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.

[COB1]

John 13:15 : "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

[ST.LOUIE1]

I pray for the day when all of our Daddies overseas
and those deployed on regular ops get to hear those words again - "Daddy's Home!"

Amen.

Happy to know you're among the fortunate who did.

Afternoon, Diver.

[HiJinx]

Amen, and thanks, Dave.
Mine were boys, but the effect is the same. Deep inside, Mom was hurt, but she knew the score!

[MistyCA]

I love them as well, Johnny. They stir the soul. :)

[HiJinx]

Ok, enough tears for a little while. How about a little Jeff Foxworthy-style humor break?
Those of you who were, or know of, intel types in the service should be able to appreciate these.
(The entire list, with contributors, is available at the FS Augsburg & 701st MI Brigade Home Page.

You Might Be ASA or MI If...

1. Your medical folder is thicker than War and Peace.
2. Rank is more important than information!
3. Donuts are more important than the brief.
4. Exercises are placed on Admin Halt when the coffee runs out.
5. When you get an order the first thing you say is, "Why?".
6. You own a Star Trek uniform.
7. Your GT score is higher than your PT score.
8. You have the IG's phone number on speed dial.
9. You have taken leave to attend a Star Trek conference.
10. You want to find out more about D&C.
11. You think D&C is some rap music artist.
12. You have the ASCII codes for foreign alphabet characters memorized.
13. Your car was purchased either on the Monterey Peninsula; Ayer, Mass.; San Angelo, Texas; Punsacola, Fla.; or Sierra Vista, AZ.
14. "Air Assault" is when the air conditioner in the SCIF breaks down.
15. "The field" is a place where a farmer works.

More to come later!
HJ

[MistyCA]

I know the feeling well :)

[Jen]

Hey Everybody!

I am convinced that the squirrels that inhabit my backyard are Generation X and/or Liberals! The varmits want something without working for it and slack off when things don't go as they planned!

Hubby hung up the Yankee Flipper squirrel-proof bird feeder (aka Jen's "Rodent Air Force Induction Center") several days ago and I've only seen one squirrel brave enough to try it more than once! The feeder is about 18" tall and the squirrel came down it head-first then landed on the ring part which twirls. He didn't stay on long. Then he came back and I saw him hanging on upside down on the ring going 'round and 'round till he was flung off. Hahahaha! I tried to get a pix, but my digital camera is a cheap POC and the pix was too dark.

I may 'lock' the ring part so it doesn't move and let the rodents eat from that feeder while lulling them into a false sense of security. Then I'll watch the fun as they learn about centrifugal force and gravity! (evil giggle...)

My day is going well. Just did my aquatic workout in the hot tub and had to come inside to cool off. Whew! I can't handle 102-degree water plus full sun for very long. But it sure felt good and I'm getting a tan! Just sitting in it and listening to the wind chimes and birds chirping is so relaxing physically and mentally. I LOVE my new hot tub/aquatic therapy spa.

I have scads of homework that is overdue! And housework. I've been freeping too much during the day and not doing what I need to be doing. ;-) So, I must get caught up or I'll be stuck inside all weekend instead of having fun with my family and friends.

Hope the Gurlz have a good time with the Bad Boyz tonight. I may pop in and see how the 'war' is going and give you Gals some air cover if y'all need it (which is doubtful...). hehehehe

[MistyCA]

thank you, Cob! That is very beautiful.

[redhead]

Oh! I forgot. Pack your boxes TIGHTLY. Put crushables like cookies in rigid containers, then pack soft stuff like clothing around everything else. Stuff magazines and books down the sides. There will almost always be room for a magazine or two after everything else is packed. If you have room left over, fill it with something practical. TAPE the bejabbers out of the box (get a strong, heavy box to begin with). We used to be able to use heavy string on the boxes, but I don't think they let you do that any more. Put tape over the addresses so they won't be blurred by any moisture.

[MistyCA]

OK....another piece of Americana for a piece of Americana! :)

America!

[redhead]

"That's so neat your son was in Turkey. We were in Ankara. I love that country. Did he like it there? People either hated it or loved it, no in-between."

I think he liked the idea of being in the cradle of such ancient history (he's a brain...). Most of the pictures he sent were of him at ANCIENT sites. He did a good job. At that time, USSR was still the bad guy. Sinop is on a little knob that sticks out into the Black Sea, and he did his spying from there. He got a medal and a commendation for something special he did there, but he never talks about it. He had a very high security clearance, and has never violated it, as far as I know. He's a geeky nerd, a mountain-biking fool, utterly fearless, and still my special buddy. We go back a long way...

[lodwick]

Popcorn is also a decent insulator - and edible too. ;-)

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States.
Send your thanks to the men and women of the U.S. military
by signing this online thank-you note.

Click on any emblem above to e-mail a serviceman or women.

[headsonpikes]

USO Canteen Post Office bump.

'Be there, or be square', to coin a phrase. ;^)

[Aquamarine]

Good song! Nice work. ;-)

[HiJinx]

If I remember right, 'Coming to America' was the theme song for the animated movie with the Russian mouse, what's his name, Feivl?
And Neil Diamond was the singer who performed it. That song has always given me chills.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks. Have goooood day. Time for me go grab hold of the vacuum cleaner again and finish my chores.

Got a great thread in the makin' today. What better way to honor our military than to pay tribute to those who gave all.

[SpookBrat]

Long Cut, are you in Jacksonville? How is your wife?

Is there anything planned around your area for Memorial Day that I can take my kids to see? I was wondering if there is a place to take my kids to show them the ships, etc.

[SassyMom]

Hi everyone! I just thought I would stop in for a minute. We are waiting for company to show up. kneezles is busy putting in the new garage door opener. It's looking a little stormy here.

Jen, I think it is so funny that you are asking about eligible bachelors to contact you about your sis. That is exactly what my baby sister did to me. I guess she decided it was time for her 40 yr old sister to meet someone and settle down. She had been chatting with kneezles on a chat line and when I moved to Texas she asked him if he wanted to meet someone. So, he called me and we talked on the phone for several weeks. Then we met at a baseball game. (We both love baseball). When I walked up to the gate I knew exactly who he was. He was standing there with a rose. He really is romantic. And from there it is history. We met in July and were married in February. We've been married 3 1/2 years.

[SassyMom]

Thanks so much for the list of things for a care package. I am going to start working on one now. I love sending things to our men and women.