- SFC_Jeff_Button
I just contacted Rob Roche at China Lake and made arrangements to visit there on Saturday 4 February if all goes well. I'll be taking lots of pictures and trying to record every serial and USA number I can find. However the Ontos, M103, and some other stuff will only be able to be seen with a powerful spoting scope according to Rob.
Mr. Kibby, since you are close by, maybe you would like to come along and we could finally meet, before I head off back to Ft Hood? I could show you the book I've put together for the museum here. Or maybe you could just visit Ft Irwin. Only bad thing is that the Irwin museum is closed on weekends. Come on a week day, and I can probably get you into the storage facility that holds the M2 Half Track and a Huey undergoing resto as well as going to the museum and around the post to the static displays. I'll take the day off and tell the powers that be I'm escorting an AFV News / VIP!!
Jeff,
Make it "Doug"...please!
That sounds mighty appealing....I've never met Rob either, though we've shared some pics for the Eaglehorse feature and stuff like that.
I've got some carryover vacation time I have to burn, and I could probably make it up for the previous Friday at Irwin (where I have been before and met with Neil Morrison, who was very generous). Haven't seen the "storage facility" though...could be cool! I had a chance to poke around many of the static displays, but not all.
I stayed in that post hotel and got a suite last time (Oct. 2003) Remind me the name and contact info for it. As I recall, I need a sponsor or somebody to get beyond the main gate.
I might try something like coming up the Thursday nite before and spending the night (chow on me) and then we're already there. Gotta' run this by she-who-must-be-obeyed of course, but see no problem offhand.
If they're back, maybe we can pop in on the returned Sqdn. and all...change of commands since I was there two years ago...I have a lot of stuff that might be of interest for everyone from Rgt. on down to see...I could bring it.
I wanted to get into that museum gift shop again, too!
Whaddaya' think?