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]

Yesssss, sunscreen is a MUST .

That is weird , you are so right. Not to have one on July 4th. Gosh every city and town should have them on every holiday like this one and the 4th too. Vegas has nothing for today.waaaaaaaa

FallGuy and I are taking some goodies over to the Vietnam Veterans group here.Just some cookies, candy, videos, magazines, stuff like that. There are alot of Vietnam vets that live alone and on disablity.

The word for the weekend is sunscreen.

[lodwick]

A blind man enters a Ladies Bar by mistake. He finds his way to a barstool and orders a drink. After sitting there for a while, he yells to the bartender, "Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?"

The bar immediately falls absolutely quiet. In a very deep, husky voice the woman next to him says, "Before you tell that joke, Sir, you should know five things":

1. The bartender is a blonde girl.
2 . The bouncer is a blonde gal.
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 200-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and is a professional weightlifter.
5. The lady to your right is a blonde and is a professional wrestler.

Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?"

The blind man thinks for a second, shakes his head, and declares, "Nah, not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times."

[Mr_Magoo]

Fresh from her shower, a woman stands in front of the mirror, complaining to her husband that her breasts are too small.

Instead of characteristically telling her it's not so, the husband uncharacteristically comes up with a suggestion.

"If you want your breasts to grow, then every day take a piece of toilet paper and rub it between your breasts for a few seconds."

Willing to try anything, the wife fetches a piece of toilet paper and stands in front of the mirror, rubbing it between her breasts.

"How long will this take?" she asks.

"They'll grow larger over a period of years," he replies.

The wife stops. "Why do you think rubbing a piece of toilet paper between my breasts every day will make my breasts grow over the years?"

"Worked for your butt, didn't it?"

He lived, and with a great deal of physical therapy, may even walk again.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi BIS, I am so glad to see you.
Please thank your husband from all of us at the Canteen for his service to our country.

(((( hug)))

[MistyCA]

ROFLMAO!!!! I have to tell that one to my daughter!!! hahaha...she will love it! :)

[deadhead]

"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!"

ROTFLOL, very very funny!!!!

[Fred Mertz]

LOL! Good one.

[Snow Bunny]

LOL. I have a technique I figured out so I can answer those that come to the Canteen. heh heh

I would feel so horrible not to say hi to everyone when they take the time to support the FReeper USO Canteen.Like if they came to my house and I would ignore them, I just could not do that.

GREAT to see you Howlin. I am so glad you are back from your trip. We all missed you.

This little car helps me zoom around to answer posts. giggle

Snow Bunny

[MistyCA]

OH! Mr. Magoo! That's funny! How sad to think it might be true! lolololol! :)

[lodwick]

Our Commander-in-Chief

God Bless America

[ofMagog]

My two older brothers and next door neighbor Mr. Novachek came home while I was in junior high school. One brother had island hopped across the Pacific. The other had flown out of England on B-17s. And, little Mr. Novachek had survived two ships being torpedoed out from under him in the cold North Atlantic while hauling equipment to England for D-Day. They did not talk about their experiences. They did not know they were members of the Greatest Generation.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"This little car helps me zoom around to answer posts"

I love that car!

[redhead]

WHEW! I LOVE that soliloquy! Every time I read it, I see Kenneth Brannagh as Henry V pacing among the troops before daylight...

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Colleen I am so glad to see you.

LOL I can feel Jen's frustration with the squirels. hahahaa....Maybe you will have to name them Jen....Janet Reno, Hitlery, James Carville, etc. heh heh....then aim.

oops can I say that......

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Good Afternoon Captain!

[Snow Bunny]

heh heh......am so glad, I love it too. I can zoom in it pretty good.

Snow Bunny

[MistyCA]

..American Pie

[Snow Bunny]

ROTFL. OH MY GOSH.

[firewalk]

It's always good to see you too! (:

Please thank your husband from all of us at the Canteen for his service to our country.

I’ll tell him you said so. He loves that you have these Canteen threads. It makes him very happy that our men and women in the Military, and Veterans are being honored.

[Snow Bunny]

Hi Bigg Red! Thanks for your support and friendship.