What item do you still have...

Capt MJ

Formerly Known As Attila The Hunnette
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Comments on another thread, where posters noted they still used their USNA laundry bag or USMA stenciled wooden coat hangers, years afterward, made me think to ask: What everyday item from your Service Academy or early/former military life still plays a role in your life?

I always enjoy the variety of posts that crop up, and I think Forum readers new to military life get glimpses of the camaraderie, warmth and shared experiences that link those who are wearing/have worn or been married to service people. Useful in providing a glimpse into the idiosyncrasies of military culture.

My item: the Navy-issue wool watch cap that got me through winter in Newport, RI, and the frigid wind off the Narragansett Bay, and many other cold spots. Still my go-to for dependable warmth, despite a basketful of hi-tech outer wear headgear in the mud room closet. Still has my OC number on the tag. My husband uses his USNA mid number or a shortened form for anything requiring a combination.
 
It's not my item but from my grandfather. He was a pilot on the B-17s during WWII. He picked up a statue of St Joseph in a stop in Italy on his way to the war. This statue flew with him on all 32 missions. Baby Jesus lost his head on a mission over Stuttgart. This little statue has a place of honor on my mantle.
 

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I kept a few items that are packed away such as my Dixie cup, thoughts of the day, reef points, a few uniforms and a few others. I still use some of my sweatshirts and rshirts from hoops. Although they are getting really ragged. Also use my laundry bags and sometimes my book bag. Kept a few USMC items such as my kbar, a few uniforms, challenge coins.
 
I kept a few items that are packed away such as my Dixie cup, thoughts of the day, reef points, a few uniforms and a few others. I still use some of my sweatshirts and rshirts from hoops. Although they are getting really ragged. Also use my laundry bags and sometimes my book bag. Kept a few USMC items such as my kbar, a few uniforms, challenge coins.
I still have my OCS Foxtrot Company t-shirt, a candidate for the "ancient textiles" exhibit at the Smithsonian. I am afraid to either wear it or wash it.
 
When I was an ROTC midshipman at UCLA, my first class cruise was on a sub doing Arctic ops. I wore a long sleeve UCLA shirt at the North Pole, and still have it. I also still have my helmet bag from my flying days.
 
Bullet during his career kept all of his squadron patches, scarves, coins and flight helmet visors (since he was an O1) in an old shoe box. That shoe box moved with us for 21 years, and sat in the closet the entire time he was ADAF.
~I had them professionally framed (24 X36) for his I love me room as his retirement gift, thus we will have them forever.
~ I am thinking Bullet will say his treasure is his flight helmet. In ADAF fliers do not do screen art on their flight helmets, however when they retire they can take them with them. His from me to me retirement present was having the helmet professionally screened art. It sits in one of his 1 I love me rooms.
~~ He has 2 rooms...too much wall crap, and we are not talking about certificates....it is the squadron photo where all of them sign a personal note or numbered lithos done by people like David Hume or James Dietz.
~~~ If any Army posters want to buy a James Dietz Call to Colors numbers litho, unframed...pm me. We have one with the certificate authentication...just too lazy to set up an Ebay or craigslist account.

I wish I kept his squadron Friday tees from when he was young, because they would not fly (no pun) now in the current environment. One had the saying I flew 5000 miles to smoke a camel. That was back in 91 right after Desert Storm.

The only other special item that I know Bullet will always keep and wear is his dice. The 90th FS is allowed by AF reg. to wear the dice on their flight suit and mess dress (used in place of the chain for the mess dress jacket). The squadron is known as Pair O Dice and someone long ago contacted Caesars Casino bout them. They send not only their used dice to them, but also old decks of cards. They drill holes into the dice and thread the green string through so they can hang them off their top flight suit pocket.
 
Oh one of my other favorites... At USNA we get issued all our school type supplies such as stapler, pens, etc Plebe Summer in a giant box. It's been awhile since I graduated USNA, but I still have the staples and stapler I was issued Plebe Summer with my alpha code and name on it. Apparently I haven't stapled a lot of stuff in my life.
 
Believe it or not, I have worn my dog tags since the day I got them. I figured if they had a practical use in the military the same would apply in the civilian world if I was hurt in an accident or whatever. I have one very worn pair of boots (black, smooth side out, circa early 80's) left that I use to shovel snow, work in the mud or seal my driveway. By far, my oldest keepsake is a laundry bag from one of my midshipmen cruises (with name stenciled on it) that is still in use - particularly during vacation trips. Oh, and like NavyHoops, I have a kabar knife that has been taken camping and hiking and called into action from time to time in the field.
 
I have 2 blue rims with my name and alpha code still visible on the bottom-front inside hem, plus an issue hoodie and issue pullover sweatshirt. The sweatshirts are in pretty good shape, but the blue rims are getting pretty threadbare and I'm actually thinking about getting a couple this summer. I had my hands on my Reef Points a few years ago but can't for the life of me locate it now. Everything else is gone. When I separated, I was able to sell many of my uniforms and other items to classmates. Wish I had kept the reefer - that was a warm coat.

Like your DH, Capt MJ, I use my alpha number when I need a 6-digit PIN. I'm pretty sure that only my DH and I know it.
 
Combat Boots (all black leather), Jungle boots (leather and canvas), Baseball Caps from Squadrons, Dog Tags, Some buttons from great coat (wish I had kept it as it was warm), Dog Tags, Fatigue Jacket I still wear in winter, AF Instructor Badge, Blouses from Jungle Fatigue and class A and original draft card.
 
original draft card

Those draft cards are quickly becoming a part of "ancient" history in the U.S.

Per Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_the_United_States)

Command Sergeant Major Jeff Mellinger, believed to be the last drafted enlisted ranked soldier still on active duty, retired in 2011.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ralph E. Rigby, the last Vietnam-era drafted soldier of Warrant Officer rank, retired from the army in November 10, 2014 after a 42-year career.
 
About one year after enlistment (because 1A) on a mountain in Oregon they came up with the lottery. Watching TV in the combined enlisted ,NCO, Officers Club my number was so high I never would have been called. You make your choices and take your chances. It worked out well. Watch how you use that word "ancient". I was reporting at the induction center and a Gunny walked in and asked "who are enlisted?". "Stay seated". "all draftees stand by the window". He went down the line and picked out about six of the largest in line an told them to follow him. One guy said where are we going answer Paris Island. Guy says I was drafted for the Army. Gunny answers you were drafted no one told you where you were going. I think it was the first time since WWII that Marines took draftees.
 
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Ha Ha... I knew my descriptor may offend but hoped it wouldn't. Certainly no offense intended. (I am not that far behind you!)

My apologies.
 
Just call those draft cards "20th century artifacts." Ancient is relative.
 
No apology necessary. The truth will set you free. I am starting to feel it just don't need another reminder. I get enough from my wife.
 
Dog tags.

One of my kids friends saw them around 6 years ago and said "Wow, just like 'Call of Duty'."

Jeesh.
 
For a long while, I put the boys' blue blankets on their twin beds at home. They sorta matched the decor and well, they weren't using them. ;)

I know that both my sons use their trunks not just for storage but as "coffee tables" too. Still do, even though now they both have grown up furniture.
 
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