Posted on 03/19/2003 3:48:54 AM PST by tomkow6
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Oh, BOY! Oh, BOY! Here we go again!
...What do we do today?....are the gurlz with SKINNY legs comin?.... Welcome to Camp RUN-A-MUK!
Today's Feature: Comic Characters
The BAR is OPEN! We've got Eye candy...Mind candy... and Chicken soup for the soul!
 Let the Fun BEGIN !! |
2nd Lts. Scott Witte and Madhi Al-Shammar first met and worked together during Operation Desert Storm. Six months ago, Maj. Scott D. Witte, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing combat engineer officer, renewed his friendship with Capt. Madhi Al-Shammari, Kuwait Air Force after losing touch for three years. Photo by: Photo courtesy of Capt. Madhi Al-Shammari, Kuwaiti Air Force
Desert Storm warriors reunite
Submitted by: 3d Marine Aircraft Wing
Story Identification Number: 200331812543
Story by Staff Sgt. John C. DiDomenico
KUWAIT(March 18, 2003) -- It's been said, "it's a small world." Twelve years ago, they lived in underground holes on the Saudi and Kuwait border as young lieutenants. Not only did they come from different sides of the globe, cultures and religions; but also belonged to different military services.
Both were ready to breach the Iraqi minefields to liberate the one's homeland. They quickly became friends forged in the fires of combat. Following the war, they would visit each other once in the U.S., in 1995. However, they lost touch with one another until six months ago.
Maj. Scott D. Witte, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing combat engineer officer, originally from Pennsylvania now living Louisiana, and Kuwaiti Air Force Captain Madhi Al-Shammari recently met each other again after approximately three years of not being in contact and renewed their time-lapsed friendship.
According to Witte, he attempted several times to get in contact with his friend, but not speaking Arabic was an obstacle.
"I tried to call him several times during a three month period. Somebody who only spoke Arabic always answered the phone," Witte recalled with a grin and a laugh. "I couldn't speak or understand a word but I quickly realized Madhi didn't live there anymore. When I couldn't reach him and hadn't heard from him, I hoped he would eventually contact me. About six months ago, I finally received a call from him and found out he had moved to a different part of the city and had a new phone number unbeknownst to me."
As his friend laughed, Madhi added his hearty laugh and agreed. He was in Florida attending school in 1995 and he asked an instructor how to contact a friend in the Marine Corps. His instructor put him in touch with a Marine instructor and by that afternoon, Madhi was able to contact his old friend.
"I called him and said, 'Scott, why haven't you called me?'" Madhi said. "He said, 'I did try but you moved and didn't tell me.' I said, 'Oh yeah, I did move. Sorry.'"
During their brief reunion visit, the two Gulf War veterans recanted war stories, memories and talked about friends and family.
"We lived in two-man holes underground on the border with pit vipers and other creatures," Witte recalled. "One morning, we woke up at 3 a.m., to the ground shaking and trembling from artillery fire. We wondered if it was outgoing or incoming. When the sun came up, we looked to our rear and saw an American 155mm artillery unit had set up approximately one hundred yards away during the middle of the night and lobbed shells over our heads. The ground shook so hard, the sand started caving in on us in our holes. It was never a dull time as we waited to attack on G-day."
Between the friends, nothing was totally sacred to include the language and religion. Witte recalls messing around with Madhi about his ritual prayers.
"I knew a little a bit about his culture. He's as bad as a good Catholic," Witte said with an impish grin and smile looking at his friend. "Tapping my watch, I would joke, 'Madhi, it's prayer time, how many times did you pray today?' or 'Madhi, you're facing the wrong way, Mecca's the other way.'"
Madhi laughed and recalled missing speaking Arabic since he was the only Kuwaiti attached to the unit, being from a different service and not seeing his family.
"Yeah, I missed speaking my language. I learned how to curse in English and drink a lot of coffee vice my tea," he laughed. "I even told him, 'Scott, Kuwaiti Air Force personnel don't live like this. I don't live in the ground or understand how U.S. Marines endure such hardships.' Normally, I see my family every two or three days. If I didn't, I would get a call and told to visit. We had fun kidding each other though."
Both shared the ups and downs during the war. Madhi recalled his friend's anxiousness when they heard a radio broadcast about a downed aircraft. Witte's older brother was a U.S. Navy A-6 Intruder pilot stationed on the USS Ranger during the war.
"He was very testy and upset," Madhi said. "We were both glad to find out his brother was fine, but sad about the crew of the downed plane."
As the reunion ended, the two vowed not to lose touch with each other again.
"It's a little easier now since we have the Internet and each other's e-mail address," Witte said. "We have a great relationship and built a lifelong bond of brotherhood and mutual respect."
"Scott's a good man. He's my best friend," Madhi concluded. With a smile and wink, turned to his friend asking "Scott, when will we get together again?"
Who could foresee the irony 12 years later, they would meet the other again, this time on a different border further north than previously, but still just as prepared and willing to do whatever it takes, all over again.
It is indeed a small world.
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Deployed
 David Caldwell holds his grandson, Haydn McCurry, up to the window of a bus to get a kiss from his father, Sgt. Darrell McCurry, of 211th Military Police Unit, outside the National Guard Armory in Clyde, N.C., Tuesday, March 18, 2003. The unit is being deployed to an undisclosed location. (AP Photo/Alan Marler)  Matthew Collins, right, hugs his father, Bill Neugebauer, a staff seargent with the 211th Military Police Unit of the North Carolina National Guard, outside the Guards armory in Clyde, N.C., Tuesday night, March 18, 2003. The unit boarded buses tonight for an undisclosed location for training, with expectations that they will end up some where in the war zone. The 211th has been home a little over six months, after spending time in Afghanistan  Ruth Neugebauer, right, comforts her son, Matthew Collins, middle, along with her daughter, Gina Neugebauer, as a group of buses leave carrying members of the 211th Military Police Unit of the North Carolina National Guard at the Guards armory in Clyde, N.C., Tuesday, March 18, 2003, for an undisclosed location for training with expectations that they will end up some where in the war zone. Bill Neugebauer, a ataff seargent with the unit, is Ruth's husband and Matthew and Gina's father. The 211th has been home a little over six months, after spending time in Afghanistan  Spc. Geoff Turner, with the 211th Military Police Unit of the North Carolina National Guard, hugs his girlfriend, Kim Blake, outside the Guards armory in Clyde, N.C., Tuesday night, March 18, 2003. The unit deployed for an undisclosed location for training.  Spc. John Parrish, of the 211th Military Police Unit of the North Carolina National Guard, gives his wife Sherry a final kiss before boarding a bus, outside the guard's armory in Clyde, N.C., Tuesday March 18, 2003. The unit boarded the buses for an undisclosed location for training, with expectations that they will end up somewhere in the war zone. The 211th has been home a little over six months, after spending time in Afganistan.(AP Photo/Alan Marler)  Michelle Ramirez gives her husband, Sgt. Michael Ramirez, a hug goodbye after a departure cememony at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Tuesday, March 18, 2003. More than 600 soldiers with the 720th Military Police Battalion deployed to the Middle East. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)  Staff Sgt. Brian Flom spends time with his wife, Monika, and daughters Sasha, right, and Alexandra, 6, after a departure cememony at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, Tuesday, March 18, 2003. More than 600 soldiers with the 720th Military Police Battalion deployed to the Middle East. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam
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Staff Sgt. Michelle Mister (left) processes mail for a customer. Mister is the post office's noncommissioned officer in charge and is assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron at a forward-deployed location. The sergeant and her fellow workers and volunteers process nearly 33,000 pounds of mail each week. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
Staff Sgt. Michael Albert opens mailbags to begin sorting mail for individual units. Albert volunteers his time to help out at the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron's post office at a forward-deployed location. Postal workers and volunteers process nearly 33,000 pounds of mail each week. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik)
Post office delivers piece of home
by Staff Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
03/18/03 - SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- In a three-word phrase, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks summarized what could make or break a good day for airmen deployed to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing -- "You've got mail."
Postal clerks of the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron ensure everyone assigned to the wing and its tenant units are able to send and receive mail while deployed and supporting various missions including Operation Southern Watch.
To handle the increased load of mail for thousands of new soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, the post office recently moved into a larger building and receives help from the unit mail clerks to offload and sort the mail.
"The volume of mail processed each week has increased more than 800 percent since December," said Capt. Jackie Meyer, 386th ECS commander. "We are now processing nearly 33,000 pounds of mail each week. This is equivalent to the amount of mail processed by an overseas flying wing, but we are doing it with one-fifth the manpower."
Although the workload has increased nearly tenfold since they have arrived, the postal clerks have taken it in stride and maintain a positive outlook on the work they do.
"It's hard work, but we've got a great team," said Airman 1st Class Taylor Hodgson, one of the postal clerks. "We work side by side with our sister services everyday, and everyone has a lot of fun breaking down the mail. The benefits definitely outweigh the drawbacks."
One of the benefits the post office offers deployed members is the free letter service. Servicemembers can write 'free' in the space where a stamp would go, and the post office mails it without charging for a stamp.
"We can send any piece of correspondence that weighs 13 ounces or less, free of charge," said Tech. Sgt. Keith Weiss, postmaster of the wing post office. "Correspondence includes letters and postcards, as well as personal audio tapes, video tapes or digital correspondence on a CD-Rom or floppy disk.
The group of postal clerks realizes how important their job is, and that is why they process the mail daily. In doing so, they ensure that letters or packages sent from friends or family get to people quickly.
The post office provides an important service to deployed members, and the significance of that role is seen in the support the post office receives from the base.
"I have never seen people pull together like they have here," said Meyer. "We get volunteers from Air Force, Army, Marine and Navy units every day to help load and unload mail. It's a great pleasure to see this kind of cooperation during stressful times like this."
I'm all eyes
03/18/03 - HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah (AFPN) -- Master Sgt. Gary Easterwood (right) talks with a pilot about the proper procedures for using chemical warfare equipment in the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Easterwood is an aircrew life support assistant superintendent. The equipment pilots wear is called the aircrew eye and respiratory protection system. Pilots must have specialized chemical warfare training to prepare for threats faced while flying. (Photo by Senior Airman Nakita Carlisle)
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