You might be old-school if....

Crazy Carl said:
Was a different world, that's for sure. All trained up & spun up on Sov tactics & equipment, then the world changed. Started a Cold Warrior & retired during the Global War On Terror. Things definitely seemed to make more sense then, but maybe I was just ill informed. I dunno.

I visited Germany in '87 & was stationed there from Mar '91 - Sept '95 & Jun '04 - Jun '07. Went completely native ('87 visit was a family reunion.) & had a great time. Ended up a 3/3 (native born, high school graduate) rated German speaker. Even taught a course to a bunch of my Bundeswehr peers, auf Deutsch. Their PSYOP S-3 had been their LNO at Bragg & we were friends. When he found out I was at SOCEUR, he asked me to come up & teach his guys how to pack leaflet boxes (to throw outta choppers). Also meant a lot of jumps with their Fallschirmjaeger guys. We jumped with them on the regular & as one of the 3 fluent German speakers in the command (HQ Commandant & 1SG were the other two...), I was always tasked to liaise & translate.

Was definitely a change in vibe the second go 'round, tho. Less friendly, more suspicious. Had much more fun & shenanigans the first tour & much more mil to mil contact & travel. Had a blast in Romania tho, validating their SF & PSYOP teams prior to their deployment to the 'Stan. Their MoD invited us down & we were hosted by their 1st Special Operations Battalion command. Spent a hell of a night pub-crawling with their SF team sergeant (an old Ceausescu era LRRS guy), raising hell & pounding beers till the sun came up.
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My dad was an intel guy post Nam rotary wing days and spent a lot of time in Germany. He laments the Cold War often and says things were simpler then. The Curtain still gives him chills though; he said they kept tabs on the Soviet “political attaches” ie spies, but it wasn’t the same for them in the USSR. The KGB wouldn’t keep tabs on you, they would disappear you.
 
In-processing into country, they briefed us & handed out Smell 'Em cards- Soviet Military Liaison Mission, to ID & handle/report sightings &/or contact. Never saw a SMLM tagged vehicle, but there was a BIG to-do when a lost Czech MI-24 put down on the helipad at our hospital in Stuttgart. I did get to meet the mayor of Stuttgart, Mannfred Rommel at a USO thing. Very down to earth & friendly guy.

Dunno when you attended the Fort Benning Academy for Wayward Boys, but in '88 it was all about Ivan & killing commies & over 90% of my drill sergeants were 'Nam vets & a lot of my NCO's as a young mortar maggot were 'Nam vets as well. Got stationed at Ft Irwin & got spun up on Soviet maneuver & doctrine, but then spent '91 - '98 in the medical field, chillin' & getting bored. Dove down the PSYOP rabbit hole in '99 & things got decidedly weird from that point & very confusing, especially post 9/11.
 
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I had a bunch of friends in the 80s in SF that came into SF/citizenship by the Lodge Act. Eastern Europeans that escaped over and fought during VietNam and Cold War. Those were some tuff dudes and my mentors. Worn OG107s, BDUs, DCUs (6/3 colors), ACUs and Multicams before retiring.

CD
 
Combat Diver said:
I had a bunch of friends in the 80s in SF that came into SF/citizenship by the Lodge Act. Eastern Europeans that escaped over and fought during VietNam and Cold War. Those were some tuff dudes and my mentors. Worn OG107s, BDUs, DCUs (6/3 colors), ACUs and Multicams before retiring.

CD
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I met a guy in Sanford in the mid-80s, maybe...84? I was in junior high, I was in the Civil Air Patrol, he was helping at a camp. Anywho, he was retired SF, had been a diver, Lithuanian. Joined the US Army in the 50s, SF not long after that. Very cool cat, fascinating stories.

The military of the 80s was a good time to be in. Clear-cut enemy, you trained for war. Huge military. I was enamored with Reagan's 600-ship Navy (which never materialized).
 
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Combat Diver said:
New canteen cup, Cherry! :p


CD
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I did then and still have one with the L handle...always carried two...and yep, I had my share of pink bellies back then from the SP/4 mafia...:D
 
I had a couple of those cups, lost over the years. I think I'll have to shell out a few bucks and get a couple to add to my camping kit. I still have my multi fuel/esbit-type cooker
 
50cal range, Ft AP Hill, Engineer officer basic course class 6-87....the ammo we fired had 1947 headstamps
 
As a mech 11C, I had a 4-deuce gun tube dated 1949. Don't recall when any of our M2s made, but I'd bet they weren't much newer.
 
M14, M16, M79. Starched Fatigues, Butt Pack, Alice, Metal Canteen, Mess Kit, Wash Line, WWII Barracks, Man this brings back a lot of good memories. Can’t forget KP, Fire Watch and CQ Runner.
 
Customer of mine that looked like he was about 30 years old had a p-38 on his key ring. Now why would a 30 year old have a p-38 ? I pointed at his keys and said " P-38?" He told me that it was his Dads, who recently passed away. He served in Viet Nam and always had his p-38 on his key ring and since he passed, the son took up the tradition..Thought it was cool for him to do that..
 
Crazy Carl said:
So many of those places are gone now. I spent over 3 years in Karlsruhe & helped close the community down. Kinda sad to drive through the area now.
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I stayed 3 weeks in karlsruhe. my brother spent the weekend with me, he was stationed in stuttgart.
 
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I was in Stuttgart from 3/'91-7/'92, Karlshruhe 7/'92-9/'95 & went back to Stuttgart from 6/'04-06/'07. I loved Germany & felt lucky to have spent as much time there as I did. There were some senior NCO's going back to the States after we shut down our hospital in '92 that had spent 15+ years over there, but the end of the Cold War put a stop to that.
 
Lager said:
Customer of mine that looked like he was about 30 years old had a p-38 on his key ring. Now why would a 30 year old have a p-38 ? I pointed at his keys and said " P-38?" He told me that it was his Dads, who recently passed away. He served in Viet Nam and always had his p-38 on his key ring and since he passed, the son took up the tradition..Thought it was cool for him to do that..
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My stepdad was in the Korean War. He died in 1976 .
This was his. It's been with the first key I've ever needed and every single one since. A Lot of miles riding in my pocket.

image.jpeg
 
Crazy Carl said:
I was in Stuttgart from 3/'91-7/'92, Karlshruhe 7/'92-9/'95 & went back to Stuttgart from 6/'04-06/'07. I loved Germany & felt lucky to have spent as much time there as I did. There were some senior NCO's going back to the States after we shut down our hospital in '92 that had spent 15+ years over there, but the end of the Cold War put a stop to that.
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I was stationed in Vicenza 83-85. We spent a lot of time in Germany. That is a great country. The beer, the food, the people. Its a shame reading, and hearing, how bad it has gotten over there.
 
Mirac said:
My stepdad was in the Korean War. He died in 1976 .
This was his. It's been with the first key I've ever needed and every single one since. A Lot of miles riding in my pocket.

View attachment 74222
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I carried mine on my ring for maybe 30 years until I got a bit tired of it jabbing me in the leg when I sat down every once in a while.. Thanks for the story and you know what I find amazing ? This little can opener, that's made as cheap as possible, will last this long and still work.
 
I don't know about cheap... This P-38 is as sharp as ever, it's never bent or twisted no matter how many screws I've removed or tightened with it.
 
Mirac said:
I don't know about cheap... This P-38 is as sharp as ever, it's never bent or twisted no matter how many screws I've removed or tightened with it.
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You might be on to something, It might look like it was cheap to make? Its only two pieces of stamped out sheet metal and crimped together but there is a really good chance our govt was billed $100 for each one.. If they were, was worth it because they kept a whole lot of us fed and I never of anyone breaking one..
 
You don' hafta have served to be old school...

My EDC is a revolver.
Sometimes it's a single action.
My bows don' have wheels, my arrows are fletched with turkey feathers.
My winter camping gear is almost 100% natural fibers.
I sharpen knives by hand with whetstones.
I drink black coffee.
I say "I believe" when reciting the Nicene Creed.
 
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Just catching up on this thread. Enlisted in '86, basic/AIT (12B) at Leonard Wood then a plane ride to (then) W. Germany. Stationed with Bravo Co. "The Academy", 16th Engr. Bn. in Furth until June 89. Used A1's and steel pots in basic, carried the lovely CEOI, wore the green jungle boots (in summer), wore tennis shoes hidden under the green wet weather boots in winter. Got issued a brand new Colt A2 in 88 but our M2's were still WW 2 era. Still had 1911's and Top carried a M3 grease gun in the field. Spent many a night on the Czech border measuring bridges for demo. Done PCT at Bad Tolz (Jan 88), CSM Purdy dropped by for a few visits. He assisted an E5 off a rappel tower with a good foot to the gut. Did the slug 500 and enjoyed the ice cold fire hose shower at the Bad Tolz gym. Joined the German reserves in 87 and trained a lot with them until I got out and those would have been great memories but, somehow, I can't recall much after walking into them big tents in the woods.....
 
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And talking about Bragg, I was never stationed there, but my dad was attached to 3rd SF when he came back from Nam. He was a "Candy Striper" in the aviation section. He was in a few of the Gabriel demonstrations and had some funny stories of shit going wrong. I've still got an inert 60mm mortar that was one of many they would drop from "Bird dogs" while gliding over the spectators. He got out in 69 but , up until 9/11, if he was in the area on business he would drive up and eat lunch at Camp McCall. To this day I don't know who he knew but I went with him a couple of times and folks called him by his first name. I did opfor there from 90-93, Vietnam style, Huey's and bandana's
 
Crazy Carl said:
Went thru Benning in '88 with a steel pot n M16A1.
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Just realized I goofed on the above. We got M16A2s for BRM & qualification, then A1s for the rest of our time there. Didn't see an A2 again until '95.

Did you know that 50BMG tracers will set Gamma Goat tires on fire? Always fun to race out into the impact area in our M106A2 gun tracks & try to put out the fires we'd started with our 4-Deuce mortars as well. Can't tell you how many range fires we'd started, but at least we never put a round 'out', unlike some of the Arty battalions on post (Ft Sill). My platoon was out in the field, on a shoot supporting the FO school when that artillery crew dropped that round on a formation of basic trainees. I got lucky & was on CQ back at the company when it happened, 'cos every gun crew out in the field got locked down, in place, till the safety peeps from Ft Rucker went through them with a fine toothed comb.

Anyone ever experience the M551 Sheridan? As OPFOR at NTC, we got these POSs 'vis-modded' to sort of resemble Soviet armored vehicles. Damn things broke down so often, we could pull the vis-mod crap outta the way, yank the t-bar over the engine compartment, pull the final drive axles out & pop all the electrical & fuel disconnects in less than 5 minutes.
 
Crazy Carl said:
Just realized I goofed on the above. We got M16A2s for BRM & qualification, then A1s for the rest of our time there. Didn't see an A2 again until '95.

Did you know that 50BMG tracers will set Gamma Goat tires on fire? Always fun to race out into the impact area in our M106A2 gun tracks & try to put out the fires we'd started with our 4-Deuce mortars as well. Can't tell you how many range fires we'd started, but at least we never put a round 'out', unlike some of the Arty battalions on post (Ft Sill). My platoon was out in the field, on a shoot supporting the FO school when that artillery crew dropped that round on a formation of basic trainees. I got lucky & was on CQ back at the company when it happened, 'cos every gun crew out in the field got locked down, in place, till the safety peeps from Ft Rucker went through them with a fine toothed comb.

Anyone ever experience the M551 Sheridan? As OPFOR at NTC, we got these POSs 'vis-modded' to sort of resemble Soviet armored vehicles. Damn things broke down so often, we could pull the vis-mod crap outta the way, yank the t-bar over the engine compartment, pull the final drive axles out & pop all the electrical & fuel disconnects in less than 5 minutes.
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No experience with the Sheridan but I sure remember the Gamma Goats. There are a couple within 30 miles of me, in Albemarle.
Talking about the artillery FU, I was at Hohenfels in the summer of 87 when another unit set off a cratering charge in the middle of a platoon. I was liscensed on a 5 ton and me and another guy grabbed a truck to haul guys out. I think it killed 2-3 and several lost legs and such. It was a mess.
 
Somebody called me old school for using this tool to put anchors in sheetrock... one feller said he had never seen one before. I tol' him it's a Cordless Drill.

dDPzXKh.jpg
 
MacEntyre said:
Somebody called me old school for using this tool to put anchors in sheetrock... one feller said he had never seen one before. I tol' him it's a Cordless Drill.

dDPzXKh.jpg
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I've got several, from small to a large one you can place against your chest.
Works great when the power goes out.
 
I've got a smallish one, made to drill holes in bone for inserting screws...

Sent from notthedroidyourelookingfor
 
MCQUADE said:
Just catching up on this thread. Enlisted in '86, basic/AIT (12B) at Leonard Wood then a plane ride to (then) W. Germany. Stationed with Bravo Co. "The Academy", 16th Engr. Bn. in Furth until June 89. Used A1's and steel pots in basic, carried the lovely CEOI, wore the green jungle boots (in summer), wore tennis shoes hidden under the green wet weather boots in winter. Got issued a brand new Colt A2 in 88 but our M2's were still WW 2 era. Still had 1911's and Top carried a M3 grease gun in the field. Spent many a night on the Czech border measuring bridges for demo. Done PCT at Bad Tolz (Jan 88), CSM Purdy dropped by for a few visits. He assisted an E5 off a rappel tower with a good foot to the gut. Did the slug 500 and enjoyed the ice cold fire hose shower at the Bad Tolz gym. Joined the German reserves in 87 and trained a lot with them until I got out and those would have been great memories but, somehow, I can't recall much after walking into them big tents in the woods.....
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I got to Tolz in 14 Feb 88 and it was snowing. FYI that rappel tower got moved to Stuttgart by 1/10 in 91' when they shut down. I used it there in 02'.
George and Holt2.JPG

CD
 
I qualified marksman forced to shoot right-handed (I'm a lefty) by a prick GySgt ("You'll shoot like everybody else, you stupid redneck") and insisted on going back after boot camp to get my expert. Oh yeah, and I qual'ed on an M1 Garand. The only thing I brought home after EAOS were my utilities and one set of tiger-stripes (still my favorite camo pattern).
 
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Combat Diver said:
I got to Tolz in 14 Feb 88 and it was snowing. FYI that rappel tower got moved to Stuttgart by 1/10 in 91' when they shut down. I used it there in 02'.
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CD
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I just found my paperwork, I left there 5 Feb 88....just missed ya. I did make it back down to Munich that summer for the Floyd concert at Olympic Stadium.;)
 
MacEntyre said:
Somebody called me old school for using this tool to put anchors in sheetrock... one feller said he had never seen one before. I tol' him it's a Cordless Drill.
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I used my Dad's brace and bit to drill for oil in the back yard. He was "not amused".
 
Always looking for these...finally found another pair, BrandNew and never worn...in my size!
Manufacture date stamped on them is 3-85...

Man, really excited to find these...original issue jungles are on the verge of extinction


16226881-39FD-4C0F-B7E5-71F76C62F223.jpeg
 
Long_Hunter said:
Always looking for these...finally found another pair, BrandNew and never worn...in my size!
Manufacture date stamped on them is 3-85...

Man, really excited to find these...original issue jungles are on the verge of extinction


View attachment 114493
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I would love to have a pair of those....

Edited to add, I looked them up on eBay, anywhere from $20 to over $150. I remember when the PX would get a shipment (mid/late 80s), they were off the shelf in hours. $19 back then if I recall.
 
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