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Chungas Revenge said:
By all means Danny...Some where down the "Highway" I hope to see it copied in more sig blocks!!!
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Great idea Jeff!!

Everyone... please add Jeff's two-line or my one-line reference to Veterans' Highway to your signature - maybe more people will become aware of OUR Veterans Highway thread.

Thanks!
 
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I'm there. X2 Great idea.

Larry
 
Howdy all and Thanks for your service...AF vet and 80 owner...Glad ya'll started this thread-neat to hear about ya'lls time in the service...
 
Not Military service but 20+ years and counting of Federal Law Enforcement. With that service I have been honored to train with and work alongside several members of our armed forces across the globe in some not so nice places. Mad love and respect for you all especially the SOF community. Stay safe and continue to kick arse and take names.

As the signature says, long time FJ40 lover currently with a stock Hundy. Hope to change some of that in the near future.
 
FJCowboy said:
Not Military service but 20+ years and counting of Federal Law Enforcement
Click to expand...

Thanks for your service!!! Welcome aboard....Good luck with your Fj40 search. You are in the right place to find one!!!
 
I forgot the 40 porn, as requested by Jeff.

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I have always liked the idea of a roll bar with a .50cal mount on top, seems as if all the "3rd world" 40's I see are well equipped. Imagine the possibilities of having Ma Deuce barking in traffic! Not that I could afford a .50, hell even the ammo for that matter, I have probably shot up my annual wages in .50 cal brass, and 7.62 brass from the M240B while at Ft. Carson............ah the fun days.
 
Yesterday, The city of Morgantown WV, honored SSG Gene Vance..I knew Gene personally and served with him (although not in Afghanistan) early in my/his career. Gene was part of a SOT-A and was serving with 2/19th SFG (A) when he was KIA.

In my estimation this thread doesn't really have a distinct ROE (Rules of Engagement). We can say hello and welcome Veterans, as well as remember those that have gone on "ahead of us". I thought, with Memorial Day just around the corner, this may be a good venue for others to post up and "Remember". The city of Morgantown has done an amazing job each year remembering Gene. I thought this would be a good place for me to remember him also....

The following is from an open source:

SOT-As are low-level SIGINT collection teams that intercept and report operational and technical information derived from tactical threat communications through prescribed communications paths. The mission of a SOT-A is to conduct SIGINT/EW in support of information operations (unilaterally or in conjunction with other SOF elements) to support existing and emerging SOF missions worldwide. They detect, monitor, and exploit threat communications through communications transmission intercept and direction finding. SOT-As also can deploy with SFODAs to provide SIGINT support for contingency, direct action, force protection, or MTT support.


http://www.wboy.com/story/29087447/gene-vance-jr-day-remembered-in-monongalia-county

MORGANTOWN -
The city of Morgantown celebrated Armed Forces Day on Sunday by remembering Staff Sergeant Gene Vance, Jr.

The fourth annual Gene Vance Jr. Day was held on May 18. On the same day in 2002, Vance became the first West Virginia National Guard officer to be killed in active duty since World War II.

The day was made in an effort to pay recognition to all of our men and women in uniform around the world. all Americans and allies worldwide were invited to observe a moment of silence at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 17 in observance of the day. Friends and family came together at East Oak Grove Cemetery to honor the heroes.

"It was my desire to try to recognize those services in honor of my brother in law, and have one day, a special day, here in Morgantown and that was the reason that we sorted it out," said Micael Minc, brother-in-law of Vance.

Vance was a West Virginia native and WVU alumnus, and was also a highly-skilled and decorated U.S. Special Forces Cryptologic Linguist citizen soldier. A comrade that was with Vance in Afghanistan when the ambush occurred recalls the bravery of this fallen hero.

"Even after he was shot, he did not complain. He was very quiet. I don't think he was in a lot of pain quite frankly, probably in some shock. I was in the back seat, and he was in the front seat when that happened. He was instrumental in getting me and the other guy in the vehicle, Jim Keller, back to the base," said John C. Burlew, comrade of Vance.

Following his death, the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation was set up by family members to help critically injured veterans.

"It will allow us to bring some healing and comfort to those members that have had very severe injuries and also a support system for their families," Minc said.

To donate to the Gene Vance Jr. Foundation visit www.genevancejr.org
 
My turn, I just passed 13 years of combined active, Reserve and Air Guard service. I was just about to get out and reconsidered within hours of missing my chance! I'm a SSgt, with all of the PME and testing done to have been MSgt for two years now.

I started out as a U-2 Crew Chief at Beale AFB, CA. After a few years, decided it was a bit too much for my young family. I "Palace Chased" to the Reserves to work KC135s. After taking a short job with Luke at 4x4Labs and one drill we moved back to flat Michigan for school and the 927th ARW formerly at Selfridge ANGB. After the last BRAC I transferred to Grissom ARB, IN and worked 135s in ISO, AR (R&R) and wheel and tire.

Have you ever seen the vertical tail of a big jet folded over? I did one. It's nuts.

Two summers ago I transferred to the Battle Creek ANG base in Battle Creek, MI to take a stab at Emergency Management in CE. I never went to school and pissed off my old commander... Now I'm transferring back to Selfridge to my old AFSC to work on tankers again.

During a visit back to Beale a couple of years ago my family finally got to experience a ride in a "mobile". I crewed the Pogo truck for three months straight. My son took this video and recently re-edited it.

We have three 40s in various states of disrepair/dismantling/engine-frame-drivetrain swapping, and my wife's 95 fzj80 which is also waiting for a 5.3 swap.

A few years ago I took a stab at driving a desk as a DCMA QA intern. I hated that job.

I'm also the guy who's too slow at building door hinges for 40s...

Thank you - all of my fellow vets and current military members.
 
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@69LC

Thanks for sharing and thanks you for your service!!

I used to love to watch U2s take off at DMAFB, in Tucson, a lifetime ago. I always marveled at how awkward they looked, when they first started to roll and how elegant they looked, when they lifted off and rotated to a near vertical climb... Awesome!!
 
Sad news about the Osprey... A friend was telling me when they were testing ... they had one go down... Lost some men... It was a big hohaa and sargents yelling a 3stars how they were not going up until cause was found and fixed... Wish you could have heard him telling it... Dramatic and heart wrenching

Very sad to hear the latest bad news for the v-22... I guess it's still a problem aircraft?
 
I can't speak for that aircraft, but anytime you're wrenching is counted on with a handshake and a salute
- to know you did everything you could before "handing over the keys", and then to know one or more of your flyers and a bird were lost is unbearable.

My son grew up watching and listening to airplanes fly over and is working on being an AF pilot even in High School. It's not an easy thing to consider, even knowing how well the Air Force maintains aircraft.
 
Netherlands American Cemetery will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 3:00 p.m.

My family and I spent almost 4 years in Brunssum, The Netherlands, in the early-mid '80s, while I was stationed a HQ AFCENT (Armed Forces Central Europe). This was definitely one of the most educational and nicest places my Wife, our two Daughters and I ever lived!!

During our time in Brunssum, I was honored and humbled to be invited to present a wreath at the ceremony, in Margraten, The Netherlands, three years in a row. I was honored to be asked and humbled by the number of graves and the reverent way the local Dutch and Belgique citizens turned out for the ceremony.

Of course, during our time in Holland, there were many WWII Dutch and Belgique survivors... they remembered well what it was like to be under the NAZI's collective boot heel and the feeling of extreme relief they felt when the American and Canadian liberators pushed through and, almost overnight, returned a bit of civilization to their lives.

We had many Dutch friends and still keep in contact with some today... our older friends are now gone, but I'll bet the current Dutch citizens heard many stories from their parents and grandparents and are still grateful for the American and Canadian sacrifices and the lives lost to bring freedom back to their ancestors' lives.

At any rate, I'd be thrilled to hear from anyone who takes this opportunity to attend this Sunday's ceremony at

Click this link --> MARGRATEN, THE NETHERLANDS​

For any who, like myself, will not be at Margraten or any other celebration, please take a moment, on Sunday, to think about the sacrifices that our military women and men have made to ensure our freedom.

Regardless of political values, without the selfless sacrifices of our Military, we would not have the freedoms we have today, nor would we be the Country we are today.

For anyone with an interest in reading about military campaigns... this is my Father's 'family' ( <-- click link), during Operation Overlord.

Thank you,
 
Danny -

I worked with the good folks at Chièvres for the better part of a year. A good friend of mine still works at Chièvres Air Base in Belgium. Hollowed ground indeed! Thanks for the link to "Overlord"....I, to this day, am still in awe of the men (and women) who comprise that generation of "Americans"..

Without sounding pretentious, I can only hope that we, as a nation, can still aspire to that equable contribution....Lest we forget the level of sacrifice, laid so freely upon the alter of freedom, that we as a nation, should and shall not forget those who have given so willingly and gallantly their lives to preserve our own. But as the beneficiaries of such noble endeavor, remember that each generation, however gallant, encompass only a portrait and a singular glimpse of the spirit and determination that comprise the American Ideal.

Lest We Forget

by Berton Braley

Our dead rest on the breast of France
And all around the world
Where by war's grim or splendid chance
Our banners were unfurled:

So whether here or overseas
Their bodies chance to lie,
We pay full honour unto these
Who did not fear to die.

Because they dared, because they died
We and our nation live,
Our liberty, our hope, our pride
Were gifts that they could give:

And since for all these gifts the price
Was life -- they held life cheap
And blithely made the sacrifice
And laid them down to sleep.

O, dead of many wars, who fought
With spirit high and pure,
The noble structure that you wrought
Shall evermore endure!

You held your country's cause above
All else: we, unafraid,
Will keep your country worthy of
The price you gladly paid.

 
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Thanks for sharing, Jeff!! I spent a lot of time, just down the road, at SHAPE and was through Chièvres many times.

I join you, in your hope... but... this is not the same world for which our Fathers went to war...
 
I thought I would post up a list of Military movies that are worth revisiting this weekend if the BBQ gets rained out. These are in no particular order of preference, and by all means, does not represent an inclusive list. Please feel free to add your own "picks"...Maybe a good venue to "debate" the all time top ten/twenty etc...

The Deer Hunter (1978)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
The Great Escape (1963)
Ivan's Childhood (1962)
Platoon (1986)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The Deer Hunter (1978)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
The Big Red One (1980)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Flags of our Fathers (2006)
Das Boot (1981)
The Thin Red Line (1998)
The Steel Helmet (1951)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Apocalypse Now (Long version 1979)
Cross of Iron(1976)
Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
American Sniper (2014)


"It is well that war is so terrible -- lest we should grow too fond of it"
Robert E. Lee
Commander
Army of Northern Va


 
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