[2020] Have you served in the armed forces? When where?

Aloha,

So @Kalvothe and I both served in the US Navy, furthermore other members of the NA World of Warships team have also, however, I will let them tell you their story.

This post is purely to ask the question from our amazing community who has served or currently serves in the armed forces. Before I even begin to tell you my story, I just wanted to say thank you to each and every single one of you for your service, remember that the NA Community consists of FAR more than United States Armed Forces!

I am a retired Chief Firecontrolman, I served in the US Navy for over 20 yrs on board the USS John Young, USS Lake Champlain, USS Bataan, USS Boxer and USS New Orleans. I completed 10 deployments and one long year in Iraq before trying to figure out what this whole civilian life thing is about....

Two pictures for you, one near the beginning of my career, when I was a more, um, aerodynamic Hapa and the other near the end when I was more... comfortable.

United States Marine Corps - 1991 to 1997

Enlisted: Infantry/Field Radio Operator

Commissioned: Legal investigator - 3rd Marine Air Wing

"Show me a hero and I'll show you a bum." - Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, U.S. Marine Corps

#semperfidelis

#anchorsaweigh

That is the ammunition drum for the CIWS (Close in Weapon System) I worked on. Loaded with dummy ammunition though.

-Hapa

Russian Ground Forces, 26th missile brigade, 2005. Although I didn't get to operate any Iskanders and had no deployments, God forbid.

My service to Motherland was limited to boring military finance, which was 100% paper-based, old school.

Yeah, that was a sad day watching my first ship be sunk for naval gunfire training, but she's got a new life as a reef, so I am okay with that!

-Hapa

I really love that we have some of our community who have served in armed forces in other nations posting! It is important to me that we recognize that NA is MORE than just the US!

And thank you all for your service!

Mahalo,

-Hapa

When were you on the Champ? I arrived in 99.

This is great! I love all the pictures!

Mahalo,

-Hapa!

I hope all of you have linked your accounts with id.me!

https://worldofwarships.com/en/news/general-news/world-of-warships-salute/

-Hapa

Thank you all so much for your service and for your conversations in this topic, every month I intend to put up a new random conversation topic and this one was definitely a great start!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's post!

Mahalo,

-Hapa