"R" wrote in message
m...

snip

On my fathers side of the family, my great grandfather was volunteer
during
the Spanish-American War. (No he wasn't a rough rider). My grandfather
entered the Navy in 1917 and saw sea duty in in the Atlantic with convoy
escorts. He was a machinist. In 1925 he completed flight training and
became
a NAP. He was given a temporary commissioned in 1942 and retired in 1947.
He
came back on active duty (non-flying) as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer
in
1950 and retired again in 1954, he passed away in 1955. My father was
commissioned thru one of the "V" programs in 1942, He was already a
qualified pilot with the Va State Troopers, and went to Pensacola 90 days
(when commissioned) after entering the Navy for flight training. He flew
combat in the Pacific, in 44 & 45. He flew one combat tour during Korea.
He
passed away in 1961 still on active duty, and flying. I joined the USMCR
in
Oct 1957, and was discharged at 2359 on Dec 31 1959, and entered NAVCAD at
0001 Jan 1 1960 at Pensacola. One of my sons was a Naval Aviator with the
Marines, the other son and my daughter were pilots in the Air Force. I
married an Admirals daughter, and my daughter married a Marine Capt. I
also
had one Uncle that retired as a Vice Admiral (promoted at retirement
because
of heroism award form WWII). Another Uncle was an Army Chaplin WWII and
Korea. Also there were too many cousins in the service to count as the
draft
was still in full force then.

On my mothers side there were numerous ancestors that fought in the War
between the States. There were eight family members from Franklin County
Va
that rode with Early. Two great Uncles served in WWI, two uncles served in
WWII, and a several of cousins served in Korea, and Vietnam, I have two
nephews serving in the National Guard on active duty today.

I stayed in the Navy until 1973 when I was medically retired due to being
run over by an Air Force BUS that was in a hurry to get to the Chow Hall!
During my Navy time I flew F-8/RF-8's, and RA5-C's. I made three cruise's
to Vietnam, and served one 13 month ground tour in I Corps & IV Corps with
ANGLICO. After the Navy I spent 20 years with DOD in PA&E and DARPA
retiring
in 1994.

Red Rider

DAMN!!! That was interesting, LOL

JB