military pool players

I am by no means a known player.....but when I was in Germany in the Air Force, my buddy Scott and I won the scotch doubles USAFE tournament for the Air Force. Basically pretty much every Air Force base in Europe had a tournament. The winning team (2 players) from each base went on an all expense paid trip to Mildenhall AFB for the USAFE championship. My buddy Scott and I took it home. Man that was a great feeling.
 
old man

Well i am not in the same class as buddy and company, but i did win a few in germany in the 70s, 1st i won region in bremahaven then distreck in berlin[ before they took the wall down] then finished 8 in all europe in 14.1 patting my self on my on back!!! HA no just good memories!!!!!:):):) U.S. ARMY!!!
 
I just moved to Newport News. We should have a little AF vs Navy match:wink: You would have the advantage, I've only played very little since I moved 2 months ago.

I'm not a great/known player, but playing for the Navy Team :) (US Navy Jan 95 - Jun 09) ** spots welcome :)
Pearl Harbor Survivor Parade 2007.jpg

S.
 
I won the 14.1 in '82 and '83. My name is Duke Laha. Was stationed at Zeiwbrucken Air Base.


If you were in Zeiwbrucken, then you won the USAFE (AF European) Championship and not the Armed Forces Championship. I think they stopped doing the multi-service events some years before.

That would also mean that you beat me in the finals of the '83 event at Ramstein, Germany. I was playing out of Torrejon, Spain. You played really well, if I recall. Afterwards, several of us went to a club, or restaurant, or bar and celebrated.

Lou Figueroa
 
I won the 14.1 in '82 and '83. My name is Duke Laha. Was stationed at Zeiwbrucken Air Base.

aka Ty Laha? I was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA and beat everyone in Leesville! :wink:
I traveled (on the road) to Lake Charles and a very young Steve Mizerak came in the door. I ran out the back door! :eek:
 
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I've been in the Air Force for 12 years and have been stationed at Hurlburt Field, FL for a few years and then in DC. Never heard of/saw any big tournaments at either location.

There was a CMSgt at Hurlburt fancied himself a pool player until I beat him pretty good. From there he would call my office and find all of these different Airmen from around the base to come play me. I beat them all....but he loved trying to find someone to beat me. Now.."off" base in Ft Walton Beach, FL was a different story as there were tons of champions, LOL.

At Bolling I had a buddy (now retired and moved on) who played OK but was more into cue collecting. He had a very high-end collection of cues though.

I wish there were still big tournaments, etc. That would be a lot of fun. I have a MSgt friend who Bowls on the Air Force Bowling team and is probably ranked number one or two in the Air Force. He goes TDY every year (if he isn't actually deployed downrange) to bowl. That is the nuts.
 
aka Ty Laha? I was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA and beat everyone in Leesville! :wink:
I traveled (on the road) to Lake Charles and a very young Steve Mizerak came in the door. I ran out the back door! :eek:

Hey Jay, I am in Leesville right now! Do you still have a line on anybody??? I know they would be well into their 100's by now, but that may be to my advantage.
 
Hey Jay, I am in Leesville right now! Do you still have a line on anybody??? I know they would be well into their 100's by now, but that may be to my advantage.

omg...they got you in Sleesville? that place is the pits, was there for almost 3 years. Didn't bother playing any while I was there. Couschatta Casino 45 minutes south has a decent poker room though.
 
I am also in the Navy, and have had the opportunity to play all over the world. Where are you stationed in Las Vegas?

I took early separation in Jun 09. If Navy offered me a duty station in Vegas, I may have stuck it out. I now live in Henderson, LV and work for CSI (Cue Sports International) www.playcsipool.com - parent company for BCA Pool League. AND try to act like a pool player now and then, LOL.:wink:

S.
 
I took early separation in Jun 09. If Navy offered me a duty station in Vegas, I may have stuck it out. I now live in Henderson, LV and work for CSI (Cue Sports International) www.playcsipool.com - parent company for BCA Pool League. AND try to act like a pool player now and then, LOL.:wink:

S.

Thanks for your service, it sounds like you are doing good. If you are interested in being a Navy recruiter in Las Vegas PM me, I am the CR Navy recruiting.
 
I played Pete in the finals of the Air Training Command 14.1 Championship, I think in Biloxi, about 1982 or 3. Lost that one.

Lou Figueroa

IIRC Lou, I played in that tournament at Keesler (1982). I got smoked! I was later stationed with John Vitale (Conn) at Homestead AFB (Miami, FL) who played in the World Junior Championship (14.1) in the early 80s.
 
Buddy was in the Air Force.

I did 24 1/2 years in the military.....retired Oct '06. My first 4 years were in the Air Force. I did 2 years in Germany and was the Armed Forces European Straight Pool Champion '82 & '83........ran 74 balls in the '82 finals against Rick Tollus. My last 20 years were in the Navy. I lived in the Norfolk, VA area for 12 years and competed in several U.S. Opens.....best finish was 13th in 2001.

DTL
Rick Tollus lives in Tucson and in all the years I've lived in Arizona, (11). I've yet to meet anyone that likes the man.
 
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