No More Whining!
ByOne of the day watch sergeants sent out an e-mail earlier this week:
A busy day with no incidents to report. However, I had the privilege of assisting someone who is quite remarkable.
While leaving the front lobby, I saw a US Army Master Sergeant walking up the front steps. I then noticed a familiar sight: the Special Forces tab on the uniform. I introduced myself as an “old-timer” SF sergeant myself, but learned I was but a youngster. The MSG was retired from the US Army SF, but was called back to active duty service due to him having a critical military occupational skill.
After helping him register his alarm with the city, I spoke with him at length. He invited me to jump (parachute) with him this weekend, but I had to decline due to my reserve drill duties.
He told me his age, but I had to check after he left anyway. He is 87 years old.
The MSG told me that he is not alone; there are other octogenarians on active duty orders.
I do not want to hear anyone whining about anything for the rest of the week.
(note: Minor grammar fixes were made from the original e-mail, but the content is 100% accurate.)
3 Comments
October 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Unless you’re talking about Airsoft Special Forces I’m throwing the bullshit flag. Give me a name or tell me what Special Forces Group he’s “currently” assigned to….I’ll have it confirmed in less than 24 hours.
October 1st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for stopping by. I have the master sergeant’s name, but I’m sure you will understand if I decline to post a SF soldier’s name in a public forum. Considering my department is in the Tampa Bay area, and USSOCOM is local to us, I imagine that the MSG is assigned to command staff at MacDill, not deployed overseas.
And lest you get too carried away, there are a number of people eligible for Social Security currently serving. Take, for example, this 74-year-old doctor deployed as a field surgeon in Afghanistan: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/article_3fcd5271-55b4-572d-abdd-c47fe7d2768f.html (Oh, and it is his third tour, the first two to Iraq.)
I guess this 63-year-old Ranger is a spring chicken compared to others: http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/07/30/25286-active-duty-ranger-63-honored-for-career-spanning-45-years/
I’ve never met a soldier who has gone looking for press coverage, so I imagine there are many, many people we’ve never heard about that are currently serving who are much older than you would think.
Stay safe!
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:23 am
Medical personnel can serve at about any age, so I am not impressed by surgeons serving. When you retire after serving honorably you can wear the uniform under given circumstances. In his position I suppose working at MacDill is a valid reason.
I was also one called out of retirement to go to war and I served at CENTCOM. I will be back there in Tampa next month and would love to meet the soldier.
Something still seems fishy. This guy seems to outdo Billy Waugh.
Did he have a CAC card?