Elliott, Carl, SSG

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, WHAT INFLUENCED HIS/HER DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY?
As a 17-year-old high school senior with absolutely no desire to go to college and the draft in full swing, I decided that by enlisting, I would have a better chance of learning a useful trade. My original intention was to follow in my next older brother's footsteps and join the Air Force. Then I decided that I wanted to jump out of perfectly good airplanes, and my brother told me that the Air Force didn't have qualified jump people, which I later learned was not true. That, and the fact that the Army recruiter that came to my high school impressed me, much more so than the Air Force or Navy guys. I thought about the Marine Corps very briefly and decided that it wasn't for me.

TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH HE/SHE TOOK IN HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE. WHERE DID THEY GO FOR BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE THEY ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS HIS/HER REASON FOR LEAVING?
I enlisted to be a helicopter mechanic, found out that wasn't the place for me, so I re-enlisted to change MOS's. I decided to go to school to be a Medical Equipment Repairman.

This turned into a couple of years as an Army optician then a brief time as a civilian. Upon re-entering active duty, I became an Army MP and stayed an MP until my retirement

IF HE/SHE PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE YOU FEEL WERE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TO HIM/HER AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY.

536th MP Co., Grafenwohr, FRG

I did not participate in any combat operations although I did volunteer twice early in my career to go to Vietnam. I still have very mixed emotions as to not being able to go. I was in Korea during the infamous "tree cutting incident" but had no direct involvement other than pulling guard duty.

I also had limited involvement in Reforger 79 and Reforger 80 while in Graf the first time and Reforger 85 in Graf the second time. None of these were especially significant or life-changing in any way.

DID THEY ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING THEIR MILITARY SERVICE WHERE THEY BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY HE/SHE MIGHT NOT SURVIVE. TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
The one thing that comes close to this category was my ocean voyage from New York to Bremerhaven, FRG. While in the English Channel, the ship I was on, the USNS Upshur, was rammed by another ship. At the time, I was below deck in the bow of the ship doing clean-up duties of the compartment. I didn't know if we were sinking or what was going on.

As it turned out, the collision was not as bad as everyone thought, and although some damage was done to the Upshur, we managed to get into port at Bremerhaven and disembark.

OF ALL THEIR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY HE/SHE HAD FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS THEIR LEAST FAVORITE?
Looking back, I think the one duty station I have the fondest memories of would be the first assignment to Grafenwohr. We made some good friends, did a little bit of traveling, and I learned a lot about being an MP and other aspects of running an MP company.

My least favorite is a toss-up between Korea and Graf the second time. While I will always remember both assignments, neither have good memories and I try not to talk about them.

FROM THEIR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY PERSONAL MEMORIES, YOU MAY BE AWARE OF, WHICH IMPACTED HIM/HER THE MOST.
There are numerous memories, both good and bad. Some of the bad ones had a tremendous impact on my life and not in a good way. I prefer not to talk about them.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS DO YOU BELIEVE HE/SHE WAS MOST PROUD OF FROM HIS/HER MILITARY SERVICE?
I managed to serve for 20 plus years. I received no medals other than the "I was there" medals. I did receive 4 AAM's but only one of those really meant anything.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES HE/SHE RECEIVED, WHICH WERE THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO HIM/HER AND WHY?
Other than the 'I was there" medals that I received, I was awarded the AAM four times. My career, while important to me, was highly insignificant to everyone else, including my family. I don't believe that any member of my family has even taken the time to read these reflections.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE LIST ANY INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM HIS/HER TIME IN THE MILITARY WHO STOOD OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEM AND WHY?
No one individual stands out. Many people that I met while on active duty, both good and bad, had an impact.

IF KNOWN, PLEASE RECOUNT THE NAMES OF FRIENDS HE/SHE SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATION, AND WHAT WAS REMEMBERED MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE HE/SHE REMAINED IN TOUCH WITH.
I am in contact with Bill Ford (CW3 Retired). I am also in contact with Tony Conrad, a co-worker from my first unit in Germany. I seriously doubt that anyone even remembers me from any assignment.

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM HIS/HER SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MADE THEM LAUGH LATER ON?
There were many humorous incidents over the years, but the one that really stands out involved too much German beer for a young 18 years old and being asked (ordered) to remove me from the grounds of the 5th General Hospital and never to return. It really is a funny story much too long to post here.

There were other incidents over the span of 20 plus years that may not have been funny at the time, but as I look back, all I can do now is a laugh.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, WHAT PROFESSION(S) DID HE/SHE FOLLOW AFTER DISCHARGE?
I became a corrections officer in two different county jails, Orange County, Orlando, Florida, and Strafford County, Dover, NH.

I am now medically retired. Plus, I held a few part-time positions as a Security Officer.

IF KNOWN, WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS WAS HE OR SHE A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC BENEFITS THEY DERIVED FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to TWS.

IF HE/SHE SURVIVED MILITARY SERVICE, IN WHAT WAYS DO YOU BELIEVE HIS/HER SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY THEY APPROACHED THEIR PERSONAL LIFE, FAMILY LIFE AND CAREER?
By learning about and being involved with different cultures and races definitely had a positive impact on how I approached life. After leaving the military and becoming a corrections officer, everything I learned in the military helped me to have a successful second career.

IF THEY WERE HERE TODAY, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU THINK HE OR SHE WOULD GIVE TO THOSE WHO FOLLOWED IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS AND RECENTLY ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE?
Do the very best you can. There will be some good assignments and some not so good. Never turn down an opportunity to better yourself either by classes or by duty position. Education is the key to success.

HOW EFFECTIVE HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM BEEN IN HELPING YOU RECORD YOUR REMEMBERED PERSONS MILITARY SERVICE? DO YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE?
Since coming across this site by accident several years ago, I have located a few people that I was stationed with over the years. This is a great site, and I give a hand salute to the folks that maintain it.

DS 11/25/2019