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]

Hiya, Tonk! I have managed to stay with it pretty well....it's never an easy task :) The natives ARE definately getting restless tonight :)

[SpookBrat]

I called my aunt tonight to talk to her about what my dad did in Berlin while he was stationed there. She said he interviewed Russian Jews coming out of Russia, the three years he was there. I guess for intelligence gathering purposes or whatever. One of them gave my dad some art, which he gave to me. I have it in my living room. I always wondered where he got it, and now I think I have an idea. Interesting, eh? Thanks for sparking my curiosity today.

[MistyCA]

Doesn't take much imagination lolol! :)

[Victoria Delsoul]

You got me in a slow dancing mood now.

I feel that same way, LOL.

[tomkow6]

CUBS WIN! 5-4 over Astros!

[Victoria Delsoul]

I guess not.

[SAMWolf]

Mel Carter - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me

[g'nad]

Tell me about it! I'M FEAFUL FOR MY INNOCENCE! There are are all manner of wicked women here... and way too many inside jokes for my little brain to pick up on!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Oh, I like it.

[HiJinx]

Way to go Cubbies!
And my Diamondbacks are giving the Boys in Blue the once over...sorry, Fall Guy!

[MistyCA]

OK....finding one for you and 4....

...Take My Breath Away

[Pippin]

Thanks, Misty, but I don't have audio. Whaaaaaaaa!

[Pippin]

Don't worry, G'nad, Your "INNOCENCE" is safe in here! LOL

[SAMWolf]

Another one?

[g'nad]

Your "INNOCENCE" is safe in here!

Whew! That's good news...I ain't got much left!...

[HiJinx]

That was one of the many things the Military Liaison Mission (MLM) in Berlin accomplished. We felt it was a very important two way street. We worked with emigres to determine how best to help them settle in the West, at the same time trying to find out from them if they knew anything of intelligence value. That's no secret, but much of the other tasks were.

Ok, story time. Soviet MLM and US MLM (SMLM and USMLM, pronounce Smell'em and You Smell'em) had teams of drivers and officers who traveled in each others' sectors. Ostensibly, we were exercising our right of free passage. In reality, both sides were gathering intelligence. One morning, after I hopped on the Trick Bus to go to work, Mrs. HJ looked out the apartment window and noticed an odd-looking green sedan parked in our parking lot. So she leashed Sebastian and went downstairs to walk him. Sure enough, the car was a Russian Volga with 4 Soviet soldiers inside. They sat in our parking lot for 3 hours before she got PO'ed and called the MPs. They escorted the Sov's out of our housing area...travel was one thing, parking was something else entirely!

OBTW, we worked three shifts at the Field Station, and each was known as a 'Trick.' I don't know why, they just were. So the bus to work was known as the Trick Bus! And the NCO in charge of a shift was a 'Trick Chief.' You think the Canteen is wild?!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Blue velvet! Ha! yes!!!

How do you know I like those songs? hehehe.

[SAMWolf]

American Trilogy

[SAMWolf]

[MistyCA]

LOL....my best friend for years was half Japanese, and I have several very good friends who are Japanese and live in Japan. I love the culture. :) Would be interesting to find out if you have relatives there! :)