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.

[Billie]

Hi, Tex - bet you're doing some major cooking out this weekend.

[Alamo-Girl]

bump!

[Billie]

Hi, Dave - you have such a nice way with words. :)

[MistyCA]

thank you! :)

[MistyCA]

Hmmmm...I don't recall that, but I do know that Neil Diamond performs it and it has been one of my favorites. :)

[Snow Bunny]

Good morning Sam.

Thank you for showing us the pictures and names of those that have paid such a high price for our freedom.OH Sam,I wish none of our men and women had to die or even get hurt.My freedom has cost so much from the very beginning, I can never pay the debt of my freedom.

[lodwick]

Afternoon Texette! That's the plan. Although I would LOVE for it to get rained out. ;-)

[Victoria Delsoul]

Thanks so much for the link at #213.

Send your thanks to the men and women of the U.S. military

I certainly will.

. . .

[Snow Bunny]

Jinx, thank you again so much for being a FReeper Friday and for serving our country.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi, thank you so much for posting about Marine Jennerette Winters.

[MistyCA]

Here is a Sousa Medley if anyone is into some Patriotic Marching :) Sousa!

[Snow Bunny]

OH Cobby, that poem is so touching and so beautiful.Thank you for being here Cobby and for your wonderful heart.

[Diver Dave]

Thanks Billie.

That flag folding brings to mind my brother-in-law. US Army Major - Mustang. He flew Cobra's in Vietnam. Wounded three times. He survived the war only to be killed by a drunk driver.

A folded flag from the Army is a treasure item in our home.

On Memorial Day, it will be unfurled and hang from the eaves of our home.

Salute, Butch. We miss you.

[Billie]

Coby, I've skipped around on this thread and my Self-Search comments and missed this one at first until I started seeing all the posts 'to' you. Now I started crying way before I even got to a 'sad' part, just because I knew it was going to be.

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you for posting the signed Flag.The lives that Flag has one it, resembles from that day and even in our history, oh wow Billie.Thank you.

[blackie]

Hi Snow Bunny..."Lest We Forget !!"

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my dear friend. Victoria, I LOVE Lee Greenwood sining God Bless the USA. The CD I have of his with that song on it has some great songs, but that one is my favorite of all.

FallGuy put it on in the car and then we sing out so loud with it. hahahaa....It gets us everytime.

Thank you again soooo much.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Misty, good to see you my friend.

Thank you for the Lords Prayer. That was beautiful.

[MistyCA]

I think you might enjoy this very special song.......Thanks.....

[Snow Bunny]

I am so sorry about your Father.It is so hard to loose our Dads.

((( hug )))