38 years ago today I finished up my hitch in the Army.

[Adsos Letter]

Joined at 17; spent 3 years in the Field Artillery, with the last 13 months spent overseas in an armored cavalry regiment on the Czech border.

Honorably discharged at the age of 20.

Came home to California...and was still too young to buy a legal beer in this state.

[Kaleva]

1. 6/1/90 was my discharge day.

I remember walking down the pier feeling light as a feather even though I was carrying a seabag, a small suitcase, a carry on bag and a garment bag.

[Adsos Letter]

2. I remember what a weird feeling it was

to finally get home and not be able to have a legal beer, and be unable to do so for almost eight more months.

Somehow, it didn't seem to fit with the narrative of my life up to that point.

I hear ya about the good feelings on getting out.

[Aristus]

3. My 20-year mark was this last July.

I took a month of terminal leave in the summer of 1993 to re-visit Germany, my first duty station. (I ETS'd from Fort Knox). I remember going over to battalion at midnight to sign out. I remember how wonderful I felt, how light, relieved of burden, how free.

A number of wonderful days followed, including some adventures I'll remember for the rest of my life. But signing out on leave, signing my life back over to myself, in effect, was an indescribable feeling...

[Adsos Letter]

4. Most definitely an indescribable feeling.

I ETS'd out of Ft. Dix. Flew home on Tiger Air.

Seems like a whole lifetime ago, and I guess it was.

Edit: duty station in Germany was Amberg/Vilseck/Graf...ETS'd from Ft. Dix.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Glad you made it, Adsos.

How have you been?

[Adsos Letter]

7. Been ok, Blue. Haven't made much time for photography.

Loved your shot of the squirrel.

Been working on the house for the last year and a half. How did your remodel turn out?

[Blue_In_AK]

9. We finally got done.

It looks great here now. I've been thinking I should take some pics and post for the photo groupies who commiserated with me through the whole process.

[nomorenomore08]

6. My uncle Jim died in Vietnam - shot down in a helicopter over the ocean - in 1967.

He was a few months from his 22nd birthday. My dad was 12.

I don't mean to make this thread a downer, it just made me think of my family.

[Adsos Letter]

8. sorry to hear that, nomorenomore08

One of my best friends' older brother died over there. My uncle was a Marine over there in '68. He came home, but with wounds.