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.

[LadyX]

In those four lines about your little girl, Cobby, you told most eloquently a whole page in our minds.

Thank you for relating it.

[SpookBrat]

"Uncle Mike, who was called up by the supreme commander earlier this week"

Thanks for your note about your Uncle. I liked what you said about the "Supreme Commander". :) God bless your family at this time. Peace.

[HiJinx]

Thank you seems so inadequate.
Yet, appreciation and gratitude are what I feel, for you and all who have responded today.

Above all, I need to express my respect and admiration for the men and women who are out there as we speak, guarding a perimeter, replenishing a warplane, cooking a meal for the crew of the Decatur, bringing mail to Marines, or listening to the enemy. Each and every one of you makes me so very proud, so I humbly offer you...

Thanks.

[Jen]

Yes, the squirrels must have names! Bubba, Hitlery, Monica, Goron, Car-Vile, Uncle Janet. Hahahaha!

[MistyCA]

You are gonna do what???? LOLOL!

[MistyCA]

Yeah, I know.....I guess my fig leaves didn't help much :(

[Jen]

I bet it was! You noticed that 'I' wasn't skinny-dipping... ;-)

[d4now]

I was number 37,242.

Thanks for making it easy Tonk! :)

[Jen]

I wasn't directing that at 'you' - but around here folks say the 'bit dog barks the loudest!' hahahaha

[Jen]

I sure hope for the Boyz' sake that there was no poison ivy mixed in with those tea leaves. Oooooooooooooh!

[SpookBrat]

Ahhhhh.....saturday morning cartoons. Those were the days. What I miss the most about those days are .25 cent bottled cokes. Nothing beats a bottled coke. Oh, and catching lighten' bugs......the best nights of my life.

I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU! :)

[SpookBrat]

Where you gonna be this weekend? :(

[Pippin]

TOO CUTE!!!!

[COB1]

Sorry I've been gone so long, guys.
I've been building a video for Memorial Day.
It turned out pretty nice, but it might take all day to load it!
I'm loading it to my Website now, and I'll give you a link if it ever finishes.

[HiJinx]

Can't wait..oh well, guess we gotta!
Ping when it's ready, right?

[LadyX]

Intrigued by the number of bikinis you claim belonged to Snow Bunny happened to be aboard.

Hmmmmm..... seems to me when they appeared was right after the two weeks we spent with the flotilla.

The Guys volunteered to go to the other vessels to see if they could 'help' - and then went to the big cruise ship for two days.

I wonder . . . .

[4TheFlag]

I bet it was! You noticed that 'I' wasn't skinny-dipping... ;-)

Yep, I noticed that:)

Those are REALLY some Bad Gurlz, huh!! LOL!

[SassyMom]

Oh my GOSH!!!! ROFLMAO........ You are so much fun!

[Pippin]

HEY, COWBOY! TGIF! GOOD TO SEE YOU. Sorry I'm a bit late I fell asleep! Wanna chase me down to the pond in the back 40? I'll even let you catch me? BTW: What will you DO when you do catch me?

[Jen]

Misty gets the credit blame for that one...