Mt.crewchief

Russ aka GroovyKid, Welcome to the forum. What times span were you at CCK? There are quite a few of us on the forum that were probably there when you were! Also, I have quite a few pics of CCK and the area around Taichung etc. taken in 69 and 70. They are in my "users gallery" There are also quite a few others taken earlier than mine!! If you would, update your profile for us snoops!!! You may find someone you hung out at the "Dozen" with!!! Ken

The way I see it, is that their job is just their AFSC. Just how in hell has anybody managed to come up with a medal for what they do? I have always assumed that to deserve a medal for something, you have to had done something extra ordinary in the line of duty. Maybe there is some degree of difficulty for each mission? that they perform. I think some explanation would be necessary before I signed on to any type of medal for them!! I know I never expected nor did I receive any medals for personally being in a combat zone where real people were shooting real bullets at me!! I could go on for days about this but until I see a real reason for them to receive more than the National Defense or Good Conduct medal, they deserve no extra recognition!! Just my $.02 worth, Ken

I don't think there were any (or many) revetments at CRB in 67. Maybe they were being built in 68! There were definitely revetments there in 69 and 70! Also, I do remember some revetments at TSN in 69 and 70 the few times I was there!! Ken

Good, another Feb. birthday!!! Maybe we should be having a party for all of us Feb. guys!!! Let's meet at George's house!! If you can't make it, just go to his user's gallery and look at his cool ( !!! ) pictures!! Have a good one, Ken

Thanks donwon, and the rest of you guys. I've gotten more "happy birthdays" from you guys on the forum than I did at work!! Of course, I didn't tell them that it was my birthday!! If I would have, they would have just called me an "old fart"!!! Ken

The only place I ever saw more than a few C-123's like in the pic was at Qui Nohn, but I am sure there were no revetments there!! I have a few pics in my users gallery taken at Qui Nohn!! Ken

Hey guys, I DID have a happy birthday. Celebrated it with my 2 yr. old granddaughter!!! Also retired the day before!!!!! Thanks, Ken

Giz, I think since it is going to be a special day, I am going to load the bird up with some of those gals you like---you know the ones that look like a "potato sack full of doorknobs" !!!!! on course on glide path, Ken

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

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

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

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

"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