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Hi Mac! What service were you in when you were on active duty? Do you work at Nellis now?

My last few years in the AF were bad for me and after I retired, I wanted nothing to do with the military. I thank FR and especially the USO Canteen FReeper Style for helping me recover from those bad experiences and to start thinking positively about my whole military experience - and not just dwelling on the bad part.

The Foxhole is actually a joint effort of several people including SAMWolf and MistyCA who are heavily involved. I just got the honor of posting the first thread! ;-)

Welcome! I'm so glad to meet you.

Jen

Thanks for the ping AntiJen. I'll share a few memories with you, not about my own time in the Army but about my next door neighbor.

His name was Wilber Genz and he flew the B-17 Chief Oshkosh over Germany in WW2 for over 30+ missions. He lived next door in a little house with no basement so when ever any large storms would blow in he would come over to my place and whole up with me. We would usually sip brandy from dixi cups and talk about the storm or what ever. One time we were talking about the war and how he new my father who had been over there. He commented to me that he wanted to check his house and that he had some photos he would bring back.

Well, he returns with some old black and whites of him with his aircrew and the airplane and all. Among some of the pictures were some combat photos taken when they were on a mission. In one taken by the navigator you could see the side of Buds face as he was at the controls, out of the windscreen you could see the planes in block formation taking on flack. The B-17 directly ahead was on fire and breaking formation. It was one of the most spell binding pictures I had ever seen, couldn't stop flipping back to look at that photo. I remember thinking how how these guys must of had nerves of steel to just keep going, staying calm at the controls and finishing the mission.

I payed my respects at the old mans funeral this october after playing caretaker for his house all summer cutting grass and raking leaves. He was my neighbor for over 20yrs. I keep looking over at the old house thinking I'll see him and my kid talks about him like he is still around. Another soldier faded away but in memory. I'll be missing him.

"The Foxhole is actually a joint effort of several people including SAMWolf and MistyCA"

Maybe the 3 of you and the others might consider doing a weekly FR Vet thread.
As you know between working 5 days a week,
working at the Coast Guard Base
and "running" the Canteen I can't find time to continue the tradition started.
Look Jen! You were the very 1st FReeper Vet to be honored with their own dedicated thread.

USO Canteen FReeper Style....FReeper FRiday....May 3,2002

The threads honoring FReepers family members was always a big hit also.

Jen....don't be so modest! Mac, the truth is that Jen is an ace web designer and without her talents this wouldn't be as beautifully done as it has been! Sam is the world's best historian and scrounger! All I did was stick the burr in their side and tell them to go for it! :) I am only here to provide some support, but no more or less than the rest of you will do! :) Thanks, Jen.