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.

[MistyCA]

Thanks for the statement that we all can readily agree on!

[SassyMom]

My in laws are here this weekend. So, I will check in from time to time. I'm really sad because I'm missing all of the fun. waaaaaaaa!

[Snow Bunny]

LOL...OH Jen that was GREAT....

hahahaahahaa

[Jen]

Falling Coconuts Kill More People Than Shark Attacks

You two be careful! Whatever you do Clara, don't let your coconuts fall off!

[MistyCA]

You said it all so well, LadyX :)

[Snow Bunny]

ROTFL.....Tripple dogo dare you. I have not heard that for a long time. haahahahahahaha

[Billie]

Thank you, JL. And I will most certainly ping you Thursday. :)

[Pippin]

I still whant to know why you weren't at the pond with us when 4 interrupted us! Where were you?

[SassyMom]

You are so creative! I'm still LMAO....hahahahaha Thank you for making my day!

[MistyCA]

LOL......We all have our part, and we all have a responsibility to try to figure out where the balance is. :)

[Snow Bunny]

ROTFL.....falling coconuts.....how tall are Clara and Misty anyway. haahhaa

[Aquamarine]

Thanks for the address on post 4. I'm going to send those soldier's a package. :)

[Snow Bunny]

Cobby, that sounds wonderful!! I look forward to seeing your Memorial Day video.

[Pippin]

I'm keeping my coconuts close to my "Chest"! LOL

[Jen]

I was hiding in the bushes with my digital camera! I gotta get a better camera, though. All my pix turn out to be four pink blurs.

[Pippin]

Digital camera! What were you taking pictures for?

[lodwick]

Thanks Billie - but don't ping, I'm not set up for that sort of stuff. Just a simple guy here. ;-)

Why the heck cant't JohnRob set this place up to accept the "Enter" key with the Preview and Post buttons? Mousing sucks. The keyboard rules, for goodness sakes!

[HiJinx]

Jen is our Public Affairs Officer, PAO...

[Jen]

I was freelancing for a soon-to-be released documentary - Canteen Gurlz Gone Wild!

[LadyX]

Thank you so much, Brother Tonk, for making the USO Canteen Ladies feel so special with the flowers you post in the warm months and the variety of fireplaces in the cold ones.

It truly is appreciated, and lifts our spirits.

I know they are dedicated also to all the women in service, and to the wives and girlfriends of men in active military service as well.

May God bless and sustain all those other women, knowing their daily hardships and sacrifices.