Austing, Michael, SSG

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE ARMY.
Believe it or not, SSG Barry Sadler and his "Ballad of the Green Beret", along with numerous WW II movies. And the fact my father, G.L. "Bud" Austing was a WW II Navy vet who continued his service in the Reserves for some time after getting out.

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BASIC TRAINING AND WHAT UNITS, BASES OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Originally, I enlisted under the Delayed Entry Program while still a senior at Wayne High School, Huber Heights, OH. My intention was to "go Armored" until my grandfather talked me out of it (How many tanks do you see out there on the Interstate, Mike?). ASA Field Recruiter got a hold of my entrance exam scores and called on us at home (We really want Mike in ASA, Mr & Mrs. Austing!). Yeah, right! 4-year enlistment instead of the usual 3!

BCT with A-8-2, Fort Jackson, SC June/August 1967; then on to HQ, ASA at Arlington Hall Station, VA for a year.

After 10 months, I took a short re-enlistment, received a "blood stripe" promotion to SP4 and a $1,000 bonus along with a requested assignment to Basic German Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CA.

From there, 98C training at Ft Devens, MA - dropped out of that and was sent to Field Station Asmara, Kagnew Station, Asmara, Eritrea. Volunteered for Vietnam from there and was assigned to 592d Transportation Company, Cam Ranh Bay, RVN until April 1971.

PCS'd to HHC, USAG, Fort Bragg, NC where I worked at TMP until ETS in August 1972.

I was out of the Army until November 1972 when newly married to my new wife, I re-enlisted and was assigned to Okinawa. After a short time with Transportation Bn there, I became an OJT MP with 895th MP Co, 20th MP Co and 62d MP Co where I was an accident investigator - received a lateral promotion from SP5 to SGT and was awarded PMOS 95B3LGMQ9 (a German linguist in Okinawa?!?).

With the drawdown, I received a six-month early reassignment to 624th MP Co, Fort Devens where I worked as NCOIC, AWOL/App, Cranston, RI for a year then applied for a transfer to Europe. Because of my German language, I was assigned to 42d MP Group (Customs) with further duty at Field Office Schinnen (The Netherlands), Border Operations Detachment.

March of 1979, I was transferred to 226th MP Co, Ft Ben Harrison, IN-worked as D/SGT, NCOIC MPI, and NCOIC, AWOL/App until final ETS in September 1981.

Proud to say I'm now President, 42d MP Group (Customs) Reunion Association and planning our 4th MP Customs Reunion to be held by special invitation of Command Group, 42d MP Brigade (or successor unit) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
No combat operations; assignment in Cam Ranh Bay was at a Port & Beach clearance unit delivering supplies from the port to various storage areas around Cam Ranh.

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
2 bring back very good memories-patrol duty in Okinawa and Customs duty on the Dutch/German & Belgian/German border.

Okinawa was a great place to become an OJT MP. I'll never forget what I learned there and thank my "training NCO" for making it possible!

Customs duty was exciting and varied. Our detachment's main responsibility was interdicting the flow of narcotics from The Netherlands into Germany-learned quite a lot at that job too!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Being awarded Primary MOS of 95B3LGMQ9. Also, a "non-military" memory is the way I met my current wife. She responded to an article in the Washington, PA newspaper (Christmas Mail to GIs Overseas) and wrote to me. How we ever ended up together is still a miracle to me!

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Again, I will NEVER forget finally earning my 95B PMOS!

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
SSG Jim Levangie was the NCO that took me under his wing, leading my training into the 95B "brotherhood". I will never forget him and what he did for me; still correspond with him from time to time. Under his tutelage, our entire squad looked out for each other, took care of each other and our families. THANKS, JIM! Love you like a brother!

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Funny you should ask that question! My former partner in MP Customs STILL tells the story about my leaving him at the Aachen, Germany casino! He had to walk all the way to the Dutch/German border and catch a ride the rest of the way home with a Royal Dutch Military Policeman. He will NEVER let me live that one down, but we still chuckle about it. Each time he sees me, it's "Hey, Mike, let me have your car keys!"

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
I became an East Baton Rouge Parish, LA sheriff's deputy for a short time, then an Insurance Adjustor for 25 years. Retired from it all and am playing "Mr. Mom".

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Life Member, Vietnam Veterans of America; Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars; President, 42d MP Group (Customs) Reunion Association.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Definitely! I've learned not to sweat the small stuff; to treat people courteously and with dignity and to honor a strict code of ethics.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE ARMY?
Give it your all and watch out for your Unit members!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
It's enabled me to find quite a few with whom I'd lost contact.

KC 10.23.19