Nate Montgomery

I served in the U.S. Navy between May 2006 – May 2012. I was an Electronics Technician (Nuclear), Nuclear Reactor Operator, and Shoring Team Leader onboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) in Bremerton, WA.
My duties included starting up, shutting down, controlling, operating, and perform maintenance on the nuclear reactors onboard the nuclear aircraft carrier.

Favorite Memories:

I stood in this dress white uniform on the flight deck as we pulled into Pearl Harbor; I am somewhere on the right side of the ship in the picture. As we were ending our deployment in the Persian Gulf, I stood in the hangar bay (below the flight deck) and watched the USS Lincoln sailed alongside us. This is the tradition as one ship takes over the duties for another ship. I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s a mirror image of us. That’s what we look like out to sea”. Also, my first underway was to San Diego, CA. After I got off the ship for the first time, I called a friend to chat about it; after 3 minutes, I remember saying, “wow!”, because I still did not walk halfway to the end of the ship.

Jimmy Camden

I served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force between 1972 – 1985. I flew C-141 Starlifters and T-37 Tweets out of Norton AFB, CA and Vance AFB, OK.

Favorite Memories:

When I soloed as a student pilot I was met by the rest of my classmates, and they proceeded to throw me in the lake next to the squadron building as was the tradition. I spent Christmas of 1983 fulfilling a mission of getting service members from every branch of the service from across the globe home for Christmas. It meant we missed being home for the holidays, but it was very rewarding seeing all the service members so happy and getting so many thanks for getting them home. I loved seeing the students I taught to fly their first jet aircraft moving on to being pilots in the USAF. Graduation was always such a rewarding time.

Gary Harmon

I joined the U.S. Marine Corps in August 1989 and did my training at Parris Island, SC. I was honorably discharged as a Sergeant in 1997. I was a Lance Corporal (M60 Gunner) during the Gulf War in Kuwait between 1990 and 1991 where I stood lots of guard duty and drove heavy machinery for combat support. My main MOS was 0311 Infantry, but I transitioned to 3043 Supply after the war. I was originally stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC, but was later stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA and 29 Palms, CA, as well as the Gulf War in Kuwait.

Favorite Memory:

I drove an all-terrain combat unloader to the breach for the start of the ground forces war because it couldn’t be towed. My story was put in Soldier of Fortune magazine. I also won a bet by driving a tank without any training. I did tear a few things up though.