Moving to VA and New Avatar

[Gary Herrmann]

Good luck, Don. Take care of yourself.

[Dewey Torres]

Stay safe out there CMDCM!

[Jim Becker]

Thanks for the update, Doc!! It sure does look a little different "out there" than hanging out on that magnificent, but old, ship in Beantown! Keep your eye out for another SMC member who occasionally heads in that direction, although he's probably flying over your head, delivering "who knows what" to "who knows where".

Stay safe...

[Jeff Lien]

Hi Don
We haven't met but thanks for your service and dedication
Jeff

[Dennis Peacock]

Thanks for the update Don. Stay safe my friend and thanks for your service to our country. BTW, I used to store, handle, and load them little bitty bullets you have in the "rifle" of yours on that boat.
Used to play with bullets all the way up to 40MM HEI.

[Butch Edwards]

Well, having transferred to Virginia 3 months ago now, I finally have some time to post. The new avatar is the most recent photo of me from Kuwait where I currently find myself "in the sandbox" at Camp Patriot. I'll be here through the new year and then will be heading north to the Iraqi oil platforms for a couple of months.

Our house is still on the market in Boston with no takers...the market just seems to continue to stay low, so no telling when I'll get the family moved down to Virginia with me (not that I'm there right now).

Here's a shot of me on the forward gun (a 50 cal, "reach out and touch ya" ) while escorting a submarine through the Panama Canal a couple of months ago. It was interesting to see things from "the other side" as I was on a submarine that transited the canal several years ago.

Attachment 104204

These are the boats we use to patrol the Gulf...this is in the Persian Gulf last week:

Attachment 104205

My internet access is sporadic at best and the time difference is a bear. But hopefully I'll be able to check in from time to time, as opposed to the three month gap (there was 28 pages of new posts!).

Everyone be well,

Doc

Keep yer head down....
and from one vet to another....Thanks ....

[Don Abele]

Well guys, sorry it has taken so long. I was away longer than I had hoped I would be and had no access. I'm "in the rear" for a few days now and will enjoy my respite at Camp Patriot while I can. I have 32 pages of new threads to catch up on . Wish the connection here was a little better so that I could read them all, but I'm lucky if I can stay connected for 30 minutes.

Got to talk to the family on Christmas (via Sat Phone) and found out we had gotten 18 inches of snow in Massachusetts. Nice!!! Sure missed it. The sand was kinda white and blew around a lot like snow . It was quiet though and everyone came back safe and I can't ask for a better gift.

Hope to catch up on some threads and get my SMC fix while I can.

Be well,

Doc

[Don Abele]

Doc, the Navy promised you adventure..... they gave you a hell of a time jump. From Old Ironsides to the newest gun boat, WOW..... LOL I do hope by the time your tour there is done, your family is able to join you in VA. Thank you for your service to our country, and please be safe. Merry Christmas

Dave this new assignment is completely different from anything I've done before, though it does have some similarities with my time with the Marines when I first came in.

Doc - thanks for the update! Glad you are doing well! Your tour will be over before you know it! Be safe and Merry Christmas! Do me a favor and be sure to let all our folks over there know that they thought of and the job they do is appreciated by all of us here back home!

Steve, I tell everyone over here how much America supports them. Those of us that have been around long enough know it inherently, but the younger guys need reassurance.

I have a saying that I use a lot for friends/family..."I don't ask you to support war or even our government, but ask that you support our troops. They are your husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and they deserve your support."

Doc - Congratulations on the new assignment (a couple of months late - sorry). Where is MES Squadron TWO based? I know you said Portsmouth in your original post and you will be on the road a lot - as you are now. The remaining eight years will pass in a flash. Mine sure did. And another sawdust invitation from me stands if you need a "fix" and ever get to town. Stay safe! Regards, Ted

Ted, thanks again for the invite. As I said before, I'll take you up on it when I get back in town. My unit is based at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Since my family is still in Boston, they put me up in a barracks out in Little Creek (not that I've been there much).

I somehow missed this post the first time, and have been wanting to tell you how much my son and his school buddies enjoyed their tour of the CONSTITUTION this fall, though he told me he completely forgot to ask for you while he was there...I had given him your name, kinda just in case...though I guess a bunch of french speaking teens would kinda stick out down there (we have Jake in french highschool) Anyway, as it has been said many times already, be safe, keep well, and many happy holiday wishes to you and your family. Thanks for what you do, so that we can do what we want to do. Keep in touch when you can. Ron

Ron, CONSTITUTION was my greatest duty station in 22 years. I really do miss her...more so, I miss the crew - they are a great bunch of Sailors and I was proud to call them mine.

Thanks for the update, Doc!! It sure does look a little different "out there" than hanging out on that magnificent, but old, ship in Beantown! Keep your eye out for another SMC member who occasionally heads in that direction, although he's probably flying over your head, delivering "who knows what" to "who knows where". Stay safe...

Jim, have been out to our APOD (air port of debarkation). It's where everything comes in and out via air that destined for here, Iraq, or Afghanistan. My guys provide the security for the planes. There's also the SPOD (sea port of debarkation) where everything comes in via ship (which is most of the gear). My guys not only protect the port, but the ships as well (from both on the ship and via small boats following).

Thanks for the update Don. Stay safe my friend and thanks for your service to our country. BTW, I used to store, handle, and load them little bitty bullets you have in the "rifle" of yours on that boat. Used to play with bullets all the way up to 40MM HEI.

We don't quite use rounds that big...a little too much for our high speed quick response missions. But boy I'd love to shoot them! The 50 is just pure fun!!!

From all of ours to all of yours, stay safe. I am sure you know this better than I but take care of your guys and they will take care of you. Love the Ma Deuce. Stay safe Joe

Doc, thanks for the update, and above all be safe.

Doc, Best of luck to you..... Take care and stay in touch.......

Good luck, Don. Take care of yourself.

Stay safe out there CMDCM!

Hi Don. We haven't met but thanks for your service and dedication. Jeff

Keep yer head down.... ...and from one vet to another....Thanks ....

For all of you above, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. While I said I know that what we do is appreciated, it is nice even for me to hear it. Your wishes of staying safe are heartfelt and I can't thank you enough for it. I and my fellow service members do what we do because of you and for you.

Again, thank you all...

Be well,

Doc

[Jackie Outten]

Hey Don

PM me your address and the number of soldiers in your unit and we will send some Freedom Pens.

Jackie

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Thank your troops for us Doc! Stay safe and communicate with us when you can!

[Lee Schierer]

Don, I never saw the old girl until after I retired, but boy what a ship she is. I had a hard time ending my brief visit. I'm sure you know her much better than the average visitor and will miss her. Her lines and what she stands for are something that is almost breath taking when you first see her. Good luck on your next assignment.

Lee

Capt. USNR (ret)

[Don Abele]

Man...it's been almost a month since I've been able to post. For the last couple of weeks I was able to connect and read, but as soon as I tried to post - poof...connection lost.

Oddly enough, I'm able to post now and I'm on an oil platform off the coast of Iraq using a satellite connection that routes through Great Britian (go figure).

I've got some great photos I want to post, but the military has locked out all our USB ports because of a huge virus scare. So I'm gonna have to wait until I get back stateside at the end of March before I can.

In the mean time, it's nice to get a fix of the Creek and now to be able to "talk" back as well.

Be well,

Doc
(currently on the Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal)

[Dennis Peacock]

Go git'em Don.!!! Watch you "six" and keep the sand out of your keyboard.

You are missed for sure and will be glad when you are back state side.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Hope you are doing well! Looking forward to the photos! Be safe!

[Ted Shrader]

Hi Doc -

It is great you could get to P/D and get a mast up instead of just copying on the wire. Thanks for checking in and the update. Keep your head down and watch out for your guys. (Like I really need to say that! )

Regards,
Ted