FNG from Oregon checking in

FireFinder · Post by **FireFinder** » April 30th, 2004, 12:16 pm

Found this board via some links about that candyass puke from Mass. disrespecting Ranger Tillman's service.

I went DEP in Nov. 1983 for 13R (Firefinder Radar Operator) with Airborne training and guaranteed assignment to the 82nd.

Ft. Sill, OK Feb 84 to Jun 84 Basic & AIT
Ft. Benning , GA July 84 Airborne School
PCS to Ft. Bragg, NC Aug. 84 to 82nd REPL CO, where we (most of my basic and AIT class) found out our unit had been reassigned to 18th FA BDE

ETS'ed in Feb. 88, and joined the FLARNG.

Spartan · Post by **Spartan** » April 30th, 2004, 12:31 pm

Welcome to the site. Thanks for your service to our nation.

Looon · Post by **Looon** » April 30th, 2004, 12:38 pm

Welcome and thank you for your service!

Steadfast · Post by **Steadfast** » April 30th, 2004, 1:16 pm

Welcome aboard. Glad to have you.

FireFinder · Post by **FireFinder** » April 30th, 2004, 1:37 pm

I had always been interested in serving in the military when I was kid. I remember seeing Tora, Tora, Tora in elementary school, and watched Black Sheep Squadron on TV. I built model planes, tanks, ships, etc. I also began reading books about WWII when I was in 5th grade, like "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" and others.

When I was 16, I began researching each branch, began visiting the recruiters, and took the ASVAB. I enlisted in the Army under the Delayed Entry Program in Nov. 1983.

I went to Basic and AIT at Ft. Sill, OK in Feb. 84, then to Airborne School at Ft. Benning, GA in July 84, and to my permanent (and only) duty station of Ft. Bragg, NC in Aug. 84.

I was assigned to B BTRY (TAB), 26th FA (ABN), 18th FA BDE. Eventually our unit was redesignated as the 1st FAD, XVIII ABN CORPS ARTY. I was a 13R Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator. I spent a year outside of my MOS serving as the Unit Armorer after completing the Unit Armorer Course in Feb. 85. I also went to an RTO course, Field Sanitation course, Advanced Lifesaving course, and the Primary Leadership Development Course (as a SP4 in May 87, was Honor Graduate). We got to go a few places, mostly off-post FTX's, went to Rhode Island for the Rhode Island Special Forces National Guard invitational parachute competition. We jumped at an airshow in Atlanta, GA (that was a lot of fun, got to see a C130 with JATOs take off). Went to Ft. Irwin, CA with the 187th (or is the the 197th? I can't remember) INF BDE in 1987 for several weeks TDY, and alot of beer consumption at Little Rick's and the Pillow Talk Lounge over in Phenix City. We had this ancient (2 of them) AN/TPS 58B ground surveillance radar system that the 187th wanted to use at the NTC against the Soviet-styled OPFOR. When I got back from TDY there, the points came down enough for me to make E5. I ETS'ed in Feb. 88 and joined the FLARNG as an 11C with the CSC 2nd BN, 124th INF. I got out in Nov. 89.

I relished serving my country, and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't hesitate. I used the VEAP to go to college, and earn a BA, and MA in History.

I have to say that I haven't had the urge to jump from a plane since 1987, so I'm still a 44 Jump Chump.

Earthpig · Post by **Earthpig** » April 30th, 2004, 3:02 pm

bb-
Welcome to the site! Thanks for your service.
RLTW
EP

Ron375 · Post by **Ron375** » May 1st, 2004, 7:21 am

Welcome cannon cocker!

Parabellum · Post by **Parabellum** » May 1st, 2004, 11:08 am

Welcome!

FireFinder · Post by **FireFinder** » May 2nd, 2004, 12:08 pm

Ranger Spartan, Ranger Luna, Ranger Steadfast, Ranger EarthPig, Ranger ron375, and Ranger h8train2/75: Thank you for welcoming me to this site.

I've only met a few tabbed Rangers, my Battery Commander in Basic at Ft. Sill and the Battalion Chaplain were both tabbed. One of my instructors in ROTC at WVU was a tabbed engineer, and one of my squad mates at PLDC in 1987 at Bragg was tabbed (from one of the line units from the 82nd). My tabbed squad-mate had some great stories from Ranger School, such as being so hungry he literally took a bite from his RH, thinking it was a burger. One of his classmates got seriously burned by a "chicken claymore" during one of the phases, but sucked it up and graduated.

My military service was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I'm certainly not as hooah as all you guys, but we thought pretty highly of ourselves. We had some good leaders, a few RVN vets from the 173rd that kept us squared away.

Ranger ron375: I was a 13-series, but never touched a artillery piece. The TAB battery and HHB (mostly legs) were the only Airborne-status units in our brigade, the 3 line battalions were all straight-leg towed 155's.

Ron375 · Post by **Ron375** » May 2nd, 2004, 12:17 pm

My error...

Remember an important difference among Rangers. There is the ranger school, the black and gold tab, and then there are the ranger units that belong to Special Operations Command, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Ranger Battalions(make up the 75th Ranger Regiment). Our old saying was the "tab" is a school, the "scroll" is a way of life.

Take care

FireFinder · Post by **FireFinder** » May 2nd, 2004, 1:26 pm

Ranger ron375: I'm pretty much up to speed on the differences. What I seem to have left out of my post was that I have never met anyone that served in the 75th Regiment, just men that had completed the school.

After I went DEP in 1983, I went to my recruiter to see if I could change to 11X with another friend that was going in. We couldn't, he ended up a 19-series.

20 years later, I don't know that I would have made it, but I certainly wouldn't have quit. I did a whole bunch of growing up real fast, I was barely 17 when I left for Basic, and was the youngest guy everywhere I went that first year. My immaturity then got me some attitude adjustment from some of my older comrades, and it was a good thing. Took some lumps a few times. Gave some lumps at others.

Thanks for letting me post here in your AO.

Saltbitch · Post by **Saltbitch** » May 2nd, 2004, 9:45 pm

Welcome.

Bell · Post by **Bell** » May 10th, 2004, 4:26 pm

Welcome to the site BB.

RLTW
Bell