Vets out there

[Anonymous]

Hi Bill,

 Way too long no see.  Finally tracked you down (pun intended!)  Tried your old e-mail address

[e-mail]

 but it doesn't work.  I'll be driving from New York to Tallahassee next week and would love to stop by and see you.  Please e-mail me at [e-mail] or call me at 850-445-5410.  Look forward to seeing you.

Jeff Mandel 

[JPowell]

USMC - Jan 92-Jan 98 as a Postal Clerk w/ MCB Camp Pendleton and 1st FSSG H&S Bn.
2 West Pac's
- 93 onboard USS Comstock
- 97 onboard USS Ogden
1 yr tour in Oki Dec 94 - Nov 95 stationed @ Camp Kinser
- Cobra Gold in 95

NY Air National Guard - Supply Technician
Jan 2000 - Apr 01 as a Guardsman
Apr 01 - Present - AGR

JP

[wt259]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

wt259,

Well gosh darn it, if he was with 1st Tanks we were in Somalia together (well we were in Mogadishu at the same time at least). I probably did a couple of CAX's with him also at 29 Palms too. Small world isn't it?

Dave, I'm sure you probably did. He was at 29 Palms for all of his time, except for 3 1/2 years in Kansas City with the Reserves, and now 3 years on Okinawa, at the Jungle Warfare Training Ctr.
I think he spent all of his time in Mog. He was only there for a few months, they sent him back to the states when his father-in-law passed away.

[grayfox1119]

3 years in U.S. Army, Nike Ajax and Hercules Missile sites, 1959-62, fired missiles and attended training schools at Fort Bliss, and White Sands, New Mexico. Boston Air Defense, Bedford and Lincoln, Ma. 15th Artillery Group, 5th Artillery.

[Anonymous]

Retired AF in 83, after 23 1/2, years been a government contracter since retirement. Spent time in Nam, Thiland, Turkey, and Japan. Was lucky to spend some 16+ years at Randolph. We must never forget our comrades who have given their all for us to be able to enjoy the greatest hobby in the world, TRAINS. God bless them all.

[davekelly]

cwclark,

I'll say it again - what a small world!!

[cwclark]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Chuck,

I"m a sailor. Spent 4 years on USS Barnstable County (LST 1197) as CICWO/AsstOps. Was then with 3/11 (Marine Battalion) for 4 years as the Naval Gunfire Officer. Was the Asst/Ops when we were in Somalia. While on the Barn was part of a amphibious squadron with Saipan. Man that ship sure sailed smooth in rough seas as compared to our flatbottomed LST lol.

dave,
i remember the Barnstable County well..in fact, i spent a night aboard her...we were in Naples Italy and the seas were getting too rough to run liberty boats back to the Saipan (that ship was so big we couldn't tie it to a lot of the piers in the world and usually rode anchor in a lot of the ports we visited) they couldn't run us back to the ship so the Barnstable County put us up for the night...we sailed with the Barnstable County everytime we went on Med cruises...i had a picture of the Saipan towing the Barnstable county for practice and to the life of me i can't find the picture...anyway...had a lot of memories of the amphib navy...chuck

[davekelly]

wt259,

Well gosh darn it, if he was with 1st Tanks we were in Somalia together (well we were in Mogadishu at the same time at least). I probably did a couple of CAX's with him also at 29 Palms too. Small world isn't it?

luct and selector,

I'm sure the original invite was sent out to those of nationalities other than the U.S. We had a platoon of Canadians with us in Somalia and they were darn fine troopers and we were big time happy to have them with us!

[rexhea]

4 years U.S. Air Force, 1963-1967, Electronics Specialist
Brookley AFB (GEEIA), Mobile, Alabama
Camp Drake, Japan
Viet Nam (temporary duty)
Wake Island (Yuk! [xx(] )

To all those that have served and to those that are serving.....THANK YOU!

REX [^]

[jdolan]

4 years in the U.S, Navy,late 50's and early 60's.

Jack

[Anonymous]

Four years, Air Force- 2 yrs, 509 Bomb Wing, 2yrs, 90th Missile Maint. Sqdn- 1965 to 1969. I salute all of you who have responded and am proud to be among you! John M.

[wt259]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

dharmon,

Too bad about Longs. When I was stationed in California I used to love going there. Train Quest sounds tempting. Thanks for the info.

wt259,
Who was your son with in Somalia? I was with 3/11.

Dave, he was either still in 3d LAI, or had just gone to 1st Tank Bn. Not positive, but he did GW1 with 3d LAI, so it was probably 1st Tanks.

[RedGrey62]

Luc and Crandell, you are always welcome. I've served along side many Canadians from Germany to the United States to a few not so nice places around the world.

Rick

[Anonymous]

I would like to take this opportunity to give a heavy hearted thank-you to those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice(the reason we observe Memorial Day). You Will Not Be Forgotten!

In Memory
Of Our Fallen Comrades

Howard, Aaron
Jerrell, Thomas
McCoy, James
Miller, James
Moller, Nels
Powell, Dodge
Strehlow, William

TOUJOURS PRET!

[selector]

Twenty-nine years plus in the Canadian Armed Forces, first in the Cavalry in Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), a light recce unit, and then as a military psychologist. Did two peacekeeping tours, first in Cyprus in 79/80, and then in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2001.

I hope your invitation was extended to other nationalities. If not, I apologize.

[Anonymous]

31 years Royal Canadian Navy retired in 98.

To those who serve anywhere in the world to protect freedom, thank you so much.

For those who paid the ultimate price, we shall never forget.

Happy MRRing.

[ACRR46]

Served 3 years in US Army, 1966-1969. Spent 2+ years in Bad Hersfeld, Germany, 14th Armored Cavalry, 3rd Squardon as a surveyor, and office clerk.

Loved riding trains in Europe. Longest trip Rome, Italy to Frankfurt, Germany.

Frank

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Duce

11 years active duty navy and still counting.
1994-2000 USS Nimtitz I did two West-Pacs and a around the world cruise

I too was doing time on Stalag 68 for the "rush half way around the world to the gulf, then ru***he rest of the way home world cruise"

[Eriediamond]

Ten years Navy 1960-1970. Served on USS Bulwark(MSO-425) USS Lucid(MSO-458) MCB-4, and Naval Aerospace Recovery Facility-El Centro, Calif. Spent a total of 4 years in Nam. Chu-Lai and Da Nang areas. Did Market time on the Lucid and run "Mike" boats. Left my last tour in Nam just before Tet. Also operated out of Gitmo back during the "Cuban Crises".My son did a tour in HS-11, deployed on the USS America during the Kuwait deal. I was fortunate to spent a few days on the old girl with him on his return trip on the "Tiger" cruise they had. My heart is out to all vets, but especailly to those old "sweep" sailors that are truely the "iron men that sailed the wooden ships". Love ya all, Ken

[Duce]

11 years active duty navy and still counting.
1994-2000 USS Nimtitz I did two West-Pacs and a around the world cruise
2000-2004 Tried to take a little vacation on shore duty. But was wisked away to
security school due to 9-11 trained with the marines.
That was fun [xx(]. Then back to Naval Station Norfolk.
2004- USS Truman we just got back a month ago from the gulf.

I am an ABE I launch the aircraft of the flight deck. I run Catapilt #3 right now.
Ive been into MRR for as long as I can remember. However I have never done a layout. When I was young my dad would set me up on the kitchen floor and I would go to town for the weekend...lolololol Mom hated that[:D]

I just want to thank all you guys before me for your time in. What you have done is a great thing. My grandfather was a medic for the 101st airborne landed on d-day and stayed with them until Germany. Where we was transfered to the Pacific. My father and uncles were in the Marines in nam. Those were very hard times.

Thanks to everyone of you. You guys are the ones that keep me going.

[davekelly]

dharmon,

Too bad about Longs. When I was stationed in California I used to love going there. Train Quest sounds tempting. Thanks for the info.

wt259,
Who was your son with in Somalia? I was with 3/11.

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

dharmon,

You at North Island? Gonna be in Coronado in mid June for a two week school. Hope the weather is good there! Is Long's still worth the drive from San Diego?

Yep...I'm at NASNI. Long's train dept is considerably smaller than it used to be. I doubt it will be around too much longer. They do still have some good stuff and stock isn't too bad, but unless you catch them at a sale, it's MSRP. I usually go there twice a year and load up on detail parts after the OERM swap meets. As I understand it, the guy that ran their hobby dept is the guy that owns TrainQuest not too far away in Moreno. Worth a trip? If you have nothing better to do on the weekend, swing up to the Orange Empire Railroad Museum in Perris, then hit Long's and TrainQuest, then maybe the aircraft museum at March.

Dan

[Anonymous]

I see we have some P-3 guys out there. I did 10 years active duty in the U.S Navy including tours in DaNang with VQ-1 and Yankee Station patrols with VP-40 out of Moffett Field. Go off active duty and went reserve with tours in VP-68 and VP-62. Retired as a Chief Avionics Technician. I work for Lockheed as an engineer on P-3s. WIll likely go my whole working career (only three years to go) working on the same airplane.

My son is in the Army. He has a Bronze and SIlver star for Afghanistan and Iraq. Proud of him and anybody who serves.

[rtraincollector]

17 years U.S. Navy
U.S.S. INDEPENDENCE CV-62 1975-1978
INDIAN HEAD ,MD. NAVAL WEAPONS SCHOOL (EOD)(STAFF IN GALLEY) 78-80
U.S.S. PORTLAND LSD-37
NAVAL AIR STATION MEMPHIS MILLINGTON, TN.
NAVAIDS GROUP GULFPORT , MS
U.S.S. WISCONSIN BB-64 (most favorite command something about being stationed on a battle ship you ever were you never forget it .)
USS ELPASO- LKA117

I enjoyed it and would do it all over again only left because got tired of fighting my weight problem.

Miss it still today.
Bless the ones over there and here in the us who are doing there duty so we can do as we please.

Bill Rifenbury

[wt259]

2 years, 11 months and 7 days in the Army, 3d I.D., when it was still in Germany. My oldest son is a S/Sgt, USMC, been in 15 1/2 years, GW1 and Somalia, currently on Okinawa.

[RedGrey62]

Still in, Active Duty Air Force, 24 years, at Ft Campbell, KY

HO Scale, Burlington Route, no layout right now (my wife tore it out to put in new windows in our home in Omaha, NE!)

Moody AFB, GA
Ansbach, Germany
Offutt AFB, NE
Yongsan, Korea
Kuwait
Bosnia
Ft Campbell
Iraq

Rick

[Doug Goulbourn]

Six years U.S. Army - 13 months Vietnam (Pleiku area) balance with 1st Cav . Father was combat engineer with first wave to hit Omaha Beach on D-Day. Father-in-law was bombadier with USAAFon B-25 in No. Africa. One friend was at Guadalcanal (WW II)with U.S. Navy. Another friend was with U.S. Army in Korea during that "police action". As Shakespeare wrote: "We band of Brothers". And yes, we are/were all model railroaders too!

Doug

[Anonymous]

I served 3.5 years in the Army. 1st Cav 91 ENG . I did 9 months in Bosnia, back in 1999, other than that I was in Fort Hood ,TX . As of Feb 2 2000 I retired from military service as a CPL[:D]

HOAH !!!

[rvanparys]

25 years USAF (active/reserve) 2 wars and I am now back in Afghanistan rebuilding the country.

[oleirish]

I was in the army for 23years,and every place I was stationed, when it was possable I had H.O. railroad with me.(nam 68-69 1STCAV).

OLE'IRISH
(JIM)