"Please help us keep these boards professional and informative…. And fun." - DW --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BONGO HURTLES ALONG THE RAIN SODDEN HIGHWAY OF LIFE ON UNDERINFLATED BALD RETREAD TIRES
Speaking of true forum veterans, as opposed to military veterans, how many are still actively posting here who were on the board five or more years ago? OK, my apologies if this post sounds insensitive. It is just that when I read the title of this thread I was not expecting the content that followed, especially since this isn't Veterans Day. Of course we all know what happens when a topic is started in conjunction with a holiday, it somehow gets poofed as not coin related. Hopefully this thread will survive the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. And to add to the thread as it is, I am in full agreement with Barberian that all of us owe a lot to those who have served. One of my uncles is among the few still remaining survivors who stormed Omaha Beach and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentraton Camp. It was only in recent years that he could even talk about the latter.
Unfortunately I don't have a coin honoring veterans, but I wish to thank all those that have served in the Armed Forces here for defending my freedom. Thank you!
I never persuded a life in the armed services,but when the letter came to sign up for selective service in 1978, I gladly signed. Besides that, I did survive the British invasion as a civilian back in the 70s..
US Air Force Security Forces... my sig line has the dates. Currently living in the worlds largest beach!
Assignments: Currently, a place in the sand; Randolph AFB, Texas; Hanscom AFB, Mass; Izmir, Turkey; Vandenberg AFB, California; Osan AB, South Korea, Dyess AFB, Tx.
Desert Tours: At the end of this one... retirement somewhere away from the beach.
Steve
U.S. Air Force Security Forces Retired
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
I understand that Fort Polk is a pretty nice place now. In the 60's it was the "Arm Pit" of the world.
Ken >>
Ken, It's still considered the Arm Pit of the United States. Mainly due to two things, Heat and Humidity! I have been through four JRTC rotations (None of them good) and one assignment. Thankfully during that 22 month assignment, I spent 15 of them in Iraq where it tops out about 150 degrees, but the RH is at a high 5% max. Many don't know, the area that Fort Polk was developed in was chosen to prep our Soldiers for jungle warfare... that explains what it's line in the summer time. As for the local area, as I understand it, one family ownes Leesville... they have each store in their back pocket, that said, they will not allow the town to grow beause they would lose the raqueteering that they have going on... Heat/Humidity and run down back woods town...in my opinion, makes this the worst assignment...
I went to post to this thread and the story about basic came out (Read below). The short story is:
Joined Active Duty Army in April 1992.
Basic and AIT at Fort Sill, OK.
1st Duty station: Fort Bragg, NC Deployed to: Haiti
2nd Duty station: Hanau, Germany Deployed to: Bosnia
3rd Duty station: Fort Campbell, KY Deployed to: Kosovo Deployed to: Iraq Deployed to: Iraq
4th duty station: Fort Polk, LA. Deployed to: Iraq
5th Duty station: Fort Campbell, KY. Scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan
Currently have 17 years active duty (APR 09), will complete 20 at least. Currently a Sergeant First Class.
Here is what came out when I first tried to post to this thread: The longer unfinished story...
The year was nineteen hundred and ninety two; I was out of high school and still had little to no direction in my life. I was always against joining the service, not because I had issues with patriotism, politics or anything like that, I had just never been away from home. Due to my upbringing, I had issues from the get go (Another story for a private conversation) so I was apprehensive about the "Control" that joining the service would have on me. I met someone and it became serious so I knew I had to provide for my future family. I attended some college and at the time was not focused enough to pull good grades, nor could I afford it. My step-father seeing I needed direction and guidance, talked to me about joining the service. Truthfully until this point I knew little about any of the branches. He explained that the Army is a 9 to 5 job, with some Physical training (PT) in the morning to get me back in shape. Up until this conversation I thought the Army was green face and living in the woods... After our conversation, I was willing to listen to a recruiter. That day I did a walk in to the local recruiter and told him (SSG Simpkins) that I wanted to join the Army. He casually said, "National Guard or Reserves" to which I replied... "Ahhh, you know, I join and I go away to the Army" (I told you I knew nothing about the service, I had no idea what he was talking about when he mentioned NG/RES). At this point he got excited, sat up and aggressively signed me up. Two months later, I was boarding the bus to head out to basic.
In April 1992, I was sent to Fort Sill, OK. to conduct my basic training and my advanced individual training (AIT) of which I decided to enter into the Communications field under the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 31V, Unit Level Communications Specialist. Basic training was not easy for me, I had been living on my own, and the life I lived prior to joining caused me to have issues with the "Breakdown" period of basic training. Long story short, I almost became an "Example" for the rest of the recruits with my first ART 15 (Disciplinary counseling). This day I learned what it was to be humble. Thankfully due to the compassion of the Drill Sergeants (DS) they gave me another chance and I did my best to conform. Then, my fiancé left me... Another week long roller coaster and I was back on track (Another story for a private conversation). Eventually, I focused on the situation at hand, got in better shape and learned to block out the world save for the situation I was in (Basic training). In the last week, we were conducting our final PT test to graduate from basic and when we were on our final lap after doing the Push up and Sit up events one of my fellow comrades looked like he was falling behind.
As I ran by I reached out and lifted his arm in an attempt to keep him going. As it slid through my grasp he motioned me along to which I said, "I'll be back". We were within a hundred yards of the finish line and I wanted to finish to secure my time (And passing score) and then return for him. By the time I returned he was on the ground with a bunch of Drill Sergeants tending to him. Along with the other recruits, I was rushed away from the commotion. Two hours later in formation the Senior Drill Instructor told my platoon that PVT Jones died on the way to the hospital. As it turned out, he had sickle cell enema and suffocated on the way in the ambulance. At that point, six Soldiers fell out of formation as they we were overwhelmed with grief. Myself and five others spoke to a counselor and were released back into the ranks to finish our final week of basic training.
Three days out from graduation we were conducting our final ruck march. The schedule said 12 miles but as I understand it, we were doing 18 miles that day. I was the guidon barer for most of the ruck, that is until about mile 14. When the commandant turned around and told me to get on the truck I quickly refused. He didn’t like the challenge and got up in my face… Needless to say, I mounted the vehicle and drove the remainder of the trip. The truck would drive forward about a mile and the “fallouts” would dismount. The Drill Instructor would then smoke us until the group caught up. We then mounted up, drove a mile and repeated the event. This process continued until we all made it home. I later found out that when I should have been walking one pace behind and two paces left of the commandant I was actually walking back and forth from the left side of the road to the right side… without knowing it. It was a good choice on the commander’s side.
The next day when we were cleaning out weapons I was not feeling well. I assumed it was because of the ruck march and being dehydrated. My Drill Sergeant came up and saw me sitting against the wall and asked if I was alright to which I replied, “Yes Drill Sergeant” (I mean really, what else do you say?). My Drill Sergeant took my word and walked on. A few minutes later a Drill Instructor from another Platoon came by and saw me, he repeated the question, “Are you alright”? My response was something like, “Roger Drill Sergeant, just recovering from the ruck march”. At this point, the DS reached down and felt my forehead to which he responded with, “Holy SH!T, give me your canteen”. He then dumped two quarts of water over my head and sent another Soldier to refill them to which he then dumped them over my head too. The second wave of water was ice cold… My body start to convulse uncontrollably which didn’t help my situation. He commanded me to get up stairs and change into some dry clothes and then rushed me to the hospital. When we arrived, some quick vitals told them that my temp was 104.5 degrees. This prompted them to stick a few bags of saline in me to bring my core temp down.
It was obvious that the Soldier was new to the procedure because right after he pulled the needle out leaving the catheter in my arm, he let go and turned away… I sat there watching blood squirt about 18 inches out of my arm with every heartbeat onto the table and floor for about five seconds. This… didn’t help my situation. After a few bags, I was seen by the Docs and admitted to the hospital. Being a Private, they gave me little to no info on what was going on. They gave me a room and thankfully a TV. The next day, a hurricane hit… (I’m not making this sh!t up people, this is true). Needless to say, we lost power, thus… no TV. I kept thinking, the Lord givith and the lord takith away. That morning the Doctor came in to talk to me, he said, “We found a lump in your chest”, I pointed to a spot on my chest where I had been having some pain and asked where… he touched me with the top of his pencil in the same spot. I had been feeling a stabbing pain in this spot through basic, it felt like a knife was entering me through my back when I ran. He then said, “We think it’s TB”. I said, Okay, what’s that???... He replied, “It’s deadly”. So, to recap, no TV and a deadly lump in my chest… Yup, not a good morning.
They took more X-rays, put me on a strong antibiotic regiment and then told me I might not be able to graduate Basic… WTF! I am NOT doing this again! As it turns out, I had pneumonia in my lower left lobe. They told me to get a cat scan when I get to my first unit to make sure I didn’t have TB. Thankfully, they let me out of the hospital after three days and two nights on the day of graduation. I was thankful that they decided to not hold the pneumonia against me and allowed me to graduate.
Speaking of true forum veterans, as opposed to military veterans, how many are still actively posting here who were on the board five or more years ago? OK, my apologies if this post sounds insensitive. It is just that when I read the title of this thread I was not expecting the content that followed, especially since this isn't Veterans Day. Of course we all know what happens when a topic is started in conjunction with a holiday, it somehow gets poofed as not coin related. Hopefully this thread will survive the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. And to add to the thread as it is, I am in full agreement with Barberian that all of us owe a lot to those who have served. One of my uncles is among the few still remaining survivors who stormed Omaha Beach and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentraton Camp. It was only in recent years that he could even talk about the latter. >>
Hmmmm, good point... I guess I am a forum vet, I have been here for a spell.
RACC I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
Comments
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BONGO HURTLES ALONG THE RAIN SODDEN HIGHWAY OF LIFE ON UNDERINFLATED BALD RETREAD TIRES
<< <i>Who are our forum Veterans?. >>
Speaking of true forum veterans, as opposed to military veterans, how many are still actively posting here who were on the board five or more years ago? OK, my apologies if this post sounds insensitive. It is just that when I read the title of this thread I was not expecting the content that followed, especially since this isn't Veterans Day. Of course we all know what happens when a topic is started in conjunction with a holiday, it somehow gets poofed as not coin related. Hopefully this thread will survive the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. And to add to the thread as it is, I am in full agreement with Barberian that all of us owe a lot to those who have served. One of my uncles is among the few still remaining survivors who stormed Omaha Beach and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentraton Camp. It was only in recent years that he could even talk about the latter.
sign up for selective service in 1978, I gladly signed.
Besides that, I did survive the British invasion as a civilian back in the 70s..
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Aircraft Electrician
W.C. Fields
Assignments: Currently, a place in the sand; Randolph AFB, Texas; Hanscom AFB, Mass; Izmir, Turkey; Vandenberg AFB, California; Osan AB, South Korea, Dyess AFB, Tx.
Desert Tours: At the end of this one... retirement somewhere away from the beach.
Steve
In memory of the USAF Security Forces lost: A1C Elizabeth N. Jacobson, 9/28/05; SSgt Brian McElroy, 1/22/06; TSgt Jason Norton, 1/22/06; A1C Lee Chavis, 10/14/06; SSgt John Self, 5/14/07; A1C Jason Nathan, 6/23/07; SSgt Travis Griffin, 4/3/08; 1Lt Joseph Helton, 9/8/09; SrA Nicholas J. Alden, 3/3/2011. God Bless them and all those who have lost loved ones in this war. I will never forget their loss.
Combat Engineer
E-5
Vietnam
Army Security Agency
1965 -2000, retired as CMSgt (E-9)
Vietnam 1968-1969
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
<< <i>
<< <i>U.S. Army 82-04
E-8,11-B
I loved Fort Polk
I understand that Fort Polk is a pretty nice place now. In the 60's it was the "Arm Pit" of the world.
Ken >>
Ken,
It's still considered the Arm Pit of the United States. Mainly due to two things, Heat and Humidity! I have been through four JRTC rotations (None of them good) and one assignment. Thankfully during that 22 month assignment, I spent 15 of them in Iraq where it tops out about 150 degrees, but the RH is at a high 5% max. Many don't know, the area that Fort Polk was developed in was chosen to prep our Soldiers for jungle warfare... that explains what it's line in the summer time. As for the local area, as I understand it, one family ownes Leesville... they have each store in their back pocket, that said, they will not allow the town to grow beause they would lose the raqueteering that they have going on... Heat/Humidity and run down back woods town...in my opinion, makes this the worst assignment...
Ray
VIETNAM.
Joined Active Duty Army in April 1992.
Basic and AIT at Fort Sill, OK.
1st Duty station: Fort Bragg, NC
Deployed to: Haiti
2nd Duty station: Hanau, Germany
Deployed to: Bosnia
3rd Duty station: Fort Campbell, KY
Deployed to: Kosovo
Deployed to: Iraq
Deployed to: Iraq
4th duty station: Fort Polk, LA.
Deployed to: Iraq
5th Duty station: Fort Campbell, KY.
Scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan
Currently have 17 years active duty (APR 09), will complete 20 at least. Currently a Sergeant First Class.
Here is what came out when I first tried to post to this thread: The longer unfinished story...
The year was nineteen hundred and ninety two; I was out of high school and still had little to no direction in my life. I was always against joining the service, not because I had issues with patriotism, politics or anything like that, I had just never been away from home. Due to my upbringing, I had issues from the get go (Another story for a private conversation) so I was apprehensive about the "Control" that joining the service would have on me. I met someone and it became serious so I knew I had to provide for my future family. I attended some college and at the time was not focused enough to pull good grades, nor could I afford it. My step-father seeing I needed direction and guidance, talked to me about joining the service. Truthfully until this point I knew little about any of the branches. He explained that the Army is a 9 to 5 job, with some Physical training (PT) in the morning to get me back in shape. Up until this conversation I thought the Army was green face and living in the woods... After our conversation, I was willing to listen to a recruiter. That day I did a walk in to the local recruiter and told him (SSG Simpkins) that I wanted to join the Army. He casually said, "National Guard or Reserves" to which I replied... "Ahhh, you know, I join and I go away to the Army" (I told you I knew nothing about the service, I had no idea what he was talking about when he mentioned NG/RES). At this point he got excited, sat up and aggressively signed me up. Two months later, I was boarding the bus to head out to basic.
In April 1992, I was sent to Fort Sill, OK. to conduct my basic training and my advanced individual training (AIT) of which I decided to enter into the Communications field under the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 31V, Unit Level Communications Specialist. Basic training was not easy for me, I had been living on my own, and the life I lived prior to joining caused me to have issues with the "Breakdown" period of basic training. Long story short, I almost became an "Example" for the rest of the recruits with my first ART 15 (Disciplinary counseling). This day I learned what it was to be humble. Thankfully due to the compassion of the Drill Sergeants (DS) they gave me another chance and I did my best to conform. Then, my fiancé left me... Another week long roller coaster and I was back on track (Another story for a private conversation). Eventually, I focused on the situation at hand, got in better shape and learned to block out the world save for the situation I was in (Basic training). In the last week, we were conducting our final PT test to graduate from basic and when we were on our final lap after doing the Push up and Sit up events one of my fellow comrades looked like he was falling behind.
As I ran by I reached out and lifted his arm in an attempt to keep him going. As it slid through my grasp he motioned me along to which I said, "I'll be back". We were within a hundred yards of the finish line and I wanted to finish to secure my time (And passing score) and then return for him. By the time I returned he was on the ground with a bunch of Drill Sergeants tending to him. Along with the other recruits, I was rushed away from the commotion. Two hours later in formation the Senior Drill Instructor told my platoon that PVT Jones died on the way to the hospital. As it turned out, he had sickle cell enema and suffocated on the way in the ambulance. At that point, six Soldiers fell out of formation as they we were overwhelmed with grief. Myself and five others spoke to a counselor and were released back into the ranks to finish our final week of basic training.
Three days out from graduation we were conducting our final ruck march. The schedule said 12 miles but as I understand it, we were doing 18 miles that day. I was the guidon barer for most of the ruck, that is until about mile 14. When the commandant turned around and told me to get on the truck I quickly refused. He didn’t like the challenge and got up in my face… Needless to say, I mounted the vehicle and drove the remainder of the trip. The truck would drive forward about a mile and the “fallouts” would dismount. The Drill Instructor would then smoke us until the group caught up. We then mounted up, drove a mile and repeated the event. This process continued until we all made it home. I later found out that when I should have been walking one pace behind and two paces left of the commandant I was actually walking back and forth from the left side of the road to the right side… without knowing it. It was a good choice on the commander’s side.
The next day when we were cleaning out weapons I was not feeling well. I assumed it was because of the ruck march and being dehydrated. My Drill Sergeant came up and saw me sitting against the wall and asked if I was alright to which I replied, “Yes Drill Sergeant” (I mean really, what else do you say?). My Drill Sergeant took my word and walked on. A few minutes later a Drill Instructor from another Platoon came by and saw me, he repeated the question, “Are you alright”? My response was something like, “Roger Drill Sergeant, just recovering from the ruck march”. At this point, the DS reached down and felt my forehead to which he responded with, “Holy SH!T, give me your canteen”. He then dumped two quarts of water over my head and sent another Soldier to refill them to which he then dumped them over my head too. The second wave of water was ice cold… My body start to convulse uncontrollably which didn’t help my situation. He commanded me to get up stairs and change into some dry clothes and then rushed me to the hospital. When we arrived, some quick vitals told them that my temp was 104.5 degrees. This prompted them to stick a few bags of saline in me to bring my core temp down.
It was obvious that the Soldier was new to the procedure because right after he pulled the needle out leaving the catheter in my arm, he let go and turned away… I sat there watching blood squirt about 18 inches out of my arm with every heartbeat onto the table and floor for about five seconds. This… didn’t help my situation. After a few bags, I was seen by the Docs and admitted to the hospital. Being a Private, they gave me little to no info on what was going on. They gave me a room and thankfully a TV. The next day, a hurricane hit… (I’m not making this sh!t up people, this is true). Needless to say, we lost power, thus… no TV. I kept thinking, the Lord givith and the lord takith away. That morning the Doctor came in to talk to me, he said, “We found a lump in your chest”, I pointed to a spot on my chest where I had been having some pain and asked where… he touched me with the top of his pencil in the same spot. I had been feeling a stabbing pain in this spot through basic, it felt like a knife was entering me through my back when I ran. He then said, “We think it’s TB”. I said, Okay, what’s that???... He replied, “It’s deadly”. So, to recap, no TV and a deadly lump in my chest… Yup, not a good morning.
They took more X-rays, put me on a strong antibiotic regiment and then told me I might not be able to graduate Basic… WTF! I am NOT doing this again! As it turns out, I had pneumonia in my lower left lobe. They told me to get a cat scan when I get to my first unit to make sure I didn’t have TB. Thankfully, they let me out of the hospital after three days and two nights on the day of graduation. I was thankful that they decided to not hold the pneumonia against me and allowed me to graduate.
Thanks for reading,
Ray
<< <i>
<< <i>Who are our forum Veterans?. >>
Speaking of true forum veterans, as opposed to military veterans, how many are still actively posting here who were on the board five or more years ago? OK, my apologies if this post sounds insensitive. It is just that when I read the title of this thread I was not expecting the content that followed, especially since this isn't Veterans Day. Of course we all know what happens when a topic is started in conjunction with a holiday, it somehow gets poofed as not coin related. Hopefully this thread will survive the Big Brothers and Big Sisters. And to add to the thread as it is, I am in full agreement with Barberian that all of us owe a lot to those who have served. One of my uncles is among the few still remaining survivors who stormed Omaha Beach and helped liberate the Buchenwald Concentraton Camp. It was only in recent years that he could even talk about the latter. >>
Hmmmm, good point... I guess I am a forum vet, I have been here for a spell.
Ray
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then question the manner in which I provide it. I prefer you said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand to post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!
USAF GUARD
US ARMY RESERVE
RETIRED ARMY ACTIVE DUTY MARCH 2006
and Proud of it!!!
God Bless America!
Veterans, the ones you can really count on. I salute you.
John
WTB: Barber Quarters XF
Dick
US Air Force, 1990 to present.
Profound thanks to all who actively served.
Here's a warning parable for coin collectors...
Cathy
I'd re-up for some things
``https://ebay.us/m/KxolR5