tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post3741655284867163468..comments2023-10-20T01:05:46.002-07:00Comments on New Boat: Cypress Moon! (Barco Sin Vela): Veterans Day 2009Barco Sin Vela IIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15621907771132379553noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-80124686871645130032009-11-13T22:29:55.756-08:002009-11-13T22:29:55.756-08:00I am now the second oldest Crew Chief at the 912 A...I am now the second oldest Crew Chief at the 912 AMXS here at Edwards. The other guy is about ten months older than me.<br />Navy Expeditionary(2)<br />Sep1980-May1981, Northern Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean embarked in USS Ranger in VA-145(A6E/KA6D)<br />Otherwise known as the Jimmy Carter Hostage Crisis Cruise.<br />Jan-Jun 1987, Around the world on USS Kitty Hawk in VA-147(A7E) with a fair amount of time in the Northern Arabian Sea, again. <br />Plus other uneventful deployments aboard Independence(2) to the Med and Ranger when it hit the tanker off Singapore in 79. I caught it in the drydock at Yokosuka. With those campaign medals, I will probably join the VFW here in Cal City.<br />Beards could not be worn by those repair party/fire party members required to wear an OBA, Oxygen Breathing Apparatus. It would not seal correctly. I remember when then SecNav Lehman ordered no more beards be worn by anyone in the 80s. It took effect on Jan 1 of 1985. You should have seen some of the guys who had had a beard for a long time after that! I didn't worry too much as I didn't really have to shave every day until I was about thirty. And now at 55, I still can't grow a full beard.<br />Now the eldest son is a SSG in the Army Reserve getting ready to make SFC next spring. He will have passed me, his real dad and his uncle then.Glenn Mark Casselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11305109383344139028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-91133653947033694422009-11-12T12:58:57.857-08:002009-11-12T12:58:57.857-08:00Thanks Gene; I don't know what the heck we wer...Thanks Gene; I don't know what the heck we were all thinking about the beards. But it had to do with the water situation onboard ship. <br /><br />I cringe when I see the beards!Barco Sin Vela IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621907771132379553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-22684981987205051152009-11-12T07:50:34.465-08:002009-11-12T07:50:34.465-08:00LOVED your photos looong time!!! I too remember wh...LOVED your photos looong time!!! I too remember when squids could have beards!JihadGenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06440469082415566906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-89808676880477082112009-11-11T16:26:27.904-08:002009-11-11T16:26:27.904-08:00Sorry to hear that, Buck. Funny, I am a Life Membe...Sorry to hear that, Buck. Funny, I am a Life Member of the VFW and I never go. Too smoky. <br /><br />The folks who hang out there and smoke are welcome to do so, they earned it. I remain a member because I like their mission. <br /><br />Just from afar...Barco Sin Vela IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621907771132379553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-26239450080984111022009-11-11T14:30:48.342-08:002009-11-11T14:30:48.342-08:00If you were in Thailand in 1973, you may be eligib...<i>If you were in Thailand in 1973, you may be eligible.</i><br /><br />Ah, but I wasn't. I did my time in Thailand in 1976, quite some time after the cessation of hostilities. Believe me, our local VFW is <i>crying</i> for members and they'd bend over backwards for me... but rules is rules. And I don't qualify. But I'm still a welcomed guest whenever I head down that way to hoist a few...Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319116022465066060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-45418882163019845122009-11-11T11:52:37.809-08:002009-11-11T11:52:37.809-08:00You were a pretty good looking Jarhead, Darryl!
B...<em>You were a pretty good looking Jarhead, Darryl!</em><br /><br />Buck; All seventeen year olds are attractive, but thanks. I was a reservist so it was a quick six months and off to the Navy for me.<br /><br />But on the deployment thing; Check your Unit (s) and look on the internets for "Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals" and check out which units received them. You might find one of your unit(s) had one awarded and thus you would be a veteran of a Foreign War. If you were in Thailand in 1973, you may be eligible.<br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_Expeditionary_Medal<br /><br />Either way, you served and that's what's important. Thanks for coming by, I enjoy your comments.Barco Sin Vela IIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15621907771132379553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17194754360386448.post-88718699512900078582009-11-11T10:18:24.898-08:002009-11-11T10:18:24.898-08:00...my only claim to the Veteran Brotherhood was th...<i>...my only claim to the Veteran Brotherhood was that I had a couple of pieces of cloth that indicated that I was in an area where people received imminent danger pay.</i><br /><br />I don't even have those and am not eligible to join the VFW... never having served in a combat zone, not even a single day TDY. Which is one of life's greatest mysteries (to me), given I was on continuous AD from before the Gulf of Tonkin incident through the Fall of Saigon and beyond. Add in the fact I had a Vietnam volunteer statement in for two years ('65 - '67, I withdrew it after I became a father) and it's an even deeper mystery.<br /><br />All that said... I'm still proud of what I did during my time, but I'm prouder still of the things my kids are doing today. I'm also proud and grateful for guys like you who went to sea for months and months without touching anything soft, too!<br /><br />Nearly forgot: You were a pretty good looking Jarhead, Darryl! <b>;-)</b>Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05319116022465066060noreply@blogger.com