DeadPoked said:
Good luck and godspeed...
My cousin is a gunnery srgt in the Marines and has been there about 8 weeks...
Joe
Iraqi Vacation
- Thread starter DeadPoked
- Start date
Good luck and godspeed...
My cousin is a gunnery srgt in the Marines and has been there about 8 weeks...
Joe
jhendri2 said:
I was at Travis AFB in CA, but that was way back in '67-'71 (yes, the planes had jet engines then
). Very busy place then at the height of Vietnam. It was a MAC base (though we did have a small SAC contingent) lots of people and material shipped out and unfortunately a lot of casualities and body bags back. They didn't seem to bring healthy people finishing their tour back through Travis, I think they flew back in smaller groups and individually to private airports. I wasn't much for the military life, but I did my time honorably. It's funny how some people are so comfortable in the military and others are like a fish out of water. That's the nice thing about the volunteer military, the people who are there now are the people who are comfortable there and they therefore do a better job.BTW, there was a Lt. Hoppe in my office, he was Willie Hoppe's nephew and couldn't play pool worth a lick. Real nice guy though.
Great story Cat's. You're right though, I've supervised many Airman who's personality weren't compatible with the military. It's a dedication to stay to retirement that few civilians will understand. We don't make a whole lot of money but do things normal folks would never consider. Civilians just don't get that we can go to jail for being late to work (had a troop...long story).
The deployments are where the young Airman learn what we're all about. It's the hardest yet most rewarding experience someone can go through.
For all of you who say you "support" the military, the biggest support we need is to be kept in your prayers while we're deployed.
Jim
The deployments are where the young Airman learn what we're all about. It's the hardest yet most rewarding experience someone can go through.
For all of you who say you "support" the military, the biggest support we need is to be kept in your prayers while we're deployed.
Jim
jhendri2 said:
... or, for example, for getting a bad sunburn through negligence and being unable to perform your duty.
Good luck with the rest of your career.
catscradle said:
Been there, done that, didn't go to jail. I was stationed at Hurlburt Field, Ft. Walton beach, and on my 21st birthday we took a cooler of beer to the beach...and I sat out there drinking....unprotected from the sun...all day......LIKE AN IDIOT.
I was toasted (both mentally from the brew, and physically from the sun).
I went that night to Starcade Billiards and I remember Andy Gross (RIP) laughing wholeheartedly at me, but in the nice..Andy G. way. He said I looked like a cooked lobster playing 9 ball or something to that affect...and Andy really wasn't the one who made lots of jokes, from what I remember. He was laid back, but kind of serious minded to a certain extent. I must have really looked like a fool.
I went to work Monday morning and my boss was definitely testing me (I was an A1C at that time) to see how I felt. I never complained once about my sunburn although everybody and their mother made a comment. And when I had to sit down (which I did very gingerly) my back felt like it was on fire. I knew if it affected my work (kept me away from the office for Dr's appointments) I could get in deep sh*t should my boss want to press the issue. I didn't want to test it either way so I suffered through.
Funny thing though. I had to go get a new driver's license, and I still have the same one (almost expired)...and my skin is pealing like a tomatoe. I never made the mistake again of not using the proper sun screen. Good thing too, because when I went to Jamaica I coated on the strongest stuff they had hourly and still had a very minor burn.
Ok...enough rambling. Your comment just sparked a memory. Back to pool.
Good luck
Deadpoked
Good luck my man and if its any consolation or you probably already know they really protect the communication/intelligence people. I was in from 59-63 as a morse intercept operator and we were always hidden away. Also in those days it was a px. Hope to meet you in Vegas someday, buy you a few beers since it sounds like you don't mind having one or two.
I played in a room Boise years ago, it was a great room at the time. Had a couple of snooker tables which really surprised me. Played all day, got drunk for free and made some money. My sister in law lives there but we have not been back for a long time.
Again , good luck , see ya soon.
Deadpoked
Good luck my man and if its any consolation or you probably already know they really protect the communication/intelligence people. I was in from 59-63 as a morse intercept operator and we were always hidden away. Also in those days it was a px. Hope to meet you in Vegas someday, buy you a few beers since it sounds like you don't mind having one or two.
I played in a room Boise years ago, it was a great room at the time. Had a couple of snooker tables which really surprised me. Played all day, got drunk for free and made some money. My sister in law lives there but we have not been back for a long time.
Again , good luck , see ya soon.
Attn: All AZB Military Personnel
This is a post to let you know how much I personally appreciate your courage, dedication and hard-work. You guys are awe-inspiring...risking your lives to serve our country.
I have no family or close friends in the military...so I have never had a soldier to support. I have read about organizations that provide pen-pals to troops that are stationed far away...and I always thought it an interesting idea...but I was always afraid that I wouldn't know what to talk about or that my life might be boring for them.
But, if any of you need or want a pen-pal, I would love to do that. Since we all have pool and AZB in common...it wouldn't be hard to write news that you would consider interesting! I could even send pictures from the WPBA tournaments!
Please PM me if you feel like taking me up on my offer!
All the best!!!
Melissa Herndon
"The Dragon Lady"
WPBA Touring Professional
This is a post to let you know how much I personally appreciate your courage, dedication and hard-work. You guys are awe-inspiring...risking your lives to serve our country.
I have no family or close friends in the military...so I have never had a soldier to support. I have read about organizations that provide pen-pals to troops that are stationed far away...and I always thought it an interesting idea...but I was always afraid that I wouldn't know what to talk about or that my life might be boring for them.
But, if any of you need or want a pen-pal, I would love to do that. Since we all have pool and AZB in common...it wouldn't be hard to write news that you would consider interesting! I could even send pictures from the WPBA tournaments!
Please PM me if you feel like taking me up on my offer!
All the best!!!
Melissa Herndon
"The Dragon Lady"
WPBA Touring Professional
Melissa,
That's an awesome offer from a pro player. This is the epitome of support to the miltary.
My opinion is the guys who need it the most have been aerovac'ed to Landstuhl Medical Center.
If you're really intersted in coorsponding with real American Heroes, let me know and I'll give you an address.
I am truly impressed with your offer. While I was deployed, Ted Nugent and Toby Keith came to visit my guys and they were overwhelmed by their presence.
We really appreciate people who really care!!!
Jim
That's an awesome offer from a pro player. This is the epitome of support to the miltary.
My opinion is the guys who need it the most have been aerovac'ed to Landstuhl Medical Center.
If you're really intersted in coorsponding with real American Heroes, let me know and I'll give you an address.
I am truly impressed with your offer. While I was deployed, Ted Nugent and Toby Keith came to visit my guys and they were overwhelmed by their presence.
We really appreciate people who really care!!!
Jim
Last edited:
Small world
Were u there all 4 years? wow
I was there from 62-63 at base ops. Great duty.
catscradle said:I was at Travis AFB in CA, but that was way back in '67-'71 (yes, the planes had jet engines then
BTW, there was a Lt. Hoppe in my office, he was Willie Hoppe's nephew and couldn't play pool worth a lick. Real nice guy though.
Were u there all 4 years? wow
I was there from 62-63 at base ops. Great duty.
Thanks for all the kind responses everyone! It definitely means a lot to me.
I had a rough night last night and I am recovering today, at least until about 9-10pm tonight.
The only thing that worries me about going to Iraq is losing my stroke! I've been playing great lately and winning the majority of tournaments I play in. I actually did some intel on the base I am going too and they do have pool tables there. But I hear the Army troops don't take care of them and are in rough shape. Who knows maybe I will get more action there than in Mountain Home/Boise, Idaho!
Melissa I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer but jhendri2 is correct. There are more deserving people than I that would enjoy conversing back and forth with you. Good idea jhendri2.
nfty9er I don't plan on getting any special consideration for my career field. I will most likely stay on the base the entire tour. The main threat to me will be insurgents taking pot shots at us everyday with mortar and rockets. They have no accuracy in where they aim though.
I volunteered for an interrogator position that would have been a 1-year tour in one of the Iraqi prisons but unfortunately I didn't get the position. It would have been great training and I would have been able to get a job with the CIA/FBI very easily.
Purdman you better be careful with that offer I may take you up on it!
Again thanks to all for your encouraging messages. For the troops stationed oversees to know that we have people like all of you who support us to the fullest makes all difference.
I had a rough night last night and I am recovering today, at least until about 9-10pm tonight.
The only thing that worries me about going to Iraq is losing my stroke! I've been playing great lately and winning the majority of tournaments I play in. I actually did some intel on the base I am going too and they do have pool tables there. But I hear the Army troops don't take care of them and are in rough shape. Who knows maybe I will get more action there than in Mountain Home/Boise, Idaho!
Melissa I wouldn't mind taking you up on that offer but jhendri2 is correct. There are more deserving people than I that would enjoy conversing back and forth with you. Good idea jhendri2.
nfty9er I don't plan on getting any special consideration for my career field. I will most likely stay on the base the entire tour. The main threat to me will be insurgents taking pot shots at us everyday with mortar and rockets. They have no accuracy in where they aim though.
I volunteered for an interrogator position that would have been a 1-year tour in one of the Iraqi prisons but unfortunately I didn't get the position. It would have been great training and I would have been able to get a job with the CIA/FBI very easily.
Purdman you better be careful with that offer I may take you up on it!
Again thanks to all for your encouraging messages. For the troops stationed oversees to know that we have people like all of you who support us to the fullest makes all difference.
DP,
Again good luck and GOD bless in your deployment. I should be there in September. I hope I never see you...you knwo what I mean.
My first time there was a real eye opener. You'll learn that the small things in life don't mean anything. I try to get everything out of life I can now.
There's nothing like consoling a battle buddy or girlfriend or mother or wife on what has happend..I got to go now sorry, memories are too much.
Jim
Again good luck and GOD bless in your deployment. I should be there in September. I hope I never see you...you knwo what I mean.
My first time there was a real eye opener. You'll learn that the small things in life don't mean anything. I try to get everything out of life I can now.
There's nothing like consoling a battle buddy or girlfriend or mother or wife on what has happend..I got to go now sorry, memories are too much.
Jim
Last edited:
Jim and Dead -
I was totally serious with my offer (like I said in my PM's). Please, please let me know what I can do.
Dead - I said it in my PM...and I am reiterating it here...I would be thrilled if you took me up on my offer. I can write to you AND others...I am that talented...LOL!
Best Regards,
Melissa
I was totally serious with my offer (like I said in my PM's). Please, please let me know what I can do.
Dead - I said it in my PM...and I am reiterating it here...I would be thrilled if you took me up on my offer. I can write to you AND others...I am that talented...LOL!
Best Regards,
Melissa
Melissa Herndon said:
Maybe even Melissa could even post back here on how DeadPoked and others were doing over there....and what the Iraqi pool scene is really like?? Maybe even some beach pictures??? She could be the AZ dispatcher?? And I am being serious...I think it is a great idea and if it happens I think it would be nice if Melissa could keep us updated as well.
nfty9er said:
Yep, except for basic at Lackland and job training at Lowry all 4. I was in local procurement (buyer) and we first termers couldn't be sent to Vietnam because of the high level of graft and corruption over there. I still wonder if they set that policy because they figured they could trust lifers more or were keeping the money for themselves.
It could have been good duty, but I was kind of in a funk then (father died, best friend from age 2 bought the farm in Vietnam, girlfriend dumped me) so I can't honestly say I enjoyed life that much while I was there.
I lived in those barracks over past the hill the hospital was on and worked in a barrack converted to an office over by the gym near the transient barracks.
When I got out I drove from Travis to Massachusetts in 71 1/2 hours, I really wanted to get home.
Hello from Iraq!
I've been here for a little over a week and a half now and the days are passing fairly quickly. Partly because I work, eat, go to the gym, and go to sleep in that order everyday and I haven't had a day off in almost 3 weeks.
In between that hectic schedule we get rockets and mortar fired at us pretty consistently. Very exciting stuff.
This base actually has two pool tables but they are not on a solid surface and the felt has wrinkles in it around where you rack. They are having trouble finding someone from off-base to put new table cloth on apparently.
How hard is it to replace table cloth on a pool table? Is it something that I could find instructions on the net and do it myself without any assistance?
I am going to try to talk to my Services squadron to move the tables to a different location in the building that has a solid surface. They are both bar boxes. I think they might be Valley's.
I was hoping there would be some people on this base that could teach me a few things playing pool but it looks like I will be doing most of the teaching. Last time I deployed I was B- player and had an A player from my home station deploy with me. I learned a lot from him on that deployment. Some of you may know him, Tony Softa. There are few people on here from Alaska, and if you play pool there you probably know Tony.
Also I remember a thread about Mike Massey wanting to do a USO tour throughout the Middle East, anyone heard anything about that? I PM'd the guy that apparently knew Mike and who posted a thread about it, but I have not heard anything from him. If anyone has any information or an e-mail I could get in touch with Mr. Massey I would appreciate it. It would be awesome if Mike came to my base to do a trick shot exhibition and maybe I'd get a chance to challenge the new hall of famer!
For anyone that would like my e-mail, you can reach me at roy.payton@krab.aorcentaf.af.mil.
Thanks and have a good day!
Roy
I've been here for a little over a week and a half now and the days are passing fairly quickly. Partly because I work, eat, go to the gym, and go to sleep in that order everyday and I haven't had a day off in almost 3 weeks.
In between that hectic schedule we get rockets and mortar fired at us pretty consistently. Very exciting stuff.
This base actually has two pool tables but they are not on a solid surface and the felt has wrinkles in it around where you rack. They are having trouble finding someone from off-base to put new table cloth on apparently.
How hard is it to replace table cloth on a pool table? Is it something that I could find instructions on the net and do it myself without any assistance?
I am going to try to talk to my Services squadron to move the tables to a different location in the building that has a solid surface. They are both bar boxes. I think they might be Valley's.
I was hoping there would be some people on this base that could teach me a few things playing pool but it looks like I will be doing most of the teaching. Last time I deployed I was B- player and had an A player from my home station deploy with me. I learned a lot from him on that deployment. Some of you may know him, Tony Softa. There are few people on here from Alaska, and if you play pool there you probably know Tony.
Also I remember a thread about Mike Massey wanting to do a USO tour throughout the Middle East, anyone heard anything about that? I PM'd the guy that apparently knew Mike and who posted a thread about it, but I have not heard anything from him. If anyone has any information or an e-mail I could get in touch with Mr. Massey I would appreciate it. It would be awesome if Mike came to my base to do a trick shot exhibition and maybe I'd get a chance to challenge the new hall of famer!
For anyone that would like my e-mail, you can reach me at roy.payton@krab.aorcentaf.af.mil.
Thanks and have a good day!
Roy