Federal LE on the border currently (4 years). Prior to I worked ops at CKS.

Some old(er) names in this thread, some older than some to some.

Great thread. Good to keep up with everyone. I only got to meet about half of the original names mentioned in the opening post. I was a young "ru-de-poo" as Doc woutld mention, (is there a real spelling for that?) when they were transitioning. I did not get to the Herk field until comming back to active duty in summer of 95. I spent most of my time in 252 95-98, 253 99 and back to 252 till 2002. Then back again off recruiting duty as 6216 09-11. Now retired.

Anyone know what happened to Gus Ventura?

Erich Maas at July 23, 2011 at 9:18 PM

It's been many years since I stepped inside a Herkybird. I moved on to other platforms and life went on. I'm sure this holds true for many others that were a part of this community. My question is where are you now and what are you doing? I'll start it off; I retired after giving Uncle Sugar twenty and transitioned to the civilian sector where I currently test jet engines industrial applications. What are you all doing?

Eric...I served on Oki and DaNang in 1967-68 in the Avionics Shop. The head pog there was Master Guns Maas (can't remember his first name). He was aslo there in WWII. Said he shelled that island before landing. Never wanted to go into the ville to party. Said he still had bad feelings about Oki. Any relation?

I was was in VMGR 152 at Futema and DaNang in May 67 thru June 68.  Ken Rice and I shared some liberty together with our cameras.  There was a SS bus tour every weekend that had a Philipine guide who had been an interpreter for our force in WW2.  He never returned to the Phillipines because Okinawa grew on him.  I also took advantage of the Special  Services skin diving trips with a bloke named Hawkins Hibbs who is still kicking the green side of the sod someplace.

Gents, welcome to the Battleherk project. Glad to see the stories being posted.

Ken Rice at November 9, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Erich Maas at July 23, 2011 at 9:18 PM

It's been many years since I stepped inside a Herkybird. I moved on to other platforms and life went on. I'm sure this holds true for many others that were a part of this community. My question is where are you now and what are you doing? I'll start it off; I retired after giving Uncle Sugar twenty and transitioned to the civilian sector where I currently test jet engines industrial applications. What are you all doing?

Eric...I served on Oki and DaNang in 1967-68 in the Avionics Shop. The head pog there was Master Guns Maas (can't remember his first name). He was aslo there in WWII. Said he shelled that island before landing. Never wanted to go into the ville to party. Said he still had bad feelings about Oki. Any relation?

I wish I could say yes, but sadly no, that Marine was no relation of mine. I am first generation in America.

Erich Maas at August 1, 2011 at 3:09 PM

Perhaps some of you out there know some of these people or came in contact with them during your career. If so, do you know what happened to them or where they are now. It's kind of ironic I ask this because I can recall a conversation with many FE's around, and one of them mentioned that he wanted to retire somewhere where folks had no idea what a KC-130 was. So, without further ado, these names may jog some memories: Brent Peterson, Gary Ellmer, Rick Parker, Chuck Lee, Frank Dashnaw, Nick Blehm, Bernie Doran, Russ Samples, Mark Dudgeon, SSgt Anderson, GySgt "Nellie" Nelson, GySgt McDermott, "Slim" Ketcham, Bobby Ketcham, and J.P. O'Donnell. I flew with most, if not all of these guys from 1978 to 1982.

Erich Maas at September 19, 2011 at 11:56 AM

Anyone out there work with Russ Samples? He and I were together at 352. He was an avionics tech back then. The timeframe is late 1980 through 1982. I worked nights at that time reconciling the VIDS boards. Russ worked nights also and we struck up a friendship. I guess he became an FE and I wonder if he did twenty and is happily retired.

Russ was one of my FE instructors at 253 and then we worked together at 352 right before he retired, He drives a truck now and can be found on Facebook.

I retired in 2007 as Airframes Division Chief in 352. Prior to that I was QA Chief in 152 for about 5 years. I retired and started a new life as a police officer in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Been just over 5 years now. Time seemed to fly by as a police officer but seems like forever that I was with my brothers and sisters in the Corps! I cannot believe that it has only been 5 1/2 years! (Seems like 10!!)

Randy Vest at August 4, 2012 at 9:08 PM

I retired in 2007 as Airframes Division Chief in 352. Prior to that I was QA Chief in 152 for about 5 years. I retired and started a new life as a police officer in Cedar Rapids Iowa. Been just over 5 years now. Time seemed to fly by as a police officer but seems like forever that I was with my brothers and sisters in the Corps! I cannot believe that it has only been 5 1/2 years! (Seems like 10!!)

Randy, I grew up in CR born and raised there, are you originally from CR?