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.

[Jen]

Well, the truth is... I like playing matchmaker. ;-) And my sister does need to find the right guy and settle down. What better group of prospects is there than FReepers or lurkers?!?

Fellas - she's 36, very attractive, a school teacher (but not an NEA type), divorced with a 7-y/o son, dog, cat and bird.

[ST.LOUIE1]

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

My housekeeper, Rosie, is here today. She's kinda cranky sometimes.

Are you available for hire? LOL

[SAMWolf]

she's 36, very attractive, a school teacher (but not an NEA type), divorced with a 7-y/o son, dog, cat and bird.

If anyone is interested but doesn't want the dog, can I have it?

[SassyMom]

ROFLMHO.......

[Pippin]

What a sweet, romantic story! And I sense you're still like newlyweds! Fantastic! God bless both you and Kneezles.

[summer]

bttt

[Pippin]

I don't know if there's going to be a single target tonight. No one was picked. We might just have to go after ALL OF them! LOL

[Jen]

To all FReepers and Lurkers -- Re: #207...

No disrespect intended to any Freepers or Lurkers who may be in the 'age range' of Generation X. That comment does not apply to you.

[Jen]

Hahahaha! If anybody wants her, he has to take the dog too. Sorry, it's a package deal.

[SassyMom]

Thank you Clara. I have to tell you that kneezles assures me that the honeymoon will NEVER be over. *giggle* I like that.

[Pippin]

SIGH!!!!!

[Jen]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! How sweet! Your hubby is so romantic.

[SAMWolf]

Rats!
I might just be able to convince my wife to get another dog,
but I don't think she'll go for letting me have another attractive teacher.

[Pippin]

Oh! Rats! My oldest nephew would have to be only 241/2 years old! But he's single and not seeing anyone that I know of. and IMUBO he's really good looking

imub=In MY Unbiased Opinion! LOL

[SassyMom]

Well, I have to say that I LOVE my new career. I love taking care of my husband and our home. I never felt comfortable in the dog eat dog career world. I always felt that my career would be my family and my home. I love fixing dinner, baking cookies, and yes even cleaning house. That has been my desire since I was a little girl. God has really blessed me.

[Jen]

After most of my life in the Air Force - a non-traditional environment for a woman - I am finding that I really enjoy my 'traditional' life now. That is a tremendous blessing, because as I've mentioned before, with fibromyalgia I must choose having a job/career or having a 'life'. I can't do both any more (and sure as heck don't want to either!). hahahaha

[SassyMom]

I understand that with the fibromyalgia. My mil has it, I know that she is in pain most of the time. I think it is so great about your hot tub. I hope that it really helps you. I know that my mil has used water therapy and it has helped her.

[Euro-American Scum]

May God's blessings be upon you, Bunny.

[lodwick]

For Jane Fonda, for Bill Clinton, and the rest of the anti-American radicals, the dream to which they voluntarily gave their allegiance is gone, and their efforts to undermine the character of American society were all in vain. They embraced a philosophy, Marxism, which was a blend of self-loathing, sadism, and medieval economic superstition. Their philosophy is so discredited that today they deny it. This is their punishment; that the cause — for which they betrayed their country and which gave meaning to their lives — is defeated.

James H. Warner was designated a Naval Flight officer and commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1966. He flew nearly 200 missions in Vietnam until being shot down over North Vietnam in October 1967. He spent five-and-one-half years as a prisoner of war. He is a patent lawyer and sometime contributor to Soldier Of Fortune.

[Billie]

Hi, BIS - it's good to see you. Hope you have a really nice weekend. :)