Infantryman to a Course Writer and Chief Instructor @ the Transportation School in Ft Eustis VA. From PVt to Sgm, I mostly remember the good times and try like hell to suppress the bad. I just felt like I did my duty as a citizen of this country. All the recognition I need has been given via my rank and the thanks of a grateful nation signed by Richard Nixon. I suffer from the "Why Me?" syndrome every time I visit the wall or see it pictured. 58000+ lives lost in the name of freedom. All I can do do is honor those souls.

[Guest rebeccaanne07]

Just wanted to send an update, still not hiding!!! I am currently still active duty Army, and a CSM of an Infantry battalion.

26 years active service, and still going!!

love what I do, but longing to serve openly as a woman. I know I cant, so for now I do it secretly and continue to serve. It is especially awesome knowing a TG person can and is serving in the position I am without all the crazy nonsense they say comes with being TG.

Hope they fix the policies and allow us to be who we are and still serve.

[Charlize]

I hope so as well Rebecca. Perhaps we are getting closer with the present administration.

Thanks for your service but sorry you can't do it as yourself yet.

Hugs,

Charlize

[Guest KatherineR]

I'm a Cold War submariner, qualified on two missile boats.

[Guest alissa16]

My earlier entry was kinda sketchy so. Done 13 years active..Army and Navy both.

Went into the Army July 1970 boot and AIT..Ft Dix, Truck driver, sent to Germany 4th Tansportation

Bn out of Ludwigsburg.Got out 1973 sp/5.

Went into the Navy April 1975 dropped 2 ranks but no boot camp. Served on USS Downes ff1070,

USS Sterett cg31, and USS Cape Cod ad43..shore duty NAS North Island, NAF Diego Garcia B.I.O.T.

Would have gone and done the twenty but thought they were messing with me too much and couldn't

see myself as a high ranking enlisted. Ended service April 1986 Hull Technician 1st..e-6.

[Guest Cindy68]

Hi all. Yes I was in the Army from 86 through 05. I remember some great times even in Munster Germany for 3years. Then came to Fort Riley kansas. The big red one for 2 years. Then to Manitowc as a active duty Reserve. Then to Cival Affairs in Green bay Wi. I always thought that I was the only one . I'm very proud of my service. And now even happy that I found this site. Been seing a therapist for five years now. Have not come out to him yet. But hes been diagnosed me with several other things so far. I think hes getting suspicious this last visit. I think I'm gonna tell him finally that I'm transgender. Then he can help me with the next step. So hugs to you all and thank you for making me believe im not the only one.

[Guest Seanna]

Figured I should weigh in here (pun intended). Active Duty Army 2006-2012. Hooah! ETS as SGT (E5).

[Guest Ladyinker]

U.S. Army 1988-1992 B-3/1 S.F.G. Ranger and Vehicle operator, H.A.L.O. and H.A.H.O Airborne Ft. Lewis Washington. My first combat was Operation Just cause in Panama, then some conflicts other than warfare, then on to Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

[Guest alissa16]

Been seing a therapist for five years now. Have not come out to him yet. But hes been diagnosed me with several other things so far. I think hes getting suspicious this last visit. I think I'm gonna tell him finally that I'm transgender. Then he can help me with the next step. So hugs to you all and thank you for making me believe im not the only one.

If your therapist is with the VA great..Iam on a co pay plain and my mental health sessions are $15.00. I came out to the VA in Nov and

Iam assuming your a Wisconsin vet also. Welcome and do get enrolled as a transgendered veteran..We all benefit with

our growing numbers.

[Guest Wendae]

I've been a member for some time and thought I'd posted here. All mine have been on the cross-dresser forum. Anyway here I am. I'm a retired Marine M/Sgt w/ 2 tours in Nam' I served from 1960-80. I am out and about fairly frequently nowadays. At one time I felt ashamed to admit I had been a Marine. I never did anything to discredit the Corps but I felt I was discrediting the Corps by my CDing.

[Guest LesleyAnne]

You served honorably...........no discredit there!

[wishing to be kim]

I was in the ausse army for 9 years in that time I saw the best and the worst of people I came in as a medc and came out one of the best shots eg: at 1000 metres using a SLR 30 rounds with a grouping of 3 and a half ins I given life and taken it to witch the army staff me up the time I was in from 77 through to 86 and never given an ansir to one question what to do about the 5th and 7th commandment for thos who don't know do not kill and love there nabour sorry I can not spell but u get the picure

[lonelysadie]

US Army 1LT, Air Defense, Ft. Bliss - 2000-2003.

[Alyssa Deutsch]

I was medically retired from the Army after 12 years (SGT/E5). Spent time in Germany, Ft. Hood, and deployed 3 times. Ended up in MI, went to DLI and learned Mandarin Chinese, which was a real good time.

Currently still living in a military town, and have not addressed any transgender issues with the big VA hospital here. I am working with a civilian therapist, and she is great, but I have always been a bit afraid to go through the VA regarding this kind of stuff. It's bad enough trying to get anything else done there.

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Alyssa,

After seeing my Psychologist for a few years for severe PTSD I finally came out to him in 2014. He is bound by his profession to not reveal what we talk about, but I'm not worried since he has been fantastic.....He has even gone so far as to study transgenderism, and can now actually qualify to be a GT.

He literally has kept me on this planet. So you might want to keep that in mind.

I can't say that much for my PCP or any other help i.e. endocrine, blood monitoring, and so on from the VA. They have since told me that they are just not equipped to help me properly. I live just outside of Houston, and they have really dropped the ball as fas as my physical health. But like I said the mental health support has been phenomenal.

[Jani]

U.S. Navy from 1975 - 1979, honorably discharged as an E-5 ADJ (Aviation Machinist Mate-Jet)

served in Fighter Squadron VF-101 with F-14 Tomcats

Fly NAVY!

Jani