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.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Jen, anything or anyone hard to get rid of is a LIBERAL. yep.

Good to see you Jen, I hope you have a great day.Back in Illinois when I was a little girl, my mom was trying to get rid of the squirels and my Dad was only concerned he kept enough bird seed in the feeder in the winter for the birds, because the squirels kept eating it.
So he set out an extra feeder thinking the birds then could have their own. So cute !

But the squirels didn't figure that part out....LOL.....

[Billie]

Great! Your threads are always special. : )

Morning, Billie.

Thank you, and good afternoon, TL. :)

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Tonkin, thank you so much, this is wonderful. I just love the P.O.Box and the links and information you gather for us.

[Snow Bunny]

OH wow, Thank you sooo much. You are right it is a very special song.

[blackie]

Well said, Billie !!

Freedom Is Worth Fightin For !!

Molon Labe !!

[Snow Bunny]

Hi my friend, good to see you.Thank you so much Blackie.Have a great day!!!

[MistyCA]

Hi, Blackie. Thought you might enjoy this...An American Medley

[Snow Bunny]

Hi there Euro, good to see you.A special Memorial weekend for you with so many serving in your family over the years and even now.

Have a great day my friend.

[Snow Bunny]

OH wow 4 eggs.....this is just so cool,I love it.

Thank you for keeping us informed how the Finches are doing.This is so precious, these tiny little lives.

[blackie]

Thanks Snow Bunny, my day is perfect, may your's be the same !!

[ofMagog]

I was able to sell the sack full of Snow Bunny's bikinis here in Dunedin for NZ$5.00, which is US$3.86, but it took a lot of haggling. The lady's first offer was NZ$2.00, or US$0.94. Had to throw in 9000 copies of Scuttlebutt's temperance lectures, a bottle of LadyX's cough "medicine," and a promise for Fred Mertz to "spend some time" with her.

[Snow Bunny]

Sam I love your posts...Look at those dear children, the Boy Scouts. I love the pictures and what they are learning how to respect our military and those that gave all for our freedom.

Thank you so much my wonderful friend.

[blackie]

It's Perfect, Misty...Thanks !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Molon Labe !!

[Snow Bunny]

Oh wow Hi Colt, It is always so great to see you.

Thank you so much for your service to our country!!!!

I am so glad you posted this from the tombstone. I love that quote so much. I think it is one of my very favorites and it says it all too.

(((((( hug ))))))

[Scuttlebutt]

If you had thrown in a couple of Misty's coconut bras, we could have saved the copies of the temperance lectures. You need to get your priorities straight.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi ogMagog.

giggle....so many bikini's and not enough days to wear them. heh heh....glad you found a way to get rid of some. Of course you know when we do pull into another port, if they have a nice selection, LadyX, Victoria,Misty and I may just have to at least try a few on. heh heh....then a nice drink with an umbrella afterward.

Good to see you ofMagog!!

[Billie]

Well, see you caught something that neither Coby nor I did. That Summer is really in 3 different parts - it starts early, is broken in the middle by a REAL HOT SUMMER, and then resumes plain ole Summer!

You see, Coby and I are Texans, so we didn't catch it - it's just the way it IS here!

[Fred Mertz]

and a promise for Fred Mertz to "spend some time" with her.

Was her name Marylou?

---

A guy was sitting quietly reading his paper when his wife walked up behind him and whacked him on the head with a shoe.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"That was for the piece of paper in your pants pocket with the name Marylou written on it," she replied.

"Two weeks ago when I went to the races, Marylou was the name of one of the horses I bet on," he explained.

"Oh honey, I'm sorry," she said. "I should have known there was a good explanation."

Three days later he was watching TV again when she walked up and hit him in the head again, this time with the iron skillet, which knocked him out cold.

When he came to, he asked, "What the heck was that for?"

"Your horse called."

[Snow Bunny]

Scuttlebutt....lol....

[ofMagog]

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;"

Westmoreland :
"Oh, but if we had but one more from England here this day."

Enter Henry:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires:
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
--KING HENRY V, Act IV, Scene III