Jcapsparkchaser

Chris, thanks for your concern, I am in the path about 60 miles northwest of Philly. Funny but all the time I spent on Naha Sept 68 until Jun of 70 every typhoon that hit Okinawa I was either at TSN or CRB. Now here I am retired after 29 yrs AF smack in the middle of things. Should have stayed north of Fayettnam where I was when I retired from Pope in 09. Lasr time I let the wife talk me into moving back closer to family!?

Sam, looking to obtain both Trash Haulers and Anything, Anywhere, Anytime. I would enjoy an autographed copy of both. I was stationed 374 FMS Sept 1968 to June 1970 Naha Okinawa PCSed back to Chanute then went to Ubon 1971- 1972 Sept Became an ART 1985 Willow Grove ARS C-130E's finished my career Pope AFB 2009 as Avonics Branch chief. I just finished reading History TAC in Southeast Asia all 663 pages . I would like to read your books and by the way just got The Cave from a mutual friend of ours Ed Hubrich. I would appreciate you putting me in the direction to get these books. Thanks Jeff

NASCARPOP, was there Sep 68 to June 70 in electric shop 374 FMS we also had Balls 4 and 6 as I remember both with 41st. CRS is setting in from too many Orions

Bill, being in the electric shop hence the sparkchaser nickname, CRB is where i cut my baby teeth learning to play double deck pinocle in our converted trailer "shop"on the flt line in the rear of the trailer were swinging doors used to jump down and dive into a bunker we had facing the bay area where a few times the VC would come down in their sampans and try and light us up. That and when we would take some 122's rockets fired at the flt line from the hills. I also remember a time at TSN when I went out to work on a herk and was rushed off because the CC found a booby trapped grenade during his post flight. Funny, the bird had just landed with some hog tied VC and the renowned south vietnamese QC guarding them always made me wonder how the damn thing got the hidden in the dual rails? Of course at TSN we had rebel ramp with some sand bags by the revetments. Bill you do have it right "The greatest adventure of my life" and met the greatest people I would ever know! Thanks for the memories Cap

Soc Trang RVN Dec 23 1969 55006 Naha "A" model Balls 6 broke down #1 Eng D.C. generator fire sent up country from TSN to recover. Padded generator with Eng Troop and CC told by Aerial Port MSG we had to move the Herc toward the fence Charlie was coming to town. Sure enough O dark 30 around 1-2ish in A/M they came. luckily missed us and the Herc, emptied the 2 mags of M-16 ammo I was issued on trip in. Christmas Eve Dec 24 flown back to TSN Where we feasted on beer and fried chicken supplied from our people in Naha. Does anyone remember the name of the troop who fired the flare pistol out of the hatch of an "A" Herc that night at TSN? Remember it well can see the faces then CRS sets in and names go blank "Long Long Time Ago Far Far Away"

Mike, prior to my retirement at Pope in 2009 I had my family Dr. diagnose me with type !! diabetese she also penned a report for my medical records at Pope with her diagnosis. I retired in March 7th after 29 years on Hercs and F-4's with the last 17 years at Willow Grove ARS 913th A/W and final 3 years at Pope with the 440th A/W anyway in April I went to the VA in Lillington N.C. and started paper work for diabetes claim and it is still in work! Winston Salem VA just contacted me and told me my paper work was being sent to Philadelphia Pa. since I moved back north in November. The good news I hope is the VA rep here in the Lehigh Valley is already on top of it and working my claim. In fact I am being set up for the physical as we converse. The reason I am telling you this is to stay on top of it (your claim) until ity is finalized. Lots of Luck Jeff

EFLTatCCK, (Vince) and others good to see you finally somewhat opening up about E=Flight, while I was at Naha, 68 to 70 we had 2 A/C electricians flying with E-flight "A" model Silver Birds, never could get anything out of then only they left sometimes late late at night with no ID's on their flight suits. Vinnie, was great to serve with you at the Grove those 20 years before BRAC got to us!! Enjoyed Desert Shield / Storm with the Yakota guys at Thumbrait! 374 FMS Sparkchaser!

23 Dec 1969- recovery mission out of TSN 834th A/D for 'A' model broke at Soc Trang-issued M-16 with 2 clips ammo plus helmet flak vest -I was dropped by Herc 'E' model upon arriving was told by ranking Air Force Master Sergeant to keep my head down if i had to crawl up on wing. Turned out to be a burned up #1 eng DC generator which I padded. Got finished about 4 in afternoon with help of crew chief and engine mech sent from TSN. We ended up staying the night because it was one of those army installations which Charlie owned after sun down. around 0200 (DARK 30) sure enough all hell broke loose! Got back to TSN late morning next day tool box-helmet flak vest M-16 oh yeah and 2 "empty" clips drank lots beer and JD "HI to all those guys from Blind Bat and 834th A/D" we went to different schools together!!

Yes, in fact I often ask a local eatery to prepare the concoction which turns out not as greasy!!! Now here is an add on question does anyone have a copy of the recording done by a Marine which was affectionately know as the "BALLAD OF NAMANUEY"? This should bring back some memories! jcapsparkchaser from the ole 374th FMS electric shop 68-70--

Gary, I was there same time 68-69-70,(Electrcian) did both TSN and CRB I was with 374th maintenance out of Naha Okinawa. I just filed a claim in the last year and thanks to copies of orders down country my claim is at least in review. Things take awhile I am told, here in North Carolina.

Phil, saw your shop pictures of Gardner and Jimenez--brought back memories! What ever happened to Wright and Worrell? Cap

How about Baby Sans down in the 800 area at TSN transit barracks? She made a pretty good hoagie -must have stole the lettuce and tomatoes from the chow hall!! Can't forget the afternoon barbeques we had at CRB also that is if someone was able to grab a case of steaks! I always ran out of my beer ration early!-Camping out on Herky Hill

Ken, I think there was 1 other busted up Herk we used to CANN circuit breakers from to fix the A's B's and E's as they would break-Break did I say BREAK? at CRB-very nostalgic pic!!! Wonder if I could roll down the hill from the club?!

ALL, Christmas eve December 24 1969 (TSN-RVN) after a few too many beers after returning from in country TDY to recover Balls 6 from Soc Trang decided too have a little merry with C/C buddy, names are forgotten, to see if we could start fire works display except we forgot to open the hatch for the flare pistol as we proceeded!!! Needless to say sheet metal had extra work (unscheduled maintenance! It was funny than not so funny now its funny again!!!

rfan, was that the night we had to pull a light all into the hanger to help you find your tools? TSGT Lucero had an interesting antedote for that one. -Also saw your pics from the shop looks like Jimenez and Gardner haven't changed after all these years!!! Capwell

Ed, still in Allentown? Retired from Pope in March (60) I live 20 minutes drive from flight line! Quite nice this close to drop zones, a lot of stuff flies over the house! Did you ever get my e-mail? When is a good time to call?-- Jeff

do not remember that particular party but I did drink some brews at the beach party we had down by the airport!The next day a bunch of us rotated into CRB!! Remeber night shift run by SSgt Lahon- also guys like the Wilson brothers who weren't related- John F Inman the III- Robert Teal- Alvin Gardner- my CRS is not too bad tonight-Cap

Phil, I think you are talking about Fred Worrell and Delon Wright? I was also in the electric shop that time Sept 68 to June 70 did a lot of TDYs CRB and TSN. Fred and Delon ad a light blue 59 ford we used to take up north of Kadena where the marines were at Camp Swab I think. anyway every Typhoon I was always down country the boys Fred and Delon would (borrow) did I say pawn my stereo for beer money and hole up down in may I say NAMANUI?? Anyway I am Jeff Capwell remember me?

Was that not the Herk I was witness too as a not to be named C/C fired the flare pistol on Christmas Eve thru the Nav slot without opening the outer plate?? I had just returned from Soc Trang where I went in to pick up balls 6 which blew #1 DC generator. The folks from Naha brought down a spread of chicken and fixens an BEER!! Some 101 airborne dude kept a loaded 45 on me until I took a swig of his Jack so I could take a L--k in the new latrine of the new in country pax terminal. Or was it the Herk that blew the starter on eng start which caused the engine to melt until we could put the fire out?? Talk about memkories 40 years ago!!! Or was it G/G Windy Logans airplane we canned the C--- out of, even the rubber, until we put it back together again? Cap

Sparkchaser here -was at Naha Sept 68 until June 70 got stuck TSN and extended was electrician remember a c/c from my hometown flew Blind bat E. Hubrick still lives there. I just retired Pope 440th wing was Avionics branch chief. Okinawa was my first PCS- the irony of doing 90 days in CRB / TSN then flying back to Naha completely different world!! were not the Blind Bat planes named such as Batmobile /Sapphire/ Azreal?? Cap