Newbie Intros I

[BloodThirstyWench]

Originally Posted by bdidieu

OOPS>>> OFF TOPIC SORRY BTW!

BD: You know I don't mind.

[Bunker]

Dan Ryan... I'll be 35 on February 21st... Parents divorced when I was 2, and all that crap... Dysfunctional American family... I was a unique kid, and probably one of the first guys to know what good music was in my generation... OK, there were more... I spent a lot of time looking at inanimate objects, when I should have been fielding ground balls from my Dad.... It's all cool, though.. Dad and I are tight now. We're moving south, closer to him, in about a month. I have a 1st cousin who played for the St. Louis Cardinals. I never played ball in High School. Went to a practice once, with minimal athletic skills, and threw a 90 mph pitch at 17 years-old... I had no idea that it was fast... I've since honed my athletic skills.

Not much I can talk about regarding my military service, aside from dates and locations... The Army gets dirty the Navy gets deep. I'll say some words... Iraq. North Korea. Russia. Forward deployed from 1991-1996, and never resting. A lot of noise, a lot of being alone, and a lot of "Hey, Ma! I'm not actually IN Tokyo, you know!!!??"... It never sunk in. I married a wonderful lady I met the day I returned from the Gulf... In Tokyo. I was happy just to moor against the pier... I drank with a friend of mine for a few hours to celebrate, we went north to Tokyo, and it just do happened that it was her birthday, and she was out with her friends... The ship left again in a few days (I was on it), I lost her number for a few months, and found it while I was looking for my boarding pass while headed home for the only leave I would have for 3 years... It goes without saying that I have a hard time listening to people complaining about being "over-deployed"... Maybe my family isn't that close, and no one whined about missing me... (We aren't close, but I love America, and I missed it with all of my heart)...

I'm still married to the same woman I met that night. She's in transit to Japan as I type this, and I feel like my guts are only half there. I worry when I'm not with her these days... She loves the USA. We went to see "Miracle" yesterday - the film about the US Olympic Hockey team... I watched her cry, not because of the script, but because she knows what we're going though AFTER that wonderful victory, now. She thinks Americans are good people, and I generally agree... (I've met more of them than she has, though.. )...

Anyway, I'm a self-employed writer/enterpreneur/actor/security consultant/martial arts instructor/international antiques dealer (like "Highlander", but I'm mortal... .. ) Don't ask me where the knife and fork guy came from... Equal smilie opportunity.

[bdidieu]

"Anyway, I'm a self-employed writer/enterpreneur/actor/security consultant/martial arts instructor/international antiques dealer (like "Highlander", but I'm mortal... .. ) Don't ask me where the knife and fork guy came from... Equal smilie opportunity."



Ok, that last part made me laugh. Love the ESO! Very interesting bio. Liked the part about the complaining deployers (is that even a word? ). Steve leaves and then comes back and then does it all over again. But, that is his job. He loves it and I have 16 more years to go! All I can say is TGFSD!

ps.. I didnt see anything in there about "little Bunkers"... hmmm? Just teasing ya!`

[Hoss68]

IMO~ If this is going to be an introduction thread for all new members...


My history is in my profile... If it is not covered, ask.

[63DH8]

I'm a 43 year old single parent. Typical "Soldier comes home from war, wife leaves after finding someone else, blah, blah, blah" senerio. I have two daughters, ages 13 and 17. The 17 year old, Elizabeth, has cerebral palsy, is considered a quadraplegic and non-verbal, holds a 3.5gpa and is in Honors Society. My 13 year old, Erika, enjoys building and shooting rifles.

I come from a military family, was born in Japan. My father met my mother right after WWII. My father spent 32 years in the Navy and is a WWII, Korean war, and Vietnam war veteran. My older brother spent 20 years in the Marines (Vietnam vet), and I spent eight years in the Army as an Self Propelled Artillery Mechanic and a tracked recovery commander (M-88A1) during the 1990-91 Gulf War. I'm now a small business owner designing and building equipment for disabled children.

I love practical jokes. If you need a couple, let me know. I can usually figure something to keep laughs going.

One of the things I have dedicated myself to is helping my brothers and sisters in arms to get their veteran's bennies. I do NOT charge for the help. It is only general help that you'll have to follow through on your own. However, most of the information I have is something most people don't seem to know. As an example, did you know that a single parent veteran can get 100% disability for non-employability if they have a disabled child or have to devote 100% of their time taking care of their children? Same thing if the veteran has a disability rating for PTSD and hasn't been able to hold a job for more than four years. This is only one of the items I know to help veterans. All you have to do is ask and I'll see what I can find to help.

[Armycop]

Wench--At one point Ohio had 32 prisons in activity, and a few more on the books. Back in the early 90's, corrections took over as the largest budget sucker from the state. Prior to that, it was highway maintenance. Recently, the state joined the rest of the 50 by going into debt. Installations have been closed. Not easy for a state with the 5th largest inmate population in the union, and 4th in number of facilities. Mine is at 268% of capacity and climbing. Your Dad is lucky to have retired with his life and health intact. It is nothing like law enforcement, but the benefits are what keep most clocking in. The union is strong. My first year under probation i had none, yet i paid dues. For years afterward i relied on it in case i needed it. Once one hits the officer ranks though, it gets dog-eat-dog again. Or rather, dog-stab-dog.

[MACTANK]

My name is Mike. I am married with three children - 21 - 20, & 14. Entered the Army in 76 and completed Basic and AIT at Fort Knox. This is the time when Knox was just converting other units to OSUT and consolidating into Brigade Dining Facilities. Our "Mess Hall" was right there in the Company Barracks.
Anyways, I retired in 96 after completing 3 tours in Germany, one of which was a Border tour with the 2nd ACR and I was there when the wall came down and the Border gates flooded. Tank Platoon Sgt for F2/2 ACR during Desert Storm on the Spearhead for VII Corps.
I currently live in Michigan and serve as Project Coordinator for a Nation wide Merchandising company.