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Post by Gene on Mar 20, 2009 9:00:08 GMT 9
ran across this in the paper.. i didn't know him, but, he was from my fathers era.. he was a mustang pilot, and, a lifer. one of the reasons i wanted to share was, the poem "high flight" is one of the 3 favorite things in that catagory that includes the lords prayer, and the ballad of the green beret,... just wanted to share. gene :us_flag
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 20, 2009 12:43:14 GMT 9
:patriotic-flagwaver Gene, Tom Brokaw rightly called the men and women like Col. DeSomer "The Greatest Generation". Sadly, they are passing from the scene at an accelerating rate. The youngest are in their eighties and some are over one hundred. Soon they will be but a memory. Then it is my generation, those who served during the Korean War and beyond. Remember to thank those grizzled old men and aging ladies who served in our greatest conflict for helping bring a peace that was the result of their sacrifices. :god_bless_usa
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Post by Jim on Mar 20, 2009 13:09:03 GMT 9
Jim S, you and I were fortunate in that we got to work with and learn from some of those "old sarges" from "the war".....My first mentor was an old (to me) Msgt Dewey Savell, got me my second and third stripe with a little over 2 years service.........I worked with and for a CWO5 that was a Msgt in that war.............................Also worked and flew with pilots from that same generation........................... The Old Sarge
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Post by Gene on Mar 20, 2009 16:05:25 GMT 9
this guy might have flown with chuck yeager...he was two years younger than my dad, god rest him, and put in the long stretch to retirement... :salute :salute
gene :patriotic-flagwaver
p.s. when i was in the photo lab at age 25, i worked with a lot of officers and nco's 10 and 15 years my senior... that would put them in thier mid to late '70's today... :salute :salute to them...and you two jim and jim.
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Post by Cougar on Mar 21, 2009 3:13:42 GMT 9
Not to be given any secrets away here, but it may be that Jim and Jim have been around here a very long time, possibly since Willie and Orv were kicking tires, :'(or was it when Chris was trying to float the Nina? :salute
Thanks for your service gentlemen! :us_flag
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az09
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Post by az09 on Mar 21, 2009 5:14:09 GMT 9
Ah !!!! The "old corps" days. I remember the days of sitting in break rooms, launch trucks and club bars waiting for something good to happen. The old head in the bunch would launch into a diatribe of why us young whipper snappers wouldn't have made it in the old corps. Usually to drift into some "this is no lie" story followed by a this is no s-it, promise of a weird account of some larger than life person doing some unheard of thing. I came to deal with these tales as, just let the guy talk, its his story let him tell it. The bull session was usually broke up by the shop chief looking for the crews that hadn't come back from break, or by a "no start" aircraft, or a wife calling the club to see why you were late to supper. Yeah, those were the "good ole days".
As the years ticked along and the title of "old guy" was unofficially handed down from on high to the next generation of guys sitting around a table swapping lies, er tall tales, thats it, tall tales. We became a part of the old guys past heritage.
What with the draw down in the 90's and the war on terror with not enough people to do the job, the days of military legacy are numbered. My 23 years was disembowled by the Bracc efforts to streamline the corps, to save money. There will be not weekend visits to the old bases, the old units, the old heads are disappearing with no notice that they have left the hanger.
One General wiped all memory of "our" old corps away. The winged star of the old guys day was redesigned to look like some "star trek" emblem that had no purpose or identity of our past spirit. We were taken off the shelf of unit tradition and put away in a box, along with our tales of career field lore.
With no past identity to grasp onto there is no real future to pursue. When I retired, it wasn't the work I missed, it was the guys and gals I worked with that I missed the most.
Bullhunter is always talking about his career story that he is writing. I believe there is one prime "war story" in all of us. If that one story was written and shared with others, these stories could become a volume of "Hey this is no s-it" tales of the old corps that we inherited from the old heads of yore.
The long unbroken line of blue and green suited airmen who primed the pumps of service to gray-green-silver eagles, falcons, herks, buffs, warthogs , phantoms, delta daggers and darts from our days in the "old corps".
Being a part of the "youngest" service I've always envied the Marines and the Army their sense of belonging to something bigger, braver. Something steeped in long held traditions that solidified the true meaning of "Airman".
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Mar 21, 2009 5:38:52 GMT 9
My last 3 or 3 1/2 years in the USAF I was the Admistrator/Director of the McChord Air Museum. One day the Public Affairs Office came to the museum with a Tour bus. The NCOIC of Public Affairs said they were short handed and asked if I'd take a private tour throught the museum and the museum aircraft parked on the flightline. I said, "Sure the museum would be happy to assist Public Affairs." I then asked, "Who are these guys on the bus anyway?" She replied, " Elderly British Spitfire Pilots from the Battle of Britian." I then quickly replied, "In that case no!" She looked at me with disbelief in her eyes. Within a second I responded again, "I'm not just happy to help, I'm honored to be in their company." She gave me a big smile of relief and took me on the bus and intruduced me. The pilots and I went through the museum, the airpark outside, then down to the flightline where our C-124 & B-23 were parked. After they looked at the old aircraft Public Affairs drove up to take over again. I started to get in my pick-up truck to drive back to the museum and the Public Affairs NCO stopped me and said the British Pilots want to thank me and say good-bye. I really didn't do much but show them around abit so I climbed up in the bus and they all said thank-you and I said my welcomes. As I got started down the steps of the bus I smiled at them, gave them a thumbs up, and enthusiastically said "Tally Ho!" As my feet exited the bus and hit the ground the bus came alive with hand chaping and shouts of Tally Ho. I stood there in awe - and as the bus got ready to depart I snaped to attention and saluted. I held my salute until the bus drove off. the old gentlemen on the bus were all saluting back as it drove off. The public Affairs NCO asked, "What did you say to them, I've been with them most of the day and they've been fairly quiet?" I just replied, "Tally Ho" and gave her a thumb up. In my 24 year career, that has to be the most emotional minutes I ever experanced. That was about 1993/94. Most or likely all of those old Battle of Britian Hero Pilots have went on to be with the Lord by now. I have to remember to put this incident in my book. :thumbsup
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Mar 21, 2009 6:06:07 GMT 9
Bullhunter,that has to be a very special memory for you. What thrill to have a bus-load of RAF pilots with you. If you go to the London Telegraph on line edition, I go to the Drudge Report and scroll down to the Telegraph, you can go on the obituary section and several times a week there are some British vets listed who have passed. I find it very interesting to read the obits of all of them, but the ones I enjoy the most are those from the RAF and to read of their exploit's during England's Finest Hours. :god_bless_usa
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Post by pat perry on Mar 21, 2009 11:02:54 GMT 9
Bullhunter,that has to be a very special memory for you. What thrill to have a bus-load of RAF pilots with you. If you go to the London Telegraph on line edition, I go to the Drudge Report and scroll down to the Telegraph, you can go on the obituary section and several times a week there are some British vets listed who have passed. I find it very interesting to read the obits of all of them, but the ones I enjoy the most are those from the RAF and to read of their exploit's during England's Finest Hours. And let me add my.... Great Story! Pat P.
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Post by Jim on Jul 14, 2009 8:00:11 GMT 9
THIS ABOUT ONE OF THE "REAL" OLD CORP GUYS, THAT WE OWE A HELL OF A LOT TO..............FAR MORE THAN THAT MOON? WALKER THAT ATE UP SO DAMNED MUCH TV TIME.................. :salute FOR "SHIFTY"
Subject: Memorial Service A Memorial Service: you're invited. We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers. Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel, you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them. I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle", the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat. Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made. Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped. At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped. I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day. I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say. I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach. He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this. Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer. There was no parade. No big event in Staples Center . No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage. No weeping fans on television. And that's not right. Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans. Rest in peace, Shifty. "A nation without heroes is nothing." (Roberto Clemente) :salute The Old Sarge
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Post by Jeff Shannon on Jul 14, 2009 8:29:00 GMT 9
To Shifty
:salute :salute :salute :salute :us_flag :us_flag :us_flag :us_flag
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Post by lugnuts55 on Jul 14, 2009 22:43:34 GMT 9
I don't think I can write much right now. I can't see the keybourd very well because of my eyes "watering" and I suddenly have goose bumps. There won't be a big service for Shifty because what he did for us is taken for granted. Only those of us who have served in whatever capacity understand what he did and why he did it. Thank you, Shifty, for helping us be the greatest nation on earth.
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Post by jimpadgett on Jul 14, 2009 23:03:10 GMT 9
One of the most endearing qualities of these old corps folks was their modesty. My stepfather died on July 9, 2009. He served in the Navy during WWII as a plane captain (crew chief) in the Pacific. He never volunteered information about his war experiences and only listened quietly if I recounted mine of my era. He would answer if I asked a specific question. My regrets at his passing are numerous but, biggest amongst them is that I never got him to the WWII Memorial only 20 miles away. He seemed interested but, not motivated. I think it might have been too much for him as it was too much for me when I visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Another old corps guy I served with would open up when asked but, not about his combat experiences. He would recount stories of his Army days. One was about hiking along the east coast and setting up camp every evening. The supplies (tents, food, etc) were carried beneath towed balloons (mules) and the march only went as far as the balloons got. Several times, due to adverse winds, they camped behind where they started. This was OLD corps. The guy was SMSgt Nade Strickland from North Carolina and assigned to Hq ADC and 5th FIS among others. Only after he had been taken to the AF Academy Hospital one morning did I learn that he had been blown out of a B-17 during WWII and had a piece of shrapnel in his gut which punctured his stomach that morning. I never paid much attention to his fruit salad or gunner's wings until this happened. Nade recovered and returned to duty only to have the AF force him to retire due to age (55). I have lost track of him but, will always remember his wisdom and mentoring.
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 15, 2009 5:59:11 GMT 9
:salute :us_flag My stepfather, William R. Dobbins, served in "The War to End All Wars". World War One.
I asked him about the war, but he never said much. Guess he figured a 12 year old kid wouldn't understand. He was probably right. I got most of what I knew about war from Movie Tone newsreels at the picture show, or from the movies that were playing.
Dobby did tell me he had been gassed, but only when I asked him why he had little sense of taste. Didn't elaborate, just that his loss of taste was caused by some kind of gas.
One day, when I was home on leave, Dobby was working in the yard and his shirt was unbuttoned and I saw some tell tale round, white scars on his chest and abdomen. I asked him about them and got a hurried,"machine gun". That's all, no explanation. Just, "machine gun".
Mom told me what she knew, but only after Dobby had passed on to the Final Muster. He had been gassed more than once and had spent time in field hospitals in France. She also knew he had been invalided to a hospital in England and then to an Army hospital in the states to recover from his wounds. Other than that she didn't know much. He enlisted at Terre Haute, Indiana in an Indiana Battalion and was a machine gunner. Not much for someone who obviously had been pretty seriously wounded. Let alone the gas.
Over the years, I have read a number of books and articles about World War One and the horrors of trench warfare. Battles that never ended. Just going on, month after month. Futile charges of infantry in to the barbed wire and the sweeping fire of German machine guns. It was the same for both sides. Death was ever present. The trenches were water logged, rat infested and easy targets for artillery. No wonder the men who were there didn't wan to talk about it.
All too often the movies and books about war make it seem glamorous and fun. We who have been there no better. As General Sherman said: "War is Hell".
Seems that for all of us who have been there, are pretty much the same. Doesn't matter what generation. We may talk about our war experiences with others who were there, but reluctant to say anything to others. I remember my trip to "The Wall" with my wife and youngest daughter. It was moving and our daughter knew I was moved, because I wasn't acting the way I had been just a few minutes before. She never asked, just put a hand on my shoulder and hugged me. That was in 1989 and I am still moved by it. I don't go to the imitation walls that travel around the country. I think that once I saw the real one, that I didn't need to see any imitations.
As General Sherman said, in 1880, War is Hell and no matter which war, we all have pretty much the same feelings.
To all of you who served with me, those who came after, and those who are serving to-day; God Bless You and thank you.
Jim
:god_bless_usa
Just as an aside, if you want to get a pretty good idea of what WW I was like, find a copy of "All Quiet on the Western Front", by Erich Maria Remarque. It presents a German portrait of the war. If you can find the movie of the same name, watch it. The last scene of the movie is the impactful scene you will ever see.
In GOD we Trust.
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Post by Mark O on Jul 15, 2009 8:19:24 GMT 9
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