Mt.crewchief

Chris, Sorry about not announcing your birthday yesterday. Actually, I didn't want to draw attention to your advancing age. I hope you did something interesting . Ken

Hey Chris, I just realized that I missed your birthday. You know the one that makes you a year older than me. Have a good one and hopefully I will see you this spring. Your friend, Ken

Thanks Sonny I'm not a dancer, but with my new knees maybe I should give it a try. Ken

I suppose I should respond to nice inquiries about my knees. Both are in their proper places and have been ops checked and signed off. What a relief it is to be rid of the constant pain. I admit that they aren't, perfect yet, but that will take some time yet. I would recommend this operation to any of you that has been putting up with arthritic knees etc. Honestly, there is actually very little pain involved compared to the pain you have probably been putting up with for years. Also,if you are in V A care,they will be paid for. After the complaining I did about Veterans Choice early on, it turned out not so bad. The problems I had early on seemed to smooth out as time went on. The biggest problem was and still is, the doctors and medical facilities try to Bill the V. A. And it doesn't work. So anyway,thanks for your concerns and good wishes. And by the way Chris, I managed to keep my other knee. !!! Ken

Sonny, I damn near forgot, have a happy 70th. I'll meet you at the Kokusai Bowling Alley for some bowling and beer!!! Do you remember the way??? Ken

Just a quick update--I am having my 2nd. knee replaced next week (Dec 17th) . I am hoping it turns out as good as the first one the last of October. Bill, I think you and I might have the same PT as you. After I get done with my next knee, I will concentrate on getting even with him! I know where he lives!!!! If you are reading this Chris, I am keeping the third knee. Actually, after a few days, (weeks?) I feel like I could climb up inside a Herk and then to the top to inspect the top of the wings! Ken Bill, I don't think it was worth saving. They are making new ones out of Titanium now. Maybe they are sending them to AMARG for Coyote bait.

Recently I have been have having memory flashes of some of my most memorable events while working on the C-130. One of the most re-occurring memories is my time spent at Ubon /Blind Bat as a crew member in 1968. I have always wondered what has happened to all of my former crew members as I have never seen any of their names show up here. Ted Curtis was the AC on my crew and was quite interesting and fun at times. Otherwise, he was very serious about his job. One of the things he did during missions is record his contact with the ABCC bird and his talk with some of the fighter/bomber aircraft that were called in to destroy what we had spotted. Also with us "Peons" in the rear. I wonder if any of those tapes survived. He said he was an ex-A1E pilot and he always wore a key ring on his flight suit that said "you've been had by a Spad" He also had another ring that said "be nice, shut up, and smile". He also at times would walk up to the rest of the group (where ever we happened to be) and start tap dancing and say "if you can't tap dance you're a queer" . Of course, we--his crew, all knew how to tap dance!! I think he and his crew plus myself and Chris were in the 35th. He and the rest of us are pictured in my gallery posing after one of our missions. Note that some of us have side-arms on. He furnished all of us with belt holsters for our 38's so we could carry an extra battery in our flight vests. The rest of us had already packed our gear and were ready to head back to the patio for breakfast and beer. If any of you can tell me about any of the rest of the guys in the picture I would really like to know. Also, I can tell you who each one pictured is. Including me--the far left guy with glasses. (you know, the brave/handsome one) ! Boy, did we ever have some interesting missions. Of course some VERY interesting, and some with 100% cloud cover. Thanks for listening, Ken

Hey, I know that old fart

Speaking of Roman nose A Mod. gunships. I know that I have seen many pictures of the early Roman nosed gunships, but I almost will swear there was one parked in a revetment at Ubon when I was flying Blind Bat in the fall of 1968. It had a name on it, but of course I don't remember it. I have a hard bound book of gunships and it is in it, but maybe that's where I got the idea I saw it in person. I'm too lazy to look for that book right now, but it probably has the dates in it. Could I be imagining it, or was there one there at that time without a radome?? Thanks, Ken

Robert, Thanks for this post. I have spent years trying to explain what I did at Ubon Thailand in 1968 as a crew member of Bat 6. We flew 40 missions in all of the areas pictured, and had most of the things that can happen, happen to us. Of course, we were never hit! I do have some not too good pics of my Blind Bat experiences in my gallery. Thanks again for your post. I am in the process of sending it to my friends that ask the most! Ken

If I remember right, that airplane was in my squadron (35 th TAS) at Naha when I was there from 67-69. I worked on 56-0475. Neat story, Ken

rc, not everybody went from Taipei to CCK via bus! When I arrived from Naha for my new duty at CCK, I was all alone and had to fend for myself. I took the train. I had no idea what anybody was saying so I started asking all of the passengers " he say Taichung?" Finally a nice guy said "Taichung Taichung!" I got off and was able to find a way to CCK from there! This all took place in Mar. 69 We might have known each other, Ken

Good, that makes me feel better. Getting any snow? 1st. snowfall of the season here!! Ken

Casey, I hope you are enjoying your birthday. Ken By the way, where is the birthday list on the forum? Am I going blind?? Casey, forget my request I just pulled my head out of my a"".!! Feels good to not be blind!!

Spectre 623, I hope you are enjoying your birthday---after all, you're going to have it anyway. Ken

Thanks Dutch, and thank you for your service. Dutch's post says it all!! All of you have a good day wherever you are, Ken

It's been almost a week since my left knee was removed and replaced and signed off. I would like to say that I and my knee are doing fine. But, I have started physical therapy, and I can see that it will take awhile before I can brag about my super recovery and all. Sonny, it's almost like the therapist is a former 21st TAS chief that lurks on this forum!! Or possibly the therapist was the old guy that had to work on a silver bird!! You know, the guy from Wisconsin. Anyway, I am doing good and am working hard to get the other knee ready for R&R in a few months. Thanks guys for your nice comments, Ken

Thanks for your concerns guys. Actually I am excited to get the knees replaced. They aren't worth a damn the way they are now. Bob, I am embarrassed to admit that I haven't been up to Great Falls yet! Seems that summer got in the way of things I really wanted to do. I have seen a couple flying over town, but never have my camera ready, and I do hear them go over quite often. A sound I will never forget! Chris, I would be happy to have you and Matt make a trip to Great Falls with me. While up there we could check out Glacier Park. Sonny, thanks for your concern also. Maybe you need to go on a road trip also. Ken

Good eye "old timer"

Yeh, Chris, I suggested they replace my knees in the order of importance!!!!!! Ken

Well guys, I have a date for my first knee replacement----10/29/15 Unless of course Veterans Choice doesn't screw something up!!! I will eventually compose a post on how Veterans Choice works. Ken

Metalbasher, Thanks, that's what I way trying to say. Ken