Mt.crewchief

Since we are already off the original thread I will comment on the 30-40 Krag! Giz is right, it was developed in 1898 thus the name "98 Krag" They are now worth a lot of money in original unaltered condition! Of course a lot of them have been "sporterized" over the years. I know that first hand as I have probably restocked, reblued, and scoped 50 of them. Not too many years ago an un-altered one would cost way less than $100.00 -----now it is hard to find one for less than $600.00! If I remember right, the Krag took the place of the Springfield 45/70 as the official Govt. long arm!! (no Giz, I wasn't around when that took place)!! As for Mausers, I love all of them!! My name on the firearm forums is "kennymauser" !! Now, where were we???? Ken

Sonny, That is a good one and it describes Friendship the way I know it!! Ken

Other than having the wrong paint scheme and wrong props, that is one neat video!!!!! Dumb question-----Is the J-Model longer??? I would love to have been on that plane!! Ken

I just want to take this moment to wish all of you guys a Happy Thanksgiving ! This is a time that I like to share with my family, and it seems to me that you guys on this forum are getting to be part of my family! Man I hate getting mushy like that, but it seems to me like we are all starting to know each other so it seems like the right thing to do!! So, again, Happy Thanksgiving you "Herky Lurkeys" (that's what Sparks wife calls us) Ken

One time at Ubon our Blind Bat crew was heading out on one of our early evening missions and us loadmaster/flarekickers were lounging around in the back with headsets on listening to the flight crew go through the checklist. Just when we were about to lift off, Chris, one of us peons in the back said "sir, shouldn't the flaps be down" ? I heard an "oh shit" over the air and the flaps were activated and we made it over the trees with several feet to spare!! Nobody ever said a word about it all night and even after we returned to base 7 or 8 hours later. Ken

Good deal Giz, I knew your ticker would be okay!!! Now when are you heading to Florida to raid Spark's refrigerator?? I would go with you but it seems a little too far from Montana to raid a fridge! But maybe if I stayed there until Spring!!!!!! Ken Dan, I am also looking for good news from you! Want me to pick you up on my way to Spark's refrigerator? That damn Giz will probably beat us to it!!!!

Hey Giz, and all of you guys that have taken an interest in some of my/our medical questions etc. I just finished my Stress Echo cardiogram today and I am happy!! Relieved as much as happy!! The doctor said she could see nothing wrong with my heart at all and on the electrocardiogram nothing at all showed up until I went way past the target number of 132. At 150 she could see a little discrepancy but could not find anything on the heart ultra sound. If I wouldn't have told her that I went up to 155 at the VA Clinic on my first stress test, she wouldn't have seen anything!! She did recommend that I schedule another check up in a year or so just to make myself feel better!! So, I can quit worrying and now spend a little time trying to figure the VA system out!! Giz, I know you have an appointment Tuesday/tomorrow, and I really hope you get good news as I did!! I am rooting for you and I am sure the rest of the guys here are also!!! Take care Giz, Ken

Dan, Will you knock that heart attack shit off!!! I come from a background of heart attacks and I am scheduled for a stress echo cardiogram Monday!!

I was issued 1505's in Jan 67 along with the rest of my finely tailored wardrobe! I think I wore them at a change of command at Naha and possibly one other time. They were a lot cooler than the blues for sure. I never wore any of my dress uniforms more than once or twice as I spent most of my illustrious AF career in Southeast Asia. I still have my issue dress uniforms but can't wear them as they shrunk terribly over the years!! Ken

t35t3r, you came to the right place for technical info ! These old guys really know their stuff!!!

After working on A-models and flying Blind Bat A-models at Naha for 18 months, I received orders to CCK. A week or so later, almost before I was done in-processing, I was sent on an input to CRB as a crew chief on an E-model. The first thing I noticed was how thick the padding/insulation was and how quiet it was with the 4-bladed props. And to top that off ---Low Speed Ground Idle!!!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! Of course by the time I left Naha and the A's, my hearing was shot!!! By the way Jim thanks for keeping us in touch with the A-Model world!!!! Ken Casey, could you delete my double post----I would but don't know how!!! I could try but would probably delete the whole damn forum!!!

After working on A-models and flying Blind Bat A-models at Naha for 18 months, I received orders to CCK. A week or so later, almost before I was done in-processing, I was sent on an input to CRB as a crew chief on an E-model. The first thing I noticed was how thick the padding/insulation was and how quiet it was with the 4-bladed props. And to top that off ---Low Speed Ground Idle!!!! I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! Of course by the time I left Naha and the A's, my hearing was shot!!! By the way Jim thanks for keeping us in touch with the A-Model world!!!! Ken

xzoomie, thanks for pointing that site out! I will dig into it further and maybe learn something. I have an appointment the 21st. for a stress echo cardiogram that according to the VA doctor's comments "probable CAD" is listed. I guess I will know a lot more about it and if it is related to ischemic heart disease. Of course, rather than have a claim, I would rather come out of there with a clean bill of health. I feel great, have no symptoms, get lots of exercise, etc. etc. Ken

Okay guys, I have a couple of related questions. First of all, I have always assumed that the VSM medal meant Viet Nam Service Medal!!! Now, how could that not mean "boots on the ground"? Now I am worried that I may have to prove my boots on the ground in the future. I am currently signed up for the VA health care and have had nothing but a lot of appointments etc. I have had all of the blood work, etc. and because I am from a family of heart related problems, I have had an EKG, and a EKG Stress(treadmill) test. I thought I did great until the doctor told me I need to now do a Stress Echo Cardiogram. I have to have it done at a local hospital. From what I can figure out, if I have any negative type results, it could point to the Ischemic Heart disease we have been discussing.If so, I suppose I will then have to make a claim. Right??? So, back to the "boots on the ground" thing and the VSM not counting. In my "users gallery" pics I have a letter of appreciation that says I was there. Will that be enough? I also have proof of a hearing loss at Naha, and definitely have tinnitus (don't we all)? Maybe I am jumping the gun, but should I be getting worried/upset, or should I continue to plug away and wait until I complete all of my VA scheduled tests? It seems that the people at the clinic don't ever want to talk about claims at all---not the right place I guess! Thanks for listening, Ken Muff, if I came to you at the VA Clinic where you work/volunteer, what would you tell me? (other than --":pull your head out" ???? By, the way, where did that emoticon come from????

Speaking of that photo, I just don't think it is what is posted about it! I admit I am no expert on uniforms etc. , especially 1965 Marine uniforms, so I got a Marine buddy and an Army buddy together (at work of course) and we got on the computer and went over all of the uniforms of that era and none of us could find anything that looked anything like that particular one in the photo. My Marine friend pointed out that the Marine insignia over the left pocket is always stenciled on and any name is on the back of the jacket or shirt inside the neck/collar line. My Army friend said he has never seen anything like that either. Also, what is that leather looking thing that is by his hands? We thought it might be a muzzle cover for an M-14 (Marine issue --that era) but all we could find were canvas ones. None of us could turn it into a Colt 45 ACP holster either!! That being said, none of us will call a "bullshit" on the photo! As you mentioned above, Plausible!!! Ken

Way to go Giz I knew you were due for another trip to the soap box!!! And you did good as usual!!! I personally get kind of down as Veteran's Day approaches. I have never had it off and it pisses me off that most people now days don't even know what it is about other than another Federal Holiday. I have a lot more to say about all of this stuff but when you mentioned Sparks refrigerator, I got hungry!! Keep up the ranting, Ken

Damn, I see a couple of the usual profile lurkers beat me to yours!! Larry and Don you beat me this time but I brought him here!!!!!!! Ken

Hey Jim, welcome to the forum. I know you will like it here. I'll bet one of these guys will know you or at least remember your name!! Photos? Oh yeh, I will get right on it! You might check out my gallery on this website and see what you might think suitable! Again, welcome, Ken

DAN'S BACK!!!! Like Herkman, I would like to see some pics of your progress on your house! Also, from the tone of your recent posts it sounds like you are doing better. Hope so, Ken

Hey Don, welcome to the forum. You are going to like it here. I was at Naha 67-69. Spent a lot of time at CRB and 90 days at Ubon we have probably crossed paths! At Naha I was in the 35th TAS, 374th TAW. My time at Ubon was spent as a flight crew member on Blind Bat but everywhere else I was a ground crew peon!! Put a bunch of stuff in your bio. so those old guys don't nag you about it!! Huh, Larry and Don!!!!! Ken

I was just thinking I hadn't seen anything from Trev for quite awhile. Hasn't been on since Jan. I hope nothing has happened to him. He hadn't left Yemen had he??? Ken

We had some kind of party at Sheppard in 1967 (tech school) and we had a beer truck in the yard with spigots all along the side of it! I was still there trying to drain the truck when it left! You mean those kind of things don't take place anymore??? By the way, I put Langley on my "dream sheet" twice---closest I ever got was Dover. Ken

Happy anniversary Giz My 39th was in May Ken

I was just reading the Oct. VFW magazine and in the claims section there is a guy named James P Denney who is trying to see if anybody remembers him sliding out the back of a pick up. I assume he was on a flight crew according to the claim, and he says he was in the 774th TAS from Apr. 71 to Sept. 72 (Clark AB P. I.) The accident happened at CRB Viet Nam. I just thought I would try to see if anybody here might know him and be able to help him out! His e-mail address and phone number are posted in the mag. so I guess it is alright to put it here. At least the e-mail address! [email protected] I guess I will e-mail that address myself and tell him about us!!!!! Ken I contacted the above individual and he replied already! He said he was going to check the forum out!! Maybe we will get another new member!!! Maybe I can be the first to check his "about me" before everybody else!!!!!!! If you know what I mean! Ken