Are/were your parents proud of what you have/had accomplished in the United States military?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 06:44:06 -0400

Response by PO1 John Miller made Sep 24 at 2015 6:58 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 06:58:11 -0400

My parents would have it no other way!
My Dad even threatened to kick me out if I didn't join the military, specifically the Navy (he was in the Navy also). I'm sure he was joking but I didn't want to test it, LOL!

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Sep 24 at 2015 7:42 AM

CW4 Guy Butler — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 07:42:55 -0400

Yes.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 7:48 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 07:48:36 -0400

Yes, they were.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Sep 24 at 2015 8:02 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:02:10 -0400

Yes. I made a difference in many ways

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 24 at 2015 8:34 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 08:34:20 -0400

Both have passed on. Mute Point. They were both Lay Ministers in the Catholic Church and I think they would have preferred a more "Normal" Profession but I was good at what I did and Enjoyed the Crap out of it for 21 years. Navy took my Natural Inquisitiveness and understanding of Circuit Flow and Locks and put it to good use.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2015 9:48 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 09:48:30 -0400

My dad (a retired SP7 in the Army) told me once how proud he was that I had deployed to war three times (at the time) - something he was embarrassed he never did during his service in the Vietnam era.
I told him how grateful I was that he was fortunate enough to not have to go to Vietnam. If he had, he would have never met my mother.
The mark all of those deployments made on my children are very visible in the things they draw and the things they say.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 24 at 2015 10:01 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 10:01:32 -0400

SPC Margaret Higgins - Absolutely... My dad (42 years on active duty and retired as LTG/0-9) was very proud of my decision to make the Army a career. My mom was a war bride from Paris, France and always looked at the US Army as liberators and was proud that I carried on the family tradition of military service. I am also very proud of my son, who also carried on the tradition.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Sep 24 at 2015 3:03 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:03:41 -0400

If they were they never mentioned it. In fact they strongly objected to me even being in the Army so we never mentioned it. My grandparents objected even more strongly. I didn't really understand at the time since my Grandfather (army private in WWI), my father (pilot in WWII), my step-father (PO1 in WWII) and all of my uncles had served. My uncle Jack (Army WO) was killed in Europe. Even my mother had been an Army civilian employee. Years later they explained to me that they did not object to the military or to wars. They objected to sending Americans to die in wars that we were not even trying to win. I tend to agree. Thankfully there were no wars going on when their grandkids got old enough to join and they had passed away before Iraq and Afghanistan. Since they didn't like Korea and Vietnam they sure as hell wouldn't approve of this crap. I really don't either. If you are going to fight a war you should do whatever is necessary to WIN. If not you should stay out of it.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Sep 24 at 2015 5:05 PM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:05:53 -0400

My parents were proud that both my youngest brother and I served.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Sep 24 at 2015 5:08 PM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:08:13 -0400

I served 21 years, retired 6 years ago. Every vehicle my parents ever drove from 1987 until present time has/had a "Proud Parent of a US Marine" sticker on it. They still refer to me as "My son the Marine". I would say they are pretty proud. I wish everyone could experience what I have. I'm sure my parents are just as proud of all of you too.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Sep 24 at 2015 5:15 PM

LTC Hillary Luton — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:15:56 -0400

Yes. Very much so. I'm only sad that my father had already passed away and could not attend my retirement, but he was always very supportive of my military career and liked to brag to his buddies about my service. My mom has always been supportive as well. She has been behind me since day one, to include serving as a Family Readiness leader in one my units, serving on the Mayor's committee to welcome troops home and serving as an Army Reserve Ambassador. My parents were the best when it came to supporting my military service.

Response by SFC Angeline Hoffmann made Sep 24 at 2015 5:50 PM

SFC Angeline Hoffmann — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 17:50:26 -0400

Nope and I was his favorite child. Both thought I wasted a perfectly good education.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Sep 25 at 2015 2:46 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 02:46:03 -0400

My dad, a Colonel with 32 years under his belt and so many bombing missions over Europe, there was barely room on his flight jacket to show them all, cried when I was commissioned and he pinned on my butter bar, as I rose in the ranks and accepted command. Those were the only tears I ever saw outside the early death of a sibling at age 16 and the joyous occasions of becoming a grandfather. Mom was proud (a bit worried, but proud of my successful career) but I think she was happier after I finished my time and earned my BSN to join the female achievers in my family, herself an RN and my aunt a commissioned Naval Nurse in the Pacific who recently passed on but had earned her masters in Nursing and taught at Boston University and Vanderbuilt. (I was the closest to a daughter she had.)

My brother also was commissioned by the USAF, stayed 6 years and went on to great success. Yes, my parents were definitely proud of our military accomplishments.

Response by SN Alex Tufail made Sep 25 at 2015 4:19 AM

SN Alex Tufail — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 04:19:45 -0400

Nope, my dad pretty much disowned me for my first 2 years. He's a Banker, and thought that me joining the Military was the worst choice I could make. Then he learned that he wouldn't have to help me pay for college, and so he rejoiced. It sucks having conditional support, but to be honest I'm proud of myself for sticking to my beliefs and staying true to whom I was without allowing myself to be distracted by my family.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 10:59 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 10:59:01 -0400

I had the best Mother and Father that a son could ask for. I remember how my Mother's eyes would light up when I came home from being deployed. And how she would have things put in the newspaper when I graduated Basic, AIT and so on. My Dad was an Army Vet, a Tanker and as tough as they come. I remember how things were a little different when I returned home from Basic Training. My Dad looked at me as a Man and a fellow soldier. These are things that I will fondly remember for the rest of my life!

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 11:58 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 11:58:17 -0400

no ... they still don't know I am in service ...

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Sep 25 at 2015 2:07 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 14:07:52 -0400

I know that my parents were not sure why I decided to join the Navy, we had a few relatives who served back in WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. But I know that my parents were always proud of my decision to join and serve a full career in the Navy.
I can't really think of why parents would not be proud of their child's decision to join the military unless said child did so dishonorably.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2015 8:01 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 20:01:33 -0400

Yes and no. My parents were not enthused by the idea of me joining because I never followed their rules. I always questioned them. So when I told them that I was enlisting into the Marine Corps, they both literally laughed in my face. To this day, I do not have a relationship with them because I will never be able to forgive them for what they put myself, or my siblings through going up. You can assume that they never thought I could make it past recruit training. So good news, I made it. I love what I do. I love how far I have come and how much I have accomplished. Quite frankly, I don't care if they are or are not proud of me because I am proud of me; complete strangers are proud and grateful of me. When it comes down to it, I have more of a family now, than I ever had in my life. For that, I am extremely grateful.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 8:11 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 20:11:20 -0400

I'm the first one in my family to join and my parents voiced their concerns. I remember in college going to enlist in the NG and my mom wouldn't give me my birth certificate so I went to the county clerk for a new one! 5 years later I just took company command and I can tell you my folks are some of my biggest fans of anything I do. It took a while to intergrate them but leaving acronyms out of the dinner chatter and some regular updates has helped, they are also some of the best "dog sitters" there are when it comes to tdy trips and what not;)

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Sep 28 at 2015 9:13 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:13:53 -0400

Mother and grandmother - yes.
Dad - not so much

Response by SPC Jillian O'Malley made Sep 28 at 2015 9:23 AM

SPC Jillian O'Malley — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:23:15 -0400

Nope, not at all. When I ETSed honorably after 5 years of service with 2 Iraq deployments all they said was "well, that was a waste of time, you could have graduated college by now"

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 1:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 13:11:15 -0400

my parents didnt giva a damn

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 10:32 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 22:32:13 -0400

When I signed up to take college ROTC, my mother broke into tears (Vietnam war was on; and she had fears) When I drew draft number 53 that shut her up for awhile. I was in the first class not to get sent to Vietnam as it have ended. I continued my career, mostly in the reserves and National Guard, and I know my mom was not just accepting but proud.

Response by SPC Allison Joy Cumming made Oct 1 at 2015 1:18 PM

SPC Allison Joy Cumming — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 13:18:06 -0400

Yes they were. I was the one that did not understand the full meaning of my commitment until years after I got out.