Replies: 20
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Tiger Spirit [9938]
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HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 7:05 AM
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The call to service is a sacred one. Whether you were drafted or willingly volunteered to place yourself in harm's way, today is your day. If you're like me, you enjoyed every moment of service to this nation and whenever you reflect back in your mind even the bad days weren't so bad. Personally, I tend to reflect back on who I served with rather than what we did.
I encourage you all to reach out to a fellow service member that you served with and thank that person for serving with you. Whenever you do, make that person a promise that you'll check on them from time to time. You'd be surprised at how it changes your entire day/mood whenever someone calls to check on you that you haven't seen for 10, 15, or even 20 years. However, knowing that someone out there is thinking of you and cares means a whole lot.
For those who didn't serve, I encourage you to venture out to a restaurant or some local pub and just listen to a veteran's stories about his service to our great nation. It doesn't have to be a stranger; it can be a family member or a family friend. For some of us, it can be therapeutic and for others maybe not so much. So, whenever you see a veteran today or a civil servant such as an EMS worker, fire fighter, or even a law enforcement officer be sure to thank them as well and buy them a coffee or if it's afterhours then buy them a drink somewhere.
To all of my fellow warriors who swore an oath I salute you. Cheers! Be safe this evening and don't drink too much. Unfortunately, yesterday was the 249th Birthday for my beloved Marine Corps. So, you may encounter a shortage on crayons. We apologize in advance and bid you a SEMPER FI, an OORAH, and GO TIGERS!
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Team Captain [494]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:05 AM
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Chesty, I may not be precisely like you. I enjoyed my 20 years and 23 days in the canoe club but perhaps not exactly EVERY day. There were some crappy days for sure but on the whole I enjoyed the the full ride. The latter years I was determined to get out of it what I wanted all along…….the adventure. And I got it in a big way not only for me but for my wife and girls. I took us overseas to Sicily and Japan. Living in foreign countries and being immersed in other people’s culture is an experience that cannot be matched even in extended visits.
I started out as an aircraft electrician on Tomcats. When you start at the low end of the totem pole in naval aviation you get to do the dirty, servicing work. You get to be a plane captain….a brown jersey…..a terd shirt. And looking back I would tell you I got the most enjoyment out of that non-technical job. I was running around the roof of a carrier dodging intakes, exhaust and rotors. I was humping equipment trying to navigate my way across a flight deck where everything is in motion. I was ducking up under the engine nacels of moving aircraft as they taxied and trying to keep my head on a swivel. Then God would turn the lights out and we did it in total darkness. I tell you, I used to feel like a cowboy up there.
The upper attachment may have been one of those days when I wasn’t exactly feeling it. I look kind of annoyed for some reason.
Message was edited by: SamuraiTater®
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TigerNet Elite [74157]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:16 AM
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carrier deck jobs just fascinate me. lets sling them off the deck to fly and when they come in to land it goes to full throttle in case they miss the tail hook and have to fly off immediately.
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Team Captain [494]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 3:07 PM
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carrier deck jobs just fascinate me. lets sling them off the deck to fly and when they come in to land it goes to full throttle in case they miss the tail hook and have to fly off immediately.
74, my first day on an aircraft carrier flight deck was definitely memorable. I was assigned to the Line Division in VF-24 as a plane captain trainee. My trainer was a qualified plane captain who’d made the previous cruise. We’re standing in the starboard side (right side) catwalk just forward of the island waiting for his bird to recover and he instructs me to grip the back of his float coat. He told me in no uncertain terms I was to hang on no matter what and if at any time he felt me let go, he’d turn around and whip my ####. Once his jet recovers they would taxi it into what we called the “six pack” area. The first 6 Tomcats to return would be spotted with their noses dead on the foul line. That’s the red and white demarcation line that denotes the landing area. You don’t even think about crossing it during recovery but we will use every inch of available real estate right up to it.
He’s got a lot of things to do in order to get this bird ready for the next event and he has to hustle. Every minute counts. Once we step up on the flight deck he leads me over to the forward side of the island where there is a bunch of support equipment and I’m kind of out of harms way. He tells me to grip some piece of equipment and again the same warning if I let go of it. He leaves me there like a mother lion leaving her cub in a safe spot temporarily while his bird taxis from the landing area and they spot it in the six pack. He gets it chained down, pops the canopy, boarding ladder, steps and after the aircrew climbs down he climbs up there and pins the ejection seats. Then he comes back for me.
Now I’m holding onto the back of his float coat again, following him everywhere he goes and watching everything he does. He’s trying his best to communicate verbally but it’s really loud up there. We’re working our way around from the left side of the nose, toward the back and up the right side checking lots of things. ….Well, he is. I’m just in awe of what’s going on. As we get to the right side of the nose he pops open the Liquid Oxygen bay and checks both LOX bottles. One needs to be changed. Fresh ones are over by the island and again he needs to hustle. He takes my left hand and makes me grip the the nose wheel well door, again with his warning if I let go. Then he runs to get a new LOX bottle.
So I’m just standing there holding onto that door, gazing across the landing area……..just kind of relaxed for the moment,thinking how cool this scene is….. The nose cone is blocking part of my view of the landing area and I don’t really notice what’s about to happen….
Then out of nowhere a Tomcat suddenly traps in the wire right in front of me. The engines are roaring and it’s straining against the arresting cable which has brought it to a halt. In a landing configuration the wings of a Tomcat are out at 20 degrees and I’d estimate that right wingtip was maybe 20-25 feet from me. It was an exciting moment to say the very least. I knew right then I was going to enjoy this job.
Message was edited by: SamuraiTater®
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TigerNet Elite [74157]
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61
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Joined: 1998
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:17 AM
[ in reply to Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY! ] |
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carrier deck jobs just fascinate me. lets sling them off the deck to fly and when they come in to land it goes to full throttle in case they miss the tail hook and have to fly off immediately.
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Tiger Spirit [9938]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Following Ships I Slept On
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:31 AM
[ in reply to Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY! ] |
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U.S.S Tarawa U.S.S. Essex U.S.S. Juneau U.S.S. Harper's Ferry (Herpes Ferry) U.S.S. Fort Mac U.S.S. Kearsarge U.S.S. Ponce U.S.S. Gunsten Hall U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard
2 HSV's (Prototypes) The Sea Sickness was unrelenting.
I was part of BLT 2/3 31st MEU/ DIRTY WORST and BLT 3/8 22nd MEU
The U.S.S Tarawa and Bonhomme Richard weren't for actual deployments whenever I berthed on them. It was for RIMPAC.
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TigerNet Elite [71375]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Not as many as you
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:42 AM
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and not all fun, but I slept on:
USS Lexington USS Independence USS Eisenhower (Quarter mile island) USS Iwo Jima USS Nassau (Admirals Barge) USS Blue Ridge USS Sea Devil (Submarine) USS Roberts (Sammy B) Last cruise & farewell
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Tiger Spirit [9938]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: Not as many as you
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Nov 11, 2024, 10:22 AM
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and not all fun, but I slept on:
USS Lexington USS Independence USS Eisenhower (Quarter mile island) USS Iwo Jima USS Nassau (Admirals Barge) USS Blue Ridge USS Sea Devil (Submarine) USS Roberts (Sammy B)
You know what they say about Submarine Crews? 100 men go down and 50 couples come up.. Just kidding you Shipmate. SEMPER FIDELIS! NOM NOM NOM THESE CRAYONS ARE DELISH!
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1st Rounder [689]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:50 AM
[ in reply to Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY! ] |
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I was an Ordnanceman for 10 years. The flight deck was my life.
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Valley Protector [1448]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:15 AM
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I was a member of the Canoe Club as well for 23 years and a bit. I served as an Electronics Technician on small boys (FFGs and smaller) or at Naval Air Stations. Did one stint at NECC, boots on the ground in Kenya for 6 months.
I'm proud of my service and wouldn't change it for anything. The people I met and places I went are special to me and will never be forgotten. The friendships you make in the service are the type where you can go without seeing each other for years, but when you do you fall right back into the same old pattern as if its only been a few days.
Happy Veteran's Day to all my Veteran brothers and sisters!
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Team Captain [494]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 3:36 PM
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After my first seven years as an AE on Tomcats I made a lateral conversion to FC. I became a MK-92 tech on a Perry class FFG. Did about 4 1/2 years aboard USS Elrod (FFG-55). Tin cans are a very different experience than the carrier life. Bird farms are noisy 24/7. The small boys are peaceful at night. ….And you’ll never have a better night of sleep than on a tin can in a sea state of about 3 or 4.
The upper file is the last SM-1 that I ever let fly. It was a skin to skin kill against a vandal coming over the horizon at mach 1+, about 12 feet off the deck. First radar contact was at 11.3 miles. My Divo got the luckiest camera shot ever from the bridge.
Message was edited by: SamuraiTater®
Message was edited by: SamuraiTater®
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Varsity [113]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:22 AM
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Serving our country was the greatest six years of time in my life! So much camaraderie, learning, effort and pride...it goes a long way into building your spirit! oorah and Semper Fidelis!
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Tiger Spirit [9938]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:28 AM
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It's the camaraderie that I miss the most. You simply cannot find it in any other job.
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Valley Legend [12476]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 8:44 AM
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3/11 ACR. WORKHORSE!!!
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Starter [278]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:51 AM
[ in reply to Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY! ] |
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Happy Veterans day to you Navy guys, and E1 else who served. Thank goodness I spent my time on Terra Firma.
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Hall of Famer [9060]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Ooh-rah! Happy Veterans Day!
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:00 AM
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(Spud style picture) Me (USMC), Daughter, Dad and Grandfather's.
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Associate AD [1062]
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Re: Ooh-rah! Happy Veterans Day!
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:22 AM
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I was honored to have served this great nation in uniform in US Army.
March 1968 to August 1971 active duty. Vietnam 8-68 to 8-69
August 1971 to May 1974 active reserves (Drill Sergeant) while attending Clemson.
Only easy day was yesterday....
WT
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Tiger Spirit [9938]
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Re: Ooh-rah! Happy Veterans Day!
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Nov 11, 2024, 10:25 AM
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I was honored to have served this great nation in uniform in US Army.
March 1968 to August 1971 active duty. Vietnam 8-68 to 8-69
August 1971 to May 1974 active reserves (Drill Sergeant) while attending Clemson.
Only easy day was yesterday....
WT
The only easy day was yesterday because the path to success is always under construction. Success is rented, never owned and rent is due every day! KILL!
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Orange Immortal [66374]
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I was also Army in the jungles and rice paddies
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Nov 11, 2024, 2:22 PM
[ in reply to Re: Ooh-rah! Happy Veterans Day! ] |
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of Vietnam. Lucky to see Walter Reed for almost a year.
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Clemson Sports Icon [57392]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 9:55 AM
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Thanks to each of you who has served in the US military. We are all safer because of your courage.
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Oculus Spirit [39364]
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Re: HAPPY VETERANS DAY!
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Nov 11, 2024, 3:41 PM
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One of many regrets I have in life is not enlisting.
I do APPRECIATE all of those that served and are serving now! Words cannot even do justice for my appreciation!!
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Replies: 20
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