Mt.crewchief

I got that same envelope plus the letter explaining how to file an appeal. The letter starts with--"After careful and compassionate consideration, a decision has been reached on your claim" Then it goes on to say if they were not able to grant some or all of the VA benefits you asked for, you are able to disagree with their decision!

Then of course the rest of the page goes on to let you know how to disagree!!! What I don't know yet, is what is the decision that has been reached?? Is there a letter with a decision coming? or am I supposed to guess? I filed two claims about a month ago. one for Tinnitus, and one for a hearing loss that I have documented while I was stationed at Naha !

I also got that cool looking booklet in my envelope!! Also from Pennsylvania!!

I guess I can assume that either one or both of my claims have been approved--or dis-approved!!!

I guess I am lucky to have heard from them so soon!!! Whatever the decision!!!!

So, Giz, I guess I may be starting my experiences with the "waiting game"!

Ken

Keep it!!

The slider is no problem at all!!

Ken

DSL----& it is kinda slow!!

Casey, when I sign in, I have to click on the forums as the home page takes a very long time to load!!

Other than that, ---no problems!!!

Ken

Dunno, I always had good luck with sheep, though!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me too---as you know, I come from Montana--"where men are men and sheep are nervous"!!!

Interesting article. I've got an answer for them. They're no longer "pilots" and play Microsoft Flight Simulator for their job.

http://defensetech.org/2013/01/02/19091/

I don't understand how they could use the word "pilot" in their job description!!!

The animal had a handler. We had the handler make the animal lie down on the cargo floor with the family jewels close to a tie down ring. Tied the jewels to the ring with 550 cord, put a net over the animal and strapped it down. The water buffalo would only try to get up once before we let it.

Sounds like a workable plan!!!! How did you carry the female buffalo??? Have the Load master whisper "sweet nothings" in their ears??? Giz, how did that work??????

Ken

So did I, George. It was real handy for airdrop riggin, and once for freein' a fouled paratrooper......Then, I used it to jump the poles on the solenoid on a sweet young thing's Mustang, at Hickam one warm tropical night..... The arc knocked the hell out of the blade, that was the end of that story.....Oh hell, she probably looks like a tater sack full of door knobs now, but back then........................

Giz

"tater sack full of door knobs"-------Now that's funny!!!!!!!!

Ken

Happy New Year to you to RomeoDelta!! According to the web site info you posted I have about 3 more years left to say that!!!!

Sobering statistics aren't they!!!

In my mind, all of the guys I am looking for still look like they did 40+ years ago. As a matter of fact, all of you guys on the forum look the same way in my mind!!!

Also, HAPPY NEW YEAR to the rest of you guys and I plan on telling all of you the same for years to come!!!!!!!!!

Ken

I went back through my records again today and found a few more items of interest. I did find the flight physical that stated it was a physical for a load master, But, I see no records of what it was for other than a flight physical. Nothing tying me to Blindbat ! Maybe the physiological training will show up in my other records!! I've been known to overlook things!!!!

Thanks for your interest,

Ken

I just signed in and noticed all of the birthdays for today!!!!! Happy Birthday all of you!!!!!! Actually, I scrolled through almost all of the names of the members that didn't complete their profiles with their birth date and I clicked on the names that I thought that maybe some of my old friends would use. Needless to say, still no leads!!! Of course all that I checked had no profile either. Maybe I should send a private message to all that interest me and see if they answer!!! Suppose that will work???? Of course they have to have the option to receive e-mail notices enabled. (from the forum).

I think I will give it a try !!

Maybe if some or all of the rest of us regulars did that we might fire up some of these guys!!!

Just a thought,

Ken

I just know that with 4300+ members on this forum and many more visitors one of you non-members or inactive members, will respond to my plea for a response!!

There probably a lot of visitors and members that wonder "what ever happened to old" so & so" !! This may be the place to find old friends, help somebody find their old friends, or like most of us, Make New Friends!!!! I know I have made some friends and have actually met one guy that is now an "old friend" No offense meant Chris!!

Ken

I think I've got that right!!! When I volunteered as a load master/flare kicker for Blind Bat in 1968, I was sent to Kadena for a week or so to attend classes to become a qualified flight crew member. The classes that I had to go through was the altitude chamber, spatial disorientation, the g-force ejection seat, and parachute training (the tower and getting out of the harness etc.) I also had to undergo a flight physical and qualify at the shooting range with the 38 Spec. revolver and the M-16 with full auto (3 shot bursts)!! All of that stuff was pretty exciting for a 2-stripe maint puke, but when I look through my records that I have there is no mention of any of this. I may not have gotten all of my records like I thought I had, but isn't there some kind of certification to show that I completed the course at Kadena? Also, other than pictures that I took while at Ubon and Blind Bat missions, I have nothing on my records showing that either! I did get two Air Medals for my 40 missions, but no mention of why I received them.

Do you guys think that I should put in another request for my records again and somehow specify that I think I am missing some of them?

My DD214 shows my medals, so I guess there must be something somewhere that shows my activities during my fun-filled 18 months at Naha!!!

I guess I did get all of my certifications for training like my base drivers license, re-fuel defuel, towing etc.!!! You know, all of the important ones!!!!

Thanks for your input,

Ken

Sonny, I am real sorry to hear of your wife's passing. I am not good at condolences, and Giz say's it better than me.

I do know that all of us on the this forum are saddened by your loss.

Ken

I am sitting here remembering the holidays and how I spent them while overseas!! I spent three of them at either Naha or CRB and they didn't mean as much to me as this one!! Having the chance to tell all of my "new" family MERRY CHRISTMAS means a lot!!!

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!!!!!!!

Ken

Attention Sonny!!

Have you read this letter from Becky Sager? I am thinking, that if anyone on this forum could help, it might be you! Your times and dates and Blind Bat & squadron affiliation are similar I think. I have been trying to remember that name, but just can't come up with it in my memory. Ben and I surely must have crossed paths at one of the three places!!

Ken

MHeflin,

I bought and read that book on Kindle, and I wasn't to impressed with it either!! I guess I wasn't into that much fiction and like you said, the technical aspect of the book was sketchy at best!! (for example the landing gear doors were called belly doors throughout the story). I think I was expecting more than I got out of it!!!

Wasn't cheap either!!!!

Ken

Dan, Just chamber another round and shoot it out!!!---Just kidding of course!!! I'm sure you have already field stripped the pistol, removed the barrel, and driven the bullet out from the rear with a wooden dowel by now!! I have done that many times due to people's careless reloads, but wouldn't have guessed Mag Tech ammo would would have one like that!!! I would guess that they will question whether it was actually their ammo if you tried to make a stink about it! But, I would still let them know about it with pictures!! Being your carry weapon is the worst part of the story.

Maybe you should consider getting a cane gun since a canes have been mentioned here recently!!

By the way, I am glad you didn't have that happen when it was needed in a critical situation!!

Now, let's get started on that 12ga. cane gun!,

Ken

I would like to wish all of the great guys & gals on this forum a Happy Thanksgiving!

This message also goes out to all of you browsers/lurkers that have not YET joined our community!!

Ken Carlson

Yeh mongo, you are definitely right about that!

I knew I wanted to be a part of acft. maint. when I saw the trainer at Shepperd--"what a beauty"

Ken

Chris, I just got done looking at your new pics in the users gallery and it looks like #877 and it's old crew chief are both --ready for an "on time block"

Ken

Well said Casey. And thanks to your perseverance you have managed to keep this place running!!

Ken

Dont forget Lowry. Thats where I got sworn in.

Yes, Lowry, how could I forget that place! I went there for Weapons & Munitions School and somehow ended up at Shepherd in Turbo Prop Acft. Maint.

Hey Giz , so you got to meet Chris! He's not a bad guy--for an older gentleman that is! I don't know what Mary sees in him!!!!

As far as you being real, I will wait to see what Chris says! I suppose he will have some pictures!!!

Isn't it neat that some of the guys on this forum are getting to meet each other!!!

Maybe someday we can have a Forum reunion!!!

Well anyway,

Ken

Just thought I would bring this to the top!

Maybe we can lure in some of our old friends who are just browsing!!!

Ken