VA Military Memories Competition
LTC Gary Crowden, U.S. Army (1969-1990)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
It was a bright sunny day in Vietnam, and the word was out, “Bob Hope is coming to town!” The troops had waited all year to see Bob Hope, Les Brown and his Band of Renown, and of course, the “Gold Diggers.” On the day that the Christmas Show was to be given, my Squadron Commander summoned me to his office and gave me a mission. As the unit’s adjutant, I was used to getting some bazaar tasks, but this one was out in left field. The mission, “Captain, take this Black Cavalry Hat and personally give it to Bob Hope and asked that he wear it on stage.” Simple right? Wrong.
SCPO Donald Brogdon, U.S. Navy (1993-2001)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
The duty station with the best (and worst) memories was my ship in Japan. I was a 1st class when I got there, and I had 24 Sailors that I was responsible for in my division. They didn’t know me, and I didn’t know them, and like most introductions at new duty stations, we began the testing phase right away. They wanted to see just how much they could get away,y with, and I knew that I couldn’t back down no matter how painful it became. I think we have all done that at some point. There was a lot of push and shove, but nothing we didn’t manage to survive. I made it clear from the very beginning that I always expected more from them than anyone else on the ship. No one in this world owes you anything; you earn everything. That’s what you need to do to be successful if you decide to make the Navy a career.
STG2 Joseph Jordan, U.S. Navy (1964-1970)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
Honestly, everything I recall about the Norfolk is that she and the men aboard her were unique and outstanding. I’m not saying they were without fault. Both the ship and my shipmates had their faults, but I found it easy to overlook them.
Sgt David Swiger, U.S. Marine Corps (1971-1981)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
In 1972 at Company C – 1st Recon Battalion, 53 Area (Camp Horno), Camp Pendleton, CA. I was recently promoted to L/Cpl, and it was my turn and first shot at repelling down the wall. No fear of heights, no problems, wrong… I got over the edge and froze solid. I couldn’t move except to shack in my boots. I got pulled in and sent to the bottom, where a butter bar began to chew on me up and down. Then Gunny Giles walked up, got between the young Lt. and me, then, directly in his face, began to lay him out, and the next thing I knew, the Lt. was walking away quietly. Gunny Giles turned to me and, in a way I had never heard before, began to pump me up, filling me with a confidence I didn’t think possible. Within minutes, I was at the top of the tower, butting in line and yelling, “On repel.” A month later, I found myself teaching and fully demonstrating how to repel from a rock cliff to my third company of Marines in two months.
SSG Robert Nyce, U.S. Army (1966-1969)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
I arrived at Fort Myer, VA, in May of 1967, newly assigned to the 1st Battalion 3rd Infantry and fresh out of AIT. I still remember my first impressions of Fort Myer as I drove into the post from Arlington Boulevard since it was part of Arlington National Cemetery. The very first funeral I witnessed was a Full Honor Funeral for a General who had passed away. The ceremony was breathtaking, including the Caison, The Riderless Horse, marching platoon, the Casket Team, and the bugler. Little did I know at the time that every funeral in Arlington National Cemetery is graded by an officer of the Battalion. Those grades are all reviewed and reported to the Captain and 1st Sargent of each company responsible for providing the funeral team. After a bit of time, it began to sink in just how reverent the cemetery is and how important the services provided by all of the Military Funeral Teams are to the families of fallen soldiers—watching the grief they had as their precious loved one was put to rest. That became abundantly clear on Memorial Day when The Old Guard placed a flag on every grave in the cemetery. Yes, every single grave, just as is still done today. It stays with me always as I reflect upon my days in The Old Guard because placing those flags was not fun.
TSgt Timothy Montjoy, U.S. Air Force (1996-2016)
Of all your duty stations you were assigned to from your Military Service, which one(s) do you have fondest memories of and why?:
While I am truly mesmerized by history, this historic and absolute 1-of-a-kind piece is easily my most prized possession from my phenomenal 20-year (and 11 days) Air Force career. In July 1944, on his 28th combat mission, a bombing run over Vienna, Austria, Paul W. Airey was forced to bail out of his flak-damaged aircraft over Hungary. He was captured by the German military and was taken to Stalag Luft IV, a prisoner of war (POW) camp near the Baltic Sea for Allied airmen. In February 1945, Airey and 6,000 fellow POWs were forced to march 400 miles to another camp near Berlin as the Soviet Red Army got closer. He was liberated in May 1945 by British forces.