How many of us have had military service?

DoubleEagle · May 27, 2016, 08:01:14 AM

In honor of Memorial Day, I wonder how many veterans there are among the bus conversion fans, and whether that military service had any connection to the attraction of buses? I served in the U.S. Army for six years, having served in Korea and Vietnam. The trip I made from Albany, New York to Fort Dix, New Jersey after I was inducted in 1965, was in a Trailways Model 01 Silvereagle, and a Short Line GMC 4104. Prior to that, I was enthralled by rides on GMC Scenicruiser's, that I thought were very cool and exciting. In Vietnam, I was amazed at how tough the Japanese Isuzu buses were that were used to shuttle troops around near the big bases. After I got back to the U.S., I crossed the country several times in buses, and I was always happy to hear the wonderful sound of the Detroit Diesels. Bus travel was a more viable option then with both Trailways and Greyhound operating, and you got to see more of the country close up. I used to sit where I could see the driver shifting, and I saw the differences in double-clutching skills. A real good driver could go up and down through the pattern without any grinding, it was a skillful art. Some of the drivers wore leather gloves and took obvious pride in their performance. I was hooked, the rest is history.

gg04 · May 27, 2016, 08:33:17 AM

Army infantry '68 -73.. One nephew in Marines on last year til retirement, one in the Army both currently in the states. One grandson currently in Kabul, Afghanistan, Army infantry.. If you would not give your life for this country......rdw

Lee Bradley · May 27, 2016, 08:41:41 AM

The 82nd airborne division 1970-72; 20 jumps.

chessie4905 · May 27, 2016, 09:21:57 AM

I road on a Scenicruiser from basic to ait. Got on about midnight and walked up steps to upper level.Might have been only pass. That's about all I remember. Didn't have interest in busses then. When I was a kid, I remember liking the smell of diesel fumes and when you saw a Greyhound back behind you, it wasn't long till he passed the car you were riding in. Most roads were 2 lane then.

CrabbyMilton · May 27, 2016, 09:37:30 AM

In 1984, I was in the US Navy for a grand total of 5 weeks so it hardly qualifies. I wasn't really motivated, out of shape, and had developed a very huge blister on my foot that made walking let alone marching next to impossible. I fell so far behind, I was falling apart and they gave me a separation. I was happy as can be to be out and had nothing but contempt for the military afterward for several years. But as time went by, I gained much respect and appreciation for our troops. They certainly would not have benefited from a 20 year old turd that couldn't do anything right so it all worked for the best.
God Bless our troops and never forget our vets and their families of those who are no longer with us.

CrabbyMilton · May 27, 2016, 10:41:55 AM

As a postscript, I was at Great Lakes IL. for basic training. I saw one GM 4905 once and the rest were mostly skoolies on NAVISTAR chassis. When they transferred a few of us to the out processing unit, it was quite a ways from the main base. So we had to wait for a ride. I thought for sure they were going to send a skoolie for us. But no, we rode in the back of a "bread truck". DRAT!!!!

bevans6 · May 27, 2016, 10:44:40 AM

4 years in Cdn artillery reserve.

eagle19952 · May 27, 2016, 12:48:19 PM

ha...they picked us up at Newark airport in a cattle car pulled by tractor, looked like a prison bus wooden benches and all

destination Fort Dix 1971.
I think I was the first trainee to bust the stock off an M-16 in bayonet training... everyone pointed and said i was going to jail...or KP for eternity
Sgt. Aronson called up a jeep and had me a ride to the arms room to issue a new weapon...everyone else marched home

chessie4905 · May 27, 2016, 01:24:08 PM

We rode to the range in open cattle trailers standing up.

DoubleEagle · May 27, 2016, 02:25:21 PM

I remember the cattle cars, they were 35-40' long with wooden slats and lots of vertical pipes to hold onto, pulled by a snub-nosed International tractor. No seat belts

, I don't recall being allowed to sit as we were packed in like sardines. Seems like a whole platoon was jammed in.

When I went through basic we had M14's, they did not break in bayonet practice. The first M16's came in Vietnam and had problems with jamming and had to be cleaned a lot. The AK47's the Cong had did just fine.

I enjoyed the smell of Detroit burnt/dripped diesel fuel as well, early on. It's an acquired taste.

eagle19952 · May 27, 2016, 02:30:22 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on May 27, 2016, 01:24:08 PM
We rode to the range in open cattle trailers standing up.

lol... we ran.

Tim Bookmiller · May 27, 2016, 07:04:45 PM

US Army 1970 1972 Vietnam vet -rode a Eagle to basic at Ft Knox -4905 to Ft Riley Ks -then flew from there on

Red Rider · May 27, 2016, 08:05:56 PM

USCG, 1961-63. Rode the cable cars around San Francisco.

RJ · May 27, 2016, 09:18:26 PM

Sadly, I didn't serve due to a cervical issue between C-1, C-2 and C-3 vertebrae. Same issue that kept me out of playing football and basketball as a kid.

However, my dad was Army Air Corps in WWII, and my son and daughter-in-love are both USAF, and I remind them both often that I'm very proud of them for their service.

FWIW & HTH. . .

Boomer · May 27, 2016, 09:54:35 PM

Army 67-73 with basic at Ft. Dix. I remember we arrived there about 3 am on a Fri night by bus after flying in from the west coast to Philly. I had made friends on the bus and when we got there they had us pick up blankets at supply and marched us to the barracks. No paperwork. Everyone was gone a weekend pass. I looked at my friend and said they don't even know we exist, lets get out of here and go to NY City so we did. AWOL the whole weekend on our first night. We got back late Sun night and no one was the wiser. Oh to be young and stupid again. Was a Cat operator and Spc 5 when discharged.