It's interesting to see what you guys posted here.
As for me I was a radio operator in the tactical air control party, forward air control team. Most of the time I had to carry heavy radio gear as well as my pack.
I took place in the Cuban missile blockade. Shortly Vietnam flared up; at first we could be shot at but not shoot back.
Returning to Okinawa from a 3 month float, was the day President Kennedy was assassinated, they announced it over the ships PA and we almost didn't get off the ship.
Another time we packed all our gear and loaded it aboard aircraft and off we went out over the ocean. I was must have been tired because I fell asleep and when I awoke it was dark and shortly we came in for a landing. None of us knew where we were when we got off the plane, but, as it turned out, we were back at the same place we started from.
Did I ever go to Vietnam? No, thankfully, but so close so many times.
During my last year of service I no longer carried a radio; instead I drove a radio jeep.
Enough of this from me. But I bet Rik, and many of you have a tale or two.