Attention Veterans!

[82Marine89]

Got out of Lackland (home of USAF Basic Military Training for you non-airmen) in December. I am now stationed at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX. I am in technical school, training for my three skill level. I am going to be a maintanence management systems analyst, assuming of course that I don't give into the temptation to enter some codes into the computer "by hand".

[actsnoblemartin]

I say all our veterans deserve more respect, and not just words, gaurantreed jobs, and career training, free health care for life and other benefits, they risked our lives, the least we can do is make their return to civilian life more comfortable

to all of you

[trobinett]

I say all our veterans deserve more respect, and not just words, gaurantreed jobs, and career training, free health care for life and other benefits, they risked our lives, the least we can do is make their return to civilian life more comfortable



to all of you

Thank you.

[Pale Rider]

Got out of Lackland (home of USAF Basic Military Training for you non-airmen) in December. I am now stationed at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, TX. I am in technical school, training for my three skill level. I am going to be a maintanence management systems analyst, assuming of course that I don't give into the temptation to enter some codes into the computer "by hand".

Aaaahh yes... Lackland AFB... "The Gateway To The Air Force,"... been there, done that. Loved it. I recommend the Air Force to anyone. Best chow halls of any branch. I ALWAYS ate breakfast on base. For a buck and a quarter I could get a huge omelet, toast, bacon, hash browns with sausage country gravy, (SOS), and three glasses of grape juice.

[Mr. P]

Aaaahh yes... Lackland AFB... "The Gateway To The Air Force,"... been there, done that. Loved it. I recommend the Air Force to anyone. Best chow halls of any branch. I ALWAYS ate breakfast on base. For a buck and a quarter I could get a huge omelet, toast, bacon, hash browns with sausage country gravy, (SOS), and three glasses of grape juice.

I used to eat at the Generals' mess hall at Ft. Bragg, it was good but couldn't hold a candle to the AF enlisted mess hall.

[Black Lance]

Aaaahh yes... Lackland AFB... "The Gateway To The Air Force,"... been there, done that. Loved it. I recommend the Air Force to anyone. Best chow halls of any branch. I ALWAYS ate breakfast on base. For a buck and a quarter I could get a huge omelet, toast, bacon, hash browns with sausage country gravy, (SOS), and three glasses of grape juice.

No offense Pale Rider, but if you "loved" BMT, then either the program was much easier back in your day, or you must be something of a masachist. Being at tech school and surrounded by NPS (or "pipeline") tech school students most of the day I have heard many new airmen discuss their BMT experience, and while opinions do vary, adjectives like "fun" or "loved it" don't come up often.

I agree entirely about the food though. I have been on active duty since November, and I have never eaten a bad meal at Lackland or Sheppard AFB. It's the one advantage we non-priors have over the TDY students in our class.

[TheStripey1]

USAF July 1966 - July 1970

I enlisted to stay out of the draft AND Viet nam and when I was stationed in Bermuda for a three year tour, thought I had accomplished my goal. Six months later, they closed the base, so me and this other fool decided to volunteer for nam and off we went...

We arrived in country at Tan Son Nhut AB (Saigon) in October '67 and found that the base commander had had all the sand bags removed from around the buildings and replaced them with flower beds... and all the weapons were locked up... it was just like stateside duty... only worse...

My job was manifesting passengers for their flights up country and then transporting either them or their baggage out to the aircraft, and then picking up either for return to the terminal. IF you went thru TSN between Oct 67 and late Jan '68, chances are good that I may have transported you...

I went on a couple of mobilities, resupplying the warriors with the tools of their trade... ammo... You Called, We Hauled... and decided that that was far better duty than what I was doing so I volunteered to be on permanent mobility... best thing I did while in country... not only was I finally issued a weapon, but I was surrounded by the 3rd Brigade of the Big Red One!

I spent almost half my tour there...

Much to my surprize, when I signed up for VA health benefits last year, that the area I was in was heavily sprayed with Agent Orange... I go for my Agent Orange protocol testing next week and I have to say... I'm a tad apprehensive about it... not that I fear I have any of the myriad of diseases that are associated with AO exposure... I am just apprehensive about the test itself...

Any of y'all had it?

This year, I joined a local group of Viet Nam veterans dedicated to helping other veterans... I will keep y'all apprised of our activities, should you wish to hear about them.

[Mr. P]

USAF July 1966 - July 1970

I enlisted to stay out of the draft AND Viet nam and when I was stationed in Bermuda for a three year tour, thought I had accomplished my goal. Six months later, they closed the base, so me and this other fool decided to volunteer for nam and off we went...

We arrived in country at Tan Son Nhut AB (Saigon) in October '67 and found that the base commander had had all the sand bags removed from around the buildings and replaced them with flower beds... and all the weapons were locked up... it was just like stateside duty... only worse...

My job was manifesting passengers for their flights up country and then transporting either them or their baggage out to the aircraft, and then picking up either for return to the terminal. IF you went thru TSN between Oct 67 and late Jan '68, chances are good that I may have transported you...

I went on a couple of mobilities, resupplying the warriors with the tools of their trade... ammo... You Called, We Hauled... and decided that that was far better duty than what I was doing so I volunteered to be on permanent mobility... best thing I did while in country... not only was I finally issued a weapon, but I was surrounded by the 3rd Brigade of the Big Red One!

I spent almost half my tour there...

Much to my surprize, when I signed up for VA health benefits last year, that the area I was in was heavily sprayed with Agent Orange... I go for my Agent Orange protocol testing next week and I have to say... I'm a tad apprehensive about it... not that I fear I have any of the myriad of diseases that are associated with AO exposure... I am just apprehensive about the test itself...

Any of y'all had it?

This year, I joined a local group of Viet Nam veterans dedicated to helping other veterans... I will keep y'all apprised of our activities, should you wish to hear about them.

Hey, good luck on that Agent Orange testing and please do keep us apprised.
We were all in together at one time or another, no reason to change that now. Tis a bond that can't be broken.

[Kathianne]

USAF July 1966 - July 1970

I enlisted to stay out of the draft AND Viet nam and when I was stationed in Bermuda for a three year tour, thought I had accomplished my goal. Six months later, they closed the base, so me and this other fool decided to volunteer for nam and off we went...

We arrived in country at Tan Son Nhut AB (Saigon) in October '67 and found that the base commander had had all the sand bags removed from around the buildings and replaced them with flower beds... and all the weapons were locked up... it was just like stateside duty... only worse...

My job was manifesting passengers for their flights up country and then transporting either them or their baggage out to the aircraft, and then picking up either for return to the terminal. IF you went thru TSN between Oct 67 and late Jan '68, chances are good that I may have transported you...

I went on a couple of mobilities, resupplying the warriors with the tools of their trade... ammo... You Called, We Hauled... and decided that that was far better duty than what I was doing so I volunteered to be on permanent mobility... best thing I did while in country... not only was I finally issued a weapon, but I was surrounded by the 3rd Brigade of the Big Red One!

I spent almost half my tour there...

Much to my surprize, when I signed up for VA health benefits last year, that the area I was in was heavily sprayed with Agent Orange... I go for my Agent Orange protocol testing next week and I have to say... I'm a tad apprehensive about it... not that I fear I have any of the myriad of diseases that are associated with AO exposure... I am just apprehensive about the test itself...

Any of y'all had it?

This year, I joined a local group of Viet Nam veterans dedicated to helping other veterans... I will keep y'all apprised of our activities, should you wish to hear about them.

Have you visited here?

I take my students here. It's also my dad's division from WWII at Omaha. They have a great exhibit of that.

[DragonStryk72]

US Navy: Rank MM3 (machinist's Mate 3rd class)

Stationed on the USS Bataan LHD-5, amphibious carrier (gator freighter). 1997-2000, medical discharge

[TheStripey1]

Hey, good luck on that Agent Orange testing and please do keep us apprised.
We were all in together at one time or another, no reason to change that now. Tis a bond that can't be broken.

Thanks, P... that means a lot...

and about the test... I go tomorrow... hoo boy...

The Health book they gave me at the VA talks about some of the symptoms of PTSD and some of the things we can do to help alliviate them... one of them was helping others...

So I'd rather talk about the vets group and the all projects we are involved with... perhaps a different thread would be in order... yeah... a different thread...

[TheStripey1]

Have you visited here?

I take my students here. It's also my dad's division from WWII at Omaha. They have a great exhibit of that.

No... but I have now, and I bookmarked it...

[Kathianne]

No... but I have now, and I bookmarked it...

[TheStripey1]

Thanks, P... that means a lot...

and about the test... I go tomorrow... hoo boy...

The Health book they gave me at the VA talks about some of the symptoms of PTSD and some of the things we can do to help alliviate them... one of them was helping others...

So I'd rather talk about the vets group and the all projects we are involved with... perhaps a different thread would be in order... yeah... a different thread...

ok... the part of the test I was most dreading did NOT take place... the colonoscopy... instead, it was mostly a discussion with the doc about my medical history and a furthur discussion about what the earlier blood tests had shown...



so far I do NOT have any of the diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure... that's a big load off my mind, I have to say... and I slept like a baby last night...

they did take more blood though... I sure hope I have some left... and urine too... and X-Rays and then sometime in the future, I'll have the colonoscopy... but until then, I'm good to go...

IF you are a Viet Nam vet and have not had your AO testing yet...
head on down to the VA and git'r dun... ya heah?

[Mr. P]

ok... the part of the test I was most dreading did NOT take place... the colonoscopy... instead, it was mostly a discussion with the doc about my medical history and a furthur discussion about what the earlier blood tests had shown...



so far I do NOT have any of the diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure... that's a big load off my mind, I have to say... and I slept like a baby last night...

they did take more blood though... I sure hope I have some left... and urine too... and X-Rays and then sometime in the future, I'll have the colonoscopy... but until then, I'm good to go...

IF you are a Viet Nam vet and have not had your AO testing yet...
head on down to the VA and git'r dun... ya heah?

"Ya, git'r dun! !!!!!!!!!!!"