Last Vietnam-era draftee decides to retire

Ford SportTrac Forum

Help Support Ford SportTrac Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

TrainTrac

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2002
Messages
6,262
Reaction score
36
Location
Mahomet, IL
I know that we have a lot of Vietnam Vets and Vietnam-era Vets as members here, so I found this worthy of sharing.



Thanks for your lifetime of dedicated service to our nation, SGT MAJ Mellinger ! :haveabeer:



Last Vietnam-era draftee decides to retire



By KIMBERLY HEFLING - Associated Press



FORT BELVOIR, Va. (AP) 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.



When the draft notice arrived in the mail in 1972 at his home in Eugene, Ore., tens of thousands of troops had been killed. Anti-war protests were rampant. Draft notices were being set on fire and returning soldiers were treated as part of the problem. The military wasn't a popular job.



The return address on the letter was the White House. Just 19, he was impressed that President Richard Nixon would write to him.



"I opened it up and it said, 'Greetings from the president of the United States.' I said, 'Wow, how's he know me?'" Mellinger said, laughing. "It was a form letter that said my friends and neighbors had selected me to represent them in the Armed Forces and I was hereby ordered to report for induction."



Mellinger told the draft board there was a mistake.



"I ... told them I don't need to go into the Army, I've got a job," said Mellinger, who hung drywall for a living. "They just kind of laughed."



Once the path was set, he said, he didn't consider trying to find a way out.



He heard so many war stories in training that he was fired up about going, and was disappointed he was instead assigned to be an office clerk in Germany.



In Germany, Mellinger immediately stood out with his positive attitude, short haircut and mastery of physical fitness skills, said Bob Myers, 64, of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, then his company commander who now runs a chain of convenience stores. He replaced a soldier in trouble for illegal drug use, Myers said.



"He wasn't a part of that culture and everyone knew that," said Myers, who was instrumental in getting Mellinger to enlist when his draft term was over.



Mellinger wasn't long for clerking. He earned a spot in the Army Rangers, and would go on to do more than 3,700 parachute jumps. And despite the 1991 parachute accident that gave him the material for the wind chime, breaking his leg in several places, he went on to run nine marathons. He was made a command sergeant major in 1992.



Nearly a decade later, he was sent to ground zero in New York right after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as part of an advance party from the First Army. Then came his time in Iraq as the top enlisted soldier of the multi-national forces in Iraq, where he says he survived 27 roadside bombings during his deployment of nearly three years straight.



Mellinger, 58, says his stories of being in the Army during the tumultuous 1970s as the Army struggled with issues of drugs, race and the role of women are so foreign to young troops that they look at him like he's a dinosaur when he shares them.



A recruiting poster hanging today on Mellinger's office door at Fort Belvoir, where he's the command sergeant major for the Army Material Command, that encourages female troops to try out for female engagement teams that work in war zones with Special Forces troops shows just how much things have changed since Mellinger was drafted.



Until 1978, female troops were in the Women's Army Corps separate from the regular Army. Mellinger said he recalls when most female troops weren't allowed to carry weapons and were taken out of the field at night to sleep in a separate barracks away from the men.



"There were some stymied leaders. What do we do with all these females?" he said. "A lot of those things together caused a lot of turmoil, caused a lot of difficulty and problems and a huge leadership challenge because the military was being torn apart like the country was."



Mellinger understands well the tragic side of soldiering. He knows 40 to 50 people buried at Arlington National Cemetery and goes to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to visit wounded troops and their families most weekends he's in town.



It was in a hospital room in 2009 that Jill Stephenson met Mellinger, who was standing near the bedside of her son, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp, 21. Mellinger had heard that Kopp, a fellow Ranger, had been shot in Afghanistan and he went to see him. Mellinger immediately embraced Stephenson, she said.



"It was the most compassionate, caring hug around me that I ever have received from a stranger. It was very comforting," said Stephenson, 44, of Rosemount, Minn.



Kopp died soon after. Stephenson has since stayed with Mellinger and his wife, Kim, on multiple occasions while in Washington to attend ceremonies at Arlington cemetery, where her son is buried.



Several soldiers who served directly under Mellinger in Iraq have reached out to him to talk about their combat-related mental health issues. One was a soldier who rang his doorbell and said he was haunted by the memory of helping to collect the remains of a fallen Marine, and he was bothered that he didn't know the Marine's name.



"I told him his name and we sat and talked for several hours," Mellinger said.



Mellinger said he has a roster with the names of the 2,614 troops killed, the 19,304 wounded, and two missing in action from his time in Iraq. He wears a metal bracelet with those numbers sketched in it in their honor.



Mellinger's happy with the set-up of today's all-volunteer force, but he does think the contributions of draftees have been forgotten, particularly since there's such a romantic notion that after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in World War II, everyone "ran down to the recruiting station." In reality, thousands were drafted in that war and many others, he said.



"Draftees are pretty maligned over time," he said, "but the fact is they are part of every branch of service up to 1973, and when you look at what those military branches accomplished over time, I'll let the record speak for itself."
 
Almost forgot about the draft,was another option few will recall.

You could volenteer for the draft (what I did).

Junior in H.S (1965),opted to be inducted at a known date,one week after graduation (1966)

I was on a bus on the way to the induction center.

Just wanted to get that crap over and done with ASAP.
 
Bill,

Yes I remember that time as well. I simply joined the Army (not volunteering for the draft) within a month after graduating from HS in 1963. I ended up staying in the Army for 20 years. During that time I got an AS degree in Computer Science, and a Bachelor's degree in Business. When I left the military I was a Computer Science instructor with over 17 years experience, a ton of leadership experience, and I doubled my salary the day I left the Army.



I still feel that many of the younger generation needs the kind of disapline and teamwork experience that the military provides. I personally would vote to reinstate the draft, but I seriously doubt that it will ever come back again. I know many of the people in the Reserves and National Guard probably felt like they were being drafted, over and over again with multiple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan, but I think the draft would have minimized that, and would have spread the combat tours around to more people.



If we don't ever get the draft back, I think we should require some sort of public service draft that is military like in it's structure, but perhaps not in a combat role. Germany has a similar organization called the German Labor Force. They march, and drill like a military unit. They wear uniforms and fatigues, stay in barracks eat, in chow halls, and follow most other military protocals, etc., but they are not armed. The only work on various government and military bases doing construction, maintenance, landscaping, and some clerical work, etc to free up the military personel to do the military related work.



It also provides a lot of jobs and pay for HS grads and drop outs who may have not college ambitions or very few job skills. They serve two years, get paid a salary, get vacations, 3 meals a day, with clothes and a bed provided. They learn teamwork, disapline, and have an opportunity to finish their schooling and perhaps even learn a marketable skill. If they like it, they can reenlist and stay in, or if they decide to get out after their 2 year committment, they will have made themselves a more marketable person for a job. If they decide to transfer to the military, they keep all their seniority towards retirement. I think it's a no brainer for someone who has a minimum education, and little or no job skills or experience.



...Rich





 
Last edited by a moderator:
Beneficial - Physically?, Financially?, Mentally? For the good of the World? I'll try to honor your request.



I will refrain from a outline of what I did for two years, because quite frankly it is uneventful and quite unbelievable.



In 1966 they sent me for a physical and I figured I was quickly going to get drafted. I went and joined the Army. Why, it was the only service you could join for 2 years. It was by no means out of patriotism or a sense of tradition of my father or grandfather. My only other association with the Army was in 1985 when I spent a month with the Ranger Training Battalion in Ft Benning.



For two year I did everything asked of me to the best of my ability. Two years later as a E-5 they told me I could leave. I pilled all my uniforms at the barracks door and was gone. :cheeky: I was poorer, in less physical condition, had been reduced to a mental vegetable, and had one less girlfriend, that when I went in. :cry: At the time I felt it was two years of my life wasted and lost. The only thing I left with was, pride in the job I did and a respect for some of those who served.



But, I went to college on the GI Bill, $125 a month. Got a job with the help of the GI bill, $3.75 a hour. Bought a house with the help of a GI loan, at 12%. Found that the friends I made for the next 30 years were mostly those who had served in the military, don't know why. Had a son that made a career in the Air Force. After 40 some years I find that a lots of what I have now is attributed to two years in the mid 60's. Funny world.



For some reason I have always had a deep respect for those who served or are serving. :fire: Probably, from my upbringing and readings, rather than from my service. But, since 1968 my respect for those who do what they do has constantly grown. Was my Army service Beneficial? Yes, to me, to my country, doubtful. Few on this Board understand, service in the 60's and 70's was different from what it is now.



In the words of Forest Gump "that's all I have to say about that"



:haveabeer:

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I joined the Army for 3yrs in 1970. Spent 22months of that in 'Nam. I cant say, that our role over there acheived anything for our country. Made some folks very rich. Including LBJ's in-laws, Sea-Land container ships.



I do beleive it instilled a certian Matureness in me. I say this 'cause my peers and freinds that did not. Were like teenagers @ 23yrs old, when I got out.



Not that I wasnt raised to be respectful, but. I gained a different type of respect for country and other areas of my life. I did have my battles with alcohol and drugs for some years. I believe my service time helped me, though. I didnt' falling off the deep end, of drug criminal activity. I mentaly drew a line. I think the service time, had something to do with that. Yes it was criminal to be a user. If my bank account was dry so was I.



I worked in a chemical plant for 36yrs. 25yrs of that as a proccess control instrument tech. Not a pat on the back, but I had respect for my work. I always performed to the best of my ability. I had many operators and supervisors ask for me, for control problems. It was many that I worked with having faith and support in me. That helped me get back on track. Also my new found faith in Christ, plus lessons learned in the military about respect is still with me today.



Somedays, I might get a little onry or crazy. 24 hrs latter Im ok..LOL



Im like Richard L. I believe some sort of draft should come back. Choice of military or civil service, with room and board and pay. IMO, it will help many of our younger generation stay or get back on track or draw that line in the sand.



Ok the end of my soap box...Yes Im proud to have served. Always have been, during the unpopular years included.
 
If I could have served during a time when we were at peace,maybe could have made a career out of it,used to like blowing things up and setting stuff on fire.

sadley all we have had in the past 60 yrs are conflicts,and we lost every one of them,100s of thousands of american men and women,dead,untold numbers that are physically and mentaly wounded,are 300K homeless Vietnam vets in this country today.

maybe the armed services is a bad thing afterall:soap:

have a nice 4th all.
 
Hi Bill,

Have a nice and blessed 4th to you also, brother...:supercool:



maybe could have made a career out of it



I was considering it. When I went before the board for E5. They cheated me out of 105 promotion points, from a pro-pay test. So I missed by 30 points. Because I was RA & I had top-secret level security clearances. My comanding officer @ fort bliss did everything but wine and dine me. I lost count on how many times he called me in for re-up talks.

But I was pissed.......:angry:

Wasnt any $$ tied to re-up then either. I dont remember any..
 
Eddie, Redfish and Bill.

Thanks for sharing guys. :supercool:



I agree that the military is not for everybody, and there is a lot of wars and police actions that we get involved in that are probably not our business and we should have never gotten into in the first place. Of course there is the countless deaths and horrible wounds that soldiers have to endure as part of doing their job. I know we certainly should have never gotten involve in Vietnam...but I never realized that until I heard the whole true story back about 20 years ago.



That is why I think an option of a para military public service corp that can contribute their non-combat efforts without having to carry guns, fire a shot or be shot at.



The military is much like anything else in life....You get out what you put into it.



...Rich



 
Last edited by a moderator:
I've known two retired Command Sgt. Majors and both have had trouble adapting to life outside the Army.

 
Mark K,

Many people have had problems adapting to life after their military service. For a career NCO like a Sgt Major, it can even be harder since the military structure has been so much of their life for over 20 years and probably more like 30 years. They have spent more of their life in the military than outside the military.



Also, they are accustomed to simply barking out an order and everyone jumps and does it. Obviously the civilian world does not operate that way and people will want an explaination, or ask why they have to do that, or even question their authority.....things that are not accepted in the military.



When I was in the military, it was easy for me to pick out those who would make an easy transistion to civilian life and those who were going to have difficulty. Those who the men respected for their leadership would not have any problems when the were civilians. Those who demanded authority because of their rank, often find it adifficult transistion to civilian life.



The military teaches that all leadership is based soley on rank. This is the type of leaderhsip that works best in combat or high stress situations, life or death situations and is practiced throught the military even in non-combat evironments. You can go to jail, be finded, or both, for failing to follow a lawful order. So there is an element of fear and intimidation in the military based on rank. Yet there were many senior ranking people in the military who had very natural leadership skills that you knew they were leaders without looking for their rank insignia.



Civilians have a ranking system that is not worn on the sleeve or collar, but is Leadership based on respect, responsibility, technique and finesse, and less on barking out orders or demands. In the civilian world about the worst that can happen is you can be fired from your job...or you can choose to resign rather than be led by someone you do not respect as a leader....not so in the military.



I think the key to true leadership is not forcing someone to do what you want, but to make them willingly want to follow you.



Many years ago Dwight D. Eisenhower was asked what he thought was the key to leadership and he demostrated it by using a piece of string. "If you push people like you do this string, they go many different directions. but if you pull the sting, everyone follows"



Of course that is an over simplification of leadership, but I always thought that was the best discription and demonstration of true leadership I have ever heard from a true master of leadership.



...Rich









 
Thanks for the great thread guys.



I really like that Eisenhower quote. I've read much about the man but have never come across that quote.
 
Hugh,

I never read the quote, butit was attributed to him in a Leadership Class I took while in the Army....and I agree that it is a very good visual demonstration of Leadership.



I always thought Eisenhower was a far better military commander than a President....kind of shows what politics can do to cripple a true leader.:grin:



I even went to the Eisenhower Library/Museum in Abilene, KS while stationed at Ft. Riley, KS. They also have his boyhood home there too. The house is not in the original location and most of the furnishings are only period pieces from that time....but still all very interesting. The Eisenhower Librar/Museum is right next to "Old Town Abilene" which is reconstructed, typical, old western town with gun fights, dance hall, and you can even ride a full size 4-horse drawn replica stage coach of that era....Definitely not my first choice of travel:bwahaha: But they did not have the Sport Trac back then...:grin:



....Rich
 
and you can even ride a full size 4-horse drawn replica stage coach of that era....Definitely not my first choice of travel But they did not have the Sport Trac back then...



Dang, didn't know you were that old, Rich! :cheeky:
 
TrainTrac,

I'm not that old...I feel like I am still a young kid.



The only reason I know this, is because I rode on the stage coach in 1983 (not 1883), and there were no Sport Trac's around then. I bought my 2001 Job-1 Sport Trac when they first came out in 2000. and there were no Stage Coaches or Stage Coach dealers around then.:grin:



I also visited Gen Custer's house, but I did not go to Little Big Horn with him...perhaps if I did, things would have been different :fire::fire::fire: :bwahaha:



...Rich
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Latest posts

Top