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Thanks Skip, It's just something from the heart that was on my mind this morning.

I spent last night in the high school aditorium watching my painfully shy quiet daughter come out of her shell by making her debut with her high school drama club. My legs where cramping and my butt hurt on the old wooden seat, I am proud of her because she joined the club on her own and landing a speaking role then memorised all her lines, for her that took an incredible amount of guts. While I was sitting there my mind drifted to the meaning of this weekend and like anyone else who has served I understand that its only by the grace of god that my family can enjoy this while others are not able, that made me sad. I also thought about the fact that our country is not perfect but it is worth fighting for and always will be and that made me proud. I'm humbled by the fact that other families can not enjoy this because sacrifices that have still will be made for us. When the lights came on my wife and older daughter caught me wiping my eyes and think it's because I was proud, and I am. But the truth is I'm more than humbled and will always be gratefull.......Thank You

Good to see it's being allowed to be BOB, It used to go back and forth depending on the CO's sense of humor at the time.

Give the old salts at MCATA (Marine Corps Air Transport Association) a shout, plenty of Nam era vets who can give you some good info. I logged a few hours on her.

Some more info on that bird....http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/budd_conestoga.php

Nothing a few gallons of paint can't handle!

One thing I do miss from being down south is the common courtesy drivers use on the road.

Dan thanks to your nephew for the pictures, saying a prayer that everyone returns safely.

Still some good hours left on those R's

53's where always interesting to refuel, Once we even had a pair of F-14's pop up and stabilise out of nowhere in WESTPAC looking for some gas. Just curious about the V-22, has anybody tanked them?

With a 53 in the basket you where better off up front. Sorta like a train wreck, don't watch if you don't have to!

And so it goes, He had more than a fair chance!

Thank You!

Any details? Stan was always a pleasure to fly with. RIP Stan Hankster.

Remember those heavy insulated water and coffee jugs we used to put up in the galley? I was coming in the crew door with my chocks and nlg pin and looked up just in time to catch one square in the face. Loadmaster later said I did one hell of a backwards somersault back out the crew door, turned out that the shop had pulled the jugs and washed them the night prior but didn't secure the latches when they put them back in. It took 5 stitches to close my lip.

The ladder was too long to stow on board, we had to sign it out with the GSE shop.

Not a climb for the faint of heart!

We've got a story on the Marine side about a crew that "borrowed" a power unit out of Hickam that fell off the ramp on approach to Wake.

Merry Christmas to all and wishes for a safe and healthy new year!

Happy Thanksgiving! and have a safe holiday to all the men and women serving that make it possible!

Not sure of the nomenclature, but we used roller sections (10'X2" maybe) that had what looked like metal roller skate wheels on them and would stack them up centerline in the cargo compartment when not in use.

Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served, Thank You!

Time Machine! One of my better birthday celebrations came at the tale end of a Transpac. Luck of the draw had me on the cargo frame riding behind the tankers, missed the ball at Iwakuni due to going back to Wake to pick up the last of the fighter squadron's people. we got back to Futenma after midnite and some kind soul had left a cold case or two in the maintenance control fridge, No dress blues that night just sweaty dirty flight suits, me and the rest of the crew sitting with our feet in the benjo next to the washrack sharing some stories and suds with a good crew having our own celebration!

I'm hoping for some good news, Cobras are real hard to see when viewed from head on.

I vote for Tinian in the first pic.