Did You Serve?

[Bri2020]

On 1/31/2020 at 5:41 PM, Sally Stone said:

Yes.  US Army Aviator. 1977 to 1999.

woo hoo!  I was a huey crew chief from 85-87. Spent a lot of that time in Germany picking up pieces of, and flying missions for the first wave of Blackhawks that had a rocky start to service.  When it came time to reenlist they wanted me to retrain for those AND go to Ft Drum.  I said no thanks. lol

 

[Ivy]

Army 70-72  I was in Germany.

[MelanieTamara]

USAF 05/1986 - 03/1990. Honorable.

 

Ironically, I was in my dorm room watching an episode of Mauri interviewing a Male to Female transgendered individual from a small town and thought, "hey, that's me."

 

So what did i do when I got out? I got a job, got married, had kids, and 30 years later, joined this forum to finally address my issues. So I bet you're probably thinking, "Say What?"

 

Me too.

[Jackie C.]

3 hours ago, MelanieTamara said:

So what did i do when I got out? I got a job, got married, had kids, and 30 years later, joined this forum to finally address my issues. So I bet you're probably thinking, "Say What?"

 

Less unusual than you think. About half of the MtFs seem to have served in one branch or another. About half of what's left over go into "ultra manly" careers like police, fire-fighters, construction, etc... Especially with us older gals. A bunch of us dove into marriage, had kids, etc... The 70's and 80's were not a great time to be trans.

 

Hugs!

[Ivy]

6 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

Less unusual than you think. About half of the MtFs seem to have served in one branch or another.

My understanding (from VA site) is that there is a higher percentage of transgender vets, than in the general population.

[Margo]

21 years US Navy, retired as CDR (1980-2002) Pilot, intel officer.   Wonderful memories but always fearful of being found out as transgender.

[Lee H]

Actually, Melanie Tamara joined the thread ...

On 2/18/2021 at 10:24 PM, MelanieTamara said:

So what did i do when I got out? I got a job, got married, had kids, and 30 years later, joined this forum to finally address my issues. So I bet you're probably thinking, "Say What?"

Actually, I'm thinking, "Join the Club." That's my progression, too, but for me it was 50+ yrs, two marriages, 5 kids. When Covid lockdown started, I started transitioning, although it was October before I got serious with HRT.

 

I was in ANG, then USAF active 68-69, to Korea for the Pueblo Crisis. I was highly PO'ed when we got activated, but I am so very thankful now. Without VA, I would have checked out a long time ago.

[Ivy]

3 hours ago, Lee H said:

I was highly PO'ed when we got activated, but I am so very thankful now. Without VA, I would have checked out a long time ago.

Me too.  I was not happy to be drafted, but the VA has been a lifesaver for me.

[Jani]

Hello @Margo I served one tour in the Navy (VF101 F-14) and my dad retired after 30 as a Cdr.  Welcome aboard!

[Margo]

5 hours ago, Jani said:

Hello @Margo I served one tour in the Navy (VF101 F-14) and my dad retired after 30 as a Cdr.  Welcome aboard!

Thanks Jani, very glad to be here.

[PollyJPerkins]

USMC, Sergeant, 1982-1990, Field Radio Operator & ATC Radar Tech

TN Army National Guard, Sergeant, 2000-2007, Armorer/Supply & Combat Engineer

Police Officer, City, Patrol, 1990-1992

[Jani]

Thank you @PollyJPerkins!

[Linda Marie]

Yes I served. 1973-1975 USAF.

[ladykirabellum]

I served in the USAR from 2003 to 2012 as  a 92FH7, 88M, and 21W.  I was deployed to Iraq from 2005-2006 and 2009-2010.  

[Rianon]

Indeed, I served. I realize this is an old thread, but I've been thinking lots lately about my 3-1/2 years in the army. I'm an "oldie": I'm a Vietnam vet. Visiting Pulse most every day now, I was reminded of my two Grand Purges during my army years.

 

Grand Purge #1 occurred in the days just before I was due to leave for my first posting: field artillery school in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. At the time, I was still living at home with my parents (and a few "secrets") in a tiny walk-up apartment  in the Bronx. I recall boxing up all of my "girly things" and driving them to Orchard Beach. (Do any of you know Orchard Beach?) It was winter, so I had the place to myself. Methodically, I drove from one trash barrel to the next, stuffing each barrel with "her things." I'm sure I drove away, thinking, Well, that's that. Never again!

 

Grand Purge #2 happened as I packing to leave Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, on my way to Vietnam. Again: lots of boxes, lots of packing tape, again a drive to rid myself of the "evidence," only this time to a deserted picnic grounds in the Missouri woods. Again (probably), I drove away, thinking, Well, that's that. Never again!

 

Today, I laugh to think: two Grand Purges! Did I really believe "Never again!" meant never again?

 

And did anyone ever peek in those trash barrels at Orchard Beach and the Missouri picnic grounds and go: "Huh?"

 

Riannon

[Ivy]

I did the field artillery school in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, but at the time I was still hiding from myself.

At that time, my biggest concerns were the weak beer, and lack of toilet paper in the latrine.

[Rianon]

Oh, that weak beer! That brings back memories …

[Marcie Jensen]

I didn't manag4e to get to Fort Sil--I wound up at the Fort Be4nning School for Wayward Buys and Idiots (Infantry school followed by jump school), but I suspect the same set of lumps and worries. I did the same thing with purging prior to leaving for training, and then for Germany.

 

Thank you for your sacrifice and service, Riannon. I missed your war by about 18 months but got to go to the Army's Special Olympics in Grenada, Panama and Desert Storm. The proudest moment in my 24 year of service came after Desert Storm when my unit participated in a Memoria day parade. What made it so special came at the end when all the local Vietnam veterans were lined up waiting for us as we passed in review.  THEY saluted us!!! After their service and its aftermath, ours was so small in comparison.  That these heroes would salute us was humbling and made my heart swell with pride for them, and everyone who served in Southeast Asia.

[Rianon]

You were deserving of those salutes, Marcie.

 

I didn't go to Vietnam to find for any Grand Purpose. Nor did I want to go. I locked myself into military service by taking ROTC when I was an undergrad. Vietnam was already aflame at the time. I had hoped to have my four college years be uninterrupted. I also felt sure that, by the time I had my BA, Vietnam would be a thing of the past. How stupid! When By the time I graduated, Vietnam was really roaring! Because I'd taken ROTC, I had no choice but to serve. I'd truly cornered myself.

 

Thanks for your post, Marcie. If I'd been on the sidelines at that Memorial Day parade, you'd have gotten a salute from me too.

 

Riannon

[Linda Marie]

I went in "73, got out in "75. Honorable conditions. I wasn't the best soldier but tried my best.

I was lucky I wasn't sent to Vietnam but I was trained for it. Gosh that was so many years ago.

LM.

[Rianon]

Hi, Linda Marie

 

I was lucky, too, in an odd way. After graduating artillery school, the army sent me, not to Vietnam, but to South Korea. I was there for a year. That was followed by a year stateside, at Ft. Leonard Wood. It was only after Leonard Wood that the army sent me to Vietnam. Why I say I was lucky is because by the time I arrived in Vietnam I had some seniority. I credit my seniority with saving my life.

 

You're right: all this now seems so long, long ago.

 

Cheers!

Riannon

[Ivy]

I didn't go to Nam either.  They pulled a handful of us out and sent us to Special Weapons school.  I ended up in Europe.

[mmspc]

No, no military service at all despite wanting to  be a soldier when I was a prepubescent kid.  As I approached legal majority though, considering my circumstances, I didn't think a military career would be appropriate, so I went another direction.  

 

Lots of respect and admiration though, for those "who served", especially those who saw combat.

 

 

[Rianon]

As I believe I mentioned in an earlier post, I didn't want to go in the army; to avoid having my undergrad years interrupted, I signed up for ROTC––which then trapped me into serving. I say "trapped," but, to be perfectly honest, there was a little hidden away part of me that was excited to be going into the army. Growing up, I like my fem side––my secret fem side––but all the while I wondered what would happen if I had to lead with my maleness. That's why, when I saw there was no chance of getting out of serving, I quietly thought, Hmm, I wonder … That's why I purged for leaving for Ft. Sill, my first assignment. I managed too to get through twelve months in South Korea without giving much thought my purged femininity. It wasn't until I was back from South Korea and spending a stateside tour in Missouri that I began to mail-order at least the bare minimum so that I might resurrect my true self in the privacy of my bachelor's quarters. For twelve months, in the privacy of those quarters, I was happy, Of course, when I received orders for Vietnam, I did it all over again: purged all of the fem things I'd only recently purchased by mail-order.

 

Riannon

[Lee H]

I joined the NevANG in '63 to avoid being drafted. 'Nam was starting to heat up, a 2-S required full time attendance, and I couldn't afford it. This genius plan worked for 41/2 years, until Pueblo was snatched, then we got activated. Oops. 6 mo later, shipped to Kwang-Ju AFB, ROK. It sucked. Tent city for first 5 +/- mos, then tilt-ups until I got a 3 mo early out for school. Then into the Anti-war Movement in and around SF State.

I "served" really doesn't describe my military experience. I "endured" is closer, and the USAF "tolerated" me. And I owe the USAF such a huge debt of gratitude for this.

 

We were on active duty long enough to qualify for GI Bill and VA Health Care. Without it, I never would have graduated, but I probably would have died in '05 and maybe several other times.  I have gotten so much more from having served than ever I contributed. I thank Sam from the bottom of my heart -- he's been such a good Uncle for me.