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Fantastic photos!!

At first, I thought the band picture was a re-enactment that was taken yesterday!

- MarkHolloway

I'll do the final draft tomorrow and share it with you. You can e-mail stuff like that to Wal-Mart and have it put on a mouse pad or coffee mug. Maybe I'll make something up for the AFV get together and put it on a coffee mug. I guess we'll need four? Maybe I can make one especially for you, Roy. It'll say, "MY AFV FRIENDS ALL WENT TO KNOX TO PLAY ON TANKS AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY COFFEE MUG!".

Careful TW.

Intell reports a 'CIA' wandering around the desert looking at tanks, and he didn't invite us.....



Don

Yah...from some recent posts, I think our man in the Ft. Bliss CIA field office may be hootin' it up with some Cav guys and their toys and not tellin' us so's we don't get jealous.

If we don't see any pics or sumthin' soon, I say we don't give him his mousepad...

Hi all you CIA types! Hi Folks!

- Doug_Kibbey

Yah...from some recent posts, I think our man in the Ft. Bliss CIA field office may be hootin' it up with some Cav guys and their toys and not tellin' us so's we don't get jealous.

If we don't see any pics or sumthin' soon, I say we don't give him his mousepad...

Before I get kicked out of the CIA field office, here are the details.

I was very lucky to receive an offer from a CIA type to get up close and check out a new (they look new away) Abrams M1A2 SEP.

The plan called for this CIA to link up with a friend of said CIA type and said friend, if possible would let me do some inspecting!

I am not sure but I am thinking that last Friday was a Friday the 13th. Mission to link up was a total bust. No follow up meeting possible at this time due to the M1A2SEP HET Team being scheduled to depart this A.O. on Saturday.

After getting off work, normally I would go home and get some sack time. Last Friday, I stopped to top off my fuel tank and went through the drive up for MacDs to pick up a large coffee and a MacMuffen to top me off. Passed the turn off to my house and proceeded North on the old War Highway which runs out to the Dona Anna Base Camp.

The Base Camp is a place were units that will be using the firing ranges, between there and the south side of White Sands Missile Range, set up a field camp while they are out in the field.

After arriving at the base camp, talked to a couple of 1st Cav Troopers. Everyone knew about the M1A2 SEP team, but didn't know where they were. I was directed to building that someone in one of Squadron TOCs thought the team was in. It turned out to be a class room, empty, and locked up. So I took a drive around the loop. The base camp has a black top road that forms a square around the center of the camp. Along the south outside edge are a number of motor pools. In one of them was 14xM1A2s! A number of M2A2 Bradleys and a couple of M-88s of which one was Hercules model. (My first eyes on sighting of that vehicle). In the center of the camp was a motor pool with 12xM-109A6s along with their M-992 FAASVs. A lot of Hummers and a number of Bradleys being unloaded from modern Dragon Wagons. Walked by a M-88 towing a Bradley. Saw an infantry team cleaning their weapons on the hood of a Hummer. Got my tennis shoes well covered with very fine dust from an area I had not walked thought sense about 1979. I saw some folks in civilian cloths, so I stopped and talked to them. They knew who I was looking for, but had no idea were the team was. They suggested that I drive out to Range # 40 and track down the Master Gunner. They figured that if anyone would know where the team was, he would. They gave me directions and told me NOT to try it unless my truck had four wheel drive. Well it doesn't, but I have a lot on time running around in M-151s. You don't really need four wheel drive because all it does it get you in deeper.

Off I headed and the next problem I ran into was a sign that said "Restricted Area, do not enter without the permission of the Commanding General". After reading all of the small print and not finding anything along the lines of 'No POVs behond this point', placed transmission back into drive and slowing started moving down a very dusty Bus route/tank trail leading to a number of ranges. This old CIA was thinking that I had an invit from a team member. That said team member was on a team that was currently working for said Commanding General. Therefore this said CIA had his permission to visit Range 40.

After a bit, found the right turn leading out to Range #40. Right after making the turn, found another sign This sign said, "DANGER LASER RANGE IN USE, DO NOT ENTER".

At this point, remembering that the lasers on the 3rd ACR's Sheridans were not eye safe, that the lasers that I had worked around at HLMR (that were part of a system that I think of as the Great Grand Daddy of the system being used at the NTC now days) were not eye safe, and not having any eye safe laser protective sunglasses, I stopped. I have sense learned that type of sign is standard and it would have been safe for me to go on.

At that point, I almost got my truck stuck as I turned around. 'ALMOST', but I rocked it out and headed back to the base camp. Took one more slow (speed limit is 15 mph) trip around the camp and checked out all the vehicles and hardware in sight. I had a camera, but sense I didn't have an escort, I figured it would be better if I didn't go around taking pictures of a unit that is training up for Iraq. The wife had warmed me not to get myself arrested.

Status Report from the El Paso/Fort Bliss CIA office.
Lessons learned:
Keep your boots ready for a dusty walk.
Keep your camera loaded with memory chips (daughter had might, so I had to go buy another one).
Have a back up battery ready in case the one in the camera dies.
Take a ball cap with something like "11th Armor Cavalry Regiment, Black Horse" on it. I think just about any military unit will do. Many of the 1st Cav Troopers smiled and said "Hello Sir".
Some day you just might receive a "Private Message" with an Op Order in it.
Once more, super thanks to the CIA who knows who he is and his friend for trying.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

[align=justify]

It'll say, "MY AFV FRIENDS ALL WENT TO KNOX TO PLAY ON TANKS AND ALL I GOT WAS THIS LOUSY COFFEE MUG!"

Heck,

I'd take one of those, I don't see myself making it over to the States anytime in this decade



Jens O.

Jens, If I can sell coffee mugs for $1,000 apiece maybe we can fly you on over!

As for Roy's lengthy Spot Repot: I hate a long book with no pictures

But I am glad he told us what's up. For a minute I thought he was hanging around the Fort Bliss 'Duck Hunters' (Air Defense Arty)

- Roy_A_Lingle

...MacDs to pick up a large coffee and a MacMuffen to top me off. Passed the turn off to my house and proceeded North on the old War Highway which runs out to the Dona Anna Base Camp....

You should have brought extra to get out of a 'tight' spot. Even a cold 'Micky D's' is gold to soldiers in the field.

After a bit, found the right turn leading out to Range #40. Right after making the turn, found another sign This sign said, "DANGER LASER RANGE IN USE, DO NOT ENTER".

Sunglasses? Proper PCC (Pre-Combat Checks) would have counteracted that....

I have sense learned that type of sign is standard and it would have been safe for me to go on.

Your OPORD must have been missing certain critical elements. Not your fault.

Status Report from the El Paso/Fort Bliss CIA office.
Lessons learned:
Keep your boots ready for a dusty walk.
Keep your camera loaded with memory chips
Have a back up battery ready in case the one in the camera dies.
Take a ball cap with something like "11th Armor Cavalry Regiment, Black Horse" on it. I think just about any military unit will do.
Many of the 1st Cav Troopers smiled and said "Hello Sir".

All in all, sounds like an eventful day.

Makes me feel a little 'homesick' for the West Texas Desert. I did some similiar stomping around back in 79-80 watching the XM-1 testing.



Don

"Lessons learned:
Keep your boots ready for a dusty walk.
Keep your camera loaded with memory chips (daughter had might, so I had to go buy another one).
Have a back up battery ready in case the one in the camera dies.
Take a ball cap with something like "11th Armor Cavalry Regiment, Black Horse" on it. I think just about any military unit will do."

This quote above could'nt be more true. Still being active duty, I have found wearing my uniform and sounding "official" when asking questions helps. Memory chips and batteries are a must. Yesterday a friend and I went for a drive here around Newport News and I grabbed my digital camera. He asked why I had it, and I just replied that you never know what you'll run into and want pictures of. Sure enough, we found a large car show being run at the local Harley Davidson dealer and out came the camera. There was a sweet, orange, 69 Road Runner that I got numerous pictures of as well as a 66 Coronet that was tubbed and a real head turner. Moral is, never leave home without your camera!!!

- Roy_A_Lingle

Lessons learned:
Keep your boots ready for a dusty walk.
Keep your camera loaded with memory chips (daughter had might, so I had to go buy another one).
Have a back up battery ready in case the one in the camera dies.
Take a ball cap with something like "11th Armor Cavalry Regiment, Black Horse" on it. I think just about any military unit will do. Many of the 1st Cav Troopers smiled and said "Hello Sir".
Some day you just might receive a "Private Message" with an Op Order in it.

As Jeff can attest, I observed each and every one of those SOP's on my vistit to Irwin and the AAR was consequently liberally punctuated with pictures. Your excellent texted report (and careful enumeration of "lessons learned") is probably the only thing saving you from having to repeat the CIA Tour Training cycle with a motivational platoon.

Hi Doug! Hi Folks!

[quote="Doug_Kibbey"]

- Roy_A_Lingle

Lessons learned:
Your excellent texted report (and careful enumeration of "lessons learned") is probably the only thing saving you from having to repeat the CIA Tour Training cycle with a motivational platoon.

Hey CIA types! I knew I own you all a report. Sorry I waited so long. The brain needed some sleep and the wife needed to go out for her Saturaday night of line dancing. This old CIA type can't handle the dancing , so I enjoy a few rum and cokes while watching all the fine ladies do their thing.

Like Jeff has posted, it always pays to carry a camera. Never know what one will find along the way.
Sgt, Scouts Out!

Hey, guys!

Thanks for the Battleship props.

During my service at Long Beach Naval Shipyard (1977 - 1995) I became quite familiar with the BB61 Class, having been among the first to enter New Jersey (BB62) after she had been mothballed following her service in the Vietnam war.

A 1950's style soda fountain was the first sight upon entering the messdeck hatch via a six-inch-thick hatch cover, just aft of the after sixteen-inch turret. There was no paint on the deck, just silver colored steel, without a speck of rust. On some of the equipment there were notes, "No. Three Bearing sings, it's good, don't fix", and on and behind others were poems dedicated to the ship at her mothballing,

Our LBNS motto was "Jersey new in eighty-two, at sea in eighty-three!", and we did it under time and under budget, as we did most of our projects.

USS Missouri was another of our success stories, out of mothballs since the Korean war, and returned to service as a capable and powerful member of the fleet. I saved some paint chips from the teletype room, which was unchanged from September the second, 1945, when General MacArthur accepted the unconditionl surrender of the Japanese forces.

There was a brass plaque commemorating the surrender, just after the No. 2 turret, on the starboard side, which was removed for safekeeping on arrival at LBNS, which in itself had no historic value, having been cast long after the action. Its removal revealed the actual surrender deck.

Guess who popped a few of the teak plugs covering the deck rivets right beneath the former plaque?

New Jersey went to Lebanon with a flaw, in that the sacrificial zinc anodes were affixed to the hull after, rather than before, the final paint coat was applied. This meant that the hugely new electronic arrays added to the ship's capabilities made the ship sacrifice iron to the sea rather than sacrificing the zinc blocks meant for that purpose.

Upon her return, we had to repair her entire underwater hull, or about three and a half acres of steel! She was full of holes, up to a thumb's width. Drydock One was busy. We worked twelve-hour days, and fourteen-day weeks to get her seaworthy again.

Armored vehicle, indeed!

Russ

Yes, I can attest to Dougs claim of following the "SOP". Its because of him that I bought a "chip" for my digital camera. However, when ever I now take pictures, I wonder to myself, "Is this where Doug would stand?", "Is this the kind of lighting that Doug would prefer?", etc...
Russ, I had no idea you knew so much about Battleships! There certainly is "armor" content when talking about these monsters!

Great shots. I got to see the Missouri at Pearl Harbor a couple of summers ago, and the word "impressive" does not begin to describe the ships. Their scale is simply amazing. Beside the point, but neat anyway, was the fact that the band Godsmack was also donig the tourist thing at Pearl Habor the same day as we were; we passed them a few times. I had packed one of their Tshirts with me on the trip, and narrowly decided against wearing it that day for something more sober.

Just as a point of trivia. the tour guies take greatpains to point out that the New Jersey is 10 feet longer then her sisters. allegedly because the yard workers (many from New Jersey) wanted her to be the biggest
Jeff Lewis

Hi Jeff! Hi Folks!

- piney

Just as a point of trivia. the tour guies take greatpains to point out that the New Jersey is 10 feet longer then her sisters. allegedly because the yard workers (many from New Jersey) wanted her to be the biggest
Jeff Lewis

Say what?
Didn't the bow of one of the other ships get damaged and was replaced by a bow taken from a cancelled Montana class BB, making it the longest of the New Jersey four?

Confuzed
Sgt, Scouts Out!