Actually, it's not a bad idea at all -- I quite agree with GUEST, this info should be posted. But I've been flamed here and elsewhere because of my military service, and I don't want to get into it again. But my service is no secret, so I'll repost the story.

On my 18th birthday in 1963, my mother took me down to the local National Guard and I signed up. She strongly suggested this, for, in her words, "There's going to be another war one of these days and I heard too much from your father [a WW2 veteran] of soldiers sent into combat without much training. I don't want that to happen my boys."

The next year, my brother Tony also signed in the Guard.

Fast forward to April, 1968 and the riots that followed the murder of ML King. Our Guard unit was on standby, waiting in the Armory in case we had to deploy somewhere. We were going home for showers and such, but were still sleeping in the Armory, and one day the CO called us all together -- not in a formation, but as a bunch of guys gathered 'round. He was in sweatshirt and cutoff jeans; LBJ had just made his "I won't run again speech". The CO said, "We've received word that we'll be out of here within 24 hours."

Then, when we'd quieted down....

"We have received word from the Chicago Daily News, and confirmed it throught the AG's office in Springfield, that the 126th Supply and Service Company is ordered to a period of up to two years federal active duty, commencing 13 May 1968. We'll get more word to you as we know more. There'll be a drill this coming Tuesday night. You are all dismissed from riot duty. Go home."

And there was dead silence.

On May 13, 1968 we were mustered into active federal service. On May 14, 1968, Tony and I went to the bus station to see our brother Ted off to Air Force basic. On May 12, my mother had had 5 people living in the house; 48 hours later she had only my sister and herself there.

To make a long story short:

The 126th served at Chu Lai, Vietnam, where it earned another meritorious unit stream. Several people, those with Infantry MOS's, myself included, were seperated -- some served in Vietnam, some served in Alberta, I went to Korea and served with the 7th Infantry Division.

We were deactivated in August, 1969, as part of Nixon's "Secret Plan" to end the Vietnam war. I wasn't hurt (in Korea the killing was retail), Tony got a Purple Heart, the ARCOM, and a Bronze Star. Brother Ted ended up flying airborne voice intercept over North Vietnam, including air intelligence for the Son Tay raid -- while he's not officially a Vietnam veteran, I wouldn't suggest that you tell him to take off the ribbons he wears OR the 125 Air Medal awards he has.

Basically, Tony summed the whole thing up best: I'm glad I did it, but if I had it to do over I'd just as soon pass on it.