June 24, 1968...Basic Training Begins

OK, first post since March, next month it will be 18 years ago that I started this Blog, July 2007.  Blogging is not what it was back then for sure...but I still have those nearly 18 years floating around Cyber Space and the Internet, to look back on when I feel the urge.

Air Force-The Beginning:

 I will never be one of the guys that says he misses the military life...I hated just about every freaking minute of it...sure I made some great friends, saw a few different locations, Texas, Delaware, Upstate New York, and of course my Southeast Asia Vacations at Nha Trang and Tan Son Nhut,Vietnam in 1969 and 1970.  No Regrets and I still hang out at and host reunions from those years as well.

It all began in March of 1968 after I received my draft notice {before they used the birthday system}..to Columbus to take my physical, which of course I passed, didn't everybody that wasn't a rich kid?  So no way was I going to get drafted by the Army or Marines ... no Infantry for me, I wasn't a coward, but I wasn't gung ho or stupid either, and I certainly wasn't cutting for Canada.  IMO those that did were not "Protesting" the war in Vietnam, they didn't want to get their asses shot...fair enough but admit what you were, and why.

Anyway I, after discussions with family and a visit to the Navy Recruiter in Lima, walked into the 
Air Farce{Pun Intended}Recruiting Station, with my buddy, the Late Eddie Bonifus...we both passed the tests and signed up for the Delayed Enlistment/Buddy system {first of many lies, they called me up 2 weeks before Ed, we both ended up at Amarillo and not Lackland, but not together, and after one meeting at Amarillo we didn't see each other again until after our AF days were finished.   

So on June 22nd I boarded a bus to C'Bus, took the Oath, and after a night with my Celina buddy, another Late Friend, Doug Gisege, at the Hotel the put us up in, I boarded my first ever Airplane flight to Amarillo via Dallas, and Lubbock ... arriving about 2 in the morning on the 24th, the next 3 years and 10 1/2 months were up and running.



6 weeks of Summer in Amarillo were hot in the day, windy every day, and coolish with lower humidity at night...Air Force basic, while somewhat hard was not unbearable, at least to me...Lackland AFB for "Cop" School later that summer was much more humid and equally hot...Staff Sgt Joe Prokop was our TI {Drill Instructor} and we would serve together in Vietnam some 18 months later...great guy he was and predicted I would end up in Vietnam, probably Tan Son Nhut, which was my 2nd base in Vietnam, and who would greet me at the Airport on my trip south from Nha Trang?  None other than Joe Prokop!

Anyway it all began 57 years ago this morning June 24, 1968...no regrets!

Back Later, if I'm still above ground  :)


Photos---PRH at Nha Trang August 1969 and bottom July 1968 Prokops Pups at Basic Training Amarillo AFB I'm 2nd row from top 4 guy from left

Turning 76 years old

 {Nha Trang AB Vietnam 1969 age 20}

First male in my Surname Family to make it this far since my GGG Grandfather, all the way back at the dawn of the Revolution...Ol' Israel H lived from 1775-1863...since that time none of my family males with the surname have lived past 75 until I made it to 76 yesterday, March 16th.  

It hasn't been without warts and scars, but up until about 2 months ago I was feeling pretty damn good despite the {the VA says} my Agent Orange related Diabetes 2 and accompanying neuropathy...some back and hip issues and a nasty fall which jarred my head a week or so ago, has slowed me somewhat...we will see if I recover my full body movements anytime soon.

All in all I have Zero Complaints...I am down 20 pounds in the last year {although I'm sure I may have gained a few pounds yesterday👀😄}...and just about 50 since Diabetes was discovered back in 2009...223 down to 173 on my once 5' 11' frame was and is a good thing...although it appears I have shrunk a bit, down to about 5' 10" ... 

Spent yesterday with wife and daughter and got calls from the Grandsons and sons...Porter House for BD Supper, along with Chocolate Ice Cream Cake and a few Irish Ales...all in all a good day.

Back Later with more...if I continue to stay above ground. 

Me in Scott, Ohio, back in the early days...

Yep, I'm still alive...

Winter, at least when you get my age (76 in 9 days}, SUCKS.

So here we are over 2 months into the 'New' year and this is my first post.  Reason?  Not much going on...the winter has not been terrible, and despite some minor to middling back pain, I'm doing OK...

Grandson #2 with his dad, son #2 coaching him, begins Travel andTournament Baseball already...yep, in Dayton, Ohio, the Freeze Out games get under way.  I coached, played, and then umpired, for 4 decades, and I always hated spring in Ohio...for every decent day in March and April, there were 3 or more that sucked...I much preferred umpiring in warmer weather, same went for my years officiating football.  But you don't always get to choose...since you make your schedules out a year and sometimes 2 or 3 years in advance.  So now, I get to sit and freeze instead...

I have spent much of the winter, keeping the weight off...got down to 171 in October and this morning I was a shade under 175...which was my original goal...so despite going back to Darker Beers and Ale, keeping away from Breads and added Sugar, has worked...BP continues to stay at a good level, even with the Meds cut in half. 

Also have added greatly to my Premium Cigar Stash with a couple new places with nice Cigar Lounges to buy and sample the good stuff.  I will also in mid May take a Northern Indiana Train/Cigar Trip Adventure to southern Michigan, with wife and a few dozen Cigar Smokers...the non smokers, like wife, will have a smoke free car, while the rest of us can light up at our pleasure...

The Newest Airedale, "Millie" has hit 16 1/2 months and is still in her "Wild Child" stage and at 90 pounds, I think she has stopped growing...she is a Big One, by far the largest female Airedale we have had share our house...and the old mixed rescue Schnauzer "Cam" is well over 17 years, and despite being blind as a bat, eats well and does his business outside not inside, so he is living the long life of Riley...

Looking to Warmer Weather, some of that next week for a few days...got outside work to do and garage cleanup as well...promised the wife I would take care of the garage "Clutter and Junk" before I die, so she won't be stuck with that chore...so I will get it done.

There you go...hopefully the health continues and the weather warms up early...

Back Later>>> And Yes, President Trump is doing what he said he would...despite the whining, pissing and moaning from the Left, it's Lap Dog Media, and the Fucking out of control activist courts.