See 1st story

 

Just thought i would tell you one of my war stories (not like actual war but some training i had to go through in the air force). When I was in training to become a sensor operator on a AC130U i had to go through many different schools. one of which was SV80A a combat survival course which they taught many things such as; how to survive in the woods how to survive hostage situations, how to not give information, and many other things. well during the POW portion we were put in these cells that were about the size of a common refrigerator and had a coffee can to do our business in. anyway while i was in there we had to be awake (i fell asleep a lot). but they would play music that was supposed to keep us awake one of the songs i had to listen to for about 18 hours was Loneliness by Yoko ono. before it switched to a poem called Boots by rudyard kipling which i know word for word . anyway here is the yoko ono song....being a beatles fan i hated yoko in the first place (but with love) and this just made it even worse. and even till this day when i hear this song it effects me in a indescribable way. i have many more stories

 

 

[media=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaoSWW_ZDqY[/media]

 

Here also is a picture of my flight helmet, inflight guide (Sensor operator) and checklist (IR Operator) 105mm, 25mm, 40mm shells (my first ones i ever fired. i fired these ones at a pickup in a range in new Orleans) also my headset. sadly i am no longer air crew i got medically disqualified but i did have some awesome and memorable times.

 

 

2 years later I thought i would dig this out to tell you another story.

 

Shortly after my medical disqualification from the AC130U AirFrame and its mission, i was temporarily placed on my squadron's range duty team. Sounds boring i know, at times it was. the job consisted of driving 50+ miles around a firing range...no not the kind where you qualify with M9s or M4s im talkin' about a Hell fire missile firing, minigun slingin, rpg blasting, Close air support range. the times it got exciting was when I got to go out with teams of Combat controllers, Sere specialists, TACP, and on occasion conventional army, and marines. I would issue them their Night vision, and radios and off we would go on a fantastic journey. Now having worked on the other end of the spectrum (as an AC103U sensor operator) and then seeing the job get done on the receiving end gave me an adrenalin rush of a lifetime. among my duty of ensuring the range was secure, and cleared to be fired upon, I was also included in making sure the teams i went out there with became JTAC qualified, which basically means that they will be certified in calling for close air support from the ac130 Air frame (there is more to getting the qualifications, this is only 1 step). teaching them range and bearing and target description (example: "from my position marked by IR strobe 090 for 100meters 3 enemy tanks oriented east west, south east of the 4 way intersection. cleared Danger Close my initials XX". if the rounds hit then they would say "good hits, good hits, fire for effect" its been years since ive done it so i may be a bit rusty with the verbiage). anyway in order to qualify them I had to qualify first, I personally called for close air support in peace time conditions at both day and night time, from a Huey equipped with a mini gun, a AC130U (25mm, 40mm, and 105mm prox) and AC130H (40mm incendiary , and 105mm) . It is something different when they lay rounds down on a target that you described. it almost makes you feel helpless, and glad you are on their side. my heart goes out to those who survived and died having to call for close air support, because if close air support is called upon a huge percentage of the time they are in a tight spot, and are most likely not winning the scenario.

Source: One of my War stories.