C-130 Crew Chief

This is from a Retired Airman

"For those who fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know!"

When Veterans Retire

When a good Veteran leaves the "job" and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased and yet others, who may have already retired, wonder. We wonder if he knows what they are leaving behind, because we already know. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back
of the closet. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know
how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart
still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and
always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only escaping the
"job" and merely being allowed to leave "active" duty.

So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that "Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God," and you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends


CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you're too busy to talk to them for a
week. VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry. VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back. VETERAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it's yours.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you. VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that's what the crowd is
doing. VETERAN FRIENDS: Will kick the crowds' ass that left you behind.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while. VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences... VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of...

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you've had
enough.
VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, "You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!!"
Then carry you home safely and put you to bed...
CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will talk crap to the person who talks crap about
you. VETERAN FRIENDS: Will knock the shit out OF THEM..... for using your name in vain.

CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this. VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.
Once a Soldier always a Soldier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was quickley interduced to the new T.I.(He was standing at the door waiting) first thing out of his mouth was your a fuc@ up because I am a recycler. He was on my as@ constantly. I reported to him and asked were is my bunk, he said right over there(pointing to the right) with the other fuc@ up recyclee. I thought to myself oh great! So he was in my face while I was unpacking all my gear. He looked through evey thing I had to find something but he didn't find anything. Finally after 30 minutes he left. I looked around and all the other men were looking at me of course I was center of attraction. They asked me what I done and I told them what happend the said I got the raw end of the stick. The only thing I was thinking about was to get through the next 25 days without any trouble. I asked if anyone had anything to eat. The other recyclee had some Twinkie's he pulled them out of the bed post, I said that you are going to get caught because that is illegal contraband! He said that he gets hungry in the middle of the night and needs something to snack on, I said thank you for the twinkie's that really help out alot. After I ate them I flushed the wrappers down the toliet to conceal the evidence. I was told that there were going to be a new change in the morning. I wondered what that was?
We found out the first thing in the morning! Air Force cadets showed up. They are going to be working with the T.I.'s this was some new pilot program the Air Force initiated.

I got to the new squadron around 9:00 am. I was told to wait outside the 1st Sergeant office. So I did, and I waited and waited. By this time it was 11:00 am and I was told to go eat lunch and report back. I went to the chow hall and ate. I got back to the office about 11:45 am and was told to report to the 1st Seageant. I went through the office door scared as hell as I did not know what to expect. I reported to him as I should. I noticed that he looked down at the office carpet, then all hell broke loose. His juglar veins popped out and he banged his fist on his desk, he said look at my f--king carpet!!! I looked down and to my horror saw my foot prints on the carpet!!!(On the way back from the chowhall I crossed over a drain that someone had emptied grease from the grill into and on the drain itself and of course my dumb as@ stepped into it and some how the old nasty grease stuck to the bottom of my boots!!) I said oh god to myself as I knew what was going to happen next. He jumped up out of his chair and started chewing me out, then he called for reinforcements more T.I.'s!!! By the end of it all there were 10 T.I.'s all circled around me all pointing thier fingers in my face and in my face. What a gaggle this was. I was made to do 100 pushups for every print on the carpet so I was there for 2 hours doing pushups. After that I was asked what was I going to do about the carpet? I said if you have a carpet cleaner I will get that dirt up. Guess what in about 5 minutes I did have a carpet cleaner and was cleaning the carpet. while I was cleaning the carpet the T.I.'s were hovering over me just going at it. By this time 2 more hours had passed so now it is 5:00pm. I was told that I was not getting any chow because of what I done. After the carpet was cleaned I was told to report to my new flight.