Greetings from Fairbanks Alaska

Hi all my real name is Ron.

I am 52 years of age

I grew up in and around Akron and Clevleand Ohio but I have been living in Fairbanks Alaska since 1993. I did 20 years in the Army and retired in 1997. I did three years in the Field Artillery and then re-enlisted into Aviation Maintenance on the UH-1 Huey. I was a mechanic, crew chief, maintenance sergeant, and inspector. Currently I work for a DOD contractor that performs aircraft maintenance on US Army aircraft in Alaska. I work on Ladd Army Airfield which was the final stop for aircraft going to Russia as part of the lend lease program. It was here that the aircraft were turned over to the Russians.

My interest in WWII is a part of my love for military history.

My hobbies are fishing, baseball, fishing, military history, fishing, travel, and fishing.

My Dad was to young to fight in WWII but ended up in Japan in 1945 first with the 1st Cav and then with 8th Army. My grandpa tried to join the Army for WWII but was told that he was told old, he had fought in WWI as a machine gunner. Not really related but I was in El Salvador and the 1st Gulf War. Currently my oldest son a 1lt in the Alaska National Guard B Co. 1st BN 143rd Infantry Reg (airborne) is getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan. As for gaming I stopped gaming a few years back as I believed I was addicted to gaming and was not living the rest of my life. I was involved with Day of Defeat and Fighter Ace.

I also have a strong interest in Civil War history, and the last couple years have spent more time learning about WWI as my knowledge was very much lacking about that war.


Things I still want to do is stand on the beaches of Normandy and visit Pearl Harbor. Can you believe I lived 5 years in Germany and never got to Normandy? So young and dumb.

 

Alaskarat welcome to the forum! But I know why your here...your looking for someting to do for the next 4 months until you can go back to fishing!

 

LOL Welcome aboard! Know whatcha mean about being young and dumb...spent close to 6 years stationed at Pearl Harbor or living there with my ex after I got out of the Navy, and only visited the Arizona Memorial once. Never visited the submarine museum there (I was in subs, figured I'd had enough of them), and only saw the Missouri from the outside, across the harbor (although I have some good photos of it being towed into harbor when it moved from Washington to Pearl). Never visited the Pacific War Memorial, any of the other airfields or crash sites, nothing. Surrounded by history, yet willingly oblivious to it. It wasn't until after I got out, got divorced, and was back on my own again that I started looking in to it. Also started reading up on WW1 recently, that's a fairly large gap in my memory (well...one of many large gaps!) and pretty much directly ties in to WW2, sets the stage for it, so I figured I outta know at least the basics. Again, welcome aboard, you'll fit right in!

 

No way, I have an Ice Auger and Ice Fishing Poles, the lakes are frozen good and the ice fishing is great.
Oh and thanks for the welcomes.

 

Welcome aboard, Alaskarat! Thank you for your service and for that of your family. I especially wish your son a safe deployment.

 

Welcome aboard Ron, the forum looks forward to your views from the largest, least populous state in the US! You Alaskans beat we Montanans out by a few "people per square mile". But we (Alaska/Montana) just run over both Texas and California in "elbow room" per citizen!!!

 

I am thinking 3 feet over at Chena Lakes I am not sure about Birch Lake and Quartz Lake but I hope to find out soon. I have had to cut throw 5 feet of ice to get them there fish. I love ice fishing it is pretty relaxing to sit in a heated Ice Fishing shack with friends and food. Yes bring your Fly-Rod! But if you are going to fish salmon during the runs you might just want a spinning reel since it may get crowded.

My avatar is a photo I snapped flying over Iraq day 2 of the gulf war. I was flying in UH-1H (Huey) 66-00108 (which was shot down in Vietnam in 1968) while I was with F Company 24th Aviation Regiment, 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized).

 

Welcome to this fine forum Ron, Normandy is the place to be.

 

Welcome Ron! Think TD said it best...thanks for your service and that of your family!

 

Welcome from your neighbour.

KTK

 

Welcome to the forums!

 

Hello there Ron and welcome to the forum

 

^ Thanks to everyone above for the welcome.
I have really been impressed with a lot of the threads I have been reading. There are a lot of very smart and obviously well educated writers here along with us not so educated writers I think it makes for a good blend. I have read quit a few very elegant writings on this forum, and to be honest the likes I have not seen on other forums I am in (Trip Advisor and Finalgear). I am still working my way through the threads, as I don’t want to dig up something that has already been discussed to a closure. However if I do bring something up that has been wrung out, please be gently on me.

 

Not to worry. Folks are pretty gentle around here. That is, unless you wander into the "Free Fire Zone". There have been known to be a few "friendly-fire" incidents there.

 

Don't worry, everyone here is friendly and gentle! {pulls on rubber gloves with a snap}

 

Welcome to the team! I spent 2 years at Ft. Richardson (78-80) before rotating out to the 82nd Airplane gang at Ft. Bragg. Never went to Ft. Wainwright before, but we jumped in at the Yukon Training Area and then flew out of Eilson AFB in 79 or so. Do you ski?