Sunday, July 3, 2011

Last Vietnam-era Draftee is Retiring From Army

When his country called on him he answered, and then some. With his retirement comes the close of a chapter in US military history and to our fighting forces being 100%, from the start, a volunteer military.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110703/D9O86PE81.html

"A homemade wind chime with the word "Whining" under a red slash is made from metal parts put in his leg after a parachute accident. Every Sunday he trims his crew cut. He didn't join the Army willingly, but as Command Sgt. Maj. Jeff Mellinger prepares to retire, he's grateful he found his calling.

Mellinger was drafted to fight the Vietnam War, and the Army believes he's the last draftee to retire, after 39 years. Most did their two years and left. But Mellinger had found home.

"I think I'm pretty good at it, but I like it. That's the bottom line. I love being a soldier and I love being around soldiers," he said.

Mellinger's motto is simple: No whining - as the wind chime attests.
"

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