I spent a little over six years as an 11B and 19E (mechanized infantry and armor crewman) in the Ala & KY ARNG in the late 80's/early 90's. My dad was a PTO vet, had an Army serial #, a USN mailing address, and wore USMC dungarees. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Division Hdqtrs as an intel NCO, and made the assault on Peleliu, about 100 m down the beach from Eugene Sledge (With the Old Breed). His brother, my uncle, was a platoon sgt. of a heavy weapons co. and fought through New Guinea, and was KIA on Mapia Island. My great-grandfather, gr-great uncle, gr-great grandfather, and numerous gr-great uncles fought for the Army of Northern Virginia, Army of Tennessee, and Army of Mississippi during the ACW. I had a number of ancestors fight as rebels during the American Revolution, and had a couple of ancestors in the F&I War, one being tasked with "ranging the Cherokee frontier". (And if your blood doesn't run cold with that last one, well . . . . .)
I am a direct descendant of a Templar Knight killed at the "Battle of the Horns"/Hattin.
FWIW,
Warren