USO Canteen FReeper Style....FReeper FRiday..May 24,2002

FRiends of the USO Canteen FReeper Style and Snow Bunny

[Snow Bunny]

I would like you to meet FReeper Veteran HiJinx.

Thank you HiJinx for serving our country !

Somehow I always knew I was destined to be a part of the U.S. Armed Forces and travel around the world. That may be because my Air Force Father brought me in to this world as an Englishman, then taught me to walk and talk as an Italian! My poor grandparents couldn't understand a word I was saying when I first met them in Dayton, Ohio.

My Dad was career Air Force, my Step-Dad was Navy, so my brother and I joined the Army. Natural choice, right? This is the obligatory graduation photo, complete with the old bus driver's cap.

For some reason, they didn't trust us with live ammo on the live fire rush and cover course, so we used blanks. I'm not really pointing my M-16 at the photographer, it just looks that way. Maybe there's a good reason for them not to trust us!

The training was completed, graduation was a day away, and we were restricted to our barracks. Note the WWII era corrugated sheet metal construction. Our Basic Training Company, C-2-3, was the only one in the 3rd Battalion 'living' in Quonset huts in 1976. At the end of BCT I had lost 35 pounds and Mrs. HJ had not seen me for 3 months. On the back of this picture I penned "Here's a lousy picture by a lousy photographer, but it gives you an idea what we do on the weekends - sit around and wait!!"

My entire career was spent as a Military Intelligence NCO, and I'm rather proud to have been one of President Reagan's Cold War Warriors. My first duty station was at the USASA Field Station Berlin. Everything above the third floor of the main ops building (the one in the back) was antennas. Ostensibly, we were there providing worldwide communications support to American forces. The site has now been turned over to a German concern and is in use as a resort with a ski-lift, grass ski-slope, and toboggan run down the backside. There's also a 'clothing optional' beach at the base of the mountain. No, I never went there...wink-wink!

I re-enlisted 4 times during my career, this was the first. The Company Commander in this ceremony, a Captain, just finished his tour last year as the Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Intelligence Center at Ft. Huachuca.

Much of the photographic record of my time in uniform has me out of uniform! Our blonde Cocker Spaniel Sebastian is receiving a new pillow for his bed for Christmas. The poor boy begged for everything. Check out those paws...to dust those hardwood floors, we'd toss a ball for him to chase...he made a great dust mop, and got lots of exercise to boot!

My first CONUS (stateside) assignment was to the Big Red One (1st Infantry Division) at Ft. Riley, KS. Here Dad is doting on Jonathan, who is a natural ham. He'd follow a camera anywhere!

Another of the sights that all MI soldiers should be familiar with is the AN/FLR-9 (Flare 9) HF/DF Antenna System. This is the Augsburg site, where I spent 3 and a half pretty good years. On an earlier thread we paid tribute to NSA soldiers and civilians who had lost their lives in the line of duty, and the memorial says they 'Served in Silence.' That is still true to some extent. These sites are only shown now because they are no longer in use. ~Photo courtesy Carl Schweibinz

My final tour of duty was as a Combat Developments NCO here at Ft. Huachuca. I'm here to tell you, this was rough duty! TDY every month, living out of a suitcase, and putting on Dog and Pony shows to convince the Army to develop our new systems. The Association of the US Army (AUSA) shows weren't too bad, until the Chief of Staff, Army (GEN Sullivan) showed up for his briefing with 35 staff officers in tow!

This is what consumed my final years of service. The Army Family of Common Sensors was to be the last set of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare systems the Army would ever need, with reconfigurable electronics and antenna systems to handle the mission of the 10 different systems currently in the field. Pictured from left to right are the Ground Based Common Sensor-Light on a Heavy Hummer, the GBCS-Heavy on an Electronic Fighting Vehicle, and the USMCs Mobile Electronic Warfare Support System on an LAV-25. The upgraded Black Hawk is the Advanced Quickfix system with COMINT/ELINT sensor package and extended range fuel tanks.

For those who would like to see a larger, more detailed picture of Field Station Berlin on top of the Teufelsberg, click here. This is quite large, please be patient. Ditto for a larger picture of the AFCS Intelligence Collection Systems, click here.

[MistyCA]

I am so happy to see your profile and I want to tell you thanks for your service. Your family has distinguished themselves and earned my respect! I am proud to know you and am soooooo glad you are on our side :)))))

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good morning, everyone! Happy TGIF, all.

God Bless The U.S.A.
by Lee Greenwood

If tomorrow all the things were gone,
I'd worked for all my life.
And I had to start again,
with just my children and my wife.

I'd thank my lucky stars,
to be living here today.
'Cause the flag still stands for freedom,
and they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.

From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.

That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I wont forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.

And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.

[MistyCA]

I fully agree with you. It is very difficult to look at those pictures and realize all of those fine men only lives in our hearts now. :( What a sacrifice.

[MistyCA]

I left some new clothes for you last night, and here are a couple more :)

[Aquamarine]

A big wave snuck up on us, when we weren't expecting it.

Sorry to hear that about the camera and the phone. The same thing happened to me. I left my quilt on the beach when I went in because I didn't want to shake it out while the sunbather's were still out there all buttered up. When I went back out that afternoon to get the quilt it was wet but the gulf hadn't carried it away yet.
Didn't know that Sarasota was a good place for sea shells but have heard that it's has a great beach. The water is shallow and clear and you can walk way out into the ocean and still be wading.

[redhead]

"Besides stale cookies, what else do they like to get?"

When my son was stationed in Sinop, Turkey, I sent him an "instant birthday party kit." I put in one of those "mix and bake in the same pan" cake mixes, a container of CHOCOLATE frosting, a couple of cans of nuts, party hats, noisemakers, and some little party favors. For Christmas, I got a big plush stocking and stuffed it with all kinds of little games, rubber critters, puzzles, small toys, and a pair of Groucho glasses. His buddies just LOVED it when he got packages from his mom, because there was always something in there for everybody else.

Canned butter cookies from Sams will keep and travel well.
Jerky.
Even a stick of summer sausage will probably make it intact.
Microwavable popcorn. (there might be a microwave oven somewhere...)
Hard candies.
Decks of cards.
Cigarettes, if they smoke or have smoking buddies.
Joke books.
Writing paper and ballpoint pens. (pencils need sharpening, so if you send pencils, send a couple of little sharpeners, too)
Paperback westerns, other shoot-em-up books.
Prayerbooks.
Comic books: Spiderman, Batman, etc.
Wooly socks for sleeping in the mountains would probably be welcome, too.
Bandaids.

There are all kinds of things that they would appreciate. Think like you were planning a big backpacking trip for a long time, and that will give you an idea of what will make the trip and be useful.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks for your service to our Country.

[Pippin]

Good Morning/Afternoon! WOW! What a thread! I am proud to have met those brave men and women who hav served our country well and mourn for the ones who have paid the ultimate sacrifice! That poem COB1 got me in tears!

alright, Misty, I'm going to use the new outfits tonight. Thanks! BTW Last nithgs post Comment #607 was HOT!!! I only hope those WERE figleave or else those BAD BOYZ will really be hurting LOL.

Victoria, Who will be our next target for tonight?

[MistyCA]

Good morning Minneapolis! I always miss it there, even after all these years! :)

[Pippin]

Beautiful! I love that song!

[ST.LOUIE1]

Beautiful, Cob. Gave me shivers.

Good morning. : )

[redhead]

"..And to all others who serve and have served our nation: Thnak you for defending our precious liberties. Thank you for your dedication, your bravery, and your honor."

Thank you. You put this beautifully. (still wiping tears from Sam's posts)I hate to look at the pictures of the fallen, but I love to because I need to put a face on the fact. God be with their families, and may he welcome them to Paradise. They got there the HARD WAY.

GOD BLESS ALL VETERANS, AND THANK YOU!

[ST.LOUIE1]

I will be doing my special Memorial Day thread
on the real Memorial Day next week.

Great! Your threads are always special. : )

Morning, Billie.

[MistyCA]

Morning, Cob! Thanks for that post! Click here

[Aquamarine]

Oh COB that was precious. It made me cry. May God bless all the children who have lost their father's this year through tragedy.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Good afternoon, Clara. Thanks for your post #168. Well said.

I haven't read Cob's post yet. I'll be doing that now.

Who will be next? I have no idea. Let's ask Misty, LOL.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks, I love that song, too.

[Pippin]

OKAY, Misty, Victoria says we should ask you who our next "victim" for tonight will be.LOL Neither she nor I have a clue! Can you help us?

[Pippin]

Thank you, Misty! I did see the ones form last night. Thanks for those too!

[Jen]

That Others May Live - The honor and the duty.

Don't miss this thread.