My own service record is much less dramatic. I joined the US Navy in August 1963, mostly because I had no money for college and felt a technical training in the Navy would be a big help. And it was. In 1963 I had a choice of being drafted in the Army or volunteering for Navy or Air Force. I chose Navy.
So 1963 was Boot Camp, and 1964 and 1965 were two years of intensive schooling for me to become a Data Systems Technician, the Navy term for "computer technician". After that, we were given a paper to list our choices for further deployment. That is to say, did you want a ship on the East Coast or the West Coast? Period.
I chose west coast. Vietnam was still more or less low profile, and I was more interested in being stationed in San Diego, since my Mother and Sister had moved to Los Angeles. So the Navy sent me to Treasure island in San Francisco Bay for two years.
Our main job was trying to keep track of the Soviet sub fleet. Back then, the Soviets had more subs then the rest of the world combined. Subs with missiles and/or torpedoes and/or mines. Especially mines. A huge danger. So we did our best to keep track of the hundreds of subs prowling off the Pacific coast.
After two years we were given that paper to chose our preferred next assignment. I again chose San Diego, and as a result was sent to Norfolk, Virginia to serve on the USS Wright CC-2. There I helped maintain the computer systems used to track Soviet subs off the Atlantic coast.
I again volunteered for San Diego, and was sent to London, to help keep track of Soviet subs prowling
:catclock: 
around the British Isles.
And finally Dam Neck, Virginia, again keeping track of Soviet subs off the Atlantic coast. And my final two years in the Navy as my alcoholism progressed. I got an HONORABLE DISCHARGE for ten years of service in the Navy at the height of the Vietnam War.
Any questions?
