ran across this poem posted in another place by a brother gunner..A LEGACY OF BLOOD, HONOR, AND BRAVARY
> By Swashplate
>
>
> Lovers of flight, wings of silver be,
> Not high enough to touch the face of God, but for a look see.
> Drop outs, High school grads, and even Ivy Leaque.
> Bakeing in the tropical sun in ripstop fatique.
>
>
> Flying in a machine with skin so soft,with crews hearts so hard,
> Hideing the fear and pain, dealing the death card.
> We laughed, weeped, and saluted our dead,
> Always avoiding the shot to the head.
>
>
> Why did we indure this hell on Earth?
> Because we had a patriotic duty from birth.
> From a hammer head roll, victory dance of helicopters, to a warm
> beer,
> Many a day in that hot land, Thank you`s we didn`t hear.
>
>
> We cleaned the blood and guts off the cargo floor,
> We stood ready with an M-60 in the cargo door.
> We carried food and ammo to distant firebases on mountain tops,
> We carried the dead and wounded,Pink T missions, Combat assaults, and
flare
> drops.
>
>
> CE`s and doorgunners are sitting ducks in thier wells,
> Praying hard that a stray bullet doesn`t hit the fuel cells.
> Fear turns to rage as our comrades are blown away,
> Weeping silently for them under a poncho liner, curseing this day.
>
>
> Young teens turn to men and grow up quick,
> Spending money on a Siagon trick.
> We are proud of our duty and would do it all over agian if we
> could,
> The eternal Flame of Honor burns in our souls, As it should!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Marvin Camp
> cobra070@earthlink.net
alvis
USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 22:12:29 (MDT)
Kim, Freddy,CB, you guys doing ok?
alvis
USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 22:07:05 (MDT)
Ron Paye, Thanks for the response. Stay safe, Greg
Animal
Puna , HI USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 21:31:57 (MDT)
FYI...Veteran's Day is Celebrated November 11, recognizing all veterans of military service. Memorial Day, originally May 30 and now the last Monday in May, recognizes those service members that died during war or conclict.
FYI
USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 18:21:01 (MDT)
I work part-time for the Greenville Daily Advocate newspaper. I cover stories the last weekend of each month so Memorial Day weekend was mine this year. I attended a flag presentation at the V.F.W. in Greenville on Saturday. The post was presented a flag that had flown over the U.S.S. Arizona in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 2003. Oddly enough, I met a nice man, WWII Vet, as I was leaving. We struck up a conversation and he invited me to join he and his wife and their two friends for lunch that was being served inside the building. Bob McKnight and his friend, Doyle Mills, are Navy veterans of WWII and both served in the South Pacific. Another man who them introduced me to, Tom Whitton, was a Marine, also in the S. Pacific. I felt such an honor to be in the presence of these wonderful men who are amazingly healthy, witty and full of life. I think I've found four new friends as their wives were also willing to share thoughts and stories that I found fascinating. Today I found myself in a small country cemetary about 35 miles from here. The American Legion, a high school band, area boy scouts and relatives of those interred in that particular cemetary were on hand for a touching celebration. The pastor who spoke was overcome with emotion several times, his voice breaking. The firing of the guns in the salute to the fallen, the playing of taps...was poignant and moving. I wiped tears from my eyes a few times, particularly remembering my father, who was in the Navy, U.S.S. Rankin, in the S. Pacific. He's been gone since 1994, but I miss him still. I regret that he rarely talked about his experiences. I would have liked to know more. Ironically, the majority of soldiers buried in this particular cemetary were from the Civil War and were black. Descendants were there to honor them and I have also formed some friendships with them as well...one of the "perks" to being a writer/reporter. You are able to form many wonderful friendships you would never have had the chance to know otherwise. Ironically, on my way home, coming through Coldwater, I saw Mr. Mark Jackson leaving Pop-A-Top. The place was closed today, but Veteran's Day wouldn't have been complete without seeing Mr. Jackson. I salute him AND the rest of you on this special day. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this.
Sue
Celina, Oh USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 13:09:49 (MDT)
Hope all of you mid-westerners are safe and snug. My family often questions my sanity for living on an active Volcano(Kilauea),but it's probably one of the most benign forms of mother nature's fury. Lava comes slow and relentlessly, giving people time to get out of the way. The sudden violence of a tornado must be terrifying......... I think often of those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy in this country. I can't make the reunion, but have a Ho'okupu(gift) to present to Mark and those attending. Would one of you that will be there send me a mailing address so I can get it to Indy? Best wishes, Greg......tatu@gte.net
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 13:09:20 (MDT)
Weather was rough and crazy down here last night. Limbs and trees down. haven't heard of anyone hurt.went out to the farm awhile ago Horses and Donkeys OK. Hope all have a happy and safe Memorial day. Later........Keith
Keith 72-73
Corinth, Ms USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 12:55:56 (MDT)
all is well in area of reunion. tornados passed just south of it. Most damanage was south east indy. tore up an old folks home,26 taken to hospital from there.One barn blown down futher south,FULL of old, prime condition, cars. Reports of rolling thunder in DC comming in.estamates of over 500,000 bikes on hand for celbration( run to the wall).Dang,I am going to have to try that one day.Thank you Raineer,I love old tools.Have a stanlet hand plane,all wooden, from early 19 teens.has the owners 3 x's on it.I figure that craftsman couldnt read so marked it that way.Dont know how those guys did it,I admire them.My grandfather couldnt read a lick,but built his own house.Sue, Mark, hope all is well that way,storm passed here and was headed straight toward you guys.Off next two days,whew. Tornado sirens went off just as indy 500 was letting out.almost 400 thousand folks in one big hurry to get out of dodge.Cops couldnt set up mobil command post near old folks home cause most were near track handeling traffic nightmare.When those sirens go off, it reminds me of how the londoneers must have felt when the german bombers where in bound.very erie sound,espically at night. Slow hand salute to our fallen,Larry Jackson..thanks for giving mark this strange idae od setting up a web site.
alvis
USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 11:26:41 (MDT)
Lt Shaw, WO Strother & David Stamper I remember you.
Bruno E Sanchez
Laredo, Tx USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 09:22:12 (MDT)
Alvis, Ron, Rainer, Mark. Hope all survived the storms last night. Like I said, the power was off and a few limbs down......beautiful today. Ready for LZ Indy!! Dan Hertlein, Thad Czuba wants to know if you are gonna make Indy.....hope you can. Czuba says he can be there for couple nights. Later, Gale
Gale
USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 07:50:09 (MDT)
Alvis, I picked up an old Sears(Dunlop) Shaper The Top is rusted but itis in pretty good shape otherwise. Its a 1/2" benchtop model that Sears put out in the Late 40's or early 50"s. It has no motor but a 1/2 horse should do. I have no place for it in my shop, if you want it,its yours, let me know. Rainer
Rainer Bauer <bauerrv@aol.com>
Indy, USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 07:32:00 (MDT)
Alvis and Ron.. looks like you had the same picnic we had around here last weekend I hope you all are OK down there.. Tom, I recieved 3 of them in all and knew you wouldn't send them. I have a couple of watchdogs running all the time and they caught it. I sure hope those storms didn't mess with the hotel and other convention related thing around Indy. The WX channel said they were in the SW areas of Indy, right where it is located..Well, everyone have a great Veterans Day!!.. C U L8r... Kal...>>>
Kal Bergstrom 67/68 <n8auu(at)email.com>
Saint Joseph, MI USA - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 06:53:33 (MDT)
Storms and tornadoes all around us tonight. Golf-ball size hail in Union City, Indiana which is about 45 minutes from us. Gonna be a long night.
Sue
Celina , OH USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 21:57:34 (MDT)
Alvis, all's fine over here....pretty scary tho. Lot's of wind & power was off during the Pacers game. I guess that didn't matter much since they played like a bunch highschool kids, Oh well.......Gale
Gale
USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 21:43:48 (MDT)
phone lines back up. Looks like the big one passed close to sir Rons house.
alvis
USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 20:44:58 (MDT)
Gale, You ok? Tornados hit all around us,but not close enough to house. They came from your way.More comming.
alvis
USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 19:16:49 (MDT)
Kal, sorry about the worm, I havn't sent any E-mail to anyone for some time. If I send any E-mail check the subject line and you will know it came from a helicopter crewman. I salute all of the veterens and remember all who never returned this weekend and wish all of the 129th family the very best. I will see you all in Indianapolis in a couple of weeks.
Tom Pedersen <safetyshark@aol.com>
Lawrenceville, ga USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 17:11:36 (MDT)
got to thinking about gas prices.I stopped and filled my tank yesterday..it was very low,lower than I usually let it get.Its a 91 bonnieville I bought from a friends drunken son in law who had banged up the sheet metal pretty well.Cost me 50 bucks,have put about another 100 in it.anyway, gas cost me $34.30.The thought crossed thru my mind, add another $15.70,and I have the purchase price of my car.jeeze.........For those of you driving in, gas prices are hovering around $1.90 at the moment.They are trying to start the 500 but rain squalls keep passing thru the area.Hope all have a safe and good weekend.Me, I am off to work in a few minutes.clear.
alvis
USA - Sunday, May 30, 2004 at 08:21:50 (MDT)
as this weekend starts, I offer a slow hand salute to those brothers that have crossed over,espically those of the 129th and the 60th ahc.Those that have died since returning , I wish you could have made at least one reunion.See you at fiddlers green,salute.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 29, 2004 at 04:31:13 (MDT)
Evening flight, just a note to say THANK YOU ALEX you really came through for me. as for the rest of the flight ........ THANK YOU TOO. (that includes you gals in here too) I have come a long way since I found this site. I have another page up (click on my name below) that is a little more generic than the one for the MIA/KIA of the 129th but it is a page I think you will like. I am going to be working on it for a little while so if it doesn't come up for you try back in a few minutes. I should be done in about half an hour from the time of this post. everyone have a safe weekend. Later, Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms, AZ USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 23:58:12 (MDT)
My deepest respect to every veteran this Weekend, something that will be very special to me is the Dedication of the WW2 Memorial tomorrow. My dad served 11b10 all the way thru & was decorated on several occasions. He was in the South Pacific. He taught us to serve when called, that is how i got in the Army & eventually the 129th. I lost hom 10 years ago. He would be 84 this year. havn't really done a lot of good planning to the reunion other than am registered & have passage booked across lake Michigan on the 21st of June. Find Kal & follow him. will load up the Harley & ride the 19th. A long one but i am sure it will be a fun Ride & see lots of country i havn't seen. Lookin Fwd to it.!!!!!>>
as i said My Respects>> Smitty
Jim Westwang 71-72
Sheridan, Wy USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 21:24:56 (MDT)
Hey Gale.. Good to see you made it thru your honeymoon!!.. Yes, it would be good to have a mini at the P-A-T inroute to the reunion. Smitty should be at my house for a day or so B4 we head down there. A good steak sounds pretty good!!..Ray, how R U doin? haven't seen a post from you in a while. I have to pull a double on Saturday but only 8 on Sunday with Monday off.. Don't know if I can stand a whole day off.. Everyone have a fine Veterans Day!! B Cn U...Kal...>>>
Kal Bergstrom 67/68 <n8auu(at)email.com>
Saint Joseph, MI USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 19:37:19 (MDT)
Flight, Debbie & I just got back home. Had a great trip, but, glad it's over. Alvis & Kal, I want to be at the Pop A Top on that Wed also. I won't know for sure for a couple of weeks. Let you know later. Clear,. Gale
Gale 67-68
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 18:54:27 (MDT)
To one and All!!!! Just had my monthly visit with my primary care Dr @ the VA. To my surprise he noticed I had with me the latest issue of the V.A. Agent Orange Newsletter.
I had it because I had some direct questions for him. As it turns out some of my medical problems seem to be tied to Agent Orange. The latest one, the early onset of Type 2 Diabetes. I'll make a long story short.
THE V.A.needs all service personel who served in RVN to get to the VA Hospital and CLinics and have a Agent Orange Check up. The check up involves a very complete physical work-up. Why ?? because man of the ailments you may be suffering from have been tied to Agent Orange for more info go to http://www.va.gov/agentorange
Always a Friend Dennis
Dennis Fuerstenau <dpf092003@yahoo.com>
Haines City, FL USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 16:40:18 (MDT)
Death leaves a heartache,
No one can heal,
However
Love leaves a memory,
No one can stealÓ
They were with us then ø
They are with us Now!!
For as long as we live ø
They live within US!!
Most importantly
let us remember ø
We are with them!!
Joe Campbell <vva342jfc@aol.com>
Milwaukee, WI USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 13:37:57 (MDT)
Morning Flight... Just checking in. Fred A. nope, I hadn't heard of the Dustoff Memorial. I don't get over to the Front Range very often, especially since the kids got out of college. There was a good Memorial Day special on Rocky Mtn. PBS last night with Walter Cronkite. One of the interviewees was Pat Brady, a dustoff pilot who won a CMH in Nam. Everybody have a safe weekend!
Dave Powers
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 11:54:51 (MDT)
I will remember, as will many. Please visit this website for me. with peace-Gently http://www.palletmastersworkshop.com/namflash.html
Gently
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 08:09:30 (MDT)
FBI NOTIFICATION:
Recently we have received credible intelligence that there have
been seven terrorists working in your office. Six of the seven
have been apprehended. Bin Sleepin, Bin Loafin, Bin Goofin, Bin
Lunchin, Bin Drinking and Bin Butt-Kissin have all been taken
into custody. At this time, no one fitting the description of the
seventh cell member, Bin Workin, has been found at your office.
We are confident that anyone who looks like he's/she's Bin Workin
will be very easy to spot. You are OBVIOUSLY not a suspect at
this time. So keep on doing what you Bin Doing
alvis
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 07:47:53 (MDT)
Friends, may this Memorial Day be a day of peace for you. In this time of War and 800 casualities it's difficult to find peace, but take a minute to make a mental tally of friends and family who love you, and make a note of all the good you do for your family on this site, then allow yourself the peace it brings. We will remember our fallen on Monday, Memorial Day, as we do throughout the year, but I will remember you. Always there-Gently
Gently
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 07:45:37 (MDT)
the indy 500 race is sunday. Rain is forecast sunday thru wensday.On carb day,out of the 11 fastest cars,9 were Honda powered.Speeds were just under 220 mph.I like driving by the track as one of those 4 wheeled missles passes me inside the track.Sounds like your getting passed by a chain saw. They are adding soy bean oil to the city busses here(diesel). Seems to be working fine.TOm, hope your not offended by the joke. Its just a funny joke i heard. no malice intended.Robbie, you going to try And make the "pop a top" wensday?Alex, Don, best wishes for the health problems.See you guys at LZ indy.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 07:39:35 (MDT)
By the way, Alvis, funny jokes I always loved that one about the cop making the passengers wish come true.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 01:33:16 (MDT)
I deactivate in a few months. I filled out that health survey. Since I was state side during the whole time many of the concerns addressed by it did not apply to me. One thing is that if you answer those questions and then you get flagged for a closer look, one will not be deactivated until the Military "Heals You". Well if I enjoyed Air Force Doctors healing me, I would have made a career out of it. The common prescription that healed everything was Motrin. Going to sick call or to the Doc's for whatever ailed you always garaunteed you a prescription for 400 mg of Motrin. Anyway onto T-ball. I think my coaching career as far as t-ball goes will not see a future season. I have certainly missed the point on the "no infield fly rule". If I do not get a chance before Monday to post I would like to say thank you to all you other Vets for your service to our country.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 01:32:05 (MDT)
Radio check, over.
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Friday, May 28, 2004 at 00:14:32 (MDT)
Regarding Congressman Bishop's "Healthy Troops Act," the bill has now been introduced with original co-sponsors Chet Edwards, Lane Evans, Jack Murtha, and Ike Skelton. It is numbered H.R. 4346 with 109 cosponsors. Recently, the General Accounting Office concluded that the Department of Defense (DoD) has not complied with CongressÕs 1997 mandate (PL 105-85, 10 U.S.C. ¤ 1074f) that DoD perform comprehensive hands-on pre- and post- deployment medical exams on all deployed troops, including National Guard and Reservists. Instead, DoD has unilaterally decided to replace comprehensive hands-on medical exams performed by medical professionals, as was intended by Congress, with questionnaires to be self- administered by the troops themselves (DD Form 2795/2796). This is a grave violation of CongressÕs 1997 mandate, and a dereliction of DoDÕs duty to fully monitor and protect the health of our deployed service men and women.
Problems with DoDÕs Self -Administered Medical Questionnaires:
á Most troops do not know the entirety of their medical history, nor do they understand the implications of omissions of such medical information;
á Many troops are eager to serve our country, and may deny or overlook physical or psychological ailments which they believe may cause them to remain behind;
á The subjectivity of troops eager to Òget out of the fieldÓ may cause them to deny or overlook conditions on the comprehensive post-deployment questionnaire (DD 2796) for fear that a medical hold status may delay their return home;
á Medical examination frequency, resources, and procedures vary considerably among the Services and the Reserve components.
H.R. 4346, the ÒHealthy Troops ActÓ:
1. H.R. 4346 clarifies CongressÕs 1997 mandate that DoD provide full hands-on pre- and post- deployment medical exams and record keeping. DoD produced a rough estimate that compliance with PL 105-85, 10 U.S.C. ¤ 1074f, would cost $120 million in year one.
2. H.R. 4346 authorizes a study of the effectiveness of the self administered pre- and post- deployment assessment and continues providing oversight to ensure compliance with pre- and post- deployment policies and procedures.
Roger Manno <roger.manno@mail.house.gov>
Washington, dc USA - Thursday, May 27, 2004 at 10:19:29 (MDT)
Good talking to you again Alex, for the guys that are talking about getting a chopper go to this web site www.34restoration.org, its about a group of ex Marines rebuilding a H34.
Rainer Bauer
USA - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 17:29:14 (MDT)
An old x- door gunner down on his luck, falls to robbing people as a last resort for
money. On his first try, he sees a man walikg down the dark sidewalk, and
jumps out with his finger in his coat pocket, (like a gun, don`t cha know?), and
says, "Give me your money"! The guy indignantly says" You can`t do this I`m a
Congressman"! The quick thinking Cav guy then says "Well, give me MY money
then"!
alvis
USA - Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 09:29:56 (MDT)
Mark, Would you back channel me your mailing address? I can recieve email, but not send. Something to do with running windows 95. Thanks, Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 23:22:52 (MDT)
BEWARE!!! 129thers, I recieved a email from Tom Pedersen,(Saftyshark), today that had a worm, viris, attachment in it. I am sure Tom wouldn't send it so I'd bet they have picked his address off of some page and are just using it. If you get one also, DUMP IT!!
Alvis, from your post I take it that you are going to come over to the Pop-A-Top and join Jim and I on Wed.. Sounds good to me!!1 It would be nice if any others can do that too.
Take care all... C U L8r.... Kal...>>>
Kal Bergstrom 67/68 <n8auu(at)email.com>
Saint Joseph, MI USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 16:50:50 (MDT)
Sorry hit the wrong key. Wanted to say to REMEMBER OUR FALLEN BROTHERS ON THIS MEMORIAL DAY. sEE YOU ALL IN INDY.
Alex
USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:12:46 (MDT)
Flight: Good to see all the commo. Liz and I love the mountains of east Tenn. We try to go during the late fall. plus, she has alot of dealers in Johnson City and kingdport area. A free trip some time. But, I know the areas Frank and Fred are talking about. But, when i lived in Vidalia Ga. there was plenty of mason jars passed around. Got a negative report back from my MIR. Back to the beginning. I guess I will try the VA. If this specialist I see friday, doesn't find the problem. Won't fly in to Indy until weds. afternoon. Can't wait to see everyone. Ron hope you have room for two more on thurs. Plan on meeting Capt. Jack Alexander. He lives a short piece from my home town of Barberton, Ohio. Well on my way to work. Be careful this weekend and remember our
Alex
USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 15:09:41 (MDT)
THE TOP 30 THINGS THAT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR A SOUTHERN BOY SAY:
********************************************
30. Oh I just couldn't, she's only sixteen.
29. I'll take Shakespeare for 1000, Alex.
28. Duct tape won't fix that.
27. Come to think of it, I'll have a Heineken.
26. We don't keep firearms in this house.
25. You can't feed that to the dog.
24. No kids in the back of the pickup, it's just not safe.
23. Wrestling is fake.
22. We're vegetarians.
21. Do you think my gut is too big?
20. I'll have grapefruit and grapes instead of biscuits and gravy.
19. Honey, we don't need another dog.
18. Who gives a damn who won the Civil War?
17. Give me the small bag of pork rinds.
16. Too many deer heads detract from the decor
15. I just couldn't find a thing at Wal-Mart today.
14. Trim the fat off that steak.
13. Cappuccino tastes better than espresso.
12. The tires on that truck are too big.
11. I've got it all on the C: drive.
10. Unsweetened tea tastes better.
9. My fiancŽe, Bobbie Jo, is registered at Tiffany's.
8. I've got two cases of Zima for the Super Bowl.
7. Checkmate.
6. She's too young to be wearing a bikini.
5. Hey, here's an episode of "Hee Haw" that we haven't seen.
4. I don't have a favorite college team.
3. You All.
2. Those shorts ought to be a little longer, Betty Mae.
AND THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT YOU WILL NEVER HEAR A SOUTHERN BOY SAY:
1. Nope, no more for me. I'm driving
alvis 71/72
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 10:26:10 (MDT)
Hey Frank, My Mom was born in newport. Newport used to be the stolen car strip parts of the south.I also spent a few weeks in the hospital there after a bad crash (head on) on bloody 11w.I believe some country singer even made a song about that road.Its now 4 lane from Knoxville to kingsport.DON.. good luck buddy, you and the wife have a prayer sent today on your behalf. I will try and meet the folks coming into the area wensday at the pop a top.Smile, would be great to have a bunch of us from the 129th there all at once.Anyone interested in having a "last man" club there? It doesnt have to be a bottle of wine or sprits.Perhaps we can talk about it there.If so, I can make some sort of wooden (small) sign and case for it.alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at 09:35:44 (MDT)
Yaw Alvis know what you mean about that "mason jar", been there & done that. I been around Rogersville & Cinch mountain. We lived in Newport for awhile, not far from there. Think it used to be the "moonshine" capitol of the world. If it wasen't Cosby must have been. I got some kin living in Knoxville, had an aunt owned & operated a Motel & Resturant out from Knoxville on the Kingston Pike, place called Tiny Motels. Think it was on ole highway 11. Your wife Susan is in for a treet if she hasn't been in that part of the country before. Take care all. Frank 69 - 70.
Frank Loveday
Bastrop, La. USA - Monday, May 24, 2004 at 21:32:20 (MDT)
We lost the battle with the insurance company and had to start all over from square one. but at least this time they have to go thru with what the Dr. says because he is one of theirs. all I can say is he better be right. and get her fixed up. she is really tired of being down. esp. since surgery WILL fix the problem. Later, Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms, AZ USA - Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 22:17:00 (MDT)
Good evening to all you Bulldogs and Cobras!!..What a weekend!!.. Had a BIG storm come thru here Friday and Just got my power back this afternoon. Lot og trees down and fires. A real light show!! Ray, it sure was good to see they gave you 100%!! I am glad you stuck with it and they came around. I am sure it makes you and Gail feel better.. Ron Paye, good to see you post! You can put my down for 2, and what are the "MF"s?..Hey Robbie, Jim Westwang and I are riding down to the Pop-a-Top on Wednesday and on to the reunion on Thursday. You are welcome to join us if you like. Alvis, good to see Susan got her residence permit and will be here a while. Lookin foreward to seeing you both again. Sue, if you are around on Wed the 23rd, a couple of us will be in Coldwater and be glad to meet you. Alix, How did the MRI go? I hope they find and fix the problem.
Rogher Strong, Welcome aboard and glad you found us. Some of us have been here for years andit is always good to have new people come on board. I hope you can make a reunion as they are somthing I look foreward to every year. Dao Miller, I sure hope Donna gets the insurance thing straightened out and gets that operation over with. Seems like there has been lots of insurance problems lately.. Not good!!.Well, that is it from the stormy north for now. Take care and keep thinkin "Indy"!! C U.... Kal...>>>
Kal Bergstrom <n8auu(at)email.com>
Saint Joseph, MI USA - Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 19:25:31 (MDT)
Guys,
I have attached an e-mail from one of my Flight Nurses, who was call up for duty and is now somewhere in Iraq. I hope you injoy it. She is the type of care giver that has made the Hospital flight program I run, one of the best in the country. Keep her in your prayers.
Jack Alexander
Cobra Bishop 1970
Medina Ohio
Hi everyone,
I've been trying to get a group mail out for days now, but our internet is down most of the time, plus we have very limited time and it is very slow.
Things are fairly good but this country is in shambles. I am still working 6 days a week and next week no days off (12 hour shifts). We have been busy but not real crazy most of the time. WE are running two surgeries at a time in one room and only have the capacity for 4 all the time with the ability to go up to 6 sometimes. Lost electricity 3 times today, lab not working in 3 days, toilets overflowing....But really, not as bad as it sound or could be. In fact pretty good by Iraqi standards.
Most of what is in the ICU at this time are Iraqi patients. Few are innocent but most are "bad guys". They are often caught digging in the ground planting IED'S, we shoot them, and then resuscitate and do surgery them here. Problem is, we have to keep them until they are well enough to go to a prison. We can't send them to an Iraqi hospital as they would escape and certainly die from their wounds. It amazes me how many times these people can get shot and still live. It is very different taking care of the "detainees". Language barrier and I think they all think we are going to cut off a limb. Half the time it's blown off anyway. Many times the family will dig together and their teen age or 12 year old sons will get shot too. It is sad but their way of life.
I'm excited I'm going to be doing some Medevac transfers. So my first time flying in a Blackhawk!! Some of the critical patients, they ask for a CRNA on board.
We had our PX hit the other day and today a few bombs less than a mile away. They are always trying to get into the Green Zone here. They have gotten real good at RPG's but especially IED's. We have the helicopter flying in about 20 times a day. The ED is always busy. Had Sadam here last week for an overnighter, we were all on lock down (high value prisoner). And today the victims from the car suicide bomb that attempted to kill the second president here. Thank God only had one American soldier. This is Bagdad, in turmoil; I just hope we will make a difference in time and that it is all worth it. I just don't know. These people are used to war and this way of life. We seem to be just one of many countries who have been at war with them.
I've spent some time talking to the "good Iraqis" who work here in our hospital or in the near by area. They say they try to tell all the others what good we are doing for them. Many of them touch their heart when they wave to you, an endearing expression.
I will write again about the Iraqi people who I have met another time. I have a couple of fun stories:):)
Well, I got to go, my time is up and I will be in touch as much as possible.
I really want you to know I appreciate all your emails, prayers and everything you do too. You are all important people, and very meaningful to me. I wish I could write you all individually, because I'm aware you have a lot in your lives going on too and I would like to acknowledge that. It's not just me trying to make a difference. I'm truly one of very many.
Love You all,
Rebecca
Jack Alexander <CPTJAC@msn.com>
Medina, OH USA - Sunday, May 23, 2004 at 17:15:12 (MDT)
The White House Commission on Remembrance is a bipartisan, independent executive branch agency whose missions include:
Promoting the spirit of unity and remembrance through observance of The National Moment of Remembrance for one minute, 3 PM local time, Memorial Day.
Ensuring the nation remembers the sacrifices of America's fallen from the Revolutionary War to the present
Recognizing the devotion to duty of veterans and all those who continue to serve our great nation and reminding all Americans of their common heritage
remember
USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 20:46:54 (MDT)
I beg to differ! Today's news had a post about a Seal receiving the Navy Cross, along with a couple more getting Silver Stars! ...Keep in mind, the Navy Cross only means something if the recepient is not running for President!!!!
At the same time, we have to be informed of the renegades. They are a sad note in our history, and they need to be exposed. It would be criminal for us to be hated, and not know why. It's a part of the human condition that the good anyone does is long forgotten when measured against the bad. These are some of the same scumbuckets who run our jails stateside....any wonder why I have a hard time respecting prison guards!?! It's a thankless job, no respect, low pay, long hours, understaffed...
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 19:50:38 (MDT)
Here is a e-mail I received
Lest anyone begin to think that the idiots that are on the news are representative of the US military....
[Sheridan, Cynthia C. LTJG (CVN75 ATO)]
>SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE NEWS
>
>by Bob Lonsberry 5-7-04
Maybe you'd like to hear about something other
>than
>idiot Reservists and naked Iraqis.
>
>Maybe you'd like to hear about a real American, somebody who honored the
>uniform he wears.
>
>Meet Brian Chontosh.
>
>Churchville-Chili Central School class of 1991. Proud graduate of the
>Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband and about-to-be father.
>First
>lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
>
>And a genuine hero.
>
>The secretary of the Navy said so yesterday.
>
>At 29 Palms in California Brian Chontosh was presented with the Navy
>Cross,
>the second highest award for combat bravery the United States can
>bestow.
>
>That's a big deal.
>
>But you won't see it on the network news tonight, and all you read in
>Brian's hometown newspaper was two paragraphs of nothing. Instead, it
>was
>more blather about some mental defective MPs who acted like animals.
>
>The odd fact about the American media in this war is that it's not
>covering
>the American military. The most plugged-in nation in the world is
>receiving
>virtually no true information about what its warriors are doing.
>
>
>Oh, sure, there's a body count. We know how many Americans have fallen.
>And we see those same casket pictures day in and day out. And we're
>almost
>on a first-name basis with the pukes who abused the Iraqi prisoners.
>And we
>know all about improvised explosive devices and how we lost Fallujah and
>what Arab public-opinion polls say about us and how the world hates us.
>
>We get a non-stop feed of gloom and doom.
>
>But we don't hear about the heroes.
>
>The incredibly brave GIs who honorably do their duty. The ones our
>grandparents would have carried on their shoulders down Fifth Avenue.
>
>The ones we completely ignore.
>
>Like Brian Chontosh.
>
>It was a year ago on the march into Baghdad. Brian Chontosh was a
>platoon
>leader rolling up Highway 1 in a humvee.
>
>When all hell broke loose.
>
>Ambush city.
>
>The young Marines were being cut to ribbons. Mortars, machine guns,
>rocket
>propelled grenades. And the kid out of Churchville was in charge. It
>was
>do or die and it was up to him.
>
>So he moved to the side of his column, looking for a way to lead his men
>to
>safety. As he tried to poke a hole through the Iraqi line his humvee
>came
>under direct enemy machine gun fire.
>
>It was fish in a barrel and the Marines were the fish.
>
>And Brian Chontosh gave the order to attack. He told his driver to
>floor
>the humvee directly at the machine gun emplacement that was firing at
>them.
>And he had the guy on top with the .50 cal unload on them.
>
>Within moments there were Iraqis slumped across the machine gun and
>Chontosh
>was still advancing, ordering his driver now to take the humvee directly
>into the Iraqi trench that was attacking his Marines. Over into the
>battlement the humvee went and out the door Brian Chontosh bailed,
>carrying
>an M16 and a Beretta and 228 years of Marine Corps pride.
>
>And he ran down the trench.
>
>With its mortars and riflemen, machineguns and grenadiers.
>
>And he killed them all.
>
>He fought with the M16 until it was out of ammo. Then he fought with
>the
>Beretta until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up a dead man's AK47
>and
>fought with that until it was out of ammo. Then he picked up another
>dead
>man's AK47 and fought with that until it was out of ammo.
>
>At one point he even fired a discarded Iraqi RPG into an enemy cluster,
>sending attackers flying with its grenade explosion.
>
>When he was done Brian Chontosh had cleared 200 yards of entrenched
>Iraqis
>from his platoon's flank. He had killed more than 20 and wounded at
>least
>as many more.
>
>But that's probably not how he would tell it.
>
>He would probably merely say that his Marines were in trouble, and he
>got
>them out of trouble. Hoo-ah, and drive on.
>
>"By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, unlimited courage in
>the
>face of heavy enemy fire, and utmost devotion to duty, 1st Lt.
>Chontosh reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest
>traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service."
>
>That's what the citation says.
>
>And that's what nobody will hear.
>
>That's what doesn't seem to be making the evening news. Accounts of
>American valor are dismissed by the press as propaganda, yet accounts of
>American difficulties are heralded as objectivity. It makes you wonder
>if
>the role of the media is to inform, or to depress - to report or to
>deride.
>To tell the truth, or to feed us lies.
>
>But I guess it doesn't matter.
>
>We're going to turn out all right.
>
J.W. Wilson
USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 17:34:37 (MDT)
Sorry I have been gone for so long. My last daughter graduated from college in Wisc, finally. Spent a week up there. Now she is off to D.C. for her new job. Working for John Kerry. Ugh!!! So are we decided to go with the 82 combat aviation battalion B Company. I've got to know. I want to turn the paper work in.
Randy
USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 10:42:35 (MDT)
Fred A, yep if i do come to the reunion it will be on the bike. Right now i'm planning on it, but if i get offered a job before then, my chances will be slim. I'm planning on stopping in Cleveland and riding out with Pete Rhome. I talked to him earlier this year and he said he was planning on riding out. I guess i better call him and make sure we're still on.... Rob
Robbie
Rochester, NY USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 07:47:17 (MDT)
Fred A....Had to work today (Sat.) so my trip to Indy won't be till the reunion. Was hoping to make it beforehand, but my schedule doesn't look like it's gonna happen. I assume you'll be at the reunion, so will look forward to meeting you there.
Sue
Celina, OH USA - Saturday, May 22, 2004 at 07:14:21 (MDT)
Sue,I work this saterday. If you are comming here,please feel free to stop by my work place. My hours ( tommorow) are from 6 am till 3 pm.I work at lowes, just off the 10th street exit from 465 . Its about 3 or 4 miles north of the airport,east side of the exit.I work in tools.If you dont see me, just ask for the bearded tool guy,everyone knows me.Perhaps we can give sir Ron a call,he doesnt spend alot of time on the pc anymore... I thought the flight would like to see a little history that the 129th ahc,was part of.It was from 22 april till 14 may,1967. alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 21:01:19 (MDT)
JUNCTION CITY. Largest operation in Vietnam to date:
83 days
22 U.S. battalions and four ARVN battalions. Elements of
the U.S. 1st, 4th, 9th and 25th Infantry Divisions, 196th Light
Infantry Brigade. 11th Armored Cavalry and 173d Airborne
Brigade. Conducted in War Zone C (Tay Ninh Province) and
bordering provinces. 2,728 known enemy casualties.
U.S. AIRBORNE COMBAT JUMPS (Vietnam):
Date: 22 February 1967
Unit: 173rd Airborne Brigade, 503rd P.I.R., 2nd & 3rd Btl's,;
3/319 Airborne Field Artillery
Regiment (AFAR). Jumped at 0900 hours.
Operation: Junction City
Troopers: 845
Country: Vietnam
Dropzone: Katum
*Aviation Support: 'Aviation Punch'
Delta Battalion
175th and 336th
10th CAG
48th, 117th and 129th
180th Chinook Company
11th CAB
116th, 128th, 162nd, 173rd, 178th and the 213th
145th CAB
71st, 74th, 118th, 184th, 334th and 335th
* Reference: Primer of the Helicopter War
alvis
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 20:51:10 (MDT)
Does anyone know how many people will be in Indy? I haven't been in touch with Mark, but am curious. I will be coming there on Saturday, hoping to meet as many of you as possible. I feel it will be not only an honor but extraordinary to be included with people that are an important part of this country's history.
sue
Celina, oh USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 17:08:26 (MDT)
hey Robbie, you comming in on your bike for the reunion?
alvis
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 14:29:42 (MDT)
Cherry, I got your new email address (just to let you know) 5 instead of 4. Gale hope you and Debbie have a good time in LA and happy birthday...Rob
Robbie
Rochester, NY USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 14:12:04 (MDT)
Flight, Debbie & I will be AWOL for a week starting today. Flying to LA for her son's graduation, then driving up to SF for a little "honeymoon" trip before returning on May 28th (I'll celebrate my birthday out there on the 27th). After that it'll only be about 4 weeks to LZ INDY !! See you all in a week. Clear, Gale
Gale
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 12:57:12 (MDT)
hey Dave in Colorado... they are soon holding some sort of dustoff memorial at fort Carson, sounds like a nam helicopter thing.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 05:30:07 (MDT)
hey Frank, they finally built that bridge between the airport and knoxville.Have loads of family in knoxville.I wasnt raised in rogersville, but spent every summer there.My dad,s family isnt from any town, they lived ON clinch mountian.Gonna take Susan up there in the "outback" of tennessee, Gods country.Very few tourist get to see it.She was kinda surprised when I told her I plan on getting a "mason jar" of shine.She didnt think folks did that anymore.Its still 20 bucks and you still put it "under the rock".smile.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 05:25:40 (MDT)
I dont know if this will get posted or not. I have been experiencing a major proplem with the Flight Log. I get a this is not responding at the top of the page when it says done at the bottom left. I went into the comments section while the page was still opening. O. K. I tried to call Mark last night missed him at the Pop A Top and home. I did talk to Ray Evans and Jim Jobe on the phone yesterday. I got DSL service yesterday and ran through all the pictures on the web site. Bill Wolf submitted a picture asking for help with I. D. of the people in it. Ray Evans Bulldog Dead Eye is sitting on the 55 gallon drums. John Stone Bulldog Fluffy is sitting in the background behind Ray. I Bulldog Cherry am standing with the Bud in my hand to the left of Ray. Bill if you could send me a copy of the picture I sure would appreciate it as it comes of the site very poorly. I am listed in the links section Dick Muirhead. I hope all is well with my friends in the 129th. I have been really fortunate to find you all again after all these years. I am going to end for now. If anyone can give me advice on how to fix my problem with the Flight Log get at me At my email address. It is the same as listed other than I am @frontiernet.net now.
Dick Muirhead Bulldog Cherry
Susanville, Calif USA - Friday, May 21, 2004 at 00:02:37 (MDT)
Good Eve.Flight..WelcomeHome Roger!..Tripper,I did a few Avionics/Battery doors & Flight helmets also Remember?..Hightest is 2.69/gal.now..I think we might start to see sales of 'locking" gascaps increase in my area.LOL.The last time,during the Gas"shortage",Someone was cosiderate to me by not prying off my locking gascap. They simply punched a hole in the bottom of the tank with a icepick & filled their 5gal cans.Siphoning can be hazardous to your health,if you're a smoker..Alvis:I loved the one about the Georgia Trooper!.Still don't know if I can make Indy.Will let you know..My wife,Elke is Undergoing Chemo until July.We are trusting in the Lord.One day at a time..Like I always say,Every day above ground,..is a good day!..Gotta run 4 now.Reguards..Thanx again Mr.Mark for this"Push"...Clear left..Lenny.
Lenny'fire'Adams
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 19:29:41 (MDT)
I have a room for Indy, A friend from 228th can't make it and I will share it if someone needs a place to stay. My e-mail is on contract page. J. W. Wilson 129th 66-67
J. W. Wilson
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 18:29:32 (MDT)
Alvis & Alex, small world. I was born & raised in Sevierville, Tenn. Alex when you get to Gatlinburg you are close, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge & Sevierville are all one town now. Sure is beautiful country. Going to try & get up that way soon. I sure miss it. Frank. Cobra Plt 69 - 70
Frank Loveday
Bastrop, La. USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 15:18:47 (MDT)
Stacey!!!! Welcome back! Don't go away for so long...we worry about you! Now we just have to hear from C.P.!! Come on C.P.! With big smiles-Gently
Gently
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 10:56:20 (MDT)
Just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in...
Stacy McLain gunner <smclain4@hotmail.com>
Flagpole, az USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 10:12:09 (MDT)
Thanks Gale, but Susan isnt a citizen, she is a "permanent resident".Citizenship is way down the road, if she wants it.She is a citizen ,both of, England and Australia.When she was 3, her Dad moved to Australia.She is what they call a 4 quid immergrent. After ww2 the aussie's offered english war vets and other certian skilled people,a program to move them and their familys to Austraila for 4 quid( about 20 bucks). Jobs,housing and other things awaited them.She is what the aussies call a " 4 quid immergrent" or even a " pom".Pom stands for "prisoner of her Majasty", which is what the aussies still call all english folks.Susan and I have briefly discussed citizenship. I feel she shouldnt,but its her choice. I told her when we retire, we can sell this place and retire to australia.It would be much easier if she retained her citizenship there to do that.That another 12 years down the road, so who knows. alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 08:38:41 (MDT)
slow hand salute and welcome home sir.....NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense
No. 476-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2004
Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711
Missing Vietnam War Serviceman Identified
A serviceman missing in action from the Vietnam War has been identified
and returned to his family for burial.
He is Air Force Col. Lester E. Holmes of Plainfield, Iowa
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 08:19:13 (MDT)
Alvis, first of all congrats to Susan on her citizenship...that's great! Your story of the wannbe brought back a memory. When I was still working I had a regular customer that I had'nt talked very much too One day he came in with a Nam hat on and I asked him some questions. Turned out, so he said, that he was a "was a Huey crewchief." He had me believing it for weeks until his wife came in. I mentioned to her that her husband and I had things in common. When I told her that we were both crewchiefs in Nam..............well, I didn't think she was ever gonna quit laughing. She said "the damned liar has'nt even been out of the country!!" I learned a little lesson there and hardly even spoke to him after that. Gale
Gale 67-68
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 08:06:14 (MDT)
Colonoscopy
A physician claims these are actual comments from his patients made
while he was performing colonoscopies:
1. "Take it easy, Doc, you're boldly going where no man has gone
before."
2. "Find Amelia Earhart yet?"
3. "Can you hear me NOW?"
4. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
5. "You know, in Arkansas, we're now legally married."
6. "Any sign of the trapped miners, Chief?"
7. "You put your left hand in, you take your left hand out. You do
the Hokey Pokey...."
8. "Hey! Now I know how a Muppet feels!"
9. "If your hand doesn't fit, you must ! acquit!"
10. "Hey, Doc, let me know if you find my dignity."
And THE Best One
11. "Could you write me a note for my wife, saying that my head is
not, in fact, up there?"
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 07:52:31 (MDT)
Two men are driving through Georgia when they get pulled over by a State Trooper.
The cop walks up and taps on the window with his nightstick. The driver rolls down the window and WHACK! The cop smacks him in the head with the stick.
"What the hell was that for," the driver asks.
"You're in Georgia, Boy," the trooper answers. "When we pull you over, you better have your license ready when we get to your car."
"I'm sorry, Officer," the driver says, "I'm not from around here."
The trooper runs a check on the guy's license--he's clean--and gives the guy his license back.
The trooper THEN walks around to the passenger side and taps on the window.
The passenger rolls down the window and WHACK! The trooper smacks HIM on the head with the nightstick.
"What'd you do that for," the passenger asks.
"Just making your wish come true," replies the trooper.
"Making WHAT wish come true," the passenger asks.
"Because I know that two miles down the road you're gonna turn to your buddy and say, 'I wish that asshole would've tried that shit with me!'"
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 07:50:06 (MDT)
Actually Alex, its Rogersville,county seat for hawkins county.Its on the Clinch river, and near Clinch mountian. Lots of the "new" King Kong movie was shot there.Their other claim to fame is that Davy Crocket's granf parents are buried there.( killed by indians I believe.)In my line of work, I run into Vietnam vets every now and then.Ran into 2 yesterday,one a x doorgunner and wheel chair bound.Had a nice chat with him ,informed him of the reunion,he says he will be there.I have to smile at the other one.He was weqring one of those black baseball type hats( like many of us wear) that say "Vietnam Veteran" After saying welcome home bro.,I ask if he ever goes to the Kokomo reunion.for those who dont know, kokomo indiana has a reunion every year of nam vets,usually about 13 thousand folks show. Anyway, this guy tells me real quick " I put all that stuff and time behind me".I replied," yea,alot of guys have".Thinking .... then why wear the damn hat? Statments like his,while wearing the hat and talking the talk (kinda) makes me think he is a wannabe.Sorry, I have ran into just to many wannabes to take that broad statement as fact.The next statement I expected to hear from him was " I was a Lurp. or sog.Most brothers will at leas ask "where were you at or when?.Shrug, I have ran into a few that really did ment it,but far more were wannabes.Shrug, its not my biz and he is intitled to his own way, I just found it funny that he was wearing the hat and then closed off the rest,espically to a brother.The hat invites questions such as mine from another vet.
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 07:36:38 (MDT)
What a happy place....:>))) Lou and Roger....Ray gets his 100%...Ron Paye will moon for everyone at his home this year rather than at the hotel....Alex might finally be getting down to the real foot problem...things are looking up for Don and Donna...Rick's HEEEing all over the place...loys of you going to the re-union...Katherine popped in...and on and on. Here's another one Kim: Sigh :>))) You people are special. Gently
Gently
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 06:43:21 (MDT)
Congratulations Ray, its not every day as we see our vets getting taken care of the way they (and all of you) should be. Alvis, exactly, car parts is the bread and butter of the industry. Toyota and Honda have some of the highest priced after market parts out there. After market parts are especially expensive when you can ONLY get them from the dealer.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 04:34:20 (MDT)
Roger Strong, it is great to see you here. My dad has had a picture of you in his stuff for years. He worked with you when he got to Viet Nam. His name is Lou Ragonese. He usually checks the flight log on his days off and I am sure he will be happy to see you here. Unfortunately he was there from Jan 1970 until Dec 1970 and would not be able to help you with the 1969 time frame. There may be a way to find the information you need out of the Archives section in St. Louis. That may be a tough task because you either got to request info and wait or you can go there but that is not much easier. I will look up the sights or see if my dad has the phone number still to those guys for you to contact. Again it is great to see you here.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 04:10:25 (MDT)
in case you don't have the route check out http://www.rftw.org/ then click on either central or southern route then click on "daily" and you can see where and when they will be in a certain area. Don
Don Miller
USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 23:14:33 (MDT)
Alex, it was great talking with you last night. hope they find something that they can easily fix in your MRI. 8 months is a long time to be hurting. Rick, sorry I missed your call, I'll try to call you this weekend. tomorrow we start over with new doctors maybe the insurance company will do something this time. to paraphrase a line out of an old movie, I fit a good fight but still lost. well if you are anywhere near where the RFTW is riding this or next week be sure to watch them and wave as they go by. all those bikes ......... what a sight. Later, Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms , AZ USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 22:51:50 (MDT)
ray great news, congrads. sorry i did return your phone call the other day, just got back from seeing my two kids up in new york. had a graet time with theemray there are a lot of bennys that go along with the 100%. but i'll give you the low down when i see you in indy. congrads again.....roger welcome home,i too started my tour in 69 mar. was a tint kncker when i frist arrived than went to p.o.l. for a few months an than started flying with the cobra platoon until i left in oct. of 70. dont know what i can help you with . i would call me but mark has not as yet changed my addy or phone # on the contact list. hopefully he'll do it one day. what say you mark, or my poem.soon maybe heeeeeeeeee.but anyway welcome.88888686 ron will be ther, i just hope we can keep our you know whats onheeeeee. ill be drivind up so if anyone needs a rideyour more than welcomedbe good to see youall.
wink , from 010 with love 3/69-10/70
barry winkler (wink)
lake wales , fl/ny USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 20:45:04 (MDT)
Ron I will be there, I wished you would let me know if i can help in any way, I am taking Ray around Sat. morning but will be able to help anyone Thur. and Fri.
Rainer Bauer
Indy, USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 17:34:54 (MDT)
Ray, that's the best news that I could hear from you. I guess it paid to get in touch with your congressman. You deserve it Brother. Hope everyone else is doing good...Rob
Robbie
Rochester, NY USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 16:57:42 (MDT)
Alvis it's sounds like you will be in the Johnson City area. The other end of the state. I'm about 8 hours from that area. Liz and I will heading to Gatlinburg TN. this fall for a few days. Hope you can get you time off for the reunion. I know how the retail business is. Jim H. Will be glad to meet you. I know we crossed paths back in 66/67. Glen Pearmain told me larry Graham is supposed to be there this year. Rick will be good to see you again. Well 129th family take care and looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks. Alex 65/68
Alex
USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 14:49:40 (MDT)
Welcome Home Rodger. No chicken plate needed here maybe a flak vest every now and then.hehehehehehehehe********Congrats Ray I told you you would do it.*******Ron I will be there witha friend. Everybody look out for Ron's dog he is like Ron in the tent at KokomoheheheheheheJust kidding. Be careful out there see ya all at the reunion. Clear left.
Rick England
Wittmann, Az USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 10:39:30 (MDT)
oops, I have been remiss,sorry Roger, welcome home and to the site.Lots of good folks here and more comming. Katherine is correct, lots of brotherhood here,love ,and a few fist fights.( just kidding) Good to see you post, Ron, you too, gentle one.I am trying to take vacation days during the reunion, so I can also help in ferrying folks or lending a hand .The airport lies between Ron"s and my own,so no trouble to hook up. I had a good laugh, explaining what ham and "MF" means to my wife.If one didnt say it while eating them, those close by soon would be. GI's, you have to love their wit.For those with maps ouy, the hotel is just off the airport expressway.465, which circles indy,is 60 miles long. Pop A Top, is about 2 1/2 hours away.Went to immergration yesterday ( almost always a 4 hour sit),susan is now permenate resident.We have to be reviewed in 2 years( to make sure we are still married and not a collector of plubic funds).She can now legally leave the country and get back in.( great if we want to vist canada or if parents got really sick).We will be going to north east Tennessee july 4th for my family reunion.Any of our brothers in that area? Its between knoxville and kingsport.
alvis
USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 09:17:43 (MDT)
I just went thru a bunch of the pics in the site.....saw a few of myself and a bunch of guys I remember. I remember some of the crashes that I was involved in getting back to lame field...........wow what a great web site....................
Roger Strong
Roger Strong
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 22:16:03 (MDT)
evening flight, well with any luck one year from tomorrow morning I will be in California waiting to start the RFTW. this year with all that is going on with Donna it is not going to happen. well that is the way the ball bounces. my trike isn't ready yet either but it is coming along. I aquired a 1984 Stires trike that needed a LOT of TLC. the body work is coming along and the engine should be ready soon. of course as soon as the engine is here it goes in and the trike goes on the road ...... paint or no paint. if anyone wants to see it I will have a web page for it soon. maybe tonight if I have time to get it finished. I have put some "interesting" touches to it and may seem a little out of place at this point. but when it is finished it should all come together. the pic's I have of it so far don't show the "interesting" touches LOL .......... yet. anyway again RAY congratilations and I will send you an E-mail. take care all, Later, Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms, AZ USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 21:13:38 (MDT)
thanks for all the greetings i already feel at home......by the way, I had to go the our congressman to get help as well. It is a bummer. Hope some one can help with the history of 1969. Wish I could make the reunion.....When you have Parkinson's it a bit of a hassle to travel......maybe the reunion can be in Oklahoma soon.......Roger Strong
Roger Strong <kclambfarm@valornet.com>
skiatook, ok USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 21:03:23 (MDT)
Thanks, Ron, for the invite on Thursday evening. Sue & I will take you up on your offer. We don't know our way around Indianapolis at all so either need directions or a ride. Looking forward to seeing everyone! Jim H.
Jim H.
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 20:45:02 (MDT)
Flight: Welcome Home to our new Brother Roger. Congradulations Ray. I new the VA would come around. see you and Gail in Indy. Well Indy is rapidly approaching. And the excitement is in the air. We have a great group of Brothers living in the area to help us find the good places. And I know the spouses will have a list of the shopping place for our wonderfull wives. Ron Paye will be good see you again Sir. Ron,Fred A.,Gale and Rainer all live in the area. Having a MRI done friday morning on my left foot. Hopefully they will find the problem. Been working with Stress fractures for 8 months. Allways A Brother Alex
Alex
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 16:24:03 (MDT)
Gently...what are you drooling over?? LOL...I won't be at the reunion, it'd be an honor to be talked about!!! This divorce business is hard on making plans. (sigh) Ray, congrats on the 100%!!! Glad you stuck with it. How'd the air conditioner installation go?..Thanks for the Billy Joel reminder, brought back a few memories. It's still a good life, all things considered.
Kim
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 15:30:48 (MDT)
Sigh. :>))
Gently
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 15:02:16 (MDT)
Way to go Ray,...... I hate to be an I told you so, But I did, and it worked for you as it did for me. Seems like when the Congress people are looking over their (VA's) sholder, a lot of the BS gets dropped and the case gets the attention it should have gotten from the start.......To any other members of the flight that might bee seeking a claim from the VA and are getting the usual run a round, seek out you local Congress person and ask for their help......Lenny.....not sure on the zig zag man... I did a number of Buldogs and some other stuff, but I can't quite recall on that one........Tails Clear Left......Casey
Matt Casey
Hemet, CA USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 14:06:06 (MDT)
Ron Paye, Thank you for the offer, I will attend so that i can hear yall talk about me. I no longer drink so that isn't an issue. I am going to assume that my roomie (Shadow) Alton Page will come but he will have to speak to that. Ray Gagner ( happy for you). Looking Fwd to seeing you all. My plan is to get on the Harley on Sat. ride 500, ride 500 Sunday, about to Wisc. around gently's country, to St Joseph, MI & meet Kal Bergstrom, Ride with him to the Pop-a-top on WED, then to Indy on thurs day. Electra-Glide is new so all should go well (i hope).>>> respects>>>smitty
jim westwang 71-72
Sheridan, Wy USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 12:08:06 (MDT)
Ron, sounds great! There will be a few of us with cars to help shuttle from the airport if needed. If you don't want to buy any of that "sissy" beer, I'll bring my own!! :o)) Flight, I like different beers,but, some of Ron's collection of malt is pretty stout.....drink with caution! Was that ham & MF? Sorry to sound dumb, but, you lost me on the MF. If you need me to come early & help let me know. Clear, Gale
Gale
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 08:55:33 (MDT)
HELLO RON MILLER THANKS FRIST I HOPE YOUR WIFES SURGEY GOSE WELL. OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU BOTH, RON I WAS GETTING NO WHERE WITH THE VA UNTILL I GOT IN TOUCH WITH MY CONGRESS MAN, AT FRIST I THOUGHT I MADE A MISTAKE. BUT THEY HAVE A COMMITTY THAY WORKS JUST TO HELPS VETS LIKE US, WE FAXED HER ALL THE DR IMPORTANT THINGS SHE MADE SOME CALLS
I DONT THINK IT WAS A MONTH THEN I GOT MY 100% I GOT A LOT OF B/S FROM SERVICE OFICER BUT SHE CALLED HIM AND TOLD HIM HE WAS NOT DOING HIS JOB HE GOT UP SET WIT ME, IF YOU WANT E MAIL ME IF NOT FOR THEM I STILL BE WAITING. GOOD LUCK. OH WE WERE THERE AT THE 129th SAME TIME. I GOT THERE APRIL OF 69 TO 70 I RE CALL THE JEEP I THINK A BROTHER ALWAYS
RAY SEE YOU IN INDY
RAY <STILWATING@AOL..COM>
MD USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 08:14:21 (MDT)
Flight,
Haven't been in here for awhile. To the new guys "Welcome! Glad you are with us." Ray*** Congratulations on the 100%. You had a long hard fight, but you are a better man than them.
To everyone (you who I have met and all I have yet to meet) who will be coming to Indy next month for the reunion (or anytime for that mater) We will be having a gathering at my home on Thursday night. We will burn some meat. Have some drinks if you are so inclined. I have single malt, home brew, excellent import, and will even sneak some light beer in for anyone who wants to waist good stomach space. There may be a bit of BS going on and I guarantee a good time will be had. If you are not here we WILL talk about you. If you are coming into town with friends they are also invited. No charge for anyone. This is my small gift to you. A meager "Thank You" to the 129th family. If you can attend please let me know so I know how many c-rations to heat. I have Ham and MF for all. I only live ten minutes from the hotel where the reunion is being held so I can shuttle anyone needing a ride. I have also arranged shuttle service for the 129th on Saturday. The hotel is not near anything but the airport, so if anyone wants to do any sight seeing on Saturday you won't need to take a taxi. Take care all and see you soon.
Ron Paye
Indy, USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 07:10:58 (MDT)
Roger, Welcome Home and Thank You for all you did. YOu will find love and support here.
Katharine
Katharine
USA - Tuesday, May 18, 2004 at 06:00:21 (MDT)
RAY, I don't know what to say except ... CONGRATULATIONS ... I was really rooting for you. the VA can be a real bear ......... I know, I'm fighting with them right now. Roger, I remember your name but I can't put a face with it. I was in maint. too. I drove the front wheel drive jeep to move the birds in and out of the hanger. remember that abortion ? it was a crazy jeep but it worked. I was in the unit from Mar 69 to Mar 70. WELCOME HOME ! we get as crazy in here as we did in Nam but we're still family. on a personal note to those that know what's going on. the insurance company said NO to Donna's surgery, we have to start over :-( Later,Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms, AZ USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 21:52:40 (MDT)
Kim, do you remember the song by Billy Joel, "We didn't start the fire" he wrote that in responce to some young guy who said something to the effect "your generation didn't have all the problems we do today". I was an army brat, in '62 we were sent to Germany because of the Brelin Wall going up,then there was the Cuban Missle Crises,we had to stock C-rats and water in the basement, then Kennedy was killed, I was 10 and 11 at the time.Ive heard this a couple of times,durring the '73 Israeli/Arab war a Soviet ship was stopped in the Mediterranean headed for Egypt loaded with nukes, the person who said this worked for the Govt. it is his opinion that we were closer to war with the Soviets then durring the Cuban thing. And the beat goes on.
jim
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 21:17:55 (MDT)
I received an email at work today from a fellow co-worker. It appears that on Wed., May 19th, we are all supposed to boycott the gas pumps. Has anyone else heard this? I filled up my tank tonight just to be on the "safe side."
Sue
Celina, OH USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 20:43:36 (MDT)
Oh I agree with 'bout all you say Kim. I just feel like todays youth is being shortchanged. I'm in a small town also and grew up here. When I was a kid there was a family owned grocery store every couple blocks where you could run a tab with a handshake. A gas station on every corner that actually pumped the gas for you, not to mention check your oil, water and clean your windshield. I have to say that air is still free here. In our town there was also taverns galore and the cops would either follow you home or give you a ride. Now you can drive most the way to Walmart without seeing a family owned business. Not too long ago I could load up the trash on Saturday morn, grab a couple beers, fire up the pickup and cruise the countryside to the dump and back. Very enjoyable & relaxing. Never hurt a soul. Now the dump is a landfill that costs $20 a load or I can pay Jamax to pick it up with there big tri-axle rig that tears up the drive all the time. If I'm caught with an open container of beer..............well, there goes your reputation and a couple hundred bucks in fines. Not to mention the alcohol abuse program that I would have to attend. Forgive me if I sound a little bitter, 'cause I am. Just blowin' a little steam......while it's still legal. :o))) Ray, GREAT NEWS Buddy!!!! See you in Indy. Gale
Gale
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 18:57:52 (MDT)
Gale, I guess I live in a different place than most of you. We still have old folks walking the streets in the evening, people sitting in their yards, waiting for someone to stop by and say hi. I raised my kids on 4H, showing livestock, going to the fairs in the summer, after the haying was done. We spent a lot of time playing in the front yard, a lot of neighbor kids included. I spned a lot of time with girls, teaching the finer points of softball. They are motivated to improve, have at least one parent who will advocate for and support them, and, in general, are fun to be with!!!! From what I learned about the 'innocent years', they were times when a lot of dirty little secrets were whispered about....so and so went to live with Aunt Martha, for a few months, child molestation was never talked about, abusive spouses were unheard of, even considered as upstanding citizens!! Maybe TV has brought things into our living rooms, but, it wasn't too many years ago that this country held public executions, and people would travel for miles to watch!...If our kids have problems, we only have to look at ourselves, or, our parents, to see where they come from..Yes, there are a lot of pressures today that weren't around years ago, the trash on tv is banal, insipid, and easily turned off!!!As our culture changes, our demographics change too. Where are the meaningful jobs? the loyal bosses? the sense of achievement that comes from doing a days work?..we area letting ourselves be seduced by the quick buck, the pop of the high return on our assets. This country went from living on the increase, the belief that consumers should be able to afford the products we made, to one where we waste gasoline driveing hundreds of miles in order to save a buck! And, in so doing, we've killed the small town. I'm not trying to indict the past, only point out that the present isn't all that bad in comparison with the past. that's my opinion, I welcome yours...
Kim
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 17:57:56 (MDT)
Ray, as the Aussies say "Good on ya, mate"
jim
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 17:52:56 (MDT)
THANKS ALVIS, OH I SEE YOU IN INDY. CAN'T WAIT TO MEET YOU AND SUE. BE SAFE.ROB HOW YOU DOING.. ALEX IT WAS GOOD TALKING TO YOU THE OTHER DAY I DONT REMEMEMBER WHAT DAY BUT KNOW IT WAS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. MARK DID YOU EVER GET THE E MAIL I SENT YOU? WELL INDY IS COMMING UP FAST, CAN'T WAIT.tryed to call you rick. i try later .well tale care all of you
a brother always Ray
RAY <stilwating@aol.com>
MD USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 17:48:16 (MDT)
A toyota rep came into my work today.While chatting with him, I ask about the hybrid car and the cost of new batteries.Yes, the replacement battery does cost 3,000 dollars.Its garenteed for 80 or 100,000 miles tho and 8 years.He said that in 8 years they expect the price to be alot lower. He said look at computers, dvd players, ect.Was a good arguement put forth for the system.Then I got to thinking...Batteries,starters,alternators,fuel pumps ect ALL used to cost under 50 bucks,many times under 40 bucks.That stuff goes up. not down.
alvis
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 16:02:46 (MDT)
CONGRADS Ray. You deserve it buddy.FINALLY, the system does right by someone!See you in Indy.
alvis
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 15:54:22 (MDT)
HELLO TO ALL. YOU ALL NOT GOING TO BELIVE THIS I NO SOONER GOT OFF LINE FROM WHAT I WROTE THEN MY SERICE OFICER CALLED ME, AND TOLD ME I WONT BE HAVING A HEARING AFTERALL THAT HE CALLED THE HEARING OFFICER AND THEY DECIDED TO GIVE ME THE 100% I THINK THE CONGRESS PERSON HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT. BUT I CANT BELIVE IT IT WAS NOT OFF LINE 5 MINS. THEN THE CALL CAME GRANTERING ME 100% JUST CANT DONT KNOW THANKS FOR LISTING A BROTHER RAY WHO JUST CANT FIGURE THE GOVEMENT OUT RAY
RAY <STILWATING@AOL.COM>
MD USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 11:41:27 (MDT)
Hello To All Just thought I say hi. And tell you I have a DRO hearing by phone tomorrow tomorrow at 1:00pm it was to be face to face in june. but my service rep had it changed to tomorrow and by phone. he knows how i het on the phone i cant talk right; he is so mad i called my congress man on him. she got him for not doing is job right, then he called me told me to never ever call them again, i think this is his way ,,,,to hive me a propaste test with out his finger. i don't think i win. the congress mans lady told me after we get a diffrent rep i dread tomorrow i be so nervous. i bever heard of a hearing done by phone, have any of you. a brother that is worryed ray thanks oh if i hear what happens tomorrow i let u know but iam sure i be turned down
RAY <stilwating@aol.com>
md USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 10:21:21 (MDT)
Kim, ya know I think things were that simple back then.......when families gathered on their "front porch" (remember what those were?) in the evenings and visited, kids playing in the streets and neighbors actually speaking to one another. People (especially children) were not taken to a war zone via reporter cameras and the only hero was Audie Murphy....not every man in uniform. Yeh, I remember the school drills and Civil Defense towers,but,at least we were'nt exposed to the violence of a war as they are today. Add that to school shootings, everyday bullying, violent games, violent movies & TV, MTV and believing that "oral sex" is not actually "sex".........man, my young life was pretty simple here the midwest. I can't imagine having all this crap thrown at me at that age. Must be awfully scary for these poor kids now. Sue Hydinger, there's a place called Gilleys about 20-30 minutes west of Indy airport at Plainfield ,In. Debbie & I love to go there. I'll let you know more at Indy. Hey, I'll send you a picture of my retro "gas station" / "saloon" or what ever you want to call it. Rick calls it the "bunker" and Gently calls it......what does she call it???? I built it a couple years ago and keep adding things. I've had loads of people just stop to look at it. Anyone else interested?? If Rick ever gets to my house to visit, we'll probably bunk out there.....as long as Ron Paye isn't with him.;o) Heeheehheheheee Gale
Gale
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 09:38:46 (MDT)
Guy's of the 129th........This is the first time I have been on the site. MY name is Roger Strong I was with the 129th during Sept,1969 to Sept,1970. I was on unscheduled maint. I have a bit of a delima, I was diagnosed with Parkinson's some time back, and I am currently getting care from VA. Well , next month I will be ask ( by the VA) for history on my year in VN.
This site has been a great help on the 1970 part, but I need information about 1969. I am sorry, one of the things that goes first with Parkinson's is your memory. I would really appreciate anyone's help. It talke me a while to answer because I must do it with one hand but i will try to answere all of you that e-mail me.
thanks in advance for your help
one of the team.
Roger Strong
Roger Strong <kclambfarm@valornet.com>
Skiatook, OK USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 08:17:01 (MDT)
Jim & I are going to Indianapolis. We love to antique shop. Anyone have some info for us on area antique shops?
Sue & Jim H.
USA - Monday, May 17, 2004 at 06:22:51 (MDT)
Were things really THAT simple back then??? Korea was going on, tail gunner Joe was poisoning America, we were in fear of the 'red menace'. My first union job was as a meatcutter in a chicken processing plant, amalgamated meatcutters local, 385....job paid 1.65 per hour. We used to get Narragansett beer, giant imperial quarts, for 34 cents a bottle. Nasty stuff!!!!!! My first motorcycle was a Bridgestone 90, under 400 bucks! blue smoke everywhere!! Remember 'duck and cover'?? That was going to keep us safe from nuclear attack?!? Alvis....I used to live on Custer Road, base housing, just off Sand Hill. Lt. Calley was confined to quarters on Arrowhead Road..we used to call the area the Lonely Hearts Club, because of all the wives who had husbands overseas...speaking of 4th avenue...ever been to the Chickasaw club?
Kim
USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 20:03:40 (MDT)
In Columbus we use to have "gas wars" and I can remember it 18 cents a gallon for regular. Friend of mine had a Volkswagen bug...we could cruise all night on 3 bucks of gas. Minimum wage was a $1.55 I think back then.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 18:37:05 (MDT)
Well, Frank...don't recall the price of beer back in those days...I grew up outside a "dry" town! (That town STILL doesn't sell alcohol!) But I think 1952 was a pretty damn good year and wish things were as simple as they were back then.
Sue
Celina , OH USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 15:50:30 (MDT)
Sue, you & I must have come along about the same time, cigaretts 15 cents a pack, beer 10 & 15 cents a bottle. Problem was no one made much money. Oh well!!! Frank
Frank Loveday
Bastrop, La. USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 13:56:20 (MDT)
Alvis: Nice info on the Memphis Belle and crew. If the Memphis Belle foundation can raise the money. It will be a 1/4 mile from here. The land has already been donated. I think it's presently housed on Mud island in Memphis. Well only about 5 weeks till the reunion.I think about 12 have pr-registered as of last week. But,we still have a few weeks to do it in. I am trying to get romm large enough for about 40 people. Hope for a larger turn out. Take Care Alex 65-68
Alex
USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 10:50:58 (MDT)
Fred Alvis...I thought my ex's brother was kidding when he told me about the water-fueled cars. But he has done testing all across this country and as far away as Australia. He's good at what he does and knowledgeable as well. I guess there ARE alternatives if the right people pursue them. I just never thought in my lifetime I would see gas prices as they are now. When I was in high school, gas was less than 25 cents a gallon. Of course, we are talking immediately following the horse and buggy days in that respect! The hazards of growing old!! Aches, pains, memory lapses, high gas prices!!
Sue
Celina, OH USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 10:31:31 (MDT)
slow hand salute......Famed Memphis Belle Pilot Dead at 85
>
> Sunday, May 16, 2004
>
>
> ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Col. Robert Morgan , commander of the famed Memphis
> Belle (search) B-17 bomber that flew combat missions over Europe during
> World War II, died late Saturday of complications from a fall, his wife
> said. He was 85.
>
>
> Morgan was hospitalized April 22 with a fractured neck after falling
> following an air show at Asheville Regional Airport, said Carole
> Donnelly, spokeswoman for Mission Hospitals, where Morgan was treated.
>
> A native of Asheville, Morgan became famous as the pilot of the Memphis
> Belle, which flew 25 combat missions over Germany and France during
> World War II. Morgan co-authored a book about some of his experiences,
> "The Man Who Flew the Memphis Belle," with Ron Powers.
>
> Morgan and three other members of the Memphis Belle's crew were made
> honorary colonels of the state of Tennessee in 2000.
>
> The crew completed its 25th bombing mission during World War II on May
> 17, 1943. It was a historic number; the Belle was the first heavy bomber
> in the European theater to last 25 missions, the magic number to be sent
> home.
>
> "Twenty-five doesn't sound like much until you start flying them,"
> Morgan later said.
>
> Morgan and his crew were assigned to the plane Sept. 1, 1942. The pilot
> named the craft after his wartime sweetheart's home town.
>
> The Belle flew to England in late September and departed on its first
> bombing mission on Nov. 7.
>
> In the next six months, the Belle flew missions over France, Belgium,
> Holland and Germany. She was struck by flak, 20mm cannon shells and
> machine gun bullets. Every major part of the plane was replaced at least
> once, including the engines (nine times), both wings, tails and main
> landing gears. Four of the plane's crew of 10 died during combat.
>
> According to Army records, the plane flew 148 hours, dropping more than
> 60 tons of bombs, all on daylight missions.
>
> "Some of them were pretty rough missions. The Luftwaffe (the German air
> force) boys would sometimes fly into their own flak to get at us. They
> were mean devils, I tell you," said top turret gunner Harold Loch of
> Green Bay, Wis.
>
> There were many close calls: engine fires, bullet holes, confrontations
> with fighter planes. Somehow the Belle always made it back to base when
> other planes went down.
>
> Morgan said he and his men never talked about crashing or dying.
>
> "Every time we were going to fly, we gathered in a huddle and we just
> told ourselves that if only one plane was coming back, it was going to
> be ours," he said.
alvis
USA - Sunday, May 16, 2004 at 08:13:17 (MDT)
used to go to bill heard chevy and test drive used cars with my wife.Got ahold of a 66 impalea with a 427,4 speed in it. smile, bet i dint get 5 miles away b4 being pulled over.Sand hill was where we got beer when under aged. gi's where easy targets to find to buy us cases of 3.2 beer. I saw an old news reel a few days ago that showed all 4 jump towers.When i got there in 58 ( I was 8 ), there where only 3 left standing.tornado.I miss the bbq houses ,loved that brunswick stew they served with bbq. Miss the catfish house out on buna vista road too.( prichets).wonder if the hookers still hang out on 4th ave. oops,shouldnt mention that.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 21:49:05 (MDT)
Sue, that water fueled car isnt farfetched. They have been doing studies on them. A bit of electricty applied to water breaks down the moleclues into hrydrogen and oxygen. You let the oxygen escape, capture the hydrogen,and burn that. Its extremely explosive.I believ the by product of that explosion is ,strange enough, more water.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 21:37:21 (MDT)
Talking about alternative fuels...my ex-husband's brother is a test driver for various vehicles and companies. He travels all over testing trucks, cars, etc. Five years ago, he said there was a car designed to run on water. Yes, water. Imagine the havoc it would reak on the oil companies if that were to come to pass. In the end, it's always all about money, isn't it?
Sue
celina, OH USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 13:32:42 (MDT)
Kim and Alvis, I bought my "75" Corvette new in May of 1975, it sticker at $7,363.17, I bought my "82" Corvette Sport Coupe in March of 1982 it stickered at $18,290.07. The "82" there was just 18,648 units produced. I have both sticker prices in hand . I kept stuff like that through the years.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 09:26:27 (MDT)
Alvis, I bought my first (only) new vehicle from Bill Heard Chevrolet, on Victory Drive, in 73. c-10 pickup, 2850...thing didn't even have a radio!! First vett I bought, in 75 was a 67 convertible, 2000..I'd like to have it now.... I made payments on a 69 camero, ss 396 convertible while I was in nam..My brother wrecked it before I got home. At least I got to see a picture of it!! sigh...I don't think there were 10 of them produced in tht year. Took my 76 vett out yesterday, first time this year. I still miss the big block sound, that 350 just doesn't cut it!!! A much as I love gas engines, I would still like to have them around as novelties, while I drove something that didn't tie us to the middle east...maybe some day?????hhmmmmm...that 73 pickup got it's first dent outside the Clover Inn, on Brennan Road. Woman backed into it. Foolish me, I tried to pick her up, instead of calling the cops and making her pay to fix it!!!!!must have been alcohol related.......smile...
Kim
Livermore, Me USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 09:00:12 (MDT)
IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY AND ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES.
AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES.
THEREFORE MAY 19TH HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR behind " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY.
THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.
WAITING ON THIS ADMINISTRATION TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?
REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO!
WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.
SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE MAY 19TH A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"
end of paste
If this would happen, gas attentents would think that they were in "twilight zone
j. w. wilson
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 08:54:43 (MDT)
animal, remember .. I went and looked at new vw"s in 68. Price was around 18oo dollars. new vets were 4 , i belive. And that new opal, the one that looked like a mini vet,cost 32 or so. Bought my 57 chevy for a hundred bucks, dropped in a decent motor, and began my usual parade of traffic ticket collecting,for speeding, running red lights, and of course,loud mufflers.The only thing I hated about that car was..I would hit my head on the door jam every time I forgot to duck getting in. Rode in my first toyota, in around 69. friends dad had one.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 08:34:54 (MDT)
forgot to add...in related news, the city has something called "jammin on jersey" ( a downtown street). last night the B 52"s performed. tonight is REO Speedwagon. cost..20 bucks.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 08:28:01 (MDT)
yesterdays fuel prices..$2.08 for unleaded.( the cheap stuff) alvis 71/72
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 08:22:05 (MDT)
pole day at the indy 500. pratice sessions have netted speeds of 221mph+.Rumors expect 225mph for no.1 starting spot.Others poo poo that number. Raining all morning, no one on the track as yet. Clearing by 1 pm,time trials expected to start then.No new track speed records expected as speedway has cut engine displacement from 3.5 liters down to 3 liters.All 33 spots are expected to be filled dispite a small field of hopefuls this year.Around 300 thousand fans expected for the race this year.Tony George's (owner of the track) step son is set to qualify first.( pure luck of the draw).Sarha Fisher is in 39th spot.All are promised at least 1/2 hour pratice time b4 timing starts.In related news,folks working near the track( as in my wife) , now spend an extra 20 minutes going to ,or from, work, due to heavy traffic patterns.The race is sunday, May 30th.The track is open each day for pratice, with carb day ( a day from the past,as all are fuel injected now) being the next biggest day in the 2 weeks to follow.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 15, 2004 at 08:19:36 (MDT)
Remember when a hand held calculater cost $50-$100 dollars? Now you can get one for about $3. Technology is expensive initially, but pays for itself in the long run. I can't say I believe the same thing about war............Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Friday, May 14, 2004 at 11:34:23 (MDT)
There is another fuel, its called alcohol. racers been using it for years.Anotherone is called propane, folks been using it for years also.What your asking for is that people get their minds unwrapped from the internal combustion emgine.Its been around ofr a while now.It has fueled the world, and its progress, as we know it.Spiltting water molecules to gain hrydrogen seems to be a dangerous approch,if not an effective alternative.Solar power has made leaps and bounds.Coal and petroleum are kiling our planet and our grandkids.Necular power is great as long as it isnt in "my" backyard.alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Friday, May 14, 2004 at 09:51:56 (MDT)
Today is Armed Forces Day-a moment of silence for todays' soldiers, please. And a big " thank you" to my friends in the 129th for answering the "call" and putting your lives on the line in Vietnam. "Welcome home soldiers!" You are in my heart every day. Gently
Gently
USA - Friday, May 14, 2004 at 09:32:10 (MDT)
I think this is getting a little OT but real quick, ironically hatred, intolerance etc. is the disease (hell) that real religion is the cure for. Out.
jim
USA - Friday, May 14, 2004 at 06:37:38 (MDT)
NO dispute about the Moors, Hannibal comes to mind. The lesson learned was from the Roman Empire...The Crusades came about after Christianity evolved. It was an attempt to regain the Holy land from the Muslims, after they butchered christians for not believing the messenger, Mohammad, who supposedly carried Jesus body from the cross....I'll stop there, before I say something that p.o.'s the christians among us...just let it be noted that the war has never really stopped....how is it that all the major religeous factions in the world preach brotherly love, and kill anyone who disagrees with them????
Kim
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 21:08:08 (MDT)
If you look to the far left of 2 pictures you can see, I think, Tiger Wagon.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 20:53:33 (MDT)
Thanks Mark we are glad to see those pictures posted. It means alot.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 20:04:23 (MDT)
I just saw the pictures contributed by my dad Lou, the name on the last photo is wrong. I believe that is a guy named Roger Strong. The picture with the two guys standing together is Tony Blueseiwicz (I am not sure on the spelling of that last name). Just and info and the other guys he has the names of. There should have been one more of my dad, and another of the nose of Snow Snake 1.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 20:01:08 (MDT)
Jim...The Moors were from North Africa? Thus is the reason for the darker complexion in Southern Italy as compared to Northern Italy with lighter hair and fair complexion. Same with the Spanish of Spain....The southern part has a more Arabic looks than in the Northern Spain..... The mix in cultures make for some of the most beautiful people in the world. Spent many a day in Madrid drinking Estella beer and "people watching" at the sidewalk cafe`s and pubs.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 18:45:51 (MDT)
Slight correction needed for previous comments posted in regards to locating my friends father. He was stationed in Anson and his nickname was "We" or something to that effect. I also have a photo of her mother on base if anyone thinks it may help. Any information would be appreciated. Thank you
anthony pimentel <jaxuscg2798@aol.com>
jacksonville, fl USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 17:55:16 (MDT)
Kim,Fred lets not forget conquest and war are universal the Moors,Spanish for Muslim, invaded Spain in 711 and stayed for 700 years, they attempted to push north but were stopped by the French. Then there is the Ottoman empire 1350-1918 they got as far as Vienna. Then there is the Americas,if history is correct the native people faught all the time, the Aztecs, Mayans and Incas were imperialistic, when the Europeans invaded they were "technologically" superior, so they won. Not right not wrong, just what is.There is no such thing as "justice".
jim
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 17:37:43 (MDT)
Kim LaVoie, you`re right on about the anglo saxon's Crusades, and they ultimately lost. There is alot of history repeating itself. General Patton was a student of history....it play a important part of his "battle plans".
Fred Skaggs
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 15:28:13 (MDT)
I am attempting to locate my friends father. He was stationed in Qui nhon from 1969-1970. He was a mechanic in the 129th and left around christmas of 1970. At that time her mother (Phuoc Vo 12/29/49)was a house keeper on base. She was 3 months pregnant when her father returned stateside. He knew she was pregnant and left her with a photo and his information with a uniform. Due to communist occupation of vietnam after the war she was in fear for her safety keeping the items and had to burn them. The only other facts known about her father is that he had 3 brothers, a girlfriend in the states, and no girls in his family. Since then my friend has moved to Jacksonville Fl, been married twice, and had three great kids. I am a member of the USCG in Jacksonville Fl and my friend wants nothing more than to find out who her father is. If you where stationed in Qui nhon during this time or have any information regarding this matter please reply to jaxuscg2798@aol.com
anthony pimentel <jaxuscg2798@aol.com>
jacksonville, fl USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 13:11:25 (MDT)
A new bill has been introduced to help service men and women. It has not been given a number yet but it is called the "Healthy Troops Act of 2004" and demands that the Department of Defense maintain better medical records for soldiers, and complete medical exams before and after service. It's almost laughable that a demand has to be made for them to do their job. Just an FYI. Oh yeah, that information came from the National Gulf War Resource Center today, and the bill is sponsored by U.S. Rep Sanford Bishop of Georgia.
Always there for our Veterans-Gently
Gently
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 09:38:16 (MDT)
Animal, I think you've read my mail!!! Been there, done that.....In the days when we had leaders, we came up with the manhatten project, the space initiative, things like that. I can't understand why we haven't proceded with an energy initiative. Is EVERYBODY beholden to big oil??? I hear so often that 'they' won't let an alternative engine be produced. Hell, an airplane was developed in a bicycle shop!!I see all kinds of examples of flying machines that aren't produced by corporations, where are the alternative automobiles? I know there have been all kinds of improvements in gas engines, resulting in greater horsepower, with less fuel consumption, still, there has to be a better way than continuing our reliance on oil......I never had much use for MP's when I was in the service. Kids with armbands, big ego's, and no oversite!!! I don't wonder that they got themselves in trouble! Still, if the trail leads upward, it should be followed. If they were operating with a nod and a wink to do as they wished, then the ax should fall on the ones who gave any approval!.....seems that all the reading I've ever done on the Crusades, it was anglo saxon's who went east, not the other way around. I wonder why they hate us???hhhmmmmmm....
Kim
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 09:28:35 (MDT)
i don finish dis place keep offfffffffffff
maga man <maga@yahoo.com>
togo, lome USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 08:03:36 (MDT)
Animal, Did you see the most recent episode of Tactical to Practical. It's on the Discovery channel (I think). They were talking about all the new technology for powering vehicles. It was pretty neat. The Marines are developing a new form of Humvee that is a diesel Hybrid. It can go completely electric for twenty miles for a stealth operation. They also showed a car fueled by 7,000 lithium batteries (like the kind for laptops). Off the line this car shut down a dodge viper. It was pretty impressive. It is obvious that the technology is there to give the American people what is needed, but at what cost. I read that a battery for a Toyota Prius costs over 3,000 dollars. One good thing it comes with a ten year warranty. Certainly there is a plan by "the powers that be" to allow these things to become affordable for us and profit oriented for them. Time will certainly tell. The rate of change is amazing in our world today yet some things just stay the same.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 02:28:18 (MDT)
When I said our country was addicted to oil, I wasn't just using a metaphor. Let me tell you first hand I've learned a lot about addictions in the last ten years. I also praise the VA for helping me understand my own addictions. I'm not about to start preaching here, some people can drink, some can't. My point is an addict can't appreciate the freedom and well being of abstinance until they become sober. America won't feel the benifits of modern technology until we throw off the yoke of the petrolium industry.
Just like with alcoholism the hardest part is recognizing there is a problem. Only then will we start working on permanent solutions. Alternative energy(Biomas, solar, geothermal,etc)convienient mass transportation, and development of a village economy where most people don't have to commute thirty or fourty miles to work, and can get goods locally. I'm amazed that we can cross oceans with these machines, but most of us still have to drive to a job. Like with alcolhol to a drunk, cutting back won't do anything but prolong the jones. Lets get rid of the oil barons, and their Mid-East pirates along with them. What good is tecnology if we let ourselves be enslaved somone's profits? I said I wouldn't preach- Oh well, sing loi,Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 23:42:59 (MDT)
Been awhile since I've had time to check in with all you good people. Fred Skaggs...my youngest son was in a bowling tourney in Columbus, OH, two weeks ago. Pepsi sponsored, state competition. Anyway, amazingly, one boy on his team had the last name of Skaggs!!! There were 2600 participants and he had a teammate named Skaggs!! Is that weird or what?! (Helluva good bowler, by the way!) Hope everyone is well and looking forward to Indy in a matter of weeks. I plan to be there at some point that week. It will be quite an experience to meet people and put faces to the names I see on here.
Sue
OH USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 22:23:51 (MDT)
Animal, I agree that our dependence on oil is causing us no end of problems in the world. Why doesn't our illustrious government charge one of our agencies with developing an alternative???? Instead of the moon and mars, maybe a little initiative in that direction? I just heard on the news that CEO income is up 20% over last year, average now is 4.7 million per year. I'm glad they got a tax cut, it'd be a shame if they had to pay taxes at a higher rate, just because they can afford to!.....It'd sure be nice if one of those clever S.O.B.'s in D.C. could come up with an exit strategy!!!
Kim
USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 21:01:18 (MDT)
President Bush said when Iraq gets rid of Saddam Hussein, he will help the Iraqi people with food, medicine, supplies, housing, education - anything that's needed. Isn't that amazing? He finally comes up with a domestic agenda - and it's for Iraq. Maybe we could bring that here to the USA if it works out."
Fred Skaggs
USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 17:40:50 (MDT)
"War continues in Iraq. They're calling it Operation Iraqi Freedom. They were going to call it Operation Iraqi Liberation until they realized that spells 'OIL.'"
Fred Skaggs
USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 17:36:55 (MDT)
Don`t worry about gas prices...."CNN said that after the war, there is a plan to divide Iraq into three parts...regular, premium and unleaded."
Fred Skaggs
USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 17:34:42 (MDT)
gas just went to $2.05 a gallon yesterday in indy.Let hope it goes down b4 the reunion.
alvis
USA - Wednesday, May 12, 2004 at 04:29:29 (MDT)
Alvis, I am as frustrated and angry with religeous extremists as anyone. However, I think there are better ways to deal with them than to lower ourselves to their level. What kind of hold do they have on us anyway? They don't make cars, planes or any other technology that I can see. They don't manufacture guns or bombs unless we tell them how. They can't even pump their oil without our machines. They can't get to our country unless we bring them. What they are holding over us is OIL! The way to render them insignificant is to break our addiction to it. The good news is they are as addicted to our technology as we are to their oil. We should be holding THAT over them. Victory without bombs or American casualties. How do we break our dependence on crude?...... Thats for another post my friends, Later, ..........Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 23:30:21 (MDT)
Kim ,you are correct.They dont believe in the same things we do ,nor the way of life that we enjoy.They attack us without repercussions from their own. I few weeks ago was the aniverseary of the 1972 killing of jewish athilets in munic germeny at the olimpic games.1972.....since that time, they have bombed us all over the world,barrecks,civilian airplanes (lockerbe scotland) boarded ships and killed americans,threw them over board...ect,ect,ect.Not attack us? they have been attacking us for 30 years.Time to kill them, the clerics that urge them on, the people that supply them with rockets and explosives and so on.It isnt jews or afericans,irish,or catholics,australians or hindu"s,cubans south, americans,hatians or anyone else, just mid east rag heads,most young males.There is no appeasing them, none!Have you forgotten 9;11?Kill them all ,throw pigs in their graves and be done with it.Let some moderate take over and get the heck out.Its time to make a stand.trhey want to nuke this country, kill women and children,everybody. they call us satanist.They dance around our dead. they mutalate their bodies, rape captured american women,and for that , they go to heaven.I say, lets help them go,the sooner, the better.
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 19:55:24 (MDT)
I'm in Gettysburg, visiting grandkids for a few days. Alvis...one thing that supposedly separates`us' from 'them' is, we don't act like them. we can condem our entire country because of the actions`of a few clansmen, or, we can put it into perspective. I always wondered why Israel didn't just blast a Palestinian funeral procession, it's obvious who they support. Still, if they aren't attacking.........???
Kim
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 18:46:57 (MDT)
I am pissed,absolute livid.They can cut off an americans head and ,oh well, its just their way. They go to heaven for killing americans,or blowing themselves up and taking other iraqias with them. We put our own folks in jail for strippping them.Enough is enough. When they dance around dead american bodies,they should be accectable targets. When the drag american bodies thru the streets, they should be accectable targets.When they dance around downed helicopters,accectable targets.wearing flight helmets of dead american helicopter crewmen, accetable targets.Take the gloves off. put our ammo in pigs blood and let it be know its done. If the run into a mosic, its a target, blow it the hell up.Drence their dead bodies in pig blood, bury them with pig guts.I have had enough.never run from an angry american, you will only die tired. ONE pissed of american, alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 15:12:49 (MDT)
http://www.al-ansar.biz .....this is the site ran by those ,umm better not say it,
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 14:59:14 (MDT)
Here in Delaware it is easy to get a license. You do not need proof of Insurance to get that. In order to get a Vehicle registration, however, you do need proof of Insurance, but if you buy a car from a friend of a friend and ride around with his old reg and a fake insurance card then you slip under the cracks till you get caught. Alot of people get insurance and then drop the policy because many Insurnace companies will mail you a card that is good for about 3 to 6 months. The unisured motorist that hit me (while on duty, in a marked and legally parked Police cruiser) had a set-up much like that. Now in this state if you cancel your insurance policy, that company notifies our DMV then if you do not show DMV a new Insurance Policy they suspend the vehicle registration. Thanks to Computers in our squad cars (when they work) I find alot of people on the roads who should not be. Not that they are the only people I look for either, but for every unisured motorist I get off the road I may save someone from the problems that come with getting hit by one of these folks.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 13:02:11 (MDT)
I don't know about other states, but here in Hawaii the insurance industry has been responsible for a lot of the uninsured drivers. Yes, there is mandatory insurance, but if you're uninsured, the companies will make you pay for a whole year before they will cover you. Sometimes this is $1000 to $1500 and that's just for liability. A lot of the working poor live from paycheck to paycheck and have trouble coming up with a grand. You can buy a fake insurance card for $50 just to get your car registered and safety checked. You bet a lot of people do it, they've got to get to work. Ironically, the state provides liability insurance if you're on welfare and don't need to get to work. Go figure. I lucked out by finding the USAA company which is run by ex military for ex military. I recomend you check into this company if you need insurance. My coverage has doubled and my premiums cut in half since finding them. Aloha Nui Loa, Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 11:45:52 (MDT)
Principi has announceed his new Board of Veterans' Appeal: 4 women(none are Veterans) and 1 man(cold war Veteran).For those of you who do not know the importance of this Board-it is the Derpartments' final arbiter of claims for benefits. They are appointed, with the approval of the President. There is an additional appeal process to an independent court(Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims) that is independent of the VA-but good luck. For those of you who need documentation, and before I put this information in my files, which I am usually too busy to refer to, to appease a few of you on any given subject, go to the Department of Veteran Affairs web site:it was a news release of 4/19/04. No one had said anything about this new and very important Board, so I figured you didn't know.
Gently
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 07:51:41 (MDT)
Tom...most states require proof of insurance to get your license renewed don`t they or a common traffic stop. That`s been a law since the mid 80`s. I`ve had uninsured/underinsured on my policy since the early 90`s.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 05:06:33 (MDT)
thanks. Indianapolis has a huge ( and growing fast) hispanic population.I suppose in my line of work, I should learn spanish. After years of construction work, I have picked enough of it to kinda know what they are asking for.Smile, I diffently know when I am being cussed.
alvis
USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 20:48:25 (MDT)
If that is an excuse given to you then it sounds like lazy police work to me. That is something I encounter often. When I get someone with an expired license and no insurance I always tow their car. Often many of those people are Mexican. The only problem law enforcement faces in dealing with them is that you never know their real names. Many of them Hyphenate their names or use false ones and get good fake I.D. when they get here. I usually send them to prison overnight to guarantee their appearance in court. Just because they are not from here does not mean they do not have to obey the rules. On another note, that is why it is so important to have uninsured/underinsured motorist as a part of your own policy.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 16:36:10 (MDT)
Evenin' Flight..Hope all had a great Mom's day.... Studies have shown that if your mother & father had no children,chances are,you won't either!.Thanx Tom for the info.I'm looking forward to the photos.I'll look into the reunion stuff.Thanx again all.Keep in touch./Clear down.
Lenny "fire" Adams
USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 16:10:17 (MDT)
hey Tom R.Is it true most city cops cant arrest our south of the border friends for driving without a license or for immigration causes?I have been hit twice now by mexcian drivers without license or insurance, and both times the didnt get a ticket nor where there cars towed for that reason. just wondering, alvis
alvis
USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 15:24:24 (MDT)
Fred I have been a city Cop for six years now. We are FOP here with the exception of two departments in the whole state (just don't sneeze when you drive trhough because you might miss it). Labor negotiations are a bear, before I was activated with my Reserve Unit last year, I sat on the Contract negotiating Committee. Health care and money. Two things we want and two things they won't give. Almost three years and still no agreement, and don't even whisper Blu Flu. I can retire after 20 years, if I stay for 25 I can maximize my pension by 12 1/2 percent more. Cops in Delaware have to retire at 55 years old no matter what, that is a state law I think it is stupid but then again this state has proven to be stupid I just didn't see it when we settled here. Our non-uniformed and other employees are our biggest hurdle. Because of a thing called Parity (I believe a precedent set by NY) gives all labor unions automatically the best deal negotiated by a bargaining unit. We all start bargaining at the same time, the other unions sit back and wait for us because they think we will get the best deal. If another union settles and we get a better deal later they come back and get what we got anyway. We have no solidarity in Our City amongst the labor Unions. Kim good I did not want to get off on a wrong foot with anyone. Thanks for the book recommendation. Talk to everyone later.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 09:15:05 (MDT)
HELLO TO ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I TO WATCHED 60 MINS LAST NIGHT, AND FOR THE FRIST TIME I AGREE WHAT ANDY ROONER SAID ,I CANT REMBER HIS WORDS BUT I LIKED IT. WHY SPEN THAT KIND OF MONEY.
HOW ARE YOU DOING ROB GENTLY, ALEX ,RICK AND EVERY ONE ELES. OH MARK DID YOU GET THE E MAIL I SENT YOU DID IT COME OUT. CC BL I HOPE YOU COME TO THE REUION. RON PAYE I THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CALL THE OTHER NIGHT I MEAN IT. OH BARRY WINKLER HOW ARE YOU DOING. I HAVE TO CALL U ONE DAY WEL SEE YOU ALL IN INDY BE SAFE A BROTHER ALWAYS RAY
RAY <STILWATING@AOL.COM>
MD USA - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 08:55:36 (MDT)
CBS) President Bush was "shocked, and appalled" by what American soldiers did to Iraqi POWs.
Now, meet an American hero who says he felt the same way more than 30 years ago in a different American war: Vietnam.
Hugh Thompson was a helicopter pilot in 1968, on a day American soldiers gunned down more than 500 unarmed civilians in a village called My Lai.
The dead were women, old men and children. And even more of them would have died if Thompson had not confronted his fellow soldiers, stopped their murderous rampage and airlifted a number of civilians to safety. Correspondent Mike Wallace reports.
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For years, the U.S. military tried to cover up the My Lai massacre. And Hugh Thompson was treated not as a hero, but as a traitor. But this past March, all that changed for Thompson, at a special ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.
It was a night Thompson never dreamed would happen. For years, he'd been treated as an outcast, a turncoat, because he had dared to question his fellow American GIs who said they were just following orders.
But this night, at last, he was being honored and inducted into an elite fraternity, The Army Aviation Hall of Fame: "As an OH-23 pilot with the 123rd Aviation Battalion, CWO Hugh Thompson flew over the Vietnamese village of My Lai on March 16, 1968, as U.S. troops were killing civilians."
That day back in 1968 was truly barbaric. Young, inexperienced American troops, told by their leaders that My Lai was an enemy stronghold, rounded up civilians, burned down their huts and then shot hundreds of them down in cold blood.
Thompson, believing at first it was a legitimate combat operation, was flying his small chopper over My Lai that day, trying to draw enemy fire away from the American GIs on the ground. But there was no enemy fire.
When he saw the piles of bodies, he felt sick and ashamed. What happened was so shocking, so inconceivable, that 60 Minutes asked Thompson and his gunner, Larry Colburn, to go back with us to Vietnam and explain it all to us for a story in 1998.
Thompson told 60 Minutes he landed his chopper near a rice paddy, and while his crew covered him with M-60 machine guns, he managed to save some civilians from being murdered. But he says he could not stop others from being gunned down even after they had been marched into a ditch.
Approximately 170 people were marched down in there, including women, old men, babies. And GIs stood up on the side with their weapons on full automatic and machine gun fire.
ÒThere were no weapons captured. There were no draft-age males killed. They were civilians,Ó says Colburn, referring to the ditch filled with bodies. ÒIt was full É some of the people were still, they were dying, they weren't all dead.Ó
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As Thompson and Colburn were recalling the horrors of that day for 60 Minutes, an elderly woman walked toward us. She said that she had been dumped in the ditch back in 1968, but had survived, shielded by the bodies of the dead and the dying.
ÒSorry we couldn't help you that day,Ó says Thompson to the woman.
She said she wanted to know why there were so many villagers killed that day - and why Thompson was different from the rest of the Americans?
ÒI saved the people because I wasn't taught to murder and kill. I can't answer for the people who took part in it,Ó says Thompson. ÒI apologize for the ones that did. I just wished we could have helped more people that day.Ó
In fact, they did help more people. Thompson and Colburn found nine or 10 villagers cowering in a bunker. They radioed for a couple of choppers, which airlifted all of them to safety.
60 Minutes managed to find two of the women they'd saved. Mrs. Nhung, who was 73 at the time, was 43 when she was rescued. Mrs. Nhang was only 6.
ÒDidn't you take your life in your hands, Hugh, when you got out and told the American soldiers who had been killing that they'd better quit and let these people get out of the bunker,Ó Wallace asked Thompson, who wouldnÕt answer.
ÒYes sir, he did,Ó says Colburn. ÒAnd he didnÕt even take a weapon with him. He had a side arm. He didnÕt even have it drawn. He just placed himself É And I was thinking that, at that point, anything could have happened. And we watched Mr. Thompson go to the bunker and bring the people out.Ó
ÒThere was just no value whatsoever on life,Ó says Thompson.
Wallace reminded the two men about another woman they tried to warn as they hovered just above her in their chopper. An Army photographer had taken her picture.
ÒWe saw her in the tall grass and É I motioned for her to stay,Ó says Colburn. ÒI was hoping she wouldnÕt be detected. When we came back, she was in this condition. É ThereÕs a big difference between killing in war and murder. Cold-blooded murder.Ó
ÒWhat do you call it when you march 100 or 200 people down in a ditch and line up on the side with machines and start firing into it,Ó asks Thompson. ÒReminds me of another story that happened in World War II, like the Nazis.Ó
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Stunned by what he had seen that day, Thompson reported back to his superiors.
But from the very beginning, the military tried to cover up the massacre. And that wasn't all. Thompson is uncomfortable talking about it, but before the Hall of Fame ceremony in Nashville, he and Colburn told 60 Minutes that the U.S. military had stopped providing him with adequate back-up on his chopper missions after My Lai.
ÒHe was placed in a very precarious position as far as the missions that he was carrying out,Ó says Colburn. ÒHe didnÕt have any adequate cover in my opinion. Instead of being followed by two armed gun ships, he had another scout helicopter.Ó
Scout helicopters are not equipped with the machine guns and rockets carried by the larger Huey gun ships.
ÒIt seemed like he was really going out on a limb when he was going out without adequate cover,Ó says Colburn.
How many choppers did he lose? ÒI think three or four, something like that,Ó says Thompson.
Actually, Thompson crashed a total of five times. And the last time, he broke his back.
Why has none of this ever been told before? ÒI donÕt know,Ó says Thompson. ÒI just sorta like went underground. I didnÕt mention it to anybody.Ó
Thompson may have clammed up, but word of what he had done followed him when he returned from Vietnam to the United States. And he kept paying a price for turning on his fellow soldiers at My Lai.
ÒI'd received death threats over the phone,Ó says Thompson. ÒWe didnÕt have caller ID. But it was scary. Dead animals on your porch, mutilated animals on your porch some mornings when you get up. So I was not a good guy.Ó
He said that when he went to the OfficerÕs Club, there would be Ò100 people in there after work, and five minutes after I was there, you know, it seemed like it was me and the bartender left.Ó
ÒThis was because the truth, I don't think, was out there. This was, I was somebody that was crying and whining about a few people getting accidentally killed,Ó says Thompson. ÒThere was no accidental killing that day. It was murder.Ó
But when Thompson testified about those murders to Congress in 1970, his testimony was kept secret. He says they didnÕt want the story out: ÒWell, not when one of the senior Congressmen here in the secret testimony say if anybody goes to jail that day, it'll be that helicopter pilot.Ó With the truth hidden away, Thompson admits he felt very much alone. For years, he remained silent about My Lai. The military, meanwhile, continued to give him the cold shoulder.
But that began to change shortly after our story aired on 60 Minutes. To begin with, the military service academies started inviting him to visit and give lectures on military ethics to young soldiers.
And Thompson began to open up as he told those soldiers unforgettable stories about My Lai: ÒA lot of the girls didn't scream too much because they had already cut their tongues out. A bayonet can kill two real quick if they're pregnant. It got nasty that day. I personally, I mean, I wish I was a big enough man to say I forgive them, but I swear to God, I can't.Ó
He says he continues to lecture at West Point and the Naval Academy, trying to tell todayÕs troops Òto be a soldier and act like a soldier.Ó
The tide turned some more when the Pentagon finally recognized Thompson, Colburn and Glenn Andreotta, their crewmate who died in Vietnam after My Lai. All three were awarded the prestigious Soldier's Medal.
But 30 years had passed since the massacre, and Thompson says it was strangely unsatisfying. Too late, he says, from a reluctant military leadership.
But he felt far different on the stage in Nashville, as he was inducted on the first ballot into the Army Aviation Hall of Fame.
He says itÕs a big honor. ÒThis is my peers electing me to put me in there,Ó says Thompson. ÒThis is my fellow aviators. And that makes me feel good.Ó
Fred Skaggs
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 18:48:44 (MDT)
Here you go Kim....."The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts." Bertrand Russell (1872-1970)
Fred Skaggs
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 16:03:59 (MDT)
Ah, Mother's Day! A day worth celebrating, for showah!!! Tom, I didn't take your post as trying to give me a hard time, I sometimes look at what I write, and see that it comes across as anti- American....I'm not. I just don't believe our nationalism is our strong point. As a nation of immigrants, who killed, or stole what we now call ours, we don't have the moral high ground on much in this world. It's interesting to note that murder torture and abuse is a terrible thing when our leaders decide they want to change something, otherwise, it's ignored. The Jesus I was describing was a neo conservative's dream, sure as all gettout not mine!!!....as for coaching, kids are great imitators, they'll mimic whatever influence they see. I've tried to live to the standard I ask of them. It's not for me to say if it's worked or not. I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction watching young ladies I've coached, coaching others now..just as I feel that my cycle of life is complete, with my kids now having kids of their own, I feel that same sense with people I've coached, coaching now. The Tao is endless, timeless. Try reading Jerry Lynch's book, Thinking Body, Dancing mind, it's a good primor for coaching all levels of athletics.
Kim
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 13:20:29 (MDT)
happy mothers day to you mothers out there.
alvis
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 08:38:48 (MDT)
Tom R. are you FOP? I worked with them a lot in Columbus,Ohio. Mostly on Insurance issue`s, I told them 10 years ago that insurance would be a "thing of the future". When I first started working for City of Columbus,Ohio, I was a Recreation Leader in the Rec Centers. Mostly in the inner city. But I coached alot of baseball, basketball and boxing. Couple of my kids did well in boxing, Jerry Page won a Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics and a kid named James"Buster" Douglas beat Mike Tyson. Jerry Page would have been a good pro, but he had "bad knee`s" from playing to much basketball on hard surface`s. Two more kids of mine play professional basketball, Larry Funderburke, Sacremento Kings, and Mike Redd with the Milwaukee Bucks. After 10 years of working "inside" I transfered to Parks Maintenance and took a test and became a Heavy Equipment Operator. I built baseball diamonds and soccer fields and cut grass on the freeway`s. But I became very active in the labor movement because I could see "privatizing" city union jobs was coming. Even Police and Firemen were facing it. Special Events overtime for police, and Fire Code Inspection for the firemen. We won out on those issues. Privatizing ultimately ends up costing more money and leads to corruption with money being passed to politicians for favortism on contracts. Tom how many years do you have in as a Policeman? Ours in Columbus are 25 years and out, and in 1993 we got the same deal for Non-uniform employees. Fred Alvis, unions are a diffrent animal, in public sector of employment. But I kinda see Jesus as a Union activist because of his great organizing skills and great compassion for people of any color, race, or lifestyle. People did follow his leadership and still do. As far as the homeless, yes he would be a advocate for the poor. Long hair....he might have a Afro.....there`s a good chance that Jesus was a black man or had features very much like the Iraqi people. God has this funny way of making people`s "skin color" very adaptable to the climate in which they exist. Kim and Tom keep working with the kids, that a redeeming quality in you two. Besides they are our future.....
Fred Skaggs
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 07:53:21 (MDT)
I found this website related to the 135th AHC. It is emuinc.org. It appears that they put together a helicopter in the same fashion that has been discussed in here. I tried to send them an e-mail as to inquire about how they did it. They give a brief overview but maybe we can get a hand from them information wise and make this happen. Kim, I was not trying to be mean spirited in my post so please do nopt take it the wrong way. Now on to t-ball. It has not been so much the parents but I have already had three or four of my kids tell me "I should be the Pitcher", "I know how to hit, don't help me",blah,blah blah blah blah. I thought after the third game some of them were going to go on strike and bring along agents. This has been my first endeavor coacing. I laid a little law down today and things seemed to work out. My boy is probably the most relaxed kid on the team. He has some fun with it all, no stress for him, no fire under his behind yet. My daughter on the other hand wants to get out there, she has the killer spirit but she hasn't realized yet that she is only two years old. I am afraid to tell her she is not as old as she acts. All I can say about Jesus is this, He has been there for me more than I've been there for him. I just hope when my time comes he welcomes me home along with alot of other special people in my life.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 02:19:06 (MDT)
This is the tranparchment of an ACTUAL radio conversation of a US naval
ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in
October, 1995.
Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a
collision.
Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to
avoid a collision.
A: This is the Captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR
course.
C: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.
A: THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN
THE UNITED STATESÕ ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE
DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT
YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH, THATÕS ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH,
OR COUNTER-MEASURE WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS
SHIP.
C: We are a lighthouse. Your call.
jim
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:45:59 (MDT)
sorry for the mix up robbie, medina was with the 60th ahc my other unit, the ghostriders.hE may,ot may not, be intrested in the reunion. IF Jesus was alive today,I have no doubt he (or she) would drive an old ford pick up.Yes, he would proably still be driving nails,non union.Would still be hasseled by the cops for his long hair and beard,god forbid he try to fly on an airplane.He might be hanging out at the places for the homeless, folks would treat him like a crazy person.The tax man would still be after him,as would homeland security.He would see burning crosses and perhaps shed a tear.Pregnate teens, pimpmobiles,red necks,vets just trying to get along,leaders of countrys more intrested in "comerical" interprise than good words or works,and a few, a very few, folks that still believe in the golden rule.
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:27:12 (MDT)
Tom, don't think for a minute that I don't know that we are fortunate to live where we do. We can travel across a few million square miles of country, and never get stopped at a border. We're certainly a lot more free than a lot of other people. Even though we have the patriot ( take away a little more freedom) act, we're still able to protest our government's actions. That counts for something......still, the last public person who counselled all to act in Jesus' liking, was assassinated, in Memphis. I sometimes wonder if any would recognise Jesus if he ever were to return. Rolex (Ray Stevens) white guy, conservative politically, probably have a syndicated tv program.....yeah, we'd all flock to him!!!!! On a different note, I started coaching in the late 70's, been at it pretty steady since then, except for a short stint of out of control partying. I coach softball pitchers now, every level from youth league to college. It's a great feeling, to see a youngster develop a love of playing the game. Not the phoney "it's a fate worse than death if we lose" type, rather, the one's who just love playing, never worrying whether they're losing or not, just competing for the love of it. There are times when I really feel that professional sports has just about ruined our country! As much as I love the Red Sox, I don't think my life would be a whole lot different if they'd won a world series in my lifetime!
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 19:29:32 (MDT)
Lenny Adams, I will be e-mailing you some pictures from my dad (Lou) on Sunday or Monday so be on the lookout for those. One thing for sure (this is only my two cents for what it is worth), as someone who has traveled to other nations (as many of you have) THere is none better than this one (in my opinion). When I was in Spain, the gov't displayed quite a bit of power. The cops there would beat you in a heart beat and they carried 9mm subs not handguns. In Kenya and Somalia life was cheap, the Rwandan's (sp) killed one another without a care. England wasn't so hot either, those people pay taxes to support a family that has nothing to do with making any important decisions. I could go on but my point is this, I have seen no other country that has what we have. This is the only country where the government affords a citizen those privledges covered under the 4th and 5th Ammendments. As a police officer I have seen many judges and officials look at search warrants/arrest warrants and deny or refuse or ask for more reasons to violate a persons 4th Ammendment right. I do not like evrything the gov't does and surely good intentions can lead to bad things (just like the Army Mcarthy days of the 1950's) but in the grand scheme of things there is no other place I would like to be (maybe except the caribean when I retire. lol). To me the only way legalizing drugs would work is if the gov't sold it all for a penny. What makes it such a vile thing is the thirst for money by those selling it, take that component away and some problems may go away. Come on if the gov't could make money off of it they would have done that already, I think there is more money in it (job wise) to keep it illegal anyway.
My last point of this is (because I know that politics is something not mainly for this site) but I think this will tie it in with all that we have experienced in life. Talk about what matters. What affects us at the lowest level. My dad (Lou) and I went out today and coached 5 to 7 year olds on the t-ball field. I never would have imagined it years ago. Despite all the crap that has gone on I watched my son run to his grandpa (the first base coach). What a feeling. To me that makes all the other stuff go away and it is for moments like those that make me feel good. Like the Helicopter plans.
I am sorry for rambling on. Happy Mothers day to all those out there.
Tom Ragonese
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 18:56:55 (MDT)
Kim, you KNOW...legalized pot, has been a issue with me. Tax it right and it could clean up the national deficits. But the way it`s going now prohabition could be brought back, if the neo-cons have their way. Fred Alvis is right about the "kingpin" law, little burgs are makin a killin on that law. Besides if Jesus walked on this earth today, he would be a liberal, and a UNION carpenter.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 17:35:16 (MDT)
HHC "Checkmates"
A Company "Redhawks"
B Company "Cavemen"
C Company "Vipers"
D Company "Delta Dawgs"********* If the 119th is A co. and 129th is b co. I am assuming we are the cavemen. I can't find anything beyond that. Any help out there??? I have found others I will continue to research.
Rick England
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 12:03:35 (MDT)
The 82nd Combat Aviation Battalion dates from 1957, when the 82d Aviation Company was activated. The company was expanded and redesignated the 82d Aviation Battalion and, minus A Company, deployed to the Dominican Republic in April 1965. In that same month A Company deployed to the Republic of Vietnam in support of the 173rd Airborne Brigade earning the Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The Battalion was again expanded in July 1979 when the 119th and 129th Assault Helicopter Companies from the 269th Aviation Battalion were redesignated as A and B Companies of the newly designated 82d Combat Aviation Battalion.*******I am still looking hold on and be careful out there Clear left
Rick England
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 11:57:39 (MDT)
On another note, i remember a day in 1969 when we picked up two ROK's with a VC woman. I don't remember where we were taking them but they kept threatening to throw her out of the ship if she didn't take her top off so they could see her boobs. My heart jumped a couple of times when they would push her toward the door and then pull her back just in time. Crazy stuff
Robbie
Rochester , NY USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 11:28:11 (MDT)
Yeah Fred, as a child of the 60's, I've often wondered what would have happened if our illustrious leaders had legalized pot, and taxed it? Probably wouldn't have the stupid deficits we have now!!! Likely wouldn't need so many DEA agents spooking around. Gun laws....if the Democrats would leave that one alone, I'd be a lot more comfortable with them. Last big mess I got in, I had a gun in the car, and was so mad I didn't even think to pull it, just ran the guy down with the car....oops!!! Same goes with columbine. If god was trying to teach someone a lesson, wouldn't it have happened anyway? What was he trying to teach the ones who got killed? What was he trying to teach in Bangladesh? Iran? Nicaragua? Madrid? Hell, if it's all preordained, why worry? We can't stop it, so, why try?
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 11:18:54 (MDT)
Fred A. thanks for the heads up on Rick Medina. The name doesn't really ring a bell, but would like to get in touch with him. I looked at every entry since the last time i was on and didn't see a post from him, so i'm wondering if maybe you were on some other site. Any way, If you have his email address please send it to me on the side. bulldog265@bluefrog.com
Rayyyyyyyy, How you doing Brother? Rob
Robbie
Rochester, NY USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 11:18:17 (MDT)
lenny, thank you for the kind offer.My son has gotten out of the Navy, his time was up. Kim, I am afraid the pat. act will go as the "king pin" drug law went. It started out just to get the big dealers and strip them of their ill gotten wealth. Now its a sourcr of income for the most humblest of burgs.Get caught with an ounce of pot, they take your car. anymore than that, they take your car, your bank account, sometimes, even your house.The law folks and the local goverenment have preverted that law and now use it at local levels. grrr, makes me kinda mad.Susan my aussie wife, is blown away by the liberal gun laws here. I tell her, its not near as liberal as it used to be,unfortunately .Gas here has "dropped" to $1.82 a gallon.Lets hope it keeps going that way till after thr reunion.
alvis.
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 10:18:07 (MDT)
Lenny & others, go to WWW.VHCMA.ORG & click reunion registration.
Adams Mark Hotel/Airport
2544 Executive Dr
Indy
Direct: 317-248-2481
Toll: 1-800-444-2326 *mention VHCMA @ $75.00 per night
Gale
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 09:18:39 (MDT)
Morning flite! It''s sat. am,so I have a min.to pound a few keys..I picked up my son @ Penn State thurs. He's finished w/1st semester..Although it's a fairly conservative college,there are antiwar/antidraft rumblings starting up..Sound familiar? I think overall support for the war in Iraq is dwindlig,and the guys&gals in uniform are gonna be left holding the bag again..scary thought..Fred,I must resectfully disagree.I've worked for a affluent school district here in N.Y. for the last 14 years.Recently the school board & superintendant voted to deny the use of the school to the Boy Scouts of America citing their discrimination against Gays..The BSA had utilized our school since 1936!.As far as Columbine,I know the facts that didn't make it to page 1 of the papers.Pastor Bruce Porter knew Rachel who was actually shot for her faith.The boys who did the killing,granted were lost souls, but the school had warnings & did nothing about it.(they used to go to Bible study with the kids they killed).Bruce Porter has spoken @ our church many times.He made a video "Heros Heart".It's 2 days after @ ground Zero here in NY..As a pastor & 1st response FF he's seen it all..Even was in Israel assisting w/traing their Emergency teams,but the thing that's his greatest concern is our youth! He's hearing "No absolute truth" out of them.Only 9% of christian youths believe in absolute truth..Israel is even less.I believe the Bible is the Infallible word of God. "Those who believe in nothing,stand in danger of accepting anything".Josh McDowell said we are in danger of loosing this entire generation..I think about Pat Tillman's sacrifice..Celebrities make headlines,heros make history!.Say Alvis,is your son still on the Nimitz? I'll keep him in prayer..Gas prices are continuing to climb.$2.17/gal.reg. It was under a $ out in Pa..If this keeps up we'll all be driving lambrettas..I've also heard that Hummvee sales are way down..awww.Most of the SUV's here never see an unpaved road.Still have my 90 Jeep wrangler saharra.On it's 2nd engine.1st thing my son did was took off the hardtop,put in a sound sys. that kills on both ends,now terrorizes the wildlife.I don't think it's been washed since the last blizzard...Rumors:I've heard several. How about the hundreds of French officers burried standing up,facing France in the Ming Ying[sp] pass? Or the one about a mysterious acft that circled Vietnam,monitoring all air traffic & com.,ready to drop a nuke if necessary? When I was in Austrailia on R&R I did meet on American who claimed to be AWOL from the 25thINF..Said he's never going back.Spoke to a aussie girl who told me This guy actively encourages all G.I.s on R&R there to defect.Would even find safe house & fake I.D.for them.He kept a low profile.I didn't want to believe a G.I. would do that.My brother in law was in Nam 68-69 w/4thIND.LRRPs.He said they capture a tall lightskinned dude warking w/NVA. They believed him to be Russian or from one of the warsawpact nations as a "surveyor".He was later turned over to Special Forces..Anyone remember the "Peace Hotel"?, or don't go there?..Tripper: I saw Zigzag on the cargo sectn.of Dan's gunship in the Gallery.Was that your handywork?.I'll call U one of these days. I need to know when,where,®isratn. info for Indy to see if I can do this..My heart's desire is to reunite & meet all of the 129th alumni..Keep your gauges in out of the red & your powder dry.."fire" shuttingdown,Clear left.&.Rguards to all.
Lenny "fire" Adams
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 09:06:43 (MDT)
Ironic, isn't it??..Initially, it was "weapons of mass destruction", after that fell apart, it became, freeing the Iraqi's from a dictator, who tortured his own citizens!!! I hope the recipients of our 'kinder and gentler torture and humiliation' understand the difference!!! The Nurenburg trials discounted that notion of 'just following orders', along with that, I don't want to beleive that our government instructed guards to torture prisoners. I know that American's of all stripes, have their own beliefs. How many times was that immigrant shot in New York city??? HIs crime? being black!!!! Police in this country have been brutalizing people for years, sometimes they get caught, other times??? I guess my point is....we have no claim to moral high ground, just a bunch of trite little sayings to fall back on..."freedom isn't free" if it isn't free? what to hell is it!! WE aren't free, we're just a lot less restricted than a lot of others!! Thanks to the Patriot Act, we've lost a lot more freedom, kinda ironic, that little piece of paper that so many like to quote, the Constitution, has been trampled, and there's no mass protest......
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 06:42:37 (MDT)
When I was a newbie, we picked up a wounded VC prisoner and the AC refused to release him to the ARVN hospital because he knew they would torture him. We dropped him off at the US hospital in Qui Nhon instead. I don't think soldiers are any worse today than in the past. It's just modern technology that brings the horrors of war into our living rooms. Why is humiliating a prisoner worse than blowing him up? It's all horrible. "We've got a kinder, gentler machine gun"- Neil Young. with respect, Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 01:14:32 (MDT)
Re: the prison scandal, In WW2 there would be a 300 ship mission against one target, take 10% losses, thats 300 men KIA or MIA/POW and not even hit the target, so they develope laser and GPS guided munitions, which from a military stand point is great, get in get out with minimum exposure and you accomplish the mission, from a military point of view the reduced collateral damage is a bennie, just icing on the cake, we spend BILLIONs on R&D, training and equipment so that we don't have the destruction to cities and civilian deaths, but one bomb goes off target and we are the biggest assholes on the planet, as someone mentioned the 4 American "security" contractors who were mutilated, burned and hung from the bridge only got a couple of days of air time, Damned if we do and Damned if we don't, F%@& 'EM, Kill 'em all let God sort it out. (what ever She may be)
jim
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 22:36:02 (MDT)
This Iraqi prison scandal has to be the biggest disaster for the U.S. in the past 30 years. Rumsfeld said there are many more videos pictures that are worse than what has been released so far. Is this to be the worst black mark for the U.S. in its history? Scandal yes, black mark has competition..........
Japanese internment.---WW2..........
Andersonville---(controversial)--- Civil War.......
Marines in the Philippines--crushing Moro rebellion.........
Nam---the later years...........
Indian "Trail of Tears."-- General Andrew Jackson........ I guess WE are not perfect.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 21:18:51 (MDT)
Hey Robbie, just saw a posting from a fellow in my old ghostrider unit (60th ahc).He lives in rodchester also. Sent him a little info on the reunion. perhaps you guys can have coffee sometime, shoot the breeze.His name is rick medina. retired cwo 4.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 20:19:00 (MDT)
gas here today, in indy, is $1.92 for unleaded, cheap stuff.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 19:43:22 (MDT)
Randy, i thought I saw posted that "our" unit had returned.Others know better than I. If they have, lets still do it. How about it flight?.
alvis
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 19:11:03 (MDT)
All this talk of mistreatment of prisoners has got me thinking. Rumors of throwing out gooks from great heights abounded.I never saw it happen, nor pictures of it,nor anyone that did see it happen. My grunt friends say they always (a rare oppertunty) took prisoners, treated their wounds, and sent them back. I have seen prisoners that the ROK's had taken however. I only saw 3 in the year I was there,and all one the same day,same 'AO". Two were alive( man and a woman). They looked subduded, very subduded. The third was dead, looking like a pretzel.I was truely shocked.Now the ROK's were truely cold harded when it came to gooks.I think this was the same "ao" where we inserted a bunch of them, then went back the next day and picked up there dead. They had been mortered all night long.I chose to keep my mouth shut about it,still feel that way too.Dont know how I would have reacted if it had been american troops.I truely dont.Thank god I never had to make that choice. alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 19:05:10 (MDT)
Hello from Kansas City. Sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you all but I have had nothing to report. After 5 days of trying to get a hold of this V.A. yo-yo, I finally tracked him down only to find out he couldn't help me find out about adopting a unit. But he did tell me who I needed to talk with. Last Tues, I got a hold of him and he sent me the paper work we need. I received them in the mail this morning. I have an appointment Monday morning to meet him and give him the paperwork back. I will fill them out this weekend. Will someone tell me exactly what unit we wish to adopt. I know we want to get the old 129th but what unit is it now. By reading the flight log we have come up with 3 different units. Which one is right. If we have the wrong unit or if that unit does not exist this will take a lot longer. Flight please help. Who is sure the units numbers. After we give the paperwork back, he contacts the unit's C.O. and gets permission for us to adopt the unit. This is almost always approved. The C.O. responds to the New V.A. guy, who in turn lets me know that we are up and running. It could take a month before we know. It depends on how long the C.O. takes.
Ann welcome aboard the flight. I was with the 129th from Sept '66' to July '68". Glad you found us. Don't forget Mothers day Sunday. God I sound like my mother. I'll report more as I know it. Clear left
Randy
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 08:20:18 (MDT)
Fred Alvis, The village where I lived in Holland was only about 3 miles from Gouda, the city the cheese in named after. I use to ride my bicycle there to a great "coffee shop"....but I wasn`t buying the cheese.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Friday, May 07, 2004 at 04:34:59 (MDT)
mom used to send me 2 things I remember sharing with friends. The first was the sunday paper from my home town (columbus georgia). The second was something i only shared with very good friends...a small round block of Gouda cheese.
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 22:55:25 (MDT)
Any package must be shipped to a specific person, because of the anthrax problem DOD will take anything addressed to "Any Soldier", a friend like Ira would be the way to go.
jim
USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 19:52:57 (MDT)
Hello all, I've been on the phone this morning and got the address of a friend who's a Chinook crew chief with the National Guard in IRAQ. I know him from an outrigger Canoe club on the Big Island and he also is lead singer for a Hawaiian/country band here. He's a great guy and left his job, wife and children without complaint to serve in Iraq. I don't know how to address a package to a whole unit, but know for sure that Ira would pass any goodies around. His address is: Ira Kekaualua,C/193rd Aviation(HH) TF 185th Aviation LSA Anaconda, APO AE 07391. I'm going to get some energy bars and stuff off to him ASAP, and would welcome any of you to send what you may. Personaly, I was scared to death to fly in a Chinook; Noisy, Shaky,and full of hydraulic lines......with respect, Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 15:37:39 (MDT)
Hello all....I got a group of ladies to adopt a unit/platoon. There are about 5 of us and we are going to try and send stuff once a month. Have already sent two boxes which cost around 19 bucks to send both...........My uncle would of been 57 on the 12th. Hard to imagine..
Melody Pershall <melody1181(a)yahoo.com>
Amarillo, TX USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 13:32:01 (MDT)
Animal, someone posted a link to a "Adopt a Platoon" site a couple of weeks ago, there was a message left by a CWO Chris Wilson, he's a Kiowa Pilot,25th INF.DIV. I've just been BSing with him, I didn't make any commitment about us adopting his unit, but its a thought, Alvis brought up a good point, the purpose of aviation is to support the "GRUNT" we might want to look for a infantry unit,those guys take the brunt of it..... Hey Ya'll this is Bubba,I see your talkin' 'bout me and I just wanta say "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" and by the way does anyone REALLY know the the definition of "is", come on now, it could mean anything, just food for thought, ya'll take care now and don't stop thinkin' 'bout tomarrow.
jim
USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 09:44:36 (MDT)
Ray, good to see that you're doing ok. I am also and it's finally getting warm in Upstate NY. I'm staying busy and still looking for a job. Hope everyone else is doing ok. Rob
Robbie
Rochester, NY USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 08:25:58 (MDT)
hello to all. just thought I say hi, Bill French I am not sure but did you ever get the song. i sent You may have to;d me but i may have deleated it by mistake, how you doing Rob and Alex and Rick, I am doing ok. Looking forward to going to Alanta be good to see you all make it indy I think it will be good to meet new people. last one me and gail had a grate time, well see you there. time going by fast
take care all a brother always Ray
RAY <stilwating@aol.com>
md USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 08:05:58 (MDT)
those rumors will still floating around in 72.I never believed the one about an american fighting with the gooks. I did believe the ones about "awol" troops living in the large cities. There was also rumors of troops getting false passports and going to europe thru loas,cambodia and thiland.Supposedly, there was some type of under ground railroad type thing existing.Oh, anyone remember the rumor about the island off the coast where they sent gi,s with the "black sif", never to be allowed back home?.Freddy, I cant see a general getting court mar. for that.,Clinton proved that "it isnt sex">.
alvis
USA - Thursday, May 06, 2004 at 06:10:54 (MDT)
Animal: There were multiple takes on the "blonde haired guy". Lots of stories of guys that went AWOL and lived in villes or within large cities. I've always wondered how many of those guys chose to stay and are counted among the POW/MIA's ??? During Korea, a similar thing happened, but in larger numbers. 'would make a good topic to research.
C.B.
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 23:31:13 (MDT)
Fred: I've helped a lot of old ladies cross the street in my lifetime... I don't have the time to go back through all of my files to dig out the information pertaining to federal prisons, nor am I going to....LOL.
C.B.
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 23:24:08 (MDT)
Do you guys remember rumors in Vietnam about a long haired blond dude that fought with the VC/NVA? The John W. Linde discusion brought it to mind. Thanks for the correction on "club Fed", but I still think he might have it easier in a Federal prison than a lot of our troops in the field. Has anyone come up with an address in Iraq to send stuff to our guys? I still think thats the best idea I've heard lately. It doesn't even have to be an aviation unit,but I'd like to do something,and my internet search skills have come up short.......... Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 21:25:09 (MDT)
Fred, I can't wait to blow you away again, or do the name Ruby Begonya not strike a familar note................Casey
Matt Casey
Hemet, Ca USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:30:51 (MDT)
C.B.,please validate your alarming post concerning Federal Prisons.......LOL.....Brother Matt C. are you saying that the military would court-matial a General for getting a blow j-- from a subordinate? Well I would think so, especially if it was a male subordinate..... Boy, that would take "boot-licking" to a whole new level....
Fred Skaggs
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:09:30 (MDT)
thanks guys.You know, that guy just might get "offed" in jail. Lots of folks in there believe in america, despite being social misfits.When I was in Carbon county jail ( Rawlins Wyoming) for 39 days,we went thru at least 2 strip searches.Reading material wasnt allowed,nothing, not even the bible.They did give us a deck of playing cards however.( I had to hide the pencil in my beard)( score keeping).No outside time was allowed, just day after miserable day in side lock up.Kinda makes me mad about folks up "there" saying how apolled they are by what happened in iraqi. What hipocrits they are.alvis 71/72. by the way...I was facing zip to 20 years for having 5 pounds of pot.shrug, it was the times and I was in full blown denial.
alvis
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:06:39 (MDT)
Jeff: Sauers?...I lived in Lewisburg/Allenwood area in the 70's.
C.B.
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 20:02:42 (MDT)
C.B. Interesting you brought up Lewisburg and Allenwood. Lewisburg is really Northeastern Federal. I grew up in Lewisburg and as a matter of fact went to high school with Jordan Parker-- The warden's son. You are very correct in saying it is no country club. Had some pretty bad dudes there. Thirty foot high walls and guard towers with real weapons. In my 19 years in Lewisburg I think there were only one or two escapes. The Nolen brothers got out killed a couple of people made it to NYC and died in a gunfight with the NYPD. Anyway it was ok to go to Jordan's house on the grounds but you can be sure you did not or do not want to go for an extended stay. Allenwood is the farm for the big place and they grow a lot of food etc there. Lots of manual labor and for sure no golf course. I think the one in question was the Lycoming county GC. All of you take care!
Jeff
Lake Norman, NC USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 18:43:52 (MDT)
Fire by the way yes this is "tripper" singing off, can't wait to do this in person or at least over the phone.
Matt Casey
Hemet, CA USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 18:36:47 (MDT)
Afternoon flight,..........Hey there Fire, I find it had to belive that a general in any service would have been coutmarchaled for the same reasons that Clinton was reviewed. FIRE......What do you need for info on the reunion??????????.....I like the idea of a piece of land that we can donate later on........ As there is a tremendus cost for up keep and service for a fly-a-ble Huey.........But that is my 2 cents worth....respectfully......especially to you Fred........Tails Clear Left.....Casey........
Matt Casey
Hemet, CA USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 18:30:22 (MDT)
Fred: Federal time does have a parole system, unless that has change recently. And all federal prisons are not the same. None are country clubs. They range from minimum to maximum. While minimum security federal prisons are not even fenced, the don't have the amentities we have been led to believe. Allenwood and Lewisburg Federal prisons are within 20 miles of one another, but they are worlds apart. Allenwood is noted for houseing the Nixon Administration during Watergate as well as Congressmen from the ABSCAM sting. That is when the country club reputation was embedded in our national memory. Footage of the Allenwood complex showed the golf course nestled amid beautiful countryside farm land. What they didn't say, was the County Golf Course property abutted the prison's farmland. With no fences, it appears to be one compound. It's not, but the phrase was coined and stuck. The understanding that keeps inmates in line with the program is the fact Lewisburg is only 15 minutes away. And that is a different place. Lewisburg's more notables include Jimmy Hoffa and mobsters. This is a place the stereotype of "hard time" is born of. At least that's what I've heard from all my friends and relatives!!!
C.B.
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 18:20:34 (MDT)
John Walker Lindh plea bargined to get 20 years, with some time served. He`ll do most of the time. At least 17 years worth, it`s fed time, you do all of it. There`s no parole. Which is good in his case.....I thought they would kill the idiot...he got lucky. But fed time is easier than "state time". State time is hard time.....but you can get "shock parole" and "good behavior" if someone don`t kill you first.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 14:46:58 (MDT)
He's probably at some "Club Fed" prison. A harsher sentence would be to move his ass permanantly to Afganistan........ Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 12:21:11 (MDT)
I think you talking about John Lind Walker, I'm pretty sure he got 10 or more years.
jim
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 11:33:04 (MDT)
Question. Anyone know what happened to that idiot that was captured fighting for the telebond (sp) in afganistan? Was he sent to jail?
alvis
USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 09:56:51 (MDT)
Alvis, In spite of record gas prices, SUV's and monster trucks abound here. Have you heard the saying: "The bigger the tires, the smaller the dick"? The funny thing about all these huge 4wd's is most never leave the highway. Driving over here can be an adventure as well. We're just getting things like merge lanes and stop lights. The Big Island is very rural compared to Oahu(Honolulu). Alot of folks don't know how to use a merge lane and instead just stop and wait. Be careful out there! Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Wednesday, May 05, 2004 at 02:36:51 (MDT)
My sister sent this to me today and I thought everyone could use a little lift. here it is :My Kinda Marine............
As the crowded airliner is about to take off, the peace is
shattered by a five-year-old boy who
picks that moment to throw a wild temper tantrum. No matter what
his frustrated, embarrassed
mother does to try to calm him down the boy continues to scream
furiously and kick the seats
around him.
Suddenly, from the rear of the plane, a man in a U.S. Marine Corps
uniform is seen slowly
walking forward up the aisle. Stopping the flustered mother with an
upraised hand, the courtly,
soft-spoken Marine leans down and, motioning toward his chest,
whispers something into the
boy's ear.
Instantly, the boy calms down, gently takes his mother's hand, and
quietly fastens his seat belt.
All the other passengers burst into spontaneous applause.
As the Marine slowly makes his way back to his seat, one of the
cabin attendants touches his sleeve.
"Excuse me, sir," she ask quietly, "but could I ask you what magic
words you used on that little boy?"
The Marine smiles serenely and gently confides, "I showed him my
pilot's wings, service stars,
and battle ribbons, and explained that they entitle me to throw one
passenger out the plane door,
on any flight I choose, and that I was just about to make my
selection for this flight.
everyone have a great week, Don
Don Miller
Valley Farms, AZ USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 22:38:56 (MDT)
And they are fools.....are they not Fred? My point is why should WE be like them and be just as foolish.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 15:21:56 (MDT)
correct me if I am wrong . didnt or doesnt faith based forein policy goverenments belong to these people? USSR (none),north Korea (none), north vietnam (none),China (none)Iran( muslim) Paksestan,maylasiea,sudia abaria,iseral.palestine,syria,afganistan,india,kuwait,and where ever omar Gadofi is from.Lots of trouble in most of those countries, most ..in the name of their god.I will kill to defend my family and friends, not my god.
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 14:01:25 (MDT)
Well I hardly think Columbine occured... because God wasn`t in our schools. Those kids had a "plan" and they had access to weapons and they followed thru with it as crazy as it sounds. Those boys had been belittled and bullied by the jocks of the school...not that I endorse the end result. In OUR time all that would have happen was a "stink bomb" in the boys locker room. I also think most presidents we`ve had, have been "God fearing men" or had a personal relationship with God of some type. As far as our "God fearing president" now, faith based foreign policy is for fools. Look at the ads the republicans are running and the "buzz" words "Conservative" and "Christian" appear far too often in same sentence. As far as public opinion about Normandy in today`s world and comparing it to Iraq....It is our right to see what our Tax money is going towards. After 9/11 Mr. Bush said," Keep shopping and live a normal life"...In WW2 everyone had to change their "lifestyles" and make sacrifices. As far Golden Rule of "He who has the gold, rules". Oil was once called "black gold", and Mr. Bush is a oil man....it`s all the same in the board room. Respectfully....
Fred Skaggs
USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 13:40:11 (MDT)
Thats high animal.Tell me, have the high prices cooled the demand for large SUVs there?Seems every 4th vehical here is one.On this day,students died at kent State.Thats in the news. What isnt is that 26 GIs died in vietnam. I did hear last night that opec is thinking of upping production somewhat. sure hope so.Wonder why we cant burn alcohol? racers have been doing it for years. They just had to change gasket materials as alcohol dries out normal gaskets.Petroleum companys used to cut the gasoline with 10% alcohol.They still do that?Lots of heck being raised over the prison pictures but little being said about the lastest american bodies being draged thru the streets.alvis,71/72,,btw, gently, mine was 41.susans was somewhere near yours.
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 13:38:45 (MDT)
hello to all. just thouht i say hi and wish you all well. the price of gas is 1.79 and rising, Iam sure most of you recal just about the same thing happing in the mid 70s how we had to wait in gas lines, at times for over 1/2 hour or more and all for same reason trouble from the mid East. they held back there oil. I wouold think by no we should have learend an way to get our own supply or an diffrent way to get around. but still relie on them, and they know we pay any amy price, for we must work, factories must run, so we pay and pay. when we learn to go after our resouious and stop depending on any one
I dont think tkis as politics but comman cents < i know spelt wrong )
but the price of fule is going threw thew roof i have no answer , but a lot of it is tax by our stat and govement she calls in every day to get market value. it is hi but a lot is the taxes added on by states thats how come such a big diffrence in places
we think we would have learnd back then to look for other ways but heads were turned not to see well thats my thought ,on the gas i hope we don have gas lines like we did out here perhaps most of you didnt have then we syre did. end of that now i cant wait to go to indy i love the frist one i went to in atlanta. and will never will miss another it changed my life for the better/ again the gas thin was not ment to be polotics but to me the truth we need to try to finf a diffrend way a brother always an i suport all our troops that are at servining this country for to be free ray i hope my thoughts came out ok at times as you know they get scrambled i care for you all and respect you all see you in indy
RAY <stilwating@aol.com>
md USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 12:43:32 (MDT)
Alvis, The price of fuel here has been over $2.00 a gallon for almost a year now. The good news is you can only drive 300 or so miles in either direction, and you're back where you started......... Thanks for the post Lenny, but I must disagree with the notion that God is out of our schools. We carry our beliefs with us wherever we go. In this great country our schools can't force beliefs on us, whether they be christian, Hindu, Muslim,or football. We are all free to follow our own conscience. With respect, Greg
Animal
Puna , HI USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 10:52:21 (MDT)
Lenny,know how you feel. My son served aboard the USS Nimitz over there. He is the one that took the picture with 129th on it to drop on sadam.We now,are our parents..watching our children go of to war.Like our parents,we all are hoping for a quick end to the blood letting.Price of fuel in indy today is...1.77 per gal for the cheap stuff. Diesel is 1.56.Truckers are hopping mad and I dont blame them.alvis, 71/72
alvis
USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 09:42:15 (MDT)
Evenin'Flight! I've been monitoring the flightlog com. It's great to see the new names & recollections. The concept of a moving huey is awesome! Talk about nostalga. Are you taking applications for Crew Chiefs or Peter P's?.In reguards to the political stuff,I must admit this is a very trying time for our nation & for my family personally. My oldest son Lenny followed a long familly tradition of joining the service.He is in the USAR 411th Eng.,at the same time attending Penn State U.school of Engineering. A friend of his was KIA in Iraq last month. Lenny is concerned he will be rotated to Iraq in Jan.He is a PFC in his Reserve unit until such time he joins the ROTC @ Penn State. He explained to me that a college student can be pulled out to serve overseas,reguardless of grades..the civillian education will go on the back burner..that is what happened to his friend. My other son Danny is in his jr year of H.S.,planning to go to the Air Force academy..This is driving their mom to her knees.I am extremely proud of my guys for wanting to serve our nation. As a combat veteran,I am well aware of the costs of any war.No one wants to send their loved one.I did not encourage nor discourage my guys to join up. This I know: This is still the greatest nation on earth.We are truly blessed with a God fearing President. I also believe God is trying to get our attention. We've turned our back on Him who has abundantly blessed us for over 200 years.We've kicked him out of our schools & can't figure why Columbine occured...What about the ten commandments? They aren't the "Ten Suggestions"..I don't want to judge the previous Administrations,but "If the leader is corrupt,so goes the nation".We can't continue the way it was.The "Golden Rule" is not He who has the gold,rules!
Consider two things, & I'll get off my soapbox: Are we ever to trust our elected officials @ their word? What do you think public opinion would be if the Normandy landing were today,in an election year? My Uncle was KIA in Burma in 1943.Not far from Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star,Purple Heart ect.,posthuminously.His C.O. wrote how much he loved this country & the men he served with.He died charging a machinegun nest in order to protect his advancing platoon.17 other members of the Merrill's Merauders were killed that day,but my uncle was the only son.The last name "Thrasher" died that day.My mother told me once that uncle george respected the time-honored values of our forefathers..& so do I. Sacrifice? We've been there,done that,& so it continues. If you look at the Big picture,our country is in serious trouble. There is a book by Gary H. Kah called En Route to Global Occupation. Not for the faint at heart! It puts a lot of things into perspective..no lies,just the tough facts.www.garykah.org..Please believe me, I'm not promoting his book.Decide for yourself...Well,I've put my 2cents worth in. Hope I havent offended any aviators...Hey Lou Rags..still waiting to see those photos..Can someone brief me on the upcomin reunion?.F.Y.I,.Last year I observed the USMA cadetes practicing AirAssaults @ Camp Smith,using Blackhawks. It was almost funny...The Helolift commander was a Ft.Rucker I.P.in the 70's. I'm shutting down for now..Clear Left...Respectfully,Lenny.
i
Lenny "Fire" Adams [Sr.] <rtrwingnut@yahoo.com.>
USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 19:46:39 (MDT)
Ann!! Welcome Home to your 129th family. Hope you hang in here with us. Sue & Jim Will be great to see you both in Indy. Fred Alvis looking forward to seeing you and your better half!!! Hope everyone get there registrationforms into the VHCMA. It helps us to get things a little more organized. Of coarse I ain't the most organized guy. Take Care All My Brothers & Sisters. See You In Indy!! 7 weeks and a few wake ups. Alex 65-68
Alex
USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 14:09:13 (MDT)
hello to all my brothers and sisters frist i have that song old hippie as a wav and can send as a wav just ask in a e mail and i send it. hello kim how are you doing. and rob and mark and dee , gale and deebie/ and all of you. can't wait to see you all in indy ray
a brother always. just ask i send you the song may take time but i be happy to
Ray <stilwating@aol.com>
md USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 12:53:31 (MDT)
Warmest welcome and greeting to Ann and her family.Animal,westwamg and myself were all there when Tom was there. Sir Ron Payne ( thanks Raineer) came by to see me the other day,and to give me something from Raineer. We talked a bit about many things,including,of course, this site.He stated that every time he came in,all he saw was politics.It is getting very slanted that way, thus the comment I inserted a few days ago. It isnt a pro bush or Kerry thing. Of course we are going to talk of the war,we are all americans as well as old warriors.I do talk about other things with others tho.The thread of politics is very tiresome,boring,and certianly not condusive to healing when its the only thing ever posted...But,alas, I drift in my purpose of this post.Ron says he has been working behind the scenes to arrange transport for those of the 129th that need it while in town. He has done a wonderful job,I wont say more,its his thunder.He also said that he wants to have a BBQ at his home,all 129thers ,family,ect,invited.Ron,Raineer and I all live close in the area,so we can be of help to those that need it.Talked to my buddy that I shoot with. He says he will break out his weapons also for target popping.He and I went fishing last week,caught about 80 croppie..yummy was the word of that weekend. Gotta go, once more, welcome to Ann. Gale your right on about gently,and I do miss her post.alvis,71/72. door gunner
alvis
USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 06:48:41 (MDT)
Bill, Jim was there from Sept '66 to Nov '67. If you have a picture, he was the skinny kid with black hair and glasses! But then as I look at the pics of you guys, you were all skinny kids then! lol Sorry, he never played the guitar.
Sue Hydinger
USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 06:34:29 (MDT)
Bill, Jim was there from Sept '66 to Nov '67. If you have a picture, he was the skinny kids with black hair and glasses! But then as I look at the pics of you guys, you were all skinny kids then! lol Sorry, he never played the guitar but then it's not to late to learn, right?
Sue Hydinger
USA - Monday, May 03, 2004 at 06:33:58 (MDT)
Fred Sorry to here about the LP, but thatÕs what happens when you tape that nickel on the top of the arm. What part of NC are you at? ItÕs 1.67 at elÕcheepo today can I bring you up some? RICK you remember Jim H seems like I have some pix of him. Sue did he play a Guitar? Jim O are you getting your stuff packed? Mark I do not know how we can go on with the process of healing with our brothers in arms Òin harms wayÓ without the outlet of reasoning out how they got there. What we think about it. It is never very far from my conciseness, and is frankly is giving me fits. Are you saying politics of the WAR to the back channels?
Bill French 68-69
SAV, USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 23:05:48 (MDT)
Animal, personally I like the Diamondbacks ! ! ! ! ! !
Don MIller
USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 22:25:45 (MDT)
Welcome to the site, Ann. I had the honor of knowing Tom at Lane, but left in Feb.72 shortly before his death and never knew what happened to him until I discovered this website. I hope you stick around as one of our family....... CB had some valid points about politics. I think the best we can hope for is to chill a little when it starts getting hot. So far it hasn't gotten personal do to the integrety of the folks that frequent this place. Eliminating politics all together would be impossible in my opinion. Politics is the formative ingredient in all of us. I would never threaten to leave this site in the face of adversity; but I would definetly be a little bored if the diversity of opinion were gone. Soooo.... How about those Cubbies? With respect, Brother Greg
Animal
Puna, HI USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 22:00:55 (MDT)
MARK:
This is your site, so if you don't want politics talked about here, that's your right. But you need to make a clear statement about that in your "Purpose" on the homepage. You are mistaken however,if you think politics wasn't a topic 'back in the day' at the 129th. Politics is what put the 129th in Vietnam. Current politics has created a situation, in many ways, similar to ones when we were young soliders. This effects all of us in greater or lesser degrees. Many on this site clearly have political convictions representing both left and right. Many times this topic of "no politics" is tossed about. But every time, it re-emerges...sometimes from the left, sometimes from the right. Oddly, after an anti-Kerry / Clinton / Democrate post is made, no one says they aren't going to come back to this site anymore. That only happens after someone posts views opposing President Bush, his menions, and policys. I personally have been around a number of other Vietnam veterans in numerous circumstances...it is inevitable that current politics are discussed. In each case the gammut of the political spectrum is voiced. In each case everyone departs still friends. We don't end up all agreeing with one another on every point, but we do end up more informed....or simply agreeing to disagree with one another. I have no doubt we at this site are capable of the same. Much is made here of "having fought for freedom". I am asking you to reconsider your "no politics" postion and allow us to excercise that freedom. Respectfully, C.B.
C.B.
USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 19:04:23 (MDT)
Welcome Ann, nice havin' you among us. Gently, you are truly "one of a kind"! Sue, it will be good to see Jim again after 37 years and to meet you. You might put names to faces, but, don't expect too many "pretty faces".;o) By the way...how's your daughter (is it Stacy?) doing now days? Gale
Gale 67-68
Clinton, In US of A - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 11:12:31 (MDT)
Ah, now once again I feel the presence of the gift this site can be. My husband is Jim Hydinger. He was in the 129th early on....I think '66 & '67. We have known first hand how what seems to be a small act can make a big difference in someone elses life. I'm so glad you have found this site, Ann. We are looking forward to meeting everyone in Indianapolis. It looks like we are going to make it. Thanks to those who have us tips on attending. It was very helpful. Then finally we will be able to put faces to the names.
Sue Hydinger
USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 09:58:05 (MDT)
ANN SHAW BUSLEE.....WELCOME.....it IS truley a miracle that you come to us today. With all the turmoil in the world today, it is a blessing to see how God works his wonders of peace and understanding for us.....That GENTLY:-)))))))).....I'm beginning to wonder whether or not she is really of this world, or a helper sent from above for the 129th. GENTLY, God bless you and thanks again for all that you do for the 129th. To many times your unselfish, unknown work goes unnoticed. I personally thank you Gentle Angel....... ANN, the post from you exemplifies the TRUE MEANING of this sight, PERIOD!!!!......rest assured that Tom is here with you..........stay in touch with us, and God Bless.....always a brother, Mark
Mark
USA - Sunday, May 02, 2004 at 07:45:23 (MDT)
Thirty two years ago today a soldier and a priest came to the door with a telegram. Thirty two years later my son is a grown man with a wife and young daughter who is just about the age he was when his father died. Just last week he and I went through a large oak chest containing the results of thirty two years of collecting and preserving personal effects,correspondence,photographs,etc..that Tom's mom (who passed away last year, 6 months after his dad died) had lovingly put together and passed on to the two of us. It was wonderful and it was horrible...because it wasn't enough. Then, like a miracle I heard from "Gently" and here I am...soaking up the 129th like a dried out old sponge. Thanks to all of you responsible for putting together this lifeline...and to all of you who ever contributed. I can't express in words the power that has been infused into my loving memory of Tom Shaw. Boobas
Ann Shaw Buslee <abuslee@centurytel.net>
Ladysmith, Wi. USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 21:58:43 (MDT)
....Can you please take the politics to the back channels, Thanks....Mark
Mark
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 18:47:57 (MDT)
By 'support' I mean that the case has to be made, with an exit strategy... Folks got upset with daddy bush, but, at least he had a plan, and he stuck to it! I firmly believe that he would have put us in the same mess we're in right now, if he'd done what the chicken hawks had wanted back then.......One thing I can't understand, if it's possible to produce alternative energy powered vehicles, why aren't there any around? I see all kinds of experimental vehicles, aircraft, etc.....I haven't seen any serious (people hauling, grocery bomber) vehicles tooling around our highways. Most of our mainstream equipment can be traced to some backyard mechanic type, who inspired someone else to produce it........any thoughts?
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 16:08:28 (MDT)
"While Bush may be an intelligent man..." Fred, do you have any evidence to support that comment???..or has southern graciousness rubbed off onto a liberal Yankee? KIM: You say, "I support our government doing everything possible to put them in a position to win, and get out!!!!"...but doesn't that fall right into the 'support our troops' trap you refer to? There is no WINNING to be done at this point. That window was closed with the absence of a plan once we arrived. No plan to secure the country, no plan to provide basic services, no plan to get out.
C.B.
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 14:54:31 (MDT)
heres an idea, why dont we stop with the politics? I get it every day,newspaper,radio,tv,lunch..ect ad nausum.I stoped reading the paper,except sundays,try and not catch to much news anymore,changed the radio station.Guess now i am going to have to drop this site also, as a few others have done already.Believe what you want,whorship howevere you please,vote how you want, its none of my biz and you cant change me ,nor I you.Used to be enjoyable coming in here but all this bashing about is very tiresome for me.I am going to keep checking in for now, but who knows when to much is to much.alvis, clear
alvis
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 14:43:27 (MDT)
Attitude check.......F%$# it.
jim
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 14:17:05 (MDT)
Your on a roll Kim.......early on a Saturday morning!!!!!
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 06:46:34 (MDT)
The fact is that Bush doesn't ever tell us anything he is doing. He never holds press conferences. And god forbid someone ask him a challenging question. The fact is...While bush may be an intelligent man, we will never know because he is a very poor communicator. How can you be the President of the United States of America and have poor communication skills?....................................................................
According to most studies, people`s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that sound right?
This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you`re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 06:43:45 (MDT)
The thing that bothers me most about the body count.....they didn't have to die there. There was no threat to America. Weekend warriors are being pushed beyond their limits, not because of a national emergency, but because of a miscreant's whim. We've all been there...peace with honor, stopping the spread of global communism...all that crap. We should be screaming the loudest over the ignorance! Instead, we fall into that "support the troops" trap. I support our government doing everything possible to put them in a position to win, and get out!!!! That should be known before going in. This bunch of bozo's, in their fantasyland thinking, have no more of a plan than reagan did in Lebanon! America, in our "home of the brave, land of the free? bluster, has done another wonderful job of mob rule....any one who dares to dissent is labelled as unpatriotic. I fought for the right to have people tell me that I can't speak what's on my mind? Just as it goes in the fable, it's going to take a child to tell the Emperor that he's bare assed, because a grownup can't!!!!!...Question: how many 113's are in inventory? They're one hell of a lot safer than jeeps are!!!!!!
Kim
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 06:13:18 (MDT)
Fred Alvis.....I`m paying a $1.89 a gallon for regular down here in N.C. Just about ran out of gas looking for cheaper prices. Fred it`s actually the refineries that are jacking the prices up.....Shit I thought we would be getting it free by now Has anyone paid close attention to the price of milk going up?
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 05:57:59 (MDT)
Frenchie.....I listen to that song until I wore it out on the LP....Got it in CD form now. Kinda of "easy listening" when you`ve lived it.
Fred Skaggs
USA - Saturday, May 01, 2004 at 05:51:25 (MDT)