Tuna has left the building!!!!

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Czar of Midi
Administrator Since: Apr 04, 2002

Well, we thought he was here until July 17th or so. Ooop's the guy who filled out his final paper work made a big friggin mistake. He is on his way to Fort LeonardWood Missouri tomorrow morning at 4 am or so. We at least got a chance to drop by so he could day good by to dB and fam and his god father stopped by today to say see ya.

He hasn't been gone even an hour yet and I already miss the kid. As much trouble as he was he was still one cool azz kid in the end.

Just thought I'd let ya'll know what was going on with his status.

And for those wondering about his MOS such as Rob. I believe it is 14E Patriot missile defense systems something or other.

He is in Missouri for 9 weeks and then heads to Texas for his MOS training and from there he heads to Europe.

He said to tell ya all good bye.

So there it is.

Just what am I gonna do for fun now though.

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The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jun 17, 2008 08:49 pm

OH NO! Fort lost in the woods!

Well, you don't have to worry about him getting into trouble there.

There is nothing there to begin with. I am just glad I never was there. I went to Dixnyland. Although, nothing there except Brownsville. The biggest dive on the planet.

As far as Fort Hood Texas... Let's put it this way. A friend of mine was going out of there for a 3 day weekend. 3 hours into his trip, and he was still on Fort Hood.

The cool thing for him will be White Plains. There he will get the chance to blow up all kinds of things!

I loved that part! Blowing up an M577 (armored personnel carrier) was awesome!

The only sad part was, that a AT4 rocket barley has any kick to it. So you almost feel that you didn't do anything.

Seeing it there one minute, and gone the next... How I wish I still had some of them...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 09:16 pm

Ya, Ft. Lost in the Woods is what we all know it as. He is good with a compass so he isn't worried about that. But he is preparing himself for the fact that texas is going to be hotter then Ft LeonarWood so I think he will be fine.

I know that he and his first sergeant were all stocked about the blowing **** up thing so I'm sure he will be good at that. I think he is most stocked about going to Europe though.

Our guess is he will end up in Germany on one of the Patriot installations there.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 09:19 pm

Well congtats to the Tuna! My niece is still at Lost, Colonel Gretchen Cadwallader. She was talking about getting out and retireing, but the Army gave her the full bird. I thought it was a pretty cool base, but I was only there for her change of command cerimony as a civilian. Europe was cool in the army though. Of course with an MOS of bandsman (French horn) it wasn't too difficult to have a pretty good time. As long as he can get the drift of how that organization works he should have a great experience.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jun 17, 2008 09:31 pm

GERMANY!!! I was stationed there for over four years. HHC 2nd BGD 3rd AD Coleman koncern Gelnhausen. Great place.

Now Germany is where you have to worry. Legal drinking age is 16. There are a lot of days that I can't remember.

I think I was there of at least 4 Christmases? All I remember was a triple bach... And that's about it. One week later, and it was New Years. All I remember about that is playing quarters with champagne... And that's about all I can remember about that... I think?

Anyway, he'll love Germany. Just encourage him not to be a barracks rat. When I was there, I joined up with some guys that their whole mission for being in Germany was to see every castle on the Neckar river.

I took us three years. And we finished it of with seeing castle Neuschwanstein. Which is the castle that Walt Disney copied.

And If he a foodie. They are some fantastic dishes to try there.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 09:47 pm

Walt, that is pretty cool. A Colonel no less. And ya, word has it that it has improved a good deal there and it is now a much better place to be. Once he gets to were he can have email again I'll let him know your niece can kick his azz.

I'll let you know when we are going down for his graduation from basic. Maybe she'll be the one giving us the tour.

Rob, that is pretty cool. I know he'll be delighted to know he is going places some of you have been. He comes here and reads post's but doesn't really contribute. So he will probably see this in a few week's.

But ya, the drinking is what worries me as that is a big downfall for him. But I think he is getting his **** together enough to know he just can't screw up.

And as for the food. Your talking about a kid that started cooking when he was maybe 6 or so and he dearly loves it.

He is talking about doing the Army for 20 years and then he'll still be 38 when he gets out and will open a restaurant. He loves to cook as well as eat. And he is good at it. I don't think he has ever made anything I didn't like.

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 10:06 pm

Wow, old home week for sure. I'll let Gretchen know he is down there. I have no idea what she is doing now. She was commander of the training batalian when she was still a light bird, but she turned over a couple of years ago now. She is quite the lady. She did it all from jumping out of planes to putting her time in, in the sand, to eating worms. No taking the easy road for her. She did a stich in Germany too of 10 years or so. Like Rob and I, totally loved it; even started a skiing club. The drinking is a problem, I will admit. We had to drink on duty as we were a PR group to the germans and of course it would offend them if we didn't drink. I can remember the first half of almost every gig we did. I do remember passing out on the steps to the appartment and my wife draging me in at 4 or 5 am.

I remember one parade gig we did in Augsburg. One Rad (german) handed a full bottle of peperment snops to the right front musician in the parade. We passed it along and the musician in the right rear possition handed it back to him empty with a sincere thanks! That was soooo perfect!

Agreed with Rob 200%!!!! The only guys who hated their tour were the ones who stayed in the baracks. All he needs to do is learn cordials in the german language and open conversations in German. They will take it from there and show him a great time. Just a little effort to show that you respect their country and you couldn't find better friends. Probably the best times of my life.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 10:16 pm

Walt, he will be down there sometime tomorrow. I think he has to go through a couple of weeks of what ever before basic starts though.

As for getting along if he gets to Germany. He has been a people person all his life. I'm talking about since diapers really. He can make friends with the most unlikable people. so I think he will be good that way. And ya, he loves to go out and adventure, and eat. So I think he will be just fine.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jun 17, 2008 10:34 pm

Hey Tuna. If you find this post when your in Germany. Here are some important phrases to remember.

Ein grossen beir bitter und schnell.

One large beer fast.

Vous ist los.

What's up.

ist musen eina crystal wiessen.

I want a clear visen beer. (Trust me, you'll love it. Just make sure they put two grains of rice in, and a slice of lemon.)

ver marks das?

How much does it cost?

fick du!

Self explanatory.

Shizer!

Self explanatory.

I'll wait until you get there to give you more.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Jun 17, 2008 11:06 pm

... just remember... if you send a care package of cookies or brownies...send enough for everyone with a 25% bribe to the drill sergeant. :) ...and absolutely wait until after 'red phase' (the first couple weeks

actually... lostinthewoods doesn't use the term drill sergeant... they're 'just' sergeants there... goofy...gets them in trouble with DI's when they go to other posts too :)

I went to Fort Sill (Oklahoma) ... we spent a week in a reception battalion... then shipped to actual basic training... the first day primarily consisted of vomiting and/or peeing our pants ... no joke, everyone had to do one or the other. Vomiters had to do it inside their shirt... I peed my pants :) Now imagine 300 people all doing that... messy... :)

As far as where he'll end up, he won't really know until the last week of AIT... only Reserve and National Guard are specified...and sometimes that changes depending on deployments.

Alcohol is a serious problem. However, he doesn't have any UCMJ restrictions for his MOS... it's hard to go though training without even getting an Article 15, I had too...it sucked... but the job was well worth it. I was a 71D / 27D Legal Specialist.




edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Jun 18, 2008 05:49 am

All this talk about colonels'....

Cool, good luck to Tuna!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 06:33 am

I'm gonna miss that goofy kid...but he thinks in 6 months he'll come back and whoop my ***.

HA!

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 07:32 am

Oh give me a break! Orientation? I need to talk more to my neice. We got met by our DI at 2AM as we got off the buss, screaming. He was back screaming at 5AM. Hell, we couldn't walk durning basics. From our arrival we had to double time whenever outside the baracks. Bribe the DI? I don't think so. If you talked to him before he spoke he would eat you on the spot. The only guys that could talk to him at all where the prior service. Article 15 in basics? Unheard of. There was no "law" in basics. Ya screwed up and you'd be shoveling **** for three days and be recycled back through the previous two weeks of hell. Most of us caught on pretty quick.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 07:56 am

...you got to sleep in until FIVE?!?! :)

(added)
and reception isn't really 'orientation' it's "hold under" while they wait for everyone to arrive and then assign TA-50 (gear) the only thing that gets issued in actual basic (for me) was Class A uniform (so people can lose a bit of weight beforehand) and an M16.

...but seriously FIVE? It took me years to get used to not waking up at 3am. :)

I probably should say, as a split options (junior year -basic - senior year- AIT ...the first morning away from basic is crazy...you don't believe it...my first thought was "OMG it's 9AM! I missed my flight!" :)

Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Member
Since: May 10, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 08:36 am

I'll go with the first day after basic part. I got stuffed on a bus right after basic graduation cerimony from Knox to Moumouth. Went double timing into the CO's office to be met by the SO. He was like, relax! What are you doing here? It's a holiday weekend. We're closed till Tuesday. Go find a bunk for yourself and get out of here till Tuesday morning. I was doumbfounded; didn't have a clue what do do with myself. I found a way to Newark airport and flew home to Michigan for the weekend. No idea what was up. Moumouth was ran like a college. Nine months of school, only in green cloths. The first morning in Germany five of us woke up to DI's schreaming again and about had a heart attack. We stumbled out and a liutenant saved us just before being eaten. Took us to another part of the placement center to await transportation to our post. We had been learning how to fix **** while the rest of the army had been learning how to blow it up. Man, what a mind mess! Then when I joined the band I entered a new world altogether. We were a roving party for the Germans. We worked 2 to 4. 2 PM to 4 AM. Drank their beer, ate their food, danced with their fashing girls, and played our music. We had an alert one day and they handed out old rusted M16s to the musicians. They drug them down the halls by their straps. Next month our war time duties changed. We were to escort civialians to the airport and help them onto planes. No more weapons for us.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 08:34 pm

UPDATE
He just boarded the buss for the 4 hour trip to the fort. He sat in the airport here for almost 4 hours while they gathered the rest of the recruits. Then he sat in Missouri at the airport for another 2 or more hours while the rest of the recruits showed up. He said he already has a bad case of SWAS going on. But I'm guessing he'll be getting to Lost by about midnight or just before. Ill keep you guys updated as I find things out. This should be interesting. I miss the **** head already.

Yep, he has the link to this thread on his Blackberry so when he is allowed he is going to stop by and say howdy. Not sure how long that will be though as it sounds they are not allowed phone or the like for a couple of weeks at least.

zek, since he is a specific assignment with the Patriot battery he was given the destination as Europe with the odds falling for Germany before he headed for basic. I think it was due to him signing up without being recruited as well as his high scores and friggin aptitude. He is a born geek like the rest of us.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 18, 2008 10:15 pm

OK, he was also warned by both myself and the wifey not to sit in the back of the bus. Since it is a 4 hour trip and those busses have facilities on them. You sure don't wanna be stting back there when someone unloads a big ol' stinky one.

He is learning slowly but surely.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Jun 19, 2008 12:54 am

He should have access to all of his personal stuff through reception... after that phone calls will be payphone only and probably 5 minutes. He really should expect to be cut off from the real world... My platoon wasn't even allowed to read the single newspaper that got posted to a bulletin board.

If he does read this:

1: The first week sucks completely

2. When you go to the field the DI's will be very naggy and smoke you a lot... the 'reason' is because they aren't allowed to do physical training on FTX's (field training exercise) but discipline is allowed.

3: There are three phases of basic training. Red phase sucks. Then White phase is when they actually teach you useful stuff :) Then you'll go to Blue phase for about an hour and then back to Red Phase...and back and forth... sometimes the DI's will symbolically remove the guideiron banner (the flag that indicates phase) and will pretty much beat the crap out of you.

4: Never apologize... just make the correction.

5: If you fight... the other guy gets two hits and then you defend yourself.

6: People will go crazy. Don't be afraid to inform the DI's (err the platoon leader who should then inform the DI) ...they like picking on crazy people... :)

7: Never, ever use a racial slurr in any manner.

8. Don't take punishment personally, it's mass punishment, and they'll find reasons.

9: Make sure the platoon motto is bloody and rips on the other platoons:
(examlpe -sad I remember this - 1st PLT, A BTRY, 1/79th FA 'Strike Force' motto, other platoons were Hell Hounds, Death Dealers, and Mad Dogs - To Damn Hype was our DI's nick name...and Fort Sill was the artillery training center)

Dip dip slide slide
Who wanna rock? We wanna rock
We're the natural born killers!
Strike fast strike deep
Bring those Commies to their knees
One shot one kill, oh what a -****- thrill.
Stay alert stay alive
Strike Force will survive
Mad Dogs to the pit cause we know that you ain't ****.
Hell Hounds to the pound 'fore we run you in the ground.
Crack Dealers don't you know...
To Damn Hype is good to go
Boom - Artillery! Boom - Boom - Artillery!


compair to my AIT company motto of Legal and Administrative specialists: (A CO, 369)

Alpha Cobras!

... yep... after two months when we got to be lead class we just yelled "Cobra!" in our best Cobra Commander voice... The DI's put up with us... we were there for 14 weeks, the admin specialists were there for 2... so we had some slack :)


Ah, memories..


Oh and very important..

10: If you do have a 'blanket party' ie tie someone to their bunk and beat them with sock loaded with a bar of soap... make sure you also throw them down the stairs and then have the fireguard tell the drill sergeant that they were sleepwalking and fell down the stairs... lots of people will fall down the stairs for other things too... :)

and

11. God help the sap whose parents call their congressman...

Mans reach exceeds his grasp
Member
Since: Oct 23, 2007


Jun 19, 2008 02:37 am

send my new song, "Bring me to life" to Tuna; it's about hookers and johns, which fits in with Germany perfectly for an American boy. I wish him the best :) And thank him for serving our country for me. :)

Ne'er ate 'er
Member
Since: Apr 05, 2006


Jun 19, 2008 10:39 am

Noize, let me know if you need narration for a boot camp video.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jun 19, 2008 12:20 pm

My first experience with a DI was the same as Walt's. 3am a trash can was thrown in the middle of the room. With a DI and a bullhorn in my face yelling why am I not up and dressed and in formation?

!?!... People that become DI's live for that moment. Or everyone's favorite. "A DUST BUNNY!" Or, "A DEAD MOTH IN THE WINDOW SILL!" Please give SGT Moth a good eulogy. It goes much easier that way.

Tuna, just remember. The guys that made out the best during basic, were the ones that the DI did not know their names.

Frisco's Most Underrated
Member
Since: Jan 28, 2003


Jun 19, 2008 01:06 pm

Man, good luck Tuna.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 19, 2008 08:54 pm

Well, no word from him today or yet tonight. I'm guessing he is sweating like a pig as its supposed to be hotter then hell down there all week.

zek, all good stuff for sure. I'm guessing he'll be somewhere in the middle of it all. He always seems to end up in it no matter what.

Herb, if I get anything worth narrating to I'll send it your way.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 19, 2008 10:05 pm

Holy crap Keith. You didn't post about it so I haven't listened to it yet. That is cool as hell for sure.

I will send that to him when he can get stuff again. Although with that Blackberry I guess he can just download it and listen as its got a browser and all that crap on it.

I'm gonna have to give that another listen tomorrow and crank it up though.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Jun 20, 2008 08:11 pm

Hay Noize, good luck to Tuna, he's a good lad, he'll be fine and probably give dan a run when he gets back. Basic was ..um..well basic. My brother inlaw is in TEch school (AIT for the AF) my little brother is an 88M (i think) in the Arimy and he's leaving this week for 15 months (guess where). My other Bro is on his ship and he'll be out here in guam in a few weeks. I guess it's a family bizz.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 20, 2008 08:23 pm

Hey Geoff, thanx man. Ya, everyone has the utmost confidence in him. But I still worry. I know he'll be fine, he always has so this shouldn't be any different.

Hit me up via email when you get a chance. I tried to email you and it got rejected. No attachments or anything. Odd that was indeed.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Jun 20, 2008 09:45 pm

hmm odd . i'll do that when i get home . my e-mail is still the same.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Jun 20, 2008 09:46 pm

check your PM , noize

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 20, 2008 09:56 pm

Will do.

YA, I found it odd since I simply hit reply to one you sent here recently.

Member
Since: Aug 13, 2005


Jun 21, 2008 08:35 am

Good luck Tuna. Know how you feel Noize,
my boy is in New Zealand. Still only 18 months to go unless he moves on to Australia!

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 21, 2008 02:01 pm

Thanx Hujambo, the hard part was thinking we still had a month left before he left. I had a ton of things we were going to do. Like a fly in to a remote fishing place in Canada and a couple other short trip's we've been wanting to do for years and never had the time.

Now I sit here kicking myself for not having done them long ago. I honestly didn't think I would miss having him here this much, but as much trouble as he was now I really do miss having him here.

The truth is both boyz together are what kept me feeling like a kid all these years. Now I just hope Ray can fill his shoes in that respect. We did so much together, like good friends would.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Jun 21, 2008 03:19 pm

Good luck to Tuna! I know how hard it is Noize, I've had 3 leave the nest and when the last one leaves it's really tough. Some would say it's the mom's who suffer the most, but us dad's have just as big an empty spot when a kid leaves to go out on his/her own I think.

Dan

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 21, 2008 08:08 pm

OK so now I feel terrible. We were out at a couple of his buddies grad parties this afternoon and he called the house phone. I'm assuming then they already took his cell and such or he would have called my cell.

Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

But OD you are so right. Here they are more dad's boyz then anything else. Their mother didn't really like doing anything they did and never got involved with much of anything. It was always me n' the boyz. So ya, the bond is a lot greater between us then it is with their mother.


Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Jun 22, 2008 12:22 am

yeah...might want to send a letter with cell phone numbers. :) Power went out today and I had to plug an old cell into my UPS to get the power company's number...surprising how dependent I've grown to the thing I've only had for a couple years.

but, forgot... letters...letters letters letters... send as many as possible.

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007


Jun 22, 2008 12:29 am

Yeah, don't forget. In Basic Training, they limit your contact to the outside world as much as possible.

You can't even send a care package until he is out of Basic.

The only thing you can do is write letters. That's it.

Once he goes to AIT, then you can send anything that you want. But not until then.

In AIT, you can make him the popular guy by sending as much of the care packages that you can.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Jun 22, 2008 01:40 am

Ya, we don't even have the address to send letter's to yet. I have no clue who to even get it from at the moment, or what the hell to call him when I address it even if I had an address.

But ya, the Sargent already suggested the letter thing. And I need to send his card down or he'll be out of cash in a couple of weeks.

And we already have the plan for when he gets to AIT in Texas. Lotsa bribery goodies.

I've got a buddy at work who is connected with a dude who makes the best damn sunflower seed's on earth and I've been told that those will go over huge there. So I'll give him the hook up on large quantities of different flavored seeds.

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