This is a continuation of my posts in the What Are You Reading These Days? (Besides Comics) thread on March 18, 2025. This information was correct 55 years ago when we still had an active draft. Regarding my two-year active duty commitment and my six-year active and reserve commitment, the Army had some variables.
When separated from active duty (not discharged), I expected to have four years of “Ready Reserve” ahead of me. This meant that there was a possibility of being called back to active duty if there was an emergency. Those of us who had served in a war zone were exempt from the monthly Reserve “show up” obligation, but not the possibility of being recalled to active duty.
"DEROS" stands for Date Eligible to Return from Overseas to CONUS (Continental United States- the first 48 states). In 1969, Alaska and Hawaii were still considered overseas assignments (really!). Your overseas assignment was computed from the day you left CONUS either by plane or ship. When returning from overseas (including but not just from a war zone), Army people with less than five months until the end of their active duty obligation would be separated upon return. I don’t know if this was true of the other branches. If I had stayed in Vietnam for a full twelve months* I expected to get out five weeks early.
Soldiers were allowed to extend their tours in order to have a new DEROS that allowed them to separate earlier. As a company clerk, I would occasionally assist someone who wanted to know an exact new date that would allow this to happen. Only one of the ones who asked changed his mind. They would sign an agreement and I would send their new DEROS up the chain of command.
In late 1969 we were informed that our battalion would be sent back to the states as an early part of the “Vietnamization” program. Presumably, a South Vietnamese artillery battalion or another Army battalion in our group would take over our section of the Marine base. (We were under Marine command and were supplied by the Navy like them.)
Soldiers with less than six months until DEROS would return to the states. Those having more than five months until the end of active duty would join a stateside unit. If they had more than six months until DEROS they would be reassigned to another battalion in our artillery group. This also applied to soldiers in other battalions of our group who were transferred into our battalion. When the dust settled, everyone going back to the states flew together on an Air Force passenger jet.
My last job in the Army was catching up with several days of missing Morning Reports showing all the comings and goings for our two (howitzer-less) companies while waiting to fly home to Los Angeles. I wound up leaving active service 4 1/2 months early. My six-year commitment became five years in 1973* when the Army mailed me my Honorable Discharge.
*Marines had thirteen-month tours, probably because theirs is a smaller service (compared with what they were assigned to do) than the Army. Not every member of the Army went to Vietnam. I’d be surprised if any Marine (except Gomer Pyle) didn’t go to Vietnam at least once. Service members of the Army and Marine Corps who had reenlisted would most likely be sent back again.
**1973 was when all remaining U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, which is probably why they accelerated discharges. After that there were just advisors like pre-1965 and embassy guards.
A promo piece for Steve Rude's newest "how-to-draw" book. I can only recognize a couple of these characters. I suspect that Jeff could name more of them.
Not only could I name most of those characters (if I tried), but I have this poster. (It was originally released in the mid-80s.) You can tell how out of date it is because the kid characters (Mezz, Tony, and Mary as well as Nexus and Ursula's twins, Scarlett and Sheena, are much older in current continuity. Also, it depicts all three of the Loomis sisters when two of them are dead. Kreed and Stan (the "Next Nexus") are also dead. Here are a few things of note: 1) the pair on the far left (under Sinclair's upper right arm) are Steve Rude and Mike Baron; one of the "Heads" (under Kreed's upper left arm) is Alfred Hitchcock. Oh, also notice the look on Kreed's face, then look at Ursula. Quatros have four arms, and he is pinching her on the ass with his lower left arm. I could go on, but I suspect I've proven Bob's point.
Replies
Impressive. Thank you for posting that.
Did anyone else try to find Waldo?
This is a continuation of my posts in the What Are You Reading These Days? (Besides Comics) thread on March 18, 2025. This information was correct 55 years ago when we still had an active draft. Regarding my two-year active duty commitment and my six-year active and reserve commitment, the Army had some variables.
When separated from active duty (not discharged), I expected to have four years of “Ready Reserve” ahead of me. This meant that there was a possibility of being called back to active duty if there was an emergency. Those of us who had served in a war zone were exempt from the monthly Reserve “show up” obligation, but not the possibility of being recalled to active duty.
"DEROS" stands for Date Eligible to Return from Overseas to CONUS (Continental United States- the first 48 states). In 1969, Alaska and Hawaii were still considered overseas assignments (really!). Your overseas assignment was computed from the day you left CONUS either by plane or ship. When returning from overseas (including but not just from a war zone), Army people with less than five months until the end of their active duty obligation would be separated upon return. I don’t know if this was true of the other branches. If I had stayed in Vietnam for a full twelve months* I expected to get out five weeks early.
Soldiers were allowed to extend their tours in order to have a new DEROS that allowed them to separate earlier. As a company clerk, I would occasionally assist someone who wanted to know an exact new date that would allow this to happen. Only one of the ones who asked changed his mind. They would sign an agreement and I would send their new DEROS up the chain of command.
In late 1969 we were informed that our battalion would be sent back to the states as an early part of the “Vietnamization” program. Presumably, a South Vietnamese artillery battalion or another Army battalion in our group would take over our section of the Marine base. (We were under Marine command and were supplied by the Navy like them.)
Soldiers with less than six months until DEROS would return to the states. Those having more than five months until the end of active duty would join a stateside unit. If they had more than six months until DEROS they would be reassigned to another battalion in our artillery group. This also applied to soldiers in other battalions of our group who were transferred into our battalion. When the dust settled, everyone going back to the states flew together on an Air Force passenger jet.
My last job in the Army was catching up with several days of missing Morning Reports showing all the comings and goings for our two (howitzer-less) companies while waiting to fly home to Los Angeles. I wound up leaving active service 4 1/2 months early. My six-year commitment became five years in 1973* when the Army mailed me my Honorable Discharge.
*Marines had thirteen-month tours, probably because theirs is a smaller service (compared with what they were assigned to do) than the Army. Not every member of the Army went to Vietnam. I’d be surprised if any Marine (except Gomer Pyle) didn’t go to Vietnam at least once. Service members of the Army and Marine Corps who had reenlisted would most likely be sent back again.
**1973 was when all remaining U.S. combat troops left Vietnam, which is probably why they accelerated discharges. After that there were just advisors like pre-1965 and embassy guards.
(I think I'm done)
A promo piece for Steve Rude's newest "how-to-draw" book. I can only recognize a couple of these characters. I suspect that Jeff could name more of them.
Not only could I name most of those characters (if I tried), but I have this poster. (It was originally released in the mid-80s.) You can tell how out of date it is because the kid characters (Mezz, Tony, and Mary as well as Nexus and Ursula's twins, Scarlett and Sheena, are much older in current continuity. Also, it depicts all three of the Loomis sisters when two of them are dead. Kreed and Stan (the "Next Nexus") are also dead. Here are a few things of note: 1) the pair on the far left (under Sinclair's upper right arm) are Steve Rude and Mike Baron; one of the "Heads" (under Kreed's upper left arm) is Alfred Hitchcock. Oh, also notice the look on Kreed's face, then look at Ursula. Quatros have four arms, and he is pinching her on the ass with his lower left arm. I could go on, but I suspect I've proven Bob's point.
Somebody explained Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon to me the other day.
Now I'm seeing references to it everywhere.
Ho ho.
Somehow, they've managed to make Godzilla look like the heroine of a Victorian melodrama who's expiring of TB.
Reposting in case it didn't go through the first time:
@Dave Palmer: The Adventure letter column masthead image was finally updated with Light Lass's feather insignia in Adventure #356.
Fun fact: that Legion Outpost letter col masthead image is from the Swan/Klein cover of Adventure #316,with the addition of Superboy front and center.
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