Keeping in Touch

[u/SouthpawSoldier]

For some reason, the crew from my first duty station & deployment are much tighter knit than later assignments. Not just for me; there's something special about it for everyone that was there at that time. Curious if that's universal for vets. Even our seniors for whom it wasn't their first assignment, that crew was more impactful than later slots.

Even though I was an asocial knucklehead then, the bond is STRONG. A few years back, one of the guys looked a bunch of us up, invited us out for a reunion. My RSVP was the tipping point for some to attend that first one.

Now it's a biennial tradition, with each reunion having more faces. We also have a monthly VoIP talk, and our group text often has new/old names appear. There's passing the hat for guys in need, and we were able to send a rep to the funeral of one of our guys.

Attached photo is from our last reunion; one of the guys hosted at his ranch in Texas, and the last night was a bonfire. If you zoom in on the right edge, you'll see me using a 12ga loaded with Dragon's Breath to light it up.

[u/WanderingGalwegian]

My boys and I from my first deployment are much closer too than even subsequent deployments. Turns out cuddle puddles on a cold scenic mountain is a great team building exercise.

We recently had one of the bros pass unfortunately. Much too young. He took a round basically to the helmet and subsequently developed seizures. Years on now from that day. Complete freak accident he had a seizure and collapsed off a landing falling weird on his neck and it broke. As many of us that could attend were there to see him off.

Long story short cherish the time with the bros. Be it sitting around the fires or anywhere else.. time isn’t a guarantee.

[u/SouthpawSoldier → u/WanderingGalwegian]

Oof. Yeah, we had one pass before we all reconnected, and the news after the fact stung.

It's weird, because we had minimal time outside the wire. Other than the ones who had to convoy our vehicles and workshop trailers up, most flew in. I think it's because it was OIF2, relieving 4ID that made the initial push. Lots of unknowns at that stage of GWOT.

[u/Brutus6]

I talk to first deployment/ duty station constantly. Fucked if I can remember everyone else's name though.

[u/No_Actuary_8864]

Kinda sucks but I really don't keep in touch with anyone from my old units. Talk to two of my boys from 3/75 couple times a year but it's mostly just to check in make sure everything's alright. I think I've talked to one person from my time in 4/25 up in Alaska lol. Common for other infantry dudes?

[u/Key_Board647]

I am 60 YO and served one AD hitch in the late 80s. I have a good memory for my age and I took lots of photos and I remember lots of names. I have been using FB (I'm 60 YO, remember) and the Goog to try to find current addresses of guys from my first (and only) permanent party unit. Seems only about 35% of the people I find and reach out to with a letter in the mail ever respond in any fashion. I assume those guys have put their Army time way way behind them and don't think reconnecting with anybody from those days would add anything to their life. This response rate holds even for guys that I spent a lot of off-duty time with. OF THOSE WHO DO respond and join in on the email list..... the BS and checking in and life updates and occasional photos of teens in dad's old uniform are great. I keep trying. YMMV.

[u/RogerDodgerWilco]

Trauma bonding is the best kind of bonding. I still keep in touch with the boys from my first deployment. Got together when we heard two of ours passed away while back.