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 Mountaineer, you are going to have such a marvelous Memorial Day weekend.
It is so good to see you, thank you for checking in , I always miss you when I don't see you.

[Snow Bunny]

That is a GREAT list Jen.

I am so glad you are going to send a package SpookB.I always add stationary and envelopes and some bic pens too.Your kids could do some wonderful coloing pictures for them too. The troops love things from kids to them.

[MistyCA]

You're very welcome! ...Patriots click here! :)

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Ld. good to see you my friend. Thank you for sharing some more about your Uncle Mike.I wish I could have met him, it is always such an honor to meet our veterans.

[MistyCA]

LMAO....ROFL!!!

[Snow Bunny]

Oh G'nad, you are going to have such a great time with your Marine buddies.I am so happy you are having a get together. What memoriable times these are for all of us, and to be with them this weekend is a real treat.

(((( hug )))

[Victoria Delsoul]

Hi Bunny! Good to see you. I love that song, too.

Makes me feel proud to be an American. Hope you're having a wonderful day my friend.

[MistyCA]

LOL..I stay away from Hot and Parched as much as possible :)

[Snow Bunny]

ROTFL.....hahaaha

[ofMagog]

My brother was in Rodger Young's outfit...

The Ballad of Rodger Young
No, they’ve got no time for glory in the Infantry.
No, they’ve got no use for praises loudly sung,
But in every soldier’s heart in all the Infantry
Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young.
Shines the name—Rodger Young!
Fought and died for the men he marched among.
To the everlasting glory of the Infantry
Lives the story of Private Rodger Young.
Caught in ambush lay a company of riflemen—
Just grenades against machine guns in the gloom—
Caught in ambush till this one of twenty riflemen
Volunteered, volunteered to meet his doom.
Volunteered, Rodger Young!
Fought and died for the men he marched among.
In the everlasting annals of the Infantry
Glows the last deed of Private Rodger Young.
It was he who drew the fire of the enemy
That a company of men might live to fight;
And before the deadly fire of the enemy
Stood the man, stood the man we hail tonight.
On the island of New Georgia in the Solomons,
Stands a simple wooden cross alone to tell
That beneath the silent coral of the Solomons,
Sleeps a man, sleeps a man remembered well.
Sleeps a man, Rodger Young,
Fought and died for the men he marched among.
In the everlasting spirit of the Infantry
Breathes the spirit of Private Rodger Young.
No, they’ve got no time for glory in the Infantry,
No, they’ve got no use for praises loudly sung,
But in every soldier’s heart in all the Infantry
Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young.
Shines the name—Rodger Young!
Fought and died for the men he marched among.
To the everlasting glory of the Infantry
Lives the story of Private Rodger Young.
-- by Frank Loesser

[MistyCA]

LOL...that's funny! :)

[SpookBrat]

Well ya know what....not to complain or anything because I'm glad my kids have friends....the whole damn neighborhood LIVES at our house. I'm going to trap all these kids and lock the door and FORCE them to draw some pictures for the troops. LOL They will love doing it I'm sure. That's a great idea.

[Victoria Delsoul]

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.

Hehehe, music to my ears. Anytime! LOL!!!

[Snow Bunny]

You look beautiful.

Yes I am having a great day. FallGuy and I are staying home most of the weekend with just a few errands to run each day.

I wish there were some events planned here to go to , but nothing that I know of.
We don't like crowds but for Veterans it is always worth it. But Vegas has no plans in the news.

[Snow Bunny]

giggle.....what is a girl to do. hahahhaah

Sailors may have a girl in every port. BUT we girls have bikini's in every port to check out.

[lodwick]

The CIA had an opening for an assassin. After all of the background checks, interviews, and testing were done there were three finalists - two men and one woman.

For the final test, the CIA agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.

"We must know that you will follow your instructions, no matter what the circumstances. Inside this room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. You have to kill her."

The first man said."You can't be serious. I could never shoot my wife,"

The agent replies, "Then you're not the right man for this job."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about five minutes. Then the agent came out with tears in his eyes. "I tried, but I can't kill my wife."

The agent replies, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn. Only she was told to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room. Shots were heard, one shot after another. They heard screaming, crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman.

She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "You guys didn't tell me the gun was loaded with blanks. I had to beat him to death with the chair."

[Victoria Delsoul]

But Vegas has no plans in the news.

That's too bad. Well, there is always the Canteen. Lots of fun and good time. :-)

[SassyMom]

BUNNNNNYYYYYY!!!!!! How ya doing?

[Snow Bunny]

Thank you so much for the wonderful breakfast,I was hungry this morning!

It is so good to see you IG! I hope we get to see you over this special weekend.

[Victoria Delsoul]

BUT we girls have bikini's in every port to check out.

LOL, you're great! hahahaha.