Happy Veterans Day

[462]

Happy Veterans Day to all my fellow veterans, welcome home to those of us who faced our enemies, and I hope you enjoy the good memories and are able to manage the bad.

My signature line says where I spent a year.

A snappy salute to you all!

Michael

 

[CZ93X62]

Thank you, Veterans.

 

[popper]

Just saw this utube of my olds ship. Has an interesting history

 

[Bret4207]

Ditto on best wishes to all veterans, and happy US Marine Corps Birthday, a day late!

 

[glassparman]

What a young punk I was! This was around 1984.

 

[glassparman]

Yup, just an older punk in the lower left around 1991

I joined in1981

 

[richhodg66]

I miss the BDUs and black boots.

Retired from it 11 years ago. Been teaching JROTC since, so Vetarans Day weekend is always busy for me. Marched in a parade with the kids yesterday, We did a color guard and I was the guest speaker at the county Veterans Alliance this morning. This is an Army town so virtually everybody is a veteran.

 

[richhodg66]

Where were they still using M-60s in 1991? 4th ID at Carson is the only unit I can remember that was still equipped with them by then.

 

[RicinYakima]

We were all younger once upon a time.

 

[glassparman]

Rich, I was active duty from '81 to '85 then Army Guard until '92.

We actually started with M48a5's in the guard and then got M60a3's. Cal Guard didn't get M1's until the later 90's I think but I was out by then. Getting the laser range finder, ballistic computer and thermal imaging was a real treat!

That picture was either at Ft. Hunter Liggett or Camp Roberts. I can't remember which now. We would pick up the tanks at Camp Bob and take them up the back way past Lake San Antonio to get to Ft. hungry Lizzard to get to the ranges.

It all seems so long ago!

Mike

 

[Bret4207]

I like the toilet paper!!! Gotta take care f the important stuff first!

 

[richhodg66]

Rich, I was active duty from '81 to '85 then Army Guard until '92.

We actually started with M48a5's in the guard and then got M60a3's. Cal Guard didn't get M1's until the later 90's I think but I was out by then. Getting the laser range finder, ballistic computer and thermal imaging was a real treat!

That picture was either at Ft. Hunter Liggett or Camp Roberts. I can't remember which now. We would pick up the tanks at Camp Bob and take them up the back way past Lake San Antonio to get to Ft. hungry Lizzard to get to the ranges.

It all seems so long ago!

Mike

My first duty station was Firt Bliss in 89 and the 3rd ACR was the only CONUS unit which had M1A1s (120mm smoothbore) at the time. When we rolled out for Desert Storm, seems to me 4th ID was the only heavy Division that was still using M60s and that's why they didn't go. The Marine Corps still had them so M60s fought there, along with several other coalition countries that were using them. Good tank, better than most even by that time.

 

[462]

Yep, we were young, punkish.

 

[KeithB]

Find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down
Find the cost of freedom
Buried in the ground
Mother Earth will swallow you
Lay your body down.

Crosby, Stills, Nash

More than 50 years since I first heard this and I still cry for every American who died for the dream.

 

[Bret4207]

My first duty station was Firt Bliss in 89 and the 3rd ACR was the only CONUS unit which had M1A1s (120mm smoothbore) at the time. When we rolled out for Desert Storm, seems to me 4th ID was the only heavy Division that was still using M60s and that's why they didn't go. The Marine Corps still had them so M60s fought there, along with several other coalition countries that were using them. Good tank, better than most even by that time.

I remember when the USMC M60's first got reactive armor. It was supposed to be a game changer for when we went up against Ivan. Seems like a 100 years ago now.

 

[Missionary]

Howdy Mike and Bret
I was riding M60 and M60A1's in 1971. Never went through Knox but straight to Hood and 2nd Armored.
The M60 series probably had the best optical range finder and coupling system our tanks carried.

 

[glassparman]

Howdy Mike and Bret
I was riding M60 and M60A1's in 1971. Never went through Knox but straight to Hood and 2nd Armored.
The M60 series probably had the best optical range finder and coupling system our tanks carried.

Man, you would have loved the Laser Range Finder! You could even track a moving target for a few seconds and it would give you an auto lead!

 

[richhodg66]

Tanks seem to be becoming obsolete real quick if Ukraine is any indicator. I doubt we'll see another "commie hoardes coming through the Fulda Gap" scenarios again. Time will tell, I suppose.

 

[Missionary]

Well a tank with a leg squad is still a formidable presence on any battlefield. Having a mobile big gun in close with the enemy to crack strong points will always be a help to rifleman.
May be a problem getting them in place but once the fight gets close that shoot and scoot mobility will be a tough one on enemy troops.
Russia has never been big on letting local commands get creative with tactics. A platoon or section of big steel with infantry should be able to do their job as needs present themselves.

 

[popper]

Like any tool of war, enemy quickly finds an 'anti' tool.