Mt.crewchief

Same to you Sonny, and have a happy New Year! Ken

Sonny, I am still here, but I don't check in as much as I should. I will try to get here more often and at least try to contribute more. I recently attended the Veterans Day celebration at the Ben Steele Jr. High In Billings ! Two of my grandchildren attend that school and my daughter is also a teacher there. My oldest grandson graduated from that schools first graduation four years ago. It is a. very nice Jr High built in honor of of BenSteel who was one of the survivors from the POW camp in the Philippines. He is famous for his drawings of the camp while there 1000+ days. The school has a lot of his memoirs on display. Of I remember, I will take some pics of it when I can get my daughter to show me around again. One very interesting thing was is widow ---99 yrs old gave a speech about the old the days after he got back home. I don't live in Billings, but haven't missed a Veterans Day in Billings since my kids were in grade school. When they call about the veterans military branch I have noticed most of the Vietnam veterans I remember aren't there anymore. Kinda sad.!! Anyway, I hope you and all of the veterans here had a good day and I will see you next year. Ken

What Sonny says! It is nice to see the forum in English again. I hope the guys all see that we still have a useable forum! Ken Pics taken from my back yard. Well, the Mountain Lion was out of town---mile or so!

The Montana ANG is also getting the C-130J or already has gotten them according to what I have seen on the local news here in Montana. I will have to keep an eye out for them flying over. Picture of their patch.

Chris, I realize I am a day late for your birthday ---yesterday, but since you are a year older, you will understand. So I hope you had a good day and have more to come. Ken I houghtI would post a few pics of my area which you will remember for a few years ago. Ken

Thanks Lee, I appreciate your remembering my 78th birthday. I do plan on having many (?) more and the way it look it's possible. Ken Trains for you Lee

I would like to wish all you gentlemen a good year. Hopefully This year will be a good one!! Ken

Trying to edit my post above. I meant stationed at Naha and CCK----not CRB. By the way Sonny, I will see what I can do about making some copies of the Keystone Kapers. Honest!!! Picture of my E Model I crewed at CCK taken years later while it was on a mission to New Orleans during Katrina. It was stationed at Little Rock at the time. It's next home base was the Boneyard.

Do any of you guys remember a Ron Tennyson from Missouri. He was in my class and went to PI. Also in the picture is a Donald Fargnoli from New York I think. He was at Naha I think, but I never saw him but a few times. A guy named Ron Harper Was in the 817th . a Naha and a guy named Johnny Knebel was at Naha also. I am sure there are more of my class pictured were over there at the same time, Maybe Tachikawa. I used to run into guys I knew from Shepherd while at CRB quite often but wasn't sure what base they were from. I was at CRB almost every month for 29 months while stationed at CRB and CCK and 3 months at Ubon. One month I was at Naha full time I guess. Anyway my DD 214 shows 33 months total.

Just dropping by checking to see if anybody recognizes any of the fine looking Airmen of the late 60's thru 71. Also, I hope all of you guys have a nice Christmas and New Year. Ken

I forgot to say I was at Naha from Sept. 67 to Mar. 69. Msgt. Andy Haskell was my boss. I was 3rd. Wiper on 56-475 . I will post some pics of my Tech School class and I do remember most of the guys. The one guy maybe 2 are Johnny Knebel and Harper were for sure at Naha, and I ran into some of the other guys at CRB for the rest of my tour. Chris Carter and I both volunteered to go to Ubon as crew members on a Blind Bat crew. (flare kickers). He and I are pictured on the left side of the crew . Me with the glasses andhe is the short one with his regular fatigues etc. I can give all of the rest of the crews names if need be. The pictures I hope to post now are of my tech school. Maybe !!! Until I get my shit together, I will have to post one of Ann Margaret with the Bob Hope show in either 67 or 68.

Dallas. thanks for replying to my query. What years were you stationed at Naha in the 41st. One of my classmates from Tech School was in the 41st while I was there in late 67 thru early 69. Of course I can't remember it now. I will see if I can post a pic of my class.. Also, there are probably several guys in my class that some you guys may know . If so, I would like to hear about them etc. I will attach a pic or two of my class as soon a I sign off! Also, I just remembered running in to a guy I graduated high school with. (1964) . His name is Larry Barndt and he was in charge of the 780 section or the other supply room at Naha. He had his wife there also. He is still kicking and lives in Wyoming. I will be back with a pic or two of my Tech School class. Ken

Thanks, Sonny for your input! I knew you were still around. It would be great to know all of the young gentlemen pictured are still around. I have many more that I will try to post names with them. Ken

I was thinking it would be nice to see if after all of these years there are still some guys out there that are still looking for some word about their old friends. Especially in the late 60's to the early 70's. You know, the guys from Naha, CCK. Ubon, Tachikawa, Clark, Max Tan etc. All were Viet Nam Veterans probably! Maybe we could post a pic or two ---if we still remember how!!! I will try 1st: I know all of these people Ken ,

Sonny, no it isn't a picture of mine. I think it may be a picture taken of one of the C-130H birds stationed at Great Falls. An ANG group. Looks too new to be one of the two planes I crew-chiefed on. At Naha and CCK. Acft 56-475 & 62-1804 Ken