Open Thread - Are you a Vet or on Active Duty? If so please sign in below (Page 13): One thing about the US Government is one does manage to get around it seems. GETTING HOME however...

Cougar

One thing about the US Government is one does manage to get around it seems. GETTING HOME however is sometimes a problem.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

[quote=Bloke]I'm sorry if this came over as a hijack attempt. I just quoted the message I was replying to, so that it was obvious which one I *was* replying to.

As far as wasting real estate, ...

To avoid the long quote/scrolling problem.
High light most of the long post you are replying to and hit delete or backspace and it is erased. Leave enough key parts so there is no doubt what you are replying to.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Others put relatives so I will also:
My son Sgt Michael A Perkins US Army active duty Ft Bragg, North Carolina.
My brother Stephan L Perkins (I think he was a SP6 at seperation) US Army medic, retired after 23+ years. I don't know his exact MOS but he was qualified for emergency battlefield surgery and did a lot of time filling a doctor's slot in Germany.

watrmn Loc: Iowa

U.S. Army (Active 1954/1956)
U.S. Army (Inactive 1956/1962)
Fort Bliss, Tx & Camp Pieri, Germany (near Wiesbaden, Germany)

Camp Pieri was approx 1 1/2 miles from Camp Lindsay, at this time Camp Lindsay, Germany was Hqtrs for the USAF in Europe.

Was International Morse Code Radio Operator

Thank you all for serving, --. .- .-. -.-- ---

Vern Denman

watrmn wrote:

U.S. Army (Active 1954/1956)
U.S. Army (Inactive 1956/1962)
Fort Bliss, Tx & Camp Pieri, Germany (near Wiesbaden, Germany)

Camp Pieri was approx 1 1/2 miles from Camp Lindsay, at this time Camp Lindsay, Germany was Hqtrs for the USAF in Europe.

Was International Morse Code Radio Operator

Thank you all for serving, --. .- .-. -.-- ---

Watrmn- I have always been intrigued by you guys who could do Morse code.

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

watrmn wrote:

U.S. Army (Active 1954/1956)
U.S. Army (Inactive 1956/1962)
Fort Bliss, Tx & Camp Pieri, Germany (near Wiesbaden, Germany)

Camp Pieri was approx 1 1/2 miles from Camp Lindsay, at this time Camp Lindsay, Germany was Hqtrs for the USAF in Europe.

Was International Morse Code Radio Operator

Thank you all for serving, --. .- .-. -.-- ---

While I was a civilian specialist with the Adjutant General Office in Hoechst, Germany in 1947-48, I was asked to design a poster aimed at Morse Code operators. Some operators developed unique transmission characteristics, which Russian monitors noticed and followed. When that operator's unit moved to another location, the Russians could triangulate and record the new location of that unit. The poster urged the code operators to develop an "iron fist" that was as mechanical as possible. I designed it with a cartoon version of the Tin Man from the "Wizard of Oz" movie, working a Morse Code key. I wonder how long those posters were in place at all the Morse Code locations in USAFE during the Occupation?

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Hmmmmm, morse code? I started my Navy career as an enlisted signalman (SM2), using "flashing light" to send and receive messages via morse code. As an experiment once, I bounced flashing light off a low cloud and communicated with a ship that was still hull down (over the horizon). --. --- | -. .- ...- -.-- ---.

dragonfist Loc: Stafford, N.Y.

Bob Yankle wrote:

Hmmmmm, morse code? I started my Navy career as an enlisted signalman (SM2), using "flashing light" to send and receive messages via morse code. As an experiment once, I bounced flashing light off a low cloud and communicated with a ship that was still hull down (over the horizon). --. --- | -. .- ...- -.-- ---.

I was stationed at NAAS Saufley Field at Pensacola in 1959-61 and we had several enlisted Radiomen there to teach Morse code to the fledgling aviators. Our regular aircraft radios still ran on vacuum tubes.

watrmn Loc: Iowa

It was interesting to read the replies on morse code, I took training at the Wiebaden Air Base (11 wks TDY).
In July I'll be 80 yo, still know the morse code....but transmission is much easier than receiving.

RichardO--Your comment about some operators developing unique transmission characteristics was interesting as we were trained on that subject. I found most operators have unique transmission characteristics, very likely one will not know the person....but characteristics are recognized.
BTW, I do not remember seeing the posters...one must keep in mind that the old memory bank could be slipping a bit!!

watrmn Loc: Iowa

It was interesting to read the replies on morse code, I took training at the Wiebaden Air Base (11 wks TDY).
In July I'll be 80 yo, still know the morse code....but transmission is much easier than receiving.

RichardO--Your comment about some operators developing unique transmission characteristics was interesting as we were trained on that subject. I found most operators have unique transmission characteristics, very likely one will not know the person....but characteristics are recognized.

Cougar

I tried to learn Morse Code in the Boy Scouts but never got any good at it. My Uncle was an RTO in WWII and when he came home he used to listen to guys talk on the Shortwave radio in my bedroom. My brain never seemed to work fast enough or my ears didn't hear that well or something.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

Good to see so many Brothers in Arms.

Vern Denman

Bob Yankle wrote:

Good to see so many Brothers in Arms.

You know Bob, This is one reason I like Hedgehog. You get to meet so many wonderful folks as well as seeing so many good photo's and also learning how to shoot better. Now ever once in a while we might stray. Have you noticed that there is always someone to bring us back to center --so to speak. I was no hero during WW2 but I am proud that I did my job that they gave me. Be ninety soon and I realize that there are not many of us left from that era. Boy did we do a hell of a job. I just finished a book entailed "Decision in Normandy" by Carlo D'Este. Everyone is concerned about our future with ISIS etc. and should read this book. With all the mistakes our leaders made and with all the indecisions one might wonder why we are not all speaking German or Italian. Point is---- Must we make the same mistakes again. Sorry for the "old farts" ramble. Yes, all in all,we did a hell of job and I am very proud of country and soldiers.

Cougar

Vern you are so right. Your generation left us with a hell of a vision of Honor and Duty BY Example. I was raised during that era and wore my first uniform at age 3, Navy. We learned early in those days. I still have a picture in that uniform and proud of it. Worn several since and all with equal pride. Yes a lot of mistakes were made during that war but they all seemed to give learning experience and we did. I have stood Honor Guard at way too many of your generation funerals across this state. We buried one of the last of the Original Navajo Code talkers last month. Dad is 97 this month and he did not serve in Service because he was locked into the Railroad, Santa fe RR. by Law and they would not let him join. He has always regretted that. I thank you for your service and know enough about it to know how much it cost you all!!

anthonyedler Loc: Chico, CA

Cougar, I had the honor of shaking hands with all the Code Talkers at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery about 10 years ago.