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OT military veterans - what was your favorite duty station?
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:21 pm
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:21 pm
Spinning off my own thread about the Ft Polk coins.
I was National Guard, so no true duty station, but in 1988, I went to Panama for three months with nine other guys (no officers, two sergeants). We lived per diem in a hotel overlooking the canal and Pacific Ocean. We were MP’s and were sent down to give relief to the MP’s stationed there, because they were working 7-12’s. This was one year before the Noriega/Vatican thing.
I was 19 (turned 20 while I was there), and is still one of the greatest times of my life.
We lived like kings (or it felt like it to me).
I was National Guard, so no true duty station, but in 1988, I went to Panama for three months with nine other guys (no officers, two sergeants). We lived per diem in a hotel overlooking the canal and Pacific Ocean. We were MP’s and were sent down to give relief to the MP’s stationed there, because they were working 7-12’s. This was one year before the Noriega/Vatican thing.
I was 19 (turned 20 while I was there), and is still one of the greatest times of my life.
We lived like kings (or it felt like it to me).
62
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:22 pm to theantiquetiger
Baton Rouge
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:24 pm to theantiquetiger
While it’s not a great place for single guys and girls, Whidbey Island is pretty amazing. Lots of breweries, golf courses, camping, hiking, snow resorts, and close travel destinations are amazing. Kind of sucks between November and February though, lots of fog, rain, and cold. Spring through mid fall is awesome
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:26 pm to theantiquetiger
My favorite was Ft. polk. It was fricking terrible but I was stuck there for 5 years when I wasn't deployed. Only other option to choose is Camp Casey Korea. The -25f temps and changing tank tracks in the snow rule that one out.
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:31 pm to theantiquetiger
U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:35 pm to theantiquetiger
MCLB Barstow
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:46 pm to theantiquetiger
I’ve been stationed or visited at several lesser known and off the beaten path posts
Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia
Camp Hialeah, Pusan S. Korea
Camp Carroll/APS-4, Daegu S. Korea
But Fort Lewis or JBLM has been my favorite and why I set down roots up here.
Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia
Camp Hialeah, Pusan S. Korea
Camp Carroll/APS-4, Daegu S. Korea
But Fort Lewis or JBLM has been my favorite and why I set down roots up here.
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:47 pm to theantiquetiger
My son is a veteran and loves being a California marine.
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:56 pm to theantiquetiger
It all sucked in 1969 as a draftee in the green machine, but the last stateside part at Ft. Lewis was kind of nice. That area of Washington used to be magical.
Posted on 12/3/20 at 11:57 pm to theantiquetiger
I did time in Panama twice. First time was jungle school. Green Hell was appropriately named. Second time was much better. Panama is a beautiful place with beautiful people.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 12:21 am to theantiquetiger
'88 to '92, Augsburg, Germany. Was in one of the 3 artillery units there, and VII Corps Artillery headquarters was also there. Didn't live on base, rented a beautiful brand new condo from a German who had bought the property as an investment. Beautiful part of Bavaria, not far from Austria/Italy, was just West of Munich. Was a great hub for a shite ton of travel during time off all over Europe. Was there also when the wall came down, and within a month they allowed Officers and NCO's to travel to Eastern Europe behind the former "Iron Curtain." The contrast once you crossed into Eastern European countries was mind blowing. It was like stepping back in time about 100 years.
This post was edited on 12/4/20 at 12:52 am
Posted on 12/4/20 at 12:47 am to theantiquetiger
Darmstadt, Germany. Favorite CONUS: Ft Huachuca, AZ. JBLM and Oahu tie for 3rd. I never disliked a duty station though. Least favorite was probably Camp Casey, Korea, and I still loved it.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 1:07 am to theantiquetiger
Okinawa! I've been here for 6 years. Island is great I fish every weekend. Good safe place for the kids to play etc.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 1:24 am to theantiquetiger
Yokosuka Japan. Close enough to Tokyo to enjoy everything. Of course I wasn't stationed at Yokosuka. I was stationed aboard the USS Independence that was homeported there. Japan has just enough funkiness to entertain a 20yr old squid on the prowl.
But every duty station was amazing as was every port. But damned if I wasn't the coldest I've ever been when we ported at Pusan Korea and took a bus up to Seoul in the dead of winter. But with enough alcohol, even Seoul's bitter cold couldn't stop the fun.
But every duty station was amazing as was every port. But damned if I wasn't the coldest I've ever been when we ported at Pusan Korea and took a bus up to Seoul in the dead of winter. But with enough alcohol, even Seoul's bitter cold couldn't stop the fun.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 1:29 am to theantiquetiger
Best State-side: Eglin. Fishing, boating, excellent outdoor activities. It’s laid back, not too congested with people and there’s plenty to do.
Worst state-side: Nellis. North Las Vegas is a dirty a-hole that has never been wiped. The people are trashy. Balls hot. Zero scenery. And Vegas itself loses its appeal after a week. Plus, non-stop noise from the base especially during USAFWS and Red Flag. It’s dirt, crime and casinos. Nice to visit; terrible to live there.
Best overseas: Korea. Explored all I could. Seoul is fun. Mt Sorak and Buddist temples provide lots of outdoor enjoyment. Japan is a short hop. Honk Kong is easy to visit. Loved it. Everyone else just stayed around the local bases and camps and drank 24/7. I signed up for every ITT trip possible. When there wasn’t any cheap trips, I’d jump on the K-train and bullet to wherever. Korean people were great and there was pick of the litter when it came to women. I’d move there tomorrow if I didn’t have kids.
Worst overseas: Iceland. First year was great. Land of fire and ice and all that. It feels like your exploring middle-earth in Lord of the Rings or something. But that second year after I had seen everything was just miserable. Always cold. White-out blizzards. It either rains, snows or has that misty rain/fog 300 days a year. Think the highest temp it reached was 63 degrees one time and we got a day off work to enjoy it. They called it Sunshine Day. Pitch black all of December. Let me tell you, that’ll frick you up—an entire month of never seeing the Sun. North Atlantic gale winds that sweep the cold right into your bones. Just wet and freezing for a whole year. I had cabin fever and to this day, I can’t tolerate even a little cold (which is why I live in balls-hot Arizona.
Worst state-side: Nellis. North Las Vegas is a dirty a-hole that has never been wiped. The people are trashy. Balls hot. Zero scenery. And Vegas itself loses its appeal after a week. Plus, non-stop noise from the base especially during USAFWS and Red Flag. It’s dirt, crime and casinos. Nice to visit; terrible to live there.
Best overseas: Korea. Explored all I could. Seoul is fun. Mt Sorak and Buddist temples provide lots of outdoor enjoyment. Japan is a short hop. Honk Kong is easy to visit. Loved it. Everyone else just stayed around the local bases and camps and drank 24/7. I signed up for every ITT trip possible. When there wasn’t any cheap trips, I’d jump on the K-train and bullet to wherever. Korean people were great and there was pick of the litter when it came to women. I’d move there tomorrow if I didn’t have kids.
Worst overseas: Iceland. First year was great. Land of fire and ice and all that. It feels like your exploring middle-earth in Lord of the Rings or something. But that second year after I had seen everything was just miserable. Always cold. White-out blizzards. It either rains, snows or has that misty rain/fog 300 days a year. Think the highest temp it reached was 63 degrees one time and we got a day off work to enjoy it. They called it Sunshine Day. Pitch black all of December. Let me tell you, that’ll frick you up—an entire month of never seeing the Sun. North Atlantic gale winds that sweep the cold right into your bones. Just wet and freezing for a whole year. I had cabin fever and to this day, I can’t tolerate even a little cold (which is why I live in balls-hot Arizona.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 1:47 am to theantiquetiger
Can I say it's NOT Ft Lost in the Woods - err, Leonard Wood? Even with the jock huggers, Missouri is terrible on so many levels.
My bro swears by Okinawa, but he was in Navy, so I imagine lots of gay sex.
My bro swears by Okinawa, but he was in Navy, so I imagine lots of gay sex.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 3:06 am to theantiquetiger
Mainz Germany was there three years with the 2/4 Avn Regt 8th infantry division. 
Posted on 12/4/20 at 4:35 am to theantiquetiger
Germany. Specifically about 100 klicks north of Koln right on Dutch border. Driving distance to Paris, Amsterdam, Munich, etc. Got to see Europe like no tourist.
Great experience for 18 months. Close enough to WW II that Europeans still grateful to USA. Also knew we were keeping them from having to learn Russian.
Except the French but, well, they're French.
Great experience for 18 months. Close enough to WW II that Europeans still grateful to USA. Also knew we were keeping them from having to learn Russian.
Except the French but, well, they're French.
Posted on 12/4/20 at 5:46 am to theantiquetiger
Favorite Germany, best Command Ft. Rucker AL.
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