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Lone Survivor, 2013
An amazing story about some great friends and American Warriors. Never Forget!!! This June is the 10th anniversary.

Happy belated Memorial Day. I've lived Northern Virginia for several years and had never attended Rolling Thunder, shame on me. Always wanted to, this year was different. Pretty amazing site from the riders and the participants lining the streets. Truly a great showing of American Pride. Didn't matter race, color, or religion, everyone standing together for the same reason.

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Alright, so it took me a few days to recognize the link on Danny's sig....

I am the 'Son of a Son of a Sailor" My mother's dad - 'Papa' Joe Baton joined and served as a Quarter Master in the Coast Guard in WWII from Rhode Island . My dad's father, Grandpa Carlson, was also in the Coast Guard. He was a 2nd CLass Seaman, and drove landing boats in WW2 at Normandy. He was a fortunate sole to have survived and made it home after the war. My dad, Rick, retired from the USN after a 22yr career. Dad was a Master Chief Torpedoman - qualified in submarines - TMCM(SS). I grew up wanting nothing more than to join the Navy and see the world - just as my dad had done - and that is exactly what I did. I joined the USN in 1990, served for 6-1/2 years before I realized that the USN had 'become a job, and was no longer an adventure'. I served as an electrican (EM3) and an electronics technician (ET2/SS). I 'qualified' submarines in 1994 on the USS Sturgeon (SSN637) before decommisioning that boat after she had given almost 30 years of service. I then got married to a high school sweetheart, transferrred from Charleston, SC to Newport News, VA and was assigned to commission the USS Tucson (SSN770). We built the Tucson on the East Coast, then took it thru the Panama Canal and moving it to her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I didnt really get to see the world..... but as Thorogood sang, 'Ive seen everything, but the bottom of the sea....' Well.... actuallly...

I just purchased my first Toyota last year, a 1974 FJ40 with an aluminum tub swap and an updated 2F heart. I had wanted an OLD 4x4 - instead of the typical mid life convertible, and when I spotted a -40 on a car lot - i knew then what I truly wanted. The first truck I saw was not the right fit for me, so I searched until I found Elsie.

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While I often think back to the days underway, and more than 400' below the surface of the ocean, I think I made the best choice for me. My dad retired in '86 and went to work for a DOD contractor using his Vertical Launch System expretise... remember the Tomahawk cruise missles.... yeah, that what my dad had his expertise in... Dad went back to my last boat, where he was welcomed aboard and recognized as my old man. That was cool, even though I was out of the USN. Dad loves to tell that although he made it to Master Chief Pettty Office (E9) or MCPO - i built a company and I made it to CEO.

Erik G Carlson, formerly ET2/SS, USN
Waiting to tech my son, Gunner, how to drive a stick....
 
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Welcome Erik!! Thank you for your service and the service of your ancestors!!

Thank you for sharing!!

I've already taught my 'son' Gunner, how to drive a stick... Chester is next!!

BTW: If you have room and want to, please copy and paste my Veterans' Highway line into your signature.

Elsie looks very nice - I especially love the color!!
 
Good morning and "welcome aboard" Eric....Very nice looking TLC. I've been looking at aluminum tubs with more than a passing curiosity. IMHO the perfect choice for an alternative mid-life crisis vehicle....Thanks for posting the pics!!!!
 
I meant to post this the other day... but, I'm old... May 28th was 46 years since I first enlisted in the Air Force... July 31st will be 26 years since I retired from the Air Force. Seems like a lifetime ago.
 
They sure have!!

And speaking of change... Tom (@lostmarbles) came upon and O-1 Bird dog, down in his neck of the woods (New Zealand), that was flown by the 220th Aviation Company (CatKillers), in Viet Nam (220th supported the 1st Marine Division Air Operations) - these were Forward Air Controllers (FAC) - the Marines called them Tactical Air Controllers Airborne (TACA). They were the guys who controlled air strikes, from these slow planes, about 100 feet up, with no real protection.

Talk about 'change', this bird was flown in Viet Nam and retired to New Zealand!!

If anyone is interested, I was able to find a bit of information on this bird... you can see the info, starting at post# 36 <-- click it!

Here's a pic:

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I don't recall this story... but, I was busy trying to graduate from high school...

On this date (June 2nd), in 1967

Green Beret doctor convicted in court-martial

Capt. Howard Levy, 30, a dermatologist from Brooklyn, is convicted by a general court-martial in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, of willfully disobeying orders and making disloyal statements about U.S. policy in Vietnam. Levy had refused to provide elementary instruction in skin disease to Green Beret medics on the grounds that the Green Berets would use medicine as “another tool of political persuasion” in Vietnam.

Levy, invoked the so-called “Nuremberg defense,” justifying his refusal on the grounds that the Green Berets would use the training for criminal purposes. Levy’s civilian attorney also argued that training the Green Berets compelled him to violate canons of medical ethics. The Green Berets were soldiers first and aid-men second; therefore, their provision of medical treatment to civilians in order to make friends was illegitimate, for it could be taken away as easily as given. The court was not persuaded and the ten-officer jury found him guilty on all charges, sentencing him to three years at hard labor and dismissal from the service. Levy was released in August 1969 after serving 26 months and immediately became active in the “GI coffeehouse protests” in Army towns around the country.
 
Barnyard Follies.
Debbie Does Dallas and other "Debbie Does..." movies.

Those VHS tapes had more ship/float time than most sailors in the Navy.
 
Break Break...

Friend of mine is trying to contact US Army CPT/MAJ/LTC(?) Chris Jay. If you have any SA on Chris, shoot me a PM. The short message is all I have at this time. Anyone from the great state of Texas know Chris??

"CPT Chris Jay, he was the TL for ODA 743 when we were in AF in 2002-2003. Last I heard he was in Tx. Im trying to locate him....can you throw out some feelers for anyone who may have contact info"?

Thanks!!!
 
Break Break...

Friend of mine is trying to contact US Army CPT/MAJ/LTC(?) Chris Jay. If you have any SA on Chris, shoot me a PM. The short message is all I have at this time. Anyone from the great state of Texas know Chris??

"CPT Chris Jay, he was the TL for ODA 743 when we were in AF in 2002-2003. Last I heard he was in Tx. Im trying to locate him....can you throw out some feelers for anyone who may have contact info"?

Thanks!!!

Could this be your Chris Jay? http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/arotc/faculty/cj23492
 

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