OK, if the site looks the same to you as it did the last time you visited, and I’ve heard that a few folks wander this way when bored out of their skulls, well, if it looks the same you need to refresh your browser.  Really.

Regarding the picture on the far left, I have 10 of them in a series, extracted from a much larger series, that follows a live-cam view of breeding season from nest building through maturity.  I’ll try to remember to change the picture out periodically and with luck I’ll keep them in order, though I must say the one you are seeing on or shortly after the date of this post is not the first in the sequence.  It is simply my favorite.

My memories of working at Carswell are such a swirl of events that I don’t know where to begin.  Perhaps the best place to begin is with that first day of being truly assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing, Field Maintenance Squadron, Accessories Branch, Instrument Shop.

………………..

Pike borrowed a truck and we drove around the massive hangar toward the B-52 parking area.  Having stopped once for another security badge check at the end of the parking apron, we drove out to an aircraft where no maintenance was being performed and parked.
As we had approached the aircraft, it looked larger than life, and a parking apron of several of them was truly a sight to behold.  As we got out of the truck and walked up to the aircraft there was a sense of being overwhelmed — the aircraft was huge! 

Today is Thanksgiving Day and the wife is with one her sisters and their mother and in one of the amusement parks sponsored by that famous rodent originally of California fame.  Meanwhile, I’m here at home, which is just fine by me.

**  We have been living at a luxury-class resort hotel in the local area for the last three days and it has been quite a change.  It is only 15 or 20 minutes from the house, but when one receives the gift of a three-night stay in a luxury resort hotel, no strings attached, one packs his small bag and gets on with it.

________________________________

HEADQUARTERS CHANUTE TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTER
SPECIAL ORDER AC-246   11 February 1964

…graduate of course Nr ABR42230 effective 18 Feb 64… relieved from assignment 3357th School Sq, ATC; assigned 43 Bombardment Wing (M), SAC, Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, reporting NLT 9 Mar 64.

………………

So there I was, on my way to my first base.

I had said my goodbye’s and left New Orleans on a Greyhound bus at 3:45 in the afternoon of March 8th and would arrive Carswell, located at Fort Worth, Texas, early the following morning.  I took a cab to the base and arrived at the personnel building that looked like it was a converted barracks, at 0700 on my reporting day, March 9th.  I had used every day allowed for my time at home and was ready to go.

Just some housekeeping of our humble nest.  Would like to point out some excellent views from up here, too. 

………. 

The view: 

Allow me to again plug Eject!Eject!Eject!, especially the November 6th entry titled “Seeing The Unseen Part 1.”  Geez, I wish I could write like that.  Easy to find — the link is to your left.

Also there on the left is a link to The LawDog Files, where you never know what you’ll find next, but it is always the result of an education, a hands-on view of the world, a sense of humor, and a wonderful writing style.  Yes, I know I’ve mentioned his blog before, but I take no chances that you may have missed that suggestion.  Or you may have thought I was kidding.  Or for whatever reason, you may need a repeat.

My blog is new and my purpose has just begun to solidify.  One decision I have made is that political items will not be a part of my activity.  However, Senator John Kerry, you have crossed the line (again, again, again) from playing politics to denigrating MY troops.

Yes, MY troops.  I was a Chief for the last 10 years of my career and that makes 99% of the enlisted force MINE (grade E-9 is limited by law to 1% of the enlisted force) and likewise the charge of every other Chief, active or retired.  I spent great effort taking care of my troops and I value them immensely.  In retirement I am still addressed as “Chief” and I will damned well attempt to continue to act as one when it comes to upholding the responsibility to care for the troops.

The short of it all:

They’ve been doing it for 15 years at Arlington National Cemetery.

They make them in Maine.

They deliver them.

They place them at the grave markers.

They won’t accept any donations. 

And that’s not good enough so they are expanding. 

Let yourself feel good and go to http://www.wreaths-across-america.org/.  Read the history on their About page.  Look at the companies (few) that have assisted.

I’ve made my flight reservations and will be there.  I just can’t miss it this year, and I’m feeling very much overdue for another visit to The Wall.