Putting on the uniform for the last time...

kelmac07 · 06-17-2009, 05:40 AM

Well today is the day...I officially put my Army Combat Uniform on for the final time. This morning I will sign out and officially begin my retirement ater 23 years and two months of service to this great nation. Who would have imagined that this young kid from Tyrone, Pennsylvania would have stayed in the Army this long??? Not me, my mother, my friends...LOL!!! I can honestly say that this was a VERY SMART decision for me. I have met a ton of great people, traveled to many beautiful (and not so beautiful) countries, had the opportunity to protect this great nation, and made life lasting friendships in the process. I had some great and not so great jobs...my favorite being the 32 months I spent as being a First Sergeant and being able to personally take care of over 500 Soldiers (yeah, it was the largest company in the brigade). I have met thousands upon thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and Marines throughout the years...all giving their best to support this great nation we live in. While I am saddened to "hang the boots up", I am excited to turn the page and adventure out into the "new" (civilian) world. This old Soldier (not as old as Tobii) is extremely grateful for the time served and would not trade it for all the money in the world (well maybe for all the money i the world). For those continuing to serve, be it in harms way or not, remember why you serve and always keep your head up and those shoulders back. You truly are appreciated and envied for serving in the most rewarding job a man or woman could ever have.

1SG Mac out

06-17-2009, 05:45 AM

Incredible post man. Thanks for all of your years of service. Congratuations Mike!

Enjoy a really special smoke tonight!!

elderboy02 · 06-17-2009, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blooz4u

Incredible post man. Thanks for all of your years of service. Congratuations Mike!

Enjoy a really special smoke tonight!!

I couldn't have said it any better. Thank you Mike

newcigarz · 06-17-2009, 05:52 AM

DPD6030 · 06-17-2009, 05:57 AM

Congrats Mike. Enjoy retirement and thanks for your dedicated service to our beloved country.

taltos · 06-17-2009, 06:03 AM

Congratulations Mike and thank you.

06-17-2009, 06:05 AM

Congratulations Mike.

Thank you for so many years of service.

Enjoy your retirement.

(P.S. Nobody is as old as Tobii.

)

68TriShield · 06-17-2009, 06:06 AM

You have my gratitude Michael

Tyrone PA,my Brother has in-laws in and near there.Talk about small town America

Volt · 06-17-2009, 06:58 AM

Mike, thanks for your service and pass on to Kelly thanks to her as well for hers. I loved my 20 years in the Navy, glad I did it, would do it again, and glad I'm done. Enjoy the start of the next phase or your life.

WildBlueSooner · 06-17-2009, 07:06 AM

I just started putting on the uniform because of great people like you. Thank you for all you have done in proudly serving the USA!

pnoon · 06-17-2009, 07:21 AM

I salute you, Sir.

Thanks just doesn't say enough.

rennD · 06-17-2009, 07:23 AM

Thanks for the great service buddy!

06-17-2009, 07:26 AM

Thanks Mike, and congrats on the beginning of the next part. Tonite we will all smoke a good one in your honor.

14holestogie · 06-17-2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnoon

I salute you, Sir.

Thanks just doesn't say enough.

Col. Kurtz · 06-17-2009, 07:51 AM

Thanks for your service! Happy Retirement, you've earned it.

akakirby · 06-17-2009, 08:06 AM

Thank you for your service mike! You have earned that retirement!

SmokeyJoe · 06-17-2009, 09:19 AM

God bless you, Michael. As Peter said... "thanks for your service" just doesn't cover it, but just know it was deeply appreciated by many.

Enjoy your well-earned retirement. Hope I have the privilege of lighting one up with you some day.

icehog3 · 06-17-2009, 09:27 AM

Thank you for 23+ years of service to this great country, Mike.

Enjoy your retirement, Sir.

loki · 06-17-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahc4353

Congratulations Mike.

Thank you for so many years of service.

Enjoy your retirement.

(P.S. Nobody is as old as Tobii.

)

I agree with al on everything he said here....

(though al maybe older then tobii...we're waiting on the carbon dating to come back)

TheTraveler · 06-17-2009, 09:39 AM

Thank you.

You spent your time on the wall protecting this country and your fellow citizens. I wish you all the best.

06-17-2009, 05:40 AM	#1
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Putting on the uniform for the last time... Well today is the day...I officially put my Army Combat Uniform on for the final time. This morning I will sign out and officially begin my retirement ater 23 years and two months of service to this great nation. Who would have imagined that this young kid from Tyrone, Pennsylvania would have stayed in the Army this long??? Not me, my mother, my friends...LOL!!! I can honestly say that this was a VERY SMART decision for me. I have met a ton of great people, traveled to many beautiful (and not so beautiful) countries, had the opportunity to protect this great nation, and made life lasting friendships in the process. I had some great and not so great jobs...my favorite being the 32 months I spent as being a First Sergeant and being able to personally take care of over 500 Soldiers (yeah, it was the largest company in the brigade). I have met thousands upon thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airman, and Marines throughout the years...all giving their best to support this great nation we live in. While I am saddened to "hang the boots up", I am excited to turn the page and adventure out into the "new" (civilian) world. This old Soldier (not as old as Tobii) is extremely grateful for the time served and would not trade it for all the money in the world (well maybe for all the money i the world). For those continuing to serve, be it in harms way or not, remember why you serve and always keep your head up and those shoulders back. You truly are appreciated and envied for serving in the most rewarding job a man or woman could ever have. 1SG Mac out

06-17-2009, 05:45 AM	#2
blooz4u Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Incredible post man. Thanks for all of your years of service. Congratuations Mike! Enjoy a really special smoke tonight!!

06-17-2009, 05:52 AM	#4
newcigarz Smoke and Mirrors Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: On the bottom shelf Posts: 3,139 Trading: (15)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time...

06-17-2009, 05:57 AM	#5
DPD6030 Shepard of the sheeple Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Andrew Location: The Mitten Posts: 7,166 Trading: (151)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Congrats Mike. Enjoy retirement and thanks for your dedicated service to our beloved country.

06-17-2009, 06:03 AM	#6
taltos Really, really old Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Paul Location: Saugus, MA Posts: 2,486 Trading: (3)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Congratulations Mike and thank you. __________________ Jimmy, some of its magic, some of its tragic, but I had a good life all the way. He Went to Paris, J. Buffett

06-17-2009, 06:05 AM	#7
ahc4353 Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Congratulations Mike. Thank you for so many years of service. Enjoy your retirement. (P.S. Nobody is as old as Tobii. )

06-17-2009, 06:06 AM	#8
68TriShield Got Torque? Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Dave Location: Maryland Posts: 7,194 Trading: (40)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... You have my gratitude Michael Tyrone PA,my Brother has in-laws in and near there.Talk about small town America

06-17-2009, 06:58 AM	#9
Volt I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 2,799 Trading: (19)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Mike, thanks for your service and pass on to Kelly thanks to her as well for hers. I loved my 20 years in the Navy, glad I did it, would do it again, and glad I'm done. Enjoy the start of the next phase or your life. __________________ Curing the infection... One bullet at a time.

06-17-2009, 07:06 AM	#10
WildBlueSooner I'm nuts for the place Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: James Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 3,322 Trading: (19)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... I just started putting on the uniform because of great people like you. Thank you for all you have done in proudly serving the USA! __________________ "To dilute the will to win is to destroy the purpose of the game. There is no substitute for victory"-- Douglas MacArthur

06-17-2009, 07:21 AM	#11
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... I salute you, Sir. Thanks just doesn't say enough. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

06-17-2009, 07:23 AM	#12
rennD NinfaManiac Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Carl Location: In a Cloud of Siglo Smoke Posts: 1,452 Trading: (19)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thanks for the great service buddy! __________________ *Any cigars portrayed in this post that appear to be Cuban in origin are completely fictional in nature. Any resemblance between these cigars and actual Cuban cigars is unintended and coincidental.*

06-17-2009, 07:26 AM	#13
DougBushBC Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thanks Mike, and congrats on the beginning of the next part. Tonite we will all smoke a good one in your honor.

06-17-2009, 07:51 AM	#15
Col. Kurtz Have My Own Room Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Jerry Location: South Appleton Posts: 1,839 Trading: (26)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thanks for your service! Happy Retirement, you've earned it. __________________ Artillery Lends Dignity to What Would Otherwise Be a Vulgar Brawl

06-17-2009, 08:06 AM	#16
akakirby Feeling at Home Join Date: May 2009 First Name: Daniel Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 565 Trading: (20)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thank you for your service mike! You have earned that retirement!

06-17-2009, 09:19 AM	#17
SmokeyJoe Chief Wannastogie Lounge Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Joe Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 3,160 Trading: (28)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... God bless you, Michael. As Peter said... "thanks for your service" just doesn't cover it, but just know it was deeply appreciated by many. Enjoy your well-earned retirement. Hope I have the privilege of lighting one up with you some day. __________________ "I intend to smoke a good cigar to the glory of God..." ~ Charles H. Spurgeon, British Baptist preacher

06-17-2009, 09:27 AM	#18
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,261 Trading: (60)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thank you for 23+ years of service to this great country, Mike. Enjoy your retirement, Sir. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

06-17-2009, 09:39 AM	#20
TheTraveler giggity giggitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jonathan Location: Near a Walmart Posts: 1,813 Trading: (12)	Re: Putting on the uniform for the last time... Thank you. You spent your time on the wall protecting this country and your fellow citizens. I wish you all the best.